Loved this continuation of the series! While the story was great, I it was a little too much of a slow burn for me. I mean... I can only take so much. The journey to find Circe was a great plot and I am so glad that we got to see more of the characters from the first trilogy. I can't wait for more.

I liked the trilogy that came before, but this one manages to be my favorite of the series.

Jocasta still harbors feeling for Flynn, her brother's best friend, and a treat to Cat puts them all in danger but also gives her opportunities to be herself and seduce the man she loves. Honestly, Jocasta was a very refreshing character. Being Hoi Polloi amongst Magoi and not feeling lesser for it, like other some characters, made her a very strong person and very interesting to read about. It was a good change after Cat.

Flynn was just a goner for her the entire time. I loved it. All he wanted was her, and for her to live a happy life. We love a hero that puts the heroine first.

If you like the brother's best friend, age gap, protective hero, a quest, and a fast-paced adventure, pick up this book.

I really hope the author writes more for the Kingmaker series. There are more characters that need their story told we want to read them.

Jocasta and Flynn are great together! Loved reading their story and seeing how it all comes together. Still love Cerbus and happy that Cat and Griffin finally got a happy ending.

It has been a long time since I read the original trilogy series so it was nice to catch upon what happened after the ending. I enjoyed the characters and the well written story and the intriguing would this all takes place in. Doesn’t hurt that I love a little fantasy, adventure and Greek Mythology.

So I am in law school so barely have time to read and always try to be super selective with what I read... but let me tell you I didnt do homework for an entire day to binge this book. It was everything I couldve wanted from a book and more. There was fantasy elements, greek mythology, dual POV, tension that would make anyone crack, the pace was always constant and in your face. Amanda Bouchet is the author of my dreams. I would literally sell my soul to reread this book and I am not even being dramatic. From start to finish this was perfection for me and I would give it unlimited stars if I could.

Monsters, gods, action & tons of romance, OH MY! I totally enjoyed this book. Kept me gripped on the storyline from beginning to end. Jocasta & Flynn's story was brilliant!

This was new to me author and it won’t be the last! Even though I haven’t read the other in the series, I was able to keep up with all the characters and action! I’ll def be going back to read the others! I really loved the characters, the magic, the mythology, and action! And of course the romance! This was a slow burn but oh so worth it! Our MC’s have been in love with each other for years but now is finally the time! Jocasta is strong, fearless, and a healer. She wants to help her family by going on a dangerous journey to the mythical garden of Circe to search for a cure for Cat. Cat was cursed! Flynn is sweet, knows farming and fighting, and doesn’t want to lose those he cares about! Flynn wants to go with Jocasta to help protect her on this journey. I really enjoyed watching these two get to their HEA! They had great chemistry! All in all a wonderful fancy romance read!

This series just doesn't work for me. I have tried more than once thinking it was my mood, but it's just not the right fit. Thank you so much for letting me try it!

Sadly, this book was a disappointment for me. And I feel like it's time to "break up" with this author. It's time to move on to greener pastures because her storytelling leaves me uninspired. I wish it wasn't so.

In the end, I don't think I can blame the book, but I can definitely blame my book funk. I adored her debut trilogy, but somehow, sometime in the last couple years, the shine has worn off and I'm left wanting more form her books.

I hope that I'm in the minority here and the readers who pick up her books will experience the joy I experienced reading her Kingmaker Chronicles 1-3.

❤️❤️❤️❤️ out of 5
This book is book 4 in a series of an established fantasy world and I went in blind (because sometimes that’s what I do 🤣🙈), and you know what? This book still made sense and worked as a stand-alone because it’s about a different couple. I was dragged straight into some fantastic world building and an epic adventure.

Our hero and heroine have been in love with each other for years but because of a misunderstanding avoided each other as much as they could. They get thrown together when setting out on a quest to a magical island no one has ever returned from in order to save their queen. They team up with some fantastic secondary characters to battle all kinds of mythical creatures in order to save the day.

As much as I love reading about couples who have secretly been in love with each other and pining for the other for years- I don’t like when it’s because of some miscommunication. However, I have to say the pay off was pretty good and they got to luxuriate in their relationship when they finally got together! I was here for the romance as much as the adventure. I really enjoyed the book so now I need to go back and read the first 3 books!

10/5 Stars because 1. Amanda Bouchet can write no wrong and 2. She gave us the story of Jocasta and Flynn that we needed 🤌🏻

These characters hold the most special place in my heart and to have them back better than ever is one of the best reading experiences of mine to date!!

