Step into the world of A Mark Cursed by Stars, a dark celestial horror romance where a heroine is caught between survival and the madness already threatening to tear apart her mind.
Every decade, a twisted prophecy begins across Elora, marking one innocent soul for sacrifice. This summons the celestial bloodlines of the Varethym order, commanding the hunt of the Marked across the stars. Break the curse before Vareth, the Blood Moon, rises, or suffer its wrath for ten years.
Back on Earth, Tilly Rose never believed in magic. She's just a girl burdened by her mother's illness and haunted by whispers only she can hear. But she still wonders about her father, dismissed as mad before he vanished nine years ago, and fears the same insanity has already begun in her. Yet beneath that weight, her blood stirs with the mark of Vareth.
Now she is prey, dragged into a world with no escape and she is presented with a dangerous choice. Is she ready to meet her fate, especially as her path intertwines with three dangerous brothers:
Cillian has a charming smile, far too perfect to trust. Fionn's eyes burn with rage and terrible sadness. Torin's hands are blood-stained, and his mocking confidence both repulses and disturbs her.
Yet together, they pull her into a web of seduction and deceit. But Tilly soon discovers the truth behind their pursuit is far darker than their desires.
No Marked has ever survived Vareth's prophecy without surrendering their soul to the Varethym order. But Tilly was never meant to follow the rules.
A Mark Cursed by Stars is the twisted first instalment in The Cursed Celestials, a dark celestial horror romance series of prophecy, bloodlines, and a girl destined to make a choice that could cost her soul.
Perfect for fans of N.K. Jemisin, Rachel Gillig, and Carissa Broadbent.
TROPES Celestial Prophecy · Marked One / Cursed Bloodline · Secret Identity · Blood Magic · Dark Rituals · Star-Crossed Enemies · Morally Grey Love Interest · Manipulation & Power Plays · Slow Burn · Celestial Betrayal · Cosmic Horror · Descent into Madness · Mortal x Immortal · Hunted Heroine · Soul at Stake
M.A. Rose is a Scottish born author of dark celestial romantasy who now lives in Hampshire. She grew up surrounded by beautiful landscapes and listening to her grandfather’s old historic myths. They were the stories that shaped her into a lifelong fantasy world lover and inspired the mythical worlds she writes today.
When she isn’t crafting fast paced, emotionally charged fantasy with a signature slow burn edge, she’s juggling life as a wife, full time working mum to two teenagers, and being a proud owner of a little fluffy magical pomskie wolf.
Her love of celestial fantasy began with a fascination for what lies beyond our skies and the sense that the universe still holds so many mysteries waiting to be discovered.
Visiting places like Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria only deepened that fascination. Seeing the fairytale castle in real life continues to influence her stories, where book castle grandeur meets dark fairytale atmosphere.
She is the author of The Cursed Celestials series, where celestial prophecy collides with ancient cursed bloodlines and slow burn tension builds between star crossed immortals and mortals. A devoted reader of dark fantasy and romantasy, she is usually found lost in another world or devouring a book filled with magic, danger, and cursed love stories.
3.5 ⭐️ GOOD POTENTIAL BUT DIDN’T FULLY HIT FOR ME 🌙✨
Thank you for the ARC, I always appreciate the chance to read early. This had a really intriguing premise, especially with the celestial prophecy, cursed bloodlines, and hunted heroine. On paper, this sounded exactly like my kind of romantasy.
The world and concept definitely have strong potential. The idea of the Marked being hunted across the stars, combined with the darker prophecy elements, creates an interesting foundation. There are also hints of intrigue with the three brothers and the layered mystery around Tilly’s past.
However, for me, this didn’t quite deliver as a dark romance, which is how it’s marketed. The tone felt more fantasy-focused, and the darker romantic elements weren’t as developed as I expected.
I also found myself wanting more character development. The relationships and dynamics had potential, but they felt a little underexplored, and I didn’t fully connect with the characters. With more depth and refinement, I think this story could really shine.
That said, I did still find the concept interesting and I can see this series growing stronger as it continues.
