This is an interesting read, and the inspiration for the story had a lot of potential.
However, the antihero central character just doesn't have enough depth for me. She's too passive. There are aspects of the story that are fairly gruesome and I think more humour or more fleshing out of the details could have helped to carry it. As it is, it left me a bit cold. I just didn't believe enough in the character and her motivations as they were so extrinsic.

This book starts with a topic that's currently triggering for me so I'll come back to it later. The writing, wordlbuilding, and characters all seem interesting.

I don't know how to explain with words how much I thoroughly enjoyed The Scarlet Throne. What an ambitious, unforgiving, rich story about power and women and magic and the fight between good and evil and the nuance that exists in between. Everything about this story was amazing, right from start to finish, and I could barely stop myself from turning the page, that's how compelling it was. If you're looking for a story with an unapologetic female protagonist that doesn't attempt to whitewash behaviour, owns the selfish but understandable reasons why people do the horrible things they do, and acknowledges that seeking out power for the sake of having power is not a human flaw, this is absolutely the book for you! Binsa is ruthless, curious, interesting, and just so exceedingly well-formed as both a character as well as a voice and perspective. The worldbuilding is immense and sprawling but feels deeply grounded and prolific — the way that Leow takes the practice of the Kumari and the pantheon that she's created here is so fascinating, that I'm so ecstatic there will be another book in this series. I can't wait!

The Scarlet Throne by Amy Leow is an epic story of female rage and depicting the odds of being on the throne. This book leans heavily on politics, social class and that women always have to try harder to get what they want.

This book is honestly like a smooth sailing road when it comes to my attention. As I went through this book, it felt like everything just falls into place at its most appropriate times.

I find this story intriguing because of the world building and how Binsa not only accepts but challenges anything that comes her way.

All in all, I recommend you to read this book.

A new romantasy-esque adventure that packs a punch from the start. Full of intrigue, drama, action and romance, this was a truly compelling read.

3.25/5 stars! This is the first book in the "False Goddess" series by Amy Loew. The premise of the story was intriguing and I enjoyed the first 30%. Binsa is a unique character and it's a fun reversal of good vs evil with a FMC leaning into the latter rather than the former. Where this story let me down was the pacing. It was overly convoluted and took to long to get where it was going. Would check out another book by this author, but hopefully have it be more fast-paced.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

When I started this, I was immediately obsessed. I love a villain as a main character and Binsa definitely felt like a true villain.
However, the book sadly wasn't able to hold my excitement throughout as the plot was quite slow and there were a lot of intrigues and things to be unraveled, but to me, it wasn't super interesting.

I love that this was inspired by Nepali mythology and customs as that is something I have not seen before in a fantasy book. The concept of the living goddess is something that was new to me, and I thought it was really cool that the author put the spin on it with the demon.

The plot definitely picked up in the last 30 % and the ending was great, but at this point I am not sure if I want to read the sequel.
I think I just had different expectations and the book didn't quite live up to those. I do appreciate though that the FMC really did everything she could to stay in power and wasn't above morally corrupt actions. I think the "villain" part of the story was executed really well.

I also would have liked for the book to feel a bit more immersive in terms of the atmosphere.

Overall, this was just fine for me. I do certainly recommend it, especially if you're looking for a fantasy book that feels unique!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

The Scarlet Throne had me gripped from page one with its morally grey lead and exploration of power and corruption.

With scheming demons and a main character who is definitely more likely to act to keep her status as a living God than be a hero, you are sure to be hooked. I often found myself rooting for our MC even when her actions were extremely questionable. It was extremely refreshing to read from a questionable leads prospective, (it's definitely more fun) and highlighted how peoples inner thoughts and past can create their own logic reasonings for their actions. Our MC has been on the Scarlet Throne longer than any other, but she's hiding a secret in the form of a demon and the fact the Goddess whom she's meant to embody has never appeared to her. At the age of 16, those in the temple are acting against her and using their power to force her into retirement. But what if she doesn't want to retire gracefully,

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♟️Rating:3.25/5⭐
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Thank you Netgalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
When I was reading this novel, it felt vaguely familiar as if I had seen a similar premise before. Not TPW series, but *eye twitch* Death Note. I'm just saying that Binsa would love to have a death note and a contract with a shikigami because that was what sort of happened in the novel itself.
To start off, I enjoyed the premise and idea of the book. They’re all the things which I love such as a political plot, fantasy and a morally grey main character. However, some things just fell at times and I as a reader often felt frustrated at the main character’s lack of clear motivation to secure power. Like why is Binsa so obsessed with keeping her throne? Because she enjoys it? For her family? We never get to know her main motivation which is the centre plot of this book. At times, I also found myself questioning some of her actions and her reasoning. (Also, she can be quite naive at times) I honestly wished that there was more depth to her character because she felt very flat at times.

