A review by thatgirlinblack
The Crimson Fortress by Akshaya Raman

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

In contrast to the previous story which saw all four siblings united in an adventurous quest to find enough magical resources to save Ashoka, this time they are further divided by suspicion and betrayal, navigating their own personal goals as well as the salvation of their kingdom. The blood flows and the forced proximity abounds 🫢 

Vira is dethroned and on the run with the assassin who killed her mother, Ronek is being blackmailed by the sultry Ecta, Riya is struggling to control her new magical powers, and Kaleb is in the rival Lyrian kingdom playing double agent. Love blooms, even if in secret, and I appreciate that some of it is LGBTQ+! 

Cosmic forces make a return, secrets are revealed, and history is laid bare (if at times a little melodramatically) and each sibling must make irreversible choices. They reunite for one last trip into the bowels of the legendary Crimson Fortress in a last ditch effort to save everything they hold dear. 

Enjoy the still copious food descriptions and listen to the audiobook because each sibling’s chapter is narrated by a different person and the voices are so perfect!