The Curse That Binds

Bewitched #0

by Laura Thalassa

From the author of the Bargainer series comes the prequel to Bewitched . Two thousand years before there was Selene, there was Roxilana. Her love fated, her life doomed, and her story forgotten―until now.

When Roxilana hears a voice inside her head, she believes she's gone mad. This voice, Memnon, claims he is her god-touched soul mate, one who has the ability to wield magic. Not only that, but he believes Roxilana possesses magic too.

Wild though his claims are, Roxilana realizes Memnon speaks the truth. First, her power Awakens. Then, Memnon, King of the Sarmatians, shows up at her door in Rome, proclaims her as his wife, and takes her to his homeland.

Roxilana's fate is everything she hoped for. But there are things Memnon didn't tell her–about his magic, life as a Sarmatian, and what she, as queen, will have to endure. And as she soon learns, nothing is as dangerous as love and power. While the combination can build empires and legacies, it is capable of destroying everything and everyone in its path. And if Roxilana and Memnon are not careful, it could destroy them along with it.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Witches, Magic, Paranormal, Fantasy Romance

Audible Audio

First published August 19, 2025

About the author

Found in the forest when she was young, Laura Thalassa was raised by fairies, kidnapped by werewolves, and given over to vampires as repayment for a hundred year debt. She’s been brought back to life twice, and, with a single kiss, she woke her true love from eternal sleep. She now lives happily ever after with her undead prince in a castle in the woods.

… or something like that anyway.

When not writing, Laura can be found scarfing down guacamole, hoarding chocolate for the apocalypse, or curled up on the couch with a good book.

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Reviews

[ariyel ⊹ ݁ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars! ☆
⤿ major spoilers ﹒⟢

ok now that i’ve read this, i think it’s even more fucked up that she names her familiar nero in book one. but whatever. moving on…

this was so good. like actually amazing. i was already excited going in—getting the full backstory of how roxilana and memnon came to be? yup. exactly what i wanted. but what surprised me was how much i liked it more than the main series. i still liked book one overall but i had a lot of issues with it. and they were all in the writing, the pacing, the characters, the romance… basically everything. book two fixed a lot of that, but this? this delivered.

i loved the setup. their voices connecting before they even knew each other. her thinking she was going mad. him not being able to answer her for years. him giving her her name. like you could not start a love story better. i liked their banter from the start—it was playful and genuine without trying too hard. and their dynamic only got better as it went. the wedding scene? him showing up dressed for war because he wanted to impress her?? unreal behavior. i loved them together. but i also loved them as individuals, which is rare for me. especially considering i hated her in book one. she was an idiot. but here? yeah she still made dumb choices, but she wasn’t just dumb. she was brave and reckless and young and trying. i liked her. and i really liked memnon. like… he might be top 10 book boyfriend material. he had such a strong presence, but he also clearly cared about her, respected her, wanted her to choose him. top tier behavior. and not gonna lie, the way he was already obsessed with her but somehow kept getting more obsessed? yeah. loved that.

the plot was great too. their world felt layered but not overwhelming. i loved the shift in roxi’s new role, the actual weight of magic, the pressure building around them. and it was really interesting watching memnon not be perfect. his arrogance. his ambition. the way his people questioned him, the way he pushed too hard and ignored advice. it made their downfall feel inevitable. and i loved that this didn’t have a happy ending. we knew they didn’t make it, but seeing how they fell apart? yeah that was crazy. especially with the betrayal. i already thought it was horrible when they showed us a little of it in book two, but seeing it play out here? even worse.

also eislyn can choke. that’s all.

the only real complaint i have is the language—like i get that this is fantasy and all, but when it’s set during the roman empire and someone drops a word that sounds straight out of the 20th century? yeah it pulls me out. not enough to ruin anything, but definitely enough to notice. but i still loved this book. the pacing worked, the writing felt stronger, the romance was good, and i liked almost every character who wasn’t a backstabbing traitor. i had high hopes and this still exceeded them.

i liked this so much i might go reread the rest of the series right now. like immediately.


━━━━ ⊱⋆⊰ ━━━━


☆ 🖇️ pre-read 𖥻 ＜꒱

this drops tomorrow and i’m sooo ready. i’ve been dying for answers and now we’re finally seeing how it all started?? absolutely devouring this the second it’s out.


bewitched
⌗﹒ 01 bewitched — 3.25 ☆
⌗﹒ 02 bespelled — 3.5 ☆
⌗﹒ 2.5 the curse that binds — 5 ☆
⌗﹒ 03 untitled — ?? ☆

[Bailee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was extremely intriguing and adventurous! It came with lovable characters and a lot of mystery! This book is a prequel to the Bewitched series. It made me feel emotional, tense and hopeful. It’s about forbidden love and romance. I cannot wait until the next book in this series comes out! This author is a wonderful writer that certainly has a big imagination! I found this to be thought provoking, entertaining and captivating. It flowed well and was easy to read! This romance fantasy book is one you are wanting to pick up and read! It explores themes such as magic and power, betrayal and loss, culture and identity and love!

