I love a good Prologue. It can hook me quick, and Abigail Owen has done it in The Liar’s Crown. I am a huge fan of hers and she did not let me down.

Hesperia served Eidolon, the King of Tundra. He is a charming liar who has tasked her with cursing the child. The child is one of two, a twin, and Hesperia defies the king, cursing the other child. Twins: one is Enfornae, who she blessed, and the other is Hylorae. What does it mean? I shall have to read on to find out, but I am very curious of what the repercussions will be, for the children and for Hesperia. We shall find out when Eidolon comes for the Queen of Aryd.

One twin will rule, the other is a secret body double in dangerous situations…to die in her place. Sounds sucky to me.

I am Mereneith Evangeline XII of Aryd. There are six dominions, each named for their ruling goddess. She is a tool. A nonperson. She turns her back on Cain, her best friend, when the Queen dies. She has things she needs to do, and he can’t help her.

The Shadowwraith, alone, villified.

I loved traveling the vividly created dominions, the magicals and the humans. I want to share so much about the characters, Raven…and Meren…but that would spoil things for you. I will say, they are magical, lonely, tools to be used. A man made of evil shadows. A woman who is an echo of the queen to be. I love when peripheral characters are as important to me as the main characters.

OMG. I was swept away with the shifting sand, hiding in the shadows, filled with fear for Meren, a heroine that will sacrifice herself ,while trying to save others and her new found love from the evil that is determined to rule the dominions. Nonstop action. Pacing that brought so many chilling thrills that made me want to read until I reached the end…I got lost and didn’t want to come up for a breath of air.

The story is not finished, but it did stop at a good place, if that is possible. I hope you are writing fast Abigail.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Liar’s Crown by Abigail Owen.

See more at http://www.fundinmental.com

Shadows and darkness lurk in every corner and around every bend, shrouding not only the truth outside but that within.

Meren is the secret, second born of a set of twins. Her sister is destined to rule the kingdom, while she is fated to be the body-double and protect her sister at all costs. Meren's life is hidden from the world, and she's become an expert at hiding in the shadows, enabling her to have, at least, a bit of life outside a closed home. When her mother, the queen, suddenly dies, it's her sisters time to take the throne, which means Meren's true task begins, but with the first threat and Meren's first duty, she's kidnapped and dragged far away. Somehow, she needs to find a way to escape because while she's in danger, her sister has stepped into a deadly trap, which will put the entire world under an evil hand.

Reading this one reminded me a tiny bit of Shadow and Bone with bad guys to swoon over, powers as birthrights, and, for all things, shadows at every turn. The read grabs, does keep the tension high, and presents a complex world and characters to blossom and bloom through the series. It's well-written, flows at a steady pace, and offers many unexpected situations to make it impossible to see where the story is truly going...and so fun to guess what the path will be.

Meren is an intriguing character, who longs to have her own life...somewhat but not really. She does adore her sister from the deepest depths of her heart and is willing to fulfill her role, even if a part of her isn't always excited about that aspect. She's been pruned and taught to take her sister's place, and yet, is almost a street girl with some fighting skills, tons of spunk, and grit (?). Her largest concern is the people around her, and trust is something that needs to be earned. Or until she meets Reven.

There is so much to love about this read and the world, so I do recommend it highly...although it wasn't my personal favorite for a couple reasons. While some aspects of this book were amazing, others were neglected, especially on the relationship end. We meet Cain, her first love interest, who disappears after the first chapters completely and is barely thought of again (I expect to see much more of him and his people in the upcoming novels, though). Her sister, who she adores, is nothing more than a brief encounter, leaving the love between them like a faded whisper. Her nanny is never fleshed out. The grandmother's supposed cruelty never is more than a rumor or a left basket of food for supposed suffering civilians, which we never really get to see. The political end, around which the entire tension sits, is also without much background, base, or building. Even the evil is said to be evil, but the threat remains a tale most of the time. However, I'm assuming much of this will build in the rest of the series because there is a lot going on in this first book. And at over 400 pages already, only so much can be packed in...and what is there, is fun to read.

