Enjoy reading stories about revenge, women taking control, or games to show strength? Check this one out!

Zora lives in a small town where they are constantly fighting shadows. Shadow wolves are an almost daily battle. The Dark Valley seems to be the only place in Gravel that deals with these creatures. Zora's ex was supposed to go compete in the Blood Cup games. After an interesting turn of events, Zora takes his place and gets herself to the games. She meets the two princes and the king. There tends to be some interesting love games being played through the book. Zora has to constantly keep secret that she wasn't not the original Dark Valley Champion. One of the princes recruits Zora to play side games for him in exchange for him to keep her secret. She comes in constant contact with Griffin, the second prince. And everything changes.

I enjoyed this book as a quick read. Day had a lot of fun ideas as she wrote this book. I thought the games she thought up for the competition were fun. And the way Zora had to learn so many things as she leaves her home town, such as riding a horse or to sleep on a bed without being afraid of the shadows.

On another note, this book had plot holes as it continued on. Also, the version I read had misspellings and other grammatical errors. And a character was brought in at the end and it was assumed they were introduced earlier in the book. I tried to go back to find their introduction, but I was unable to find anything.

The ending was fun and did leave me wanting the next book.

I give this one 3.5 out 5 Blood Cups.

I hope you enjoy!!
Britt

Wow ok, this book was going to be 1 star for me but the ending was ok.

The Cup and the Prince follows Zora, a 17 year old who steals her ex-boyfriends letter to represent her home in the royal games. Once she at the palace, she realizes that she has to play the game on the arena and at the royal ballroom. She has the attention of all 3 princes and a foreign princess who has questionable loyalty.

Here's the thing, the writing in the book was good and engaging but I didn't vibe with the rest. The good:
-The ending was cool especially with one reveal that I didn't see coming
-The writing was engaging
-Zora being petty

Things I didn't vibe with:
-The royal games. They were so boring to me and I found myself skipping most of them since they weren't engaging.
-Where is the blood cup? Griffin (prince) goes on and on about the mysterious cup, that wasn't explained by the way, and we don't even see it at the end.
-Zora constantly being harassed and sometimes by things she made up in her own head.
-There were a few inconsistencies such as Zora being trained with a sword since she was a baby but then saying that she has weak arms. She carries the sword pretty much everywhere she goes and can fight with it but her arms are weak? Make is make sense!
-The whole society is trash. On Zora's first day there, she has to be moved to another room in the palace because men will be men
-I did not like any of the brother's and I hope they all choke.
-There was this one line at the very beginning that made me big sad: "Greatness. For someone illiterate and stupid? ridiculous" BIG YIKES. Just because someone cannot or struggles to read, it does not mean they are stupid or less than. The whole statement is gross and I should have checked out then.

Anyway, I hope the book finds its fandom but it won't be me.
Shout out to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Where to begin with this review? I'm not even sure, so let's just dive in.

First of all, the cover and synopsis of The Cup and The Prince definitely captured my attention, and this book had so much potential. Unfortunately, it fell short in many aspects.

The word choices, grammar and phrasing of words oftentimes didn't make sense or just needed slight tweaking to clear things up. The transitions were abrupt and jarring as well, and I found myself wanting to edit the life out of the book.
Also, I'm not entirely sure what The Cup and The Prince is being marketed as, and I'm not sure the author knows either. There were so many allusions to sex without actually saying it outright that it drove me crazy. On the other hand, the "flirting" and innuendoes at times did not seem appropriate for a younger age group (if they would even catch the meaning). Upper YA? Lower YA? Who knows?

The main character Zora was portrayed as a B.A. chick who could kick a** and take names, but I did not get that vibe at all. She lacked self-confidence, and she lacked skills and strength. Yet she always seemed to excel in the Royal Games. (Speaking of the Royal Games, they, too, were quite lackluster.) Furthermore, Zora exhibited such immaturity. Granted, she's seventeen or so, but between her bouts of rage and crying not to mention her naivety, she seemed even younger to me.

Then there were the brothers, a king and two princes. All three of them needed more depth and characterization. They were all so secretive with hidden agendas, and while I am all for that, it was a bit too much in this instance, maybe due to the aforementioned lack of character development. They all were equally self-centered, conniving, and even cruel at times.

I could tell something would be happening with Zora and Griffin (the youngest prince) as soon as they met. What was off-putting was the fact that Griffin and Alegra were in the midst of their relationship/affair, and of course, Zora was still drawn to him but also disgusted by him, etc.,etc. And of course, Griffin was in love with Alegra, yet intrigued by Zora, done with Alegra, but still ensnared by Alegra, then over Alegra and into Zora for sure, back and forth. (Cue the eye rolls.)
Also, I wasn't sure what kind of games Kiran and Larzen (king and prince, respectively) were playing, except that they were borderline creepy and disturbing.

