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Gold & Fire & Blood #1
Anthem of the Cursed Empire
As Elynn finally discovers a way to save her sister from the annual offering, she finds herself in the brutal world swarming with accursed beasts, serving the queen of one of five realms. If she wants to survive, she must follow the rules.
She must not disobey.
She must not be curious.
And she must not reveal that she is not sixteen—her sister she's pretending to be.
But following the rules is a challenge for someone like Elynn who finds it hard to tolerate injustice, keep questions to herself and mind her own business instead of satiating her curious nature. Every unfair act makes her blood boil. With every day spent in the oppressive environment, her hope withers. And blinded by the promise to avenge them all, her sanity turns fragile.
And as she thinks her current situation could not get any worse, here comes the world's most feared monster who knows Elynn's secret and not only that.
She must not disobey.
She must not be curious.
And she must not reveal that she is not sixteen—her sister she's pretending to be.
But following the rules is a challenge for someone like Elynn who finds it hard to tolerate injustice, keep questions to herself and mind her own business instead of satiating her curious nature. Every unfair act makes her blood boil. With every day spent in the oppressive environment, her hope withers. And blinded by the promise to avenge them all, her sanity turns fragile.
And as she thinks her current situation could not get any worse, here comes the world's most feared monster who knows Elynn's secret and not only that.
439 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2021
33 people are currently reading
1050 people want to read
About the author
Austea E. Kette
4 books89 followersAs a child, Austea posed as the Sailor Moon. As a tween, she wanted to be a protagonist in one specific telenovela. And as a teen, she wished to love herself. Now, when she's a Sailor Moon in her head, telenovela's protagonist in her book, and with a heart filled with love for herself, she's a lady of tea and a mother of three endearing kitties writing about everything she finds intriguing: witches, dragons, enemies-to-lovers trope, soulmates, strong, admirable women, etc.
If you're also intrigued by these things, her books will not leave you disappointed.
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If you're also intrigued by these things, her books will not leave you disappointed.
Join my newsletter: https://forms.gle/TpnNg8hXrdwT4gH37
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
July 27, 2021
First and foremost, I'll begin with thanking everyone who found time to rate this book and leave a review. Good or bad, it doesn't matter, you're all absolute gems.
Now moving on to the necessary information...
CONTENT WARNINGS:
•violence;
•inexplicit sexual abuse;
•deaths.
If you read the book, and if you think something should be added to the warnings, please let me know! :)
And yes, I gave five stars to my book, because supporting yourself is a must. Not to mention the work and time I put into this book... Not giving five stars to myself just wouldn't be fair. So five stars it is!
I hope you enjoyed or will enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed creating it. Thank you for everything.
~ Austea
P.S. I have an Instagram and if you want, you can follow me by clicking here.
Now moving on to the necessary information...
CONTENT WARNINGS:
•violence;
•inexplicit sexual abuse;
•deaths.
If you read the book, and if you think something should be added to the warnings, please let me know! :)
And yes, I gave five stars to my book, because supporting yourself is a must. Not to mention the work and time I put into this book... Not giving five stars to myself just wouldn't be fair. So five stars it is!
I hope you enjoyed or will enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed creating it. Thank you for everything.
~ Austea
P.S. I have an Instagram and if you want, you can follow me by clicking here.
September 6, 2021
First of all the book has really nice aesthetic. Characters are really original. This book really pushes your imagination to its boundaries. There are a lot of anjoyable quotes. I will defenetly wait for the next book to come.
April 11, 2023
I absolutely loved it. The characters are amazing and the world is so interesting and mysterious. I felt so many emotions while reading and it was exactly what i needed to get out of my reading slump. It’s a wonderful fantasy book and i can’t wait to read Book 2.
Oh and Dray is just omg🤭
Oh and Dray is just omg🤭
August 28, 2021
This book needs some serious editing.
June 2, 2023
I had such mixed feelings about this book. I want to say that firstly, I truly loved it. The story and world that the author created, the magic system and all the creatures are unique and engaging and absolutely fantastic. It's all that you want in a fantasy novel.
