heather walter is giving the world the sapphic dark fairy tales, with a reclaiming villain povs. malice was one of my favorite reads the year it came out, and i just couldn’t wait to read something else by this author, after obsessing over that duology!

this is a reimagining of snow white, from the “evil” queen’s perspective. we follow a twenty-three year old witch heir, named ayleth, who is the descendant of one of the five ancient covens. In this world, there are five houses, all with five heroes, who come together once a year during an ascension, where you give blood and make an offering to one of the five. ten years ago, her sister’s ascension ended in tragedy, so now that ayleth’s is approaching, she goes on a quest for the coven to try to unlock some mystery, once of which being some information about five bloodstones that were stolen.

the thing is, magic had been abolished ten years ago as well. and now she finds herself at a court filled with secrets, while carrying her own secrets, while trying to figure out what are actual truth, especially involving magic. and… there is the cutest little princess in this story and ahhh i just loved it all.

i think one of the best and wildest parts of this is that i kept forgetting it was a reimagining and then something snow white-y would happen and i would be like “oh yeah!” but this really does stand all on its own. i love a quest story, and i always love exploring a castle. this also has a very good kind of enemies to lovers in it, that really did have me screaming. And the ending was very close to perfection. though, i did sadly feel like this was just a little too long and did drag at parts. but overall, i can’t wait for the next book and just to read all the powerful stories that healthier writes!

trigger + content warnings: a lot of talk of loss of a loved one, blood, abandonment, grief, self harm to get blood, talk of animal death in past, unwanted touching (arm grab), a very brief mention of loss of a pregnancy, death, funeral, anxiety, vomit, hurt pet (by another animal), animal death (magical evil wolf), homophobia (obv in a negative light), illness / poison, and just a lot of really bad parents

Another villains origin story?? I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. After reading Walter’s Malice duology I knew I’d love her next retelling and of course she hit it out of the park. Witchy AND sapphic? Yes please. I loved seeing Ayleth grow out of her sister’s shadow and become strong in her own way. I can’t wait to see how her story evolves and how she continues to grow into the strong witch we all know her to be.

The Crimson Crown is a loose retelling of the Evil Queen from Snow White. The story follows Ayleth, a young witch who is meant to rise up in station in her coven. She has lost her girlfriend and her older sister in the last few years. Ayleth's magic is almost non-existent. She does not want to become the second to her powerful mother, but the loss of her sister has forced her into this position. Ayleth decides the only way to fix everything is to bring her sister back from the dead. Ayleth runs away to the White Palace where she might find a way to do so, but Ayleth's presence at the palace throws her into the politics and drama of the court.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. Sometimes I was completely bored and other times I was absolutely loving it so much that I could not put it down. I'd say the first 30 or 40% was a little bit of a slog, but after that, I rushed through because I was so intrigued.

I think my struggle at the beginning came from the fact that everything hinges upon Ayleth's past, which we barely see, most of it is just told. This includes Ayleth's relationship with her ex, Jacquetta and Ayleth's relationship with her sister Rhea, who has been killed before the story starts. These factors almost made it seem like this was a second book in the series. It was hard to be invested in the storyline at first when it was so focused heavily on Jacquetta and Rhea, characters we barely know and see at the beginning of the book.

Once I got further into the book and the plot became more focused on the present, I started loving it. The White Palace is such an interesting setting. I also loved many of the characters that come into Ayleth's life during her time at the palace. The politics and drama of the court were so fun.

I think one other slight critique I have is that this is a book about witches and magic, but I feel like I barely understand the magic system of this world.

While I do have some slight critiques of this story, The Crimson Crown is a fun fantasy with an elaborate world full of magic and political machinations. It also features a lesbian relationship. While I feel as though its label of "retelling" is quite loose, this is a fantastic villain origin story. I am very excited for the next book in the series!

e-ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a great story. This book grabbed my attention from the very start, it was so hard to put down. I found myself up way past bedtime reading it. The scenes were so well developed I felt I was right there at every turn. The characters were so detailed that I felt like I was with them enjoying everything that happened to them.

This was a very enjoyable read!

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for- Ballantine for the advanced reader copy and this is my honest review.

✨5 STARS!!!✨

Thank you Del Rey and Netgalley for this eARC!!

I loved this book so much. I was a little wary going into this because Malice wasn't my favorite book I've read this year. However, this book is proof that authors improve throughout their career. Heather Walter has definitely grown as an author by how confident she is to push the limits of her world building and character work without sacrificing either for plot. I can't wait for the sequel of this and anything else she writes.

