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All the Queens' Curses: 'Beautiful' Marissa Meyer
Kit has been cursed into a body that isn’t her own. Idris has been cursed to dance to death. If they want to break their curses, they’ll need to work together.
Kit and her step-sister Catharine have been close ever since their parents’ royal marriage brought them together. But living under the king’s roof is not safe for Kit, and illness is spreading through her joints. Her mother tells her it is a When a woman in their family is hurt, they fall into a wasting sickness. When an enchantment switches Kit and Catharine’s bodies, Kit must find a way to make things right. But can she really bear to go back to her wasting body?
Idris has learned a dark secret about his family and a crime they committed generations ago against the Hidden Folk. When he gets the chance to atone, he takes it—even though it means he will be danced to death. But it is one thing to agree to be a martyr, and another to watch his choice destroy his family. Can he find a way to bring justice and still live?
If Kit and Idris want to survive, they will need to work together. But lines blur as the two grow closer. There are few ways to break a curse, and there may not be enough magic left to break them all.
Kit and her step-sister Catharine have been close ever since their parents’ royal marriage brought them together. But living under the king’s roof is not safe for Kit, and illness is spreading through her joints. Her mother tells her it is a When a woman in their family is hurt, they fall into a wasting sickness. When an enchantment switches Kit and Catharine’s bodies, Kit must find a way to make things right. But can she really bear to go back to her wasting body?
Idris has learned a dark secret about his family and a crime they committed generations ago against the Hidden Folk. When he gets the chance to atone, he takes it—even though it means he will be danced to death. But it is one thing to agree to be a martyr, and another to watch his choice destroy his family. Can he find a way to bring justice and still live?
If Kit and Idris want to survive, they will need to work together. But lines blur as the two grow closer. There are few ways to break a curse, and there may not be enough magic left to break them all.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2026
About the author
Alyssa Hollingsworth
9 books147 followersAlyssa was born in small-town Milton, Florida, but life as a roving military kid soon mellowed her (unintelligibly strong) Southern accent. Wanderlust is in her blood, and she’s always waiting for the wind to change. Stories remain her constant.
Alyssa received her BA in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Berry College. From Bath Spa University, she received her MA with honors in Writing for Young People and her Ph.D in Creative Writing with her thesis Breaking the Curse: Retelling a Folk Fairy Tale to Explore Trauma and Healing in Novels for Young People.
She is represented by Amber Caraveo at Skylark Literary. Her award-winning debut The Eleventh Trade and her second book The Invisible Boy were published by Roaring Brook/Macmillan (U.S.) and Piccadilly Press (U.K.).
Alyssa loves crafting, cozy video games, and going on adventures with her nerdy husband and mischievous dog.
Alyssa received her BA in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Berry College. From Bath Spa University, she received her MA with honors in Writing for Young People and her Ph.D in Creative Writing with her thesis Breaking the Curse: Retelling a Folk Fairy Tale to Explore Trauma and Healing in Novels for Young People.
She is represented by Amber Caraveo at Skylark Literary. Her award-winning debut The Eleventh Trade and her second book The Invisible Boy were published by Roaring Brook/Macmillan (U.S.) and Piccadilly Press (U.K.).
Alyssa loves crafting, cozy video games, and going on adventures with her nerdy husband and mischievous dog.
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August 29, 2026⋆˚꩜⌇pre read!⌇꩜˚⋆
the cover art is yummy af im excited for this one
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⋆˚꩜⌇post read!⌇꩜˚⋆
rating♡: _/5
initial thoughts♡:
dropped my rating♡:
vibes♡:
stuff to be concerned about♡:
fav quote♡:
characters♡:
song for the story♡:
the cover art is yummy af im excited for this one
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
⋆˚꩜⌇post read!⌇꩜˚⋆
rating♡: _/5
initial thoughts♡:
dropped my rating♡:
vibes♡:
stuff to be concerned about♡:
fav quote♡:
characters♡:
song for the story♡:
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.25 ⭐
(+) :
- My favorite part of this book was its focus on its in world folklore and how the lore and mythos that the characters, most specifically Catherine, have grown up hearing tales of and how those tales become truth. I greatly enjoyed hearing Catherine tell her stories and then find Kit discover the real life versions of them in the cove or whatever you would call it.
- The relationship between Kit and Catherine was lovely. They’re not blood sisters but they are still sisters and their sisterhood is so tantamount to the story succeeding and I appreciated their love for each other so much.
- In the same way, I think that Idris’ relationship and the development of his suturing his family back together after years of pushing off a curse on the next unsuspecting victim was well done. The brothers here are also an important relationship.
- Oh this cover. Oh this cover. I could write sonnets on it. It’s so stunning. It’s so beautiful. The composition, the eyes, the colors, the brush style. I love it so much.
- This is a really good title. It is about all the curses. Every single one ha. And then with the the children’s nursery rhyme layer is just really clever.
(-) :
- I think the plot of this story is a bit of a mess. I like the body swap, but that comes in much later and the two of them are kind of…fine with is it many ways (obviously not fully, but I think I needed it to feel a bit more high stakes). Idris’ whole thing is just a mess, and that’s understandable, but I needed it to feel like he was a part of everything whereas it felt more like he was being driven by the plot and by Kit. I also think the wand bit was too convenient.
- The romance was weak and was just kind of insta-love on Idris’ part and then is just all tied up tidy by the end.
- Idris was far less developed in my opinion and as the book progressed I found his chapters a bit dull. I really liked his POV early on and his thoughts on protecting his brother, but I think it really was always Kit’s story.
- I don’t think the assault aspect of this book was handled well. I think that Kit’s trauma and PTSD and discomfort was understandable and definitely made me empathize with her…but it all felt very contrived for the plot and not based in truth. King = evil, King = hurt Kit in all the most terrible ways. I appreciated that it added a layer of tension to Kit’s relationship with her sister, but I think having Kit’s mother also be basically evil and abusive to Catherine kind of downplayed how much more awful the King was. Maybe this is just my own biases from my own experiences coloring my opinion here.
- I have some frustrations with the chronic illness aspect. I do love that there is no quick fix or real closure to it because chronic pain doesn’t always or usually work like that. However, it keeps being called “the wasting” and being treated like it is some known thing or that it’s tied to Kit’s genetics or her abuse from the king. But I found myself more confused by what was happening with it than commiserating with Kit. I just think it needed a bit more nuance.
WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : I don’t know. I liked the world here, but the characters and plot were not my favorite. I also couldn’t escape the feeling of some of the, hm, Christian undertones to the story that weren’t my cup of tea. So I’m unsure.
*Thank you to Page Street YA & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
SIMILAR BOOKS :
- 'Break Wide the Sea' by Sara Holland
- 'Sing Me to Sleep' by Gabi Burton
- 'One Dark Window' by Rachel Gillig
(+) :
- My favorite part of this book was its focus on its in world folklore and how the lore and mythos that the characters, most specifically Catherine, have grown up hearing tales of and how those tales become truth. I greatly enjoyed hearing Catherine tell her stories and then find Kit discover the real life versions of them in the cove or whatever you would call it.
- The relationship between Kit and Catherine was lovely. They’re not blood sisters but they are still sisters and their sisterhood is so tantamount to the story succeeding and I appreciated their love for each other so much.
