Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the free eARC. I'm leaving my honest review.

This is a very fast paced book (entire book takes place in less than a week) featuring lots of different mythological creatures from all over the world. I loved that the characters weren't teenagers, that they were all mature, consenting, intelligent with moral compasses that fit their myths. The central characters are Peeraphan and Bennett (you get perspectives from each character, plus a couple of side characters) Peeraphan (or Punch) is in her 30's when she is entranced by a pair of red dancing heels with a deadly curse attached to them. Bennett is trying to get them off the market, but is too late to prevent Peeraphan from donning the shoes. There is so much more depth to the characters when they aren't literal teenagers.

This reads kind like the beginning of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (or maybe more Angel Investigations) of a variety of supernatural characters are joined together to track down cursed and mythical items and secure them so they can't harm others. This is an adult romance with sex on page, there is a little bit of insta-love but the characters talk through things so miscommunication is minimal, and the romance is mature rather than horny 20 somethings.

4.25 out of 5 stars, spice rating is more like 1-2 (on page, coitus interruptus, banter, teasing).

While the categorization of this novel may be a little misleading (should be more Urban Fantasy), I fell in love with the world that Piper J. Drake has created. In Wings Once Cursed & Bound, there are a variety of mythical creatures that actually live together and get along. They are part of the Darke Consortium. They seek out mythical, magical objects rumored to exist through fairy tales and folktales to keep safe and away from those who seek to use them for harm or chaos.

Peeraphan, or Punch as she likes to go by, is a dancer and is swept up in magical mystery when she dons a pair of red shoes that wish the wearer harm. Bennett, administrator of the Darke Consortium and also a vampire, has sought the shoes to keep them from harming anyone else. How Punch is able to keep the shoes at bay is enticing, as well as her beauty. He and his comembers discover she is supernatural in her own right; a Thai bird princess. There are villains out to get not only the shoes, but Punch, and Bennett and company must act to save her.

There are a few times the main characters get too much into their heads and bog down the story, but overall, the tale is exciting and action packed with a little romance thrown in. Here is another series that supernatural lovers will be eager to sink their teeth into. Very much looking forward to the second installment in the Mythwoven series.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

What would you do if you put on cursed shoes and now you must trust strangers to help you get them off/break the curse?

I really liked this book; I didn’t know what I was going into when I started it, but I do agree with a lot of people, it’s not really a high fantasy but more of an urban fantasy and when I let that go, I was able to really get into this book.
I enjoyed the retelling of The Red Shoes and having the author mix it up with having a mix of mythical creatures. I did feel that this book could have been broken up into 2 books so that we could have more plot, action, and character development throughout the book. However, with that being said, it was beautiful in its own way.
I really enjoyed the characters and getting to learn more about them. I do wish that we could have had more information about Bennett and to have more time learning about Peeraphan gifts. With Peeraphan you will see a strong female character, who is open minded about the magical world. Who isn’t scared of doing whatever she has to make sure the ones she cares for are ok. Bennett is a sexy vampire who has some trust issues when it comes to humans but that is only because he is scared to love again. I l really enjoyed the banter between Thomas and Bennett and having Peeraphan tell them they have a bromance made me laugh. You could tell the chemistry between Peeraphan and Bennett from the beginning and of course you have the dread of waiting around for them to figure out everything, but it wrapped up nicely at the end.
I got the audio for this book as well and I loved how the narrator really helped to bring this book to life. I did have a moment in the beginning where I thought Peeraphan's name was supposed to be Peter Pan but when I looked it up in my eARC I saw that it was just the accent of the narrator.
I really enjoyed getting to watch all the mythical creatures get a lot and use their special abilities to help this secret society. I cannot wait to see where the Mythwoven series will go next, I am looking forward to reading the next book.

I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review this eARC and Audio of this book.

