A Kiss of Crimson Ash

Games of the Goddess #1

by Anuja Varghese

Inspired by medieval India’s most epic love stories, this debut Romantasy blends rich storytelling, lush worldbuilding, and spice of every variety. Perfect for fans of Nisha J. Tuli and Tasha Suri.

Nandapore is a city of secrets and spellcasters where seduction reigns and a power-hungry king is never satisfied, plotting to unleash a weapon that has only lived in myth… until now.

To stop him, an ancient goddess seeks out a newly crowned queen, a heartsick prince, a common thief, and a courtesan with magic in her blood. Together, they chart a course through brothels, temples, taverns, and palaces, setting a trap for the empire’s most powerful men.

Linked by desire, destiny, and a dangerous foe, they each must decide...

What will they risk for a weapon worth dying for, and a love worth staying alive?

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

396 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 26, 2026

Reviews

[vaishnavi ☆ﾟ⁠.⁠*]

── .✦ pre-read 𖹭.ᐟ
#1: everybody and their moms saw that one art, right? RIGHT?? that and the fact that this is inspired by medieval India is ofc a direct add to tbr 🤭
#2: i've been informed not everyone has seen the art so i am attaching it below! enjoyyyy <3

[veerali · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you netgalley & orbit for the eARC—all thoughts are my own!
✦ publication date: may 26, 2026

i can’t stop thinking about it. it’s the first indian medieval fantasy i’ve ever read, and it didn’t let me down.

the story follows four main people who fit together like pieces of a puzzle.

tara – she is the princess of abhaya and the wife of garjan.
garjan – a prince from nandapore who becomes tara’s husband.
bhediya – a courtesan living in chandanee mukan.
roland – a clever thief.

each character is different, and each has their own problems and weaknesses. because they are so distinct, their lives feel fresh and interesting.

one thing i loved a lot was the world building. the author uses many hindi words and names, which makes the setting feel authentic and vivid. at first i felt a bit lost because there is a lot happening at once. many places, many events, many new names. after a few chapters, though, the pieces start to click and the story becomes easier to follow.

the friendships in the book are a real highlight. tara, garjan, bhediya, and roland all support each other. their bonds feel genuine and keep the story moving forward. and wow, there are some seriously spicy moments. the romance scenes are hot enough that i kept fanning myself while reading.

the ending does feel a little rushed. some plot threads could have used more space, and the final showdown happens quickly. still, the overall feeling is positive. even with a hurried finish, the book gave me plenty of excitement, great characters, and a world i wanted to stay in.

i’d recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy with a cultural twist and a dash of romance.

⤿ indian medieval inspired world
⤿ strong fmcs
⤿ political intrigue
⤿ sci-fi fantasy
⤿ angst and magic
⤿ queer

[Sophie]

I really wanted to love this one, but I ended up DNF-ing at 31%. This story suffered from a lot of telling rather than showing, leaving the characters feeling flat and their motivations unclear. I also struggled with the pacing, and the multiple perspectives didn’t help.

Bhediya and Garjan start the book already obsessed with each other. Taara and Payal’s connection felt rushed, and much of their bond was told rather than shown. Roland and Yash did not grab my interest at all. I feel robbed of the yearning and the development that makes a romance satisfying, and I can’t push through without at least one character/couple to care about.

Overall, for a romantasy, it lacks the yearning and emotional depth I look for.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc.

[The Royal Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indian-inspired medieval fantasy with a side of queer romance 😝

I absolutely love the way this author explored intimacy and broke the conventional bounds of monogomy and the bonds that people share. I still experienced some of the most INTENSE, soul-crushing yearning I’ve ever known(Bhediya and Garj 🥺)

This was such a fresh read too bc it wasn’t a typical romantasy with fae and a 6’5 morally grey MMC. I know this point has already been made, but people really need to start reading diversely to experience the true breadth of what fantasy has to offer as a genre bc it’s so rich.

4.25 ⭐️

[Mai H.]

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit

[Aries Reads Too Much · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Orbit for the gifted advance copy.

Respectfully, can I send it back?

