I have enjoyed stories from Ms. Owen before and it is entirely my own fault that I did not realize that this new series is Young Adult series. That being said, it's clear that I struggled with this story.
When twins are born into the royal family the older twin is raised as the Princess and brought up to rule. The younger twin is taken away and trained to be a shadow princess sort of a body double to take his sister's place if ever needed.
When the Queen dies, the secret twin is hustled to the palace. With danger threaten, Meren the shadow twin who is playing the role of her sister is kidnapped and spirited away. Tabra the true princess comes under the control of the evil King who wants to rule the world. Can Meren with her newly discovered secrets save her kingdom?
Since this is a series, we are left at a cliffhanger to see what happens. I know people have adored this story but it was not for me and for that I apologize to the author.

This book was a great read. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down. I did find the writing style a little sloppy, and it seemed to change around a bit regarding how it was written. I didn't know if this was due to the author finding their feet with this series or if it was due to it being a YA book.
It had amazing world-building that didn't feel too heavy or confusing. The plot carried nicely and didn't take away from any character development.
There was a touch of romance, very YA but still enough to add to the story.
I'm looking forward to the next book!

This is the first time I've read an Entangled Teen book (but I'm a long time fan of Entangled Publishing), but it just so happens to have been written by a favourite paranormal author of mine, so I'm willing to follow her into different avenues (so long as they stay in the romance realm). This is an imaginative fantasy romance, with the concept of twin princesses where one is the 'backup' in case something happens to the 'real' one certainly a different take though the idea of a twin impersonating the other is not. The worldbuilding is complex but not difficult to understand, as are the powers that the different characters have. I wasn't expecting the ending, but I'm not unhappy with it (it's cliffhanger-esque), though I'll probably have to read this one again when the next one comes out (which I hope won't be too far away). There is a sex scene in it but it's age appropriate for older teens and not graphic. The romance between Meren and Reven is well written, and if Meren is a complicated character then Reven is four times that complication. The pacing is good, there is lots of action and adventure, multiple intriguing secondary characters - just a great read overall.

The Liar's Crown had so many wonderful layers to uncover. It took me a little while to understand all of the different aspects of the story. About half way through though, I was all in and couldn't put the story down. Excellent storyline and characters with magic, fantasy, and romance to tie it all together. The story ends with the hope of a sequel, so I will ever so patiently try and wait for it.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
I really liked this book. It was a fantasy. The story was good. The characters were good. The plot was good. I was hooked from right from the start. I don't want to give away too much here but I thought the battles depicted in this book were really good. I did not like the female lead as much but the male lead was pretty decent character- wise. I would love to read the second book in this series whenever it comes out.

An interesting beginning to a potentially promising new series with high stakes and intriguing world building. This first book fell somewhat short for me, with inconsistencies and perplexing character decisions, but I am looking forward to seeing what happens next for Meren!

Loved this! I’m so excited for the next book. I love the premise for this book and there’s been a lot of twin books lately where the twins are against each other. Something I can appreciate is that the sisters aren’t enemies or distant in ways that seem unrealistic but rather it’s clear they care for each other.

Great start to a fantastic series!

Outstanding! Two sisters, twins, one destined to rule and the other destined to die. How does not sound interesting?!? I loved this book so much. I'm just really getting into ya fantasy and I love Abigail Owen so of course I would read this. Magic powers element based kinda like Naruto, in my opinion, except they have soul power too. The big bad is practically immortal and is set on world domination, okay well he's starting with the sisters kingdom, and it all begins when they are born. It's a very exciting story and the ending is just so mmmm I can't wait for the next one. Mildly descriptive in the one sexy time shenanigans, but it pretty much is a slow burn.

Now THIS is exquisite fantasy. Five stars and a book hangover from this little beaut. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Meren and Tabra are twins in a long royal line where the second born is hidden as a spare for the first born. Tabra is set to become the queen of Aryd, and has caught the eye of a neighboring king, Eidolon(also known as a shadow king). When the coronation is deemed too risky for her to attend, Meren is sent in her place. On her way, Meren is kidnapped by a dark young stranger. She must continue to convince her kidnapper that she is Tabra both in an effort to keep Tabra safe and keep herself alive. Will Meren's powers as a sand wielder help her escape back to Tabra? Or is there more to this stranger than meets the eye?

Guys....this is the beginning of something great. The world building is phenomenal, the characters are sassy and engaging, and the magic system is the real star. Meren is such a great heroine, she isn't whiny or resentful about being second born, instead she takes her duty as a double for Tabra severely seriously. It's so refreshing to see a hidden main want to serve her purpose while also finding out who they are outside of it. She doesn't throw her sister to the wolves upon realizing what she wants out of life. Reven, our kidnapper is very charismatic, reminds me a bit of the Darkling, and is hard to stay angry with, simply the best kind of enemy to lover in my opinion. This novel grants the reader everything they could want: classic tropes, fresh magic, and reveals leaving you gasping for air. I am STARVED for book 2 and will be counting down the months, days, hours until I can sink my teeth into it.

