Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc

I so wanted to love this book. There's a wonderful imaginative world with a diverse array of characters that are complex but still loveable. Unfortunately, much like with the first book I struggled to keep reading. For me this is almost solely because of the slow pacing. If you love a slow paced fantasy book with an expansive world this book is for you. However, if like me you prefer a fast paced story you may struggle with this series.

This old lady has been reading fantasy books for ages and this is excellent. Great storytelling and world building, well rounded characters.
The author did a good job in delivering a griping story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Empress Crowned in Red starts off from where the first book left off – I think. It felt very abrupt and there was hardly any padding to ease the reader back into the flow of things. I’m not a fan of authors rehashing the entire story of the last book just to resettle readers, however, if you’re going to string the story along so closely a little reminder of the immediate events that happened in a book I read a year ago would be much appreciated. I will say that it definitely made me feel as unsettled as Iraya did, so if that was the intent then it worked perfectly.

It took me a while to get settled into Empress Crowed in Red; about fifty percent of the book to be exact. This book is a huge tome, and normally I’m all for massive books. That’s just more story and that’s usually not a bad thing. Usually. The first half of this book felt like it dragged on, and while I won’t say it was unnecessary, it just personally didn’t work for me. Then after that halfway mark everything started to piece together as if Smart had just been playing with us, setting the stage for the finale of her duology. The first half of Empress Crowned in Red is basically one big tease and then Smart drops the curtain.

Smart introduces a lot of new elements in this book, and it mixes things up nicely. I expected book two to be still be Iraya vs. Jazmyne and while that rivalry is still present, there is more happening. It was a relief, actually, to see that Smart has grown her world even more. While Iraya and Jazmyne’s rivalry is interesting, I felt like book one covered that, and I wasn’t sure how another book of them duking it out was going to work. Adding a mystery assailant and monsters provided Smart with the chance to delve deeper into so many parts of her already fantastic world-building, and let me tell you, it only gets better in Empress Crowned in Red.

As expected this sequel is the battle for Aiyca and the throne, and some things happened as I expected and were perhaps a little predictable. This book is all about the journey though and how all the characters get where they do. It’s their journeys and their developments over the course of the book that I never expected, and that’s one of the brilliant parts about Smart’s writing. She keeps you on your toys throughout the book. You know that X is going to happen, but how it happens? Guess again.

The physical battle for Aiyca is very well paced. Unlike battles in other books where they end abruptly in one or two chapters, Smart takes her time. As a result it actually feels like a battle with stages. At one point at the start of the battle, Iraya’s narration changes slightly to echo tradition oral storytelling. She talks about how the residents of the Island saw what was happening, how they told the story of it happening later on. It’s a nice change of pace and has the effect of highlighting the enormity of the moment. Whatever happens, what they’re doing is still so momentous that stories are told about it.

Characters and relationships develop much more in Empress Crowned in Red. In the previous book there were a lot of new relationships being forged, and this time around those relationships are beginning to solidify and grow. Trust is built even if it takes time in some cases. The way characters and relationships developed was fabulous and realistic, and I loved the way Smart writes dialogue between her characters. Whether they’re friends, enemies or lovers, the way she has with words is just perfection. Iraya is the queen of banter and sass and some of her lines are amazing.

There was one character that developed in a way that personally I did not find believable at all. I kept waiting for there to be an additional explanation for what happens because the change in them felt very sudden and quite false. Other characters seem to develop very naturally, and this one just felt out of place which is odd for Smart’s writing as all the other character’s journeys were very smooth, believable. There were some signs for what happened, it just didn’t seem like a natural progression to me.

This was a book that I was immensely looking forward to, and while it was a fantastic conclusion to the duology, Empress Crowned in Red just didn’t reach the same levels as its predecessor for me. That has nothing to do with how the book ended, I’d like to emphasise. I’m happy with the conclusion and I enjoyed the book a lot, I just felt that there were a few parts that just weren’t quite as good as Witches Steeped in Gold. As mentioned, the first half of the book didn’t quite catch my attention, and then there’s the out of character development of that character. Additionally, there was something related to a sub-plot that felt unfinished to me.

