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, Romance, Adult, Romantasy, Queer, Fantasy Romance, LGBT

402 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 26, 2026

Reviews

[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

[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! enjoyyy <3

[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.

[Mai H.]

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit

[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. 

[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.

[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

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really wanted to like this more than I did. Unfortunately, I think it's pretty weak overall, despite having an appealing premise. This is NOT romantasy, despite the title format! It is a fantasy book WITH some romance in it, but pretty much all of the romance could be entirely removed from the plot without the overall story being affected. That said, there is a lot of sex in this book. A LOT. And most of it seems to be there just to reinforce the fact that this is an ADULT fantasy, not a YOUNG ADULT fantasy. Surely there are better ways to convey this? I am not at all averse to a spicy scene but there were often times here when I was like, "We're doing this now? Really?"

Anyway. The book is roughly split between four main characters. Taara should have been super interesting but was in fact a very milquetoast character despite harboring massive cosmic power. Despite being a literal queen, she knew nothing about ruling, and when she realized that, she exhibited no desire to learn and try to do better. The others weren't much better, having only very surface-level personalities to propel them through the story. There is a BIG info dump in Bhediya's part early on that seemed clumsy at best, and the actual climax of the story comes out of absolutely nowhere. I am not joking; everyone abruptly shows up at a location most of them had not been seen going to, and had in fact no reason to be going to, for a big fight which is over in literally one chapter. Then they all go see a play. I actually did like the play scene, though.

There is a bunch of other nonsense that happens; a side character randomly has a holy relic for no purpose but to hand it off to Garjan and then show up and fight with him, presumably to never be seen again (which is too bad because Takashi was one of the strongest side characters in the book). All of the harem girls are evil except for Taara's love interest, who randomly is not, and it is not explained EITHER WAY why the others are or why she is not. There is a temple society that could be super interesting but then doesn't ultimately get explored for more than a chapter and all of the characters within it are so minor as to remain completely nameless.

I DO give Varghese kudos for taking inspiration from Indian mythology but actually making her own pantheon and such instead of just plopping literal Hindu deities into her fantasy setting, like I have seen done with other fantasy works supposedly set in other worlds; that is lazy and Varghese didn't do it, so good job there.

If you want an Indian-inspired fantasy, I would STRONGLY recommend The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri and its sequels (also published by Orbit!). It has a level of depth and richness that this one lacks. For other stories that have the same FEEL but don't have the Indian-inspired setting, I would suggest The City of Brass and An Ember in the Ashes.

[Heather Pacella · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Kiss of Crimson Ash is set in a lush world based on medieval India. The Samjayan empire, made up of seven city-states, has been relatively peaceful in the centuries since the Great Blast decimated the lands of humans, spellcasters, and elven-folk alike. However, all is not as seems in the empire. Taara, recently crowned the Queen of Abhaya after her mother suddenly went mad, finds herself forced into a marriage of alliance with Garjan, the Prince of Nandapore. They soon realize that there are more than favorable trade deals to explain this rushed marriage - both the emperor and Garjan's brother are suddenly aligned with a faction of the elven determined to restore the world to a time before magic was freely given to humans by any means necessary. As the executions of spellcasters intensify, Taara soon finds herself (and her goddess-blessed blood) a target. Forced to ally with Garjan, they soon find themselves being driven across the empire, where the goddess guides them to two others who must join them in their quest to save the world before it is too late: Bhediya, spellcaster courtesan (and Garjan's longtime love), and Roland, a common thief from a faraway land. As the four learn to summon the powers of a time long past, they suddenly find themselves locked in a battle for the fate of the world itself.

The world that Anuja Varghese has created here is fantastic! I was instantly intrigued by the lush landscapes throughout the Samjayan empire, and the magic system was both fascinating and refreshingly original. The rotating POVs between the four main characters (Taara, Garjan, Bhediya, and Roland) were also really enjoyable and helped to keep the story fast-paced and full of action. However, I do wish that these characters (and their relationships with each other) were a bit more fleshed out. Though this is being advertised as a romantasy, I don't really think that is an accurate label - there is very little romance in the book, and in fact most of the promised "spice" is just a bunch of transactional and manipulative sexual encounters between various characters that were abrupt and a bit cringe-inducing. In spite of that, there is plenty of political intrigue and high-stakes magical action to carry over into the next books, so I am hopeful that these shortcomings will be less prevalent in the story to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Alison Gadsby · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There was something calming about talking like this, about sharing food, as if the world had not tipped sideways and everything was fine.”