“The Curse That Binds” centers around a young woman named Roxilana. She is a Roman girl that discovers her hidden magical abilities. As this story unfolds, a love develops and she is entered into a new world! Overall I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Laura Thalassa and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books for this advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I think anyone that loves to read books about fantasy, romance and magic would love this book and this Bewitched series! Content warnings include violence, attempted sexual assault, animal deaths, pregnancy losses, death and murder.

This book is expected to be published on July 1, 2025! You can preorder it now!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you haven’t started this series yet, you’re really missing out. A bold claim for me to make since this series isn’t even finished yet. But this prequel has me wildly looking forward to the next book and dropping everything in my TBR queue to re-read the first two books.

If you enjoy books with romance and fantasy, go read this series now (in publication order)!

I reviewed a free copy of this audiobook through NetGalley but this did not impact my rating or review.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura has done it again. (Not that I’m surprised)

I know the reread of Bewitched and Bespelled is going to HIT after having read this. I’m going to cry and I’m going to be so mad and I’m going to love it.

This was incredible. In The Curse That Binds, we learn the history of Roxilana and Memnon. I already loved them, and this book just made me feel for them even deeper. It adds so incredibly much backstory and depth to the original story, but it also doesn’t take away from the original story, which prequels often do. It did nothing but enhance the original and it’s storyline. It was as simply a perfect prequel.

This book is, just as the previous 2 books, written in present tense. While this does sound unusual and maybe even offputing at first, it is executed perfectly. Laura Thalassa just does it so incredibly well. It’s impossible not to love.

I really enjoyed the pace and length of this book. It was not too long but not too short and everything happened reasonably fast and/or slow. I never got bored AND I never had a hard time catching up. I was wondering how the betrayal was going to be pulled off without pissing me off (aka being mad at a certain man) but Laura succeeded.

If you couldn’t tell, I LOVED THIS. LOVED LOVED LOVED. Bewitched is already one of my all time favorite series, and this has just helped strengthen that place. I CAN’T WAIT for the third book😭😭

Thank you so so so much for this ARC, Laura.

[toointofiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I have crossed rivers and kingdoms, I have fought armies and bandits to be here before you. For you are mine and I am yours, and those are my soul's deepest truths."

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐,5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Was it perfect? No. Did I have fun? I sure did.

Roxi and Memnon were as wholesome as they were heartbreaking, even if I knew what was coming. I could see where their love became toxic, with Memnon's waning consciousness often getting between him and Roxi. I could also see that maybe, just maybe, Memnon didn't fully deserve Roxi. Not that that stopped me from shipping them. There's clearly a lot of character development left, and I can't wait to see what's in store for him. Or maybe Roxi Selene will accept him for who he is and fully join the dark side.

Regardless, other than the cringe dialogue, which I fully expected, there were a few other things that were less than perfect. Firstly, their telepathic conversations as teens felt a lot like texting to me, which was funny but also a little disorienting. Secondly, there was absolutely no reason to use 'ph@llus' 5+ times in the span of one chapter. It wasn't the worst thing, but...I'm sure it had other names back then, too. Thirdly, I felt that Ferox didn’t have as much personality as he did in the first two books, and I didn’t like that tbh. Lastly, I’d say this story didn’t need to be 490 pages. In fact, the author mentioned that it was supposed to be a novella…and it showed. It felt overstretched, and while there were plenty of interesting parts (like the magic lore & the romance), some chapters were unnecessary.

In any case, I enjoyed this book, and I cannot wait for book three to come out.

[Hanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you REALLY loved the author’s previous works and just want more of Memnon and Roxilana, you’ll probably enjoy this one.

But in any other case, this book isn’t really necessary, as we already knew how Memnon and Roxi’s story ended from the earlier books. Personally, I didn’t find this one particularly engaging. The ending was already known, the beginning was somewhat okay, and the middle part felt like it was just fighting, conquering, and sex.

Honestly, this book felt more like fanfiction. Maybe I’m just being picky, but I wouldn’t call it a well-developed story with a deep, well-crafted plot (if you know what I mean). There were some poorly handled details, but I will mention only those that stood out most to me.

First thing, the story starts when Roxilana is only 7 years old (then we see her at 12, 13, 16, and most of the story takes place when she’s in her 20s), but her POV never really reflects her age. It would’ve added so much depth if her thoughts and narration changed to reflect her growing up—but it didn’t. At 7 or 12, she thinks just like her older self. That was a missed opportunity.

