Please give me any and all of the beauty and the beast retellings because I absolutely adore them! I loved the tie in of a prophecy in this one, and the way that played out throughout the story. The vibes were vibing and the spice was spicing and overall this was a really fun read! I'm definitely going to be picking up a physical copy for the trophy shelf bc look at it!!

I have yet to decide what is sharper- your blade or your words.

Something about Beauty & The Beast retellings really do it for me. The romance was basically the plot, so it was a very easy fast read. I never read the original, but I read a few reviews before picking the book. I think quite a few elements have changed in this new traditionally published version for the better it seems.

Rating: 4/5
Tropes: Marriage of Convenience, Beauty & The Beast Retelling, Forced Proximity, Curses
Spice: 2 (Ch 13 21 26 32 34 38 44)
Romance: Yes
Plot: The romance is the plot
Pages: 320

I was completely swept away! This spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling has a broody, cursed emperor, a fierce heroine discovering her forbidden magic, and a slow-burn romance that had me on the edge of my seat. Every chapter drew me deeper into the enchanted, frost-bitten world — I stayed up way too late reading because I could not put it down.

Arabella is a force of nature — strong, smart, and full of heart — and Felix is the kind of layered hero you can’t help but root for, even as he intimidates everyone around him. Their enemies-to-lovers chemistry is electric, and watching them navigate duty, power, and passion was utterly addictive.

Perfect for fans of romantasy, fairy-tale retellings, and slow-burn, spicy romance. One of my favorite reads this year!

ARC provided via NetGalley — all opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley & Forever Publishing for the ARC copy!

🌶️ Spicy Beauty & The Beast Retelling
⚔️ Dark MMC who worships the FMC
💒 Forced Marriage
🐴 One horse

A short and spicy romantasy comfort read with enjoyable banter!

Princess Arabella’s mother died years ago, and her father is convinced she carries a curse. When the mysterious Shadow Emperor arrives and demands her hand in marriage, she has no choice but to marry and go with him. Little does she know, his empire was cursed centuries ago, and she may hold the key to their salvation.

Read if you love:
Enemies to lovers
Marriage of convenience
Beauty and the Beast retellings

This was a quick and fun read! I had a great time! I did with the world building and character development had gone a little bit deeper, but I thoroughly enjoyed A Curse of Shadows and Ice!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this e-arc!

The Beauty and The Beast retellings seem to be everywhere lately. This is an example of one done right. I loved this book it was really well done and seemed like it was its own story. Will read more from this author for sure!

I was excited from the moment Cath mentioned that the story Sierra (one of my favorite characters) loved so much was going to be published. And now, having read it, I can say I was completely captivated. I honestly couldn’t put it down.

I loved the way the story was constructed, as well as the development of the characters. The narrative beautifully conveyed everything the characters were feeling, and my favorite part was watching Felix and Arabella fall in love. That slow burn, full of tension and affection, was absolutely magical to read.

I can't wait to read Elaine and Raphael's story, and to see how Felix and Arabella’s story unfolds in the next book.

This was such an addictive fantasy romance that had me hooked right away. I loved the mix of magic, danger, and forbidden romance, and the world felt rich without being overwhelming. The chemistry between the characters was so good, with just the right amount of angst and slow-burn tension. Some of the worldbuilding details could have been fleshed out a little more, but the story itself was so engaging that I didn’t mind too much. If you’re into swoony fantasy romance with high stakes and plenty of emotion, this one is definitely worth picking up.

I'm a huge fan of "The Windsors" series so I had high expectations for this book. I'm a little bummed that the book fell short of those expectations. This BatB retelling had a lot of potential but fell a bit flat.

As many mentioned, Felix's behavior towards Arabella for a lot of the book was borderline uncomfortable—and I love dub con! The romance build up was not as well orchestrated as Catharina's other books nor were the spice scenes as well written; it was a weird in-between of open door explicit and fade to black.

The dialogue between characters were also sometimes slightly mismatched between the scene setting/prose—this is something I always call out in fantasy novels because it really takes you out of a scene.

This was such a great book! I really enjoyed all of the similarities and differences between the original “beauty and the beast story”. I absolutely loved the dynamic between the main couple but I also fell in love with some of the other characters as well and would like to know more about them (hallelujah for a second book)! I loved the ending it was a perfect for the story!

Ok my new favorite Beauty and the Beast retelling ??!!! Arabella and Felix had a wonderful connection and dynamic growth throughout the book. The middle got a little slow for me however it picked back up in the climax where it mattered. I am definitely intrigued for book 2.

3.5/5
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC e-copy! This deluxe edition title is out October 2025.
Beauty and the beast inspired fantasy about a cursed kingdom and its shadow emperor - A magical princess from another kingdom, A sentient castle, and so much more.
This is the first romantasy from this romance author. I have read and loved all of her books so it was interesting to see her in this genre.
Arabella is the black sheep of her family. With a reputation for being cursed, she is kept hidden and maltreated. Her sister and her best friend - the boy she believes she will someday marry - keep her grounded. One day, the shadow emperor appears - unknown to Arabella, his seer has seen a prophecy in which she saves his kingdom from the curse that has plagued it for centuries. So with no choice, she is given to the shadow emperor to marry. Travelling to his kingdom, she wants nothing but to find her way back home to the life she knew. But as time and passion thaw the attraction and connection between Arabella and the shadow emperor Felix - an unexpected love grows. But with it, so does the curse that threatens everything and everyone. With magic, shadows, and so much more, it's a tale that leaves you wondering if they have a happily ever after in store or not.

