This story was amazing! It was very well written and the magic system was very well throughout and unique.

I thought this book would be so much better than what it was. I was rooting for it to get better but it was hard to get through. There was too much going on and not enough context or glazing over very important revelations and plot points. Even from the beginning it was so fast paced and nothing explained

This story is steeped Sri Lankan mythology and though that isn't something I was previously familiar with, I really enjoyed reading about it and could tell the author is knowledgeable and passionate about it. Our FMC, Anula, is compelling and determined to stay on the path of revenge and take the throne to protect her people. I just wish there had been more to her beyond that. The MMC, Reeri, didn't really hit home for me initially. But over time I began to really like him. There are many moments in which a revelation is revealed or a major event happens, and we kind of just skip past it as if it wasn't a big deal. Each aspect of this story had serious potential but I think it was lacking in execution. I did appreciate the ending though, and it made the harder moments worth it. One petty complaint of mine is the use of the word "mayhap" I wish to never hear it again 😅 Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Thank you to SourceBooks and NetGalley for allowing me to read the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I fear this is another DNF for me. I really was getting into the story within the first couple of pages and then everything kinda decided to take off where it was hard to find it both interesting and it was g easy for me to follow. I think the premise for the book was good. A general idea is I wish the author had decided to mark reeri and anulas pov chapters for ease of understanding what pov we were in. But if I’m frank, I’m not interested in reading this after getting to 15% I can totally see why people would like this but between me getting confused and finding the plot very disorienting, for the sake of my sanity I do think a DNF at this time is necessary. If I decide to come back to it I will but honestly I don’t have any connection to either mcs and not all that interested to find out if I would.

I hope this is a win for some people but I don’t think this will be for me.

Thank you again to the publishers and NetGallery.

Absolutely fantastic. This is going to be one that every fantasy reader needs to pick up. The world building was terrific and the pacing was just what I needed.

Wow! This was such a great fantasy read. I loved the world building and the characters. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this e-arc. I can't wait to read more by this author.

This is interesting. I’m glad I read it but felt like the two storylines that ran side by side weren’t too compatible or fleshed out. There was insta-love and I did appreciate the unique worldbuilding in a Sri-Lankan-inspired world, so if you like those things then you might like this book.

I really wanted to love Her Soul for a Crown as much as I love a slushed Mountain Dew in a hot summer day. The premise: an orphaned poison-wielding badass named Anula, steeped in Sri Lankan mythology, ready to sell her soul to a cursed god named Reeri to topple heartless rajas? It had me vibrating with excitement. Slow-burn romantasy? Mythological vibes? Revenge? Sign me up! But after finishing this book, I’m left feeling like I ate a gorgeous curry that was missing a few key spices.

Anula is a firecracker of a protagonist. She’s fierce, whip-smart, and her affinity for poisons makes her the kind of gal you’d want on your side in a bar fight—or, you know, a royal coup. Rameera’s worldbuilding is lush, with Anuradhapura’s (say that five times fast) golden palaces and shadowy jungles popping off the page like a Bollywood set. The mythology? Reeri, the Blood Yakka, is creepy-cool, like a demon you’d reluctantly invite to dinner because he’s got stories. When the book hits its stride, it’s a page-turner. I stayed up past midnight, ignoring my dogs judgmental stare, because I hadto know if Anula would pull off her revenge.

But here’s where the curry starts to thin out. The side characters—Bithmul and Reeri's Yakkas—are flatter than my attempts at making naan.

Then there’s the whole “three rajas in as many days” situation, which had me snorting louder than my neighbor’s lawnmower. So, Anuradhapura apparently swaps kings faster than I swap Netflix shows, and nobody bats an eye, even during an age of Usurpers? Two new rajas pop up like whack-a-moles, and the entire kingdom’s like, “Cool, business as usual.” The soldiers don’t mutiny. The people don’t riot. The street vendors aren’t even whispering, “Yo, what’s with the raja roulette?” It’s like the whole kingdom’s been slipped a chill pill.

The pacing doesn’t help. The first half drags like my dog when she knows it’s bath time, with too much setup and not enough action. Then the back half sprints, cramming betrayals, battles, and romantic confessions into a whirlwind that left me dizzy. I kept thinking, “Slow down, let me savor this!” A little more flesh on the side characters and a deeper dive into the kingdom’s reaction to its raja speed-dating could’ve balanced things out.

