Aelia is a strong and complex protagonist, haunted by the loss of her kingdom and burdened by her abilities as a mind-breaker. Caiden's struggle to reconcile his past with his present adds depth to his character. The supporting cast, including Tharan Greenblade and the enigmatic Lord Valerius, also contribute to the rich tapestry of relationships. The realm of Moriana is vividly portrayed, with its lush landscapes, ancient magic, and intricate political machinations. Foster seamlessly weaves elements of high fantasy and dark fairytale into a captivating setting. The dynamic between Aelia and Caiden is complex and emotionally resonant. Their past love, betrayal, and the forbidden promise to wipe each other's memories create a compelling romantic subplot. A Curse of Breath and Blood is an impressive debut novel that combines the dark atmosphere of Nettle and Bone with the heart-stopping romance of A Court of Thorns and Roses. Foster's strong characters, compelling plot, and immersive world-building make this book a must-read for fans of adult romantasy and epic fantasy alike. With its exploration of sacrifice and the bonds of love, A Curse of Breath and Blood leaves a lasting impression and sets the stage for an exciting series to come.

I really enjoyed this book! It kept me questioning what would happen next, has great character development and has good world building. All my favorite creatures I love in books and movies are in this book - elves, sylph, mermaids, trolls, gnomes, and more (even if some are just in passing). I loved K.W. Foster’s writing style as well. She really made sure to put emphasis on certain things in the book and THAT ENDING?! I cannot wait to read the next book (I hope there is one)! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves family, some romance and twists in their stories! I will gladly read more books from her!

I really enjoyed this book! There was some star crossed and lovers to enemies to lovers again. A telepathic FMC that loves to be in love and who is a but of a badass. This book leaves you on a cliffhanger and ready for the next.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
(3.5/5)
Aelia is a traitorous queen turned mercenary who reconnects with a former love to thwart her husband, Gideon, The King of the Highlands, from obtaining the Alder King’s army.

Fans of ACOTAR (specifically ACOSF) will enjoy this! I feel like there are a lot of parallels between Aelia and Nesta that will definitely win over any Nesta fans. I personally liked the focus on addiction and trauma responses.

There wasn’t anything groundbreaking about the plot here, it felt very predetermined from the jump. I found myself a little bored with the action leading up to the ending. It moved along very quickly and most conflicts were resolved immediately on page, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but I struggled to stay interested in the conflicts.

As for then characters, they were all pretty likeable. (We got a love triangle, who am I to complain?) but I do feel like some of the characters were just there for convenience. The friendship between Aelia and Amolie was trivial at best, I know they’re friends only because I was told they are. That said, the FMC is rather cunning and her journey to reconcile her past with her present was interesting enough to keep me reading!

The epilogue promises that there will be an exciting sequel to look forward to (IYKYK ;)

Overall, it was a pleasant read! I read it very quickly, and was pleased with the pacing of the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and K.W. Foster for the eARC!

“I searched for any humanity left in her, but found none. No kernel of the person she had been. Not even an ancient memory of a life long gone.”

This book has so much potential, and the story is a great idea, unfortunately, the execution leaves something to be desired.

Critique:
This book could use a few rounds of editing as it stands, there are some spelling errors and some needed revisions to make the writing flow better. I feel that if the author spends a little more time honing their skill this book could be wonderful.

We are thrust five years into the future from the prologue and a lot has changed which is fine but the present is written in such a way that it feels like we should have context that we don’t. Then we get context, as we meet new characters, about the years we missed, but it feels stiff and unnatural and somehow like we are still missing much-needed context. It kind of left me feeling like I watched the first episode of a season of a show then skipped the rest of that season and watched the first episode of the next season. There are hints of what happened previously but I *really* should have watched the previous season. The timeline is also confusing and hard to follow.
Too much is happening in quick succession, there is no time to care for the characters and Aelia feels very wishy-washy making her hard to care for even more.

Again, I think this book and author have so much potential and could have been amazing with more time and editing. I look forward to what they will create with more experience under their belt.

Thank you to NetGalley got an ARC of this book.

I unfortunately found 'A Curse of Breath and Blood' by KW Foster to be a disappointing read. I could not get past the 20% mark as I found this book so unenjoyable and poorly written. From the outset, the story thrusts readers into a whirlwind without providing adequate introductory context or background information. The scattered nature of the information throughout the book made it confusing, as the narrative jumped abruptly between present events and disjointed glimpses of the past.

