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A Star-Cursed Heart
Two women are cursed to be mortal enemies, despite their love for each other, in this queer, fantastical novel by Annie Mare.
In the lead-up to the Salem witch trials, a desperate man made a deal with the devil—a deal that would drag two families down with him. Now, over 400 years later, the Steadfasts and the Prynnes remain caught in a curse that sentences both families to an existence of rigid rules, torturous consequences, and half-lives.
Lucy Prynne and Ashes Steadfast are the latest to take on the mantle of this centuries-old deal: Lucy, born to try to reap the souls of the hopeful; and Ashes, born to stop Lucy, no matter the cost. But before they inherited their respective curses, it sure felt like Ash’s purpose was Lucy. Her best friend, her closest confidant, her true love.
Ash knows the rules. She keeps her head down, her emotions in check, and she fights Lucy, no matter the personal cost. They are doomed to an incessant battle between good and bad, self-righteous and carnal.
Or so Ash thinks. But when she resists her instincts to fight Lucy and finally starts to fight the curse instead, she realizes there might just be a way to end this once and for all. If not in this timeline, then the next. As generational secrets begin to unravel, Ashes and Lucy join forces against the true threat that has haunted their families for centuries, even if it costs them their lives—and their love.
In the lead-up to the Salem witch trials, a desperate man made a deal with the devil—a deal that would drag two families down with him. Now, over 400 years later, the Steadfasts and the Prynnes remain caught in a curse that sentences both families to an existence of rigid rules, torturous consequences, and half-lives.
Lucy Prynne and Ashes Steadfast are the latest to take on the mantle of this centuries-old deal: Lucy, born to try to reap the souls of the hopeful; and Ashes, born to stop Lucy, no matter the cost. But before they inherited their respective curses, it sure felt like Ash’s purpose was Lucy. Her best friend, her closest confidant, her true love.
Ash knows the rules. She keeps her head down, her emotions in check, and she fights Lucy, no matter the personal cost. They are doomed to an incessant battle between good and bad, self-righteous and carnal.
Or so Ash thinks. But when she resists her instincts to fight Lucy and finally starts to fight the curse instead, she realizes there might just be a way to end this once and for all. If not in this timeline, then the next. As generational secrets begin to unravel, Ashes and Lucy join forces against the true threat that has haunted their families for centuries, even if it costs them their lives—and their love.
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 19, 2026
About the author
Annie Mare
10 books112 followersAnnie Mare (she/they) writes queer contemporary mystery and romance. If you enjoy their books, check out the novels they co-author with Ruthie Knox, including both queer romances (as Mae Marvel) and mysteries (as Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare). Annie's romances have been critically recognized and bestselling. Annie lives with her wife, two teenagers, two dogs, multiple fish, one cat, four hermit crabs, and a bazillion plants in a very old house with a garden.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
Did Not Finish
May 19, 2026When I first read the blurb, this book sounded really intriguing, but unfortunately I struggled to connect with it. The story feels very disjointed and fast-paced right from the start. There’s almost no time to breathe or settle into the world before everything is already in motion. I was hoping for a more gradual introduction to the worldbuilding, but it dives straight in and only becomes more complex as it goes.
By the 40% mark, I found myself more frustrated than invested, so I’ve decided to set it aside. It’s a shame because it had so much potential and the premise still appeals to me, but it just wasn’t the right fit for my reading style.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
By the 40% mark, I found myself more frustrated than invested, so I’ve decided to set it aside. It’s a shame because it had so much potential and the premise still appeals to me, but it just wasn’t the right fit for my reading style.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 6, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for my ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I’m struggling with my review for this book.
2.75 ⭐️ rounded to 3 ⭐️
The premise for this book sounded really good and immediately captured my interest and when it is excited to read it, but that was short-lived unfortunately.
It took about 45% of the way through the book for things to start making a little bit of sense and for things to flow-which IMO is far too long into the novel for that.
The story is just extremely convoluted and overly complex bc of how disjointed it is. It doesn’t flow well and I can see quite a few readers becoming confused or, unfortunately, giving up on this story because of it.
I liked the FMCs and was rooting for them the entire story. The author definitely has some original ideas, I just don’t think it was executed well, is all.
I’m struggling with my review for this book.
2.75 ⭐️ rounded to 3 ⭐️
The premise for this book sounded really good and immediately captured my interest and when it is excited to read it, but that was short-lived unfortunately.
It took about 45% of the way through the book for things to start making a little bit of sense and for things to flow-which IMO is far too long into the novel for that.
The story is just extremely convoluted and overly complex bc of how disjointed it is. It doesn’t flow well and I can see quite a few readers becoming confused or, unfortunately, giving up on this story because of it.
I liked the FMCs and was rooting for them the entire story. The author definitely has some original ideas, I just don’t think it was executed well, is all.
May 23, 2026
i had a lot of fun with this one overall. annie mare, and her books with her wife, ruthie knox under their pen name, mae marvel, have become must reads, for me. i've pre-ordered and straight up bought a good chunk of them, so far, and just have trusted that i'm gonna have a great time. and i have been CORRECT.
i thought this was gonna be a little different than it was, and personally, the enemies portion could have been slightly longer, for my tastes, but i enjoyed the curse breaking of the generational trauma. trans angels!!! color, and music, and connection, and little pleasures building up to save us and queerness being the thing that can save you and the world... chef's kiss! i do wish we had both ash and lucy's povs, because that's my usual preference as far as romances go. that said, i did like that we got some of hester's pov!! it's a fun one, and they are reliable writers and i can't wait for the next<3
i thought this was gonna be a little different than it was, and personally, the enemies portion could have been slightly longer, for my tastes, but i enjoyed the curse breaking of the generational trauma. trans angels!!! color, and music, and connection, and little pleasures building up to save us and queerness being the thing that can save you and the world... chef's kiss! i do wish we had both ash and lucy's povs, because that's my usual preference as far as romances go. that said, i did like that we got some of hester's pov!! it's a fun one, and they are reliable writers and i can't wait for the next<3
June 13, 2026
🌙✨ A Star-Cursed Heart ✨🌙
This sapphic paranormal romance had such a strong and intriguing premise, and it started off incredibly strong.
I was immediately invested in the centuries old curse and the relationship between Lucy and Ashes.
Unfortunately, somewhere in the middle, the story began to drag and felt repetitive at times. While I remained interested in seeing how everything would resolve, I found myself very excited to reach the end.
💫What to Expect
• Sapphic Romance
• Star Crossed Lovers
• Generational Curse
• Reincarnation
• Childhood Friends
• Fate vs Free Will
_ _ _ _
📖 Final Score: 3.5 ⭐
📅 Pub Date: May 19, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Ace and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
This sapphic paranormal romance had such a strong and intriguing premise, and it started off incredibly strong.