3.25/5

the premise for this fantasy was what got me since I've never read any Thai mythology, knew nothing about the Kinaree (Thai Bird Princess) and I loved the idea of elements of fairy tales and paranormal romance.

first, the good. the story is narrated from multiple POVs and I enjoyed getting to know the different characters. all of them were likeable and kept me interested enough to want to keep reading.

now, on to what I didn't love. i found the pacing inconsistent—there were scenes throughout that just felt like they hadn't been fully fleshed out in terms of explaining things, but other times we would spend a page on how relaxing a bath was. scenes like that just felt unnecessary and only slowed down the story. i would’ve liked to spend more time on how the characters and different groups of supernaturals interact with each other inside and outside the consortium. i would’ve loved to learn more about the why behind our villain too, i was disappointed by how one-dimensional he was.

I was underwhelmed by some of the life lessons/truths that the MCs realize—they just seemed basic. There were also many times where I felt like everything was being spelled out too much—a lot of telling, instead of showing. this made the writing feel a little too juvenile for me and had me thinking the book was geared towards a younger audience... but the MC is several years out of college, some of the romance subject matter seemed more adult, and the spice at the end definitely seemed more appropriate for adults so that was confusing to me.

despite all of this, the story and characters are engaging and i found myself wanting to know what happened next. overall, this is a decent first book that sets a solid foundation for the series. i hope the second book will have more information on the Kinaree and some clearer works building. I’m interested to see where this story will go!

3.5 stars rounded up.

Peeraphan Rahttana has heard tales of the kinnaree, the Thai bird princess, since she was young - with the understanding that her family are her descendants. Despite being many generations removed, Peeraphan has some magic within her, magic that no one in her family seems to have, and it causes her to feel alone, something not exactly human in a human world.

That is, until she meets Bennet Andrews moments after she puts on The Red Shoes, cursed to force the wearer to dance to their death. When the shoes don’t seem to harm her though, Bennet realizes that he will need to protect her from other supernatural forces who are out to collect the shoes for themselves. Diving headfirst into a world the likes of which she could not have imagined, Peeraphan finds that there is more magic in the world than she ever knew.

I’m a sucker for fantasy, especially if it feels like it’s a world that I could fall into myself given the right circumstances. Peeraphan was a (mostly) regular person, living her (mostly) regular life, and then she gets swept into a supernatural world filled with vampires, werewolves, fae, and more. While a whole new high fantasy world is fun to escape to, this is the kind of low fantasy world that gives people like me hope that magic exists.

Though the world was fun to root around in, the world building fell a bit flat. The pieces that were set in Seattle were realistic, but some fantasy elements didn’t make sense to me. A flying vampire? A vampire born rather than created? A special ceremony to make it so a vampire could procreate? I don’t know, it just didn’t sit well in my brain and, even in a fantasy world, felt a little too fantastical.

That being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed the story. The development of relationships throughout gave me the warm fuzzies. I love a good found family and, even when they’re bickering (or perhaps especially when they’re bickering), the cast of characters in this story definitely falls into the found family category.

The plot felt like it got a little lost and took a backseat to the romance storyline. While I am pro-romance, the synopsis provided lended itself more towards action and adventure and that’s what I expected. I’m not disappointed, but it felt a bit uneven and almost like a bait and switch.

This book was a bit of a struggle for me. I had high hopes because of the description. It was just kind of long, drawn out and boring. The beginning started out good and kept me interested, but as it went on I just lost interest. It was just confusing. At times, I didn't really know what was going on. I did enjoy the budding romance between Bennett and Peeraphan. It just wasn't for me. Big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to listen and review this book.

2.5. I wanted to love this, and I actually found Peeraphan (“Punch”) to be a fun and compelling protagonist with a healthy amount of agency and a lot of strength. I just wish Piper J. Drake had focused more on in-depth world-building instead of throwing a bunch of facts at the reader; the writing feels obtuse in some of its descriptions, and I feel like I didn't fully grasp the history or lore This description also applies to the romance, which starts quickly and feels lackluster; I found myself skimming the steamier scenes, and the culmination feels rushed.

Again, if the writing had been more effective, this would feel like a more promising start to a new series based in Thai mythology and folklore.

