Curse of Wreck and Ruin

by A.J. Murphy

A Cursed Shipwright. A Deadly Pirate. A Fate Forged in Flame and Shadow.

As the daughter of Tarth’s premier shipbuilder, Erinna Yarrow has always lived in the shadow of her father’s reputation, building vessels that have conquered every sea and storm. She prefers it that way. Erinna harbors a a forbidden Talent that, if ever exposed, could endanger the lives of everyone she holds dear. But when a bloodline curse threatens to consume her father’s life, she finds herself bound to forces far more dangerous than she ever imagined.

Captain Kane Atwater, famed scoundrel of the sea and man of ill-gotten expertise, may hold the key to ending Erinna’s misfortune. On the treacherous island of Fort Solitude stands a powerful mage’s prized a tower of ancient knowledge that holds the answers they both desperately seek. Magic that could break the most powerful of curses, and a map to treasure so rare a pirate would do anything to claim it. Kane knows the way, but never does anything for free.

Together, they must brave rough waters and survive the hidden perils of Fort Solitude to reach the library. Even if they reach the tower, the knowledge they seek may come at a cost neither is prepared to pay.

In a world where ancient magic still breathes, and the sea holds more than monsters, two strangers must become allies—or lose everything.

Genres: Romance, Pirates

380 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2026

Reviews

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC for an honest review, and I have to say, this book completely pulled me in. It has pirates, magic, adventure, and a budding romance. I was hooked from the very first chapter. I absolutely fell in love with Captain Kane and how playful he is. Their banter was so much fun to read, even when they were frustrated with each other. I cannot wait for book 2

[Alyssa Kujawa]

This was such a fun start to a new series. The adventure kept the story moving, and I was hooked pretty quickly by the mix of action, mystery, and worldbuilding. The magic system was especially interesting — it felt creative without being overly complicated, and I’m excited to learn more about it in the next books.

The romance is a slow burn and there’s an underlying mystery woven through the story that kept me engaged and wanting answers the whole time. By the end, I was fully invested and already looking forward to continuing the series!

(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily)

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


This romantasy blends pirates, demons, curses, and magic into a richly layered world filled with tension and mystery. The story follows Erinna, the daughter of a shipbuilder and smuggler whose family becomes entangled in a devastating curse. As buried secrets begin to surface, Erinna is drawn into a dangerous journey involving forbidden magic, frustrating captains, and the mystery of her family's origins and the curse.

The worldbuilding was easily one of the novel's strongest aspects. The author does an excellent job weaving together the magic system, religion, political tensions, and character abilities in a way that makes the world feel immersive and complex. There’s a strong sense of history behind everything, and I found myself especially intrigued by the larger mysteries surrounding the North and Erinna’s family.

The pacing was a bit uneven for me at times. The story takes a while to fully settle in, and even later, the narrative alternates between high-intensity moments and slower stretches that occasionally pull me out of it. However, once the plot picked up, I became much more invested and genuinely wanted to see where everything was heading.

I also enjoyed the character dynamics and the growing romantic tension throughout the story. While the romance initially leans toward instant attraction, it seems to be developing into a slow burn. Erinna could occasionally be frustrating as a protagonist, but her emotional stakes and connection to the central mystery kept me invested in her journey.

Overall, this was an engaging start to a romantasy series with strong worldbuilding, compelling magical elements, and an ending that definitely left me wanting the next book immediately. Fans of pirate fantasy and romantasy, especially readers who enjoyed The Ever King, will likely enjoy this one.

4/5 stars

[Saoirse Brey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for an ARC copy!

Ok I NEED book two!

✅ Hot pirate MMC
✅ Fantastic world building
✅ High seas adventures
✅ Magical library
✅ A slowburn romance done right with TENSION AND BANTER 📢📢📢

AJ Murphy's debut high seas fantasy romance is a phenomenal start to what I think is going to be one of my favorite series! The world building is just how I like it! AJ lays out the magic system and the different kingdoms with just enough information to not get lost, but not too much where it feels info-dumpy. I just know there's so much more to this world that we'll get to discover throughout the series and I can't wait to learn more about some of the other kingdoms mentioned in book one, as well as the magic system and Erinna's abilities.

She absolutely nailed the high seas adventure vibes! Erinna falling in with Kane's crew is the perfect found family which I absolutely cannot get enough of in books. AJ did such a fantastic job researching ships and how they sail. I was able to picture the ship and Erinna's work so well. I find AJ's writing style to be immersive and I can picture the scenes unfolding right in front of me.