One of the most glaring issues was the lack of effective world-building. The setting felt underdeveloped and vague, leaving me unable to grasp the diverse species or fully visualize the environments. New elements were introduced without description, which left me constantly guessing and disconnected from the story.

Moreover, the character dialogue was choppy and often felt cringey, making it difficult to connect with their personalities or motivations. Comparing this book to 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' does a disservice to both works, as the depth and richness of Sarah J. Maas's world-building and character development are notably absent here.

Overall, 'A Curse of Breath and Blood' failed to provide an enjoyable reading experience. The lack of cohesive world-building and the disjointed narrative structure made it challenging to follow and appreciate the storyline. I struggled to find a foothold in the plot due to the insufficient introduction and inconsistent pacing. For readers seeking a well-rounded fantasy with immersive world-building and compelling characters, this book unfortunately falls short of expectations.

Action-packed romantasy! Mythical creatures, magic and morally grey FMC!
I read this way to fast (if that's even possible). But could not put it down! The FMC was a blast: she was so imperfect, self-destructed and just wanted to be loved...
Plot twist, drama and lot's of magic!

Thank you to NetGalley, K. W. Foster, and the publisher’s for allowing access to the e-Arc.

4.5 stars

I honestly really enjoyed this book. It was such an interesting storyline. A queen turning into a mercenary who wants revenge on her evil husband. It was just gold. It has a strong FMC with a found family aspect to it. It’s exactly what I was looking for. I can’t wait to continue on with the series.

I highly recommend it!

I loved this book right away. There is so much action as well as romance. I liked that the main character wasn't perfect and so relatable.
Couldn't put it down.

A queen turned mercenary. A long-lost love. An ancient evil reborn.

You had me at the first sentence.

First of all, the first thing I thought of while reading the blurb was that Aelia's name is too close to Aelin, my all-time favorite character from the Throne of Glass series. Still, FMC in hiding? With cool powers? Sign. Me. Up.

However, Aelia's days as a mercenary weren't dwelled on in this book - it only spanned the whole of Chapter 1. Still, at that point, I was very curious about her back story and why she ended up like that when she was supposed to be a queen (and human).

I did not expect my heart to hurt so much for Aelia for most of this book because of everything she went through. I understand why she was drowning herself in some unhealthy ways to forget and to be numb. There's also the angst and mixed feelings regarding Caiden (which I loved and hated). Her guilt about her deeds in the past. The whole abuse she went through and her demons still taunting her. I'd feel broken too if I was her.

Meeting Tharan gave me some hope for her - finally, someone who has been through the same pain she had and who could fully understand her. Tharan is awesome! Is it obvious that I am rooting for them to end up together? Ship name: ThaLia 😂. If not, then doing a menage would be totally fine with me as well (as an RH girlie, we could even include Lucius in the harem, yes? 👉🏻👈🏻)

<blockquote> "I am damaged, Tharan. And I may never be whole again."

"You are beautiful to me, Aelia Springborn. Your scars are a testament to your strength. Wear them with pride."</blockquote>

So yes, the book was enjoyable and well-written. What I didn't like about it though are the following:
- Finding out that this is another fae book and that "sylphs" was just a substitute term for "fae" disappointed me because I avoid fae books especially ones with court intrigue, and this one has some of that
- It's a story that I can easily forget because none of the scenes left a huge impression on me or made me feel extreme emotions
<spoiler>- I hate when the MMC develops feelings or gets in a relationship with another woman while claiming to be in love with the FMC, regardless of the reasons. I can maybe understand the reasons, but it still hurts and I still hate it</spoiler>
- Fight scenes were meh

I still recommend it for fans of fantasy romance, though. The series seems promising especially with an ending like that.

This book had SUCH a strong and propulsive start! I was instantly sucked into the action and kept reading to seek answers to the many questions that had already come up for me. I immediately wanted to know more about Caiden and Aelia's love story, more about what King Gideon did to Aelia, and more about the world in which they all lived. As the story continued, so too did the action, but unfortunately, many of my questions were left unanswered. I can only hope for more information and backstory in the second book in the series.

Although the book was quick and easy to read (and a lot of exciting things happened), I wish there had been more world-building and character development. I truly think this book would have been better as TWO books, because there was so much that was skipped over or condensed. I needed more backstory and world-building, but also more development in Aelia's relationships with both Caiden and Tharan. Many of her intimate interactions with both men seemed to appear out of nowhere rather than as a natural climax to building tensions.