Peeraphan Rahttana was unaware of the magical underworld in Seattle before accidental exposure to a cursed object leads the vampire Bennett Andrews to rescue her. He is part of an organization that locates mythic objects, but he was too late to save Peeraphan from a deadly curse. It turns out that she's a Thai bird princess of legend and not an ordinary human. This will give her a bit of time, but the curse will still eventually kill her. Together, Bennett and Peeraphan search the supernatural world to find a cure. No matter what they find, she will never return to an ordinary life again.

Wings Once Cursed & Bound is the first book of the Mythwoven series and obviously borrows heavily from Thai myths. Peeraphan goes by Punch as a nickname, and she's aware that she's more than human from the start. Somewhere in her lineage is the mystic bird of myth named the kinnaree, but it's not well known. The Cursed object is actually a pair of red shoes, the ones from fairy tales that induce the dancer to dance to death. Peeraphan can resist them to a point, allowing her to find a way to break the curse and remove them.

The parallel world of supernatural beings alongside humans and regulatory bodies isn't new. I like how this is an international group and there are allusions to deeper lore and traditions from the start. This is fun to read about and also complicates the search for a solution because it could be any traditional spell or herbal remedy to help. The search gives Peeraphan and Bennett time to bond and grow closer, though she's very aware that she's been through a lot and the emotional connection could be because of that. She's not helpless in this situation, and she has a measure of agency and cleverness, especially in the last third of the book. Yes, she needs rescuing to a point, but she's not helpless either.

The group members are fascinating and all misfits of a sort. They don't quite fit into the supernatural world and don't fit in the human one quite right either. Any misfit not fitting neatly into boxes can appreciate that feeling, and empathize with them as they navigate through their situation. It's the start of an intriguing series, and I'm really hoping to see the rest of them.

Wings Once Cursed & Bound is an enthralling read that takes you into a world of supernatural creatures. Drake's novel is a unique and captivating story that is steeped in Thai mythology, shadowy organizations and a pair of cursed shoes that add an intriguing twist to the story. This book is a delightful blend of action, romance, and myth that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. With its strong wings, this mythology is sure to soar high and capture the hearts of readers everywhere.

This was a cute little urban-fantasy romance, and while it's not a personal favorite I would still recommend picking it up if you want a more light-hearted, quick read. Punch and Bennett are brought together by a cursed pair of dancing shoes, attracted to each other right away. But Bennett is unsure of romance thanks to his past, while Punch just wants to get the shoes off. We meet a cast of other magical characters that all want to help save Punch, but only the truth can set her free. The only reason I didn't give the book five stars was because I could have used a little bit more fleshing out of everyone as a whole. The surface info was great, but I like my characters to have a little bit more going for them. I'll definitely pick up the second book based on who I think the second book is about. Can't wait to see more from this universe.

Wings Once Cursed and Bound is the first novel in the Mythwoven series. While it is being marketed as being for fans of Jennifer Armentrout and Sarah Maas, I can see elements where the three authors are similar, but not enough to compare them. For me, it seems more about marketing to those giant fanbases compared to connecting the three authors and their styles. This novel is more urban fantasy instead of the high fantasy novels that are typically written by the other two authors. I love urban fantasy, so I do wish that this was more the focus of the marketing as there is still a huge fanbase for this genre. The story follows Peeraphan “Punch” who receives a new pair of dancing shoes that turn out to be cursed in a more contemporary Seattle. Bennet Andrews was supposed to retrieve the shoes before they reached Punch, but it was too late. Punch is a Thai mythological kinnaree born in a family of humans and the story revolves around breaking the curse.

Kinnarees seem to be well-known by the characters of the story, but, unfortunately, I, as the reader, could not tell you very much about them. While those familiar with the mythology or want to go on a deep dive into Wikipedia (or another search method) will be able to understand, I feel that is unfair to every other reader. For me, I would have preferred some information given to the reader, such as the history or general meaning. As a lot of the novels contains many passages of telling rather than showing, I expected some additional information to be given about this part of the mythology. As for the rest of the telling rather than showing, this my least favorite of writing styles as it tends to feel forced rather than a story unfolding organically. This style even occurs during some climactic scenes where the readers is shown only a portion of the events and the rest is told through exposition/dialogue. Unfortunately, this type of style just is not for me as I need a lot more showing rather than telling for me to connect with a story.

