It took me a few tries to get into this book and for the story to get going as I can’t say I was a fan of the main character Gemma. There was also a lot going on plot wise when what I really wanted was for this book to delve into the relationships between the sisters or the love interests or even the enemies. The sex scenes often felt misplaced and unnecessary in the story as this book read more like a YA fantasy to me. With that said, if the remaining books are from the other sisters perspectives I would read them.

Lady Gemma Ashbourne and her two sisters are a force to be reckoned with and I pity anyone who doubts them.
I love stories about sisters, and that's where the beauty of this book was for me. I want to read more about each of these women, and the journey's that lay before them, and how they grow together and independently.
The relationship between Gemma and Talan fell a little flat for me. It felt forced and I kept waiting for Legrand to reveal that Talan was just tricking Gemma all along! When that isn't what happened I had to go back through their story line in my head, trying to look at it with a different lens.
I did appreciate Legrand touching on anxiety and mental health. I would love to see that delved into deeper in the rest of the trilogy.

"A Crown of Ivy and Glass" is a novel that keeps moving, one event after another, trying to twist out shock to the readers with characters leaving and the main character, Gemma, constantly pushing the boundaries for what she's allowed to do. Readers who enjoy quick moving fantasy that focuses on romance would enjoy this.
I always get excited when I find a new large fantasy novel. Large novels mean there is time for world building, character development, and lots of exploration in this fantasy world we've never seen before. In theory. So when I saw "A Crown of Ivy and Glass", I hoped the large page count meant it built on all those things but it doesn't. Other than focusing on the unique magical abilities each character has, that there are magical pathways to transport you quickly called green ways, and that there is some mist that is encroaching on the kingdom, the world building is rather minimal. Rather than spending time building it up, the story focuses on Gemma's feelings about Talan, the love interest, disappearing again, and again, and again.
At first, I was intrigued because Gemma outright admitted she enjoyed being rich and famous, which is a slant we often don't see in fantasy in favor of a heroine who is usually much more modest. But that interest didn't last as Gemma proved herself to be thoughtless and incapable of learning from her own mistakes as well as unable to listen to any helpful advise from her friends and family for far too long in the novel. An example, of which there were many, is the way Gemma naively trusted Talan too quickly and then brainlessly forgave him for leaving every time he did, which he did too often. I have not disliked a romantic interest so strongly in a long time. Sure, Talon was given reasons for his departures, but they weren't really good enough, or Gemma forgave him and re-trusted him again too quickly, to really make the constant abandonment feel like anything except a terribly abusive relationship that should just be ended. At least Gemma finally began to show some growth towards the final third of the book.
The other issue is that the plot felt too loose. The first part Gemma was teaming up with Talan to try and get one over on their rival family. The second part was mainly Talan is gone, now he's not, now he is and now he's not, now Gemma's gone and stuck with these not-dead dead people who can actually help her grow as a character and now Talon's back. The third, Talon needs freed and can't help because he's in too much pain to do anything but quiver unconsciously, but the rival family is helping us now and we're not really going to dive into their story all that strongly. The plot needed condensed and the Basks needed more exploration. They were too central of characters to always be on the sidelines as causal mentions in the narration.
I'm sure this book will find many readers who enjoy it despite my own grudges, and I'll still pick up the next book the author writes, because it might be good, you know?

This book took a little bit to get into, but I ended up really enjoying it. I'm glad I stuck with it!

Absolutely loved this book 11/10. It’s definitely going to be a big hit. I’m calling it now.

I was obviously pulled in with the “Bridgeton meets ACOTAR” vibes. Now that I’ve read it, I think that’s partly true, but not entirely.

Like ACOTAR you have three very different sisters who are central and crucial to the story, but only one is the narrator in this first book and driving the story forward.

Like most fantasy romance books, you’re left wondering if the guy she falls for is actually good or actually bad? And if he’s bad, is he redeemable? I won’t spoil it but, that’s classic for this genre and a reason why those of us who love this genre continue to come back to it.

As for Bridgeton, you definitely get the sense that this is happening in the regency era and there are balls with dance cards, which I was totally here for.

I think Claire is an incredible writer. This book is non-stop from the beginning, which makes it hard to put down. And even when I was 85% done with it I didn’t know how it would end. I can’t wait for the next book.

Spice level is great. Definitely on ACOTAR level.

I appreciate that Gemma (the main character) deals with real world issues like “the panic” what we would call anxiety, and a sickness that can feel relatable to anyone who struggles with chronic ailments. It’s more ways to connect with this character and add complexity to her. Just as we are multilayered so too are the characters in this book, which I thoroughly enjoyed!

A promising start to a new series! Somehow I didn't connect well with the mc, but the world and magic captivated me. I can't wait to read the next one, especially if it focuses on another of the sisters!

This book was good but not mind blowing. A very interesting premise with characters that were great to read but not something that I would recommend to a million people over and over again.

