A king, a queen, a war. This is a fantasy with tension, romance, family, survival. Book 3 and the final in this trilogy and what a final it is. There is so much going on in this book and it fits and flows from the others so well. I am so glad I had the chance to read all three of these books.

I was invested from page one and couldn't put it down once I started reading. I love the mystery, intrigue, romance and the political aspect of this story. It is a book (and series) that is well written with great characters and a great storyline, having read the whole series it has now come to an end and the story has been tied together nicely and I feel rewarded and happy for reading the series. I highly recommend the whole series. Wonderful books.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Unfortunately, this was a third in the series, which wasn’t stated anywhere upon requesting. It’s truly unfortunate because the premise sounds amazing. You do need to read the prior books in order to enjoy this one. I think it’s important to let people know this as I’m sure others are in the same boat as me. I really don’t have the time with my other ARC’s to read two books prior to this one. I’m so sorry!

Thank you NetGalley and Leane Gilomee for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Book 3 in the Twisted Crown Trilogy.

Very enjoyable fun read! I am a huge fan of the romantasy genre and an even bigger fan of a well written, strong FMC. This book ticked all of those boxes for me. I enjoyed the romance, the tension, the action, all of it! I would definitely recommend this on and might even reread the trilogy again now I know what happens.. which trust me. you want to! Overall, I would highly recommend on to read this and the rest of the books in the series

In the final installment of the Twisted Crown Trilogy, Queen Elara must navigate the ruins of war, both literal and emotional, as Everness teeters on the edge of collapse. With Cai exiled and stripped of his title, the former king finds himself a man with nothing left to lose, except for Elara herself. As enemies rise and old magic stirs, their only chance lies in a forgotten relic said to hold the truth of a kingdom’s founding, and maybe its salvation.

All in all, this was a decent ending to a series I’ve enjoyed overall. Not perfect, but still worth the read, especially if you’re a fan of multiple POVs, slow-burn romance, reluctant royalty, and a heroine who refuses to be anything less than sovereign of her own story.

Once upon a crown by Leanne Gilliomee.
Twisted crown trilogy book 3.
Oh my word. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love this series. I loved Cai and Elara. How they were with each other. I loved the writing style and the story. I read this in a few days. I just couldn't put it down. It felt like I was there with them watching everything happening. It's a shame this is the last book of this series as I would've loved it to carry on. I would definitely recommend this series.

Pre Thoughts
- Royal courts

Overall
-As I love a book with a strong FMC this series has been immaculate and delivers a great plot.
- Gwen and lances romance is so memorable and really enhanced the romantasy vibe.
- Good chaotic romance vibes
- If you like tension high stakes and betrayal this may be your cup of tea.

Stars 3.5 rounded to 4
Spice 1

Tropes
- Very well written heroine
- Vulnerable romance
- Strong FMC
- Found family

Thank you to Leané Gilomee and Netgalley for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own xx

Here is my review for Once Upon A Crown by Leane Giliomee

This is the third book in the trilogy which has been such a gripping and intriguing story that I have been hooked right from the very first book. The story starts in the first book and concludes in this book. Elara is a brilliant character. She is Queen of Everness but she isn’t actually married to Cai, King of Norrandale who has been exiled so the council aren’t sure about following the Queen’s orders. Cai is not coming out of his room but eventually Elara goes to him and lets him know he is needed. Together they work to find the diary which could lead them to the magic stones. I got into this story straight away right from the start of the book. The story is brilliantly written and the characters are superb. Some are sneaky and sly as they can’t be trusted. Also, some have been in all three books. I like the storyline and the plot works really well. I have been invested in reading all three books and loved them all. I found I couldn’t put the book down as I wanted to know what happened next. I liked the author's writing style and I found it really easy to follow.

Blurb :

A fallen king. A hunted queen. Bound by fate, divided by war.

I'd never really had anything in my life worth dying for . . . Until now.

As an enemy sweeps through the mountains in search of a legendary power, Queen Elara of Everness rules a fractured realm. Her grip on power is fragile, and her heart is caught between duty and the haunted king who once vowed to fight by her side.

Once the proud king of Norrandale, Cai is now an exile. He has lost everything . . . except her.

Elara and Cai’s only hope is a lost diary, said to have belonged to the first king of Everness. Within its pages are answers buried in ancient magic, cursed relics and a war that never truly ended. If they can find it, it could mean the difference between life and death.