A promising start with an intriguing celestial premise, but one that would benefit from deeper character development and clearer dark romance elements.
3:75 stars From the very beginning, this story pulled me in. I felt awful for the FMC and was rooting for her the whole time. Honestly, I don’t know how she didn’t get whiplash with everything she was going through…constantly trying to figure out who to trust, who was good, and who was bad.
There were a few parts where my attention drifted a bit, but I got pulled back in pretty quickly. Overall, I really enjoyed it, especially the ending. I just wish we had gotten a few more answers. If there’s going to be a book two, I’m definitely ready for it.
Tilly lives a quiet life in a small village until one day she’s suddenly kidnapped by three mysterious, handsome men and brought to another realm as part of some kind of celestial magic prophecy.
There, she’s told she must bond with one of the three brothers or she will die.
Confused and angry, Tilly refuses to go along with it, especially since the men don’t make it easy, each one as difficult as the next.
But in a world she doesn’t understand, she’s left with one question…
What happens if she refuses to fulfill the prophecy?
Wow, this book was insanely good. I couldn’t put it down. If you think one MMC is great, try three!
This romantasy has everything: cursed bloodlines, magical realms, heroes and villains, prophecies, and a slow burn romance that keeps you hooked. I couldn’t get enough.
This book is gorgeous inside and out . The art is stunning , and the story keeps you glued to the pages . My emotions were all over the place.
It does end on a cliffhanger, and I’m already desperate for book two. Honestly, give an indie author a chance this is a solid five star read.
This book was addictive in all the right ways. The plot and characters were well developed. The descriptions of the world building were detailed and immersive. The plot hit the ground running from the beginning. It kept me engaged and reading “just one more chapter”. It was so good I finished it in 1 day. I loved the banter between the 3 brothers and Tilly. Kidnaped by 3 brothers and betrayed by another. Sign me up! This book would be perfect for anyone who loves dark fantasy, celestial romance, prophecy and cursed bloodlines, fated mates, morally grey characters, and slow burn love. Wow! That ending….Looking forward to see what comes next in the series.
I enjoyed the character development and Tilly uncovering everything she needed to know. Tilly felt a bit like a stubborn bit*h to me to be fair though - I loved her.
I received this as an arc. Although there was a couple of repeated sentences I loved it. The suspense and wonder of who she would end up with. Tilly stood firm on what she wanted until the very end. But was her last decision made too late? I absolutely loved Cillian and his "protectiveness" but I think I'm more intrigued by Fionn. I need more but will patiently wait for the next one. Thank you for the opportunity to read this.
This was an enjoyable read and the pacing of the story was spot on. The details of the environments the characters were placed, showed strong world building skills by the author. It was structured well. I could imagine the scenes set out before me.
The main character’s development unfolds throughout the book. Tilly‘s character grows as her journey unfolds. She is a young woman, learning her worth, growing in confidence and doesn’t allow anyone to decide her fate.
The three brother’s character development is not as apparent in this first book. We get a glimpse of what is to come and hopefully we will get more character development in the next novel. We do catch a glimpse of this regarding Fionn (eldest brother) who starts to display more depth at the end of the book, and we see a softer side emerging to his personality.
The three brothers in general give glimpses of who they are whether that be smart-mouthed, bossy and controlling or sensitive and thoughtful. The chemistry between the brothers is competitive as wells as protective towards each other. The banter between them is quite funny. I found myself laughing while reading.
I’m really looking forward to the second instalment of this book to see how Tilly goes about trying to find the brothers to assist them.
A great read. I would recommend this book. Well done to the author.
I need another Chapter, just to see what is about to happen, what choices are made and Her next steps..His next steps?? 🤔
Thank you so much for gifting me this ARC and letting me on this roller-coaster....but I need more so is there a Book 2???
Read, read, read and Enjoy 😉
When the stars choose, the hunt begins.
Step into the world of A Mark Cursed by Stars, a dark celestial romantasy where a heroine is caught between destiny and the madness already threatening to tear apart her mind.
