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Magic was destroyed six hundred years ago.

And yet a powerful magician is threatening the Shamaran castle from the inside.

When someone from her past kicks ex-assassin Semra out of the only place she calls home, she must race against the clock to thwart an ancient prophecy. An enemy is destined to unlock the bounds of magic, and if Semra fails, the magician will become unstoppable and Jannemar will fall. As Semra sets out to secure a weapon of legend, she is faced with her greatest questions is forgiveness possible for a blood-stained ledger, and can someone with a dark past deserve authority?

With her insecurities and unstable new abilities in tow, Semra must lead the army to victory against enemy forces, a powerful magician, and a great dragonlord, or watch everyone and everything she loves die.

468 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2023

123 people are currently reading
1285 people want to read

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E.A. Winters

15 books721 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
Profile Image for Brittany.
1,299 reviews197 followers
June 1, 2024
Clean YA Fantasy

4 Stars ✨

“Great the dangers that are loosed when rise what laid to rest; None but seed of flower planted could restrain it best. Crimson queen shall open door protecting all from shame, Then guarding it forevermore, he of the same great name.”

Crimson Queen was the final installment, (at least I think) of this awesome series! Full of action, quirky characters and an interesting world where assassins and dragons roam. I’m going to miss these characters.

I think the cave scene with Zephan, Semra and Siler was my favorite part!!! To have Siler there after everything they had been through, knowing how he felt throughout the books, just melted my heart! ♥️ This book out of all 4 was the most serious. The thing I enjoyed the most about this series was the banter, and this one didn’t have very much and I missed it. Other than that I enjoyed the ride! Look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

*no language
*sweet slow burn romance
*mild violence

Profile Image for Emma Beut.
72 reviews
January 16, 2025
This series was good. There were a few things that I didn’t like about it. Sometimes the time gap didn’t add up which bugged me. And everytime it brought up a previous character from books 1-3 it would do a recap of that person. It was really annoying and I felt like it wasn’t necessary at all to keep doing it. There was even one in the final chapter🫠.

Overall it was good, especially geared more towards teens.
Profile Image for phoebe.
53 reviews7 followers
February 27, 2024
4.5 stars ⭐️ that was a fun series!
Profile Image for Terri Harr.
234 reviews8 followers
December 15, 2024
What a fabulous ending to the Blood & Flame Saga!

I read the four books back-to-back. I couldn’t put them down any longer than I had to. So good!

It had all the intrigue, danger, and a bit more romance than the other three books. Just like the others, it was filled with so many unknown elements that you couldn’t be sure how it was going to play out. I loved the dragon! Her personality grew with each book and the relationship with Semra became stronger.

These characters were very well done. This could have been one huge book but each one ended where it felt like it COULD end there UNTIL the next book starts and a whole new set of issues and dangers are revealed.

I love the fact that this was a fantastic, exciting read without the language or the heavy spice. There is some kissing in this book but not a lot and certainly not over the top. Well done!
Profile Image for Ashley Hobsonreads.
178 reviews3 followers
October 11, 2025
brilliant finish!

When someone from her past kicks ex-assassin, now an Earl, Semra out of the place she calls home, she must race against the clock to thwart an ancient prophecy before the life of the man she has come to care for is in danger.

If Semra fails to get her abilities and insecurities under control, the kingdom and everyone she cares about will quite possibly die at the hands of those trying to tear the world apart in the pursuit of power.

That was a brilliant final book in this series . The story is so compelling I’ve read it all in a single day despite having been out and about! I love the dragon Zez and all the characters that have been created in this world and will definitely be picking up a copy of the other books that are in this world.

Favourite quotes include:
“I dream of a life where I wake up to you as often as the sun rises, and kiss you good night as often as it sets. Semra. Semra Myansara. I love you.”

“Anything else feels like the distraction. You, my dearest love, are a deeper joy than fleeting happiness. You push me. Challenge me. You are the strongest, most incredible woman I’ve ever met. Probably the most stubborn and independent, too, which has nearly killed you on multiple occasions. But we sand each other’s rough edges, and together we’re stronger than we ever were apart.”
Profile Image for Meagz .
10 reviews
December 3, 2025
Loved this series!