I love a good origin story this one definitely delivered. I loved Ayleth and really enjoyed her character. I liked the magic system and the way that the covens were set up. This story is definitely has a lot happening in it and I really enjoyed the writing. Literally my only complaint is that I think the book was a bit too long. there were some parts in the middle section that just felt a little out of the pacing that this book deserved. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

my first encounter with heather walter, and it was absolutely a WIN! everything witchy and dark and twisty here was so wonderfully done and paced and plotted. the romance being a second chance one while also having “i want to kiss/kill you” vibes was immaculate!!! a big win for the sapphics

this was such a rich and interesting villain origin story to a character in folklore that often gets pushed to be one dimensional. aylyth has an excellent arc here and leaves us on a haunting image that will be behind my eyelids until we get the sequel

A good follow up to the OG duology from Heather Walter. I enjoyed the plot a lot on this one the same as I did for the authors others. 3.5/5

When I saw Heather Walter was putting out a new book I was ecstatic, and this didn't disappoint. Totally ate up the storyline and couldn't read it fast enough. I should've known it wouldn't end with a resolution but silly me thought otherwise. My only thought, which again I should've known from her previous books, was a bit more steam would've added to the romance part of the story. All in all, another winner by Walter.

4.5 Stars

The Crimson Crown was such an enchanting reimagining of Snow White. I absolutely loved that it spins the classic tale into something far darker, richer, and more compelling. Ayleth’s transformation from a struggling young witch to a force to be reckoned with was captivating, and the amazing but dangerous world-building kept me hooked literally the entire book.

The relationship between Ayleth and Jacquetta was a standout for me—I found myself rooting for them so hard despite their complicated history. Their dynamic was layers upon layers of tension, betrayal, and longing, and watching them navigate their shared past in the shadow of the White Court was one of the most emotionally satisfying parts of the book.

The blend of the deeply personal struggles of Ayleth and the high-intensity court intrigue made this story unforgettable. With such complex characters, spell-binding twists, and a heroine who RIGHTFULLY earns her title as the “wickedest of them all,” this is the kind of fractured fairy tale I didn’t know I needed.

I’m counting down the days until book two comes out. If it is anything like this, it’s going to be a masterpiece!

I loved Malice and wanted to love this book just as much. The plot was GREAT but something about the writing just dragged on more than I liked. However, if someone was to ask me to recommend a villain sapphic book, I would recommend to them.

3.5/5

I liked the premise of The Crimson Crown. I looove a fairytale retelling and a good orgins story. I'll champion a villian-to-be all day. Overall, this was a good book. The ending saved it for me. It just felt too long and repetitive. I swear at least a third of the 400+ pages consisted of the MC, Ayleth, lamenting evvvverything and going of the same 3 streams of thought: lack of sister, lack of power, lack of love. Like, over and over, with little to no variation.
I did like thoroughly enjoy Nettle and Roland.
Not sure if they presence was enough to make me want to continue this duology, though.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for the eARC!

After reading Malice and Misrule last year, I was excited to see Heather Walter's take on yet another fairytale villain. There is a lot to love in this sapphic Snow White retelling: the setting is great, Ayleth's villain arc is very well done, and the atmosphere is spot on. I'll admit that I was really hesitant about the Snow White vibes early on, but once the book hit the halfway mark, it all started coming together for me.

Ayleth is the Second Daughter of a coven leader and destined to follow in her mother's footsteps in a world where using witchy magic is forbidden by the king. But when she goes to do her binding ceremony, things go horribly awry -- unlike her mother and deceased sister Rhea, Ayleth's magic refuses to awaken fully. In a quest to prove her magic, Ayleth sets out into king's city and ends up in his palace. Joined by her ex, Jacquetta, Ayleth must avoid discovery as a witch and work to save their world...because her magic isn't the only type that's dying.

As I mentioned before, the beginning doesn't feel super Snow White-esque and I struggled to get through Part 1. I feel like it's definitely longer in this part than it needed to be, just like the middle at times lagged a little bit. There are definitely pacing issues (similar to the kind seen in the Malice duology), but the parts that worked really worked. Ayleth in general is a strong character. Although many things happen to her, rather than her seeking them out, I felt that she was anything but passive. I love her devotion to her sister and the way that, although she has darkness inside her, the villain part of her story felt earned (and low-key kinda heartbreaking!).

I also adored the supporting cast of characters. Snow White herself (or, princess Blodwyn in this version) is an absolutely adorable menace of a child, and the king is skin-crawlingly well drawn. Character seems to be one of Walter's huge strengths! Even Jacquetta, who I really did not like in the romance, is a strong character on her own. The writing was also strong, though a bit repetitive at times.

For me, that's what makes it a 3.5 stars (rounded up) is those two flaws -- length and pacing. Weighing in at a hefty 560 pages (4oo something in the ARC), with a sequel on the way, I didn't feel that the amount of plot justified the length. It's slow moving, yes, but also with a too-long beginning and a too-short end. Still, I like the bones of this series and I do see the potential for Book 2 to be something truly stunning. I want to stick with Ayleth until the end to see how the rest of her arc plays out.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books (Random House), and Heather Walter for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Heather Walter’s reimagining of the dark queen’s origin story from Snow White completely captivated me by the end, even though I wasn’t sure about it at first. Set in a richly imagined world where witch covens hide from a hedonistic ruler who burns witches and oppresses women, the story follows Ayleh, a powerless descendant of an Ancient, grappling with betrayal, grief, and vengeance after her sister’s death. Betrayed by her first love and forced to betray her coven, Ayleh’s journey takes her down a path of rage and retribution, rekindling feelings with her former love along the way. But make no mistake—this isn’t a love story. It’s a searing portrait of sapphic female rage, and it resonated deeply, especially in the wake of the US election.

