This book has such a good storyline. An assassin/guard, Astra, who is trained to impersonate the mortal princess has dreams every night of a mysterious man, her kindred soul. It’s only when they meet that she finds out her kindred soul is the disgraced Crystal Court Prince, Marlak, a dangerous enemy to many courts. But Astra also has her own magic that she knows nothing about, but if her own kingdom were to find out the truth about her, they would willingly kill her.

I was so excited to read this book, but once starting it I found it wasn’t as good a read as I was hoping. Some parts of it are very confusing, as the different types of magic are never really explained, and everything is very surface level. The book is written as Astra’s inner monologue, where she asks a lot of questions that never really get answered. I found that a lot of this book was very repetitive as well, like Astra’s inner monologue, but also the conversations between Astra and Marlak.

If it sounds like a storyline you’d like, I’d recommend it, but I think the writing style just wasn’t for me🫶🏼

“Looking away won’t save me, won’t change me, but at least it won’t hurt me.”

“A Cursed Son,” by Day Leitao

Astra is a royal decoy to live for and protect the Krastel princess at all costs. She has mysterious dreams of the man she loves but hasn’t met. Until one day her carriage is attacked by non-other the man of her dreams, but he is the Crystal Court’s disgraced prince.

I loved every single thing about this book. Everything was perfect. I loved the characters and how they were good and bad and super complicated. I loved the lore and world building with the Fae and magic and creatures. I loved the tension between the two main characters and how it is very slow burn. I loved the ending so much that it hurts. I cannot wait until book two comes out. 5 out of 5 stars, one of my favorite books I’ve read.

-Arranged Marriage
-Enemies To Lovers
-Fae
-Magic
-Fake Princess (Royal Decoy)

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

A Cursed Son is one of those books with a promising premise that, unfortunately, fell short in execution. While I like the plot and the characters, including the chemistry between the main characters, Astra and Marlak. Although likable, as an FMC, I think Astra wasn't impactful enough. I hope her character would improve in the next book. Marlak, on the otherhand, was great albeit remains a mystery.

Among all the characters introduced, it was Ziven who caught my attention even though he was only in few pages. I would love to know more about him. I think he has a great potential to have his own arc in this series.

The writing/editing isn't the best which I think affected the world-building. It was lackluster. Having various fae courts, I expected a richer world-building. It also didn't help that there were parts especially in the beginning that was confusing. I thought that the paragraphs were probably interchanged. It made getting into the story hard for me. Eventually, it improved, but the bad scene transition and flow was still evident.

If you are reader that can overlook this writing then I think you can still enjoy this like I eventually did.

I really enjoyed this book! Took a bit to get into but once I did I was hooked - very much enjoyed the whole shared dream concept. The characters were fun and easy to connect and I love a good enemies to lovers. It may seem like kinda trope-y at times but it was worth the read for sure!

I had trouble getting into this book but with in saying that I can see there is a good story but unfortunately it took me a while to get into it.

I absolutely loved the SNARK in this book. I was laughing/ giggling at the banter the whole time.

I enjoyed both of the main characters.

Then FMC is a strong willed female who has been raised to believe one thing her whole life. She is relatable in her insecurities and the way that she takes what the MMC says at face value.

The MMC is the definition of " looks like he could kill you is a cinnamon role."

The ENDING!!! WOW, I want more!

Thank you for the ARC opportunity! I had been looking forward to this one from Day's instagram. Loved the whole shared dream concept. Great character development and I always enjoy world-building that isn't overly complicated. Read if you like enemies to lovers, great banter, fae, forced proximity, magic and more

3.5 🌟
Thank you net galley for providing me with this arc.
I really enjoyed the story & romance, I found the book quite easy to read however it just felt lacking on character development and world building. I felt like some details/scenes where left out and I often felt confused.
I did however devour it in a day and will continue with the series as it ended on a cliffhanger!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I struggled a little bit to get into the story, especially because we don’t have a defined plot throughout the whole book. The narrative mainly revolves around uncovering the secrets of the love interest. That’s why I would say the book feels slow-paced. The relationship and banter between the main character Astra and her love interest Marlak is really what kept me engaged. However, the book ends on a cliffhanger that really sets a plot in motion for the second book, and I definitely want to continue with the series.

The world-building is quite interesting and I thought the MC’s background is original. Astra is a substitute for the princess, and basically substitutes are tasked to make alliances with other kingdoms through marriage or to go on risky missions in place of the princess. I had never read anything like this before!

On a side note, I felt that we could have done without the last chapter to heighten the suspense. I mean, it was kind of predictable but it would have been so much better to let the reader wonder until the next book comes out!

If you like enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, and grumpy x sunshine tropes, you might like this book! :)

The Cursed Son was a fun and sexy romantasy.