Unfortunately I felt like this book needed a lot of editing. The writing sometimes felt rushed or incomplete and I would feel lost or confused. Many sentences awkwardly tripped over themselves and I was often re-reading entire pages. I also wished for more detailed descriptions of all the characters, the morphs in particular. They are so cool and so interesting but my vision of them felt incomplete.
I think with stronger editing this book could have been so much more incredible. Even though it was sometimes a little messy or confusing, it was still so interesting that I couldn't put it down. If there was ever another edition released that was edited or reworked I could certainly snatch that up and re-read it. If a sequel is released to this I will read that but with the sincere hope that it goes through a much more rigorous editing process.
Unfortunately I felt like this book needed a lot of editing. The writing sometimes felt rushed or incomplete and I would feel lost or confused. Many sentences awkwardly tripped over themselves and I was often re-reading entire pages. I also wished for more detailed descriptions of all the characters, the morphs in particular. They are so cool and so interesting but my vision of them felt incomplete.
I think with stronger editing this book could have been so much more incredible. Even though it was sometimes a little messy or confusing, it was still so interesting that I couldn't put it down. If there was ever another edition released that was edited or reworked I could certainly snatch that up and re-read it. If a sequel is released to this I will read that but with the sincere hope that it goes through a much more rigorous editing process.
July 30, 2021
Thank you so much to Austea E. Kette for providing me with an eARC copy for review and congratulations on the publication!
Okay this is 3.5 rounded up. Or maybe more like 3.8. Either way it definitely deserves the four stars instead of three for me.
I loved this book. I loved reading this book. Normally, it takes me at least the first hundred pages or so to get into a book, but not this time. I was gripped from about page six and happily sat for hours reading this book.
For fans of Beauty and the Beast retellings like A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas or A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer, I’d recommend ordering this book. I definitely got a lot of Feyre vibes from Elynn, in a good way.
Without spoiling anything, I will say this book came with a lot of surprises. Not sudden plot twists exactly (well, a couple) but more character development that made me go ‘huh, I totally see how that happened but I didn’t see it coming’ and I loved it. I ended up loving characters I hated, which is always the best way to find a favourite character. Expect Chase. I just hate him.
I found Elynn to be a great protagonist. While I liked her overall, at times I found her annoying or disagreed with her, but only in such a way that I felt it made her realistically flawed instead of in a way that made me dislike her. I also loved her approach to her situation. Unlike most predictable heroines, she didn’t act rashly and try to escape immediately, she took on her role and bided her time. I liked that she actually had a brain from the get go rather than finding one half way through.
Now Drayard I love. Don’t get me wrong, he’s flawed and a little scary, like all good Beasts, but I loved him. And he’s completely soft for Elynn which made me love their dynamic.
The magical system in this world was awesome and creeped the hell out of me. The descriptions of these civilised beasts were interesting and gave me the strangest images in my head!
I still have a lot of questions which I hope will be answered in the next book, which I’ll definitely be waiting for anxiously! Go order this book or borrow it on kindle unlimited - it’s an enjoyable, fast paced and original take on almost everyone’s favourite retelling!
Okay this is 3.5 rounded up. Or maybe more like 3.8. Either way it definitely deserves the four stars instead of three for me.
I loved this book. I loved reading this book. Normally, it takes me at least the first hundred pages or so to get into a book, but not this time. I was gripped from about page six and happily sat for hours reading this book.
For fans of Beauty and the Beast retellings like A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas or A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer, I’d recommend ordering this book. I definitely got a lot of Feyre vibes from Elynn, in a good way.
Without spoiling anything, I will say this book came with a lot of surprises. Not sudden plot twists exactly (well, a couple) but more character development that made me go ‘huh, I totally see how that happened but I didn’t see it coming’ and I loved it. I ended up loving characters I hated, which is always the best way to find a favourite character. Expect Chase. I just hate him.
I found Elynn to be a great protagonist. While I liked her overall, at times I found her annoying or disagreed with her, but only in such a way that I felt it made her realistically flawed instead of in a way that made me dislike her. I also loved her approach to her situation. Unlike most predictable heroines, she didn’t act rashly and try to escape immediately, she took on her role and bided her time. I liked that she actually had a brain from the get go rather than finding one half way through.