In a world where legend and truth collide, the fate of two kingdoms — and one forbidden love — hangs in the balance.

And the crown will demand the greatest sacrifice of all.

Perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, The Veiled Kingdom, Powerless, Spark of the Everflame, A Kiss of Iron and The Cruel Prince.

Tropes:
🗡 Found family
🗡 Sizzling tension 🗡🌶
🗡 Lovers-to-strangers-to-lovers
🗡 Badass FMC
🗡 High-stakes political intrigue
🗡 We support women's rights and women's wrongs
🗡 Grumpy x sunshine

This is Book 3 of The Twisted Crown Trilogy, and we pick up pretty much after Book 2!

In this final we have love, we have action, we have mystery... and a secret diary...

Elara and Cai are back and stronger than ever. I've enjoyed reading about these 2 and watching them grow as characters and as a couple!

Battling against enemies such as Aries, you really see how these two work together and how they would operate when the world settles.

This entire story is engaging and enthralling. It is a slow burn with the romance but with plenty of action woven into the story, so the slow burn isn't the focal point that I loved!

The addition of finding the secret diary added a great mini-quest for the characters, and it was a great mystery that helped the reader (and the characters!) learn more about the first king.

This was a gripping finale to an intriguing trilogy, and I can't wait to see what Leané shares with us in the future!

The final instalment of the Twisted Crown Trilogy was in a word epic. I have to say I have loved this series from book one and I have to say unlike some series and trilogies the story, action and characters have been consistent throughout. I have loved following the journey of Elara and Cai and the trails they have faced. There is a brilliant balance between action and romance. Elara is badass and it’s impossible to not love her. Cai is brilliant too, but I will say Elara really shone through for me. 

I loved how Gilomee takes tropes but makes them their own throughout. I never felt ‘this has been done before’ or ‘I’ve read something like this before’. It all felt fresh, well written and well developed. 

If you love high stacks fantasy romance with a nice mix of political intrigue and action this trilogy is the one for you.

What an ending to the trilogy. If you are reading this and haven't checked the previous books please do so, this review will mention some details of the previous books as well. Because if there's something I love about this book is how the author connects scenes across the trilogy.

That's for me the strongest point of Leané's writing, there's a talk between Elara and Lance that makes you remember how they met, their first talk in private and how their relationships works around making deals with each other. In a similar way, there's also a scene between Cai and Elara that also makes me remember the first book when he was treating her wounds. I loved those details because it made it all feel so consistent, connected and it was just a great reward.

In this book Lance's character has way more development and I liked seeing how he evolves, even more since I think the author makes an amazing job during the rest of the books at making you feel that he's not really that bad. Although it's true I felt part of his plot stopped the pacing of the book a little bit, but I liked reading it a lot.

There are some minor points I didn't like, some parts of the plot are obvious from page one, and the final part feels very rushed compared with the rest of the book. I feel there are also some things that could be used to create a more interesting plot or a twist, mostly because to me they feel like they don't make a lot of sense, as if the author was planning on doing something but then didn't. It's not a big thing, but was confusing, even more because it's related to Cai's behaviour. But besides that, I appreciated Cai's character a lot in this book and what a good representation it does of someone dealing with losing their loved ones and maybe even some depression. Some of Cai's parts really resonated with me.

In general I strongly recommend reading this trilogy and while the second book felt slower to read this one quite makes up for it.

In the final book of the Twisted Crown Trilogy, Elara rules a fractured realm, while Cai, once the king of Norrandale, is now in exile. He has lost everything.....except her. As a relentless enemy sweeps through the mountains in search of a legendary power,, Elara & Cai's only hope of survival is a lost diary, said to have belonged to the first king of Everness. The diary is supposed to hold answers buried in ancient magic, cursed relics and a war that never truly ended. If they can find it, it could change everything.

I really wish the author had included a synopsis at the beginning that summed up the previous two books. I had to go back and read my reviews in order to refresh my memory, because I was completely lost until I did. So, this is definitely not a a standalone, and they do need to be read in order! In the first book of the trilogy, it begins with Elara acting as a female Robinhood, stealing from the rich to help the poor. She is hired to steal something from the Prince. Cai is the prince from the rival kingdom, who is supposed to marry the princess in the Kingdom of Everness.. Cai & Elara end up falling in love with each other. In book 2, Elara is trying to navigate a court filled with deceit, assassination attempts and dangerous alliances.. She knows in order to survive, she must make a bargain to marry King Cai of Norrandale. With enemies closing in on every side and the threat of war looming on the horizon, Elara has to figure out how much she is willing to risk to ensure the fate of her kingdom, without her heart getting destroyed in the process. This final book ties everything up nicely, with a satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy fantasy fiction then I definitely suggest you check out this series!

