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.
Ruin of a Crown by M. Lynn, Melissa A. Craven Series: The Falling Kingdoms #3
Published by Twin Rivers Press on 2025-07-10
Length: 278 pages
Reviewing eARC from the author M. Lynn, Melissa A. Craven
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2025 New Release Challenge
![](https://momwithareadingproblem.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/JDDiBooks-CBS-W-e1531416902596.png")
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.On the run, Samara and the Chosen seek refuge in a city that now sees them as traitors. As they regroup, deciding how to face the fallout from their actions, Odessa returns with a broken Keeper and a warning: the dragons have awakened—but that's not the only danger. Pandora, the long-lost Moirai sibling, has arrived, ready to claim her own place in the prophecy’s deadly game. She brings with her a chaotic past, a volatile mind, and an unbreakable bond to the dragons, creatures whose loyalty could shift the tides of war.
Now, the prophecy looms closer than ever, forcing each sister to confront a harsh truth: only one of them can claim the dragons' allegiance, and each must fight to ensure her own survival. But the stakes are high, and the cost is steep.
Samara, in love with a man bound by duty, and Odessa, slipping further into the darkness of the Shadow Crown, are forced to face their final reckoning.Sisterhood will no longer save them. As the prophecy unfolds, their paths are clear: to survive, they must become enemies. The true battle has just begun, and whoever claims the dragons will shape the fate of the kingdom—but at what cost to their own souls?
Ruin of a Crown by M. Lynn, Melissa A. Craven is the third book in The Falling Kingdoms, a YA epic fantasy series featuring two sisters and a prophecy that will end their world. Picking up right where Thorns of a Crown left off, we find Samara and Odessa at odds and on the run with the dragons awakening. If you have not read the first two books of this series, there may be spoilers to those ahead in this review. Read at your own risk. Samara and the Chosen are hiding in plain sight in the capital city after a coup at the castle has labeled them as traitors to the crown. Odessa returns with a mortally injured Zak. The dragons are awake, and the four Morai siblings have chosen their victor in this millennium’s prophecy. With enemies at all sides, Odessa and Samara must figure out who they can trust before the new cycle begins.
Each book in this series just gets better and better. Told mostly from Samara’s and Odessa’s perspectives with a some chapters from Luca and Zak, the story unfolds at a breakneck pace. While book one set up the series and book two fleshed out the main characters, this story delves into the Morai and their role in the prophecy. I loved learning more about Luca and his siblings. Their roles in this endless cycle are interesting to explore. I found Pandora’s story most interesting and her ties to the dragons even more so.
Odessa is falling more into the madness that comes with wearing the shadow crown. Her chosen are at a loss for how to help her. Her madness is affecting her decisions and the lives of those she once cared about. Her ruthless ambition to survive and win the dragons has almost cost the keeper his life, yet she doesn’t seem to care. Samara, on the other hand, is growing into the princess she was born to be, even if she wasn’t meant to live. She’s kind, caring, thoughtful, and her training with the Brothers has gotten her far. She doesn’t want to kill her sister, nor does she want to be the one to die. She wants to break the prophecy and the cycle completely, something Luca hints can be done.
Overall, I really enjoyed Ruin of a Crown. Like the last book, I think I like this one even more. They keep getting better and drawing me deeper into the story. If you are a fan of Wheel of Time, YA fantasy, epic fantasy, or just looking for an adventure, I highly recommend it.
About M. Lynn
Michelle Lynn fell in love with reading when she was a kid. Every kind of book gripped her imagination. As she got a little older, she got into series like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Currently, her favorite is the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.
Michelle is an escapist. She believes that a book can take you anywhere and get you away from what's going on in your own life. You can disappear inside the pages and become a different person. Growing up, this became more and more important for her as her life changed dramatically due to an illness. It started when she was young and got worse over the years. Reading is what helped her get through it. She's still getting through it but it isn't as hard, mentally, as it once was. Like reading, writing provided her a needed escape. Her dream is for her books to be able to do that for someone else. Life is hard but this just makes it a little bit easier.
Reading and writing aren't Michelle's only vices as she deals with the illness that has now become disabling. She's also an avid hockey fan. She lives in Florida but never misses a Columbus Blue Jackets game on TV.
Michelle also spends a lot of time with her family - parents, two sisters, 2 brother in-laws, and niece. She's also constantly surrounded by animals - 2 cats and a bird- that provide much needed comfort and inspiration.
She has a college degree in business, economics, and accounting but has to decide how to tie that to writing because that's where her passion lies now.
About Melissa A. Craven
Melissa A. Craven writes Young Adult Urban Fantasy with crossover appeal to other genres and audiences of all ages. She believes in stories that make you think and she loves playing with foreshadowing, leaving clues and hints for the careful reader.
She draws inspiration from her background in architecture and interior design to help her with the small details in world building and scene settings. (Her degree in fine art also comes in handy.)
Melissa is also the indie manager and a staff reviewer at YABooksCentral.com. You can follow her reviews and her contributions to the YABC blog at the YABC site.
Melissa LOVES to hear from her readers. You can connect with her at her website MelissaACraven.com to find out more about upcoming Emerge releases, enter giveaways and download your free copy of Emerge: The Scholar.
Beautiful cover! So is the series going on after this book? Glad you are enjoying it so much. Great review!
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2025/09/06/arc-review-girl-goddess-queen-by-bea-fitzgerald/
It is! I think it is a planned 12 or 15 book series, focusing on different characters every few books. I’m currently reading number 4 now, and it will end the current character arc.