Please note I received an advance review copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

For the most part, I really enjoyed this story. I liked that we had an interesting older female character with a bit of life experience and some genuine flaws. She's got an interesting backstory that I wanted to learn more about and the action kept me gripped.

Things I didn't love so much:
Why is the tough guy unironically called "Brutus Strong"?!
Aelia's chapters are in the 1st person while Caiden and Tharan's are 3rd person. It was confusing, particularly when the author forgot which character's chapter it was and swapped narration, sometimes mid sentence!
Related to this, the book definitely needs proof reading. One character briefly (unintentionally) changed gender. Words and phrases were also repeated frequently.
Quite a lot of cliches employed.
A few times I had to check back because things were referenced that hadn't been mentioned, e.g. someone is suddenly on a cross.
There were a few sentences that maybe sound cool but didn't actually make sense.
Pedantic point but I have to mention it: scorpions are not insects.
Most importantly: the forced love triangle (more on that in the spoilers section).

Despite my complaints, I do want to see where the story is going, I just hope the next book in the series is more polished.

***SPOILERS***





Gideon was hit with a bolt of lightning with no explanation, he's wrecked and then they leave. It was very anti-climatic and it felt like Aelia didn't actually need to do anything. Why did he need to be distracted? Was it really that distracting? Also not clear who did that (I assume Caiden).
Then they're surrounded by guards, Aelia calls the undead army to take care of it and then they all leave again.
Aelia breaks her back, takes a potion and is largely fine again.
Everything in the final few chapters of the book felt far too easy.

The second chance romance with Caiden was promising, though they did quite abruptly flip from hating each other to wanting to be together again. Then suddenly she's madly in love with Tharan with no build up. I liked seeing the friendship develop but the abrupt switch to intense love just didn't work.

I had high hopes for this book as I found the synopsis quite intriguing, but I must admit that it fell short of my hopes. I find the first 30% of the book to be quite intriguing but it becomes to confusing. There are many worlds and species to keep track of but not enough world-building or explanation. The lack of world building and character depth was disappointing. I was not a fan of the second chance trope either and not the love triangle which wasn’t well written in my opinion.

Favourite quote: "Your past is just a story, Aelia. Anytime you wish, you can start a new chapter."

This book is marketed as of A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Six of Crows. Starting the book did not give me those vibes, and I struggled to get into it. I tried to read mulitiple times, but was not interested in the characters or story long enought to continue. What I read did not feel original, and instead was similar to other books.

A Curse of Breath and Blood by K.W. Foster is an intriguing fantasy with a unique premise and a captivating world. The magic system is well-developed, and the characters are engaging, though some felt a bit stereotypical at times. The plot has plenty of action and suspense, but it occasionally slows down with too much exposition. It’s an enjoyable read overall, with enough twists to keep you hooked. A solid 3.5 stars—worth reading for fans of the genre, but could use a bit more depth.

A Curse of Breath and Blood by K.W. Foster presents an intriguing premise, blending elements of fantasy and romance. The protagonist, Aelia, is a complex character grappling with trauma and addiction, which adds depth to her journey. However, the novel faces challenges with pacing and character development. The rapid progression of relationships, particularly the love triangle involving Aelia, Caiden, and Tharan, may leave readers yearning for more gradual and believable connections. Additionally, some plot inconsistencies and a lack of comprehensive world-building can disrupt immersion. While the story has potential and offers moments of engagement, it may not fully satisfy those seeking a deeply immersive fantasy experience.

DNF Unfortunately this one didn’t pull my interest or keep me engaged. Interesting premise but not keeping me drawn

This book had an interesting concept, but the execution didn’t quite work for me. The story jumped all over the place, making it hard to stay engaged, and the pacing felt uneven. While there were moments of intrigue, the lack of cohesion made it difficult to connect with the characters or the plot. It had potential, but it just didn’t fully come together.

A fast-paced, emotionally charged fantasy with a fierce heroine, A Curse of Breath and Blood follows Aelia Springborn—a former queen turned mercenary with the ability to manipulate minds. As she’s pulled back into a world of danger, love, and betrayal, tensions rise between past and present lovers, making for a gripping, magic-infused adventure. With deep emotional stakes and a complex protagonist, this is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy romance!

⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⚔️ Fantasy Romance | 🩸 Magic & Betrayal | 🔥 Second Chances

The title drew me in and the story did not disappoint! This is a great read and keeps you up at night wanting to finish the book.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

A Curse of Breath and Blood is a smooth and fun book, with nice dynamics between the characters. I especially appreciated the choices made by the author for the protagonist, who breaks the mold of typical fantasy protagonists. Besides, the love triangle is very well done and it's really hard to choose! I would have liked to see more of Aelia's past, but I'm hopeful for the next book.

So I think the overall idea for this book was here, but the nitty gritty details weren’t, which left me a little confused.

The world building was a bit lacking and there were often times that something was mentioned but I couldn’t find any prior information about it? Anything that makes me have to flip through previous chapters to try to figure out what’s going on is a bit off putting.

That being said, I did enjoy the last 30% or so of the book where things were really happening and Aelia and Tharan coming together was *chef’s kiss*

First off thank you to NetGalley for this chance to read this book. Second i could not put this book down i didnt want it to end im so glad there is a book 2 i want to read more of the world of fantasy and romance and i love books that have Fae's and magic. Caiden and Aelia are such wonderful characters i loved reading those two the most. I recommend and would very much read again and get the second book as well i have to know what else happens in this world the author K.W. Foster has made. “I will find a way back to you” He kissed me passionately. “I love you, Aelia. I loved you even when I hated you, and I will keep a space in my heart for you until the end of time.” A promise he couldn’t keep.

3.5⭐️
I wanted to love it, and sometimes I did… But not enough of the time.

I am a fan of a love triangle, but this one was complicated… Like SO much.

I love second chance romance, but this wasn’t quite it.

Tharan seems delightful, but you love him?

And the epilogue?! What was that about? 🤦🏻‍♀️

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Wanted to read this for the interesting concept and stayed for the tough protagonist. The characters were interesting and the plot was easy to keep up with

Great story full of romance and fantasy the perfect combination.!
Aelia was my favorite character, I loved her strength and emotional character. The story is well written and it evolves perfectly. The only negative thing is that it ends in a cliffhanger so be prepared, I can’t wait for the next book to be out! I will definitely be reading more books of this author in the future.

I’m a fantasy girl thru and thru but I could not get into this. The world building was complicated and not well developed. The romance was all over, and at the end I felt like she was simultaneously falling in love with both men. I didn’t understand the conflict outside of wanting to save her sister, and emotionally there were some big moments that fell very flat. I put it down numerous times and was not motivated to finish it, but did. Meh.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I very much enjoyed the characters and the magic system in this book. However, I felt as if the world building was non-existent. I struggled to understand where things were taking place and how everything fit together. I haven’t yet decided if I want to continue with the series but the characters may bring me back. We’ll see how I’m feeling later.

Thanks to NetGalley, Aethon Books, and the author for access to the eARC!

A fun escape from the *real world* into a fantastical one. This was an enjoyable read, and I had a good time going through the adventure with the characters.