Furthermore, Alegra was a completely unlikable character for me until a tiny amount of revealing happened near the end of the book. At that point, she was more interesting to me than the rest of the characters.

The title of the book itself was a missed opportunity. The Cup (or the Blood Cup) is as much of a mystery now as it was at the beginning, and even though it was mentioned throughout the book, it didn't really have much impact on the story as of yet.

Again, I think this book had so much potential, but there were too many contradictions and not enough development. Hopefully, that will change with the next installment, but I don't think I'm interested enough to read more. I will say I am intrigued by Dark Valley, and I wish more of this book had included time there. Alas.

***I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley.***

This book was an action-packed read! Zora is one fierce female lead, and very relatable! The storyline was easy to follow but also kept me guessing. I'm excited to see what happens in the second book!

I enjoyed this book but I'm still left confused with some stuff.

On one hand, the things that made me enjoy this book are things I'm very sure of. The tone feels almost campy and that plays really well into Zora's personality. Her as a character is pleasant to follow as well. Since the first chapter that we learn her motivations we the readers cannot help but get enraged but also in a bizarre funny way. Seth, her boyfriend, is just such a bobo one can't read the book and not root for her to succeed and beat his ass. And the way the narrator handles this scene captures this energy very well.

In addition, I liked what the plot had to offer in theory. Lots of royal drama. Love it. Give me more (we'll get on that in a second). When you take into account that the character involved in this drama (who are royals, by the way, so they have a lot of power and the influence the main plot of the competition as well) all have their different motivations. That helped delimit the characters' traits.

On the other hand, and I think this is my biggest issue with this story, this book reads like a prologue. I'm not only saying this because the ending cuts off when where it seems the actual story would begin, but this also heavily weighed on and solified my opinion on this matter. If we take one look to all of the characters and their personalities, their arcs don't round up very well. The plot reads rushed, like essential parts are sort of brushed over so everything leads up to the beginning of the actual plot of the series and the story, but the book just ends there. There was just so more that could've been given but wasn't really given to the point where I don't think it's like it didn't meet it's potential, it didn't even start to tell its story.

Also, because of the lack of world building that could've been done but wasn't I can't shake the feeling that's been haunting me since I watched Daniel Greene's last video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBwH5mg0diE). If we really went hard on building the shadow creatures, I would maybe feel different. Nevertheless, as for now, I think this is one of those books Daniel talks about in his video. The fantasy aspect stays a bit on the background, but doesn't influence the plot that much. I don't mean that the drama and politically intriguing dance-partners desitions took away from the fantasy plot. I'm saying that with how little we actually encounter of the Dark Valley, it doesn't affect the plot that much. Zora being able to fight because of growing up at the valley giving her some advantage, the options and the blood cup sort of doing magic allegedly, is all the ways I can think of how magic affects the plot. I can't come up with anything else at the moment.

In conclusion, I recommend it, but it could be so much more better. It peaked my interest so I'm looking forward to the sequels. 3 stars.

I had high hopes for this book, and I was sadly disappointed. The story itself has potential. The plot was interesting and I feel like if it had been more developed, it would have been an amazing story, but everything just felt so rushed. Also, Zora is probably one of my least favorite main characters I have ever read. I was hoping for a strong empowered woman, and that was what she was portrayed as in the beginning of the story, however as the story progressed, she became weaker and less sure of herself, and overall just less likable. This book felt like it was trying too hard to be something that it wasn't. The events of the story felt like more of a prequel than the beginning of a series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sparkly Wave for the E-Arc!
I greatly enjoyed this book. The main character, Zora, was someone who you wanted to root for. Her stubbornness, impulsiveness, and her care for others made her a likable and well-rounded character.
The writing style and plot kept me invested to the point where “one more page” turned into 50 more pages. It was a relatively light read that most fantasy lovers would enjoy. From shadow creatures to competitions, it has all the components of a captivating novel.
I only wish we had more! The Royal Games were a large focus in the story as it is what begins Zora’s adventure. That being said, I wanted more intensity to the competitions and more length; it appeared to be over just as quickly as it began.
I can’t wait to read the next book, especially as I am still on the fence regarding my feelings about Griffin. While his flip-flopping behavior is justified due to the circumstances, it made it harder for me to gauge whether or not I like him. Hopefully, I get to see more character development from him in the next book.
Overall, I can confidently say I will be reading the next book!