Every decade, a twisted prophecy begins across Elora, marking one innocent soul for sacrifice. This summons the celestial bloodlines of the Varethym order, commanding the hunt of the Marked across the stars. Break the curse before Vareth, the Blood Moon, rises, or suffer his wrath for ten years.
Back on Earth, Tilly Rose never believed in magic. She is just a girl burdened by her mother's illness and haunted by whispers that only she can hear. But she still wonders about her father, dismissed as mad before he vanished nine years ago, and fears the same insanity has already begun to take hold of her. Yet beneath this heavy burden, her blood stirs with the mark of Vareth.
Now she is prey, pulled into a world where she is presented with a dangerous choice. Is she ready to meet her fate, especially as her path intertwines with three dangerous brothers:
Cillian has a charming smile that seems too perfect to trust.
Fionn's eyes are filled with rage and deep sadness.
Torin's hands are stained with blood, and his mocking confidence is both repulsive and disturbing to her.
Yet together, they pull her into a web of seduction and deceit. But Tilly soon discovers the truth behind their pursuit is far darker than their desires.
No Marked has ever survived Vareth's prophecy without surrendering their soul to the Varethym order, but Tilly was never meant to follow the rules.
A Mark Cursed by Stars is the twisted first instalment in The Cursed Celestials, a romantasy series featuring prophecy, bloodlines, and a girl destined to make a choice that could cost her soul.
Perfect for fans of dark celestial romance, prophecies, cursed bloodlines, and slow burn tension.
This book was a really nice and easy read. I absolutely loved the concept and premise of fate and destiny, and the magic within the book was a really refreshing way to look at it. I found this storyline unique in the world of fantasy, and what I assumed was going to be a major love story ended up not being about love, but about a girl growing and becoming who she is meant to be. I thought the beginning was great, and it hooked me in. The middle was enjoyable and you could really get a grasp on understanding the FMC character development. Her struggles and how determination to keep on fighting. The ending was okay, I liked who she became and how she took a stand to believe in herself over what anyone and everyone was telling her, I also like the concept that she has this special power which links to the start of the book. I genuinely enjoyed this book as it wasn’t too intense or heavy, I managed to finish it within 4 hours. I did find the one chapter of her mothers POV a bit odd, I understand why the author did it but I was expecting more POV chapters and then there wasn’t, I would say it wasn’t massively necessary or it could’ve continued to have different POVs throughout. (Maybe one for each of the brothers and their thoughts and feelings on Tilly) It would’ve maybe been a bit better for me if there was more detail into the history of everything. Yes it was covered briefly, but I think because the whole vibe with the brothers was very cryptic, I don’t feel I got the full understanding of the entire history. I think the author could’ve made the book a little longer to have one of the brothers (maybe ffion - as he’s the most serious) explain to her everything fully. This way the reader will get an understanding of why the two groups of people want her, and what’s happening in their world. The way this book ended I’m hoping for a book 2 and maybe I can get the answers then.
Thank you to the author and publisher/BookSiren for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, A Mark Cursed by Stars didn’t fully come together for me. I struggled from the beginning with how the characters were introduced, and at times the narrative felt quite disjointed and just lacking . The characters’ actions, thoughts, and behaviours often felt contradictory, which made it difficult to connect with them or feel invested in their journeys. I just couldn't relate to the FMC despite really wanting to. For me the character development was lacking overall. Although I could sense the feel and direction they would grow in, I just wanted more, which further impacted my overall engagement with the story.
For a large portion of the book — around the first 70% — the pacing for me as too slow and stagnant whilst she was stuck in the house and just nothing semed to really happen. While I can appreciate a sense of intrigue and gradual build-up, in this case it came across as slow rather than compelling, and I found myself waiting for something significant to happen.
That said, the ending was a definite highlight and ultimately what improved my overall impression. The story shifted from being quite slow to fast-paced and action-packed, delivering impact and a strong sense of momentum. The cliffhanger was particularly well done and has left me curious about what happens next.
While this wasn’t the right read for me personally, the strength of the ending and the direction the story takes has made me interested enough to consider picking up the next book in the series.
