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The Crimson Princess is a thrilling, darkly romantic fantasy that blends political intrigue, supernatural danger, and steamy romance into an engaging read. Zoey Voss crafts a strong, daring heroine in Princess Satima, whose loyalty and courage are tested as she navigates both the mortal and magical realms.

The story shines in its high-stakes action and richly imagined world, with battles, betrayals, and morally complex characters keeping the plot tense and captivating. Toren, the ancient vampire king, is a deliciously dangerous love interest, and the chemistry between him and Satima sizzles against the backdrop of political and supernatural turmoil.

While the worldbuilding and romance are compelling, the story occasionally leans heavily on familiar tropes, and some plot threads could have been explored more deeply. Still, fans of Buffy-style urban fantasy, fierce heroines, and enemies-to-lovers romance will find plenty to enjoy.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. These opinions are my own and unpaid.

Started off slow then it quickly picked up. I enjoyed following the heroine and found her to be fierce. I’m looking forward to the audiobooks as I feel it’ll be more engaging for me as I enjoy audiobooks more lately and can give more time to them.

Excited for the release and looking forward to the audiobook!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
A princess bound to fae politics and vampire intrigue—promises a dark fairytale. The atmosphere is immersive, brimming with potential, but I never felt tethered to her heart. Magic and politics swirl, yet emotional grounding feels distant. If mood is mood, this one’s rich—just crushed the potential of its connections.

A princess bound by duty, a vampire king shrouded in history—this book had me glued to the page for 7 hours straight! 🩸👑

📖 The Crimson Princess by Zoey Voss
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶✨

⚠️ TW: Grief, Loss, War/Conflict

After the sudden death of the queen, Princess Satima—future ruler of Ravengale—is forced to obey her father and the rigid laws of the Book of Life. But when his plans push her into an uneasy encounter with Toren, the vampire king and her father’s sworn enemy, she finds herself torn between duty and the dangerous pull of forbidden attraction. With ancient grudges, shifting allegiances, and enemies threatening the fragile peace, Satima must decide how far she’ll go to protect her people…and her heart.

This book had so many layers, each peeled back so carefully that I couldn’t stop reading. The worldbuilding was rich and immersive, with political tension, family secrets, and history that felt alive. I loved how every character had depth—not just Satima, but her mother, father, Toren, and even the side characters. And the romance? Everything I wanted. Their chemistry leapt off the page, growing from wary curiosity to undeniable trust and desire. I was completely rooting for them. That cliffhanger at the end? Brutal, but brilliant.

I’m very much attached to this story now, and I cannot wait for book two.

Tropes:
🩸 Enemies to Lovers
👑 Royalty MMC/FMC
🦇 Vampire MMC
⚔️ Badass FMC
🛡 Protective MMC
✨ Powerful FMC
🤐 Secret Romance
🧠 Mind-to-Mind Connection
🔥 “Touch Her and Die”

Thank you NetGalley and Zoey Voss for this ARC!

“He's everything I expect a vampire king to be, everything my mother warned me Toren would be if ever I met him. He possesses the kind of seduction and beauty that you can only call deadly.”

Extremely fast paced … but I’m not complaining about it ! I really enjoyed every second of reading this fantasy romance. Sorceresses, druids and vampire. A warrior princess who has just lost her mother and whose father wants to marry off to someone she really does not like. That is … until she meets the vampire king. Political intrigue, loyalties divided and a very spicy dynamic between two apparent enemies which cannot deny the incredibly strong feelings they start developing for one another. Torin is … one heck of a man and you will find yourself falling in love with him at page one. And Satima … a very good FMC, that you will follow on the entire journey to truth and trying to avoid war.

“War is coming. It all but bleeds from the universe, and it feels as if at any moment we will transform from lovers to enemies, and neither of us knows how to stop it from happening.
And for now, we don't have to try.
The darkness of the worlds around us transforms into the darkness of our need.”

This story started off strong, but felt like it really slowed down. Some of the creatures seemed random and like they didn't really add to the overall story. Some of the descriptions were also kind of vague or worded in a weird way. The romance felt sort of sudden and rushed, though the chemistry did develop eventually.