There is romance. Lots of it. While Meren's heart supposedly belongs to Cain in the first chapter or two, her kidnapper and his voice perk her interest immediately, leaving Cain in the dust. It's hidden instant love but drawn out enough to try to seek cover as a building one of sorts...which works for the YA realm. Reven is definitely captivating and has a heart of gold...and that's where this goes weird because while rough and gruff, in the beginning, and supposedly very evil himself, he's kind. Glimpses of his deadliness are here and there but disappear faster than the shadows themselves. I'm sure many readers will love this, and I'm going to wait with my judgement to see where it goes during the rest of the series because I'm not quite convinced or hooked, yet. But it is the first book, and I do want to see what happens in the second. So, that says enough right there.

It is more than worth a read and is a great start to what could be an exciting series. I received a DRC and am giving this one 4.5 stars while rounding up.

This fantasy story started in a fantastic and intriguing way, we have Meren and Tabra, twins but nothing is as it seems or what you even think. The story will drag you in, will held you captivated until the end and then you would want more. I absolutely loved the idea the author had for this story, the world-building elements are amazing and the character development was well done. Looking forward to reading the next one!

“𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗲.”

🖤NO SPOILERS🖤

Everything about Meren is second; second born and second best. She has one purpose in life and that’s to stand in for her sister if she is in the face of danger… or death.

Yep, Meren was born so she could die in the place of her sister.

The Liar’s Crown is a retelling of a lesser known Grimms Fairytale about a man who sheds his shadow. Only for his shadows to become self-aware and take a life of their own.

Except, it’s so much more. The Liar’s Crown is such a creative and unique story entangled with lies, secrets, betrayal, romance, adventure, and magic.

Meren is a BA FMC who had me laughing to the point of tears a few times. Her sarcasm, and quick witty banter with The Shadowraith is a bright light in-between the dark parts of the story.

I’m not going to lie, I was up until 3 am last night sucked into this book and needing to know how it ended. It’s fast paced, with so many layers that I couldn’t put it down.

The ending was a painful cliffhanger, but thankfully this will be a 3 book series.

Which, I’m sure, I will be pulling 3 am nights again to binge those as well. 😂

Thank you to the Author and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC.

What a fun read! This was a very enjoyable fantasy with a wonderful enemies to lovers romance (which I always love). Unique magic system and a beautifully defined world.

'The Liar's Crown' has been one of my most antisipated reads of the year and it was worth every second of the wait! Intregue, mystery, betrayal and romance this book had it all.

Meren is the hidden twin and is there to take the chances where her sister the Queen can’t! And as the storyline goes the Queen was to be taken but our heroine was instead. She fights her kidnapper but soon starts to grow on each other! But she finds that things outside the kingdom’s walls are not what she thought or her sister. Now she’s to learn that things aren’t what it seems! Can she tell her sister and they get things to change? This was a great storyline and the characters were perfect for this adventure! I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

The Liars Crown is a fantastical novel, the first in a planned trilogy, centering around hidden princess, Meren, a twin and body double to the future Queen. This book was a bit like Twin Thrones but with some steamier romance and different circumstances. All in all it was pretty fascinating.
I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

This was a fantastic read, that drew me in and held me captive the whole book, I enjoyed reading and seeing the characters grow. The relationships were fantastic and fun to see.

Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2022
From the very beginning, I was hooked and needed to discover all the secrets in this book.
Meren is the extra (twin) princess who has stayed hidden since birth. Her sister is to be Queen some day and her job is too fill in when things are dangerous. When the Queen dies unexpectly, Tabra, her sister must take the throne and there is evil out there and it's coming for the Queen. Meren must now assume Tabra's role to insure her safety, only she is kidnapped and things get very crazy.
The world building was very interesting and Reven, has a very interesting life too. When these two clash it was so good, There is lots of action and drama and sexual tension galore. I enjoyed the danger they were constantly in.
Lets just say, I need the next book in the series. I really loved this story.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

When I heard Abigail Owen had an upper young adult/new adult fantasy book coming out, I was intrigued. I like her adult paranormals and wanted to see how she tackled a different genre. The Liar's Crown was more than I expected. I wasn't prepared for the world Abigail created which includes Imperiums, Enfernaes, and Hylorae, just to name a few. Luckily, there's a glossary on the author's website. It took me some time to get out of my head and understand all the different people. Honestly, I just ended up focusing on the main character and going from there.

