Curse That Binds” by @laurathalassa was my most anticipated read of 2025, and it absolutely delivered. Ever since Roxi and Memnon’s flashbacks in Bewitched/Bespelled, I’ve been desperate for their full back story — and this eARC gave me everything I wanted and more.

From the moment Memnon makes his first “appearance”, I was hooked. Yes, I knew how the story ends going in, and still? The journey was worth every page. In fact, I immediately wanted to dive back into Bewitched — so consider this a warning to your TBR.

Memnon completely owns this book. His unhinged devotion to Roxi, the brutal-warrior-meets-soft-lover dynamic, and his playful edge? Top tier MMC. The tension around his use of magic continues to be one of my favorite threads in the series — layered, morally complex, and oh-so-satisfying.

And the character development? Impressively done, especially considering we already know the destination. Watching how it all unfolds with that looming ending in mind made it even more powerful. The backdrop of ambition, power, and fate? Perfectly handled.

This book is everything I hoped for — intense, emotional, unforgettable. Epic.

Thank you so much to Laura Thalassa, NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the eARC of this book!

This was everything I needed it to be! I was so happy to be back with Memnon and Roxi, I was completely obsessed with this book from the first few pages!

This is a prequel to the Bewitched Series (it goes back 2000 years). I absolutely loved going back to the start of their love story. It was full of action and the pacing was perfect, I struggled to put it down.

I fell in love with Roxi and Memnon all over again. Their obsession with eachother is quite literally dangerous, but I was so here for it. Their connection is extremely intense and consuming. This story just added layers and layers of depth to their relationship, it had me completely captivated!

The imagery in this book is incredible, I can tell how much work and research has gone into it and it has so paid off😍. I felt completely transported to ancient Rome!

I definitely recommend reading Bewitched and Bespelled before diving into this one because the mystery in Bewitched is one of the things that made it so exciting and gripping for me. BUT you can read this one first if you want to, either way, you need to read this series😍.

In my eyes, Laura Thalassa can do no wrong when it comes to romantasy. I absolutely adore the Betwitched series and couldn't wait to read this prequel. I read The Curse That Binds in one sitting because of how hooked I was.

While the previous two Bewitched books have mentioned the relationship between Roxi and Memnon, and we've been given snippets of events that have occurred, this was the first time that we were able to see it all unfold. It is by no means a peaceful nor gentle romance between the two of them, but the strength of both characters lends them to be an amazing couple. Their relationship is just as passionate and spicy as would be expected (even though I could've done with even more spice lol)! But it's also a very deep relationship and I loved seeing the two of them fall for each other and truly get to know each other. The only thing I wished for this book was that we could've gotten more chapters from Memnon's POV, as I love a true dual POV romance.

I loved getting more of a background for the characters as well as for their setting. I immediately felt immersed into the historical world and I would love to read even more about it.

The Curse That Binds was amazing and I already can't wait for the next book in the Bewitched series!

Love, magic and violence

I loved, loved this prequel to the Bewitched series. While the other books in the series have flashbacks of the end of Roxilana and Memnon’s love story, this book gives us the whole tale from beginning to end. And phew what an exciting tale it is - exhilarating adventure, palpable tension, unexpected twists, life-threatening danger, powerful magic, and spicy romance. Roxilana is a child from Brittania who ends up in the Roman Empire at age 7 after her family is massacred. At the age of 12 she begins to hear the voice of Memnon, a young male, in her head. While only psychically connected, first Roxilana’s witch magic awakens and then Memnon’s sorcerer magic does. Despite there being only a mental link between them at first, this is where their deeply connected relationship starts and ultimately leads them to meet, fall in love, and become the Sarmatian king and queen. The world building and storyline is so rich and vibrant, I felt like I was there with the characters feeling their feelings and living their lives. It also made the history nerd in me so happy. The story is full of all these juicy details of ancient Rome and Sarmatia - the people and the cultures all wound around the story of Memnon and Roxilana’s love story and the effect of power, violence, magic, and betrayal on them and their people. While I have read the two books in the Bewitched series, I do not think you would be lost in this story if you have not. Although, reading this will spoil a bit of Bewitched. 4.5 stars.