✨ Book Review of Satima’s Journey in Ravengale ✨

From the very beginning, this story hooked me. Ravengale feels alive, with its strict traditions, hidden grudges, and a princess torn between duty and desire. Satima’s journey isn’t just about breaking rules—it’s about finding her own voice in a world determined to silence her. I loved how personal her struggle felt; I could feel her desperation to step beyond her father’s shadow and make her own choices, even when those choices carried devastating risks.

And then there’s Toren, the vampire king—dangerous, magnetic, and impossible to resist. The tension between him and Satima had me flipping pages faster than I thought possible. Their connection is intoxicating, equal parts mistrust and passion, and every scene between them carried the weight of history, blood, and desire. It’s the kind of chemistry that makes your heart pound even when you know it could all go terribly wrong.

The mix of tragedy and intimacy in this book really struck me. Death isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a force that reshapes everything, pushing Satima into moments that are heartbreaking but also transformative. I found myself asking what I would do in her place, and that’s when I knew this story had gotten under my skin.

And then—that cliffhanger. I closed the book both reeling and craving more. Just when I thought I had a sense of where things were going, the ending ripped the ground out from under me. Now I’m desperate for the next book, because I need to know what happens.

This book gave me passion, heartbreak, and suspense all wrapped together—and it left me hungry for what comes next!

The Crimson Princess has a compelling premise with dark fantasy elements, political intrigue, and an enemies-to-lovers romance between Princess Satima and the vampire king, Toren. I enjoyed the paranormal aspects and the high-stakes plot, though the romance felt rushed.

However, the world-building was inconsistent—mixing castles and magic with modern elements like cell phones and the Golden Gate Bridge—which broke immersion. Action scenes lacked depth, editing issues were distracting, and the magical creatures felt uninspired. Finally, the romance, although central to the story, didn’t fully resonate with me. The connection between Satima and Toren developed far too quickly to feel believable, and without proper buildup, it lacked the emotional punch an enemies-to-lovers trope needs.

Overall, it’s a story with potential but falls short in execution. 3.5/5 stars.

I couldn’t get into this one unfortunately. One of best friends absolutely raved about it and gave it 5 stars. I think the style of writing just wasn’t for me. But I 100% believe that sooo many people will love it.

If you hate a slow burn, this is for you. Satima and Toren have an instant connection. And even though Satima was warned by her mother about Toren, she can't stay away and can't find a reason not trust him. And after finding out some secrets her mother kept from her, Toren might be the only one that can help her and keep her alive.

I read this book in one sitting and the twist at the end made me want to throw my phone across the room, just because now I have to wait for book 2!!!

Interesting take on vampirism with modern aspects to the story. Romance felt a little rushed and lacked some tension/build up as may have been anticipated according to the blurb. Romeo and Juliet type vibes between royalty and vampire - definitely has potential for future extensions of the series.

The Crimson Princess is a romantasy that blends forbidden love, political intrigue, and a realm stitched together by portals and destiny.

Zoey Voss crafts a world that exists parallel to our own, connected by guarded portals and layered with modern-day cars, ancient castles, and a magic system rooted in societal hierarchy. At the top sits a king whose power is tethered to a mysterious book said to write destiny itself. And beneath is his daughter and legacy, Satima, a princess torn between duty and desire.

Satima’s love for her country runs deep, her grief for her mother is raw, and her relationship with her father is as complicated as the politics threatening to unravel their realm. But it’s her forbidden romance with the enemy that sets this story ablaze. The burn isn’t slow. It’s immediate, electric, and laced with yearning. As the lovers must wear masks of indifference, forced to navigate their feelings in silence while war brews and alliances shift.

This isn’t just a love story, it’s a tale of impossible choices. Satima is caught between loyalty to her people, the shadow of her father’s expectations, and the pull of a love that could cost her everything. The emotional stakes are high, the tension is relentless, and the ending is diabolical.

If you love star-crossed lovers, political maneuvering, and heroines who choose heartbreak over complacency, The Crimson Princess belongs on your shelf. And if you’re like me, you’ll be counting down the days until the next book drops.

What immediately pulled me toward this book was its premise a mix of political intrigue and a dash of magic. It sets the stage for something dramatic and high-stakes, and I was definitely hooked by the idea from the start.

As the story unfolded, I did find myself craving more from the world-building. The kingdom, its history, and the cultural layers had so much potential to make the tension feel sharper and the setting more alive, but those aspects stayed a little underdeveloped for me.