Now Drayard I love. Don’t get me wrong, he’s flawed and a little scary, like all good Beasts, but I loved him. And he’s completely soft for Elynn which made me love their dynamic.
The magical system in this world was awesome and creeped the hell out of me. The descriptions of these civilised beasts were interesting and gave me the strangest images in my head!
I still have a lot of questions which I hope will be answered in the next book, which I’ll definitely be waiting for anxiously! Go order this book or borrow it on kindle unlimited - it’s an enjoyable, fast paced and original take on almost everyone’s favourite retelling!
October 26, 2024
The Perfect Slow-Burn Romantasy 🖤🔥
Througout the whole Story I was glued to the Book. Such a magical Story with so many small an big unpredictable twists and revealed secrets! ✨ The Slow Burn Romance makes it perfect and I can‘t wait to read book 2 and dive even deeper into Elynns Story!😍
Througout the whole Story I was glued to the Book. Such a magical Story with so many small an big unpredictable twists and revealed secrets! ✨ The Slow Burn Romance makes it perfect and I can‘t wait to read book 2 and dive even deeper into Elynns Story!😍
May 27, 2022
The book takes place in a world divided into the morph realm and the human realm. Morphs are awful creatures, cursed to resemble their animal forms and cruelly enslaving human children. As you can probably tell from the short description there, the book is quite brutal at times and characters face horrible hardships. However, we don’t see any characters break, making this book act as an inspiration of hope and strength to anyone in hard times.
I loved the main characters, especially Dray (although he needs to lighten up a little 😂) and the side characters were very memorable, rather than fading into the background. There was good sexual chemistry and I really hope the rest of the series has some steam 😉 From the cliff hangar, I think there will be some shattering romance in the series to come and the build up to it has been laid very nicely!
The story itself is reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, although this similarity is not glaringly obvious nor a copy! It actually did remind me of ACOTAR a little, although again there was no direct copying! Throughout the story we learn more and more about the morph world and the sorceresses and enchantresses of the world. There were a lot of questions I had upon finishing, but not in a “I don’t understand way”, more of a “this is complex and I want to know more”! 💜
I strongly recommend that any fans of ACOTAR, Folk of the Air and the Court series read this book and I really want to read the next book in the series! five star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved the main characters, especially Dray (although he needs to lighten up a little 😂) and the side characters were very memorable, rather than fading into the background. There was good sexual chemistry and I really hope the rest of the series has some steam 😉 From the cliff hangar, I think there will be some shattering romance in the series to come and the build up to it has been laid very nicely!
The story itself is reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, although this similarity is not glaringly obvious nor a copy! It actually did remind me of ACOTAR a little, although again there was no direct copying! Throughout the story we learn more and more about the morph world and the sorceresses and enchantresses of the world. There were a lot of questions I had upon finishing, but not in a “I don’t understand way”, more of a “this is complex and I want to know more”! 💜
I strongly recommend that any fans of ACOTAR, Folk of the Air and the Court series read this book and I really want to read the next book in the series! five star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 29, 2021
This novel is an example of an enemies-to-lovers trope done just right. It maintains a perfect balance between plot and world building and slow-burn romance and there's no insta-love / insta-lust which I personally abhor. Relationship development between h and H is slow, gradual and feels natural.
This is loosely a Beauty and the Beast retelling, only instead of just the Beast, the whole Empire of them was cursed to maintain beast-like forms. The world the author has created has three major races/species: humans, who don't have any magic at all except for a few bloodlines of witches and sorceresses, morphs, who are shapeshifters, and enchanters, who are basically magical people, though not much is clear about them at this point. All three races hate each other and are mortal enemies, although at different points in time seem to ally with one against the other.
This way humans and enchanters fought and gained independence from morphs' Empire of Beasts but humans paid the price - according to treaty each human family must sacrifice their youngest child upon reaching 16 years of age on the Summer Solstice day. They get sent to the Empire and no one ever hears from them again. Our heroine, 19 year old Elynn, can't bear the thought of such cruel fate befalling her beloved younger sister and assumes her place, getting sent to the Empire in her stead.
There she becomes a slave at the mansion of the Queen of one of the morphs' five realms. No one knows her secret until she meets Drayard, a legend from the past war, who humans call Bloodsucker and use as a boogiman in their stories meant to scare children into obedience. He seems to be able to glimpse into her mind and also for some reason is interested in her.