I was immediately invested in the centuries old curse and the relationship between Lucy and Ashes.
Unfortunately, somewhere in the middle, the story began to drag and felt repetitive at times. While I remained interested in seeing how everything would resolve, I found myself very excited to reach the end.
💫What to Expect
• Sapphic Romance
• Star Crossed Lovers
• Generational Curse
• Reincarnation
• Childhood Friends
• Fate vs Free Will
_ _ _ _
📖 Final Score: 3.5 ⭐
📅 Pub Date: May 19, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Ace and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
June 4, 2026
Part This Is How You Lose the Time War, part Scarlet Letter fanfic (literally), part Good Omens, part magical amnesia recovery romance - that’s too many parts.
Did Not Finish
May 5, 2026Huge thank you to Ace/Berkley Pub for the arc!
I wish I could say that I loved this, but unfortunately A Star-Cursed Heart just wasn't for me. The premise of ASCH sounded right up my alley, but I struggled to follow and make sense of the plot and ultimately DNF.
I wish I could say that I loved this, but unfortunately A Star-Cursed Heart just wasn't for me. The premise of ASCH sounded right up my alley, but I struggled to follow and make sense of the plot and ultimately DNF.
June 17, 2026
ARC from Berkeley
This world and their connection was so intriguing but I found myself getting bored and disconnected at times.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This world and their connection was so intriguing but I found myself getting bored and disconnected at times.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Did Not Finish
May 21, 2026Thank you to Berkley for providing me with an arc.
DNF 12% in.
I was really excited for this one as its sapphic lovers to enemies to lovers but for the bit that I read of this book I was so confused the entire time. Maybe I should have pushed further in but I really hate being confused this early into a book. Their family curses made very little sense and their hatred for each other as a result of the curse didn’t make much sense. It felt so disjointed and was throwing the reader everywhere without explaining much. I got frustrated so I just decided to dnf it. This could work for some but it wasn’t for me.
DNF 12% in.
I was really excited for this one as its sapphic lovers to enemies to lovers but for the bit that I read of this book I was so confused the entire time. Maybe I should have pushed further in but I really hate being confused this early into a book. Their family curses made very little sense and their hatred for each other as a result of the curse didn’t make much sense. It felt so disjointed and was throwing the reader everywhere without explaining much. I got frustrated so I just decided to dnf it. This could work for some but it wasn’t for me.
May 28, 2026
This one took me a while because I was dealing with home stuff but I'm finally finishing this about a week after its release. I'm feeling like I need to reread The Scarlet Letter after reading this romantasy about Hester Prynne's cursed lesbian granddaughter. I barely remember it from high school, and, while reading this book, I kept getting confused and thinking that this was somehow connected to The Crucible. Wrong 1600s Massachusetts story.
"Over three hundred years ago, back when there was a Puritan colony in Massachusetts, one of my ancestors, Faithful Steadfast, made a deal with the devil."
So in this book, Faithful Steadfast made a deal with the devil, and now his descendants are in an eternal fight against Hester Prynne's descendants. I'm still a little unclear on what this curse was, but basically, every generation a Puritan Steadfast is cursed to fight against a Prynne who keeps trying to steal people's souls. Ash inherited the curse when her girlfriend Lucy's dad finally killed Rye Steadfast in a fight (Rye was revived at the hospital but at that point the curse had moved on). The curse causes physical pain whenever Ash experiences pleasure or desires something, so now she suffers with no good things and only black clothes. After an encounter with an angel, Ash and Lucy realize that the story they were told was incomplete and there might be a way to break the curse once and for all.
I'd say this was a 4. I feel like this was building to something bigger than the climax we got. I think we could have had more of something. But this book did show me a relevance between The Scarlet Letter and our day that I don't remember from English class. I think.
"He loves his God in a way God never asked him to, as a penitent made to receive God's sanctions. But he persists because he truly wants to feel God's love. He hasn't been able to receive it, even as it's offered. He's too afraid that he isn't worthy, and if he lets himself receive this love, he will lose it."
For that quote, I think that Ash's character journey could be healing for exvangelical readers/readers from a strict religious background.
I'm unconvinced at how they solved the curse. I think the point is that healing is quiet, but I had expected more of a confrontation. But confrontation isn't the point of this book. It's about healing with love and empathy. It's so much quieter than expected, but it works for the story.
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley/Ace for the ARC.
"Over three hundred years ago, back when there was a Puritan colony in Massachusetts, one of my ancestors, Faithful Steadfast, made a deal with the devil."
So in this book, Faithful Steadfast made a deal with the devil, and now his descendants are in an eternal fight against Hester Prynne's descendants. I'm still a little unclear on what this curse was, but basically, every generation a Puritan Steadfast is cursed to fight against a Prynne who keeps trying to steal people's souls. Ash inherited the curse when her girlfriend Lucy's dad finally killed Rye Steadfast in a fight (Rye was revived at the hospital but at that point the curse had moved on). The curse causes physical pain whenever Ash experiences pleasure or desires something, so now she suffers with no good things and only black clothes. After an encounter with an angel, Ash and Lucy realize that the story they were told was incomplete and there might be a way to break the curse once and for all.
I'd say this was a 4. I feel like this was building to something bigger than the climax we got. I think we could have had more of something. But this book did show me a relevance between The Scarlet Letter and our day that I don't remember from English class. I think.
"He loves his God in a way God never asked him to, as a penitent made to receive God's sanctions. But he persists because he truly wants to feel God's love. He hasn't been able to receive it, even as it's offered. He's too afraid that he isn't worthy, and if he lets himself receive this love, he will lose it."
For that quote, I think that Ash's character journey could be healing for exvangelical readers/readers from a strict religious background.
I'm unconvinced at how they solved the curse. I think the point is that healing is quiet, but I had expected more of a confrontation. But confrontation isn't the point of this book. It's about healing with love and empathy. It's so much quieter than expected, but it works for the story.
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley/Ace for the ARC.
May 19, 2026
A Star-Cursed Heart feels like wandering into a dream you swear you’ve lived through before. It feels eerie, whimsical, and heart wrenching all at once, and impossible to escape. The threading of The Scarlet Letter into the roots of the story made the curse itself feel ancient and inevitable, like history bleeding into the present over and over again. This story weaves together generational curses, unrequited grief, unavoidable fate, and love in a way that feels both timeless and deeply intimate.
From the very beginning, Ashes and Lucy carry this painful, relentless longing for each other. Their love feels impossible; doomed by time, pain, and forces much bigger than themselves. However, we see everything slowly unfold into something hopeful, tender, and fiercely determined. Watching them fight for the chance to finally choose each other felt like truly witnessing "The biggest second chance of all time."
And somehow, this book balances all of that emotional devastation with a half-rotting, 300-year-old dachshund who completely (and grossly) stole my heart.