Thank you to Leané Gilomee and Netgalley for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Once Upon A Crown is the third and final book in the Twisted Crown series.
This book broke me and healed me all at once. 😭👑✨ If you’ve read the first two in the series, get ready — Once Upon a Crown is the most emotional, high-stakes installment yet.

We’re back with Elara and Cari, and her journey is raw, fierce, and painfully beautiful. She’s navigating not just political alliances and power plays but also relationships.. Watching her evolve was EVERYTHING. 💔🔥

Expect:
💀 betrayal and loyalty tested
👑 heavy court politics and power moves
🕯️ a beautifully written heorine
❤️‍🔥 a romance that’s more fragile, more vulnerable than ever before

Leané Gilomee’s writing is rich but sharp — she doesn’t waste words, and she knows how to make you feel every shift in Elara’s heart. There’s tension in every chapter, and that final act?? I’m still reeling. Such a satisfying conclusion to a series.

My only critique: I wanted more time with certain emotional payoffs (no spoilers!), but honestly… the heartbreak, the tenderness, the sheer weight of Elara’s choices? Loved it!

If you love:
– morally grey choices
– emotionally intense character arcs
– layered worldbuilding
– strong women navigating impossible decisions

this book is def for you - get reading :)

Once Upon a Crown
Leane Giliomee
A storyline full of adventure, intrigue and mystery. The story is held from multiple points of view from that of the Queen, Elara, her fiance and exiled king Cai, her brother Lance and friend Gwen and begins with the betrayal of Gwens brother who has helped to take Cai's kingdom and murdered the groups friend. Elara and Cai embark on a quest to not only find remaining magical objects, but to ensure they don't fall into the wrong hands.

While I understood this wasn't the first in the series, I still found the storyline difficult to follow towards the end as if the plot dropped off slightly. The characters themselves I felt lacking chemistry which may be due to the multiple POVs.

Thank you @netgalley and Leane Giliomee for the advanced read.

I did not realize this was the 3rd book in a series. After getting 25% through I could not finish this book. This book starts slow and long. With a lot of detail about nothing of importance. I kept hoping that missing the back story was the issue and it would get better but this slow every minor move and thought to get to the quarter way point, to be reminded of the same simple facts repeatedly with no real movement was too much.

Strong Fierce FMC
I had to go back and start from the beginning and I’m glad I did.
I really liked the tug of war between Cai and Elara there were a lot of places I really wish there was less tension and more of them.
Brining in the additional relationships in the story helped build a larger dynamic to the store and I loved that aspect.
I think Elara and Cia came into there own as the new King and Queen.
All in all it was a good story with a interesting story line that kept me involved.

A magical finale packed with heart, heat, and high-stakes. ✨👑🗡

Once Upon A Crown brings the Twisted Crown trilogy to a dramatic close, filled with legendary diaries, and the fate of entire kingdoms hanging in the balance. Elara and Cai return as emotionally scarred but determined leaders, navigating power struggles and forbidden love as war looms large.

There’s a lot to enjoy here - from the development of Gwen and Lance’s unexpected romance, to the emotional weight behind Cai’s personal losses and Elara’s growing strength. I especially appreciated the Myrgonite magic arc and the ultimate confrontation with King Aries - it wrapped things up in a satisfying, if bittersweet, way.

That said, this final instalment didn’t quite hit as hard emotionally as I’d hoped. Some sections felt overly focused on exposition, and Cai’s arc in the first half felt a bit meandering. Still, fans of the series will find closure, action, and just enough spice to keep the pages turning.

If you’re craving a fantasy romance with a fierce heroine, broken royals, and found family vibes, this trilogy is worth a look 👑

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Once Upon A Crown is the epic conclusion to the Twisted Crowns trilogy capable of giving every reader the feels. I was so excited to finish reading Elara & Cari’s story, and it did not disappoint! Full of political intrigue, betrayal, romance, and adventure with the perfect amount of world building, Once Upon A Crown is a definite recommendation for any fantasy reader!