5 stars for the beginning of a new epic in fantasy. Recommended for readers who loved the Shadow and Bone trilogy or Vicious from V.E. Schwab. Age recommended for readers 15+ as there is some explicit romance, but nothing untoward. Don't mind me, I'll just be here willing time to go faster to get me closer to book 2!

As a big fan of Abigail Owen’s various series, I was deligthed to see the first of a new series on Netgalley. And The Liar’s Crown is definitely a totally new series, wehereas Fire’s Edge, Inferno Rising and Brimstone Inc share some characters and take place in the same world.

The Liar’s Crown takes place in the Kingdom of Aryd, where Meren is the hidden princess. She is the spare, the body double for her sister, who one day will become queen. She needs to stay hidden for the world and especially for King Eiddon from the neighbor kingdom. He is rumored to live forever and he has been killing the Queens of Aryd for centuries. But Meren want mre from life than just be the spare. So, she often sneaks out at night, to feel free.

One day, however, there is a kidnapping of the Queen. But fortunately the kidnapper has kidnapped the wrong princess: he captured Meren, the spare. Meren doesn’t understand why Reven, the mysterious kidnapper wanted to abduct the Queen. But as long as he thinks he haas the actual princess, her sister is safe. Reven takes her to the Shadowlands to show her all the people who have taken refuge there.

But while Reven and Meren are bickering away on the way to Shadowland, King Eiddon makes a move for Meren’s sister. Without Meren, she is in danger! So now Meren is faced with a difficult choice: trust Reven and tell him her real identity or try to find her way back to her sister on her own.

True to Abigail, this first book leaves you craving for more. Unlike the oterh series, you can’t read the next story as a standalone. There is too much in the total story to understand all the dynamics between the characters. But although I’m usually not a fan of cliffhangers, I loved this one!

Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

This is a new author to me...and I'm in love!! Owen's writing style is beautiful and enchanting. I sat down intending on reading a couple of chapters, but ended up binge reading the entire book in one sitting!! It was so enthralling, from the very first page...I just HAD to know how it ended. With a cliffhanger, of course. But that is to be expected of a series. It can't all be HEA in book one, lol. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, magic and strong female leads. Can't wait to dive into the next book!!

One of the biggest aspects of this book that I enjoyed was the politics engraved within the story. If you've read the Remnant Chronicles or Twin Crowns, this is definitely a book you will enjoy. It's a lot of fun to be sure. I would recommend you actually read a physical copy of this book. The audiobook version of the story just wasn't doing it for me and sometimes that can affect your opinion of the story - or at least it can in my case. I found it more engaging once I just finished reading through it for myself.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The stunning cover drew me in and the plot kept me turning pages.

The story revolves around Meren, the second born twin in the royal family plagued by a villain king who keeps killing Queens over generations. She struggles to navigate her duties as her sisters body double when her grandmother dies and leaves the thrown to her sister, and her independence as her own person with dreams when a mysterious man shows up and takes her away.

Reading how Meren navigates each relationship and trying to always do what is best leaves her in some precarious situations.

This is a YA Romantasy with a slow burn relationship. With statements like these:

"I didn't like him touching you."

And

"I'm going to kill the bastard who did that to you"

It will have your toes curling for more.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and honestly can not wait for the second book in the series. I NEED to know how Meren gets herself out of the situation she finds herself in at the end of the book.

For that reason I give this book a solid 4 stars  🌟🌟🌟🌟

he Liar's Crown started off strong. I liked how it jumped right into the action. Character development and world building were top notch. The writing style was appealing. The only major issue I had was the pacing. There were long periods of time where it felt like nothing was happening to progress the plot. Overall, a fun fantasy romp.

I love, love, loved this book. Packed full of action, secrets, and just enough romance that this normal adult fantasy romance reader could get behind the story.

Non avevo aspettative riguardo a questo libro ma devo dire che è stato una piacevolissima sorpresa!
E l'ho decisamente adorato!
Non posso negare di avere un debole per i personaggi che hanno il potere dell'oscurità, e Reven è misterioso e dannatamente affascinante. Ho anche adorato il trope delle gemelle al potere di cui una serve come fantoccio a protezione della "vera" principessa. All'inizio dubitavo che mi sarebbe piaciuta questa storia dato che gran parte si stava svolgendo durante il loro viaggio. Ma è una parte assolutamente necessaria per l'evoluzione della narrativa e dei sentimenti dei protagonisti, soprattutto di Meren che può finalmente cercare di essere libera e se stessa.
Purtroppo il dovere e la necessità di salvare la sorella e il regno la rimettono presto in riga e deve mettere da parte i sentimenti nati per il fantastico Reven. Ma sono certa che nei prossimi libri vedremo altre scintille nascere tra i due! Anzi dei veri e propri incendi!
Sono davvero contenta di aver letto questo libro e non vedo l'ora che escano i prossimi volumi! Li divorerò sicuramente!

