A Cage of Roses and Ruin: A Silverse Novel (The Cursed Kingdoms

by Emilia Silverton

She came to break his curse.

He made her his prisoner.

When she trades the ruined ballroom of the Palais des Fleurs for a villa hidden deep in the Summer Kingdom, Celine knows exactly what she’ll find Prince Laurent. The man she loves. The monarch everyone fears is dead.

But the feral lord who greets her remembers nothing. Not his kingdom. Not his curse. Not her name. He rules the villa like a beast guarding its lair. To him, Celine is nothing more than a trespasser.

A prisoner.

It’s a clever enchantment, a lie designed to keep him in one place while she races to break the curse still holding him captive.

But untangling such magic requires a dangerous closeness, and every brush of their magic or their hands risks exposing Laurent to the memories that connect him to his past.

And that can’t be permitted.

Because the moment Laurent remembers who she is, one of them will lose everything.

A spicy romantasy for readers who to loversForced proximityYearning and longingSpicy slow-burn romanceFae and shiftersCaptive/captor dynamics

404 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2025

Reviews

[Stefanie Verhelst · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like your romantasy a little spicy and dark, then you should try this book!!

It’s beautifully written and has an engaging pace!

The chatecters are morally grey, their growth is nicely worked out through the book.

A must read for reader who like the dark themed genre!.

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

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 4 out of 5]

This installment of The Cursed Kingdom Series just about broke my brain. How much can two people endure?? Wait. Celine has been getting jerked around far worse than anyone else in both of these books—the worst of which besides all the fighting, lies, betrayal, and physical pain has to be watching Laurent with other women—seriously hate that part as much as I do the dumb promise she made to Rampion for his ‘assistance’. Gahhhh!! I need book 3! Put me out of my misery 🙏

*** Recommended ***

MMC:
✨Laurent
FMC:
✨Celine
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨cliffhanger
Series:
✨Book 2 of Cursed Kingdom Series
Tropes:
👉dragon shifters
👉dark fantasy romance
👉Cinderella-ish retelling
👉enemies to lovers
👉forbidden love
👉fated mates
👉forced proximity
👉court intrigue
Triggers:
💥18+
💥sex
💥profanity
💥violence
💥death, murder
💥betrayal
Spice Level:
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨MF.

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

[Lilith's_Library_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Dark, Emotional, and Absolutely Unputdownable” 🌹🖤🔥

A Cage of Roses and Ruin by Emilia Silverton is a sweeping dark fantasy romance that completely pulled me into its world. The world-building is intricate and immersive — a realm full of political intrigue, dangerous alliances, and magic that feels both wondrous and treacherous. The stakes are high from the very beginning, and every choice carries weight, making it impossible to put the book down.

The characters are layered and morally gray, which made them feel real and compelling. The FMC faces impossible choices, emotional turmoil, and the weight of her past, while the MMC is intense, enigmatic, and occasionally ruthless, yet utterly magnetic. Their romance is a slow burn filled with tension, stolen moments, and deeply emotional encounters that balance passion with vulnerability.

Silverton’s writing excels at blending action, intrigue, and romance seamlessly. The pacing keeps you hooked with a mix of strategic power plays, dangerous encounters, and heart-wrenching emotional beats. I especially loved how the magic system ties directly into the story’s emotional core, making the stakes feel both fantastical and personal.

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

Overall, A Cage of Roses and Ruin is an emotionally charged, beautifully written story that balances dark fantasy, steamy romance, and high-stakes intrigue. It’s a deeply satisfying read for anyone who loves morally complex characters, dangerous magic, and romance that lingers long after the final page. Silverton’s writing is immersive, evocative, and utterly addictive — I can’t wait to continue the series. 🌌💖

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg, these characters are going to kill me. This is a slow burn, two steps forward, one step back. The MCs fully pine for each other, and it's even more heartbreaking than before. Celine and Laurent have to get to know each other all over again. Without his memories, Laurent isn't himself, or maybe he finally is, now that he's away from the pressures of court, but either way, he's changed. I still like him. He's broody and possessive, just as much of a dark prince as he ever was. Celine, on the other hand, is lost. She lacks confidence and overlooks her own feelings, not believing she deserves to have them. Guilt will do that to you. Although I can't really blame Celine, she's stuck in a tough spot. She wants her person free and her kingdom safe, but she can't have both, and it's heartbreaking. Laurent and Celine make quite a pair and are even more addicted to each other than ever.


The story sort of rumbled along. No spikes of action, just intimacy. I really enjoyed the nods to the original Beauty and the Beast, the roses, a magical house, a beautiful library... yes, please. Between the unique magic and angsty romance, things were good. Then the plot twist happened. That godsdarn plot twist. It was like something straight out of a nightmare. I swear, something about it seems so familiar. Either way, it was a doozy. The twist was my favorite part of the story.


