Okay, A Cursed Son is absolutely a wild ride! If you love fantasy with magic, royal drama, and a touch of romance that has you second-guessing every character, this is your next must-read. Astra, our main character, is not your typical princess—she's a substitute princess (yes, really) meant to take the place of the real princess at the royal court. But this isn’t your average fairytale, and Astra is no damsel. She's tough, cunning, and has a few secrets up her sleeve that she’s trying really hard to keep under wraps.

Enter the cursed prince, Marlac. The chemistry between these two? Oh boy. It’s fire, but also... complicated. One minute, they’re at odds, the next, they’re in each other’s heads—literally, through dreams. It’s that whole “enemies-to-lovers” thing, but with some serious twists. Is Marlac into Astra, or is he just playing games? It’s a mystery you’ll be dying to figure out, and trust me, the twists will have you second-guessing everything.

What really keeps you hooked though is the world-building. There’s so much mystery, so many layers to unravel about who’s lying, who’s trustworthy, and how everyone’s motives fit into a much larger picture. There’s magic, betrayal, and a whole lot of tension. And the cliffhanger? Don’t even get me started on that. Let’s just say, you’ll want the next book, like, yesterday.

This book is perfect for anyone who loves complex characters, a good romantic slow burn, and fantasy with tons of secrets waiting to be uncovered. If you’re looking for something that’ll keep you hooked from start to finish, grab A Cursed Son—you won’t regret it!

4.5⭐️ I really enjoyed this one. That cliffhanger will ruin me for a bit. Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, slower burn, and hidden identity. What more could you ask for.

Astra has only truly ever known training to be a royal decoy. An opportunity to finally show her potential turns into an arranged marriage with a disgraced prince. Not just any prince, this is the man in her dreams. But he’s more cold to her in real life. They will have to work together, but can they trust each other. Especially, when Astra’s true identity is revealed. Will be accept her or betray her.

5⭐️ narration by @caitlinkellyvo. So good!! I felt the characters emotional twists and turns. Truly captivated me into the story.

Thank you for the advanced listener copy @netgalley @day_leitao and @victoryeditingngc. I’m so incredibly grateful. #netgalley #acursedson #romantasy #audiobooklover #alcreview

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The story kept me engaged and it was fast paced enough to keep me interested.


The ability to share dreams was so intriguing and I absolutely loved the banter between the two MC's. The narrator did an awesome job and I look forward to finding her backlist

This book was captivating and had you gripped from the very first chapters. Full of magic and intrigue with the ever so popular trope enemies to lovers this story follows a badass fmc on her journey. I listened to the audiobook and it was narrated excellently.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

I really enjoyed this audiobook (ALC reader here!) and the first book in this triology. The world builds was easy which is SUCH a relief compared to so many fantasy books! Astra’s character growth in this book was fantastic! The narrator did an excellent job starting out sounding rather naive, similar to Astra, and her voice gained confidence as Astra’s character grew.

I also really enjoyed the steamy shared dreams. I read another book a few years ago with this same trope and I have been searching for it ever since! These dreams added to the tension and made me swoon!!!

Malark’s character was super interested and started out so mysterious. I really enjoyed this enemies to friends to lovers dynamic between Malark and Astra and the mutual pining.

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Day Leitao for the ALC!!

Cheeky dreams when you least expect them. I love an enemies to lovers story, I think they may be my favourite.

I loved Astra's character, she seemed to be misunderstood but she really felt like the heroin in her own story, which is the best kind of heroin I think.

The story is exciting and is a well paced book. The last few chapters come to a really good crescendo. And wow chapter 27 I did not see that twist coming. I had a feeling something was wrong with one of the characters but I was honestly not thinking it would be the one it is. I couldn't believe it, I was open mouthed for about 5 mins listening to this chapter.

I flipping love a twist and I love that Astra finds out who she is. She's a great character and was kept out of the loop.

