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The Crimson Forest

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If you don’t know who you are, how can you know whom to trust?
When the inon King of the Forest Realm takes me prisoner for my own safety, I find myself with very few options to escape. With no memory of who I am, or how I ended up in the cold forest on Silarani, how am I supposed to say no when he offers to help me? Even if the enigmatic King has his own hidden reasons for capturing me. Even if he and his people can shift to a beast-form that is too frightening for my mortal eyes to see yet. Even when the deal he proposes makes us spend time together, and that might be more dangerous to me than facing the threats outside of his Realm. Being with Asher is threatening my self-control. His magnetic charm and his golden eyes hold me captive in a way that makes me want to stay in the Forest Realm. But if he can help me find all the answers I’m looking for, how can I say no?
Well, I can’t.

Vanna is the first human on the continent of Silarani in a thousand years – a continent ruled by the shapeshifting people, the inons. With no memory of her past or how she became stranded on Silarani, Vanna is searching for the truth. Her only clues are the countless scars covering her body and her fighting abilities.
Asher, the alluring inon King of the Forest Realm might be able to help her find the truth, but he needs something in return. The evil Mountain Realm is closing in on Asher’s realm, threatening his borders, and he needs Vanna’s help in retrieving a weapon crucial for saving his people in an impending war. He needs a human and Vanna is his only solution.
But as Asher’s feelings for Vanna deepen, will he be willing to endanger her life in his quest to save his people?

417 pages, Paperback

Published November 10, 2024

15 people are currently reading
474 people want to read

About the author

Louise Damgaard

1 book39 followers
I’m a romance-loving author from Denmark, where I live with my amazing husband and our three lively kids, and a very necessary supply of caffeine (essential when you’re wrangling kids and fantastical characters).

When I’m not in the real-life chaos, I’m blending my lifelong love of fantasy with a hefty dose of romance. From swoony romances in magical realms to steamy love stories here on Earth, you’ll find me reading it, writing it, or dreaming it up.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
Profile Image for Jenn (The Book Refuge).
2,667 reviews4,489 followers
February 10, 2025
This was an INTENSE story! It started out fast-paced and we have no idea what's going on. We are thrust into the situation with Vanna, who has lost her memory and only knows that she is fearful and running for her life.

As she learns about the world around her, from the King of the Forest Realm, who finds her in the woods and offers her sanctuary, there are things that just don't quite add up. But what does she know? She is completely clueless. She's human, he says. In a world where humans are never seen.

King Asher is gentle and patient, he wants to help her get a lay of the land. When she wants to run, he points out that she could be stumbling into even greater danger than she's already in. Everything is overwhelming and strange, but Asher is a safe port in the chaotic sea around her. It's inevitable that she'll fall for him, what's not to love?

There are people who can shift into beasts, and warring kingdoms. Treachery and clashing wills. There was a lot to devour, but I liked that we were discovering it along with Vanna. Sometimes she gets flashes of her past, but never a clear picture of who she was.

There is also another love interest who comes along, but I don't want to speak to much to him yet. Be aware this is a love triangle and nothing is settled as quickly as it seems. There is also ferocious fighting and crucial weapons that need finding. Some that only Vanna can get her hands on.

Then there was THAT ENDING!! What the heck, Damgaard?! I truly need the next book RIGHT NOW, I hope she has it coming soon. This had a lot of great things, even though I got a little overwhelmed by the shifting tides. I also immediately wanted to reread and search for clues once I finished.

Now, I KNOW that everyone and their sister compares every Romantasy to SJM. But those who read and watch my reviews will know, I DON'T unless I truly feel that. So hear me when I say... this has the potential to be just as addictive and just as devastating as any of those. So be warned and trust NO ONE.

This was a truly wonderful debut, and even though there were things that didn't completely jive for me, I would recommend it!

4 stars
2 on the spice scale

CW: Violence, death, assault, torture, slavery (past, off page)

*Thank you to Tales & Teacups and the author for an ARC of this title.*
Profile Image for Bethsbooksau.
152 reviews13 followers
February 2, 2025
HOT DAMN!!! I loved this!!

I read the blurb and thought I'd enjoy it, but I didn't expect to absolutely DEVOUR this book like I did!