If you're a fan of slow burn with no spice and like a lot of intrigue then i think you would enjoy this read.
**Tropes first because this one?? DARK, OBSESSIVE, and COSMICALLY CHAOTIC 👀🌙🔥**
• celestial prophecy • marked / cursed heroine 🖤 • why choose / multiple love interests • morally grey, dangerous MMCs • “love is a trap” energy
Yeah… I was hooked IMMEDIATELY.
A Mark Cursed by Stars drops you into a world where fate isn’t gentle—it *hunts you*. And the moment Tilly is marked?? Everything spirals FAST 👀
You’ve got prophecy, bloodlines, and a countdown to something catastrophic—and she’s right at the center of it all 🔥
And the MMCs?? Yeah… not safe. Not soft. Not trustworthy.
• the charming one you *shouldn’t* believe • the broken one carrying rage and pain • the dangerous one who feels like a warning
Together?? Completely unhinged energy—and I ate that UP 🖤
The tension in this?? So good. It’s not just romantic—it’s layered with manipulation, power, and that constant feeling that something bigger is at play 👀
And Tilly?? She’s not just surviving—she’s questioning everything, pushing back, and refusing to follow the rules they expect her to obey.
✨ This is a 5⭐ because: • the prophecy and world-building feel rich and intense • the dynamics are messy, dark, and addictive • the tension builds perfectly across every layer • it keeps you completely locked in from start to finish
✨ If you love: • dark romantasy 🌙 • celestial magic & cursed bloodlines • morally grey love interests • slow-burn tension with high stakes
This one is haunting, addictive, and impossible to put down 👀🔥
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of A Mark Cursed by Stars, and I’m still thinking about it. I didn’t get the blurb with my copy, so I had to look it up on Amazon, once I I did, everything clicked into place. From the prologue onward, I was completely hooked. The writing makes you feel like part of the story., never too slow or too fast, and the worldbuilding is vivid and incredibly easy to follow.
What surprised me most was the celestial horror threaded through the story. I dint realise this was that type of story. The seen with the painting and the chamber was so good. Tilly’s descent into madness and the voices. I swear I still hear them in my head. (I do want to know more about this in book 2) The atmosphere is haunting and beautiful at the same time, and the author balances terror and emotion, each chapter is addictive. Tilly’s journey feels raw and real, and the three brothers, I hated then loved. I did have a clear favorite by the end.
The ending absolutely blew me away. The final chapters hit hard and the cliffhanger left me desperate for book two. If you love dark celestial romantasy, cosmic horror elements, slow‑burn tension, and a heroine fighting both fate and her own unraveling mind, this book is a must‑read. I devoured it in a single day and I’m already counting down to the next instalment.
I loved the whole premise of this book and it has so many interesting, enjoyable elements.
However, it did take me quite a while to get into and to fully understand how everything connected. It just missed the mark for me and I felt a slight disconnect with the story - like I couldn’t fully immerse myself into the world. This may have just been a ‘me’ thing as I can’t quite put my finger on what it was. I am still giving this 4 stars as I really do appreciate the premise and potential of this story.
I really enjoyed the idea of the celestial prophecy and the idea of the marked being hunted, along with the competitive element between the brothers. I think I would have liked more world building but this may come as the story continues into book two. I felt myself rooting for Tilly, I liked her as the FMC and really felt for her. However, I struggled with connecting to the MMCs. I found myself with more questions than answers and wanting a bit more character development in terms of depth of character. Again this may come in book two but it’s an area that for me personally, as a reader, that helps me become more immersed in a book/story.
This has such potential and really does have a number of interesting elements.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and honestly/voluntarily given.