Mereneith Evangeline XII of Aryd, Meren for short, is a princess who was thought to have died in the womb. She's the second born whose sole purpose in life is to protect her identical twin sister Tabra, who will one day become queen. In order to keep her identity a secret, Meren and her great aunt Omma live in the city of Enora, as lower-class people in a hovel. When Tabra has to engage in situations that could be considered dangerous, Meren often takes her place. During times when Tabra needs a double, Meren sneaks into the palace and stays in a hidden room in Tabra's living quarters. This cloak and dagger has been going on for generations, with no one the wiser.

When the Queen suddenly dies, Meren's world changes in ways no one could have anticipated. She sneaks back into the palace to comfort her sister and prepare to do her duty as her double, sacrificing her own life if the situation calls for her to do so. Meren and Tabra discuss which events will be the most dangerous for the new queen. But something or should I say someone sinister is already making a move. Eidolon, the immortal King of Tyndra, has the future queen in his sights. Before Meren can do anything to protect her sister from the one person her family has feared for generations, she's kidnapped by Reven, a man who has secrets of his own but claims to be protecting her from Eidolon. Reven has no idea that the princess he just kidnapped isn’t Tabra which explains why all of his assumptions about her are all wrong.

Bickering and fending off dangerous animals along the way, the two end up in a secret place known only to Reven. There, Meren discovers that some information she’s heard isn’t true at all. The two eventually work together to try and figure out what Eidolon wants with the newly crowned queen and how to stop him. Eidolon is a brutal king who has ruled for centuries and appears to be one to two steps ahead of Reven, leading to deadly results.

The Liar's Crown is one of those stories that draws you in. There's this push and pull between Reven and Meren. One minute they want to kill each other and the next they're fighting to deny the attraction between them. Their back-and-forth banter at times is fun to witness. When they give into their physical desire, it's beautiful and powerful.

The Liar's Crown is more than just a romance. It's a story of an 18-year-old girl born to protect her sister and dominion at all costs. One who is not prepared for what happens but has the heart, courage, and determination to fight for and protect those she loves, even if it means sacrificing herself. Abigail's writing allows you to truly visualize the scenes unfolding before you. The battle/fight scenes are edge-of-your-seat incredible but can be considered gruesome to some. If you're concerned, you should check out the publisher's website for trigger warnings.

The Liar’s Crown is the first book in the dark fantasy Dominion trilogy. Abigail has written an amazing story, setting this trilogy up to be epic. The ending will have you excited and wanting more. The Liar’s Crown is definitely a bookshelf keeper.

~ Favorite Quotes ~

“Queens are what keep this dominion alive.”

“Knowledge is power.”

“A monster’s power lies in our fear of him.”

“Forgiveness means you acknowledge wrongdoing first.”

“Caring is a gift. You only have to be brave enough to reach out and take it.”

“When there seems to be no other way, think of one thing you can do.”

“You’re not a survivor. You’re a fighter.”

Twin princesses, one born for the throne, one a double--meant for sacrifice.
Only, on the night of the coronation of her sister, Meren gets kidnapped.
She's forced to pretend she is her sister, and try to uncover whats happening here and escape before its too late for her kingdom.
The setting and the world building was intricate and stunning -- I cant wait to experience
more of this world in the next book ! I also loved the MC. She was funny, relatable and wasn't a "damsel" of the story. I feel like the romance in the story was a natural progression and not too "instant".
There was a lot of mystery and tension surrounding the ageless, evil King, and there's still a lot of questions left unanswered at the end. Hoping for more action and more great storytelling in book 2 !

The Liars Crown features, but is not limited to, the following themes:
○ YA fantasy
○ Royalty
○ Enemies to lovers
○ Magic
○ Adventure
○ Kickass FMC
○ Secrets

My overall rating for The Liars Crown is...

4 Stars!

What an exciting and picturesque series starter! The Liars Crown showcases vivid world building, an interesting plot and lovable characters. The simmering, enemies to lovers romance was sexy, with a medium burn that kept me craving more. The writing style kept me entranced the whole way through and I often found myself wanting to read past my bedtime. Overall, a stunning and new fantasy adventure for readers of young adult

I am very picky when it comes to my fantasy books, but I thought The Liar's Crown was wonderful. The concept with hiding a twin from the world so that she can step in when her sister is assassinated is quite interesting and unique to me. The magic was great, the enemies to lovers is GREAT. It was just a great book overall. The only thing I didn't like is that cliffhanger ending and knowing that now I'm in a waiting game for book two.

