4.25/5 Stars

A fantasy book centered around the lost colony of Roanoke? Count me in. I love history and I love reading alternate takes on history. So, once I read the description, I knew I needed to give The Curse That Binds Us a read. The pacing of this was brilliant, the characters and world building were wonderful and I found myself devouring this story. The only downside here is having to wait for the next book as this one did end with a pretty big cliffhanger. This was such an enjoyable read. I definitely recommend checking it out!

The Curse That Binds Us was an interesting read full of suspense and a unique fresh concept - I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would but there were definitely areas that could have been improved. I thought the concept itself was well done and in particular the flashback sections were so eery and full of foreboding, especially since it draws on a real life mystery of the Roanoke colony / settlers. I think the modern day section is a bit weaker at times with some pacing issues and bits I struggled to really believe. I did however like the mystery surrounding the box which shows up each year on Redds birthday, think of Pandora's box and you'll be somewhat close.

I didn't find Redd to be a compelling character so it was a bit of a struggle to feel connected to the modern day part of the story since I liked Eleanor's character in the past way more. Overall, a worthwhile read and I'm intrigued to see what will happen in the sequel for sure so all in all, not a bad start!

First of all, this book is a brilliant dark fantasy, i love the lore and the characters, especially Eleanor. I also liked the world building and how the author took time to
explain the background story, that is a really important point.

I've always been curious and fascinated by the lost colony of Roanoke, so I really enjoy the read.

I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

This is my first novel by this author and I will definitely be reading more. This novel is based on the mystery of Roanoke, and brought to life 8 different perspectives.

I was enthralled from the beginning, even though it did start a bit slow. I am intrigued as to what will happen next!

Thanks to Netgalley, Katie Hayoz and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Wow! Really enjoyed this twist on history, with a fantasy aspect to it. Redd is tired of moving around, of getting away from “the bad guys” but she doesn’t know who, or what they are. She just wants to be independent, she wants to live her life without her mother controlling every aspect of her life.

Eden holds so many secrets as does Roanoke. No one knows what truly happened, and this twist on the story is fantastic. I don’t want to ruin the plot twists of the book, but promises can come back to haunt you in the end. Protecting those you love may not be always up to you.

Totally recommend this book, cannot wait till book 2 comes out, this left me wanting more!

*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I really lived the premise of this book, but the execution just wasn't for me. I found the world building quite difficult to follow, and with the constantly changing POVs it took me a bit to get sucked into the story.

That said, it wasn't a bad story at all. The plot was fast paced and some of the character relationship were really well written! It just wasn't my cup of tea.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

What a haunting, thought-provoking journey in this new series debut!



Would you sell your soul to the devil to keep loved ones, & all you hold dear, safe? What would be the cost? Could you live with, and redeem yourself, after committing unfathomable acts? 

I grew up with a love of historical places, peoples, and inexplicable mysteries, and this book touched on all! A mystery I always thought baffling was the disappearance of the people of Roanoke, VA. Katie Hayoz took that enigma, put a dark spin on it, then meshed it with the additional POV's of modern life.

It did take me a hot second to catch the rhythm of Redd's & John's stories in the present, to Elenor's story in the 1500's, flip- flop. But then the page-flipping commenced & I had to know the answers!

The Mh Redd is unknowingly connected to this intriguing Roanoke  past. A mystical  metal box annually turns up on her birthday, but never opened, and is ditched by her mother as quickly as possible. Redd & her mother have lived as nomads, moving every time the box shows up, staying one step ahead of some unknown threat.

When Redd can finally open the strange box, it's much like Pandora's Box, there's no turning back, and what is inside changes their lives forever.  

In swaggers John,  handsome & intense,  with antiquated speech. He may just be the one to answer long-standing questions about her parentage, and her mother's stoicism about her past. Tumultuous as Redd and her mother's  relationship is, it's easy for John to plant seeds of doubt, all the while hiding his true purpose & his unexpected feelings for Redd.

Meanwhile, the historical story of Elenor's journey to the new world, and what she does to preserve her daughter's life unfolds, leading up to a very twisted way of life for those affected.

All in all, this is a deliciously dark twist on an old inexplicable disappearance... and I'm here for it! Ready for book 2 to answer some questions,  because I need to know! 

My thanks to Katie Hayoz and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No review expected and no compensation was received.

I jumped in this book unsure of what to expect… and OH WAS I NOT DISAPOINTED!!!
In this multiple POV book, we get the chance to follow our 3 main characters and unravel all the mysteries around their stories. This book is beautifully crafted, each answer opens the next question. I really enjoyed the multiple POV which in this book was making so much sense and made me want to hurry to the next chapter. The fact that the protagonists are also partly in the unknow makes it even more interesting.
Can’t wait for book 2!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was engaging from the start. I loved his new place known as Eden and learning how its people came to be. Following Redd, we were able to discover more together. I still have so many more questions to ask and I look forward to reading this in the next book.

I would recommend this to anyone who wants something different from the usual fantasy genre.

