A Crown of Ivy and Glass
Lady Gemma Ashbourne seemingly has it all.
She’s young, gorgeous, and rich. Her family was Anointed by the gods, blessed with incredible abilities. But underneath her glittering façade, Gemma is deeply sad. Years ago, her sister Mara was taken to the Middlemist to guard against treacherous magic. Her mother abandoned the family. Her father and eldest sister, Farrin—embroiled in a deadly blood feud with the mysterious Bask family—often forget Gemma exists.
Worst of all, Gemma is the only Ashbourne to possess no magic. Instead, her body fights it like poison. Constantly ill, aching with loneliness, Gemma craves love and yearns to belong.
Then she meets the devastatingly handsome Talan d’Astier. His family destroyed themselves, seduced by a demon, and Talan, the only survivor, is determined to redeem their honor. Intrigued and enchanted, Gemma proposes a bargain: She’ll help Talan navigate high society if he helps her destroy the Basks. According to popular legend, a demon called The Man With the Three-Eyed Crown is behind the families’ blood feud—slay the demon, end the feud.
But attacks on the Middlemist are increasing. The plot against the Basks quickly spirals out of control. And something immense and terrifying is awakening in Gemma, drawing her inexorably toward Talan and an all-consuming passion that could destroy her—or show her the true strength of her power at last.
Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn, makes her stunning adult debut with A Crown of Ivy and Glass, a lush, sweeping fantasy-romance series starter that’s perfect for fans of Bridgerton and A Court of Thorns and Roses.
BUY NOW
PRAISE
an instant USA Today bestseller
a June 2023 Library Reads pick
As someone with a chronic, painful illness that has no known cure, I relate deeply to Imogen’s pain as she grapples with her place in the world and finds meaning in her oft-bedridden existence. True to life, Legrand describes Imogen’s aches and ailments with such consistency it’s impossible to forget. …
Reading “A Crown of Ivy and Glass” is like watching a movie. Whether it’s a sex scene or a mystical landscape or a well-fitted suit, Legrand is a polished painter of word pictures. Luscious descriptions bring the story alive, making it immersive and fun even when it’s uncomfortable or excruciating.
Best-selling YA author Legrand’s first novel for adults is full of high stakes for her characters and detailed fantasy worldbuilding with interesting mythology for readers.
Legrand’s adult debut is the kind of lushly magical romance we need in a world of thorns and ghosts, real and imagined. As someone who also suffers from mental illness and chronic pain, I’ve never felt so seen as through the heroine Gemma, and I felt her journey so deeply. Legrand also does a fantastic job with her setting, a magical Regency-esque period with the whimsy of beautiful ballgowns and clandestine meetings balanced by the inherent darkness of the power of magic. I truly adored this book and hope for so much more in this world.
Words can’t describe how I loved A Crown of Ivy and Glass! I had been for something that scratched the fantasy romance itch that was a bit more mature than the normal YA. . . . I was absolutely riveted. The chronic pain representation along with female friendships was a balm to my lonely soul and I cannot wait for the next volume!
A Crown of Ivy and Glass features a queer, chronically ill, chronically anxious main character and a beautiful, lush world that reaches out and pulls the reader in. Like a moth to a flame, Claire’s words are deadly and beautiful, and so, so worth the pain you’ll suffer once you’ve been consumed. Lovers of high fantasy, slow burn, stinging spice, and enemies to lovers relationships will delight in this story, and come begging for more.