This was a lovely look into the world before the other novels. I love getting to see the back story with this and now I want to re read the others!

I was prepared to be a little disappointed in this book. I never know how to take prequels written mid series. But this held me and my attention captive from the first chapter. I loved getting to learn about Roxi and Memnon through Bewitched and Bespelled and would have thought that I didn't need this. But it was so compelling. Roxi's perspective is so good and brought so much life to the whole series. I loved getting to watch them fall in love and fight and struggle and see what actually happened to put him to his long sleep. I am now unprepared for the long wait for book 3.

You have waited a lifetime to meet each other. Roxilana grew up in a harsh environment her family was slaughtered and she was taken. She was mistreated by the woman that took her in. But everything changed with she heard a voice. This is when she met Memnon and their friendship brought them comfort in the years that followed. She never thought that he would come for her.
Memnon has dreamed of fetching her as she awakened his magic & saved his life. He has never given up hope of them being together. So when she is about to be married he saves her and their new life starts together.
Their magic works well together but she worries that she could lose him one day. But will they be able to break the curse to be free? Or is this the end of their story?
A great read full of action & a life worth living. Good characters easy storyline.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the copy. This is my voluntary review.

I loved getting Roxi and Memnon’s backstory. To see how much they truly loved and would do anything for the other was so sweet. From the very beginning Roxilana had it rough, she was taken to Rome and raised by an abusive adoptive mother. One day she hears a voice in her head and thinks she is going crazy. Turns out there is a Sarmatian king on the other end. Once Memnon comes for her their lives truly begin. She slowly becomes the queen that his people need and they live a mostly happy and prosperous life. Above all their love shines thru, we get to see that much sweeter side of Memnon that’s mostly missing in Bewitched. This is the backstory that we needed, and I cannot wait to see where their story goes next in the series!!

Thank you so much to Laura Thalassa, Sourcebooks, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!
This book is so good! The prequel I didn't know that I needed.
This was action-packed, intense, so sweet, and just ahhh... such a good book.
You can feel the absolute devotion of Memnon. The pure, dedicated, and sweet love that he gives, you just feel so deeply with him! I couldn't get enough of him.
Since this is a prequel, of course, I knew what was coming.
"With every piece of me, I do. I know my magic has corrupted my heart, but I vow to all the gods, it remains true to you and you alone".
I have never read a man so deeply in love and ruthless at the same.
As his magic strips him of his conscience, he still loves with a passion.
The love between Memnon and Roxi is told so beautifully. I loved this so much, but hated what was going to happen all at the same time!
Do yourself a favor and grab this book up!
Happy Reading!

This novel was extremely intriguing and adventurous! It came with lovable characters and a lot of mystery! This book is a prequel to the Bewitched series. It made me feel emotional, tense and hopeful. It’s about forbidden love and romance. I cannot wait until the next book in this series comes out! This author is a wonderful writer that certainly has a big imagination! I found this to be thought provoking, entertaining and captivating. It flowed well and was easy to read! This romance fantasy book is one you are wanting to pick up and read! It explores themes such as magic and power, betrayal and loss, culture and identity and love!

“The Curse That Binds” centers around a young woman named Roxilana. She is a Roman girl that discovers her hidden magical abilities. As this story unfolds, a love develops and she is entered into a new world! Overall I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Laura Thalassa and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books for this advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I think anyone that loves to read books about fantasy, romance and magic would love this book and this Bewitched series! Content warnings include violence, attempted sexual assault, animal deaths, pregnancy losses, death and murder.

This book is expected to be published on July 1, 2025! You can preorder it now!

This was so entertaining, tragic, and such a quick read! I love this world and am so happy to have more on Roxy/Selene story and also Memnon.

Ce livre ne sors qu'en juillet mais j'ai eu l'opportunité de le lire en avance!
Ce livre est le tome 2.5 de la série Damnatio memoriae mais il s'agit avant tout d'un prequel car nous allons suivre Roxilana durant sa jeunesse, sa rencontre avec Memnon mais aussi comment ce dernier s'est retrouvé maudit...

Je voulais vraiment découvrir ce prequel pour en apprendre d'avantage sur la relation entre Roxilana et Memnon et j'ai vraiment passé un très bon moment en leur compagnie! J'ai beaucoup aimé la mise en place de leur relation, l'évolution de celle-ci mais aussi la mise en place de la malédiction! Certes, j'ai trouvé qu'il y avait quelques longueurs sur la fin mais cela ne m'a pas empêché de passer un excellent moment et de me préparer pour le dernier tome de la série!

En bref, un très bon préquel pour cette série!

Ce livre ne sors qu'en juillet mais j'ai eu l'opportunité de le lire en avance!
Ce livre est le tome 2.5 de la série Damnatio memoriae mais il s'agit avant tout d'un prequel car nous allons suivre Roxilana durant sa jeunesse, sa rencontre avec Memnon mais aussi comment ce dernier s'est retrouvé maudit...

Je voulais vraiment découvrir ce prequel pour en apprendre d'avantage sur la relation entre Roxilana et Memnon et j'ai vraiment passé un très bon moment en leur compagnie! J'ai beaucoup aimé la mise en place de leur relation, l'évolution de celle-ci mais aussi la mise en place de la malédiction! Certes, j'ai trouvé qu'il y avait quelques longueurs sur la fin mais cela ne m'a pas empêché de passer un excellent moment et de me préparer pour le dernier tome de la série!

En bref, un très bon préquel pour cette série!

As someone who has not read the bewitched series, I am so happy I got to read this first. As a prequel this was beautifully done. Falling in the love with the characters and setting was so easy. And I know this book has really set me up for continuing the series. If you enjoy a romantic fantasy that’s heavier on the romance, I think you’ll enjoy this. One this about Laura Thalassa is her books are great at grabbing your attention early on, and this was no different!