- In the same way, I think that Idris’ relationship and the development of his suturing his family back together after years of pushing off a curse on the next unsuspecting victim was well done. The brothers here are also an important relationship.
- Oh this cover. Oh this cover. I could write sonnets on it. It’s so stunning. It’s so beautiful. The composition, the eyes, the colors, the brush style. I love it so much.
- This is a really good title. It is about all the curses. Every single one ha. And then with the the children’s nursery rhyme layer is just really clever.
(-) :
- I think the plot of this story is a bit of a mess. I like the body swap, but that comes in much later and the two of them are kind of…fine with is it many ways (obviously not fully, but I think I needed it to feel a bit more high stakes). Idris’ whole thing is just a mess, and that’s understandable, but I needed it to feel like he was a part of everything whereas it felt more like he was being driven by the plot and by Kit. I also think the wand bit was too convenient.
- The romance was weak and was just kind of insta-love on Idris’ part and then is just all tied up tidy by the end.
- Idris was far less developed in my opinion and as the book progressed I found his chapters a bit dull. I really liked his POV early on and his thoughts on protecting his brother, but I think it really was always Kit’s story.
- I don’t think the assault aspect of this book was handled well. I think that Kit’s trauma and PTSD and discomfort was understandable and definitely made me empathize with her…but it all felt very contrived for the plot and not based in truth. King = evil, King = hurt Kit in all the most terrible ways. I appreciated that it added a layer of tension to Kit’s relationship with her sister, but I think having Kit’s mother also be basically evil and abusive to Catherine kind of downplayed how much more awful the King was. Maybe this is just my own biases from my own experiences coloring my opinion here.
- I have some frustrations with the chronic illness aspect. I do love that there is no quick fix or real closure to it because chronic pain doesn’t always or usually work like that. However, it keeps being called “the wasting” and being treated like it is some known thing or that it’s tied to Kit’s genetics or her abuse from the king. But I found myself more confused by what was happening with it than commiserating with Kit. I just think it needed a bit more nuance.
WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : I don’t know. I liked the world here, but the characters and plot were not my favorite. I also couldn’t escape the feeling of some of the, hm, Christian undertones to the story that weren’t my cup of tea. So I’m unsure.
*Thank you to Page Street YA & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
SIMILAR BOOKS :
- 'Break Wide the Sea' by Sara Holland
- 'Sing Me to Sleep' by Gabi Burton
- 'One Dark Window' by Rachel Gillig
August 29, 2026
Mainly picked this up for the disability rep, and it delivered on that front, but was also a very enjoyable and heartwarming read in general. There’s faerie magic, cald and windswept Scottish islands and princesses and princes falling for each other. It incorporates some darker issues, like parental abuse, and deals with them quite well.
The blurb did promise ‘a beautiful celebration of sisterhood’, which I unfotunately found to be a bit lacking. Kit and Catherine’s relationship is sweet, but I couldn’t help but feel like Catherine was a rather passive participant in it.
I was ultimately a bit disappointed by the ending, since it leaves the future a bit too open and undefined for my taste. There are a number of issues that remain unresolved, that I feel like should have been dealt with. And the fact that they aren’t feels a bit like the author didn’t want to do the hard work of actually dealing with these very divisive plot points.
Overall, I’d still definitely recommend this to anyone looking for physical disability rep in fantasy, or YA fantasy that deals with heavier topics. Even though the ending didn’t quite hit for me I still absolutely enjoyed the reading experience.
Tropes and such:
- historical YA fantasy romance
- physical disability/chronic illness rep
- fae curses & bargains
- body swapping
- abusive parent(s) (mainly stepfather)
- set in Northern Scotland
-----
Thank you to Rock The Boat for the ARC
The blurb did promise ‘a beautiful celebration of sisterhood’, which I unfotunately found to be a bit lacking. Kit and Catherine’s relationship is sweet, but I couldn’t help but feel like Catherine was a rather passive participant in it.
I was ultimately a bit disappointed by the ending, since it leaves the future a bit too open and undefined for my taste. There are a number of issues that remain unresolved, that I feel like should have been dealt with. And the fact that they aren’t feels a bit like the author didn’t want to do the hard work of actually dealing with these very divisive plot points.
Overall, I’d still definitely recommend this to anyone looking for physical disability rep in fantasy, or YA fantasy that deals with heavier topics. Even though the ending didn’t quite hit for me I still absolutely enjoyed the reading experience.
Tropes and such:
- historical YA fantasy romance
- physical disability/chronic illness rep
- fae curses & bargains
- body swapping
- abusive parent(s) (mainly stepfather)
- set in Northern Scotland
-----
Thank you to Rock The Boat for the ARC
May 18, 2026
Uncompromising, sincere, and kind without losing its teeth - not a combination that comes around easily or often.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Two cursed people - and a chance to save each other. Kit is afflicted with a wasting sickness. When an enchantment switches her into her stepsister’s body, Kit must find a way to make things right…but can she really bear to return to the illness? Idris has learned a dark secret about his family, and is cursed to dance to death. If Kit and Idris want to survive, they will need to work together. But lines blur as the two grow closer. There are few ways to break a curse, and there may not be enough magic left to break them all.
The chronic illness rep here is so well done. I have health conditions and hyper mobility, so reading the descriptions of Kit’s symptoms really made me wince! I am no stranger to cracking joints and old injuries, so from literally page 1 I was so sympathetic to what Kit was experiencing - I know how draining it is when something affects you every day. The author draws on her own lived experience, and it is so effective. Idris had a strong moral compass and real compassion for his family, which made him easy to root for. I particularly loved his bond with his dog, True.
The king was absolutely vile and I was simmering with rage throughout. His abuse of Kit is spiteful and cruel, and he was a true villain! I loved the inclusion of other fairytales and folklore, which really built up the world and made it feel rich and full.
This book dives right in, and some of the descriptions are pretty stomach-churning. The story generally moved at a good pace, although I wish we had seen more of Catharine in Kit’s body - the ending felt very quickly wrapped up compared to earlier chapters, and we got very little of Catharine’s perspective and reactions.
Overall this was a great read and one I’d highly recommend to fans of Labyrinth, Thistlemarsh, or The Cruel Prince!
Thank you Rock the Boat for a proof!
The chronic illness rep here is so well done. I have health conditions and hyper mobility, so reading the descriptions of Kit’s symptoms really made me wince! I am no stranger to cracking joints and old injuries, so from literally page 1 I was so sympathetic to what Kit was experiencing - I know how draining it is when something affects you every day. The author draws on her own lived experience, and it is so effective. Idris had a strong moral compass and real compassion for his family, which made him easy to root for. I particularly loved his bond with his dog, True.
The king was absolutely vile and I was simmering with rage throughout. His abuse of Kit is spiteful and cruel, and he was a true villain! I loved the inclusion of other fairytales and folklore, which really built up the world and made it feel rich and full.
This book dives right in, and some of the descriptions are pretty stomach-churning. The story generally moved at a good pace, although I wish we had seen more of Catharine in Kit’s body - the ending felt very quickly wrapped up compared to earlier chapters, and we got very little of Catharine’s perspective and reactions.
Overall this was a great read and one I’d highly recommend to fans of Labyrinth, Thistlemarsh, or The Cruel Prince!
Thank you Rock the Boat for a proof!
