Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an ARC review copy of A Curse of Queens by Amanda Bouchet.

This is a slow burn fantasy romance that follows Jocasta, a princess who is trying to help her pregnant sister-in-law after she has been cursed to stay the same age, meaning she cannot give birth.
Jocasta has always had a crush on Flynn, her brother’s friend as well as her own. On her 18th birthday, she kisses him, hoping that he will finally see that they are meant to be together but he immediately apologizes for kissing her.

Now, years later, Jocasta has become a healer and Flynn is the captain of the guard. Their friendship has become nonexistent. Flynn still cares about Jocasta but he thinks that she deserves someone better than him and he is scared of committing to anyone after having experienced a lot of death in his family.

Jocasta searches for and finds a potential cure for Cat, her cursed sister-in-law and Jo, Flynn, and a few others undertake the journey to attempt to retrieve it. She is smart and determined to do everything she can to help her sister-in-law, even volunteering to go on this dangerous quest for just the chance to help her.

Flynn is a virgin hero who has only ever wanted to be with Jocasta. He is caring, thoughtful, kind, and supportive. I loved all the little things he did for her and his pining was top-tier.

Although this book contains a quest, it starts off slow, which was great for the character development. It helped to set the stage for how the characters who had known each other for so long felt about each other, their past, and what they wanted in the future. The relationship progression didn’t feel forced or rushed.

I loved all the side characters, old and new. Everyone had a purpose, a certain set of skills and talents, and a unique personality. I highly recommend this book and the entire series and I can’t wait for the next installment.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Curse of Queens is the fourth installment within the Kingmaker Chronicles. I'm honestly so happy that I found this series and fell in love. Each book brought me so much joy because the characters made everything worth it.

From the very beginning, I knew that I was going to love Cat and Griffin. Then to see them fall in love with one another grow a family was just really beautiful. Well, that was how I felt until she fell under a curse. Yeah, that wasn't fun one bit and one could only imagine what she was going through. Then we got to fall in love with the amazing beta team. Their adventurous sides were never shy from danger and each quest kept the pages turning.

We saw Griffin's brother fall in love and start a family. So, I was more than ready to watch Jocasta get her man. Her and Flynn were dancing around each other for so long that it had me screaming. Not in the "ahhhh noooo" way. No, it was all "OMG JUST KISS EACH OTHER ALREADY DAMMIT" way.

Eventually I got what I wanted out of these two, but it took freaking forever. I also really enjoyed Carver and Bellanca getting closer to one another. Their bantering gave me sweet joy and I'm so excited for their adventure. Mostly because I need another book in this series. If not, I will riot at dawn.

In the end, danger is still lurking around everyone. We finally find out who is (sort of) behind everything and it just makes it so much more fascinating. Which also gives me the "this isn't ending anytime soon" vibes as well. Totally can't wait for the next book to come my way because the Gods are up to something, and I want a huge battle!

Jocasta and Flynn have been quietly pining for one another for years. A Curse of Queens returns us to familiar characters from the Kingmaker Chronicles, but with a focus on Jo and Flynn. This story is just as rich and engaging as the rest of the series, with an exciting quest to find Circe's Garden. This book has been a long time coming and I loved it so much!

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

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Going into this I didn't realize it was part of a series so I was a bit confused with the world. I would have liked to have read the other books before this one but now I may go back and read the others. The tension between the two love interests was amazing and it was easy to get drawn in and invested in their story.

Soooo I recommend reading this book if you already have started the series, I just think that starting from book 4 can get kinda confusing...
I recommend this series if you are looking for a NA fantasy book with some romance in it!! The FMC has been in love with the MMC for years but he rejects her because he is afraid of falling in love. Their tension and chemistry mixed with a forced proximity journey make this story very interesting and engaging, but I think that starting and reading the first three books before pursuing this one might be better!

