I was sat within the first few chapters. Everything about this book was amazing!! I absolutely cannot wait for this book to release so that I have more people to talk about it with!!

This book started out very confusing. I didn’t get who was who and what was what until quite a ways in- I was still struggling with it in chapter 4. And I definitely didn’t want to like the story but I was glad I kept pushing. Eventually I really got into this book and enjoyed the story. Even though it was dark and the idea of selling your soul for power is disturbing, I couldn’t help but root for Anula. But let’s just say I’m glad I don’t have an Auntie Nirma. That woman is unforgettable. It took some work but I did end up enjoying the book

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this book will be a DNF for me at 27%. I could see how this may be popular for some upon release. However, it is just falling quite flat for me. There are two main characters, and it does switch between them, but it almost seems like a hodge-podge of scenes slapped together for the sake of fast pacing and to try to form some kind of cohesive story. The very beginning of the book was a little off-putting because you're thrown into a situation with very little context and then just bland descriptions afterward. Readers need more context on things that are supposed to be happening in a story, not just reading through a story to read through it.

Give this a try as you may like it. I may come back to it once edited, published, and a possible audiobook released, but I will have to put it down for now.

Anula, una joven marcada por la tragedia y la pérdida, que ha sido entrenada por su tía para convertirse en algo más que una concubina del raja: una herramienta de venganza, una futura reina y, sobre todo, la mano justiciera que podría cambiar el rumbo de un reino corrompido por la ambición y la traición.

Cuando Anula entra al palacio como una de las tantas candidatas del harén, no es el amor lo que busca, sino poder. Pero su objetivo se complica con la presencia de Reeri, un antiguo espíritu Yakka condenado al limbo por desafiar al Señor del Segundo Cielo. La historia alterna entre el pasado doloroso de Anula y la redención que Reeri desesperadamente busca, hasta que sus destinos se entrelazan en un juego de política, magia divina y pasiones prohibidas.




Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.

Loved this as it is a romatacy book that was easy to follow without the nonsense fluff that's in a lot of them. Another great thing about this book is it steeps in Sri Lankan mythology which is something I didn't know much about before reading this and started a newfound interest. Thanks NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this ARC read

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! I’m giving it 3.5 ⭐️. The mythology was fascinating, and definitely a highlight of the book. I loved Reeri, and Anula grew on me through the book. I feel like some of the plot points could have been fleshed out a bit more. Additionally - this might just be a me thing - the words mayhap and betwixt were used so often that I started to make note of it. Overall I think it has some solid elements, and will recommend it to others!

Reeri and Anula are incredible characters who jump off the page in Her Soul for a Crown. I always love reading a revenge tale and this one did not disappoint. I love how Rameera highlighted the consequences that come with governing and the weight of those in power and the powerless.

I loved all the mythical elements in this book. They really highlighted the story for me. The fantasy and world building was beautiful for me and I loved how the world building was woven into the narrative.

𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐀 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐚 | 𝟒.𝟓 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

For readers of Sarah J Maas, Scarlett St. Clair, and Tasha Suri's The Jasmine Throne, this epic, slow-burn romantasy inspired by Sri Lankan mythology follows a fierce orphaned young woman with an affinity for poisons and revenge who would do anything to end the reign of heartless rajas—even sell her soul to the most dangerous cursed god of all—the Blood Yakka, Reeri.

This book is a very fast paced, slow-burn fantasy romance based on Siri Lankan mythology. Rameera throws us into the hues of mythology that made me sit and read more about the Sri Lankan Mythology after finishing this book.

Anula and Reeri’s relationship was chef’s kiss. The tension, the banter, the emotional highs and lows—it was all so deliciously messy and compelling. Their dynamic brought a great mix of heat and humor, especially in the midst of darker, more intense moments. The rollercoaster of emotions I felt when there were betrayals, sacrifice and bloodshed is incomprehensible. The revenge plots were so deeply planned yet faltered, but they still found a plan within the chaos. The emotionally attached stakes were really high, which made me sob at times. The plot lines were immersive and the foreshadowing for them was very subtle but made so much sense when revealed.

Overall, this is a romantasy filled with forced proximity, slow burn, yearning, platonic bonds, betrayals and sacrifices,

Thank you to Alysha Rameera and Casablanca Books for a review copy on NetGalley!

** ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5**

Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC.
Honestly I love to see a book with South Asian representation. It was so different and fun to read with a Sri Lankan backdrop.
I loved Anula, pretty badass and obviously a bit of revenge never goes amiss.
Overall a good read and would recommend to anyone who loves fantasy and poltical intrigue and obviously some romance!

⭐️3.5 stars - Poisonous Revenge⭐️
This book gave me dark vibes, shady bargains, and a heroine caught in a dangerous game. There’s a brooding love interest who definitely knows how to smolder in silence. Plus major bonus points the Sri Lankan mythology woven into the world was so refreshing and unique. I loved seeing lore that felt different from the usual fantasy fare.

Was I entertained? Absolutely. The eerie atmosphere and magical stakes sucked me in even if I got a little lost.

I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes their fantasy with a touch of danger and drama. I’ll probably give it another go later to see if my brain was just in a weird mood or if this story’s magic hits stronger the second time around.

~This was an ARC read with an honest review~
Thank you to NetGalley and the Author!!