A strong conclusion to a well-written series! The plot and character development was great throughout the series. Looking forward to more with Aviama next!
Profile Image for Sarah Havener.
361 reviews9 followers
May 26, 2023
This was a good finale to the series. It focused more heavily on the political intrigue, but still included dragons and magic. We got to see Semra develop her pyro powers and grow her confidence. The world building was very detailed, and there was a lot of internal dialog. I'm interested to see what happens with the spin off.
Profile Image for Grace Kiss.
11 reviews1 follower
March 17, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! My husband was telling me I should slow down at save it. I think it was a great conclusion to the series. And for anyone wondering if it’s appropriate for their team, I would say as long as you’re OK with some kissing, the whole series is appropriate for young adults!
Profile Image for Monica.
56 reviews2 followers
May 27, 2024
This was such a fun read, probably one of my favorites this year. Siler is my favorite character for the comedy relief alone 😂 the poor man just wants his pastries.

“I love you,” she said. “I love you too.” Siler cleared his throat. “And I love pastries. But if we don’t get out of here, the last thing I’ll have had to eat is dried jerky.”

Also I need a man who talks to me like zephan talks to semira!
"I will die a bachelor and create innumerable succession issues in our fragile nation should they deny me.”
(Kidding I am happily married)
4.5- 5 star read for me 😊
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Melanie Scarth.
235 reviews
January 22, 2025
Fitting Conclusion to the whole series. It was nice to be able to read a book series with out all the smut and swearing and still keep most of the other things I like.
Negatives for the series was the editing and repetition and some of the more dialogue writing style issues.
Positives were it was a fun story without all the unnecessary smut. I would be fine with my teen girls reading this series. In fact I would say they might even enjoy it more than I did just because I feel this is the age group it was more geared for.
Profile Image for D.A. Chan.
Author 9 books28 followers
December 8, 2025
A Glorious, Gut-Punching, Heart-Stealing Finale — One of My Favorite Sagas Ever

Crimson Queen isn’t just the final book in the Blood & Flame Saga—it’s the crown jewel. I laughed. I cried. I gripped my phone so tight while reading (on the Kindle app!) that I’m honestly surprised it didn’t crack. I found myself sitting up in bed during certain scenes, completely tense, only to push my phone away in pure panic because I was so scared for my favorite characters. And then seconds later, I’d be pulling it back because I had to know what happened. That kind of emotional whiplash? That’s how you know a book has you in its claws.

This book was, in a word, epic. Everything comes full circle here—every prophecy, every character arc, every mystery that’s been simmering since Book 1. And it all unfolds in a way that feels deeply earned. There’s a perfect storm of dragons, magic, romance, kingdoms rising and crumbling, betrayals and loyalty, plot twists and prophecies, and it just keeps coming, chapter after chapter, without letting up. I clapped at least twice. Out loud. Alone. That’s how invested I was.

But what makes Crimson Queen truly unforgettable isn’t just the nonstop thrills or high-stakes drama—it’s the heart. The characters we’ve followed through war, sacrifice, betrayal, and transformation now feel like people I’ve known for years. I cheered for them. I feared for them. And I’ll carry them with me.

With this final installment, E.A. Winters has not only delivered her best work to date, she’s sealed this saga as one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. It’s clean. It’s sharp. It’s deeply emotional and wildly cinematic. Crimson Queen didn’t just meet my expectations—it shattered them. What a ride. What a finale!
Profile Image for JustSophie.
13 reviews
April 17, 2025
I really liked the series! I feel like it got better and better.
It was a slow burn but man it was a good one!!

Clean Romance Fantasy - what more could you want

Character development was great; well written, epic storyline.

My very brief summary of the series: Semra was kidnapped when she was 4 years old to be trained as an assassin. Now she‘s escaped but struggles to find her identity, belonging and purpose. As she tries to survive she starts to build friendships and learns about trust, acceptance and love.
You‘ll get dragons, epic battles, a power hungry uncle, a misled and evil queen, scemes, betrayal and an old prophecy.

