The Kingless Crown (Kingdom of the White Sea Book 1)

Sarah M. Cradit — 2020

From the USA Today & International Bestselling author of the Saga of Crimson & Clover comes a gripping new epic fantasy world that will leave you breathless to the very last page. A crown woven together by lies. A kingdom with the power to unravel them. Four Reaches. Four brides. Only a fortnight separates the young women from becoming reluctant queens of the usurper king, Eoghan Rhiagain. Twenty years earlier, King Eoghan’s father cunningly devised marriages between the highborn sons and daughters of the oft-warring Reaches, sealing the unions before they could protest, shattering existing betrothals in place of forced alliances. Now, Eoghan, the cruel boy king who stole his crown through murder, demands the eldest daughters of these unions. To accept is unfathomable. To refuse is treason. The lords and ladies of the kingdom have no choice but to prepare their beloved daughters for the horrors ahead. But they’ll soon discover there are no longer any daughters left to present. All four have disappeared, painting the world with their rebellion. Theirs is not the only rebellion. Across the kingdom, little fires light within. From the enigmatic sorcerers in the northern mountains, to the magi who both wield and regulate the kingdom’s magic, and beyond... to a place where two prisoners are not what they seem. As the Reaches ready themselves to face the king, the kingdom hovers on the edge of chaos. And there are many who recall, in candlelit secrecy, tales of a time before... keywords: grimdark, fantasy, high fantasy, epic fantasy, evil king, love triangle, fantasy romance, dark fantasy, bloodlines, lineages, families, strong women, powerful women, sorcerers, witches, forbidden magic, antiheroes, bad boys, complicated histories, sword and sorcery, stolen throne, forbidden love, fated love, druids

Reviews

Sarah@theprioryreader

Sep 9, 2021

[*ARC sent by the author in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine*] ⭑⭑⭑⭑ 3.75 tw: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse. What I liked This is an engaging and interesting read. As many people already said, this has a lot of GOT vibes and I’m a huge fan of that. In this epic high fantasy we follow four brides as they run away, refusing to marry their cruel king and in doing so, they spark tiny flames of rebellion. We also follow two prisoners who are not what they seem... I enjoyed learning about this secret the most. This book has such an interesting premise and yes, the journey is indeed tumultuous, long, full of adventures and plot twists, but the ending is totally worth it! The characters are all unique and I especially liked Ravenna. I really enjoyed the cruel king aspect of the story, it was fascinating and it gave the story a darker undertone. As the story progresses and we get more familiar with the characters and the world, the story truly captivates you! The ending was definitely my favourite part. What I didn’t like There are a lot of POVs and by a lot, I mean A LOT!! It’s confusing, especially at the beginning. I found myself struggling to remember who was who and what they were doing. I had to constantly reference the guide at the beginning. It gets easier as you read, but I was lost for a big part of the book. Final thoughts This is an interesting read and if you like high fantasy, GOT and reading about magic and tons of different characters, then this book is 100% for you!