Another detail: Roxilana was captured by the Romans when she was 7 and since then lived in Rome with a woman who adopted her. The woman didn’t treat her well and refused to call her by her real name. Apparently, because of that, Roxi forgot her actual name—but somehow still remembered the name of the island she came from. That felt off to me. If she forgot her own name, how could she remember her origins so clearly? Especially considering she was an uneducated child.

Speaking of that, Roxilana worked as a seamstress for her adoptive mother and had no access to education or books. Yet she casually thinks things like, "...like Julius Caesar and Pompey. Like Alexander the Great, Augustus, Marc Antony, and Cleopatra." How would she know all of these historical figures?

And finally, Roxilana as an FMC just didn’t work for me. She’s been living under an abusive household, never standing up for herself, and then suddenly—once she joins Memnon’s tribe—she becomes this bold, fiery girl out of nowhere. Her transformation didn’t feel earned or natural. And of course, despite Memnon being a ruthless warrior and conqueror, Roxi is the “pure soul” who feels bad about killing their enemies. It just made her character feel inconsistent and, honestly, a bit boring.

As for Memnon… well, he was just horny as always.

I know these are small details, and maybe most people wouldn’t even notice them. Maybe I overthink too much. But I believe that it’s those little things that make a story great—when they’re handled well. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case here, and because of that, I couldn’t get fully invested in the story.

To sum it up: This book is for you ONLY if you're a huge fan of the series. Otherwise, you’re not missing anything new—we already knew everything important in Selena’s flashbacks.

[Natalie | nats.bookrecs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The long awaited prequel to Roxi and Memnons story was everything I had hoped it would be. After being completed ‘Bewitched’ by book 1 and 2 of this series I was beyond thrilled to find out we get this couples origin story. The beginning of their century long love story. It was enchantingly romantic, it was bloodthirsty in plot, and accept bittersweet. To fall so deeply in love with these two knowing the fate that awaited them at the end.

I don’t think I’ve ever been fully engrossed in a story and knowing exactly how it ends before I start. But this just adds more depth and layer to an already favorite romantasy of mine. Roxi and Memnons love overcame vast space between them, years of distances, battles and betrayals. I am so excited for book 3 now that I’ve fallen deeper in love with them and just hoping after everything they’ve endured they finally get their happily ever after.


I love the imagery in this writing. I felt as if I had transported time back in the days of Roxi and Memnon, imagining an ancient roman civilization and smelling the affects of battle along with them.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so much fun!

I’ve been eagerly awaiting this prequel, and it did not disappoint. Every book in this series just gets better and better. I think it was such a nice way to explain a lot of things — especially the struggles Roxi faced. It also feels like it’s setting up some major foreshadowing for the next one. The way it’s written, there are definitely going to be connections to what comes next.

I also think Memnon’s hubris is his only real downfall, which ties perfectly into what happened at the end of book two. It’ll be so interesting to see where that goes in the next installment. But honestly, with the things he says… I feel like exceptions can be made, lmao.

The best part? It didn’t feel like a short book! Usually prequels are super quick reads, but this one felt like a full novel. It gives us a deeper look into the main characters’ relationship, and I just love them so much.

Please, Laura — I’ll pay good money if you could just publish the next one already!

[Heathers_readss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series!! I love this author!!

I will literally read anything and everything she writes, her characters are always written so intensely that you feel like you’ve known them forever, and she always finds a way to make all the characters endearing, especially the men who are typically grumpy aholes in the beginning,

5⭐️ always… I really enjoyed getting more of the backstory to the “before times” of this series, it was interesting to go back and get more of the origins, and I can’t wait for the next book that jumps back into present day of the bewitched series,.

If you like seriously intense characters and a very interesting magic system and love interests then feast your eyes on these pages

Thank you for the gifted audio copy!!! The narration was really good and made the book flow really well

[XxTainaxX Curvy and Nerdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this story with no context because I have not yet read the rest of the series. I figured I would be ok reading this because it said it was the prequel. What I did not count on was how visceral my need to read the rest of the series would become. This book was utterly captivating. The absolute love and devotion between Memnon and Roxilana was palpable. They were not spared any suffering and fought against the world to build their lives.

The plot left some really interesting threads that I’m sure are used in the rest of the series and I have questions and theories incessantly occupying my thoughts.

New to this series or already a devoted follower? It doesn’t matter. Both would thoroughly enjoy this. It’s just that good. I could not recommend this book enough.

Complementary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.

[Bookishness · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Koisty · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Little Witch Stars ⭐️
Spicy Rating: 🌶️🌶️.5/5

“This is not how we end,” I whisper. “We are eternal.”