August 30, 2026
I was lucky enough to be selected for an Insta Book Tours tour for All the Queens Curses by Alyssa Hollingsworth, and I am so glad I could to take part. Anything with fae curses/bargains and I am intrigued, couple that with the fact it is a retelling of a Scottish folk fairy tale, and I was sold. I'm sure you have guessed by now, I am very much obsessed with Scottish folklore, and this book captured the wilds of Scotland perfectly!
All The Queens Curses is a YA fantasy romance but be warned - it does have some darker themes. Kit and Catharine are stepsisters, brought together when their parents enter into a royal marriage. They are closer than you would imagine stepsisters to be, trusting one another and loving each other as sisters despite not being related by blood. Catharine tries her best to help Kit with her debilitating wasting sickness, while Kit keeps the secret of her stepfather’s abuse. When it is revealed that the King intends on marrying Catharine to Prince Idris, Kit's mother steps in and swaps the sister’s bodies...Now Kit must fight to get back to her own body - but does she really want to return to a body afflicted with such pain? Prince Idris is also afflicted with a dangerous curse - forced to dance nightly in a fae gathering as punishment for his ancestors’ actions. When Kit and Idris meet, it becomes obvious that his affections lie not with the princess chosen for him, but her sister, and they must work together to break the curses that hold them captive.
The atmosphere for this book is absolutely spot on - I really felt like I was there! Idris is selfless and loyal to his brother Abram, and he made a wonderful MMC. Kit and Catarine's relationship is beautiful - they go through so much together, and their deeper understanding of one another at the end of the book is magical. The fae bargains undertaken are complex and brutal in many respects, and I was longing for them to break their respective curses all the way through the narrative. I love that the romance through the book is so nuanced and delicate. It is central to the theme, but not a main focus, which I found refreshing. Overall, the story is one of healing, trust, love and identity and I loved it.
All The Queens Curses is a YA fantasy romance but be warned - it does have some darker themes. Kit and Catharine are stepsisters, brought together when their parents enter into a royal marriage. They are closer than you would imagine stepsisters to be, trusting one another and loving each other as sisters despite not being related by blood. Catharine tries her best to help Kit with her debilitating wasting sickness, while Kit keeps the secret of her stepfather’s abuse. When it is revealed that the King intends on marrying Catharine to Prince Idris, Kit's mother steps in and swaps the sister’s bodies...Now Kit must fight to get back to her own body - but does she really want to return to a body afflicted with such pain? Prince Idris is also afflicted with a dangerous curse - forced to dance nightly in a fae gathering as punishment for his ancestors’ actions. When Kit and Idris meet, it becomes obvious that his affections lie not with the princess chosen for him, but her sister, and they must work together to break the curses that hold them captive.
The atmosphere for this book is absolutely spot on - I really felt like I was there! Idris is selfless and loyal to his brother Abram, and he made a wonderful MMC. Kit and Catarine's relationship is beautiful - they go through so much together, and their deeper understanding of one another at the end of the book is magical. The fae bargains undertaken are complex and brutal in many respects, and I was longing for them to break their respective curses all the way through the narrative. I love that the romance through the book is so nuanced and delicate. It is central to the theme, but not a main focus, which I found refreshing. Overall, the story is one of healing, trust, love and identity and I loved it.
September 16, 2026
A beautifully written story - our stories, no matter how traumatic, do not define us. Loved it and would recommend to everyone!
Review of advance copy received from Author
An easy read with some serious topics touched upon. It's got a freaky Friday vibe. A strong FMC and a cute ending.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Insta Book Tours and Rock the Boat for the copy, it hasn’t affected my honest review.
TW: child abuse, (off page) sexual assault, chronic illness, injury, violence
Ever since Kit’s mother and her step sister Catharine’s king father married, they’ve been inseparable but they couldn’t be more different despite their shared name. However, living under the same roof as King Byrne’s abuse and suffering from chronic illness, there’s little chance of relief. On the night of the ball where Catharine will meet her intended Prince Idris on his eighteenth birthday, Kit never expected to connect with him so deeply. However Idris has secrets of his own- at midnight he gains knowledge about the terrible crime his ancestor committed against a selkie and the dancing curse laid upon his family by the Fae Queen. If he can’t bear it, he can always pass it on to his younger, brilliant brother Abram. Idris refuses, accepting the trial to end the curse knowing it will likely kill him. As Kit’s mother seeks out a way to protect her daughter from Byrne, she turns to the Fae to swap the sisters’ bodies. Terrified by their transformation, Kit and Catharine flee to Idris’ northern kingdom, seeking his help to break their curse despite not being able to speak it out loud. With Idris’ health suffering from the constant nightly dancing and Catharine struggling in Kit’s sick body, they all have to work together to repair the sins of their families’ past to end the curses.
Inspired by the Scottish fairytale Kate Crackernuts, ‘All the Queen’s Curses’ was impossible to put down once I started reading. I was swept up in the world of Kit, Idris and Catharine from the first page as we follow them from royal ballrooms, the windswept coast and the deadly Fae court. I took really quickly to the characters- Kit for her bravery, Idris for his moral compass, Catharine for her kindness, Abram for his curiosity and True the dog for just being the most perfect boy. The bond at the heart of this book is Kit and Catharine, who truly carry each other forward through the most terrible things. They’re both so unique (despite the same name) and I adored their connection even after they swap bodies as they experience life as the other. The way Kit’s chronic illness is written feels very relatable, especially as magic isn’t used to “cure” her. Likewise I really enjoyed getting Idris’ perspective of his curse and the responsibility he feels because of his ancestors’ actions; his brotherly relationship with Abram was one of my favourite parts. The romance between Kit and Idris is slow and beautiful, taking into account her experience with assault and built on the foundation of identity, understanding and support. The Fae Queen is capricious and a little bit terrifying, the dance scenes dreamlike and increasingly higher stakes as the book goes on. This is the kind of YA I love to read most- dark and dealing with difficult topics but with an ongoing theme of hope at the very centre- just check the trigger warnings beforehand. I absolutely loved it.
TW: child abuse, (off page) sexual assault, chronic illness, injury, violence
Ever since Kit’s mother and her step sister Catharine’s king father married, they’ve been inseparable but they couldn’t be more different despite their shared name. However, living under the same roof as King Byrne’s abuse and suffering from chronic illness, there’s little chance of relief. On the night of the ball where Catharine will meet her intended Prince Idris on his eighteenth birthday, Kit never expected to connect with him so deeply. However Idris has secrets of his own- at midnight he gains knowledge about the terrible crime his ancestor committed against a selkie and the dancing curse laid upon his family by the Fae Queen. If he can’t bear it, he can always pass it on to his younger, brilliant brother Abram. Idris refuses, accepting the trial to end the curse knowing it will likely kill him. As Kit’s mother seeks out a way to protect her daughter from Byrne, she turns to the Fae to swap the sisters’ bodies. Terrified by their transformation, Kit and Catharine flee to Idris’ northern kingdom, seeking his help to break their curse despite not being able to speak it out loud. With Idris’ health suffering from the constant nightly dancing and Catharine struggling in Kit’s sick body, they all have to work together to repair the sins of their families’ past to end the curses.
