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Curse of the Moonflower
Cursed. Hunted. Coveted.
An ancient curse runs through Vessa Lemaire's veins—the gods have destined her to wed the banished vampire ruler of the Underworld, who will stop at nothing to seize his betrothed. She discovers this only days after the horrific death of her mother, forcing her to leave her shattered life behind.
For three years, she lives under the protection of a werewolf and his mate, an oracle. Until one day, a vision befalls the seer—a chance for her to find permanent asylum, right alongside the man who despises vampires most.
Axe Skornokovy is a soldier of vengeance, hell-bent on eliminating vampires and the powerful demigod from which they were sired. As Vessa tries to find her place among his pack of feuding wolves, she must keep her secrets close. She must come to terms with the fact that Axe is more than capable of turning on her, even as it grows difficult to ignore the tantalizing force which conspires to bring them together. For if they give into it, they will spark a war destined to bleed into the realm below.
An ancient curse runs through Vessa Lemaire's veins—the gods have destined her to wed the banished vampire ruler of the Underworld, who will stop at nothing to seize his betrothed. She discovers this only days after the horrific death of her mother, forcing her to leave her shattered life behind.
For three years, she lives under the protection of a werewolf and his mate, an oracle. Until one day, a vision befalls the seer—a chance for her to find permanent asylum, right alongside the man who despises vampires most.
Axe Skornokovy is a soldier of vengeance, hell-bent on eliminating vampires and the powerful demigod from which they were sired. As Vessa tries to find her place among his pack of feuding wolves, she must keep her secrets close. She must come to terms with the fact that Axe is more than capable of turning on her, even as it grows difficult to ignore the tantalizing force which conspires to bring them together. For if they give into it, they will spark a war destined to bleed into the realm below.
468 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 18, 2026
Thank you for the ARC copy of the Curse of the Moonflower. Well to say this is good is an understatement. I have sacrificed sleep for this book. I have been on the edge of my seat in anticipation of what was to come in the last section.
This book has all the best tropes and moments you kick your feet which includes who did this to you? F it moments 👀
I will be buying the physical copy of this book when it is released. If you like romatasy with fated mates, secrets, plot twist, found family then I highly recommend you read the Curse of the Moonflower. I fear this one will have me in a chokehold for a while. I will be talking about this for a while.
I need the next one already.
Excellent read!!!
🐺 Touch her and die
🐺 Mates
🐺 Prophecy
🐺 Slow burn
🐺 Vampires & lycan
🐺 Secrets
🐺 Hidden identity
🐺 Found family
🐺 The plot twists!!!!
This book has all the best tropes and moments you kick your feet which includes who did this to you? F it moments 👀
I will be buying the physical copy of this book when it is released. If you like romatasy with fated mates, secrets, plot twist, found family then I highly recommend you read the Curse of the Moonflower. I fear this one will have me in a chokehold for a while. I will be talking about this for a while.
I need the next one already.
Excellent read!!!
🐺 Touch her and die
🐺 Mates
🐺 Prophecy
🐺 Slow burn
🐺 Vampires & lycan
🐺 Secrets
🐺 Hidden identity
🐺 Found family
🐺 The plot twists!!!!
April 21, 2026
Im a bit disappointed in this story. Everything about it should have been a major hit. Unfortunately, it didnt sit right with me. The writing is simplistic and shallow, which isn't my issue. I could get past that and still enjoy the story. But for me, the biggest detriment was Vessa. She was god awful!! The way she treated Axe angered me so much. He deserved so much better in my opinion. Literally she is the worst. If it wasnt for her, I think this would have easily been 4 stars for me. I could not deal with her. There are good moments and good characters, like Axe and the cover is gorgeous. Im glad i picked it up even with its flaws.
April 27, 2026
Wow Just Wow
I am stunned by this ending. I don’t even have words. This book had me in a chokehold from the beginning and I could not put it down. The pacing slowed a bit in the middle, but the last half of the book with the twists and betrayals was insane!
It reminds me just a little bit of Jennifer Armentrout’s Flesh and Fire series, but better.
Is it too early to ask when the next book comes out??? I know we are not done yet!!
I am stunned by this ending. I don’t even have words. This book had me in a chokehold from the beginning and I could not put it down. The pacing slowed a bit in the middle, but the last half of the book with the twists and betrayals was insane!
It reminds me just a little bit of Jennifer Armentrout’s Flesh and Fire series, but better.
Is it too early to ask when the next book comes out??? I know we are not done yet!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
First, I’d like to thank Sam for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
With that said, I take ARC duties seriously. I don’t DNF ARCs because that defeats the purpose. If you’re going to give meaningful feedback or a fair review, you need to read the work in its entirety. So that’s what I do.
This genre is right up my alley. Werewolves, fae, vampires…hell yeah. I was excited to jump in. But a few things stood out, some immediately and others in hindsight. The first was the Glossary and the Tilaak Terminology. I appreciated the effort, but having both felt a bit intimidating. The glossary alone was already full of made-up terms, and then we also had the Tilaak mumbo jumbo layered on top of that. Okayyy. In hindsight, neither was really necessary. Sam does a decent job explaining the terms as they appear, and most of them aren’t critical to the story anyway. Even without the explanations, readers could reasonably infer the meaning.
