3.5 stars, I think this book was just not for me. I thought it was entertaining and easy to read, if not a little predictable!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Okay, besties… this one had so much going for it:
✔️ A queen-turned-mercenary with mind-breaking powers
✔️ A mission to stop her evil ex-husband
✔️ A miserable ex-lover she plans to magically forget
✔️ and Tharan, the charming wildcard™ who strolls in to ruin my emotional stability

The setup? Chef’s kiss. The vibes? Immersive and moody. But somewhere between the trauma-bonding, undead threats, and romantic tension, the pacing and clarity got a little wobbly.

Aelia is genuinely fascinating - morally grey, emotionally guarded, and clearly done with everyone’s nonsense. But while her internal battles were gripping at times, they also felt repetitive. I wanted more growth, less brooding. Just a little “oh no I’m healing” energy, please.

Caiden is giving tortured soldier boy energy, but their relationship often felt stuck in a cycle of tense glances → tragic flashbacks → magical avoidance. I needed either more emotional payoff or more plot momentum between them.

Tharan is where the ✨chaos✨ lived, and thank the fantasy gods for that. He brought levity, unpredictability, and just enough temptation to make the love triangle feel dangerous (but fun).

The worldbuilding? Rich and intriguing.
The stakes? High and supernatural.
But the execution? Sometimes messy, like a spell gone sideways. The plot dragged in places, and emotional beats didn’t always land the way they wanted to.

Aelia, a mind-breaking mercenary with a shattered past, gets pulled back into a deadly mission by her former lover, Caiden. Their connection is raw and intense, especially with a magical bargain forcing them to confront what they left behind. Just as things heat up, Tharan enters the picture, adding chaos, charm, and a whole lot of heartache. With ancient evils, fierce battles, and found family vibes, this romantasy hits all the emotional highs and magical lows. It's dark, messy, and utterly captivating.

A Curse of Breath and Blood by K W Foster is the first book in her The Mind Breaker series.

I wanted to love this book, but I didn’t. It has so much potential, the world, the characters, the plot… unfortunately it felt a bit choppy and a little bit all over the place.

I have very mixed feelings about the book because I can really see the potential of this story and I think with a bit more editing it really can be one of those that pull you in and you can’t put down.

As it is, I struggled to finish it, but as I can see the potential I did and I am glad I did. The last 30% of the book felt easier to read and I liked how the book ended (and liked the cliffhanger ending).

While I didn’t love the book, I think I would like to see where the story goes and will most likely read the next book if I have the opportunity.

A solid fantasy with compelling ideas but uneven execution

A Curse of Breath and Blood delivers a dark, atmospheric fantasy world full of curses, secrets, and simmering tension. K.W. Foster’s writing has real promise—there are moments of vivid description, and the central concept (a deadly curse with life-or-death stakes) is genuinely intriguing. The world-building feels immersive at times, with a sense of danger and mystery that kept me reading.

However, the pacing is inconsistent. The book often lingers too long on internal monologues or repetitive emotional beats, slowing the momentum. Character motivations can feel murky, and the romance subplot, while it has its swoony moments, sometimes relies on tropes that don’t quite land convincingly. Dialogue can be stilted in places, and there are sections that feel under-edited.

That said, I did enjoy the gothic vibe and the morally gray elements—it’s clear Foster has built a rich world with lore that could expand in interesting directions. While it wasn’t a perfect fit for me, readers who enjoy darker fantasy romances with cursed protagonists and brooding settings will likely find enough here to enjoy.

Recommended for fans of atmospheric fantasy who don’t mind a slower burn with some rough edges.

ARC Review: "A Curse of Breath and Blood" by K.W. Foster

Fantasy fans, get ready for a thrilling ride! "A Curse of Breath and Blood" by K.W. Foster is an epic adult romantasy that hits all the right notes. Meet Aelia Springborn, a queen-turned-mercenary with a dark past. Her world is rocked when her old flame, Caiden Stormweaver, shows up with a mission: stop her ex-husband, King Gideon, from unleashing a deadly army.

Their deal? Complete the mission, then erase Caiden's memories of their past. But nothing's ever that simple, especially with charming playboy Tharan Greenblade in the mix. As their journey unfolds, loyalties are tested, and old flames reignite.

I loved this book so much I couldn't put it down! I fell in love with Aelia and Caiden's story but also found myself swooning over how good Tharan is to Aelia. Foster's world is darkly enchanting, combining fairytale atmosphere with sizzling romance. The found family dynamics and high-stakes adventure will keep you hooked.

Fair warning: this book deals with heavy themes and has some steamy scenes. In short, "A Curse of Breath and Blood" is a gripping, heart-wrenching adventure that you won't want to miss.