Beautifully haunting, this story burns slow and settles into your bones like an old ghost, leaving ashes behind.
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!
Favorite Quotes:
"But there isn't any part of my life I live without you..."
"Our bodies can't tell time, which means that if you're hurt and don't find a way to process it, your body is going to keep reacting as if the hurt just happened."
"[S]he couldn't remember a time when she didn't find her beautiful, even before she fell in love with her. It was enough to convince her that her guileless, star-cursed heart had never fallen out of love with [her]."
"That was us, and some part of you has always believed in us. I think you knew that our love could break the curse. I think you’ve been trying this whole time."
From the very beginning, Ashes and Lucy carry this painful, relentless longing for each other. Their love feels impossible; doomed by time, pain, and forces much bigger than themselves. However, we see everything slowly unfold into something hopeful, tender, and fiercely determined. Watching them fight for the chance to finally choose each other felt like truly witnessing "The biggest second chance of all time."
And somehow, this book balances all of that emotional devastation with a half-rotting, 300-year-old dachshund who completely (and grossly) stole my heart.
Beautifully haunting, this story burns slow and settles into your bones like an old ghost, leaving ashes behind.
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!
Favorite Quotes:
"But there isn't any part of my life I live without you..."
"Our bodies can't tell time, which means that if you're hurt and don't find a way to process it, your body is going to keep reacting as if the hurt just happened."
"[S]he couldn't remember a time when she didn't find her beautiful, even before she fell in love with her. It was enough to convince her that her guileless, star-cursed heart had never fallen out of love with [her]."
"That was us, and some part of you has always believed in us. I think you knew that our love could break the curse. I think you’ve been trying this whole time."
April 27, 2026
Unfortunately, just didnt work for me. The premise sounded so interesting and up my alley, but it took way too long for the plot to make sense and that will pull too many readers out of the book, especially YA reader.
June 3, 2026
4 stars. This was an interesting fantasy about a curse spanning generations forcing descendants of two families to fight. I enjoyed the romance and representation, but the timeline and magic system was a bit confusing.
July 5, 2026
Reading from the perspective of the butch character was really fun, and I loved the little historical excerpts and looks into the origins of the curse. I just wish that the book was a bit more coherent, I had to switch from audio to ebook just to grasp the concept better. Overall a fun read.
May 25, 2026
2026: 3.25
I have never once thought “I need more of The Scarlet Letter” in my life
I have never once thought “I need more of The Scarlet Letter” in my life
May 26, 2026
Thank you to Ace Books and Berkley Romance for the free early copy of this book! I truly wanted to love this book because the premise sounds incredible, but this story really fell flat for me. Essentially, the two main characters are victims of a curse coming back from Prynnes and the Steadfasts of Puritan New England. This is highly inconvenient for them because a.) they used to be in love and b.) the magic rivalry literally dictates the terms of their lives. So, they decide to figure out a loophole (especially since their love isn’t so far back in the past as they think). The difficulty I had with the story is how disjointed and weirdly paced it is. There are flashbacks to Hester Prynne’s time and there are times where it goes back in Ashes’s (fmc) past but they’re only loosely tied to what’s happening with the plot. You really have to look for the meaning of some revelations and other ones kinda smack you in the face. It makes the plot and its significance difficult to follow — and the ending less satisfying overall. Unfortunately a 2 🌟 book for me :(
May 20, 2026
Conceptually this book is really interesting. Unfortunately it really didn’t live up to expectations.
I struggled with every part of this novel. The characters felt weirdly hard to grasp under all the plot they were steeped in. The romance is supposed to be second chance but we get a such a small sense of who they were together the first time that relying on said history as the only basis for the relationship in the present made it flat and hard to invest in. The side characters are all vague as people but also in how they fit into the world. And the act of world building itself is near nonexistent.
While I can say I understand what the curse is, this clarity doesn’t really come through until halfway into the novel, and much of the information we get is through flashback chapters (which, notable) have other characters that we need to be tracking despite our confusion.
Really, it felt like nothing happened. This story reads to me like it was trying to make a couple of points, and it told us over and over again that leaning into one’s queerness is life changing and love is important and memories aren’t perfect. But it tells us those things, spoon feeds them to us in quantities too large to properly absorb instead of letting us piece them out through the narrative.
And the author does that for basically every part of the novel, too. This books seems like it sought to be a feminist queer fable but forgot to let the audience think for themselves and truly learn any of the lessons they sought to teach.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I struggled with every part of this novel. The characters felt weirdly hard to grasp under all the plot they were steeped in. The romance is supposed to be second chance but we get a such a small sense of who they were together the first time that relying on said history as the only basis for the relationship in the present made it flat and hard to invest in. The side characters are all vague as people but also in how they fit into the world. And the act of world building itself is near nonexistent.
While I can say I understand what the curse is, this clarity doesn’t really come through until halfway into the novel, and much of the information we get is through flashback chapters (which, notable) have other characters that we need to be tracking despite our confusion.
Really, it felt like nothing happened. This story reads to me like it was trying to make a couple of points, and it told us over and over again that leaning into one’s queerness is life changing and love is important and memories aren’t perfect. But it tells us those things, spoon feeds them to us in quantities too large to properly absorb instead of letting us piece them out through the narrative.
And the author does that for basically every part of the novel, too. This books seems like it sought to be a feminist queer fable but forgot to let the audience think for themselves and truly learn any of the lessons they sought to teach.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a NetGalley eARC of this book.
A Star-Cursed Heart is the story of Ashes (Ash) Steadfast and Lucy Prynne, two young women who are living a present-day iteration of good vs. evil passed down through their ancestors. Although they shared a love affair in their youths, they are now fated to fight to the death every time they meet. Questions abound as to how the curse functions, as both of them have missing memories and their fathers, who fought for their generation, refuse to give them answers. When Ash and Lucy decide to team up to stop the curse, they get a second chance at their relationship and their lives.
This story was a cool modern take on The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Each chapter started with an excerpt from The Scarlet Letter, which helped remind me of the language and plot of the original story (it's been years since I've read it). Ash is a compelling main character, as she had a colorful personality and big dreams before the curse inserted itself into her life and longs to return to a normal life. Her ideas about how the curse works are flipped upside down as she learns more about Lucy, her father, and her ancestors, and is a good reminder that circumstances that seem immovable may look completely different from another perspective. It was also interesting to review the story of Hester Prynne from a more modern/feminist viewpoint and how unconventional lifestyles were viewed then vs. now.
