In a court in desperate need of peace, Princess Marie-Victoria knows she cannot escape her arranged marriage, even though she is head over heels in love with a solider. Her childhood friend, Aelwyn Myrddyn, longs to be in Marie's place of power, a place she could use her magic as she wished, but she does love her friend. Isabelle wants to take Marie's place as well, but only because she is marrying the man they forced her to break her engagement off with, Leopold. Also at court is the American, Ronan, who just wants to be married to fix her family's financial state, but may have a chance at love when Leopold's younger brother turns out to be more charming than she expected. Together, the girls take on the London Season where scandal is just around the corner.
THE RING AND THE CROWN by Melissa De La Cruz is an absolutely delicious novel. For any fans of hers, you will recognize her excellent use of high drama, scandal, yummy boys, and outfits that you (or a character) would kill for again in this new series. For new readers, get ready to enter a world full of so much glitz and glamour that you feel blinded by the sparkle when you get done reading it. De La Cruz's writing pulls you into the court world and blends an interesting mix of fantasy, futuristic elements, romance, and dashes of legends.
Though some of the plot is predictable, it does not stop your feelings from twisting, turning, and even screaming out when a tragedy falls. The characters, particularly Marie, but even seemingly superficial Isabelle, have a way of making you care so much that you want to march into the story and tell them exactly what they need to do to fix everything so you can then borrow a gown and have tea with them all. The characters could use a little more space in the novel to gain depth, but it's hard not to like what you see already, and it does leave nice room to explore more about them in a sequel. I also would have loved more romance with Marie and her solider, but the romance shown between Wolf and Ronan does a phenomenal job of pulling at your heart.
If you are a fan of Melissa De La Cruz or not, THE RING AND THE CROWN is a great read for any lover of YA fantasy or romance.
Magic is power, and power is magic...
Once they were inseparable, just two little girls playing
games in a mighty castle. Now Princess Marie-Victoria, heir
to the mightiest empire in the world, and Aelwyn Myrddyn, a
bastard mage, face vastly different futures.
Quiet and gentle, Marie has never lived up to the ambitions
of her mother, Queen Eleanor the Second. With the help of
her Merlin, Eleanor has maintained a stranglehold on the
world's only source of magic. While the enchanters
faithfully serve the crown, the sun will never set on the
Franco-British Empire.
As the annual London Season begins, the great and noble
families across the globe flaunt their wealth and magic at
parties, teas, and, of course, the lavish Bal du Drap d'Or,
the Ball of the Gold Cloth.
But the talk of the season is Ronan Astor, a social-climbing
American with only her dazzling beauty to recommend her.
Ronan is determined to make a good match to save her
family's position. But when she falls for a handsome rogue
on the voyage over, her lofty plans are imperiled by her
desires.
Meanwhile, Isabelle of Orleans, daughter of the displaced
French royal family, finds herself cast aside by Leopold,
heir to the Prussian crown, in favor of a political marriage
to Marie-Victoria. Isabelle arrives in the city bent on
reclaiming what is hers. But Marie doesn't even want
Leopold-she has lost her heart to a boy the future queen
would never be allowed to marry.
When Marie comes to Aelwyn, desperate to escape a life
without love, the girls form a perilous plan that endangers
not only the entire kingdom but the fate of the monarchy
No excerpt available.
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