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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
This sounds really good from the blurb but the audio is SO confusing, I was 11 chapters in and I could never tell whose chapter I was in. I also felt so confused as to what was going on.
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“Attention and invitation are not the same thing.”
“A woman with ambition who isnt afraid to see things through."
Big thanks to sourecbooks audio for the ALC! This definitely felt like a breathe of fresh air, this romantasy was filled with angst, dislike and a bit of yearning that I was intrigued by with the characters! I think the storyline and the emphasis on the past impacting the present and the Sri Lankan mythology was honestly the cherry on top of this story! I like that the author had different timeframes of present and past told with this story, the element of reading about things from certain timeframes was clever. I loveedddd that element so much! Not only was the mythology important to the story, but it really provided such a well rounded theme to the story! Anula’s rage and fury was different and I liked reading about her anger and her witty behavior as well! Reeri and Anula scenes were intense and hot!
“A woman with ambition who isnt afraid to see things through."
Big thanks to sourecbooks audio for the ALC! This definitely felt like a breathe of fresh air, this romantasy was filled with angst, dislike and a bit of yearning that I was intrigued by with the characters! I think the storyline and the emphasis on the past impacting the present and the Sri Lankan mythology was honestly the cherry on top of this story! I like that the author had different timeframes of present and past told with this story, the element of reading about things from certain timeframes was clever. I loveedddd that element so much! Not only was the mythology important to the story, but it really provided such a well rounded theme to the story! Anula’s rage and fury was different and I liked reading about her anger and her witty behavior as well! Reeri and Anula scenes were intense and hot!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I may come back to this eventually...
It's was such a bummer since I was looking forward to it a lot! But the book was moving soooo slow. There's barely any chemistry or any interactions between the main characters and we're 55% in! Outside of the romance plot I don't think much is happening on the political intrigue themes either 🥲 but I was enjoying the world and the cultural aspects. The side characters were more interesting than the MCs.
It's was such a bummer since I was looking forward to it a lot! But the book was moving soooo slow. There's barely any chemistry or any interactions between the main characters and we're 55% in! Outside of the romance plot I don't think much is happening on the political intrigue themes either 🥲 but I was enjoying the world and the cultural aspects. The side characters were more interesting than the MCs.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⟢ 3.25 stars ✮⋆˙
ARC kindly sent by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Her Soul for a Crown has a great premise, but loses itself after the 60% mark. The main problems I had were the pacing and the development of the romance, which made the reading experience a bit difficult for me.
I absolutely loved the mythological and cultural references included in the book (I'm now very interested to learn more about sri lankan mythology). I felt completely immersed in the world of our protagonist, Anula, especially in the beginning of the novel. To be honest, I would have loved to get more information on how her world worked, how the different deities coexisted together, because towards the end everything got a bit confusing.
I was rooting for Anula from chapter one. I felt all her emotions and especially her anger and I was looking forward to seeing her get revenge before the end of the novel. She’s such an interesting character because you can’t put her into any box: she’s full of rage, emotional, risk-taking, and afraid. I really loved her as a MC in the first half of the book. Once the romance was added into the mix, I started losing interest in Anula. I couldn’t feel the romantic connection between Anula and Reeri: for a good chunk of the book they were fighting, but suddenly they became each other’s soulmate - it didn’t make sense.. I truly had a hard time connecting with them as a couple and understanding the love and desire they had for each other. I didn’t feel any slow-burn and that’s a shame.
Although the novel has a strong start, after a few chapters the pacing slows down tremendously, until the very last third of the book, where things start to go down once again. I didn’t particularly enjoy the slow-pace in the middle section and the final third, where the action finally kicks in, feels rushed and underdeveloped.
Overall, I had high expectations for this romantasy novel, but in the end it didn’t deliver what I had hoped for. I didn’t really connect with the romantic couple and I had some trouble with the pacing.
ARC kindly sent by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Her Soul for a Crown has a great premise, but loses itself after the 60% mark. The main problems I had were the pacing and the development of the romance, which made the reading experience a bit difficult for me.
I absolutely loved the mythological and cultural references included in the book (I'm now very interested to learn more about sri lankan mythology). I felt completely immersed in the world of our protagonist, Anula, especially in the beginning of the novel. To be honest, I would have loved to get more information on how her world worked, how the different deities coexisted together, because towards the end everything got a bit confusing.