I really enjoyed parts of this story. Those parts are what kept me going and reading. There were other parts I definitely did not enjoy. I'm not a big fan of miscommunication as a trope and this story had a lot of it. Or something similar to it. And the miscommunication went on for far longer than should be allowed. I think plenty of people will eat this story up and love it, I'm just not one of those people.

I’m so glad I came across this book – it completely captivated me! Once I started, I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one sitting. The world-building was captivating, drawing me in without giving everything away, leaving plenty to explore in the next book(s).

The characters really stood out to me. There were so many nuances that you don’t see in your typical romantasy character.

The ending? A total emotional rollercoaster. That cliffhanger hooked me – I’m even more invested in the series now! 4/5. I’m so excited to see more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Cursed Son, the first book in Day Leitao's "Remnants of the Fallen Kingdom" series, is an absolute page-turner for me. From the moment I started reading, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. This story follows Astra, a protagonist trained to be a princess's decoy and guard. When Astra meets Marlak, a man who has been haunting her dreams (quite literally), the story takes an even more captivating turn. Marlak, a man of many masks. I will definitely be buying a physical copy of this book and following the series! I highly recommend this book to readers who love romantasy, particularly those who enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope. "A Cursed Son" is a fantastic start to what promises to be an unforgettable series. I'd like to thank netgalley for a free copy of the audio in exchange on an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5 stars

This was really good! The pacing is great, I did not want to out this one down! I love a good enemies to lovers romantasy and this one did not disappoint! I’m excited to read book 2!!!

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a fabulous job!🙌🏻

Thanks NetGalley for the audiobook!💚

I was excited to see this audiobook come up on Netgalley, because I have a signed copy of the book that I hadn't read yet. This story did not disappoint. I loved the witty banter between to the two main characters, and the story itself was original and engaging. Slow-burn and enemies to lovers a f e two tropes that I almkst always enjoy, and this one delivered.... heavy on the enemies part too. The narration was well-done and enjoyable to listen too. The inflections for different characters made this audiobook an easy listen. I'll be anxiously awaiting the second installment.

Raised to be a decoy and stand in place of the princess, raised to hide her very identity, taught her people are evil and she must permanently hide her true heritage, Astra's life has never been hers. She has been sold like an animal to the disgraced Prince of the Crystal Court. Many believe he is a monster who burned his family alive and then ran with the treasure. But Astra realizes there is more to his story and her history than she was led to believe. Can Astra look past the scars of the past and find a way to see a future?

This was a beautiful story and a fun audiobook to listen to. Astra was equal parts infuriating and kick ass. I was rooting for her and the MMC from the beginning, but so many misunderstandings kept getting in the way. I loved the ending (but won't spoil it for you). I am glad the author ended it the way she did, leaving a clear path for book 2. If you like misunderstandings, a FMC who is on a journey of self-discovery, misunderstood MMC, and slow-burn romances that end in a spicy love science, then this is the book for you.

A Cursed Son by Day Leitao and narrated by Caitlin Kelly was an enemies to lovers/slow burn romantasy with fae and elemental magic. I liked Astra as an FMC and really loved Marlak. I very seriously shouted at my car stereo when it ended because it is the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. I enjoy a book that makes me immediately need the rest of the story. Caitlin Kelly is a master narrator.

I loved this audio! It was a fun listen and I loved the narrator and how she really captured all the emotions throughout the book.
I loved Astra and the dynamic of her being a look alike for the princess. I felt very Star Wars Padme with this and I absolutely loved it!! Marlak is the perfect enemies to lovers man. I loved their banter and how they went through all the stages (friendship enemies allies lovers). It was done with ease and included no confusion for the reader to keep up. Overall, I throughly enjoyed this listen! I can’t wait to pick up the second!

Ok, wow! This enemies to lovers romantasy is a delightful read! The mix of action sequences and masterful blend of humor, and romance makes this audiobook a standout in the romantasy genre. The chemistry between Astra and the fae prince is palpable, and their slow-burn romance kept me hooked.
If you're a fan of steamy dreams, forced proximity, and elemental magic, "The Cursed Son" is a must-read/or listen. It's the perfect blend of fantasy and sexy romance that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next book!
Thank you to Netgalley, the Publisher and the author for this fantastic ALC.

