All's Fair in Love and Blood
Jennifer Peel
5.0
Crown So Cruel: Golden City, Book 3
by Emily Blackwood
About this book
The Scarlata Empire is on the brink of collapse, and for Jessiah, the realm’s most formidable vampyre commander, peace is nothing more than a fragile illusion. When a mysterious neighboring kingdom threatens their borders, Jessiah is dispatched to investigate the source of the danger. However, the mission comes with a complication he never anticipated: he must travel alongside Rummy, the blood queen’s sharp-tongued advisor and the one woman who pushes every one of his buttons.
Forced into an uneasy alliance, these two enemies must navigate a treacherous landscape where the stakes are as high as their mutual animosity. As they are thrust into intense forced-proximity situations, the friction between them begins to shift into something far more dangerous. This slow-burn romance masterfully balances high-stakes political intrigue with the undeniable magnetic pull between an alpha hero and the woman who refuses to yield to him.
Whether you are a devoted fan of the Golden City series or a newcomer seeking a thrilling paranormal escape, this installment delivers a gripping, standalone experience. It is a dark, addictive journey that peels back the masks of its protagonists, revealing that the greatest threat to the kingdom might just be the fire ignited between its protectors.
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2026
- ASIN
- B0GYG9LN3D
Reader Reviews
February 2, 2026
Crown So Cruel was a fun quick read. I read this as a stand alone, since I haven't read the Golden City duo yet. It was so easy to get immersed into the story and a hard book to put down. Emily Blackwood has an amazing ability to draw you into her books and not let you go until you've sat there for 8+ hours reading and avoiding all other responsibilities. My only regret is not having read the other books first since I think I would have had a much stronger connection to the characters if I had....
January 7, 2026
Ever since finishing Golden City books one and two, I’ve been desperately hoping for a continuation of Rummy and Jessiah’s story and Crown So Cruel delivered in every way. This book leans hard into the delicious tension I was craving. The forced proximity keeps the sparks flying, the enemies-to-lovers dynamic is perfectly angsty, and the slow burn is painfully satisfying. Jessiah’s jealousy adds just the right edge, while both characters’ journeys toward self-healing make their second-chance...
February 10, 2026
While I enjoyed this book overall it did leave a lot to be desired. Let me start by saying I did not read the previous two books in the series but didn’t necessarily feel like I missed out and needed to to read this book. I was able to follow along well enough and could understand enough of the backstory that it wasn’t an issue. However, this was very fast paced and felt fairly under developed for me. I really think even more development of the situation with Cornelius and his kingdom and more...
December 30, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! It had me feeling ALL the feels. It follows Rummy and Jessiah two years after Blood So Brutal. One would think they were going to be deep into a loving relationship after the ending of book two but oh contraire. Not so much. They actually hate each other, can’t be in the same room as each other, and are downright cruel with what they say when they are forced to interact. Rummy seems to be struggling with her place in this new kingdom built by Huntyr and Wolf, and...
May 19, 2026
Absolutely adore Rummy and Jessiah! I like Emily’s writing style. She’s a great story teller who knows how to pace events without things getting frustrating or slow for the reader. )