This reads like a historical romance, you know, the inexperienced virgin and her man experience their first night together and grow together, but then it's also got the fantasy element... Which was interesting since it made me realise how much I actually enjoy reading historical romance.

Note: This is technically a prequel to Bewitched and Bespelled. HOWEVER, even though this story is set 2000 years in the past, I highly recommend reading it after the first two books. That way, you'll already have a solid understanding of the characters and their eternal love story.
SOOOO... I’m assuming you’ve read them already if you're reading my review. Otherwise, proceed with caution!

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Roxilana’s village is attacked when she is a little girl, and she is taken captive by the Romans. She’s sold to a tailor and works as her assistant. One day, she begins to hear a voice in her head... an older boy named Memnon, who insists he isn’t imaginary. He tells her that because she can hear him, it means they both have magic and are soulmates. The two become secret friends, and just like Memnon said, their powers eventually awaken. One day, Memnon promises to come and rescue her from her life. Years later, on the day Roxilana is to be sold married off to someone in her village, Memnon finally keeps his promise. He arrives to rescue her. Not just as the boy in her head, but as the Sorcerer King of the Sarmatians, come to Rome to claim his bride.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
So, I have A LOT of thoughts and feelings, so buckle up...

Firstly... the romance felt very insta-lovey. Now, having read the first two, I have seen what they go through... I’ve grown to know these two characters and had glimpses of their past lives in the previous books, so I already know they’re destined for each other and that their love is eternal. It was almost sweet to see how their bond started as children and, through being each other’s confidant, this bond grew into friendship and eventually into lovers. It just happens very quickly because he says they are soul mates, so they are...

Everything is mostly from Roxy’s POV, and because this is set 2,000 years ago, she comes across as naive, innocent, and sheltered. Technically, this is historically accurate as women at the time had very specific roles in society, and Roxy’s limited knowledge and experience reflect that. But it also means she’s not really involved in much of the political intrigue the men are plotting, so we miss out on some of the deeper layers that could have added more complexity to the story.

It also made me miss the Roxy of her current life. Seeing her as this demure, shy, “seen-and-not-heard” kind of woman who is expected to obey, to act like a trophy for a man was is jarring. It’s a massive contradiction to the badass she becomes. At times I just wanted to shake her and say, “Be like new Roxy, not this old ancient one.”

Memnon irritated me at times because he came off as power-hungry and selfish. He claims he wants to give Roxy the world, but he doesn’t actually listen to her when she says she doesn’t need anything except him. That said, it is sweet to see how devoted he is to her. He’s so careful, considerate, kind, and soft with her, which is a huge contradiction to him being this powerful warlord, but he's "only gentle for her." I was almost able to look past his obsession with power and his refusal to listen, because it definitely gives some context to the redemption arc we see later in the future books.

Now, lets talk about the pacing... it was a little off. In that it’s slow and repetitive. It follows the same pattern of there’s a battle, one of them nearly dies, they win, and then they have sex... again and again and again. It’s just battle after battle, and then a death scare, and then sex. Then repeat. I also wanted to see more people with magic. Besides, 2 other characters, Memnon and Roxy seem to be the only ones with any power. I would have loved a magic battle or more magical dynamics woven into the story. Most of the fighting is with swords and horses, with only a hint of magic thrown in.

I also would’ve killed for more of Memnon’s POV. We only got one chapter, and I feel like we lost out on a lot of the story because of this... especially toward the end. If you’ve read the previous books, you already know what happens in that final chapter. But given we had a dedicated book to the build up to this, I expected it to be more drawn out. It felt like it just... happens. I wanted to see the scheming between Eislyn and Memnon, and how she planted that doubt in him more to make him turn against Roxolana and believe that she's the one who cursed him. I wanted to feel the betrayal that turned him into the man we meet in Bewitched.

That said, I do appreciate the depth of research and worldbuilding. It’s so clear that a lot of thought went into making the setting and character dynamics authentic to the era. And that’s probably why I can’t bring myself to hate who Roxy and Memnon were in this time. It’s accurate to 43 AD. It gives a REAL and ACCURATE reflection of the warlords, the nomadic way of life, the societal structure, and the love and power they were chasing.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Historical Fantasy Romance
▶ Soul Mates and Written in the Stars
▶ Virgin FMC and MMC
▶ Political Intrigue
▶ Touch Her You Die
▶ Strangers to Friends to Lovers
▶ He Fall's First
▶ Unique Magic System
▶ Witches and Sorcerers
▶ Animal Companion

and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ "On my knees for you" and "Kneel for no one but you"
▷ It Won't Fit
▷ Take's Care of Her
▷ Tending to Injuries
▷ Uncontrollable Power
▷ Primal Play
▷ "Mine"
▷ "Stop the Wedding"
▷ One Tent and Horse

I know I sound a bit critical, but that’s only because I genuinely love these characters so much. I care about their story and the world they’re part of. Even with my nitpicks, I still loved this and I’m forever invested in Roxy and Memnon’s story. Their love is eternal... and so is my obsession with this series.

