A Kiss of Crimson Ash

Games of the Goddess #1

by Anuja Varghese

The first book in a new medieval India-inspired fantasy trilogy from a remarkable Canadian talent, A Kiss of Crimson Ash teems with rich storytelling, lush worldbuilding, and spice of every variety.

Taara, the pious newly crowned Queen of Abhaya, a resource-rich city-state, must marry whether she wishes to or not. Her betrothed is Garjan, Prince of Nandapore, a neighbouring city-state full of secrets and spellcasters. His forbidden love is Bhediya, a courtesan with magic in her blood. And then there is Roland, a thief by trade, attached to nothing and no one, who stumbles into a power-hungry king’s plot to unearth a weapon that has only lived in myth...until now.

Linked by desire, destiny, and a dangerous foe, these four must summon the power of an ancient goddess and chart a course through the empire’s brothels, temples, taverns, and palaces, forcing them to confront the darkest kinds of magic and the truest parts of themselves—before it’s too late.

Locked in a battle that will reshape the empire, they each must What will they risk for a weapon worth dying for, and a love worth life itself?

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

480 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication 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.

[Mai H.]

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[Jade Kaawa · Rating 3 out of 5]

very mixed feelings

| fantasy | fantasy romance | Medieval Indian Fantasy | science fiction fantasy | diverse fantasy | romantasy LGBTQ represenation | numerous POV | quest | queer representation | paranormal | steamy | netgalley | arc | political intrigue | courtesian | retelling | arranged marriage | gods x mortals | magic | matriarchy | hidden power | chosen one | forced proximity |

I really appreciated the cultural roots and diversity of this story. As an avid fantasy reader, I love reading stories that come from diverse places that are unfamiliar to me and beyond my own experience. I have a real appreciation of stories that teach me and immerse me in something beyond familiarity, especially within a fantasy world. This story delivers on that front, offering magic, mystery, political intrigue, and a central quest.

The foundation of this story is inevitably the strongest aspect. There was a clear premise, strong cultural influence, and decisive representation and inclusion. For the first third of this book, I found myself thinking about it constantly. What really pulled me in was the fact that the relationship between the characters was utterly contradictory to what I expected and what I wanted. They did not align with what I anticipated, so I kept reading, hoping for a shift. This story does not conform to the expectations of a “romantasy”. Call me crazy, but I think that was refreshing, while also being incredibly infuriating.

Although the narrative didn’t turn out how I had hoped, that doesn't detract from or diminish the fact that it is interesting, unique, and refreshing in a space that is inundated with stories bearing the same bones. This story was carved from a body completely unfamiliar to me. Therefore, it was interesting and easily compelling.

That said, it isn’t without its flaws. Although the story is completely its own, an argument can reasonably be made that while the bones are good, the execution of characters, relationships, and the overall pace of the plot were not on par with the foundation of the story. For example, the FMC feels mostly unchanged from beginning to end. While she may have come away from the quest more experienced and worldly, her internal growth isn’t as evident or impactful as such a journey should have made her. It does, however, raise the question of whether or not that was intentional for her arc, at least in book 1 of the series.

The romantic relationships were a massive struggle for me. I did some research on the origins of the tale featured and referenced by this story, and the story seems to be a combination of more than just a singular tale. Despite drawing inspiration from established tales, the emotional development between characters felt rushed and underdeveloped. All of the romantic connections relied more on immediate infatuation than on meaningful buildup. There was very little context, with no fine detail or meaningful development featured in the height of the narrative. Character relationships and dynamics just were.

I deeply contemplated the relationship between Bhediya and Garjan, and it left me unsettled. Their shared history introduces a significant imbalance that isn’t fully explored or addressed. Viewed objectively, their relationship raises questions about power, agency, and emotional authenticity that the narrative doesn’t seem to examine at all.

She is a courtesan, trained in the arts of pleasure. It was very briefly mentioned that Ganjar was brought to the pleasure house by Roland at a young age and seduced by Bhediya, who took his virginity at 16. Since the inception of their relationship, things have been unbalanced and not completely wholesome when you take a step back. Bhediya had everything to gain from a relationship with the Prince, even if she was only ever a bedding companion. It looks like grooming when you take yourself out of the story and see it as just conveyed facts. Garjan is obsessed with her and feels love for her, but is that love genuine when he stands only to gain physical pleasure? Mind you, they love one another, and he is paying her handsomely even if they do not partake in the pleasures of the flesh. It seems like a one-dimensional relationship with the potential for nefarious intentions.

