A Curse of Beasts and Magic by Jeaniene Frost

Title: A Curse of Beasts and Magic

Author: Jeaniene Frost

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Beautiful and Beastly # 1

368 Pages, Hardcover

Publication: May 26, 2026

Source: Libby 

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Raine Stone was the sole survivor of a horrific creature while camping. Her account of the attack was attributed to shock, but Raine knows all too well that her story is true because now she carries that same Beast inside her!

She’s been restraining its violent urges by letting it 'feed' on the pain and chaos she’s exposed to as an ER nurse, and by playing vigilante against would-be muggers at night. But when Raine uses the Beast’s energy to heal a frail elderly gentleman from a seemingly random attack, she opens herself to a new world of danger—literally.

Remington “Remy” Byrne knows that the wall between a realm of deadly mythic creatures and our own world is very thin; he’s the Warden who guards the gateways between them. He also rules the supernatural creatures living in secret among us. Raine’s Beast makes her an intruder on Remy’s territory, but the elderly gentleman she saved is Remy’s grandfather, and her Beast contains power that could tip the scales in a sinister plot against Remy’s rule—if Raine allies with him.

Will they be friends or foes…or will the dangerous attraction between them turn into something else? And can our world be saved by their explosive alliance?

MY THOUGHTS

I was so excited when I heard Jeaniene Frost was coming back with a new urban fantasy book. The Night Huntress novels were my gateway into the UF genre. A Curse of Beasts and Magic was promoted as having Beauty and the Beast vibes, except the "beast" is the heroine. I love Frost and anything Beauty and the Beast-related, but unfortunately, I didn't love this book.

I felt like the book tried to set itself apart from the oversaturated romantasy market, but it still relied too heavily on cliché tropes, ultimately rendering it unremarkable. Don't get me wrong, I adore plenty of tropes, and when they're done well, I can read them endlessly. However, I didn't think they were executed particularly well here, nor did the story bring anything new to the genre.

The story is set in New York, but there's also a parallel magical world where other supernatural creatures rule and reside. When the leads temporarily crossed over, it felt like a generic medieval fantasy setting. Their time there was brief, but even in that short span, I didn't find it interesting. I don't know if the author tried to incorporate dragons (to be different, she made them shifters) because that was all the buzz the last couple of years or so, but I found them quite dull.

I also didn't like either of the main characters. I don't know what it was about Raine, but I just couldn't connect with her. I love the fake dating trope, but this version was more frustrating than fun. Raine was adamant about keeping their relationship strictly business, constantly reminding Remy of that fact. Yet the moment his ex showed up, she was green with envy, desperately trying to act nonchalant while unsuccessfully throwing it back in his face after they slept together. I didn't find Remy interesting or likable either. I guess you could describe him as another typical shadow daddy. There was nothing that made him stand out, and if you've read one, you've pretty much read them all. For me, once the FMC and MMC finally got together, the story stalled and became tiresome. I lost interest pretty quickly.

I was so excited for a new Jeaniene Frost book and went into it with high expectations, but it unfortunately fell short. It felt as though the book was written because romantasy is hot right now rather than because it had something fresh to offer. To me, it came across as following the trend instead of setting one. I don't plan on continuing with the series.

To Drown a Witch by Lindsey Olsson

Title: To Drown a Witch

Author: Lindsey Olsson

Genre: YA Fantasy

Series: To Drown a Witch # 1

347 Pages, Hardcover

Publication: July 14, 2026

Source: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

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In Orlonea, the Witch is feared above all else. Reborn into each generation, she is the only person with magic running innately through her veins, able to wield magic with a single thought.

So when guards across the city begin to drop dead, gruesomely murdered by violent and vicious magic, everyone knows the Witch has returned—and no one will be safe until she’s killed.

Toran is the Prince’s Crown, the most highly skilled fighter in the King’s Guard. Tasked with the responsibility of leading the hunt for the Witch, Toran tries to focus on his assignment to forget the ghosts of his past. And after he learns of Nes, a thief with an uncanny ability to sniff out magic, he forcibly recruits her into joining his hunt.