I just finished this arc and had to message the author about Tilly, and how much I related to her character. What a journey her story turned out to be. Thrown into a fate she never chose, she pushed back and fought it with everything she had. Being marked by the stars set her on a path she couldn’t escape, and when she is kidnapped by three brothers and betrayed by another, she was forced into an impossible choice… pick one of them or die. The character development was a real highlight for me watching Tilly grow and respond to everything she was put through was meaningful and believable. I enjoyed how well the story flowed throughout the whole book. The pacing felt just right and the chapter lengths made it easy to stay engaged without feeling rushed or dragged out. The world building was strong and immersive without being overly complicated. I found the way the author described the setting easy to imagine and it really took me there. I also really appreciated that there was no smut or heavy romance. It kept the focus on the story and the characters which made the whole experiment even more impactful. This book was amazing, I found myself not wanting to put it down, and dying to pick it up. I’m really grateful that I got the chance to get to read this book.
We meet Tilly, who lives in the English country side with her mother and step-father. She loves nature and to draw. She has a new boyfriend Donte whom she adores. One afternoon, she takes her art supplies and heads into the forest for some inspiration only to be confronted by 3 men who claim she is who they are looking for. Great, to be kidnapped by 3 men who dont look like they belong. Fionn, Cillian and Torin are 3 brothers who search for a marked in order to break the curse. Tilly doesnt know what to expect except she is no where near her home and she worries about her mother and Donte. Cillian is super sweet to her, while Torin is a flirty disaster and Fionn looks at her like shes gum stuck to his shoe. She starts to hear voices in her head and sees the castle portraits eyes follow her. She learns that there have been many women before her and no marked has ever survived the prophecy. However, Tilly isnt good at following the rules and she bears a mark that no other marked has ever had. Will the curse claim her like the others or will she be the one to withstand it??
This book is beautifully written, and from the very beginning the story is so easy to follow while making you feel like you’re truly part of the world. From the moment the brothers are introduced, each one is clearly distinct, with their own presence, personality, and energy. You are quickly pulled into their world, and the atmosphere never lets go. This story is completely different from anything I’ve read before. Every chapter flows seamlessly into the next, constantly pushing the story forward. There is one chapter in particular—when Tilly is in a certain room—that completely blew me away. Oh my God, I absolutely loved it. The scenes where we step into the brothers’ past were heartbreaking but so necessary. They added depth and made perfect sense of who each brother truly is. And Donte and Seraphina… I was tearing my hair out when the truth about her actions was revealed. This story took a turn I didn’t expect, and watching Tilly grow into her strength was incredibly satisfying. Those final chapters? I need book two. An amazing story. If you love One Dark Window, Fallen, or Phantasma, with gothic horror elements mixed with celestial storytelling, this book is a must-read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was such a tense, dark start to a series. I went in expecting a typical romantasy setup, but it leans much more into paranoia, power plays, and that constant feeling that something isn’t quite right.
Tilly was easy to connect to, especially at the beginning when everything still feels grounded. As the story unfolds, you really feel her losing any sense of control—not just over her situation, but over what’s real and who she can trust. That uncertainty becomes one of the strongest parts of the book.
The dynamic with the three brothers adds a lot of tension. None of them feel fully trustworthy, and every interaction has this underlying sense of manipulation or hidden intent. It keeps you questioning their motives the entire time, which made the relationships feel more layered than straightforward romance.
The worldbuilding around the prophecy and celestial magic is interesting, but what stood out more to me was the atmosphere. There’s a steady sense of unease running through the story, like everything is building toward something worse.
Overall, this is a darker, more tension-driven romantasy that focuses on trust, control, and survival rather than comfort.
This is a wild ride as you follow Tilly’s story throughout her experience of being kidnapped by otherworldly brothers, Cillian, Fionn, and Torin. The story is told solely through Tilly’s point of view, so there are many, many unknowns throughout as Tilly tries to distinguish what the real truth of her situation and her fate is from what she is told by the brothers, Seraphina, the Gatemen, the voices whispering in her head, and the “madness” she is supposedly experiencing. Tilly undergoes significant character development throughout the novel, discovering her own voice and learning to stand up for herself, a vast difference from the timid, compliant, scared girl we originally meet. This story ends with a cliffhanger after a twist I did not see coming. I’m looking forward to the next installment.
