A Curse of Blood and Blossoms: A Silverse Novel (The Cursed Kingdoms

by Emilia Silverton

A spicy romantasy filled with dragons, fated mates, and slow-burn tension—perfect for fans of fantasy romance series with high stakes and heart-pounding desire.

Celine never planned to enter the deadly world of fae politics. But when her rare magic is discovered by the cursed Prince Laurent, she's dragged into the opulent—and dangerous—Flower Court. Surrounded by scheming nobles, ancient magic, and brutal beauty, Celine must navigate a world that wants to use her… or destroy her.

Laurent is a powerful fae prince trapped by a curse that’s slowly tearing his kingdom apart. He believes Celine is the key to breaking it, but their growing bond threatens to unravel everything. Thrust into forced proximity, their connection deepens into something neither of them expected. But love in the fae realm is never simple… and this love could cost them everything.

As secrets unravel and enemies close in, Celine must break the curse and risk her heart, or walk away and doom them all.

A Curse of Blood and Blossoms is book one in the Cursed Kingdoms trilogy—a fantasy romance packed with dragons, shifters, court intrigue, fated mates, and slow-burn spice. If you love enemies to lovers, dangerous magic, and forced proximity with sizzling tension, this romantasy will leave you breathless.

Genres: Romantasy

546 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2025

Reviews

[Katiebug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even begin with this book?? Silverton does a fantastic job of developing the characters and creating an emotional tie with the reader. Some you love. Some you loathe!

The story opens with Celine, who is exceptionally gifted at charms, despite being half mortal - a detriment to someone living in a world where the fae rule. Her gift is soon discovered, and Prince Laurent comes to whisk her away to the palace. The prince is trapped by a curse that has been handed down for generations, and the kingdom is failing. He hopes that Celine will be the one who can finally break it and save them all.

Once Celine is at court, she is thrust into a world that she knows nothing about. Between learning to navigate her way around the labyrinth of the castle, meeting more than a few cruel and selfish noble fae, and enduring the grumpy, brooding prince, she is feeling hopeless and exhausted.

Things begin to change by her forced proximity with the prince. Secrets come to light. Love and longing soon invade her heart and her very soul. She realizes she will go to the ends of the earth to save the prince, and she may need to. Will she be able to save him and also be free to love him? Hopefully we find out in the next installment of this series!!

There is SO much more in Celine and Laurent's journey that I haven't even mentioned. All I can say is that I loved this book so very much and highly recommend it to all readers who love fantasy, romance, and dragons! You will be hooked just like I am!

Sooooo glad that I received a copy of this book to review!!

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Curse of Blood and Blossom is well written, the world build in the first half of the book is pretty amazing, the characters are well fleshed, there’s a horrible curse on Prince Laurent that will evoke discomfort for a lot of people—so mind your triggers. Watching Laurent and Celine’s evolution from enemies to the incredibly deep love that grows, will make your heart hurt for this couple that have endured more than their fair share of pain. The cliffhanger has me extremely grateful I have access to book 2 immediately 🖤

*** Recommended ***

MMC:
✨Laurent
FMC:
✨Celine
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨cliffhanger
Series:
✨Book 1 of The Cursed Kingdoms
Tropes:
👉dark fantasy romance
👉Cinderella-ish retelling
👉enemies to lovers
👉forbidden love
👉fated mates
👉forced proximity
👉court intrigue
Triggers:
💥18+
💥sex
💥profanity
💥violence
💥death, murder
💥curse
Burn Speed:
✨medium-slow
Spice Level:
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨MF.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Adrianna Heaney-velu · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Curse of Blood and Blossoms,” by Emilia Silverton

A charmer seamstress is taken to help the prince with something he needs magic for; it was a unique and good plot that kept me glued to trying to figure out everything amongst the political intrigue everywhere. I loved the dark fairytale retelling vibes and the type of magic so much. I loved the main characters; they were absolutely perfect for the story. I wouldn’t change a single thing about the entire book. 5 out of 5 stars, can’t wait for more in this series.

-Dark Fairytale Retelling
-Fae
-Court Intrigue
-Cinderella
-Dragons
-Magic

Thank you for the free copy, Booksprout.

[Lauren Head · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is unique. While I found the beginning to be very slow (similar to ACOTAR), it ended up being very interesting. I loved the FMC. I personally got a vibe of a Cinderella-like.
Celine and Laurent have a relationship that develops as the story goes on. The fun banter between Celine and Alden only adds to the story and makes it all the more enjoyable.

