3.25🌟. This book was enjoyable read and whilst it was fast moving, I found it quite dry unfortunately. It felt like it skimmed over a lot of detail and could have had plenty of scope to develop both in character and plot. It will be interesting to see how the next book develops.

The fact that this mixed a modern day world with a fantasy realm was super enjoyable and as a lover of urban fantasy right up my alley. It was also very interesting to try and figure out what everyone at court was after.
But that being said, I somehow didn’t connect with the characters at all. It is by no means a bad book, it just didn’t click with me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this eARC

Thank you Netgalley for the digital ARC!

Of Kingdoms and Curses is a fantasy YA(?) that tells the story of Bridget, a human trapped in the Faerie Kingdom of Elyria. Bridget can't remember anything about her past, as all humans that enter Elyria are cursed to forget anything from their past lives. There, she's kept and used as a pawn by a coven of witches, led by Cora. After 7 months of being trapped, Bridget is placed by the coven leader in a tournament to compete to marry the Fae Prince. Forced to participate, Bridget meets the Prince, Cade, who has secrets of his own but she still decides to trust him. As she navigates the tasks of the tournament and memories of her life resurface, she realizes she is part of a bigger and more dangerous plan.

What I liked:
I think it's a very fun and original story! The first half had me intrigued and invested. It had a lot of potential.

What I didn't like:
The execution was not the best. It felt like too much was happening, but somehow not enough at the same time? After the halfway point, I was bored out of my mind, while being utterly confused. It lacked editing, and it felt like some parts were missing. There was not enough character development, and so I couldn't be invested in the relationships.
The plot twists were also very obvious. Nothing surprised me or made me excited to keep going.
There were a lot of grammatical errors. The last few chapters felt rushed, and the quality of writing declined dramatically, which felt very odd.
Also, I'm not sure which direction the author was going with the writing. It read like a YA, but then...fingering? Yikes.
All in all, it was a little too juvenile for me and too all over the place to keep me interested all the way through or make me want to read the rest of the series.

This book will be a book that the general population of readers will eat up. It's fast-paced, action-packed, and the plot just keeps going.

It has a tournament with trials, a cinnamon roll of an MMC, likable and funny side characters, fae, witches, magic, a kingdom, curses...you name it. It has it all.

Of Kingdom and Curses is a book about Bridget, who has no recollection of her past in the human realm. She doesn't remember anything and all she wants to do is to escape and return home. She has been battered and abused by the witch coven that took her in, but when she sees a way to escape by entering a tournament, she takes it. However, her escape plan quickly comes to a stop when she realizes that joining the tournament also brings on another curse: she cannot leave the palace grounds. She is told to trust no one, yet people are all offering to help her. Who should she believe? The prince? The other girl contestants? Cora, the witch who took her in and abused her?

I personally enjoyed this book but at the same time, I didn't. I enjoyed that it is fast-paced, the mystery to the curse Bridget is under and her identity, the before and after life glimpses, and the ending is also pretty epic. The glimpses in the before life are executed well. The atmosphere felt real, and I truly felt transported to another realm. I also enjoyed finding out the powers that each character has and how they work together, given their difference to help the greater cause.

However, there are a few things that lowered my star rating.

- I didn't really enjoy Bridget's character. She is very unlikable as she is constantly angry and lashes out at everyone for the smallest of reasons (which I understand because she was taken away from her home and then brutalized but still, it was a bit too much for my liking).
- The instalove that occurs between her and the prince. Bridget is smitten as soon as she lays eyes on him, even though his reaction says something different (she immediately feels jealous of every girl vying for his attention...they're all in a tournament to win a chance at marrying the prince).
- The miscommunication. Some love this trope, I do not and it just added to Bridget's anger which grew tiresome.
- The way the female characters were pitted against each other.
- A large info dump into the world. So much happens in a span of a few minutes, making me feel razzle-dazzled, but I was able to get back to the plot.
- There seemed to be a misconnect between the descriptions while in the cursed realm. The Kingdom is described as being a mixture of old architectural designs and new modern world designs, but I only got old middle age designs with all the brick and markets and such. It felt a bit off for me.
- The book felt like a wattpad read for me, which I know many will enjoy but I didn't quite enjoy that aspect.

