Author: Catherine Doyle & Katherine Webber
Genre: YA Fantasy
Series: Twin Crowns # 1
Publication: May 17, 2022 480 pages
Source: Libby, Audiobook
Wren Greenrock has always known that one day she would steal her sister's place in the palace. Trained from birth to return to the place of her parents' murder and usurp the only survivor, she will do anything to rise to power and protect the community of witches she loves. Or she would, if only a certain palace guard wasn't quite so distractingly attractive, and if her reckless magic didn't have a habit of causing trouble...
Princess Rose Valhart knows that with power comes responsibility. Marriage into a brutal kingdom awaits, and she will not let a small matter like waking up in the middle of the desert in the company of an extremely impertinent (and handsome) kidnapper get in the way of her royal duty. But life outside the palace walls is wilder and more beautiful than she ever imagined, and the witches she has long feared might turn out to be the family she never knew she was missing.
Two sisters separated at birth and raised into entirely different worlds are about to get to know each other's lives a whole lot better. But as coronation day looms closer and they each strive to claim their birthright, the sinister Kingsbreath, Willem Rathborne, becomes increasingly determined that neither will succeed. Who will ultimately rise to power and wear the crown?
MY THOUGHTS
I went into it with little knowledge of the story and no real expectations, and I was pleasantly surprised by what I found.
As the title and cover suggest, Twin Crowns centers on twin sisters separated at birth: one raised as royalty, the other in a small village community. Without giving away too much, the book alternates between the perspectives of the two sisters, Wren and Rose. I immediately connected with Wren, while it took me at least half the book to warm up to Rose. Naturally, I found myself more engaged in Wren’s chapters, especially her budding relationship with Rose’s betrothed’s bodyguard. I do love a good bodyguard trope.
The girls’ voices were distinct, making it easy to differentiate between them and imagine their separate journeys. While I preferred Wren and Tor’s dynamic over Rose and Shen’s, I still enjoyed watching both relationships develop.
The overall plot isn’t groundbreaking, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it. Twin Crowns has the charm and heart of a YA fantasy from 10–15 years ago. It’s hard to describe exactly, but it has that nostalgic feel, simple, light, and immersive. So many YA books today feel like they’re written for an older audience, desperately trying to cram in every trending trope. It can feel overwhelming and forced.
But Twin Crowns was refreshing. It was exactly what I needed: fun, engaging, and unexpectedly delightful. I found myself hanging on to every page and smiling until the very end. I can’t wait to continue the series. If you haven’t read Twin Crowns yet, I highly recommend giving it a try.
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