I received an ARC of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Hellevir is only ten years old when she crosses into Death the first time, bringing back a fox caught in one of her brother’s traps. Her journey is a transition that happens in the natural accident of a child’s need, but the second time is intentional and begins her life’s path down a liminal and lonely road. Years later, after a decade of estrangement from her family, Hellevir is summoned by the crown princess, Sullivain, to use her powers to bring the princess back from the dead whenever necessary, even though every time she does it costs a piece of herself. Hellevir is trapped between a bargain she with Death and her deal with Sullivain.
The Gilded Crown, by Marianne Gordon, is a richly woven fantasy novel with phenomenal worldbuilding. The way Hellevir’s powers are treated, both the mechanics of how it works and the social aspects of how she’s treated for having the abilities, reminded me of the way sin eaters were treated by the villagers and the Church in Medieval Europe. Gordon does an excellent job balancing fanaticism, superstitious fear, and legend all colliding in the capital city as Hellevir’s old world beliefs and abilities come up against an insidious force taking over the country.
I love that all the characters have their own machinations, often at odds with Hellevir’s goals. I got frustrated with Hellevir’s refusal to recognize that humans don’t always have her best interests at heart. If I have a single complaint about this book it’s this: for a woman who’s seen literally more death and sorrow than most, she seems incapable of seeing past anyone’s surface or question motivations, especially Sullivain’s, and it continuously bites her in the ass. Her persistent naivete became distracting. Ultimately, the end was very satisfying and impossible to put down, so I both love and hate Gordon just a little bit for the last few chapters of this book. Argh.
The Gilded Crown is out now and is first in a series. I’m looking forward to the second book when it’s available. If you like rich, complex fantasy with a healthy dash of the otherworldly, twists, betrayals, and romantic tension, you’ll like The Gilded Crown. Plus there’s a pet crow, and who doesn’t love that?
No Pithy Phrase 