An action-packed young adult fantasy, The Cup and the Prince follows Zora, a young woman who enters a royal competition under false pretenses. When Zora leaves her home in Dark Valley, a place where monsters grow out of the shadows, her main goal is to win the tournament and help the people of Dark Valley. She doesn’t expect to be swept into a court of political and familial intrigue, assassination attempts, magic, and royal manipulations. With everything on the line, and her life at stake, Zora must use all of her skills to survive. Who is trying to kill Zora, and can she win the Blood Cup before it’s too late?

Zora is a fascinating protagonist. I like that she isn’t thoroughly good or thoroughly evil. Smart and brave, Zora is also devious and impulsive. She cheats and lies and manipulates others, much like they do to her. She lives in a morally grey world and acts accordingly. I love her ferocity and determination. A young woman who lives in constant fear and on constant alert, Zora has faults and sometimes acts irrationally, but her desire to help and protect others is admirable.

Like a fish out of water, Zora shows naivete in traversing the complicated and treacherous political world. However, she might be the most astute of all the characters, as she often sees through people’s masks and realizes their true intentions before anyone else. Her fighting prowess and ability to think outside the box, as well as her ingrained survival instinct, prove indispensable throughout the story. Zora faces so many challenges, yet she remains determined and steadfast.

The other characters are interesting as well, though not as dynamically developed as Zora. The royal brothers, for example, are enigmatic and intriguing. Their intentions are never clear, and all three appear to have ulterior motives. I found them interesting because I, like Zora, never knew who to trust. Zora’s friends are other interesting additions to the novel, and I’m eager to see their stories developed in future books in the series, especially one in particular who was mysteriously sent away.

The action in the story is as vivid as the setting, and the cliffhanger is AMAZING and completely unpredictable! Readers who like young adult fantasy with political intrigue, dangerous tournaments, attempted murders, and a fascinating protagonist will enjoy The Cup and the Prince. Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

The Cup and the Prince follows Zora as she takes the place of her cheating ex-boyfriend in a royal competition. Which is what first grabbed my attention, after all, who doesn't enjoy a petty revenge story? Zora is representing her home, Dark Valley. The magic system in this book is what made me decide to pick up this book. In Dark Valley everywhere there is a shadow a monster will spawn. In the competition Zora finds herself being in the middle of three princes and their plans. Zora was an interesting and great protagonist, but all the other characters felt a bit flat to me. The romance also felt a bit flat, I didn't truly root for two characters to be together romantically. However, the plot and the pacing of this book was enjoyable, the way things sped up at the end had me turning the pages quicker. This book did have funny banter that I thoroughly enjoyed. Overall this book was a fun read and I feel like it would be good for anyone to pick up that like fun and quick adventure reads.

I have been reading lots of books like this recently but this one stands out. The rivalry between the brothers is exciting. I like the romance, the female empowerment, the friendships and the relationships in the book. The plot is great too. What a twist and cliffhanger!. :) Looking forward to read more of this!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me this ARC for an honest review.

The Cup and the Prince was a fast paced, action-filled fantasy read about a girl who takes revenge and uses her skills to compete as a champion to win glory for her people. I really liked Zora immediately within the first chapter and throughout the story and enjoyed the challenges she had to face to get what she wants, including someone trying to murder her.

Everyone is suspicious and a suspect, including the three princes: one betrothed king with a love for poetry, one with a silver tongue and can manipulate people tactically and the youngest, a born warrior who seeks to win the competition. This story will constantly have you suspecting who could be trying to kill Zora at every turn, each prince will show a different side to them and you never know which one to trust.

The ending, which left off on a cliffhanger, was done very well and I did not see it coming. I hope to see more of Griffon and Zora and hopefully they can come to some sort of truce. I’m excited to continue this series with the sequel The Curse and the Prince, releasing in January 2021.

It was a great plot with very interesting characters but I did not like the romance I didn’t like the relationship between zora and griffin, I think it was fake and not very real and zora and larzen would make a much better couple and larzen is much more interesting than griffin, it was a very fast paced book and I really loved it my only complain is the romance because I think it could be much better but otherwise I think the theme of this book is really interesting especially the concept of monsters made of dadores

A very fast paced story perfect for the YA fantasy reader. Zora was a strong inspiring heroine. The world created is both simple enough to easily grasp, but also a developed unique concept with the shadow creatures.

I really enjoyed that the author was able to develop Zora's personality without having the lean on a romance subplot.

I do wish there was more background on the situation that led to the twist ending. Some hints along the way that I missed during the first read but could pick up on a reread.

