A Vermilion Curse

by DC Guevara

Former scholar turned mercenary Ryesand Valafar rummages through a ransacked city for banned religious texts, seeking information about ancient and dangerous magic. While investigating an abandoned temple, he encounters a threatening woman with a price on her head high enough to fund his research.

Wanted by both the crown for her involvement in the dead king's occult studies and a menacing cult, Cressida Benoit searches for a way to get rid of a brand that scars her in the besieged capital in order to make her grand escape. An encounter with a demon leaves her in bonds.

When this unlikely pair of opposing personalities discover that they have similar objectives relating to the outlawed religion, they agree to work together to find the place where all dark magic stems from. This proves to be a difficult task when their journey is tracked by a war commander set on bringing them to justice, a family they must escort back to a circus, and the growing tension rising between Ryesand and Cressida, serving as a distraction from their individual goals. In the midst of shifting rulers, villages, disarray, and a scattered court of decadence - falling in love was never in the cards.

Content Warnings for:
Demons
Drug usage
Alcohol consumption
Aphrodisiac usage
Sex Pollen trope in Chapter 18
General fantasy violence
Blood magic
Dark magic rituals near act 3

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, LGBT, Romantasy, Queer, Demons

356 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2023

About the author

DC Guevara is a fantasy-romance author who enjoys lounging on the beach, going to the movies, and browsing bookstores in her spare time. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Art History with a minor concentration in English Literature from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus. Utilizing English as her second language, she started exploring her love for literature by writing some herself and has never looked back. She found a home in the romance genre and has begun carving out little worlds with her favorite subsections within them and with luck, she aims to add historical fiction, urban fantasy, and gothic romances to her roster. She currently resides in her homeland of Puerto Rico.

Reviews

[Esmay Rosalyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for SPFBOX as part of team Fantasy Book Critic

7.5/10

Pitched as “Baldur’s Gate 3 meets BatCat romantasy”, A Vermilion Curse is a highly entertaining and refreshingly diverse reluctant allies to lovers fantasy romance perfect for fans of Grace Draven, Carissa Broadbent, and Jenn Lyons. It’s got loveable disaster queers, epic battles, rich lore, heartwarming found family vibes, hysterical banter, steamy romance, and so much fun nerd culture; what’s not to love?

Set in a queer-normative D&D-esque high fantasy world, A Vermilion Curse follows a fugitive spymaster accused of regicide and a mercenary demon seeking redemption from his scholarly brotherhood. Though seemingly polar opposites, Cressida and Ryesand are drawn together by their shared interest in the outlawed religion, and they reluctantly team up to embark on a dangerous quest for answers. Soon both old friends and foes start popping up left and right, and tensions quickly rise to unimaginable heights. But in the end, it might just be their own pasts, secrets, fears, and developing feelings that could end up being their biggest risk to their lives.

So, first impressions are absolutely crucial in these types of character-driven narratives for me, and I am happy to report that both Ryesand and Cressida just immediately captured my heart within moments of meeting them. They simply burst off the page with their own strong and unique personalities, and their chemistry was just absolutely delicious from their very first disastrous meet-cute. I mean, if this wonderful battle couple doesn’t prove that opposites attract, then I don’t know what will.

Cress is a true badass (and a total disaster bisexual) with an attitude more fiery than her eye-catching red mane of hair, and I loved how she immediately intrigued and challenged Ryesand with her sharp tongue and dangerous fighting skills. Moreover, the slow unravelling of her complicated backstory and origin of her curse had me on the edge of my seat, and I can’t blame Ryesand for being inexplicably fascinated by her.

Now, I don’t think either Cress or I were expecting to start swooning over a demon, but here we are. Ryesand is just an absolute gem, and as someone on the ace spectrum, I deeply appreciated the authentic demisexual representation in his perspective. I mean, not only did it result in such a beautifully emotionally-driven romance story, but it’s also weirdly refreshing to see a man be the inexperienced one in bed. Their dynamic was just so wholesome and entertaining, and I loved that they shared such a deep mutual respect for each other hidden behind all the bantering and teasing.

Now, I know it might sound like the romance takes centre stage here, but I actually found the fantasy and romance elements to be beautifully balanced and seamlessly interwoven. Yes, the messy interpersonal relationships are the heart and soul of this narrative, but there’s also a looming war, a mystifying curse, lots of religious conflict and political strife, a messy reunion with Cress’ circus family, a ball at court, and so much rich history and lore to sink your teeth into. And honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by how tame things stayed for a long time… until a certain sex-pollen chapter, and then they weren’t; you better believe that the battle action and the explicit steamy action were equally pulse-pounding!

