The Curse of Saints by Kate Dramis is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers fantasy packed with spies, sharp political intrigue, and all the court drama you could want. The story kicks off strong and keeps the momentum going with tension, secrets, and just the right amount of romantic angst. If you're into fantasy that mixes action, scheming, and a sizzling love-hate dynamic, this one’s a must-read. Highly recommend.

I was here for the rivals but ultimately didn't end up caring.
Kinda infodumpy in the beginning. The world-building and magic system felt like stories I'd read before.
Maybe Will was hot but I didn't care enough to continue. I tried a few chapters but wasn't hooked. I checked out some reviews and it doesn't seem to get any better.
DNF @ 7%
arc provided by Netgalley

This book started off slowly, but picked up and just kept me engaged the whole time. I loved Aya and tova. Their friendship is so deep and honest. Then you have will who believes no one will love him if he doesn't be someone else. There were so many reveals that I just did not see coming and I literally stopped what I was doing many times because I just had to focus on listening.

I tried to give this book a second chance with the audio and it was still not a book for me. It had such potential for me!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read this!

I have to say I quite enjoyed this book and I think other romantasy fans will too. It's a very promising start to a series. The world is interesting and has a lot of potential and I am definitely picking up the sequel when it comes out.

This book follows our main character Aya and her rival/love interest Will. We get some enemies to lovers, a little dose of royal and court machination, and of course the brooding love interest. Also a little bit of spice if that's your thing. Plus I really loved when Will would call her "Aya love"

The narration was also great. All in all a solid debut.

I loved this book! The world-building, the action, and the tension were all so captivating. I'm looking forward to the sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to get into this book so badly. After getting through 35% I knew for me it wasn’t going to get better. There was a lot of telling, versus showing me things happening or characters personality traits without giving evidence of these claims in the text. It’s such an interesting premise, I just couldn’t get into it.

You know when you just vibe with an author's debut work? Yep, this is that book! We had some fab trope choices in the works and I genuinely enjoyed the flow! It may help that I was fully immersed as I audioed this alongside the physical copy - then I got my sub box copy, I felt pretty pleased with myself!

I enjoyed the banter and tension that was woven throughout and I think the way its been written makes me intrigued to see where our characters will be taken next. I hope they will be more developed into the next instalment and I look forward to a further fleshing of the world building, but for me it was a solid start to what I feel will be a great story!

The audio was narrated well and at a good speed too which I enjoyed.

I don't have much to say about the story. It was very slow burn on the romance font - which is fine with me as long as there's plenty of other stuff going on. I'm not a romance first reader. But the rest of the plot was a little thin and overall felt a lot like things I'd read before. This is probably because I never really connected with any of the characters. It's quite a linear story, the world building is pretty basic and the focus is on the connection between the two MCs. I can see a lot of romantasy fans being all over that but its just not me. There's nothing really wrong with the book but for me personally not much really right with it either.

I listened to this as an audiobook, which isn't my preferred method of reading. That said, I thought the reader/narrator did a very good job of reading this.

Aya and Will are bitter rivals, at least according to Aya. And yet, she's depending on him for her very survival at the moment. Do I feel like this trope has been done before? Absolutely. Will I get sick of it? Probably not. Morally grey men are my favorite, and the plot twists had me gasping more than once. I would say this is a New Adult book, and I enjoyed it. I've been impatiently waiting for the second book, because cliffhangers are my least favorite thing.

Also, a warning: the burn is so slow, but it simmers for a good 60-70% of the book. More than once, I wanted to just scream at them to kiss already. If that's your kind of romantasy, then this is your kind of book.

I was provided an ARC copy of this book through Netgalley. My thanks to the publisher and the author for providing it to me.

This was a lot of fun and just what I was in the mood for. I was able to listen to it all in one go while I worked

This was not a very engaging story for me. The narrator sounded far too similar for every character and left me confused at times who was actually speaking or thinking. For being an adult book, it really just felt lime a YA book with some f-bombs and spice thrown in for funsies.