Given the older ages of the characters, this story still has some YA vibes so I can see it appealing to readers of both genres. There is an expected romance that develops between Bennett and Punch, but it is rushed considering the story takes place in about 24-hours. They had great chemistry, and I don’t mind some initial speed in the development of their relationship, but I prefer it to then slow down a bit for the characters to actually connect and deepen the relationship. Through their journey a lot of other characters and beings are introduced, so it will be interesting to see how they all fit together in the sequels. The Thai-inspired aspect of this story was unique as I have not read a lot of stories using this mythology. Overall, the writing needs a little more work, for me, in terms of tightening up the story and maybe expanding on the showing aspect; however, there is a great concept presented and it will be interesting to try the sequel(s).

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this enjoyable novel. The opinions expressed are completely my own.**

Really great story. I love the female lead. She is strong and smart, willing to follow orders when needed but also question the rules. She will allow herself to be carried but also do the work to rescue herself when she can. She is the best sort of female heroine. I really enjoyed the way the author integrated a creature from Thai mythology into the supernatural world full of European creatures that the readers are likely to be more familiar with. All in all, it was a very fun read and I will definitely be looking out for the next book in the Mythwoven series

I had such high hopes for this book. The premise is fascinating, I was drawn to the promise of Thai folklore in an urban fantasy setting. The Dark Consortium is an interesting agency to have operating in secret alongside hapless mortals. And The Red Shoe? One of my all-time favorite fairy tales and ballets.

What I got was poorly thought-out Twilight fanfiction absent a logic train. I tried to push through. I shelved my criticisms, turned my brain off, and hovered my hand over the "I Believe" button, and then 30% into the book I was treated to a Navi-knock-off directly quoting The Legend of Zelda.

And this was right on the heels of a moment where the love interest, Bennet, is shocked! that an adult woman with a brain figured out the loophole to the binding oath he'd taken.

The oath? I will not prey upon any member of my household.
The loophole? Punch is not a member of his household, and therefore he can feed off of her in order to NOT DIE.

How a centuries-old vampire was too stupid to figure out that his oath wasn't ironclad (really, it was a rowboat with a multitude of fist-sized holes holed into it), is disgraceful.

Oh, and did I mention he wears reading glasses just because?

I'm not kidding, this is the actual quote: "Bennet looked at Thomas over the wire rims of his glasses. Bennet didn't need the glasses, being a vampire with supernaturally acute senses including sight, but he found the effect satisfying."

So. If a Manic Pixie Dream vamp[ire is your kind of thing, dive right into Wings Once Cursed and Bound, I guess.

And yes, I'm aware this review doesn't make me sound like much fun, but if you're writing satire of a genre, at least market the book in such a way. use words like "unhinged", "humorous take", "quirky", or "tongue-in-cheek". I would absolutely be on board with a book poking fun at the enjoyable ridiculousness of SJA and JLA. But market it in such a way that a reader isn't expecting urban fantasy and paranormal romance that makes sense.

Interesting fantasy romance with Thai mythology woven in. I haven’t read other books with Thai mythology so the premise was intriguing to me. It was an enjoyable read that seems to be setting up later books. The beginning of the story had me completely hooked. Later events are a little rushed and confusing at times. There’s still a lot I’m waiting to learn about the kinnaree and the consortium, so I will definitely be reading the next book. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the arc.

This book was a hot mess and while usually that would turn me off it somehow just seemed to work for the story. I loved how this story began; the tale of the red dancing shoes is one that i remember as a child so i was really drawn into what was happening. I enjoyed the characters but there wasn't much development within themselves over the arc of the story which i would have expected due to the story line. It didn't really retract from the book it's self but i would have loved to see more growth with Punch especially. i loved all the mythical creatures that show up in this book. It was really neat to see ones that i knew and learn more about ones that i hadn't heard about before. All together i am excited to see where the Mythwoven series is going to go next and look forward to the next book.

Punch (who we later learn is named Peeraphan) is a dancer who receives a new pair of shoes prior to a performance. She is unaware that the shoes are cursed and whoever wars them cannot take them off and will dance to their death.

