Book Review: The Rivaled Crown (The Veiled Kingdom, #3) by Holly Renee
Ah, The Rivaled Crown—I dove into this book with such excitement, largely thanks to Holly Renee’s captivating style and the enthralling world she crafted in the earlier installments of The Veiled Kingdom. Having inhaled the first book and found charm in the second, I set my expectations sky-high for this concluding chapter. Unfortunately, it was a mixed bag that left me grappling with a sense of frustration and yearning.
In this third installment, we follow Verena as she navigates a labyrinth of emotions and magical discoveries alongside the ever-dreamy Dacre. The central themes of love, bonds, and destiny pulse throughout the narrative, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of déjà vu from the repetition of plot points and dialogue. The pacing was confusing at best; much of the middle felt stagnant, serving more as an “explain what happened” dialogue than an immersive experience. As writers often say, “Show, don’t tell!”—and in this case, I wished for more showing.
The writing style, while rich in beauty, often veered into purple prose territory, particularly during the intimate scenes. Instead of finding the spicy moments thrilling, I found myself skimming through them as Dacre transformed into a caricature of the confident hero we had met before, reduced to a moaning boy with overly dramatic expressions of love for Verena. I craved the Daddy Dacre who seized the narrative and spun it into a whirlwind of romance, not this softened version bogged down by endless monologues.
One standout annoyance for me was the excessive use of certain words. The term “magic” appeared a staggering 355 times, yet I walked away still unclear about how it fundamentally worked—quite the oversight for a magical universe! Similarly, the word “grip” was practically a character in its own right, making 98 appearances in Chapter 18 alone. I was honestly left questioning how a simple grip could warrant such a spotlight.
There were moments of brilliance, especially in the political intrigue and the notion of found family that kept my interest piqued. Holly Renee is adept at creating bonds among her characters, yet I felt the term “bond” itself lost its weight through repetition. And don’t get me started on Dacre’s father—his identity remained painfully vague, consistently referred to as “Dacre’s Father.” A name would have been nice, perhaps adding depth to his character.
Despite these grievances, the overall worldbuilding still intrigued me. The potential for an epic ending lingered just beyond my reach, keeping me invested. While this finale didn’t capture the same magic as its predecessor, I appreciate the twists and turns Holly Renee packed into this narrative. I simply wish it had delivered more of the enchanting vibes I had fallen in love with initially.
For those who appreciate romantic fantasy entwined with political dynamics and fated love, The Rivaled Crown might retain its allure. You might find things worth savoring amidst the hiccups—after all, the world still brims with potential. I expect die-hard fans of the series to find nuggets of joy here, even if my journey through it was fraught with the ups and downs of readerly frustration.
Thanks to Holly Renee for my gifted copy; all opinions are my own. I hope those who follow Verena and Dacre’s journey feel more enchanted than I did, but I’ll be keeping a hopeful eye out for any future stories she conceives! 🌟
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