Book Review: A Curse of Blood and Stone by K.A. Tucker
A Curse of Blood and Stone by K.A. Tucker
Happy pub day to A Curse of Blood and Stone and K.A. Tucker! And thank you Valentine PR for the e-arc 💜
Disclaimer: This is book 2 in a series, so if you haven’t read book 1 (A Fate of Wrath and Flame) yet, there may be spoilers ahead!
“I do not know how to love you and be a good king to my people.”
About The Book
This sequel was everything! While a bit slower paced than book one, it’s still chock full of action and adventure, romance, and kingdom/political intrigue. I’m immensely glad I reread A Fate of Wrath and Flame prior to starting.
After the uprising in Islor, Romy and Zander are on the run for not only their lives but the sake of the kingdom.
Book Details
Title: A Curse of Blood and Stone
Author: K.A. Tucker
Series: Fate & Flame, Book 2
Publication Date: July 12, 2022
Genres: Adult/New Adult, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy Romance
My Rating: ★★★★.5/5
Purchase a copy: Amazon | Amazon Kindle | Bookshop.org | Book Depository
Add on Goodreads | Literal >> Check out my blog all about Literal Club here <<
Synopsis
From jewelry thief to interloper to queen-in-waiting, Romeria flees Cirilea a traitor to all. But the yawning distance between her and Zander troubles her more than any king’s bounty on her head. While Zander may have escaped by her side, he seeks to regain his throne, and no immortal will ever welcome her as Islor’s queen. She fears it won’t be long before Zander abandons her as everyone else she’s ever loved has.
Zander sacrificed his crown to save Romeria’s life, yet he dreads what her existence means for the future of his realm. As Ybaris’s plan to destroy Islor unfurls, a more insidious threat, orchestrated by rival fates, lurks beneath the surface. He can offer his allies no honest explanation for why he protects the Ybarisan princess and takes counsel from Queen Neilina’s caster, leading those closest to doubt his wisdom—and his allegiance.
As their company aims for the Venhorn Mountains, steered by prophecy, Romeria is desperate to wield her newfound abilities to undo Princess Romeria’s treachery before the kingdom tears itself apart. But with the mortal rebellion swelling, bolstered by the gift of Ybaris’s poison, it may already be too late.
“So tonight, we enjoy this moment. Tomorrow, we figure out how to save Isor together.”
The Story
spoiler-free
After the uprising in Islor, Romy and Zander are on the run for not only their lives but the sake of the kingdom. Whether their paths will bring them closer together or tear them apart, Romy fears abandonment. Fueled by prophecy, their destination lies deep within the northern mountains and along the way, Romy is determined to wield her newfound caster abilities while Zander grapples with his new reality and what Romy means to it ...and him.
this installment has:
⚔️enigmatic prophecy x babbling seers
⚔️an uprising x on-the-run vibes
⚔️curses upon curses
⚔️kingdom politics
⚔️dual POV (mostly!)
⚔️elemental magic
⚔️open door enemies to lovers
this series has:
🔥elven x immortals with a twist
🔥fates x casters x mythical monsters
🔥thief / heist backstory
🔥medieval-esque times
🔥other realms x elemental magic
🔥a king x his captive
🔥kingdom x courtly intrigue
🔥slow burn, enemies to lovers x fake relationship
🔥a kingdom x its history steeped in blood
The Characters
these are just the main players!
Romeria, our strong, resilient, and determined female MC, she’s finding a way to survive and thrive in her new world and make it a better one.
Zander, an ultimately good king and man, he grapples with his new reality determined to find the best solution for the kingdom of Islor and his people.
Sophie, a covert villian of the story, her plan and deviousness with the fates is still lightly woven throughout this tale, but there’s still much that is unknown.
Steamometer
somehwere between 💃🏼 - SASSY SPICE + 🔥 STEAMYYYY GOODNESS
It’s… slowly …getting hot in here! The slowburn, mutual pining, and angsty nature of the romance in this installment is so perfect.
And you can expect open doors!
For those who are unfamiliar with my Steamometer, check it out below (it’s ever-evolving lol)!
❤️ NICE AND SWEET
💃🏼 SASSY SPICE
🔥 STEAMYYYY GOODNESS
🥵 MY OVARIES ARE BURSTING
🌋 my whole body is on fire and I’m melting
🖤 SMUTASTIC
Content Warnings
There was nothing in particular that really stood out to me, but if you’re not a fan of vampires, some blood, fighting, survival and death, you may want to beware.
Overall Thoughts
I love this story and world SO much. I lost time while reading and simply lived and breathed the realm of Romy + Zander for several days. I made sure to reread A Fate of Wrath and Flame first because I didn't want to forget *any* details and I'm SO glad I did!!
This installment, which picks up right where book one left off (love that!), continues to have epic and expansive world building with an emphasis on its characters and their relationships, all the banter, exciting action and adventure, and a love story that will tear your heart out and knit itself back together. So yes, that heartbreak and angst! I adored all the new characters and the evolving storyline, too. And I love that it's getting grander and grander with higher stakes!
I can’t wait to see how everything plays out!
Simply put, this story for me is just one of those where you forget that you're reading. That's just how amazing the writing, the story, and the telling of it is. You'll just want to gobble up every single word.
“‘If only we’d met in your world instead,’ he whispers, his lips grazing my ear.”
About The Author
About K.A. Tucker:
K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge. She is the internationally bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series, He Will Be My Ruin, Until It Fades, Keep Her Safe, The Simple Wild, Be the Girl, and Say You Still Love Me. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women. K.A. Tucker currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto.
Website | Instagram | Goodreads | Twitter
*Pic and bio Courtesy of her website
A Curse of Blood and Stone is out now!
Thank you so much Valentine PR for the advanced digital and review copy.
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I’m Leah. Cozy connoisseur and bountiful book buyer. I have a minor obsession with getting lost in the pages of a good book, guzzling coffee, and thriving at home. Leggings, wine, and essential oils are also my jam. I'm truly just a bookworm and homebody at heart with a knack for content creation & cozy shots. This is my creative space.
When the nights are longer and darkness falls sooner, having a tale of magic to dive into makes all the difference for my mental health and well-being. There’s nothing better than an immersive fantasy read in the heart of winter and I’ve got 15 winter fantasy book recommendations lined up here – for every type of fantasy reader — to keep your spirits bright this chilly, cozy season.