Oh I love this one. It is so good and spicy. I love the weird stuff. I love the spicy romance. I love the male and female protagonists. I also love the narrator.

Genre: Fantasy, New Adult Romance

Setting: Multi-race fantastical world in a unique elemental magic system. The storyline follows your female character from a human to a Fae kingdom. Political and historical world-building brings complexity and believability to the actions and reactions of characters.
Character(s): Astra and Marlak, the main love interests, are fine when seen from a bird’s-eye view. Don’t look deeper, though. Their behavior leans toward young adults, riddled with self-doubt and immature relationships. It promises more, yet it tends to leave the reader to fall flat.
Reaction: It is a generally entertaining piece; if you have extra time, it’s well-rounded enough to try. You may lose yourself in the headspace of angst for a few days, but you won’t drown. The intimate flashback scenes were jarring and didn’t always fit the story's pace. I did enjoy the rich world-building and magic system. Overall, it's an okay story, just not a wow one.

The narrator's oratory skills leveled up the story's believability, immersing the reader in the mixed-up minds of youth. It requires a little more motivation to read, but it’s different enough to add to your to-be-read list.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Note: Spicy love scenes are “R” rated.

An outstanding Fae - fantasy I've read so far!
I enjoyed the tension, the banter ,the found family bonds!!
The world building is beauty at its finest!
Astra is strong willed, confident and a risk taker with her own flaws and insecurities and her banter and inner monologue is extremely quirky 😂😂 I loved every minute of it
Marlak is my new favourite Morally grey MMC and I love how protective and sweet he is. I had my heart melted in various scenes,esp when he says 'my wife' 😍😍
I love their chemistry and especially their dream sequences and the immediate awkward tension which they have 😂😂
My favourite side character is definitely Nelsin!!! I love him vewyyy much😍😍😍
The plot twist and the ending definitely makes me devour book 2 in one sitting!!
The narrator did a fantastic job in her voice modulations and distinctive character voices! Loved it!!!

Okay, A Cursed Son is absolutely a wild ride! If you love fantasy with magic, royal drama, and a touch of romance that has you second-guessing every character, this is your next must-read. Astra, our main character, is not your typical princess—she's a substitute princess (yes, really) meant to take the place of the real princess at the royal court. But this isn’t your average fairytale, and Astra is no damsel. She's tough, cunning, and has a few secrets up her sleeve that she’s trying really hard to keep under wraps.

Enter the cursed prince, Marlac. The chemistry between these two? Oh boy. It’s fire, but also... complicated. One minute, they’re at odds, the next, they’re in each other’s heads—literally, through dreams. It’s that whole “enemies-to-lovers” thing, but with some serious twists. Is Marlac into Astra, or is he just playing games? It’s a mystery you’ll be dying to figure out, and trust me, the twists will have you second-guessing everything.

What really keeps you hooked though is the world-building. There’s so much mystery, so many layers to unravel about who’s lying, who’s trustworthy, and how everyone’s motives fit into a much larger picture. There’s magic, betrayal, and a whole lot of tension. And the cliffhanger? Don’t even get me started on that. Let’s just say, you’ll want the next book, like, yesterday.

This book is perfect for anyone who loves complex characters, a good romantic slow burn, and fantasy with tons of secrets waiting to be uncovered. If you’re looking for something that’ll keep you hooked from start to finish, grab A Cursed Son—you won’t regret it!

4.5⭐️ I really enjoyed this one. That cliffhanger will ruin me for a bit. Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, slower burn, and hidden identity. What more could you ask for.

Astra has only truly ever known training to be a royal decoy. An opportunity to finally show her potential turns into an arranged marriage with a disgraced prince. Not just any prince, this is the man in her dreams. But he’s more cold to her in real life. They will have to work together, but can they trust each other. Especially, when Astra’s true identity is revealed. Will be accept her or betray her.

5⭐️ narration by @caitlinkellyvo. So good!! I felt the characters emotional twists and turns. Truly captivated me into the story.

Thank you for the advanced listener copy @netgalley @day_leitao and @victoryeditingngc. I’m so incredibly grateful. #netgalley #acursedson #romantasy #audiobooklover #alcreview

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The story kept me engaged and it was fast paced enough to keep me interested.


The ability to share dreams was so intriguing and I absolutely loved the banter between the two MC's. The narrator did an awesome job and I look forward to finding her backlist

This book was captivating and had you gripped from the very first chapters. Full of magic and intrigue with the ever so popular trope enemies to lovers this story follows a badass fmc on her journey. I listened to the audiobook and it was narrated excellently.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

I really enjoyed this audiobook (ALC reader here!) and the first book in this triology. The world builds was easy which is SUCH a relief compared to so many fantasy books! Astra’s character growth in this book was fantastic! The narrator did an excellent job starting out sounding rather naive, similar to Astra, and her voice gained confidence as Astra’s character grew.

I also really enjoyed the steamy shared dreams. I read another book a few years ago with this same trope and I have been searching for it ever since! These dreams added to the tension and made me swoon!!!

Malark’s character was super interested and started out so mysterious. I really enjoyed this enemies to friends to lovers dynamic between Malark and Astra and the mutual pining.

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Day Leitao for the ALC!!

Cheeky dreams when you least expect them. I love an enemies to lovers story, I think they may be my favourite.

I loved Astra's character, she seemed to be misunderstood but she really felt like the heroin in her own story, which is the best kind of heroin I think.

The story is exciting and is a well paced book. The last few chapters come to a really good crescendo. And wow chapter 27 I did not see that twist coming. I had a feeling something was wrong with one of the characters but I was honestly not thinking it would be the one it is. I couldn't believe it, I was open mouthed for about 5 mins listening to this chapter.

