Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this opportunity to read this book.

I DNF this book at 26%. I tried really hard to push through it because I was excited about the concept. I’ve never read a fantasy/romance with elves before. However, the writing style was just not for me.

The story felt too descriptive and rushed while simultaneously being too slow for my liking. There was too much and not enough going on at the same time. I do think the concept could be really great and the writing style may be a better fit for someone else.

Firstly, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me at 15%. I really tried to push further with it, because I felt like the concept had so much potential, but I just couldn’t get on board with the writing style at all.

It was overly descriptive whilst still somehow being too simplistic and unrefined. It kind of felt like everything was being described to me as if it was my first day on earth.

This has all the makings of a great romantic fantasy, but it definitely could’ve done with a few more rounds of editing first.

When a Light Elf sworn to vengeance is trapped underground with the assassin she hates, enemies-to-lovers tension sparks in the shadows of a broken world.

The Hopes of a Crystalline Heart kicks off with a thrilling premise: Aelrie, a loyal Light Elf guard, watches her charge murdered by a Dark Elf assassin—then ends up stranded with him in the deadly Evergloom. Forced to survive side by side, the two must navigate a world of danger, distrust, and slow-burning desire.

The world-building is rich and vividly imagined, with lush descriptions of elven lands and underground realms. However, the heavy focus on setting often slows the pace and stalls the plot. At times, transitions between scenes feel abrupt, making it hard to stay grounded in the story.

Aelrie’s character also feels inconsistent—introduced as a hardened guard, her frequent naivety doesn’t always align with her background. Still, the enemies-to-lovers tension is well-done, the lore is intriguing, and the cliffhanger sets up promising stakes for book two.

A solid start to a new fantasy series with strong atmosphere, romantic tension, and plenty of potential.

This was so good. This was the first story I have read with elves and it was so fun. Aelrie our main MFC decides to follow the assassin that killed her high priestess to his world. Where she hopes to discover who hired him for the job. Then have him help her to get back to her world. This is an enemies to lovers and the slow burn is so good. I can’t wait for the second book!

First off I want to thank NetGalley for giving me this opportunity to read this ARC.

When I read a book I look for 5 different things.

1. Explanation of different fractions. for instance in this book the author explains the difference type of elves. Light Elves, Dark Elves, Wood Elves. She also explains the different status of each elf which I loved.

2. A really good opening to the book. This means the first few paragraphs have to be able to pull me in and want to keep reading which for me it did. The Author did a wonderful job because I was so invested at that point.

3. There has to be banter!! Which there is a really big portion of it. Those parts had me laughing and wanting more.

4. World building/character building. I am the type of person who loves world building and I love when the author does a lot of it even if it repetitive sometimes. Kari did an amazing job at this. I loved how she described every place that the FMC and the MMC went. To the Evergloom and how pretty the phosphorus mushrooms gave off Light in hues of purple, blue, orange. To the Forest being bright filled with beautiful colors. The way that the author built the FMC from beginning to end had me loving every part. She starts off as this guard to the high priestess who obeys every order and does not falter to learning that things are not always as it is meant to be and that you have to not be so nieve about things.

5. SPICY Romance. For me there has to at least be some spicy romance cause who does not love a little spice here or there. The Author did a good job with the spicy parts it was not too much and it was not too prude.


This book has checked off everything I love in a book.

