Her Soul for a Crown

With lush descriptions and delicate worldbuilding, debut author Rameera draws readers into an intricate romantasy rooted in Sri Lankan myth. Anula of Anuradhapura’s happy life on her parents’ farm ended 12 years ago, when the usurping raja’s armies laid waste to her village, leaving her a teen orphan. Since that day, she has dedicated herself to revenge, encouraged by her Auntie Nirma and a circle of fierce female allies. After years of work learning spy and poison craft, she has now infiltrated the imperial palace as one of the raja’s concubines and maneuvered herself into position to become the first raejina. When her carefully laid plans go up in smoke, she makes a desperate appeal to the gods. Enter Reeri, the Blood Yakka, a deity whose past mistakes led the Lord of the Second Heavens to exile him and his brethren. Attempting to free himself and his loved ones, Reeri makes an audacious deal with the celestial ruler: he’ll return to earth and hunt down the one relic that would unbalance the heavens. When Reeri answers Anula’s prayer, the pair’s separate schemes become inextricably intertwined, sparking unexpected love. Though the narrative is somewhat overlong, the fascinating premise, intoxicating mythology, and detailed characterization keep the pages turning. It’s a gorgeous exploration of faith, rage, and passion. (Aug.)