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books, Netgalley and Laura Thalassa for the gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

[P C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently one can become one of those people that reviews/rates a book/novella before it even has a release date when they are HARDCORE fans lol but I have 0 doubts I will adore this read ✌🏻😌

Mrs. T please release this novella this Valentine's day?🥹💕

[spring ~♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

men will get betrayed, lose their family, lose their entire empire, lose their legacy but still won't listen to their wife when she asks them to drop the side chick.
rip memnon, no one can make me like you 🫶🏻

[Lumpy Space Princess]

Pre-Read Notes:
Roxilana, a young witch who begins hearing a mysterious voice in her head—Memnon [THIS MAN OMG 🔥], a boy who claims they are god-touched soul mates destined for magic and power. As their abilities awaken and Memnon rises as a sorcerer king, Roxi is swept into a dangerous new life as his queen—where love, empire, and ambition intertwine in ways that could either build legends… or destroy them.

This is the prequel to my favorite 6 star series, and with book four coming soon, my hype is honestly feral. Returning to this world feels like stepping back into a spell I never wanted to break.

Tags/Triggers: fantasy romance, soul mates, magic awakening, sorcerer king, political power, emotional angst, dark themes, possessive love, empire-building

[monica ✨ romantasyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bewitched prequel was everything I needed!!! Seeing how Memnon and Roxy started and bound themselves to each other added so much to the bewitched series for me. I knew Memnon was morally black in bewitched and bespelled, but seeing him become the villain FOR HER was truly everything I needed. I just wish I had more of his pov!!

🎧 Verla Bond was back as Roxy and she adds so much to the story for me. She’s emotional and truly acting out the performance. For Memnon, Tommy Fuller read and also had a great performance! (Again I just wish we had more!!) thank you so much Bloom Books and Dreamscape Media for the alc and arc!

[Readaholic Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ rounded up to 5 for The Curse that Binds the perfect prequel to the Bewitched series.

What you can expect to find in The Curse that Binds:
-fated mates
-they can speak in each others mind
-a down bad mmc
-mmc that backs his queen at every. single. opportunity.
-🌶️🌶️🌶️
-gave me Khaleesi x Khal Drogo vibes

I have been LOVING the Bewitched series by Laura Thalassa. So when I found out there was going to be a prequel to how Roxilana and Memnon met, I was ecstatic. The sweet way that these two found their way to each other was so beautiful 🥹. I loved how before they even met they were able to share minds and talk to each other throughout their struggles. It only made prolonging that first meeting between Memnon and Roxilana so heartfelt and sweet. Yes, Memnon is a bit of a brute - but he clearly loves his little witch so much.

I'm not going to say much more than that, because I feel like you have to read the books in order to get the gist of this prequel. I will say that I can sympathize with Memnon more now that I know his shared background with Roxi. And that ending? 😭😭😭.

Absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

[Katie’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

"Roxi, you are my first and last thought each day. I have longed for you more than I care to admit- not just as my friend and confidant but also as my lover and wife and amage."

Amazing. Honestly just SO good. Laura Thalassa has said that this book was a labour of love and you can really just feel how much work and heart she put into it. When I first read Bewitched I remember thinking how great it would be if we got flashbacks of Roxilana and Memnon's early years- so when I found out LT was writing this (originally as a novella) I was THRILLED. And when it became not only a full-length book, but the longest in the series? Seriously I was counting down the days.

Roxilana and Memnon are of course, rock-solid. We get to learn how they first heard each other's voices and then later met in Rome. The love between them is so strong, but also the friendship between them. They truly see each other- the good and the bad, and even the bloodthirsty parts. And they accept and love each other no matter what. Every step of the way, both of them are willing to do whatever it takes to protect the other and to make them happy. I loved how Memnon is- even in the early days of magic use- this battle hardened warrior, but is always soft and gentle with Roxi. She's his entire world and he tells her every chance he gets. And for Roxi, who grew up without love or affection, Memnon is her home.

Of course because we know how this story ends, it's also very bitter-sweet. We know what's going to happen to Roxi and Memnon and can do nothing as they continue to walk towards their fate. And it was a little frustrating at times, because it's easier with the knowledge of what is going to happen to point out where they could have stopped it. Like sometimes just wanted to yell at them through the book. For all Memnon loved Roxilana and was fighting for her, he also refused to step back from conquering. And even though Roxi didn't agree with it or want it, she refrained from even giving her opinion most of the time. Like this man is your soulmate and holds your opinion above all others, so SAY SOMETHING my god, he'd listen to Roxi over his advisors, surely. But because Roxi is unquestionably loyal to Memnon, she just went along with all of his plans.

