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bdzimmerman15's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Excuse me? I would like to have book three right now. That ending! When I finished The Cup and The Prince I was hopeful that book two was already out and lucky enough for me, BookSirens had it. This was such a quick and intoxicating read. I love the world Day has built and the main characters, Zora and Griffin, have such a great dynamic it’s hard not to like them. While both can be annoying at times, i think ultimately they’re likable.
While the beginning was a little confusing with new characters being added to the game, you quickly discover who they are and their purposes. I enjoyed the journey this book took me on and the development of the plot and characters. It’s an enjoyable, quick read and I can’t wait for book three!
Excuse me? I would like to have book three right now. That ending! When I finished The Cup and The Prince I was hopeful that book two was already out and lucky enough for me, BookSirens had it. This was such a quick and intoxicating read. I love the world Day has built and the main characters, Zora and Griffin, have such a great dynamic it’s hard not to like them. While both can be annoying at times, i think ultimately they’re likable.
While the beginning was a little confusing with new characters being added to the game, you quickly discover who they are and their purposes. I enjoyed the journey this book took me on and the development of the plot and characters. It’s an enjoyable, quick read and I can’t wait for book three!
onebookmore's review against another edition
4.0
I was so excited to read The Curse and the Prince, especially after the major cliffhanger in book one! As the story begins, Zora and Griffin, hunted by Griffin’s brother, journey to find the cup in the hopes of breaking curses that plague Griffin and their world.
The story is told from several perspectives, which works well since the characters are in different places throughout the story. As Zora and Griffin search for the cup, Larzen and Raidne remain behind and face their own obstacles. Knowing the thoughts and feelings of these (and a few other) characters gives a well-rounded view of what is happening.
I like that we see a more vulnerable side to the characters in this book, and I feel like many of the characters go on an emotional journey in addition to their physical journey. Zora, Griffin, Larzen, and Raidne all go through so much throughout the novel, and it’s interesting to see their characters grow and change.
Zora and Griffin grow closer, and both begin to let their guard down. Zora also begins to trust others again and becomes a bit more honest with herself. She faces her feelings, as does Griffin, and it’s fantastic. You can feel Zora’s hesitancy and fears of rejection, as well as her feelings of inferiority. I like how she becomes more confident and more sure of herself and Griffin’s feelings as the story progresses.
The story delves into Larzen’s story more, which I found fascinating. He is so mysterious and complex, and I love his enigmatic personality. In this book, we see more than just the manipulative and conniving brother. His fears, lies, and past actions are revealed and add such depth to his character.
Larzen’s blossoming romance with Raidne is also intriguing and a bit dangerous. The foundation of the relationship is built on lies, deceit, and threats, but underneath it all is an undeniable longing and glimmers of honesty. The conversations that Larzen and Raidne have when they are honest and real are some of my favorite parts of the story, and I’m curious to see what happens to this couple as the series continues.
The story has a ton of action with several revelations, and the plot is really well-layered. Prophesies, riddles, mysterious places, deadly enemies, ancient curses, shadow creatures, and more plague the main characters, and there is rarely a calm moment.
The ending, like the first book, ends on a cliffhanger. Many questions remain unanswered, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next. Thanks so much to Booksirens and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story is told from several perspectives, which works well since the characters are in different places throughout the story. As Zora and Griffin search for the cup, Larzen and Raidne remain behind and face their own obstacles. Knowing the thoughts and feelings of these (and a few other) characters gives a well-rounded view of what is happening.
I like that we see a more vulnerable side to the characters in this book, and I feel like many of the characters go on an emotional journey in addition to their physical journey. Zora, Griffin, Larzen, and Raidne all go through so much throughout the novel, and it’s interesting to see their characters grow and change.
Zora and Griffin grow closer, and both begin to let their guard down. Zora also begins to trust others again and becomes a bit more honest with herself. She faces her feelings, as does Griffin, and it’s fantastic. You can feel Zora’s hesitancy and fears of rejection, as well as her feelings of inferiority. I like how she becomes more confident and more sure of herself and Griffin’s feelings as the story progresses.
The story delves into Larzen’s story more, which I found fascinating. He is so mysterious and complex, and I love his enigmatic personality. In this book, we see more than just the manipulative and conniving brother. His fears, lies, and past actions are revealed and add such depth to his character.
Larzen’s blossoming romance with Raidne is also intriguing and a bit dangerous. The foundation of the relationship is built on lies, deceit, and threats, but underneath it all is an undeniable longing and glimmers of honesty. The conversations that Larzen and Raidne have when they are honest and real are some of my favorite parts of the story, and I’m curious to see what happens to this couple as the series continues.
The story has a ton of action with several revelations, and the plot is really well-layered. Prophesies, riddles, mysterious places, deadly enemies, ancient curses, shadow creatures, and more plague the main characters, and there is rarely a calm moment.