It had fabulous world building, and I really enjoyed this different concept of shifters (people/creatures called inons) who could shift into griffons and other fearsome beats. It all worked seamlessly with them being from different areas; the Forest Inons, Mountain Inons, Lake and Desert Inons.

Vanna, the FMC is suffering from amnesia and has no idea who she is or where she came from. She really was such an intriguing character, and im looking forward to learning more about her in the books to come.

The story was full of shocking moments and plot twists that kept you guessing! I'm dying for book 2!
Profile Image for Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog).
3,090 reviews91 followers
January 15, 2025
The Crimson Forest

A thrilling fast paced enemies to lovers, love triangle story that was full of twists and turns along the way that had you questioning everything. I loved the unpredictably of it.
The world itself was interesting. I liked the concept and loved the concept of humans and shapeshifters.
Vanna was the main character. She was a fierce independent woman who had no problem fighting. I liked how she stood up for herself and had her morales that she wasn’t willing to compromise on.
The romance was interesting taking an unexpected turn and that’s all I’ll say on that.

Tropes in this one are enemies to friends to lovers, forced proximity, amnesia, morally grey characters, love triangle vibes, secrets, betrayals, twists, fights, hurt/comfort, shapeshifters, royalty, and so much more!
Profile Image for Qady.
16 reviews11 followers
February 21, 2025
Such an amazing read. I loved every moment from learning about how beautiful the world is to meeting new characters and discovering hidden secrets. I especially enjoyed the enemies to lovers, forced proximity moments if you know what I'm talking about ;). I would definitely read the next book. I need to know what happens after that ending!
Profile Image for Eilidh.
56 reviews1 follower
November 7, 2025
4.5⭐️⭐️ aaaah that ending i need book 2!!
1 review
December 22, 2024
I was hooked from the first chapter! With well established suspense, beautifully described world, plot twists, steamy enimies to lovers, strong female character and a handsome male character, I couldn’t put the book down from start to finish. Would definitely recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Camilla Sørensen.
10 reviews
June 26, 2025
Oh my god I am lost for words! So much happens and when I thought it couldn’t get more interesting I was 100% WRONG!!

Also that ending. I neeeeeeeeeed the next book 😭🙏🏻
Profile Image for Tasha.
118 reviews6 followers
April 3, 2025
4.5⭐️

This book gave me ACOTAR, Shadow & Bone kinda vibes and I ate it up!

A strong FMC with amnesia, forced proximity, a love triangle, morally grey characters, a quest, deceit and betrayal, needless to say I was hooked 😁

Descriptive but without feeling over wordy,the world building was very good that I could actually visualise myself in it.

That ending! Oh my goodness I am dangling off cliff with heart in my stomach!

Throughly enjoyed and need book two!!
Profile Image for Gold Feather House.
5 reviews
February 27, 2025
The Crimson Forest has everything you'd want from a romantasy--intrigue, magic, secrets, spice. It's a beautifully written, emotionally deep tale that leaves you wanting more. I've read it twice and found myself still finding captivating and meaningful sentences and dialogue. If you love romantasy, you will not go wrong with this book!! Can't wait for the sequel ❤️
Profile Image for protector of the bookish realm.
32 reviews1 follower
October 1, 2025
3.5✨ I have to say this has been a story with many interesting parts to read , and certainly a good debut for the author !

I’d say the only thing I’d like to see less off in the next books are constant and long descriptions of everything , at some points it didn’t really add much to the overall story.

Thanks Louise on gifting a copy!
Profile Image for Lorna.
2 reviews
March 17, 2025
This book was everything I was hoping it would be, and then some!

I absolutely loved The Crimson Forest and I could hardly put it down. The story is fast paced and engaging, with beautiful and enchanting descriptions of it's realms and characters. There are some strong and lovable characters, Vanna especially - she is so sassy and confident. 


I can't wait for book 2!!
Profile Image for Henriette.
9 reviews
February 5, 2025
Oh my god! That’s all I can say.
This book had me in a chokehold from beginning to end! It was amazing. The writing, the story, the characters. To me this is as good as ACOTAR, so if you liked those, you HAVE to read this! It’s fast paced, yet you still get the world building, which is so incredible, it was like being there myself.
Vanna is such a beautiful and complicated FMC, and her story is just captivating! I almost screamed at the ending, and I CANNOT wait for the second book!
Louise Damgaard is a must-read/auto-buy author for me from now on.
I devoured this book in less than 24 hours, and yet I still want more!
Please, please, please do yourself a favor and get to Silarani this instant - magical stories awaits there ❤️
Profile Image for Sisse Marianne Bertelsen.
70 reviews1 follower
March 20, 2025
This review might come across harsh, so I want to start by saying that I have very high hopes for this author!