The plot felt very basic and something I've read a number of times by this point. Enemies-ish to lovers, spies for a kingdom who get double crossed somehow, and up joining the rebellion, and have secret powers. I can think of a few series that fit that description quickly, and Curse of Saints doesn't rank high on that list for me. This was an underwhelming miss for me.

This book was very average overall. I feel like I had read many of the tropes before, and they had been done better in those books. But I am intrigued enough to at least read the next book.

<i>"It was as if his darkness had called to hers, and she hadn't been able to resist responding. And for that, she hated him."</i>

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the chance to listen to an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

-- The Audiobook Performance --

I think the narrator did an overall excellent job with this book. I was constantly engaged in their performance. The characters were brought to life and distinguishable. I would definitely listen to another audiobook from this narrator again.

-- The Story --

This was a solid debut from Kate Dramis. For readers who really love the rivals/enemies/hate to love dynamics between the two main characters, then this will be right up their alley. I found a lot of things in this book that reminded me of the Grishaverse (particularly with the magic system), Throne of Glass, and Seven Faceless Saints.

For me, this book honestly landed somewhere in the middle. As a reader, I'm personally a little tired of the current trending tropes in NA Fantasy Romance, and I think this book contained a lot of those. For most readers, I don't think this will be an issue, but for me I think the genre is oversaturated and it makes it difficult for other books to stand out.

Ultimately, I was left wanting MORE. More from our characters and more from the story. I think the MMC, Will, carried most of this book. If anything, read this book just for him because he's solid.

I think this series still holds a lot of potential, and I might consider still continuing with the sequels depending on the feedback they receive from other readers.

magic, romance, political plots- what more could a reader want??

it did take me a little bit to get into the audiobook- finding the footing of the story, figuring out which voice goes to which character/who the characters are, etc. but overall i really enjoyed and will pick up the second when it comes out.

there are a couple of odd pacing areas and sometimes there are spots that are supposed to be dreams/visions but it’s a little hard to tell listening to it until the vision ends and the character comes back to reality. this may be easier to distinguish in the physical book though

The Curse of Saints taught me a valuable lesson in waiting to read a book at the right time. The first time I read it, I wasn't really in the mood to pick it up but I did anyways. I found myself feeling overwhelmed with the worldbuilding and nitpicking elements I typically wouldn't mind.

Fast forward two months, when I was looking for a good romantasy and decided to give this one another shot, but this time as an audiobook and I LOVED it. As a result, I hereby declare my first review null + void. Please listen to this one instead.

Romantasy fans, don't sleep on The Curse of Saints! This has all the elements we all know and love - enemies to lovers and forced proximity, to name a couple - and they are done so well!

---4.25/5

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

__________________

Initial review, for transparency:

DNF @ 25% This book has all the tropes and components I typically love, but it just didn't work for me. The beginning felt messy and convoluted, which made it hard to follow and the characters felt a little flat to me. Ultimately, I don't think this was the book for me, but it does still have great potential and you should absolutely check it out if you are a romantasy fan. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This book ended up falling a little flat for me. I had high expectations and was really intrigued by the blurb. Unfortunately, the pacing could use work. It was both too slow and too fast skimming over important points and dragging through others. I did enjoy the characters and their relationship as it evolved beyond rivals. Still not sure if I'll pick up the sequel though.

The narration performance kept me interested.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

The Curse of Saints by Kate Dramis
Narrated by Devon Sorvari

This is a great book to read if you are a fan of books such as:
Throne of Glass
Love Triangles
Forced Proximity
Enemies to Lovers


The Curse of Saints is book 1 in the series and I am ready for book 2, The Curse of Sins. When a spymasters power starts to act beyond her normal power, everyone is questioning if she is here to save them or destroy them.

This is an enemies-to-lovers fantasy with multiple POVs, with 500 pages giving everyone a chance to have their spotlight and not skimp out on any details or feel it was rushed. There is little spice in this book, hoping for a smidge more in book two after the characters have been developed. I did enjoy the world-building, as always first book tend to have that and I am here for it all.