I flipping love a twist and I love that Astra finds out who she is. She's a great character and was kept out of the loop.

I really enjoyed parts of this story. Those parts are what kept me going and reading. There were other parts I definitely did not enjoy. I'm not a big fan of miscommunication as a trope and this story had a lot of it. Or something similar to it. And the miscommunication went on for far longer than should be allowed. I think plenty of people will eat this story up and love it, I'm just not one of those people.

I’m so glad I came across this book – it completely captivated me! Once I started, I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one sitting. The world-building was captivating, drawing me in without giving everything away, leaving plenty to explore in the next book(s).

The characters really stood out to me. There were so many nuances that you don’t see in your typical romantasy character.

The ending? A total emotional rollercoaster. That cliffhanger hooked me – I’m even more invested in the series now! 4/5. I’m so excited to see more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Cursed Son, the first book in Day Leitao's "Remnants of the Fallen Kingdom" series, is an absolute page-turner for me. From the moment I started reading, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. This story follows Astra, a protagonist trained to be a princess's decoy and guard. When Astra meets Marlak, a man who has been haunting her dreams (quite literally), the story takes an even more captivating turn. Marlak, a man of many masks. I will definitely be buying a physical copy of this book and following the series! I highly recommend this book to readers who love romantasy, particularly those who enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope. "A Cursed Son" is a fantastic start to what promises to be an unforgettable series. I'd like to thank netgalley for a free copy of the audio in exchange on an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5 stars

This was really good! The pacing is great, I did not want to out this one down! I love a good enemies to lovers romantasy and this one did not disappoint! I’m excited to read book 2!!!

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a fabulous job!🙌🏻

Thanks NetGalley for the audiobook!💚

I was excited to see this audiobook come up on Netgalley, because I have a signed copy of the book that I hadn't read yet. This story did not disappoint. I loved the witty banter between to the two main characters, and the story itself was original and engaging. Slow-burn and enemies to lovers a f e two tropes that I almkst always enjoy, and this one delivered.... heavy on the enemies part too. The narration was well-done and enjoyable to listen too. The inflections for different characters made this audiobook an easy listen. I'll be anxiously awaiting the second installment.

Raised to be a decoy and stand in place of the princess, raised to hide her very identity, taught her people are evil and she must permanently hide her true heritage, Astra's life has never been hers. She has been sold like an animal to the disgraced Prince of the Crystal Court. Many believe he is a monster who burned his family alive and then ran with the treasure. But Astra realizes there is more to his story and her history than she was led to believe. Can Astra look past the scars of the past and find a way to see a future?

This was a beautiful story and a fun audiobook to listen to. Astra was equal parts infuriating and kick ass. I was rooting for her and the MMC from the beginning, but so many misunderstandings kept getting in the way. I loved the ending (but won't spoil it for you). I am glad the author ended it the way she did, leaving a clear path for book 2. If you like misunderstandings, a FMC who is on a journey of self-discovery, misunderstood MMC, and slow-burn romances that end in a spicy love science, then this is the book for you.

A Cursed Son by Day Leitao and narrated by Caitlin Kelly was an enemies to lovers/slow burn romantasy with fae and elemental magic. I liked Astra as an FMC and really loved Marlak. I very seriously shouted at my car stereo when it ended because it is the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. I enjoy a book that makes me immediately need the rest of the story. Caitlin Kelly is a master narrator.

I loved this audio! It was a fun listen and I loved the narrator and how she really captured all the emotions throughout the book.
I loved Astra and the dynamic of her being a look alike for the princess. I felt very Star Wars Padme with this and I absolutely loved it!! Marlak is the perfect enemies to lovers man. I loved their banter and how they went through all the stages (friendship enemies allies lovers). It was done with ease and included no confusion for the reader to keep up. Overall, I throughly enjoyed this listen! I can’t wait to pick up the second!

Ok, wow! This enemies to lovers romantasy is a delightful read! The mix of action sequences and masterful blend of humor, and romance makes this audiobook a standout in the romantasy genre. The chemistry between Astra and the fae prince is palpable, and their slow-burn romance kept me hooked.
If you're a fan of steamy dreams, forced proximity, and elemental magic, "The Cursed Son" is a must-read/or listen. It's the perfect blend of fantasy and sexy romance that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next book!
Thank you to Netgalley, the Publisher and the author for this fantastic ALC.

✨ Fae romantasy lovers, this one’s for you! ✨

If you love slow-burn, forced proximity, and enemies-to-lovers with sizzling chemistry, this book is a must-read! The world-building is immersive, the tension is perfection, and the witty banter had me grinning the whole way through. Oh, and did I mention there’s a dark unicorn named Cherry Cake? Yep. You need this in your life.

Astra is a fierce, skilled elite guard with a compelling magical power, and from page one, I was hooked on her journey. Watching her grow throughout the story was such a thrill, and I cannot wait to see what’s next for her. Then there’s Marlak—not your typical villain, and honestly, one of the most intriguing characters I’ve read in a while. His dynamic with Astra is electric, filled with depth, tension, and just the right amount of unpredictability.

The slow-burn romance? Absolutely worth the wait. The enemies-to-lovers tension? Deliciously well-written. And that cliffhanger? Let’s just say I’m already counting down the days for the next book.

If you’re looking for a fae romantasy with rich world-building, humor, spice, and unforgettable characters, this is the series to start. Don’t sleep on it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received this book for free from netgalley for an honest review.

I loved the concept of this book and the narrator really stood out. When the narrator enjoys reading the book I do believe that it affects the performance. Very well done.