My only issue with the story was how many questions remained regarding the curse even after Ash and Lucy seemingly got the answers they were looking for. The girls' fathers are revealed to have powers which they used throughout their lives, which neither girl had ever noticed. They learned the history of their grandparents, but the bulk of the curse is still shrouded in mystery (Did anyone else ever seriously try to end the curse? Why did their fathers attempt to hide so much from them, when a few answers would have saved so much confusion? Why didn't Lucy ever try to speak with Ash about their different perspectives during their umpteen fights?) In the final showdown, both girls go with one ancestor to try to end the curse while their fathers/friends go to the other ancestor, and the reader is only given the perspective of the ancestor that is with the girls. I wish that we would have seen what the conversation was like with the other ancestor, because they are the one that ultimately ends the curse: how were they ultimately able to convince the ancestor to change their mind?
Overall, I enjoyed this story and was happy with the pacing and resolution. If you enjoyed The Scarlet Letter and are interested in a modern take of it, you'll definitely like this one!
A Star-Cursed Heart is the story of Ashes (Ash) Steadfast and Lucy Prynne, two young women who are living a present-day iteration of good vs. evil passed down through their ancestors. Although they shared a love affair in their youths, they are now fated to fight to the death every time they meet. Questions abound as to how the curse functions, as both of them have missing memories and their fathers, who fought for their generation, refuse to give them answers. When Ash and Lucy decide to team up to stop the curse, they get a second chance at their relationship and their lives.
This story was a cool modern take on The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Each chapter started with an excerpt from The Scarlet Letter, which helped remind me of the language and plot of the original story (it's been years since I've read it). Ash is a compelling main character, as she had a colorful personality and big dreams before the curse inserted itself into her life and longs to return to a normal life. Her ideas about how the curse works are flipped upside down as she learns more about Lucy, her father, and her ancestors, and is a good reminder that circumstances that seem immovable may look completely different from another perspective. It was also interesting to review the story of Hester Prynne from a more modern/feminist viewpoint and how unconventional lifestyles were viewed then vs. now.
My only issue with the story was how many questions remained regarding the curse even after Ash and Lucy seemingly got the answers they were looking for. The girls' fathers are revealed to have powers which they used throughout their lives, which neither girl had ever noticed. They learned the history of their grandparents, but the bulk of the curse is still shrouded in mystery (Did anyone else ever seriously try to end the curse? Why did their fathers attempt to hide so much from them, when a few answers would have saved so much confusion? Why didn't Lucy ever try to speak with Ash about their different perspectives during their umpteen fights?) In the final showdown, both girls go with one ancestor to try to end the curse while their fathers/friends go to the other ancestor, and the reader is only given the perspective of the ancestor that is with the girls. I wish that we would have seen what the conversation was like with the other ancestor, because they are the one that ultimately ends the curse: how were they ultimately able to convince the ancestor to change their mind?
Overall, I enjoyed this story and was happy with the pacing and resolution. If you enjoyed The Scarlet Letter and are interested in a modern take of it, you'll definitely like this one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️s! | A Star-Cursed Heart had such a strong premise that immediately drew me in: cursed ex-girlfriends doomed to fight each other across generations while still hopelessly in love and a queer love story inspired by The Scarlett Letter with magic rooted in the Salem witch trials? Absolutely yes. This just unfortunately didn’t work for me the way I was expecting.
Ashes and Lucy’s relationship was definitely the highlight for me. There’s something so heartbreaking about two people who clearly still love each other being forced into this endless cycle of violence and resentment, and I thought the book captured that ache really well. Every moment where they chose each other over the curse felt meaningful, and I loved the themes surrounding generational trauma, inherited guilt, and fighting against the roles people force onto you. The queer romance at the center of the story carried so much tenderness that even when I felt confused by the plot, I was still rooting for them.
I also really appreciated how unique the concept as a whole was. A paranormal romance inspired by The Scarlet Letter and tied to the Salem witch trials is such an ambitious idea, and you can feel how much care went into building the history behind the curse. The atmosphere was immersive, emotional, and often genuinely compelling.
That being said, I did struggle with the execution at times. The mythology and mechanics of the curse felt overly complicated, and there were multiple points where I felt like I was trying to piece everything together with missing information. Some revelations seemed to come out of nowhere, and despite all the explanations we eventually receive, I still finished the book with a lot of unanswered questions. The timeline shifts and family history occasionally became hard to follow, especially once more ancestors and past events were introduced. The pacing also felt uneven throughout everything. After such a long buildup, the final resolution wrapped up very quickly and lacked some of the emotional intensity I was expecting. I wanted more time with the conclusion and more clarity surrounding certain choices and motivations because it all felt a little rushed compared to the rest of the story.
Overall, though, I still enjoyed this. It’s messy in places, but it’s also incredibly heartfelt, creative, and full of yearning. If you love queer paranormal romance, tragic soulmates, generational curses, and stories inspired by classic literature, I think this one is worth picking up. There were just too many inconsistencies for me to rate this any higher.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ace for this eARC!
Ashes and Lucy’s relationship was definitely the highlight for me. There’s something so heartbreaking about two people who clearly still love each other being forced into this endless cycle of violence and resentment, and I thought the book captured that ache really well. Every moment where they chose each other over the curse felt meaningful, and I loved the themes surrounding generational trauma, inherited guilt, and fighting against the roles people force onto you. The queer romance at the center of the story carried so much tenderness that even when I felt confused by the plot, I was still rooting for them.
I also really appreciated how unique the concept as a whole was. A paranormal romance inspired by The Scarlet Letter and tied to the Salem witch trials is such an ambitious idea, and you can feel how much care went into building the history behind the curse. The atmosphere was immersive, emotional, and often genuinely compelling.
That being said, I did struggle with the execution at times. The mythology and mechanics of the curse felt overly complicated, and there were multiple points where I felt like I was trying to piece everything together with missing information. Some revelations seemed to come out of nowhere, and despite all the explanations we eventually receive, I still finished the book with a lot of unanswered questions. The timeline shifts and family history occasionally became hard to follow, especially once more ancestors and past events were introduced. The pacing also felt uneven throughout everything. After such a long buildup, the final resolution wrapped up very quickly and lacked some of the emotional intensity I was expecting. I wanted more time with the conclusion and more clarity surrounding certain choices and motivations because it all felt a little rushed compared to the rest of the story.
Overall, though, I still enjoyed this. It’s messy in places, but it’s also incredibly heartfelt, creative, and full of yearning. If you love queer paranormal romance, tragic soulmates, generational curses, and stories inspired by classic literature, I think this one is worth picking up. There were just too many inconsistencies for me to rate this any higher.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ace for this eARC!
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May 23, 2026"It was enough to convince Ash that her guileless, star-cursed heart had never fallen out of love with Lucy." — Ashes Steadfast
For countless generations, the Steadfasts and the Prynnes have been cursed to oppose each other. Members of the Prynne family have the ability to lure away a person's soul with their sweet words, while the Steadfasts have sworn to save them. Ex-girlfriends Ashes Steadfast and Lucy Prynne are the newest dancers in this doomed tango that destroyed both their fathers, forced to battle each other endlessly.