The story: As an avid fantasy and romantasy reader I found this story very predictable. The story went exactly where I thought it would go. This can be a good thing, if you want a comforting read where you feel safe. I’m just not sure if this is what the author was going for.

Worldbuilding: I loved this world and the feel that I got from the Forest Realm and the Lake Realm. It was captivating and interesting.

Vanna: I wanted so badly to love Vanna - but a fear of heights does not a personality make. And I don’t think amnesia is an excuse. I was also confused: she is a strong warrior one moment and a damsel-in-distress the next. This bugged me to no end. I would have loved to see her personality developed further.

I honestly feel that this book would have benefited from being quite a bit longer. The characters and the relationships between them would have been more convincing, had they been built up over a longer period of time. There is so much potential in this story.

Slow burn? More like fast burn, but I’m not complaining 😂

This book was in desperate need of more proofreading. The errors and wrong use of words in English was jarring to my reading experience. Self publishing authors really need to invest more in professionel proofreading, as this makes all the difference in my opinion!

With all this being said, I am looking forward to the second book!
Profile Image for Lineroessberg .
66 reviews2 followers
July 16, 2025
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
—————————
Tropes —>
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Amnesia
Tragic past
Hurt/comfort
Shapeshifters
Romantasy

TW’s
Violence • Assault • Captivity • Death • Torture • Slavery • Amnesia • Scars •
—————————

Wow wow wow!! 👏🏻
This started off soo strong and just kept getting better and better!

The world building was descriptive but not over the top and i was truly able to visualize myself there. I honestly couldn’t get enough of the world of Silarani or its characters, I need more!🍀

The plot was thrilling, intriguing, twisty and very well paced. I loved it! I kept trying to anticipate what would happen next.
It’s a beautifully written, captivating romantasy💞

Vanna, the Fmc - I absolutely adore. Her character is so balanced if that makes sense? She is so strong, brave, intelligent and beautiful but still has flaws that are so relatable - even though she is not quite human😉 She’s a total Queen in my eyes.

Asher starts out being the knight in shining armor buuut I kept having this feeling “this is too good to be true” and apparently that was very valid of me haha. I even questioned if he was using magic to sway Vanna since she kept suddenly becoming pliant and describing Asher as having this protective and safe feeling about him in his presence but when she was away from his presence she would question and be suspicious about things again and my paranoid mind immediately went - something fishy is going on here.
When we meet Vicon and he gifts Vanna the ring and tells her it can protect her, I started to believe my suspicions of Asher more and more. And later got them confirmed.

Rhen… aww my dear Rhen.
Like Vanna, right when we discover Rhen’s identity I was extremely skeptical but that quickly turned around as we got to learn the truth and got to know him.
Rhen and Vanna’s friendship during their captivity was admirable, they had good communication and amazing banter, their relationship just kept growing. I quickly fell in love with their dynamic. I hate the idea of “claiming” people as their own but in this scenario it is forgiven, firstly because it is what saved Vanna from Asher but also because it’s Rhen, like come on - that man is just🤭

THAT ENDING?! oh my god, I was shook to my core and so heartbroken for Rhen….
Safe to say I will be waiting (impatiently probably) for the next book!❤️‍🔥


En lille hilsen til forfatter Louise Damgaard hvis hun nu skulle ske at læse reviews.
Wow Louise, sikke et mesterværk du har udført her! Du kan virkelig være stolt af dig selv. Der var spænding, der var fantastiske karakterer, der var masser af følelser - amen den havde bare alt det gode! Jeg glæder mig til at læse mere af dit arbejde i fremtiden!💫💫
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ultimate World.
750 reviews51 followers
December 17, 2024
Book Review: The Crimson Forest (Realms of the Inons Book 1) by Louise Damgaard

Louise Damgaard’s The Crimson Forest is a mesmerizing start to the Realms of the Inons series, blending fantasy, intrigue, and romance into a tale that captivates from the very first page. For readers who love immersive world-building, complex relationships, and a strong heroine discovering her identity, this book delivers on all fronts.