[Stefanie Verhelst · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful romantasy, set in the world of the fae.

The author develops his chatecters as a master! Some are adorable, some you’ll detest. As a reader, you feel connected with the chatecters.

The world building is unique, amazing and fantastic!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lilith's_Library_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dark, Addictive Start to an Epic Series” 🌹🖤🔥

A Curse of Blood and Blossoms is a breathtaking introduction to The Cursed Kingdoms series. Emilia Silverton immediately pulls readers into a richly imagined world of magic, political intrigue, and forbidden romance. The stakes are high from the start, with kingdoms on the brink, dangerous secrets lurking, and a sense of tension that never lets up.

The characters are morally complex and unforgettable. The FMC is strong, intelligent, and emotionally layered, while the MMC is magnetic, intense, and occasionally ruthless. Their slow-burn romance is filled with tension, stolen moments, and emotional depth, making every interaction electric.

Silverton balances high-stakes action, magical intrigue, and intimate, character-driven moments perfectly. The magic system is both fascinating and dangerous, and the personal struggles of the characters make the fantastical elements feel grounded and impactful. This first book sets the stage beautifully for the rest of the series, leaving readers eager for what comes next.

✨ Tropes you’ll love:
🌹 Dark romance / morally gray love
🖤 Enemies to lovers
⚔️ Political intrigue & treacherous kingdoms
🔥 Slow-burn, tension-filled romance
💋 Forbidden love / secret desires
🌑 Magical curses & hidden dangers
💔 Emotional scars & redemption
🏰 Power struggles & throne games

A Curse of Blood and Blossoms is a dark, thrilling, and emotionally gripping start to a series that promises danger, romance, and unforgettable characters. Perfect for fans of dark fantasy romance with morally complex heroes and heroines. 🌌💖

[Sam Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It had real Cinderella and Bridgerton vibes set in a court right out of French Regency times but with Fae, dragons and magic.
It was a really interesting and unique take on the curse trope. There was a lot of information to take in initially with the world building and setting up the storylines. I thought this was written very well without feeling like I was being overloaded, and the story flowed easily. I didn’t feel like I wanted to stop reading at any point.
I’m hoping to learn more about the different types of fae as this series progresses, especially with the introduction of the Autumn Court and the links there seem to be within the Spring Court. The magic system was unusual and interesting. I loved the idea of the charms and glamours being used within the clothes.
The range of characters were interesting and varied. I liked the MCs - Celine and Laurent. Their chemistry was good and I enjoyed development of their relationship. Alden is a dream! What a lovely character. I loved his friendship with Celine and how they will do anything to help Laurent. I found the over-the-top courtiers fun and shocking in equal measure - so snobby and morally dark grey! A few questionable characters that I am going to be interested to see where their allegiances ‘actually’ lie as the ret of this story unfolds.
A really great read. I’m definitely looking forward to book 2.
I had the privilege of reading an advanced reader copy - thank you so much Emilia Silverton. All thoughts and opinions are definitely my own and freely given.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you took Cinderella, blended it with Bridgerton, and add the lavishness of Marie Antoinette, you'd get Curse of Blood and Blossoms. There were spoiled stepsisters, a cold stepmother, court debuts, balls, and more. I loved it.


It took a minute for me to warm up to the MCs. The more I got to know Celine and Laurent, the more I liked them. Honestly, both their stories broke my heart. They're kindred spirits who grow closer due to circumstances and, against all odds, fall for each other. A forbidden romance. She sees behind his mask, and he sees her. After the tension breaks, there is a lot of passion, but there is still the angst. Ugh! I need solutions, people.


The kingdom's fate lies in the hands of a seamstress; you can't get much more dramatic than that. The whole premise of the story was very unique, which made it hard to figure out what was going to happen next, which was nice. Silverton paints a very vivid picture of court life; it was entertaining in so many different ways. The characters were so vapid and sketchy, always climbing over one another, I didn't know who to trust. There was courtly intrigue, romantic tension, and spectacular events. The aerial artists were my favorite.


A Curse of Blood and Blossoms was epic. I enjoyed all the unique aspects Silverton infused into the story, and the plot was incredible. The events at the end left me speechless. That was one helluva cliffhanger. I can't wait for the next book.

