Tear down the throne

Review by Booklist Review

Princess-turned-spy Gemma Ripley is fighting off enemies of the state and the enemy of her heart in the second installment of Estep's Gargoyle Queen series (after Capture the Crown, 2021). Having survived being tortured by Milo Morricone, Crown Prince of Morta, Gemma would like nothing more than to stab him in the heart like he's stabbed her in the back. Still trying to figure out what Milo is up to with his stolen tearstone, Gemma thinks the upcoming Summit will be the perfect opportunity to spy on the Mortan royal and foil his plans. She won't think about how it's also the perfect opportunity to see the handsome Leonidas Morricone. When Leonidas' mother, Queen Maeven, invokes an ancient tradition that would permanently tie Leonidas to Gemma, Gemma must decide if it's time to stop fighting with her heart. That is, if she gets out of the Summit alive. While a little heavy-handed with the "we can't, we're mortal enemies" trope, Tear Down the Throne is still a fun fantasy romp that will have series fans awaiting the next book.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

---

Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Estep's fast-paced sequel to Capture the Crown dives deeper into the world of her Gargoyle Queen series. Princess Gemma Ripley of Andvari is still reeling from her deadly confrontation with the Morricones, the ruling family of Andvari's rival, Morta, when Queen Maeven Morricone sets up another scheme, this time at the royal Summit in Caldwell Castle. There, Maeven interrupts the festivities to invoke the traditional Ungerian custom of the Gauntlet, forcing her son Leonidas into a marriage with Gemma. But Leonidas must first complete three challenges; if Gemma refuses to comply or Leonidas fails, their lives are forfeit. Trapped by Maeven's plot and overwhelmed by her inner romantic turmoil, Gemma must find a way to outsmart centuries-old tradition while preserving the diplomatic relations between Andvari's neighboring kingdoms. As with the previous installment, Estep puts little flesh on the bones of her cast: the characters all sound the same and their dialogue often feels flat. Fortunately, she makes up for this shortcoming with tension-filled battle scenes and a delightfully offbeat magic system. There's plenty for series fans to look forward to. Agent: Annalise Robey, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (May)

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

---

Review by Library Journal Review

In this second in her "Gargoyle Queen" series, spun off from her best-selling "Crown of Shards" trilogy, Gemma Ripley of Andvari is determined to defend her kingdom, which leads her to a summit among competing kingdoms and another meeting with Prince Leonidas, son of conniving Queen Maeven Morricone of Morta. He's a threat to Gemma, but she can't help feeling attracted. With a 50,000-copy first printing.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

---