So I absolutely loved The Kingmaker Chronicles by @ and was super excited to try read the spinoff 👏🏻. While we do get a bit of Cat and Griffin, A Curse of Queens focuses more on Jocasta and Flynn as they try to search for fabled island in order to find an antidote for Cat, who has been cursed. I loved being back in this world with some of my favorite characters. This book had plenty of action and adventure and a super sweet friends to lovers trope. Although they will never compare to Cat and Griffin,but that’s just me 😁, this one still gives you all the feels 💖. Can definitely be read as a stand alone but the first three books are so good tat you should just read them all!

I was so excited when I learned that this was Jocasta and Flynn's story, I have been ready for the two of them to give into the clearly inevitable. As much as the first book in the series will always be number one in my heart, this may be next in line. After a slow start, the adventure was exciting to read about without overshadowing everything else and while the gods were certainly present, I feel as their involvement was less pronounced, Jocasta's victories were won through her skills and intellect. The romance we have been waiting to see blossom for some time did not disappoint, It was just as sweet as I hoped for. More books are clearly coming in this series and I am eager to see what else is in store.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the fourth book in the Kingmaker Chronicles series and focuses on Griffin's sister, the healer Jocasta, and his friend and captain of the guard, Flynn. Although Griffin and Cat have established the beginnings of a truly united kingdom the Gods are still playing games and have interfered with the birth of their first child. It's up to Jocasta and Griffin, along with Carver, Bellanca and Prometheus, to sort it out.

I have to admit here that I read the first book in the series and skipped the next two. Although I loved the world that the author created, Griffin and his family and friends, Cat's character just did not appeal to me. She seemed unnecessarily confrontational and belligerent. Thankfully, she's not in this book too much and skipping those two books didn't really impact my enjoyment of this fourth book.

The romance between Jocasta and Flynn actually begins in the first book in the series. So, even though the two lovebirds acknowledge how they feel about each other relatively early in this story. it's been a long time coming. At the beginning of the book we see the start of their romantic love for each other and come to understand why Flynn is so reluctant to admit he is in love with Jocasta.

While there is plenty of action (battles with monsters, tests of strength and intelligence) and humour (see exchanges between Prometheus, Bellanca and Carver) this is a beautifully told, emotional story. I love the way that the author weaves the stories of the other characters into the main storyline.

There's plenty more to come in this world and I am here for it.

5 stars. This was such a great adventure. I had so much fun reading this journey with these characters. I love the twist and turns. The surprises were a great part of the story too. I'm super excited for the next book. That one will be good too.

Amanda Bouchet starts a Curse of Queens right where the previous book ended and quickly takes you along a journey that grabs your attention and doesn't let go. Putting this book down to do 'real life's things was so difficult. I am also so happy we finally got Flynn and Jocasta's story and were able to witness their HEA. I am always a bit hesitant about books added after the original trilogy but should have known this book would not disappoint. I will absolutely be recommending this book to everyone who loves high fantasy romance novels.

Packed full of action and adventure, A Curse of Queens owns my heart. From the very first book Amanda Bouchet has taken everything we love about fantasy romance and cultivated an incredible series.

Kidnapped
Enemies to lovers
Found family
Slow burn
Spice
…and more!

4/5 ⭐️

Thank you, Sourcebooks Casablanca, this has been one of my most anticipated reads and it did not disappoint.

I understand changing the POV style since there is a different narrator but it felt a little weird to shift from the first person active POV in the original trilogy to the third person of this one. I think it may have contributed a little bit to why this book felt so much slower than its predecessors. It also focuses a bit more on the back and forth between the two romantic leads vs plot. It was hard to really feel the sexual tension between the two mains and it felt a little awkward or forced at times. The plot did pick up toward the final third and it was nice to see the characters from the Kingmaker Chronicles again.

I didn't realize that this book was a part of a series so I was really thrown for a loop as I tried to figure out the whole backstory for this without any prior information - so I have no one else to blame for that but myself.

