The Curse That Binds by Laura Thalassa
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: 4 chilis
Pub date: 7/1

Thank you so much to Bloom Books for my advanced copy!

If you love the Bewitched series as much as I do, The Curse That Binds is the prequel that’ll completely steal your heart. Set thousands of years before Selene’s story, this book gives us all the details we’ve been craving about Roxilana and Memnon: their magic, their love, and the tragedy that shaped everything that came after.

The story starts with Roxi hearing a voice in her head and wondering if she’s crazy. But it’s Memnon, her soulmate, who claims they’re both god-touched and destined for something huge. As their powers awaken and Memnon rises to become a sorcerer king, he shows up at Roxi’s door ready to make her his queen.

Laura Thalassa poured so much heart into this book, and it shows. The love between Roxi and Memnon is intense and real, and watching their bond grow is as satisfying as it is heartbreaking. The steam is extra steamy in this one, too.

This book completely pulled me in! It’s emotional, magical, and impossible to put down.

The Curse that Binds is a romantic and thrilling prequel to the Bewitched series.

I really enjoyed this next installment in the Bewitched series. In books 1 and 2, we get hints that Selene and Memnon were connected in the past, and The Curse the Binds gives us their story from the beginning. Set in Ancient Rome and Sarmatia, this books follows Roxilana and Memnon in their early days of their relationship, learning to use magic, and their unique power. We also learn about the events and actions Roxilana took in the past that set into motion the story set in the future in Bewitched. Overall, I really enjoyed this story! The pacing was excellent and kept me engaged throughout. I had so many questions the end of Bespelled about Selene/Roxilana's past and how she and Memnon came to be, especially with the fae and Eislyn, and this book answers so many, and left me absolutely ready for Book 4!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own!

Second, I read this as a true prequel without having read books 1&2 of the Bewitched series by Laura Thalassa… I lost definitely will be reading those 2 books next. Previously I had read The Bargainer Series which overall I would give 4 stars. That was good, but The Curse that Binds so much better!

I cannot express how much I enjoyed this book right from the beginning. The relationship between Memnon and Roxi starts out so sweet and based on friendship to grow into a marriage of true love and lust. Nearly every trope or theme that I love was hit on in this book, saving the damsel in distress, (soul)mates, mind speak, chase scene, touch her or him and die, saving themselves for each other, true love and devotion and so much more. There is intricate plot, character building, battle, romance, and ancient history woven throughout.

For all my Romantasy readers, highly recommend this book. It checks all the boxes for me at least.

I've been dying to read a prequel to Bewitched long before it became a book so I was over the moon when Laura began writing it. And even more ecstatic that I finally got the chance to relive more of Selene's (Roxi's) past. Watching her relationship with Memnon blossom from young love into something more was really special. Laura is a fantastic storyteller and I can't wait to read the final book in this series!

The Bewitched series was one of my favorites I read last year, and I had been highly anticipating this prequel! Whereas the main series focuses on Selene and Memnon, long-lost soul mates from a past life, separated by curses and death, who have found each other once again, this prequel follows them on their first journey together, two thousand years prior, when they first fell in love.

This might actually be my favorite book in the series so far! It’s rare for me to love a prequel this much, but the growth these characters have together in this book is so heartwarming.

Roxilana (Selene’s past-self) is raised by an abusive seamstress in Rome who adopted her after her family’s village was raided by Romans who burned her home and killed her family. After many tragic events befall Roxi in her early teenage years, her stress reaches a boiling point and she begins to hear a voice in her head belonging to a boy named Memnon. He claims he’s been hearing her voice for years.

The two begin communicating through their mind link that Roxilana doesn’t quite understand, and they develop a tentative friendship that grows into more. Watching them grow up together from opposite sides of the country was so cute, and added so much depth to their relationship once they actually met!

On the day Memnon finally arrives to claim Roxi, she discovers he’s actually a warrior king and she is to be his queen.

I was smiling and kicking my feet through most of the story, I could not love these two more. The ending of this story tied into the ending of Bespelled (Book 2 in the series) so well and has me desperate for the final book!!

I took the day off work with the only intention to read this in its entirety, and that's exactly what I did! I loved seeing this softer side of Memnon and what made Roxilana into the hardened Queen she was forced to become.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THAT IS HOW YOU WRITE A PREQUEL.

I absolutely *loved* this book. It's a perfect story of how Roxi and Memnon began and how their love and dedication and obsession change over time.

It starts out sweet and innocent then moved to totally devoted before going full on "burn the world down for you". Both characters have to suffer and learn the consequences of their actions and intense love for each other. The ending is devastating, as we knew it would be. The heartbreak is so real and it really explains a lot of things that happen throughout the other two books.