I thought this book was a really interesting take on the mystery surrounding the missing Roanoke colony.

It has some fantastical elements and build well on the whole good vs evil and I like how Evil here is depicted here.

I truly enjoyed the split timelines, and found both Redd and Eleanor to have compelling story lines. I like how it took a while for the two timelines to weave together, but once I started guessing at the culmination I was long since hooked and excited to find out if I had guessed correctly.

Eleanor might not be a character you’re supposed to like or love, but her journey really resonated with me. Being a young, pregnant woman in a colony far from home would be no easy life, and I really cannot blame her for any of the decisions she make.

Redd is more of a hurdle for me to feel for, but I end up rooting for her when she finally grows some backbone. (Kind of) I want to see where the next book takes her story. I am hoping for some character growth and maybe an enemies-to-lovers arc with our dear Jack.

Will definitely be back for the sequel!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC of The Curse That Binds Us!

I love reading sci-fi and fantasy, but haven't read a book like this one in quite some time. It's an unusual take on destiny, the devil, and history. In 1587, a colony ship set sail from England and landed on the shores of what is today North Carolina - Roanoke, to be exact. The colony that famously vanished within two years of dropping anchor, only the cryptic message CROATOA- left behind. The Curse That Binds Us uses this mystery as a backdrop for a story spanning generations, and a family touched by the devil. Redd is an 18 year old girl living with her mother in a town called Hidden. Every year on her birthday, a box appears, and every year her mother gets rid of it - and they move to a new town, with no explanations. On her 18th birthday, driven by curiosity and frustration of all her mothers' secrets, Redd finds and hides the box before her mother can get to it, and opens it when no one is looking. What's inside sets up a chain of events that spirals way beyond anything that Redd can expect, and puts her in grave danger she cannot understand. For it turns out, she has the power to pay a debt to the devil for a group of people who vanished 300 years ago, and someone is coming to collect.

Your mileage may vary with this novel; it's well written, but relies heavily on religious themes surrounding sin, virtue, and the devil. John, the teenage (looking) boy who comes to find Redd knows the truth and must hide it in order to trick Redd into coming back with him. They are instantly attracted to one another, and Redd is intrigued by the fact that she can't read his emotions as she can everyone else's. Driven by anger at her mother who consistently hides the truth from Redd, Redd decides to trust him despite her misgivings. I found that Redd, John, and Redd's friends really do behave like teenagers and are well written in that regard but a bit grating for the reader as threads unravel and the truth of the situation becomes known. The part of the novel that tells the story of what happened in Roanoke is dark, fascinating, and difficult to bear witness to as the colonists "interact" with the natives around them and eventually fall prey to the manipulations of evil. The ill treatment of the indigenous people is historically accurate, but hard to read about from the modern lens as there's little condemnation of it within the text of the novel, not even for characters to have a moment of "this isn't right," and that is hard to read.

Altogether, perhaps this novel wasn't my thing, but Katie Hayoz is a talented writer and this novel is certainly unique, tying together elements of historical fiction, fantasy, and teen romance. It starts of slow, but for readers who like a dark fantasy, it could be a "can't put down" sort of read.

For me personally - 2.5 stars.

This was a 3.5 stars for me - rounded up. I had a hard time getting into this one. It’s a slow build, but the second half of the book was great and definitely worth it. The main character was likable. The multiple POVs were easy to follow, but Eleanor’s was a bit boring and I found myself skimming through her sections until it started to explain the creation of Eden. Very creative plot! I especially loved the animals/pets included. Looking forward to reading the second book, as this one ends on a cliffhanger!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and Katie Hayoz for my arc of The Curse That Binds Us in exchange for an honest review.

Out now!

Redd’s life has always been a bit unusual. Every year on her birthday a mysterious box turns up at their house and every year her mum takes it from her without letting her open it. Then they move house. That is until her 18th birthday when the box doesn’t seem to have appeared and her mum finally agrees that they can stay. But the box has shown up, just in a place where only Redd can find it. But when she opens it, her life changes forever. John lives in a beautiful, old fashioned village where the villagers need not worry as everything is provided for them. That is until they are asked to commit unspeakable acts in order to keep their health and youth. In 1587 Eleanor travels from England to America determined to start a new life but as they land in Roanoke things begin to go drastically wrong and a bargain is struck that will change all of their lives forever.

This book is really difficult to review. It both intrigued me and didn’t pull me in all at once. the storyline is interesting and unique and I love the historical fantasy elements but I didn’t buy into the romance so much. I’ll definitely be interested in reading the second book / the rest of the series as the concept is really fascinating.

This book was a pleasant surprise! I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was so creative and imaginative, and the world building was excellent. Just unsettling and supernatural enough to be the kind of book you can't put down! Plus, weaving it all into a story about the lost colony at Roanoke? Awesome!

This book includes different but related narratives, which sometimes results (for me) in caring about one more than others, but here I was interested in them all. Redd and her mom, John, and Eleanor. My only complaint is that I have to wait for the next book!

Thanks NetGalley for the advance ARC!