For Ashes, these ruthless fights are the only way for her to see Lucy again. Because no matter how tender her former true love seemed, no matter how much she pleaded for Ash to just listen, Lucy's cruel whip and merciless storms meant the girl she had loved was gone forever...
Or so she believed, until Ashes and Lucy reappear again and again in the places that had once mattered most to them. Again and again, with a second chance and a way to break their curse that Ashes absolutely refuses to let go of.
◆ Sapphic Lovers-to-Enemies-to-Lovers
◆ Inspired by The Scarlet Letter
◆ Second Chance Romance
◆ Forbidden Love & Yearning
◆ Best Boy Helegar (an immortal dog)
I was initially hooked by the interesting premise but ultimately stayed for the characters, because omg I loved them all! 😭💘 I especially loved Ashes, who had grumpy black cat vibes, and the way she absolutely adored the sarcastic but sweet Lucy, an angelic woman who was ironically the embodiment of evil. And let's not forget Helegar who remained steadfast in loving all the characters in the story, no matter how many mistakes they may have made.
This started out darker than I expected from the pretty cover, but that's a plus in my book 👀 At its core, this was a beautiful love story with characters you couldn't help but root for. I practically binged the entire book in a single night to make sure they got their HEA! 😂
There were some shifting timelines and flashbacks, but I loved the way it wove in parts of The Scarlet Letter and was so intrigued by all the magical realism aspects. I honestly really REALLY wished the book was like double in length because I still have so many questions about the generational curse, how their magical powers worked, all their ancestors, and if Hector's baby twins were alright?! I know this was a standalone but would love to read a prequel about their ancestors haha!
If you love (spicy 👀🌶) sapphic romances that were inspired by The Scarlet Letter, then this is the story for you!
For countless generations, the Steadfasts and the Prynnes have been cursed to oppose each other. Members of the Prynne family have the ability to lure away a person's soul with their sweet words, while the Steadfasts have sworn to save them. Ex-girlfriends Ashes Steadfast and Lucy Prynne are the newest dancers in this doomed tango that destroyed both their fathers, forced to battle each other endlessly.
For Ashes, these ruthless fights are the only way for her to see Lucy again. Because no matter how tender her former true love seemed, no matter how much she pleaded for Ash to just listen, Lucy's cruel whip and merciless storms meant the girl she had loved was gone forever...
Or so she believed, until Ashes and Lucy reappear again and again in the places that had once mattered most to them. Again and again, with a second chance and a way to break their curse that Ashes absolutely refuses to let go of.
◆ Sapphic Lovers-to-Enemies-to-Lovers
◆ Inspired by The Scarlet Letter
◆ Second Chance Romance
◆ Forbidden Love & Yearning
◆ Best Boy Helegar (an immortal dog)
I was initially hooked by the interesting premise but ultimately stayed for the characters, because omg I loved them all! 😭💘 I especially loved Ashes, who had grumpy black cat vibes, and the way she absolutely adored the sarcastic but sweet Lucy, an angelic woman who was ironically the embodiment of evil. And let's not forget Helegar who remained steadfast in loving all the characters in the story, no matter how many mistakes they may have made.
This started out darker than I expected from the pretty cover, but that's a plus in my book 👀 At its core, this was a beautiful love story with characters you couldn't help but root for. I practically binged the entire book in a single night to make sure they got their HEA! 😂
There were some shifting timelines and flashbacks, but I loved the way it wove in parts of The Scarlet Letter and was so intrigued by all the magical realism aspects. I honestly really REALLY wished the book was like double in length because I still have so many questions about the generational curse, how their magical powers worked, all their ancestors, and if Hector's baby twins were alright?! I know this was a standalone but would love to read a prequel about their ancestors haha!
If you love (spicy 👀🌶) sapphic romances that were inspired by The Scarlet Letter, then this is the story for you!
May 31, 2026
Thank you to Annie Mare, Berkley Publishing Group | Ace, and NetGalley for letting me read this eARC.
When I first read the blurb of this book, the premise of it sounded really intriguing--two women in love, bound by a centuries-old Hawthornian curse to be each others mortal enemies in this life. And I really did enjoy the backstory of the curse: I thought Hester's "villain" origin story was really well done and I loved that Annie Mare gave a figure often relegated into the annals of high school force-fed literature a backstory that brings her more to life and makes her humanity really shine through. I don't think you really get that when you read The Scarlet Letter. I think Hester and Faithful's feud and the introduction into the curse's origin was the most interesting and most well-plotted and thought out part of the book.
While I did find Ash and Lucy's story entertaining, there was a lot of things that were confusing and felt like really good ideas that could have really made the book take off but unfortunately just didn't quite get there. At times, it made the book a little difficult to read and I think it took me a little longer to read it for that reason. I really wanted more out of other characters as well: for example, I felt like Calliope and Hector were just cursory convenient characters and didn't really move the story forward, even though I wanted them to. They just felt a little too much like token characters rather than substantive; the reasons for why they also had powers was never expounded upon, the apparently close friendship between Lucy, Ash, and Hector was never explored other than using Hector's tavern as a meeting location, Calliope's friendship with Ash was never explored other than to say she was somehow an angel, and it felt like they just existed in the story just to exist almost. Ash, Lucy's, and their fathers' gifts were also not really clearly explained as to how they tied in to the story. Overall, I really just wanted more out of their story to support the strong origin story and basis of the curse and it just didn't get there for me.
I was entertained by the book and really did enjoy Hester's perspective so I'm giving this one 3 stars.
When I first read the blurb of this book, the premise of it sounded really intriguing--two women in love, bound by a centuries-old Hawthornian curse to be each others mortal enemies in this life. And I really did enjoy the backstory of the curse: I thought Hester's "villain" origin story was really well done and I loved that Annie Mare gave a figure often relegated into the annals of high school force-fed literature a backstory that brings her more to life and makes her humanity really shine through. I don't think you really get that when you read The Scarlet Letter. I think Hester and Faithful's feud and the introduction into the curse's origin was the most interesting and most well-plotted and thought out part of the book.
While I did find Ash and Lucy's story entertaining, there was a lot of things that were confusing and felt like really good ideas that could have really made the book take off but unfortunately just didn't quite get there. At times, it made the book a little difficult to read and I think it took me a little longer to read it for that reason. I really wanted more out of other characters as well: for example, I felt like Calliope and Hector were just cursory convenient characters and didn't really move the story forward, even though I wanted them to. They just felt a little too much like token characters rather than substantive; the reasons for why they also had powers was never expounded upon, the apparently close friendship between Lucy, Ash, and Hector was never explored other than using Hector's tavern as a meeting location, Calliope's friendship with Ash was never explored other than to say she was somehow an angel, and it felt like they just existed in the story just to exist almost. Ash, Lucy's, and their fathers' gifts were also not really clearly explained as to how they tied in to the story. Overall, I really just wanted more out of their story to support the strong origin story and basis of the curse and it just didn't get there for me.
