Oh my gods, this book was incredible! I was constantly on the edge of my seat, having to catch my breath from the thrill.

The world that Stephanie Storm created was so magical and epic, this is worthy of the big screen. The adventure, the characters, the battles; it was such a fun story to read!

I found some of the world’s terminology to be lacking in definition. It made it difficult to determine the timeline of events, and how long things were actually taking? But it did not deter me from absolutely loving this book.

This is an epic fantasy that concludes beautifully in one book without feeling rushed. Though I am very excited that Stephanie will continue writing other stories in this fun world she created!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5⭐
This was the first book I’ve read by this author, and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise, despite a few minor flaws for me.

What didn’t quite work for me:

❌I had a tough time adjusting to the writing style, it took a bit to get into the flow.
❌A glossary would’ve been super helpful, especially for readers (like me) who aren’t familiar with the world or haven’t read any related stories. I had to guess what some words meant.

Now for the good stuff:

✳️The story delivered plenty of action, with a fast-moving plot, some great twists, and happy ending.
✳️I’m a total sucker for witty banter, sarcasm, and dry humor, Runa (FMC) and Victor (MMC) absolutely delivered on that front. Their dynamic, character growth, and the rising tension between them? Loved it.
✳️Runa’s brothers (Kronk, Drazen) were hilarious and brought so much personality to the story.

Tropes you’ll find: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, found family, vampire + sorcerer, deadly

Overall, I had a good time with this book and I’ll be picking up the next one in the series when the time comes.

Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op Publishing and author for this book for review. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

“Kingdom of Crowns” follows the escapades of lavender-haired sorceress Runa & her brothers, the rock-resembling Kronk & fire-breathing Drazen. They’re determined to mitigate the damage caused by the corrupt kingdom by stealing from the rich to give back to the less fortunate. During this quest, they end up kidnapping Victor, a banished vampire lord & that’s where this story begins.

I really liked Runa. She was fierce, sassy & so protective of her brothers (I really enjoyed her relationship with them as well & how distinctive their personalities were). Victor, it took awhile to warm up to. He was just not the kind of hero I’m used to, which isn’t a bad thing, just…different. But he redeems himself, so there’s that.

There are trials in this book, so there’s a lot of death & gore. There’s also a lot of humor & twists & a slow burn with lots of steamy tension. A fun entry into the romantasy genre with a cast of characters that I hope to see more of in subsequent books.

✨B O O K R E V I E W✨

📖: Kingdom of Stolen Crowns
✍🏻: Stephanie Storm
🔥: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

-•-

❤️‍🔥Enemies to lovers
❤️‍🔥Forced proximity
❤️‍🔥Fated mates
❤️‍🔥Found family
❤️‍🔥Games and trials

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Stephanie Storm for gifting me an ARC of Kingdom of Stolen Crowns!

❤️
This was a fun, spicy little ride! It gives Robin Hood vibes, as well as a sort of Squid Game and The Hunger Games mix of games and trials, all weaved together with good plot, which is paced well.

Runa Starborn, along with her brothers, are bandits, robbing from the wealthy to help their village pay the taxes imposed by the false King. After a robbery goes wrong, the gang end up working with charming vampire Victor Custodis, recently banished from the mortal world, in a deal to save their skin - a deal which also goes wrong, forcing them to take part in a set of deadly trials.

Stephanie’s characters are really well developed, with clear voices and backstories that explain their current motives so clearly. Runa is a feisty, no-nonsense FMC who is the leader of her gang of bandits; her brothers are entertaining, but are more brawn than brain, and offer some comedic value. High vampire Victor is charming, aloof, and believes himself a lot better than those in the world to which he’s banished - until he finds himself undone by Runa. The banter between them is sharp and quick and, when their chemistry explodes…… 🔥

There are layers the plot, but everything is wrapped up well and in a way which leaves no outstanding questions.

😕
I felt that some of the writing was a bit clumsy in places - in particular at the start - and, stylistically, some of the choices in terms of punctuation and emphasis weren’t really for me.
I also was a bit unsure about the use of curse words - while at times the words are said as they would be said in English, there is one particular curse word which, I assume, is said in what is the native tongue of Runa’s land. Which is fine, but it isn’t explained that this is what is happening, so it seems an odd choice on its own.