The plot was mainly going around in circles for the majority of the middle portion, up till the last 80% of the book. And the pacing just felt super inconsistent at times. Even though this was marketed as an adult fantasy, we don’t actually get to see much things happening. If anything, it felt a lot like a ya book due to the way certain characters speak and act. The last 80% of the book is honestly what carried it for me. It’s exactly what I would love to see in Binsa. However, my only qualm is that it feels rushed if I connect the last 20% of the book to whatever it had happened previously. The abrupt switch in certain characters felt too out of place and jarring.

Nonetheless, this is a pretty great debut novel with excellent world building. It’s hard to write novels specifically about gods roaming amongst humans as there it’s very easy to just ruin it with a bunch of plot armour. While reading this book, I often found myself torn between enjoying it and being bored halfway through. Not bad for a first novel but if I were to compare it with other adult books out there, it definitely falls short of providing enough nuances.

I think this starts off in the wrong place. We start off knowing that the main character is dark and morally grey, and there's no real surprises from there on. Everything in this book, for every single character, is about power, but not written in a way that has you rooting for anybody in particular, not even the main character Binsa. It all just felt a bit... shallow?

That's not to say this isn't well-written - I think the author has a talent for worldbuilding and there is a really interesting parent-child dynamic in here that I enjoyed. I think this author has a lot of potential, and I liked that we are shown exactly how ruthless Binsa will be to get what she wants, I think that was such a strong choice. Unfortunately I just didn't connect or care enough about the characters to continue with the series.

The Scarlet Throne is a stunning fantasy steeped in Nepalese folklore.

We follow Bisma and her struggles as a vessel of the goddess, Rashmatun. I loved how the author revealed the blood shamanism and seeing the unraveling of all of Bisma’s plans. I did often forget how young the characters were and understand why they were set that way, but they all read much older than young children and teenagers. I enjoyed the dynamic between the different pairs of siblings and felt the character writing in the book was excellent.

I started to lose interest around the half way point, but the author really clawed the story back in the last quarter. I always love a good villain arc and I’m really looking forward to seeing how Amy Leow explores this development as the series progresses. The quote below solidified my desire to continue with the trilogy and I can’t wait to read the next books.

“The rage that sparked back at Llaon plumes to life, a furious flame that threatens to devour everything in its path—a storm that vows to sweep everything that crosses it into oblivion.”

I really enjoyed this political fantasy set in Nepal, inspired by the living goddesses. Binsa is a young girl who hosts a goddess, but when the host become ‘of age’ (I.e. women), they must be replaced.
Binsa does not want to be replaced, and it’s not a deity she host’s anyway, it’s a demon.

I found the world building and mystical setting for this book fantastic. I really felt the atmosphere of the Nepalese mountains, traditions and mysticism throughout the entire story.
While the politics of Binsa trying to keep hold of her power and status were compelling, I do think this became confused towards the end of the book and I was shocked to see it’s set to be a trilogy. I feel like Binsa’s story could have been held as a stand-alone with improved pacing.
However I did enjoy reading a very different type of fantasy, that gives us the POV of a true villain. The themes of female rage, family conflict and strife alongside the unique fantasy elements, were all really fresh to me.

This book was really easy to read. I thought when I started it that I wasn’t really in the mood for another fantasy, but it quickly changed my mind. I loved the characters and the setting was really interesting, but the thing I liked most was the main character’s descent into darkness, her manipulation of the people around her and her grasping at power by any means necessary.

I really liked Binsa’s conversations with the demon who lived inside her. He was sassy and had his own motivations. He was unreliable and deceptive, and I honestly couldn’t get enough of it. Especially as Binsa started scheming and planning and being deceptive as well.

I really didn’t expect the ending and I’m really interested in what it’s setting up for in the sequel because it ended in a really interesting place.

The Scarlet Throne is a unique fantasy novel that follows the main character Binsa as she claims to host a a goddess but it is in fact a demon providing the power. This book is influenced by Nepali myth and folklore and it was really great to see more diverse fantasy being represented. This is a slower paced fantasy and it took me a while to get into it as I've been reading more fast paced books recently. However I did enjoy the storyline and twists and turns throughout and the pace definitely picks up towards the end of the book, setting up for the next in series. Looking forward to see how the series continues in the next book.

2.5/2.75 ⭐️ rounded up.

I, unfortunately, found this to be incredibly boring. The concept was good, I really enjoyed the idea of following the ‘villain’ and for the most part I found Binsa an interesting character. But overall it was all just so lacklustre. Despite the dark elements, the book seemed to lack teeth. There was no real engagement with or in anything, that the world had a lack of substance. Worldbuilding, you may ask me, and I will say world building where? There was some, but again, it all felt very, very basic…and just so boring.

