I absolutely loved this read! Being Scottish, our history and folklore runs so deep that this story felt so powerful. I loved how the authors introduced real magical elements without rewriting the original history of the story while also portraying an alternative tale. I would absolutely recommend and definitely will be looking out for more reads from these authors!

The Crimson Throne is a blend of romantasy and historical fiction. It mixes Scottish lore with references to the courts of Queen Elizabeth and Mary, Queen of Scots. In the novel, Alyth is the half-fae guardian of the wall, tasked with keeping the evil red caps out of Scotland. She meets Samson, whose on a mission to break the curse that causes his rage filled, violent blackouts. Alyth is a collection of recent fantasy FMC tropes- special, talented, uses threats of violence often. Samson is as well- secretly powerful, tall and handsome, constantly amused by FMC violent threats. The banter is good but their relationship isn’t well developed. The plot was fairly predictable and the twists weren’t surprising.

Very well done YA fantasy. 4.5 stars

The story dives into Scottish folklore and general fae mythology. There is a lot of time spent to really build out the world, the magic, and political tension, all of which I enjoyed. Additionally, I liked the main characters, Samson (motivated by needing to remove his curse, only to have his world turned upside down), Alyth (motivated by duty and honor, general skeptic which leaves her torn with her feelings towards Samson), and Kitty (okay, not a main character, but I love how feisty she is).

The trade off of really building out the world and folklore is that the first two thirds of the book are atmospheric and a bit slow on the plot front whereas the last quarter goes fast; the change in pacing was slightly jarring. To be clear, I enjoyed the slower parts a lot, but if you are looking for an epic page turner, this isn’t that.

I’m excited for the sequel, between the ending and the already developed world, I assume the plot and relationships will be the main focus and very compelling.

Thank you to Sara Raasch, Beth Revis, Sourcebooks Fire, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Outlander meets Holly Black is exactly right and as an Outlander obsessed, Scotland loving fantasy fiend, I knew this book had me in its clutches from page one.
The Crimson Throne delivers a rich, spellbinding blend of historical intrigue and fae fantasy, set
against the dangerous glamour of the Scottish court. It was beautifully written and authentic to the time period while still sparkling with whimsy and dark fae charm. Alyth, the powerful fae guardian, and Samson, the clever Elizabethan spy, have an incredible dynamic. Their enemies-to-lovers tension crackles as they navigate a world of secret codes, political games, and dangerous magic. And that ending? I was completely caught off guard in the best way.

Fans of YA fantasy will enjoy this tale about duty and honor while also struggling with belonging and discovering what truly matters.

I love Sara Raasch and was so excited for this one but it was a little too much of a slow burn for me.

Thank you to netgalley for a copy to enjoy.

My gosh, this book saved me from the biggest reading slump ever.

It had me in the palm of its hand from the first page, with its blending of folklore and courtly historical politics. I felt transported to Scotlands past with Queen Mary and her court and I adored the exploration of the parallels of the human courts with that of the fae.

If your looking for something with magic, lush wild lands and historical influences as well as character you can’t help but fall for this is the book for you.

this book was very well written and i loved every minute of it. i literally couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end at the same time. i loved alyth and how much of a strong fmc she was. samson was honestly lovely and i think the story was that much better with him in it. alyth and samson worked super well together and i enjoyed reading the growth they both had. the ending really made me want to toss my kindle bc i did not see that coming. cannot wait for book two and am super grateful to have received an early copy of this book! definitely recommend!

If you loved the humor of the Lady Jane books, but want more high fantasy far mixed in, this book is for you. The main characters of the book are Samson, a guy from the poor parts of London with a mysterious curse that causes him to blackout and be violent and a half fae girl who is the highest ranked of the half fae “Leth” who is a handmaiden to Queen Mary of Scotland, but is also tasked with protecting the wall around Scotland that protects the fae within its borders and keeps the redcaps out. This book is the perfect mix of high fantasy firmly set in the historical period of the 16th century.

I wouldn’t say this book falls to the insta love trope, but that it’s more of an “insta-trust” kind of situation, especially on Samson’s part. Are the characters attracted to each other from the start? Yes, for sure, but who has never had an instant crush on someone you just met? I honestly loved Samson and Alyth’s dynamic, as there were not some overly dramatic fights or whatever else, just them accepting each other for who they are, and trusting each other (probably a little too much), but also finally finding another person to confide in and someone that sees them for who they are.

Overall, I also loved the plot and setting of the book—weaving in the historical events with the fantasy ones was done so well, and just makes you think maybe something like this could have happened, with everything going on at that time, it might have made more sense than the reality.

The ending was also open enough that I’m quite eager to read the next book, but not a complete cliffhanger that left me in agony, so I’m quite content with how this book ended.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book! The book was entertaining a little slow at first but got better. The enemies to lovers is one of my favorites! It was so good! Definitely can't wait for book 2 and would recommend! Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC

This book was amazing! If you want a book that is like outlander but with more fantasy elements. You need this book! I highly recommend.

I found that this book took a long time (~80%) to get to any “action”. The characters and theme of the book are well thought out, but to sit tight to 80% before anything of any real mention happens, is quite a while.

Alyth lives in Scotland where she is a lady-in-waiting to the Queen, Mary. There are three types of beings in this world - Fae (100% magic), Leth (50% magic, like Alyth), and Human (no magic, like Mary).

