I truly wanted to get behind this book, but unfortunately it just did not keep my attention. I received an ARC of the audiobook and from the beginning I had a hard time getting behind the narrator. The main character, Gemma, is already pretty unlikeable and a wispy voice did not help. I found the characters around her, namely her sisters, much more exciting and wished I was following their story first instead of hers. Also, I was never really into the Talen relationship or the spice, he is off the whole time and if I were him I would really hate Gemma...shes incredibly annoying with him from the start.

With all the being said what I did like was the overall world building and if subsequent books follow her sisters that is a book I can get behind and would be much more interested in reading. I am not giving up on Claire Legrand books and I have high hopes for future installments.

"A Crown of Ivy and Glass" by Claire Legrand is a mesmerizing audiobook that delves deep into the complexities of power, family, and self-discovery. Set in a world where abilities are a divine blessing, Gemma Ashbourne's journey of finding her place and unraveling the truth is both captivating and emotionally resonant.

Legrand's vivid and evocative storytelling brings Gemma's world to life, painting a rich tapestry of magic, mystery, and longing. The contrast between Gemma's seemingly perfect exterior and her internal struggles creates a compelling tension that keeps you engaged throughout the narrative. Her yearning for love, belonging, and a sense of purpose is palpable, and you can't help but root for her as she navigates the treacherous path ahead.

The introduction of Talan d'Astier adds an intriguing layer of romance and redemption to the story. The complexities of their relationship, intertwined with the quest to destroy the Bask family and uncover the truth behind the blood feud, make for an enthralling plot. The escalating attacks on the Middlemist and the awakening of Gemma's own powers ratchet up the tension, driving the story toward a climax that is both immense and terrifying.

The audiobook is brought to life by skilled narration, which enhances the immersive experience. The voice actors adeptly capture the emotions and nuances of the characters, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in their world. The combination of Legrand's masterful storytelling and the compelling performances of the voice actors creates an audio experience that is truly captivating.

"A Crown of Ivy and Glass" is not only a tale of magic and adventure; it also explores profound themes of identity, resilience, and the true strength that lies within oneself. Gemma's journey serves as a powerful reminder that one's worth is not determined solely by external factors, but by the courage to embrace and harness one's unique abilities.

In conclusion, "A Crown of Ivy and Glass" is an enchanting audiobook that will transport you to a world of magic, secrets, and self-discovery. Claire Legrand's storytelling prowess, combined with the compelling characters and immersive narration, make this a must-listen for fans of fantasy and heartfelt journeys of empowerment. Prepare to be swept away by Gemma's quest, as she finds her true strength and learns that belonging comes from within.
This is the first of the Middlemist series and I cannot wait to read what happens next.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for this advance reader copy. My thoughts are my own.

I wanted to enjoy this more than I did.. I almost dnf’d around 20%. But decided to trudge on.
It started good, then lulled, then was good again.. I just ended up not really caring about the story or the characters.
It was a lot of ideas packed into a book, I felt like I was being thrown in many directions.
There was spice, started around 33% mark, but I ended up fast forwarding the spicy scenes..
The FMC was just unlikeable to me.
And Trigger Warnings!
Self harm and suicidal thoughts (multiple mentions.
It was just ok to me. I just couldn’t connect.

This is the book that never ends, it just goes on and on my friends. This book just had no business being this long. 21 hours long! 40% through the audiobook and I was desperately waiting for something (anything!) to happen to grab my attention.

I think the problem here was the direction of the story. There were so many interesting aspects that could have been the main focus, like Gemma basically having an allergic reaction to magic or the fact her sister was taken against her will to guard her people against monsters. Instead, we focused on a romance and Gemma’s inability to accept that she isn’t the centre of the universe. Gemma is so immature I zoned out for a lot of the book because I thought her problems made her whiny and unrelatable. She expresses feelings of loneliness and acts as if her family has abandoned her and as a result lacks attention. Yeah, your sister and father have more important matters to attend to and as a result she is impulsive. The characters are so juvenile that it reads like YA except for the random spicy scene interjected to give this an adult label.