This really just made me want a happy, peaceful life for these two.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Romancing the Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think from this point on, I’m just going to blindly trust Laura Thalassa. She will give me what I never knew I needed. My patience will be rewarded. I think The Curse That Binds is just proof of that.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The Curse That Blinds by Laura Thalassa

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Bewitched. Book 2.5 of 3.

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book ARC on Kindle. 🆓 on KU.

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Romantasy

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Fated mates, instalove, antihero.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: The Curse That Binds is a prequel novel to the first two books of the Bewitched series, following Selene, a witch in training, and Memnom, the thousand year old warlord sorcerer who believes she is his mate. The prequel follows their origin story in ancient Roman times.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: Honestly, when I read The Bargainer series I was convinced I didn’t need need to read Emperor of the Evening Stars. But it’s one of my favorite books of the series. And The Curse That Binds is the same situation.

I didn’t think I needed a prequel. But it’s very clear that even though I thought I “got it,” I definitely didn’t. Memnom and Roxi have a connection so soul deep, I couldn’t comprehend. In the previous books, Memnom explained it and told it. In The Curse That Binds, he didn’t have to - it was right there on the page as their connection grew. I was absolutely gutted when it ended, even if I knew what was coming.

Laura Thalassa writes the deepest, most soul wrenching love. She creates worlds that I can see in my minds eye, and relationships that aren’t always picture perfect. This book was full of strife and I felt it so intensely.

As always, this series is dark. Not morally gray… dark. There’s triggers to read, especially on this one. The end of this series is going to be incredible, and I’ll come back here then to say I told you so.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.

[Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this book was great! I loved Bewitched and Bespelled so I was so excited to see how their connection started and get all the details of their history together. That part was really fun. We learn how Memnon and Roxilana’s story ended in Bespelled, so I think the second half of the book wasn’t as exciting for me because I already knew the ending.

[Mychaoticbookishlibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you @netgalley @bloombooks @sourcebooks for the chance to read early. Getting the backstory of Menmon and Roxilana was interesting. I enjoyed the backdrop of Ancient Rome. Some of it felt repetitive to what already happened in the first two bewitched books but I still enjoyed the story. The last 50 pages that’s where things get really interesting. It felt like the last pages were important to know for what’s going to come and made the rest of the book worth reading.

[riri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I cannot wait to read it

[Shannon Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

''And no man has ever felt the way I do about you, Roxi, though I’m sure some have killed for even a shadow of it. You are my everything.''

⭐⭐⭐.5
🌶️🌶️.5

It was good to jump back into this world and learn more about these characters' backstories. Laura's writing is always so easy to read, which I love. The author created such a unique, magical bond with her main characters in the first two books that had me super intrigued, with high hopes for this prequel! However, I felt starved for depth throughout 80% of this. It did pick up in the last 20% but I wanted more on all aspects. We didn't really get to know the side characters much, which was a little disappointing. It almost felt like this side of their story needed its own set of books to really capture the detail I was yearning for. But maybe that was the author's intention, to give us only the surface-level plot, romance, and details from their past, because this isn't the main storyline. 🤔 Haha, yeah, I like that thought process! 🥰😉

[Jessica Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up- WHY WAS THIS SO GOOD/ even better than the OG series?!! For some reason, knowing how this would end, ramped up the angst and emotion 10x!!!

I loved both characters soooo much!! Way more than I liked them in the Bewitched series tbh.

Ugh Roxi the woman you are !!! And Memnon was all green flags until the last 20%, but even then he was so amazing 😍😍

[Sarimarys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I thought I loved Memnon from the previous books, but after reading this, wow, what a man! I don’t mind if he’s a murderous monster 🤣🙈, and that he will burn the world for Roxi. (literally) I love the backstory of this book because in the other books, we can see him as harsh and super possessive with Selene, but here we can understand why he’s like that. I absolutely loved it! I can’t wait to keep reading and see what happens next.

Thank you Netgalley, Bloom Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review

[Maven_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Curse That Binds by Laura Thalassa is a dark, historical romantasy prequel to her popular Bewitched series, set two thousand years before the events of the main books. It follows Roxilana (Roxi), a Roman‑era girl whose life is shattered by violence, loss, and servitude, only to discover a mystical bond with Memnon, a Sarmatian warrior‑king who claims they are god‑touched soul mates with magic in their blood. When her powers Awaken and Memnon claims her as his queen and wife, she is swept away to a foreign land and forced to confront the cost of power, destiny, and fierce love amid war, empire, and ruthless politics. Roxi must learn what it means to wield magic and love a man whose ambition and curse may destroy them both if they aren’t careful.

