One born to rule. One to forfeit…
Everything about my life is a lie. As a hidden twin princess, born second, I have only one purpose—to sacrifice my life for my sister if death comes for her. I’ve been living under the guise of a poor, obscure girl of no standing, slipping into the palace and into the role of the true princess when danger is present.
Now the queen is dead and the ageless King Eidolon has sent my sister a gift—an eerily familiar gift—and a proposal to wed. I don’t trust him, so I do what I was born to do and secretly take her place on the eve of the coronation. Which is why, when a figure made of shadow kidnaps the new queen, he gets me by mistake.
As I try to escape, all the lies start to unravel. And not just my lies. The Shadowraith who took me has secrets of his own. He struggles to contain the shadows he wields—other faces, identities that threaten my very life.
Winter is at the walls. Darkness is looming. And the only way to save my sister and our dominion is to kill Eidolon…and the Shadowraith who has stolen my heart.
THE DOMINIONS TRILOGY | BOOK #1
EPIC ROMANTASY | UPPER YA/NA (18+)
Reven, unmistakable to me now for anyone else, stands shirtless, his eyes closed, in the center of the clearing, the cold starlight playing over the ridges of his muscled torso. The blood thrumming through my veins pulses with the energy emanating from the man in front of me. An energy that has nothing to do with my unwanted reactions to him. This is all coming from him.
And then the fabric of night itself moves.
Rivers of what almost look like ink flow between beams of moonlight and into his body. Coming from every crevice of the forest, the shadows pool and swirl around his feet, surging to a beat that my heart echoes. The darkness creeps up his form, shrouding him, turning his entire being to ravenous night.
Then the darkness swells out of him, up and over his head, and I choke. Hardly a sound, and yet the churn of shadows seems to turn on itself, and his eyes, two glowing spots of aquamarine, open and lock onto me.
“You shouldn’t be here.” His voice—deeper even than before and smooth, like a pool of star-kissed water—slides over me, through me, into me.
“What are you?” I whisper.
His face spasms. “Don’t test me, princess. Go back to the tree and wait.”
This isn’t Reven speaking but something else. Something elemental and savage.
I should be terrified. I should sprint back down the path that led me here, back to the safe haven he found us.
I’m not. And I don’t.
Maybe it’s the way I’ve always felt safe in the shadows, drawn to them, because the pull to stay is too strong. Like something deep inside me doesn’t want me to go.
“Why do you need…me?” I almost said Tabra.
Those eyes flicker brighter.
Then the shadows ease and dance, reaching and flowing across the forest floor toward me. Arms beckoning. Alluring.
“You need to go.” His voice is strained now, rough. “I can’t hold them—”
Tendrils of night brush over my skin—seductive and intoxicating. They wind around me, drawing me into the circle. A sense of rightness settles in my center, and I take a halting step forward.
“Princess.” His voice is right in front of me now, and I open my eyes to find myself surrounded by shadow and Reven himself, solid and real, standing before me, close enough to touch.
I blink slowly, because I’m having trouble separating out reality. It has to be a dream, and I’m asleep beside him in the tree still. Right? Sure I have it figured out, I smile almost tentatively.
Only his eyes narrow at the sight.
“See me,” he says in a voice gone deadly harsh. Silk frayed by thorns.
The shadows punch out from us, abandoning us, leaving only Reven and me in the clearing. Only the man in front of me isn’t entirely Reven. His face appears to crawl with…goddess…with other faces. No other way to describe it. Changing and morphing before my eyes, like a hundred different men exist within him and all are fighting to be seen.
Each a different manifestation. Some harsh and hard, some daring, some laughing. All compelling.
Finally, a face of utter despair settles in place the longest, tired lines etched into the skin around his mouth and eyes, and, without thinking, I reach up and put my hand against his cheek, try to smooth those lines with the pad of my thumb. Reven grabs my wrist and the sadness disappears, replaced by a face that glints at me with something purely evil.
“Run, little girl.”
