I spent a lot of time while reading this ARC waiting to be hooked. That’s not to say there weren’t any intriguing moments within the story, there definitely were some high intensity moments but for some reason I never connected with it in a meaningful way and I really wanted to.

I think there was a lot happening politically in this book that went right over my head and drove me away from the glimpses of connection I was beginning to have with the characters. It just felt like two separate storylines were happening at once for me and I was constantly looking to tie them together in a way that made me root for the MC’s.

I rate this 3 stars because I really wanted to like it and also I think a lot of time and thought did go into these characters in the backend, but in my opinion it was a bit overambitious for the page length. The ending to me felt a little rushed as well. I know we were leading up to it the entire book but the way it was done in somewhat of a hurry on the last page made me feel like there wasn’t much depth to it or thought behind it. I really imagined that moment in my head to be a lot bigger and it seemed to just be a passing thing that was brushed over.

All of that being said, although I didn’t personally connect with this book, I definitely appreciate the level of writing and skill behind this story. I think K. W. Foster is a brilliant writer and I can tell that they are well versed in literature. I look forward to hopefully reading more of their works in the future and connecting with them in a way that I might not have this time around.

Thank you NetGalley and Aethon books for giving me this opportunity to read, review and give feedback on this story <3

I really enjoyed the book, but I did struggle with it a bit, and I think that was more of a personal issue than a flaw in the writing. The storytelling and writing quality are impressive. While I had some difficulties connecting with certain aspects, I still appreciated the effort and skill that went into this book. Overall, it’s a solid read and worth checking out if you're interested in a well-crafted story.

A queen turned mercenary. A long-lost love. An ancient evil reborn.

With her home kingdom destroyed and her family considered dead, Aelia Springborn makes a living, using her abilities to break minds for anyone with enough coin. Content to live a life in the shadows, her world is turned upside down when her former lover, Caiden Stormweaver, tracks her down at the edge of the world with a proposition she can’t refuse…. help him thwart her former husband, King Gideon, from obtaining the deadly army of the Alder King.

With a chasm of hurt between them, the pair strikes a deal; once their mission is complete, Aelia will wipe his memories of their relationship, releasing them both from their tumultuous past.

Bound by magic and aided by friends, Caiden and Aelia set off on a journey to save the continent from ultimate destruction. However, as their mission progresses, Aelia and Caiden find themselves reigniting the flames of their past.

But in Moriana, breaking a bargain is deadly.

Things become even more complicated when Aelia meets Tharan Greenblade, a charming playboy whom she cannot help but fall for. With the threads of their fates entwining, the trio will be forced into a high-stakes game that will test their loyalties and raise the dead.

Don't miss this adult romantasy debut combining the dark fairytale atmosphere of Nettle and Bone with the heart-stopping romance of A Court of Thorns and Roses and the found family dynamics of Divine Rivals. With tension at every turn, this novel explores the sacrifices we make to save the ones we love.

I was given this through netgalley and FB arc group. I really didn't find anything special or interesting about it. Even the cover is bland

DNF @20% 1.5 stars

I was intrigued by the blurb, and it had me in the beginning. However, the writing is so choppy/jarring. The world building and character development didn’t feel fully fleshed out. There really isn’t a whole lot I could explain about this world… I couldn’t visualize the characters, wardrobe, scenery at all.
On top of that, there’s no way to differentiate anyone’s personality/hardships/backgrounds which made it difficult to care about any of the characters.
There are also just pacing and physical writing issues. One minute we’re over there then a body part is doing something that makes no sense—very jarring. As for the pacing, things needed to be slowed down and given more depth for sure.

While I thought that some things happened a bit too fast, I enjoyed this story. I wish the last half of the book didn't feel like it was so rushed but I love all the characters so I'll just hope book 2 is a bit slower.
There is a lot going on from the first page to the last.
We have a 2nd chance at love that gets bargained away and a new start for everyone.
Betrayal, secrets and more.
If you like instalove, magic, and redemption you will like this.
I received an advanced reader copy and these thoughts are my own.

This book started so good, I was really intrigued by the plot and characters and got stuck in, about 50% in though the plot started hopping about and really lost my rhythm with it. Overall a cool story and real promise but just missed the mark a little for me but definitely going to be popular with fantasy readers!