The ending, like the first book, ends on a cliffhanger. Many questions remain unanswered, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next. Thanks so much to Booksirens and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
shortandsweetreviewsbysam's review against another edition
4.0
Huge thank you to author Day Leitao for providing a copy of The Curse and the Prince (Kingdom of Curses and Shadows book two). I have reviewed honestly.
Rejoin Griffin and Zora as they search for the blood cup amongst a tango of truths, curses and prophecies. The Curse and the Prince is a delicious cocktail of fantasy and adventure, with a shot of romance, a dash of intrigue and a sprinkle of surprises; this sequel is one not to miss.
The Curse and the Prince features, but is not limited to, the following themes:
○ YA fantasy
○ YA romance
○ Dark magic
○ Adventure
○ Curses and prophecies
○ Royal brothers
My overall rating for The Curse and the Prince is…
4 Stars!
Thank you, thank you, thank you Day Leitao! This book was all it was promised to be and more! The second instalment in the Kingdom of Curses and Shadows is popping with danger, adventure and a sweet, light romance. I loved the exploration of characters who claimed minor roles in the first book but took to the stage as a main in the second. I also enjoyed the revelations Leitao expertly disclosed throughout the tale. Overall, a well written and exciting tale.
allie206's review against another edition
5.0
If you thought the first book was good, you will surely not be disappointed with the second installment. I think that this sequel was just as good, if not better than the first book. Warning, if you thought the cliffhanger for the first book was crazy and hard to deal with the end of the second book will blow you out of the water. I read this entire book in one night, so needless to say I couldn't put it down.
Throughout this book, we follow Zora and Griffin on their journey in hope of finding the cup. It has many twists and turns and does well at keeping you on your toes. We also see what is happening back at the castle with Griffin's two brothers and the Princess throughout their journey. Throughout the entire book, you feel at times that you are right there with them and just want to reach out and grab one, or more, of the characters.
Day does a great job of giving you an immersive experience, with great storytelling, and imagination. I cannot wait for the third and final book to be released, although I will be sad when it is all over. I also just want to take a moment and thank Day for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this in exchange for an honest review. I read this from about 10 pm to 4 am and immediately messaged Day to let her know how much I enjoyed it. I think the true test to any book for me is if I finish, or at least want to finish, an entire book in one night and this one did not fail.
Throughout this book, we follow Zora and Griffin on their journey in hope of finding the cup. It has many twists and turns and does well at keeping you on your toes. We also see what is happening back at the castle with Griffin's two brothers and the Princess throughout their journey. Throughout the entire book, you feel at times that you are right there with them and just want to reach out and grab one, or more, of the characters.
Day does a great job of giving you an immersive experience, with great storytelling, and imagination. I cannot wait for the third and final book to be released, although I will be sad when it is all over. I also just want to take a moment and thank Day for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this in exchange for an honest review. I read this from about 10 pm to 4 am and immediately messaged Day to let her know how much I enjoyed it. I think the true test to any book for me is if I finish, or at least want to finish, an entire book in one night and this one did not fail.
manglitter's review against another edition
5.0
I thank Day Leitao for this ARC that I was crazy waiting for. I loved the first book which made me discover her.
Now, she did it again, Day Leitao is a master of cliffhangers and suspense. I can't wait for book 3, how could you do this to me?! Oh my god, what is going to happen to all of them?
I loved this second book, it was something different from the first one and the plot was well made. The first one was all about the challenges but this one was more about the mystery behind the curses. I loved that the second characters were well developed with their own stories. I love how Larzen is with Riadne and the new characters entring the story like Tris. There is so much mystery and the secrets are not so easily revealed , you have to work the pages to get to them but without it being boring.
I love Day leitao writing style, she doesn't write a lot just to say a little like with an amount of descriptions and nonsense. In other words, it is well written, clear to the point and even her characters speak like that. While reading her books it never ever gets dull. I like it and I had enjoyed discovering this new chapter of Zora's adventures. Thank you so much.
Now, she did it again, Day Leitao is a master of cliffhangers and suspense. I can't wait for book 3, how could you do this to me?! Oh my god, what is going to happen to all of them?
I loved this second book, it was something different from the first one and the plot was well made. The first one was all about the challenges but this one was more about the mystery behind the curses. I loved that the second characters were well developed with their own stories. I love how Larzen is with Riadne and the new characters entring the story like Tris. There is so much mystery and the secrets are not so easily revealed , you have to work the pages to get to them but without it being boring.
I love Day leitao writing style, she doesn't write a lot just to say a little like with an amount of descriptions and nonsense. In other words, it is well written, clear to the point and even her characters speak like that. While reading her books it never ever gets dull. I like it and I had enjoyed discovering this new chapter of Zora's adventures. Thank you so much.
bookish_equestrian's review against another edition
4.0
I received an eARC from the author, that doesn’t affect my opinion of the book, all my thoughts are my own and honest.
The Cup and The Prince synopsis - Yes, 17-year-old Zora cheated her way into the Royal Games, but it was for a very good reason.