Overall, this is an enjoyable romantasy romp through a well developed world, with great characters, and good narrative choices, as well as a plot that moves at pace to a satisfying conclusion.
-•-
This review is also live on my Goodreads and my Instagram. account.

4.5 stars.

I would highly recommend this one for all the Romantasy readers out there! I had so much fun reading this!

We follow our fmc Runa, who with her brothers steal to help the people of their land who are suffering at the evil kings expense. We meet our mmc Victor, a vampire lord who has been overthrown and exiled from the mortal land. Throughout the book we see the fmc and her brothers journey with the mmc as victor agrees to help runa in exchange for her opening a portal for victor to return home.
There is so much going on plot wise and it kept me hooked at every twist and turn. We see trials, overthrown kingdoms, fated mates, enemies to lovers, prophecies - so much to sink your teeth into!

And can we talk about the enemies to lovers in this book - wow! I was literally giggling and kicking my feet throughout!

I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out.


Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

A real easy read, fast paced, and we always love an enemies to lovers.

Really enjoyed this one. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

ARC Review: *Kingdom of Stolen Crowns***

This is one of those books where I almost gave it three stars, but in the end, it’s a four. Why? So, basically it’s one of those rare reads that feels like giving an action movie an award: not necessarily a masterpiece in terms of writing or structure, but so entertaining that you can’t help but stay hooked.

The messier stuff: The biggest issue for me was how the big reveals were handled. Instead of being woven in naturally, they’re just… dropped. Abruptly. Like the author wasn't sure how to build tension or pace the twists, so they’re kind of just there. And the timeline is a confusing jumble. It really doesn't hold up under scrutiny. Victor, the MMC, is apparently a thousand years old, but the FMC’s great-grandmother knew him as a child? The kind says he's been using the power of the kingdom for eons, but the FMC appears to be relatively young, and he only got the power when her slightly older sister helped him. How does any of that track?

And then there’s the whole political plotline where the queen waits for Victor’s OLDER brother to come of age before killing her husband and passing the crown to him. But again… Victor is literally a millennium old. Why was she waiting? It just gets increasingly convoluted, and pointlessly, because the author could have just said that the time in the mortal realm passes differently or that the FMC is also a similar age to Victor. The inconsistencies around time passed, aging, and historical events make the worldbuilding feel underdeveloped and honestly, like a bit of a writing craft issue.

Another thing that stood out in a not-great way: the number of self-sacrificing women. It’s oddly high. And not in a “this is a theme being explored with intention” kind of way—more in a “they exist to die” way. Most of them don’t get more than the bare minimum of backstory, which makes their sacrifices feel hollow. It was especially jarring coming from a female author because it reminded me more of how male writers often handle women in fantasy—just there to support male arcs emotionally, then they disappear.

Speaking of arcs, our FMC Runa (powerful sorceress, beautiful, adored by her brothers and by Victor) doesn’t have much of one. She goes from not trusting Victor to trusting him. That’s pretty much it. No major emotional growth or complexity. Meanwhile, Victor, who’s half-vampire and half something else (not spoiling it), is clearly the heart of the story. It’s very much his arc, his pain, his history, and his emotional journey that drive the plot forward.

This is also where I noticed something a little odd in the writing style. Despite being by a woman, the tone and voice often read more masculine. The emotional depth just didn’t always land, and the word choices sometimes felt more like a male fantasy writer’s hand. At times, it even had the vibe of a role-playing game storyline in that it was structured more around dramatic beats and vibes than emotional resonance or character growth.

HOWEVER: Despite all of that, I couldn’t stop reading. I was hooked. The pacing is fun, the stakes are compelling, and even when I was side-eyeing a timeline inconsistency or a flat female character, I still needed to know what happened next. It’s absolutely entertaining, flaws and all.

So yes, four stars (ok 3.75). Not because it’s perfect, but because it was genuinely a fun read that I would not have regretted buying. If the author smooths out some of the worldbuilding and gives her women more dimensionality in the next book, this series could really hit its stride.

I received an ARC of this book.

4.5/5 ⭐️

To preface my review: If you haven't read the "Inner Beast" series, I highly recommend you do before starting this book. The MMC is a character who's present in each of the Inner Beast stories. With that knowledge, it gives you a better idea of the type of person Victor Custodis is.