Of course, in my contemplations, I also begin to similarly wonder about Payal and Taara. Their connection and relationship felt abrupt and lacking in a critical foundation. Again, a woman who sells pleasure for coin, who essentially volunteers to be part of a harem of women meant to be pleasure servants for the King and Queen, is put into a position where the dialogue alludes to Taara not really knowing whether or not Payal's affections are of love or obligation. Their relationship is instantaneous without anything shared. This is especially odd considering Taara is a character who is effortlessly seen as prudish and naive to the pleasures of the flesh; it was unfounded that she would be so drawn to someone sexually almost instantly. She has dreams of this person; the gender of the voice is never revealed or described to the reader, and this is a female character who has spent her entire life strictly in the company of women. She has never had a sexual thought, feeling, or desire in her entire 19 years of life. The immediate emotional and physical attraction feels wholly unearned and completely out of place.

Within the relationships of characters, particularly concerning romance, there was just so much to be desired. Unfortunately, the complexity meant to sustain and support these connections never made it onto the page.

Overall, I really think the development of feelings, romantic relationships, and the buildup to these critical plot points were not as descriptive or as carefully built as the plot or the world. There is LGBTQ representation, but I questioned whether that was organic or implemented to find a space within stories that feature inclusivity and diversity.

In the end, I do think this book is worth reading for its originality and rich setting. However, I’m still undecided on whether I’ll continue with the series.

happy reading, friends xx

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very average book that I wish was better, because there's not a lot of Indian-inspired books in fantasy romance right now. This book has a plot that is mildly interesting, but it falls flat in many ways.

This book was relatively short, but still felt much longer than it needed to be. The author used way too many sentences describing mundane things about people, their actions, and backstory of random side characters. I would've rather had excessive purple prose than paragraphs describing the MCs doing one thing. The entire book is a textbook example of telling and not showing.

I appreciate that one character is unashamedly a courtesan, but I wished she had more personality than just pining for one of the MMCs.

The world and its relationship to magic doesn't make any sense. Only elves and women have had magic for centuries, and somehow this hasn't shaped their society in a single way? Literally centuries of only one gender having magic and this hasn't influenced behaviors, gender roles, anything?

The reader is introduced to some good ol' anti-magic sentiment that's been brewing in the city, but is left completely confused by it. There are no posters, town criers, or even spreading gossip that show what the reasons are for people starting to go against spellcasters. It's just "spellcasters must die". I found myself craving even just a random beggar saying something like " a spellcaster stole my lunch!" to show some reason behind why, after centuries, people are turning against them.

An early plot point is that the elven ambassador thinks he needs to break into an embassy to check whether the emperor is a guest or a prisoner. This literally makes no sense and the reasoning behind it is never discussed again.

The antagonist of this book is very 1 dimensional, which is unfortunate because the reader can see he is the villain from a mile away. The first 2/3 of the book try to have some kind of intrigue and political maneuvering, but it is incredibly obvious what is going on. It is understandable that the naive FMC doesn't see it coming, but the author could've been more clever about it so the reader's intelligence isn't insulted by the "secret" alliances and agendas. Right at the beginning we're told that the MMC's brother's name refers to the wind, and not even 50 pages pass before there's multiple warnings or fishy things happening for someone who could be referred to as "the wind".

Taara, the FMC who is also the queen from a matriarchal society, somehow lets any man in her presence trample over her every word and action. And just accepts it. Again, she's naive and sheltered, but she was sheltered in a palace of a matriarchal society! She should be naively insisting that the men in her presence do irrational things, not just letting the men make all of the decisions for her and take away her free will (and again, they do this in front of her, the QUEEN. While in the palace).

Taara and the person she falls for (avoiding spoilers) is a very weird relationship as well. I don't mind insta-lust, but this is so 'insta' that the reader is confused how it even starts. The only clue is that Taara has somehow been dreaming about her lover. And later, they act super devoted to Taara even though they've spent less than a week together, despite the lover supposedly being someone worldly.

Lastly, the MMC is gang raped on page and it is never mentioned again. Only used for shock value at that point in the book. He literally could've just been given a cursed magic item or poisoned and the 'result' of this assault would've been the same, but without the rape.

[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.