I was shocked to find that this is the first book in the trilogy as it honest could have ended with this one. I’ve seen the sequel set up and the potential storyline and god, it’s just going to be a repeat of this, isn’t it? This book felt like a repeat of itself that I can’t imagine a sequel being much more imaginative however I would like to have hope because, as I said, I do enjoy the concept — and, additionally, I will say that Leow has some nice emotive and descriptive writing, especially with dream sequences. The problems just fall within the wider storytelling, ie with the plotting and the pacing and the fleshing out of everything.

Just not my cup of tea unfortunately. It’s not the worst thing I read but it’s not the best either. Hopefully the sequel is better?

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: 3.5**

I had so much fun with this - I thought the plot and concept was great and the take of "the Chosen One" in Binsa was refreshing. Binsa being written as a morally grey character was also really great - genuinely was in shock over the last couple of chapters over Binsa's decisions and motivations. However, I did struggle a little in the middle - I felt like there were some scenes that were too dragged on and could've been shorter. I also wished some characters were explored more like Medha, Nali, Ykta and Keran. Maybe in the sequel?

Would definitely be following this series in the future. Thank you so much to Orbit UK for the ARC!

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

“The Scarlet Throne” by Amy Leow is a fantasy debut novel that follows Binsa, a young girl who pretends to host the great goddess Rashmatun. But, unfortunately, it’s a demon she’s channelling and she would do anything to keep her position as a “living goddess”.

Binsa is a sixteen-year-old girl whose past is made of suffering and fear. Her mother’s ambitions had manipulated her life, changing her thoroughly. Murder and sacrifice characterise this novel: the corruption arc that features this book is phenomenal, we can finally read a story narrated from the villain’s point of view.
Something that I really appreciated was the lack of romance. Even though I don’t dislike it, I think that “The Scarlet Throne” needed to be entirely focused on Binsa’s journey.
Binsa’s character is deepened to the point that even if you that her actions aren’t justifiable, you can’t help but cheer for her. After all she has been through, she deserves to be called a goddess, honestly 🫢

There many other secondary characters, but the main focus remains on Binsa, who’s willing to do ANYTHING to achieve her goals. Even if the reason why she so desperately wants to keep her position isn’t properly stated, it’s still implied and perfectly portrayed as the story proceeds.

I only think that this book would have worked even better if it were a standalone. It’d have been more impactful if Binsa’s story started and ended in one book, but I’m still extremely curious about what it’s going to be in the second book!

Please, give this book a chance, especially if you liked the last 40 pages of the Poppy War and need more feminine rage 👀✨

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I struggled a bit with connecting to this book. I enjoyed the politcial/religous drama, but would have prefered the characters to be older: some of the dialogue or actions didn't seem to be realistic for teenagers/young children. But I really liked the ending and will read the sequel!

3 stars

Thrilling and detailed fantasy opener

As we see more diverse influences in fantasy fiction, here's a debut influenced by Nepali folklore and myth, but with a twist all of its very own. From the off, the secret is no secret: Binsa is the earthly avatar of the goddess Rashmatun but she has never been possessed by the goddess. Instead, her power comes from a demon that feeds on blood. As the lies begin to build, and Binsa is forced to manifest more and more of Rashmatun's powers without the goddess behind her, Binsa has to choose what she will do to ensure her own survival: give in to the demon or give in to her enemies.

And yet there's a further twist... This is a brilliant fantasy opener told almost solely from Binsa's point of view, with a cast of demons, gods, other avatars, religious, and Binsa's family, dysfunctional, secretive, ambitious. Influenced by Nepali folklore, this is its own thing, and Leow ensures that the reader knows that this is only influenced by and does not represent Nepali culture. The narrative runs from the fantastic to the destitute, with plenty of gore. Love, too, but not romance, although that may come in future instalments; however, it's no loss in this one, with Binsa's journey before the book begins cleverly illuminated in her character and narrative, showing that her family relationships are the ones we need to focus on, and the secrets beyond the open secret propelling the story into at least the next two parts of this trilogy.

Four and a half stars.

NetGalley ARC Reader Review: 2.5 stars rounded up.

This book was a challenge for me. Usually I can get into a book really easily. I think the setting of the book could have been captured a bit better from the beginning.
I struggled with the visual description of a teenage naked body desiring to continue to look like a child, and that made it difficult for me to connect to the FMC. It left me feeling uncomfortable.

The dark magic system was mediocre. Essentially, not magic of her own, but a host of a demon and using its power.
It takes so long for any minor description of how the magic system works... But apparently she's been the host of this demon for years, with no understanding of the power? That really didn't click or make sense to me.

The redeeming qualities in this book were the relationships between the FMC and her brother, the little girl, who, I won't spoil why she's in the story, and the fact that the FMC realized she did not want to be corrupted by the demon's blood magic like her mother.