This was a fascinating read! A bit different from my typical reads, it was a great mix of historical fantasy and mystery. I'm not a huge fan of romance but felt it was at least not done to excess - it added to the story rather than being a distraction.

This book was sadly an almost DNF for me. I didn't enjoy it enough to keep interested and I push through it since 30% in. I got myself on a reading slump and in the end, it was not worth it.
If you wonder what I found appealing about this novel at the beginning, I would say the fantasy elements recreating history to unite three different characters in one single and bigger story. The mystery of the box that appears every birthday, the roanoke mystery, the weird and magic lost village... That was so good...too good to be true.
Don't get me wrong, you are gonna find all those things you were promised at the premise of the book, but the execution may not give you what you were expecting.

I found the multiple POV boring the longer I read. Eleanor's perspective gave too much information for my linking to keep me guessing and John's chapters were soooooo boring... Reed made the book work for me at the beginning, but eventually, I found her character boring too.

The way the story develops from a writing point of view reminds me of Bone Crier's Moon, which may be a good sign for future readers of this book.
I would recommend this to fans of that type of "slow multiple POV, magic story with enemies to lovers". I also think would be great for those young readers who are into paranormal fantasy or even contemporary books.
My reason to say this is because the amount of fantasy you will find in this novel it's not a lot, and you will have demonic forces as the main focus.

Also, this is an opening book for a series. Don't expect a lot of action or...fantasy.
To me, it feels at the end too much like and long introduction instead of an actual story, but I still can't deny all the potential it has that may charm other readers.

Absolutely could not put this down! Very unique read with an interesting story line. Enjoyed the fantasy/romance/horror-ish mix from this book.

The book starts of slow at first, so you really have to push past the first few chapters to understand a lot of what's going on, but once you begin it's so hard to put down!

At one point I pretty much decided I didn't need sleep, I needed answers.

Two of the different perspectives felt very Young Adult, while the third perspective feels a little bit like reading historical fiction, but all of the stories seem to intertwine together rather well.

I like thinking about generations and how the actions of our ancestors can still impact us today. This novel was a really interesting read and I'd definitely recommend it to friends who enjoy dark retellings and YA.

It was a wonderful read. The characters and storyline were so compelling. I truly had no idea what to expect when going into this book and fantasy usually is very hit or miss for me but this book sucked me in and i read it very quickly.

** spoiler alert ** Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of The Curse That Binds Us!

I want to preface this review by stating that I am indigenous, so my thoughts and opinions are going to be heavily impacted by that. I also cannot speak on behalf of all indigenous people, these thoughts are simply my own.

That being said, this book is quite good. The mystery and the interwoven ties between Redd, John, and Eleanor make it a truly enchanting read. It makes you want to keep turning each page to figure out how everything is connected. The book feels very fast-paced, even though it has a slow build to the climax at the end of the story. We follow Redd and her journey to figure out who she is, and where she came from. John and his journey between right and wrong. Eleanor and how her life unravels once she reaches America and what she does to protect her daughter.

Katie Hayoz is also, clearly, a talented writer. She has a good balance between world-building and plotting. Nothing about the world is confusing, even with it being so intricate. Switching between three points of view also helps keep this story moving along at a faster pace. The story kept my attention and that is always going to push a book up to three-star status for me.

My hesitation, however, is in the representation and interwovenness of indigenous history in the story. I'm not well versed in the history of Roanoke, so I suspect a lot of it is fairly accurate. But there are some presentation issues that left me feeling uncomfortable. First, the use of "savages" with no condemnation. Not even a hint at it. I understand this is historically accurate and the usage came from characters who are meant to be obviously prejudiced, but it makes it a very uncomfortable read. If we could have seen Eleanor, even within her own thoughts, discuss how wrong and hurtful that is, it could have still remained historically accurate and left the message that it is inappropriate. However, I can see the flip side to it, as a lot of indigenous people would prefer to not have the history of our genocide sugar-coated. For that reason, although it made me uncomfortable, did not hinder how I felt about the overall story.

What did hinder some of how I felt was the relationship between Eleanor and Manteo, and the storyline of slaughtering native peoples for sustenance. The relationship between Eleanor and Manteo didn't lead anywhere, it didn't impact the story. He was presented as a character who converted (I'm aware this is historically accurate), helped the people of Roanoke, and was a lover for revenge against Ananis for Eleanor. Maybe something will be revealed in the sequel that gives his storyline more weight, but as I see it, his story offered little to the story.

Then, we see them using their masks to take stuff and harm other native tribes. Everyone knows the horrors that were done to native people, but once more, there was never really a moment that sits down and discusses what a true horror that is. When we do see Eleanor discuss what a horror it is when she drowns Walter. I really hope the rest of this trilogy will not showcase Eleanor as a hero, or offer any type of redemption unless those atrocities are acknowledged and condemned. It would make me question the author's intentions of using native genocide for her story.

That, however, remains to be seen. I'll keep up with this series because I think the author is talented, and I want to see where she takes this story. More importantly, what is down with Eleanor and how that is approached.