[Dotti · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Kiss of Crimson Ash is a Romantasy novel set in medieval India. We follow four characters as they uncover a conspiracy that threatens to shake the very foundations of their world.

Our story begins with Taara, a young queen whose mother has become inflicted with madness and who must enter an arranged marriage to solidify her kingdom. Her spouse, Garaj, is the beloved prince of their neighboring country, and his reluctance to leave his homeland is only heightened by his love for a courtesan. The courtesan, Bhediya, encounters danger because of her hidden magic. And Roland, a thief and friend of Garaj’s, takes a job that goes sour and embarks on his own adventure.

The character development and world building in this book is very good. I think our different characters are generally well developed, with different personalities, histories and motivations. The world has various levels of political machinations and power dynamics, which provided a lot of interest. There is a magic system that builds slowly over time as our characters learn more about the world around them.

The four different perspectives, amongst three disconnected storylines, really caused the pacing of this book to suffer. It was hard to get invested in any of the experiences of our characters because as soon as the story would develop, we would change perspectives and wouldn’t be back for another 50 pages. I was convinced I was still in the first third of the book and looked to realize the story was closer to the 70% mark. It meant that once the story finally hit the climax, it felt very rushed. I understand that the story wanted to focus on four perspectives, but I think choosing to focus on two of the stories instead of three would have made the story feel richer.

I also felt like the romance plotlines were unappealing. There are three romances: one between the prince and the courtesan, one between the queen and her attendant, and one between the thief and his traveling partner. We also have sexual relations between those characters and others, which felt off-putting. The only married couple is rooted in friendship and does not even attempt a romance plotline. The book neglects the power dynamics within these romances, most of which are questionable at best. There’s also a strong push against the idea of fidelity, which felt strange for a book that advertises itself partially as a romance. There are multiple explicit sexual encounters on page, both straight and queer, and the storylines highly emphasize both the casualness and the pleasure in these encounters.

Altogether, this was a good debut fantasy novel with a lot of promise that missed the execution. The worldbuilding and character development were good, but the pacing and romance in the story needed more work. I enjoyed the medieval Indian setting and the political intrigue, though I don’t think I will continue reading the series.

A big thank you to the team at Orbit for this advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Tails · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy of "A Kiss of Crimson Ash" by Anuja Varghese.

Rating: 4.5 /5

A Kiss of Crimson Ash is the beginning of a fantasy trilogy, full of divine magic, spellcasters, and political machinations. The book features a richly drawn world inspired by medieval India with a diverse cast of characters who will quickly steal your hearts.

I truly adore this book. Maybe I'm biased because Anuja Varghese is a local author for me, but I was hooked by both the story and characters very quickly! I absolutely devoured the first 40% in one sitting. This is one of the few multi-POV books where I loved reading every characters' POV. The book does have explicit sex scenes (not as explicit as erotica, in my opinion, but definitely open-door sex scenes) which I thought were very well done, particularly in terms of intimacy and tact. The first intimate scene was so tender and emotional, I felt it displayed a lot about the characters involved.

AKOCA is romantasy in the sense of fantasy romance, meaning the romance and the relationships between characters do take the forefront, on a background of politics and magic. I'm including this point not as a positive or a negative, but just so you know what to expect going into it. The politics are important to the story, but I wouldn't describe it as a politics-heavy book.

My only real complaint with the story is the relationship between Roland and Yash (one of two queer relationships in the book), mostly because I don't love an age-gap relationship (unless, of course, one character is an immortal being and somehow that makes it better), but I especially didn't love that it felt like the age difference was very emphasized, and with their relationship having the least amount of page-time it kind of felt like we went from this is just sex to relationship without much actual romantic tension or build-up—Yash was just sort of there. I'm hoping this is explored further in the next books. I'm also looking forward to seeing how the other relationships continue to develop and what those inter-relationship dynamics will become!

Overall, I really enjoyed A Kiss of Crimson Ash and I'm so excited to get my hands on the physical book. I will be waiting very impatiently for book two of the trilogy to come out!

If you like:

• medieval Indian fantasy
• sapphic AND achillean romances
• diverse characters
• the games of the gods played out among mortals
• fantasy romance with more than a bit of spice 🌶🌶🌶👀

... then you should definitely be reading A Kiss of Crimson Ash 🔥🪷

[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📚✨

[Kylee Doyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Orbit for the e-ARC and gifted physical copy.

