The Rivaled Crown

The Veiled Kingdom Series, Book 3

De: Holly Renee

Narrado por: Aaron Shedlock, Aubrey Vincent

I swore I would never return to this palace. Never kneel before my father again.

But I have been dragged back into his gilded cage, trapped beneath his rule, and bound to a fate I had tried to escape.

My body is his to break, my magic his to wield. And no matter how many nights I dream of Dacre storming these halls, of his hands, pulling me from the darkness—dreams are nothing against the greed of a king.

Even if my mate comes for me, even if I am freed from my father's grip, I'm not sure there will be anything left of me to save.

The kingdom is dying. The land withers beneath the weight of stolen magic, and my father's reign will not end without bloodshed.

But I have lived in the dark for too long.

And I was not made to wither, I was made to burn.

Narrated in duet style.

©2025 Holly Renee Publishing (P)2025 Podium Audio

Oh Daddy Dacre

Really a 3.5/5.
I enjoyed the series as a whole, but this one wasn't my favorite. One thing that never changed was Daddy Dacre's filthy mouth!

It did its job for me to conclude the series and I will def recommend it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 stars) | 🌶️🌶️ (2 spice)

I’m not crying, you’re crying — because this series is officially over and I don’t know what to do with myself. 😭 The Rivaled Crown was a stunning finale to a magical, sexy, and emotionally loaded ride through a world that’s become a second home.

This last installment gave us exactly what our hearts wanted — more Dacre and Verena. Their bond? Literal fate. Their chemistry? Off the charts. Their connection to the land? Spiritual and soul-deep. I loved that this book honed in on their mating bond and the deeper ties that had long been written for them — by their bloodlines, their past, and the badass mothers who clearly knew what was up. 👑🌿

Dacre continues to be my absolute favorite golden-eyed, German Shepherd man. Like… if protective, broody, sexy mate energy had a face, it would be his. And Verena? Goddess-tier. She’s fierce, powerful, and her unwavering love for Dacre had me rooting for their HEA from page one. This woman could burn kingdoms and I’d still be like, “Yeah, seems fair.”

Now, yes — some parts of the book did feel a bit overly descriptive. And I swear if I read one more variation of the same phrase, I was about to start a tally chart. But in the grand scheme of things? Minor speed bumps in an otherwise epic emotional rollercoaster.

I’m going to miss these characters, this world, this elemental magic, this delicious fated mates trope… all of it. Holly Renee, thank you for the ride — I’m already booking a one-way trip back to this series for a reread.

The fight for love and what’s right

I have loved each of these books. The character development, the world building the city underneath the city. Everything coming together. This book was magical and I absolutely loved it. The voice acting was fantastic truly great. As soon as I opened, this, I couldn’t stop. I like to read and listen and I did both and I just couldn’t put the book down. I will definitely be following up with the stars and shadow series and this author in general. Loved the ending. Oh and the spice was top tier! Dacre is so hot. I definitely would not mind a book for Wren and Kai!

Forged in Fire, Destined to Rise

Man, I was waiting for this day of retribution—and Holly Renee did not disappoint! Watching Verena transform from someone seen as powerless into a force to be reckoned with was so powerful and honestly reflective of the strength women tap into in real life. Her growth hit deep.

The emotional weight of this book, the tension, the sacrifice, the heartbreak—it all came together beautifully. Saying goodbye to Verena and Dacre hurts more than I expected. I'd visit their kingdom again in a heartbeat. And once again, Aubrey Vincent and Aaron Shedlock killed the narration. I could feel every moment like I was living it with them.

Holly Renee, I’m a true STAN—thank you for this unforgettable journey.

Disappointed

Wow what happened?!! I loved book 1, book 2 was ok and I feel like book 2 and 3 could have been condensed into one book. Now book 3 was terrible! The FMC monologue killed it for me, I was bored and irritated with the constant repetition. The buildup of magic talk just for nothing to happen….