Leah | @LeahsLittlePleasures &
A Curse of Blood & Stone by K.A. Tucker

It was not as good as the first book the chapters were long and Zanders pov was incredibly short and it adds nothing to the story it kind of gave me defend the dawn vibes. I can definitely say the first book was much better.

can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!!

"Then love me tonight and be the king you need to be tomorrow." I just finished this book and am in the endless cycle of impatiently waiting for the next book lol. I am truly a glutton for punishment. Romeria and Zander *shaking my head* those two gave me gray hairs lol. If Zander would just quit being stubborn, he could have saved himself so much trouble. Romeria caused a lot of chaos because of her insecurities (IMO). Once the two figured their sh*t out, she calmed down—miscommunication at its finest. But enough of that! This is the second book in K.A. Tucker's Fate and Flame series, and I was anticipating this second book from the moment I finished the first book almost a year ago! This book picks up right where the first one ended (on a cliffhanger mind you). Romeria and Zander are battling to get to their allies and take the throne back but realize Islor may be more corrupted than they first thought. Romeria also comes into her own with the guidance of Gesine. The second book will leave you on the edge of your seat with all its twists and turns. While it was heavy for most of the book, there is some comedic relief in the form of Pan (love him so much lol) and the banter between Jarek and Romeria. While I hated Jarek at first, he grew on me by the end of the book. There is minimal spice in the book, but I understand why and you will too when you read it. If you haven't read this series, I highly suggest you go and read it now!

“I do not know how to love you and be a good king to my people.”

After the uprising in Islor, Romy and Zander are on the run for not only their lives but the sake of the kingdom. Whether their paths will bring them closer together or tear them apart, Romy fears abandonment. Fueled by prophecy, their destination lies deep within the northern mountains and along the way, Romy is determined to wield her newfound caster abilities while Zander grapples with his new reality and what Romy means to it ...and him.

I love this story and world SO much. I lost time while reading and simply lived and breathed the realm of Romy + Zander for several days. I made sure to reread A Fate of Wrath and Flame first because I didn't want to forget any details and I'm SO glad I did!!

This installment, which picks up right where book one left off (love that!), continues to have epic and expansive world building with an emphasis on its characters and their relationships, all the banter, exciting action and adventure, and a love story that will tear your heart out and knit itself back together. So yes, that heartbreak and angst! I adored all the new characters and the evolving storyline, too. I love that it's getting grander and grander with higher stakes and I can’t wait to see how everything plays out!

THE SERIES HAS:
🔥elven x immortals with a twist
🔥fates x casters x mythical monsters
🔥thief / heist backstory
🔥medieval-esque times
🔥other realms x elemental magic
🔥a king x his captive
🔥kingdom x courtly intrigue
🔥slow burn, enemies to lovers x fake relationship
🔥a kingdom x its history steeped in blood

THIS INSTALLMENT HAS:
⚔️enigmatic prophecy x babbling seers
⚔️an uprising x on-the-run vibes
⚔️curses upon curses
⚔️kingdom politics
⚔️dual POV (mostly!)
⚔️elemental magic
⚔️open door enemies to lovers

Simply put, this story for me is just one of those where you forget that you're reading. That's just how amazing the writing, the story, and the telling of it is. You'll just want to gobble up every single word. Thank you to Valentine PR for my early review copy!

While book one focused on the world building, the focus of A Curse of Blood & Stone was on the development of Romeria’s magical abilities. She is the key to unravelling the meaning behind the prophecy, saving the people of Islora and aiding Zander to regain his throne. Hence the need to ensure she honed and control her magical abilities. She came a long way since book one. Her bravery, strength and kindness amid the turmoil she faced showed how great a queen she would make. The perfect person to stand beside Zander when he reclaims his throne.

The story introduces new characters which added depth to this installment.  The relationship dynamics between Romeria and Jareck, the guard tasked with protecting her amused me. There was lots of mistrust between the two. However, as the story progressed, the dynamics of their relationship shifted. Soon, they shared a healthy respect for each other.

I loved how Zander and Romeria’s relationship developed throughout the story. Zander is determined to keep his distance, but Romeria is not about to make it easy for him. A force of nature she is and one who will keep him on his toes.

This fun, fast-paced, and page turn story kept me thoroughly entertained from start to finish. This book delivered all I expected and more. My only issue is the wait for the next book, to learn what next is in store for these awesome characters.