What I enjoyed most about thisbook tho was that it just reminded me of Gods love for us in so many places. Evn if we dont deserve good things God gives them to us and His forgiveness is bigger than what we‘ve done wrong, however much it may be. He is rhe healer of hearts and He proved His love for us when God camr down to earth to die for our sins on the cross.
Umm ok, i didn’t mean for it to be that deep… But yeah, I really loved reading this book <3

The only thing that bugged me was the retelling/ reintroduction of characters. In the first book it was ok, because the characters were known by different names/ some identity’s kind of changed with theplot here and there. But from then it got more and more annoying.
I did read the books back to back in a matter of days tho sooo… I‘ll let it slide :)
Profile Image for Annmarie Ager.
379 reviews26 followers
November 15, 2023
So, I blitzed through the whole series in record time, and here we are at the last book. No disappointments, folks. The storyline, true to form, picked up right where the last left off, and within a few chapters, chaos ensued. Old faces resurfaced, playing their parts—some causing trouble, others adding to the stakes.

Without giving too much away, let me just say this book made me despise two characters so intensely that I wished I could reach into the pages and give them a piece of my mind. But hey, that just made everything more intense, right?

I appreciated the turnaround of some characters; it warmed my heart and solidified my appreciation for the series. While I missed a few characters from the previous book, it was clear they found what they'd been searching for—the promise our lead had made.

Now, the ending—no spoilers, but it went out with a bang. It wrapped up nicely, yet left a lingering tone, suggesting there might be more if the author chooses to explore it. That open-endedness lets your imagination run wild.

In conclusion, a fantastic series that's absolutely worth a read. The quality and storyline blew me away. Sad it's over, but I'll definitely be keeping an eye on what the author cooks up next. 📚🔥
Profile Image for Kyliegh.
322 reviews2 followers
May 4, 2024
I should not have let this series sit on my shelves for as long as it did. Dragon’s Kiss had me hooked from the very first chapter. This series had so many twists and turns that kept me wanting to find out what happens next. The only thing that kept me from binge reading the series were the ARCs I had to review.
One of my favorite characters in this series was Siler. He is the definition of morally gray. Some of my favorite parts in this book included him. I also loved Aviama and I’m so glad she gets her own series (The Melderblood Chronicles). The MFC, Semra, is also morally gray. She often did the wrong thing for the right reasons. She was very protective of those she loved and was loyal to. She had so much growth throughout this series. The ending was so satisfying and I’m glad Semra got her happy ending.
I was so sad for this series to end, but I’m looking forward to catching up with Aviama in The Melderblood Chronicles.

What you’ll find in The Blood and Flame Saga:
🐉 Dragons
🐉 Assassins
🐉 Spice free romance
🐉 Political intrigue
🐉 Tough MFC
🐉 Backstabbing Family
🐉 Found family
🐉 Suspense
🐉 Sleeping Magic
🐉 Ancient prophecy
🐉 Awesome fight scenes

**This series is kisses only and no swearing
Profile Image for Rieka.
392 reviews7 followers
June 8, 2023
This was a fantastic ending to Semra's story and to the Blood and Flame Saga. E.A. Winters outdid herself with this entire series! There were many times in this book that I was concerned about which way Semra's story would end but I'm glad all my worries were wrong. I'm normally a spicy fantasy reader but this series was so well written that the action won my heart and I loved the clean plot driven aspect of it. I love how Semra continued to endure all her hurdles to accept the fact that she's more than her history and when Siler gave her his acceptance she finally let herself be happy.

I can't put into words how much I love each one of the characters. Semra the FMC battled obstacle after obstacle to strive for what she felt was right for the kingdom. No matter what was thrown at the Zephan never let her believe she would be on her own. He actually consistently did the opposite and made sure she knew that they would do it 'together'. The relationship between Aviama and Semra made my heart melt cause they really needed each other. So many other characters hold a place in my heart and I'm glad certain characters 'woke up'. I can't wait to see what E.A. Winters tosses at us next!!
Profile Image for Kacy A.
252 reviews1 follower
April 23, 2024
Semra isn't framed for a murder this time but she is still on the run. When Avaya becomes more than she and Zephan bargained for, they know it's time to split up. Avaya frees a powerful prisoner and makes a play for Zephan's throne, he and Semra have to be more cunning than they have ever been before. Magic isn't the only wild card at play but which Shamaran line will prevail? Semra knows she is unfit for a position near Zephan but how can she be happy without him?