Bennet was on his way to intercept the cursed shoes but was too late. He finds Punch wearing them, but when she's able to stop dancing while still wearing them, he's surprised and confused. He then saves her from a vampire rival and the two are thrown together.

I liked the Thai mythology and mythology. I wish they had delved more into the mythical creatures and the supernatural. I needed to know more about the myth as I had no prior knowledge.

This book held my interest enough that I would read the next one hoping that one pulls me in further. I would have liked the romance to be amped up more as well.

I would say I don't think the marketing of this being like a Sarah J. Maas book holds up. But it was still an interesting read and would have been more so with more of the mythology being told.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Dreamscape media for both an ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

You’ll be into “Wings Once Cursed & Bound” if you like:
Finding love again tropes
Brooding, stoic male leads
Feisty, a teeny bit eccentric female leads
Lots of mythical, fantasy beings

Dance.
Magic.
A secret society that reminds me of The Librarians.
References to stories, myths, and ballets I'm not sure I know but sound intriguingly familiar.

There's the torn heroine, caught between who she is and who she wants to be. Between following her heart and running from vampires. (Literally.) Or maybe running to?

And a menagerie of fae. Vampires. Werewolves. Mermaids. Witches. Maybe many more! And Punch: kinnaree.

My only question is, why do these stories always take place in the Pacific Northwest? Is it truly that magical?

I liked this a lot. Wings Once Cursed and Bound is an intriguing start to a paranormal romance series. It is getting marketed as “for fans of Sarah J Maas and Jennifer Armentrout,” which I think is setting up assumptions about the book that won’t hold up. It is a fantasy romance, but it’s set in an alternate universe Seattle, not a fantasy world.

Peeraphan, called Punch by her friends, is at a dance rehearsal when she is offered a gorgeous pair of red shoes. She is entranced by them. Just as she puts them on, we meet Bennett, a vampire who has been tracking the shoes, hoping to get them before they wreak havoc. The shoes are the cursed red shoes from the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale. Instead of dancing until she dies, Punch is able to start and stop at will. Peeraphan is a kinnaree, a Thai bird woman. She can resist the compulsion, but not indefinitely.

Bennett convinces Punch to leave with him when a vampire from a rival shadowy organization shoes up also hoping to collect the shoes from her corpse. They escape after a fight to Bennett’s house, which is also the headquarters for a supernatural organization tasked with tracking down cursed and magical items.

There are fight scenes and moments of life threatening danger, but overall, Wings Once Cursed and Bound is gentle. There is no jealousy, no love triangles (yet), no one planning to serve Punch up as bait. There are a lot of conversations and introspection, and refreshingly, no one gets defensive about Punch being at headquarters. Everyone’s focus is getting the shoes off safely and neutralizing them so they can’t harm more people. The characters come from a many different folklores and mythologies. The vampire and the werewolf growl at each other, but have worked together for centuries. Even Punch’s pet sugar gliders get respect.

It isn’t perfect. The talking could have been tightened up. It isn’t explained why Punch was given the shoes, and the explanation I pieced together doesn’t quite work. I might have missed an essential detail, so this might be a me problem.

Those quibbles aside, Drake lays the groundwork for a really interesting series. There’s an antagonist that I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of, two nine tail fox (kitsune) shifters (setting up a nice why not both situation for the witch), and a dragon I hope we get to spend more time with. Drake also introduces the possibility of a battle corgi and Yes, Please!

Tropes: found family, my boyfriend is a corpse, monster boyfriend, secret supernatural society, come with me if you want to live, witches, dragons, fae, the centuries old werewolf who follows his family, insta-love, medium spice.

CW: magical shoes attempting to cause the wearer’s death, grief, kidnapping.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

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DNF on this title. While the description and inclusion of the Thai culture interested me, the pacing of this book was haphazard. This book would had benefitted from an introductory chapter before jumping immediately into the story. The rapid introduction of the main characters left little room to develop affection to continue on with the story. This problem continued throughout as the author added even more side characters that had little development within several chapters, which can get overwhelming to readers. I may give this a try again when it comes to my library, but at the time, this book failed to keep my interest.