There was a lot I liked about this book. I liked that the chosen one destined to save the world is a 60 year old divorced grandmother. I liked the humour and the book's warmth. I like the supporting cast. It's all set up nicely for the rest of the series, which I probably will continue with.

I really enjoyed Becoming Crone. Claire is a great character. She's well developed, realistic, and stands out for more than her age among the typical younger fantasy protagonists. The other characters in the book are equally well done, both supernaturals and humans. The story is fast paced and deeply engrossing. I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy fantasy with strong female main characters.

First book in The Crone Wars, a great story line where the heroine is .....60 and kicking butss and taking names......does that date me? Anyway, Just as Claire was wondering what the rest of her life would look like and deciding it could be bleak, she discovers that she's destined to save her little corner of mankind from things that she never knew existed before. This is going to be a great series!!!

I've had the pleasure of reading this book not just once, but twice, and both times I found myself completely engrossed in the story. What really stood out to me was the portrayal of the mature heroine who embarks on a journey of self-discovery to aid those she cares about most. It's so refreshing to see a character who's not afraid to embrace her own growth and transformation, especially later in life. This book really drives home the message that it's never too late to find yourself and make a difference in the lives of those around you.

The world-building in this book is absolutely top-notch. From the vivid descriptions to the intricate details, I was completely immersed in the richly imagined setting. It's clear that the author has put a lot of thought and care into crafting this world, and it definitely paid off. I can't wait to dive back into it and explore even more in future books in the series. If they're anything like this one, I know I'm in for a real treat!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher/author for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

OMG!!! This book was exactly what I wanted it to be! I loved it. I will make sure to check out other books by this author. When I requested this I was just intrigued by the concept of it and I loved how it turned out. This story had a great plot and if you have read this and enjoyed it, This was so much. It was such a great story. I would say give this one a try. I will continue to follow this author. Way to go to this author for not letting me down.

I highly enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook. Kept me listening.

If I'd written this review before I finished the entire series it would probably be a bit different than the review I'm writing now. I really enjoy books where the protagonist is a woman in middle to old ages, as we tend to become invisible as we age. From that perspective I really enjoyed Claire taking control of her own narrative, but the post-fight scenes where she popped right back to normal felt even more unrealistic than they are in urban fantasy with younger protagonists. I wish the author had figured out a way to make her a badass while still acknowledging the impact age has on the body. I don't want my older protagonists to be Mary Sues any more than I want that for younger protagonists.

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC. This is my honest review.
I am all for books with magic and shapeshifters. I was not expecting our main character to be 60 years of age but I was against reading this book when I found out. This is something different than what I normally do. I read this book within a day and was excited that it was exactly what I was looking for. I recommend this book to those who want a different type of Chosen One storyline. It was super fun and lovely.

I thought it was fun and whimsical. The characters are relatable and this plot was hilarious and entertaining. I can't get enough of this series. It's addictive.

This novel was completely charming and the author's character development skills was on point, a true pleasure to read.

Becoming Crone is the first book in The Crone Wars series by Lydia M. Hawke. She's unabashedly gray and destined to save the world. Meet Claire. On her 60th birthday, she got a cranky gargoyle, an overprotective wolf-shifter, and a magical calling she never saw coming. It’s not quite the retirement plan she had in mind!

Becoming Crone is a good start to an urban fantasy series, and I really enjoyed the read. I liked Claire, who is struggling with a fairly resent divorce and what life might look like now that she does not really feel needed and has spent her whole life following the rules set on her by others and society. I thought her thoughts and concerns were very realistic, and I liked that readers get to learn all about the magic and legends of her world right along side her. I also liked getting to have a more mature heroine as the main character of the story, but I have to admit it bothered me more than a little when everyone (including Claire herself) kept referring to her as so old. Sixty is older than the typical chosen one we get to read about, but sixty is not decrepit. I am still a bit away from it, but I still think of sixty as older, but not old. Although, that was really my only sticking point with this book. I really enjoyed the read and will be keeping an eye out for the rest of the series.

Becoming Crone is an engaging and enjoyable urban fantasy read.

A fantastic tale of Paranormal Urban Fantasy with a touch of romance, featuring REAL women who aren't air headed 20-somethings. LOVE IT!!

🌟🌟🌟🌟
📚 - Adult Fantasy / Mythology / Urban Fantasy
📖 - 260 pages
I really enjoyed this book. I thought that the writing was funny and witty, and I think the main character is so relatable! And how often do you see MCs that are in their 60s?! You're never too old to figure out who you are and what you want to be.

The writing was clear and easy and this was a fun afternoon read. Will definitely be finishing the series.

Thank you to the publisher, IBPA, for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

I'm so glad I came across this book. I've read plenty books about discovering you have magical powers, but having the protagonist be a 60-year-old woman is a great concept and very well-done. The world building and characters make this a really fun read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review this ARC. As someone entering middle age, I am excited to read this series debut about Claire, a 60-year-old woman coping with a divorce and aging and an intrusive daughter-in-law, all while trying to figure out whether her life has purpose. That is, until her grandchild gives her a pendant for her birthday that she can use as a magnifying glass. Actually magical, the pendant opens up a whole new world for meek Claire, who is destined to be not so meek after all. I enjoyed the cozy elements, the blend of folklore and magic, and especially the characters!

It's a good start for a new urban fantasy series and I loved the heroine who's over 50
I found it entertaining and well plotted. Want to read the next book.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This book has everything it needs to make a great story but unfortunately it fell flat for me. The main character has just turned 60 and seems to come into magical power. Instead of rejecting her whole boring doormat life she wants to reject the new magic. She argues with everyone and complains about her age and body shape. She never can seem to get reading glasses to learn her new magic and just nothing ever goes right for her. She’s endangering her family, all because she doesn’t put much effort into learning about her new abilities. When her magic does work, it through no effort of her own. There were several issues the author brought up a lot , like garden gnomes and crows that weren’t really essential to the story. This could have been so good but it felt phoned in. I will not be reading another book if there is another in this series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This novel is so charming and I love the author's character development skills, a true pleasure to read.

I wanted to love this book. It has everything I love. The magical world building and characters. And the most perfect thing is the main character is 60. Claire has been through a lot lately. As she has a birthday, she wonders if she will be alone the rest of her life and also thinks about her life. Then magick happens. Seems like I got to the halfway point quickly, yet nothing had really much happened. Mostly, the whole book is her whining and refusing to cooperate with everyone she has met in the new world. She insists on going back to her house. Well, just stay plain and boring and a mouse that lets people run over you. She even endangers the wolf shifter’s life. But no, she still doesn’t want to practice magic. And always when you are getting answers, it’s all shut down because no one will answer each other’s questions. It’s like pulling teeth out of a chicken. I may try the next one but for now I have lost patients.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this read.

Oooh! A heroine who is older and a power that only comes to you when you get older- I have been waiting for this book and it was a joy to read. This book is pretty much setup for the "Crone Wars" that are coming but as a "coming of age" book for a 60 year old woman, it is tops. I can't wait to read the next books in the series!

So happy to read a book with a feisty, unlikely heroine who is 60.! She has her doubts and fears, but ultimately pulls herself together to embrace her power.

Can't wait to read the next in this series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review.