The book managed to peak my interest because the synopsis compares this book to Bridgerton and ACOTAR, two of my favourite things. Since we are making comparisons why not add Hell Bent because well there are demons, and probably Book Lovers because someone reads a book at some point, and don’t forget the Maid because a domestic worker is mentioned. There’s nothing romantic about a Gemma and Talon and the instalove didn’t help.

The narrator did the best they could with the material they had but the book felt neverending and insurmountable, so I DNF’d at 40%. I tried, I really did. For weeks I’ve been trying to make a dent in this book in the hope that all of it will have been a (slow) build-up to something.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for providing an advanced listening copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to the audiobook version, which I think helped.

First, I have loved other books by Claire Legrand and the plot summary of this one sounded super interesting. But I just got lost with the plot and it felt unnecessarily drawn out.

A Crown of Ivy and Glass follows Gemma Ashbourne in a coming of age royalty meets fantasy plot. Gemma has no magic of her own although all of her family does. Also magic actively hurts her. Then she meets Talon, who is an empath and can soothe her pain and I thought we would embark on a typical fantasy set love story. But it was like the author tried to do too much in one book and just lost the point of the story.

I was also surprised to here that this was supposed to be an adult fantasy novel instead of YA because it felt hopelessly YA to me, and not in a good way. Gemma is just a whiny teenager and can't seem to get it together.

The audio-narration was good though and helped me to get through it.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for an advanced copy to review.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this ARC! After reading the synopsis, I was really intrigued by this book. However, I had a hard time getting interested in the storyline. The first chapter came out really strong and then it felt like the story slowed down. The narrator reminds me of Keira Knightly in Pride and Prejudice, her voice is really soothing and unique. It gave the book a more historical romance feel, which may be why it wasn’t quite for me. However, the premise of the book is really cool, so if you enjoy historical fiction, this could be for you!

A dark, angsty fairytale romance that I found similar to books like Kingdom of the Wicked, ACOTAR, The Cruel Prince.

This is a fairly chonky read, I think I would have preferred for it to be split into two books. There are two pretty distinct parts to the story so it would have been an easy split. Or the first half shortened into a prequel novella and the second half fleshed out s little more as the first book. There is a lot of world building, with some info dumping, and a fair amount of characters and different plot lines, and being so long/so much story…it was just a lot for my current attention span.

I did think the story itself was interesting, even if it was a bit slow in the telling. And I always love a bisexual MC, plus there is chronic pain rep which I thought was well done (but as someone who doesn’t live with chronic path, I defer to those who do and will update if I see any discourse about anything problematic). I was invested enough by the end that I’ll continue the series but I’m not like chomping at the bit, desperately needing it right this second. Claire’s writing is kind of hit or miss for me - I liked Furyborn but she completely lost me with the second book and I have zero desire to finish that series. Hopefully this series will get better as it goes, not the other way around.

I also think part of why I was able to get through it ok is because I was reading via audiobook, which I find helpful with longer books that haven’t super captured my attention. So if you’re on the fence about this one - definitely give the audiobook a go!

A Crown of Ivy and Glass is my first book by this author and I enjoyed it. The plot in this story had me fully engrossed from beginning to end and I couldn't put it down. There was quite a lot happening in the story which gave us a blend of high society period drama, fantasy, feuding, curses, magic, romance, magical creatures, demons, warriors, necromancers, mystery and so much more.
The world building was amazing and really well written and played out like a movie in my mind.
We got a diverse cast of interesting characters who were all complex and layered and I felt the author did great job with character development most especially for Gemma. I will admit she annoyed me at the start of the story but her remarkable change from the spoilt, sad and lonely woman suffering with chronic pain, anxiety and panic attacks to the strong resilient woman at the end was quite interesting to watch. Gemma and her sisters were incredible. Each so different I enjoyed reading about them
The romance between Gemma and Talan was passionate and I loved how sweet he was and how he cared for her. These two were perfect together and they really balance each other out.
This is the first book in the Middlemist Trilogy and it really took us on an unexpected adventure. With unexpected twists and turns i enjoyed every moment and can wait for book two. I would highly recommend this novel to lovers of fantasy romance.
I listened to the audiobook version of this novel which was narrated by Evelyn Rose. She did a fantastic job with the characters giving each one their own voice and emotion. Her voice was clear and understandable and she really brought the story to life. It was a pleasure listening to her narrate this novel. Thank you to Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC.