And of course, we must talk about my beloveds, Erinna and Kane! This is why I must have book two as soon as possible please because oh boy did AJ deliver on the slowburn! This is a TRUE slowburn with the tension increasing towards the end. Kane and Erinna's banter is done so well and I definitely had some moments where I did in fact giggle and kick my feet. This definitely delivers on grumpy x sunshine vibes with Erinna being the grumpy one and Kane being the sunshine. He's flirty and a bit impulsive which is such a nice foil to Erinna who can be a bit grouchy (understandably) and tries to stay calm and collected. I connected easily with both these characters and can't wait to learn more about them throughout the series.

Thanks again to AJ for the eARC! I am so excited for this series and to see what else AJ has in store for us!

[Roux Coe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, a huge thanks to AJ Murphy and BookSirens for the free Advanced Review Copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Summary review:

This debut novel is an incredibly promising start to The Rise of Starhaven series. I was immediately drawn into a rich world of magic, politics, and pirates, finding the book exceptionally easy to read and consistently yearning to pick it up again.

The story is fast-paced and truly gripped me, especially during the final quarter. The characters are engaging: the female main character is slightly anxious yet level-headed, while the male main character has a swagger of arrogance that occasionally gives way to a more protective and caring nature.

Kudos to A J Murphy! I settled into this story with ease and cannot wait to get my hands on the second book.

My deeper thoughts:

Initially, the MFC, Erinna, was somewhat frustrating; her constant worrying, while understandable, was a slight hurdle. However, in retrospect, her character development throughout the book was excellent, and I quickly grew to appreciate her.

The MMC, Kane is a brilliant character. He embodies the type of frustratingly handsome, arrogant male lead that is so appealing, and his self-assurance immediately had me (annoyingly) captivated. Several later scenes made my heart ache (in the best possible way). I am excited for the next installment to learn more about him.

There’s no spice in this first book (the author has hinted at some to come in books 2?) but the slow burn and yearning is spot on. There were some lines that stopped me in my tracks and others that had me internally squealing! I feel like the next book is going to be one of those that you stay up till 2am reading to see where they take it.

The magic system felt both familiar, drawing on beloved elements from fantasy and romantasy, yet also inventive and new.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, and am so looking forward to book 2!

This was a wonderful intro into the beginning of the series. The world building was detailed, but happened gradually rather than info dumping all at once in the beginning. The author left small breadcrumbs that leads you into being curious about the magic system and asking questions about what is happening, while also cleverly giving definitions of the important parts. (Review of important terms are also provided for reference if needed)

I was instantly pulled in by the prologue, I wanted to know exactly what happened, and who the characters were. I never got bored since there are so many clever hooks and catchy sentence/paragraph starters. It was also a breath of fresh fantasy air to see new, unique names being used for the story (not just the same names as every other story out there and also not so unique you need to have the phonetic spelling).

The main character has a secret she is keeping from everyone else, and you slowly get fed information that leaves you questioning and wanting to know the details. Everytime she starts to slip up and forces herself to hide her secret away again, I was hurrying to know more, and what she was hiding. The mystery is compelling, and exactly my cup of tea.

Kane had me kicking my feet internally. You're led to believe he's the big bad pirate, but he seems like such a sweetheart. Fiercely loyal to only his people, but you can see him slowly start falling for Erinna… give me more!

In my opinion this was a perfect blend of emotional, dark and mysterious, while also being full of light hearted banter and multilayered characters. The pirates are more than their stereotypes, and the academy and people within are hiding more information than you think.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lilith's_Library_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Curse of Wreck and Ruin by A.J. Murphy was a gritty, emotionally charged read that pulled me in more than I expected it to. I went in anticipating a dark fantasy with a strong sense of destruction and consequence, and that’s exactly what I got—but it also had a surprisingly emotional core that kept me engaged beyond just the chaos.

The atmosphere is probably what stood out to me the most. Everything feels worn down, dangerous, and a little bit cursed in a way that bleeds into every interaction and decision. There’s a heaviness to the world that really suits the title, and it gave the story a consistent edge that I appreciated.

The characters were compelling in that flawed, slightly broken way that fits this kind of story. I did find myself connecting more with some than others, and at times I wished a bit more depth had been given to a few of the side characters, especially considering how important they felt to the plot. The main character’s internal conflict was definitely the strongest emotional thread for me.