I am curious to see how others will enjoy this book and how often it will pop up on my feed.

My reviews will be posted on Goodreads and Instagram as soon as this post is completed

Thank you to Netgalley and City Owl Press for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication. Most importantly, to Amy Woodruff. This was the first book I have read of Amy’s and I absolutely loved this book and could not stop reading.

This was a 5 star read for me!

This is for me is Goblet of Fire meets Hunger Games. This YA romantasy was right up my street and I was hooked.

There is magic, star crossed lovers, different realms, curses that destroy human memory, plot twists and a cliffhanger!

The story follows Bridget’s journey into the kingdom of Elyria. A curse to the Humans means that Bridget has no recollection of her life prior to 7 months ago. She is forced into entering a tournament with other girls to fight for her chance to marry the prince of Fae. Cora her captor forces Bridget to enter in the hopes of finding the second gate to the human realm. Bridget obliges as all she wants is to escape the torture she is enduring.

But it seems that the biggest curse is love.


without any spoilers, there is a big twist in the middle which you do not see coming.

Not only is the story line addictive, the characters are all likeable and all play important parts in the story. Although there are many different locations, names and fantasy jargon, it wasn’t complicated or confusing.

The ending left me with a book hangover and I honestly cannot wait for book two!

3/5⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this eARC!

This book unfortunately did fall a bit short for me, I felt that the storyline could’ve been executed better. I think that the way these characters were written just didn’t grasp my attention much, not to mention it was hard to really connect with some of them.

However, I can definitely say I loved Cade and Bridget’s romance, the way they fell in love multiple times despite the odds that were against them really was a big part of this book that I loved💗. Also I really liked that the author gave us before and after chapters so we could understand the timeline better and the change in dynamics between the characters so that was definitely helpful in avoiding confusion but also just overall interesting to see how everything started and where everyone ended up.

While this book wasn’t what I hoped it would be, I was still impressed nonetheless, and after reading that epilogue I will DEFINITELY be reading the next book in the series for sure!!

Of Kingdoms and Curses is book one in the phenomenal new series Blood and Curses by Amy Woodruff.
I wished we could do something to get notifications when a book hits NetGalley! Because I need to know when book two hits asap! I don’t want to miss it!
I loved Bridget and Cade!
An absolute amazing story with mystery, suspense, love and betrayal.
Fans of romantasy will devour OKaC!
We have magic, faes, and witches.
This fantasy world is beyond unique and amazing! I seriously can’t wait for the second book!

Thank You NetGalley and City Owl Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fast paced and very exciting.

I find this book to have a pretty original storyline, since I haven't really read anything like it yet. The beginning is comparable to books like Trial of the Sun Queen, but the further you get in this book, the further it starts to diverse from your typical fantasy book.

There was a lot of foreshadowing for the plottwist that came halfway through the book, but it still kinda took me by surprise. I definitely didn't expect the book to end the way it did. It left me very curious of what the next book is going to bring.

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! Amy Woodruff, you’re wrecking me in the best way possible. This book will officially be living rent free in my mind…until I can read book #2!!

Where to start? In the beginning this book gave me Feyre/Rhysand (ACOTAR) vibes. With Bridget despising Cade while being drawn to him. How Cade enters Bridget’s mind. And of course, the trials (aka the tournament)! I was immediately hooked!

I was on the fence with Cade, until I got to the “before” and then I was team Cade! The way he was with Nylah melted my heart. The part about ketchup and ice cream - I was giggling like I was right there!

I LOVED how this was a fantasy mixed with contemporary. I have never read a book like this before, and I was here for it 👏🏼👏🏼

The detail the author gave whenever Bridget experience magic was amazing. It helped me feel what Bridget was feeling along with being empathetic! Seriously, so much talent from the author!

Multiple points in the plot made my gasp out loud!! Especially when you go back to present time after the “before”. Seriously, I could NOT predict what was happening next and I love a book that keeps me guessing and is full of great surprises!!

And the ending! THE ENDING!!! How dare you leave us like that?! 😭😍 Cliffhangers are the best and worst thing for the readers. I cannot wait to keep following Amy Woodruff during her writing journey and read all of her books!

