The Weight of Crowns by Australian author Alina Bellchambers is the cliff-ending finale to the duology of The Order of Masks. The book contains mature themes intended for adult readers.
For the last time, we enter the Ravalian Empire. It’s where royal bloodlines and intricate political intrigue define every aspect of life with the burden of destiny, the complexity of power, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Told through a dual POV timeline and vivid depictions, the narrative picks up where it left off with Mira, Scarlett, and the diverse cast of characters you will root for, hate, and mourn. With conspiracies and scheming, there are many factions and alliances, but there can be only one ruler. The stakes are high and only one Queen can rule. Who will it be?
Mira and Scarlett are the beating heart of this novel. Both are flawed, ambitious, and capable of cruelty, but also of empathy and love. The tension between them is compelling, being complex characters, they give insight into their motivations, doubts, betrayals, and desires. Their development throughout the book is powerful and resonates with the theme of the burden of leadership and moral dilemmas. It’s a reminder that the heaviest crowns are not always made of gold, but of the choices and sacrifices carried by those who wear them.
Romance is woven into the journeys of several characters, balancing the political and magical stakes with personal intimacy, although they are tested against duty, loyalty, and the weight of power. I found this a nice reprieve from the harshness of war.
I loved the magical elements in the story. They felt grounded in the world’s rules, and the plot never veers into over-the-top fantasy tropes. The idea that you cannot choose your magical gift as it is passed down through bloodline reinforces the theme of destiny versus free will, which makes it both a blessing and a curse. The characters often struggle with whether to use their power, knowing it comes with consequences, as it can drain them emotionally, physically, or spiritually, highlighting that nothing in this world is free.
Reading the conclusion hit me like the first part of a dream I did not know I had been waiting for. Bellchambers writes with cinematic depth; every scene is carefully crafted, and every moment is tied to something deeper. There was never a moment when I failed to enjoy the tale.
Weaving an enthralling plot, I was whisked away from reality and plunged headfirst into a world of royalty and the personal cost of power. The Weight of Crowns is a very accomplished piece of writing.
If you are looking to immerse yourself in political fantasy, romantic conflict, and characters walking the line between heroism and villainy, this book will hit a lot of the right notes. It is not for the faint of heart, but for those who want intensity, it delivers. I hope you take as much enjoyment from it as I did. I highly recommend.
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club members are reading The Weight of Crowns by Alina Bellchambers. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.
My love of books started at a very young age. My mum has always been a reader and encouraged me to read, buying me endless book from classic fairy tales advancing to the world of Enid Blyton, CS Lewis, Louisa May Alcott, Kathryn Kenny, Carolyn Keene, Francine Pascal. In my adult years the list of authors is endless and every room in my house is filled with books.
One of my favourite novels is Narnia which has always has a special place in my heart. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 1978 and when I was given this book to read it let me escape to another world where I felt like I was in the book with all the characters, it wasfun and exciting to escape from reality and eased the ups and downs of the disease at such a young age.
In books nothing is impossible and there is endless potential and hundreds of places to explore or being taken to places that are only made up from the authors’ great minds, the past and future to navigate, characters lives you step into taking you on an emotional rollercoaster ride or being scared out of your wits. I can experience things that I can’t in real life because they’re not possible or real. It challenges my perspective and mindset expanding my worldview.
I find joy, comfort and peace with books, many people may not get it, but I know bookworms like me truly understand. Reading makes my heart happy.
The weight of Crowns by Alina Bellchambers.
The Weight of Crowns had me hooked from the beginning, I couldn’t put it down.
Mira and Scarlett going head to head for the throne made for such a riveting story, so much magic, betrayal, and drama. Who was going to survive?
I loved how the book mixed the action scenes with the emotional stuff. The fights were exciting, but what really got me were the choices the characters had to make about trust and loyalty. There were a few twists I didn’t see coming.
If you’re into fantasy with strong queens, dark magic, and plenty of surprises, I’d definitely recommend it.
It’s a powerful conclusion to The Order of Masks series.
Thankyou beauty and lace.
The Weight of Crowns by Alina Bellchambers (Pan Macmillan Australia) is the high drama conclusion to the two book series which began with The Order of Masks.
Once again we follow the lives of Mira and Scarlett as they navigate the dangerous political world they are each competing in. Like the first book there is plenty of tension, magic, courtly action, steamy love scenes, and unexpected betrayals.
And as the title implies this book raises questions about what the cost of ruling and power really means for both Mira and Scarlett. Two queens, one crown – who will win the throne?
Another gripping read from a very accomplished wordsmith…
Thank you Beauty and Lace for the chance to read the second book in this series. I loved it just as much as the first one. Looking forward to reading more of Alina’s books in the future.
The Weight Of Crowns is the follow up to The Order Of Masks which is about Ravalia and the surrounding areas, politics, romance and Mira and Scarlett competing to become Queen. There are so many characters, most with magical powers, some with family connections, political aspirations and the want to survive.
It is a different world but many of the themes remain the same. There is romance, scheming, loyalty and places at war.
Roran is trying to control all areas and he’s not the only one. There are many other people throwing their hats in the ring. Scarlett and Mira have to work out who to trust which can be confusing as there are so many twists and turns.
I enjoyed reading from both Mira and Scarlett’s points of view and seeing how they grow and change. I couldn’t predict what would happen next and just prayed they could both have a happy ending. This was a wonderful conclusion which left nothing on the table – highly recommend the series for anyone wanting to tune in to a new world which can be brutal and also bring out the best in people.
Weight of Crowns is aptly named and following on from The Order of Masks, I quickly became engrossed in the plot, however, it was more strategic based. There were, like the first, lots of unexpected twists and it was not at all predictable. As alluded to in the first, it became quite dark, with blood magic showing how power can destroy whether wanted or not but perhaps Love can conquer.
Definitely need to read the Order of Masks before delving into Weight of Crowns, they are not stand alone books.
I loved The Weight of Crowns just as much as The Order of Masks. With these two books, Alina Bellchambers has easily become one of my favourite Australian authors, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
The world she’s created is deeply immersive — rich, magical, and full of contrasts. It’s gentle yet extraordinarily brutal, filled with both love and hate, hope and despair, loyalty and betrayal. The dual perspectives of Mira and Scarlett are beautifully written, and the stakes feel constantly high.
Bellchambers has a gift for balancing emotion, action, and tension in a way that keeps you hooked to the very last page. If you loved the first book, this one absolutely delivers and then some.
The Weight of Crowns by Alina Bellchambers is the great conclusion to the fictional novel The Order Of Masks.
Fantasy is not my go-to-genre but after reading The Order of Masks, I was keen to dive into the sequel and I am glad I did. I enjoyed following Mira and Scarlet’s journeys once again and being drawn back into a world of magic, politics, romance and many, many shifting loyalties.
Rich with action and emotion, this story explores powerful themes of accountability for your actions, redemption and the courage to look forward rather than dwell on the past. It is a satisfying and fast-paced read that fans of fantasy romance will absolutely enjoy.
Thank you very much Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to read and review this captivating finale.