Inspired by the Scottish fairytale Kate Crackernuts, ‘All the Queen’s Curses’ was impossible to put down once I started reading. I was swept up in the world of Kit, Idris and Catharine from the first page as we follow them from royal ballrooms, the windswept coast and the deadly Fae court. I took really quickly to the characters- Kit for her bravery, Idris for his moral compass, Catharine for her kindness, Abram for his curiosity and True the dog for just being the most perfect boy. The bond at the heart of this book is Kit and Catharine, who truly carry each other forward through the most terrible things. They’re both so unique (despite the same name) and I adored their connection even after they swap bodies as they experience life as the other. The way Kit’s chronic illness is written feels very relatable, especially as magic isn’t used to “cure” her. Likewise I really enjoyed getting Idris’ perspective of his curse and the responsibility he feels because of his ancestors’ actions; his brotherly relationship with Abram was one of my favourite parts. The romance between Kit and Idris is slow and beautiful, taking into account her experience with assault and built on the foundation of identity, understanding and support. The Fae Queen is capricious and a little bit terrifying, the dance scenes dreamlike and increasingly higher stakes as the book goes on. This is the kind of YA I love to read most- dark and dealing with difficult topics but with an ongoing theme of hope at the very centre- just check the trigger warnings beforehand. I absolutely loved it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for access to an e-ARC for review purposes.
Unfortunately, this one was a DNF for me. I really hate that I wasn’t able to finish, but the story did not grip me in any way. I just wasn’t interested in continuing and I’m not happy about it. I’ve tried to reflect on why I would want to DNF this after getting halfway through and I think I found some legitimate reasons.
First – The plot:
The plot sounded interesting from the blurb, but I think the delivery just didn’t match what I expected. I expected this to be fast moving and high stakes. I expected the body switch to cause some complications and drama. I was disappointed when Idris found out Kit was in her sister’s body right away. I was hoping the drama surrounding that would be a main theme in this book, but it was resolved so quickly and felt anticlimactic. I feel like this book would get there eventually, but unfortunately after giving it a go to halfway through, I wasn’t hooked enough to continue.
Second – The characters:
I didn’t particularly like any of the characters. Yes, I felt bad for them and their circumstances, of course, but I didn’t feel any connection to them. While reading I didn’t feel any concern that they wouldn’t get their happy endings and that just kind of ruined any drama for me. I usually don’t have an issue with a book with lower stakes – but I feel like I went into this book expecting high stakes and drama and got more of a cozy fantasy feel.
I really wish I could have loved this as much as I thought I would and therefore finish it, but I just lost all my interest by halfway in. I really need books to grip me before then or I’m libel to discontinue reading.
With that being said, I’m giving this 3 stars because I don’t think what I read was bad by any means, just not interesting enough for me to continue reading. I do not wish to discourage others who want to give this a go, just know that this leans more into the cozy fantasy vibe (to me) than a high stakes romantasy.
Unfortunately, this one was a DNF for me. I really hate that I wasn’t able to finish, but the story did not grip me in any way. I just wasn’t interested in continuing and I’m not happy about it. I’ve tried to reflect on why I would want to DNF this after getting halfway through and I think I found some legitimate reasons.
First – The plot:
The plot sounded interesting from the blurb, but I think the delivery just didn’t match what I expected. I expected this to be fast moving and high stakes. I expected the body switch to cause some complications and drama. I was disappointed when Idris found out Kit was in her sister’s body right away. I was hoping the drama surrounding that would be a main theme in this book, but it was resolved so quickly and felt anticlimactic. I feel like this book would get there eventually, but unfortunately after giving it a go to halfway through, I wasn’t hooked enough to continue.
Second – The characters:
I didn’t particularly like any of the characters. Yes, I felt bad for them and their circumstances, of course, but I didn’t feel any connection to them. While reading I didn’t feel any concern that they wouldn’t get their happy endings and that just kind of ruined any drama for me. I usually don’t have an issue with a book with lower stakes – but I feel like I went into this book expecting high stakes and drama and got more of a cozy fantasy feel.
I really wish I could have loved this as much as I thought I would and therefore finish it, but I just lost all my interest by halfway in. I really need books to grip me before then or I’m libel to discontinue reading.
With that being said, I’m giving this 3 stars because I don’t think what I read was bad by any means, just not interesting enough for me to continue reading. I do not wish to discourage others who want to give this a go, just know that this leans more into the cozy fantasy vibe (to me) than a high stakes romantasy.
September 21, 2026
If you loved Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries then you would love this book! Imagine historical romance with that classical dash of faerie folklore. But be warned, there are dark themes in this book that despite the characters’ ages I think pushes this to the category of YA. Dark themes of chronic illness, abuse, and depressive thoughts. Overall this story was spectacular to me as I love this genre of book that mixes romance, politics, YA adventure, the classical view of the Fae and the folklore that surrounds them.
Kit’s mother married a king plunging their family into royalty, gaining her a sister and turning her into an unsuspecting princess. Idris is the prince of a neighboring kingdom coming of age. The characters meet as their kings are planning an arranged marriage between Idris and Princess Catherine. But unfortunately Idris has a younger brother who has caught Catherine’s eye and Idris can’t seem to stop thinking about the wild and not put together step sister Kit.
The Fae intervene as Idris’ family has a longstanding curse that is presented to the men of his family. He can choose to take the curse on himself or double it and give it to the next one in line (his brother). Kit’s mother puts together a plan to bargain with the Fae to switch Kit and Catherine souls into each other’s bodies, giving Kit an escape from her diseased and wasting body and protecting her from the evil intentions of the king.
What ensues is an adventure of the 4 siblings to figure out how to break their curses while being thrust into the Fae world. The writing is whimsical and beautiful and I enjoyed every aspect of this book, even the dark and traumatic parts. I do enjoy broken characters that work to put themselves back together, find beauty in their past and present, and learn to love themselves and each other.
Thank you to Page Street YA and NetGalley for an arc for me to read and review. This is my honest review.
Kit’s mother married a king plunging their family into royalty, gaining her a sister and turning her into an unsuspecting princess. Idris is the prince of a neighboring kingdom coming of age. The characters meet as their kings are planning an arranged marriage between Idris and Princess Catherine. But unfortunately Idris has a younger brother who has caught Catherine’s eye and Idris can’t seem to stop thinking about the wild and not put together step sister Kit.
The Fae intervene as Idris’ family has a longstanding curse that is presented to the men of his family. He can choose to take the curse on himself or double it and give it to the next one in line (his brother). Kit’s mother puts together a plan to bargain with the Fae to switch Kit and Catherine souls into each other’s bodies, giving Kit an escape from her diseased and wasting body and protecting her from the evil intentions of the king.
What ensues is an adventure of the 4 siblings to figure out how to break their curses while being thrust into the Fae world. The writing is whimsical and beautiful and I enjoyed every aspect of this book, even the dark and traumatic parts. I do enjoy broken characters that work to put themselves back together, find beauty in their past and present, and learn to love themselves and each other.
Thank you to Page Street YA and NetGalley for an arc for me to read and review. This is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Characters: 3.75⭐️
Setting: 4.00⭐️
Plot: 3.75⭐️
Themes: 3.75⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 3.75⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3.75⭐️
Overall rating: 3.75⭐️
All the Queen's Curses is a Scottish fairytale retelling with darker themes. Kit is the stepdaughter to the king who has a wasting disease that causes pain in her joints and bones. Catharine is intended to wed a prince of the Northern Isles. But when Kit's mother, the queen, bargains with the fae, she body swaps Kit and Catharine so Kit can be free. Horrified, Kit and Catharine travel north to confront the fae who made the bargain with their mother.