I think this book had a lot of potential, but boy, was it a hot mess in terms of execution. First off, the book felt really rushed, especially in terms of the romantic relationships, but at the same time, it felt like nothing really happened in the book. The book description states that a goddess seeks four people, and together they "chart a course," "setting a trap for the empire's most powerful men." However, the four characters don't actually fully come together until the penultimate chapter, which is where most of the action in the book takes place.

As for the characters, they all fell incredibly flat for me. There are four MCs - Taara, Garjan, Bhediya, and Roland, along with an additional two characters who act as love interests for Taara and Roland. Bhediya felt like the only character who had any depth, but she also didn't seem to have as much page time as Taara and Garjan. Meanwhile, Taara and Garjan are both royals who come off as incredibly naive and lacking in common sense. Garjan has spent his life sneaking out of the palace and experiencing the "real world," so it seems like he would have developed some street smarts. Meanwhile, Taara has known her whole life she would become the next queen, but she seems to have absolutely no knowledge of anything outside her daily life of being pampered and praying to the goddess.

And don't get me started on the spice in this book. It's being touted as "erotic," but the spice was severely lacking. There were a number of open door scenes in this book, but the majority of them were very short and not very descriptive. Meanwhile, the longest scene, which I guess could be considered erotic, involved Garjan essentially being raped by a group of women who were acting as spies for his brother.

I was also surprised that there are no trigger warnings listed in this book. I honestly don't really pay attention to them because I'm not bothered by most things, but I know there are a few things in this book (rape, abuse, abortion, the killing of babies) that should definitely be called out so readers can be aware of them.

[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!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much to Orbit for the gifted finished copy!

This was a really intriguing fantasy read, and I very much enjoyed it. Inspired by the love stories of medieval India, this first book in a new series mixes spicy romantic plots with an epic battle of good vs evil being fought by a wide ranging cast of characters across the BIPOC & LGBTQIA+ spectrums. Told from multiple POVs, the author does a fantastic job of weaving together all the different storylines and plot threads that turn into one cohesive journey by the end of this book. It's got action, its got love, its got some political intrigue and a really interesting magic system that I'm exited to learn a bit more about.

Reader beware that there are some heavier topics at hand here, including slavery, mental illness, mentions of off-page infanticide, SA, and of course plenty of violence & murder. Proceed with caution if any of these are triggering to you.

I will say that this book definitely focuses on world-building and setting up the overall series plot, so while there is a lot that is hinted at, the ending almost feels slightly anti-climatic as some of the surface level struggles are resolved without having a massive cliffhanger. It's not completely action-packed right up until the last page like some other series starters are. However, it is clear that there are still plenty of loose threads and threats against this fantasy world that have yet to be resolved, setting up for what I would assume is a more dire plot for book 2.

Regardless, I had lots of troubles putting this book down and can't wait to see what happens next in this series.

[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

[vianny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Friends, this book took me on a journey. I had no idea what was happening for the first 20%, but after the 30% mark I was locked it and could not put the book down.

A few things really worked for me:

1) The women. Bhediya and Payal are the standouts of this book. A woman in her thirties getting to be powerful, central, and fully realized in an epic fantasy romance? Yes. More of that, please. And Payal completely stole every scene she was in. Those two are the reason I'd recommend this book to a friend.

2) I really appreciated how queerness is handled in this world. It's just a fact of life, nobody has to come out, nobody makes a big deal of it. That kind of casual, second nature inclusion felt refreshing and is honestly something more fantasy could learn from.

3) I loved the running commentary throughout the book about men taking from women, men "sucking" (literally and figuratively lol), and women not waiting around for them. It gave the romance some bite that you don't always get in this subgenre, and it made the world feel like it had a real perspective behind it instead of just vibes.

What didn't quite land for me:

1) The FMC Taara is written as deeply innocent and physically weak, which I understand is the point of her arc, but it created some credibility issues for me given what she's eventually expected to do. I wanted to see more of the gap between who she is and who she needs to become get bridged on the page.

2) Some character revelations toward the end didn't have enough groundwork laid earlier in the book, so a few big moments landed without the setup I wanted.

Overall: a flawed but genuinely fun read with side characters I adored, casually queer worldbuilding I really enjoyed, and enough sharp commentary about gender and power to set it apart. Worth picking up if the premise grabs you! just give it past the 30% mark before deciding.