The romance was spectacular as always, the story even more extravagant than ever, and the characters just as loveable and endearing as always 🥰

still looking for that high of the book one...
sadly this wasn't a book that delivered it to me..
if you like fantasy and Greek mythology this might be a book for you but I think you will enjoy it better if the first three books are fresh on your mind...

This was such a good book and I can't wait to go back and read the first books in the series. The world Bouchet has built is very immersive and impressive.

I really enjoyed the characters and the plot, but the action was limited and sparse. I have enjoyed this series, but this was not my favorite. I think if it had been six chapters shorter it would not have been slow. Other than that, it was an interesting read.

This great story takes place in an ancient Greek-like world complete with gods and monsters straight out of mythology. If you've followed the series from book 1, this is what happens after what was supposed to be the happy ending and the new Queen, Cat, is cursed with immortality and an unchanging body right as she's almost 9 months pregnant. This puts Cat and Griffin's hold on the kingdom in jeopardy and no one knows what to do.
In comes one of the king's sisters, Jocasta, who we first meet as an 18-year-old looking to make her childhood crush, Flynn (her brother's friend and practically a member of her family), realize that she's a grown woman and in love with him. Things do not work out and they spend the next 6 years basically avoiding each other. But Jo finds a way to help Cat which means lives must be risked and no way is Flynn letting her go alone. Thus begins a fantasy adventure full of action, banter, romance, and brilliant nods to mythology.
The plot moves at a great pace that keeps things moving without feeling rushed but also gives time to slow down for the emotional scenes. I kept getting pulled into the story with no desire whatsoever to leave the world.
This is the first volume I've read in this series and I'm happy to say that it did not affect my understanding of things. I'm sure that reading the three previous books would have made a difference, but Bouchet's writing is so good that I never felt lost in the world and the connection with the characters is almost instantaneous.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the exciting and romantic read!

I really think Bouchet shines when she is delivering a stand alone romance because the plotting and pacing in this book just worked so, so well. I am really hoping that the next books in the series will similarly be stand alone sequels because I am anxious to follow two other storylines within this world and don't want to be still in the same perspectives as we are here.

Jocasta and Flynn have great chemistry and I really enjoyed the way we got to see Flynn slowly come out of his shell to be with Jocasta. Flynn has a lot of emotional wounds because he lost his entire family as a boy, though his dad was the last to go. That meant that Flynn got to see his father being absolutely devastated and so he doesn't ever want to go through that himself. But Jocasta and Flynn are both desperately in love with one another, even if they've tried not to be. So watching their dance around one another until they finally gave in was really great. Meanwhile, the overarching plot moved pretty quickly and was an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend this one if you made it through the original trilogy!

A Curse of Queens picks up shortly after the events of Heart of Fire as Flynn and Jocasta must search for a cure for the curse placed on Cat and her unborn child. Flynn and Jocasta's story is the perfect mix of romance, action, and Greek mythology. I love that one of the main elements of this story is Jocasta proving to herself and her family how powerful and strong she can be without even having to lift a weapon. Yes, she can defend herself, but her heart and mind truly prevail. There are so many action-packed moments in this book that will keep you turning the page. The romance between Jocasta and Flynn is the sweetest slow burn ever and I loved the angst of it all.

I cannot wait for the next book in this series because that ending left my mind blown.

This was such a great surprise fourth book. I had no idea that this wasn't a trilogy, at least... in the sense that the main story ends at book 3 and then you get all the other stories in a great fantasy world that has already been built. I loved this friends to enemies to friends to lovers relationship, and thought it was super cute and well written. I would recommend this to my friends!

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. It has been four years since the release of the third book, and this was worth the wait. Despite the fact that I spent the first 30% of this book going, "Oh right, this person did a thing in the last book", there were no clunky gaps or info dumps. While it might have been easier if I'd re-read the earlier books, I don't feel like I was left behind either, and this is an author skill worth mentioning. Even with a four year memory deficit, I was instantly sucked into the story, and barely managed to stop reading for things like work or food.
Jocasta and Flynn are an interesting couple. Though the whole "My tragic past is why I can never be in a relationship " is one of my least favorite micro tropes, Flynn and Jocasta do the work to make their transition believable, and their love and pining (soooo much pining) really drive the plot. The action is well written, the story is fun, and it leaves plenty of room for the next book. It's a little angst, a heap of slow burn longing, and a lot of fun. I enjoyed it enormously, and I can't wait for the next book.

"A Curse of Queens" by Amanda Bouchet
Book 4 Kingmaker Chronicles
I enjoyed learning more about Jo and Flynn as they discover a path forward. Another great adventure with plenty of action.
Entertaining read.