Elynn grew up on scary tales about his infamous cruel misdeeds and thus is simultaneously fascinated and repulsed by him. There's a lot of prejudice, mistrust on her part towards him, who she considers a villain, and it scaresly (and very slowly and gradually) changes during much of the story as she gets to know him better. The "enemy" part of their developing relationship takes about 60-70% of the story, so it's definitely a delicious slow-burn.
Also, it should be noted that due to the curse that renders morphs unable to assume their true/human form and makes them stuck in a humanoid but beastly furry shape, Drayard is basically a red-scaled lizard-man with reptilian tail and wings, so there's definitely no insta-lust here too and the heroine doesn't fall for him because of his good looks and hotness as she only ever sees him as a scary-looking Beast. So their relationship develops solely based on her getting to know the personality behind the scary facade and in response to his actions. Which is the best part of Beauty and the Beast inspired stories.
There's no smut here (which is a bummer as lizardman sex ala R Lee Smith would have been nice lol) and first sparks start really flying later into the story closer to 80% to the end, but even their earlier more platonic interactions like hand touching are described in a weirdly sensual and erotic way (the piano playing scene! Yum). There's also lots and lots of amazing playful banter with occasional sexual innuendo thrown in for good measure. Let me just cut it short - the Chemistry is Amazing and thick as molasses between them! They reminded me of Feyre/Rhysand in a way.
Elynn is a likable main character. She's level-headed, resoursful, witty, compassionate, has a strong moral compass and infinite devotion to her family, willing to sacrifice herself for their sake. She's not perfect and has some faults that make her more humane and real. Drayard is also an interesting morally ambiguous character. You don't quite know whether he's a villain or a secret cinnamon roll (or maybe both) till the end. He is viewed as a monster and is feared not only by humans but by his fellow morphs as well due to his terrifying powers, and has no family being the last of kind alive, so he maintains a stony impassive facade, while suffering from compete and utter loneliness inside. He's also haunted by demons of has past during the war and has more than a few secrets. Even though it's pretty clear from the start that he has some hidden agenda, he's never treated Elynn in a typical alpha hole way, merciless teasing aside lol. He's also a feminist and voiced some strong opinions about women equality, so bonus points for this too.
The plot has all the typical elements for a fantasy story - curses, hidden identities, suppressed powers, soulmates, but they are woven together masterfully to create a compelling and engaging story that will hold your interest till the end. Be warned though, there are some darker themes touched here like rape, PTSD, slavery, misogyny, though there's no gore and anything graphic. I would say the first part of the story was a 3.5 read for me and held my interest enough, the later half, maybe last third, was definitely a 5 star read as the plot sped up, there were some unexpected twists and relationship development and scenes between Elynn and Drayard were swoonworthy.
The only negative thing I have to say is a complete lack of editing and lots of rather glaring mistakes, which is not entirely author's fault as the author seems to be not a native English speaker. Still, lack of editing didn't deter me from gobbling up this story as the plot and especially characters and their awesome chemistry more than compensated for it. I only wish the author would find an English editor who could help polish this diamond-in-the-rough story into a brilliant it has a full potential to be. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to all people who love enemies-to-lovers trope in their fantasy, Beauty and the Best retellings and Rhysand )) and I can't wait to read a continuation of Elynn and Drayard's story prepared for all the angst that is sure to follow that ending.
This is loosely a Beauty and the Beast retelling, only instead of just the Beast, the whole Empire of them was cursed to maintain beast-like forms. The world the author has created has three major races/species: humans, who don't have any magic at all except for a few bloodlines of witches and sorceresses, morphs, who are shapeshifters, and enchanters, who are basically magical people, though not much is clear about them at this point. All three races hate each other and are mortal enemies, although at different points in time seem to ally with one against the other.
This way humans and enchanters fought and gained independence from morphs' Empire of Beasts but humans paid the price - according to treaty each human family must sacrifice their youngest child upon reaching 16 years of age on the Summer Solstice day. They get sent to the Empire and no one ever hears from them again. Our heroine, 19 year old Elynn, can't bear the thought of such cruel fate befalling her beloved younger sister and assumes her place, getting sent to the Empire in her stead.