✨ Fae romantasy lovers, this one’s for you! ✨

If you love slow-burn, forced proximity, and enemies-to-lovers with sizzling chemistry, this book is a must-read! The world-building is immersive, the tension is perfection, and the witty banter had me grinning the whole way through. Oh, and did I mention there’s a dark unicorn named Cherry Cake? Yep. You need this in your life.

Astra is a fierce, skilled elite guard with a compelling magical power, and from page one, I was hooked on her journey. Watching her grow throughout the story was such a thrill, and I cannot wait to see what’s next for her. Then there’s Marlak—not your typical villain, and honestly, one of the most intriguing characters I’ve read in a while. His dynamic with Astra is electric, filled with depth, tension, and just the right amount of unpredictability.

The slow-burn romance? Absolutely worth the wait. The enemies-to-lovers tension? Deliciously well-written. And that cliffhanger? Let’s just say I’m already counting down the days for the next book.

If you’re looking for a fae romantasy with rich world-building, humor, spice, and unforgettable characters, this is the series to start. Don’t sleep on it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received this book for free from netgalley for an honest review.

I loved the concept of this book and the narrator really stood out. When the narrator enjoys reading the book I do believe that it affects the performance. Very well done.

3.5 ⭐️ A Cursed Son by Day Leitao was such a fun, addictive listen. Enemies to lovers? Check. Dream sharing with a mysterious, brooding fae prince? Double check. Forced proximity, elemental magic, and an arranged marriage neither party is thrilled about? Oh yeah, we’re in for a ride.

The story follows Astra, a royal decoy who has been trained to impersonate a princess. She’s smart, stubborn, and all too familiar with the dangers of court life. Then there’s Marlak, a fae prince with a curse, an attitude, and a knack for invading Astra’s dreams in ways that are definitely not G-rated. Their connection is immediate, filled with tension, banter, and that delicious push and pull dynamic that makes this trope so satisfying.

Now, let’s talk about Caitlin Kelly’s narration because she nails it. She brings Astra to life with just the right balance of wit and vulnerability, making it so easy to get sucked into her story. And Marlak? That deep, brooding energy? It works. The chemistry between them practically crackles through the audio, which makes those dream scenes even better. That said, Astra’s dialogue sometimes feels a little too adolescent, which makes certain moments less impactful. The narration also amplifies this at times. Kelly’s voice for Astra can lean a bit too childish, which doesn’t always match the stakes of the story.

Beyond that, some parts of the world building felt rushed. I would’ve loved even more time with the magic system and fae politics. While the romance and character dynamics were fun, the dialogue and pacing kept this from fully hitting the mark.

A solid fantasy romance with some great moments, but the writing and narration choices hold it back a bit. If you love broody fae, steamy dream-sharing tension, and fast-paced romance, it’s still worth a listen.

Thank you NetGalley and Sparkly Wave for the ARC

This was a really interesting and intriguing fantasy novel. I loved the dream aspect and how different the relationship between the FMC and MMC was in dreams contra reality. The elemental magic made for an interesting backdrop as well. I liked how well-developed and colorful the characters were. They had a good backstory that made me more curios about them and made me want to learn more about them. I also adore enemies to lovers so the romance was great.

I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review. I listened to the audiobook version.

A Cursed Son is a fast-paced romantasy, with great world building and unexpected plot twists!

I really enjoyed this book. I had a great time learning more about the fae world and relics.

One thing I will say about this novel is that it was so funny! I definitely laughed out loud a few times. Some of the characters' interactions together and thoughts were hilarious.

The ending really was so good! There were so many twists I really didn't see coming.

I would definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a face-paced, steamy fae romantasy! Can't wait to read 'A Traitor Sister' to find out what happens!