Having never read Claire Legrand before, I have nothing to compare this novel to. However, as this was supposed to be her adult debut, it didn't really feel like adult sci=fi. It reads like YA, which is fine. That's Legrand's wheelhouse and maybe the trilogy will take on a more adult feel as the second and third books come out.
Lady Gemma Ashbourne is the only one in her family without magic. And they are involved in a blood feud w/ the Bask family. She meets handsome Talan d'Astier and makes a deal to help him destroy the demon that wiped out his family in exchange for helping her destroy the Basks. It's all very convoluted and there is a lot of unnecessary story. But a good start to a new trilogy.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio e-arc.*

Lady Gemma has a painful life...literally. The magic that surrounds her, the magic she has none of, hurts her when she feels it being used around her. Three once-close sisters have been through so much, including the loss of their mother, that they don't talk or see each other much. Gemma's father runs so hot and cold that she never knows to whom she wills speak and she is lonely. When Talan, a handsome outcast comes to try to win back his family's name, things change for everyone, not just Gemma and Talan.

While this took me a while to get through, and sometimes I felt like I needed to make myself listen, I nonetheless really enjoyed this book. I've read Legrand before and was eager to try another. The story was exciting and engrossing most of the time, though I found some of the dialogue a bit "corny." I especially enjoyed the character development in regards to the sisters and father. This will be a strong series, I believe, and I will pick up the next one when it's released!

From the author of Furyborn comes the first in the Middlemist Trilogy. A Crown of Ivy and Glass is compared to A Court of Thorns and Roses and Bridgerton, which if you're anything like myself has be INTRIGUED. This is Claire Legrand's debut adult fantasy novel. Gemma, the MFC is a chronically ill, and struggles with anxiety, and this does make me feel for her, but on the other hand Gemma is not entirely likeable, at times being vain and not exactly the person I would tend to root for, but I also found her to be relatable at times too. I am so looking forward to more of this world and seeing what is in store for the characters. I definitely think this was an good start, but in the next two books I would really hope to see more of the world and more out of the characters to help with actually enjoying reading about them. I believe the narrator did a fantastic job, I think I would need to read this in physical form again to gain a better perspective, but it was pretty good, overall and I think there is an audience for this novel.

I struggled through this one. It just didn’t grab me from the start. The pacing was slow. I didn’t connect with the characters. I really wanted to like it. It just didn’t work for me. I listened to the audiobook. The narrator did an excellent job. Huge thanks to dreamscape media for allowing me to listen and review this audiobook.

This was my first book by this author and I quite enjoyed it.
Imogen "Gemma" Ashbourne (forgive any misspelling of names, this was an audiobook) grew up as the only member of a magical family to have no magic, and no only that, to have an allergy to it, making her ill when it was performed around her. This caused her to feel isolated from her family, though she had her best friend to count on. Her family has long been feuding with another, the feud rumoured to have been incited by a demon, though no-one truly believed this. This is where I thought we would get a Romeo and Juliet style romance, but instead, our love interest arrived in the form of some bloke from who-knows-where, just wanting to wipe the stain from his family's name, and of course, he needs Gemma to help him.
A Crown of Ivy and Glass took a minute to get going. And when it did, the pacing was a bit up and down. There were characters I didn't trust from the start, and rightly so, but I did like the comradery that grew between Gemma and her companions, particularly in the last quarter of the book. The end felt quite resolved, so I'm curious as to where the rest of the trilogy will take our main characters, and what other horrors they will encounter.
This NA fantasy did have some steamy scenes, which were decent. The time period gave us almost Bridgerton vibes crossed with something darker like Lakesedge. Overall, an enjoyable read, and I will probably pick up the next one!