What stood out immediately, though, was the writing style. You know those short stories that pop up on social media with a compelling image, where you read a couple quick chapters and then it tells you to click a link to buy the rest? The ones that are very minimalist, not much detail, just moving the plot along? That’s what this felt like. Minimalist writing can absolutely work when done well. Some authors can say very little and still paint vivid images. But that wasn’t the case here. It felt rushed and surface level, like an amateur short story. I never felt emotionally invested in the characters, especially the MCs. The only exception being anxiety the whole way through for the MC who just may get his heart broken by the skank FMC - more on that later.
Then there were the grammatical issues and incorrect syntax. With 6 beta readers, I feel like a lot of this should have been caught. On its own, the story arc might have carried this to a three-star read, but it couldn’t carry the weight of these issues too. For example, Vessa’s mom “slams on the breaks ,” and then Vessa says, “Can’t you go any faster?”…but she’s stopping and it's brakes! That pulled me right out. Eighteen pages later, a character “dismounts” from the front seat of a hatchback. A car. Dismounts. Cringe. Axe gets shorts tossed to him, then a sentence later they’re called trousers. Dr. Caulder is introduced, then referred to as Preston, then by 'the doc', then back again. It’s minor, but it forces readers to pause and ask who we’re talking about. I thought there may have been multiple people in the event.
There were also little continuity issues. Vessa is using her phone flashlight, then “flips her phone over” to enter her passcode…even though the screen would already be facing her. Axe’s shirt supposedly falls to mid-shin on Vessa, then a sentence later it’s above her kneecaps. We’re reading about werewolves here, but suddenly we’re using “checking her oil” as innuendo for sex? These are characters who literally mate under the full moon in the open, but now we’re pretending to be modest about it? It just felt oddly out of place.
Even the texting format was strange. It starts with an actual bubble saying “From: Axe,” which isn’t how texting works. It would read more naturally to say she looked down and saw a text from Axe, then show the message. At another point, Vessa looks over her shoulder while pinned flat on her back. Physically…how? Or Axe telling Dom, “..If you care about her, which I suspect you do...” after they’ve interacted for about three seconds. And the 4-stroke engine…on a car? Sam, what.the.hell are we talking about here. It’s not a dirtbike.
Those are just a handful of examples. There were quite a few grammatical errors, typos, and moments where the minimalist style made scenes confusing. I often had to reread passages just to figure out what was happening. For example, when Vessa first meets Axe and suddenly hears him huffing and is instantly cornered. The vision of the scene isn’t clearly written, so it feels disjointed. Another line says he “rescinds his touch,” then immediately pulls her against him. I thought he rescinded it?
But the biggest issue for me was the Dom and Vessa arc. There’s zero buildup. Dom is instantly in love with her within seconds of meeting. Then Vessa is grinding on a random stranger in Dom’s club while staring at him provocatively. Eww. Why? Now we hate the MC. I try not to be biased, because the “every man instantly falls for the FMC” trope is already exhausting, but this one felt especially forced and disingenuous. We barely know anything about these characters when that dynamic gets dumped in our laps. That whole arc felt like it was setting up something for the next book, but within this one it just read as cringe. The entire time I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and for Vessa to do something reckless and inconsistent with someone supposedly mated to the Commander.
After joining Axe’s pack, Vessa also proves to be…not the brightest. She gets mauled (Sam wrote 'mawled') by a male and then immediately climbs out of her balcony during a full moon.
Ironically, the only character I genuinely liked So…cool.
Would I read this again? Absolutely not. Would I recommend it? Also no, unless you specifically enjoy very easy, amateur short-story style reads. For me, the world building wasn’t there, and the character development was even weaker. Relationships and emotions felt forced into existence instead of growing organically. The only reason this isn’t a one-star read is because the core idea had potential. Unfortunately, the writing fell flat, and the frequent misuse of language made it worse.
With that said, I take ARC duties seriously. I don’t DNF ARCs because that defeats the purpose. If you’re going to give meaningful feedback or a fair review, you need to read the work in its entirety. So that’s what I do.
This genre is right up my alley. Werewolves, fae, vampires…hell yeah. I was excited to jump in. But a few things stood out, some immediately and others in hindsight. The first was the Glossary and the Tilaak Terminology. I appreciated the effort, but having both felt a bit intimidating. The glossary alone was already full of made-up terms, and then we also had the Tilaak mumbo jumbo layered on top of that. Okayyy. In hindsight, neither was really necessary. Sam does a decent job explaining the terms as they appear, and most of them aren’t critical to the story anyway. Even without the explanations, readers could reasonably infer the meaning.
What stood out immediately, though, was the writing style. You know those short stories that pop up on social media with a compelling image, where you read a couple quick chapters and then it tells you to click a link to buy the rest? The ones that are very minimalist, not much detail, just moving the plot along? That’s what this felt like. Minimalist writing can absolutely work when done well. Some authors can say very little and still paint vivid images. But that wasn’t the case here. It felt rushed and surface level, like an amateur short story. I never felt emotionally invested in the characters, especially the MCs. The only exception being anxiety the whole way through for the MC who just may get his heart broken by the skank FMC - more on that later.
