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A review by r1vana
A Curse of Shadows and Ice by Catharina Maura, C.A. Maura
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of my favourite reads of 2022.
A Beauty and the Beast retelling ( a’dark’ stand-alone fanstasy romance).
"You're a monster."
"I am... I am a monster, but I'm yours.”
She must break the curse, or she’ll lose him forever.
The story is different from other retelling. I got to see the characters growth from both main leads. Which is refreshing.
Arabella: of Althea was an outcast by her father and her kingdom. In Althea, having magic/powers is forbidden, and 'unfortunately' for her, she is one of few who posses it. When her father realized that Arabella has powers the moment she was born, he had her mother executed.
Now, in present time, Arabella has a half-sister that she loves dearly and is loved by the kingdom.
Arabella also loves Nathaniel. She has probably spent her whole life dreaming a life with him, and her feelings were reciprocated.
But it all came down, when the Shadow Emperor comes into her palace and asks her father for her hand.
Felix:
“I was to bear witness to the destruction and live with the misery that lies in knowing I would never experience true love as the beast she turned me into."
Theon Felix Osiris is a king that has been cursed for centuries and is stuck in a 'loophole'. His whole kingdom is frozen is snow/ice and for all theses years he did everything he could to protect his people from the curse. Then one day, when his mirror of prophecy reveals that Arabella is meant to break the curse, he decides that he will stop at nothing to get married even through force:
I'll have to douse Arabella of Althea's flame and pull her into the darkness with me. Another sacrifice in our endless battle against this curse.
One more victim.
I hope she's the last.
The relationship between A and F started off in a rocky start. F was being an a-hole and completely selfish. While A was being homesick and missing her loved-ones, F was trying to be hurtful and try to manipulate her by seducing her. Which is not working... completely... :
"You are a monster.
"I never pretended to be anything else.”
I disliked how he was in the beginning, but! I got to see his character growth as A becomes close to F. I swear they had me giggling and grinning.
He is also very possessive and loves to verbally tell her:
“That boy you like might whisper sweet words into your ear... but I, Arabella? I'll burn down the world for you"
__
I love how Arabella was fighting back to the point she actually stabbed him:
<i> "My love. If someday, you manage to kill me, I'll die a happy man. You must be cautious, however. As far I am aware, killing me is impossible... [...] You're mine Arabella. You're my wife. Not only did you attempt to kill me-- you also tried to keep something that's mine so you could give it to another man. What do you think would be suitable punishment?"
All I have to say is that Felix is the book bf that will hurt anyone who hurt Arabella (which actually happens).
A Beauty and the Beast retelling ( a’dark’ stand-alone fanstasy romance).
"You're a monster."
"I am... I am a monster, but I'm yours.”
She must break the curse, or she’ll lose him forever.
The story is different from other retelling. I got to see the characters growth from both main leads. Which is refreshing.
Arabella: of Althea was an outcast by her father and her kingdom. In Althea, having magic/powers is forbidden, and 'unfortunately' for her, she is one of few who posses it. When her father realized that Arabella has powers the moment she was born, he had her mother executed.
Now, in present time, Arabella has a half-sister that she loves dearly and is loved by the kingdom.
Arabella also loves Nathaniel. She has probably spent her whole life dreaming a life with him, and her feelings were reciprocated.
But it all came down, when the Shadow Emperor comes into her palace and asks her father for her hand.
Felix:
“I was to bear witness to the destruction and live with the misery that lies in knowing I would never experience true love as the beast she turned me into."
Theon Felix Osiris is a king that has been cursed for centuries and is stuck in a 'loophole'. His whole kingdom is frozen is snow/ice and for all theses years he did everything he could to protect his people from the curse. Then one day, when his mirror of prophecy reveals that Arabella is meant to break the curse, he decides that he will stop at nothing to get married even through force:
I'll have to douse Arabella of Althea's flame and pull her into the darkness with me. Another sacrifice in our endless battle against this curse.
One more victim.
I hope she's the last.
The relationship between A and F started off in a rocky start. F was being an a-hole and completely selfish. While A was being homesick and missing her loved-ones, F was trying to be hurtful and try to manipulate her by seducing her. Which is not working... completely... :
"You are a monster.
"I never pretended to be anything else.”
I disliked how he was in the beginning, but! I got to see his character growth as A becomes close to F. I swear they had me giggling and grinning.
He is also very possessive and loves to verbally tell her:
“That boy you like might whisper sweet words into your ear... but I, Arabella? I'll burn down the world for you"
__
I love how Arabella was fighting back to the point she actually stabbed him:
<i> "My love. If someday, you manage to kill me, I'll die a happy man. You must be cautious, however. As far I am aware, killing me is impossible... [...] You're mine Arabella. You're my wife. Not only did you attempt to kill me-- you also tried to keep something that's mine so you could give it to another man. What do you think would be suitable punishment?"
All I have to say is that Felix is the book bf that will hurt anyone who hurt Arabella (which actually happens).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Blood