LOVED it and I can't wait for the rest of the series.

The Curse that Binds is a prequel novella in the Bewitched series.

I flew through this book because I couldn’t get enough of Roxilana and Memnon. It is great being back in this world and exploring how the relationship developed between these two. Their past is full of joy and heartbreak and it’s a love story years in the making.

I highly recommend reading this in publication order as it adds so much to the story we have already enjoyed in this series. Being a prequel novella, it could be read first but I feel as though it wouldn’t have the same impact.

The writing is engaging and fairly fast paced with a decent amount of spice. Being set in the past, the story is brutal yet heartwarming. I loved seeing the growth of Roxilana and how she took her place amongst the Sarmatians, becoming a true warrior queen.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Bloom Books and NetGalley for gifting me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. The Curse that Binds is a prequel novella in the Bewitched series.

I flew through this book because I couldn’t get enough of Roxilana and Memnon. It is great being back in this world and exploring how the relationship developed between these two. Their past is full of joy and heartbreak and it’s a love story years in the making.

I highly recommend reading this in publication order as it adds so much to the story we have already enjoyed in this series. Being a prequel novella, it could be read first but I feel as though it wouldn’t have the same impact.

The writing is engaging and fairly fast paced with a decent amount of spice. Being set in the past, the story is brutal yet heartwarming. I loved seeing the growth of Roxilana and how she took her place amongst the Sarmatians, becoming a true warrior queen.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Bloom Books and NetGalley for gifting me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Bloom Books, and Laura Thalassa for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Curse That Binds in exchange for an honest review.

The Curse That Binds is a prequel to Laura Thalassa’s Bewitched series, introducing us to Roxilana—an orphan of war raised in Rome as a seamstress’s apprentice—who begins hearing a mysterious male voice in her head. That voice turns out to belong to Memnon, King of the Sarmatians, and her gods-fated soulmate. The story follows their paths as their magical powers awaken, their bond deepens, and we witness the events that lead up to the infamous curse referenced in the main series.

Although I hadn’t yet read the Bewitched series (it was already high on my TBR!), I found this prequel completely accessible and easy to follow. In fact, it’s made me even more eager to dive into the rest of the series. This was a captivating read from start to finish—I was swept away by the lush world-building, seamless action scenes, and compelling romance. The characters were vividly drawn, and the twists kept me hooked throughout.

This was an easy 5-star read for me. I couldn’t put it down, and I’m genuinely excited to continue the series. Roxilana might just be one of my favorite romantasy heroines—strong, layered, and unforgettable.

This is my first book by this author and i absolutely loved it! Great flow, character development. I just wanted to keep reading it! Thanks for the ARC!

5⭐️

First off, thank you so so much to Bloom for giving me the opportunity to read this prequel early because I am so in love with the bewitched series and I cannot thank yall enough.

So can I just mention how much i screamed when I found out I had the incredible opportunity to read this early?! And it fully lived up to everything I wanted in a prequel to a series and characters I love with all my heart. The buildup, the pacing and plot was spectacular.

I took so long to read this because I didn’t want it to end because if you’ve read the first two…you knew how it would end and that shit hurts. But it does lead us to where we are now in present day with the storyline and I am so eager to read the final book in this series!

Laura will always be an autobuy author for me and for good reason. She never stops putting me in an absolute chokehold with her work. I just love this world so much 💕
I will never stop raving about this series because it frankly deserves so much more love than it already gets!!!

Anywayssss that’s enough of that!
READ BEWITCHED, BESPELLED AND FINALLY…
THE CURSE THAT BINDS!!
YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT 💕

I am absolutely obsessed with this series, and I am finally glad we got the prequel novel! We are finally able to see what their original lives were like, and how they fell in love, and it. was. everything! Roxi one day discovers she can hear a stranger's voice in her head, and turns out the stranger's has been hearing her voice for awhile now! They slowly build up their friendship, until finally Memnon tells her that he is coming for her to. prevent her arranged marriage. I absolutely loved the plot, the pacing, and everything about this novel. It was able to draw me in from the start, and I was hooked the entire time.

4/5 stars

I truly enjoyed Roxi's and Memnon's story. She is such a strong character and went through so much during her way too short life. It was fast paced and I liked every second of it, but at the same time because I adored both characters I wanted even more of them. And maybe a bit more of Memnon's POV and how everything lead to the end of the story. It was also quite spicy, which was in my opinion well written and there was a good amount of it too. I recommend it but do check the trigger warnings in this one.

Now to wait for the next part in Selene's and Memnon's story and how much this one connects to it.

Thank you so much Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.