Though speaking of action, I do have to admit that the plot felt slightly too hectic and fast-paced for me personally, especially in combination with the frenetic present tense writing style that I bounced off of. Still, I think it is a testament to Guevara’s skill as a storyteller that I still ended up enjoying this story as much as I did despite those preference issues. And while some of the scenes during the climax (the battle climax, just to be clear) were a bit hard to visualise for me, there’s no denying that the ending was incredibly intense and epic. Opening portals, ancient curses, invading evil forces, meddling gods… the stakes were so high, and that satisfying yet ominous last chapter has me very curious about any potential sequels to this story.

Safe to say, I had an absolute blast with A Vermilion Curse, and I think it is a true breath of fresh air in the fantasy romance genre. To me, this feels like a perfect blend of all the best elements of both epic fantasy and sexy romance, making it just a beautifully well balanced read. It’s high stakes yet light-hearted, epic yet intimate, serious yet campy, familiar yet unpredictable, and overall just so much fun!

[DC Guevara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contractually obligated author review & rating. 🤭

This book is the book of my heart. My only hope is for you to have a blast when reading, to fall in love with these characters the same way I did. That is all.

Happy travels, fellow adventurers 💘🍃

[Wicked Fox ✨️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Vermillon Curse was such an adventure filled read! The world, the CHARACTERS! I was intrigued from start to finish 😍 Seeing Rye and Cress going from distaste to desperate longing to that scene warms my heart so much 💕💕 I love them so much and seeing them be happy together warms my heart

[Vesper Doom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come, but I adored this book!

[Ladz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read an eARC from the author
Content Warnings: fantasy violence, human sacrifice, death (on-page in flashbacks), explicit sexual acts, sex pollen (dubious consent), PTSD, fantasy hate crimes, dead parents (mentioned in flashbacks)

A demon seeking redemption from a scholarly brotherhood and spymaster on the run from an accusation of regicide cross paths in A Vermilion Curse. Both Ryseand and Cressida have their own ulterior motives for teaming up as a battle couple. With a queernorm world steeped in the aesthetics and the lived-in worldbuilding reminiscent of the Dragonlance novels, A Vermilion Curse enchants with its slow-burn romance and breakneck plot. An utter delight for fans of Berserk, fantasy, and romance in equal measure.

This novel has everything anyone can want from a fantasy adventure. Polar opposites—a planner and a pantser—meet on the run from different tragedies. Ryesand, a demon, seeks redemption from the Brotherhood who cast him out, while Cressida is a spymaster on the run from crimes she didn’t commit. Chthassyl cultists chase both of them for different ends. It’s dangerous, but there is some excellent competency porn where our main characters are involved. Between Ryesand being the level-headed scholar and Cressida the rogue with a heart of gold looking for healing, the opposites attract deliciously, and so much of the fun lies in watching them trust each other and grow closer.

The success of a romance novel falls on the chemistry and development of its main characters, and Guevara excels here. Despite being a bit of a bisexual disaster, Cressida is quick on her feet and can get herself out of situations as soon as she gets in them. Ryesand, on the other hand, is far more reserved and keeps his truth closer to his chest. Their banter really works for me because of the strength of their personal convictions. This book is intended for adult audiences, and the multiple sex scenes are explicit. This book fucks with enchanting magic and heart-pounding sword fights that show off the best from both our main characters.

As someone who is really picky about cult books, I enjoyed Guevara’s approach to that antagonist and trauma. It’s careful, and there is a clear reason what the cultists seek and the sorts of people they seek to destroy. This is a fantasy book about everyday people in increasingly extraordinary situations. There is magic and divinity, but it’s not the sort that cloaks our main characters in plot armor. In fact, it might be their greatest enemy from start to finish.

Last, but not least, the Berserk references are so tasty and so fresh. Guevara turned the relationship between Guts and Casca and the world-building of a sword-and-sorcery fantasy into something new. Though the world is queernorm, there’s still heartbreak, fantasy racism, especially where Ryesand is involved, and classism, especially where Cressida is concerned. But there’s still beauty, art, and lore, which makes Anthares so richly lived in.

I had a blast reading this fast-paced adventure, and I can’t wait for others to join the ride as well.

[CristoC · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lengthy and spoilery review ahead.