I adored the playfulness of this book. Each of the characters had their own quirks, which made them truly unique to the storyline.

I thought the banter between characters was incredibly entertaining. If you enjoyed watching "Thor: Ragnarok" and find Taika Waititi's humor entertaining, you'll enjoy this book.

Vampires, fantasy, comedy, and tasteful amounts of smut make this an easy read I couldn't put down.

With that being said, it wasn't all laughs and fun times for our MCs. They wore guilt like armor, which at times made me want to reach through the pages and strangle them for their stubbornness.

I can't wait to see what comes next.

A quirky group of Avengers who just want to save their land get thrown into the death trials of an evil false king while awaiting the true king’s return.

This book was full of banter and off handed remarks that made me question if the character really just said that. I think this book is meant to be a comedy, which I appreciated and it made it an interesting and refreshing read. I did have a hard time connecting with the characters and didn’t really like them. They grew on me at about the half way mark, but they still aren’t my favorite.

The POV switching between Runa and Victor was nice, I appreciated the glimpses in both of their minds, but at times I got lost in whose perspective I was in, like they were too similar.

Their bond being revealed less than 10% into the book was surprising to me, then kind of confusing how he acknowledges it then pretends it doesn’t exist. This book is marketed as enemies to lovers but they were never enemies, far from it. The flirting was there from the start!

I liked the action and fast pace of this story, I also like how book one in the series is a complete story for Runa and Victor. Sounds like book 2 will feature different characters, so I did like getting that closure. I’m curious to know more about the dragon rider and his dragon!

Thank you to the author Stephanie Storm and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!

I have had really good luck with ARCs so far, so I had high hopes for this one. The description seemed like something I would enjoy. Unfortunately, it fell pretty flat for me personally. I might have liked it much more when I was younger, a teenager maybe. The writing was a bit too juvenile for me. I haven't read anything by this author previously, but I noticed one reviewer referenced another series that is related to this one that I have not read. That could contribute to my being unable to fully get into this one. I would say perhaps this book could be marketed more toward a young teenage audience, but it does have plenty of sexual themes. It was difficult to keep going, but I did finish since it was an ARC, and I wanted to leave a complete, honest review after I had the whole picture. It was at times entertaining, and the plot was interesting enough, so I'm giving it three stars.

Full extended review at
https://roseuponrows.com/arc-review-kingdom-of-stolen-crowns/

I liked this book, and enjoyed the enemies to lovers moments that we had throughout it. Victor and Runa were hilarious together, and honestly their banter had me laughing so much. I loved both of their character development throughout the story.
There was some world building, I believe we'll get more as the books go on and we'll learn more about the other species etc.
Overall I liked this, thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Kingdom of Stolen Crowns. I had such a great time reading this!

This book includes some of my favorite tropes such as enemies to lovers, fated mates, deadly trials, and a prophecy. It also features a fierce FMC, dual POV, lots of banter, and plenty of action.

From the start, this book had me hooked. It’s fast-paced, full of tension and fun, with characters I couldn’t get enough of.

The story follows Runa, a powerful sorceress, and Victor, a morally grey vampire, forced to team up during the deadly Fallen Trials to survive. Their chemistry is electric, filled with tension and flirty banter.

The writing is smooth and engaging, making it incredibly easy to get lost in the story. The world-building is imaginative without being overwhelming, and the pacing kept me hooked from beginning to end. I especially enjoyed the balance between action, humor, and romantic tension.

Runa is bold and fierce, and I loved following her journey. Victor is confident, sharp, and just the right amount of reckless. Their dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the book.

Overall, I absolutely loved this story. It was fun, gripping, and I’m still thinking about Runa and Victor! I’m very curious about the next book in the series!

This was a fun and easy read and I should have probably saved it for the beach, it would do wonders with a cocktail in hand! The world building was minimum and straightforward, the characters fleshed out well and the banter had me laughing out loud several times! Runa and Victor are both easy to love and following their story was fun. They are both strong minded and the power play between them was well executed. The love between Runa and her brothers was beautifully portrayed. She was a great MFC. If you're headed for a holiday soon and want something action packed and a story that will give you a good time, give this one a try!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own.

This was fun, fast paced, and so well designed. Victor and Runa have a lot to deal with, being trapped for one, but also figuring out what this infuriating thing between them is. But they soon find there is a very fine line between hate, and lust.