Then there were the grammatical issues and incorrect syntax. With 6 beta readers, I feel like a lot of this should have been caught. On its own, the story arc might have carried this to a three-star read, but it couldn’t carry the weight of these issues too. For example, Vessa’s mom “slams on the breaks ,” and then Vessa says, “Can’t you go any faster?”…but she’s stopping and it's brakes! That pulled me right out. Eighteen pages later, a character “dismounts” from the front seat of a hatchback. A car. Dismounts. Cringe. Axe gets shorts tossed to him, then a sentence later they’re called trousers. Dr. Caulder is introduced, then referred to as Preston, then by 'the doc', then back again. It’s minor, but it forces readers to pause and ask who we’re talking about. I thought there may have been multiple people in the event.
There were also little continuity issues. Vessa is using her phone flashlight, then “flips her phone over” to enter her passcode…even though the screen would already be facing her. Axe’s shirt supposedly falls to mid-shin on Vessa, then a sentence later it’s above her kneecaps. We’re reading about werewolves here, but suddenly we’re using “checking her oil” as innuendo for sex? These are characters who literally mate under the full moon in the open, but now we’re pretending to be modest about it? It just felt oddly out of place.
Even the texting format was strange. It starts with an actual bubble saying “From: Axe,” which isn’t how texting works. It would read more naturally to say she looked down and saw a text from Axe, then show the message. At another point, Vessa looks over her shoulder while pinned flat on her back. Physically…how? Or Axe telling Dom, “..If you care about her, which I suspect you do...” after they’ve interacted for about three seconds. And the 4-stroke engine…on a car? Sam, what.the.hell are we talking about here. It’s not a dirtbike.
Those are just a handful of examples. There were quite a few grammatical errors, typos, and moments where the minimalist style made scenes confusing. I often had to reread passages just to figure out what was happening. For example, when Vessa first meets Axe and suddenly hears him huffing and is instantly cornered. The vision of the scene isn’t clearly written, so it feels disjointed. Another line says he “rescinds his touch,” then immediately pulls her against him. I thought he rescinded it?
But the biggest issue for me was the Dom and Vessa arc. There’s zero buildup. Dom is instantly in love with her within seconds of meeting. Then Vessa is grinding on a random stranger in Dom’s club while staring at him provocatively. Eww. Why? Now we hate the MC. I try not to be biased, because the “every man instantly falls for the FMC” trope is already exhausting, but this one felt especially forced and disingenuous. We barely know anything about these characters when that dynamic gets dumped in our laps. That whole arc felt like it was setting up something for the next book, but within this one it just read as cringe. The entire time I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and for Vessa to do something reckless and inconsistent with someone supposedly mated to the Commander.
After joining Axe’s pack, Vessa also proves to be…not the brightest. She gets mauled (Sam wrote 'mawled') by a male and then immediately climbs out of her balcony during a full moon.
Ironically, the only character I genuinely liked So…cool.
Would I read this again? Absolutely not. Would I recommend it? Also no, unless you specifically enjoy very easy, amateur short-story style reads. For me, the world building wasn’t there, and the character development was even weaker. Relationships and emotions felt forced into existence instead of growing organically. The only reason this isn’t a one-star read is because the core idea had potential. Unfortunately, the writing fell flat, and the frequent misuse of language made it worse.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Sam Dorsett for an eARC of this book. Thoughts and opinions are my own.Overall, I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The whole thing with Vessa's curse and all the connections and the lore are intriguing. I do feel like this book could have used one or two more editing passes though (my biggest(?) issue is frequently words were used that were incorrect (someone pressing the breaks instead of brakes, etc) and a few times where the words just didn't fit the way they were used. It was a little off putting when something like that would come up because I'd have to go back and re-read to make sure I got the point that was trying to be made.
Overall, I think Vessa has potential. I did get a little frustrated with the way she treated Axe though. There's one point where she tells him that he has to be open with her and he can't keep anything from her, yet at that point, she was still not even thinking about telling him everything. Plus there was the way she acted in the club (before the Ludone incident) and I just...on one hand, I could understand things. On the other, for the situation she's in, all things considered, she could have made different choices. It was sad, but I liked(?) the way she handled Levi and getting vengeance for Demi. I'm curious to see what's going to happen after Axe's comment at the end.
Axe is intriguing and I definitely like him. Broody man that he is. The reveal on his sentence is concerning and I'm curious how they're going to play that out. The Council definitely doesn't like him. His relationship with Dom is intriguing as well; I'm hoping they can sort of reconcile through the rest of the books. Or at least not be at such cross points with each other.
The book felt a little slow, pacing-wise until about 40-45% ish. Then you get closer to the end and things start rolling down hill pretty fast. There's a lot that will need to be unpacked, including Maurleen's reveals, and I'm definitely hoping some stuff doesn't go down the way that it seems to be pointing.