First of all. The sex pollen warning you see in the blurb is misleading. The main characters get forced to 'have a sexual encounter'. Whether you see that as rape or not, you are warned, not by the author though. I regard it as such, even if we are conveniently told that “the herb has a magical element to it. Because of its potency, a sorcerer long ago enchanted the plant and all of its kind to only work among those who were attracted to one another. Otherwise the assailant would face dire consequences”, and I wish the warning was given beforehand. Also the ‘sex scene’, and the other one as well, are very long. Excessively long. And the book isn’t even erotica. I skimmed them. Partly because they really were too long, and partly because the first was a rape scene, and the second one was at a point in the book where everything had already went downhill a long time before, so I wasn’t even interested in anything anymore. I’ll explain why.

The first thing that I didn’t appreciate was the formatting. At first I thought the file was just corrupted but then I understood that the book was formatted for print and not for an ebook. This means that there were constant paragraph breaks, making meaningful breaks indistinguishable from meaningless ones, and that every few paragraphs there would be the ‘page number’ and either the name of the book or the name of the author interrupting sentences, sometimes resulting in the same sentence repeated twice. The fact that all throughout the book some letters were replaced by symbol, making the read a constant game of ‘guess which letter/s go/es there’, was a real trial in terms of patience.
Then…I saw a review saying that you could replace the main characters’ names and this would be any other basic fantasy book. And while that’s true in terms of story and characters, I actually wish the MMC was called any other name because…Ryesand…has black bat wings…then he gets swirly black tattoos…yeah, I haven’t read those books, but…anyway.

The characters showed potential at first, even though Ryesand is presented one way in the very first chapter, showed to be something else entirely, and perceived as something else by Cressida, which made it extremely frustrating. You are met with his pov at the very start, which makes him sound pretentious in a ridiculous way, as if he’s one of those elementary school kids that feel superior because they read (whether or not he was meant to sound wise I don’t know and I don’t want to know). Then you actually perceive him in the story and he’s just…a nerd with an obsessive attachment to his former murderous fanatic academy bff, which makes him be a little bitch to the victim of said former bff, who is also the entire reason Ryesand is in this journey. Then, we get (numerous, unnecessary, and repeated) reflections of Cressida about Ryesand’s character, and she perceives his as an arrogant but kind person. All the while, Cressida’s entire personality is her being extremely hot headed, (as the red headed characters often are in books because why not feed readers with the same old cliché) and hunted by what happened to her at 17 years old, which is understandable.

My problem with the characterisation is that we get to know bits and pieces of their backstories, we are made to think that there’s more to it, so there’s this edging for more of their backstory, and then it’s not that big of a deal, even if it’s seemingly the biggest indicator of why they do what they do. We think there’s more to Cressida’s story, but when the big reveal comes, it’s information we already knew, with the addition of particulars that only arouse more questions that don’t get any answers. We get, as I said, numerous reflections of the main characters about each other’s personality, with the same information, just put forward in a different way, that have no purpose. Is it to show that they think about each other? It’s not necessary, they are together every second, it’s obvious. Is it to give the reader a summary of the characters’ personality? Why? Just…show me. I also didn’t like the way they have no agency in their relationship. They are thrown together, forced to stay together, but the forced proximity trope is not fully realised and substituted with ‘you are conveniently aided by the plot and crafted circumstances’. They get drunk and flirty and almost end up sleeping together because they get randomly offered dozens of drinks from random people in a tavern, for example. They get forced to ‘fuck’ because of things that get revealed at the very end of the book, but when it actually happens it happens so that they are forced to take their feelings into consideration, so that there can be a miscommunication trope, so that there’s some unnecessary angst, and so that the reader is led to think ‘oh no, don’t do that you’re so cute together ahah’.

And there are more conveniently placed elements here and there, that made the read ridiculous. Cressida is in Ryesand’s custody, who left her tied up in his room in a tavern. The room gets conveniently open thanks to a drunk guy…falling on the door. She doesn’t escape, she just…goes downstairs and speaks to people because why not stay in the hands of a demon that wants the price they put on your head? And the very convenient elements go hand in hand with the badly handled worldbuilding of this book. Too many times pieces of information on the worldbuilding are suddenly exposed in length, so that the scene kind of makes sense. And this over-exposition of the worldbuilding happens until the very end of the book. It makes the scenes where it happens silly, especially because it often happens in the lengthy and flashy fighting scenes. It made them boring and simultaneously laugh worthy, because they felt like bad anime fighting scenes. “He must be using the Babadoobidoo! He tries to remember what the mystical Badaboobidoo does from his years studying the subtle art of Poopidooping of the Sacred Order of the Pooping Birds.” I..don’t care? And the fighting goes on and on, going nowhere, until that ‘something’ happens. And still, we never get to understand how the magic system works. We don’t get to know how Ryesand’s powers work. The incantations make you giggle because it’s the usual random cluster of letters ending in -um so that it sounds like Latin, and end up being ridiculous when there’s an accidental real Latin word that means something stupid.