📖 The Curse That Binds by Laura Thalassa
💫 Prequel to Bewitched | Releases July 1, 2025
📚 Genre: Fantasy Romance | Mythic Prequel | Soulmate Magic

“I would find you in every life, even if the stars burned out and the gods forgot our names.” ✨

Laura Thalassa does not miss.

The Curse That Binds swept me into an ancient world of whispered gods, soul-deep magic, and a love that’s both destiny and doom. This isn’t just a prequel—it’s an origin story for one of Thalassa’s most powerful female leads. Two thousand years before Selene, we meet Roxilana… and y’all, she is everything.

🔮 A god-touched connection
🔥 A swoony, sword-wielding king
👑 A queen awakening her own terrifying power
💔 A legacy forged through love and betrayal

This book had me hooked from page one. The tension between Roxilana and Memnon? ELECTRIC. The worldbuilding? Chef’s kiss. And the tragedy that lurks beneath every tender moment? Devastating in the best way. If you love epic stakes, morally gray kings, and women coming into their power, this is your next obsession.

✨𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 & 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀:
💘 Soulmates
⚔️ Fated Love vs. Free Will
🖤 Powerful Queen Rising
🌪️ Ancient World Magic
👑 Forced Proximity & Political Marriage
🌌 Doomed-but-Desperate Love

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 | Tragic, sensual, unforgettable. I’m still reeling.

📦 Preorder for the STUNNING deluxe edition with printed edges—you’re going to want this one on your shelf.

#TheCurseThatBinds #LauraThalassa #BewitchedPrequel #FantasyRomance #SoulmateMagic #MythicalRomance #AncientMagic #SlowBurnFantasy #DarkRomanceVibes #Bookstagram #BookRecs #Romantasy2025 #BloomBooks #DeluxeEditionDrop #booklover #forbiddenmagic #bookishobsession

When it comes to Laura Thalassa there’s not much to say that hasn’t been said already. The third instalment was everything and more than I was expecting. This series will forever have my heart and Laura will continue to be an auto buy author for me

Memnon’s love for Roxy is the kind of love every girl dreams of💕

Every time this man opens his mouth I am vigorously highlighting each and every word!! And I am not a person that highlights books, only things that leave a great impact on me are highlighted, but with Memnon?! Literally every word!

I have been a HUGE Bewitched fan since it was published and it is my comfort read! I have read and listened to the multiple times and each time it just gets better!! So when Laura came out and said she was making a prequel I knew it was going to be epic!! Let me say she did not disappoint!!

The plot was ever evolving, Roxy’s character development from this meek scared and traumatized little girl to a badass witch queen was fabulous!! I am so glad I got insight into their past and how their love story began.

The hardest part for me was knowing how the book will end and hoping by some miracle there would be a HEA😭😭😭😭 If you have read Bespelled then you know how this book ends and let me say the impact that their whole story makes on you will hit you so much harder at the end now. Grab a box of tissues and hold on for dear life🥹

If I could rate this book, and every book in this series ♾️/5⭐️ I would, but Alas I am limited to 5⭐️

If you are debating on picking up this book don’t, just pick it up and read it!! You’re welcome♥️

Thank you to the author, Bloom Books, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I'll start with the fact that this is actually the first of the author's books that I've now read, and I haven't read the series this is a prequel to.

I don't think this series is for me, and there was a lot in this that didn't particularly appeal to me. I generally liked the setup and world. The time skips were helpful. And I can see that this did appeal to a lot of people, but I'm not one of them.

The plot has similar elements to The North Queen series (generally, a woman from a "civilized" society being married to a man from a "barbarian/nomadic" society, integrating in with that world, forbidding the standard harem...) but not as compelling.

The ability for Roxilana and Memnon to telepathically speak to each other was interesting, especially at first. Though, kind of weird some of the things that he says to her, as I annotated several phrases with "but she's 12????" Despite this ability to talk to each other's minds, there is sure a ton that no one seems to ever explain to Roxi! Girl is just constantly thrown off guard by things.