The story started off a little slow but definitely picked up momentum around page 50. I enjoyed the direction of the badass FMC. However, her friendships did annoy me a little because they did not feel authentic. I did enjoy the world-building and am excited to see what we find out in the second book. The pacing was done well and it kept me interested, after the first few chapters didn't grab me entirely. I found myself thinking about this story and being excited to see what happened next.

The MMC Marlak was mysterious, powerful, tortured, and clearly had a bone to pick with Astra. It was fun to watch this unfold and be witness to Astra's guard coming down. I would have personally liked more bread-crumbing about how Marlak is Cursed and about his powers.

I really would've liked to have explored the elemental magic more and hope we see more in the next instalment.

Overall, this slow-burn and sweet romantasy was a good pick-me-up.

Goodreads and Instagram reviews are up. I will promote again on release day.

Astra is not only a teenager, an elite bodyguard, and a royal decoy. She's also hiding her magic. Her people are hunted and one of her tutors has hidden her amongst the royal household to keep her safe. She longs for adventure and freedom but has a wide streak of duty. When she is finally allowed to undertake a mission - she ends up on the wrong side of the river, in less than safe territory and at the mercy of a royal Outlaw!

Marlak is a very interesting character. Is he the morally grey murderer or a misunderstood and maligned prince? Astra and Marlak are most definitely enemies to lovers. Astra is never quite sure where she stands with Marlak for most of the book. Some of her actions may come over as childish but you have to remember, she is a 19 year old, out on her own for the first time and never had a childhood where she could make mistakes and grow from them.

I really enjoyed unravelling the mystery of just who and what Marlak is and his connection to Astra. Astra grows in confidence as she learns more about the outside world. There is a cliff-hanger and our intrepid MC's are not in a good or happy place but it's put me on tenterhooks to know how this is going to sort itself out!

ARC provided by NetGalley and Sparkly Wave in exchange for an honest review. A Cursed Son checks all the boxes for an enthralling Romantasy. The character development really pushed me through this novel by constantly wanting to uncover Marlak and Astra’s secrets. Slow burn is a bit of an understatement, as it was slowest of burns. However, I do love a good enemies-to-lovers troupe and it definitely seemed to hit the mark. As a frequent reader, I can typically uncover the mysteries and spot the twists and turns but that wasn’t the case for this book.

The only aspect of this book that I questioned was the writing style. The amount of repetitive narrative left me wanting much more dialogue.
If you enjoy an incredibly slow burn, enemies to lovers Romantasy series, definitely give it a try!

4,5
(Review on the blog Anna's Multiverse and socials)

I discovered Day Leitao thanks to Netgalley with her book The Cup and the Prince, which picked my interest because of the competition element. After having read that trilogy, as soon as I saw the author's name on the platform and looked at that gorgeous cover, I knew I wanted to read it.

After reading the synopsis, and now the book, I have to say that the elements that made me curious this time were mainly the dreams that the two leads share, as I have always thought that is a great plot device, and knowing her other trilogy, I had some theories about their origin or meaning. But, of course, other aspects intrigued me, like the magic, and the courts and situations of both main characters, one trained to replace her reign's princess and the other a royal exiled for his crimes.

I have noticed that her writing style has changed quite a bit and it is more elaborated. That does not mean that it is difficult to understand, on the contrary, it is quite easy, especially since Astra, our female lead, seems to be explaining the story herself, so it is less formal and we get to see her thoughts a lot. But the main difference I have noticed is that this time the world building is more complex and well-thought. It does not seem as enclosed, but I could understand the dynamics very well and felt like it was bigger and there was more at stake.

At some points, however, some arguments and ideas kept repeating themselves, though I am not sure if it was intentional, as people tend to focus on topics that they want answers to, or it could be that it is showing a characer's state of mind, where they had a mood or opinion change. On the other hand, it could not be on purpose, since sometimes those ideas were contradictory, but given the nature of those discussions and conversations, I am not sure.

The story has a lot of different arcs, and they are introduced to us as the story moves along and we learn more about the world, but I would say that the book is more character-based, since we are mainly following Astra and Marlak and everything that affects them, be it their relationship, their alliances or objectives. That, for me, is something positive, as it connects you more for the characters and makes you care for what's happening to them. Plot devices are still there, and they are important, but we're following the characters more.

I do not want to talk too in detail about the plot, since the story being more character-based, it is better appreciated as you go, but I do have to say that I really enjoyed learning about the different courts and alliances and seeing how Astra and Marlak 's relationship changes throghout the book. I also thought that the place where Astra starts is very interesting, and I do wish we can see more from her Palace in future books, because she starts as a substitute for her Princess in a place where other substitutes live and train, and that gives a lot of room to play with.

I am definetely curious to read book 2, even if we did not have that ending, which is calling readers to pick up the next installment. I do have another book by the author, and I am adding it to my yearly TBR, since I will probably have to wait for book 2.