The story follows Vanna, a human stranded on the mystical continent of Silarani, where the shapeshifting inon people rule. With no memory of her past and a body scarred by an unknown history, Vanna finds herself at the mercy of Asher, the enigmatic King of the Forest Realm. Asher’s offer of help comes at a cost—Vanna must assist him in retrieving a weapon crucial for saving his realm from the encroaching Mountain Realm. But as their alliance deepens, so do their feelings, and the stakes rise for both the survival of Asher’s people and Vanna’s safety.

Vanna is a compelling protagonist, torn between trust, survival, and the desire to uncover her past. Her resilience and fighting spirit shine through, making her both relatable and admirable. Asher, with his alluring charm and hidden depths, is the perfect counterbalance—mysterious yet protective, a leader grappling with the burdens of his realm. The chemistry between Vanna and Asher is electric, with slow-burn romantic tension that keeps the reader hooked.

Damgaard’s world-building is lush and detailed, vividly portraying the continent of Silarani and the intriguing culture of the inons. The shapeshifting element adds a layer of magic and mystery, while the political tensions between the realms provide depth to the plot. From the cold, enchanting forests of Asher’s domain to the looming threat of the Mountain Realm, the settings are atmospheric and immersive.

The pacing strikes a strong balance between action, emotional exploration, and suspense. Vanna’s search for the truth about her identity unfolds alongside rising tensions between the realms, culminating in moments of danger, betrayal, and revelation. The themes of trust, sacrifice, and self-discovery resonate throughout, adding emotional weight to the narrative.

The Crimson Forest is a beautifully crafted tale that will appeal to fans of romantic fantasy and strong heroines navigating perilous worlds. Louise Damgaard weaves a story full of mystery, magic, and heart, setting the stage for an epic series. With its intriguing premise, well-drawn characters, and compelling romance, this is a book that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment.
Profile Image for Kristine Lenda.
525 reviews6 followers
February 6, 2025
Look, I expected to like this book. And I did, I just didn't think it would then proceed to have a hold over me and claim all my spare time.. I fear I may have just devoured the last 40% of this one in one sitting.

I really ended up loving this one. I was (so luckily) offered a copy of this book by the author, and I'm so happy I was. I was intrigued by the synopsis, obviously, and everything about the plot just unfolded from there so deliciously.

If you're a major (or minor) fantasy fan, I would recommend this book. It has such a good combination of actual fantastical elements, fae-like creatures, fighting sequences, political intrigue and it still had all of those cute lovely moments.

I'd say this one fall into the "romantasy" category, although I'd put it somewhere in the middle of that genre, as there wasn't a time where the romance completely took over the entire plot and just strangles the living daylights out of the fantasy elements of the story (it always makes me a little sad when it does).

But the romance is still present, and it is very much a part of the plot, just not the entire thing. And I'm pretty sure that's one of the reasons I ended up liking this book as much as I did. It has a really good balance of everything. There's fights, there's love, and so much more...

I liked the characters, all of them managed to be fairly three-dimensional and everyone seemed to have their own agendas at all times. Political fantasy is at it's core one of my favorite things, and I didn't expect it when I started reading this book, so I was so pleasantly surprised!

The entire premise was interesting and kept me guessing most of the time. The world building was really good, and so interesting to follow as everything just expanded on itself as the story progressed. It's like the scale of things just grew and grew as you read. I'm such a sucker for good world building, especially when it manages to be thorough and believable without also being overly complicated. It was a joy to read.
71 reviews2 followers
February 7, 2025
When I read the Crimson Forest, I thought I was going to like it, and most likely love it, but I LOVE IT. The story is so interesting and intricate and although set in a truly edging on high-fantasy world, the world-building was so easy to follow and did such a wonderful job of painting such a vivid picture of the realms, the people, the magic and the world they live in. I truly enjoyed the unique take on Fae and Humans (and how humans come to be) and the shape-shifting Silvane form of the people is so truly terrifying, I can completely empathise with Vanna, the FMC, wanting to absolutely get out of dodge and never look back.

The idea of waking up in a foreign world, with no idea of who you are and where you came from is such an interesting writing mechanism to allow for such expansive character development and I think Louise Damgaard executes this perfectly. I truly felt as lost as Vanna and felt all the fear, suspense and child-like wonder of discovering a whole new race of people, a new type of world, especially one that has magic in abundance. I also found Vanna's fear of heights so well written and incredibly human.