Once I was in the story though I really quite liked it! There was a cool storyline and interesting character dynamics as the story progresses. There was so much tension within the story that it genuinely had me glued to the edge of my seat!

I enjoyed watching the team work develop as time went on. I especially loved the fact that it wasn't just a one man show but rather each and every person had their own time to show what they were made of.

I'm obsessed with Greek mythology so the inclusions of Circe and all other topics mentioned had me grinning from ear to ear!

I really liked the story though and will have to read the series all together once they're all out in the world! I'm looking forward to where the story goes in the next one!

Thank you, @netgalley and @sourcebookscasa for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review! All of the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I loved the earlier books in this series, so I was so excited to get to read this! I struggled with the really slow start to the story. In the first half of the book there is so much internal angst and pining from Jocasta and Flynn (but only to themselves and in their own heads), and at the same time there is almost nothing happening in the plot of the story. Once things start to happen, the book returns to the fast paced adventure I was expecting and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

There was definitely some set up for future stories here, so I can’t wait to see where it goes next!

This book has me so excited for more in this series. SO MUCH gets revealed towards the end and I can not wait! The beginning of this book was a bit slow. I was used to Cat and Griffin's books that had action from the first chapter on. You don't get that in this book. It comes, just not right away. Believe me the end makes up for it in a big way. This book does conclude Jocasta and Flynn's story, but I have no doubts we will keep seeing them in more books. There is just too much revealed at the end to not see this whole group of characters coming back for more. I don't want to spoil a thing so I'm going to leave this right here and pray the next book comes soon!

This series has always been a favorite of mine. I was hesitant going back to it as the storyline was just epic and I wanted it to stay that way.

I loved it! I loved that it was in a way its own story with characters we loved already. It didn't take away it just added a new perspective. I also loved how we can see character lines splitting off. A sneaky tease for whats to come! Amanda has done it again. She has entrapped me into her world of fantasy and made it real.

Thank you for the ARC!

I’ve already told the world how much I was enjoying reading ‘A Curse of Queens’ by Amanda Bouchet but I haven’t yet posted my final thoughts, so here they are.

Reading this book made me feel SO GOOD!

If you love a self-described “thorny woman” like I do, then you’ll just love Jocasta. If you love romance, then you’ll love this! The longing? I felt it AND it wasn’t some long-drawn-out affair in this book. It hit me hard, in the best possible way and I was completely wrapped up in the tension between the two love interests FROM THE PROLOGUE.

I LOVE Jocasta’s sharp mind and fearlessness. “Maybe doing things first, leading the way, was her role with them.”

This book was doing so much but at its heart it felt like a journey of two very different people learning to be true to themselves. This is probably why despite the fact that I had never met any of these characters before, I was immediately invested in their romance and their journey. Shoutout to Flynn for being a sweetheart.

I was enjoying this so much that I deliberately tried to drag out my read because I was immediately hooked and had to deliberately try to stop myself from simply flying through it. What can I say, I love to delay my own gratification? Not many authors can do this to me so successfully, so bravo!

I’m very excited to play catch-up and read the first three books in this series. Whilst gushing about this book online, I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about books 1-3.

Also, I have to tell you guys that there are two “side characters” who have me in an ABSOLUTE CHOKEHOLD and I would sell my soul for what I hope will be their book. I don’t want to spoil it, so I’m not naming names but if you pick up this book you’ll know EXACTLY who I’m talking about. Even as I type this right now, I feel giddy thinking about them.

This book made my smile so wide and so bright, and that’s just the magic we all get to experience IRL, isn’t it?

Amanda Bouchet's A CURSE OF QUEENS is the fourth installment in the fantasy romance series 'The Kingmaker Chronicles.' The series switches focus for the first time, spotlighting the romance between Jocasta and Flynn which was hinted at in previous novels. The team is back for another mythological quest, finding Circe's secret garden, with some new and old teammates readers are sure to love.

