This book!! The storytelling is beyond creative, to get the narrative in the order as After, Before and then Now makes you fall in love with these characters all over again in such different settings.

This book has some of my favorite Romantasy elements; he falls first, a courtly tournament, fae / witches / nymphs and a love story surrounding memory loss and getting to puzzle with all the missing pieces.

My only critique would be that there are a lot of different side characters to keep track off. I’d love to get to know them more, what drives the friends / nemesis beyond the story as it is right now. So I am basically asking for more puzzle pieces since clearly I can’t get enough of these worlds and their inhabitants.

I have laughed, cried and fell victim to giddy leg-kicking. When a book makes you feel all the feels AND has a surprising plot twist it is an automatic win for me. I know this book needs to get released first, but please when can we expect the sequel?

I received this book as an eARC for free courtesy of NetGally. Thank you for the review opportunity!

Debut novel by Amy Woodruff filled with fantasy, suspense, and romance? Yes please! What a great start to a new fantasy series! The world building was unique, and I loved the human world aspect that doesn’t typically appear in fantasy novels.

I am definitely anticipating reading the follow up in this series once released!

Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for this ARC; all opinions are my own.

'The Book of Kingdom and Curses' is an engaging tale that follows Bridget, a human who mysteriously ends up in the kingdom of Elyaria. The kingdom is cursed, causing humans who cross its gate to lose all their memories, leaving Bridget knowing only her name. She is taken in by the cruel witch Cora and is thrust into a competition for the heart of Prince Cade. The story delves into Bridget's struggle to navigate this new world, her quest to uncover her past, and the challenges of competing for the prince's affection under Cora's manipulative guidance. I enjoyed this story overall; it was a quick and captivating read. The world-building and character dynamics kept me hooked, and I'm eager to see what happens next.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC !


Wowowow can I start off by saying how dang good this was !?
I didn’t really know what to expect/ never heard of this before stumbling across this on here .

If you are a fan of The Cruel Prince , this will definitely be your new favorite!

I knew this would be Fantasy but I did not expect the twist of it going from Modern Time / World to a kingdom / world of Fae and Witches .

Man I enjoyed the world building so much . It’s so fun when you can picture everything happening in your head because of how descriptive this is .

I loved the Characters so much . Bridget was really my favorite. Her story with Cade really blew me away because I did not see the plot twist coming at all !
The chapters of the before I also enjoyed and I’m not one to like modern type stuff in my fantasy books ! But it was crucial and made you understand the plot !

This really captivated me , and I can’t wait to tell everyone about it ! Also , can’t wait for the second !!!!

Of Kingdoms and Curses is such a good fantasy book. I love this genre of books and this one stood out from the others because the characters are so well created, it's super well written and I loved the storyline.

Thank you Netgalley & the author Amy Woodruff for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this book💜

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Breaking curses is a dangerous game⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I devoured this! I was unsure at first.. but it got so good!

One FMC is one strong ass chick & I loved the whole trial games to get with the Prince & where this continued.. with so many twists & turns?!

‘It was the price I had to pay to save you’ - the moment I read this chapter, my heart broke😭

And the ending!!! OH!!! I need more!!! This was a super fantasy book! Usually I am a sucker for HUGE romance & this book only had a small amount but it didn’t stop me loving it! The whole story with world building, tensions & twists & turns made it🫶🏽

TROPES
💜Star cross lovers
💜Found family
💜High stake trials
💜Deadly Magic & fae’s
💜Witches
💜Human in faerie world

Looking forward to see this book released on 6th August💜💜

Bridget has been trapped in the fae realm for 7 months and desperately wants to go back to the human realm. She has no memory left of her life there but it can’t be worse than this.
Suddenly she is sent into a tournament competing to marry the fae prince although she hasn’t the faintest clue why and no one will explain.
She sees it as an opportunity to escape. But does she still want to leave when she unexpectedly grows closer to him?

I really enjoyed this magical world. The world building is great. Though, I had some moments I was very confused and there seemed to be some inconsistencies. The magic system gets explained as we go. The writing style is smooth and felt very YA. There is tension but no spice. I read this in no time! It made me think of The Selection which I also enjoyed.

Bridget, our FMC, is a very relatable. It’s easy to follow her through her journey. Cade is a morally grey grump that quickly warms up. The romance is so good! I loved how we got to be with them when Brigit and Cade met! There are some great surprises that I won’t give away but gosh, I’m over the moon for this couple!

Let’s talk about this finale. Or, I’d rather not. Because this finale was spot on and the cliffhanger was just brutal! My heart hurt so much and I was so angry this was the end! It provoked high emotions (which is a plus of course)!

I would totally recommend this read as a YA, no spice, fantasy romance.

Last but not least, I want to thank the author Amy Woodruff, the publisher City Owl Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book was decently slow in the beginning for me, but I did like a few characters in it. After a few chapters, it definitely picked up for me and I found myself enjoying it more and more.