What stood out most to many readers is how intense and emotionally charged the story feels as Roxi transitions from survivor to sovereign, wrestling with trauma, magic, and a bond that feels destined yet dangerous. Her connection with Memnon, marked by telepathy, fated mates, and morally gray choices gives the romance a mythic, almost tragic weight, and her growth from a vulnerable girl into a powerful queen with agency and inner fire drives much of the narrative.

I liked the ancient setting, the depth of worldbuilding, and the passionate yet taxing love story. The pacing can feel uneven at times, and familiarity with the wider series influences how much emotional impact the book has.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars. I’m giving The Curse That Binds four stars because its sweeping historical fantasy and fierce, fate‑tangled romance pulled me deeply into Roxi and Memnon’s world, and the stakes of love and power felt genuinely compelling. Its rich atmosphere and mythic pairing make it a rewarding read for fans of fantasy romance, especially those who love fated partners, ancient settings, and morally complex characters, even if its length and tonal shifts require patience to fully appreciate.

[tytania_vblog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cuadrilla, Si tuviera que definir La maldición que nos une en pocas palabras sería: fantasía con perfume de ficción histórica y altas dosis de devoción intensa (tirando a obsesiva, pero de la que nos gusta leer 😏).

⸻

✨ De qué va la cosa

La historia nos lleva al pasado de Roxy desde que tenía siete añitos, momento en el que conoce a Memnón, nuestro protagonista masculino, poeta oficial del club “Te adoro pero moralmente soy cuestionable”.

Memnón no camina: declama.
No piensa: recita.
No ama: compone odas con un leve toque de toxicidad elegante.

Y claro… cuando empiezan a hablarse usando palabras en idiomas antiguos para referirse el uno al otro… pues qué quieres que te diga… eso tiene un je ne se quoi que me pone un poquito 🤣. Llámalo fetiche lingüístico.

⸻

💘 Primera parte: Amor épico y devoción nivel dios antiguo

La primera parte del libro es una historia preciosa de dos almas destinadas. Amor intenso, conexión espiritual, destino escrito en las estrellas… todo muy disney pero turbio.

Memnón es absolutamente devoto. Gris, sí. Con la brújula moral ligeramente desconfigurada, también. Pero como la adora hasta el infinito y más allá, pues se le perdona. Porque una cosa es la ética y otra muy distinta es la química literaria.

Eso sí, aquí viene el pequeño tirón de orejas:
La autora deja pistas tan evidentes cuando hay conflictos, sobre quién puede ser el causante de los problemas que dan ganas de decir:
—Señora, disimule un poco.
Nos quita algo de misterio, la verdad.

⸻

🏛️ Segunda parte: Intrigas, palacio y drama sabroso

Pero amigas y amigos… llegamos a la página 365 (de 500) y ¡BOOM!

Las últimas 150 páginas despiertan como si el libro hubiera tomado café doble.
Intrigas palaciegas, tretas, manipulaciones, tensiones dentro de la pareja… por fin el drama se pone interesante y empiezan a pasar cosas con más ritmo.

No es que el libro revele grandes sorpresas (algunos retazos ya se veían en el segundo de la trilogía), pero sí que cumple algo muy importante: profundiza muchísimo en el protagonista masculino. Y eso siempre se agradece.

⸻

🐎 La parte histórica: los sármatas

Más allá del romance, la novela es una auténtica oda a los Sármatas, una civilización real de pueblos nómadas.

Ese toque cultural le da peso y personalidad a la historia. No es solo amor épico: también hay trasfondo, identidad y contexto histórico que enriquecen el mundo.

⸻

🎭 Lo mejor y lo no tan mejor

✔ Lo mejor:
• La devoción poética (aunque sea tóxica, pero bonita).
• La ambientación histórica.
• El desarrollo profundo de Memnón.
• Las últimas 150 páginas, que suben el nivel dramático.

❌ Lo que flojea:
• Ritmo demasiado lento en la primera mitad.
• Misterio poco sutil.
• Algunas revelaciones que ya intuíamos.

⸻

💭 Conclusión

Al cerrar el libro me quedo con una sensación clara:
me dan ganas de releer el primero y seguir con la trilogía.

Y eso, queridas criaturas del drama romántico, es buena señal.

No es una historia revolucionaria.
No te cambia la vida.
Pero sí te da amor intenso, intrigas palaciegas y poesía peligrosa en idiomas antiguos… y eso, sinceramente, a veces es todo lo que necesitamos. 😌✨

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet and fascinating look into not only the relationship between Roxilana and Memnon, but how Memnon came to be the character that we see in Bewitched and Bespelled. So many of his motives and actions in modern times make more sense, knowing now what he went through with Roxilana.