Her Soul for a Crown is like a dazzling costume party where half the guests forgot to show up. Anula’s a star, the romance is okay, and the mythology is fresh, but the thin side characters and head-scratching plot holes keep it from greatness. I’d still recommend it to romantasy fans who love a fierce heroine and don’t mind some gaps—pair it with a mango lassi and enjoy the ride.

3.75

This was fast paced and really enjoyable! The writing style and language used really matched the story- something I have a hard time getting past in other books! I felt like the world she built was so interesting and thorough, and the slooooooooow burn was excellent. All you wanted to do was push them together and the tension just dragged on deliciously. I really liked that!

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks for the eARC in exchange for my review!

I really wanted to love this, because it had all the elements I look for in a fantasy romance: a revenge-driven heroine, a pining MMC, political scheming, morally grey characters, squabbling deities, layered power dynamics and a richly imagined world. I also loved that this world was inspired by Sri Lankan mythology, written by an author from that same culture, who was clearly passionate about the subject matter.

And the book does deliver on those elements at first. Anula, the FMC, has endured a life marked by loss and chooses to take control of her fate by plotting to marry the raja, seize the crown, and then kill him. Her plans entangle her with Reeri, the Blood Yakka - a divine being scarred by betrayal. The two strike a literal Faustian bargain to help each other achieve their goals.

I was hooked early on, but somewhere around the middle, the story lost me. There are two parallel plotlines - Anula’s pursuit of the throne and Reeri’s mission to reclaim lost power for the Yakkas - but neither felt fully fleshed out. Neither Reeri’s fellow Yakkas could really keep me interested and make me want to follow their storyline, nor did Anula’s side characters really hold my attention.

Anula, as a concept, is compelling. Her hunger for revenge and willingness to do whatever it takes made sense to me. But despite her clear motivations, I struggled to connect with her emotionally. The world is richly imagined, but paradoxically, it also felt… empty. The side characters didn’t feel fully realized. They mostly seemed to exist to move the plot along rather than to live in the world themselves.

Reeri had potential, and his gentleness contrasted nicely with Anula’s sharp edges. But I didn’t quite buy the speed or depth of his feelings for her. It felt like their emotional bond developed too fast and without enough foundation. While the tension between them was at times entertaining, it lacked weight.

I really appreciated the mythology and the ambition behind the worldbuilding, but something was missing in the execution. I wanted more depth, more immersion, more emotion. In the end, I felt too disconnected from the characters and the story to truly care about what happened.



Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Alysha Rameera, NetGalley, and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC!!!

4.5 stars!

🌟 the BANTER!
🌟 ENEMIES to lovers
🌟 semi-slow burn
🌟 character development
🌟 meddling divine

Anula has seen her family killed and her prayers for them to be saved be unanswered by the gods. She is on a mission to enact revenge on those that took her family from her. Anula decides to barter her soul for a crown - becoming the first raejina and ruling. A dangerous diety, the Blood Yakka, Reeri answers her plea, forcing them together and making them learn about each other. Anula and Reeri have some adventures, overcome challenges and learn more about each others pasts.

I really enjoyed this book! A unique setting for a fantasy book; I haven’t read anything like it. The character banter was amazing between multiple characters. Anula is quick on her feet and is a beautifully written character. I love the emotional men the author writes. Reeri has been through a lot and is authentic in his emotions which was refreshing.
I struggled a bit with characters entering paintings; somehow it went over my head at times.

I’d absolutely recommend this book to anyone wanting a unique fantasy angle, a strong and determined FMC, and amazing banter.

I think the diversity and inclusion is good and the story telling is great and plot and the themes are good and the themes for characters and story theme are good and great.
I like design for the book and the style of writing is excellent and good. I would love to see more books in this world. And more stories for the characters in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early access to review this book!!

I think this will become a new favourite of many. It has a gripping start, and the FMC is the embodiment of feminine rage.

There’s 2 separate storylines - but I felt like neither of them were especially fleshed out. I couldn’t grasp the stakes and never warmed up to the MMC.
The writing didn’t flow as nicely as I would’ve liked - which rendered some scenes very cropped and unnatural to the storyline. The FMC had a very distinct personality but the MMC was… a bit weird to read about? The aspect of mystery surrounding him wasn’t the best and it did make him feel like a checklist. The romance was extremely lusty and that’s something I struggled with a lot (especially considering it’s marketed as slow burn).
There’s constantly something happening for a good chunk of the book - which keeps the reader’s attention BUT some things happened so fast and weren’t properly explained in the aftermath…
The side characters also had very awkward interactions with the MCs and the conversations felt stilted.

