A CURSE OF SHADOWS AND ICE

In this Beauty and the Beast–inspired dark fantasy romance, a princess who possesses dangerous magic is forced into marriage by a cursed emperor to save his kingdom.

Theon Felix Osiris, known as the Shadow Emperor of Eldiria, is desperate to save his kingdom from doom. With her dying breath, Felix’s mother cursed him and his father’s lands, having been forced into marriage and kept captive. Black, poisonous veins spread across his body, a sign that he may suffer his father’s fate—to slowly rot away. As he fights to stave off the encroaching ice and darkness that threatens to starve and freeze his citizens, his only hope rests in a prophecy that a union between him and the Princess Arabella of Althea will break the curse. There’s only one catch: The union must be made for love. Ignoring that little detail, Felix forces Arabella into marriage by threatening to conquer Althea. Arabella’s father is all too happy to marry her off. Magic is forbidden in Althea, and Arabella’s mysterious powers have made her a pariah. There’s a dark undertone to this romance; Arabella is very much a prisoner, and Felix is repeating his father’s mistakes. Consent is dubious at best. The worldbuilding and character development start out strong; the supporting cast enlivens the frozen wasteland setting and adds depth to Felix’s singular goal, making the perfect fodder for future installments. Sadly, though, the momentum stalls, halting a promising start. Felix’s boasts about the danger and violence he’s capable of become rote once they surpass a dozen. The romance, while steamy and possibly tempting for fans of alpha heroes, is ultimately uneven and tedious.

A dark and mysterious tale that winds up spinning its wheels with repetition.