I like stories with a little bit of magic. This story is a bit between beauty and the beast and Cinderella.

This story is about Arabella, a Princess who continually gets beaten by her father the King. The king hates Arabella but adores her younger sister Serena. I’m unsure I fully grasp why he hates her over her sister. This portion of the book could’ve been expanded a little bit more. In order to protect himself against the Emperor, he marries off Arabella to the Shadow Emperor. .

The book itself I enjoyed. We have an emperor who is cursed and looking for a way to break the curse. A magic mirror., shows the emperor Arabella, who can break the curse. Our hero Felix, has been disfigured by the curse and it makes him fearsome to Arabella.

This leads to the two of them forging a bond as they join to find a way to eliminate the curse as time begins to run out. During this time they fall in love and that brings both joy and heartache. I highly recommend this book as I for one could not put it down!

Tropes:
╰⪼ Marriage of convenience
╰⪼ Enemies to lovers
╰⪼ Beauty and the Beast retelling

This one had so much potential, but it didn’t quite deliver the way I hoped. As a retelling, it had the bones of the story, with angst, tension, and character growth, but it was missing that spark to make it truly memorable. The “other man” drama didn’t feel believable, and I kept waiting for a turning point that never really came. I wanted the FMC’s anger and the MMC’s desperation to feel as raw and desperate as the original Beauty and the Beast dynamic.

That said, Catharina’s writing is always easy to sink into, and while this wasn’t a favorite, it was still a quick and enjoyable read for anyone who loves retellings with a lighter, more fun spin.

I really liked how short this book was but it still had all the major elements. It felt complete without a lot of extra fluff. I enjoyed diving in straight away and seeing the arranged marriage trope blossom from beginning to end. I was intrigued by the beauty and the beast retelling hints, mostly in the curse, but also seeing how different the magic setup was. I liked hoe alchemy and elemental magic were separate and had a realistic explanation.

The romance was top tier. I loved every second of it. From the obvious chemistry to the longing that both Felix and arabella experienced. I think readers will fully appreciate this romantic story with some extra magical plot.

A Beauty and the Beast retelling but give it a little fantasy revamp and throw in a shadow daddy? Sign. Me. Up.

Arabella and Felix have so much tension and yearning you can cut it with a knife in the most delicious way. It’s a slower burn but when it finally bursts into flames it is so steamy. I loved getting to watch their relationship evolve over the course of the book.

The magic systems are phenomenal, well thought out and combine everything I love to see in my fantasy books . The world building was the perfect amount for me. Enough that you can get an idea in your head of what everything looks like without being so descriptive that it’s overwhelming.

There were twists that I never would have seen coming. By the end of the book, I was clutching my kindle and fighting off sleep to devour. This was truly amazing. Take everything you love about Cat’s Windsor series and give it magic and that’s what this is.

This was my first time diving into a Beauty and the Beast retelling—and I was NOT disappointed! I devoured this book in under 24 hours. It perfectly blended the familiar "Beauty and the Beast" vibe with a fresh, exciting twist that made it feel completely new.

The story was fast-paced, spicy, and full of tension in the best way. I finally understand the concept of a "shadow daddy" because... Shadow Emperor Felix? Absolutely scorching. He was dark, dangerous, and utterly magnetic.

If you love fantasy romance with a dash of heat, some fun twists on beloved tales, and a brooding (but irresistible) love interest, this book is a must-read.

I loved this book sm! And I mostly read contemporary romance not romantasy but Catharina Maura never fails. 5/5 stars and I would definitely recommend. Felix is amazing and Arabella has an amazing growth arc! Thank you sm forever publishing and NetGalley for the arc!

I’ve read every book by Catharina Maura, so I was very excited to see that an eARC of her newest book was available. The bar is set high for her books and she didn’t disappoint.

This book is about Princess Arabella of Althea. She is forced to marry Felix Osiris, the Shadow Emperor. She’s terrified at the prospect and tries to run away with her best friend, who she had hoped to marry. They aren’t successful and are both locked up and punished. Arabella marries Felix and travels to his home. She begins to think that maybe she misjudged him as he treats her like the Empress she is and helps her learn and develop her magic.

This book is full of fantasy, magic, romance, mystery, and a curse. I highly recommend reading this book.

This story is fast-paced and emotionally loaded. Angst, suspense, fleeting joy, spice, and some heartbreak. It’s a roller-coaster in every sense, and by the end I was wrung out but satisfied.

Our heroine, Princess Arabella, is physically and emotionally abused, discarded by a father who sees her as an inconvenience. Her arranged marriage to Emperor Felix, whose curse literally stains his skin, is the beginning of a relationship that’s anything but smooth. What starts as obligation slowly transforms into mutual respect, trust, and something tender.

Felix’s black morality begins to fade into shades of gray as Arabella challenges his very way of existence. And Arabella finally receives the kind of love and care she was denied her entire life, not just as a wife, but as a woman worthy of being cherished.

Catharina Maura delivers a romantasy that feels like stepping into a fractured fairy tale. A Curse of Shadows and Ice blends Beauty and the Beast with a cursed emperor, a magic mirror straight out of Sleeping Beauty, and a tower from the likes of that which also imprisoned Rapunzel. Despite the mashup of classic themes, it all works.