Also, ever have a magic system that's too powerful? Part of what bugged me was there was no conflict! Memnon is super powerful, he can do anything, he and Roxi seem to be the only ones with magic (minus this one random fae lady) and there's nothing that can stand in his way or counter him, which honestly kind of makes it boring. (Also, " 'Annihilate.' BOOM!" ?????? No thank you.)

Finally, the spice was mid, and I found it really confusing that the author chose to acknowledge a deliberate choice not to use one specific word because of research, but used other relatively more modern words? Might just be a personal pet peeve, but it was jarring.

So overall, it's good that I read this so I can go ahead and cross the rest of the books off my potential TBR list.

Laura Thalassa delivered! This romantic fantasy sweeps you into Roxilana’s world as she discovers her magic and her soulmate, Memnon, a powerful king. Whisked from Rome to a distant land, Roxilana found love, power, and a destiny more dangerous than she imagined. The Curse that Binds included rich world-building, slow-burn romance, and high-stakes intrigue, this story is as enchanting as it is intense. A must-read for fans of fated mates and magical kingdoms! It leaves me hungry for more. Now having the history of Roxilana/Selene and Memnom, I am anxious to read what’s in store for them in the next book in the Bewitched series. Thank you NetGalley, Bloom Books, and Laura for the eARC!

I am convinced that Laura Thalassa can do no wrong. She is a phenomenal writer and storyteller. This book blew me away and WOW what an epic conclusion to the Bewitched series. My jaw is on the floor and I need this book to be released immediately so I have more people to talk to about it without spoiling the book. No words, just amazing.

New book from Laura Thalassa? Say less!

The prequel to her Bewitched series is almost here and boy, oh, boy!

I went in blind, without having read the other two first.. but, I will!

I love her writing, I love her characters and most of all, I love her smut!

"The Curse That Binds" takes place two thousand years before "Bewitched". We follow a young Roman slave, Roxilana, when she hears a male voice in her head and her magic Awakens.

Now, she has to fight men and gods to find her true destiny.

But, she has Memnon by her side. The voice in her head, her love, her soul mate.

Mrs Thalassa took my heart, made it beat again and then stumped on it!

I loved every page! I will be reading the rest of the series soon!

"I leave for but a moment and already the panther has taken my place"
Cats are the same no matter the size. Tough luck all powerful sorcerer, the cat will steal your cuddles.

I am so excited for this book after reading the other two. It's amazing to see them as they first meet. I have too many highlighted quotes and it's so romantic and lovely. The 'But, how did you two first meet?" question from the first two books are being answered in this book and it's just so really amazing.

I think it’s worth noting that I have read each book in this series as it was released. I know there are some reviewers that started with this book, so I think it’s important to say I’m coming into this book with some knowledge about the characters.

Now that that is out of the way, I just can’t stress enough that you can start with this book or read the series in the order they are published. Either way, the series is epic and this book just brought it up a notch. Obviously, with it being a prequel, we are going back to where it all started. What I want expecting was how much I fell in Love with their relationship. How beautiful and raw it is. Gives me so much more perspective on Memnon and his behavior towards Roxi in the other books. Oh… and if you recently did your reread you know there are some characters you are just gonna hate. Well, you get them up close and personal and man did I ever want to throw my book when they showed up. Now my only problem is, I need the last book. I NEED TO KNOW HOW IT ENDS. I can’t wait for you all to get your hands on this Jem, whether it’s your first look, or your third installment in this series. Just make sure your friends and family know you’re busy for the next little bit.

Going into this prequel, I thought I was prepared—but nothing could’ve fully braced me for the emotional intensity of Roxi and Memnon’s beginning. Knowing how their story ultimately unfolds only made this origin tale more powerful. There’s a kind of aching beauty in watching a love story bloom when you already know its future.

This installment masterfully combines sweeping romance with gritty, high-stakes conflict. The tension is ever-present, both in the battles fought and the personal sacrifices made. The world feels ancient and alive, with vivid descriptions that immersed me in a time of empire, war, and raw devotion.

