Capture the Crown by Jennifer Estep – Dual Review

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Description:
Gemma Ripley has a reputation for being a pampered princess who is more interested in pretty gowns, sparkling jewelry, and other frivolous things than learning how to rule the kingdom of Andvari. But her carefully crafted persona is just an act to hide the fact that Gemma is a powerful mind magier—and a spy. 

Gemma is undercover, trying to figure out who is stealing large amounts of tearstone from one of the Ripley royal mines when she encounters Prince Leonidas Morricone of Morta—her mortal enemy. Gemma tries to steer clear of the handsome prince, but when she finds herself behind enemy lines, she reluctantly joins forces with Leo. Also coming to Gemma’s aid is Grimley, her beloved gargoyle.

Despite the fact that Andvari and Morta are old, bitter enemies, a dangerous attraction sparks between Gemma and Leo. Further complicating matters is Leo’s murderous family, especially Queen Maeven Morricone, the mastermind behind the infamous Seven Spire massacre.

The closer Gemma gets to the stolen tearstone, the more deadly plots she uncovers. Everyone is trying to capture the crown, but only one queen can sit on the throne…

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BARB’s Review:

Capture the Crown by Jennifer Estep is the 1^st book in her new Gargoyle Queen series that is set in her previous Crown of Shards series. We meet our heroine, Gemma Ripley, who is a princess of Andvari; where she is considered a sweet but pampered princess.  What people do not know is that Gemma is also a spy, much to the dismay of her father and grandfather. 

She sets out in disguise, acting like a miner, in her search for who is stealing tearstone from the Ripley mines; she brings her guard/friend Topaca and her, lovable gargoyle, Grim.  When she befriends one of the female miners, she ends up helping to bring a wheelbarrow of tearstones to a dangerous man, who wants the tearstones for leaders of Morta, enemies to Andvari.  Trying to keep quiet, she notices a former frenemy from the Seven Spire Massacre days (Crown of Shards- now many years ago), Prince Leonidas (Leo) Morricone of Morta, being held prisoner.  When those who kidnapped him try to kill him, it will be Gemma who will save his life, and help heal him.

Things will turn when Gemma herself is almost killed, only to have Leo find her and save her life.  But he decides to take her to his home in Morta, to get healers to fix her.  At first, she is upset to be in enemy territory, which if they recognize her, would endanger her life.  Leo introduces her as someone who was robbed, and privately tells her he can take her back to where she came from, but Gemma decides this is a good opportunity to spy on their enemy.  She is welcomed and meets Queen Maeve (our enemy from Crown of Shards), Delmira (Queen’s daughter), and later the evil heir to the throne of Morta, Milo (Maeve’s oldest son; who plans on a takeover of the throne). She ends up attending a party and a ball, dressed in Delmira’s wonderful finery, and at the same time try to find out information, as well as keeping her identity a secret.

Gemma and Leo begin to work together to see what Milo is planning, especially why he needs all those tearstones.  A slow build attraction escalates between them, but though Leo has been great, she remembers his betrayal from all those years ago, and still does not totally trust him.  When all hell breaks loose, Gemma is shocked when her identity is revealed, and she becomes a prisoner; unable to call Grim for help. Milo takes center stage, trying to prove he will do things his way, and take over the crown; though his powerful mother is still very much in charge.  Leo, though upset, knows his family will hurt Gemma, he pleads with his mother not to kill her, but Gemma feels he betrayed her. We watch in horror, how Milo begins to torture Gemma, that had me holding my breath, as she suffered badly. 

What follows is an exciting, tense, wild last half of the book that had me on the edge of my seat.  Gemma was an amazing heroine (she was a mind mage), and finally realizing that she needs to use her full power in order to survive. The wild crazy climax was a thrill a minute, with all their lives in danger and me holding my breath to see if she would survive. At one point near the end, Gemma rises up and shows her strength threatening the enemy, with me cheering her on.

Estep has created a wild web of deceit, mystery, betrayal, espionage and filled with magic; as well as a slow burn romance that I expect we will see more of in future books.  I did love Gemma and Leo together, but so much stands in their way.  Beware of the torture scenes, they are strong.  Jennifer Estep once again gives us an amazing start to a new series that has me waiting impatiently for the next book. Capture the Crown was so very well written by Estep, which is no surprise, as I love all her books. If you enjoy fantasy, you need to start reading The Gargoyle Queen series, especially this fantastic first book, Capture the Crown.

SANDY’S Review: CAPTURE THE CROWN is the first instalment in Jennifer Estep’s GARGOYLE QUEEN fantasy series –a spin off from the author’s CROWN OF SHARDS series. The Gargoyle Queen trilogy focuses on the secondary characters introduced in the original series. This is twenty-nine year old, Andvari Princess Gemma Ripley, and Mortan Prince Leonidis Morricone’s story line.

WARNING: Due to the graphic violence in the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from first person perspective (Gemma Ripley) CAPTURE THE CROWN follows twenty-nine year old Andvari princess Gemma Ripley, sixteen years after Queen Maeven killed several members of the Andvari family. Princess Gemma Ripley is living and working undercover in enemy territory, in Morta, investigating the disappearance of large amounts of mined tearstone but Gemma is surprised to be targeted by the people in charge, finding herself at death’s door when she discovers the who and how of the missing stone. Rescued and now recuperating in the Mortan castle, Gemma must now focus on the how and why of her would-be rescuer. Enter Prince Leonidas Morricone, Queen Maeven’s son, and persona non-grata in the Mortan kingdom. As Gemma, along with Leonidas begin a search for the truth, betrayal will once again find Gemma struggling with her magic, her life, and her inability to trust.

Sixteen years earlier, Gemma Ripley lost everything including the ability to control her magic the day Queen Maeven declared war on her family. Fearing another loss of control, Gemma battles between head and heart when she needs her magic the most. Gemma’s ‘mind magic’ is dangerous and deadly but Gemma quickly discovers that she is not the only royal heir to wield her magical talent. Leonidas Morricone knows his time within the Mortan castle is limited. Not only does his brother wish for his death, but his mother’s guards have placed a target on his back. Leonidas Morricone plays both sides of the battle but Gemma does not know if Leo can be trusted, or if he is the ultimate enemy in a war between Kingdoms.

CAPTURE THE QUEEN is a story of family, betrayal, vengeance, power and control. A story of elemental magic (of a sorts) and anthropomorphic others including gargoyles, strixes, and dragon shifters. The slow building premise is detailed and complex; the characters are numerous and energetic; the attraction between Gemma and Leo is an enemies to ‘friends’ destroyed by issues of betrayal and trust- there was no discernible attraction between the leading characters.

For fans of the author’s Elemental Assassin series, and the previous Crown of Shards, the similarities are numerous. Once again, Jennifer Estep’s signature story line components are front and center such as elemental magic, violence against the story line heroine, and the big baddie name Maeven.

The world building is intricate but the author uses real world details and modern day vernacular that distracts from the overall fantasy impression. Also, there are some issues of redundancy and repetition as it pertains to the use of ‘color’. Morta is a world/Kingdom of purples including eye color (used 90 times), and lilac (17 times)- the constant reminders were a little much.

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