Bridget Adam’s gets stuck in a world of magic, fae, and witches. She has no memory of how she got here or anything from her past. She must then compete in a competition to win the heart of the prince as the only human, when all she wants to do is escape and find a way home.

Bridget’s character is so likable. You just want to root for her as she’s truly out of her element. She just wants to remember who she is and return home.

Cade, the prince, is kind to her and wants to help her get back to the human world. His character was enjoyable to read as well and learning his back story was super entertaining.

The story as a whole was great. I enjoyed the premise and execution. I think it was really well written and had me entertained throughout. I’ve already recommended this book to my entire book club.

Thank you NetGalley, City Owl Press, and Amy Woodruff for the incredible ARC of the book. I need to order a copy of the physical book stat! And that cliff hanger?! I need book 2 like I need air!

I am unwell after finishing this. I don’t know where to start.. This amazing novel is a debut by author Amy Woodruff and you wouldn’t have ever known when reading this. Of Kingdoms and Curses is not at all what it seems to be. There’s a tournament, trials, fae, witches, magic, and so many secrets. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Owl City Press for the ARC of this amazing book, I am so glad to be able to rave about Of Kingdoms and Curses.

We follow our FMC Bridget Adam’s, who is a ward to Cora, the head Witch of the Virgo Coven. Bridget doesn’t have any memories of Before she woke up one day. When she recovered she only had three things: a necklace, a note, and her name. She knew that she wasn’t meant to be with the Coven so she keeps trying to escape. She gets a chance when the Coven is attacked by the Prince, but Cora catches her before she can get far. Cora and Bridget escape and go to the captial where there is a Tournament held to find the Prince a bride. Cora coerces Bridget into entering the tournament to gather information.. this tournament is won by the woman with the strongest magical abilities. Now, Bridget is completely human, she has no magic! But she enters the tournament and this is the start of her story…

I had such a great time reading Of Kingdoms and Curses. This had me giggling, gasping, and tearing up. The writing was incredible for being a debut novel, with the style being easy to read yet descriptive. The world building was nicely incorporated into the dialogues or monologues, it didn’t feel like I was being info dumped. There were times I didn’t even notice there was plot building happening in a conversation because it happened so smoothly. It is setting in a modern urban / fantasy mix.. really hard to explain but the author does an amazing job letting us understand the time/place setting.

I would say this book is a mix of The Selection series with the competition for the Prince but with trials like in Fourth Wing (no dragons). I really recommend this book if you are looking for a swoon worthy romantasy with no spice.

I will be picking up the next book because after that ending!?!? I either need the next book today or financial compensation because I am UNWELL 😭 This ends on the most heart aching cliffhanger I have read in a while. Be warned that the next book hasn’t even been announced yet so read with caution (you heart will hurt) 😞

READ THIS BOOK (please, thank you 🤍)

Final rating: 5 stars ✨

4.5 stars

“Of Kingdoms and Curses” (Blood and Curses Book 1) by Amy Woodruff is a captivating tale that hooked me from start to finish! I devoured the book in almost one sitting, desperate to uncover the secrets and discover what happens next.

This enchanting story has everything I love in a fantasy novel, lost memories, witches, a thrilling competition, and a mysterious fae prince and I'm eager to continue the journey in the next instalment. Amy Woodruff's writing has me under its spell, and I highly recommend “Of Kingdoms and Curses” to anyone who craves a magical adventure with a hint of romance and intrigue.

I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from City Owl and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a really enjoyable romantasy read - the plot, the romance, the characters were all so delightful to read about and I loved the tension.

What an absolutely enjoyable read! If you're looking for a book to read that is similar to Cruel Prince, Serpent & the Wings of Night, and the Hunger Games, this is it. I couldn't put this book down. Definitely more YA than romantasy but don't let that deter you from reading it. The ending was just spectacular; I cannot wait for book 2! Some things are a little predictable but also very unexpected twists to be found.

3.5 / 5 stars

I enjoyed this one. It felt like The Selection, but in a more contemporary fantasy setting.

Like some other reviewers, my major criticism of this book is that there's a lot of telling, not a lot of showing. This is especially true of the relationship with Bridget and Cora. We're told how Bridget feels about Cora, but nothing in the book actually happens to explain those feelings. We're told that Cora trained Bridget, but we're given no details, and certainly aren't shown any sort of training happening.

But, getting past that rocky/confusing beginning, the book sucked me in. I thought that Bridget and Cade had good chemistry, and their backstory was really well done. I thought the author struck the right balance between tying up enough threads to feel like we've gotten a complete story while leaving the open threads in a good spot for the next novel in the series.

I think fans of no-spice romantasy will enjoy this book, and I will definitely be picking up the next one in the series.