While this novel erred towards cheesy and formulaic at times, I thoroughly enjoyed the worldbuilding, romance, and adventure signature to Bouchet. Future novels are set up for success with hints towards a dangerous journey in Atlantis and an impending war of the gods. I'll certainly stay on the edge of my seat waiting for the next novel!

I feel like I have been waiting for this book for sooooo long, and it did not disappoint! I loved being back in this world and was so happy to be back with my favorite characters. This first book, in what I'm hoping is another trilogy with the next two following other characters romance arcs, focuses on Jocasta and Flynn. I loved the build up to their relationship in the first three books and was eager to go along on this adventure with them.
Gods, Monsters, and Romance... what else could a girl want out of a book?

In A Curse of Queens, book four in Amanda Bouchet's Kingmaker Chronicles, series leads Cat and Griffin make way for Jo and Flynn’s romance to play out, and take on more of a supporting role - though their trials and tribulations make up a large part of this story. The three kingdoms of Thalyria have finally been reunited after centuries of strife and conflict, so everything should be smooth sailing from here on in for the characters we’ve been following, right? 

Jocasta, otherwise known as Jo, a healer by trade, is the sister of Griffin, King of Thalyria, and for years, she has prepared herself to begin a courtship with Flynn of Sintra, her lifelong friend and captain of the guard.  But when she kisses Flynn and he apologizes, the notion is forgotten, and they lapse into a bitter estrangement.  Meanwhile, Griffin tries to pair Jo up with Alexander, a local nobleman who has a vast knowledge of gardens.  While they don’t strike sparks, he and Jo do become friends. 

Then Catalia – aka Cat, pregnant Queen of the realm - falls under the sway of a heavy curse which makes her immortal. Frozen in time, she’s destined never to age – or to deliver the baby she’s carrying, a girl prophesized to finish her parent’s work and bring peace and harmony to Thalyria.  When Cat suggests she has a cesarian section, Persephone, the castle’s healer, informs them that the baby would simply be stuck as an infant permanently, and would never grow to fulfill her destiny. While Zeus has been hard at work crafting this destiny for Thalyria for generations, it seems another Olympian has decided to step in to foul up his plans. 

When Jocasta learns of the terrible fate that has befallen her sister-in-law and unborn niece, she studies the possibilities and then determines to consult with Circe and beg her to create a plant and brew a potion which will reverse the curse. But no mortal has ever survived the journey.  The difficult sea voyage may be a fool’s errand, and it may end in Jo’s death, but she has found a scroll that contains all the advice she needs to get there and win the goddess’ favor – which will involve a five-part trial.  Her family balks at letting her go, but Griffin has faith in her.  Flynn, to her shock, volunteers to go with her. 

In close quarters, each battling a crush, Flynn and Jo take on the long and difficult journey to Circe’s abode. But it soon becomes clear that they are all simply pawns in a brewing war between the Olympian gods themselves. 

As always, Amanda Bouchet knows how to sculpt a fantasy world that’s rich with meaning and lore, though this book definitely doesn’t work as a stand-alone and is best read after you’ve consumed the rest of the (so far) quadrillogy.  

Bouchet’s determined and fearless heroine is a lot of fun to follow. Jo is a standout among the women she’s created, and I really liked her – she’s smart determined, and never foolish or reckless.  Flynn is also memorable in his determination to protect her, in his dedication to honor and nobility.  Their passion is angsty, thwarted, then requited and fiery.  They make a fabulous couple. 

Bouchet’s version of mashed-up Greek mythology is, thus far, my favorite take on the subject; her Gods are meretricious but not without their finer complexities.  The adventure here is dramatic, frightening, fun and emotionally moving. 

A Curse of Queens works beautifully as a continuation of the never-ending tale of Thalyria and finally gives fans of the kingdom’s travails a satisfying conclusion to Flynn and Jo’s romance.  It’s highly recommended, but only if you’ve read what’s come before it. 

Buy it at: Amazon, Audible or your local independent retailer 
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