Please check your triggers when reading this book. There are talks of abuse (though not explicitly on page), but it is there. This is story about sisterhood and what one would d to save the ones you love. I loved the mystery and magic that is woven throughout this story and then tie into Scottish folklore. However, I will say that it was a little confusing between Kit and Catharine since Kit is actually a nickname for Catharine. I also think there was a lot going on with different curses in this story since not only is the reader trying to navigate Kit and Catharines curse, the princes in the story, Idris and Abram, are also trying to navigate the curses on their family as well.
There are really great themes in this book overall, and it was nice story. I wanted the flow of the story to fit a little better. But overall, I did enjoy the story.
Would I recommend this book? Yes if you like retellings of fairytales.
Thank you to Page Street YA for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Setting: 4.00⭐️
Plot: 3.75⭐️
Themes: 3.75⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 3.75⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3.75⭐️
Overall rating: 3.75⭐️
All the Queen's Curses is a Scottish fairytale retelling with darker themes. Kit is the stepdaughter to the king who has a wasting disease that causes pain in her joints and bones. Catharine is intended to wed a prince of the Northern Isles. But when Kit's mother, the queen, bargains with the fae, she body swaps Kit and Catharine so Kit can be free. Horrified, Kit and Catharine travel north to confront the fae who made the bargain with their mother.
Please check your triggers when reading this book. There are talks of abuse (though not explicitly on page), but it is there. This is story about sisterhood and what one would d to save the ones you love. I loved the mystery and magic that is woven throughout this story and then tie into Scottish folklore. However, I will say that it was a little confusing between Kit and Catharine since Kit is actually a nickname for Catharine. I also think there was a lot going on with different curses in this story since not only is the reader trying to navigate Kit and Catharines curse, the princes in the story, Idris and Abram, are also trying to navigate the curses on their family as well.
There are really great themes in this book overall, and it was nice story. I wanted the flow of the story to fit a little better. But overall, I did enjoy the story.
Would I recommend this book? Yes if you like retellings of fairytales.
Thank you to Page Street YA for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2026
"Is there not something to be said for the fact that you are here — you, yourself, wholly as you are?"
ALL THE QUEENS' CURSES BY ALYSSA HOLLINGSWORTH. REVIEW.
I won this ARC in a giveaway way back in August, but only now had the chance to sit and read it at my leisure 🤭 I can count on one hand how many ARCs just hit the right spot for me, and this is one of those that I'd most definitely read again 💙
'All The Queens' Curses' is a dual POV between Kit and Idris. We're brought into the human world of political alliances, marriages and duty... and the more magical, mysterious world of the Hidden Folk.
A world of deals, bargains and barters all the same, but one with a goregous, gothic sea-side setting that lures the reader in. We can hear the choppy waves against the rocks, see the moonlight on water through the darkness. There are times I felt this story had become a dark faiytale, with tension and uncertainty lurking behind Kit's hope. One of the strongest elements of this book was the tales woven within the main story: it adds so much to the world-building and draws our own world into this fantasy one.
This fantasy dances gracefully between darker themes such as sexual abuse and chronic illness while showing the progression of first loves. It results in a unique voice that reminds us, the readers, of what a story with a moral compass can do to us. I sat staring at the wall, quietly replaying the last words on the page.
All I will add here is a big thank you to Rock The Boat for sending this ARC ⭐️ I'll be framing the character art and adding it to the collection! 😁🫶🏻
ALL THE QUEENS' CURSES BY ALYSSA HOLLINGSWORTH. REVIEW.
I won this ARC in a giveaway way back in August, but only now had the chance to sit and read it at my leisure 🤭 I can count on one hand how many ARCs just hit the right spot for me, and this is one of those that I'd most definitely read again 💙
'All The Queens' Curses' is a dual POV between Kit and Idris. We're brought into the human world of political alliances, marriages and duty... and the more magical, mysterious world of the Hidden Folk.
A world of deals, bargains and barters all the same, but one with a goregous, gothic sea-side setting that lures the reader in. We can hear the choppy waves against the rocks, see the moonlight on water through the darkness. There are times I felt this story had become a dark faiytale, with tension and uncertainty lurking behind Kit's hope. One of the strongest elements of this book was the tales woven within the main story: it adds so much to the world-building and draws our own world into this fantasy one.
This fantasy dances gracefully between darker themes such as sexual abuse and chronic illness while showing the progression of first loves. It results in a unique voice that reminds us, the readers, of what a story with a moral compass can do to us. I sat staring at the wall, quietly replaying the last words on the page.
All I will add here is a big thank you to Rock The Boat for sending this ARC ⭐️ I'll be framing the character art and adding it to the collection! 😁🫶🏻
September 2, 2026
I’m writing my review from the beach, early in the morning. The day started with a very hot sun and an iced matcha latte for company. While I’m preparing all the last details for our wedding day, I’m finalising my review.
The All The Queens’ Curses has an unbelievable cultural depth. The FMC, Princess Kit, suffers from a chronic illness and handles an abusive stepfather, the actual king. The queen who is the mother of Kit (short for Katherine) makes a desperate deal with the Hidden Folk; this triggers a body swap between Kit and her stepsister, Princess Catherine. Kit is a simple character who enjoys her everyday routine despite her chronic illness. Both girls run away in an attempt to break the curse. They travel north and run into Prince Idris and his brother, Prince Abram. Prince Idris is dealing with his own generational curse bound by Fae.
As the journey continues on the path to break the curses, Kit and Idris are working together, and along the way both start discovering their feelings for each other. The story is beautiful, slow-paced, and I felt a bit melancholic as both sides are carrying their families' past. The characters are coming across trauma, emotional secrets and working for healing.
I enjoyed this book; for me, it covered all of my expectations from a fantasy with Fae magic, folktale, sister bond, and a slow-burn romance, even though I needed more romance between the characters.
The All The Queens’ Curses has an unbelievable cultural depth. The FMC, Princess Kit, suffers from a chronic illness and handles an abusive stepfather, the actual king. The queen who is the mother of Kit (short for Katherine) makes a desperate deal with the Hidden Folk; this triggers a body swap between Kit and her stepsister, Princess Catherine. Kit is a simple character who enjoys her everyday routine despite her chronic illness. Both girls run away in an attempt to break the curse. They travel north and run into Prince Idris and his brother, Prince Abram. Prince Idris is dealing with his own generational curse bound by Fae.
As the journey continues on the path to break the curses, Kit and Idris are working together, and along the way both start discovering their feelings for each other. The story is beautiful, slow-paced, and I felt a bit melancholic as both sides are carrying their families' past. The characters are coming across trauma, emotional secrets and working for healing.
I enjoyed this book; for me, it covered all of my expectations from a fantasy with Fae magic, folktale, sister bond, and a slow-burn romance, even though I needed more romance between the characters.
August 31, 2026
All the Queen’s Curses is an absolutely brilliant standalone fantasy read! I devoured this book way too quickly! I loved the Hidden Folk, the folklore woven throughout the story, and all the tales that unfolded along the way.