As the two face deadly magic and otherworldly threats, their mutual dislike soon turns to something more electric, and they find themselves drawn to each other in ways they’d never imagined. But the Witch is always a step ahead of them, and with bodies piling up, secrets threaten to come to light—secrets that could destroy everything from the fragile trust between them to the very city of Orlonea itself.

MY THOUGHTS

I'm a sucker for novels about witches, and I love a good hunter-and-hunted story. I had high expectations going into this book since it was compared to Heartless Hunter, one of my favorite reads the year it was published. While To Drown a Witch had some great moments, it wasn't without its issues.

I thought the book was well written, and the pacing was excellent. The story wastes no time introducing the heroine, the hero, and the other key players. Overall, I liked Nes and Toran as characters, but unfortunately, they lacked depth. I also thought the romance developed a little too quickly. However, the author added a twist that I never saw coming, and I thought it was executed really well. It was something I'd never seen done in a story before.

The worldbuilding, however, wasn't as developed as I would have liked. I had trouble understanding the magic system. I wasn't sure why some people who drank the elixir gained magical abilities while Witch's power seemed to be innate. The prologue briefly touched on the origins of magic, but the explanation felt too vague and left me confused.

For most of the book, the story flowed along nicely, but once we reached the Siren's Hair scene, where they were laying a trap for Witch, things became shaky and confusing. There were several twists from that point through the ending, but they only left me with more questions. Who exactly was Damari? How did the Prince fit into the story? I honestly thought To Drown a Witch was a standalone, but based on the ending, it's clearly setting up a sequel.

I enjoyed To Drown a Witch for the most part, but I wish the characters and the world had been more fully developed. Even so, I'm still curious to see where the story goes now that the Prince has entered the picture. It also would have been nice to get a few scenes or flashbacks featuring him.

Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent

Title: Daughter of No Worlds

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The War of Lost Hearts # 1

520 Pages, Hardcover

Publication: January 7, 2020

Source: Personal Library

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A former slave fighting for justice. A reclusive warrior who no longer believes it exists. And a dark magic that will entangle their fates.

Ripped from a forgotten homeland as a child, Tisaanah learned how to survive with nothing but a sharp wit and a touch of magic. But the night she tries to buy her freedom, she barely escapes with her life.

Desperate to save the best friend she left behind, Tisaanah journeys to the Orders, the most powerful organizations of magic Wielders in the world. But to join their ranks, she must complete an apprenticeship with Maxantarius Farlione, a handsome and reclusive fire wielder who despises the Orders.

The Orders’ intentions are cryptic, and Tisaanah must prove herself under the threat of looming war. But even more dangerous are her growing feelings for Maxantarius. The bloody past he wants to forget may be the key to her future… or the downfall of them both.

But Tisaanah will stop at nothing to save those she abandoned. Even if it means gambling in the Orders’ deadly games. Even if it means sacrificing her heart.

Even if it means wielding death itself.

MY THOUGHTS

Daughter of No Worlds has been on my TBR since it first came out, back when it was still self-published. I was hesitant to start it because I didn't particularly enjoy Crowns of Nyaxia, but I'm glad I decided to pick this one up because I liked it much more.

I really liked the magic system. It's nothing entirely new, but Broadbent made it her own by putting a unique spin on the elements. The story follows Tisaanah as she does everything she can to enter the prestigious Order and master her powers so she can save her people, those less fortunate than herself. I thought Tisaanah and Max were great leads. I loved both their personalities and their relationship. I swear, the mentor x mentee dynamic is one of my weaknesses, it never disappoints.

I loved pretty much everything about Daughter of No Worlds. The writing was strong, the plot was excellent, and the characters kept me invested. The only thing I didn't like was the power Tisaanah had to absorb and house. I wasn't a fan of the entity taking over, and every time it happened, it pulled me out of the story. I hated seeing Tisaanah take a backseat whenever it occurred. With the way the book ended, I hope she'll have more control over it in the next installment. I can't wait to read the sequel and see what awaits them when they return home.