The Scarlet Throne is an engaging and unputdownable read! Binsa is a “living goddess” who serves as a vessel. For almost ten years, Binsa has sacrificed for her role. Yet Binsa has served far longer than most and soon faces tricky politics within the temple. How far will Binsa go to maintain her role as the living goddess? 

As the living goddess, Binsa experiences a slow and compelling descent into blood magic. Binsa is so used to doing whatever it takes to survive that she is able to rationalize away whatever sacrifices she must make. I appreciated that Binsa has several close relationships, including her brother and the young girl who will replace her, though she risks them in her pursuit of power. Ilam is a mercurial and intriguing demon who offers Binsa power at a price. I really enjoyed the interactions between Ilam and Binsa, particularly as they learned more about the magic. The reveals about the goddess were so creative and I can’t wait to see what happens next!  

Readers who love a slow descent into villany, revenge, and an unreliable narrator will devour The Scarlet Throne! 

Thank you to Amy Leow, Orbit, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.