I couldn't stop turning page after page, at first I thought it was just a matter of ex-boyfriend and revenge, but then I got lost in the plot. I got deep into the story with the court, the competition and every prejudice that Zora had to face, the injustices or ideas formed towards women from the point of view of someone who never before thought about her gender differences, give this novel for young adults an authentic touch. As I read it, I was thinking about what an excellent book and I was afraid it would be finish so soon, luckily it leaves the door open for a second book. It is the first book that I read by Day Leitao and I really liked it, it intrigued me and it kept me pending until the end.
A good novel that has magic, action, curses, and romance, everything that only good a fantasy history has to have.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #SaprklyWave for letting me read it. I will be looking forward to the next coming Book of this "Kindoms of Curses and Shadows" saga.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Cup and The Prince follows the story of Zora, a seventeen-year old who cheats her way into the Royal Games for revenge against her (now) ex-boyfriend, Seth. However this year is different. This year, the champions are competing to win the Blood Cup and Zora is determined to win - despite the odds stacked against her. However, as two princes invest themselves in her day to day life, can Zora survive?

Zora is quite an interesting character to read. Home in the Dark Valley, she teaches children how to defend themselves. Applying this logic when she goes to compete in the Royal Games, it’s rather intriguing to watch her navigate this new way of living. Zora is quite an emotional character and sometimes it seems a little unrealistic. But this thankfully didn’t pull me from the story too much. We also had the intrigue of three brothers - two princes, one king. I won’t say much about these 3 as I think they are far more interesting when you go in blind.

This is marketed as a YA book but there are some elements that make it feel a bit more MG. This, for me, is probably down to the lack of world building that we typically see in YA fantasy. But this didn’t inhibit me liking the story. It just made me wish for more of it. There were moments that felt a bit rushed or skipped over which made me wonder if I’d skipped a page unintentionally.

Overall, this story is quite the intriguing one. After that ending, I will certainly need to read the sequel to see what Zora gets up to.

Thank you once again to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

I simply loved this book. True to the blurb, it really is perfect for fans of Throne of Glass and the Red Queen. It had many similarities with both of these series. It is simply "enchanting" with great characters and a whole lot of intrigue surrounding them. (there's a deliberate pun on enchanting! You'll know when you read it ;)

*An outcast group of society- check
*A strong-willed female character- check (although unlike many other series, it is more realistic, and things don't come easy to her
*Brother rivalry - check
*A deadly competition - check

With all these checks, I sure hope you can understand that it is going to be an amazing series. Book 1 was fast-paced and easy to read without any boring detailing and yet providing with everything around the characters. Also on a side note, it is written in the third person with dual POVs.

Zora lives in a valley plagued by Shadow Monsters and is all set to give her boyfriend a special gift when she discovers that he’s a lying, cheating piece of scum who is using her and indeed others to escape to what he thinks will be a much easier life. He’s all set to leave next morning and take part in the Kings challenge but Zora outsmarts him and actually takes his place ! She quickly meets the two young Princes, Griffin and Larzen but Griffin tries to stop her competing and Larzen promises to help her if she will just help him with a little game of intrigue and dare I suggest manipulation ? Zora might not be the strongest but she’s determined to win the prize and bring hope and salvation to those she’s left behind !
Oo this is tricky because some things I really liked and then there’s chunks of information missing. Zora can make potions and perform small enchantments but her magic isn’t really explained. I still don’t really know why it’s only where Zora was brought up that has the Shadow Monsters and even more peculiar is why the people don’t just leave ? We are told there’s Dark Magic and curses but again it’s not really brought into the story.
So I’ve mentioned the two very different Princes and although there’s no triangle or real romance here I do get some idea of just which handsome guy Zora is drawn to. Now the eldest brother Kiran who is King is extremely odd and it’s not explained just how his parents died so I couldn’t help but suspect murder but yet again there’s not enough information here to form a strong conclusion. He’s also betrothed to Allegra who is a thoroughly nasty piece of work with a secret but my lips are sealed.
Whilst it’s not quite Throne of Glass there are similarities in that we have a young heroine who is the only female competitor in a series of ever more difficult challenges. I will point out though that the titular Cup isn’t present which felt bizarre. I wish things had been a little more developed but did enjoy the slight revelation about one character at the end. This was entertaining and I did enjoy it and sincerely hope that I can rate the sequel higher.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

"Contrary to what stories told, being petty, revengeful, and deceitful felt amazing." ~ "The Cup and The Prince"


This is the perfect series for fans of the "Poison Study" series and the "Throne of Glass" books. I love how "The Cup and the Prince" has the similar concept of a young girl traveling to a new kingdom and completing dangerous tasks. Just like in "Poison Study" and "Throne of Glass," the main heroine of this novel learns about court intrigue, tries magic spells, and makes important allies. Zora and Griffin's relationship reminds me so much of Yelena and Valek's relationship! If you ship Yelena and Valek, you will fall head over heels for Zora and Griffin. Also, I love that Zora has the same level of sass that Celaena has.