****SPOILERS BELOW****

This book was not going to be one that had any kind of lull that's for sure. From start to finish I was hooked. I read this in one sitting with a single food break because I just had to get to the end. Semra finally accepting herself and healing with the help of her family is my favorite part of this entire series! I loved the vulnerable moments and could definitely relate to being uncomfortable sharing that part of one's self. I wasn't mad at a single conclusion or character arc at all. This was a great story. I would have liked to see more of the burn for our main couple but still enjoyed the books as a whole. Will probably come back for the other series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for The Jesus Fandom.
492 reviews33 followers
January 16, 2025
Once again, there are fun/cute moments that I actually enjoyed reading. And the plot is exciting with plenty of big battles, chases, dragon riding, etc.

However.
I cannot stand this main character anymore. First of all, we get it. You like trousers. Stop going on and on about it. She's still very insecure (why does the love interest even like her???) but then she criticizes another girl for letting her insecurity get in the way of completing an important mission: 
Couldn't she have waited to be insecure about all this until after they made it to Frigibar's alive?
Gee, Semra, sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Especially since she’s .

The author consistently misspells "poring over something" as "pouring over something" and it drives me crazy. There’s more instances of banter in the middle of situations where you cannot realistically say all that in the short amount of time they have. There’s a lot of exposition, except where it would have been useful (when characters we had only met once or twice 100s of pages ago came back).
Profile Image for Maggie.
181 reviews
February 25, 2025
The story did not disappoint. I liked the characters and their development. Again, she teased us with a little bit of multiple POVs, and I wish there had been more.

I think most notable about this is series is its a great representation of how we should view ourselves and overcome mistakes in our past. What we have done doesn't define us, but where we are going. I think that's a great message especially for young adults trying to figure out this world. And this story helps show that.

The resolution was satisfying. And I did really like that she emphasized travel time and recovery for the characters. That made it feel much more realistic--yes, I know it's fantasy, but when magic solves all problems, that gets a little old.

This is definitely going on one of my favorite fantasy series. I'd be happy to reread it.

There were times that this one felt a little long. And again, it could have used a better editor as there were times that it felt there was missing information and definite mistakes.
Profile Image for Leah.
27 reviews1 follower
June 16, 2023
ARC Reader Review - Chills it was so good!!!

Best one yet! Every time I finish one of EA Winters books I am amazed to see her growth and talent with writing blossom before my eyes.
This final book in the series made me smile, laugh out loud, cry, gets chills of joy and fear for the characters, and kept me riveted to each page.

Semra, Zephan, Siler, dragons, magic, and a crazy evil tyrant and queen - this book is truly fantastic! Another part I love is that it continues to show how the main lady, Semra, overcomes her crippling anxieties and her tortured past to become the best person she's ever been - and she does it with the help of good friends and mentors in one of the best ways I've seen in fantasy literature yet.

20/10 recommend to everyone!
No cussing, no spicy content, great storytelling, intrigue, royal craziness, magic, slow burn swoon-worthy romance, battles, intense fight sequences. SO GOOD.
Profile Image for Kaleidoscope .
19 reviews
June 21, 2024
I've given every book in this series 4 stars because they're so good! I wish I could do 5 stars, but there are so many spelling and grammar mistakes throughout the series, as well as a lot of repetitivness/constant recapping, especially in Crimson Queen. If we've come this far in the series we should know what Semra has been through as a child and in each book. The constant recapping of these events gets to be a bit frustrating. I do realize that some recapping in a must for those that don't devour series, but in this case it was just overdone. I'm definitely no scholar or perfect at spelling and grammar but if it was screaming off the page at me and not the editor, she should probably address these issues. Over all this book and the rest of the series are fantastic! I will be reading her Melder Blood series as well as her stand alone.
Profile Image for Laura Howe.
23 reviews
December 29, 2023
What a stunning conclusion to the Blood and Flame saga! E.A. Winters perfectly wrapped up this saga and I cannot wait to dive into her next series about Aviama!

Siler remains my favorite character so far, don't get me wrong, I love Semra and Zephan but the snark from Siler is my favorite. Not only did he go through enormous character growth throughout the series but he's graced with the best one-liners of the book.