Okay this was SO good. Enemies to lovers + fated mates + a dual POV?!? Yes! Please!

First things first, the world building is CRAZY. Top tier.

Second, Runa is an absolute badass. I'd read her story whether there was a romantic aspect or not. Victor was great and his character was fun to follow, but Runa is indeed the standout in this story.

I can't wait to get my hands on book two!

I appreciate the opportunity but I will not be finishing this one as I do not think it was the story for me.

I had the chance to read Kingdom of Stolen Crowns through NetGalley (huge thanks for the opportunity!), and I absolutely loved it! The book is written in dual POV, and it added so much depth to the story.
At first, I hated the male lead, but he really grew on me, and by the end, I completely loved him. The chemistry between the two main characters was incredible, their dynamic was so well-written, except for some parts that became a bit unserious. The plot was amazing! Sure, there were a few moments that felt a bit predictable, but nothing that took away from the enjoyment. The characters were brilliant, and my absolute favorite was Kronk!! I wish we had gotten even more of him.
After I had finished this book I immediately bought the first book in another series by Stephanie Storm. I can’t wait to dive into more of her work!

WOW! Stephanie Storm has created something special with Kingdom of Stolen Crowns...

You're immediately pulled into a wonderful story of magic and mystery. The world building is detailed and enables you to build a vivid image from the descriptions in the book.

The main characters are engaging and easily likeable:
Runa and her band of merry men (that’s what I’m calling them as it’s how I pictured them) are the stars of the show, I loved the description of Kronk especially as he brings some lighthearted-ness to some of the heavy scenes. Drazen reminded me of a lovable rogue, together the trio gave me Robin Hood vibes “redistributing the false kings wealth”.

Victor is dark and brooding, after being stripped of his rank as a high powered vampire and is banished to the prison realm, Victor is full of ideas of revenge for the High Court who cast him out.

I loved how quickly their stories joined, as soon as Victor sets his eyes on Runa he knows they’re fated mates 😍 The chemistry between Runa and Victor is sizzling! The build of their relationship is perfectly paced!

I really enjoyed the story, the plot and the was a typical romantasy with a fresh take so it feels unlike anything you’ve read before.

I loved the humorous way the internal dialogues were written, it made me laugh out loud several times.

The trials are fantastic - although they sound similar to other books, think Hunger Games/Maze Runner - they’re different, they have a unique challenge at each event, with illusions the team have to navigate through using their strengths and teamwork, it’s inspiring and shows the depth of connection between Runa, Kronk and Drazen.

The third trial ending was just jaw dropping, I had suspected that Victor may be the chosen one, but what happens was SHOCKING! At this point I was even more invested in finding out what happens as we're only at 60%, what more could happen?!

I absolutely love how courageous and bold Runa is, she's not a typical whimsical 'save me' heroin we see in most romantic fantasy's, she's bolshy and tough, and a mastermind!

The ending was unexpected, and left me wanting more, I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

I’m excited for more readers to get their hands on this book, I hope it gains the backing and attention it deserves!

4.5 stars

This book was so much fun! It drops you straight in the action and there’s never a dull moment.

This is the first book in the Sacred Arbor series and tells the story of Runa and Victor who couldn’t be more different.

We have trials, enemies to lovers, magic, prophecy, slow-burn, forced proximity, fated mates - there’s so much happening but it all works.

It’s easy to read with a good amount of world building and plot but it’s the characters that truly make this book shine. So much banter, humour and heart which helps to break up some of the darker moments. I particularly loved Runa’s relationship with her brothers. It’s also dual first person POV so we get to experience both Runa’s and Victor’s perspective.

This book was a breath of fresh air and I can’t wait for book 2!

Kingdom of Stolen Crowns was a very pleasant surprise!
I really, really enjoyed the story more than I had expected to.
It's full of all the good stuff romance, banter, creatures, magic, trials, royalty, spice, and loveable side-characters.
The FMC and MMC are so fun, their witt and banter was great, their romance was well written, and the spice was perfect.
I really loved some of the side characters as well, especially Thorne and Yaga.

Overall this was a fantastic read and I will definitely recommend for Fantasy/Romantasy lovers, I cannot wait for book 2!