- 2023 RONE Awards | Young Adult Romance | Winner
- 2023 Holt Medallion | Young Adult Romance | Finalist
“A sexy YA fantasy that creates a deep bedrock for sequels… The author playfully leads readers through sharp fantasy twists.” ~Kirkus Reviews
“An addictive, action-packed, scorcher of a read!“ ~Alyson Noël, #1 NYT Bestselling Author
✭✭✭✭✭ “A swoon worthy hero, a fierce heroine, nonstop magical action. I was on the edge of my seat.” Kait Ballenger, Bestselling Author
✭✭✭✭✭ “As the story unfolds, you are taken on a journey of secrets, betrayals, newfound trusts and families. It is written in a way that holds your attention and has you glued to the pages waiting to see what happens next. I personally may have lost a few hours of sleep just to finish…” ~The Literary Tryst
✭✭✭✭✭ “Within the pages of The Liar’s Crown, author Abigail Owens creates a stunning storyline with all the best elements – family, friendship, love, and danger all rolled into a dramatic package. An excellent way to start a series and leave her readers clamoring for more.” ~Emiley M, Educator, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭.5 “The Liar’s Crown is one of the best fantasy books I’ve read in 2022.” ~Cam, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “I literally could not put it down.” ~Cheyenne Mcdonald, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “I’m obsessed with this book and I’m dying I have to wait so long for book 2.” ~Jamie, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “Absolutely amazing and addictive and filled with a multitude of suspense.” ~Lindsay, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “There better a sequel after everything I’ve been through while reading this book! Gosh, that Epilogue!” ~Sequoia Cron, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭ “This was a great read! The author excels at creating a vivid setting…the characters were well written…and this is one of the best written enemies-to-lovers that I’ve run across.” ~A Mac, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “The Liar’s Crown is a marvelous adventure packed fantasy! … A definite must read for all fantasy lovers.” ~Hannah, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “The Lair’s Crown was so so so good. I absolutely loved this book. I loved the world, the characters, the love interest, the magic, the idea of a hidden twin, honestly everything.” ~cady_reads, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “I loved this book. It kept me in the story from start to finish and I can’t wait for the next book!” ~Bevany, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “This book. Wow. Just wow. It needs more than 5 stars. This masterful tale hooks you in from the first word, grabs you by the throat and keeps you captive until the last syllable.” ~Tammy Moldovan, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “…Most definitely going to be a best seller. The twin twist, romance triangle, paranormal, and fantasy are expertly woven into the story and kept me spellbound. A five star novel if there ever was one!” ~Barbara Dougherty Evans, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “Yes. Yes to this entire book!!!! … You will love it, just as I am obsessed over it and rereading it again not even a week after finishing.” ~Bess, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭ “An extraordinary novel by Ms. Owen, with action, adventure, romance, magic, betrayal, and so much more!” ~Nicole, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “The beginning of a jaw-dropping series filled with laughs, romance, and magic!!! WHAT. A. STORY!!!” ~Carla Sosa, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “I absolutely loved it! The Liar’s Crown, has everything you want in a fantasy story; amazing world building, good magic systems, strong characters and character development and just the right amount of romance!” ~Retrogirl20, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “An enchanting, page-turning read with a savvy, kickass mc who will definitely keep you on the edge at your seat all the way!” ~Shea, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “Did The Liar’s Crown live up to the hype in my mind? Yesssss! It was more than I could have hoped for…I LOVED it!” ~Rachael Book Hunter, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “What a gem! … Perfect for fans of the famed ACOTAR, the sequel can’t come soon enough!” ~Anabel Unker, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭ “This was a dark, thrilling ride, full of secrets, shadows, lies, and curses – and I loved it a great deal.” ~Chelles of Books, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭.5 “Such a good YA fantasy book *screams*. Once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down and I stayed up till dawn just to finish it.” ~Amie, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “It is a definite fantasy must read with an ending that will leave you begging for more!” ~Desiree, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “It is one wild ride that you’ll hate getting off to wait for the next ride to come along…. This was so wonderfully done, Abigail, so exceptionally creative, and I loved every minute of it! Excellently done, indeed!” ~Judi, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “A delightful, passionately addictive, exciting and heart tugging book!!” ~Melanie Parker, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭ “I loved the premise of The Liar’s Crown and it lived up to my expectations…. There was adventure, love, betrayal and so much more.” ~Timitra, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “Within the pages of The Liar’s Crown, author Abigail Owens creates a stunning storyline with all the best elements – family, friendship, love, and danger all rolled into a dramatic package. An excellent way to start a series and leave her readers clamoring for more.” ~Emiley M, Goodreads
✭✭✭✭✭ “I am exhausted writing this because I stayed up until 4 am reading this book. Yes, 4 am.
I’m rating this book a 5 because I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA Fantasy and I will reread this book before the sequel comes out. I couldn’t put this book down! The characters, world building and plot were all outstanding.” ~Ashley Hughes, Goodreads
The Liar’s Crown is an addictive, action-packed upper YA/NA fantasy romance; however, this story includes elements that might not be suitable for all readers, including but not limited to: violence, gore, death, kidnapping, poverty, and sexual content. I trust you to know your own triggers and limits, so please take note and take care.
Publisher | Date:
Entangled Teen | 8.30.2022
Age / Heat Level: Upper YA / NA (18+)
Genre: Epic Romantasy
Tropes: Shadowraith & a Decoy Princess