A Crown of Ivy and Glass tells the story of Gemma, the daughter of a gods anointed family who is the only one without magical abilities. Her mother disappeared when she was a child and her older sister went off to fight in the Mistlands, the only thing keeping the old world magic from the new world. Her father and sister are obsessed with a blood feud with another family and Gemma is mostly left to fend for herself while she deals with debilitating pain at others use of magic and her own panic at being out in the world. Then enters Talan who is handsome and magnetic and pulls her into his scheme to take down a demon who put a curse on his family and who he believes has also cursed Gemma’s family. This was definitely an exciting read and I loved the world building and the character development. The romance was a little much for me and it felt like too many sex scenes but other than that I really enjoyed this book and will check out the sequel when it comes out.

Pitched as "ACOTAR meets Bridgerton", A Crown of Ivy and Glass follows Gemma, a lady of the elite who is the only member of her family who does not have magical abilities. Underneath the facade, Gemma feels lonely and like an outsider in her own family. However, as the impending magical ruin upon her family and home is laid bare, she makes a bargain with another outsider in the hopes of finally realizing her true power.

What Didn't Work:
• Other than magic placed in a "historical" setting, there is really no similarity to ACOTAR or Bridgerton.
• The scope of the story is far too large. It felt like multiple books and genres smashed together in one.
• Gemma as a FMC was hard to root for. Characters should of course be complex and flawed, but it felt like Gemma's vanity and shallow nature overpowered any redeeming qualities she may have.
• The magic "rules" didn't feel very clear amongst the various characters.

Overall I rate this 2/5. I think with some editing and a more focused plot, it could have some potential.

Can I just put it out there?? Claire Legrand's world building is phenomenal. Pitched as Bridgerton meets ACOTAR....give it all to me. Now with that being said, let's dig into it.

Imogen 'Gemma' Ashbourne is surrounded by a world of magic...and it's killing her. Every day is filled with pain and sickness. Magic doesn't agree with her. To combat her daily life, she embraces a life of beauty from fashion and luster to parties and lovers. Her family is anointed by the gods and involved in a blood feud with a fellow anointed family, but Gemma doesn't concern herself with such trivialities.

Until a mysterious man comes under her father's influence and into her heart, but his intentions may not be honest. Now, Gemma's life is turned upside down. She's able to cast small amounts of magic, she's forgetting her dearest friends, and she's on the hunt for the demon who's messing with her family. Can Gemma save her family and end her own suffering? Or can her love save the day and her life?

What I liked:
-The world building obviously, Legrand is a master and I'd happily live in her magic systems.
-I also love the sense of mystery she embeds into her characters. They're so well thought out and I think that's another reason why some reviewers aren't too keen on this book. Gemma starts the book out as a privileged and honestly, seriously unlikeable. However, that's the point. Her character arc's growth is her journey in this first book and I hope the growth continues into the second book.
-Farrin and Ryder's chemistry. Can the second book just be from their POVs PLEASE!!!

What I though needed some work:
-A lot of reviewers said there is a complete disconnect between the first half of the book and the second half, and I have to agree with them. I'm hoping before the book is released there's some sort of work to merge the two halves together. I enjoyed both halves, but it was a rather dramatic transition.
-I also thought the relationship between Gemma and her bestie needed some tweaking in the second half because the drama felt unresolved (even though I know it's a series). I just thought it needed a tad more salve to get to the point it was when the book ended.

All in all, I'm very excited for this beauty to land on my shelf in May.

A CROWN OF IVY AND GLASS hits stores May 9, 2023. Pre-Order!!!

My thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

"...something immense and terrifying is awakening in Gemma, drawing her inexorably toward Talan and an all-consuming passion that could destroy her—or show her the true strength of her power at last."

Legrand is a must read for me and this novel has the potential to start a great series. The start feels meandering and I felt a love/hate relationship with Gemma and a great need to just get to the point. The story gains speed and we get going with a great cast of characters, a unique magic system, a mysterious villan, and enemies around every corner...and then it ends! So ultimately, I need more. I have faith this will undergo more editing and all the great parts will be joined.

I love Claire Legrand. A Crown of Ivy and Glass was not well-edited in the slightest. It feels like someone at Sourcebooks really let down the fanbase. This felt less mature, less tied-together than any of her other works, despite it being her adult debut. It was a really strange story attempting to do a dozen things at once, the main character did not feel likeable or relatable despite the great chronic pain representation, and the dialogue (specifically from Talan D’Astier) was very clunky. DNF’d @ 39%

A crown of ivy and glass is a story filled with so many emotions. I loved every minute of this rollercoaster. The characters were a delight and i cannot wait to read the next books in the series.

Legrand’s story is amazingly rich in lore and complex characters so well-woven that you absolutely lose yourself. She is a master at a slow build story that keeps you on your toes wondering what will happen next.

Gemma is a struggle to tolerate in the beginning, coming across as a vapid twit but as we learn more about her struggles with pain and panic, we start to slowly understand her ways and what lies below the surface. Alone in her life and struggling with chronic pain leave her turning to the few things that offer any kind of distraction.

Gemma’s character grows with the story. It leads you places you don’t expect. I truly can’t wait to see where the story and characters go with the next book!

