BOOK STATS
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Title: This Eclipsed Crown
Author: Lina C. Amarego
Series: The Elysian Saga #1
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Audience: Adult
Format: eARC
Length: 577 pages
Publisher: Silver Wheels Press
Release Date: June 21, 2024
Source: author
Recommended for fans of: Malice
Content Warnings: violence, death, moderate sexual content
SYNOPSIS
Three hearts. Two Kingdoms. One dark vow.
NO ONE TOLD Thera of Erebus how heavy her late father’s crown would be. But the newly appointed Shadow King feels its weight as she fights a war on two sides; against the Shadowborne, the vicious race of monsters terrorizing her people–and the vast, resourceful Luxian Empire. To end the bloodshed, the former ‘soul eater’ lays down her sword and forges a deal, offering to marry the Prince of Lux and settle the ages-long conflict once and for all– as long as she can keep her dark, shadowed past a secret.
No one told Prince Caelum Borealis how to lead. Cast in his father’s long, impressive shadow, he has lived his days studying the texts of his people without ever seeing the action, his illness keeping him caged in his own body. But when the new King of Erebus offers him a proposition–his hand in marriage for the promise of her dark power—Caelum has the opportunity to carve his own name into the history books and finally make his late mother proud.
No one told Aurora Bellatore the true price of a life. Since she swore her oath as the youngest Captain of the Guard in Luxian history, she would gladly give her life for the kingdom of Lux– and for her beloved Prince Caelum. But when tasked to discreetly kill the new King of Erebus, she must decide which she’d rather sacrifice; her position, or her honor.
As Kingdoms eclipse and bonds shatter, as truths come to light and betrayals are exposed, Thera, Aurora, and Caelum must make the choice to either fill the roles they’ve been given, or to let their hearts lead; and risk breaking them.
MY THOUGHTS
This Eclipsed Crown has lots of good political intrigue and scheming with two warring countries pursuing peace through an arranged marriage. I loved the dark magic and that the main character was a misunderstood villain. All of the characters were well developed and the strongest part of the story.
I’m normally not the biggest fan of love triangles, but the true love triangle was far from typical and served plenty of romantic tension. I’m not quite sure at this point how I hope it will work out in the end, but I am here for the journey.
I do think that the book is a bit longer than it needs to be, which really slowed things down. The place was slow, the slow burn was too slow. I also struggled a bit to fully grasp the magic system or the world’s complex history, but I will definitely pick up the next book!
Carolibrary 