Favorite Quotes: “Maybe I was losing my mind, but at least I still had a heart.” “I am the stars they cannot vanish, I am the end they did not see coming.” “Cowards run from the darkness inside them.” “If magic and power are in the blood…Blood must have the power to heal.”
I was able to receive an advanced copy through Sirens. This was a really interesting read with a creative plot and a fast pace that kept me moving through the story quickly.
I especially loved Tilly as a main character… even her name fits her personality so well! One thing I thought the author did very effectively was placing the reader right alongside her. You experience the story with the same level of understanding she has, which made the journey feel immersive and personal.
That said, I was definitely confused through much of the book. My ADHD brain usually loves trying to predict what’s going to happen next, but with this story there were so many unknowns that it kept me guessing the entire time. In a way, that made it a unique reading experience.
By the end, several important details started coming together and answered some questions, but I still have plenty I’m curious about! Now I’m really looking forward to seeing where the next book goes.
While I liked the overall premise and writing style of "A Mark Cursed by the Stars," the story just didn't click for me. Tilly is kidnapped by 3 mysterious men and told she is part of an ancient prophecy. She must choose one of them to bind herself to, or they will all lose themselves to madness. I needed more information on the prophecy/curse. I struggled to understand the why of it. Second, if these mmcs expect her to bind with one of them, they actually need to be there with her and interact with her. The relationships are very underdeveloped. There's a good part of the story where she's just wandering around the house by herself. They spend very little time trying to convince her to choose one of them or to teach her about the binding and curse. Also, there were a couple of grammer / punctuation errors that interrupted the flow of the story. Thank you for choosing me to be an ARC Reader.
A dark, atmospheric story, that leans heavily into celestial prophecy, fate, cursed bloodlines, hunted heroine and the tension between destiny and choice. 🌠⚔️
Tilly as a main character is interesting because she’s not fully in control, she’s dealing with fear, confusion, and the possibility that she might be losing her grip on reality. I wish there was a bit more character development though. The relationships and dynamics had potential, but they felt a little underexplored, underdeveloped.
The dynamic with the three brothers, Cillian, Fionn, and Torin, adds another layer of tension to the story. Each of them brings a different energy, from charm to anger to something darker and more dangerous. Their relationship with Tilly is complicated and often feels like a mix of attraction, manipulation, and hidden motives, which keeps you questioning their intentions throughout. #teamFionn 😁😇
This was a complete different type of book I haven't read anything like it before hooked me instantly The only short fall was i think it drag on a bit to long could of had answer a bit sooner than some scenes that wasn't as nessacery
Fml has so much going on i don't know how she was such a strong character thought out the book she just wanted answer and to get back to her family She was manipulated and used more than once lied to on a regular basic no wonder she saw things and heard voice
As for the 3 why choose I didnt see it that way
tor hated her and showed no interest and burly was involved with her just saw her as a way to end the curse didn't care who she picked
Fionn made mostly snide remarks showed little instrest until the last ¼ but at lest he spoke the truth and told it how it was which I liked 👍
cill used sweet nothings and showered her with kindness and affection to get her interest. However I always thought there was something that was suspicious,I don't trust him
At fist I was all for cal then by the end I was more for fionn have to wait for book 2 to see who she picks
Left off on a massive cliffhanger was so shocked by fionn action but at lest we know more about the fml haritorage.
not sure where the next book will lead I'm thinking back stroy and fight to the end
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The book starts off fine introducing the characters and the mystery of the prophecy.
However I was very disappointed because the plot doesn't go anywhere, nothing is ever really explained. There are so many contradictions even in the next paragraph. And everything is to repetitive it’s not even funny.
Lots of grammar mistakes with the speech marks which at times made it hard to understand who was meant to be talking.
I really wanted to enjoy this story but I just couldn't.
There was no character growth for the FMC. She kept saying she would do stuff and then just not. The MMCs are only repeat themselves and they don't really have natural growth. Some of them have a different personality at the end but it's just a flip of a switch which I found jarring.
This book has so much potential and just needed editing to make it a wonderful book.
I’d like to thank the author and BookSirens for gifting this advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Okay what a whirlwind that was, wow this was incredible!!