I truly enjoyed the fact the blurb told me so little about what was happening in this story and it left so much to be discovered and enjoyed by the reader which was so refreshing. I must admit, my thoughts on Asher, I still don't truly know where I stand. His character development was so interesting, especially towards the last 25% of the book, and [spoiler] - he has my heart forever! I will say, the ending of this book had me trying to collect my thoughts and just laying, starting into space for a good 15 mins while I tried to work out what on earth I felt. Which for me, is the sign of an incredible ending. Vanna is such a relatable FMC, and I definitely understood her heavy doses of "what the actual f.." I think I would be feeling the same way too.

Thank you to the author and RR Book tours for a copy of The Crimson Forest in exchange for my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Emile Sodyte.
Author 1 book27 followers
September 15, 2025
What the hell? How dare you finish this book like that?

But thank you for writing it even if I feel outraged. I am so happy that I gave it a chance, and believe me, it didn’t disappoint me. I was furious, I was angry, and I wanted to throw punches at the plot twist. Damn, I didn’t expect the events to turn out like that. It reminded me a bit of a Tamlin and Rhysand situation, but not really.

I won’t go into detail about the book, you can read the blurb yourself, but the events take a completely different direction. Unexpectedly.

I loved the small bits mentioned in the beginning that were revealed at the end and started to make more sense.

It was an emotional rollercoaster - slow burn, tension, and yes, spice too.

I think the beginning started rather slowly, but it’s Romantasy, it takes some time to get to know your characters, and it’s the first book in the series, so please don’t give up, give it a chance to the end. Good stuff comes if you continue.

I thought the scenes in captivity were a bit dragging, but it all made sense in the end. It was the buildup of tension that needed to be written.

I never give five stars to any book that doesn’t evoke an emotion, whether it’s a chuckle from hot scenes, anger from plot twists, or saying “what the hell” out loud. But Crimson Forest gave me all three emotions.

Louise is an indie author, and as her first book, it is really well written. I really enjoyed the dialogues and the funny quirks that the characters had. I have to say, you really don’t know until the end with whom Vanna, our protagonist, actually going to be. There’s Asher, then suddenly there’s some sort of tension with the mountain realm king, then with the stranger she had to kill in captivity. And then Asher again, and in the end when events change, you’re like, “What the actual fuck? Are you serious?” In a good way.

I highly recommend Crimson Forest to any romantasy reader. I really enjoyed this read.

Go grab it!
Profile Image for Emily Healey.
15 reviews1 follower
January 27, 2025
🗡️ The crimson forest - Louise Damgaard 🗡️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

‘If you don’t know who you are, how can you know whom to trust?’

I was so kindly gifted a copy of this book by the lovely @authorlouisedamgaard I am so grateful that she did and I appreciate it so so much! Because I may never of came across this book and what a tragedy that would be!!!

I LOVED this book, like really loved this book.

We meet Vanna who’s wondering in the forest realm alone and has no memory of who she is. She is taken in by King of the forest realm Asher.

He sets a deal with Vanna to help find who she is in return for her help saving his realm on an impending war. Throwing in a few more twists, turns and jaw drop moments 😉

This book has it all, it’s such a lovely easy fantasy read. We all know (if you’ve followed me long enough) I’m still finding my feet with fantasy books and I sometimes really struggle with the heavy world building but not once in this book was I confused I was just hooked from the off and wanted to carry on reading to know more.

Definitely one I would recommend and it’s currently on kindle unlimited for my kindle girlies and boys!

Thank you so much again to Louise for this opportunity but please tell me there more coming 🙊

#thecrimsonforest #louisedamgaard #ad #gifted #books #bookrevier #kindleunlimited #fantasybooks #bookrecommendations #youneedtoreadthis
95 reviews
September 15, 2025