Very interesting book. It started off a little slow for me in the begging but it did pick up a little. I did end up ending this read.

K.W. Foster has crafted an enchanting and thrilling fantasy in A Curse of Breath and Blood. The world-building was fast paced, with a myriad of unique beings that make the setting come alive. I was particularly drawn to the dire wolves of the Alder King and The Wild Hunt, which were so cool and bad ass. The Blood Riders were particularly neat; I’ve never read a book with a creature like that in it before.

Aelia Springborn is a character who stands out. She’s tough, resilient, and battling deep mental health struggles due to her past. Her journey, intertwined with action and adventure across various kingdoms, was gripping and filled with suspense. The dynamic between Aelia, her former lover Caiden Stormweaver, and the charming Tharan Greenblade adds layers of complexity and emotion to the narrative. Gideon is a great villain, throughout the story you realize the mental, physical, and emotional abuse he inflicted on Aelia during their marriage, which adds to the story’s depth and tension.

The quote "Hope is a dangerous thing. It blinds us to reality" resonates throughout the story, reflecting the dark and perilous journey the characters undertake. This book reminded me of Six of Crows with its meticulous planning of heists, a group of misfits with assorted powers/skills coming together and their intricate infiltration of kingdoms.

Overall, A Curse of Breath and Blood is a fast paced fantasy that will captivate a reader who enjoys detailed world-building, strong characters, and a fast-paced, adventurous plot.

I genuinely wanted to like this book and it was very good in the first 15-20% but then the book started to get more and more confusing making me lose interest. There was a major lack in the world building and it felt like the characters had no distinct personalities. There were also multiple character introductions and I didn't know how any of them fit within the story. One of the main things I was confused about is the romance that's supposed to be within this book. The pov's were of Aelia and Caiden so I was sure that it would be a second chance romance between them. But then after 30%, I went to read some of the reviews and everyone was talking about Aelia with another man. I did see towards the end the potential that Aelia has with that apparent mmc but I feel like it was out of nowhere because there was no emotional or intimate connection. That also leads to the fact that I don't know a lot about the character's background or how they become what they are making it hard to care about what happens to them in the story. However, the overall plot of the story has potential so I think it would have been better if the book was longer especially since it's a fantasy so the characters and world could've been more developed.

I think this is one of the books with the potential to be better and it might didn’t hit the spot because the market is flooded with romantasy books who have the tropes enemies to lovers, forbidden love, second chance, found family, love triangle, forced proximity and so on. I liked the romance part but it took me a long way to feel passionate about the characters. The world building and character development could be better. Maybe for part two though!

Enemies to lovers forbidden love second chance fantasy, found family, magic, love triangle forced proximity these are just some of the troupes… this is my second fantasy book I’ve read and I enjoyed it! The way these characters found each other again was so satisfying to read and I just love them! Must read 4.5 ⭐️

“Another silent scream. I grasped at any shred of reality I could. “You’re not real. You’re not real. I am safe. I am protected.”

I absolutely loved this book and I will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series, the author did an impeccable job showcasing the harsh reality many people face after leaving an abusive relationship. The mental health and CPTSD rep was beautifully written, and showcasing the spiraling into addiction, I applaud the author for touching on these dark topics without glamorizing them. This book felt like a much more mature folk of air story, with political intrigue and a morally grey female protagonist, adding in folklore and fae beings, I loved how the author wove the world building into the story, there is room to learn so much more as the world feels vast and yet concrete. The relationships between characters carried the plot well. Championing their quest for revenge, giving them a similar motive and creating a found family among unlikely friends. Another theme was grief, the grief that comes when someone loses a part of their identity, and has to rebuild, the grief of letting go of a relationship, and the grief of a past self.
With that said this book could be triggering for someone who has experienced this type of emotional trauma, although it is done tastefully it is something to be aware of.

While the plot was intriguing, the story fell short for me because of the lack of character development and world building. I didn't feel a strong connection to the characters and they didn't seem to have a strong connection to one another either. The world was murky and the plot felt rushed. I loved Tharan and Aelia's relationship, however, that is what kept me reading.

K.W. Foster knocked this book out of the park. I'm already needing the other parts of the series to come out! There are some parts that I was confused about. Some parts of the book went too quickly and I was wishing to have more of the story! There were some moments when the characters came into the scene and I wasn't sure where they came from. However, overall, I loved this book, the storyline, and the characters!