There’s a few instances where a major event happened - and they just moved on without investigating or trying to understand what happened and how… and I was left feeling very dissatisfied with that. I don’t appreciate having to accept things for storyline purposes.

Overall, I think most people will like this. It just didn’t amaze me.

As a lover of folklore, mythology, and the stories of women in history that people tend to hate, I adore this book. It is not a retelling, nor is it historically accurate (but I will be thinking of it as historically accurate because I want to), but it pulls from a real person who has been judged harshly by time.
The Raejina of poisons gets to tell her own story in this book. If you are looking for a fairytale full of blood, anger, and a little (lot) of tension this is it. Plus there is a side character who I want to narrate all of my life now (Kama).

She was not a selfish murderess. She cared for her people; she cared for it all: the kingdom, the cosmos, the Yakkas. Him. They were more than not dissimilar. She was an echo.

High fantasy at its best. The world building was epic, the magic system was amazing, and the characters made me fall in love. Anula&Reeri were the slowest of slow burns and I loved it and hated it lol mainly cause I just wanted to shove them together and be like stop being dumb, you are in love. 😂

Anula and her rage, Reeri and his guilt…they tugged at my heart. I just wanted to stab all the people for both of them. The other Yakkas were amazing and so complex….I have a special place in my heart for Kama and all her chaos. 😏 if you are looking for your next high fantasy read with Sri Lankan inspired mythology and magic I got you friend!

•forced proximity
•enemies to lovers
•feminine rage
•sloooow burn
•so much YEARNING

Her Soul for a Crown is a dark, sumptuous tale of ambition, vengeance, and unlikely alliances set against the rich backdrop of ancient Anuradhapura. Alysha Rameera delivers a gripping reimagining steeped in South Asian mythology, political intrigue, and searing emotional tension.

Anula is a heroine unlike many I’ve read: calculating, determined, and unapologetically ruthless. Orphaned by war and driven by the singular desire to claim the throne for her people, her journey is one of moral complexity and razor-sharp strategy. When her careful plans crumble under a sudden coup, her desperate bargain with the Blood Yakka, Reeri, adds a tantalizing supernatural edge to her quest for power.I

Thank you to NetGalley and Alysha Rameera for an ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

this book took me a bit to get into, but once I was in, I had a lot of fun. I truly enjoyed the mythology that the author use. Would definitely reid more of her work in the future!

**3.5 stars, rounded up for Goodreads

Sri Lankan mythology is a first for me but one I enjoyed with this book. I went in with no expectations and was very pleasantly surprised when I realized how much fun I was having. I admit, the start of the book took me a bit to get into but once I was past the 15% mark I had such an easy time with it and was able to get through the whole book so much faster than I anticipated. I'll be on the lookout for more diverse reads now that I have another name to add to my diverse authors list!

Her Soul for a Crown sinks its fangs in from the first page and never lets go. Alysha Rameera crafts a richly woven tale of vengeance, ambition, and divine entanglement set against a mythos inspired by Sri Lankan lore—and the result is spellbinding. Anula is everything I want in a romantasy heroine: ruthless, clever, and absolutely done with waiting for the gods to save her. Her calculated rage feels earned, her every move purposeful, and her slow unraveling alongside the terrifyingly seductive Reeri is a masterclass in romantic tension.

This isn’t just fantasy with a love story sprinkled in—it’s a romance wrapped in ash, poison, and ancient power. The chemistry crackles without falling into trope fatigue, and Reeri? He’s that rare divine love interest who is genuinely otherworldly while still being emotionally gripping. Their bond feels both dangerous and deeply intimate, pushing the plot forward with heart and heat in equal measure. I devoured every page and already want more from this brutal, beautifully rendered world. If you’re looking for a romantasy that bites back—this is it.

A solid, diverse Romantasy title. I very much enjoyed this South Asian fantasy title steeped in romance from the get-go. It's fast-paced, well-written, and engaging until the last page. It's one of the few Romantasy books I've read recently that really captures what the genre is about--romance but in a fantasy setting. And while maybe I would've liked a tad deeper worldbuilding at points, this book more than makes up for it with the chemistry between the leads (which I often find is lacking these days from fantasy romance titles, as they are overly reliant on tropes instead of character and relationship building.) Overall, highly recommended!