Bewitched and Bespelled were a favorite read of mine last year, and I cannot even express how excited I was when I was approved to read the curse that binds. (I think I squealed).

The origin story of Memnon and Roxi is as captivating and epic as it gets. From the moment we are introduced to Roxi and the tragedies that befell her family and early teen years — your heart hurts for her. The way Thalassa introduces Memnon was filled with entertaining and witty banter. A smile will be permanently planted on your face and you will absolutely find yourself holding your breath for their inevitable explosive meeting.

Thalassa built up the perfect amount of anticipation and tension so that when our couple finally comes together you can feel butterflies dancing in your belly. It reminded me of the same feelings of first love. The breathless way infatuation and desire pool over your very existence. The newness and excitement. Pair that with action and magic — you have my first 5 star read of 2025!


Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and author for allowing me the privilege of reading and reviewing this arc.

Review on my Instagram and goodreads closer to publication

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ The Curse That Binds by Laura Thalassa (Bewitched #2.5)

Roxi and Memnon's origin story is soooo good!!! I loved getting this in-depth look at where they each came from, how they met, and all the events leading up to the beginning of Bewitched. Laura Thalassa did not disappoint with the spice! The spice is exactly what I expected from these two characters. 🥵🤌🏻

💚WHO HURT YOU?
✨Witch x Sorcerer
💚Touch her & 💀
✨Fated mates
💚War and curses
✨They'll burn the world for each other

Let me start this review by saying that you can either read The Curse That Binds before the Bewitched books, but I think it’s best to read them first and then go back. It’s nice to know a little bit more context from those books. Ultimately, the choice is yours.

In this story, we’re introduced to Roxilana as a child at the very beginning, and then we watch her grow into a gorgeous young woman. However, she keeps feeling this pull towards someone and hearing a voice in her head. It gets more and more intense as their connection grows. If you’ve read the previous books, you’ll know that the voice is Memnon. We watch as the two slowly fall in love before meeting each other.

As you might guess, Roxilana ends being forced to marry someone but Memnon was never going to let that happen. From there, he ends up charging down her door to get her and sweeps away with his bride. It’s a harrowing journey for the two of them as they’re headed to his kingdom but that’s not without its setbacks and challenges.

It’s clear from the very beginning that these two have insane chemistry and they’re truly fated mates. Despite their unlikely foreplay, Roxilana and Memnon are a couple you won’t be able to stop rooting for. Even knowing how their story goes down, I couldn’t help but be captivated by how their romance took shape.

Seeing how everything played out and how it relates to Bewitched was excellent. I adored seeing how Laura Thalassa put the pieces together and made everything work. Honestly, it makes me want to go back and see if she put any clues in the Bewitched series. Either way, this has me excited for what’s to come with Roxilana and Memnon.

The Bewitched series has been a gripping romantic fantasy living rent free in my head since I read the first installment. This was the perfect prequel to it, showing the reader about the shared history hinted at in the main books. I devoured it and loved getting to know the characters better, although it does add an extra heartbreaking element to the main story!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I just love this world. I really enjoyed reading about Roxi and Memnon's relationship prior to Bewitched. It gives their characters and relationship so much more depth. I loved seeing Roxi be such a force to be reckoned with. Also loved Ferox making his appearance and seeing how Roxi came to be bonded to him. I cannot wait for book 3. If you all haven't read this series yet, you should. It is so different than any other fantasy/romantasy I have read.

“Power has carved into him the way pain has carved into me.”

Guys this story, the life of Memnon and Roxilana, is an absolute must read for this series.
I now understand why Memnon is the way he is In the rest of the series.
The dynamic between Roxilana and Memnon is intense without being overdone. That moment where she says, “You are the only thing that matters to me in this godforsaken world” felt so raw and real. I wasn’t ready for how much I’d feel for these characters.
The scene in chapter 19 where Roxilana, Memnon, and Nerox are squeezed into that little bed? It’s such a simple, quiet moment but it shows so much of their relationship.
“Our people could never think such a thing of you. Not when you bring their king to his knees.” And then he literally drops to his knees and starts undoing the lace on her pants?? I just sat there, stunned thinking damn what a lucky girl!
Memnon is my top book HUSBAND. I love him so much. And with Roxilana, she is my one and only book wife. The love I have for her is insane.

(I plan to post a video review a week or two after release date)

Incredible, absolutely incredible. Thank you so much, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This is my first Laura Thalassa book and definitely will not be my last. This also is a prequel, so I'm excited to dive in to the story that already exists and see what is in store for these two soul mates.

I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did, if I'm being honest. I tend to shy away from stories set in the past, especially during Roman times. But not only did Thalassa do such a good job of balancing her information and research with the actual story, but the story itself is timeless.