“Somewhere along the way, my desire to survive had been surpassed by my desire to make a change.”
editorial reviews
“Using a richly detailed near-contemporary setting and blending well-trod fantasy tropes with romance, intrigue, and action, Crump capably delivers an opulent tale of defiance and resilience in this absorbing debut. ”
— Publishers Weekly
“the intriguing plot, complex characters, and brilliant writing make this a page-turner to the very end.”
— School Library Journal
“Of Cages and Crowns is an epic dystopian fantasy read that will hook you in and leave you wanting to know what will happen next.”
— Your Bookish Life
“If you’re a fantasy geek, definitely watch out for the name of author Brianna Joy Crump."
— Young Entertainment Magazine
For goddess-touched girls, there is only one destiny: the Culling
From the moment Monroe Benson is born with a mark on her hand and the ability to summon fire from her fingertips, her life will never be her own. She’s goddess-touched, which means she’s destined to participate in the Culling, an age-old competition to determine the next queen of Erydia. For most of her seventeen years, her family has managed to keep Monroe--and her powers--hidden. But now, as Queen Viera calls for the Culling to start, and war looms on the horizon, Monroe can no longer hide. She must face her destiny whether she wants to or not.
For the ten goddess-touched girls, all with different powers, the inevitably of this fight to the death has always ruled their lives. The tradition is both barbaric and cruel, but to make matters worse--Monroe isn’t prepared. She hasn’t trained her whole life for this day. She doesn’t want to be in the spotlight. She doesn’t want the crown.
While Monroe struggles with her fate, a rebellion is brewing in the castle and in the country. A group called the Culled are banding together; their goal--to topple the monarchy. And the more they rise, the more merciless Viera is with her kingdom, recruiting younger and younger people from poorer and poorer places to fight in a war no one wants to be waging.
When Monroe finds herself on the front lines of the rebellion’s inner circle, only one thing stands in her way: Cohen. The queen’s son and the man who will be king. The pair grows close, yet Cohen’s dedication to duty, to family, to tradition stands in stark contrast to the boy Monroe sees at night in the kitchens, secretly making the two of them a snack.
As the fight crescendos around them, and the death of innocents is a force to bear, the choices Monroe makes will reverberate through the kingdom . . . and her heart forever.
"It is said that our world will end the way it began: with fire."
i wasn’t the girl who ended up with the prince, i was the girl who burned it all down or died trying. I had to be.
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What a ride. All am thinking is why did I not read this sooner. Fans of the Hunger Games? This one is for you. Don't even question it, just pick it up and give it a go. It's unputdownable.
SK , Goodreads
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This is the book that broke my two-year reading hiatus. BJC knocked it out of the park with her published debut. I could not put this book down, and when I had to, it was all I could think about. The action was beautifully written, the twists in the plot kept me entranced the entire time. And more than anything, this book makes me want to *write*, to bring characters and stories to life, to create magic and love and hope. If you love fantasy / magic / strong female leads, you have to read this one.
Kaitlyn, Amazon
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Wow... Where do I start with this book.. First thing first if you are a Hunger Games and Selection fan you will like this! Think of this book as a dark Selection.I COULD NOT put this book down. I finished this book about a week ago and I can't stop thinking about it. I need the next book soon, but if you are a dark fantasy fan and love twists and turns you will enjoy this book. I was weary about it, but the characters are so well developed. 5/5!
Sami, Goodreads
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The characters are well-written and unique, even the secondary characters. The descriptions of them, the landscape, and the fights are great. I can't wait for the next book!
Eva, Goodreads
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Holy cow, this book is good! Of Cages and Crowns left me speechless and wanting more, in a good way...The actions scenes were cinematic, the romance was entertaining and fun, and I'm so pumped for what is to come for these characters and the rebellion!
Rainbowbookdragon15, Barnes and Noble
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I just wanted to see what was going to happen next. I'm still in shock over the ending and I have endless questions and theories floating around now. Seriously, I can't wait for the sequel to come out because I need it in my hands right now. I'm so happy that I got the chance to jump into this. Very excited for Brianna to write the next one!
Alaina, Goodreads