I was rooting for Anula from chapter one. I felt all her emotions and especially her anger and I was looking forward to seeing her get revenge before the end of the novel. She’s such an interesting character because you can’t put her into any box: she’s full of rage, emotional, risk-taking, and afraid. I really loved her as a MC in the first half of the book. Once the romance was added into the mix, I started losing interest in Anula. I couldn’t feel the romantic connection between Anula and Reeri: for a good chunk of the book they were fighting, but suddenly they became each other’s soulmate - it didn’t make sense.. I truly had a hard time connecting with them as a couple and understanding the love and desire they had for each other. I didn’t feel any slow-burn and that’s a shame.
Although the novel has a strong start, after a few chapters the pacing slows down tremendously, until the very last third of the book, where things start to go down once again. I didn’t particularly enjoy the slow-pace in the middle section and the final third, where the action finally kicks in, feels rushed and underdeveloped.
Overall, I had high expectations for this romantasy novel, but in the end it didn’t deliver what I had hoped for. I didn’t really connect with the romantic couple and I had some trouble with the pacing.
Thank you @sourcebookscasa and @alyshasbooks for the #gifted book and ebook ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
Her Soul for a Crown pulled me in with Anula right away with the first line in the book, "There were so many ways to stop a heart". She is tough and determined, but there is still this softer side that shows up in the choices she makes, and that balance made me want to keep following her. Reeri is one of those characters who sticks with you. He is full of regret, but at the same time, his loyalty and heart are what define him. The chemistry between them builds slowly, full of yearning, yet they still manage to work together when it matters most.
I really liked how the politics and folklore are part of everything, not just background filler. The Sri Lankan influence adds so much to the setting and gives the story its own distinct voice. Even though this reads more like a fantasy than a romance, I never felt let down by that balance. I really enjoyed Alysha Rameera’s debut novel and cannot wait to read what she writes next.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I am a huge fan of stories based on historical figures. Real and imagined, both. So, when I picked up this book, I genuinely thought that I would love this book. Alas, though I liked the concept, I just couldn't connect with the story.
The main issue for me was the world of this book for me. Since I am an Indian, a few names were familiar but the whole setup was a bit confusing. To be fair, it could be even me issue because I am in my biggest reading slump ever. Hence, I am a bit generous with the rating of this book.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for this book.
The main issue for me was the world of this book for me. Since I am an Indian, a few names were familiar but the whole setup was a bit confusing. To be fair, it could be even me issue because I am in my biggest reading slump ever. Hence, I am a bit generous with the rating of this book.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for this book.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Thank you Alysha Rameera, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Colored Pages Book Tours for the free gift!
This book is an intricate, epic romantasy inspired by Sri Lankan mythology. It weaves together divine powers, ancient societies, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance in a story full of action, struggle, and high stakes.
What stood out most to me was Anula. She’s an incredibly strong woman, but what I loved most is how broken she was. Her character carried the weight of deep childhood trauma, and the book didn’t shy away from showing that in all its gruesome detail. I was also captivated by the battle between gods and mortals, which added an exciting and layered depth to the story. The romance between Anula and Reeri was another highlight. It felt so genuine because it wasn’t rushed. They had to rely on trust and understanding, with their physical attraction slowly blossoming into real, meaningful feelings. That slow build really heightened the emotional stakes.
I don’t have any particular dislikes to point out here, since so much of the story worked well for me.
Overall, this was an action-packed, layered, and heartfelt tale that I really enjoyed. I’d especially recommend it to readers who love epic fantasy with divine intrigue, morally complex heroines, and a romance that unfolds slowly and authentically.
This book is an intricate, epic romantasy inspired by Sri Lankan mythology. It weaves together divine powers, ancient societies, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance in a story full of action, struggle, and high stakes.
What stood out most to me was Anula. She’s an incredibly strong woman, but what I loved most is how broken she was. Her character carried the weight of deep childhood trauma, and the book didn’t shy away from showing that in all its gruesome detail. I was also captivated by the battle between gods and mortals, which added an exciting and layered depth to the story. The romance between Anula and Reeri was another highlight. It felt so genuine because it wasn’t rushed. They had to rely on trust and understanding, with their physical attraction slowly blossoming into real, meaningful feelings. That slow build really heightened the emotional stakes.
I don’t have any particular dislikes to point out here, since so much of the story worked well for me.
Overall, this was an action-packed, layered, and heartfelt tale that I really enjoyed. I’d especially recommend it to readers who love epic fantasy with divine intrigue, morally complex heroines, and a romance that unfolds slowly and authentically.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Torture, Blood
Minor: Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Classism