ARC Review of A Curse of Breath and Blood by K.W. Foster
* * * * *
An epic fantasy romance is our heroine fights the monster in her head, makes a painful deal with her first, takes a chance on another in her heart...as she makes an agreement to take down her enemies that will morph her into something she never planned on.

Aelia never got to live happily ever after with her first love. It was not possible. Sent away to marry a man who would bring horrors to her life, changing her more ways than one, and taking away all that she loved dear.
Years later, she uses her powers of the mind to make ends meet.
She was getting along just fine, in a sense, until an old face pops up needing her on his team. Caiden has never left her mind, not matter how many times she tries to literally erase him. The attraction is as intense as ever, not matter the bickering or past that affects them.
So to help them both move on, they make a deal: to erase her from his mind and eventually his life.
With the deal made and a quest to save the land, as well as Aelia's sister, she did not intend to fall all over again for Caiden, or find a spark in the charming Tharan.
An old love, a new fling, a sister in trouble, a wicked husband tormenting her mind, and death all around her...will Aeliea break or transform into something more that shall bring more death than she ever thought possible.

Talk about a complicated love life!
A monster of a husband - stab, stab, stab!
A first love with a binding agreement to wipe his memories of her forever - gurl...you are going to regret that!
A playboy that is digging his way into her heart - get it my woman!
Murdered parents. A sister who has totally lost her mind. Great friends and new alliances. A haunting spirit that will change Aelia's life.
Bloody balls. Epic battles. Steamy camping trips.
Very much wanting to know the next part to this story.

It’s giving ACOTAR vibes but better. Loved so many quotes in this damn book, I nearly highlighted on every page. I’m a huge fan of older main characters so THANK YOU

This book lacks worldbuilding—you're thrust into the story with a sudden time jump and little explanation of how things got there. The fast-paced narrative feels akin to young adult fiction, with our main character narrowly escaping death multiple times before the halfway mark. While there's plenty of action, it leaves little room for character development or relationship growth. We're told about emotions and connections, but they lack depth, making the second half feel rushed, like an instant love story.

The characters show potential but remain underdeveloped. The villain, described as sinister, only shows their true colors near the end, leaving little to root against. Aelia, flawed and healing from trauma, stands out, though her backstory remains vague. She reminded me of a more mature Aelin from Throne of Glass.

While the book's action-packed nature makes for a quick read, I felt it needed more pages or a split into two books to flesh out characters, world-building, and relationships. It will appeal to fans of fast-paced YA fantasy seeking a mature edge, but as someone who values deeper storytelling, it fell short for me.

Morally Grey FMC Aelia has been through every heartache you can think of, she reaches rock bottom and feels she has nothing left to loose. She reminds me of Thea from Legends of Thezmarr series.

Aelia is fierce and sassy yet trauma of past events hold back her strength and determination to drive forward and utilize her gifts to their full capacity.

However, Aelia has great friends that lift her up and out of her endless hopelessness. It’s great to see her grow and move past her past through this story. Her progress is rough and raw and you feel her emotions while you read through her story. It’s amazing!

I thought this book had just the right amount of romance, suspense and questing. You really hate the bad guys and are hoping for the best, however, there are plenty of twists along the way.

I’m intrigued to see what happens next in this series. I thought the good guys had the upper hand, but maybe not… we’ll have to see.
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The following may contain spoilers:
Great love triangle! But is it still a love triangle now???
Caiden is sweet and duty driven, but he messed up and didn’t fight for the girl in my opinion so I am not team Caiden. I suggest she moves on, she’s a different person now, past or no past between them.

I’m team Tharan over here, I loved him. Passionate, knowledgeable, doesn’t tell her how to act or be but accepts her, and has a lot more in common with Aelia. I do wonder though if Aelia did have something to do with his feelings (internally), or I’m hunching maybe they are mated somehow..?

Wow! THis book was a thoroughly enjoyable read for me. It was everything I love in fantasy romance fiction - high stakes, lovable and complex characters, delightful worldbuilding and more!

I loved our fmc. She was strong and resilient and wasn't afraid of a challenge. And Tharon *heart eyes* (can you tell I have a favourite).

Overal, I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone interested

3.5/5 stars

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.