The pacing was uneven in places—some sections felt gripping and fast-moving, while others slowed down more than I personally needed. That said, the slower moments did help build atmosphere and tension, even if I occasionally found myself wanting things to move a little quicker.

What I really liked was how the story didn’t shy away from consequences. Choices matter here, and that added weight to everything unfolding. Even when I guessed where some things were heading, I still appreciated the emotional impact when they arrived.

[Logan Battista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I ended up really enjoying Curse of Wreck and Ruin, but it definitely took me a little while to get there.

The storyline feels fresh, and I loved the pirate elements. They added a fun, slightly darker edge that kept things interesting. The world building is also really unique, and once it clicks, it’s genuinely immersive. Around the halfway point, I couldn’t put it down.

That said, the beginning was a bit of a struggle for me. There’s a lot thrown at you early on with different types of magic, religions, political roles, etc and it took me a solid 30% to start piecing everything together. The magic system especially was confusing at first, though it does become clearer as the story goes on.

My biggest hang-up was the FMC. She had a tendency to brush things off with a “I’ll think about it later” or “I’ll ask him about it later” attitude, and as a reader, that drove me a little crazy. I kept wanting answers in the moment, especially since the POV doesn’t always stay tightly in her head, so those delays felt more noticeable.

Overall though, once everything started to make sense, I was hooked. It’s a slower start, but if you stick with it, the payoff is worth it. Definitely a solid 4-star read for me

[Ant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pirates? Yes. Magic? Yes. A fantasy driven by character development? Absolutely yes.

Curse of Wreck and Ruin by A J Murphy has main characters Erinna and Kane thrown together by a secret magically-underpinned deal between Erinna's father and Kane, while they hunt for secret knowledge they hope will assist their separate plans.

The world-building here is excellent, gradually being opened to the reader and developed right throughout the book. The same can be said for the magic system, which appears like it might be much more complex and nuanced than it initially seems.

Characters too are given time and space to become somewhat familiar, they are introduced slowly and their individual stories hint at histories as yet to be told.

The pacing feels a little bit like a moderate ramble, and that's a good thing. Being the first book in a planned series there's no need to save the world immediately, but it's obvious that there are bad things afoot and while that evil is (not so) obviously taking shape, the plot of this book is but a small step to allow Erinna, Kane and crew to acquire the ability to deal eventually with it.

It all feels very Hobb-like - and as Hobb fans know, that's both a rare occurrence and high praise indeed. I can't wait to see how the second book progresses from here.

Many thanks to the author and BookSirens for the complimentary early copy on which this review is based.

[Gena Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Anyone touched by the arcanum, who could pull on the threads of magic, held some innate inclination. A Talent determined how one could shape spells or interact with the world."

Curse of Wreck and Ruin by A.J. Murphy, the first in The Rise of Starhaven series, weaves practical and impractical magic through a historic setting fraught with contrasting elements. A pirate and a shipwright. An academy and those who it rejects. Talents and Graces. Just as there are two sides to every story, there are two intentions to every dealing.

This was a great start to the series, leaving so many threads ready to be woven into future stories, and leaving the reader questioning the intentions of everyone involved.

I liked the callouts to Dungeons and Dragons (don't worry if you don't know them, it don't hurt your enjoyment of the story), but I do have a few questions as to why Erinna and Kane ignore the brightly flashing red flags of one another when it comes to harboring their respective secrets, but I do get the impression this will be covered in book 2. (It's giving me SpyxFamily vibes in that regard.)

If you liked the magic system and separation of "good" gifts versus "bad" gifts in Fourth Wing, and/or the pirate-magic combination in Ship of Spells, this might be the book for you.

Please note, I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erinna Yarrow is the daughter of the most sought-after shipbuilder on Tarth and Kane Atwater is a pirate captain awaiting execution in the island's dungeons. After an unimaginably powerful curse is released and Kane escapes, Erinna’s and her father’s lives are threatened so she will make a deal with the pirate captain. Together they will travel to Fort Solitude and attempt to enter the mage’s library for the information they each need but surviving the powerful magical protections may cost them more than they expect.