Also, there is a LOT going on in terms of the magic and mythical creatures in Moriana. It seems like sylphs, elves, and humans are the key players, but we are also introduced to wraiths, vampires, hobglobins, basilisks, a kraken, cave trolls, centaurs, satyrs, fauns, fae, unicorns, and harpies. I love mythological beings as much as the next fantasy reader, but this seemed excessive to me. Many of these creatures received only a passing mention and did not drive the plot at all. I would have preferred fewer that received more page time and were absolutely necessary to the story.

I may sound overly critical, so let me reiterate: this was a fun read and a great debut. Do I think many fantasy lovers will love it as is? Absolutely. Do I think the story could be even better with a few more rounds of revisions? Also yes.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book! I enjoyed the read and look forward to seeing what comes next from this author.

I wanna start by saying that I strongly advise author/ publisher to remove comparisons to the other famous series such as A Court Of Thorn And Roses because it sets certain expectations that unfortunately were not met. However if you don’t compare it to anything else it’s a great novel!

It has a diverse cast of lovable characters and unique world-building which I really enjoyed. I liked the fact that characters were on a bit older middle-age side and for that reason I expected a bit more spice, however it wasn’t the case and it’s totally fine, it’s just not that type of book. Chemistry between the characters was palpable and I liked the banter.

It was nice to see very “imperfect” main character for a change! Former queen and now outcast with an addiction and sharp tongue - love it!

Overall great book and I’m looking forward to reading the upcoming ones in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc!

I’m in my romantasy era and this one did not disappoint! I loved the FMC, she was strong and very likes me. I enjoyed the love triangle and how quick I switched sides! Can’t wait for the bext book!

A Curse of Breath and Blood by K. W. Foster
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 17 September 2024

Once a queen, now a mercenary, Aelia Springborn survives in a world where her kingdom is destroyed and her family lost. Her former lover, Caiden Stormweaver, finds her and proposes they stop her estranged husband, King Gideon, from gaining the Alder King’s deadly army. They strike a deal: she helps him, and she will erase his memories of their past once the mission is complete.

Bound by magic and supported by allies, they embark on a journey to save their continent, rekindling old feelings along the way. In the perilous realm of Moriana, breaking deals can be deadly. Amidst the chaos, Aelia encounters Tharan Greenblade, a charming rogue, complicating their quest as the trio faces a high-stakes challenge that tests their loyalties and stirs ancient evils. They must navigate a dangerous path where every decision is crucial, and breaking their fate could unleash horrors.

The protagonist of this fantasy romance is Aelia, who starts as a young girl in love but later, at age 30, finds herself broken after enduring hardships.

"A Curse of Breath and Blood" features a captivating love triangle between Caiden and Tharan. Readers are drawn into Aelia's dilemma, torn between the passionate history she shares with Caiden and the fresh, budding romance she finds with Tharan. Her struggle to choose between the two unfolds compellingly throughout the series.

The villain is portrayed in a compellingly detestable manner, while both main and supporting characters are distinctly crafted and endearingly brought to life.

The book seamlessly weaves world-building into its narrative, showcasing a rich tapestry of magical creatures such as centaurs, satyrs, and elves. There was no big information dump in the beginning which I absolutely loved.

Overall, this romantasy blends elements of adventure, romance, and suspense effectively, earning a solid four-star rating and leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, RCB Creative Inc, and the author, K.W. Foster, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

"𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙨, 𝘼𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙖. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙮 𝙣𝙤𝙬. 𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚."

"𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚, 𝘼𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙖 𝙎𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙣. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝. 𝙒𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚."

Another great debut!! I could tell from the first few chapters that I was going to love it.
This is the second book I've read recently with a love triangle and I am OBSESSED.
If you're a Nesta stan (and I am 😌), you'll probably love Aeila. I was initially rooting for Aeila and Caiden. They were breaking my heart in the beginning, but I switched up so fast when Tharan was introduced 😂. Soooo conflicted, but we'll see! I really appreciated that the FMC is in her 30s. Looking forward to the next book!!

AND THAT EPILOGUE!! 😤😤😤

𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀:
🌸 love triangle
🌸 second chance
🌸 one bed
🌸 "who did this to you?"

Love love love to read stories like this one! It sends me to another world with a snap of fingers and dreamerland got me so right! Loved!

A fun romantasy featuring a strong magical heroine Aelia trying to thwart her former husband at the request of her former lover, Caiden. She falls for Tharan, a charming rogue along the way.