There she becomes a slave at the mansion of the Queen of one of the morphs' five realms. No one knows her secret until she meets Drayard, a legend from the past war, who humans call Bloodsucker and use as a boogiman in their stories meant to scare children into obedience. He seems to be able to glimpse into her mind and also for some reason is interested in her.
Elynn grew up on scary tales about his infamous cruel misdeeds and thus is simultaneously fascinated and repulsed by him. There's a lot of prejudice, mistrust on her part towards him, who she considers a villain, and it scaresly (and very slowly and gradually) changes during much of the story as she gets to know him better. The "enemy" part of their developing relationship takes about 60-70% of the story, so it's definitely a delicious slow-burn.
Also, it should be noted that due to the curse that renders morphs unable to assume their true/human form and makes them stuck in a humanoid but beastly furry shape, Drayard is basically a red-scaled lizard-man with reptilian tail and wings, so there's definitely no insta-lust here too and the heroine doesn't fall for him because of his good looks and hotness as she only ever sees him as a scary-looking Beast. So their relationship develops solely based on her getting to know the personality behind the scary facade and in response to his actions. Which is the best part of Beauty and the Beast inspired stories.
There's no smut here (which is a bummer as lizardman sex ala R Lee Smith would have been nice lol) and first sparks start really flying later into the story closer to 80% to the end, but even their earlier more platonic interactions like hand touching are described in a weirdly sensual and erotic way (the piano playing scene! Yum). There's also lots and lots of amazing playful banter with occasional sexual innuendo thrown in for good measure. Let me just cut it short - the Chemistry is Amazing and thick as molasses between them! They reminded me of Feyre/Rhysand in a way.
Elynn is a likable main character. She's level-headed, resoursful, witty, compassionate, has a strong moral compass and infinite devotion to her family, willing to sacrifice herself for their sake. She's not perfect and has some faults that make her more humane and real. Drayard is also an interesting morally ambiguous character. You don't quite know whether he's a villain or a secret cinnamon roll (or maybe both) till the end. He is viewed as a monster and is feared not only by humans but by his fellow morphs as well due to his terrifying powers, and has no family being the last of kind alive, so he maintains a stony impassive facade, while suffering from compete and utter loneliness inside. He's also haunted by demons of has past during the war and has more than a few secrets. Even though it's pretty clear from the start that he has some hidden agenda, he's never treated Elynn in a typical alpha hole way, merciless teasing aside lol. He's also a feminist and voiced some strong opinions about women equality, so bonus points for this too.
The plot has all the typical elements for a fantasy story - curses, hidden identities, suppressed powers, soulmates, but they are woven together masterfully to create a compelling and engaging story that will hold your interest till the end. Be warned though, there are some darker themes touched here like rape, PTSD, slavery, misogyny, though there's no gore and anything graphic. I would say the first part of the story was a 3.5 read for me and held my interest enough, the later half, maybe last third, was definitely a 5 star read as the plot sped up, there were some unexpected twists and relationship development and scenes between Elynn and Drayard were swoonworthy.
The only negative thing I have to say is a complete lack of editing and lots of rather glaring mistakes, which is not entirely author's fault as the author seems to be not a native English speaker. Still, lack of editing didn't deter me from gobbling up this story as the plot and especially characters and their awesome chemistry more than compensated for it. I only wish the author would find an English editor who could help polish this diamond-in-the-rough story into a brilliant it has a full potential to be. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to all people who love enemies-to-lovers trope in their fantasy, Beauty and the Best retellings and Rhysand )) and I can't wait to read a continuation of Elynn and Drayard's story prepared for all the angst that is sure to follow that ending.
January 21, 2024
This was a really good book. I loved the concept and the characters. Two things could be changed- the grammar needs some revising and some of the word choices, especially for magical things, were odd and required a lot of work to think through and understand what she was trying to say. Overall really neat and unique, nothing like anything I’ve read before.
August 16, 2023
Anthem of The Cursed Empire- @austea.kette
🌟 🌟 🌟
This book has bits of everything I love to read :
*Fated Mates
*Sibling Love
*Awakened Powers
*Humans vs Magic
*Prophecy
And as much as I love these things and DID enjoy the book, I felt something was missing for me.