I dived head first into this book and I didn't want to leave it.
Tilly is taken from a place she has no clue what's going on, what she should be doing and why she is of such importance. This is so clever the way it is written I could imagine this world it was so realistic the finer detail to everything. It was so magical. Tilly is so brave and strong as she explores and takes everything on board even when her gut feeling is telling her no, she listens to the magical beings and does exactly as they say which is truly inspiring.
The 3 MMC brothers i loved then hated over and over again but I finally gave in and I think I made the right decision I can't wait to see which mmc you will choose 😁👀
Tropes ✨ Celestial prophecy ✨ Marked one/cursed bloodline ✨ Secret identity ✨ Blood magic ✨ Dark rituals ✨ Star-crossed enemies ✨ Morally grey love interest ✨ Manipulation and power plays ✨ Love is a trap ✨ Slow burn ✨ Star-crossed lovers ✨ Celestial betrayal
Thank you once again for allowing me to read this before release date This will be released and also available on✨ kindle unlimited on ✨ 1st May 2026 ✨
Tilly is a young woman who is kidnapped by 3 very handsome brothers and told she is the key to a prophecy and she has to choose one of the brothers and survive the sacrifice needed to fulfil the prophecy.
I thought the book took quite a lot of time trying to tell us who Tilly, the brothers and other characters were I wanted more backstory on them all and also the prophecy, which I felt like we didn't really get until the last 30-25% of the book. It also felt like we only got a very small insight into Elora and I wanted more.
Having said that the 30-25% gave me more of what I needed, we got so see more of who the brothers were, more of what the prophecy contained and why Tilly was needed and who she has the potential to be, characters who were briefly shown at the start also have more of an impact towards the end.
For me personally I wouldn't class this as a dark romantasy (of course everyone's definition will be different). But for this Authors debut book the storyline is one that I think a lot of romantasy lovers will enjoy and I would continue the series based off those final chapters and where I can see the storyline going.
I was kindly gifted an ARC of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I received an ARC and I can't tell you how thrilled I was to be chosen to read this book before release! It promised everything I love to read in a book including magic, morally grey characters, brothers ;) and cursed bloodlines.
Tilly is an interesting character and I enjoyed seeing her growth throughout the book. I had a love-hate relationship with the brothers all the way through but in a good way! I do not like to ruin the story by diving in the plot but I will say that I enjoyed this book from start to finish and its easily one of my top reads this year!
The ending though! The cliffhanger is INSANE! I cannot wait to read the sequel and continue Tilly's journey and getting to know the brothers more.
M.A. Rose is a beautiful writer and I cannot express how much I adore this book and its characters. I will read anything she puts out into the world with pleasure.
Tilly Rose grew up near a small Scottish village. She never believed in magic, but then a walk turns into something dangerous. Every ten years a curse marks an innocent for sacrifice, and Tilly is about to find out just how real magic is when three brothers named Cillian, Fionn, and Torin take her through a vortex. They say fate offers a choice, choose one of the brothers or become a sacrifice to the Varethym order. Absolutely fascinating characters. The FMC is a young woman who finds out that she is much stronger than she ever believed possible. Wow! this is a dark fantasy romance involving a curse, marked bloodlines, a prophecy that spans the universe, and some shocking twists in the plot that made it impossible to put this book down. I am looking forward to reading more.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by Book Sirens.
I think I am as confused as the FMC for this one. There is so much going on, and the information is so sporadically given that it is hard to piece together. Definitely don’t trust Seraphina, something shady is going on with her. But, goodness, Tilly has to make this huge life or death choice, that could save an entire world, while she’s going crazy, and under duress?! I’m rather positive I would struggle with that too. Goodnight it was nerve wracking, like being on a tight wire over lava, the suspense was so good. Torin…. Oh Torin… pompous jerk… I absolutely loved the lamp scene. He deserved it. I’m personally rooting for Fionn. Don’t let the beginning fool you. The ending, oof, *grabs heart*, I definitely can’t wait for book two now.