The world Alyssa Hollingsworth created was so enchanting, and I especially loved following these characters, who were trying to break free from the curses that had been cast upon them, and breaking free from their families in their own respective ways. The whole concept completely drew me in, which had that wonderful fairytale feeling where you’re never quite sure what is unravelling, and whether it will be beautiful, dangerous… or both!
My only real disappointment was the romance - because I am an absolute sucker for a good romance, and the build-up was so good!!! I was completely invested and waiting, and then it felt like the end just came too quick! I can understand why the story ended in this way, and instead focusing on the promise of what could come next for the characters, but I just wanted more. More time with the characters, more of the romance coming together, as I closed the book feeling like I was only one page away from satisfaction!
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Definitely read this book if you love dangerous bargains, curses waiting to be broken, a story of the love between sisters, and embracing who we are.
The world Alyssa Hollingsworth created was so enchanting, and I especially loved following these characters, who were trying to break free from the curses that had been cast upon them, and breaking free from their families in their own respective ways. The whole concept completely drew me in, which had that wonderful fairytale feeling where you’re never quite sure what is unravelling, and whether it will be beautiful, dangerous… or both!
My only real disappointment was the romance - because I am an absolute sucker for a good romance, and the build-up was so good!!! I was completely invested and waiting, and then it felt like the end just came too quick! I can understand why the story ended in this way, and instead focusing on the promise of what could come next for the characters, but I just wanted more. More time with the characters, more of the romance coming together, as I closed the book feeling like I was only one page away from satisfaction!
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Definitely read this book if you love dangerous bargains, curses waiting to be broken, a story of the love between sisters, and embracing who we are.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
All the Queens’ Curses by Alyssa Hollingsworth was such a beautiful, atmospheric fairytale retelling. ✨
Inspired by the Orcadian folktale Kate Crackernuts, this story combines Scottish folklore, fae magic, curses, sisterhood, and a gentle romance in a way that felt both magical and deeply emotional.
My favourite part was Kit and Catharine’s relationship. Their bond is at the heart of the story, and I loved seeing two stepsisters who genuinely love and protect each other rather than falling into the usual rivalry. 💕
I also really appreciated the way Kit’s chronic illness and pain were handled. Her story isn’t about being magically “fixed” to become whole—it’s about identity, healing, resilience, and learning to accept yourself.
And then there’s the romance with Idris. 🥹 Their relationship was sweet, tender, and built on genuine respect, which made it especially lovely to read.
The Scottish folklore and windswept fairytale atmosphere were another huge highlight for me. If you enjoy YA fantasy, dark fairytale retellings, fae magic, strong sisterly bonds, and heartfelt romance, I definitely recommend this one!
4.5/5 ⭐️
Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Inspired by the Orcadian folktale Kate Crackernuts, this story combines Scottish folklore, fae magic, curses, sisterhood, and a gentle romance in a way that felt both magical and deeply emotional.
My favourite part was Kit and Catharine’s relationship. Their bond is at the heart of the story, and I loved seeing two stepsisters who genuinely love and protect each other rather than falling into the usual rivalry. 💕
I also really appreciated the way Kit’s chronic illness and pain were handled. Her story isn’t about being magically “fixed” to become whole—it’s about identity, healing, resilience, and learning to accept yourself.
And then there’s the romance with Idris. 🥹 Their relationship was sweet, tender, and built on genuine respect, which made it especially lovely to read.
The Scottish folklore and windswept fairytale atmosphere were another huge highlight for me. If you enjoy YA fantasy, dark fairytale retellings, fae magic, strong sisterly bonds, and heartfelt romance, I definitely recommend this one!
4.5/5 ⭐️
Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
All the Queen’s Curses was such an interesting and enjoyable read! One of my favourite parts was the Scottish folklore woven throughout the story. I knew very little about creatures like selkies and Finfolk before reading this, so I genuinely loved discovering their stories and legends through the book.
I also really enjoyed the relationship between Kit and her sister and, of course, all the romantic complications involving the two sisters and the two princes. And I have to give a special mention to True, Prince Idris’s loyal little dog. 🥹
But what gave this story a deeper meaning for me was learning about Alyssa Hollingsworth’s personal connection to it. She drew from her own experience living with rheumatoid arthritis when portraying chronic illness and the physical effects of one of the curses. When an author’s personal story can be felt through the pages of their book, the story takes on a deeper meaning, it stops being just fiction and becomes a form of art.
Overall, I really enjoyed the sisterhood, romance and Scottish folklore, and it definitely left me wanting to learn more about some of the legends that inspired it. 🦭🧜♀️
Thanks to Insta Books Tours, the publisher Rock the boat and the author for having me as part of the book tour.
I also really enjoyed the relationship between Kit and her sister and, of course, all the romantic complications involving the two sisters and the two princes. And I have to give a special mention to True, Prince Idris’s loyal little dog. 🥹
But what gave this story a deeper meaning for me was learning about Alyssa Hollingsworth’s personal connection to it. She drew from her own experience living with rheumatoid arthritis when portraying chronic illness and the physical effects of one of the curses. When an author’s personal story can be felt through the pages of their book, the story takes on a deeper meaning, it stops being just fiction and becomes a form of art.
Overall, I really enjoyed the sisterhood, romance and Scottish folklore, and it definitely left me wanting to learn more about some of the legends that inspired it. 🦭🧜♀️
Thanks to Insta Books Tours, the publisher Rock the boat and the author for having me as part of the book tour.
September 8, 2026
Rating: 4.5/5⭐️
I enjoyed this book! It had folklore I didn’t know about so it was quite interesting to delve into the different curses (I also learned that ‘selkie’ is not a posh name for mermaids, they’re two very different species of faeries! Interesting interesting!).
For me, the highlight of this story was the sisterhood and how they are each other’s everything! I love how in no moment, none of them lost their faith or stop believe in the other. The amount of trust and love between them is beautiful - specially as they are step-sisters! It was a true found family they found in each other! I also think the author was quite mindful when approaching certain topics of trauma and chronic illnesses and the writing in general just kept making me want to read ‘just one more chapter’ (until I finished the book - oops?)
The only reason this was not a 5⭐️ for me is simply because I wanted a little more out of the romance. We can see them falling for each other but I wanted a bit more showing it rather than telling us about it. I’m not a visual reader, but I can see little moments in my mind while I am reading so I wanted a bit more of that emotional vulnerability between them (maybe a kiss would have been nice?).
I enjoyed this book! It had folklore I didn’t know about so it was quite interesting to delve into the different curses (I also learned that ‘selkie’ is not a posh name for mermaids, they’re two very different species of faeries! Interesting interesting!).
For me, the highlight of this story was the sisterhood and how they are each other’s everything! I love how in no moment, none of them lost their faith or stop believe in the other. The amount of trust and love between them is beautiful - specially as they are step-sisters! It was a true found family they found in each other! I also think the author was quite mindful when approaching certain topics of trauma and chronic illnesses and the writing in general just kept making me want to read ‘just one more chapter’ (until I finished the book - oops?)
The only reason this was not a 5⭐️ for me is simply because I wanted a little more out of the romance. We can see them falling for each other but I wanted a bit more showing it rather than telling us about it. I’m not a visual reader, but I can see little moments in my mind while I am reading so I wanted a bit more of that emotional vulnerability between them (maybe a kiss would have been nice?).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A fresh take on a non-traditional princess story.