⭐️⭐️.5 🎧- Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC!

Man, where to start. I had really high hopes for this book after the first chapter because I was immediately sucked in. I thought it was a really fun world and magic system that was introduced. I’m honestly not sure what happened after that though.

There were some really fun and interesting things that happened periodically (like one scene every 5 or so chapters), but I felt like there was so much random filler throughout. I think this book had some serious pacing issues because after the first chapter I found myself so disinterested and bored with the story until about 50% of the way through.

I could not stand the romance in this book. The insta-love between the two and the cringey love scenes just weren’t for me. It did get less awkward later in the book, but the damage was already done at that point.

It felt super immature for an adult fantasy. I almost DNFed, but about 50% through it had a bit of a turning point. Unfortunately, I think I was too uninterested at this point to truly care about the characters. The FMC was very unlikeable in my opinion which didn’t help. I wish the story followed the Mara because I think her story would have been a far more compelling beginning for the series.

I don’t think I’ll be picking up book 2.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

I went back and forth with this book. About 40% in, it was almost a DNF but I stuck with it and I'm glad I at least finished it.

Gemma's family is blessed by the Gods; however, they are really just hanging on by a thread. One sister was taken to the Middlemist as a guard against her wishes. Her oldest sister's gift was music that she no longer plays in her anger. Their mother has left. And in a house full of anointed magic, Gemma has none. In fact, magic makes her sick.

Then she meets the handsome and kind, Talan, and they enter a bargain that changes their worlds. Enemies become allies as they go on a quest to slay a demon called The Man With the Three Eyed Crown that has them all in his clutches. They must go through the mist to find the answers and for Gemma to discover her true power.

I gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️. stars. I felt Gemma was very immature, especially in the first half of the book. I felt like it was a YA book with sex scenes just randomly thrown in. The second half was better but it still didn't have the depth I wanted. I wasn't a fan of Talan. He just didn't capture me. I was actually intrigued by the Basks (the enemies) and would've liked to know more of them. Maybe in the next book. This one just fell short though.

Thank you to @netgalley and @dreamscape_media for an early audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I might add that I liked the narrator.

Okay, so I didnt love this. For an adult fantasy I felt the characters were acting pretty juvenile. There were a lot of subplots and stories going on at once which I found really confusing and hard to stay engaged. I wish we had seen more character development. Maybe that will happen with the next book. Im not sure Im invested enough to pick up the next one, since this was so large and I found tedious to get through

DNF @ 25%
I should have expected I wouldn't like this with bridgerton meets acotar cause neither of those particularly interest me but I've always heard good things about Legrand so I was still interested. This feels like it was written for the tiktok formula which gives it a very derivative feeling. It is catagorized as adult but the voice and writing felt very much YA.
Only redeeming feature was that the narration was decently well done.

DNF
I’m going to start this off by saying, I hated this heroine from the start. It’s been a while since I’d hated a main character like this. I’m not even going to go into detail because that’s just going to bring up my anger again.

On another note, I really like the narrator. She was expressive and I loved her voice!

A glorious tale told with a narrator that allows the story to come to life. This is my first adventure into a Clarie Legrand novel and it certainly won't be my last. I loved the twists and turns throughout the story, the way she brought the characters through trials while maintaining their integrity. The story itself is bold and bright, with flourishes woven throughout that allow the reader to dream brighter and be thrilled page after page. Gemma and Talan work with--and occasionally against--each other in a way that shows their attraction while keeping true to the story. Gemma is the shining light, and her lack of magic is the catalyst that brings the whole thing together.