[AndaReadsTooMuch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m struggling on this one. The characters are feeling flat, there’s a lot of telling and not enough showing. We get sex scenes within the first 10% but I don’t know any of the characters enough to feel emotionally connected to them. The magic system feels vague and inexplicable. Y’all know me, I don’t read maps or casts of characters but I really do think this is a book that would benefit from the addition of them. I felt like I dropped into an existing world that I had no context on. I actually went and checked to make sure it wasn’t a series and I came in after book 1. (I didn’t.)

I wanted to fall into the world and be swept away. This had so much potential. I love the concept. I think with polish and time, Varghese will find her author voice. Unfortunately, this wasn’t a fit for me.

A Kiss of Crimson Ash hits shelves May 26.

Thank you to Orbit Books for the gifted eARC. All opinions are my own.

[Camille · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was soooo excited to read this book. I thought it was going to be a fantastical heist with Indian mythology, rich worldbuilding, and "the ultimate thrilling, clever, and swoony" (Thea Guanzon) romance. While I can see other readers connecting with this story, A Kiss of Crimson Ash wasn't a great fit for me.

I think my biggest issue is with the characters. This story has four POVs: Taara (a queen), Bhediya (a courtesan), Garjan (Taara's new husband), and Roland (a thief). These characters also have love interests, friends, and family members. While some of the names are similar (Pavan & Payal, for example), I found it relatively easy to keep the characters separate. I think the author does a great job of giving each character their own personality. My issue lies with their decisions...

I prefer to read about strong characters who make smart decisions. This book did not have that. At the halfway point, all four of the main characters had made poor decisions that put them in (completely unavoidable) danger.

I mean... we're talking a 12-hour *spicy* scene between one of the characters and a harem of women that left him drugged, feral, and looking to rape someone. If that POV doesn't sound enticing, how about the character who blindly trusts a villain and hands over a powerful magical item? Still not appealing? Maybe the character who exposes herself as a witch and is fleeing into the villain’s trap sounds better. I was not a fan.

Normally I can connect with a character (especially in a book with multiple POVs!), but in this story, I didn't want to read any of their chapters because all of the characters were making bad decisions. That said, I still think there is a lot to like about this book.

I think the author does a wonderful job drawing inspiration from medieval India. The descriptions of the busy markets, fragrant food, and colorful clothes were a pleasure to read! I also like how this book has queer representation. If you're a fan of spicy romances, you're going to love this! It has spice of every variety.

While A Kiss of Crimson Ash wasn't the five-star read I'd hoped for, I still liked learning about medieval India. I think readers who are interested in that setting may enjoy this book. I also think the multiple POVs will be a draw for some. A Kiss of Crimson Ash is the first book in a new series, so if you like what you read, there's more to come!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Stefanie]

Picked this up as a library ebook on a whim because "medieval Indian fantasy" but only got about 11% in before it had to be returned. There are four perspective characters - Taara: a reluctant young queen, Garjan: the prince who marries her but has another love in the place he left behind, Bhediya: the lover / courtesan he left behind, and Roland: a thief and Garjan's friend.

It's definitely moving at epic fantasy pace; that is, barely anything had started happening in the small section I read. Nonetheless, it seemed like it was going to be set up for the usual court intrigues and international politics, with of course some gods/magic/elves thrown in.

Tbh I was also reading because I heard wisps of rumor there would be some interesting and unconventional romantic entanglements - but I didn't get anywhere near figuring out if that is true. I might read some reviews and pick it up again later if they're encouraging and I have more time.

[Stacey | read.with.stacey]

DNF at 33%

Thank you Librofm for the alc 🫶

💭Unfortunately this book was not for me. The characters felt very flat and the romance that was happening felt rushed. I felt like the story just wasn’t really going anywhere and it wasn’t holding my attention.

🎧 the audiobook has 5 narrators. I had no issues with the narration.

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Kiss of Crimson Ash is a lush, Indian-inspired romantasy filled with political intrigue, multiple POVs, complicated relationships, and a world rich with magic, secrets, and ambition.

What stood out most to me was the atmosphere and cultural inspiration. The setting felt vivid and immersive, and I loved seeing an Indian-inspired medieval fantasy world take center stage in romantasy. The story follows four very different characters whose lives slowly intertwine, and I really enjoyed how each perspective revealed another layer of the world and the larger conflict.

