Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Death, Violence, War, Death of a parent, Murder, Injury detail, Grief, Colonialism, Racism/bigotry, Betrayal, Manipulation, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Alcohol use
Empress Crowned in Red
by Ciannon Smart
Book 2 in Witches Steeped in Gold
Jazmyne and Iraya spend the finale clawing toward power while a worse threat rises beyond the veil. Come for the witch politics, stay for the betrayals that make every alliance feel temporary.
goodreads 3.65/5 623 ratings
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length768 pages
Series statusCompleted series · 2 books
Spice1/5 · Tension / anticipation
PacingMedium
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Push and pull
- Male/female pairing (M/F)
- Slow burn
- Low
- Tension / anticipation
- Closure
Show more
- Mysterious stranger
- Sweet / tender
- Earned hope
- Reluctant allies to lovers
- Adrenaline rush
- Intellectual satisfaction
Fantasy promise
- Ya fantasy
- Love triangle
- Royal court / palace
- High fantasy
- Witches/wizards/warlocks
- War front / rebellion
Show more
- Mythological
- Spirits
- Forced alliance
- Monsters
Reading experience
- Dual POV
- Medium
- Dark
- Lush
- Heavy
- High
Show more
- Witch/mage
- Black MC
- Tense
- Atmospheric
- Royalty
- BIPOC MC
- Magical
- Vengeful / revenge-driven
- Dramatic
- Character-driven
- Ambitious schemer
- Rebel leader / revolutionary
- Hopeful
- Queen / ruling monarch
- Political intrigue
- Enemies forced to ally
- War-torn kingdom
- Island kingdom
- Power corrupts
- Betrayal and forgiveness
Similar stories
Similar in ways that matter
Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.
404 pages Completed
The King's Weapon
Neena Laskowski
Similar because
Mysterious stranger · Ya fantasy · Royalty
Different because
A shorter read (404 vs 768 pages).
416 pages Completed
Gathering Darkness
Morgan Rhodes
Similar because
Betrayal and forgiveness · Rebel leader / revolutionary · Ya fantasy
Different because
A shorter read (416 vs 768 pages).
368 pages Standalone
Ruinsong
Julia Ember
Similar because
Power corrupts · Witch/mage · War-torn kingdom
Different because
It is standalone rather than completed. Slow pacing rather than Medium.
Book details
- Length
- 768 pages
- Publisher
- HarperTeen
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book