Not only is Alyth a Leth, she comes from Fae nobility, through her father. Due to this lineage she has one job, and it is to protect the magic wall around Scotland to keep the country safe from the Red Caps, a group trying to infiltrate the country and kill the Queen.

Recently, the Queen has birthed a baby boy, and the time for the christening is coming near. A stranger, Samson, arrives at the castle claiming he was sent by one of Mary’s supporters. However, Samson’s father, Cecil, is working with Mary’s husband, Darnley, to overthrow the throne and the country. Samson has been sent with a magical object and a personal curse that he hopes will be broken.

However, as Samson spends more time at the castle, Alyth begins to care for him. Alyth is torn between doing the right thing for her country (and killing Samson) and doing something selfish for herself and going with her heart. How will she decide?

Thank you Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the ARC.

3.5 stars

What first pulled me into this book was the Outlander meets Cruel Prince - it definitely intrigued me and after reading I get what it means! If you were ever a lover of Reign or just the Tudor history (like me) and read fantasy this would definitely be for you! Because what if Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I’s Scotland and England were separated by a wall initiated by the fae.

This started off really strong and I love Alyn’s character - there’s something about a strong female protagonist who knows how to wield her powers that makes it so exciting to read from her POV! Samson was an interesting hero and their relationship dynamic was sweet and electric at the same time.

The only thing that fell flat for me at some points was the plot that lost me at times then hooked me back in.

Overall, I think this was a really unique idea and after the ending of the first book I’m excited to see where it takes!

"My only role is in the shadows. In the darkness, where no one can see my bloody hands."

This book was fantastic! It felt like a mixture The Cruel Prince (if you loved Madoc's violent rages) and My Lady Jane (for a more *magical* view of history, but with a less humorous tone). I love fairies, especially as Raasch and Revis portrayed them.

"But you saw me. Even then, you saw me. No one sees me."

The relationship between Samson and Alyth was cute, though it developed faster than I would have liked. However, the cliffhanger was absolutely fantastic! I would love to read the second part.

*Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the eARC!

I really enjoyed the historical setting interwoven with fae and fantasy elements. The premise was creative and attention-grabbing. Alyth and Samson are interesting leads, though I would have preferred more time spent on showing more of their characterization, and also a slower transition from skeptical enemies towards romance.

I really enjoyed the cozy atmosphere of the book and found the characters very likable. I wish the second installment was already available, especially since the story ended at such a compelling point!!! The historical note at the end was a nice touch, and I loved how the author blended real historical elements with magical ones. I found it fascinating how different magical creatures & magic system were used in unique ways based on their species, author has a great mind!. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fantasy with a hint of romance.

I loved how the authors enthused Scotland's folklore with magical elements of the Fae and having history accurate of Mary Queen of Scots.
It's enchantingly cute, a bit slow in the start of the story but it really does pick up in the second part of the book. It's for the Young Adults which is great for this book. For me personally I would have like Alyth and Samson romance to be a bit more yearning and not the quick connection romance as they are enemies to lovers, forbidden romance. I do like how the ending as it's feels open to exploring more of the story of what's to come.

Alyth is the queen's protector/ guardian , one of the most powerful half Fae In the country, she has the duty protecting the queen at all cost from the red caps, blood thirsty clan Faeries away from the Fae land portals.

Sampson is a English spy and wants to prove to queen Elizabeth courts what's his worth as his father is the courts favourite and he has to work hard to prove his worth.

What well it all become to at the end....

Samson Calthorpe's curse has isolated him from everyone he has ever cared about. So, when the opportunity arises to break the curse, he grabs it. All he has to do for his freedom is risk his life and become a royal spy, using every bit of the skills and resolve he's picked up on the streets of London to infiltrate the court of the Scottish Queen and uncover a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth.

For years, Alyth Graham has been protecting Mary Queen of Scots from threats both physical and magical, including the Queen's own husband, Lord Darnley. Alyth is more than meets the eye though, the child of a fae prince and a human mother, she is among the most powerful protectors in Scotland: guardians sworn to defend against the Red Caps, a bloodthirsty fae clan . . . that Lord Darnley is in league with to overtake Scotland.

As Alyth and Samson circle each other in the volatile and glamorous Scottish court, both seek to uncover threats to their own countries. They have one unifying link: their shared hatred and suspicion of Lord Darnley…and their undeniable pull towards each other. Using secret codes, hidden messages, and a little bit of magic, Alyth and Samson unravel a plot centuries in the making. Lord Darnley is only a pawn, and in this game, the queen takes all.


This is a really great book. I loved it so much.

I really enjoyed reading the book. I loved both authors previoius works. I also loved their Night of the Witch duology. I loved the cozy vibes the book gave. I also loved the characters. I wished book two would be relased. The book left off in an interesting place to continue the story. I also appreciated the historical note. I loved the cover design and sprayed edges of the final copy. I can't wait to buy the book.

What a fun and unique story! I loved the integration of historical fact with magical elements. I enjoyed how creatures accessed magic in different ways depending on their species (witches vs. fae, etc.) The historical plot line makes me want to do more research on this time period. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys historical fantasy with a splash of romance

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in October. I haven't yet read a book involving Sara Raasch that wasn't a success for me and clearly her teaming up with Beth Revis work. I love this magical retelling surrounding Mary, queen of Scots (yes I watched Reign), and the book read like a dream.