Clearly, I had a problem with the writing. At times it’s good, at times it’s bad, and other times it’s just clumsy. They look at the starry sky a dozen times while travelling and we’re told every time. We get a long description of how Ryesand looks at the start, but then a tail appears on him halfway through the book. Cressida’s scar really badly hurts to the point of making it difficult for her to move and speak every time she’s ‘in the vicinity’ of objects of people from that weird religion, unless she has to fight said people or give lengthy indications apparently. This piece of awkward dialogue: “Now, we’re going to behave like adults and gently face the authorities for that richly deserved gift,” he says, his face completely stoic as he looks at her. “you were very difficult”. “That sounds like a problem that directly affects only you” she answers, taking the moment to spit at his feet.
And the pacing is very awkward as well. They start travelling…and just keep travelling. It gets boring. It gets repetitive: travel, village/city, people partying, tavern. Minor things happen, that are not important. And even the things that are supposed to be important, end up being irrelevant. Which makes me question if there even was a plot. They have a…very vague objective. But the objective they persecute is irrelevant in the face of what literally every other character except the main characters wants. Basically, the main characters are in somebody else’s plot.

Also, if you don’t like to be surprised by a cliffhanger and you read this…I’m sorry. It’s apparently a first book. Was this written anywhere? No. Do I care? Ultimately, no, because I won’t keep reading probably, but I know there’s people that get really angry at surprise cliffhangers.


I was given an eARC from the author and this represents my honest opinion.

[Sophia Slade · Rating 5 out of 5]

My official blurb for AVC! Absolutely loved this one.

“A breathtaking fantasy packed with action, heart, and an electrifying romance set in a world as unique as it is brutal, A Vermilion Curse is a tale you do not want to miss.” – Sophia Slade, author of Nightstrider

[Menoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT'S OUT
Go pick it up for disaster bisexuals

Ive received an arc from the author and this is my honest review.

4,5 rounding up to 5 !


A vermilion curse is a whirlwind, you have no time to breath and it was genuinely a super entertaining book. The characters were so fun to follow and their banter war excellent.
Cressida reminded me of Eugenides from Queen’s thief. And I loved it. She’s full of energy, sarcasm and overall super resourceful. Ryesand on the other hand is more reserved and he’s baby. Is he a super tall demon ? Yes. Is he still baby? Also yes. Don’t ask question. I love him.

If you’re a fan of adventure movie, fantasy and you just love to have fun while reading : this book is perfect for you !

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m a little conflicted about this review and I might come back and change the rating. I found the overarching plot of this book really interesting. The characters were complex and engaging, I particularly found Cressida and her motivations and history engaging. Maybe it’s just my reading slump but this booked DRAGGED for me. There’s a lot of information and world building, but I just felt it wasn’t always necessary.

[Cat Voleur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so happy to get an ARC of this from the author (and grateful that I finally got the opportunity to sit down with it this week.)

This was a solid, well-told fantasy story, and honestly it's one of the best offerings of the genre that I've read this year. There's an even plot, a coherent magic system, it's character-driven, and it does a great job not getting bogged down with exposition.

I've really been struggling to find new fantasy books that appeal to me. With every title that feels like it's missing something my wish list has just been growing longer and longer. This book was a great reminder that a story doesn't need to include everything from the wish list, as long as it's well-written and entertaining.

There were some elements that worked for me, and some that didn't, but ultimately it was engaging and that's the important thing. Fantasy fiction is, at its core, supposed to be escapist, and that's something Guevara did from beginning to end.

I think the strongest aspect of the book (aside from the prose itself, which was strong throughout) was the world-building -- especially as it pertained to religion. There was a rich sense of history and enough moving pieces to the setting that it felt fully fleshed out. I was curious about the lore, but didn't have any immersion-breaking questions that bordered on plot-holes.

I didn't love the chemistry between the two love interests for a good portion of the book, but I found them both interesting enough as characters in their own rite that this wasn't detrimental to my enjoyment. There were enough other things going on in the plot that it was easy to keep my interest

I try not to do specific comp titles in reviews, but A Vermilion Curse helped scratch such a specific FOMO itch that I feel like I have to mention this. If you are someone who, like me, really wanted to like ACoTaR, but found Feyre to be too insufferable as a narrator, then I would consider this a must-read. It has dual POV, better pacing, and more character consistency, which were all the things I complained about in my first Maas review.

