Review: Crown of War and Shadow by J.R. Ward

J.R. Ward is best known for her Black Dagger Brotherhood series and its spinoffs - full of vampires, shifters, and angels. Crown of War and Shadow has her moving into the fantasy realm for the first time (to my knowledge, anyway).

Crown is a highly enjoyable first entry into the Kingdoms of the Compass series. Our lead is an outcast cursed with abilities no one wants to admit to needing. Her past is murky and her life is lonely. When the boundaries protecting her realm from the bad guys start to fail, she embarks on a quest to save the world with her - friend? bodyguard? reluctant partner? - a mercenary who she feels unusually drawn to. There are some great characters that we meet along the way and some of your favorite tropes make an appearance (only one bed, anyone?)

While there is definitely some spice, it is no where near the level of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, so don't go in expecting that. There's much more story here than in that series but there are still some predictable twists and turns. I guessed the big reveal pretty early on, but getting there was still a fun ride!

If you're looking for an accessible entry point into the fantasy genre or simply want a read that's a little less complicated than some in this category, this will be a perfect choice. The world building is thorough, yet familiar enough that you won't need an atlas and a glossary to follow along. The main characters are generally likeable, even when behaving in a questionable way.

You can grab Crown of War and Shadow and pre-order the next book (Throne of Frost and Flame - releasing in spring of 2027) at my Bookshop.org storefront.

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