I'm still kind of in shock by the reasonings and motivation behind all of Azi's decisions, the ego that this man has is astonishing. I would love to see a backstory book one day between Azi and Turian and how all of this came about.

All in all, I cannot wait to see what else E.A. Winters puts out and I'm excited to see where else she takes us!
36 reviews
March 16, 2024
I’ve read all 4 books in the series and her spin-off series the medlerblood chronicles and can’t wait for book 3 of the melderblood chronicles to be released! I am also currently reading her stand alone novel the forgotten stone. E. A Winters has quickly become one of my favorite authors! Both of her series becoming some of my favorites of all time!!
Each book is full of action and writing that brings you right along with the characters! I felt as though I was fighting right along semra! This is a series that will captivate you completely and each book is better than the last!
If you love faced paced action with dragons and assassins this series is for you!
May 27, 2023
Winters has consistently turned up the heat with every book in the series, but in Crimson Queen, the heat becomes an all consuming inferno that doesn’t stop burning until the very end - fitting for a series titled “The Blood and Flame Saga”.

Aside from the raging external battles, Semra is also faced with her own internal war - one that she must fight and win or be swallowed by. And while this struggle is not as physical as what happens around her, it is no less epic.

Crimson Queen ends the series in the only way that fits The Blood and Flame Saga - a perfect, blazing hurrah.
Profile Image for Katie Garcia.
13 reviews5 followers
June 9, 2023
Epic ending to an fantastic story!! Just when I would think stakes couldn’t get any higher… well Winters proved me wrong. This book provided the perfect escape from normalcy with epic dragon battles, fantastic scenery and of course emerging magic!
I feel as though Semra is a dear friend after following her journey from an orphaned assassin girl to someone finally who recognizes her worth in spite of her past.
I’m definitely looking forward to the next chapter of the Saga as Aviama’s world is explored further!
3 reviews
June 9, 2023
Oh my stars, you need to get not this book but the whole saga! It’s so fast paced and pulls no punches!
When the villain made his appearance in this book… I honestly had to put it down and walk away for a while. He put the main through so much trauma I just was not ready, even with the excellent foreshadowing, I was not ready to face him!
Sorry so vague, I am trying not to make spoilers.
It is an amazing read. The descriptions are vivid and I can clearly picture the characters and settings.
I loved the ending as well.
Profile Image for Jessie Bundy.
56 reviews
November 9, 2023
I really enjoyed the entire Blood and Flame Saga. It’s refreshing to find a clean fantasy series with all the fantasy feels of magic, adventure, and of course dragons🐉 with a little bit of romance sprinkled throughout the series.
The books were a little predictable but there were also a few twist and turns that surprised me.
I appreciate the character growth and the witty banter between characters.
I LOVE Zezura, she’s the real mvp of the series.
I think my only complain is that I wish there were more dragons in the series, we know of two- Zezura and Rokotas.
Profile Image for Courtnie ~ courtniemustreads.
253 reviews6 followers
February 16, 2025
This was an epic ending to a great saga! I really enjoyed how this book wrapped everything up while leaving a few a few loose ends for a spin off series! I loved all the characters and watching as everything unfolded. This book held my attention and was full of ups and downs, twists and turns. This was by far my favorite book in the series, but I loved how all the books built of each other. I loved how more developed the romance was in this one. I would definitely read this again!

Romance: Kisses only
Language: None
Christian Elements: None
Profile Image for Jessica.
25 reviews
June 2, 2023
The last book in the Blood and Flame saga, Crimson Queen concludes the story of Semra’s quest to finally discover what life after the mountain looks like for her. Action packed and full of fights, magic, and dragons, this book is a must read for any lover of fantasy, dragons, or both. Winters gives us closure in the story she’s been weaving over the past year culminating in an ending sure to satisfy anyone invested in the journey of Semra, Zephan, Siler, and the rest of the gang.
Profile Image for Lori.
16 reviews4 followers
June 3, 2023
The thrilling conclusion of the Blood & Flame saga hits all the right notes.
This entry finds Semra on a few different quests, often in peril, and battling her past as the fight for her kingdom takes some new and surprising turns. Relatable well thought out character moments are well seasoned with action and adventure.
Definitely a book that will have you reading “just one more chapter.”
No spice, no cursing, lots of fantasy action~
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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