Bridget Adams is stuck in the fae land of Elyria with no memories of her life before she got there. She's desperate to get back to the human world. And the only way through is through a portal. She's always watched by her coven's leader Cora, and they're constantly on the move. In the seven months she's been in Elyria, she's tried to escape and failed several times. But then Cora forces her to enter into the tournament where she will compete against other girls to try to marry the fae Prince, Cade. But when Cade lays eyes on her, his expression sends shock and confusion through her. Struggling to decide who to trust in this tournament, she tries to get answers for herself. How can she get through the portal to the human world? With recurring nightmares and visions that happen through the tournament, she gets momentary ideas of who she was as a human, before she came to Elyria. And Cade is trying to help her, but why? Who is he really?

I would say this book is probably geared towards young adult. Bridget is 21, and I'm not sure how old Cade is. There is no spice, with one steamy scene throughout the whole book. Is it closed door? I'm not so sure, it doesn't hint or lead to anything that would make it closed door in my opinion. So if you're looking for a fantasy with lots of spice and smut, this is not the book for you. But it didn't need all that in order to keep me reading and enjoying the story.
This book has a lot of world-building dumping at the beginning, but it's short lived. We don't get much of a backstory of how Bridget came to be with Cora, but I have a feeling in the sequel we'll find this out. And on that note, the ending is a huge cliffhanger. I won't give away spoilers. But there has to be another book, I hope.
This book is told in third person, but from Bridget's POV. I'm not a huge fan of third person, but it read like first person. I think it would have worked better if it was told in first person from Bridget's POV.
The character development over time is good. We don't get all the information up front and it's gradual, which keeps you reading. I will try to patiently wait for the next book in this series.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, it fit the romantasy genre perfectly which has become my favorite. It has everything you need to make an interesting and unique story - missing memories, witches, a competition, a fae prince, and of course - plot twists. Overall everything in this book was great, the characters, the world, the plot...all fantastic. This did end on a cliffhanger, so prepare to be waiting for book 2 to come out.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! As far as I can tell (I may be wrong) this is the authors first book, and if thats the case its amazing that her first book is this good and I cant wait to read her other works.
I loved that there was multiple types of magical beings and it wasn’t just focused on one, I found the world building good and the story was action packed. I also really liked the characters. I liked how the fmc didn’t let anyone treat her badly and stood up for herself but she was also real and you could see her flaws and weaknesses which made her relatable. I Will be posting this review to my instagram at @beasbookburrowxo and on my story graph account which is also beasbookburrowxo

Review posted on Goodreads on 27/07/24: This is a 5 star read.

eARC Review:

If you like ACOTAR, The Serpent and the Wings of Night & When the Moon Hatched, you will love this!

The story follows a human woman called Bridget, who has been in the Fae realm for some months. When crossing the gate, humans lose their memories and Bridget has no idea how she ended up there. She has been part of a witch coven for the past several months, until she is enlisted into a tournament. The tournament decides who will marry Prince Cade, but with no magic in her veins, it's a deadly dance of survival for Bridget. Not all is what it seems though.

I loved this book. I honestly think that this will blow up on social media once it's released. The writing is great, the plot is unique, the characters are so lovable and the world building is amazing.

Bridget - Even though she's human, she puts up a fight. She cares deeply about the ones she loves and would do absolutely anything to save and care for them. She's a great FMC and I'm really excited to watch her grow.

Cade - He is not your typical brooding prince... he is a softie, a cinnamon roll but has huge 'I will burn the world for her' vibes. You will need to open up a spot for him on your favourite book boyfriends list...

I genuinely cared about the side characters in this. It had me smiling and crying and is truthfully one of my favourite reads of 2024. I'm so excited for the next book!

Held prisoner by a witch, punished for attempting to flee, Bridget has no recollection of how she came to be in this predicament. She has no memories of her life before this at all but when she is told she must compete in a tournament for the hand in marriage to a prince all Bridget can see, is as an opportunity to escape.
This was a wonderful start to a new series. The flow was good as was the character development and the plot kept me engrossed throughout. There were enough twists and suspense to keep the reader engaged and I was swept along by this enjoyable captivating read. I look forward to the next in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.
This one wasn’t for me, even if the premise sounded right up my alley.
I think it should’ve been marketed to the very young side of YA (12-15yo).

An info dump is thrown your way in the first 10% of the book - and I had to reread twice what I had just read. I wanted to DNF but I can’t rate a book I haven’t read. We get an info dump - but crucial informations to further your understanding of the world are withheld.
The thing I struggled with the most is that we get a very slim glimpse of her life with Cora before Bridget is thrown in the tournament. It’s not enough to understand where she’s coming from and her backstory moving forward. She was with Cora for 7 months and their dynamic was off. It would’ve helped if this book started a few days prior to sending Bridget away.
Bridget is clueless in all of this and I had severe second hand embarrassment a few times. She doesn’t ask questions? This was so weird to me. It felt like she purposely wanted to be kept in the clueless section. It definitely didn’t pass the Bechdel Test. There was a lot of pitting women against women.
I couldn’t warm up to the FMC. She was extremely whiny. She kept wanting to run away but as soon as the prince rejected her - she wallowed in self pity when it wasn’t even the plan and she hadn’t even talked to him yet. A lot of inconsistencies.


Reading is subjective and you might like this one. I personally didn’t.