A War of Crowns: An Epic, No-Spice Fantasy Romance

Devoted Steps

Really good clean fantasy read

"So many fantasy authors liken their novels to the infamous Lord of the Rings that it almost becomes white noise in describing a book. However, A War of Crowns by Ashley Willingham at first captivated me with its likeness to the legendary saga. Surprisingly, only a few chapters in, the story engaged me in a way uniquely its own. This no-spice, faith-honoring tale is truly in its own league. The book’s large cast featured characters so perfectly balanced between their wicked and good sides that they stirred my empathy in fascinating ways. I couldn’t wait to turn the page, eager to see what would happen next, and genuinely didn’t know who I was rooting for until the very end. The writing flows smoothly, with a comfortable rhythm and just the right amount of complexity to maintain engagement. Spiritual themes, such as the eternal battle between light and darkness, the triumph of truth over deception, and the questioning of faith by false doctrines, are intricately woven into the very core of the narrative. The narrative artfully crafts an experience that left me eager for more, yet my heart was entirely satisfied by its conclusion. In the realm of fantasy, this book is a breath of fresh air, revitalizing a genre that had grown predictable to me with its imitations of famous classics. Fantasy lovers won’t want to miss this one. I look forward to the rest of the series. ["

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March 29, 2026 Verified Purchase

Rnicholson

A book you won’t want to put down!

"My favorite thing about this book, I couldn’t figure out what was going to happen next. This kept me reading, kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next! Enjoyed every twist and turn, now I’m onto book number 2!! ["

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April 3, 2026 Verified Purchase

Freytag's Lab

Every Character Comes to Life!

"A War of Crowns was an incredible and multi-faceted story told from multiple character perspectives, mainly Seraphina, the main character's perspective of course, but also from the perspective of her enemies and tentative allies. *Spoiler Warning* Seraphina de la Croix is a queen riding on the coattails of a successful monarch who died in a frenzy after the loss of his son, her brother. Calculating, careful, she's under a load of pressure as she tries to gain the aid needed to protect one of the Elmorian forts, since most of her country’s military strength is focused on protecting the ports. She is rightfully resistant toward marrying to gain aid and placing a stranger on the throne but puts the wellbeing of her country at the head of every decision. Political intrigue, religious tensions, and a battle of integrity vs necessity intertwine as the countries of Elmoria and Drakmor navigate a potential alliance to face Arath, the home of The Lady Below as attempts to spread her dark evil across the world. The individual motivations of multiple characters such as Edmund, King of Drakmor, Aldric, Drakmor's disinherited heir, and Tiberius, Seraphina's childhood friend turned rejected crush, clash with Seraphina and shape and alter the conditions in which Seraphina acts. The monstrousness of The Lady Below and her willing and unwilling servants are also incredible to read about. The witches she employs, and their dark rituals are unsettling. Their inhumanity/willingness to sacrifice their humanity for power and misguided religious means makes them human in the worst, most corrupt sense. The means by which she takes prisoners and controls the unwilling is sharp and striking. A War of Crowns is such a vast and complex world with a gradient of characters ranging from obvious good to morally grey, to undeniable bad and corrupt and I can't wait to see what develops in the next book in the series! ["

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June 29, 2025 Verified Purchase

Kristy Ayers

Christian Fantasy

"Literally obsessed with this entire series! Ashley Willingham is so good at what she does! ["

March 6, 2026 Verified Purchase