What really stands out is the chemistry between Roxi and Memnon. Their connection feels destined, and yet hard-won—tested by time, distance, and betrayal. It adds layers of heartbreak and hope to an already rich narrative. I didn’t think I could love them more after books 1 and 2, but this prequel proved me wrong.

With book 3 on the horizon, my anticipation has only grown. I’m deeply invested in their journey and desperately rooting for them to find peace, and maybe even joy, after everything they’ve endured

Considering I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump, I DEVOURED this book.
I surprisingly received an eARC of this book through net galley. When I heard this was up I immediately went to request as I’ve read Bewitched and Bespelled.
I’ve been following Laura’s work for a while and to be honest she’s one of the authors that I will read any of the books she publishes, no questions asked.
And boy, this did not disappoint at all.

The Curse That Binds is a true prequel and can be read before or after Bewitched/Bespelled (although if you ask me reading it after Bewitched would have had me reeling).
With out giving too much away, readers really get to see who Roxi is and how she is similar in ways to Selene. We also get to understand why Memnon is the way he is.

This book had me enthralled from the get go, and I never felt like there was a lull in the story telling. You can also tell Laura really did her research when it came to the culture of the Sarmatians and other civilizations of the era, which is refreshing considering thereve been other books (from other authors) that have been published without much thought into cultures or elements the characters are being inspired by.

All in all if you are a fan of Laura Thalassa or looking to start your journey, this is a great place to start. I honestly cannot wait for the final installment to this series.

3.25 ⭐

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it unfortunately did not fully do it for me.
I did enjoy learning more about Memnon's family, and Roxi's origins. They both went through a lot before everything leads up to the moment where he is entombed.

There were fantastic moments and but I really got the ick for Memnon and some of the more intimate moments made me cringe for some reason....

That being said, I am still really looking forward to Book 3 of the Bewitched series.

Thank you to Bloom Books and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Guys... the journey, the setting, the characters, the overall story were so beautifully and perfectly written. I feel so privileged to have gotten to read this book early! I kept this a bit vague on purpose as to not spoil anything for either this book or Bewitched while trying to express how much you NEED to read this series if you haven't already. Memnon is probably my favorite MMC I've ever read. You want fated mates and a man that will literally BURN THE WORLD for her all while also having an amazing and powerful in her own right FMC. This is it. This is ALL OF IT! I am going to be rereading Bewitched and Bespelled now and am anxiously awaiting book 3!

Thank you to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“The Curse That Binds” by Laura Thalassa is a prequel in the Bewitched series. Fans of the original duloagy will love this edition. I do recommend reading the first two books first before reading the prequel so that the surprises in Bewitched are not spoiled.
Thank you to NetGallery and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVE Laura Thalassa and I LOVE this series. I was so excited to read this to get a better understanding of Roxilana and Memnon's relationship from the beginning, and Laura did this one justice. I was so emotionally invested from the beginning due to how much I already loved the story, but after seeing their love story and the true lengths these two would go to for each other... I have fallen in love with these two even more. The way Laura weaves everything together makes you feel like you're right there living this story out with the characters. I was a tiny bit disappointed we didn't get much of Memnon's POV in this book, but I understand the reasoning behind it.

This is easily one of my favorite book series and I cannot wait to read the third installment.

I absolutely love love love the sweetness that is this story. The dedication of Memnon has always been a huge selling point of this series. Talk about a man who would burn the world for you.. Memnon knows nothing but devotion. I adore that.

What I will say, is that as I moved further into this story.. it became harder and harder to read. Not in a bad way necessarily, but so is the way of a prequel right? You know the general version of how it’s going to end. I found myself with such dread at the prospect of getting there.

And yet, forward I went.. into the path I knew would get me to the present day story. And ugh. I mean if you love Memnon in present day you’re just going to eat up Memnon coming of age and establishing life with Roxi.

You may know present day, but this prequel is a story you can’t miss.

Thank you so much to Laura Thalassa and Bloom for the eARC of this sweet and brutal story.