OF KINGDOMS AND CURSES
- AMY WOODRUFF - ARC
Of kingdoms and curses is a real world crossover where people with magic can enter the human world as they please (Through a gate) but humans that cross worlds do so without their memories!
Bridget is constantly trying to escape the witches coven who is "keeping" her.
She is then entered into a tournament against her will to win the princes hand in marriage but as she grows closer to the prince, Bridget feels more like things don't add up and she needs her memories back.
Is everything truly as it seems? What lengths will Bridget go to to get her memories back and who will pay the price?
@rachaelmcreads

This is my 3rd ARC that I’ve read so thank you to NetGalley and publishers for giving me the opportunity to review it.

This is YA and a mix between modern day (cell phones, living in Manhattan) and a magical world. It was slightly confusing until I figured that out. There is no language or spice.

The book jumps straight in with a lot of information while simultaneously introducing Bridget, the main character. There are quite a few side characters, with varying degrees of involvement with Bridget, which took me a little while to understand who they all were and how they fit into the story. The MMC is slowly introduced and his part in Bridget’s life is not revealed until further on in the book.

The book ends with the possibility for a second book to continue the story.

If you like YA and a more complicated revealing of information, this would be for you. I hope the second book has more character development within the storyline so that we can get to know the main characters and their side kicks. 😀

I'm a little burnt out on tournament stories, but I found a lot to love in this book. I felt that it fully delivered on the premise - and was pleasantly surprised by some of the twists and turns the story took. I found myself truly rooting for the characters by the end, and I will definitely be checking out the next installment to see what happens!

3.5 Star
I'm left kind of unsure as I finished this book. A human girl is trapped in the fae realm without any memory of how she got there. She then is forced into a tournament for the prince to choose a bride.
There was soo much I loved and so much I was confused by. I felt there were a lot of questions left unanswered, but I think a lot of that will be addressed in the second book.
There were some details that seemed to come out of no where but I suppose were explained earlier in the book but I must have missed the significance at the time (like Bridgette always wearing gloves)
I did enjoy the author's concept of breaking up the story as Before, After & Now - it added different dynamics for sure.
And there is a major cliffhanger that definitely left me needing to know what happens next.
This book is a YA romantasy with unique magic and a lot of crazy events that happen!
I did enjoy it and am interested to see where the next book takes us.

Firstly, the cover of this book is a thing of beauty! I can't wait to get my hands on a shelf trophy.

The story itself? Wonderful. When I turned the page and the screen read, "epilogue" I was distraught! This isn't the end?? Surely??

Our FMC Bridget is not having a good time. She's been stuck in Elyria for 7 months, with amnesia, all while being held hostage and forced into submission by Cora; the leader of the Virgo Coven.

Tropes:
Forbidden love
Games and trials
Found family
Forgotten memories
Witches, fae and humans.
Dark magics

The story has some great twists and turns, you find yourself rooting for the main characters early in the story. The villains are well developed, and their motives are laced within earlier events, like little easter eggs, and as a result the events line up perfectly for a crushing ending.

Zero smut. Zero. If you need smut, this is not the book for you. Otherwise, if you loved Crescent City and Serpent of Wings and Night, you will love this story.

The above review is live on goodread.com/rollinsreadsbooks published August 3rd and will be posted on instagram @rollinsreadsbooks on August 4th. Thank you for the opportunity to read this Arc, it was one of the best stories I read this year so far.