This book, The Hopes of a Crystalline Heart by Kari Jeong, sets out with the makings of a truly epic fantasy — a vibrant world populated by Light Elves, Dark Elves, and Wood Elves, all caught in a complex web of alliances and enmities. The Light and Dark Elves remain bitter enemies, yet the FMC (light) and MMC (dark) are strangely attracted to each other. It’s a setup that promises tension, political intrigue, and high-stakes adventure.
And to its credit, the opening chapters deliver. The initial action is gripping and promises a fast-paced, high-fantasy tale. But that momentum doesn’t last.
The author’s greatest strength — world-building — quickly becomes the story’s biggest obstacle. The setting is beautifully crafted, every forest glade, underground cave system and elven stronghold described in exquisite detail. Unfortunately, the descriptions are so frequent and so lengthy that they bog down the narrative. Just when the plot should be moving forward, it often pauses to admire the scenery. While the immersive detail is impressive, it comes at the cost of pacing — making it difficult to stay engaged as the story unfolds.
Transitions between chapters also feel abrupt and occasionally jarring, as though key moments or developments were skipped or edited out. This disjointed flow made it difficult to stay grounded in the story, and more than once I had to flip back just to check if I missed something.
A particularly odd disconnect lies in the characterization of the main female protagonist. She’s introduced as a trained guard — someone who’s presumably lived through the roughness of a soldier’s life. Yet her behavior often contradicts that background. She’s frequently naive and easily flustered by the kinds of conversations or realities that would be standard in any military setting. This inconsistency makes her difficult to relate to and undermines her credibility as a capable fighter.
There’s a lot of promise in this book — a unique world, fascinating lore, and the skeleton of a strong narrative. But it’s weighed down by overwriting and uneven character development. With tighter pacing and a clearer focus on the characters over the landscape, this could be something truly special. It does end on a cliffhanger and does have some spice 🌶️🌶️.
Rating: 3/ 5 stars
Recommended for patient readers who love richly described fantasy settings and can overlook a meandering plot in favor of imaginative detail.
Thanks to #NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5 stars.

This one wasn’t quite for me but I had to give it 3.5 stars for the incredibly cool concept and the plot itself is there, with a little bit of an extra edit this could still have been a really great read with intrigue, betrayals and a lot of what I love in a book.

What I liked:
- Aelrie was a really likeable character, I was rooting for her.
- the world building is well done. The warring factions are well described and compelling.

Where it lost me:
- the language was really repetitive with the same phrasing being used in successive sentences and some subsequent sentences seemed to say almost the same thing as the one before.
- There were inconsistencies at times that took me out of the story. For example in the aftermath of Lindana’s murder the acolyte asks Aelrie if she committed the murder despite already knowing that guards are chasing someone which I found a bit confusing.

I would still absolutely check out another book by Kari Jeong.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I really wanted to love this book. The concept is excellent and gave me LOTR vibes with the elves and orcs. However, the writing comes off as YA/middle school age and has a lot of repetitive words and explainations. Many parts felt a bit choppy or disjointed and detracted from the overall reading experience. I think if the romance was removed, or toned down, this could be a great read for a 8-14 year old or if it was re-drafted to address the issues with the flow of writing, for older audiences with the romance intact. Overall, I think the concept is there, but it needs fine tuning to reach it's full potential.

A big thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of Hopes of a Crystalline Heart!

This one was just okay for me. I really loved the concept—the different elf factions and the enemies-to-lovers slow burn had a lot of potential. But unfortunately, a strong idea doesn’t always translate into a strong execution, and that was the case here.

The story felt a bit too simplistic, almost like a YA novel with some romance added in. While the premise was promising, the worldbuilding and character development fell flat. I found myself wishing the author had pushed the boundaries of her imagination to create a more immersive and unforgettable world. It had all the ingredients, but the final product didn’t quite come together.

DNF.

I tried to finish this, but... I just couldn't.

The concept is awesome, and is definitely a DnD inspired world crossed with Norse Mythology. An awesome combination!

But the execution feels... a bit like a first draft. It has SO MUCH potential to be an elegant romantic high fantasy story. But it's very choppy in execution and does a lot of telling rather than showing.

This romantic fantasy is full of emotion, tension, and stunning worldbuilding. The story follows Aelrie Everstar, a Light Elf sworn to a life of discipline and duty. After a life-shattering event, she is forced into a dangerous journey that challenges everything she believes. Her path leads her into enemy lands, where unexpected truths come to light and forbidden love begins to bloom.

The romance is powerful and meaningful, with just the right amount of spice to deepen the connection between the characters. It never overshadows the plot but instead adds emotional weight to every decision and sacrifice.

Kari Jeong creates a richly layered world filled with political intrigue, divine power, and ancient secrets. Every chapter raises the stakes and keeps you turning pages. The ending left me breathless and desperate to know what happens next.

This story is perfect for readers who love high fantasy with emotional depth, slow-burn romance, and strong heroines who will risk everything for what they believe in.