First, a disclaimer: I am incredibly biased toward this book. The author is a good friend of mine (Alysha, if you’re reading this, hi!), and I had the honor of first reading this back when it was a manuscript and she didn’t even have a publisher yet. But I hope that doesn’t entirely take away my credibility when I tell y’all that this book is SO GOOD.

Her Soul for a Crown by Alysha Rameera tells the story of Anula, a young woman living in the kingdom of Anuradhapura. The past few years, she’s been grieving the violent deaths of her parents due to the choices of their rulers. Now an adult, Anula is ready for revenge, whatever the cost. If it means lying her way into the royal palace, so be it. If it means poisoning her way through her list of those who betrayed her family, so be it. And if it means making a deal with a Yakka, a demonic being, so be it. Meanwhile, the Blood Yakka known as Reeri has a goal of his own: to free himself and his brethren from their overlord’s control. Allying himself with this woman is risky, but it might provide Reeri with the opportunity he’s been waiting for. Now, secrets abound, and the kingdom of Anuradhapura will shake in its foundations.

I wish I’d been working the day my workplace received this ARC, because I’d been waiting weeks, only for the package to finally show up on my day off! But anyway, now that I have my precious book, I can attest that to see a story I’d only ever beheld on a computer screen before is bizarre in the best way. In fact, I immediately abandoned the other books I was reading to reread this (sorry not sorry to the people waiting for me to finish Words of Radiance, but that’ll have to wait a bit longer).

Firstly, Anula! What a protagonist. She’s driven and ruthless, full of righteous anger and fiery passion. I mean, she’s based on the historical “poison queen” of Sri Lanka, so that’s to be expected. But I loved getting to know this fictionalized version of her, seeing what’s brought her to this point, seeing the depth and complexity she has. Her personality is vivid and interesting, and I love how she changes and grows over the course of the story. So too with Reeri, who’s also a fantastic character. His journey is equally as strong as Anula’s, and I especially love his bond with Calu, his brother for all intents and purposes.

Speaking of the side characters, Rameera brings the world and mythologies of ancient Sri Lanka to life with a delightful supporting cast. From the other Yakkas, as well as their harsh ruler Wessamony, the ways that mythology and religion are adapted and interwoven with the story is so cool and clever. Plus, the real history of Anula and the complex and fragile politics of Anuradhapura make for a grounded, rich backdrop. It’s fun to see how the magical elements combine with the historical.

Without getting too much into spoilers, this book has a compelling plot. Anula’s desire for revenge sends her on a dark path into an opulent but dangerous world at the height of power. She encounters various obstacles, both expected and not, and following the twists and new revelations was so exciting. And all along, I loved watching her relationship with Reeri shift and expand, and their mutual pining is delicious. There’s a perfect amount of romance and desire for me, never sidelining the main plot but also never feeling like an afterthought itself. And as the story reaches its final act, there’s a lot of intense action and high stakes, and a rewarding conclusion.

In the end, I could talk for ages about Her Soul for a Crown, perhaps because I’ve been watching its transformation from manuscript to book for so long. But it also has so much to offer in and of itself: a wonderful, detailed historical setting, brilliantly realized mythological elements, a wonderful romance full of yearning, and a thrilling plot filled with politics, secrets, and power plays. The characters are just so fantastic, and I love spending time with them. And I can’t wait for all of you to finally meet them! If you’re a fan of fantasy (particularly retellings of mythology) and want something with equal parts historial detail and excellent romance, please read this!

(Also, I can’t end this review without a special shoutout to my favorite Yakka other than Reeri, the book nerd Sohon! I love him dearly.)

Her Soul for a Crown will be published on August 12th, 2025, a day that can’t come soon enough!