This book was a lovely read, I particularly enjoyed the descriptive language used in it, and how well everything was always explained from everything to clothes to the smells that could be smelt. It felt I credibly immersive which I absolutely adored.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publishing company for allowing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Thank you so much to Laura Thalassa and Netgalley for the eARC of this book!

This prequel to the Bewitched series (2000 years before) was such a great read! I loved going back in time to learn about the start of Roxi and Memnon’s love story. It's intense and has so many layers. It was amazing!

If you love the Bewitched series this is a must read and if its still on your TBR, I would suggest reading Bewitched and Bespelled before this book to get the excitement . Either way, read this series because it's great!

I am a big fan of Laura Thalassa's prior works and The Curse that Binds absolutely delivered on all my expectations. It added so much depth to the storyline I already love so much.

Ouch, that hurt. It’s almost worse knowing what’s coming because the anticipation is awful. Memnon was out here burning the world down for Roxi, I love to see it. I liked that their connection basically spanned their whole lives. One thing though, I hate that conniving fairy!! She’s out here ruining everyone’s lives. This was an excellent prequel for their story, and I’m glad it turned into a full novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for the E-ARC!

When we first heard that the prequel, an origin story of Memnon and Roxilana, was coming, it was supposed to be a novella. Instead, we were blessed with over 500 pages of their beginnings. Memnon, in Bewitched and Bespelled, comes off as vey intense, very much in love with his woman and a little unhinged. We got a few glimpses into their past. But we still had some questions and were left wanting MORE.

A Curse That Binds gave it to us! We got everything we wanted and far more than that. I love seeing Roxilana discover her tie with Memnon. We get to experience her life from a child into her teens and twenties. The same with Memnon, although Roxilana is the main POV.

I loved this deep dive into their past SO much. I felt we really got to understand them before which helped really fuel their story for later. They are soulmates and nothing can separate them- not time, not distance, not generations between them.

After finishing this, I just had to go back and dive into Bewitched and Bespelled for a bit to experience their time in the present again with a new understanding and fresh eyes.

My heart hurts so much after reading this but in the best way possible! Most readers going into this one know the outcome and how it ends and I honestly think that it makes the entire book more gut wrenching and amazing. Throughout the book you see Roxi and Memnon develop into the characters you see throughout the previous books but also how they fell in love the first time round which was just so bittersweet as we’ve already seen them in a different life. All the stars for this instalment and I cannot wait to get my grubby mitts on the next book when it comes out but until then I will be hiding away to re-read Bewitched and Bespelled!

This book literally shows "This is my Roman empire" not just because it's written during that setting but also entailing with battles & betrayals! THE ORIGIN STORY YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! The characters we know and loved from the bewitched series get their redemption in their prequel novella! The romance was living up to the hype everyone has waiting for!
The pacing, plotting, and writing is truly Laura Thalassa which means it's very easy to read and fast paced.

Perfect if you love:
Who hurt you? Le's bind us
Slowburn Soulmates
Witchy Magic
"F*ck it" Moments


Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this arc!

An achingly beautiful, brutal, and utterly addictive finale

The Curse That Binds is everything I hoped it would be—and more. Laura Thalassa delivers an emotionally charged, gut-wrenching, and deeply romantic conclusion that left me completely breathless. This book is the definition of dark fantasy done right: it’s intimate, intense, and soaked in feeling.

Pros:
• The emotional depth is staggering. Every moment between the leads crackles with tension, longing, and love that feels earned after everything they’ve endured.
• The writing is lush and immersive—equal parts poetic and raw.
• The plot twists are devastating in the best way. Just when you think you’ve caught your breath, Thalassa pulls the rug out again.
• The deluxe edition extras? Worth it. They add even more richness to an already unforgettable experience.

Cons:
• Honestly, none for me—but fair warning: this series is not light. It’s heavy with emotion and trauma, so be sure you’re in the right headspace.

This book broke me and healed me all at once. If you’ve followed this series, The Curse That Binds is an unmissable, soul-shattering finish that proves Laura Thalassa is a master of beautifully broken love stories.

This story had a lot of in depth world building. So glad to have the ability to read Roxi and Memnon's story. Now I have to go back and read the next two books again so I can put all of the pieces together. :) Lots of descriptive battles in this book and morally grey areas. Loved Roxi's character but was a bit conflicted about Memnon's. He was very devoted to her, but at times he seemed dominating but not in a good way. I liked how the author progressed Roxi in a timeline that was easy to follow. On to read the next in the series!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloom Books for an ARC of The Curse That Binds! I’ve been a long time fan of Laura Thalassa, from the Rhapsodic series to the Bewitched series, and I was thrilled to get an advanced copy of the prequel to Bewitched - The Curse That Binds. Highly recommend this series for fans of the Legends of Thezmarr, Fairydale, and Rhapsodic.

We finally get to see all of the details of Roxi’ and Memnon’s first lives, from the time they can first speak through the bond, to the first time they meet in person, how they acquired the palace on the river where Selene finds Memnon, through to the destruction of their family and their world as they knew it. I flew through this prequel in the span of a day - the pacing, romance, and overarching plot are both compelling and easy to binge.

Now that I’ve read this, I’m immediately diving back into Bewitched and Bespelled so that I have a completed reread checked off before the third book is released next year. I also can’t get enough of Roxi and Memnon - their snark, their banter, their passion. Bingeing this series on MDW was a perfect choice.

Overall - 4.25 ⭐️
Plot - 4.5 ⭐️
Characters - 4.25 ⭐️
Character Development - 4.25 ⭐️
Setting - 3.5 ⭐️
Writing - 4 ⭐️