On a more personal note, I noticed a heavy reliance on (like “and/the”), which occasionally pulled me out of the flow. That might just be a reader-specific quirk on my part, though, it may not bother others at all.
What really stands out is the author’s ability to craft tension and intrigue in a way that keeps readers engaged. Even small moments carry weight, and the promise of more makes me eager for the next installment. Overall, The Crimson Princess is a fantastic read for anyone who loves political drama with magical twists. I can’t wait to see where this story goes next! Highly recommended.

4⭐️
first of all thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc to read in exchange to give my honest review.
i really enjoyed The Crimson Princess, from the dark magical realism to the romance to the worlds / world building even to the politics! It was extremely easy of a read and kept me engaged and captivated by the story as it kept progressing.
Satima was an incredible FMC; strong willed, feisty, and not willing to back down from a fight.
Toren was also a great MMC, broody vampire? hell yes. I was captivated by his character from the start.
I found Satima and Toren had great chemistry and I love them together, but normally I do prefer more of a slow burn romance and things were fairly fast paced when it came to them.
But other than that I loved the story, the mystery component and trying to also learn and understand where certain secrets or mysteries were heading and what was to come!
The cliff hanger at the end left me dying for more and to know what's going to happen next. Can't wait until book 2!

Princess Satima must protect her kingdom with her budding magical powers and political prowess against looming threats of invasion, corruption, werewolves, and war. However, her father, the ancient hero of the kingdom, is convinced that only he knows the right way to handle things and is trying to marry her off to a druid prince for political purposes. Meanwhile, things are getting interesting with the sexy vampire king Toren, who is trying to stop his power-hungry brother from making big moves.

The story opens from the reflective mind of Satima's mother, the Queen, and the rest of the story is told from Satima's point of view. The magical world also has room for modern technology, allowing for the cozy moments where Satima and Toren try some chocolate treats together at a village cafe. Since this is a romantasy, some of the action scenes were glossed over in favor of focusing on the chemistry between Satima and Toren and the political intrigue.

Satima has a difficult relationship with her father, who is not very good at listening to her, and I'll leave it at that to avoid spoiling too much. Occasionally I'd run into a conversation where Satima would spout off dramatic lines like "You will save your kingdom for this moment in time and lose it for the eternity that follows" and then her father would hit back with a racist line, like "Get off your knees for that animal. Vampires are the sludge of all worlds." Like wow. Okay, boomer dad.

But it is easy to overlook the occasional conversational melodrama. The tropes are familiar (big age gap: ancient/powerful/sexy male vampire meets young human female main character) and the romantic suspense is great. I tore through the book. If I didn't have work the next morning, I would have stayed up reading to find out what happens. It's a smooth, satisfying read, and throughout the story I was always eager to find out what would happen next.

Overall rating: 4.5 (rounded up to 5 stars)
Would I read the sequel: Yes!

3.25⭐️

i so wanted to really LOVE this book. i liked it, it was a fun read, but i didn't LOVE it. there were certain things that i couldn't really get past.

for one, the name macklemore is a wild villain name (even if he's only mentioned a handful of times...i made a face each time). i know sometimes fantasy names are hard to come up with, but...macklemore.

i also think the world building could have been a little bit more fleshed out. i think it's hard to really nail blending the modern world with a fantasy world, especially when they're not completely integrated like in this book (ie the human world is still very separate but the fantasy royals ride in limousines?). i think i would've enjoyed it more had it been either more integrated between worlds or they were completely separated; it just made things a bit confusing for me.

satima, our fmc, struggled for me. she's trying to figure things out that are centuries old, and it feels a bit like she's not qualified for it. all of a sudden, she just "senses" things and doesn't actually work that hard to find out major plot points. it felt a little disappointing to me.

what i did like - toren. seriously. i love vampires. i love how sensual they can be. i love that he was not the vicious villain, but someone you wanted to root for. the only thing i did not love about him was the scene towards the end of the book where he was coercing satima into bed. did not like, made me uncomfortable. i hope it doesn't happen again (just not something i personally enjoy reading about, but i know that dark romances can be dark). i also liked toren's little gang of friends, as well as the guards of satima and her father (ambrose and idris). really good, fun side characters that made me keep going.

