Review: A TOURNAMENT OF CROWNS by Elise Kova, Book #3 of A TRIAL OF SORCERERS!

A TOURNAMENT OF CROWNS

Author: Elise Kova

Series: A Trial of Sorcerers #3
Source: Audio from Audible
Publisher: Silver Wing Press
Publication Date: September 13, 2022

Overall Rating:
Diversity Rating:
Representation: gay side characters

Summary:

From the co-host of chart-topping true crime podcast Morbid, a thrilling debut novel told from the dueling perspectives of a notorious serial killer and the medical examiner following where his trail of victims leads

Something dark is lurking in the Louisiana bayou: a methodical killer with a penchant for medical experimentation is hard at work completing his most harrowing crime yet, taunting the authorities who desperately try to catch up.

But forensic pathologist Dr. Wren Muller is the best there is. Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of historical crimes, and years of experience working in the Medical Examiner's office, she's never encountered a case she couldn't solve. Until now. Case after case is piling up on Wren's examination table, and soon she is sucked into an all-consuming cat-and-mouse chase with a brutal murderer getting more brazen by the day.

An addictive read with straight-from-the-morgue details only an autopsy technician could provide, The Butcher and the Wren promises to ensnare all who enter.

Purchase:

Amazon | TBD

Read my review of A TRIAL OF SORCERERS!

Read my review of A HUNT OF SHADOWS!

Content Warning: abuse of a family member and blood from some scenes during the competition, grieving, mentions of death

This was a little disappointing - mostly because it feels like it's dragging instead of getting to the interesting parts. I think there are too many things happening that don't have enough satisfying threads throughout the novels to keep me interested. 

I was really happy with the fact that this series is following someone who isn't a royal and tangentially related to the previous events of the Air Awakens world, but I am disappointed with how things are intertwined and integrated. The most interesting part of Eira is how she shows her strength and her mysterious parental lineage and that is barely touched upon in this book.

Also the romance is just not there for me at all. There was too much build up in the previous books only for this one to be a let down. I think that's the struggle with knowing this series is 5 books - there is too much book timespan for it to feel super satisfying because there's too much time for things to go well or poorly.

I will finish the series but I hope I'm not let down the way I was with the Vortex Chronicles at the end!

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Have you read this series? Are you going to pick this up?