There is so much to love in Anuja Varghese’s A KISS OF CRIMSON ASH, but I what I loved most was that the book, the world, the fantasy, understands that we live at a time where people are being cruelly oppressed because of their sexuality and gender – the gift of this book is that it offers a world were Varghese’s character are free to be, to choose, to love, who they want, and who they are.
In the first of Anuja Varghese’s Games of the Goddess Trilogy, we many amazing fantasy and D and D inspired characters but are told the story from four main perspectives. Taaratajini (Taara), a princess in Abhaya betrothed to Garjanathan (Garjan), the prince of neighbouring Nandapore. Once married they become the king and queen of Nandapore, mainly because Taara’s mother, Suvarnatara, is locked away suffering an inexplicable mental collapse. Bhediya is a courtesan and holds special magic in her blood, but is also madly in love with Garjan, who is also in love with her. We meet Roland, a thief who goes by many different aliases, which suits his personality and sexual appetites perfectly.
There are several other significant characters who each play a role both in the epic battle to take down an evil king, and within the fantasy world itself, as genre, All of them made reading. AKISS OF CRIMSON ASH a tension filled, sexually exciting literary journey.

This was my introduction to the romantasy genre, and I am hooked. Anuja Varghese mixes humour, desire, and honesty to offer readers some fantastic characters, mostly kick-ass women who hold the magic and the power to take down the evil king. The world she’s created is medieval India mixed with that Game of Thrones royalty-pleb collective where you’re not quite sure whose side you’re on because even the bad characters are so richly characterized that as reader, I don’t want them to die, if only I can see them be bad again in the next book!

I am so excited to start this epic journey with Taara, Payal, and Bhediya!

P.S. I may or may not be searching NoveList for comps when the book is published, so that my entire summer reading list is romantasy novels with the queerest, most gorgeous characters in the fantasy world!

[Keeley Ribchester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this one expecting sweeping romance and rich fantasy and A Kiss of Crimson Ash absolutely delivers on atmosphere but it also surprised me with how layered and daring it is beneath the surface.
This is my first time reading anything by Anuja Varghese and honestly for a debut, it’s incredibly ambitious.
Set in the intoxicating city of Nandapore the story pulls together a cast of characters who shouldn’t work on paper! a queen, a prince, a thief, and a courtesan but somehow their paths intertwine in a way that feels both fated and chaotic. The plot leans heavily into political intrigue, seduction, and power struggles, and while it can feel a little dense at times, it’s never dull. There’s always something simmering just under the surface.
The characters are where this really shines. They’re messy, driven, and often morally grey which I always appreciate. No one feels overly polished or predictable and their motivations keep shifting in ways that kept me hooked. The romance is woven through all of this rather than sitting front and centre, which actually made it feel more natural and when the emotional moments hit, they really land!
The world building is lush and immersive, clearly inspired by medieval India and it’s one of the strongest aspects of the book. You can almost feel the heat, the opulence, the danger. That said, there are moments where the detail slightly slows the pacing but if you enjoy sinking into a world rather than rushing through it this won’t bother you.
Overall i found A Kiss of Crimson Ash to be a bold immersive debut that doesn’t play it safe and I respect it for that. It may not be a flawless read, especially with pacing in places, but the storytelling, atmosphere, and character work more than make up for it. Definitely one to pick up if you like your fantasy a little darker, a little steamier, and full of intrigue.
If you loved the rich, war torn romance and political tension of The Hurricane Wars, the lush, culturally inspired world building or the dark, sensual edge and layered storytelling of The Bridge Kingdom, this will be right up your street. It also carries the same sweeping ambition and multi POV intensity as The Priory of the Orange Tree with a stronger focus on desire, power, and morally grey choices📚✨

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the overall premise of this book and the intricacies of the plot. It definitely has potential, and I had high hopes that the mysteries and secrets would eventually draw me in, but unfortunately they did not.

