The Curse of Orilon

by Willow Asteria

Never step into a fae circle, lest you may find yourself married to the evil fae King.

An apprentice herbalist enters the forest to search for a healing herb to aid her people after supplies run low due to a fae attack.

When she finds the rare herb in a ring of mushrooms and steps inside her fate is sealed.

The Fae King takes her through the portal to the fae realm of Orilon, and everything she has ever known is turned upside down.

She must wed the Fae King who hates her to lift a centuries old curse on his people, or the fae of Orilon will be doomed for eternity.

The Curse of Orilon is a complete stand-alone in the Realms of Elswyth Series. It has Beauty and the Beast vibes with a slow-burn romance, a morally-grey fae king with shadow magic, and a happily ever after you do not want to miss out on!

Genres: Fantasy, Ebooks, Romantasy, Romance, Slow Burn, Fae, Novella

133 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2024

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the bloody hell was this unfinished story?! Way too many easy editing errors for a story so short. The idea is there... however, it looks too much like a rip-off off of ACOTAR.. and as it is currently, what banter are the other reviewers talking about?! There was NONE. It was like a very rough draft that needs A LOT to be added

[Linda Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was very obviously a copy cat of ACOTAR; a fae realm cursed until the king finds a fae hating human that will fall in love with him. Of course, the fae king finds his match right before the time limit on the curse ended and everyone would have been doomed.
The entire plot is rushed. There is no character development and the main characters somehow fall in love with little to no interactions.
The setting of the story is also confusing. Is it historical (FMC works at an apothecary and creates elixirs for healing) or is it modern (they eat nachos and drink margaritas)?
Nevermind the fact that literally nothing happened at all during the story.

[Lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

uh, I felt like I read a synopsis of acotar with a few differences. and her first time? that was her first time?

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Welcome to Orilon...one of the fae realms. You can expand your knowledge of the fae tonight."

I read this book as an audiobook this time. Narrated by Andrea Mae! I don't remember the last time I read a book in a day. It's so good! If you want a very easy, quick, fast paced short read, then definitely check out this book! Oh, did I mention that it has beauty and the beast vibes? And an MMC that has shadow magic and does some very naughty things with those shadows?

Tropes: beauty and the beast vibes, forced marriage, cursed fae, stand alone, shadow daddy, and slow burn.

My favorite quote: "The only thing that should come out of your pretty little mouth is 'yes, sir' and moans. Do you understand?"

Star rating: 5/5 ⭐
Spice rating: 3/5 🌶️ (the spice be spicin')

[Danielle Lynn Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was short and sweet ( and SPICY). This was such a good pallet cleanser for me with what I’ve been reading. The audio was AMAZING!!!!! The author and narrator did amazing putting this story together! I will definitely be reading more from this author and will be searching for more books narrated by Andria Mae.

[Charity Grimm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cutesy quick little fantasy read. Def gave me acotar vibes! Would recommend if you wanted a little “fantasy” but didn’t want to divulge into a whole series. It’s a short story to read in between your tbr.

[s.elle.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this!

This was a great Fantasy Blend Novella!!

It was a light read and had plenty of plot development and a little spice!!

I'd definitely recommend!!

[Katie Donoghue · Rating 1 out of 5]

Woof. Read like a child using AI wrote this.

[Ené · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one screeches in fear, dying just like Gaston.

This was such a smooth read. Beauty in the Beast where Gaston immediately gets what he deserves, and more. 

There was so much interesting lore into the Realms of Elswyth that I definitely want to learn more! We however, focus on one of the many realms, Orilon. The plot was very straightforward, pretty quick as it was fast-paced, and easy to follow.

Amara knows what she wants, which is a very good thing to have. She’s an apprentice herbalist, but I wish more things happened to showcase that. It just felt like such a waste. But she has very good taste in (book)men, with her and her best friend being readers of wonderful taste 😌

Ezra is our shadow daddy MMC, with many wonderful applications and usage of his shadows. He has a good heart, clearly caring for his people. He had a moment of vulnerability that was nice to read.

Their romance wasn’t immediate, but it happened fast. The spice did hit, with many creative applications of certain power tendrils. It was hot, to say the least.

Whew, that was a fun read. Thank you Willow for the opportunity to read this for you! I can’t wait to read more about the realms of Elswyth 🫶🏻

[Sarah Nein · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rating: 0.5

I got this book during a Stuff Your Kindle event and clearly didn’t see how short it was. 105 pages. A good fantasy book should at least be 300 pages, IMO.