I'd also recommend this more broadly just to fantasy fans. The tone is lighter overall than what I am usually looking for in my fantasy fiction, and more romance heavy, but it was well-executed and immersive.

[Annalise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember thoroughly enjoying this book, but my adhd brain vs the slow burn was not working in my favor🥲 I think if I were to have read it all together I would feel differently about the ending, but I truthfully can’t stand Konstav so going through the pivotal scenes and the epilogue with him being the focus really just made me want to hurry up and finish the book😭 The slow burn romance was really good, even if I despise the whole “they’ve finally been together and confessed their feelings now let’s tear them apart” writing technique authors use🫠 I don’t know if I would read the next book just because I feel there’s going to be a lot of Konstav and he just doesn’t sit right with my spirit😂

[Deja · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book and I did for the first few chapters. If you’re here for a good ride, this is the book for you. Full of action, witty banter, adventure, & a strong FMC. Even the romance began to suck me in and I couldn’t put it down. That was until I started questioning the entire world, magic system, & the characters motivations.

The world consists on humans, elves, orcs (?), & demons (who are hated my a majority of the population). There’s no clear distinction between each species and the powers they hold or their position in society. It is stressed often that the king(s) want to rid the world of dark magic & demons yet they’re obsessed with dark magic and this weird religious cult . Said cult is banned but not really because the king uses them and they’re freaking everywhere. The whole political world was super confusing to me.

Cressida was presented as this badass FMC and I truly liked her but she lacked depth. We keep getting sneak peaks into her past that I would assume explains why she is the way she is but once we learn the whole story, I still had questions.
Same with Ryesand….

My biggest thing was how did they just move on after Chapter 18!!??? I don’t want to put any spoilers but that chapter was the downfall of the book for me.

Then the end just came out of freaking nowhere! I understand adding a twist but it was totally out of left field & didn’t seem to make sense at all.

[aspeccharactersoftheday]

Ryesand Valafar from A Vermilion Curse is demisexual!

https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...

[Marietere T · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting but slow as fuck.

[Monica]

When a sentence changes tense in the middle, I'm out.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was delighted to receive an arc of AVC in exchange for an honest review.

A dual-pov adult romantasy, A VERMILION CURSE pays true homage to the contemporary blend of humor, camp, battle, deep lore and strength of character that comprises modern tabletop rpg. I continually found myself enamored in no small part due to how much AVC reminded me of my favorite anime, 90's fantasy-adventure SLAYERS (high praise, if you know me at all).

As a story, AVC unfolds like a gorgeous thorny rose (Cressida), or perhaps a legend scattered throughout the libraries of distant ruins (Ryesand). I hope others will fall in love with the story the same way I did, and the same way they fall in love with each other—slowly, then all at once.

My favorite element of their romance might just be Ryesand's multifaceted intellectual fascination with Cressida, and the lure from his scholarly hermitage it provides. I hope others notice it, too! It's also quite fun to watch other characters tease their budding attraction as it develops.

Ryesand is a thick-headed jerk at the beginning (love u babyboy) and it's a delight watching him learn not only to care for Cressida, but to heal his own isolation and resulting callousness as he does. Cressida, for all her chattiness, might be running from her past and present even harder than Ryesand is. Whereas Ryesand has isolated (or been isolated) for most of his life, Cressida has loved and lost too many times, and it brings them both right to one another.

Both protagonists carry baggage they hold so terribly close to their chests, heavier even than the ill-advised number of books Ryesand lugs around (seriously, someone get that man a pocket dimension). My heart broke for them with every new scrap of backstory I gathered; at the same time, watching them fit into the larger plot was delicious.

The plot itself mirrors their romance in its pacing—which is to say, Guevara leaves quite a bit of reread value behind between quips, arc and lore that seems far beyond our heroes before they're all woven tightly together.

On quips: both on a close, banter/prose level and through larger pacing/tone, Guevara does a delightful job at making her reader laugh, cry, and nail-bite over the newest plot-drop in the span of a single page. Even the characters that infuriated me (I'm looking at you, Sergei Konstav) made me laugh and strung threads of complexity that made me want to follow them wherever Guevara leads.

A note on the sex pollen chapter (18): Guevara warns for dubious consent; for readers going in on the fence about their reading experience, at this point in time the characters have previously had the space to address and tentatively kindle their mutual attraction, and the author makes room for elements of consent and trust in the chapter itself. This is only meant to be additional context to help readers make informed decisions about whether to engage with a particular chapter.

