eARC Review: The Crimson Crown by Heather Walter 👑

This was a great sapphic reimagining of the origin story of the Evil Queen from the Snow White tale. I really enjoyed the deep dive into how Ayleth slowly becomes the queen we all know and secretly fear. 🍎

Ayleth is an interesting character from the get go. Going from the well loved, but slightly ignored second daughter to being directly under the thumb of her distant and cold mother, I felt for her need for companionship and desire to prove herself. I loved her descent into villainy towards the end of the book, but man I felt like she gave too many second chances to people. 🐦‍⬛

Jacquetta is an interesting love interest. She’s an enigma to me because while she slowly gains Ayleth’s trust back, I never really felt like we got to know her outside of the one who breaks Ayleth’s heart. I’m very excited to see if we get more back ground into her relationship with her mother and coven in the next book. ⚡️

All in all, I will admit that this book was a solid 4 star for me up until the last 20% of the book. The big reveal at the end and the concluding events made it immediately jump up in rating and now I’m so excited to see what’s in store in the future! 😱

Big thank you goes to Del Rey Books and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this great villain origin story in exchange for an honest review, and to the author, Walter, for really hooking me on fairytale women going full unhinged. 😈

Publication date: August 27!

Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐️

In a land where witches and their covens were once revered, but are now reviled and hunted to their deaths, one witch seeks to save her sister and restore the covens back to their place of glory. In this story, we see the path that led the young witch, Ayleth, to become Snow White's Evil Queen.

I really enjoy retellings and "pretellings" of well known stories and this one did not disappoint. Generally I plow through books, often not remembering everything I read a week after I'm done, but this one was able to make me slow down and really pay attention and immerse myself in every page. One thing I really appreciated was the diversity in types of relationships that Ayleth was trying to navigate and how all were given similar focus, without stagnating the plot.

While it could end here and be a good ending, I'm looking forward to an exciting continuation of Ayleth's story.

I was pretty excited for this title as a fan of Walter's previous duology, <I>Malice</I> and <I>Misrule</I>. And I think many of the things that made me enjoy those books were present here as well: for all that it's a long book, it's compulsively readable, with a plot that moves along at a steady clip and some satisfying twists and turns. I was particularly a fan of both the political and magical systems Walter designed for this world: there's some very cool, very unique types of magic involving mirrors (which of course ties in to the <I>Snow White</I> retelling aspect of the book), and I found much that was interesting about a world in which covens of witches used to support the balance of all things but have been usurped by members of a faith group that see their abilities as evil. The thing that prevents this from being a four-star read is the fact that there were some pretty glaring plot holes/inconsistencies that I found distracting—such as Ayleth's ability to infiltrate the royal court with everyone apparently accepting this unconvincing actor is who she says she is, despite the many clues she's given that could lead them to check anything at all on her background. The romance kind of left me cold, as well: we learn that Ayleth and her former lover Jacquetta were separated seven years ago due to a misunderstanding, but before that, they were just as close as could be. In the present, though, they're constantly arguing, mistrustful of one another, or being openly hostile (thanks in no small part to the misunderstanding that separated them), and I just didn't feel like there was enough of a foundation built up to make me believe these two were more than just hot for each other.

I do think I'll read the sequel: the ending left us in an interesting and terrifying place (much like the ending of <I>Malice</I>, actually), and there are elements of the plot that I'm genuinely interested in seeing developed more—such as the relationship Ayleth builds with Princess Blodwyn, our Snow White character who's a feral little demon child but feels seen and understood by Ayleth. There's a plot of potential there and I'm excited to see where it goes! But the sapphic romance in what was touted to me as a sapphic romantasy just wasn't cutting it for me.

I DEVOURED THIS BOOK OH MY GOD I loved everything about this!!!! The characters, the plot, the history, etc was all perfect!

Absolutely loved this queer retelling of a classic tale! Heather Walter, you have done it again, making me feel for the villain! My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Can I just say....WOW?!?! What a book!!! Many kudos to the author, I've never found myself rooting for the villain quite so hard. Ayleth had one of the hardest "hero's journeys" I've read, especially as a Queer woman. The last 100 pages of this novel was one of the most fulfilling, gut-wrenching, insane conclusions to a book I've ever read. There were so, so many twists and turns to this novel, I truly feel like there was no other path Ayleth was going to be able to go down in the end. I look forward to hopefully reading many more Queer stories by this author in the future!