However, I decided to read it because I committed to reading 5 books a month. Took me 1.5 hours and it’s by far the worst book I’ve ever read. It had potential, but should’ve been at least 200 pages longer. I’m almost embarrassed to even include this in my good reads.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s a cringy, unintentionally hilarious speed run of Beauty and the Beast. It would be a 1 star read if it wasn't so funny.

I had fun, but I don't think I was meant to laugh at the parts I laughed at. I'd like to especially point out two quotes which were my favorite. The first one, the exchange which went:

"It's me," he called out through the door. "May I come in?"
I wrapped the towel around me and walked over to the door. "No."
"Please," he growled."
"Fine," I sighed.

And, also, the single-handedly funniest MMC line I've read in a while:

"I told her to learn all she could about you so I did not have to waste my time doing so."

I'm questioning my sanity for finding it so funny.

Now, the things I didn't like. First off, the writing style is rushed, crude, and cringy. I don't need complex metaphors and beautiful, flowery language to enjoy something, but I do need some descriptions that aren't colors of flowers and flavours of food. If a monster is tearing a person to shreds in the first couple of pages, I want that to be take more than one sentence. If they are falling in love despite everything, I want to feel when and why exactly. It gave me nothing and I feel nothing besides amusement at the choice of words.

The fae king had trouble deciding on a personality and how he’d treat the FMC, being hot in one sentence and cold in the next. Literally and until almost the very end. I don't like the guy. Not that I like her, she has no personality either besides liking herbs and books, but at least that's consistent.

The attraction comes from nowhere and turns into love based on nothing. They barely spend time together and when they do - he's rude. Doesn't make any sense. I'm not a dark romance girlie, though, so maybe I just don't get it.

The lack of originality - it’s supposed to have Beauty and the Beast vibes, but instead it’s a worse copy with less PG content. Every major plot point that's in the fairytale is also here but it's less meaningful, there's no build-up and no satisfaction. I don't care about these people/fae, because I have no real reason to and nobody's tried to convince me otherwise. Again, it's too rushed. Everything stays on the surface level, there’s no depth anywhere.

If you're looking for a laugh between other reads, sure, go for it, but don't take it seriously for even a second or you're in for a bad time.

[Cyd Underwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Willow Astoria serves up a tale as old as time—with a few fae tricks thrown in for good measure. When a plucky herbalist steps into a mushroom circle, she doesn’t just seal her fate—she lands herself in a marriage contract with the shadowy, brooding Fae King. Cue the grumpy-sunshine dynamic where our reluctant Beauty must navigate cursed realms, fun banter, and a slow-burn romance that’ll leave you swooning.

The novella is dripping with magic and the perfect touch of *Beauty and the Beast* vibes, where reluctant alliances blossom into something unexpectedly tender. The Fae King is every bit the beast—morally gray, cursed, and rough around the edges—but beneath those layers of shadow, there’s a heart waiting to be claimed. The tension crackles as enemies-to-lovers delivers exactly the kind of push-pull readers crave.

If you’re in the mood for curses, stubborn royals, and a happily ever after that’s as satisfying as the last rose petal falling, *The Curse of Orilon* is a tale you won’t want to miss. Be our guest and dive into this story!

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Curse of Orion by Willow Asteria


Overall            ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Character       ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Plot                 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Pacing            ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Writing Style   ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Ending            ⭐⭐⭐

Spice              🌶️ 


Read your trigger warnings 


I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THE AUDIOBOOK FROM THE AUTHOR! 


But, I am an honest reviewer either way. 

When Willow contacted me, she asked me to read a “retelling of beauty and the beast". Instantly, in my head, I said nope. I hate fairytale retellings. But I caved and listened to it. 


Y'ALL. 

This is not a typical fairytale retelling and I actually told her to stop promoting it that way. This book is one of a kind. It has Willow all over it. 

The characters are witty and awesome. The plot is amazing. The pacing was good. (I finished it within an hour). The writing style is simply Willow, if you know you know. If you don't know, READ SOME WILLOW ASTERIA. The ending was alright. There wasn't a whole lot of spice. 

[Reads_Must · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Curse of Orilon
Fantasy
Willow Asteria
⭐️⭐️⭐️

• ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ • ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ • ᴄᴜʀꜱᴇꜱ •

This book felt so familiar that I had to keep checking to see if I've ever written a review for it but I couldn't find one 😂.

The pacing was very fast. I was surprised by how relaxed Amara was about the fae king kidnapping her and proclaiming that they'll get married, especially because of how Caden treated her.

The world building was ok. This book has some very obvious Beauty and the Beast vibes which did make the plot a bit predictable.

