Review: Thorns of a Crown by M. Lynn and Melissa A. Craven

I received this book via the author M. Lynn, Melissa A. Craven. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Thorns of a Crown by M. Lynn, Melissa A. Craven
Series: The Falling Kingdoms #2
Published by Twin Rivers Press on 2025-05-15
Length: 273 pages
Reviewing eARC from the author M. Lynn, Melissa A. Craven
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2025 New Release Challenge

The epic series continues in book two!

Before the dawn of a new age can begin, the old one must die.
An empire will crumble. And a champion will lose.
It’s the same every millennia when the cycle of prophecy begins anew. One by one, the kingdoms of Teitora fall to the words of a book written long ago.

Samara Chrysos has assumed the title of princess of her father’s kingdom. Hiding in plain sight to shield herself from those who would see her executed simply for existing.

She once longed for adventure, now she simply hopes to survive.

To the empire, her sister, Odessa occupies the palace in their father’s absence. Only Samara and a few infuriatingly stubborn guards know the truth.

Odessa is gone, scouring the farthest reaches of the kingdom for a way to survive the looming prophecy that would usher in the end of everything she holds dear.

In her role, as the feared princess chosen by the Shadow Crown, stands Samara—a girl raised in isolation, unprepared and out of place. She knows little of the kingdom she was born into and even less of the storm that is fast approaching.

And it is coming.

Fire and ash. Flesh and blood. The empire will suffer the prophecies written long ago. Two sisters, destined to clash in battle. A forbidden guard, bound by oaths and secrets. And lies so dangerous, they could kill them all before the prophecy even has its chance.

Join Samara and Odessa once again as they fight the prophecy, their enemies, and each other.

Thorns of a Crown by M. Lynn, Melissa A. Craven is the second installment in The Falling Kingdoms, a YA epic fantasy adventure. Picking up right where Shadows of a Crown left off, this story follows Odessa, the crowned princess, and Samara, the twin she didn’t know existed, as they fight fate to break the prophecies. If you have not read book one of this series, there may be spoilers to it ahead. Read at your own risk. Odessa and Zak are traveling across the Aleshaan Mountains in search of the dragons. Whoever controls the dragons controls the prophecy, or so Odessa believes. Having stolen away in the night, she left Samara no choice but to fill her shoes and pretend to be Odessa. With the help of Gideon, the head of Odessa’s Chosen, Samara makes her way back to Doragune and assumes the role of princess, hoping it won’t lead to her own death.

Odessa is on a mission to find the dragons. She’s headstrong and her thoughts are being tainted by the power of the Shadow crown. She’s hearing voices that are not her own, speaking with power she didn’t know she had, and all-in-all scaring poor Zak, the new keeper and Samara’s best friend. Zak has followed her because the Book of Prophecy told him to, and as its keeper, he’s inclined to follow its instruction. Their trek across the mountains is perilous, but also revealing. We learn a lot about the prophecies, where they originated, and who the key players are this cycle.

Across the continent, Samara is scared and feeling trapped. One wrong word, one wrong action could out reveal that she isn’t Princess Odessa. She’s coping with everything she’s lost: her home in Jinpoli, her makeshift family there, her best friend Zak leaving her, and now a sister who also left her. Honestly, I feel like she handles it well, better than I would. Gideon helps where he can, but the two clash constantly arguing. He is trying to guide her in what Odessa might do in situations, and she just wants to be seen as Samara. The danger she is in increases when someone from her past shows up at the castle, someone she thought dead.

While Shadows of a Crown focused on setting up the world and the characters, this book zooms in on the prophecies and fleshes out our main characters. It is intricate and laid out so as not be overwhelming for the reader. The POV alternates mostly between Odessa and Samara. We also get some perspectives from Zak as well as Luca, who plays a much bigger role than I originally thought. The plot is fast-paced. I did not want to sit it down. In fact, I finished it in two days.

Overall, I really enjoyed Thorns of a Crown. I think I may have even liked it more than the first book. I love how the authors show the relationships that are being forged and trust that is broken. It is easy to get sucked into the action and the plight facing each character. There is something for every reader here: action, adventure, romance, fantasy, and fate. If you are a fan of epic or high fantasy, I highly recommend it.

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