This was a 2.5 star read for me. The story itself is fine, though nothing altogether special, but it is somewhat strangely paced in regard to the frequent flashbacks. In the first few chapters taking place in the present-day Firin and Bregan talk about how well they know each other and how deeply in love they were/are, yet the flashback timeline gives the impression that they only knew each other for a day or two, because it is not made clear that we are only witnessing the beginning of the romance, not the entirety of it. Additionally, Firin's repeated insistence that if Bregan knew what she was and what she'd done he would not want to be with her is undercut by the fact that the reader is also not privy to this information. We hear about many bad things Firin has done in her flashback chapters, most of which are rather minor crimes, but because Firin does not make it clear in the present-day chapters exactly what she does not want Bregan to know, the reader is left to assume that the 'really bad thing' are the minor crimes she has committed, which makes present-day Firin seem far too dramatic.
Another major flaw of the book is simply the fact that Firin is a deeply unsympathetic character, but seemingly was not intended to be so. One of the first things she does in the present-day timeline is lead an orphan to believe that she is her long lost sister who has come to find her so she can see her dying mother one last time, just so Firin can take her place in a play. Firin never truly apologises for this, and never suffers any repercussions, yet we are expected to root for her. It is true that all of Firin's behaviour is heavily influenced by her abusive upbringing at the hands of her father, but that on its own is not enough to turn her into a sympathetic character.

Luisonn has thrown off the Stav empire. Firin, who can morph her features into other people, reconnects with Bregan, her first love. Her main interest is to star in a play and find a place for herself Behind the Crimson Curtain (paper from 47North). Unfortunately with revolutionary politics sweeping the island and catching up Bregan in its clutches, her self centered approach is only hurting her. Interesting beginning by E.B. Golden.

Geez, this was honestly one of those books that I wanted very much to like but then in the end I felt I didn't hate it but I didn't like it. You can pretty much count me done when a book starts to have names that are so over the top made-up to sound otherworldly that I can't even hazard a good guess out how the author envisioned it sounding (because, most likely it doesn't follow logical phonetical rules). I like the FMC for the most part but I think at times outrunning ones past is too big of a theme - at what point does a character realize the most beneficial thing is to just face things? The theatre aspect was neat but then a bit confusing. Then there was the multi-POV, one told in first person while the other was in third person - this only added to the feeling of chaos in what could have been a beautiful story. And lastly - I often struggle with books that spend the entire book going between the past and the present - and add the multi-POV to this and it gets even more convoluted. In the end I wanted to enjoy it, but felt that my brain was a little muddled with trying to untangle it all. The ending is a cliff-hanger but there are so many loose ends it leaves you feeling frustrated and dissatisfied.

Firstly, I would like to thank the author E. B. Golden and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this e-ARC.
This book was simply phenomenal! I liked it alright at the beginning, but once Firin met Bregan, for me it became a masterpiece.
It's a story of love and resilience during a time of revolution. The entire book made me feel inside a theater, following the acts, and the actors... The story is fantastic and the love between Firin and Bregan is simply beautiful.
I'm truly sad to say goodbye to them, and I need more of these characters.
Loved it!

*****Thank you Net Galley for supplying this book in exchange for my honest review*****
*****May contain spoilers*****
If you don’t understand the first 10-20% of the book, don’t be disheartened. The author throws us right into the plot without any build up. Stick with it and things eventually start to piece together.
The magic was intriguing. The lack of communication between certain characters was not.
Easter eggs allow you to guess plot twists at the end. Id be interested to see where the second book takes our main characters.
3.25 ⭐️

Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

The past and present jumping back and forth was a bit convoluted and confusing for me with unlikeable and unrealistic characters. World building could have been fleshed out and a more climactic ending.

A must-read for fans of Fantasy and romance

Behind the Crimson Curtain is a captivating tale that explores freedom and love during a time of revolution.The story follows Firin, a con artist with magical shape-shifting abilities, and Bregan, an actor turned rebel, as they navigate their complex relationship amid political turmoil.

I found the world-building immersive and it enhanced the story without being overwhelming. I really enjoyed the dual POV, and I empathized with both Firin and Bregan as they confronted their pasts and desires.