Amara felt very immature for her age and she did make me cringe a bit

[Julie Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story

I found this a really good take on the beauty and the Beast retelling. The biggest issue I had with it however was the lack of point of view from Ezra. I felt like there were pages missing that I desperately wanted to read and couldn't because his side of the story wasn't there. This was really good, but with dual point of view this would have been 5 star amazing. If you are happy with a single point of view in a romance, it's still worth reading. I've just grown used to dual POV in romance books.

[Faith Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

A definite oddity!

This was such a complete dichotomy of styles. The main text read like it was aimed at a very young audience. All of a sudden two very graphic sex scenes got thrown into the mix. I really have no clue what I'm supposed to make of any of this.

By all means, go ahead & read this but be warned - it will go places that you won't be prepared for! And do NOT allow any young siblings to read it, no matter how much of a false sense of security the main body of the text gives you!

[Ness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading this book in advance, as a friend of Willow.

This book is super cute, short and packed with lots of tension and steam. A quick read to help pull you back into fantasy without being overwhelmed with lots of lore and backstory to digest all at once.

I’m very excited to see where the series goes and what else is in store for Amara and Ezra. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read it early!

5/5 ⭐️ 3.5 🌶️ (shadow daddyyyyy)

[PrettyBookish13 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
This was a very faithful yet spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling, I enjoyed the premise but I feel like it should’ve been a bit longer? Everything happened so fast and felt super rushed.
I’m beginning to think I just am not vibing with this author’s writing style 😭 the spice came at really random times and I feel like the dynamic between the characters wasn’t particularly well done, there was an attempt at an almost dom/sub relationship but it just fell flat.

[Leamay O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️

If you like a fast paced, spicy human/fae romance this is for you. The story is quick to come into fruition and I love that in a story. The two unlikely paired together through a curse. Quick to fall in love and bring two worlds together. I did enjoy this, I want more of Amara & Ezra

[Meg :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐
2.5/5 🌶️

I absolutely loved this story! I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book, but I was mesmerized! It was so unexpected and so incredible! The FMC and MMC stories work so well together even though they're from different worlds. The MMC is a delight to get to know 💕 I absolutely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good story that includes Fae 💕

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a 104 pages it's an ok read. I was good enough for me to wish that we had an extra 200 pages, so the feelings between characters can grow properly and for the "plot twist" to be build. It was extremely rushed, but holds potential to be much better. I got this for free and it was fine for what it is.

[Catilin Everitt · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is ok, very rushed feeling. It reads more like a fanfic than an actual stand alone book. Honestly feels like something I would see a young girl write after watching a movie about fantasy. I’d say it’s good for someone just wanting to get into romance/smut and this is how they dip their toes into the water.

[Ellie Sian · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this and I really wanted to. Absolutely love the cover art.

The simultaneous over describing and lack of descriptions drove me mad. I don't care what flavour vodka she's drinking...or that sometimes she drinks something else entirely (but not right now).

This felt like a first draft at an idea, and it could be good but needs some serious expansion and editing.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was hard to feel any connection to the characters because they never developed in a meaningful way. Key conflicts appeared without enough buildup or logic, which weakened the impact of the story. The pacing felt uneven and the short length did not help, since it still managed to drag. Finishing it felt more like an obligation than an enjoyable experience.

[Stacy MacEachern · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love a beauty and the beast retelling but add fae and a shadow daddy then u def will love this book. It’s short and sweet. Didn’t take me long to read at all and I liked it a lot. Especially that it has fae :) u will not be disappointed

[Jessica James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweet quick read. You have a Human and a fae, curses to break and a stone heart to win. The spice is amazing definitely 5 peppers. Will he win her over or will the curse be unbroken, I guess you will have to just read it to find out.

[⛓️🥀 gee 🥀⛓️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book fell short for me. wasn’t enough angst or lead up. i felt like everything happened too quick. but there’s no denying amara and ezra’s chemistry, i just wanted more from their story. i didn’t get beauty and the beast vibes from it at all sadly.

[Bassouma_gangstar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this short story as a palette cleanser!! It's short, sweet and spicy!!!
It had all elements that i like in a romantasy and even if it was predictable at times, it was still and enjoyable read!!!

[Chayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a quick read that’s short and spicy at the same time. The evil fae king proved to have a soft and sweeter side of him that proved to be one of his best qualities. If you are looking for a fun short book to read this so your book.

[Rebecca (Medusa's Rock Garden) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly the best written book. Not awful either, just, it reads like a book I would have written when I was 16.
The story itself is fun though, reminds me a lot of Deal with the Elf King, which I loved. This one gets pretty spicy by the end lol.