The friendships and character dynamics were some of my favorite parts of the book. There’s court politics, thieves, courtesans, dangerous power struggles, and plenty of tension woven throughout the story. I also appreciated that the romance leaned more slow burn while still giving us some genuinely spicy moments.

The beginning was a little overwhelming at first because there are a lot of names, places, and moving pieces introduced quickly, but once everything started clicking into place, I found myself much more invested in both the characters and the story unfolding around them.

If you enjoy fantasy romance with rich worldbuilding, political intrigue, multiple POVs, and unique cultural inspiration, this is definitely worth checking out.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A medieval Indian inspired romantasy? Sign me up!

This was so much fun. We are following several characters-who do eventually all come together(yay, because I love when this happens). I absolutely loved the representation in this book. It’s queer as hell! The world building in the beginning felt a bit confusing because there is quite literally so much happening right away, but it did for the most part start to come together. I am still a bit confused about the snakes-but I’m hoping in book 2 that I’m able to piece it together better.

This book is definitely heavier on the spice(just mentioning this for my bookies who I know don’t like to have a lot of that), but to me it was done so well. This is a romantasy so it fit the expectations I had.

I do think the ending was a bit too rushed, especially with all of this build up. I can see how it’s leading into the next book, but yeah I was a bit disappointed in how quickly things ended.


Overall, I had a fun time reading this!

Thank you Orbit books for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Addy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars💫
Thank you, Orbit Books, for the physical ARC!❤️

This was such a great read! It was interesting, adventurous, and the characters had me rooting for them in many different ways. We followed Taara, Bhediya, Garjan, and Roland on their adventures. Before now, I'd never read an Indian Romantasy, but I had a lot of fun. I also got to learn some new things!<3 One thing that was a pleasant surprise was the LGBTQ+ rep. Going into the book, I had no idea, so it was exciting to see! This novel was an absolutely amazing set up/introduction book for this series. The character development was phenomenal. We got to see how each of them met, and eventually came together for a common cause. I can't wait to see what adventures they'll go on in the next one! Shout out to how beautifully written and executed A Kiss of Crimson Ash was! Undoubtedly, I'll be keeping an eye out for the release of book 2!

[Camis.little.library · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique, Indian Inspired romantasy 🔥

-Multi POV
-Arranged marriage
-Spice
-Found family
-Political intrigue
-Magic & Mythology
-Forbidden love

A rebellious group, all from different backgrounds and rankings join forces to take down the empires most powerful man!

This was a high stakes, fantasy with some romance and spice throughout. Our characters have so much to go against individually and as a group.

I loved the mythology added in, as well as the Indian culture and history throughout!

Overall- the story itself fell slightly flat for me in some parts. I loved the beginning and the ending, but some of the middle didn’t hit for me, personally. I think the characters, and the story itself could have been flushed out more- however I found myself interested the whole time still.

This is book 1, and while there is some resolution to the story- I am interested to see where it goes!

Recommend for any romantasy, or Indian romantasy lovers!

[Emily | emilyisoverbooked]

Thanks to Orbit for the gifted copy!

I absolutely love reading fantasy from non-white authors and also love supporting a debut. However, this one was just absolutely not for me and really needed some trigger warnings at the beginning.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters (there are 3 main couples so 6 main characters), but they didn’t overlap much even halfway through the book. Their stories started falling a little flat as the chapters got longer and the overlapping plot just wasn’t happening. I know sometimes authors want to focus on spice over plot, which it seemed like might be the case here based off the author’s note, but even that fell flat and felt a little forced - as in, nonconsensual. There’s also some infanticide later in the book which REALLY should be mentioned as a trigger.

I cannot recommend this one based on those thoughts.

[Ai Jiang]

A big thank you to the editor and publisher for an ARC of the book!

A KISS OF CRIMSON ASH tells a tale of self-discovery, political intrigue, military maneuvers, and both strategic and unexpected alliances, set in a world filled with rich lore and magic, told in a voice that is equal parts enchanting and alluring, seductive and sweet. 

[Amanda | escapetoerilea · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded up since I did want to see what happened.
Thank you so much to Orbit for entrusting me with a gifted physical galley and finished copy! They are so stunning!

