The Crimson Crown
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the wickedest of them all? Snow White’s dark queen tells her side of the story in the first book of a queer, witchy duology that reimagines the classic fairy tale—from the author of Malice.
“An alluring, vengeful origin story that brings tremendous dimension to a classic fairytale.”—Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of Immortal Longings
Legends tell of a witch who became a queen—the heartless villain in the story of Snow White.
But now the wicked queen is stepping out of Snow White’s shadow to become the heroine of her own legend.
Her real “once upon a time” begins when she is just Ayleth, a young witch who lives in the forest with her coven. The witches practice their magic in secret, hiding from the White King and his brutal war against witchcraft.
Ayleth, however, faces a war of her own. Her magical gifts have yet to reveal themselves, and as the threat of the Royal Huntsmen intensifies, Ayleth fears she will never become the witch her coven needs.
To prove herself, Ayleth sets out on a perilous quest that sends her to the White Palace, a decadent world of drama and deceit. There, Ayleth encounters an unlikely figure from her past: Jacquetta, a witch who once held Ayleth’s heart—and betrayed her.
As events at the palace escalate, Ayleth finds herself caught in the web of the White King, whose dark charisma is as dangerous as the sinister force that seems to be haunting the palace—and perhaps even Ayleth herself. With the threat of discovery looming, Ayleth and Jacquetta must set aside the wounds of their past and work together to survive.
As she uncovers the secrets of the White Court—and those of her own heart—Ayleth must find the strength to transform into someone she never imagined she could be.
A powerful witch, the very wickedest of them all.
Book One in The Crimson Crown series.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Snow White gets a dark fantasy update in this satisfying epic from Walter (Malice). The Age of the Covens is over. Witches now live in hiding, persecuted by the White King's merciless Hunt. Ayleth lives in Stonehaven, a coven disguised as a Sanctum for Order Sisters, worshippers of the goddess Meira. After her older sister's death, Ayleth must step in as second to her mother, who is Heir to one of the Five Ancients, powerful witches who crafted the Veil that holds black magic—or Malum—at bay. The role is ill-suited to Ayleth, who, unbeknownst to the other Heirs, has no power of her own. After the ceremony that would cement her new status goes wrong, she decides to use the Veil to bring her sister back from the dead. To do so, she must sneak into the White City under cover of a festival that brings Order Sisters to the capitol. Along the way she meets and develops feelings for Order Sister Jacquetta. This slow-burning sapphic romance only enhances the high stakes: Malum is on the rise, the Veil is thinning, and Ayleth is in danger from those around her. Walter includes just enough elements of the original to hook fairy tale enthusiasts while adding enough surprises to keep readers on their toes. This is a winner.
Customer Reviews
Good, tough read
I read Heather Walter’s other books months ago and then preordered this one when that became an option. I started reading it the day it was released. Like the protagonist, I’m queer and have had a judgmental voice in my head all my life, and I found this to be a tough read. The writing and plot are excellent, as I would have expected from Walter. I just want to be sure people with similar backgrounds are aware that it might be a difficult read for them, best read when they are doing well.