Overall, decent debut and I'm most definitely curious to see how stuff is going to play out!!
Book releases April 21, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
I found Curse of the Moonflower to be extremely enjoyable! The story is engaging and the plot has so much potential! I loved the high stakes of this curse and everything Vessa has to overcome.
I really love getting the glossary and insight into the Tilaak terminology, I'm a sucker for a good glossary because anytime I have questions I can just search what I'm looking for! I was so looking forward to getting into a new shifter book with lycans and vampires! And I'm really excited to see what happens with this potential love triangle!
For me, I can only give this story 3 stars, and there's a few reasons why: Normally I am absolutely a vibes girl, and I will say, the vibes ARE here, however I found a lot of continuity issues with characters, actions, and moments of time that took me completely out of the story to back up and have to re read to make sure I wasn't speeding over important information. I had a hard time getting into the moment fully when it felt like we were in one scene, and then the next page somewhere completely different or time had gone past in a single chapter. So for me, it was difficult to fully connect with the characters because of this.
There is however so much potential for character arcs that I'm personally looking forward to! Dom's character has me very intrigued and I can't wait to see more from him. And the way the story left off has me eagerly wanting more! I still find myself invested in this story and enjoyed myself while reading!
If you love paranormal fantasy romance with love triangles, curses, badass FMC's and possessive MMC's with some fated mates I think you'll love this! Please make sure to check the TW as there are sensitive topics in this book. 💛
This is an arc review I am leaving voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.
I really love getting the glossary and insight into the Tilaak terminology, I'm a sucker for a good glossary because anytime I have questions I can just search what I'm looking for! I was so looking forward to getting into a new shifter book with lycans and vampires! And I'm really excited to see what happens with this potential love triangle!
For me, I can only give this story 3 stars, and there's a few reasons why: Normally I am absolutely a vibes girl, and I will say, the vibes ARE here, however I found a lot of continuity issues with characters, actions, and moments of time that took me completely out of the story to back up and have to re read to make sure I wasn't speeding over important information. I had a hard time getting into the moment fully when it felt like we were in one scene, and then the next page somewhere completely different or time had gone past in a single chapter. So for me, it was difficult to fully connect with the characters because of this.
There is however so much potential for character arcs that I'm personally looking forward to! Dom's character has me very intrigued and I can't wait to see more from him. And the way the story left off has me eagerly wanting more! I still find myself invested in this story and enjoyed myself while reading!
If you love paranormal fantasy romance with love triangles, curses, badass FMC's and possessive MMC's with some fated mates I think you'll love this! Please make sure to check the TW as there are sensitive topics in this book. 💛
This is an arc review I am leaving voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.
May 3, 2026
It has been a while since I last read a werewolf vs vampire story and this book had all the right tropes and vibes for me. It had plenty of blood and violence through out so definitely check the trigger warnings before reading.
I really loved Vessa as our FMC and felt like she had quite the character development through the story. She starts very much like a teenager who has been sheltered in a few ways. But by the end she is very much the kick ass female she needed to be to survive the traumas she fights through. The story of her curse evolves along with her taking on new dimensions and twists as the story progresses. Where as, Axe our MMC is blood thirsty but at the same time is a walking protective green flag male when it comes to Vessa, both before and after he finds out her true identity.
The story was an enjoyable read all the way through but there was a couple of things that felt a little disjointed. As much as I liked Dom, the potential love triangle that seemed to be hinted at between him, Vessa and Axe, seemed a little out of place. There was not much time spent together between him and Vessa, as well as no explanation into why his feeling for her were so forceful. I hope that maybe in book two this might be explains a little more.
The ending of this book did have me gripping the edge of my seat with all its twists and betrayals. I am looking forward to seeing where the author takes this in the next book. Especially what the future holds for Vessa and Axe, after what was revealed at the very end.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in return for a honest opinion.
I really loved Vessa as our FMC and felt like she had quite the character development through the story. She starts very much like a teenager who has been sheltered in a few ways. But by the end she is very much the kick ass female she needed to be to survive the traumas she fights through. The story of her curse evolves along with her taking on new dimensions and twists as the story progresses. Where as, Axe our MMC is blood thirsty but at the same time is a walking protective green flag male when it comes to Vessa, both before and after he finds out her true identity.
The story was an enjoyable read all the way through but there was a couple of things that felt a little disjointed. As much as I liked Dom, the potential love triangle that seemed to be hinted at between him, Vessa and Axe, seemed a little out of place. There was not much time spent together between him and Vessa, as well as no explanation into why his feeling for her were so forceful. I hope that maybe in book two this might be explains a little more.
The ending of this book did have me gripping the edge of my seat with all its twists and betrayals. I am looking forward to seeing where the author takes this in the next book. Especially what the future holds for Vessa and Axe, after what was revealed at the very end.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in return for a honest opinion.
April 15, 2026
The opening chapter of this book had me sat and ready 📚and I am definitely in my werewolf reading era again after COTM.
I instantly fell in love with our MMC, Axe and his entire wolf pack. This was an easy book to get sucked into and it did not feel too overwhelming with the world building or excessive dialogue.