The main shortcomings of the novel for me lie with the characters and the fact that this was a very plot-driven novel.

I am heavily drawn to character-driven novels with nuanced, in-depth character arcs that drive the plot. This novel had none of that. For me, the characters felt very surface level with bland personalities. I didn’t feel connected to any of them or invested in their stories. This left little motivation for me to read on, despite all the political intrigue and scheming that typically captivates me.

The relationships between the characters left much to be desired. Garg and Bhediya are already in love at the start of the novel, as readers are told multiple times but never really shown. The relationships between Roland/Yash and Taara/Payal are both very rushed and too insta-lusty for my liking. They seemed thrown together for the sake of pairing them off rather than growing and developing a relationship authentically.

I did not like the sex scenes at all (I have nothing against sex scenes in general). I just felt these were cringy, and pointless because the character relationships were so poorly developed. There was no tension, no yearning, no banter, nothing to make these scenes remotely appealing.

The rotating POVs made the story feel a bit disjointed, perhaps because I felt no connection between the characters. Every time the POV changed, I felt less motivated to continue reading.

Overall, I think someone with different preferences could really enjoy this book. The plot is strong, but the characters needed more depth and development for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

[Nia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oookay! Let's talk cuz this book was fun!
It had an absolutely lush world building, crazy settings, high stakes and amazing characters!
This was a setting for a really fun, multi pov trilogy and I'm so excited for it!
The BUT here is me, I'm the problem 😭
• Because this book unfortunately unearthed a lot of genrational trauma that I thought I had buries deep, instead of heaving a huge sign of relief that our characters are safe and sound, I remembered the characters who weren't and the pain every single of them faced, it made me wildly uncomfortable!
• How Ganj mused themat over the ten years his brother had been married he'd never seen his sister in law not pregnant, she got 6 kids and is pregnant with one and in the end what happened to her..?! I was horrified but also knew that this might've been more common occurance.
• The purity concept in which the courtesans are blamer for the atrocities men do, saying that courtesans compelled them with black magic to do so...a woman is always judged, always at the altar to be pointed at.
• How Tara is cajoled with your husband will know, and she's totally unaware which pointed it the fact that the best way to control is to never make them aware never show them anything that brings point of comparison so they can see that the behaviour they're enduring is bad.
• How mens violence is always excused and women are one way or another used as an unwilling pawn in a game they don't know of and blamed it they don't serve the purpose properly!

🪩 This book was dark, real with really amazing things happening- a lot tho wasn't wrapped up so I'll definitely be picking up the next book cuz I'm a glutton for punishment, yess!!

💖 Thanks NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own!

[Kristie Kieffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Kiss of Crimson Ash delivers a gripping, high-stakes story filled with secrets, danger, and slow-burning tension.

The novel centers around a world shaped by power, betrayal, and long-buried truths, where every choice carries consequences. From the very beginning, the plot pulls you in with its sense of looming threat and steadily escalating conflict. Anuja Varghese does an excellent job layering mysteries, political intrigue, and personal stakes so that the story keeps unfolding in surprising and satisfying ways.

What really stands out is how tightly the plot is woven. Revelations are spaced perfectly, twists feel earned, and the tension never lets up for long. The story balances action, strategy, and emotional consequences, making the stakes feel real and the outcomes unpredictable. Each major plot turn reshapes what you think you know about the world and the characters in it.

The world-building is detailed and immersive without slowing the pace, and the rules of the world and its conflicts are clear, which makes the larger story arcs even more compelling. By the end, the book leaves you with answers—but also with bigger questions that make you immediately want the next installment.

If you’re looking for a fantasy with a strong, plot-driven narrative, layered mysteries, and steadily rising stakes, A Kiss of Crimson Ash is a great pick.

[Maeghan &#x1f98b; · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc!