📚✨A finale full of angst, ancient secrets & chaotic royalty ✨👑

Okay, babes. So I finally finished Once Upon a Crown – the big, dramatic finale to The Twisted Crown Trilogy – and I’ve got THOUGHTS. Like... grab a snack and a goblet of wine because we need to unpack this 📖🍷

Was it the fantasy breakup-make-up reunion of the year? Not quite. But did it give me feels, heartbreak, 🔥 tension and high-stakes betrayal? Absolutely.
___________

🖤 The Vibe:

We’re back with our chaos duo — Elara, our fierce queen clinging to power by the thinnest thread, and Cai, the fallen king turned brooding exile (ugh, we love a haunted man in a cloak). Their dynamic? Full-on “I hate you but, I love you and I’d burn the world down for you” levels of intensity 🔥
"I will never leave you. You saved my life once. You pulled me back from death. And I will go to hell and back to find you."
– CAI, PLEASE 😭
_____________

⚔️ What I Loved:

→ Lance. Freaking. Deserved. This.
Never thought I’d be saying this, but 🏆 props to Lance. Our man stepped UP. His arc with Gwen was surprisingly tender and gave the book some much-needed softness and balance. Like thank you for bringing actual romance into the romantasy, sir. 👏💖

→ The found family vibes were ON.
The side characters? I was clutching my heart with every scene because Leané does not care about your emotional wellbeing 😩. Death toll? Brutal. My tears? Endless.

→ The plot? Ancient diary scavenger hunt + cursed relics + blurred lines between myth and truth = very Throne of Glass meets Powerless energy. I was so here for the stakes.

→ Favourite quote attack:
"I'd never really had anything in my life worth dying for ... until now."
– Elara. BABY. MY HEART. 💔
_______________

😩 What Didn’t Hit:

→ Cai and Elara... pls stop yelling 😭
The lovers-to-strangers-to-lovers trope was TROPING. Like... they were at each other's throats 75% of the time. I get it, the tension is supposed to be sizzling... but I was this close to dragging them into couple’s therapy myself.
"If you don't tell me where she is, I will not hesitate to beat you beyond recognition. I've been thinking about it for a while actually."
– Cai to Lance. Bro. Unhinged. 😂

→ The pacing felt a bit off.
Some chapters were slowwww, then suddenly everything was happening at once and boom, it’s the end. I needed a bit more time to breathe through the climax and resolution. The epilogue was a sweet touch, but I wanted more time with the aftermath. I mean, we just fought for three whole books — GIVE ME MY HAPPILY EVER AFTER PAGES.
______________

👑 Final Thoughts:

Was it a perfect finale? No. But was it satisfying? For the most part, yes. It gave me closure, some iconic lines, and the feeling that maybe – just maybe – the crown won this time.
"It was sobering to realise, once again, that you could know someone your entire life and still know nothing about them."
– Elara… girl, why you gotta call us out like that 💀

3.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐✨
A solid end to a gripping trilogy, but could’ve used a little more heart, a little less bickering, and maybe... like, a group hug?? Just once?? 🫂😂

Still, if you're into chaotic royal romances, ancient secrets, and girls who rule both hearts and kingdoms, give this trilogy a go 💅👑

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Once Upon a Crown is the third book I’ve read by Leané Gilomee, and while this one didn’t fully hit the mark for me, I’m still invested in the overall story and absolutely plan to keep reading her work.

Pros:
•The premise is strong. Royal court intrigue, forbidden romance, and a touch of rebellion? Definitely my kind of setup.
•The world continues to be rich and layered I loved returning to familiar threads while getting deeper into the politics and shifting alliances.
•The love interest had moments that made me swoon, and the setup for the romance had all the right tension, even if it didn’t completely land.

Cons:
•The pacing dragged in parts, especially the middle. I found myself skimming a bit, waiting for a real turning point.
•The romance didn’t feel as emotionally gripping as I hoped it stayed on the surface when I wanted more depth and connection.
•Some of the dialogue and internal monologue felt repetitive, which made the stakes feel lower than they should’ve.

That said, I’ve really enjoyed this series overall, and Gilomee has a storytelling voice I’m drawn to. While this one wasn’t my favorite, I’m still very much on board for whatever comes next.

I really tried with this book but right from the start I wasn’t impressed. It started and the king had already lost his kingdom and was in hiding almost like it was a follow on book leaving off from a cliff hanger. It was also multiple pov that I don’t really think helped the storyline. I got to 72 pages and that has taken days. The book just didn’t grab my attention enough to continue with it. I don’t think I have dnf’d a book for a very long time.#DNF #booktok