COTM has the ingredients for everything you could want in a Fantasy book - werewolves, witches, vampires, curse/prophesy, possessive alpha and an incredible found family.
The book was relatively fast paced and I felt like almost each chapter drove the plot line along.
Overall, I found this book enjoyable to read and I would love to know what happens in the future books 🥰
Congratulations to Sam on your debut novel and thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to read and review this ARC 🖤
There were some spelling errors/misuse of words however, this is something that can get picked up and resolved through editing and I didn’t think that personally it affected my reading experience at all.
Some minor spoilers/thoughts;
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I love Dom, however, I realllly don’t like the idea of him and Vassa right now. I don’t think there’s enough chemistry there and it’s very one sided.. i honestly want him to find his true mate and take on that protective brother in law role, rather than be cast in the shadows as the permanent third wheel.
I also really hope that we’re not about to give Axe the Tamlin treatment. I think there’s enough chemistry between Axe and Vassa and I hope that we see their story and challenges develop in the future books.
I instantly fell in love with our MMC, Axe and his entire wolf pack. This was an easy book to get sucked into and it did not feel too overwhelming with the world building or excessive dialogue.
COTM has the ingredients for everything you could want in a Fantasy book - werewolves, witches, vampires, curse/prophesy, possessive alpha and an incredible found family.
The book was relatively fast paced and I felt like almost each chapter drove the plot line along.
Overall, I found this book enjoyable to read and I would love to know what happens in the future books 🥰
Congratulations to Sam on your debut novel and thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to read and review this ARC 🖤
There were some spelling errors/misuse of words however, this is something that can get picked up and resolved through editing and I didn’t think that personally it affected my reading experience at all.
Some minor spoilers/thoughts;
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
I love Dom, however, I realllly don’t like the idea of him and Vassa right now. I don’t think there’s enough chemistry there and it’s very one sided.. i honestly want him to find his true mate and take on that protective brother in law role, rather than be cast in the shadows as the permanent third wheel.
I also really hope that we’re not about to give Axe the Tamlin treatment. I think there’s enough chemistry between Axe and Vassa and I hope that we see their story and challenges develop in the future books.
March 28, 2026
3.5⭐
This book had such a strong and intriguing concept with vampires, wolves, a curse, and fated mates. The world itself had a lot of potential, and I especially enjoyed the darker elements and the emotional depth surrounding Axe (MMC) and his past.
That said, the story felt a bit disjointed at times. It jumped between scenes and moments in a way that made it hard to fully stay immersed, and I occasionally had to pause and reorient myself to what was happening. Because of that, I struggled to fully connect with the characters and their relationships, even though the foundation for something really compelling is there.
The romance and possible love triangle had potential, but it felt somewhat underdeveloped, and I wanted more tension and buildup to really sell the dynamics. There are definitely interesting ideas here, especially with the prophecy and the overall conflict.
This is a solid read with a great premise and plenty of potential, especially if you enjoy paranormal romance with shifters, vampires, and fated mates. I’m curious to see how the story and characters develop in future installments. I’d still be interested in book 2, seeing as this book leaves on a cliffhanger!
This book had such a strong and intriguing concept with vampires, wolves, a curse, and fated mates. The world itself had a lot of potential, and I especially enjoyed the darker elements and the emotional depth surrounding Axe (MMC) and his past.
That said, the story felt a bit disjointed at times. It jumped between scenes and moments in a way that made it hard to fully stay immersed, and I occasionally had to pause and reorient myself to what was happening. Because of that, I struggled to fully connect with the characters and their relationships, even though the foundation for something really compelling is there.
The romance and possible love triangle had potential, but it felt somewhat underdeveloped, and I wanted more tension and buildup to really sell the dynamics. There are definitely interesting ideas here, especially with the prophecy and the overall conflict.
This is a solid read with a great premise and plenty of potential, especially if you enjoy paranormal romance with shifters, vampires, and fated mates. I’m curious to see how the story and characters develop in future installments. I’d still be interested in book 2, seeing as this book leaves on a cliffhanger!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you sooo much for the ARC!!
This was a 4.5🌟 read for me!!
This book…WOW. I enjoyed this from start to finish! I consumed it and it consumed me.
Slow burn?✅ yearning??✅ THE TENSION!!✅✅✅
In The Curse of the Moon Flower our FMC Vespera has spent her life running from her fate, which is being destined to marry the exiled vampire prince. After her oracle guardian has a vision about how she can solidify her safety and stay out of reach of the vampires, she goes to find her mate 🫶🏻 the alpha of the bleeding sun pack. Oh and he just happens to have the life mission of destroying said vampire prince and eradicating all vampires from the world!
This book truly had me on the edge of my seat the whole time wondering what was going to happen next! The found family in this was beautiful and so is the love that builds between Vessa and Axe. I’m absolutely obsessed with them!
And don’t talk to me about that ending 😭 bc girl WTFFF! Neeeeeeed the next book NOW
This was a 4.5🌟 read for me!!
This book…WOW. I enjoyed this from start to finish! I consumed it and it consumed me.