I loved "The Cup and the Prince" because it puts all of my favorite fantasy tropes to great use and abandons all the overrated tropes. For example, yes, the kingdom, knights, and magic trope is overplayed, but Zora breaks tradition by refusing to date any of the princes. She straight out refuses to date anyone until she secures a future for herself. All of the princes are shocked at this turn of events and so was I! I was pleasantly surprised that the author didn't rush to throw the main heroine into a silly romance.


I have few critiques for this book. If anything, I wanted it to be longer! I know there will be a sequel, but this first novel was extremely short and there are quite a few loose ends. THAT CLIFFHANGER TOO! I am dying to know what is wrong with Griffin. I'm okay with not having all the answers, but I have too many questions and no release date for the next book. I'm praying that the sequel is as amazing as this novel.


I was completely swept away into the beauty and sheer ferocity of this story! Zora is smart and strong, kind and sincere, and sensitive but also terrifying when she has to be. She has all my favorite personality traits that I want in a fictional heroine! Also, her friendship with Mauro is to die for. I love them! I can't wait for this book to premiere on October 15th so I can discuss it with other readers.

While The Cup and the Prince was at times entertaining, I found the overarching story nothing unique and the relationships (whether romantic or friendly) slightly underdeveloped.

~★~ What is this book about? ~★~

After Zora’s boyfriend cheats on her and demeans her worth for being a girl, she cheats herself into the royal games in his place.
In a kingdom where being a woman means quick judgement, Zora is underestimated from the start. As the competition begins, she strikes a bargain with a prince, is in danger of getting kicked out by another, and is becomes the target of a mystery assassin.

~★~

This is a fairly short instalment for the beginning of a fantasy series, and it’s partially evident in how things play out. For example: in depth explanations were presented regarding varying shadow creatures in this world, yet none were actually present in the book. There wasn’t enough background on the things that really did unfold.

Zora was definitely a fitting narrator. I liked her consistent resilience and determination towards proving herself. As for the side characters, none of them stood out. Zora didn’t have a romance (which I don’t mind, sometimes even enjoy the absence of), but she didn’t have any good friendships, either. I tend to favour character driven stories a lot, and this one was definitely not that.

The Cup and the Prince is an entertaining and fast read, though quite forgettable in its similarities to many YA fantasy novels. A solid book one, though one I’m almost certain I’ll forget soon

I received a free advanced reader copy of The Cup and The Prince in exchange for a review.

Quick Review: Zora is a strong woman, out in her kingdom proving that she doesn't need ANYONE but herself to save her home and her people. Follow her out of the valley and into the magic of Court, where intrigue and evil loom to destroy her. To underestimate her would be a lethal mistake. 4/5

'The Cup and The Prince,' by Day Leitao follows the story of a seventeen-year-old girl named Zora. She finds her way into the Royal Games of her kingdom, where she will compete for the Blood Cup. Along her journey, she meets 2 princes and a King, all brothers, Griffin, Larzen, and King Kiran, who all have their own interests in mind, especially when it comes to Zora. However, Zora is not to be underestimated, and to do so would be a lethal mistake.

Firstly, I do like the cover, I think it is cute and I like having more of a picture of what Leitao thinks that Zora looks like, since we get such varying descriptions of her. This is not to say that her descriptions are each different but there seems to be some debate about if she is pretty or ugly. Secondly, this book was well-paced, I finished it in one sitting! Once I got to a certain point it was impossible to put down. I found Zora a relatable main character for the most part, and I am excited to read the next book! I want to know what happens to our characters and I can't wait to find out!

**Potential Spoilers from here on**

I wanted to like Zora, and by the end I mostly did. However, I found her motivation in the beginning trivial. It was never mentioned that she wanted to compete in the games before she puts her plan in motion, and her only motivation was to get back at a boy. Speaking of that boy, it was incredibly uncomfortable how much Zora was pressured to have sex with this boy. At one point she even thinks to herself to just do it to get it over with, I feel the sexual coercion is unnecessary. I believe the sentiment that authors choose what they write, and they don’t have to write in misogyny to further their story. I believe this to be true here as well. I see a lot of potentials for Zora to be a wonderful badass female character but a lot of that potential is snuffed out by the writing. It was an unfortunate loss. This is the only reason that I rated it less than 5/5.