Kit is chronically ill, sick with the "wasting sickness", and step daughter to the (abusive, check for trigger warnings) King. Her best friend and step sister, also called Catherine, is about to be married off until Kits mother makes a deal with the fae and body swaps the two.
Here we also meet the mmc Prince Idris. His family have a curse of their own and Kit now has three curses to contend with, and her treachous heart.
Overall, I liked Kit and Idris. They were very selfless characters who were very driven by protecting others, so it made sense it's what drew them together.
The world building was like a fairytale and you could see the influences, like the literal inclusion of Gelert and other tales I was less familiar with. For me the imagery about what these looked like was a little wishy washy and I couldn't feel immersed but that was my biggest gripe.
I greatly enjoyed the ending and the plot twists but agree with other reviews that there should have been greater trigger warnings for the assault aspect - especially for the YA rating.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers
Kit is chronically ill, sick with the "wasting sickness", and step daughter to the (abusive, check for trigger warnings) King. Her best friend and step sister, also called Catherine, is about to be married off until Kits mother makes a deal with the fae and body swaps the two.
Here we also meet the mmc Prince Idris. His family have a curse of their own and Kit now has three curses to contend with, and her treachous heart.
Overall, I liked Kit and Idris. They were very selfless characters who were very driven by protecting others, so it made sense it's what drew them together.
The world building was like a fairytale and you could see the influences, like the literal inclusion of Gelert and other tales I was less familiar with. For me the imagery about what these looked like was a little wishy washy and I couldn't feel immersed but that was my biggest gripe.
I greatly enjoyed the ending and the plot twists but agree with other reviews that there should have been greater trigger warnings for the assault aspect - especially for the YA rating.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers
September 8, 2026
Katherine, aka Kit, loves her stepsister Catherine. She also doesn't mind her body that is often aching and weak, except when it allows her stepfather, King Byrne, to abuse her, which she tries to hide from Catherine. Idris, a visiting prince, loves his brother, and when his father reveals that Idris can either pass down the fae curse his great-grandfather invoked, he decides to take on the repayment - which means each night he is spirited away to dance all night with the fae. After Kit's mother invokes a curse of her own between the two sisters, all four siblings must work together to try to break all of the curses.
I had never read the original tale this was based on ("Kate Crackernuts") so this had many surprises despite similarities to the Twelve Dancing Princesses and other fairytales. I enjoyed that the siblings cared about each other and were all working to help each other rather than competing like the adults in the story wanted them to. The abuse Kit suffers at the hands of the King is more implied than shown by her reactions to her attraction to Idris. The ending tied things up neatly in a way that was almost (but not fully) expected.
I had never read the original tale this was based on ("Kate Crackernuts") so this had many surprises despite similarities to the Twelve Dancing Princesses and other fairytales. I enjoyed that the siblings cared about each other and were all working to help each other rather than competing like the adults in the story wanted them to. The abuse Kit suffers at the hands of the King is more implied than shown by her reactions to her attraction to Idris. The ending tied things up neatly in a way that was almost (but not fully) expected.
September 26, 2026
𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄: All The Queens Curse
𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: Alyssa Hollingsworth
𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐑: Page Street Ya
𝐏𝐔𝐁 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 8.11.2026
𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: Fantasy / Retelling
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 @pagestreetya @alyssa_hollingsworth
𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒::
All The Queens Curses is a YA fairy tale by Alyssa Hollingsworth is an immersive Fantasy. Alyssa Hollingsworth Breathes life into Orcadian Scottish folklore.
The author delivers a compelling, intriguing, and well-written read, along with absolutely fantastic characters that totally captivated me. The book centers on curses, sisterly love, trauma and chronic illness, so check the trigger warnings.
The chronic illness and bravery will touch your heart and is handled perfectly, all the while adding so much depth to the storyline. The romance is done carefully with the character’s struggles, making the story feel more natural. The vivid imagery helps place the reader within the author’s creative world. First person reflective narrative helps pull the story together, and the pace is even and swift, and I found myself unable to put the book down.
𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐒 🏷️ #pagestreetya #allthequeenscurses #fantasybooks
𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: Alyssa Hollingsworth
𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐑: Page Street Ya
𝐏𝐔𝐁 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 8.11.2026
𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: Fantasy / Retelling
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 @pagestreetya @alyssa_hollingsworth
𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒::
All The Queens Curses is a YA fairy tale by Alyssa Hollingsworth is an immersive Fantasy. Alyssa Hollingsworth Breathes life into Orcadian Scottish folklore.
The author delivers a compelling, intriguing, and well-written read, along with absolutely fantastic characters that totally captivated me. The book centers on curses, sisterly love, trauma and chronic illness, so check the trigger warnings.
The chronic illness and bravery will touch your heart and is handled perfectly, all the while adding so much depth to the storyline. The romance is done carefully with the character’s struggles, making the story feel more natural. The vivid imagery helps place the reader within the author’s creative world. First person reflective narrative helps pull the story together, and the pace is even and swift, and I found myself unable to put the book down.
𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐒 🏷️ #pagestreetya #allthequeenscurses #fantasybooks
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a very solid fantasy book, it was full of emotion, mystery and folklore and I had no trouble finishing it in one day!
Thanks to the Publisher Page Street YA for the advanced copy through Netgalley, this did not impact my opinion of the book.
I loved the representation of chronic illness and all the characters. I do wish we could've spent more time with them and been able to experience Catherine's journey as well, but I did love Idris and Kit and their romance and how they came to grow.
The plot itself was not fast-paced, but I felt it really suited the story; it felt like a cozy fantasy but still had some tension and stakes, which made it easy to fly through the book
I also loved the elements of Scottish folklore weaved in the story!
I really enjoyed this one, you get what your given from the blurb and it is told in such an enchanting way. If you love a good heartwarming YA fantasy that's short but packed with folkore, mystery and emotion I recommend you pick this one up!
Thanks to the Publisher Page Street YA for the advanced copy through Netgalley, this did not impact my opinion of the book.
I loved the representation of chronic illness and all the characters. I do wish we could've spent more time with them and been able to experience Catherine's journey as well, but I did love Idris and Kit and their romance and how they came to grow.
The plot itself was not fast-paced, but I felt it really suited the story; it felt like a cozy fantasy but still had some tension and stakes, which made it easy to fly through the book
I also loved the elements of Scottish folklore weaved in the story!
I really enjoyed this one, you get what your given from the blurb and it is told in such an enchanting way. If you love a good heartwarming YA fantasy that's short but packed with folkore, mystery and emotion I recommend you pick this one up!
Review of advance copy
I received an ARC of All the Queens' Curses and stayed up way too late finishing it. Alyssa Hollingsworth has written something rare: a fantasy that never forgets the body. Kit lives with chronic illness a "wasting sickness" that her mother says is a curse passed down through women in their family. When an enchantment swaps her body with her stepsister Catharine's, she has to decide: go back to the body that hurts, or stay in one that works? Meanwhile, Prince Idris has his own curse danced to death unless he can atone for his ancestor's crime against the Hidden Folk. The two stories weave together with such care. What moved me most was how Hollingsworth handles disability: not as something to be cured, but as something to live with, to navigate, to choose. The body swap isn't a magic fix. It's a question. Can Kit bear to go back? The answer surprised me. For readers 12 and up who want fantasy with real weight.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I liked All the Queen's Curses!
