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Cover of A Kiss of Crimson Ash

A Kiss of Crimson Ash

by Anuja Varghese

🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate·spoiler·Games of the Goddess #1

Why Read This?

A sweeping, spice-filled epic that delivers romantic tension amidst high-stakes divine conflict.

Synopsis

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?

At a Glance

4.08 ★ Goodreads
Spice Level🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate
Endingspoiler
PairingM/F
Romance Pacingmedium burn

Top Tropes

forced to marryhidden identitysecret heir/royalty

Mood

intensedarkseductivesecretiveromantic

Book Details

Goodreads Rating

4.08 ★

Published

2026

Primary Genre

Romantasy

Pairing

M/F

POV

Multi-POV

Romance Pacing

Medium Burn

Audiobook

Available

No

Format

Standard

Narrator Count

Single

Tropes

RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

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Mood & Vibe

Mood

sign in to see writing style, pacing & more

Characters

FMC: royalty sign in to unlock

Spice Details 🌶️

intense / passionate sign in to unlock

sexual assault (referenced)deathviolencebetrayalcaptivitydubious consentforced marriagegriefpolitical intriguewar

World & Setting

high fantasy sign in to unlock

Reading Context

addictive read sign in to unlock

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