Cruel Crown by Victoria Aveyard is a compilation of her two novellas -- Queen Song and Steel Scars. It also gives you the opportunity to have a sneak peak to entice you, tease you, make-you-wish-it's-the-release-day, of her second book, Glass Sword (not that she needed to). 
 Queen Song is a heartbreaking one. Coriane did nothing but love Tibe, yet other people who think of themselves as better than her, people who have power lust, think that their opportunity to wear the crown was stolen from them unfairly. This book solidified the fact that whoever murdered Queen Coriane is a heartless person who would stop at nothing for power. 
 Steel Scars is a novella that revolves around Captain Farley and The Scarlet Guard. It basically explained how The Scarlet Guard operates and how they can expand by knowing important people and places that would benefit them. It filled in some gaps from Red Queen, which showed us that they were in the background when everything else was happening. The book is also informative on how Captain Farley found Shade Barrow and became more involved in rescuing Mare Barrow, and in the end rescuing Cal as well. 
 Overall, Cruel Crown is found between a good read and informative read. It helped me remember Red Queen and it prepared me (and overhyped me) for Glass Sword. 
 Overall rating: 3.5/5 stars 
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