I was entertained by the book and really did enjoy Hester's perspective so I'm giving this one 3 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really debated with what to write in this review. I read other reviews before I began reading the book, and during the first few chapters, I'd assumed I would be writing this and telling people not to listen to the negative reviews but alas. I didn't hate A Star-Cursed Heart, but I also don't think it lived up to its potential.
The idea is good. I mean, who doesn’t want to read a book about cursed ex-girlfriends? And I really liked both Ash and Lucy as characters. I also always love enemies to lovers stories (or in this case, lovers to enemies to lovers). My problem with the book is the execution.
The story just doesn't flow well. Some things are too repetitive while others aren't explained well at all and things are far too convoluted most of the time. I have no idea how they reach some of the conclusions that they do based on the information they have. They'll have some revelation, but like where did it come from? And this wasn't a problem with me not paying attention or anything like that; the writing just didn't do a good job of explaining a lot of things. Even the end was a bit disappointing to me. I thought it was rushed and very anticlimactic. It almost felt like I had accidentally skipped multiple pages and it left me going, “That’s it?”
I also wasn't a huge fan of the side characters. It's said that Hector is a good friend to Ash and Lucy, but I did not get that from their interactions. I also didn't really get Cal; mostly because I didn’t feel like they were integrated into the story very well. The only side character I truly liked was Helegar, who was a very good boy.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. Like I said, I didn't hate it and there was definitely some good there, but there was also quite a bit that sadly didn't work for me. If I could, I would give this 2.5 stars, but since I can’t, I’ve rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
The idea is good. I mean, who doesn’t want to read a book about cursed ex-girlfriends? And I really liked both Ash and Lucy as characters. I also always love enemies to lovers stories (or in this case, lovers to enemies to lovers). My problem with the book is the execution.
The story just doesn't flow well. Some things are too repetitive while others aren't explained well at all and things are far too convoluted most of the time. I have no idea how they reach some of the conclusions that they do based on the information they have. They'll have some revelation, but like where did it come from? And this wasn't a problem with me not paying attention or anything like that; the writing just didn't do a good job of explaining a lot of things. Even the end was a bit disappointing to me. I thought it was rushed and very anticlimactic. It almost felt like I had accidentally skipped multiple pages and it left me going, “That’s it?”
I also wasn't a huge fan of the side characters. It's said that Hector is a good friend to Ash and Lucy, but I did not get that from their interactions. I also didn't really get Cal; mostly because I didn’t feel like they were integrated into the story very well. The only side character I truly liked was Helegar, who was a very good boy.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. Like I said, I didn't hate it and there was definitely some good there, but there was also quite a bit that sadly didn't work for me. If I could, I would give this 2.5 stars, but since I can’t, I’ve rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for this gifted ARC!
This was such a unique story, I don't think I've ever read a book that was inspired by The Scarlet Letter and it was so interesting. I loved the queer romance representation too, their love story was honestly probably my favorite part of the entire book.
Lucy and Ashes are both from cursed bloodlines stemming from the puritan era. One is cursed to "take souls" and the other is cursed to essentially stop her. So they are constantly at a battle with one another, which is incredibly complicated because they love each other intensely. Their struggle with trying to end the curse and find their way to being able to truly be with one another (without trying to kill the other) is a really good journey. Their friends are really interesting as well, I loved the side characters and what they add to the magic and overall plot line. There is also an animal that I think everyone will just love.
I will say that the plot line did seem a bit complicated at times. I wrote down in my reading journal around 45% that I was still a bit confused by the background and what happened in the past that created the current struggles. It bounces a bit between timelines, and there were moments where I would get Lucy and Ashes and their pasts confused as well. This is definitely a story that I think you need to really pay attention to in order to grasp the whole thing. The ending did feel a bit rushed too, it made me wonder if the author got a word count constraint and had to cut some things. But the ending was overall satisfying, so I don't think it was detrimental to the story.
If you love queer romance, a book inspired by a classic, and a really unique plot, I think you'll enjoy this for sure! This releases May 19th!
*This ARC was given by Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley, all opinions are my own.*
This was such a unique story, I don't think I've ever read a book that was inspired by The Scarlet Letter and it was so interesting. I loved the queer romance representation too, their love story was honestly probably my favorite part of the entire book.
Lucy and Ashes are both from cursed bloodlines stemming from the puritan era. One is cursed to "take souls" and the other is cursed to essentially stop her. So they are constantly at a battle with one another, which is incredibly complicated because they love each other intensely. Their struggle with trying to end the curse and find their way to being able to truly be with one another (without trying to kill the other) is a really good journey. Their friends are really interesting as well, I loved the side characters and what they add to the magic and overall plot line. There is also an animal that I think everyone will just love.
I will say that the plot line did seem a bit complicated at times. I wrote down in my reading journal around 45% that I was still a bit confused by the background and what happened in the past that created the current struggles. It bounces a bit between timelines, and there were moments where I would get Lucy and Ashes and their pasts confused as well. This is definitely a story that I think you need to really pay attention to in order to grasp the whole thing. The ending did feel a bit rushed too, it made me wonder if the author got a word count constraint and had to cut some things. But the ending was overall satisfying, so I don't think it was detrimental to the story.
If you love queer romance, a book inspired by a classic, and a really unique plot, I think you'll enjoy this for sure! This releases May 19th!
*This ARC was given by Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley, all opinions are my own.*
April 11, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book has an interesting concept. Two families pass down a curse from generation to generation in which one is supposed to trap souls for the devil and the other is meant to save the souls. The problem is that in the current generation Ashes and Lucy are not only best friends, but also in love with each other. Also, this curse originates from their ancestors Faithful Steadfast and Hester Prynne. Yes, the characters from The Scarlet Letter. The only book in high school I had to use Cliff’s Notes for.
This book definitely has plot issues. It took awhile to figure out what was actually happening in the book. In fact, the characters themselves don’t seem to know what is happening half the time. Their memories, as we come to find out, are not reliable. Plus they seem to have powers dealing with time and being able to see Hester at times. Not to mention a skeleton dog who originally belonged to Hester.
I’m pretty sure this book is supposed to be about the power of women. Hester would not let the scarlet A define her or her daughter and wore it with pride. Lucy and Ashes had dreams and had hoped to overcome the curse with their love. There’s a lot of comparisons to Hester’s situation and how the queer community is perceived. And I’m still not sure what the hell happened at the end for the curse to break (something about going back in time and getting Faithful to feel sorry for Hester instead of cursing them).
All in all, 3.5 stars rounded up. Interesting concept, poor execution.
