“Opulence, beauty, and danger... A magnificent and triumphant debut.” Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author

For fans of Twin Crowns and TikTok sensations To Kill a Kingdom and This Woven Kingdom

The royal court of Galla is as dangerous as it is glamorous... Kalothia will need every ounce of courage and wit, if she is to avenge those she loves ... and stay alive.

Kalothia has grown up in the shadows of her kingdom, hidden away in the East after her parents were outed as enemies of the king. When assassins attack her home on her sixteenth birthday, she must flee to the king’s court – a beautiful but lethal nest of poison, plots and danger, overseen by an entrenched patriarchy. Can Kalothia navigate this most worldly of places to find her own role? What if she must choose between her country and her heart?

A fast-paced, romantic and feminist YA fantasy full of danger and courtly intrigue.

"Filled with breath-taking action sequences, scintillating romance and strong female characters, Goddess Crown is an exciting addition to the romantasy genre." - The Bookseller

"Humming with a vibrancy drawn from its West African inspired cultural elements, like food, dress and music, Lapite has created a grounded world that operates outside of the reader’s field of vision, complete and autonomous… Fast-paced, the book ambitiously tackles its world’s spiritual belief system, not just as a background theme but interwoven through the social systems and politics of its ruling court. A début that will have the reader’s heart with the women of Galla, Goddess Crown is undoubtedly a book with something to say." - Inis Magazine, Children's Books Ireland

"The story’s well-timed action and tenacious protagonist make for page-turning thrills, and a lovely romance tucked away within its pages will make readers’ hearts flutter. However, the underlying theme of young women building reliable, strategic alliances in addition to friendships while living in patriarchal kingdoms is equally important... Lapite’s debut is a strong addition to the genre and a fine introduction to an enchanting world that is worth exploring. A punchy story radiating zeal and filled with suspense." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Teeming with betrayal, secrets, and power struggles, Lapite’s debut will have readers on the edge of their seats ... Kalothia’s determined spirit rings true, and her uphill battle will endear her to readers ... Readers looking for an inviting fantasy or who want a grounded experience will love Kalothia and root for her through her plight." - Booklist

"Opulence, beauty, and danger – Goddess Crown sweeps readers into a sumptuous new world that they won’t soon forget and introduces an unstoppable heroine in Kalothia. A magnificent and triumphant debut." - Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times best-selling author and chief operating officer of We Need Diverse Books