I loved the narrator and the work they put into this story. They play such a huge role in the story and I am impressed from beginning to end.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Do you want to read a mess of a generic YA fantasy romance that feels overwhelmingly like Throne of Glass fanfiction?

Pre-reading:
The Fairyloot special edition of this is beyond gorgeous, so I’m excited to read it!

Thick of it:
80 chapters feels like a punishment.

Some of the affinities are super easy to remember because they’re close to the English word, and then others are just purposely hard and dumb. Why? Too many. More punishing of the reader.

No because like immediately yes to them. This book is so cliche, but it’s all the shit I like.

So I’m seeing a problem. If he can manipulate emotions can’t he create desire and then she’d be able to act on it? Because that’s overpowered.

But like immediately yes to Will. Is he every single fantasy MMC? Duh. Do I like it every time? Duh.

Okay, but like love triangle with Matthias? (Literally this man didn’t even need to be in this book.)

Okay, so her mom is def not dead. (Ask me in book two.)

Aya is a Virgo. Tova is an Aries. Will is a Scorpio. I mean I guess she could also be a Cap, but Virgo fits better in my opinion.

Wow, pet guard dog wolfies.

Tova is a cinnamon girlie.

Dual POV oh godbless.

There’s a lot of kingdoms lol. It’s overwhelming. Why did they make all the names so similar?

Lol, their wolves are bonded. Fourth Wing is calling to make a doggy-style joke.

He’s an empath, guys. Oh no.

Just kiss, you idiots. Wow, I hope we get lots of spicy bits with them. (We do not.)

Oh, so 100% Evie is evil and killed her parents to get the most magic. (Ask me in book 2.)

She’s a bit info-dumpy.

This is YA/NA lol. There is nothing adult about this book.

No, because I love them. I’m so easy to please. But like instantly yes.

Okay, so like obvi the both of them are gonna be the all magic types people haha. I don’t care. It’s gonna be fun. (Ask me in book two.)

Oh silver fox, baby. 👀 I like how they both have older hotties and younger hotties after them. (She didn’t do enough with this.)

This is the enjoyable fanfiction cringe I like. This is a CW show. Everyone’s young and hot and magical.

It’s giving the Red Woman from GOT. (She didn’t need to be in this book either.)

Like Will is gonna betray the kingdom, but I’m sure it’s for a good reason.

Literally it only works in fantasy but-hot. She’s mine me all day.

Shut up, edge lord.

Okay, that line is getting way too repetitive.

Okay, but like one bed one bed one bed. (A missed opportunity honestly.)

What the fuck? Who is this joker? I want more Will.

Okay, now love triangle???

Mmm, plot twist William did die, and she brought him back. (Ask me in book two.)

This book has pacing problems. I am enjoying it because I’m very easy to please with an enemies-to-lovers romance, but she’s got a lot of issues.

It’s giving Dorian and Chaol/Rowan lol.

Religion is evil and she’s from a super religious kingdom so literally so positive that her kingdom is actually the evil one.

Very Throne of Glass with the vomiting haha.

Same magic well training as TOG.

Okay, edgelord.

I’ve been bored for the last 7 or so chapters. Nothing is happening. It’s all stalling and spinning wheels.

It’s gotta be Aya’s mom, right lol? (It's someone's mom lol.)

This is gonna be so lame if they’re like fuel your magic with love, not hate. (sighhhhhhh)

Ugh, a flashback really? The pacing in this book is SO BAD. It could be so generically good.

God, what was the point of that chapter? That’s information we already know.

Not them dirty dancing in the clurb. (The most out-of-place scene in this book.)

Just fuck, you idiots.

All the fashion descriptions are really clashing with the ye old.

Balustrade

This book has gotten so repetitive

It’s a little homoerotic to me, sir.

I want to like this book because I like their dumb chemistry, but like it’s baddddd.

Wow, they have an our song. This book is so dumb. Why do I like it? (I like the romance. That's it.)

I mean marriage alliances are just how royals work lol.

Sponge bath romance lmao

JUST FUCK

This book is so all over the place. A good first draft. A badddd finished work

Why would a random guard just have the key to the king's private study?