It may be that I've read alot of very similar books this year but I just needed something more, a punch to the gut in the story that made me feel something for the characters but unfortunately it never came apart from one instance I'll mention at the bottom of this.
I feel alot of the book was predictable- for me at least.
Austeas writing is, without a doubt, brilliant and engaging. I finished half of the book before @the.butterfly.bookclub read along had begun! The story was interesting but my favorite characters were ones we didn't see as much of. I would have liked to have known more about Clare, Asenah, Kristian (which I assume we learn more about in the second book), the Bat girls and also Chase.
I found some of their characters knew things but we had no answers as to why or how they knew these things.
There is also mention of r*ape in the book and although nothing explicit I do think the book needs a TW as the scene is very intense and may be upsetting for some readers.
It's possibly the only part of the book that truly made me feel something for our MC. I think it was written so well and I'm glad Austea didn't write it as if it happened, she got over it, the end. The MC had full on trauma from what happened and it affected her all through the book as it would have in real life.
I'm glad I got to read the book and I 100% want to read book 2 to see what happens as that ending is a huge cliff hanger!
🌟 🌟 🌟
This book has bits of everything I love to read :
*Fated Mates
*Sibling Love
*Awakened Powers
*Humans vs Magic
*Prophecy
And as much as I love these things and DID enjoy the book, I felt something was missing for me.
It may be that I've read alot of very similar books this year but I just needed something more, a punch to the gut in the story that made me feel something for the characters but unfortunately it never came apart from one instance I'll mention at the bottom of this.
I feel alot of the book was predictable- for me at least.
Austeas writing is, without a doubt, brilliant and engaging. I finished half of the book before @the.butterfly.bookclub read along had begun! The story was interesting but my favorite characters were ones we didn't see as much of. I would have liked to have known more about Clare, Asenah, Kristian (which I assume we learn more about in the second book), the Bat girls and also Chase.
I found some of their characters knew things but we had no answers as to why or how they knew these things.
There is also mention of r*ape in the book and although nothing explicit I do think the book needs a TW as the scene is very intense and may be upsetting for some readers.
It's possibly the only part of the book that truly made me feel something for our MC. I think it was written so well and I'm glad Austea didn't write it as if it happened, she got over it, the end. The MC had full on trauma from what happened and it affected her all through the book as it would have in real life.
I'm glad I got to read the book and I 100% want to read book 2 to see what happens as that ending is a huge cliff hanger!
December 21, 2022
'I couldn't leave. Not until u took my vengeance on everyone who'd done me wrong in the last six months'
First I must add a content warning, this book does reference rape and incest. There is nothing graphic but it is made very clear that these things happen so if they are a trigger for you please be careful.
Anthem of the cursed empire is a beauty and the beast retelling, but the beast is a bloodsucking dragon and belle is a woman called elynn who was just trying to save her sister from her doomed fate in the kingdom of morphs.
This book is very good, I really enjoyed the whole concept of it, shapeshifters, or 'morphs' as they are referred to in the books, are cursed and looking for a way to rid themselves of the curse. They keep humans as Slaves and I hated the way they were treated, literally as if they were the lowest of the low.
The relationship between the FMC, Elynn and the bloodsucker is a frustrating one, every time you think things are going to get a bit steamy, it doesn't, and for those looking for that sweet satisfaction when the two MC finally admit their feelings and fall, I'm sorry to say it doesn't happen in this book. Altho the tension between them kinda makes up for that.
A heck of a lot happens in this book and sometimes it was hard to keep up with, particularly because the author sometimes worded sentences oddly, but I found out later that English isn't the author's first language which explains why that happens, and it doesn't make the book unreadable, it's just odd.
The ending of the book left me with so many unanswered questions, so confused and so angry/sad for the FMC elynn. I need the next book like now please!
First I must add a content warning, this book does reference rape and incest. There is nothing graphic but it is made very clear that these things happen so if they are a trigger for you please be careful.
Anthem of the cursed empire is a beauty and the beast retelling, but the beast is a bloodsucking dragon and belle is a woman called elynn who was just trying to save her sister from her doomed fate in the kingdom of morphs.