Her Soul for a Crown is a lush and captivating romantasy inspired by Sri Lankan mythology, with world-building that absolutely shines. Our FMC is a fierce, revenge-driven heroine who wields poisons like a deadly art—I loved her strength, sharp mind, and unshakable focus. The romance was a definite highlight: slow burn, full of tension, and built on that delicious forced proximity trope.

While there were a few slower moments and the side characters could have used more depth, the overall story was immersive and enjoyable. A solid read for romantasy lovers looking for something rich in myth and magic.

Big thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the gifted ARC!

This was an AMAZING book! I loved every minute of it and wish I could erase my memory and read it all over again

Set against a richly imagined backdrop inspired by Sri Lankan history and mythology, this romantasy blends justice, vengeance, and slow-burn romance into an epic tale. The heroine’s desire for revenge—born from a devastating injustice done to her, her family, and her village—feels earned and deeply compelling. Her fight is personal, and the stakes are high.

While the pacing did waver a bit for me in the middle, the strength of the setting, the mythology, and the characters kept me going. And the author’s note at the end added an unexpected but wonderful layer of historical insight. It’s a reminder of how often powerful women are villainized by the lens of time.

Thank you to NetGalley & Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5
I was pulled in by the cover and really liked what I found inside! I have read a lot of Romantasy and this one was also a fun read. It scratched the itch that I had at the time but found that the pcing in the front of the book didn't match all the way through. The beginning was fast paced and kept my attention I was captivated by the Sri Lankan inspired material and the characters. I am always down for a book where the FMC wants justice and revenge for a past offense and the one that was done to her, her family, and her village was huge. I really liked the slow burn aspect. I have had a lot of face paced romance lately, so this one was needed for me.

Thank you to Sourcebook Casablanca for the complementary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I really enjoyed this on the level of "I was entertained thoroughly," which is good! I did not go into this book thinking it would be groundbreaking, but I was expecting a good time and I think that entertaining books are important. I love a good south asian fantasy and this did not disappoint. Loved the unique magic system, loved the strong female main character and the rage, and I didn't have any qualms with the romance.

So I've been wanting to get more involved with reading fantasy lately so I was truly happy that I managed to get approved for this book. If you are someone who likes some historical fiction with their fantasy genre then this is the book for you. There is also some mythology so that is another pro to consider. The novel also contains a strong female heroine which is also a plus side. Although there are some themes of violence so I would advise that you proceed at your own risk but overall the story is very good.
Our main character Anula has suffered much heartbreak in her life and she has finally prepared for how she wants to move on with her life. She has spent countless hours becoming trained in the art of poisoning. Her next goal is to marry the raja and once that is done she plans to assassinate and take the throne for herself.
Along the way Anula encounters Reeri who is part of the blood yakka. Reeri is trying to reclaim the lost power for his group. The two then decide to team up in order to get their goals accomplished. The two of them are the opposite of each other but they manage to work well together with no complaints.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

I really wanted to love this novel. From the very first page, the prose felt like it was written just for me—lyrical, immersive, and right up my reading alley. The writing style was exactly what I tend to gravitate toward, so I had high hopes going in.

Unfortunately, the story itself fell short of my expectations. While the language was beautiful, it couldn't fully make up for the lack of emotional depth and narrative momentum. I kept waiting for that moment when everything would click or I’d feel more connected to the characters, but it never quite happened. The plot felt uneven at times, and some character choices didn’t feel fully earned or convincing.

I love when a book has a fun, action-packed opening chapter that tells you about the character, world, AND sets up the story!! Absolute props to the writer for hooking me quickly there.

It didn't quite keep my attention for the entire book, but overall it's a solid, epic romantasy with a slow-burn ship that I imagine a LOT of people will swoon over.

I love it when you care about BOTH characters in the romance. This is quite rare for me with romantasy as it relies too much on tropes rather than building strong personalities, but Her Soul for A Crown really stands out in that regard.

What a fantastic romantasy! The mythology was so neat to experience and learn more about. I mean, you get poison, revenge plots, beautiful imagery, and more. Anula is on a quest for vengeance and is not going to let anyone stop her, and I was here for it. She's ruthless, but we also get to see her vulnerability and rawness, and it makes for such a well-rounded character with beautiful growth. I loved and ate up her budding relationship with Reeri, and they had so much tension and chemistry. The world-building was surprisingly easy to follow, considering all of the deep mythology behind it. This was a stunning story that I will absolutely recommend.

Her Soul for a Crown is a refreshingly dark and ambitious fantasy, woven with the threads of Sri Lankan mythology and a compelling tale of ambition, sacrifice, and forbidden love. From its opening lines, the book plunges you into a world scarred by war and steeped in a palpable sense of desperation.
Anula Ramanayake is a captivating protagonist. Driven by a thirst for justice and a desire to protect her people, she's willing to make morally questionable choices – even bargain away her soul – to achieve her goals. Rameera masterfully portrays Anula's cunning and ruthlessness, but also reveals the underlying vulnerability and the sacrifices she endures.
The introduction of Reeri, the Blood Yakka, breathes a thrillingly dangerous energy into the narrative. He's no benevolent spirit; he's a powerful, ancient being driven by revenge, yet his interactions with Anula spark an unexpected and compelling dynamic. Their relationship is the heart of the novel, a slow burn fueled by mutual respect and a growing, undeniable attraction that defies their initial bargain. Rameera expertly navigates the complexities of their connection, exploring the tension between their opposing goals and the blossoming of a forbidden love that could have catastrophic consequences.
Overall, I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy morally grey characters, complex relationships, and fantasy worlds inspired by less-explored mythologies..