[Liz | ᥫ᭡reakawayreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think Cinderella meets Bridgerton, but with fae, dragons, and a French Regency court full of secrets.

The curse trope gets a fresh twist here, and while there’s plenty of world-building, it never feels overwhelming. The pacing flows effortlessly, and I was hooked from page one. The magic system—especially the use of charms and glamours woven into clothing—is creative and memorable. I’m excited to see more of the fae courts, especially after the introduction of the Autumn Court.

Celine and Laurent have incredible chemistry, and I loved how their slow-burn romance balanced tension and emotion. Celine is clever and grounded, Laurent magnetic and morally gray, and Alden completely stole my heart. The courtiers were perfectly dramatic and shady, adding even more intrigue.

This book blends romance, magic, and political drama beautifully. I can’t wait for book two!

✨ Tropes you’ll love:
🌹 Dark romance / morally gray love
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🔥 Slow-burn, forbidden romance
⚔️ Political intrigue & curses

A Curse of Blood and Blossoms is a dark, romantic, and addictive fantasy debut that will leave you craving more.

[Allie Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know where to begin with this review. This is the first book I've read in a while that sucked me all the way into it. I think the word I'd use to describe my reaction to this novel is enchanted. I'm utterly enchanted. The word usage alone was enough to entrance me; I've never seen language used so brilliantly in my life. (I want to see a frothy beard RIGHT NOW.) And the story itself? I want this book in hardback with sprayed edges because I want to make the beauty of the story visible somehow. When I got to the part that explains the book's name - crafty. Clever. Perfect. I'm obsessed with Celine. Laurent. Alden. (I want to marry Alden. What a gorgeous gentleman.) I want to know more about the curse. I want to know more about Rampion because we met him too late in the book to get to know him well, and I need to know if I'm going to love him or not. So if you're going to sit down and read this novel, get hella comfy. Get you a fluffy bathrobe or a fuzzy blanket and a glass of something nifty. You're in for one luxurious experience.

[Hilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

In A Curse of Blood and Blossoms by Emilia Silverton, Celine, who has some rare magic, is forced to go The Flower Court in order to help Prince Laurent escape his curse.

This book was great to read. It reminded me a bit of a Cinderella story mixed with magic and fantasy. Celine is a great character and you root for her. She is a stranger is a world filled with court intrigue and schemes. All her interactions with Laurent are tense, but as they spent more time together and when Celine has found a way to help him with his curse, things get more complicated and romantic. The magic system and the world-building are amazing. This, with a fast paced and flowing writing style, and many twists and turns, along with a great plot and story-line, made that I had a hard time putting the book down.

A Curse of Blood and Blossoms is an unique fantasy novel, one I enjoyed reading a lot, and I can’t wait to read the sequel after that cliffhanger.

Recommended!

[Naomi Crowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow. This book was absolutely incredible. I loved every page in this book and was completely hooked from the beginning. To start, I love Celine. I am picky about my female MCs, but Celine is just written so well and such a great character. Actually, I love all of the characters in this book. They’re so complex and so good. The dynamic with Laurent and his curse is so unique, I don’t think I’ve read anything like it before. And then the romance aspect of it??? Oh my god. So romantic and so tragic at the same time. This book is the perfect blend of magic, political intrigue, romance, and drama. I am so so so thankful to the author for providing me with a review copy of this book and I am eagerly anticipating the release of the second book in the series. ✨✨✨🧚‍♂️ side note: I absolutely love the inclusion of cat sized/behaving dragons

[Penny Thibodeaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

The FMC is without a doubt one of the bravest characters in this book. You would be to if you had been pulled from your home and thrown into court life. As for the Prince, he is an exciting character for the FMC but brings lots of baggage. I loved it when she acknowledged her feelings for him but he curse prevents the FMC & MMC from being together. I felt drawn into this story so much because there was never a lull just a really nice pace. Great description of the world around the characters. I want to commend the author for creating characters who actually care about how their actions affect the lives of others. I won’t spoil the ending but there is an exciting cliffhanger. I can’t wait to read book 2.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Abbie Riddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is unique and will capture your attention from the get go. I loved the FMC and found the plot and storyline to be interesting. It does give off a bit of a Cinderella feel to it but so much more.

Honestly, the first half of the book was spent falling in love with the world, the magic system, the uniqueness of the entire story.