The Liar's Crown, while nothing exceptional, is a great fantasy YA that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Both Meren and Reven were interesting characters who played well off each other. It had some great banter and romantic tension, and the plot moved quickly with enough turns to keep it interesting. While I enjoyed the book, I didn't find the plot, magic system, or characters to be outstanding, but I'll be looking forward to the next book in the series because I think it has the potential to be excellent once we get to see some more of the characters in action.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance digital copy of this book. I read and reviewed this book voluntarily.

Twin princesses are born. A rival ruler always kills the twin, so the second princess is hidden away. When the queen dies, the twins’ grandmother, Tabra becomes queen and her sister Meren is kidnapped by a mysterious man who might be the Shadowraith. He actually thinks Meren is Tabra, so she plays the part. He’s terrifying and has secrets that Meren is scared of but curious about. The two get to know each other better as they help one another through danger and eventually get to the Shadowraith’s home. He explains who he is and introduces himself as Reven. He’s been giving a home to the Vanished and others that are shunned from their communities, giving them jobs, safety and a place to belong. When Reven’s sanctuary is attacked, Meren creates a portal for the people to escape. All that’s left are Reven and Meren. They both end up making extreme sacrifices for the people they love. The ending leads to a sequel. 4 stars for the mystery wrapped up in this fantasy!

This was a quick read. It was action packed and I enjoyed the concept as well as the turns it took throughout the story. The magic system is also pretty easy to understand and follow. My only minor complaint was that the main character had too many insta-love feelings for someone who kidnapped her and she hated. I couldn't connect with her internal debate. I loved the banter between the two characters and I really liked Reven's character. He is a morally gray character trying to figure out how to do the right thing.

Overall, I am excited for the next book! If you're looking for a quick, fun read that I don't think requires you to hold too much mental energy towards it, you will enjoy this book.

This book overall was very enjoyable!

It started out at a good pace, hooking me and making me curious what was going to happen, but then I found that it did slow down quite a bit in the middle after Meren (our main character)'s kidnapping. There is a lot of time spent getting to the destination, and then dawdling there, while I don't feel like too much happened that required it to be so long.

But other than that I really loved the story, The backstory of the main male character is complex, and not something I was able to figure out until it was revealed, and at most times in the book I found myself sympathizing with both him and Meren, and I think that they were really great main characters to be following.

The ending left me excited and looking forward to the next book, overall this was a really great story and I am glad I got to read it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

A closely held secret is the only thing standing in the way of King Eidolon being able to take over the throne. Each second generation of queens is born as a set of twins, one living in the shadow to act as a double should something happen to the first-born twin. Meren being the second born twin has lived in the shadows most of her life. Her only escape being going into the dessert and spending time with Cain. Yet when her grandmother dies and Meren’s sister is about to take over the throne, Meren is forced to go her sister’s side and support her during her reign. Yet when King Eidolon sends a gift and asks for the queen’s hand in marriage Meren worries for her sister’s safety. The king’s intentions cannot be good. Yet Meren is swept away by a strange man on the coronation day leaving her sister to fend on her own against the king’s advances. This stranger sweeps her off to strange land where shadows he controls help protect those looking for safety. What are the intentions of this dark stranger? Can Meren protect her secret? Will she be able to get back to her sister’s side in time?
This is a pretty faced paced book that draws you in quickly. Readers will easily get swept up in the fun world. I think it is really interesting that there are so many different world all connected by portals. I do kind of wish a bit more info had been given to the readers about all the different worlds. I love that Meren and Raven connect through their shared affinity for shadows. The ending is perfect. There is no way that you will not want to read the second book. I can't wait to see what Meren does next.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing LLC for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Meren, is the 2nd born princess and therefore is a body double for her twin sister who is the “real princess”. After Meren stands in for her sister at coronation and she mistakenly kidnapped by a shadow wielder.
This book has:
▪️unique magic
▪️secrets
▪️enemies to lovers
▪️a bit of a forbidden love
▪️YA fantasy
.
Reader beware, it does end on a cliffhanger, but I’m looking forward to the next book! The romance was my favorite part of the book (of course). The banter and tension between Reven and Meren was great and he’s a very protective character, which I don’t mind at all!
Also, this cover is gorgeous!!
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Thank you to @netgalley and Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read this book!