In sum, Ryessida are the little hellions I would put in a containment unit and assign a team of researchers to (affectionate). I eagerly anticipate the next installment!

[Jackson Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was honoured to receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A VERMILLION CURSE is a well-crafted, enemies to lovers romantasy for fans of Berserk, Radiance, and the Mousai trilogy.

Enigmatic demon Ryesand traverses a dishevelled town in the wake of a major conflict: the king is dead, and his towers are ransacked. Searching for a mysterious religious book in an abandoned chapel, he meets Cressida--a redheaded beauty, who also happens to have a bounty on her head. Their initial meeting is humourous as it is suggestive, but they soon find themselves forging a truce and travelling through the land in search of answers, and it appears all roads lead to the strange and dangerous cult of Chthassyls.

A VERMILLION CURSE has everything you want in a romantasy: huge world, a diverse and intriguing extended cast, fast-paced action, and a slow burn romance with lots of payoff. The sex scenes provide a satisfying end to the build of tension from the start. Oftentimes, authors of fantasy tend to bend the plot in ways that will force the main characters together in unnatural and unrealistic ways, but Guevara always stays true to her characters, giving them space to explore their feelings, and letting their relationship unfold naturally. They're also perfectly contrasted (Cressida wears her heart on her sleeves, is brash and brazen and follows her convictions, Ryesand is solemn and thoughtful, but also has a great sense of justice).

Much of this book is spent travelling as they are on the run from the new King's guard, and it makes for an exciting read. You never know when Ryesand and Cressida will be ambushed, which friends and allies will they meet along the way, and how these different challenges will enhance their mounting romantic feelings. Ryesand is especially interesting: a persecuted demon with a tragic past, he has a stunning design, can use magic, and is studious and intelligent. It makes it so meaningful when he finally lets his walls down and starts accepting the feelings towards Cressida that he keeps pushing away. Also, both Ryesand and Cressida are hot. So their romance is A1.

The book ends on a tantalising cliffhanger, paving the way for a wild and exciting sequel.

I would love to see more worldbuilding in the next instalment! The land of Anthares is VAST. We have elves, witches, demons, orcs, humans, as well as gated towns, magic users, travelling circuses and dark cults. We know that demons are highly persecuted, but we don't always see how other groups interact with each other--are there minorities/do certain races stick together in certain communes/where are all the villages and towns located? I'm so interested to see how they'll navigate the world after the opening of the portals. I can only imagine it will lead to more opportunities to see even more of this brilliant world.

[Camilla Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a critique partner and beta reader for this book so I got to see a lot of the process. I've posted this review on other platforms but I am finally moving and shaking my ass onto GR to add it here.

Those who know me know I am not thee biggest romance fan/reader in the universe. However, I came across the author's Twitter by chance one day and I was instantly captivated by the characters' wit, easygoing repartee, and genuinely loveable personalities.

One of the main issues I have when I encounter romantic relationships in fiction (ANY fiction) is that I want it to be "believable" that these two would fall in love and want to be together, that they would conceivably want to risk it all to spend their lives with each other. I am happy to say that DC Guevera absolutely delivers on that premise. Cressida and Ryesand are perfectly contrasting complements to each other. She's playful and he's stoic. She's charming and he's gruff. She's wily and he's honourable. Opposites attract is a compelling dynamic for a reason, and it plays out beautifully here as we watch these two grow from a mistrustful alliance to friends to eventually lovers.

While this is a fantasy romance and the relationship between the two absolutely takes the forefront... the rest of the story has plenty to offer. The worldbuilding is vibrant and charming, reminding you of all those classic fantasy novels set in medieval-esque settings with a D&D spin. If you're into video games such as the Witcher, for instance, you will love the world in this book. It's got political machinations, an encroaching war in the backdrop, and even an obscure little cult for dark magic for all those horror lovers out there. There's something for everyone!

It's the perfect setting for the pair to go on their series of increasingly whacky hijinks, taking them from warm, candlelit taverns to debauched castle balls brimming with the allure of wealth and aphrodiasiac-laced wine.

The plot is also very solid. Ryesand has a very identifiable need to learn more about his origins as a demon and so, when presented with the large bounty on Cressida's head, thinks nothing of capturing her to collect on it while she tries to fast-talk him into allying with her interests. As it is a duology, the plot is not entirely resolved in the first book and some questions are still left unanswered by the end, but I assure you there's plenty of intrigue here that you'll definitely want to pick up the sequel to see where this goes.