Full on epic style fantasy.

This has been a challenge to review as there are elements I enjoyed such as the details surrounding the Mist and certain characters like Ryder. But there are too many sections which are overly long, especially the inner dialogue and the descriptions which means it’s easy to lose the narrative. I’m also still unclear what Gemma’s purpose is and hope that the bond between her sisters and her are picked up on in the next, making the, work together more cohesively.

All in all, there is so much potential in this series and I feel- and hope- that the following book will be a more compelling read. I’ve certainly felt that about other big fantasy series which I have gone on to love so fingers crossed!

A Crown of Ivy and Glass is the first book of a planned trilogy written by Claire Legrand. This author has written a number of other books but this is the first in the adult realm. Legrand does a great job setting the stage and characters in a short amount of time. The description of the world is very luscious and we are thrown pretty quickly into Gemma’s world and plot with Talan.

As the book went on, in particular in the middle and three-quarters of the way through, the plot felt heavy with all the details and plot points in one book. There were some loose threads that I hope will be taken care of in future books.

Ultimately I did really enjoy this book and the characters. I look forward to future sequels! Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

CLAIRE LEGRAND HAS DONE IT AGAIN

I'm honestly confused by the negative reviews of this ARC. The main character does start out slightly annoying, but I found it to be done in a very relatable way (lol) and her character growth was realistic and incredible to watch.

This is pitched as ACOTAR meets Bridgerton, which is BOLD. And besties, let me tell you....IT'S CORRECT. I 100% see both comparisons, the vibes are perfection, and I really couldn't put this down. The plot is wild, and the book didn't feel too long to me at all, I loved the pacing.

Gemma and her sisters are incredible, I love how different they are and it does remind me of a certain three sisters in ACOTAR for sure.

Officially my most anticipated new adult fantasy series!!!!!!

I liked this book and look forward to future books! It felt like a pretty long book but all parts were necessary.

Believe me, no one is more surprised than me.

What in the world happened?? With a pitch that is Bridgerton meets ACOTAR written by Claire Legrand, author of one of my all-time favourite epic fantasies, this should have been a home run. I mean, everything was screaming my name and instead I am left incredibly disappointed.

This felt like two separate books crammed together without any sort of seamless transition. I loved the first half. Like, that was what I wanted. It was Bridgerton glamour and romance with a fantasy twist. Gemma and Talan have an instant attraction that leads them to team up to a) help him restore respect to his family name and business and b) help her figure out a way to spy on the Basks and allow her family to win the feud that has raged between them. There was room for them to get to know each other and fall in love, all while travelling through magical portals and disguising their appearances to get one over on the Basks. It was fun and sweet and worth spending 500 pages on.

And then everything just sort of ... unravelled. It took about four turns that suddenly dropped the story into full ACOTAR territory, and not in a good way. And it was quickly after this point that the book felt unnecessarily long and I lost interest. There was a bigger mystery coming to light, monsters, undead allies, new magic—and none of it excited me. WHAT HAPPENED?! Gemma came into her own with self-discovery and taking control and it felt very (lord forgive me) Mary Sue.

Honestly, I question why Gemma had to be the first character to focus on for this series. What I liked most about her was the chronic pain rep Legrand invested in her. For some reason, Gemma not only doesn't have magic of her own like the rest of her family, but the magic around her actively harms her. She has to limit where and who she spends time with to avoid being on bedrest for several days. It was wonderfully and respectfully done, but outside of that, the girl was not pleasant. Gemma is the youngest of three sisters, and it kind of shows in how she behaves. She is rather vain, somewhat selfish and dismissive of others if it doesn't suit her, and is often focused on appearances. Normally, I wouldn't have an issue with an unlikeable character like this, especially when part of their arc is to turn those traits to good, but there was something about her that was off and made me not want to be with her. The whole time, I wanted to be in her sisters' heads instead.

Speaking of which, Farrin and Ryder. They better be the next book because I will eat that sh!t up. I mean, I was practically chomping at the bit with the tiny glimpses we got. And the fact that those little blips were more interesting than the romance between Gemma and Talan? Dead. If I have to say "is this really the time?" with every steamy scene, something is wrong. I admit, I didn't really trust Talan after a few scenes and thought Gemma deserved better. In hindsight, what he did makes sense, but it kind of soured him for me. What I did like about him, though, ties into Gemma's chronic pain. For one, he was respectful as f*ck about it, but he also served as a way to soothe her pain as an empath. It created an interesting dynamic between them of how much Gemma needed to be clear-headed or with him and managing her pain as is.

I think I'm getting to the point that I am going to swear off romances from Sourcebooks. There are a few more authors I'm going to keep with, but I no longer trust this imprint. I have read so many flops that feel as though no editor dug into the story to help the author shape it into what it needs to be, and I'm over being constantly disappointed.

Overall I thought this was a strong first book in a series. I enjoyed the cross between fantasy and Bridgerton type romance. Some fun surprises and loved the sisterhood aspects of the 3 sisters. I’m curious to see where this story goes throughout the rest of the series.