This book was so sad to read at times! It's hard to fall so in love with a couple that you know is doomed from the start, but Laura Thalassa pulled it off well. She's so good at making me adore these ruthless, bloodthirsty characters like Memnon, and I loved that we also got to watch war chip away at Roxi's inner struggles and morals, because that felt incredibly realistic to me, to think that enough time on the battlefield would slowly eat away at her inhibitions.

I love this series so much, and now I'm going to be counting down the days until the Bedeviled release even more than I already was!

Buddy read with Misty! ♥

✨ Representation: sapphic side character; nonbinary side character

✨ Content warnings for: violence/gore, murder, war, kidnapping, child abuse, forced marriage, pregnancy, vomiting, miscarriage, infertility, grief, betrayal

———

You can also find my reviews on…
→ booktube
→ bookstagram
→ hardcover
→ storygraph
→ threads
→ bluesky
→ blog

[Nini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an arc, but my rating/review are my own!

this book😭😭😭 i don't even have words 😭😭 I finish 2h ago and I still do not know what i will say🤧🤧🤧

I missed them and this world😭🤧 but they don't have a moment of peace😭😭😭
and Memnon what a freaking man he is!!!🤧🤧🥵🤧🤧

quotes:
••
"𝕷𝖎𝖙𝖙𝖑𝖊 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖈𝖍, 𝖎'𝖒 𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖞𝖔𝖚"
"𝕷𝖎𝖙𝖙𝖑𝖊 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖈𝖍, 𝖎 𝖋𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖉 𝖞𝖔𝖚"
"𝕳𝖊𝖑𝖑𝖔, 𝖒𝖞 𝖆𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖊. 𝕸𝖞 𝖊𝖞𝖊𝖘 𝖍𝖆𝖛𝖊 𝖜𝖆𝖎𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝖞𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖘 𝖙𝖔 𝖘𝖊𝖊 𝖞𝖔𝖚. 𝕭𝖚𝖙 𝖎𝖙 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖍 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖜𝖆𝖎𝖙"
"𝕴'𝖛𝖊 𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖊 𝖙𝖔 𝖒𝖆𝖐𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖜𝖔𝖒𝖆𝖓 𝖒𝖞 𝖖𝖚𝖊𝖊𝖓"
••
"𝓜𝔂 𝔀𝓲𝓯𝓮. 𝓜𝔂 𝓻𝓸𝔁𝓲𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓪"
"𝓜𝔂 𝓱𝓾𝓼𝓫𝓪𝓷𝓭"
"𝓘 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭𝓷'𝓽 𝓲𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝔂𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓪𝓼 𝓫𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓽𝓪𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓼 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓻𝓮. 𝓐𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼"
••
"𝖄𝖔𝖚'𝖗𝖊 𝖆 𝖖𝖚𝖊𝖊𝖓. 𝖄𝖔𝖚 𝖈𝖆𝖓 𝖉𝖔 𝖜𝖍𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖜𝖆𝖓𝖙."
"𝕿𝖍𝖆𝖙'𝖘 𝖆 𝖉𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖊𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖘 𝖕𝖗𝖔𝖕𝖔𝖘𝖎𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓, 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖉𝖔𝖓'𝖙 𝖐𝖓𝖔𝖜 𝖍𝖔𝖜 𝖌𝖗𝖊𝖊𝖉𝖞 𝕴 𝖈𝖆𝖓 𝖇𝖊"
"𝕴'𝖛𝖊 𝖇𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝖎𝖓 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖉. 𝕴 𝖍𝖆𝖛𝖊 𝖆𝖓 𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖆"
••
"𝓛𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓬𝓱, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓭𝓼 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭𝓷'𝓽 𝓹𝓻𝔂 𝓶𝓮 𝓪𝔀𝓪𝔂. 𝓞𝓷𝓵𝔂 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓹𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓻"
...
"𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽?"
"𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽, 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼? 𝓘'𝓶 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓻𝓮𝓵𝔂 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓮, 𝔀𝓮'𝓭 𝓫𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓯𝓾𝓻𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻"
"𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓭𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰?"
"𝓘 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓽𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓘'𝓭 𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓘𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓵𝓮𝓰 𝓶𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝓪𝓰𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾?
"𝓘 𝓭𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀, 𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓬𝓱, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓲 𝓭𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝔀𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝓶𝔂 𝓵𝓮𝓰 𝓽𝓸𝓾𝓬𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰" 🫣🫣
••

tropes:
☆🍁fantasy romance
☆🍁prequel
☆🍁magic, war and curses
☆🍁ancient civilization
☆🍁magical bond
☆🍁fated mates
☆🍁forced proximity
☆🍁burn down the world for each other🤧🤧