Empress Crowned in Red is a wonderful book, and it made me laugh and cry. It also has one of the best battle scenes I have seen in a fantasy series. It just wasn’t quite a five-star read for me.

The stunning Black Girl Magic established in book 1 of this duokogy continues here, as we return to the story of Jazmyne amd Iraya. Full of action, mystery and intrigue - my only criticism would be that it is a tad on the long side.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Empress crowned in red starts immediately from where we left off in the previous book Witches steeped in Gold, again from the POV of Jazmine and Iraya. The book starts off at a fast pace and continues throughout the book. I loved Ciannon Smart’s writing style and the rich and compelling world she has built in this series, the long history and characters are rich and complex. I think Jazmine and Iraya go through quite a character change in this book, compared to the first, though all the betrayal and political intrigue that they both must overcome in this book. I also loved the ending and felt that it was true to the characters.
On a less positive note, the book is looooong, maybe too long, it did feel like a bit of a slog trying to get through it at some parts, overall, however, I did enjoy the series as a whole, and I’m excited to see what Ciannon will do next.

What I liked about this book is the characters. How each one has their part to play, their own missions and goals but how they interact with each other for the overall good of the place they call home.
What I disliked was how a lot of time was spent just seeing these characters interact that not much time was left for action. So when there was action, it felt rushed and lacking in details.
How this affected my enjoyment was sadly it slowed my reading right down so I could only read a little at a time. Not being familiar with the language used as well also had me stumbling through and made it jarring to read.
However, despite my issues with this book, I did enjoy the overall story and plot.
Thanks to NetGalley for the E-ARC despite me not finishing it in time for the release date

First of all, thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this arc.

Empress Crowned in Red is the stunning conclusion to its first book, Witches Steeped in Gold, and epic it was. 700 pages long and full of deep emotions, twists and turns, betrayal like you've never seen, and emotional turmoil of our two heroines.

Written in dual points of view, Ciannon Smart delves back into her fantasy world as both Iraya and Jazmyne tackle new obstacles in their loves. Jazmyne, nearly crowned, has a uphill battle in terms of her emotional stability and character development in this book; she has many ups and downs but I did CM's characterisation of her again.
Iraya, my favourite (sorry), enthralled me yet again with her charisma and sharp tongue. She's the kind of fiesty heroine I enjoy reading about.

Again, Ciannon Smart writes a world full of magic and awe, and I was hooked again by the plot, but it was too long for me. It took me absolutely ages to finish this book, and honestly, a 700 page conclusion is expected with a fantasy series like this, but it dragged for me. Some parts were very slow and I needed the pace to pick up a bit more. But other than that, I really enjoyed this epic finale.

I'll write more once I've finished brushing up my thoughts and reread bits, but if you want a two-book series about magic and witches, this is a great duology to pick up.

Rating currently 3.5/5★

This wasn't for me, but it was for one simple reason... I just didn't gel with the characters. Had I liked any of them, i would have loved this.

I thought the writing was good, the plot was good, it was action packed and a true ending to the duology but if you don't care about the two main characters (or anyone else) it's a bit hard to love it overall.

It could have been a good 200 pages shorter. I really liked the way everything turned out at the end, but the middle was really chaotic and slow. Jazmine took her sweet time to grow and mature, meanwhile Iraya was this brave asshole. I loved the writing style and although the two POV felt similar most of the time. It's a complex world and you really have to pay attention to everything. It's a long book so it might be helpful to take some notes while reading it. the romance though wasn't for me. I couldn't believe it and they had zero chemistry, Anyway, don't read for the romance but you should definitely read for the world building/fantasy aspect of it.

I will be the first to admit that I should have read my copy of Witches Steeped in Gold before starting to read the second book in this duology.

I will honestly say that perhaps this is why I did not enjoy Empress as much as I should have. I found the pace of the book quite slow and it was terribly difficult for me to get drawn into the story.

Despite this I can wholeheartedly day that Ciannon Smart is an incredible writer for the level of detail and world building that went into her two creations, just because it was not for me personally, it doesn't meant I can't appreciate how talented and accomplished a wtiter she is.

