Book review by Corey
Crier's War
Crier's War is set in a world where artificial beings called Automae rule over humans, and Ayla has every reason to hate them. After joining the household of Lady Crier, the daughter of a powerful Automa ruler, Ayla plans to get close enough to take revenge, but that becomes much more complicated once the two girls start understanding each other.
The book mixes political fantasy, rebellion, class conflict, and a slow-burn lesbian romance. Ayla and Crier come from completely different sides of the same system, which gives their relationship a lot of tension, and the larger story about power and control keeps the romance tied closely to the main plot.
The Goods
- Strong lesbian slow-burn romance
- Interesting human versus Automa conflict
- Good political tension
- Ayla and Crier have great chemistry
- The world feels distinct
The Bads
- The pacing is slow in places
- Some world-building takes time to understand
- A few side characters feel underdeveloped
- The romance builds very gradually
- The political setup can feel dense
My Recommendation
This is a strong choice for readers who like lesbian fantasy, dystopian worlds, political tension, and slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance. Ayla and Crier’s relationship works so well because it grows inside a much bigger conflict about power, oppression, and loyalty, so the romance never feels separate from the story. If you enjoy LGBTQ+ fantasy with rebellion, morally complicated characters, and a relationship that takes its time to develop, Crier's War is definitely worth reading.