Slow burn?✅ yearning??✅ THE TENSION!!✅✅✅
In The Curse of the Moon Flower our FMC Vespera has spent her life running from her fate, which is being destined to marry the exiled vampire prince. After her oracle guardian has a vision about how she can solidify her safety and stay out of reach of the vampires, she goes to find her mate 🫶🏻 the alpha of the bleeding sun pack. Oh and he just happens to have the life mission of destroying said vampire prince and eradicating all vampires from the world!
This book truly had me on the edge of my seat the whole time wondering what was going to happen next! The found family in this was beautiful and so is the love that builds between Vessa and Axe. I’m absolutely obsessed with them!
And don’t talk to me about that ending 😭 bc girl WTFFF! Neeeeeeed the next book NOW
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was very fast paced with wolves, witches, vampires and prophecies. Vessa is fated to be the bride for an evil vampire called the Blood Master but is also the fated mate to an alpha wolf. She is a pawn and used by everyone for their own purposes. She has traumas and definitely has been through and continues to go through a lot. Axe also has past trauma and it plays out in how he tries to keep her safe. He wants revenge on the Blood Master and this has shaped him completely as a character. His conflict with his brother Dom is also fascinating. How did they get there? What will happen with them next. Not super into the love triangle idea with the three of them because of all the talk about mates. I also felt like Doms feelings for her felt one sided whereas she seems to have actual feelings for Axe. Very curious to see how this will all play out in the next book especially after that ending.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for an eARC copy!!
Such a different and unique fantasy from what is popular/has been popular in mainstream media. You can tell the amount of heart and soul put into the lore, world building, and character building from the very beginning. The characters especially, they all have such unique traits and stand alone qualities. A truly incredible ensemble cast, I was so drawn to everyone.
Vessa is a force - from page one, her strength is so obvious. It’s giving Aelin (iykyk)!!!! Badass FMCs for the win!! Her relationship with Axe is so interesting to watch unfold. Their banter, the sense of equality and shared respect between them.
Here’s to hoping Dom (my baby lolllll) is explored more in the coming books - I’m SO intrigued by his character and motivations.
Truly so many thoughts and feelings about this debut - hats off to the author for creating such an incredible story.
Such a different and unique fantasy from what is popular/has been popular in mainstream media. You can tell the amount of heart and soul put into the lore, world building, and character building from the very beginning. The characters especially, they all have such unique traits and stand alone qualities. A truly incredible ensemble cast, I was so drawn to everyone.
Vessa is a force - from page one, her strength is so obvious. It’s giving Aelin (iykyk)!!!! Badass FMCs for the win!! Her relationship with Axe is so interesting to watch unfold. Their banter, the sense of equality and shared respect between them.
Here’s to hoping Dom (my baby lolllll) is explored more in the coming books - I’m SO intrigued by his character and motivations.
Truly so many thoughts and feelings about this debut - hats off to the author for creating such an incredible story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of an advanced copy from author
First, congratulations on your debut book. To come out of the gate with this story is wickedly impressive.
The story captured me right away and kept me engaged. Broody/angsty MMCs, an FMC that can handle herself, and loveable side characters that keep them grounded - just the right mix.
We are given glimpses of the darkness within one character - which he tries to keep tethered. Another has questionable loyalties (and interest) resulting in discord. Add in everybody's secrets, a curse, prophecies, and all the twists - I ate this up.
I'm here for the vibes and Sam delivered. I look so forward to how this story continues.
Werewolves, witches, vampires, & demons
Multi-POVs
Fated Mates
Found Family
Reluctant allies to lovers
Touch her and 💀
First, congratulations on your debut book. To come out of the gate with this story is wickedly impressive.
The story captured me right away and kept me engaged. Broody/angsty MMCs, an FMC that can handle herself, and loveable side characters that keep them grounded - just the right mix.
We are given glimpses of the darkness within one character - which he tries to keep tethered. Another has questionable loyalties (and interest) resulting in discord. Add in everybody's secrets, a curse, prophecies, and all the twists - I ate this up.
I'm here for the vibes and Sam delivered. I look so forward to how this story continues.
Werewolves, witches, vampires, & demons
Multi-POVs
Fated Mates
Found Family
Reluctant allies to lovers
Touch her and 💀
Review of advance copy received from Author
I’m not going to lie, my eyes are still blurry and stinging from the crying i’ve been doing the last 50ish pages so this review might be very badly written but I couldn’t wait to write something down.
Damn you Sam for making me love a wolf shifter book, somehow I skipped over that while applying for the ARC or maybe the rest of the blurb convinced me enough to give it a chance, all I know is, I am not a werewolf story enjoyer (usually) but this book just changed that.
The plot in this book just kept thickening and for once I genuinely couldn’t predict what was going to happen next. That very rarely happens, even now after finishing the book, I am left with so many questions. Questions that will have to sit in my mind now FOR AGES until we get the sequel.
So again, damn you Sam for not only making me like a wolf shifter story but also for making me EXCITED for the next one.
Damn you Sam for making me love a wolf shifter book, somehow I skipped over that while applying for the ARC or maybe the rest of the blurb convinced me enough to give it a chance, all I know is, I am not a werewolf story enjoyer (usually) but this book just changed that.