If you read and loved Witches Steeped in Gold, then you definitely need to read Empress Crowned in Red.

I was so excited when I got this arc copy you have no idea , my son got me the first book so I could read that first and I loved every moment of it .I'm going to keep this spoiler free .

I have to the say this book did not disappoint at all yes it is a long book which it took a bit of time for me to read as I can be a slow reader but was so worth it , the story is pretty fast paced it dose slow in parts but I think that to gather yourself for the next big explosion. it was so beautifully written .

I thought it was a fantastic conclusion to the series , I loved the character building and how intense the story could get at times such a fantastic unique story .

Empress Crowned in Red claws its way through the darkness and deceit of this duology to deliver an impeccable, compelling and incredibly entertaining story.

It is no exaggeration to say that Empress Crowned in Red was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. Witches Steeped in Gold was one of my favourite reads last year, which I thought was such a phenomenal, rich and utterly original fantasy. Luckily for me, this was everything I had hoped it would be and more.

Smart deftly wraps this compulsive duology up with an even more rich, layered and detailed story. Every single element of the first book is levelled up. The writing is even more complex, bringing in more elements of world building, politics and history that enrich your reading experience so much. It is just stunning, emotional and bordering on lyrical at times. This makes it feel like an epic tale of old being told once more.

I loved the continued exploration of morality and your allegiances will shift time and time again as the full extent of the treachery is unveiled. This is such a character driven duology. I really love how much Smart has poured into these ferocious characters. They are often brutal and willing to go to any ends in order to achieve their desires, but they are also fundamentally flawed and emotionally vulnerable in a way that it is impossible not to connect with them. Also, their development is excellent to watch unfold. They are such different people from the beginning of their tale, but the way their journeys unfold is stunning.

Empress Crowned in Red concludes an imaginative and deeply fascinating duology that I cannot implore you enough to pick up. Smart wields her pen with deft skills and plenty of malicious intent.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, I don't think this series is for me. Empress Crowned in Red is an epic conclusion to Witches Steeped in Gold, and I think if you loved the first book, you're gonna love the second one, because it follows the same pattern. However, I didn't enjoy the first one very much, and it's meant that I didn't really enjoy the second one either. It's 700 pages long, and it got painfully slow at times. I also found it difficult to distinguish between the two POVs - they felt very similar. However, the writing is really beautiful, as it was in the first book, and I think Ciannon Smart is insanely clever for imagining up this complex world. At times it felt more like an adult fantasy than a YA, with how complex the characters, plot and world are. I would definitely recommend picking up the sequel if you enjoyed the first book, because I think you would also enjoy Empress Crowned in Red.

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for this eARC.

I loved Witches Steeped in Gold and I was excited to read this follow up. This was beautifully written and followed on perfectly from the first novel. I was gripped from beginning to end and this may be one of my new favourite duologies!

If you're planning on picking up Empress Crowned in Red I would strongly suggest giving yourself a nice refresher on Witches Steeped in Gold before you head on in as this book definitely drops you in the deep end.
That being said I think this is a really fantastic conclusion to the duology with lots of interesting ideas developed and explored. The driving force of these books - the unlikely alliance of two people who really aren't on the same side of conflicts at all - continues to make for a really fascinating dynamic across this work and I'd recommend this to those who might be feeling a bit fed up with the familiar in YA fantasy.
Fair warning, this book is LONG, over 700 pages (at least in my version) for a YA is a lot to get through but I would recommend you stick it out because there isn't any part of this story that I'd take out. I love the different parts of the world that we get to see, I love the romance and the character development and the *magic*. It all comes together into a really fantastic duology that I'll definitely be recommending to a lot of different readers. I think if you're typically an adult fantasy reader who enjoys some of the tropes more commonly associate with YA this would be a great read as the characters are more on the adult side of young adult and this book felt more on the edge between the two age ranges.
I think that my one criticism is that if you *don't* totally remember every aspect of book one it is a little bit more difficult to get back into the book and not everyone has the time or inclination to reread.
I find that second books in duologies can be somewhat hit or miss and I'm delighted that this one was a resounding hit!
I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley - all opinions are my own.

