Below review with be shared on Instagram January 22nd : Some books gently ask for your attention.

This one grabs you by the heart and refuses to let go.

Each page is richly descriptive in the best way and every character feels genuine. I adored Catrin immediately, she’s so sweet, and her friendship with Isca is memorable. Their care for one another feels authentic and grounding. And Isca herself is incredibly compassionate. She actually cares about people, which in a world full of political maneuvering and hidden agendas feels rare and powerful.

Isca’s story was also deeply compelling. She's an Empathic Mage thrown into a new and very dangerous reality. She stays soft but fierce throughout, and watching her try to survive and stay true to herself at the same time kept me fully engaged.

And then there’s Prince Emrys…

Moody? Yes.

Cursed? Absolutely.

A misunderstood “monster” to the outside world? Unfortunately.

But thoughtful, tender, and quietly devastating? Without a doubt.

The connection between Isca and Emrys had such depth that I found myself openly emotional over them. The yearning. The restraint. The ache. Yearning is officially back, and thank goodness, because I was afraid we've lost it some places along the way y'all 😂 Their relationship is built on intimacy, trust, and emotional closeness long before anything physical, which somehow makes it even hotter. We love intimacy that means something.

I genuinely did not want this book to end. The writing is stunning from start to finish and is the kind of story that lingers with you long after you close the book.

Thank you to Astoria Hope, I'm eternally grateful for the opportunity to read your book.

Release Date: January 27, 2026!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ARC Review

(Worth more than 5 stars, honestly)

Bound to the Broken Crown by Astoria Hope completely consumed me. This was one of those reads that was effortless to sink into and absolutely impossible to put down once I started. Five stars doesn’t feel like enough.

The writing is smooth, immersive, and easy to read without ever feeling shallow. The worldbuilding unfolds naturally, the pacing is spot-on, and every chapter pulled me deeper into the story. I found myself constantly saying “just one more chapter”… until suddenly I was done.

Emrys is the kind of cursed prince that lives rent-free in your head. Volatile, dangerous, deeply lonely—and when I say the “touch her and die” energy is on level 100, I mean it. The restraint, the tension, the longing… the payoff was so worth the wait. Every protective instinct, every moment of him holding back for her safety made the romance hit even harder.

Isca was such a strong, compelling FMC. Her emotional awareness added depth to every interaction, and I loved how her strength wasn’t loud—it was steady, compassionate, and brave in impossible circumstances. Their connection felt intense, intimate, and inevitable.

This book delivers slow-burn romantasy done right—high stakes, emotional depth, spice, danger, and a romance that feels powerful enough to change the world around it. I am already desperate for the next book.

If you love cursed princes, protective MMCs, emotionally charged slow burns, and fantasy romance that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go—add this to your TBR immediately.

"A prince cursed to destroy everything he touched. Until he touched her."

Astoria Hope has created a rich, layered world filled with political strife, magical lore and corruption, hidden agendas, and love that manages to grow through the cracks in a power-hungry society. It's fantasy and romance at its indie finest! BOUND TO THE BROKEN CROWN delivers exactly what I look for in fantasy: deep lore, old alliances, the weight of fate, love entangled with duty, and devotion to country. The cast is beautifully diverse and intentional - noble knights, shifty leaders, humble servants, a brave ambassador, and long-forgotten magic that hums beneath it all.

I'm more than ready for what comes next: more worldbuilding, more of the complex and ancient magic, more of the exquisite spice that is payoff for the tender slow burn. I'm especially hooked on Isca, our brave FMC who rises from the humblest of beginnings to challenge the archaic ways of the modern political system. And Emry's character was written to absolute perfection. Astoria Hope's writing is so expressive and immersive. This book is romantasy, but it doesn't feel like a story I've heard before. That originality, the sense of something authentically hers, is the mark of a true storysmith.

I felt fully present inside the story - and considering the nature of Isca's magic, I also feel as if she's unknowingly extending it to the reader. I'm under her influence and not bothered one bit. This book was an absolute win for me and I think lovers of true fantasy and romance will wholeheartedly agree!

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Astoria Hope for the true honor of reading and sharing my honest thoughts on this fantastic story. I'll be patiently (and eagerly) awaiting my next chance to dive back into this world.

I've shared my review to Goodreads (link below). I'll share to Amazon on release day. And plan to run the review on my blog and on Instagram about a week before release day. And update those links as the posts/reviews go live.