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Okay, I absolutely devoured this book. I went into Captive and Crown expecting a fun romantasy, but I was not prepared for how invested I would become in Kaia and Leander’s story.

The magic system was such a standout for me. The idea of empaths and telepaths using their abilities as weapons was so unique, and I loved seeing how those powers shaped not only the characters but the cultures and tensions between the kingdoms. There was so much more to the world than I initially expected, and I’m definitely left wanting to know more.

And KAIA. I loved her. She was strong, capable, stubborn, compassionate, and never felt like a typical FMC who suddenly becomes badass because the plot needs her to. She had so much conviction, and I loved watching her slowly question everything she thought she knew. And Leander… 🥹 I was absolutely gone for him. Their relationship had the perfect mix of tension, distrust, vulnerability, and slow-burn chemistry. Watching them go from enemies to realizing there might be more to each other than what they’d been taught was easily one of my favourite parts.

The second half of this book REALLY picked up for me. The twists, reveals, action, and emotional stakes had me flying through the pages, and that ending?! I NEED BOOK TWO. IMMEDIATELY!

I also really appreciated the friendships and side characters throughout the story. They added so much heart and made the world feel bigger than just the romance.

If you love romantasy with enemies-to-lovers, political intrigue, unique magic, strong FMCs, slow-burn romance, and a healthy dose of ✨spice✨, definitely add this one to your TBR.

Yashira Ponce, you have me fully invested in the Heartweaver series. Bring on book two! 🫶🏻

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Single POV
Cliffhanger; Book 1 of the Heartweaver series

Thank you Yashira Ponce and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC copy.
*I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

Captive and Crown was such an enjoyable and entertaining read!
The magic system and the character powers were definitely highlights for me, and I had a really great time diving into this story.

My main observation lies in the world-building and character development. I would have loved to get a bit more background detail, particularly regarding Kaia and her home city. Given how central defending her city was to the plot, having more depth and context would have made the stakes feel even higher. While we get some information, it felt a little surface-level at times.

Overall, it is a solid fantasy read with engaging magic and great potential. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how the story and characters evolve in the next book, Splinter and Soul.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Kaia ends up captured at the beginning of the book due to failing in her mission.. She's summoned to the quarters of Leander, the prince of the country that's her sworn enemy. He ends up helping her escape, while they spend time together, she ends up learning more about him and things happening with the conflict surrounding them.

This is a great first book in a series, I loved the descriptions and writing style very much!

Thank you Yashira Ponce, Ponce Publishing & NetGalley for an ARC of Captive and Crown!

Captive and Crown was a solid romantasy that took a little while to win me over. The second half was definitely stronger, with the plot picking up and the story becoming much more engaging. I also enjoyed the complexity of the characters and thought the book did a good job balancing the romance with the larger fantasy plot without letting either completely overshadow the other.

My biggest issues were the slow start and uneven pacing. The world-building was also a little confusing at times, and I found myself having to piece together some of the fantasy elements as the story progressed.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read with a lot of potential, especially once the story really got going. A 3.5-star read for me and I am looking forward to book 2!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
An inventive enemies to lovers romantasy built around a genuinely compelling magic system of empaths, telepaths, and psychic kingdoms at war. Kaia is a strong lead, and her forced alliance with Leander, the Kadaron prince secretly plotting against his tyrannical father, drives real political tension. Their slow burn connection feels earned, with both characters gradually dropping their guard as trust builds between people raised to see each other as enemies, and their respective squads add warmth throughout. The world building blends historical fantasy with unexpected modern touches, blaster guns and luxury cars alongside ancient magic, which can feel disorienting without more grounding. Pacing meanders through the middle before picking up considerably in the back half, building to a genuinely exciting, twist filled climax. A few subplots could use more development, but the central romance and political stakes carry the story. A unique series opener for fans of psychic fantasy and rival kingdoms forced into uneasy alliance.

Captive and Crown is a fierce, addictive fantasy romance that grabs hold from page one. Ponce delivers sharp tension, rich magic, and a heroine caught between duty and desire in the most delicious way. The world feels vivid and dangerous, the twists hit hard, and the chemistry crackles through every chapter. Bold, fast paced, and utterly bingeable.

Thank you to Yashira Ponce and NetGalley for the ARC of Captive and Crown.

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I really enjoyed this one! It had everything I love in a fantasy romance — political intrigue, enemies-to-lovers, and, of course, he falls first and harder romance. The world-building was one of my favourite parts. Each nation had its own unique powers and that we got to discover more about the world as the story progressed. There were plenty of revelations along the way that kept me guessing and added some great twists to the story. The political elements brought an interesting layer to the plot, and I really enjoyed seeing how the different nations, powers and characters all connected.

Overall, this was an enjoyable fantasy romance with a fascinating world, plenty of intrigue and a romance I was invested in.

Captive and Crown completely sucked me in! Yashira Ponce has built such a fun, immersive world, and I absolutely devoured this debut.

The magic system is a major standout. The way empaths and telepaths wield their abilities as literal weapons adds so much tension to the political intrigue between kingdoms. I also loved Kaia as a protagonist—she’s strong, stubborn, and compassionate, with a natural growth arc that never feels forced. Her slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers dynamic with Leander is pure perfection, full of genuine vulnerability, sharp banter, and incredible chemistry.

While I would have loved just a bit more deep-dive world-building around Kaia’s home city to make the initial stakes hit even harder, the second half ramps up the pace with non-stop twists, high emotional stakes, and a wild ending that makes you need book two immediately!

If you're a fan of strong heroines, unique magic, and top-tier slow-burn romance, definitely add this to your TBR.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review!