A Crown of Chains

When I was a little girl, the story of Esther was romanized as a courageous love story of a young Jewish woman who found favor with the king, saved her people, and lived happily ever after. However, when you take a closer look, the truth isn’t as fairytale-like as we’ve been taught.

“She styles my hair with curls and jeweled pins before placing the crown. Every time she sets it on my head, it weighs down both my body and my spirit, like shackles that prevent me from living, a reminder of who I belong to.” ~ Erin Phillips

In her rich retelling of the book of Esther, Erin Phillips reimagines the famous tale into a dark fantasy novel called A Crown of Chains that you won’t want to put down!

Synopsis: Becoming queen is not the end of a fairytale; it is the beginning of a nightmare.

When the queen is exiled, every beautiful young woman in Florencia is forced to become kingsmaids – royal concubines – but one lucky girl from those gathered will be chosen as queen.

Or maybe not so lucky.

Roxana Willows, a wingless fairy with the rare ability to read minds, has seen King Frederick’s cruelty in the stories her uncle tells, and fears that the only thing worse than being a kingsmaid is being the king’s wife. While her heart already belongs to another, she feels obligated to obey her uncle when he tells her to hide her heritage as a fairy in hopes of being chosen as queen.

But becoming queen is the last thing Roxana wants, and it will cost her everything…

“Uncle Arsin might not be pleased, but replacing Queen Mirabella is not an opportunity I want; it’s a life-sentence.” ~ Erin Phillips

It’s been a long time since I’ve spent the entire day flipping through the pages of a book, so it’s a big deal when I say that I DEVOURED A Crown of Chains! It contained everything a fantasy lover like myself could ask for — folklore, magical abilities, romance, action, suspense, Biblical allegories, and a fierce protagonist.

“People will assume they can take advantage of a pretty girl like you, and when that happens, I want you to be the one that holds all the power. You are capable of more than you realize.” ~ Erin Phillips

Erin Phillips is a rising star! I applaud her bravery in tackling the dark fantasy genre while keeping God at the center of the plot. Unlike many novels in the genre, A Crown of Chains remained regal and pure without sugarcoating the cruel reality of the characters’ circumstances. I particularly loved that we got to see Roxana’s transition into her new life as a kingsmaid, and struggle with her as she is pulled from the arms of the man she loves.

“Is it cruel to flirt with a fantasy? Because right now, sitting with him, I’d rather have this torturous temptation than no love at all.” ~ Erin Phillips

With incredible world buildings and character arcs, Erin Phillips beautifully transforms the book of Esther into something new and refreshing, adding twists that will delightfully surprise readers. However, staying true to Esther, A Crown of Chains ultimately reminds us that God can use the most heinous plots for His glory. Roxana might not have been born with wings, but she was soaring by the end of the story, and I LIVE for it!

“I have nothing left to give except my life. It’s all I have left. I hope it’s enough.” ~ Erin Phillips

Don’t miss out on this extraordinary journey that combines faith, fantasy, and the power of an ordinary girl turned warrior queen. A Crown of Chains is an enchanting read that will leave fantasy lovers yearning for more!

“Faith is having courage, even when everything seems impossible, isn’t it?” ~ Erin Phillips

CLICK HERE to order a copy of A Chain of Crowns

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My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Positive content: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Godly content: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Language:
Sexual content: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Violence: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Age: 16+

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