The Crimson Forest by Louis Damgaard

This is a fantastic fast paced story with a strong willed FMC, Vanna, who holds tight to her integrity, doesn’t mind to stand up for herself, and others as need be. Vanna wakes up in the forest with no memory of who she is or how she got there. She is found by the Forrest King and his 2 friends ( who have blue feathered wings and a tail) who invite her to a meal and let her rest before letting her go on her way. Initially she is super suspicious, but eventually builds relationships with the forest people and falls for the King. King Asher sends her on a dangerous mission; to collect a crown from another Queen who was deposed many years ago.
The journey was a difficult voyage and they lost many including the ship along the way. When Vanna finally made it to shore she never expected what she found. Nyxara agreed to give her the crown and the truth of who she was, but because Vanna wasn’t specific about the details Nyxara manipulated the timeline and kept Vanna in a cell beside Kierhen, one she thought to be an enemy.
As I was getting to the last pages, I was really sad that the story was gonna end. I loved the world building and character development. This book is a solid 5 stars for me! I hope the author writes a sequel, would be a shame not to continue this awesome story!

Profile Image for Lottie .
49 reviews3 followers
December 12, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ NEW OBSESSION UNLOCKED — ACOTAR FANS, YOU NEED THIS BOOK IMMEDIATELY!
I am absolutely feral over The Crimson Forest! Louise Damgaard has crafted a darkly magical world that swallowed me whole and refused to let go. If you live for lush fantasy, emotional chaos, and characters who take up permanent residence in your heart, this book is about to become your entire personality.
And the TROPES? Oh. My. Gods. Damgaard DELIVERS:
✨ Enemies-to-allies (and the tension is DELICIOUS)
✨ Mystical, sentient forest
✨ Power awakening / discovering hidden strength
✨ Wounded, morally gray love interest
✨ “I’ll protect you even if it kills me” energy
✨ Slow-burn that actually burns
✨ Secrets upon secrets
Tell me that isn’t ACOTAR-coded!
The heroine is fierce, vulnerable, and impossible not to love, and the character dynamics had me kicking my feet, giggling, and then clutching my chest like I’d been stabbed (in a good way??).
The pacing is addictive, the emotional stakes are sky-high, and the twists are chef’s kiss perfection. I devoured the last third in a single sitting because stopping simply wasn’t an option.
If ACOTAR left you craving more magic, more tension, more swoony danger, and more heart-stopping moments, The Crimson Forest is your next obsession.
Five stars — only because six wasn’t an option. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Profile Image for Timian Johansen.
243 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2025
Rating: 5/5
Format: Kindle - PDF

Review:
I rarely give out 5 stars, and although I had expected to like this book I hadn’t expected to love it, but boy do I!

The story has a lot of interesting elements that I personally didn’t feel like I’ve read anything similar to yet. It very much felt like its very own book, and I really liked that.

This book really hit every single spot for me, and checked all the boxes for what I love in a book.
I was never bored, the plot was super interesting and I couldn’t put it down when I got to around 50%. I read the last half of the book in one go. I’m so bummed that the second book isn’t out yet, but I will wait patiently for it.

The story is filled with twists and turns that I hadn’t seen coming, and I just sat there questioning everything I thought I knew about the book.

Vanna our main character is a strong, witty and easily likeable character. She is such an interesting and mysterious character, that I’m sure we will get to know even more about later on

The story was beautifully written making it so easy to fall in love with the world and characters we meet along the way. Im very excited for any future books Louise will be writing.

Tropes:
Amnesia, Forced Proximity, Betrayals, Royalty.
Profile Image for Matthew Burton.
349 reviews8 followers
August 26, 2025
This absolutely brilliant novel is an astonishing debut into the romantasy world! Louise Damgaard does a phenomenonal job at creating such a uniquely beautiful atmosphere with details that make every word jump right off the page. Her worldbuilding abilities are undoubtedly on-par with the top names in the game as she brings Silarani to life right before our eyes. Beyond that, she has created some positively EPIC characters, namely Vanna herself. I adore a strong female lead, and Vanna is everything you could possibly want in a hero. She is wicked smart, outrageously deadly, steadfastly determined, honorable, and has loads of compassion, which she consistently displays by refusing to break her own morals.