A Cage of Roses and Ruin was such a good read. However, be prepared because by the end, it's a bit of a dumpster fire. There wasn’t a cliffhanger per se, but things are far from good. Emilia dropped a little Easter egg that has me guessing what fairy tale she's going to tackle next. I'm curious to see where the story goes next.

[Sabrina Mordini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

A Cage of Roses and Ruin is book two in the Cursed Kingdoms series and needs to be read in order.

This story unfolds at a slower, more intimate pace, without big spikes of action, but that actually worked well for me. It leans heavily into atmosphere and emotion, building tension through character relationships rather than constant plot movement.

I loved the nods to Beauty and the Beast—the roses, the magical house, the stunning library… all of it was exactly my kind of setting. Combined with the unique magic system and the angsty romance, it created a really immersive reading experience.

And then… the plot twist happened.

That twist came out of nowhere and hit like a punch to the gut. It felt almost unsettling in a way I can’t fully place—like something out of a nightmare—and it easily became my favorite part of the book.

By the end, things take a sharp turn, and while it’s not a traditional cliffhanger, the situation is far from resolved. It definitely leaves you a little shaken and very curious about what’s coming next.

Overall, A Cage of Roses and Ruin is an emotionally charged, beautifully written installment that blends dark fantasy, romance, and tension in a compelling way. If you enjoy morally complex characters, dangerous magic, and stories that slowly pull you in before completely upending everything, this one is absolutely worth the read.

[Kayla Sims · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cage of roses and ruin
Emilia silverton
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

I don't know what spell.This author has put on this book and maybe it's because I read the first arc in march but through the first part of this book, I could not for the life of me, remember the first book no matter how much I went back.And tried to jog my memory, and then there was a point in chapter twenty two where they mentioned a character.And it all come flooding back.And what made it really cool is that this book is about him being under a curse in forgetting his life and then discovering himself again and remembering everything.And that's kind of what happened to me and it was just a cool experience.
I really loved the first book and I really love this book and i'm actually very excited for the third book.Because it is such a unique story.Unique worldThe author has done such a good job of portraying the life of this prince and the pain he has to endure to go on.
I can truly say i've never read a book quite like this.And it is very good.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely pulled into this book, it's a dark, slow burn fantasy romance full of tension, heartbreak, and intrigue. Celine’s struggles and Laurent’s broody intensity make their romance both irresistible and gut-wrenching, with every stolen moment carrying real emotional weight. The world-building is rich and immersive, with political intrigue, dangerous magic, and surprising twists that kept me on edge. Some aspects, like the dragons and shapeshifting, felt sudden, but I was too invested in the characters to care. The story ends on a cliffhanger that left me desperate for the next book, and I’m still thinking about the choices and sacrifices these characters face. If you love dark, angsty fantasy romance with morally gray characters and high stakes, this book is absolutely worth the read.

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

[Penny Thibodeaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

You got a real sense of how attracted the FMC is to her cursed MMC and vice versa in book 1. This sensuous attraction continues to grow in book 2 to a point that it almost shatters the life as he “knows it”. Book 2 is filled with so many surprises for its readers. I was shocked at who the antagonist turned out to be. Another surprise that leaves me wondering is just how the FMC can indeed shift. Is this due to the powers she acquired from the FMC or has it been lying dormant inside her all this time. By the end of book 2, they are determined to search for more answers as am I. Hold on for the ride. Can’t wait for book 3!!!.

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

[Ariana Kendall]

I received this book for free as an ARC. I was drawn into the first book from the depth, the characters, by the world and the details. This was no different, pulling me in more, giving more to love (and that made me want to throw it across the room in an emotional fit). It was wonderfully written, with so much going on but not too much either. A beautiful blend of politics and love and a SLOW BURN romance full of tension. Well done, where's the next one??

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is still trying to release the Prince from his curse, but now he has amnesia and does not know that she is his fated mate but he is attracted to her and wants her. They are trapped for now until she can find a way through. Looking forward to book three where hopefully all will be clear!.

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

[Makayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good steamy romance. Chaos and twists and turns all over the place. An FMC that’s always getting the short end of the stick in every situation. This is just a cluster and something needs to give so these two can move forward. There’s a lot if tension in this.

[Ladnamal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book of the series and continues Celine and Laurent's story. It's darker and more emotional as Celine is put through the wringer in this one. I'm looking forward to the next book.

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

[Cheyenne Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

i enjoyed this romantasy a lot, the characters are great and the plot is well done, this was so enjoyable.

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