Grazie mille Netgalley per avermi permesso di leggere questo libro in anteprima!
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I had no expectations regarding this book but I must say it was a very pleasant surprise!
And I definitely loved it!
I can't deny that I have a soft spot for characters who have the power of darkness, and Reven is mysterious and damn charming. I also loved the trope of twins in power, one of which serves as a puppet to protect the "real" princess. At first I doubted I would like this story as much of it was taking place on their journey. But it is an absolutely necessary part of the evolution of fiction and the feelings of the protagonists, especially Meren who can finally try to be free and herself.
Unfortunately the duty and the need to save her sister and the kingdom soon put her back in line and she has to put aside the feelings born for the fantastic Reven. But I am sure that in the next books we will see other sparks arise between the two! No... real fires!
I am really happy to have read this book and I can't wait for the next volumes to come out! I will definitely devour them!

Thank you so much Netgalley for letting me read the preview of this book!

`4.5 stars = i really liked it. Meren is the secret princess, even though she has been raised to be the standin and protector for her twin sister who will be Queen, she's managed to carve out a life while hiding. When time comes for her to step into her destined role she is mistaken for her sister and kidnapped by the myterious Reven leaving her sister vulnerable to her kingdoms greatest enemy.

I liked author Owen's first foray into a story for younger audiences a lot. I really liked both Meren and the broody tormented Reven. The story as a good amount of adventure and I liked the idea of generational hidden twins - in the past the hidden twin had to step in to reign when a queen was lost. There was a touch of romance which is often problematic when a kidnapping is involved, but it didn't ping my squick-meter her. With respect to the romanance there a couple steamy scenes and the steam level ends up making this story more New Adult than Young Adult -but level is much less steamy than her regular adult romances. I personally liked Owen's less steam writing, because it left room for more story.

So, I really liked Liar's Crown and am really looking forward to the next book to find out what happens next to Meren. Apparently this will eventualy be a trilogy.

ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley - release date August 30, 2022

Liar's Crown by Abigail Owen is an excellent young adult fantasy. Spectacular world-building, witty, hilarious dialog and a well-plotted story make Liar's Crown a novel for anyone who loves great fantasy. Meren was born the second twin to Tabra, the future Queen of Aryd. The girls are identical except that Meren came in to her powers and Tabra has not. Meren can control sand, moving it and transforming it into glass. In their culture, the first born girl is Queen and the twin is a back-up, body double, filling in anywhere the queen might be in danger. When the former queen dies, Meren must drop everything and steal away to do her duty for her beloved sister. Evil King Eidolon, who killed many former queens, has moved quickly and proposed marriage to Tabra. Grievously in fear for her sister, Meren, is preparing for the coronation when she's wrapped in shadows, literally, and kidnapped by the dangerous, suspiciously attractive man she assumes is Eidolon. She's whisked through portals and into a land of sea, ice and terrible monsters. Meren is horrified to learn that her kidnapper is not the King, but the Shadowraith, and worse - he believes he has kidnapped the real queen, Tabra. Meren is already bold and very capable, not the timid young woman Tabra seems, and she soon learns that there is more to her kingdom than she ever dreamed. The people and the lands have been sorely neglected. Can she save her sister, her kingdom and the rest of the land and people, all while fighting a growing attraction to the Shadowraith? What follows is a funny, scary and romantic read that will keep you up all night turning pages. I was happy to learn that there is a sequel coming out in Spring 2023. I will definitely purchase this book for our library - Meren is a great, positive role model and the story is captivating. Many thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read the ARC.

Wow...what an amazing read. It took me a little extra time to get through this one because I needed to take my time absorbing this tale.
I was on the edge of my seat the last few chapters and I can't wait to see what happens next!

Eighteen years earlier, twins were born. One princess will go on to rule the dominion of Aryd and the other princess will serve as a secret body double in dangerous situations.
Now that the queen is dead, Meren's sister will take her rightful place as queen and Meren will live in her shadows. With their enemy, King Eidolon set to arrive for the coronation, Meren will step in to take her place. The night before Meren is taken by mistake by the Shadowraith also known as Reven.

He's taken her to a place where he protects beings from different dominions, in order to ask for her help in taking down King Eidolon. Reven and Meren closely guard their secrets as they try to navigate the best way to see their plan through and save her sister.

Meren never expected she'd fall in love with Reven.

Thank you so much to the author, Entangled and NetGalley for this ARC to review.

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

I loved the premise of The Liar’s Crown - a secret twin, born to be an insurance policy in case anything happens to the Crown Princess. A high-stakes plot and a dangerous love interest. Lots of secrets, mystery and drama. Plus look at that gorgeous cover art! 😍

This book was a fun and entertaining ride - full of adventure, magic, romance and intrigue. We have characters that can manipulate shadows, sand, and other elements. The story was compelling and fast-paced despite all the traveling between dominions. The plot was complex and multi-layered, yet easy to follow. The world building was intricate and well-executed. I liked the balance between the romantic and fantastical elements. Events progressed quickly and ended in a major cliffhanger - I’m glad we don’t have to wait long for the sequel!

Many thanks to @entangledteen for the gifted copy! 🥰

“Zealots see what they want to see. People just trying to live their lives don’t want to acknowledge a problem exists unless it affects them personally.”