Casters and Crowns
In Elizabeth Lowham’s enthralling fantasy novel Casters and Crowns, a reverse Sleeping Beauty curse forces a princess to confront the truth about magic in her kingdom.
Aria will inherit her father’s crown—if she can survive the curse that a rogue caster placed on her. Magic forces Aria to stay awake while everyone in the castle slumbers each night, and the lethal curse will spread to her younger sister if she does not figure out how to reverse it.
Despite the distrust most casters are met with, Aria consults a handsome young magic-user, Baron, who has secrets of his own. Their tentative attempts at communication lead to a deeper connection, one that may help them navigate the treacherous politics and grudges that threaten to condemn the entire kingdom to an all-out war: “With magic, he focused every memory into light until it was no longer brief flashes but a blazing sun, until it cut the storm and began stretching the shadow, driving it back.”
Writing forms a bridge between Aria and Baron, their letters leading to increasing intimacy between them. Each of them is lonely—Aria as a result of the curse and her father’s unrealistic expectations for her, and Baron as a result of needing to protect his mischievous younger brothers, who also have forbidden magical abilities. Navigating misunderstandings resulting not just from stereotypes about magic but also from generational conflict, Aria and Baron have the opportunity to unite the kingdom in peace, though many stand in their way. The ethical dilemmas they face revolve around abuses of power and fear of change and difference, resulting in resonance throughout.
Casters and Crowns is an enchanting fantasy novel in which teenagers navigate grief and discord to find love and acceptance.
Reviewed by
Jeana Jorgensen
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
