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!

The dawn of a new world should be bright with promise. But what happens when a political revolution unearths devastating new truths about yourself and those you love?

If you like books that make your favorite characters suffer in the most heart-wrenching of ways, CRIMSON is ready to devastate you, lol. Set in a Victorian-inspired industrial era with face-changing magic, illegal theater, and violent political upheaval, this story certainly keeps you flying through the pages. But what really makes this book magical is the way it wrestles with deeply moving questions of love, identity, and belonging. Do we create ourselves, or are we born to our destinies? Is the potential to be wholly loved worth the risk of truly being known?

Firin and Bregan’s romance is one for the ages, and I can’t wait to read its conclusion in book two.

TL;DR: This book is a must-read for any Romantasy fan hungry for heart-wrenching romance set amidst a backdrop of gritty realism, with a healthy splash of crimson-curtained theater to boot.

Behind the Crimson Curtain by E.B. Golden is dreamy, poetic, and dramatic in all the best ways. This tale focuses on identity, loyalty, and social justice and will tug on the heartstrings of any reader who has ever questioned how much of themselves to share with those they love. The Victorian-esque setting is purely magical. Reading Behind the Crimson Curtain feels as if you're wrapped in a wool shawl, gazing out at a setting sun over a dusty industrial skyline. Bregan and Firin dance along the rooftops of Luisonn, weaving in and out of a fragile revolution rebuilding society and a precarious underground theater group, set on making art even in the most trying of times. E.B. Golden's storytelling reminds me of Erin Morgenstern and V.E. Schwab with beautiful, sweeping narration, emotionally charged dialogue, and breathtaking reveals throughout the dual timeline and dual POV novel. I have fallen in love with Firin's passion and Bregan's devotion and I look forward to following their stories on even greater adventures.

Behind the Crimson Curtain by E.B. Golden is a fantasy novel that artfully blends unique magic, rebellion, and second-chance romance. Set against the oppressive backdrop of a regime, Firin and Bregan confront the struggles of revolution and oppression, while their love is tested by old secrets and shifting loyalties. A must-read for lovers of immersive world-building, heartfelt romance, and beautiful storytelling layered with meaning!