Quite a lot of characters (maybe slightly more than I preferred) and a big magical world. Aelia is terrific though and really like her. Big point for her being older than 30 yrs old! Of course I enjoy the love triangle too.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Title: A Curse of Breath and Blood by K.W. Foster

Release Date: September, 17th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

In A Curse of Breath and Blood by K.W. Foster, Aelia Springborn, once a queen, now lives in the shadows as a mercenary.

With her kingdom destroyed and family presumed dead, she uses her mind-bending abilities for hire. Her quiet life is shattered when Caiden Stormweaver, her former lover, tracks her down with an offer she can't refuse: help him stop her ex-husband, King Gideon, from harnessing the deadly army of the Alder King.

Despite their painful past, Aelia and Caiden strike a deal—after the mission, she will erase his memories of their relationship. Bound by magic and supported by friends, they embark on a perilous journey to save their continent. As they battle enemies and navigate treacherous landscapes, old flames reignite, complicating their mission.

Enter Tharan Greenblade, a charming playboy who captures Aelia’s heart, adding another layer of complexity to their quest. As the trio faces deadly threats and tests of loyalty, the stakes couldn't be higher. To be honest, I’m not usually a fan of love triangles, but this one was interesting.


What I Loved:
* Aelia Springborn: From a traitorous queen to a badass mercenary, Aelia’s character development is a wild ride. Her resilience and complexity kept me hooked from page 1.

* Rekindled Romance: The tension between Aelia and her former lover, Caiden Stormweaver, is amazing. Their journey to save the continent while dealing with their tumultuous past is a ride of emotions.

* High-Stakes Plot: The mission to thwart the deadly army of the Alder King kept me on the edge of my seat. The blend of magic, danger, and ancient evil reborn was thrilling and added a unique side to the plot.

* Love Triangle: Enter Tharan Greenblade, the charming playboy who adds a delicious layer of complexity to the story. Aelia’s entanglement with Tharan and Caiden created a dynamic that was both tense and captivating. I was confused at times who I was rooting for!

* Found Family Dynamics: The camaraderie and loyalty among the characters had me smiling. This aspect added depth and warmth to the story.

* Dark Fairytale Atmosphere: The setting and tone of the book are reminiscent of 'Nettle and Bone,' with its enchanting yet ominous world-building. The author masterfully creates a dark and magical ambiance.

* Sacrifices and Loss: The story tackles heavy themes with grace, exploring the sacrifices made for love and the pain of loss. This wasn’t just put there , but was detailed beautifully and managed in such a way, that it made for great character development. Aelia's journey through these trials made her an even more compelling character.

A Curse of Breath and Blood is a gripping tale of love, betrayal, and redemption. K.W. Foster has made a world rich in magic and danger, with characters that leap off the page and into your heart. Aelia’s transformation from a broken queen to a powerful force is inspiring, and the romantic entanglements left me smiling and even tearful at times.

If you're craving a dark fantasy romance that packs a punch, A Curse of Breath and Blood by K.W. Foster is your next must-read.

Thank you to The Publisher RCB Creative Inc | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles ,The Author K.W. Foster & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

This was a solid 3/3.5 star read until I hit the 35% mark where some head hopping happens. For context, head hopping is an instant DNF for me.
The few typos and repetition I found I could deal with since this is an ARC and will likely still go through some changes, but I don’t expect head hopping to be fixed in time for release, unfortunately, but I would be very willing to give this book another go if it were.
If it doesn’t bother you too much and you like Romantasy with an older protagonist you will most likely enjoy this book.


Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

It was a very fun romantasy read that would definitely fit the mold of those looking for something similar to SJM Novels or Fourth Wing. The world was massive and I could tell the author put a lot of thought into the world building for the novel. I'm always a sucker for "second chance" tropes and lovers to enemies kind of vibes so I enjoyed that aspect of it. I also felt for the FMC and her reasonings and I could understand and believe her choices and the reasonings behind them.

I had to take off a star because there were just so many characters and new things being introduced constantly that I had to go back and think "wait, what is this?" or "what are they talking about?" before it was explained later down the line - or often times just brushed over to never fully be explained again. I'm sure if I read it again it might be something I catch later down the line, but I don't like being overly confused during my first read through.

I took another star off because some of the conversations and things that were introduced seemed forced - it was unnecessary or just a thing that the author put to kind of make the plot "interesting" and move it forward, rather than having a specific reason for it. It was a bit jarring at times and broke the flow of the novel.

Either way, I did really enjoy the book overall and I can't wait to see the paper copy of the book in the stores!