Of Kingdoms And Curses - Amy Woodruff
5+✨
Oh my, where do I start? I was drawn into this world from the first page and even now that I’m sitting here writing this I still feel like I’m there, and I don’t want to leave!
At first when I saw the contents and it said AFTER, BEFORE, NOW in that order I must admit I was confused because to me it sounded like a big old bucket of confusion? But darn was I pleasantly surprised as the story unfolded, Amy made it all make sense, and in my opinion the order of it all made it even better (if you get what I’m trying to say)
One thing I really enjoyed was that Bridget our FMC wasn’t some secret witch or had hidden powers we didn’t know about, she is just a really badass human who doesn’t need magic to kick some ass. It has been awhile since I read a fantasy book like that. Usually I’m not a huge fan of the whole memory loss trope, since most of the time we as readers know more than the MC which makes me want to yell in frustration, but here I was as clueless as Bridget, and I loved every second of it! I don’t know what else to say, words can’t describe what a masterpiece this book is! And I will be anxiously waiting for the next book, I need more!
🗡️The Selection x The Serpent and the Wings of Night
🗡️Found Family
🗡️Powerful Artifacts
🗡️Deadly Magic
🗡️Star Crossed Lovers
🗡️High Stakes Trials
🗡️Magically Binding Bargains
🗡️Contemporary Setting
This book releases on the 6th of August and I highly recommend you get your paws on it then!
Thank you Amy, NetGalley and City Owl Press for this ARC! I am leaving this review voluntarily💕

If you enjoy romantasy books geared towards YA readers then this one is definitely for you! I thoroughly enjoy reading about Bridget and Cade. I found there was a lot of information straight up which helped build the world we are trying to envision and then slowly more information trickles in that really helped move the story along, there isn't a lot of spice but that's 100% okay with me! But if you are wanting a Fantasy book with heavy spicy scenes, this isn't the book for you. The plot is interesting enough on its own and I don't believe you need copious amounts of spice to make a book worth reading anyway 😉 I LOVED all the fight scenes and it definitely gave Hunge Games vibes which I am all for.

I enjoyed the way the Amy was able to tell the story from past and present perspectives, it really helped being able to build a relationship and form bonds with the characters who I love and care about.

I really enjoy the pace and I'm excited to see where book 2 leads us!

*Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-op for an ARC of “Of Kingdoms and Curses” by Amy Woodruff from City Owl Press in exchange for an honest review*

Okay first off, wow! This book was really really good and extremely fast-paced. I thought the characters were well thought out and had a good amount of depth to them which usually doesn’t happen in the first book of a series. I also felt that the action points were dispersed throughout the book pretty evenly and I never felt like I was overloaded. The ending was a lot, but I was honestly obsessed and need the next book as soon as possible!

I think if I had to give two minor-ish critiques, that didn’t detract from the book at all, were that there wasn’t much world-building and I also (personally) have never liked a mid-book time jump. On the former - I think I really just love understanding the world that I’m reading and I just felt like some place names just appeared and that was that. As for the latter, that’s only a personal opinion and I think the time jump fit this book well, I just prefer a chronological sequence of events.

All of that being said, EVERYONE should read this book when it comes out on August 6th… next week!!!


This review is already available on Goodreads and will be on my bookstagram account (goldreads13) tomorrow!

I struggled with this one. The good story was right there and it just failed. It needs a lot of editing and refining. Some of the scenes just didnt make sense. I think it was the lack of background. I needed the background first. I understood why. The shock factor of Cade. And the human realm being modern vs the other realm having some human tech. It was confusing. And how do humans not know about the other realm? I feel like it should’ve been an ACOTAR situation where something prevented the humans and it shouldn’t have been modern. Bridget was kind of an idiot in the beginning. She got better near the end. I did love Cade though. I needed more romance. I don’t know. It just didn’t hit the mark for me sadly.

I wish that I liked this book more. I wanted to finish it just because it was an arc from netgalley, but otherwise I would have DNF'd it pretty early on. I think the zodiac witch covens is very interesting and I wish we could have learned more about each coven and how a witch goes from one to the other. I like the relationship between Cade and Bridget to an extent, but i think that there is more to come on that in the sequel.
The issue for me is the style of writing. I personally don't like is the excessive foreshadow. It felt like the author doesn't trust the readers to figure the plot twist out, so they kept hinting at the same things. At the same time, the world building was not digestible. There is a glossary in the beginning of the book, but I still had a hard time remembering names and places because the world building was too fast. These two issues are very different from each other in terms of writing style. Because of this I think the focus of the narrative was misplaced, and it made me feel distant from the story as a reader.

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this, although it felt a little YA at times. I also guessed the main plot twist before it was revealed, but I was still invested in the story. That cliffhanger ending was bittersweet and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!