★ ★ ★ • 3

I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys witchcraft stories, unique and morally grey protagonists, and fairytale retellings.

The story itself has elements of Snow White with a new spin that mainly focuses on a misunderstood villainess. Personally I thought the story was really interesting and had a lot of potential but I wasn’t the most fond of the writing style and some of the characters. Regardless of that, this book is definitely a solid read if you want a queer fairytale retelling with found family elements and enemies-to-lovers tropes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review!

The premise is very compelling, it’s the era of villain origin stores after all! The beginning is a bit of a slog unfortunately. This could just be me not being into FMCs that pine for a cruel parent’s affection. Or it could be the writing style. But push through as the world expands and things in the story open up.

I already read Heather Walter's Malice duology and the Crimson Crown is a story in a similar vein, a loose retelling of a well known fairytale with the villain as the main character.

The Crimson Crown is an origin story and has a bit of an open ending, there's room for a sequel but I do think it can also stand on its own and I think it's meant to be a standalone.

The story is gripping, with a well developed main character who's always believed she isn't good enough and that her dead sister is much better than her. The start is a bit slow but I do think this was necessary to properly set this up, and build towards a character arc.
The character arc is the main strenght of this book and I loved watching Ayleth grapple with her insecurities, her failure of being the Second her mother wants.

I found Jacquetta an interesting character too, though it's not easy to get to know her as she's very closed off and Ayleth has to make guesses as to what Jacquetta is truly after, and after a previous bad experience with Jacquetta Ayleth is inclined not to trust her. But there were some heartfelt moments and I really like her as a tragic, flawed character.

The story really picked up once Ayleth and Jacquetta are invited into the palace as part of the Queen's court. Tensions are high as witches are actively hunted and Ayleth and Jacquetta can easily end up dead if they're not careful. I could feel this tension through the writing, combined with all the strange events happening that Ayleth starts to believe she's causing.

I liked the court setting, it was developed and thought out and didn't really feel like a generic court to me, I think the author said somewhere it's inspired by the Tudor era and I think the court setting is modeled after that time period even if it's a second world fantasy.

It's difficult to say much about this book without giving spoilers but I think people who loved Malice will love this too, and I would recommend it if you like complex, morally grey characters

4.5/5

Heather Walter, how dare you? I need you to stop making me sympathize with villains like this. The amount of times that I was rooting for Ayleth when I shouldn't have. Thank you very much!

in this queer, witchy reimagining of snow white’s evil queen, we follow the queen from the time she was a young witch named ayleth. she fears that, with her gifts having yet to reveal themselves, she will never become the witch her coven needs. so, she embarks on a perilous quest to the white palace, where she’s surprised to encounter jacquetta, a fellow witch who betrayed ayleth.

i have yet to read heather walter’s duology, but they’ve been on my tbr for a while, so i was interested in reading this book when i came across it. i will say, while this initially drew me in due to the comparison to snow white’s villain, i had completely forgotten that comparison before and while reading this. so, i would go in with the expectation that this is just a loose reimagining, and wasn’t meant to heavily resemble that story!

i’d recommend this to anyone who likes witchy stories, queer and morally grey main characters, and complex family dynamics!

Overall: Special thanks to NetGalley and DelRey for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such an enjoyable retelling! Such a badass MC and story.

You may or may not know this but I love being in the perspective of the villain. I love morally grey characters and seeing the chaos that ensues to turn them into a villain.. So, with that being said, this reimagining of the Snow White tale in "Mirror, Mirror" is absolutely captivating! It flips the script, giving the infamous wicked queen, Ayleth, a voice that's both vulnerable and powerful. The story dives deep into her origins as a young witch struggling to find her magic while wrestling with a past betrayal and the looming threat of the Royal Huntsmen. The lush, dark setting of the White Palace is a character in itself, full of intrigue and danger. What really makes this book stand out is its rich portrayal of Ayleth's transformation from an uncertain girl into a formidable witch. Her journey is intertwined with complex relationships, especially with Jacquetta, blending romance and betrayal in a beautifully painful way. This isn't just a tale of becoming the 'wickedest of them all' but a profound exploration of what it means to embrace your own power and identity. A must-read for anyone who loves their fairy tales with a twist of darkness and a dose of empowerment.