This author has created a fascinating new world with a system of magic that kept me engrossed. Most interesting is the varied acceptance of magic by the different nations of this particular world. Erinna’s home, Tarth, would imprison or possibly kill her for her forbidden powers if the leaders could not find a way to use her magic for their own purposes. All of these characters are fantastic, well written and with diverse personalities they kept me engaged in their action packed and exciting quest for knowledge and treasure. Unexpected twists in the plot and magic. I couldn’t put this book down and recommend it to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by Book Sirens.

[Jessica Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had all the vibes—magic, danger, layered characters, and a plot that actually kept me invested the whole time. The world building felt immersive without being overwhelming, and I really liked how the story slowly unraveled instead of info-dumping everything at once.

The characters?? Messy in the best way. There’s tension, secrets, and just enough emotional damage to keep things interesting. I found myself really invested in their journeys and the dynamics between them.

There were a few moments where the pacing dipped slightly, but overall I was locked in and needed to know what was going to happen next.

If you like:

✨ dark fantasy vibes

✨ found family

✨ secrets & betrayals

✨ slow-burn tension

—you’ll probably eat this up.

Definitely excited to see where this series goes next

[Hamail Haider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Curse of Wreck and Ruin started off a bit slow, but the amount of mystery and the amazing worldbuilding more than made up for it. The concept of the book, in my opinion, is quite unique, especially the idea of arcanum and ways to use it. Erinna was a bit annoying, hating on and yet defending the same culture and people that were willing to harm her, but I still loved her. Kane, on the other hand, is one of the most intriguing MMC's I've met. The side characters like Inez and Asher are just as wonderful and have many depths yet to be explored.
Overall, this book is most definitely worth a read and with so many questions left unanswered, I cannot wait for book two!
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)

[Tara Pullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)
Curse of Wreck and Ruin does a fantastic job pulling you into Erinna and Kane’s world. The world‑building is vivid and engaging, and the introduction of Talents and Graces gives the magic system a fresh twist—a welcome change from what has become expected dynamics.

As the first book in a series, it raises plenty of questions and leaves several threads intentionally unresolved, clearly saving some answers for the next instalment. It’s a solid start with lots of potential, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.

[Amber Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review:


I absolutely loved this book. At first I wasn't sure I was going to really be able to immerse myself in this world as it was a lot of moving parts to take it so early, but about 30% in I was hooked. I could not put it down. I loved the banter between Eri and Kane, it felt real and one of the most favorable "enemies to lovers" I've read in newer books. I'm excited to see what the following book(s) hold as there is so much to unpack ahead.

[Gracie Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

!ARC REVIEW!
*review is subject to change.
overall, i like the premise of the book! i do think it has a solid start to a great romantasy series!!
i did have some frustration with the fmc but i still like her character throughout. the final quarter of the book is really when the story really grasps you. i can't wait to see where AJ Murphy takes the story.
i only rated it 3 stars due to me having a burnout with romantasy books. i do plan on revisiting the story at a later date.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review via BookSirens:
I really enjoyed the world building, and development of the characters and plot, that was really well done. Though at times it did feel as if I missed some context cues, but this did not detract from the overall enjoyability of the read.
The plot leaves off at a great point and keeps you waiting for the next instalment in the series.

[AfterEffect Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like the book but also how you add it like terms or places of note we can look up in the book so if we ever were questioning something, we could just get a definition like super easily. Can’t wait for book 2. I’ll look for you on Substack.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shandie McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received from Author. Wow! I could not put this book down. Its action packed and the world building was great. The magical system was unique and really adds to the story/world. This is an AMAZING first book to this series and I cannot wait to read the next book.

[The · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC! I enjoyed this story.

[Faye ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC
Great read faced paced and exciting!
Loved the MMC and FMC!

[Emily Drees · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed being one of the first to read this series.

I will rate this four stars, I am very excited for the second book, And I can't wait to continue the series.

The book did take me a little bit to get into that could just be a me problem, but I was struggling with all the different words in the world. But once I got a grasp of everything I read the rest of this book very quickly. I really enjoyed how the world was built and I just know there is so much more to learn. Reading that made me feel a little bit like the FMC, I was in the dark about certain things (as was she) and enjoyed learning as the book continued.

The main male character - Kane - a pirate - made me giggle. I really enjoyed reading about him and I can't wait to see what else he has up his sleeve.

The FMC did drive me crazy a little bit but only because as a reader I really wanted answers to certain things. I did really enjoy her character growth throughout the story.

All in all this was a great read and I'm very excited to continue with the series when book two comes out