This book is very good, I really enjoyed the whole concept of it, shapeshifters, or 'morphs' as they are referred to in the books, are cursed and looking for a way to rid themselves of the curse. They keep humans as Slaves and I hated the way they were treated, literally as if they were the lowest of the low.
The relationship between the FMC, Elynn and the bloodsucker is a frustrating one, every time you think things are going to get a bit steamy, it doesn't, and for those looking for that sweet satisfaction when the two MC finally admit their feelings and fall, I'm sorry to say it doesn't happen in this book. Altho the tension between them kinda makes up for that.
A heck of a lot happens in this book and sometimes it was hard to keep up with, particularly because the author sometimes worded sentences oddly, but I found out later that English isn't the author's first language which explains why that happens, and it doesn't make the book unreadable, it's just odd.
The ending of the book left me with so many unanswered questions, so confused and so angry/sad for the FMC elynn. I need the next book like now please!
October 31, 2024
In Anthem of the Cursed Empire, Austea E. Kette transports readers into a mysterious world where complex characters, high-stakes conflicts, and a darkly enchanting setting blend beautifully. While it shares some familiar elements with other books in the genre, Kette’s world manages to feel distinctly unique. She breathes fresh life into classic fantasy tropes, creating a vivid and immersive experience that stands out. Books rarely capture my attention so quickly, but from the opening chapters of this one, I was immediately drawn in, eager to see how the story would unfold.
I found the main character particularly compelling. From the outset, she faces daunting odds, yet she doesn’t back down. This courageous and curious nature, despite the fear and uncertainty she feels, makes her admirable as she takes actions many would shy away from. Even the minor characters left a lasting impression! They were developed well enough to a point that they stayed with me, adding depth to the world and storyline. ^^
I can’t wait to read the second book! The ending of this one has left me absolutely intrigued. ♡
I found the main character particularly compelling. From the outset, she faces daunting odds, yet she doesn’t back down. This courageous and curious nature, despite the fear and uncertainty she feels, makes her admirable as she takes actions many would shy away from. Even the minor characters left a lasting impression! They were developed well enough to a point that they stayed with me, adding depth to the world and storyline. ^^
I can’t wait to read the second book! The ending of this one has left me absolutely intrigued. ♡
June 2, 2023
I found this book because I follow Austea on TikTok. I have to say, I fell in love with her writing style. You get lost in the story and I couldn't lay away the book. I was a little bit held back after discovering that there are furries in the book. 😅
I didn't really read what the book was about beforehand, just reading it because of the author. But I was so many chapters in and trapped by her writing that I read the book regardless of the furries displeasing me. I loved the story nontheless.
I want to know if Drayard will finally give in to his love to Elynn. If Elynn will forgive him after all events that happened. I want the specific sentence "Gen is alive". I want to see Elynn making new plans and getting her revenge on the twins. I want Elynn to become a princess, become a Queen.
I want Austeas imagination and all her fantasies to stay vivid, writing all of that beauty down that will even top this one. I'm looking forward to more stories from Austea to get lost in and fall in love with.
I didn't really read what the book was about beforehand, just reading it because of the author. But I was so many chapters in and trapped by her writing that I read the book regardless of the furries displeasing me. I loved the story nontheless.
I want to know if Drayard will finally give in to his love to Elynn. If Elynn will forgive him after all events that happened. I want the specific sentence "Gen is alive". I want to see Elynn making new plans and getting her revenge on the twins. I want Elynn to become a princess, become a Queen.
I want Austeas imagination and all her fantasies to stay vivid, writing all of that beauty down that will even top this one. I'm looking forward to more stories from Austea to get lost in and fall in love with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2024
I read this book within days. ITS AMAZING the plot, the characters and the story. The first half reminded me of an analgama of my favourite books, but then it grew bigger, and the characters surprised me. I'm thrilled and excited to read what's next.
Add, I love the aesthetic and the use of alternative fae figures like dragons, that are less used or I read less about in fantasy. The return to the classical bedtime stories about PR messes and dragons it's a MUST
(⚠️Spoiler alert here⚔️) Also I really appreciate the love between sisters and brother, and family in general. And love that they are conscient characters that don't let their entire lives fall after some revealed secrets.