A Kiss of Crimson Ash by Anuja Varghese
Games of the Goddess #1

Narrated by Anuja Varghese with Prémika Leo (Narrator), Lara Arabian (Narrator), Varun Guru (Narrator), Ali Kazmi (Narrator)

Indian inspired romantasy
Multiple POV and intersecting story lines
Queer and straight romances
Power hungry leaders

I had a bit of a hard time with this one. I wasn't connecting with the characters, and though they were growing on me by the end and I wanted to know what happened, I don't think I will be continuing the series. Part of I think why I was disconnected was different people sleeping with people they didn't want to for various reasons. And heads up for a magically coerced scene. But I did like the LGBTQ rep and the colorful world. But overall not really one for me.

[Halima (Starlight_and_blooms) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant debut.

A Kiss of Crimson Ash is marketed as a romantasy, but honestly I'd call it a political fantasy with a lot of spice. If you're going in expecting the next romance-heavy fantasy, I'd probably adjust those expectations because the politics, mythology and worldbuilding are very much the heart of the story.

This follows four main characters - a queen, a prince, a courtesan and a thief - whose fates become entwined by an ancient goddess as they're drawn into a quest to stop a tyrannical king and uncover a mythical weapon.

For a debut, I thought this was incredibly impressive. I was hooked almost immediately and read the whole thing with genuine intrigue because I just had to know how everything was going to come together. The medieval India-inspired setting is absolutely stunning, and I loved how beautifully South Asian mythology, history and culture were woven into the world. It felt rich, vibrant and refreshingly different from a lot of fantasy I've read recently.

One thing that really surprised me was the romance. I normally prefer monogamous relationships in my fantasy romances, so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about some of the dynamics here. But Anuja Varghese explores love, desire, yearning, friendship and duty in such an interesting way that, for the most part, I found myself completely buying into it.

Unfortunately, this is also where the book lost me a little as it went on.

The pacing occasionally felt both rushed and slow somehow, and I really wanted more emotional depth in several of the relationships. Garjan and Bhediya especially had so much chemistry and potential, and I was left wanting a lot more from their story.

I also have to admit... I just never warmed to Payal or Taara. Because of that, their almost instant attraction to one another didn't really convince me. Maybe it's because I'm a complete sucker for a marriage of convenience or political marriage, but I spent far too much of the book hoping Taara and Garjan would end up falling for each other instead. 😂 I'm also just not the target audience for extramarital/ lavender romances — they're rarely something I enjoy reading, so those aspects didn't really work for me.

My other small frustration was with the amount of spice (there was A LOT of sex, like a lot). Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against spicy books, but I did feel like some of those scenes could have been swapped for more plot/ world building or character development. The story and these characters had so much potential, and I wanted to spend more time really getting to know them emotionally.

That said, I still had a great time with this book. The mythology, political intrigue and rich and immersive world completely carried me through, and I was invested right until the final page.

So if you're picking this up because it's being called a romantasy, just know it's really not your typical romantasy. But if you're looking for a lush, politically driven fantasy with queer representation, gorgeous Indian-inspired worldbuilding and plenty of steam, I think this is well worth checking out.

I'd especially recommend it to fans of The Jasmine Throne or anyone looking to branch out and read more queer or South Asian-inspired fantasy. Despite a tiny disappointments, this was a really promising debut, and I'll definitely be reading whatever Anuja Varghese writes next and very grateful for the early review copy.

[Ash Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

“After all, what greater hope could a woman have than a fine husband? What greater joy for a queen than to find her king?”

A Kiss of Crimson Ash is a Romantasy inspired by medieval India. We follow a diverse range of characters: Royalty, rouges, courtesans and elves. There’s a dual magic system with both divine and elemental magic.

Taara, newly crowned queen of matrilineal Abhaya, is set to marry Garj, prince of neighbouring kingdom Nandpore. Taara knew the weight of the crown would be heavy, but her mother descent into madness has left her thoroughly unprepared. Garj, is also marrying for duty instead of love. Taara and Garj quickly find themselves pawns in a dangerous gane. Bhediya is a courtesan in Nandpore with friends in high places and elemental magic. Roland fled to Nandpore as a child and has remained a ghost ever since. In Nandpore the class divide is steep and persecution and intolerance is reaching fever pitch.

