I received an ARC for this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Ayleth is the accidental scion of a powerful line of witches in a secret coven in the woods. After the White Court’s King decided witches are evil, he sent the Huntsmen to kill them all, changing the nation’s religion from revering the long-lived magically talented women to demonizing them in favor of a blind, submissive Goddess. Ayleth’s older sister, the actual heir to the family’s lineage and power, died during one of the Hunts, and Ayleth’s mother made it clear she would never measure up. Ayleth leaves the coven to infiltrate the White Court and find a way to bring her dead sister back. She has to keep her deadly secret, stay out of the High Priest’s and King’s scrutiny, and manage her feelings when she discovers her despised ex-lover is on her own mission at court.
The Crimson Crown, by Heather Walter, is a deliciously intricate story of the Wicked Queen’s rise to power in the Snow White universe. I loved this book in every way. Walter’s worldbuilding is a rich tapestry of magic, religion, politics, and lore that is both familiar and uniquely new. The Crimson Crown weaves together an entirely new plot and characters with enough important elements from the existing Snow White fairy tales to keep the reader fully engaged despite knowing the ultimate result. Ayleth’s inner world is complex and kept me empathetic, even as her experiences and choices draw her to a darker path.
I’m a huge fan of Heather Walter’s sapphic retellings of the wicked magical women in fairy tales. The Crimson Crown is first in a new series that has similar vibes as the Malice duology but is set in a wholly different universe. I loved it, and I can’t wait for the sequel.
No Pithy Phrase 