Celine and Laurent have a relationship that develops in the depth as the story goes on - this makes the characters mult-faceted and rich. The fun banter between Celine and Alden and their friendship only adds to the story and makes this book all the more enjoyable.

A great read. I can't wait for the next int he series.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in The Cursed Kingdoms series, and it drew me into the story from the very beginning, immersing me in the world. It is fantastically written, and I couldn't stop reading it. I stayed up late devouring it. The world-building and magic system are both wonderfully designed. The book has a Cinderella vibe that I loved. The characters are also well-developed, and I quickly grew to love them. I can't wait to read the second book in the trilogy!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sabrina Mordini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, it was fresh and different from so other many romantasy. It took a while to get through the first part, there was a lot of world building and new magic sistem, but it got better pretty fast, and then i couldn't put it down.
I liked the chemistry between the MCs, and the Cinderella vibes throughout the story. Major points for pet dragons!
If you liked ACOTAR, or want a Bridgerton-like fantasy, this is one for you. I can't wait to see how the story goes on!.

[stephanie cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a lush, spicy romantasy dream—dragons, fated mates, and slow-burn tension all wrapped in a high-stakes, cursed kingdom. The world-building is rich (a little info-heavy at first), but once you’re in, you’re in.

It’s like Cinderella meets Bridgerton with a touch of Marie Antoinette opulence—romantic, dangerous, and totally addictive. A fresh twist on the curse trope, and perfect if you love fantasy romance with depth and desire.

[Kayla Sims · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶
It was such an interesting and unique story that I can truly say ive never read anything like it. For the 1st half of the book it took me a couple days to get through, not because it wasnt good but because it was so teuly unique i was wrapping my mind around the world, i finished the second half so fast and can not wait for the next book.

[Slene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was captivating. It's like a classic Cinderella story but unique at the same time. It's well-written. The author has taken the time to build up the characters and storyline and has done it in a way that keeps you reading. It was hard to put down the book and I can't wait for the next one!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book right here had me in a choke hold the entire read! I enjoyed the plot and the magic. The spice was good as well and very interesting. I loved the fmc and how strong she was. I also loved the Cinderella vibes of this book!

[Cheyenne Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well done retelling and the banter was what really draws you in for sure. It was great and the drama was on point.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bre E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you fae princes, courts, slow-burn romances with dragons and fated mates, this is the book for you!! This is book 1 of a 2-book series, and I cannot wait to read book 2!!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ladnamal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me hooked. I liked the plot and characters in the story. The world building was interesting but it took me a while to get into though. Can't wait to read book 2.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[PrettyBookish13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4.5

This was such an incredible read and the whole curse concept was brilliantly done. I love the way the characters relationships evolve during the book as well as all the court intrigue and relations. Can’t wait to see what happens next!

[Shakira · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was 540 pages of flower descriptions. This wasn’t a slow burn it was slow torture! I care as much about these characters as the author cared to give the stepmother an actual name. I won’t be reading a romantasy for a long while and I won’t be reading the rest of this trilogy.

[Scarby Doo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A curse of blood and blossoms is a story of pain and sacrifice, love and hope, and slow burn steam and high-stake romance. It tells the tale of Celine, a half-mortal/half-faerie, as she traverses new responsibilities and deeply guarded secrets.

Celine is a deeply interesting character with multi-faceted personality, who is taken away from her ordinary life to accomplish an impossible task for Prince Laurent.
I found the relationship between Celine and Laurent interesting and fell in love with the way it developed and the familiarity that they established. I also really enjoyed the friendship and banter between Celine and Alden.

I thought the world created by the author was fun and cannot wait to learn more about the different people and magic systems.

I really enjoyed the pacing and found it hard to put the book down. I also really liked the cliff hanger and Connor wait to read the next book.

[Cynthia Bookish_onthecape · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 6⭐ read for 2025!

Vibes: Marie Antoinette + Bridgerton + Cinderella

And an entirely unique magic system. I was entirely wrapped up in this world!

[Ariana Kendall]

I received this book for free as an ARC and it did not disappoint, rather I loved every moment! This slow-burn book was full of magic and romance, political machinations, and high stakes involving the fates of everyone. The world building was wonderful. Character depth and descriptions were stellar. The story leapt off the page and I loved every moment reading this. Even in the moments that broke me I loved it. Other moments built me up, and made me laugh cry and rage with the characters. Well done!