3 stars and i haven't enjoyed the book at all, sadly

I really wanted to enjoy this one. The first 15-20% had me hooked, but after that, things got confusing and I started losing interest. The world-building felt pretty shallow for a fantasy, and I had trouble telling most of the characters apart — they didn’t have much personality or clear roles in the story.

There were a bunch of characters introduced early on, but I never really figured out how they all fit in. The romance was another issue for me. Since the POV alternated between Aelia and Caiden, I assumed it would be a second-chance romance between them. But halfway through, I kept seeing talk about Aelia with another guy, and honestly, that felt sudden and unearned. There was no real emotional build-up or connection, so it fell flat.

I also didn’t feel like I knew much about the characters’ backgrounds or motivations, which made it hard to care about their journeys. That said, the main plot has potential, and I think with a longer book the story and characters could’ve been developed better.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and the chance to read this!

I really enjoyed this one! It was fast-paced and had me hooked throughout. I would have liked to see the relationships between the characters explored in more depth, but overall, the plot was very enjoyable.

This was a solid fantasy romance, and I'm definitely intrigued to read the next one.

Thank you for the e-ARC of this book!

I was hoping for great things from this but i feel the world building and character development lacked unfortunately. I DNF'd about half way through but will attempt to go back and finish in the future

A Curse Of Breath and Blood

I really enjoyed this story. It had all the things I love in a book, ancient evil, magic, enemies to lovers/ second chance love, found family. It has some spice.

It moves quickly and doesn’t leave you hanging or questioning. If anything I would have loved to see it fleshed out more. Ended too soon! Excited to see what may happen.

I would like to see some more character development and learning more about their pasts, the lands they come from etc. show me what it looks like. Some more suspense building would be great too. Overall a good start for a series.

This was an amazing read. I loved every second of it. I felt it was a little confusing at times. it had a nice mixture of darkness but cute. It tied up nicely

⭐ ⭐ ⭐.5/ 5 Stars – Grit, Heartbreak, and a Dash of Death Magic! Found through my love of ACOTAR..

Set in a world where magic has teeth and every bargain could be your last, this story delivers a heroine who’s more blade than balm. Aelia, once a queen and now a mercenary, is lured back into the heart of political ruin when Caiden Stormweaver—her former flame with a hero complex—shows up with a deal she can’t refuse. Add to the mix Tharan Greenblade, a charming rogue with secrets of his own, and you’ve got the makings of a deliciously tangled fate-triangle.

The magic system is sharp and unsettling (mind-breaking magic? Yes, please)😍 , and the narrative leans into the emotional wreckage of love lost and trust fractured. Aelia’s vow to erase Caiden’s memories after the mission adds a brutal edge to their already strained connection—one that simmers with unresolved tension and regret.

What makes this book stand out is its refusal to let anyone be purely good or evil. Loyalties blur. Love hurts. And no one escapes clean. It’s a story that asks what we owe to the people we once were—and whether it’s possible to walk away from your past without losing yourself completely.

A solid 3.5 ⭐, emotionally rich read with just the right amount of sharp turns and soft spots. Perfect for readers who like their fantasy laced with pain, passion, and a few beautifully bad decisions.

4.25/5 stars! I really enjoyed this book. It felt like correlations were built between this fantasy world and the real horrors many are experiencing in the real world. I thought the addiction to fairy dust was a cool element and I was rooting for Aelia's recovery. Having a psychic main character was also something I haven't read a lot of. Will be continuing the series.

This was a fantasy book which is my favourite genre, I did struggle with this one and found I just couldn’t get into the book. Whilst I read the whole book I did have to read it overall several days.

Very much looking forward to this, sounds like something I will definitely enjoy, can't wait to finally get into it.

“𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒏’𝒕.”

I was pleasantly surprised! I enjoyed all of the fantastical elements - sylphs, elves, goblins, the magic...

I loved both of Aelia's love interests! Currently, I think I'm team Tharan! He seems to love her for who she currently is. Caiden and her have a lot of history, so their love story comes with baggage. The bargain with Caiden was heartbreaking and it'll be interesting to see how their new dynamics will be.

That epilogue has me dying to read book 2! 🤯 Overall, I enjoyed the characters and the story and I'm intrigued to find out the rest. However, I think this book lacked some world-building. There were so many different kinds of creatures and courts and I think the rest of the story will benefit exploring that more.

I can’t believe I somehow missed giving feedback on this one! I really enjoyed the plot of this book! The romance… I didn’t enjoy the romance at all — the FMC went back and forth so quickly it was def an insta love, love triangle situation. But what kept me hooked and saved it was the plot and magic system! I was hooked.

This was a DNF for me. I got about 25% through and I could not get into it or connect with the characters unfortunately.

was not my favorite and i really could not get into the plot for some reason. i will try it again in the future