A dark power is rising that threatens both Abhaya and Nandpore. The characters paths entangle and align. Guided by fate and divinity. If they’re to save the kingdoms they love, they’ll have to work together.

A fun, twisty read with vivid, rich world building. Theres multiple POV’s and LGBTQ representation. The pacing really picks up towards the end, so it did feel a little rushed. The closing scene with the character is so wholesome and it sets up well for the next installation. Taara’s growth from a naive, sheltered girl to a woman stepping into her own power is beautifully done. As is her blossoming relationship with Payal. The supporting characters are also engaging and compelling. I really enjoyed exploring this world. Sex work is a prevalent theme throughout but at times I felt the discussion could have been a little more nuanced. Overall I enjoyed this and would like to pick up the next installment !

[Alexandria Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like stepping into a world filled with silk, secrets, magic, desire, betrayal, gods, and people willing to risk absolutely EVERYTHING for love and power🔥

🖤 a newly crowned queen

🔥 a heartsick prince

🗡️ a thief

🌹 a courtesan with magic in her blood

At first it feels like separate storylines unfolding at once…and then slowly everything starts clicking together like pieces of a puzzle. Also can we TALK about the tension in this book because whew 👀. This is definitely fantasy romance where the relationships, longing, desire, and emotional connections are front and center. There’s spice, yearning, messy emotions, and characters making questionable choices because feelings are FEELING. I kinda loved that everyone felt flawed and real. Nobody in this book is perfect. Everyone is carrying secrets, grief, desires, ambition, or fear and it made the relationships feel messy in a way that kept me hooked.

The friendships and alliances were one of my favorite parts too. Watching these characters slowly trust each other while navigating dangerous politics and powerful enemies had me INVESTED. I will say the pacing took me a minute to settle into because there are a lot of moving parts, names, places, and POVs right away but once everything started connecting I was IN.

Vibes
✨ divine magic

✨ political intrigue

✨ morally gray choices

✨ multiple POVs

✨ lush worldbuilding

✨ queer rep

✨ forbidden desire

✨ powerful women

✨ gods interfering in mortal lives

✨ spice

If you love romantasy that feels rich, seductive, dangerous, and different from the usual fantasy worlds we see all the time, definitely add this one to your TBR .

[Sarah Utter (Utterly Reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐ rounded up to a 4⭐
Thank you so much to Orbit for sending this book to me so I could read it, and talk about it on my youtube channel.
I thought this book had a really great magic system that was so intriguing, and characters that I really liked seeing grow and change, and come together. I also liked that they were all kind of interconnected from the beginning so you weren't grasping at straws to figure out who was who.
My reasoning for this book being a 3.5⭐ and not a higher rating, is that I felt like all the relationships were "insta-love". I felt like the "final" battle was really fast (only really spanning about 2 chapters), and I felt like I was really all that hooked into this book until about 1/3 of the way through it. I loved seeing the different perspectives and how everyone comes together, however I felt like because of that we lost some of that connection to each of the characters. I felt like I didn't care about any of them as much as I personally would have liked to.
I liked seeing Taara begin to grasp who she was/wanted to be, Garjan was always so kind hearted that I really liked his character and Roland's as well. And I loved seeing the transformation of Bhediya. It all felt very surface level though.
Overall I enjoyed this book, I am by no means mad that I read it. I am curious to see where it could possibly go in the following book.

[Rachel Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This rich and lush world unfolds for readers in the first book of the Games of the Goddess trilogy. Told through four unique perspectives, this story brings Indian stories and culture to the forefront as these characters set to thwart a power-hungry king.

I genuinely loved the scenery and world-building. It was immersive and felt tangible. The characters are interesting, and each unveil a different part of the world. The friendships between many of the four main characters were the most interesting part of the story for me, particularly around The Thief and The Courtesan with other people in Nandapore. I wanted more from the romantic relationships in the story, and I think we just didn’t get to know the characters outside of the situations they found themselves in to be able to have deeper relationships. What we got was interesting and diverse, and I’m hopeful for even more as the trilogy continues.

Readers who love complex world building, slow burn stories, political intrigue, and diverse perspectives, this is a great story for you!