The Crimson Crown is a dark prequel of Snow White from the Evil Queen's point of view, in the same vein as Wicked and Maleficent. I read Malice by the same author, which is a prequel of Sleeping Beauty from Maleficent point of view, and really liked it. However, the sequel, Misrule, was not my favorite. Snow White isn't typically one of my favorites but I generally like fairy tale retellings and really enjoyed Malice, so I thought I'd try my luck with this one!

Annddddd it didn't work for me. I was interested for the first few chapters and then it lost me. I read it a little while ago at this point and I can't remember if I finished it or DNFed, which should give you an idea of my experience. It just didn't interest me. As the plot kept going, I realized I had no idea what was going on. I'm terrible at following fantasy plots so that may be a me problem, but I also didn't care about what was going on, which is more of an issue. It's also long as hell at 540 pages. I feel like some editing was really needed for a tighter and more impactful story.

Overall, not my favorite. I'd say give it a shot if yo u love villain POV books and love Snow White. This just wasn't for me. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC of this book, my thoughts are my own!

In this reimagining of the dark queen's origin story from Snow White, Heather Walter gives us a richly imagined universe full of feminine rage and sapphic longing. I wasn't sure about this book at first but it sunk its claws into me by the end.

In this world witch covens, which once held power, are in hiding from a hedonistic ruler who not only burns witches but oppresses all women. The Order, serving the goddess that took power from the witches, is the only outlet for women who don't want to marry. The covens now hide in the Order's sanctuaries. In comes Ayleh, betrayed by her childhood love into betraying her coven, a descendent of an Ancient and next in line to be Second after her beloved sister's death. But she has no power.

And love for her sister leads her away from her duty and onto a new path of vengeance. Along the way she reuinites with her first love, who make an uneasy pact as feelings blossom again between them. But this is no love story.

This is the portrait of sapphic female rage that I was looking for in light of the US election.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This just didn't work for me. I can't explain why. The writing is good. I love the premise. I think it really has more to do with me and my anxiety right now than anything else. I will likely try it again in a few weeks.

The Crimson Crown is marketed as a sapphic retelling of Snow White from the Evil Queens perspective before she became the evil queen.

I was sadly disappointed and I hate saying that.

We follow Ayleth, a young witch who tragically lost her sister 7 years prior when the kings Huntsmen attacked to end witchcraft. Ayleth is now second to her mother, an heir to the Bloodstones match and has to ascend to her powers now that her sister, who was the original second is gone. Ayleth leaves her coven on a quest to prove herself worthy of the coven after The Incident of not being present during the attack 7 years ago because she was with another young witch Jaquetta. At the white palace they cross paths and uncover secrets of the white court, where Ayleth comes into her powers and becomes this powerful wicked witch we all know the Evil Queen to be.

While the premise is intriguing, the execution was disappointing. I actually DNF’d this book twice. Once around 20% and again at 65%. I tried again and here are my thoughts.

There was a lot and I mean a lot of repetition of the same phrases. I lost count of how many times Ayleth mentioned the smell of juniper in regards to Jaquetta. And then there was the mention of the voice. It was maddening how much this voice in her spoke to her or was mentioned.

Also we got a small prologue/ chapter of her relationship with her sister, and it had so much significance and importance to the story and I did not feel that connection enough for her to constantly mention her sister and mention bringing her back. She was obsessed with her sister/ living in her sisters shadow so much so that she needed to bring her back to be the second again.

Now the romance…..
where was it? There was no chemistry between Ayleth and Jaquetta. The romance was so lackluster and barely existent. If the goal was supposed to be lover to enemies to lover, it was not met.

The pacing was slow and the book is 500 pages! And it felt like nothing really happened and it was so hard to care for the characters. Ayleth had what seemed like no character growth or reduction until the last 10% of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange or an honest review.

Heather Walters is a wiz at getting you to root for who would traditionally be the villain and then a queer romance to boot. It was great to see her next take on a fairytale retelling.

This review has been posted to Goodreads and Storygraph on November 1st, 2024. Links provided.

In a fresh take on the classic tale, the wicked queen from Snow White is given her own origin story in this young adult novel by Heather Walter. Ayleth, a young witch living with her coven in the forest, struggles with her untested magical powers while evading the White King’s brutal campaign against witchcraft. To prove herself, she embarks on a perilous journey to the White Palace, where she encounters Jacquetta, a witch from her past who once betrayed her. As tensions mount and dark forces lurk within the palace, Ayleth and Jacquetta must confront their history and join forces to survive. Through this journey, Ayleth discovers the strength to transform into a powerful witch, embracing the very wickedness she never knew she could possess.

Overall, I quite enjoyed this book! I thought the writing was great, the storyline exciting, and the character development intriguing. It’s always interesting to get a different perspective and backstory on a well known fairytale, especially when it’s an origin story for the villain. It took me a little time to get into the story and there were a couple of times where I was slightly confused with the plot, but in the end I really got into the book and finished it fairly quickly. This was the first book in a duology and I will definitely be reading the second one when it comes out to see how the story continues!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read to an ARC of The Crimson Crown in return for my honest review.