Sadly, this is a dnf for me at 30%. I’ve been wanting to dnf since the second chapter but I tried to push through.
I had very high expectations for this Romantasy but it should’ve been called a Sextasy (🥸) because why was this so sex centred? I couldn’t feel the romance that was supposed to be in this one.

When a novel has a lot of sex, I can usually manage to push through if I like the characters but I sadly didn’t like any of the 4 povs. The queen knew she was clueless but didn’t try to learn anything, the King was in love with his courtesan, the courtesan was sad he had to get married and the thief’s purpose was? Not sure. It was a lot of telling rather than showing & I couldn’t bring myself to care about the characters because they seemed so apathetic.

I just feel like I was watching an overly sexual dramatic soap opera.

Honestly, take my review with a grain of salt because I’ve been slumping on/off since the last week of March. And I sincerely don’t care about sex if there’s no emotional connection so that’s on me.

As always, reading is subjective and this might be for you!

[C. S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has promise. The premise is interesting and the setting is somewhat unusual. Ultimately it fell very flat for me. There are 4 POV characters, and while each could have been compelling in their own ways, I just didn't care about any of them. In part that's because there is telling rather than showing, info dumps, and very scanty world building. I had no sense of where any of these people came from or what motivated them or really, anything. There's a lot of sex though. I would have preferred slightly fewer sex scenes in favour of some decent characterization. There was one moment when a POV character reminisces in their mind about an event from their childhood, and then it's gone in a sentence. It probably was a turning point in this person's life, but we only get that one fleeting sentence. A few chapters earlier though, we got 5 page description of the same character having sex. I don't mind sex scenes, I'm not a prude. But I'd rather get to know the characters, their back stories, and this world in greater detail and depth.

[Debby *BabyDee* · Rating 3 out of 5]

This year has drawn my attention into the realm of romantasy books, so I decided to request “A Kiss of Crimson Ash” by Anuja Varghese. It was quite surprising to get a first-hand take on an Indian romantasy and quite different from all the others I have read. There is Tara and Garjan, the prince and princess living in a world that continues to evolve. What makes this story set apart is the authenticity of Hindi names and words, that places you in the story and having you see vividly all the happenings. I did love distinctive perspectives. I do like a bit of steam in my romance stories, and this one puts it right at your doorstep but could have been a bit minimal. Although this was a nice story, I would have liked more depth to the characters and development. Looking forward to listening to an adaptive version…might be a nice touch to this story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an eARC of this book via NetGalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Publishing: May 26, 2026
Pages: 400

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this world was very interesting, especially the political structure. The story its self was very plot driven. You were definitely just told what was happening and that resulted in the big ending feeling like it just happened and there wasn’t much building to it. The story itself follows four POVs, but there are a lot of other characters that you are made to feel are important to the story. The four main characters did not see much growth and development throughout the story, which in turn makes these other characters feel just thrown in.

The other part of the story I will point out is the sex scenes. I do not mind them in my stories, but for people who do not like in your face sex scenes, they are not going to like this. There are a lot of the in a story that is 325 pages long. They also just seemed to happen for really no reason at times.

Like I said I think the world and political structure are interesting, but I don’t know if I will continue with this story.

[Sheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

I really enjoyed this book! It did take me some time to settle in to it. With the story told across 4 POVs, it took a while to really sink in to it and to develop a connection to the characters. Once I did, it was quite enjoyable!

The story is set in a medieval India inspired setting. This was really nice and a departure from much of what I often read. There was lots of world building and I was able to fully visualize where this story was taking place!

The main characters were delightful, and the villains were villain-y! We get to explore many different relationships, including varied types of love relationships.

Overall, a great read with lovable characters, set in a beautiful, complex and mysterious world.

What to expect:
Multi-POV
Epic fantasy
Court intrigue
Humans & magically blessed
Elemental magic and divine magic
A lovable cast of characters, including royals, a courtesan and a thief
Found family
Queer and straight romance
Steamy romance

[undonelibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a version of A Kiss of Crimson Ash that would have absolutely wrecked me, and I kept feeling that version just out of reach while reading.

The medieval India-inspired setting is the clearest win here. The atmosphere is lush, the political tension is handled with care, and Anuja Varghese's concept is ambitious in a way I genuinely respect. On a world and premise level, this book connects.