This book has an interesting concept. Two families pass down a curse from generation to generation in which one is supposed to trap souls for the devil and the other is meant to save the souls. The problem is that in the current generation Ashes and Lucy are not only best friends, but also in love with each other. Also, this curse originates from their ancestors Faithful Steadfast and Hester Prynne. Yes, the characters from The Scarlet Letter. The only book in high school I had to use Cliff’s Notes for.
This book definitely has plot issues. It took awhile to figure out what was actually happening in the book. In fact, the characters themselves don’t seem to know what is happening half the time. Their memories, as we come to find out, are not reliable. Plus they seem to have powers dealing with time and being able to see Hester at times. Not to mention a skeleton dog who originally belonged to Hester.
I’m pretty sure this book is supposed to be about the power of women. Hester would not let the scarlet A define her or her daughter and wore it with pride. Lucy and Ashes had dreams and had hoped to overcome the curse with their love. There’s a lot of comparisons to Hester’s situation and how the queer community is perceived. And I’m still not sure what the hell happened at the end for the curse to break (something about going back in time and getting Faithful to feel sorry for Hester instead of cursing them).
All in all, 3.5 stars rounded up. Interesting concept, poor execution.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2026
*I got an arc* 3.9 stars
CW: terrible parents; violence; lesbian sex; (temporary) pet death; SA (in the past, not of Lucy or Ash)
TLDR: A love letter to the power and resilience of queer joy
Note: This book is based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," but I haven't read it and thus cannot comment on how it is as an adaptation.
I am someone with very little tolerance for the 'star-crossed lovers' trope. I tend to find it tedious and filled with artificial tension. This was not the case in "A Star-Cursed Heart": the tension, the trauma, and the love between Lucy & Ashes felt heart-wrenchingly real. I was actively rooting for them as I read and lamented every time their relationship faced a new obstacle. While I think this is a standalone, I would love to see more of Calliope and the other people she helps (and I love that she has a beard and no one cares. Truly delightful)!
My only quip is that the ending didn't seem to quite align with the rest of the novel: several questions about the curse went unanswered in a way that felt loose ends rather than food for thought. I probably would have ignored this had I not gotten a bit of an 'ick' on who the narrative deemed culpable for the curse. I felt some characters were treated as if they committed equivalent harms and were equally at fault when there was a massive power imbalance and only one side was actively abusive. Parts of the ending felt a little too much like the tonal equivalent of when a male character sacrifices himself and the audience is supposed to forget his culpability.
Overall, A Star-Cursed Heart is a staunch advocate to the importance of queer joy and self-acceptance and I am glad to have read it!
CW: terrible parents; violence; lesbian sex; (temporary) pet death; SA (in the past, not of Lucy or Ash)
TLDR: A love letter to the power and resilience of queer joy
Note: This book is based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," but I haven't read it and thus cannot comment on how it is as an adaptation.
I am someone with very little tolerance for the 'star-crossed lovers' trope. I tend to find it tedious and filled with artificial tension. This was not the case in "A Star-Cursed Heart": the tension, the trauma, and the love between Lucy & Ashes felt heart-wrenchingly real. I was actively rooting for them as I read and lamented every time their relationship faced a new obstacle. While I think this is a standalone, I would love to see more of Calliope and the other people she helps (and I love that she has a beard and no one cares. Truly delightful)!
My only quip is that the ending didn't seem to quite align with the rest of the novel: several questions about the curse went unanswered in a way that felt loose ends rather than food for thought. I probably would have ignored this had I not gotten a bit of an 'ick' on who the narrative deemed culpable for the curse. I felt some characters were treated as if they committed equivalent harms and were equally at fault when there was a massive power imbalance and only one side was actively abusive. Parts of the ending felt a little too much like the tonal equivalent of when a male character sacrifices himself and the audience is supposed to forget his culpability.
Overall, A Star-Cursed Heart is a staunch advocate to the importance of queer joy and self-acceptance and I am glad to have read it!
May 19, 2026
I went in a bit blind to this one. I’m a cover girlie, and after seeing this adorable cover and briefly skimming the description, I put in a request for it via NetGalley.
I was expecting a more lighthearted, cozy read, and while there were moments of that, this book had themes that felt more serious and heavy. I still enjoyed the story, but it was much heavier than I expected.
With a family curse that spans centuries, it’s no wonder this book delves deep into toxic family trauma and the cycle of repetition. I thought it really did that topic justice, especially around how communication, or lack thereof, can keep the cycle continuing. Lucy and Ash basically became each other’s family because they were neglected by their fathers, who were dealing with the curse. Which made it heartbreaking to see the curse eventually pull them apart.
I’m a sucker for a book with yearning, and the yearning in this book was exceptional. The way both of these characters yearned for each other was everything.
Also, I love a story with an exceptional side character, and I was here for Helegar! I want my own smelly skeleton dachshund! His little scenes definitely stole the show a few times. I want to give him all the cuddles.
Overall, this was a solid 4 star read.
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
I was expecting a more lighthearted, cozy read, and while there were moments of that, this book had themes that felt more serious and heavy. I still enjoyed the story, but it was much heavier than I expected.
With a family curse that spans centuries, it’s no wonder this book delves deep into toxic family trauma and the cycle of repetition. I thought it really did that topic justice, especially around how communication, or lack thereof, can keep the cycle continuing. Lucy and Ash basically became each other’s family because they were neglected by their fathers, who were dealing with the curse. Which made it heartbreaking to see the curse eventually pull them apart.
I’m a sucker for a book with yearning, and the yearning in this book was exceptional. The way both of these characters yearned for each other was everything.
Also, I love a story with an exceptional side character, and I was here for Helegar! I want my own smelly skeleton dachshund! His little scenes definitely stole the show a few times. I want to give him all the cuddles.
Overall, this was a solid 4 star read.
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 13, 2026
I was SO excited to read A Star-Cursed Heart. The premise of a generational, mortal enemies curse ft. two women who seek to break it sounded right up my alley. I was hoping there would be a bit of an Addie LaRue, Our Infinite Fates vibe with a Faustian bargain.
The concept was creative, but I was so confused when reading this book. There was no world-building nor explanation of Ash and Lucy's magic + what deities were in this world. The characters had magical amnesia and were, just like me as the reader, also confused. I felt like I was missing a ton of information and background knowledge. I did understand the overall plot—trying to break the curse—but the various directions the story took to get to that point felt disjointed.
Though I continued reading because I hoped that everything I didn't understand would be revealed in time. I enjoyed the occasional flashback scenes to the original generation, and it would've been interesting if more of the preceding generations' POVs were interspersed throughout the main Ash & Lucy storyline.
Thank you so much to Ace Books for sending me a copy of A Star-Cursed Heart. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)
The concept was creative, but I was so confused when reading this book. There was no world-building nor explanation of Ash and Lucy's magic + what deities were in this world. The characters had magical amnesia and were, just like me as the reader, also confused. I felt like I was missing a ton of information and background knowledge. I did understand the overall plot—trying to break the curse—but the various directions the story took to get to that point felt disjointed.