The epic climax to Witches Steeped in Gold is Empress Crowned in Red. This is a breathtaking ending you won't want to miss, full of enchantment, hope, and sadness. In the sequel, rival witches Jazmyne and Iraya form a shaky partnership to preserve their realm from a new unknown attacker. This is tough to put down because tempers clash and betrayal lurks around every corner.

After finishing Witches Steeped in Gold, this novel provided me everything I wanted, plus some things I didn't even realise I wanted. Having two protagnosists on different sides of an ancient division forced to work together repeatedly means that you never know who will succeed at the end of the series, which is a pleasant departure in a fantasy series where the endings frequently feel secure even if the technique of getting there isn't.

This book is dual POV, which can be confusing at times, but is necessary for the storyline to work. It is action packed and the pacing is good, but it is a long book. The character development was evidently improved from the first book and the pace of the storyline moved along well, making it an enjoyable read. However, there still moments where there could have been more done to distinguish between the two MCs

The actual writing was lovely, and at times extremely emotional and in way somewhat lyrical, and there was enough to keep me interested in the plot. Empress crowned in crimson was a beautiful finish to Witches steeped in gold, and I'd be interesting in seeing more from this universe, or reading anything else Ciannon Smart creates, because it's simply so well created.

I gave 4 out of 5 stars. I missed Iraya and her sassy attitude and speech. And the most growth prize goes to Jazmyne, she had the most ups and downs of all the characters, she lost her way and found it several times. The betrayals that happened has me spinning and gasping. You are lured into a false sense of security and then the rug is pulled from under your feet over and over again. It is a dizzying feeling to not know what to expect and expect the worst. I have one question (why do some rulers think that fear equates to respect?). I loved the end, two ladies who will never like each other but who can grow and evolve together. This is the kind of female empowerment story I like to read, if they are petty it is not for a man and if they stab each other in the back, it is for power, not a man. A balanced matriarchal society where men are not subjugated but women are the clear rulers by design.

Wow, what an ending to this powerful duology. Without wanting to give away any spoilers, this book gave me everything I wanted after finishing Witches Steeped in Gold, and then some things I didn't even know I was hoping for.

Having two protagnosists on opposite sides of an ancient divide, forced to work together again and again means that throughout the series you truly have no idea who will eventually succeed which is a refreshing change in a fantasy series, where often the endings seem assured even if the method of getting there isn't.

Making two such opposing characters equally likeable and relatable is a challenge that I think the author met well. Personally, I'm Team Iraya but I've always had a weakness for impatient, impulsive warriors, and Jazmyne as a counterpoint demonstrates that there is more than one way to be a strong female lead, which is a message I can always get behind.

As with the first book, my only complaint is one of pacing, the plot dips a bit in the middle before picking up speed to race toward the end, but overall I loved this, even more than the first book.

A beautifully written book. Really enjoyed reading this. Thanks to publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Empress Crowned in Red is the epic conclusion to Witches Steeped in Gold. Brimming with magic, hope and heartbreak, this is a stunning finale you won’t want to miss. The sequel follows rival witches Jazmyne and Iraya in their tentative alliance to save their home from a new, unknown enemy. Tempers clash and betrayal lurks at every corner, making this impossible to put down.

This book is dual POV, which can be confusing at times, but is necessary for the storyline to work. It is action packed and the pacing is good, but it is a long book (so be prepared). The writing style is definitely aimed at more mature readers, it reads more like an adult book than YA, the wording can be quite complex. Saying this, the writing was lovely, almost lyrical and the descriptions were excellent. I would also recommend re-reading the first book before starting this, I didn’t and it took me a while to catch up with characters and events that took place in WSIG.

Personally, I think this book almost did an injustice to Jazmyne, she was portrayed as being quite weak at times, I think she deserved more of a character arc. I also thought the final chapter felt too short, I expected to see more of an epilogue. However, besides these small observations, this was an enjoyable read and I was emotionally invested in the characters and the storyline.