Cruel Crown (Red Queen Novella)

The #1 New York Times bestselling series!

Discover the truth of Norta's bloody past in this paperback bind-up of two novella-length prequels to #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen series.

Queen Song: Queen Coriane, first wife of King Tiberias, keeps a secret diary—how else can she ensure that no one at the palace will use her thoughts against her? Coriane recounts her heady courtship with the crown prince, the birth of a new prince, Cal, and the potentially deadly challenges that lay ahead for her in royal life.

Steel Scars: Captain Farley exchanges coded transmissions with the resistance as she travels the land recruiting black market traders, smugglers, and extremists for her first attempt at an attack on the capital. She was raised to be strong, but planting the seeds of rebellion in Norta is a tougher job than expected—until she stumbles upon a connection that may prove to be the key to the entire operation: Mare Barrow.

These novellas are also available in Broken Throne—the stunning companion to the Red Queen series!

Plus, don't miss Realm Breaker! Irresistibly action-packed and full of lethal surprises, this stunning fantasy series from Victoria Aveyard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Red Queen series, begins where hope is lost and asks: When the heroes have fallen, who will take up the sword?

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Published Jan 5, 2016

208 pages

Average rating: 6.78

23 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

NinjaNeo
Sep 27, 2025
9/10 stars
So glad I decided to read this series in publishing order and read this immediately after Red Queen! I probably would've forgotten a few details had I read this at the end. Easy novellas, knocked it out in one evening!
hillary_scholz
Jan 13, 2025
6/10 stars
As the prequel to Red Queen it did a good job of addressing Cal's mother and how Elara ruined her mind. It also addressed Farley, one of the more interesting characters in Red Queen.

Good short stories that added more to the overall series.
katietopp
Jan 01, 2025
8/10 stars
Really awesome back stories to Queen Corianne and my darling Cpt. Farley. Recommended if you enjoyed Red Queen.
Shahna
Jul 18, 2024
6/10 stars
Queen Song: I like this story. I found it interesting. For me, this one added to the overall story.

Steel Scars: This one is boring. Just war tactics and nothing else. redacted redacted redacted.
jericho.ney
Mar 01, 2024
10/10 stars
I loved all of the books in the Red Queen series.

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