My favorite character was Firin -flawed yet determined,and her struggles with having a second-chance at romance felt authentic. Especially within a regime that employs shape-shifters as spies! That added intrigue and horror as the thought of that being possible is mind boggling.

Firin and Bregan have a love story that has both passion and heartache,all while dealing with their own struggles.
I found this book unique and thought-provoking, and left me on a cliffhanger…ready for book 2. I Highly recommended this for anyone seeking a thrilling romantasy.

Enjoyable fantasy read! Thanks to NetGalley and 47North for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I think this story has an interesting concept but it didn't grab my attention too quick. It was a struggle to get into.

The first 20% of the book were very interesting. I was really into the story of a girl and her father, possibly different from everyone else due to their powers, conning their way out of class devides and poverty. And then... What the hell happened? From ~20% to around 60% is just a mess. I couldn't follow what was happening. The political scene has potential, but it's executed in a very messy way.
Firin is not a very likeable main character. She is very manipulative. Most of the time, I wanted things to go wrong for her. No idea how we were supposed to root for her.
Bregan is a little bland. I didn't care much for him or their love story.
Past the 60% point, I could follow the story again, but by that point I've lost all interest and I wasn't sure I would finish the book until I finally got closer to the end.

The start of this book was solid. The story follows Firin, a magical face-changing con artist, who had my attention from the beginning with the cool backstory. In addition, I personally enjoyed the dual POV and the time jumps between past and present was interest as well. The political elements in this fantasy romance added the extra flair and I will definitely be interested in picking up the next book!

I was hooked and read this all the way through. Such a great read.

Title is great. Love the cover

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Behind the Crimson Curtain by E. B. Golden is a mixed first and third person dual-POV dual timeline fantasy romance. Firin is a con artist who can change her appearance via magic while Bregan is an actor turned rebel. Firin has spent most of her life getting information for the Stav, the very regime Bregan helped topple over, and she'll have to navigate the new position Bregan is in or let him go as she continues to hide her abilities.

What I thought was really interesting was how Firin has had multiple partners after her first time with Bregan. It's not super often that a romance-focused book has a lead who does have one night stands after meeting their true love and I liked that it happened here. In a lot of ways Firin and Bregan are a second chance romance, so it never felt like cheating that she was getting her needs met while she and Bregan were apart.

I love a con artist FMC who knows she's hot. Firin has a good heart and we get to see how her father never told her everything when he trained her to shift her appearance, so she comes across as quite sympathetic. When she falls in love with acting, it feels like a switch is flipped and yet that she's also coming home because her whole life has been playing different roles.

The ideas here are really interesting to me: An entire group of people who can change their faces secretly working for the government and making sure people who are against the government are brought in. That's horrifying and yet is so incredibly believable. We already have spies doing that as much as they can so why not have people change their faces? It's just the one speculative element in this very grand world but the implications of it are explored and fleshed out in a way that felt really satisfactory.

I would recommend this to fans of fantasy romance with lighter speculative elements, readers of fantasy that want a more modern-ish setting, and those looking for a fantasy exploring shape shifting for the purposes of spying.

This was so interesting right from the first chapter 🤌🤌a magical con artist who plays the character whichever face and shape she holds in that particular day. This was so refreshing and unique concept that I was hooked to this book till the very last page.
The pace was well maintained throughout the whole book and the characters were well written and executed too. I had a great time reading this.

Behind the Crimson Curtain
by E.B. Golden
Pub Date: Sep 01 2024

On the coal-choked island of Luisonn, the tyrannical Stav Regime breeds rebellion among the working class. Firin, a face-changing con artist trained by her domineering father, dances between fake lives to escape punishment for her crimes—until armed rebels topple the regime. With freedom finally within her grasp, she discovers one of the heroes is her former lover, Bregan, who introduced her to her second love: the theater.

As the flames of revolt settle, Firin joins Bregan on the stage. She’s determined to create a life with the honorable man she never forgot. But like the past, love and truth are hard to hide—especially when one of Firin’s victims, now president, chooses Bregan as his right-hand man. Haunted by the sacrifices of revolution and devoted to the new government’s success, Bregan quickly rises in its ranks…

In a web of war and false identities, Firin must choose a side. But is the price of freedom her heart?

