Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Kidnapping, Murder, Betrayal
Before Crown and Kingdom
by Melissa Wright
Book 2 in Between Ink and Shadows
A gaslamp fantasy with regency flair that delivers a dark, twisty plot full of secrets, betrayal, and forbidden magic. The gothic underworld pitted against a kingdom built on lies keeps you guessing, and the slow burn between Nim and Warrick is agonizingly good.
goodreads 3.59/5 1,062 ratings
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length155 pages
Series statusOngoing series
Spice0/5 · Tension
PacingMedium
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Forbidden love
- Male/female pairing (M/F)
- Slow burn
- None
- Tension
- The angst delivered
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- Secretly soft
- Longing glances
- Tension finally satisfied
- Morally gray
- Mutual pining
- Anticipation
- Book hangover incoming
- Brooding prince
- Banter
Fantasy promise
- Romantasy
- Castle / fortress
- Gothic
- Humans only
- Royal court / palace
- Forced proximity
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- Secret heir/royalty
Reading experience
- Third person
- Medium
- Dark
- Atmospheric
- Heavy
- Spy/thief
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- Mysterious
- Snarky/sarcastic
- Immersive
- Deceptively deadly
- Intense
- Court of shadows
- Page turner
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Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.
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Similar because
Spy/thief · Deceptively deadly · Banter
Different because
Spice is higher (1/5 vs 0/5). Fast pacing rather than Medium.
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Similar because
Spy/thief · Gothic · Brooding prince
Different because
Spice is higher (1/5 vs 0/5). A longer read (467 vs 155 pages).
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Similar because
Deceptively deadly · Banter · Secretly soft
Different because
It is standalone rather than completed. Spice is higher (2/5 vs 0/5).
Book details
- Length
- 155 pages
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book