4/5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[sydney | books + cats || thebookishcatmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you much Orbit Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was giving "Five Broken Blades" by Mai Corland with a healthy dollop of spice, but the same amount of political intrigue and guessing.

The multi-POV kept me on the hook, but also the magic system and the "big bad" that we are going to get more of in the coming books is SO INTERESTING. There was romance, but I wouldn't call this a "romantasy", definitely more of fantasy with a healthy romance subplot that is absolutely necessary for the plot.

The dynamics between characters were built, brick by brick, without too much excess drama and straight to the point. The characters were mature for the most part, and made decisions that were for more than just themselves.

I really enjoyed this. I am not super familiar with the culture this book is based off of, but that didn't affect the story literally at all. It was so interesting to hear about gods and goddesses from different pantheons that maybe don't get as much exposure in society.

Cannot wait for book 2 to come around!

[Shareeya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read A Kiss of Crimson Ash in 24 hours. It's sultry, it's sexy, fast paced, easy to read romantic fantasy. The spice was spicing and the plot was plotting!! I had such a good time reading it.
It is multi POV following 4 main characters, initially I connected with Roland the most, he brought the humour, but as the story progressed I found myself enjoying all the other characters as well (Taara, Garjan, Bhediya).

What to expect:
*arrange marriage
*Queer + straight love stories
*political intrigue
*elemental + divine magic system
*D&D x Bollywood vibes

A Kiss of Crimson Ash is the first book in a medieval India inspired fantasy trilogy, and I will definitely be reading the next book when it comes out. I would recommend it to any romantic fantasy reader that wants a fresh take on romantasy with a cultural twist and LGBTQ+ romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the eARC and physical copy for an honest review.

[Kallie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you LOVE ✨️fantasy✨️, you NEED to read this book! The world building is incredible, the characters are such individuals and have so much thought behind them. The way everyone is intertwined somehow.. it's just woven perfectly.

At first, when each of the first 4 chapters started a new POV each. I was nervous that it would be an intimidating read or confusing.. but it wasn't at all. Instead it added so much to the discovery of the world and it's going-ons. The lives of the characters are so intertwined and Anuja was fantastic at telling the story in a clear and beautiful way. It's one of those worlds I wanted to jump into, not because it was safe 😬 but because it is so unique and there is so much to discover.

I had so much fun reading this book. Each characters pov was so interesting and it was great seeing everything come together.

[Allison Romeo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.6/5 rounded up

I think there was a lot to like about this book if you like diverse character rep, medieval India, and political intrigue, but I just couldn't get that into the actual characters.

This story follows multiple POVs and relationships and after the halfway point there is quite a bit of spice! These scenes were very well written but I was not invested in the relationships as much as I would have liked to be.

The cultural aspects and ideas and the magic system was intriguing but I was struggling to get through it as much as I wanted to.

[Kassidy]

DNF @ 25%

I was interested in reading this book because of its medieval Indian setting, but it felt like something was missing. I found myself bored and struggled to make progress. The writing was quite dense, and I had difficulty connecting with the characters. We were told about the relationships between the characters rather than shown them, which made them feel superficial. Additionally, the world-building could have provided more context, as I was confused about the elves. Overall, I think the book would have benefited from a more focused plot and fewer POVs.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up.

Anuja Varghese's fantasy debut is full of a large cast of characters and alternates POVs from an arranged married couple and their complicated relationship (one has a secret lesbian lover) to a whore and the man who falls for her. There's magical creatures, war, love triangles and more and the book ends on a cliffhanger that will leave readers eager for the next installment. Good on audio with a full cast of narrators and perfect for fans of authors like S.A. Chakraborty.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the premise of it, the magic, and the Indian culture.

I would have rated the book higher if the writing had been more descriptive. I felt that it was pretty straightforward with minimal use of imagery. I wanted it to show me and not just tell me and the was disappointing

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The start to a really lovely fantasy world that feels like the best of classic high epic fantasy (think Kushiel's Dart, or A Song of Ice and Fire) blended with the best of modern-day romantasy. I especially loved to see sapphic characters highlighted at least as much as the M/M M/F pairing, and having two different but equally wonderful and complex sex worker characters.