The Curse that Binds by Laura Thalassa

Posted July 2, 2025 in review Tags: prequel

The Curse That Binds by Laura Thalassa
Pages: 490

Series: Bewitched #2.5
Genres: Fantasy Romance
Source: ARC, NetGalley

The stunning prequel to the USA Today bestselling Bewitched series. Two thousand years before there was Selene, there was Roxilana. Her love fated, her life doomed, and her story forgotten—until now.

When young Roxilana first hears a voice in her head, she thinks she has gone mad. The truth, however, is stranger still. Because Memnon, the boy who speaks to her, claims he is real. Not only that, he insists they both are god-touched soul mates with the ability to wield magic.

As wild as his claims are, they gradually come to pass. First, Roxilana’s power Awakens. Then his. But nothing is nearly as startling as the day Memnon, now the sorcerer king of the Sarmatians, arrives at Roxilana’s doorstep, proclaiming the witch his wife and shepherding her off to his homeland.

Her fate is everything ardent Roxi could have hoped for. But there are things Memnon hasn’t told her—about his magic, about life as a Sarmatian and what, as queen, she will be asked to endure. Roxilana’s trials are only beginning. And as she’ll soon discover, there is nothing so dangerous as love mixed with power. For while the combination can build empires and shape legacies, it also has the potential to destroy everything in its path. And, if they’re not careful, Roxilana and Memnon could be destroyed along with it.

The Curse that Binds is actually a prequel to the Bewitched series. Have I read the Bewitched series? No. So, there was a learning curve in reading this, but honestly, it wasn’t really a problem. I wasn’t going to pass up fated mates!

One thing I loved right away was that there was no way to have a miscommunication in this story-they can talk to each other in their minds. They can actually do this before they even meet, so it leads up to an in person meeting really well. I loved that aspect. The plot is rich and engaging. There were certain parts that I feel probably alluded to the first 2 books, but it just makes you want to read them! Their love story is tragic though, so be prepared. This was a beautifully written fantasy that had dynamic characters and a rich world. I am giving it 3.5 stars until I can read the previous books and really understand what happened.