Though I continued reading because I hoped that everything I didn't understand would be revealed in time. I enjoyed the occasional flashback scenes to the original generation, and it would've been interesting if more of the preceding generations' POVs were interspersed throughout the main Ash & Lucy storyline.
Thank you so much to Ace Books for sending me a copy of A Star-Cursed Heart. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)
June 20, 2026
“she was crying, suddenly overwhelmed with love for her uncanny, precious life. she was good she was good”
thank you so much to penguin random house and berkley pub for sending me a free copy of this book, I’m exceptionally grateful!
oh this was the perfect way to kick off pride! this felt like a love letter to queerness, music, family (both chosen and given), generational ties, and agency.
we follow two timelines, one in the lead up to the salem witch trials where a curse pits two families against eachother, and modern day, as two best friends-turned lovers-turned enemies navigate their role as descendants of the cursed and they turmoil that the curse brings them.
this was an incredibly diverse and thematically driven sapphic retelling/interpretation of the scarlet letter. the ensemble cast was diverse and lovable, including our skeletal dachshund friend, helegar who became an instant favorite!
so much love and self-reflection on identity, generational trauma, good vs. evil, and redemption. i do wish the climax was a little longer or perhaps more intense? not ridiculously so, it just felt slightly anticlimactic given the plot leading up to that moment, but that’s truly my only qualm. just a very sweet sapphic fantasy romance!! happy pride month friends!!
thank you so much to penguin random house and berkley pub for sending me a free copy of this book, I’m exceptionally grateful!
oh this was the perfect way to kick off pride! this felt like a love letter to queerness, music, family (both chosen and given), generational ties, and agency.
we follow two timelines, one in the lead up to the salem witch trials where a curse pits two families against eachother, and modern day, as two best friends-turned lovers-turned enemies navigate their role as descendants of the cursed and they turmoil that the curse brings them.
this was an incredibly diverse and thematically driven sapphic retelling/interpretation of the scarlet letter. the ensemble cast was diverse and lovable, including our skeletal dachshund friend, helegar who became an instant favorite!
so much love and self-reflection on identity, generational trauma, good vs. evil, and redemption. i do wish the climax was a little longer or perhaps more intense? not ridiculously so, it just felt slightly anticlimactic given the plot leading up to that moment, but that’s truly my only qualm. just a very sweet sapphic fantasy romance!! happy pride month friends!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Star-Cursed Heart is one of the most unique stories I have read in a long time. A queer romance inspired by The Scarlet Letter, rooted in the Salem witch trials, and built around a centuries-old curse that forces two women who love each other to be enemies.
Ashes and Lucy are most compelling as a couple. The push and pull of two people who love each other deeply while being cursed to fight is genuinely heartbreaking, and watching them choose to fight the curse instead of each other was the emotional payoff I was rooting for. The manipulation woven through their family histories and the generational weight of what was done to them added real emotional depth to their journey.
The plot does get complicated at times—the shifting timelines and layered backstory require real attention—but it all comes together in the end in a way that felt satisfying. The ending wraps up a little quickly, but the love story at the center of it never loses its impact.
If you love queer romance, a story inspired by a classic, and a truly original premise, this one is worth your time.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Release Date: May 19, 2026
Ashes and Lucy are most compelling as a couple. The push and pull of two people who love each other deeply while being cursed to fight is genuinely heartbreaking, and watching them choose to fight the curse instead of each other was the emotional payoff I was rooting for. The manipulation woven through their family histories and the generational weight of what was done to them added real emotional depth to their journey.
The plot does get complicated at times—the shifting timelines and layered backstory require real attention—but it all comes together in the end in a way that felt satisfying. The ending wraps up a little quickly, but the love story at the center of it never loses its impact.
If you love queer romance, a story inspired by a classic, and a truly original premise, this one is worth your time.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Release Date: May 19, 2026
June 21, 2026
Going in, the general premise of A Star-Cursed Heart is a pretty straightforward one. Two families bound together as mortal enemies by a centuries-old curse that forces each generation to take up the mantle in a battle of good versus evil. Obviously, inevitably, it would result in two childhood best friends-turned-lovers finding themselves forced to be at odds with each other when it's their turn to take up the curse.
The story is follows the POV of Ashes Steadfast, with the occasional historical flashback sprinkled in to provide some context to where the curse began. I found it to be confusing one at times, especially around the details of the curse itself, but this felt like a deliberate decision on the author's part.
I do love it when story is told through the eyes of a butch that's pathetically in love with their "enemy" and also doesn't know what the fuck is going on at any point. Ashes Steadfast, the unreliable narrator you are! Completely understand though because I too am madly in love with Lucy, and wondered how Hester had a miniature dachshund in seventeenth-century New England.
The story is follows the POV of Ashes Steadfast, with the occasional historical flashback sprinkled in to provide some context to where the curse began. I found it to be confusing one at times, especially around the details of the curse itself, but this felt like a deliberate decision on the author's part.
I do love it when story is told through the eyes of a butch that's pathetically in love with their "enemy" and also doesn't know what the fuck is going on at any point. Ashes Steadfast, the unreliable narrator you are! Completely understand though because I too am madly in love with Lucy, and wondered how Hester had a miniature dachshund in seventeenth-century New England.
June 30, 2026
This was a fun retelling/ inspired by tale of the Scarlet Letter and I definitely will be rereading once I reread the Scarlet Letter. If you're one of the English majors who loved the symbolism in Hawthorne's book and wanted to know the aftermath of looking at this tale in different ways and wanted paranormal elements, this is for you. This was a fun friends to lovers/to enemies/ and back to lovers in a second chance way. The way Lucy wants to help Ashe overcome her hangups with the curse and find her way back to herself.
The found family in this was everything with Hector being both best friend's with Lucy and Ashe reminding them of their past selves and their start. I also adored Ashe's and Calliope's friendship. Calliope's powers as well Hector's. Plus I would die for Helagar Lucy's undead daschund.
The premise of the curse had me hooked and the mystery of it all, but the top tier banter along with the beautiful quotes, such as "Queerness is a beautiful antidote to self doubt." The spice was also fun, with themes of forgiveness, patience, and love and the end was cherry on top. I need a copy asap
The found family in this was everything with Hector being both best friend's with Lucy and Ashe reminding them of their past selves and their start. I also adored Ashe's and Calliope's friendship. Calliope's powers as well Hector's. Plus I would die for Helagar Lucy's undead daschund.
The premise of the curse had me hooked and the mystery of it all, but the top tier banter along with the beautiful quotes, such as "Queerness is a beautiful antidote to self doubt." The spice was also fun, with themes of forgiveness, patience, and love and the end was cherry on top. I need a copy asap
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