MoodReads - Romance Book Discovery
The Stacks
DiscoverMy ShelvesReading Stats
Sign upLog in
MoodReads - Romantasy Book Discovery

because goodreads doesn't
have a spice filter

Discover

  • Discover Page
  • Reading Stacks
  • Tropes
  • Moods
  • Creatures
  • Spicy Books

Get MoodReads

  • so what is it.
  • iOS App
  • Browser Extension
  • MoodReads Premium
  • Gift a Subscription
  • For Creators
  • Share MoodReads

Go Deeper

  • FAQ
  • Roadmap
  • Request a Feature
  • vs Goodreads
  • vs StoryGraph
  • Who Built This?

The Serious Stuff

  • Values
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Support

get emails when something big happens. no spam, just news.

© 2026 MoodReads. Built by a romantasy reader for romantasy readers.

rattle the stars, bitches.

Cover of Carved in Crimson

Carved in Crimson

by Annabelle McCormack

🌶️🌶️mild·Heirs of Lirien #1
4.4 on Goodreads (507)

Rate this book

sign in to add to shelves, track reading status, and see your stats

find similar →
ReportSpoiler settings

Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

Enemies-to-lovers with sizzling chemistry and epic world-building. Slow-burn tension that delivers on spice. Series opener with cliffhanger that has readers eager for book two.

Synopsis

Sworn enemies. Bound by blood. Tempted by fate. In the cursed forests of Lirien, Seren Ragnall lives by blood and blade. As a warrior of the rebel Viori, she’s sworn to kill any Lirien loyalist she encounters. But when a Lirien soldier saves her life—wounding himself in the process—Seren does the unthinkable: she spares him. To keep him from execution, she invokes a forbidden blood oath that binds their fates . . . and their souls. What Seren doesn’t know is that her captive isn’t just any soldier. Rykr Westhaven is the exiled heir to the Lirien throne—a prince with a price on his head and enemies closing in. If the Viori discover who he truly is, they’ll kill him—and her for protecting him. Condemned to a brutal trial by combat to earn their freedom, Seren and Rykr must fight side by side—against monsters, rivals, and the heat simmering between them. Their bond was forged in blood, but it sparks something darker, hungrier. What began as duty becomes desire, and every touch threatens to unravel the lies they’ve told to survive. Because when the truth comes to light, the only thing more dangerous than your sworn enemy . . . is the one you can’t live without. Carved in Crimson is the first book in the Heirs of Lirien series, romantic fantasies set in a mythical land. Content includes violence, battle scenes and wounds, strong language, and open door, steamy romantic content.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

A curator's note goes here with flavor that could spoil the plot.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.40 ★ (507)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

486 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2025

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Fantasy Romance

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Dual POV

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Slow Burn

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

No audiobook yet

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
enemies to loversforced proximityblood oath bindingmarriage of conveniencefound familyhidden identitypower imbalance
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

darkintenseatmosphericadventuroussuspenseful

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

epic fantasy romancesharp banteremotional vulnerability

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

fast

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

heavy

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

high

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

page turner

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

rebel warriorfierce survivor

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

exiled princedangerous and compelling

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

heat through banter and proximitychemistry escalatingpower dynamic tensionsoul bond

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
Spice Level 2

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

slow seductionintense / passionateemotionally charged

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

None

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

None
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (5)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
violencebattle sceneswoundsstrong languagesteamy sexual content
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

high fantasy

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

cursed forests and rebel territories of Lirien

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

book hangovercathartic releasedesperate for sequel

this page is just the start

  • import your Goodreads or StoryGraph TBR. we tag every book with spice, tropes, CWs, mood, all of it
  • tell us a vibe (“enemies to lovers fae, high spice”) and BookMatch finds the book
  • 4,000+ romantasy books searchable by 45 fields
  • book clubs, reading challenges, and a community of readers who get it
free account

Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️mild
PagesHow long the commitment is.486
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2025
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.40 ★ (507)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

Heirs of Lirien #1
Similar picks →

My Notes

Loading...

Short Takes

quick 280-character reactions for this book. drop a thought, rate the vibe, keep scrolling.

Sign in to share your take.

Loading...

Book Chat

live reactions, hot takes, screaming into the void about Carved in Crimson

Similar Books

Cover of Serpent & DoveKU

Serpent & Dove

Serpent & Dove, #1

Shelby Mahurin

🌶️🌶️·dual POV·✓
forced proximityforced to marryhidden identity
Cover of Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1)

Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1)

Abhorsen, #1

Garth Nix

🌶️🌶️·third person·✓
rescue romancehidden identitysecret heir/royalty
Cover of A Dawn of Onyx (The Sacred Stones, #1)KU

A Dawn of Onyx (The Sacred Stones, #1)

The Sacred Stones Trilogy, #1

Kate Golden

🌶️🌶️·first person·✓
captive romanceforced proximityhidden identity
Cover of The Girl on the TrainKU

The Girl on the Train

Paula Hawkins

🌶️🌶️·first person
Cover of The Eye of the World

The Eye of the World

The Wheel of Time, #1

Robert Jordan

🌶️🌶️·third person·✓
forbidden loveslow burn
Cover of Stalking Jack the Ripper

Stalking Jack the Ripper

Stalking Jack the Ripper, #1

Kerri Maniscalco

🌶️🌶️·first person·✓
forced proximityrivals competingslow burn
Cover of Dead Witch Walking

Dead Witch Walking

The Hollows, #1

Kim Harrison

🌶️🌶️·first person
forced proximityfound familyhidden identity
Cover of A River Enchanted

A River Enchanted

Elements of Cadence, #1

Rebecca Ross

🌶️🌶️·multi-POV
enemies to loversmarriage of convenienceslow burn