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you Day Leitano for the e-ARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review! I feel like this book has a lot of potential to be the start of an enthralling series! There was solid world building and suspense that kept me hooked throughout the book. As the book went on, the main character Astra started to grow on me, and I could empathize her plight in finding herself among a world that keeps telling her what she needs to be. Her journey with Marlak showed they both have a lot of growing to do, and I’m interested to see how both their character arcs develop throughout the rest of the series. There were parts of the book that I felt could have been developed or connected more but it didn’t detract from my overall reading experience! Can’t wait to see what’s next in store!

A Cursed Son by Day Leitao was simply extraordinary. The character development for both main characters was incredible the entire book. Watching the FMC grow from the beginning to end was an amazing journey. I’ve read a good bit of fantasy and I don’t think I have ever related so much to a FMC as I did Astra. The slow burn mixed with so much sarcasm that it could hold a large city, and angst had this story at a high from the beginning. I cannot wait for book number 2. I needed it yesterday!

This was so soso good!! I loved this book! This has twists and turns and an epic adventure a great love story! I’m so looking forward to the next book! The author did a fantastic job with the story. I love the banter! And I so look forward to the yelling! lol

A Cursed Son is the first novel I read by Day Leitao and I don’t intend it to be my last. I barely read the entire description of this book when I realized I wanted to receive an ARC. A marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, a FMC that was raised to be the equivalent of a weapon, and a fae world of politics, a romantasy reader's dream.

The world itself is interesting, there are a lot of political moves made throughout the story, many of which I assume aren’t seen or understood by Astra. Despite that hurdle, it’s still fun to discover the world's fae culture and get insight into the heritage of Tiurians. As I said, it’s hard to decipher if certain aspects of the magic or culture are purposely ague because the main character is human, or if they’re unintentionally made to be so. Not that it made a big difference in the reading experience since I felt that I was discovering things alongside Astra and digesting them with her. That in itself is impactful in a different but significant way than knowing everything.

As for the characters, Astra and Malark are very much influenced by their upbringing and circumstances, so there’s not much I can say for either of them. Astra was molded to act and think like a different person, to be deadly, and above all else, to survive. On top of that, she was shielded away from the world and fed lies of the outside world to purposely keep her submissive. As a result, her character is mostly guarded throughout the story, but you catch glances of her impulsive, sometimes violent nature. It’s an odd comparison, but she’s similar to Oppenheimer in her actions and feelings. She’s self-assured on the outside, and incredibly repressed because of her upbringing, it clearly translates into her impulsive actions like poisoning or spurts of magic. At her core, she’s insecure because her view of life has been limited and I think that’s incredibly important when understanding her character. You do have to dig a bit to acknowledge that, though. Although Astra didn’t discover much of who she actually is in this first book, I’m excited to see how she uses everything she was taught against the castle. I hope her training to wear a mask, to appease people into giving their secrets, to seduce, fight, and wield her magic are all used against the people who taught her to do so. Poetic justice for the sake of her character, and that she finds out enough about Marlaks past to fuel her rebellion against Krastel. I also hope the next book explores who she is at her core, past what she was taught by the castle, and what history says about dark souls.

Marlak is harder to define, partially due to the first-person account by oblivious Astra, but because he isn’t very adamant about getting Astra to like him. He has his moments that I love, namely when he'd joke about his dreams and when the one scene entering the Court of Bees. The only four traits I can name of his are that he’s protective, calculating, haunted, and a bit playful.

It’s complicated because, on a technical level, I understand certain the liberties taken with characters' thoughts, feelings, and actions. Astra was guarded, had to be guarded, she was raised to be so. All she ever knew was the Elite Guard and she was essentially groomed to serve a single purpose. Somehow I left feeling slightly unconvinced of that, but also unsatisfied with how it affected her relationship with Marlak. It feels odd making the criticism when I can’t pinpoint the exact cause, but even though it’s told from the first perspective, I was never truly convinced that Astra cared about the Guard as much as she claimed to. Had her personality been more skeptical, slower to trust, or possessed stronger traits that would’ve explained why she was quick to realize her time in the castle was another prison (though she denied it) it would’ve made her feel less two-dimensional.

Another issue for me was her relationship with Marlak felt underdeveloped. I enjoy a slow burn, I prefer it over insta-lust, but there were too few scenes where they shared genuine moments outside of the dreams. When they did share real moments, it usually related to the dreams in some way. I understand it was their one connection, even then, it cheapened moments that were meant to be special. In general, her feelings toward the real Marlak felt underwhelming in most scenes which was conflicting when it was told in the first person. It wasn’t until they arrived at the Court of Bees that I saw real development in their relationship. By the same 75% mark, I even began to feel as if Astra had more chemistry with Prince Ziven than she did with Marlak. Simply because she shared a real connection and friendship with Ziven, her unadulterated joy when she saw him outshined almost every moment she shared with Marlak. As I said, I get the concept and the reasoning behind certain choices, but that doesn’t mean the choices don’t weaken the reader's desire to root for them. In a way, it missed the heart-tugging yearning that I associate with arranged marriages, miscommunication, and enemies to lovers. I also wished Marlak had more merit to him, both in personality and choices. When stories of this nature are told in first person, you expect actions to speak louder than words, I wish he’d been louder with his actions outside of his protectiveness. The accumulation of it made their confessions in chapters 22/23 underwhelming.