Add, I love the aesthetic and the use of alternative fae figures like dragons, that are less used or I read less about in fantasy. The return to the classical bedtime stories about PR messes and dragons it's a MUST
(⚠️Spoiler alert here⚔️) Also I really appreciate the love between sisters and brother, and family in general. And love that they are conscient characters that don't let their entire lives fall after some revealed secrets.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2023
This book made me forget I was reading! I was fully immersed in the story. I love how flawed and complex all the characters are. The english can be a bit awkward in places, because I believe it’s the authors second language, but after the first couple chapters, I was so pulled into the story I barely noticed. It’s nothing a run through by an editor won’t fix, and it’s definitely not a reading to skip this book. I will definitely reread it again and again and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for this series! ❤️
August 16, 2023
I enjoyed the story. Didn't realize it was a beauty and the beast retelling until about 2/3 into the story. I did think the main character was a bit bratty and sometimes the storytelling was a bit chaotic. However, as the author is not native english speaker, the book could use a bit of polishing up the language and sentences structure.
Overall I liked it and I am curious about how the story will continue in the sequel.
Overall I liked it and I am curious about how the story will continue in the sequel.
September 20, 2024
Wow I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did! It had everything I love in a romantasy.
It's a fast-paced book, which I appreciate immensely... the banter and the slow-burn between the main characters were *chef's kiss* 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻 and also, the FMC Elynn... absolute perfection!!!
I loved how original some of the creatures were, it was honestly very refreshing.
And thank you to the author for allowing me to read a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It's a fast-paced book, which I appreciate immensely... the banter and the slow-burn between the main characters were *chef's kiss* 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻 and also, the FMC Elynn... absolute perfection!!!
I loved how original some of the creatures were, it was honestly very refreshing.
And thank you to the author for allowing me to read a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2024
This book made go back to the time where I used to read a lot of fantasy. It's just amazing to see an author being so creative and devoted to her writing. Firstly, I really like the characters and the way they were built. Sometimes, it books, it's difficult to find characters who have a personality you'd be able to find in the real world. These characters have layers and become more interesting page by page. A pleasant reading experience, specially if fantasy is something you enjoy!!
April 21, 2023
3.7/5
I didn’t know this was a beauty and the beast retelling until the last chapter LOL not because it didn’t seem like one but just cause. It was actually good but it seems like we’re not getting a second book anytime soon so…
I didn’t know this was a beauty and the beast retelling until the last chapter LOL not because it didn’t seem like one but just cause. It was actually good but it seems like we’re not getting a second book anytime soon so…
July 3, 2024
Good plot , beautiful and unique story; you can truly see the passion that was placed between these lines. Recommend it to everyone who is into fantasy and romance . Can’t wait to read the second book 🤝
September 15, 2024
I really loved this book. It was entrancing from the beginning till the very end. The writing was different but in the best possible way. It is just so creative how the author came up with this whole world and this unique fantasy setting. I really hope to get to read a sequel in the future !!!
December 17, 2025
look the plot ideas were there the execution just... it's not a bad thing to write in a language that is not your native one, but this one in particular would have benefited very strongly from a native English editor to fix all the grammar mistakes.
March 16, 2023
Fantastic storytelling
I saw one tiktok about this and immediately went to read it. The storytelling is beautifully done and I'm begging for a sequel because I need more.
I saw one tiktok about this and immediately went to read it. The storytelling is beautifully done and I'm begging for a sequel because I need more.
March 28, 2023
amazing!
This book developed the world so well, I could easily become immersed in it. This is such an amazing story and I can see it as a movie, easily.
This book developed the world so well, I could easily become immersed in it. This is such an amazing story and I can see it as a movie, easily.
April 12, 2023
Absolutely amazing! Love the character development!
May 7, 2023
I finished this book in two days and as soon as I opened it ,I could not put it down.Its very easy to get lost in
May 14, 2023
Such a captivating story i loved it
June 13, 2023
Acotar meets hunger games ! Spicy and dark ! Lived it ! The writing was funny at times but I truly enjoy the story and couldn't put it down.
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