As an addendum, erotica lovers who like their smut a bit on the taboo side will for sure enjoy the kinks on offer, which includes the sex pollen trope and drugs that put you in quite the frisky mood. ;)

[Katarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

4.8 stars

I enjoyed this book from the start to the end and I'm really looking forward to the sequel. It has been a long time since I finished a book this quickly, and, at certain points, I really couldn't let it out of my hands.

Let me start with some cons:

- I expected more chaotic energy from Cressida. She was often depicted (by characters that knew her well) as wild and temperamental, and all I could see was a pretty rational woman that follows her heart and makes mistakes.

- Lore was a bit too shallow. Almost not existent. I don't consider this an actual flaw - this is just my personal taste.

- Some events were completely unnecessary and rushed. For example, the circus performance scene and introducing king Ayndall near the end and then getting rid of him so quickly also seemed needless for the plot. I'm guessing that the fact that Ryesand is now a kingkiller will influence the sequel but aside from that, I can't see the purpose of the king showing up at all.

And now the pros:

- It is fast, full of action and banter. It will transport you to your childhood and VHS era of adventure and fantasy stories.

- Charming characters. I love Ryesand and I have a mighty need to protect him at all cost.

- I'm super biased here, but the homage to manga Berserk is obvious and since it's my favourite manga, I couldn't be happier to see that.

- Steamy scenes are well written and hot, and even though some of them aren't my cup of tea, I respect the author's choice and effort.

- This is an adult fantasy with positive representation and romance that demonstrates mutual respect, yearning, and the value of communication.

Overall, as someone who's used to reading epic fantasy with enormous casts and insanely rich lore (looking at you Robert Jordan), A Vermillion Curse is absolutely refreshing. The ease and smoothness of words, witty dialogues, interactions between characters and fast pace is really something anyone and everyone could enjoy. I'm looking forward to the sequel and one day buying them all as paperbacks!

[Shepard DiStasio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing me an ARC for an honest review!!

What can I say other than how much I loved this book! I always love a just like solid adventure and that such a lame way of saying that lol but truly, I just had fun with this story, while also falling in love with Cressida and Ryesand. Seeing the development of their relationship beginning to end (and omfg when y’all read that last conversation between them?? *collapses holding my heart over how soft I am for them*) was just a journey in and of itself and I’m so glad how much care was levied towards them. It’s obvious the author cares for her characters, the world they occupy, and even the implications of a world that, though whimsical and fun and fantastical (exactly what I need from a DnD and Berserk style vibe), also had some terrible aspects to it (but god all of those aspects, like the cult—won’t spoil hehe—are treated so well as not just plot devices but living breathing facets of a story)! It isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, and I greatly appreciate that in a fantasy adventure romance! It just upped the stakes even more, especially nowadays when it feels like the surrounding world is something sacrificed for the sake of romance (which was NOT the case here and I’m so grateful for that)!!
I often struggle with expressing exactly why I enjoyed or loved a book, which if I don’t enjoy a book that’s the complete opposite. But here? God I just had fun, and I think that’s the best way to describe AVC. It’s fun. It’s fresh. And it’s thoughtful in a way I think adventure needs to be moving forward! Highly recommend for fans of DnD and Berserk and just people who want to get back into reading fantasy with romance in it!!

HAPPY PUB DAY DC! And congrats on a wonderful story :)

-shep

[I. Vélez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smutty Romantasy Meets DnD 🤩

A Vermillion Curse by D.C. Guevara is one of those books that grips you right from the start. It possess a slow-burn romance that will have you curling your toes. But it also has the action, the magic battles, and the adventure that epic fantasy has.

I enjoyed it from beginning to end because it was like being in the middle of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. Fans of the tabletop role-playing game will notice instances in the battles were the characters rolled a natural 20, as well as others when they rolled a 1 and totally failed.

And yet, the book is more than that. It's a tale of love where the protagonists risk everything for each other. Cressida and Rhysand are a match made in Heaven---or in Hell 😅😉---with an excellent chemistry. I loved their banter, their heated interactions, but most of all, I loved their smutty scenes. One rough and wild while the other was sweet and gentle. Omg, I'm with Cressida: I can't believe he was a virgin and yet he moved like THAT! After those scenes, Rhysand went straight to my bookboyfriends' list.

A Vermillion Curse made me laugh with Cressida and Rhysand's interactions, angry at a blindly loyal man who refused to see reason, and cry at a heartfelt confession. Thus, I awarded the novel my LAC badge and it's now among my favorites books from 2026.