Her ex-boyfriend thought she couldn't attain glory on her own. Just because she was a girl. And he was the real cheater.
So she took his place.
Now she's competing for the legendary Blood Cup, representing the Dark Valley. It's her chance to prove her worth and bring glory for her people. If she wins, of course.
The Curse and the Prince is the second book in The Kingdom of Curses and Shadows series. I was given the opportunity to review the first book last year and really enjoyed it (see here for that review) so when the opportunity to read and review this book came up I took it.
This book starts off straight after where the first one ended and it was action-packed from the start. It was full of angst, mystery and never knew where some people stood.
We had many different POV’s throughout the book which was very interesting as we were able to delve into different peoples heads and understand what their motives were about.
The author added more depth to the characters throughout and made them even more realistic and relatable. For some characters, we were able to see different sides to them.
I knew going into the book there was going to be a romance between two of the main characters, it had been building for a while throughout the first one, so it wasn’t sudden, and I really enjoyed the development of their relationship. It was definitely angsty, had the miscommunication trope and if they had talked earlier a lot would have been resolved, but saying that, it was not in their personalities to open up.
What I didn’t expect was that there was another romance that was starting to form and I really enjoyed the banter between those characters.
Overall the plot was interesting and I was thoroughly entertained, it had good character growth, had mystery elements that weaved well into the overall plot. The author made sure to never let me know if my predictions were correct or not until the end. I will definitely be picking the third book up when it is released later this year.
4 stars
Thank you, Day Leitao, for giving me the chance to review your novel.
The Cup and The Prince synopsis - Yes, 17-year-old Zora cheated her way into the Royal Games, but it was for a very good reason.
Her ex-boyfriend thought she couldn't attain glory on her own. Just because she was a girl. And he was the real cheater.
So she took his place.
Now she's competing for the legendary Blood Cup, representing the Dark Valley. It's her chance to prove her worth and bring glory for her people. If she wins, of course.
The Curse and the Prince is the second book in The Kingdom of Curses and Shadows series. I was given the opportunity to review the first book last year and really enjoyed it (see here for that review) so when the opportunity to read and review this book came up I took it.
This book starts off straight after where the first one ended and it was action-packed from the start. It was full of angst, mystery and never knew where some people stood.
We had many different POV’s throughout the book which was very interesting as we were able to delve into different peoples heads and understand what their motives were about.
The author added more depth to the characters throughout and made them even more realistic and relatable. For some characters, we were able to see different sides to them.
I knew going into the book there was going to be a romance between two of the main characters, it had been building for a while throughout the first one, so it wasn’t sudden, and I really enjoyed the development of their relationship. It was definitely angsty, had the miscommunication trope and if they had talked earlier a lot would have been resolved, but saying that, it was not in their personalities to open up.
What I didn’t expect was that there was another romance that was starting to form and I really enjoyed the banter between those characters.
Overall the plot was interesting and I was thoroughly entertained, it had good character growth, had mystery elements that weaved well into the overall plot. The author made sure to never let me know if my predictions were correct or not until the end. I will definitely be picking the third book up when it is released later this year.
4 stars
Thank you, Day Leitao, for giving me the chance to review your novel.
emilyrainsford's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
4.5
I thought the first book in this series was pretty fun but I LOVED this one!
Zora and Griffin are working together in this one to try and find the Blood Cup to fix the curse on Griffin, all while on the run from the king who wants to kill them. Meanwhile we also get to know more of Riadne's motivations and a whole new thread to the story opens up there. I am HERE for the tenuous alliance between Larzen and Riadne, pretty sure they're totally meant for each other. I enjoy a morally grey character, so I like both of them.
I like all the different agendas in this one and learning more about where the curse and the shadows in the Dark Valley come from. There's lots of action all the way through. I also love how things are developing between Zora and Griffin, and how respectful Griffin is.
Overall a really good read and I'm jumping straight into the next one after the crazy events of the last chapter!
Zora and Griffin are working together in this one to try and find the Blood Cup to fix the curse on Griffin, all while on the run from the king who wants to kill them. Meanwhile we also get to know more of Riadne's motivations and a whole new thread to the story opens up there. I am HERE for the tenuous alliance between Larzen and Riadne, pretty sure they're totally meant for each other. I enjoy a morally grey character, so I like both of them.
I like all the different agendas in this one and learning more about where the curse and the shadows in the Dark Valley come from. There's lots of action all the way through. I also love how things are developing between Zora and Griffin, and how respectful Griffin is.
Overall a really good read and I'm jumping straight into the next one after the crazy events of the last chapter!
read_n_dazzled's review against another edition
5.0
I KNOW THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE GREAT!!
CAN'T WAIT!
CAN'T WAIT!
mabookyard's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
4.0
Together, hope and fury were more than a flame in her heart; they formed a scorching blaze that would burn down this Kingdom of Shadows with everything in it.
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