The writing in this is very strong and well crafted. I enjoyed the premise and plot very much. My only critique is that the magic system was a bit confusing at first, but after I got into the story, it was lovely! I definitely recommend it!

First let me say thank so much for gifting me an EARC of this book.

I am a big fan for Claire Legrrand’s Empirium trilogy so I had extremely high hops for this one. However I really struggled with this one. I found myself getting lost with the development of the story and the magic system.

Thank you Net Galley and to the Publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest review.

Claire Legrand's "A Crown of Ivy and Glass" attempts to merge the allure of fantasy and romance within a lush setting, but it grapples with pacing issues that hinder the overall reading experience.

Set in a world brimming with magical abilities and complex social dynamics, the novel follows Lady Gemma Ashbourne, a character who, despite her glittering exterior, struggles with inner loneliness and a lack of magical powers. Gemma's encounter with Talan d'Astier, a survivor determined to restore his family's honor, forms the basis of an intriguing but somewhat convoluted plot. The premise holds promise, with a demon-fueled feud between families and the prospect of hidden strengths being uncovered.

The character development is a mixed bag. While the protagonists hold potential, there are instances where their actions feel contrived and their decisions lack the depth needed to fully connect with readers. Gemma's emotional journey and discovery of latent abilities could have been more engaging, but some of her choices come across as rash and inconsistent.

Pacing emerges as a significant issue within the narrative. Long chapters, coupled with slow-moving sequences, contribute to a sense of dragging that can test the reader's patience. Although the blend of romance and fantasy elements is intriguing, the book's pacing struggles often overshadow the excitement that such a mix should evoke.

The portrayal of emotions and relationships also wavers. While some interactions carry genuine emotion, others lack the depth needed to forge strong connections between characters. The chemistry between Gemma and Talan, despite being central to the story, occasionally falls short of igniting the expected spark.

Despite its challenges, "A Crown of Ivy and Glass" is not devoid of merits. Legrand introduces an interesting world filled with magic, treachery, and hidden power, drawing on elements that can captivate readers. There are moments of wit and entertainment within the writing, though they occasionally get lost in the narrative's overall pacing.

While the concept is intriguing and certain elements hold promise, the execution struggles to maintain consistent engagement. The novel may appeal to those who appreciate a blend of fantasy and romance, but its challenges make it a somewhat uneven read.

This one kind of dragged for me. The chapters were so long. I'm going to try another format because I have heard great reviews. Audio seems to be easier with long chapters for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for a copy of A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand. In exchange for an honest review.

You'll find a fascinating mix of fantasy and romance. The story introduces us to Lady Gemma Ashbourne, who might seem like she has everything, but inside, she's sad and lonely. She doesn't have magical powers like her family, and she meets Talan d'Astier, who wants to fix his family's mistakes. Gemma suggests they help each other, but things get complicated as they face dangerous challenges. Gemma discovers hidden strength and feelings she never knew she had. Legrand's book is an exciting read with magic, love, and thrilling moments that fans of romance and fantasy will enjoy.

I really struggled with this book. There is nothing redeeming or relatable about the FMC. I didn't really care about the MMC or fell a connection to any of the characters (with exception perhaps for the enemy house, they seem interesting for what little we see). I hated the portrayal of 'the panic' here, it seemed like it was included to check a box. A fair amount of her decisions were rash and involved no forethought and other times she seemed to just wish her anxiety away....and well, we should all be so lucky.

The pacing was not good here and I spent a lot of time forcing myself through the pages. The romance/smut was just okay, I didn't feel any chemistry between them. There were a few bits of writing and dialogue that I found witty and entertaining but they got lost in this book. I can't recommend this book and I won't be coming back for the next installation.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this work. I received an ARC from Netgalley and am writing this review based on my own honest thoughts and experiences.

I ended up DNF’ing this book. The FMC annoyed me and I gave her the benefit of the doubt through about 50%. Then we got to the point where she said she would use the demon to help herself rather than her family and I quit…

It’s so lovely to see a new release from Claire out in the world, I’ve enjoyed her previous books so much and this is all so exciting! A Crown of Ivy And Glass felt like going back to something I’ve known but also something new in all the best ways at the same time! I cannot wait to see where the story goes in future books and also it’s just so lovely to have new books from Claire again, I hope we get a ton more because I really love her writing and reading new books from her just feels right.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of A Crown of Ivy and Glass. This was very good and i cannot wait for more from this author. I have already had this stocked in my store because it was worth it.

There is no one out there sadder than me that this was a 3 star read for me. I love Claire Legrand’s writing but this book was just a miss.

