Amy Woodruff's Of Kingdoms and Curses offers an engaging fantasy adventure filled with magic, mystery, and romance. With a relatable protagonist trapped in a dangerous magical realm, the novel strikes a balance between high-stakes action and emotional depth, though it occasionally stumbles in pacing and world-building. This 3.5-star read is a solid introduction to the Blood and Curses series, providing enough intrigue to leave readers eager for the next installment.

The story centers on Bridget Adams, a human who has been trapped for seven months in the magical Kingdom of Elyria, where all humans lose their memories upon arrival. Bridget’s frustration and desire to return to her world are palpable, and her struggle to reclaim her identity and freedom is one of the novel’s most compelling elements. Woodruff does a commendable job of portraying Bridget’s vulnerability while also highlighting her resilience, making her a relatable and likable protagonist. Her interactions with Cora, the leader of a merciless Witch coven, underscore the tension and stakes, as Bridget’s failed attempts to escape keep the reader engaged in her plight.

Cora’s manipulative hold on Bridget—compounded by a forced participation in a marriage tournament to win the hand of the Fae Prince, Cade—creates the central conflict. The tournament structure provides an exciting, if familiar, backdrop, reminiscent of The Hunger Games or The Selection, with dangerous tasks and intense competition adding layers of suspense. However, it’s the unexpected binding contract that locks Bridget into the tournament that shifts the plot into higher gear, trapping her within the palace grounds and forcing her to confront both her circumstances and the enigmatic prince.

Cade is a more complex character than initially expected, and his evolving relationship with Bridget is one of the novel’s highlights. Their growing closeness and the slow-burn tension between them are well-paced, though their romantic arc follows some familiar fantasy-romance tropes. Cade’s own secrets—including his connections to the human realm—are intriguing, though more development could have been given to fully flesh out his motivations and the role he plays in the overarching conspiracy. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Bridget’s presence in Elyria is part of a larger plan, with deeper and deadlier consequences than she anticipated.

The world-building in Of Kingdoms and Curses is creative, particularly the magical realm of Elyria, where magic comes at a price, and humans are cursed to forget their past. The rules of this world are interesting but not always fully explained, which at times leaves readers with more questions than answers about how magic operates or why the human realm and Elyria are so intricately linked. This lack of clarity slows the narrative in places, making the stakes feel less immediate. However, the novel still manages to build a richly atmospheric setting, with the magical palace and dangerous tournament providing vivid backdrops for the action.

Where Of Kingdoms and Curses truly shines is in its exploration of trust, identity, and the emotional consequences of Bridget’s situation. As secrets unravel and Bridget learns more about her past and the real reason she’s in Elyria, the emotional weight of her decisions deepens. The love story, while central to the novel, is entwined with larger themes of agency, memory, and freedom, giving it more substance than a typical fantasy-romance subplot.

That said, the pacing of the novel can be uneven. While the initial setup is intriguing, the middle sections slow down as the tournament begins, and the tension between characters sometimes lacks the urgency needed to keep the reader fully invested. The novel picks up speed toward the end, but by that point, some readers may find that key moments feel rushed or underdeveloped, particularly as major revelations come to light.

Final Thoughts:
Of Kingdoms and Curses is an entertaining start to the Blood and Curses series, with a strong protagonist, an intriguing magical realm, and a romance that blossoms amid a high-stakes tournament. Though it suffers from occasional pacing issues and could benefit from more detailed world-building, the novel’s emotional core and suspenseful plot make it a worthwhile read for fans of fantasy romance. A solid 3.5-star read, this book sets the stage for an exciting sequel as more secrets and curses are revealed.

Ahhh I was not expecting to like this book so much!! Love books that end on a good cliffhanger. Cannot wait to continue this series.

Loved that the book was divided into the after, then the before, then the now. I felt so confused at first and knew so much had to be happening in between the lines, similar to From Blood and Ash where you understand more after reading more in the series.

Book 1 in an adult fantasy romance series and it was so good!! A fae prince, magic of lost memories, and a kingdom with a coven of witches - what more could you ask for? Highly recommend and I cannot wait for the sequels in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I want more!!! I loved the magic world & human world concept & travelling between them. The memory loss made for an interesting concept. The way the book was broken up into after, before & now worked really well! I’m usually not a fan of books that do this but the author made it work well. The characters were interesting & had depth. The storyline was packed with action & plot twists that kept me hooked! Cade & Bridget are fated to be! This is only the start of their story; I can feel it. This book definitely delivered. I was lucky enough to receive a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Fastpaced romantasy - maybe a YA story? It had everything: Fae, Witches, HUmmans, Warlcks. A Trial, magic and different kingdoms AND universes.
The story was unfolding in 3 timespaces, with a After, Before and Now.
I was intriged in the After, it was a little slow in the Before, but the Now! Wow, things got crazy :D

Thank you Negalley for fhe chance to read this.

This book was sadly a miss for me. I felt like the worldbuilding was all over the place. The different realms and the Fae, Witches, Humans and Nymphs was all so convoluted.