This was an enjoyable read! I feel like I actually haven’t read too many villain origin stories so it was a nice change. I loved that it was a Snow White retelling but with a lot of twists. The author did a great job with the MC Ayleth and making the reader understand her motivations. I really enjoyed the magic system and the light and dark theme - the “Malum” or dark magic/shadow creatures being trapped behind the Veil and starting to creep back into the world was really interesting. There were some great side characters and definitely some infuriating ones - things weren’t fully wrapped up in the end so I’m hoping there will be a sequel because I need more answers. The ending was really wild nonetheless!!

Thank you to Random House for the ARC!

Heather Walter's "Crimson Crown" is a captivating origin story of Snow White's villain. Ayleth's journey is intriguing. We meet a lot of interesting characters throughout this story and the last 25% of the book is mind-blowing -- twist after twist. Some things did feel a little incomplete & I was left with more questions, wishing there was an epilogue; but I did enjoy the wild ride.

I think fairy tale lovers who enjoy morally grey characters and appreciate a queer twist on a classic will devour this novel up.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House of the ARC - I look forward to consuming more of Heather Walter's literature.

thank you netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to this arc!

pretty solid story, lots of information in the beginning which made it hard for me to continue on with reading but it definitely got more interesting after a while.

i can’t wait for the next book!

Mirror, Mirror on the wall. Who’s the wickedest of them all? 🍎
I’m such a sucker for a new spin on a classic fairytale. And Heather Walter is one of the best in the game in my personal opinion.
After getting swept away in her Malice Duo-logy, which was inspired by Sleeping Beauty, I jumped at the chance to have access to this book so quickly.
This is a story a reimagining of Snow White from the point of view of The Evil Queen and girl, it didn’t disappoint whatsoever.
I just love how Heather is able to take such iconic fairytales and spin them into new tales that stand on their own. Add in the Queer aspects and I’m sold.
We meet Ayleth, the evil queen character, who in this story is a young woman who is unsure of her place in the world after her sister is murdered by The Huntsman in a raid. Her mother has become cold and distant after the loss of her daughter.
When Ayleth is presented with an opportunity to bring her sister back. Willing to do anything to bring back the only person that really saw her
She must travel to the White City, the place that is so drenched in the blood of her kind, in hopes these Bloodstones to get her sister back.
Of course you know it can’t be easy. Her Ex is there. Right? Talk about major FML moment.
Overall this book was a pretty solid reimagining of Snow White. It had its moments of sluggishness but for sure shined with the finale that had my aching to see where this Duo-logy will end. I absolutely loved getting to know Ayleth and her world. It honestly reminded me of the live action film Maleficent in a lot of ways.
A misunderstood villain who of course did bad things but had this backstory of loss and pain that pushed them in that direction of perceived villainy.
I loved that Heather was able to showcase how women of power and intelligence are painted as villains because of them being women. While men are celebrated.
I’m for sure a big fan of Heather Walter and she has quickly became one of my favorite authors. For sure an auto buy for me.
Would I recommend this book?
If you love fairytale reimagining with a queer twist. This book is for you.
5⭐️
Thanks to the folks at NetGalley for a ARC of this book. Y’all are the best.

I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy The Crimson Crown based on the first few pages, but as the story unfolds, it becomes an amazing read! It’s very relatable if you are someone who constantly feels like you're walking in someone else’s shadow. And I enjoy Ayleth’s transition. Although I’m not the biggest fan of retellings, I thought this one was done perfectly.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley, the Author, and Random House Publishing for the invaluable opportunity to delve into this ARC!

This wasn't what I had expected, so I am having a hard time continuing this, so I will need to try and come back and read this in the future. Great world building and writing style, I just couldn't get myself in the right mindset to continue. Sorry :(

"Are we not all monsters, somewhere inside?"

This is the question asked in The Crimson Crown. Walter's previous books featured a different morally grey protagonist and her latest novel creates a fascinating new one along with richly detailed secondary characters and world building. I read this in a day, I couldn't put it down. The storytelling is steady and engaging... while I read the book quickly I didn't feel like I was rushing through it or it ended too quickly. It's delightfully and gently sapphic, perfect for teens (12 year old me would have ADORED this book). The author has talked openly about how this is a mashup of Snow White and Anne Boleyn and the Snow White elements are for sure there but I didn't perceive the Boleyn aspect except in a few architectural references, but that could be just how I read it. Not recognizing that component didn't impact my enjoyment. I'm happy to add this book to my shelf of queer fairytale retellings.