Let’s start with what I didn’t like. The main character. Don’t come for me, but I’m not an Elain from ACOTAR fan and Gemma gave me such Elain vibes in the absolute worst way. She was the spoiled youngest sister and she literally spends the first few chapters bragging about how she enjoys being spoiled. I found her, for lack of a better word, insipid.

I was also unsure what the actual plot was for most of the book. It took at least 50% of the story before I even knew what the characters’ goals were and that made the story quite boring.

As for things I did like, I love Claire’s writing. This book did not turn me off of her books and I think I just didn’t jive with this one. I’m chalking it up to a one off. I also liked the world and I’m excited that there will be more stories set here.

Overall, this book was far too long and lacked a plot. I also found it very hard to root for the main character. I’d keep reading but would not reread this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really wanted to love this, given how much I loved the Empirium Trilogy.

However, this book did not deliver.

The magic system was a bit confusing & the FMC very whiney and hard to connect to.

Anything with a title similar to ACOTAR draws me in at the moment!
It is more YA than I read normally and than I initially anticipated based on the blurb.
I love anxiety rep but this book failed to pull me in as much as others I’ve read recently.
There were moments where I found it hard to relate to our FMC but others where it came so naturally. It’ll be really interesting to see where this book series heads!

DNF
I tried really hard to like it but unfortunately this book was not for me.
After first reading about this book I really loved the premise and what was promised as Bridgerton-meets-ACOTAR but when I actually read it...I was super disappointed.
First of all this definitely wasn't an adult fantasy. This is 100% YA. The writing, the main character...everything felt juvenile. I'ven never struggled with a book as much as with this one.
Also, the main character was just unbearable. She was extremely vain, like SUPER vain. We get it, you're pretty and young and everyone's in love with how lovely you look, I don't need to be reminded constantly. Gosh! I've never disliked a character this much!
I'm so sad because I really wanted to like this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. Despite my initial enthusiasm, I found the female lead character to be somewhat unappealing due to her constant complaining. Similarly, the male lead didn't quite win me over, and the storyline failed to grab my attention

Although there is at times a lot happening plot-wise, this premise is very interesting! The characters, esp Gemma, are enjoyable to read about. This may not be for everyone, but I think some will really enjoy this one!

TL;DR REVIEW:

A Crown of Ivy and Glass, an adult fantasy romance Giselle retelling, was definitely not perfect, but I had a ton of fun reading it and can’t wait for book two.

For you if: You’re looking for anxiety/chronic pain rep and love a steamy fantasy book.

FULL REVIEW:

I loved Claire Legrand’s Empirium trilogy (first book is Furyborn), so imagine how excited I was when I read in her newsletter that she’d sold a new adult fantasy romance trilogy where each book focuses on a different sister and retells a famous ballet. I DMed the publisher to put me on a galley list right away (to which they kindly said “it’s a little early lol”).

A Crown of Ivy and Glass was far from perfect, but I definitely had fun reading it. This one is a Giselle retelling and focuses on the youngest sister, Gemma.

The not-so-great parts: The pacing was inconsistent, with a much slower build and sudden change 75% of the way in. Gemma is vain and self-absorbed and not very likable, especially in the beginning. Legrand’s “once upon a time” prose style also takes some time to get used to until it stops feeling cheesy, as does Gemma and Talin’s insta-love.

And for the good parts: Gemma gives us some solid rep, including anxiety/panic attacks and severe chronic pain, which Legrand has said was extremely important to her. I loved that it was a Giselle retelling, and it managed to surprise me even so. The magic system feels novel and interesting. Oh, and steamy scenes be steamyyy.

The next book is going to be about Gemma’s eldest sister, Farin, and based on the glimpses we got in this book, I can already tell it’s going to be a fantastic romance. I’ll be eagerly awaiting it!




CONTENT AND TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Chronic pain; Self-harm; Panic attacks; Suicidal thoughts; Blood and violence; Sexual content

This was a really great book with intriguing characters and world building. The story kept me gripped and wanting more. Gemma is a great leading lady.

This book had SO much potential, but it felt very disjointed. The beginning was so slow and took me a LONG time to get through. It was tough. Once I hit the second half, I loved it, but it felt like I was reading an entirely different novel. Overall it was a very bizarre reading experience that I loved and hated in equal parts.

This wasn't bad, but I expected more from Legrand.

My main qualms:
-this debut adult novel felt too juvenile to be classified as adult.
-the pacing is wonky.
-it feels like two different stories were forced to become one

It's always hard to critique a book from an author who has made a name for themselves, and you expect good work from. This book just isn't at the level that her other books have been.

This was my first book by Claire Legrand. I own The Empirium Trilogy, but haven't gotten to it yet. I have been on quite the fantasy kick lately, and this book fit that category nicely. It has strong world building. It's quite long, but all the best fantasy books are. All in all, I quite enjoyed this book.