For being in a different realm the MC was far to instantly trusting and truthful. She really didn't have much of a purpose and felt very bland. The tournament was never really explained much except for okay now your fighting for the Fae Princes hand in marriage. The MC was basically like alright this is what we are doing now and suddenly it was an instant romance rather than a I want to get back to the human realm and restore my memories kind of deal. The before during and after timeline was kind of ascued but unique. They needed some more world building and character building for sure.

First, thanks NetGalley for the arc! Second that cliff hanger was MEAN!! It took me a little bit to get into this book but I’m so glad I stuck it out!! Once I got through the world building (which was well done, I’m just impatient and want to instantly know all of the things) I couldn’t put it down. I have so many questions and can’t wait for the next one to come out!

For me it was a little slow but still very enjoyable! Witches, fae, nymphs, lots of fun magical beings and a marriage competition with the far prince as the prize. A solid romantasy.

Any and NetGalley thank you for letting me read this ARC. I really enjoyed this book, I found the story and the characters compelling. I am looking forward to more!

Of Kingdom and Curses by Amy Woodruff is a captivating read that takes you on a journey filled with mystery, romance, and unexpected twists. The story starts off at a slower pace, with world-building that takes some getting used to, but once the marriage competition begins, the plot truly takes off. The protagonist’s journey of self-discovery, as she navigates life with amnesia, draws you in, especially as fragments of her past life begin to surface.

The relationship dynamics are intriguing, particularly as the main character uncovers more about her past and forms new connections. Although the trials she faces throughout the story could have been more intense, they still add an interesting layer to the narrative. Some may find the twists predictable, but they’re executed well enough to keep the reader engaged.

The book's ending is packed with action and leaves you with just enough unanswered questions to eagerly anticipate the sequel. Despite some moments where the pacing lags, the story as a whole has great promise, making it a solid read for fans of fantasy with a touch of romance. The emotional investment in the characters is strong, and by the end, you'll be ready to dive into the next installment to uncover the mysteries left unresolved.

Overall, Of Kingdom and Curses delivers a whirlwind of emotions and sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting series. With a bit of refining, this book could easily stand out even more in the fantasy genre, but as it is, it’s a compelling read that will leave you wanting more.

“Of Kingdom and Curses,” by Amy Woodruff

I really liked this book. It started off slow and the world building was something to get used to but when she started the marriage competition it started to get interesting. I liked learning about the MC’s life before she lost her memories, and I’m fully invested in their relationship. I can’t wait to read book 2 because the book ended at a place that I need more answers lol. 4 out of 5 stars, solid read.

-Warlocks
-Amnesia
-Marriage Competition

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

This book was extremely interesting. It definitely had its moments where It was a bit slow for me, but the overall storyline has promise. And I’m looking forward for more

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this book!

The book started off strong but I found that Bridget was just a bit too confused at times? I get that she's lost her memory and had no idea how she ended up here but I just got a bit annoyed at how little she knew. Cora was not very forthcoming at all.

The twists were good but at some point I thought that there was a bit too many. The trials were interesting to start but then got a bit

The romance took a while but when it got going I enjoyed it.

I liked the overall plot and idea of the book, it could just do with a bit more refining maybe? I still quite liked reading it and I did not have to force myself to carry on. The ending was definitely very action packed.

This book was a whirlwind of emotions.
From the beginning it was obvious that the FMC had memory loss and there was history we weren’t privy to. This made the storyline hard to follow at times but things gradually started to make sense the further you read. It was worth sticking with it.
However, The “trials” weren’t very exciting. The first started off promising but honestly, I didn’t feel like there was true danger. And the second and third fell extremely flat, like the storyline almost didn’t need them.
Although the characters were well written and easy to get attached to. It definitely made me more emotionally invested in the story.
Though I was able to call part of the plot twist pretty early on. It still was an exciting ending and kept me entertained.
But it left a lot of things unanswered that hopefully we get more insight into in the second book. Which I will definitely be reading.

OF KINGDOMS AND CURSES - AMY WOODRUFF

Let's get this out of the way: this book truly exceeded every expectation I could've had. It's the first book of a new fantasy series - Blood and Curses - and you'll definitely want to be adding this to your TBR. Here's a snapshot of the plot:

There’s only one thing Bridget Adams wants: to get home. After being trapped for seven months in the Kingdom of Elyria, where magic is ruthless, permanent and always comes with a price, she’s tired of dealing with curses, especially ones that take everything from her. In the name of helping the coven that owns her, Bridget is forced to join a tournament to compete to marry the Fae Prince, Cade. As they grow closer, it becomes clear things aren’t as they appear.

Firstly, I love that the main character, Bridget, is a human. This ups the stakes significantly, as she feels particularly fragile within a unique magic system, where magic use has severe limitations and consequences. There are fae, witches and nymphs, and Amy Woodruff does some incredible worldbuilding of this otherworldly realm that Bridget finds herself in.