This was narrated by Vanessa Johansson and Shane East. They did a FANTASTIC job bringing the characters to life.
The timeline and story, especially the shift in tense, were a bit confusing to follow with the back and forth, but the narration helped me to focus on this a bit. Firin's POV is in first person, but Bregan's were third. If I had read this exclusively with my eyes, I would have DNFd. The audio definitely saved this.
This was a great introduction to Firin and Bregan and the cliffhanger definitely has me excited for the rest of the series.

Behind the Crimson Curtain by E.B. Golden tells a gripping story full of power struggles, revolution, and dark secrets, all centered around the lives of Firin and Bregan. The world they inhabit is packed with political intrigue and personal vendettas, giving the fantasy landscape a dangerous yet captivating feel.

Firin, a battle-hardened warrior with a troubled past, and Bregan, a clever strategist with hidden motives, make for an intriguing pair. Golden does a good job of balancing their contrasting personalities, keeping the story fueled with tension and camaraderie. However, despite the high stakes, their relationship feels a bit static. While their interactions are compelling, their dynamic remains in a state of guarded respect. It would have been more satisfying to see their bond evolve—either deepening their trust or showing cracks in their alliance as the story progressed.

The dual POV approach—switching between Firin and Bregan—adds depth, offering two distinct perspectives. However, the frequent jumps between past and present often disrupted the flow. At times, the backstory felt inserted into the present-day narrative rather than seamlessly integrated. A more fluid transition between timelines—perhaps through clearer chapter separations or contextual clues—would have maintained immersion more effectively.

Plot-wise, the story is filled with action, twists, and turns that keep you guessing as Firin and Bregan navigate a world of deceit and treachery. Golden’s world-building is excellent, creating an immersive and detailed setting. The blend of political drama with personal stakes makes the narrative engaging overall.

What truly sets Behind the Crimson Curtain apart is how Golden dives into Firin and Bregan’s inner worlds. Both are haunted by their pasts, and their histories shape their choices and relationships in complex ways. As secrets unravel and loyalties are tested, you’re left questioning who can truly be trusted and what survival will cost.

That said, the pacing feels a bit disorganized at times. High-tension moments are often followed by introspective scenes that slow the momentum, leaving the plot feeling a bit uneven. While I struggled through some parts, the last quarter of the book picked up pace—only for the story to end. The rushed ending left a few plot points hanging, and I wanted more resolution for Firin and Bregan. Though it technically ended on a cliffhanger, I felt like the end was incomplete. I had ot see if there was a book 2, as the ending could have completed the story and left the viewer to imagine what Firin would do in her future.

If you’re a fan of complex characters, high-stakes power plays, and a richly developed world of revolution and secrets, Behind the Crimson Curtain is worth picking up. Golden’s writing may stumble at times with pacing and time shifts, but the exploration of power and its costs keeps you hooked. With a cliffhanger that leaves you hungry for more, I’m eager to see where Firin’s journey takes her.

Rating (out of 5)
Overall Story: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Character Development: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
World Building: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥 (3/5)

If you like drama and politics this book is for you, if you like complicated than this is a wonderful choice.. I personally loved it and for the me the story and the characters were very well build, yes it was predictable but still it was very good.. However I can't way for the next one

This action packed book about a con artist and actor made my head spin. Always something was going on, dual time pov, revolution, romance... I really liked before pov, about Firin's past and her previous jobs. The romance was going on too fast and didn't really like Bregan, he was lowkey irritating. The ending was interesting, but not *that* interesting, I probably won't be tempted to read the next book. Also there's kinda a little theatre in this book about a the theatre, but the atmosphere was cool. However the whole world was very confusing and was lacking more descriptions, it was just chaotic and has a lot of made up names without any explanation. Overall just mid, won't be in my head long

Thank you Netgalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.

E.B. Golden has created an instant classic in her debut novel _Behind the Crimson Curtain_ by conjuring a world rife with political drama and filling that world with characters who are continually challenged to choose between fighting for their freedom or following their hearts. This spectacular novel showcases the author's impeccable writing style and ability to put the reader in the hearts and minds of her characters and hold their attention from the moment the book begins until they regretfully reach the words "The End." Classifying this book as simply fantasy or romance does a disservice to the work, as it is so well written and beautifully constructed that readers across genres will all find something to love among its pages. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves to read!