The execution is where things got uneven. Pacing was slow in ways that didn't always feel intentional, and the character work never gave me what I needed to stay emotionally grounded through the quieter stretches. With this much happening across the story, I needed the cast to pull harder, and they didn't. The payoff felt more distant than earned.

Ultimately a 3-star read: interesting, promising, worth your time if setting-driven fantasy is your thing, but I didn't close it feeling satisfied.

gifted eARC via NetGalley, all opinions my own

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book via Goodreads giveaway.

There’s a lot to like here- I enjoyed the world building and lore, and I liked the overall concept. Ultimately it felt just too short and rushed for what the story needed- the pacing felt off, and I think our 4 protagonists suffered in having to switch POVs, since I felt we only got to know them all on a surface level. I needed more build-up and development to make the big moments feel impactful. If this continues into a series I think there’s a lot of potential for this to develop!

[Sully · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from net galley.

I rate this 2.5 stars but did round up. First off the story initially sounded very interesting, but after reading it was messy and hard to keep up with. There are so many different characters telling the story and it makes it hard to really get into the book and understand. I did feel like there was way too many sexual scenes and that took away from the plot. Over all the base for the story was great but the execution left a lot to be desired.

[FabledReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like reading a Greek tragedy. The whole time, I was wondering how the characters would get out of the mess they were in. And then, something WORSE would happen. However, unlike a Greek tragedy, this story does have a happy ending with a baby sized cliffhanger in the epilogue.

I will be reading the rest of the series when it come out!

You will like a Kiss of Crimson Ash if you like:
🖤DIVERSE romantasy
🐍Multi types of sexualities and identities represented
⚔️Political intrigue -> including a matriarchy
🔥Multi POV
👑Arranged marriage

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

This was an enjoyable fantasy read for me. The Indian-based mythology was a strong point, as was the representation of diverse sexualities and relationships. The characters, though many being endearing and conflicted (found-family vibes at times), didn't have enough oomph for me. Roland was my fave, and I feel like he had the most depth and development. I lost steam toward the last third with the story, but the ending was satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC!

[Bonne Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Must Read!!!

Incredible detail and outstanding writing!! I can’t say enough good things about this book and I can’t wait to read the next book!! Great world building, wonderful characters, great dialogue!!

[Mar Mar · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 🌟
Non mi ha convinto, non mi sono innamorata dei personaggi e nemmeno del setting. C'è qualcosa che manca!

[ChaoticReaderLife · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 stars. Loved the premise. Loving the storyline and the world. But some of it felt a little stretched. Also, I need more to bond with the characters.

[Courtney Shouse]

DNF at 35 percent. M/M and F/F is not something I’m interested in.

[Livros & Letters · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Kiss of Crimson Ash by Anuja Varghese is a medieval India-inspired fantasy filled with political intrigue, magic systems and rich worldbuilding, told from four different voices who are destined to stop a power from destroying the empire.

We follow Taara, the new Queen of Abhaya, Garjan, the prince of Nandapore and Taara’s betrothed, who is in love with Bhediya, a courtesan and Roland, a thief. I really like their friendship and the relationships in this story, both straight and queer. My favourite was Taara and Payal. I love how unapologetic Payal is, how she stands her ground and gives Taara space.

I wish the chapters were a bit longer. As soon as I became immersed in a character, the story changed to a different POV.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada and Viking Canada for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[klaudia. · Rating 3 out of 5]

𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖ 3 stars ★ ˖⌕ ۫ ➺ spoilers free review
→ thank you netgalley and Orbit for the arc

I was SO excited about reading it, the writing was truthfully good, I liked it, the world building also had potential, but most of it was “tell don't show”. My opinion about relationships is complicated, it was oblivious insta love, bhediya and garjan immediately became obsessed with each other and although I loved Taara and Payal there was no development of tension and chemistry between them either. If I have to be honest, I only cared about Taara’s pov (again I love her and Payal, they are my babies) and I also think that Roland's pov was completely unnecessary, it didn't bring anything to the plot and his relationship with yash wasn’t interesting either.