Review: A Choice of Crowns

A Choice Of Crowns by Barb Hendee

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.25)

Olivia Geroux is 18 years old and the youngest of 5 siblings.  Her father, Hugh is domineering, cold and distant.  He only expects and respects strength and obedience.  He uses his children to enhance his wealth and prestige.  When they fail, they are punished...

One day, she is called to her father's rooms.  This was outside the norm.  Once there, she is advised that to pack as she is to marry King Rowan.  It has all been arranged by her father and Rowan's mother, the dowager Queen.  She is told that should she fail to secure the King's hand in marriage, that she will be married off to corrupt Lord Arullian.  This, she knows is a threat.  Lord Arullian is in his late 50s and has been married 3 times before.  Two of his wives have died under dubious circumstances and the third poisoned herself.

King Rowan is a selfish and demanding man.  He has already declined 4 arranged marriages to foreign princesses and has no intention of marrying Olivia. He is in love with his step-sister, Princess Ashton.

What happens when Olivia overhears the dowager Queen's plans to assassinate Princess Ashton?

She has 3 choices:

1. Will she hesitate and thus become Queen
2. Will she choose and instant resolution and tell the King himself, losing the chance at being Queen but gain an everlasting friendship? Or,
3. Act independently, lose the chance at being Queen but gain a chance at love?

For each of these paths, there are twists and turns, ups and downs and rights and wrongs that make the decision almost impossible so the questions must be asked:

Mirror, mirror on the wall, which path will she choose after all?

Yes! This book is exactly what I was hoping for.  Barb Hendee has done it again!  She leaves me wanting more... It seems I am never satisfied..  A choice of Crowns is the second book in the series and in my opinion, it's the best one so far.  I love how we learn each person's character through the decisions and difficulties they must go through in each separate scenario.  Very original!

There is just something about this series that is so engrossing.  I pick up the book, start reading and just can't put it down!  Just like the first in the series, it has intrigue, murder, love, lust, hate friendship, plots, twists but it is so different..  It is superbly written and well done.

As for the decision she must make, so not what I was expecting!  Definetly worth reading and rereading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Rebel Base Books for this ARC.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.