Damgaard has written a fantastically intense storyline that is so much fun to read. From crazy fight scenes to political intrigue to spicy romance, there is a little something for everyone here. Every moment of this novel will have you on the edge of your seat as she effortlessly launches twist after twist at you, leaving you scrambling to make sense of everything. By the end, you will not know what to think and may find yourself in deep denial, but that is just the power of such an incredible narrative!
Profile Image for bookish.ez.
255 reviews13 followers
February 24, 2025
4.25⭐️

✨ special thanks to @authorlouisedamgaard and @talesandteacupspr for the free review copy ✨

omg this book was so unexpectedly good!!! it hit all the right spots for me personally — great characters, beautiful worldbuilding, intense storyline, with twists and turns that kept me engaged and entertained.

i was hooked immediately and then flew through the whole book. i was genuinely impressed that this is Louise Damgaard’s debut novel, because the world that she created in this book was so incredible, and her writing style made it easy for me to visualize everything.

the main character, Vanna, was truly amazing. she was a strong, compassionate character and i really adored her.

i thought i knew for sure whose side i was on, but then after the big reveal my opinion of him shifted entirely. let’s be honest, i was in denial. i know i should have not trusted him too easily but i fell for his charm anyway😭

overall, this was such a fantastic read. i very much enjoyed the story and the ending left me craving for more. i’m looking forward to read the next installment! 🥰

highly recommend !!! 💗
Profile Image for Anastey.
504 reviews9 followers
August 22, 2025
Thank you Louise Damgaard for sending me this advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a wild ride!

The worldbuilding was fantastic, and I loved how Vanna's memory loss let us slowly build our view of the world instead of info dumping like some other fantasy books do. As she learns about everything and it's inhabitants, so do we. It was such a nice change!

There was a really good mix of cozy moments, politics, romance, tension, and fast paced action. I never got bored at all, because there was always something new coming at us. The twists and turns were great, and all the characters were really interesting. They had their own motivations and flaws, and you never quite know who to trust. There was so much suspense keeping us on the edge of our seat.

OMG that ending had me screaming! I need the next book right now. It's going to be impossible to wait.
Profile Image for Nawi.
17 reviews1 follower
April 30, 2025
✨️ This book was a delightful read ✨️
The story was fun and interesting from the beginning. The main character starts out with memory loss, and we get to be part of her journey to figure out who she is and who she used to be.

Throughout the story, there's multiple things that remind me of books like acotar and other stories with faerie courts. However, the author did a great job at making these things her own. This story does not have fae/fey/faerie, but another kind of creatures called Inons which are divided into 4 different realms with each their own shapeshifting forms. How cool is that🐉

The ending left me with so many questions and can't wait for the next book. I sure hope there will be a book 2. Please Louise 🩷

Also, my favorite trope:
🗡Enemies to Lovers❤️

Fyi: I was gifted this book by the Author herself, but i promise that it had no influence on my review 😉
Profile Image for Hannah Irving.
59 reviews
February 3, 2025
Thank you so much to Tales&Teacups and Louise Damgaard for the free copy of this book to read and review.

If I could do half star this would be a 4.5. I loved this. I devoured it. I loved the characters and the story was brilliant. I loved the fact that the blurb did not give me more details! As I was reading I kept thinking “well this wasn’t foretold to me on the back”. I loved where the story went and the journey I went on with Vanna. I cannot wait for book 2. The cliff hanger at the end left me just staring at a wall for a solid 5 mins. I honestly don’t think I could say love anymore times. I want to talk about this book to anyone and everyone but I also don’t want to reveal more than the blurb, because that for me gave me so much more excitement about where this story was going.
12 reviews
February 9, 2025
This book, this book, this BOOK! I loved it all. The immersive fantasy that hooks you from the start. I loved the world-building, and slow-burn romance, the story really draws you in and keeps you invested from page one. The magical elements add depth to the plot, while the emotional journey of self-discovery for Vanna makes the character truly resonate. Absolutely loved her badassery!!! A perfect read for fans of romantic fantasy. This will leave you eagerly awaiting the next book in the series! I also loved that it was perfect in timing, not too long or too short of a book! Thank you to you Louise Damgaard, please keep writing more!
27 reviews
August 5, 2025
“If you don’t know who you are, how can you know whom to trust?”

This book pulled me in from the very first chapter. It follows Vanna, a human with no memory, who finds herself trapped in a magical world and tangled up with Asher, the brooding and mysterious King of the Forest Realm.

Their journey is full of danger, secrets, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance that had me hooked.

The world-building is rich, the twists kept me guessing, and the chemistry between Vanna and Asher is impossible to resist.

So if you love fantasy with magic, tension, and a dash of steam, this one is a must-read!

And I can’t wait for the second book, because WHAT AN ENDING!😱🥺
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