The plot in this book just kept thickening and for once I genuinely couldn’t predict what was going to happen next. That very rarely happens, even now after finishing the book, I am left with so many questions. Questions that will have to sit in my mind now FOR AGES until we get the sequel.
So again, damn you Sam for not only making me like a wolf shifter story but also for making me EXCITED for the next one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I enjoyed Curse of the Moon Flower. Vampires - what's not to love? The story was good and the concept was enjoyable.
The cover is very understated. The colours were beautiful together. I even liked the font on this cover!
The writing is good and the story flows nicely. The descriptions are stunning. They are so rich and detailed. They're very easy to imagine.
The setting was excellent and Sam's world-building was fantastic. This is essential for this type of novel and Sam smashed it out the park!
The characters were excellent. They were well thought out, well developed and deep. I really liked Axe and Vessa. They were strong characters and enjoyed their interactions.
I definitely recommend Curse of the Moon Flower to you all.
The cover is very understated. The colours were beautiful together. I even liked the font on this cover!
The writing is good and the story flows nicely. The descriptions are stunning. They are so rich and detailed. They're very easy to imagine.
The setting was excellent and Sam's world-building was fantastic. This is essential for this type of novel and Sam smashed it out the park!
The characters were excellent. They were well thought out, well developed and deep. I really liked Axe and Vessa. They were strong characters and enjoyed their interactions.
I definitely recommend Curse of the Moon Flower to you all.
April 20, 2026
Sam brought back the nostalgia of Twilight and Vampire Academy in her debut. The magic and supernatural world was throughly thought-out with well versed imagery and wit. Ending on a cliffhanger with Vessa in continuing with her true identity wrapped it up nice as a fast paced read. You really just get into the story and are immersed in this world and its characters.
With the nostalgia, I do think this is a better fit as a YA fantasy with the way it was written and its flow. The writing can always be better and I can see Sam’s strengths pouring her passion for this story and characters page by page. Looking forward to what comes next.
With the nostalgia, I do think this is a better fit as a YA fantasy with the way it was written and its flow. The writing can always be better and I can see Sam’s strengths pouring her passion for this story and characters page by page. Looking forward to what comes next.
April 21, 2026
3.75 - If you enjoyed the Wolf King, you should read this book. It was a whirlwind being a dark fantasy with wolves, werewolves, Lycan, and fae. All the things I love.
I really enjoyed the writing in the beginning. I was hooked. It slowed down pacing wise a bit in the middle for me, and there were some questionable descriptors like small details not adding up if that makes sense. Axe and Vessa are a slow burn for sure. The ending was wild, and I can’t wait to find out more of Maurleen’s story and what she knows.
The prison is giving me endovier vibes. iykyk
Thank you Sam for this arc! I can’t wait to keep watching your writing grow
I really enjoyed the writing in the beginning. I was hooked. It slowed down pacing wise a bit in the middle for me, and there were some questionable descriptors like small details not adding up if that makes sense. Axe and Vessa are a slow burn for sure. The ending was wild, and I can’t wait to find out more of Maurleen’s story and what she knows.
The prison is giving me endovier vibes. iykyk
Thank you Sam for this arc! I can’t wait to keep watching your writing grow
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was sucked in from the very start! There were so many twists and turns happening throughout this book. You weren’t sure what was going to happen. I love alpha males and a strong female in my books. The side characters were great too.
Overall the story flowed nicely, but at times it was confusing to follow or the timeline was wrong, but those could be easy fixed! I feel the end of the book went more smoothly.
I can’t wait to see when happens in the next book! The end has you wondering what could possibly happen next!!
Overall the story flowed nicely, but at times it was confusing to follow or the timeline was wrong, but those could be easy fixed! I feel the end of the book went more smoothly.
I can’t wait to see when happens in the next book! The end has you wondering what could possibly happen next!!
Review of advance copy
Wow. Just, wow. This book was captivating from beginning to end. A refreshing plot with all kinds of turns keeping you on your toes. Cannot wait to read more about the Bleeding Sun pack and what happens next! 10/10 read, love the characters and the slow burn.
*SPOILERS*
Vessa is a badass and her love story with Axe is fun and slow burn, but the tension is TAUT my friends. And Dom? Interested to see how that situation plays out as well as the main story line. Why does she “glow”? Where is the Blood Master? Also, that ending was unexpected but great! Thank for you an ARC!
*SPOILERS*
Vessa is a badass and her love story with Axe is fun and slow burn, but the tension is TAUT my friends. And Dom? Interested to see how that situation plays out as well as the main story line. Why does she “glow”? Where is the Blood Master? Also, that ending was unexpected but great! Thank for you an ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.25⭐
This book was not perfect...
Although it started slow what looked like a simple lycan romantasy turned into a more complex plot, that even though it got a bit confusing for me a few times, it ended up being actually awesome!
Seriously, my opinion on this book was constantly 📈📉📈📉 but in the end I can actually say I liked it and I really want to read the next one!! 👀
If you like lycans i think you should give this one a shot!
