(The Broken Accords, #1) The Wolf and the Crown of Blood by Elizabeth May review

 

The Wolf and the Crown of Blood by Elizabeth May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 spice

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and given honestly.

From the moment I started this book, I was in. The introduction into the world and characters was seamless no dragging, no confusion, just pure immersion. The world was dark and deep, only broken by bursts of humor and sass that pulled me straight into the story and didn’t let go.

I was swept into a realm of sacrifice and pain, full of twisted choices and heavy burdens, and instead of recoiling... I loved it. Even the darkest parts the moments you wish you could fix or erase made the book feel richer and more layered. I loved seeing the contrast between locations, between choices, and between what people believed was right or wrong.

That constant feeling of any second now it’ll all collapse had me frantically turning pages. I stayed up all night reading until my eyes burned like a desert and I have zero regrets.

The book plays beautifully in the gray area between good and evil. Nothing was simple or black and white. Just when I thought I understood what the story was doing, it surprised me with even more depth. Despite being a standard-length novel, it felt huge in terms of story, scope, and emotion.

The characters were rich and fully fleshed out, the alternating POVs added emotional depth, and the world was fully realized. Then the spice hit after the 50% mark and wow. You’ll need a glass of water and maybe someone to pick your jaw off the floor. It’s emotional, intense, and woven beautifully into the plot.

I often find that books trying to be “too many things” fall flat. But not this one. This book took every one of those elements and turned it into something deliciously devilish. It gave me laughter, tears, shocks, fear, and delight. And when I reached the end, I was left with a sense of perfection. It was worth every tear, every gasp, every lost hour of sleep.

What I liked:
The characters (Wolf and Bryony were brilliant, and I adored Amara)
The worldbuilding
The emotions this book wrung out of me
The politics and power struggles
The bold handling of dark themes
The ending! It was so good

What didn’t work for me:
Honestly, I’m picking at straws here. Early on, I got a bit lost with names and places, but once I found my footing, I was completely hooked.

Would I recommend this book?
OMG yes. I absolutely loved it.

Would I reread?
1000% yes.

How would I sum it up?
A dark and bloody story with layered emotion, unforgettable characters, and a plot that will have you laughing, crying, and blushing. You’ll get lost in the pages — and love every second of it.

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