I bought Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber (528 pages/Electric Monkey) in the 99p Kindle Deal which is still currently available HERE for a limited time only. I enjoyed this book so much that I’ve also ordered the paperback edition.
“Wren Greenrock has always known that one day she would steal her sister’s place in the palace. Trained from birth to avenge her parents’ murder and usurp the princess, she will do anything to rise to power and protect the community of witches she loves.
Princess Rose Valhart knows that with power comes responsibility including marriage into a brutal kingdom. Life outside the palace walls is a place to be feared and she is soon to discover that it’s wilder than she ever imagined.”
I originally thought Twin Crowns was a standalone fantasy novel but it soon became apparent, just after approaching the 80% mark, that this was the first in a series. It does, however, come to a satisfying conclusion with just enough questions and possibilities to keep the reader in suspense for the sequel.
Each chapter is written from the perspective of two estranged princesses and alternates between the Kingdom of Eana and The Whisperwind Cliffs of Ortha. Their stories of self-discovery are intertwined perfectly as are the two coinciding romances and the structure of the book really enhanced my enjoyment of the book. Rose is a sheltered princess who lives a life of plush four-poster beds and lavender bubble baths. Wren, her crafty and brash long-lost sister, carries a dagger stabbed to her thigh and has been trained since birth by a community of witches to steal the throne of Eana and seek revenge for the murder of her parents.
I personally found the fiery Wren the more charismatic and interesting of the twins. I felt that Rose lacked depth and I found her naivety and entitlement borderline irritating and difficult to relate to.
Considering this book is over 500 pages long it was well-paced, although I would have appreciated more time exploring the traditions and legacy of the witches as well as the background of side characters such as Tilda, Rowena and Anika. I found this book to be aimed toward the lower ages of the YA spectrum. I would have preferred a little more ‘bite’ as some of the dialogue – “Oh crumbs!’ – came across as a touch cheesy and juvenile. Regardless, I absolutely loved this enchanting tale full of lavish balls, doting animal sidekicks, ancient prophecies and palace secrets. I absolutely raced through the last few chapters. The finale was spectacular.
Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber is available HERE. (Affiliate Link)
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