overall, i'm glad i read and finished this book. i'm sure i will be reading the next one, as it did get better and better as i read and i'm intrigued by where the story will go next. thank you to netgalley and the author for the arc.

thank you to netgalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review!

overrall, i do think this story has potential. however, it needs a complete makeover and plenty of editing in order to reach that potential.

my first problem with this book is that it is somewhat of a modern fantasy. i was not made aware of this fact through the description, which i feel is very important information. it does not make too much sense to include kings, queens, castles, villages, and magic but also have things such as air conditioning, limousines, cell phones, cops, and the golden gate bridge in san francisco. it just does not flow well together at all and it makes me question the story’s seriousness. i felt like i was reading a story written and published on wattpad. the scenes with any action whatsoever went extremely fast and without much description. i did not get to feel much satisfaction at the end of the fight scenes.

the world-building needs a lot of work. the descriptions of everything are lacking. it was not easy to picture the world this book had intended and i found myself just going with whatever world i, personally, wanted to see. this book also needs tremendous amounts of editing. there were a handful of errors which completely takes the reader out of the story. again, it makes me question the seriousness of this book. there was the use of “and/or” in the book— i am not kidding. there are more refined ways to get your point across without the use of “and/or.”

the magical creatures were not unique in any way. the zombies, in particular, seemed to be a very odd choice. they were a very strange addition to the book which added nothing of substance to the plot. when the book would describe a creature seemingly “new,” the descriptions were very uninspired. for example, “Frostburns resemble frostburns with the fangs and claws of a tiger…” first of all… frostburns resemble frostburns?? what am i supposed to do with that information? so… basically, i’m just imaging a tiger, right? it just seemed to be such a random assortment of creatures thrown into this story.

the romance was also extremely quick to blossom and did not elicit any feelings of giddiness or excitement at all. this is extremely important when one of the main focuses in your book is indeed the romance.

the fmc refers to the mmc many times as being seduced by him because she knows he’s a “male.” for example, 1. “His touch shocks me, my skin instantly burning hot, my awareness for him as male, far too present in the middle of a battlefield.” neither the time, nor the place. also, it is just something that shouldn’t need to be said more than once, if at all.

2. “I’m a female, in lust with the most incredible male I’ve ever met.” 3. “And he is beautifully male…” why do we need to specify that we’re each male and female multiple times over? as if the reader is not already aware of that. this was very unnecessary and irritating.

The Crimson Princess has an interesting premise and I appreciated the creativity behind the heart of the story. There were moments where the tension and stakes kept me curious about what would happen next. However, I found the worldbuilding unclear, with key elements like the presence of magic introduced without much setup. The pacing also felt uneven, especially toward the rushed ending where several major events happened too quickly. Some repeated descriptions and certain scenes didn’t work for me, but I can see how readers who enjoy fast-moving, high-drama fantasy might enjoy it more.

2.5 stars
I’ve been picking this up and putting it back down since I got it, and I finally just forced myself to finish it. The idea sounded great, but the writing felt a bit rough and never really grabbed me. The start is heavy on history and telling rather than showing, so I didn’t feel connected to the characters or the world. I think it might work better for readers who enjoy a more old-school, legend-style fantasy, but it just wasn’t for me.

"... emotion is deadly to me. Calm is deadly to my enemies."

"Never realizing one's potential is no way to live."

The princess of a kingdom's life is bound by not only the rule of her father, but his rule by a special book. At the young age of 13, her life is unexpectedly upended when she and her mother are laden with a task in another world by the special book. 10 years later, on the princess' birthday, her life is upended once more. In the worst way possible. Now she must return home to navigate a new path for herself and the future of her kingdom. She must tread carefully for nothing is as it seems, despite what she may think.

At first I was a little confused while reading because the style of writing kept flowing back and forth from something one would anticipate from older times to modern day. It didn't really hit me until I had finished the book, how well it actually fit to the story line and Satima's character experience between two different worlds in her young life. I enjoyed this book, however, I was a little disappointed that the multi pov didn't last the entire book, that would have been neat to see. I'm really hoping that any further additions will have it. Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the opportunity to read this fun ARC and review it. My opinions on this book are my own. I think this would be perfect for Romantasy lovers, those who enjoy Fantasy and Sci-Fi, a little bit of spice and a little Court Intrigue.