[Luna Fiore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author

I want to wrap Cressida in bubble wrap and keep her safe. The most endearing character, full of guarded secrets and surprises, and treated so much harshly than she deserves by other characters. Ryesand carries years of hurt and betrayal and it shows, but Cressida softens him in the sweetest of ways. I loved their dynamic from the first moment.

The setting is a lush fantasy world crawling with creatures known and unknown. I love that there were no overwrought explanations about the magic systems and how things worked. Instead, I was given enough information to piece things together as I went along and get a fuller picture by the end. It kept the pacing of the story tight and even small breaks didn't feel like a slog. The lore and worldbuilding sucked me in just as much as the characters and the overall story. I want to know more.

A VERMILION CURSE is a whirlwind of adventure and romance that kept me in a chokehold the entire time I read and I can't wait for more!

[Eddy RG · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible ride in a world filled with fun, battles, magic, love, adventure and banter. Couldn't put it down since I started to read it and enjoyed myself immensely with every passing chapter. From the moment the two main characters meet until the very end; D. C. Guevara has a beautiful way with words and prose, her way of describing these two wandering souls and the depths of who they be as the book goes is nothing short of wondrous, making you fall deeply enthralled with both of them and the world they live in. A highly recommended read to all those that enjoy dnd, reluctant allies to lovers and the romance/fantasy genre. Disclaimer: warnings of usage of the "sex pollen" thrope, trauma, violence and blood.

[min · Rating 2 out of 5]

(stopped after chapter 3)

i started reading this book to get out of my reading slump… and somehow it helped… by motivating me to find a better book than this one… i would read a chapter a night and it never failed to lull me to sleep, by the third night i came to realize that i didn’t remember anything from the chapter before

i simply believe that i didn’t feel any sort of emotion for the characters… i think if a character is right off the bat witty it makes me less attached and i can not take them serious (but what do i know about them i could barely stay awake while reading)

respectfully i was not interested in these characters (but the structure of the writing was satisfactory so a two stars from me)

[chloe b · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book SO MUCH!! if you're a fan of romance, fantasy, and fast-paced adventure, I definitely recommend this novel. The DND vibes are on point, especially with the inclusion of fantasy ancestries and the traveling from town to town. The magic, the locations, the fights... I was hooked front to back.
I love a good mainline plot with romance that's just as prominent and intense as the incoming threat-- with that being said, the sexual and romantic tension between Cress and Ry was a thrill to read. Their relationship was interwoven betwixt the plot and the scenery very masterfully, I totally believed and loved their dynamics. GO READ!! GO!!

[U.R. Holm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm obsessed!!

This book haven't only brought me out of a reading slump, but now I suffer from a book hungover...
A Vermilion Curse was absolutely amazing. I love the characters, I love their story and I love that one of the characters remind me of my favorite anime character.

I was procrastinating reading this book for a while because I wanted to be in the right headspace for it, and now I wish I had read it earlier. I was literally gasping, giggling and sobbing at times. And that's one of the biggest signs of a good book for me.

[Mackenzie (mackenziespocket) · Rating 4 out of 5]

picked this one up on kindle u because i was intrigued by the synopsis, and i was pleasantly surprised!! i thought it was really well done. the one thing that threw me off was the last chapter. it sets up the sequel, but honestly i think it should have been just cut and left for the second book. it was really jarring in tone from how the main narrative ended, and i felt like kinda took away from it.

REP: queer (bi?) main character, nonbinary side character, queer side characters

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this book.

Such an enjoyable, action packed, swoon worthy read.

I loved the build of the romantic relationship throughout the book. We have some unlikely allies to lovers, forced proximity, and a opposites attract situation. These two are for sure opposites but at the same time they fit so well together.

Their journey both physically and emotionally was such joy to read. Highly recommend!

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this! Honestly, it was a pure joy to read. I loved the fast-paced adventure, the contrast between the two main characters, the spicy scenes, and so much more. This world was so amazing and beautifully crafted that I wish I could live inside it alongside Cressida and Rhyesand.

This book gave me the satisfaction that I always look for one finishing a story, and I can't wait for what comes next.

[M.A. Vice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a little while to get into this one due to the present-tense (which is not done badly by any means, just not what i'm used to!) but I'm very glad I stuck with it! Guevara has created a fun and adventurous universe with characters you'll find yourself easily rooting for. This is a fantastic read for anyone who wants a classic fantasy vibe with some modern twists!