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Cover of A Crown This Cold and Heavy

A Crown This Cold and Heavy

by Stacia Stark

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️steamy·Kingdom of Lies #3·Ongoing Series
3.7 on MoodReads (3 ratings)4.1 on Goodreads (55,745)

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Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

A masterfully crafted emotional devastation where every alliance, betrayal, and stolen moment with Lorian leaves you wrecked and desperate for the finale.

Synopsis

The unimaginable has happened, And none of our lives will ever be the same. Surrounded by enemies, I've never been further from my crown... Or closer to death. Amidst a betrayal we couldn't have anticipated, I'll do whatever it takes to find my way back to Lorian – before his fury lays waste to this continent. Alliances are being forged and broken, our enemies are unifying, and Regner’s spiders are closer than ever before. We have only one chance to prevent him from attaining god-like powers and enslaving every human, fae, and hybrid across the four kingdoms. Meanwhile, the human king believes I’m trapped here, yearning for my death, and waiting for Lorian to save me. But Regner hasn’t yet realized that I'll stop at nothing to free my people. And he's the one who should be afraid of me.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Book 3 of 4 in the Kingdom of Lies series (A Queen This Fierce and Deadly is #4). Spice escalates from earlier books—this one has explicit on-page scenes with emotional intensity. Ends on a brutal cliffhanger. Multiple POVs including Prisca and Lorian. Heavy on war/political intrigue with torture scenes. The found family bonds are a highlight. Series is a Goodreads Choice Awards nominee.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.14 ★ (55.7k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

532 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2023

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Romantasy

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Multi-POV

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Slow Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Dual Narration (M+F)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Tim Paige, Meg Sylvan

Narrator Count

Dual

Narration Style

Dual

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
fated matescaptive romancedark romancehidden past revealedsecond chancesecret relationshipforbidden lovesacrifice/martyrdomforced alliance
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

darkintenseemotionalheartbreakingsuspensefulepicatmosphericangsty

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

emotionalimmersivepunchydramaticdarksuspenseful

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

fast

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

heavy

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

high

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

forbidden desiremorally complexwar and political intriguedevastating cliffhanger

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

royaltyreluctant chosen onesurvivorwarrior/fightervengeful / revenge-driven

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

fae princemorally gray MMCpossessive alphadark/tortured soulimmortal/ancient

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

fated matesforbidden loveestablished relationshipfound familyhe falls first

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
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🌶️
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Spice Level 4

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

intense / passionaterough / aggressive styleemotional / loving

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

praise kinkbody worshipmarking hickeyspossessive/protectivemine declarations

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

possessivemarkingclaimingrough/aggressive intimacy
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (11)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
deathkidnappingmurdertorturetraumaviolencegraphic violencecaptivitygriefwarimprisonment
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

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World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

high fantasyfae realm / faerie courts

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

royal court / palacewar front / rebellionforest / wildernessprison / captivity

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

faedemonswitches/wizards/warlocksshiftersmonstersgods/deities

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

the angst deliveredobsessedaddictive readbook hangover incoming

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

winter

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

at nightvacationcozy evening

Kingdom of Lies

A Court This Cruel & Lovely

#1 A Court This Cruel & Lovely

A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty (Kingdom of Lies, #2)

#2 A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty (Kingdom of Lies, #2)

A Crown This Cold and Heavy

#3 A Crown This Cold and Heavy

A Queen This Fierce and Deadly (Kingdom of Lies, #4)

#4 A Queen This Fierce and Deadly (Kingdom of Lies, #4)

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Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️steamy
PagesHow long the commitment is.532
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2023
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.14 ★ (55.7k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

Kingdom of Lies #3
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