It's a retelling of a Scottish fairytale and was an enjoyable YA read that i finished quickly in two sittings.
Also look at that cover, isn't it amazing! It's definitely what first caught my eye when I saw this book!
The author also has a lovely writing style that i enjoyed, and I'm excited to see what they will write next.
One of the strongest parts of the book was the sibling relationship between Kit and Catharine! It was amazing and they were both good characters!
I also liked the other characters, especially Idris! I liked his romance with Kit as well.
I really loved the representation of chronic illness and felt so much for Kit and for what she was experiencing.
I was surprised to find that the story was not as fast paced as I had expected, and actually had a cozy fantasy feel to it that I liked!
All in all this was a book that i enjoyed and i definitely recommend checking it out, especially if you are a fan of fairytale retellings!
It's a retelling of a Scottish fairytale and was an enjoyable YA read that i finished quickly in two sittings.
Also look at that cover, isn't it amazing! It's definitely what first caught my eye when I saw this book!
The author also has a lovely writing style that i enjoyed, and I'm excited to see what they will write next.
One of the strongest parts of the book was the sibling relationship between Kit and Catharine! It was amazing and they were both good characters!
I also liked the other characters, especially Idris! I liked his romance with Kit as well.
I really loved the representation of chronic illness and felt so much for Kit and for what she was experiencing.
I was surprised to find that the story was not as fast paced as I had expected, and actually had a cozy fantasy feel to it that I liked!
All in all this was a book that i enjoyed and i definitely recommend checking it out, especially if you are a fan of fairytale retellings!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
All the Queens’ Curses was a captivating, whimsical retelling of folklore that blended magic, adventure and world-building with a range of complex characters!
The book touched upon themes of identity, particularly surrounding family and expectations of the royals, while being woven naturally into the magical and fantastical elements of the story.
I loved the switches between Kit and Prince Idris’ POVs each chapter, with the curses unfolding from their contrasting perspectives. Their unique bond was a stand-out and made their journey of helping one another break the curses all the more beautiful 😖
Kit and Catherine’s sisterly relationship was the sweetest! It was definitely unexpected but added such a lovely emotional layer to the story, with their dynamic bringing the cutest and most heartwarming moments to the book 🥹
If you’re looking for a whimsical, magical retelling filled with adventure, enchanting world-building, and unforgettable characters…
Check out All the Queens’ Curses, releasing 27th August!
The book touched upon themes of identity, particularly surrounding family and expectations of the royals, while being woven naturally into the magical and fantastical elements of the story.
I loved the switches between Kit and Prince Idris’ POVs each chapter, with the curses unfolding from their contrasting perspectives. Their unique bond was a stand-out and made their journey of helping one another break the curses all the more beautiful 😖
Kit and Catherine’s sisterly relationship was the sweetest! It was definitely unexpected but added such a lovely emotional layer to the story, with their dynamic bringing the cutest and most heartwarming moments to the book 🥹
If you’re looking for a whimsical, magical retelling filled with adventure, enchanting world-building, and unforgettable characters…
Check out All the Queens’ Curses, releasing 27th August!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
All the Queen's Curses was such an enjoyable read from beginning to end. The pacing stayed steady throughout, which made it so easy to sink into the story without ever feeling like it dragged or rushed.
I really admired Kit - the FMC. She was brave, resilient, and continued to push forward despite the inner turmoil she carried. While I liked Idris, I did find myself wishing he had a bit more of a commanding, masculine presence - especially when his younger brother, Abram, often came across as the stronger of the two.
One of my favourite parts was the family dynamics. The bond between King Hugh and his sons felt genuine, but it was Catharine and Kit's relationship that completely stole my heart. Combined with the author's beautiful writing style, this was a story I genuinely loved, and I'll definitely be picking up more of Alyssa's books in the future.
I really admired Kit - the FMC. She was brave, resilient, and continued to push forward despite the inner turmoil she carried. While I liked Idris, I did find myself wishing he had a bit more of a commanding, masculine presence - especially when his younger brother, Abram, often came across as the stronger of the two.
One of my favourite parts was the family dynamics. The bond between King Hugh and his sons felt genuine, but it was Catharine and Kit's relationship that completely stole my heart. Combined with the author's beautiful writing style, this was a story I genuinely loved, and I'll definitely be picking up more of Alyssa's books in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Maybe I’m too sensitive, but I don’t enjoy YA books—especially YA fantasy—that gloss over or lightly handle sexual assault. I didn’t see a trigger warning, and I think one is definitely needed, particularly for a book aimed at a younger audience.
The story itself was fine. I appreciated the touches of Scottish folklore, but I felt it needed more backstory and stronger world-building. I also didn’t fully understand elements like the work, the kings, the land, or even the hotel—those details felt underdeveloped and left me a bit confused.
The cover is beautiful, but it doesn’t really match the story. Overall, the book felt like it was missing some key details that could have made it more cohesive and enjoyable.
The story itself was fine. I appreciated the touches of Scottish folklore, but I felt it needed more backstory and stronger world-building. I also didn’t fully understand elements like the work, the kings, the land, or even the hotel—those details felt underdeveloped and left me a bit confused.
The cover is beautiful, but it doesn’t really match the story. Overall, the book felt like it was missing some key details that could have made it more cohesive and enjoyable.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Toppling Stacks Tours for an ARC of this novel. All The Queen's Curses follows chronically ill Princess Kit and her stepsister Princess Catherine as Kit's mother works with the fae to body swap the two girls. We also follow Prince Idris as he deals with a family curse that has fallen on him. I loved the lore of this book; there is so much about the fae and how they behave that was so interesting. I loved the relationship between Kit and Catherine, they might be stepsisters, but they had such a lovely sibling bond even as Kit limits how much she tells Catherine about her struggles. I also liked the bond between Idris and his brother Abram. I would have liked more backstory on the characters, I felt like things were very abrupt for Kit, her mother and her stepfather.
October 14, 2026
I thought it was great!
FYI the author is my sister.
I tend to find it annoying that Tolkien wrote a fantasy setting a certain way 80 years ago and now all fantasy lit has to be written just like Tolkien for some reason. To me, All the Queens Curses broke that mold and delivered on a more folksy feel to the world.
I liked the characters and their relationships to each other.
The descriptions of the characters' sensations and feelings was very well fleshed out, which is important considering the subject matter.
The subject matter of abuse, trauma, and chronic illness was handled excellently as far as I'm concerned.
My only gripes are with the plot. It starts out a little slow and has some fits and starts thoughout the story.
Overall though, the arc of the story and the climax were great.
FYI the author is my sister.
I tend to find it annoying that Tolkien wrote a fantasy setting a certain way 80 years ago and now all fantasy lit has to be written just like Tolkien for some reason. To me, All the Queens Curses broke that mold and delivered on a more folksy feel to the world.
I liked the characters and their relationships to each other.
The descriptions of the characters' sensations and feelings was very well fleshed out, which is important considering the subject matter.
The subject matter of abuse, trauma, and chronic illness was handled excellently as far as I'm concerned.
My only gripes are with the plot. It starts out a little slow and has some fits and starts thoughout the story.
Overall though, the arc of the story and the climax were great.
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