Of Cages and Crowns by Briana Crump

Of Cages and Crowns

by Briana Crump

Fire at her fingertips. Watch the world burn.

When Monroe Benson was born with the power to summon fire from her fingertips, her family knew she had to stay hidden. But when Queen Viera calls for the Culling, an age-old tradition in Erydia where ten goddess-touched girls battle to the death in order to claim the crown, Monroe can no longer hide. She’s whisked away from her home, from her mother, from everything she’s ever known to fight alongside the other girls—each with their own power—for a throne she does not want.

Duty is his destiny. There’s no way out.

As the son of the queen and the next king, Cohen can’t question tradition. Not even when he’s being mysteriously poisoned. Not even when his sister goes missing and no one seems to care. The Culling makes choices for him—who will become his wife, who will rule by his side. And when rebellion rises, what little control Cohen has over his future is threatened.

Together they’ll stand. Together they’ll fall.

But Monroe sees a different Cohen than the rest of the world. She sees him as more than just the crown, more than just the next cruel ruler in a long line of cruel leaders. In turn, he sees her as more than just her powers. More than just a goddess-touched girl destined to lose her life. When a betrayal threatens both their relationship and the monarchy, Monroe and Cohen face a choice that will change their lives . . . forever.

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

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Book Summary:

Monroe Benson was born with a mark on her hand. That, coupled with her unique ability to create fire, told the world exactly who she is. Goddess-touched. She is one of ten such girls born in this generation, and they are all expected to compete in the Culling. The winner will become the new queen of Erydia.

Before you ask – no, it doesn't matter much how they feel about this. Entry into the Culling isn't optional. Otherwise, Monroe would have gotten out of this already. Perhaps it's her willingness to avoid all of this that puts her in the center of a Culling-based rebellion.

My Review:

If you promise me a fantasy novel with Hunger Games elements, you just know I will read it! In truth, Of Cages and Crowns ended up being even better than I expected. It stands on its own – no need for comparisons to be made. It's magical, dark, and full of politics.

Okay, there's also a potential romantic subplot, not to mention a rebellion and lots of in-fighting. It's a lot to keep up with, which makes this an intense read that will go by in the blink of an eye. Seriously, it felt like I was sitting down to read it one minute, and the next, I was turning to the last page.

On that note, I should probably mention that Of Cages and Crowns does end with a cliffhanger. The good news is that this is the first of a three-book series, so more will come! The bad news is that we'll have to wait a bit longer to see how that pans out.

Highlights:
First in a trilogy
Fantasy
High Fantasy
Fantasy Romance
Hunger Games vibes, but with magic

Trigger Warnings:
Abuse/bullying/injury
Alcoholism
Anxiety
Classism
Family death
Body shaming

Thanks to Wattpad Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 1 January, 2023: Finished reading
  • 1 January, 2023: Reviewed