But, from the start, we're told that Bridget has lost her memory in order to enter the realm, and this mystery of who she was or how she came to be in Elyria is something that simmers below the surface of the novel. At some point, we even see our own familiar world, and this blend of the familiar and unfamiliar works so well to help us see what's really at stake.

As if that isn't enough, there's a tournament too, where participants complete tasks to vye for the role of being Prince Cade's betrothed. The action is non-stop but also not overwhelming, and I found myself thoroughly engaged from the first page to the last. I cannot wait for the second book!

Thank you to Amy Woodruff, NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book!

Review score: 5/5

TW: Blood, violence, injury, memory loss

Witches, Faes, Warlocks, Nymphs -- a portal to the human realm -- a prince -- a romance. What more could you want from a romantasy?!

Bridget, a human, is being held by a witch in a world where she has no memories of her life. All she wants is to remember who she is and get back to the home she knows exists somewhere. She is forced to enter a tournament, where the prince will marry the winner. She must compete against other women with powers, and is the only human in the competition. But when she sees the prince she feels feelings she shouldn't be feeling.

Full of twists and turns, this is a really fun read! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and found it hard to put down. The chemistry between Bridget and Cade is outstanding! AND THAT ENDING!! I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

Human, fae, nymph, witches, what more could you want in a fantasy book???

Bridget lands herself in another realm she does not know. She also has no idea who she is or why she is there. Bridget gets fed little bits of information from the head of the witches coven, Cora. Cora informs Bridget that due to the curse, human's lose their memories when they enter into Elyria.

Cora believes there is another gate in to the human realm that is not protected by the king. But why is Cora looking for a 2nd gate? That is something I would like to know. Cora sends Bridget in to the realm for a tournament to marry the Fae Prince, however Cora has an ulterior motive.

Just a little snippet in to this amazing book!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I could not put it down. I loved every single one of the characters, especially Bridget & Cade. It was the perfect mixture of fantasy, mystery and love. I cannot wait for the 2nd book to be released (I hope to get an ARC again <3).

Wow -- I really loved this one!

Bridget Adams is stuck in the after (but not, like, the afterworld), and she's unsure how she got there. Without any memory of the before, she's trying to figure out how she got to Elyria and why. Stuck with a witch coven as a human, Bridget is forced to enter the king's tournament, where the grand prize is marriage to the crown prince, Cade. However, Bridget has an ulterior motive for agreeing to participate in the games and may need to recruit the help of said crown prince (and a few of her tournament opponents).

It's lighter on romance (for now -- I feel it'll pick up as the series continues) but has lots of action. This perfectly paced fantasy debut left you turning the pages well into the night. If you're a fan of Sarah J. Maas, you'll enjoy this one just as much as I did. I can't wait for the rest of the series to come out!

This story follows the FMC Bridget who is trapped in the far realm with no recollection her past apart from some small bits of information that were given to her by Cora, the witch who has taken her into her Coven. Cora forces Bridget to attend a tournament to win the hand of the Crown Prince of the Fae, Cade.

Unfortunately, I have a lot of criticism for this book.

The writing in this seemed extremely juvenile but I believe this is being marketed as an Adult Fantasy book. The world building was all over the place and extremely confusing as we the book starts after Bridget has lost her memories. It starts to make more sense as the book goes on however I feel like the FMC makes little effort trying to find any information and there are plot holes left, right and centre.

Speaking of the FMC, she is extremely unlikeable and whines 90% of the way through the book. She seems absolutely clueless about anything. I understand she’s lost her memory but even Before it seems she didn’t know how to act in social situations and was unbearable.

I feel like this book had so much potential but it just wasn’t executed correctly. As I say, this should definitely be marketed towards YA as I feel there are too high of expectations for this to be Adult Fantasy.

Thank you NetGalley and City Owl Press for a copy of this eARC.

"There’s only one thing Bridget Adams wants: to get home.

After being trapped for seven months in the Kingdom of Elyria, where magic is ruthless, permanent, and always comes with a price, she’s tired of dealing with curses, especially ones that take everything from her. In Elyria, all humans are cursed. Whenever one enters the magical realm, they lose their memories. Forever.

The only things Bridget knows about her past are the small tidbits Cora tells her, which isn’t much. The leader of the nomadic Witch coven is merciless, and with Bridget essentially owned by Cora, she always keeps Bridget by her side. No matter how many times Bridget tries to escape her grasp, she always fails.

In the name of helping the coven, Cora places her in a tournament to compete to marry the Fae Prince, Cade. Believing her freedom is in sight, Bridget agrees to join and plans to sneak away before it starts. However, an unexpected binding contract restricts her to the palace grounds. Forced to participate, Bridget navigates the dangerous tasks of the tournament, until she accidentally stumbles upon the prince. Cade has secrets of his own, though, including ones that involve the human realm, and when he offers to help Bridget return there, she decides to trust him.

As they grow closer, it becomes clear things aren’t as they appear. She discovers her presence in Elyria and the tournament is part of a greater plan, one that has deadly consequences. As secrets, history, and conspiracies unravel around her, Bridget begins to realize the greatest curse of all: love."

This would be a good rec for pre-teens.