Regardless of my qualms, it’s the first book in a series and I have high hopes that this first book is the stepping stone for something greater than I imagined.

Astra has trained all her life to be a substitute in someone else’s life, the princess. She must do her duty to hide her true identity not just as the stand-in princess, but also her true magical heritage that could get her killed if discovered. As a substitute Astra finds herself only able to dream about love…hot, vivid, and tantalizing love, but still love. In this steamy enemies to lovers story you will find yourself immersed in a magical world of the fae and humans. Snarky banter and a killer cliff hanger, this is a series you will love!

When I first started the book it was hard to stay connected to it. I kept putting it down and didn’t pick it back up right away. When I got further into Astras world and discovered how much of a bad ass she is, I loved her character! Don’t give up on the story!

This fantasy novel had me intrigued from the get-go with its promise of enemies turning into lovers and a marriage of convenience thrown into the mix.
First off, let's talk about the plot. It had potential, no doubt about it. But man, was it confusing! I mean, I felt like I needed a map and a flashlight just to navigate through the first few chapters. The story starts off like a puzzle with missing pieces, leaving you scratching your head and wondering what the heck is going on.
However, the characters in this book are very likable. Despite the plot doing its best to trip them up, they manage to shine through with their personalities and quirks. You can't help but root for them, even when you're not entirely sure what they're up to.

Received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! Thank you!

There was something about this book that drew my attention immediately. Was it the blurb, or the title or the cover? I can’t answer that. But I do feel everything about this book you see on the outside might be very very different from what the book actually is.

A Cursed Son was… a real surprise in some ways. From page one, I sunk right into the world the author created. I would say the book built page by page, but that doesn’t mean you sense a lack of pace. The book remains even throughout—maybe even a little fast—filled with emotion, character development and world building.

The world-building in this book is hard to separate from the narrative itself. The book reads in first person, single POV (my favourite) and the FMC who is the primary narrator, has been kept separate in many ways from the real world and she’s slowly finding her way and understanding the rules of the world along with the readers. There’s still… a lot to learn. I wonder if the author did that on purpose, or if it was a consequence of how much needed to be built in this book so the world building takes a small step back for now. Either way, there’s an evident flow that’s fairly clear to follow.

The writing itself is so easy to fall into. It was intertwined with the FMC’s personality so well and brought to light a lot of her emotions, growth, fears, faults and strength. I’m aware that all narratives are suited to the voice and personality of the FMC, but I couldn’t tell the writing apart as a strategy from the character here. They’re both one. There’s no strategy. There’s just vulnerable and jagged truths of who Astra is, was and also… glimpses of who she will be.

The characters are… interestingly many, but the focus remains primarily on the FMC and MMC; with situations tossing them constantly together and keeping them from running away from growing together and trusting one another. The FMC and MMC are interesting mirrors of one another, I wonder if the author intended to do that or if it just happened—the writing Gods have deemed it so and all that. The set-up between the protagonists is very interesting. It’s almost a two sided coin, one of being strangers and another of strange familiarity. The author’s work is to bridge that gap and I think it’s not an easy task. It’s a hard trope to define, but it’s a mix of

strangers to friends to lovers
Enemies to lovers?
Forced marriage/proximity
Kindred souls
The many other secondary characters were interestingly present and absent at the same time, I’m very curious to watch how the author’s going to take this series forward.

The plot is still behind a curtain of secrets that the author is yet to reveal. That doesn’t mean this book is aimless; not at all, in fact there’s something happening every single page of this book. It’s extremely interesting and draws you in and I find it very surprising, that I’ve read a nearly 500 page book without knowing 100% what secrets the actual story-line holds. I don’t know what’s being hidden or what’s going to be revealed. This book was the treasure map to find the key that opens the door to the truth. That’s the best way I can describe it.

There’s still a LOT the series has to give, I can tell. The book reads with a certain innocence that I associated to a new author, but looking at Leitao’s page, she’s not! Again, is the book written so to match the voice of the narrator? Maybe. The book is not YA, so definitely don’t walk in with that thought. But it’s not fully adult either. It’s this sweet space between YA and NA, that’s how I would categorise it at least.

Four and a half stars! Check trigger warnings and happy reading. This book, when it releases, will go onto KU! So for KU subscribers, this book is absolutely freeeee!