This book was not perfect...
Although it started slow what looked like a simple lycan romantasy turned into a more complex plot, that even though it got a bit confusing for me a few times, it ended up being actually awesome!
Seriously, my opinion on this book was constantly 📈📉📈📉 but in the end I can actually say I liked it and I really want to read the next one!! 👀
If you like lycans i think you should give this one a shot!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really struggled with this book. The beginning was pretty good, but the story fell apart for me as it continued. I will say, I loved the grief elements in this book and watching Axe struggle with his past and present. The conflict between the vampires and the wolves was pretty good. The prophecy stuff felt a little wonky, but it was interesting. Overall this was a good read, but I think it needs more editing time to be great. It felt like it was building towards something more, but it just didn't get there for me.
There were issues with the word choice and images the author created. One specific scene that pulled me out occurred during a spicy moment where the position of the MCs could not physically do what was described. I realize this is an ARC and there is potential for a good story. I appreciate all the time and love that went into crafting this book, but it just didn't work for me.
The pending love triangle with Dom, Axe, and Vessa was not a good vibe. Dom felt like a third wheel, but there was very little tension between Vessa and either of the brothers, so the entire romance aspect of this fell flat for me. The FMC knowing she had a mate and acting like that in a club, didn't work. It moved the story along, but felt under-developed. I didn't love any of the characters, they were all middle of the road for me.
Thank you to the author for the eARC of this story. I wish you the best on your author journey. These are my honest opinions.
There were issues with the word choice and images the author created. One specific scene that pulled me out occurred during a spicy moment where the position of the MCs could not physically do what was described. I realize this is an ARC and there is potential for a good story. I appreciate all the time and love that went into crafting this book, but it just didn't work for me.
The pending love triangle with Dom, Axe, and Vessa was not a good vibe. Dom felt like a third wheel, but there was very little tension between Vessa and either of the brothers, so the entire romance aspect of this fell flat for me. The FMC knowing she had a mate and acting like that in a club, didn't work. It moved the story along, but felt under-developed. I didn't love any of the characters, they were all middle of the road for me.
Thank you to the author for the eARC of this story. I wish you the best on your author journey. These are my honest opinions.
April 27, 2026
Right off the bat, the dedication got me. I didn't know too much before diving into this book, I purposely tried to go in kind of blind, and I'm so glad that I did. I loved this book so much. I've been in a bit of a reading slump for about a year now, and have been going insane, but this book gripped me immediately, and dare I say may have cured the slump for good. I can't wait for book two!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 stars! ARC review: I absolutely devoured this and I will be very impatiently waiting for the next one 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you for the opportunity to read your book. Not my typical read but I enjoyed it. If you enjoy werewolf books this is definitely a book to read
April 23, 2026
Thanks to the author for the ARC! The story was pretty good but the writing was a little choppy between all the POVs. I am intrigued by the end and will definitely be continuing the series!
May 1, 2026
Perhaps I'm a little biased, but I am SO PROUD of this dark little nightmare. Werewolves are back and better than ever! :p (sorry for that cliffhanger y'all!)
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was so good to read. It kept me on my toes the whole time. I thought I knew what would happen and was wrong. I can’t wait tell the next book come out to find out what happens. I really enjoyed reading this book. Thank you for the ARC read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have seen two iterations of this novel. (I was a beta reader freshly postpartum over a year ago.) During that time, Sam tightened this novel up a lot, and I see a lot of improvement. That being said, the heart and soul of this novel still holds true, and honestly, knowing Sam in person, this novel very much feels like her.
Curse of a Moonflower is an ambitious dark paranormal romance debut with a ton of lore, dark content, tension, stress that makes you want to turn the page, great vibes, and so much more.
I thought the pacing worked way better for me this time around. Sam has a way of writing that makes you want to know what comes next, which made this binge-able.
Axe and Vessa could both use some therapy, but I enjoyed them as characters. Axe is an angry (rightfully so) possessive alpha male who is just trying his best to get revenge and protect his pack. Vessa is strong and a survivor. I really enjoyed the side characters. Particularly, Dom, I am very excited to see where his character goes in the next book.
I am excited to see what is to come! Read this if you enjoy dark paranormal romance with vampires, lycanthropes, witches, high tension, love triangles, and good vibes.
Thanks, Sam, for gifting me the ARC.
Curse of a Moonflower is an ambitious dark paranormal romance debut with a ton of lore, dark content, tension, stress that makes you want to turn the page, great vibes, and so much more.
I thought the pacing worked way better for me this time around. Sam has a way of writing that makes you want to know what comes next, which made this binge-able.
Axe and Vessa could both use some therapy, but I enjoyed them as characters. Axe is an angry (rightfully so) possessive alpha male who is just trying his best to get revenge and protect his pack. Vessa is strong and a survivor. I really enjoyed the side characters. Particularly, Dom, I am very excited to see where his character goes in the next book.
I am excited to see what is to come! Read this if you enjoy dark paranormal romance with vampires, lycanthropes, witches, high tension, love triangles, and good vibes.
Thanks, Sam, for gifting me the ARC.
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