Off the Shelf: A Crown of Chains

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…

A Crown of Chains is a fantasy retelling of the Biblical story of Queen Esther, with fresh twists based on the original context that is sure to thrill in this timeless tale of miracles in the midst of forgotten faith. Filled with political intrigue, forbidden romance, and dire stakes, A Crown of Chains is perfect for fans of Red Queen, The Folk of the Air Trilogy, and The Selection.

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If you’re a fan of both fiction, the Bible, and you have an affinity for fantasy, then you need to give A Crown of Chains a read. This fresh retelling, reimagining the well-known story of Esther in a fantasy setting was amazing. I began reading it only knowing it was a fantasy take of the famous Bible story, and I was drawn in by the unique blend of fantasy and biblical narrative, as this genre isn’t very well-known. I loved reading books as a child like Chuck Black’s Kingdom Series or C. S. Lewis’ Narnia, but it’s been a while since I’ve read a book that will take a popular story and be able to write it with such a twist you’re unsure of where it will go. I was eager to experience a book that could take a Biblical story and give it an unexpected plot in fantasy and glad I picked it up.

I always liked reading the story of Esther because it showed so many emotions and also God’s protection. The story of a young woman who had to conceal her identity and struggled to live in a place where she and her people were looked down on. She was in a situation that made her fear for her life, yet scripture shows her journey of how God gave her the courage to speak up, thus the lives of her people were saved. What struck me most about this retelling was how it didn’t shy away from the challenging circumstances faced by the women brought to the palace. Both real life women and the characters found themselves in situations beyond their control, trapped by circumstances they never chose. Each character introduced within the palace walls had their own burdens and destinies sealed from the moment they entered.

Roxana is a character who initially is just following rules, staying out of the spotlight and maintaining a low profile for the sake of survival but throughout the story undergoes a compelling transformation. But it doesn’t take long for her to be put in difficult predicaments and for her to realize she has to make a choice soon. To take a stand for a past she was told to conceal or continue living in the shadows. From being stripped from her old life and love, she’s expected to give it all up for her new future, but starting anew is harder than she expected. Especially when her past seems to follow her everywhere, bringing constant fear that who she truly is will be exposed if she does not make a decision soon.

Will she be able to live a life of love or will she be entrapped in the palace politics where everyone is looking out for their own best interests?

A Crown of Chains feels like a familiar tale that you’re excited to hear of again, but with so many twists and turns you have to keep reading to see what will happen with its new world full of so many uncertainties.