The book keeps telling us how competent Will and Aya are, but we’ve yet to see them actually be competent. Throne of Glass is much better about telling you that somebody is a badass or a threat and then actually having them be that.

And another scene that literally goes nowhere.

God, this book is so frustrating. It’s like she wanted to do enemies to lovers, and she wanted to make them fight, but she really didn’t have any substance for them to fight about when she wrote these scenes.

Wow, I feel like literally nothing of substance happened in part two.

You can’t convince me this isn’t her version of to whatever end.

Unleashing/claiming-I feel like that is literally a line from ACOTAR or TOG. Like this is an SJM universe fanfiction.

SHE’S THE MINTY PINEY BOY. I’m gonna screech. The cliche never fails.

Oh, it’s his mom, not her mom. Either way, I nailed that it was a dead mom.

This story is so plotholey, oh my goodness.

Why would you tell Tova? If she’s been about to be questioned under torture like she would have to admit your secret, my dude. Y’all are bad spies.

Oh my god, the absolute melodrama.

Oh god, it really is you have to feed your power with love, not hate. This is so lame.

Call me naïve, but I don’t think Aedion is evil.

Why would they leave him with his magic? That doesn’t make any sense!

Are y’all really prison fucking right now?
I mean, literally horny jail.

I feel like this book is just living proof that a hot character only gets you so far. He’s so hot. This book is so bad.

So you can have her, but she can’t have you? This feels unfair, sir.

Is he really bribing her to not be suicidal with sex? I mean I get it, but that’s on my brand of toxic.

I do not like this sex scene. Like I can’t get over how unsanitary it is. Like y’all were just tortured. She vomited like a few pages ago. And you're like let me stick a finger in her. And I’m like can you wash your hands?

No, I’m so out. This is way too cheesy. It’s not good.

This man is really bribing her with his dick to stay alive.

I mean, it amazes me too. Y’all are incredibly bad at your jobs.

OK but if they gave him a no magic drink, how did he use his powers to feel her feelings?

But like when did she put her clothes back on? Or did she just like talk to the guards naked and sticky?

I literally have no idea who Enzo is. (Aedion’s dad.)

I don’t really care to how he solved it. It’s like very obvious. This is yet another chapter telling us information that we already fucking know.

Don’t tell me he’s pulling an Edward Cullen and he has to protect his virtue because he’s done every other sin. (Ask me in book two.)

Wow, even the epilogue is information we already fucking knew.

I think this book only has about 100 pages of content and the rest is it just repeating itself.

Stop, because the way the character profiles have their zodiac signs, and I’m so correct.

Post-reading:
This book is a mess.

The beginning fools you into thinking it’s gonna be a generic fanfictiony, tropey fantasy romance, but it just keeps getting worse.

This is not an adult book. This is a YA. They don’t even fuck for chrissakes.

It’s full of info dumping. There is minimal whole building. It’s full of plotholes. The characters are wildly underdeveloped. Will’s getting there, but he's also a copy-paste of every fantasy MMC.

I cannot emphasize enough how repetitive this book is. We get told the same information over and over and over again to the point that I’m convinced that you could cut out the entirety of part two, sum it up in a single sentence, and lose nothing. This book has so much filler that needs to be cut.

It reads like Throne of Glass fanfiction, so if you miss that series, this might scratch that itch for you, but it’s not good. It needs such a heavy edit that it would be a fundamentally different book, but I do think there could’ve been a book here. A cliche, done before book, but a fun one. This is a slog.

Also, I’m still not over how crazy that sex scene was. He really said stay alive so you can get this dick.

Who should read this:
Throne of Glass fans
Generic YA fantasy romance fans

Do I want to reread this:
No

Similar books:
* Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas-the fantasy romance series of the decade
* A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas-the other (but worse) fantasy romance series of the decade
* Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo-generic fantasy romance with a love triangle
* The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem-enemies to lovers fantasy romance
* Forged by Blood by Ehigbor Okosun-hot mess of a generic YA enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance with a love triangle
* Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson-generic enemies to lovers ya fantasy romance