Casters and Crowns - by Elizabeth Lowham (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Cursed by magic, bound by mistakes, Princess Aria finds her destiny hinges on the mysterious Baron Reeves. Will love be enough to break the curse, or will war bring her kingdom to ruin? A new romantasy by Elizabeth Lowham.

When Crown Princess Aria sees her kingdom on the brink of war with the magic-wielding Casters, she takes it upon herself to speak with Widow Morton, the most dangerous Caster in the realm. If successful, Aria will not only ensure peace but also prove to her father that she is a worthy heir. But when her negotiations fail, Aria is dealt a terrible curse: Over the course of one hundred days, she will be unable to sleep, her body and mind doomed to waste away. And then the curse will pass to her sister, until every member of the king's line is dead.

Aria's best hope for breaking her curse is to seek help from another Caster--the handsome and charming Baron Reeves. He may be entitled to a place at the court, but as a magic user, can he truly be trusted? She vows to not be fooled by his dimpled smiles or his devotion to his brothers, but as she spends more time with him, she discovers that her heart has other ideas.

Baron has no desire to see the princess suffer--especially since she might be the key to changing the king's opinion on Casters--but he has secrets to protect and ghosts of his own. The last person he tried to save using his magic died, and he's not willing to risk harming someone he loves again.

As the curse continues its deadly countdown, both Aria and Baron must risk their lives and their hearts to save each other and unite a kingdom.

Review Quotes

Shortlisted in the Young Adult Category

-- "2024 Reading the West Book Awards" (5/21/2025 12:00:00 AM)

Foreword INDIES 2024 Finalist - Young Adult Fiction Category-- "Foreword Reviews" (3/6/2025 12:00:00 AM)

Selected for the 2025-2026 Tome Society Book Award-- "Tome Student Literacy Society" (2/10/2025 12:00:00 AM)

"An enthralling fantasy novel . . . in which teenagers navigate grief and discord to find love and acceptance."-- "starred review, Foreword Reviews" (9/17/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"Refreshing emotional depth... The intricate plot unfurls steadily, allowing for deep character development, [and a] slow-burn romance, which feels wonderfully believable. Heavy themes...are handled sensitively and are served well by the rich prose."-- "Kirkus" (8/16/2024 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Elizabeth Lowham dreams of a future house that is seventy-percent library with at least three lavish window seats. Her reality is five bookshelves and a rocking chair, which isn't so bad. She is the author of Beauty Reborn, and in addition to reading and writing, her hobbies include sewing, sketching, dancing, eating, and other -ing verbs. Plus yoga. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English and works as an author, editor, and screenwriter. She lives with her husband and son in the Loveland area of Colorado.