The Curse that Binds
Bewitched
Romance, Fantasy
Bloom Books
July 1, 2025
A queen destined for magic. A king cursed by love. A fate no one could outrun.
Before Selene, there was Roxilana. Discover her darkly delicious origin story in this prequel to Bewitched, a complete standalone from TikTok sensation Laura Thalassa.
He called her queen―then turned her world to ash.
Two thousand years before the rise of Henbane Coven, Roxilana was just a Roman girl trying to survive the shadows of empire. Until the day a voice begins speaking inside her head.
That voice belongs to Memnon, King of the Sarmatians―a warrior touched by gods, cursed by fate, and utterly convinced that Roxilana is his soul mate.
When Roxilana's latent powers awaken, Memnon appears at her door with a crown in one hand and destiny in the other. Before she knows it, she's swept away to a strange new land and named queen of a people she barely understands…and wife to a man whose love is as intense as it is terrifying.
Magic always demands a price. And as Roxilana learns the true cost of Memnon's power, passion, and prophecy, she must decide whether to build an empire beside her cursed king…or burn it to the ground.
My anxiety kept building throughout The Curse that Binds so much that when I approached the ending I wanted to break my kindle! I’ve read Bewitched and Bespelled, so I knew the ending of this prequel, and yet I still wasn’t prepared for my feelings.
New readers can read The Curse that Binds first in The Bewitched Series and still enjoy each subsequent book.
Laura Thalassa wrote this as its own important building block for Roxilana and Memnon, rather than a quick novella. Told from Roxi’s perspective starting in her childhood, we follow her struggles to survive under Roman rule. Years pass before she and Memnon meet, but being fated soulmates means they’ve seemingly known each other forever.
This obviously isn’t a fairy tale romance. The Curse that Binds tells of a beautiful and ancient love and also their missteps along the way. A sweet and kind-hearted character like Roxi struggles with the brutality that Memnon’s position requires. War is constantly at their doorstep, and while she can’t stand it, Roxi takes on the burden alongside her husband. Even when she’d rather live a simpler and more humble lifestyle. Memnon is on a quest to give Roxi everything which ultimately will cost them a price too great to pay.
Even though Memnon goes too far in the name of love, I still think he’s my favorite.
Readers will likely be desperate to jump right into Bewitched. Even though I knew that cliffhanger that was waiting for me at the end, I was still screaming inside! I wish I could experience Bewitched and Bespelled brand new.
Kristin lives in the PNW with her husband, and three kids. She loves to read YA fiction, fantasy, and romance. She enjoys a few side-hustles, including creating bookreels/booktoks for authors. The only shows she watches are re-runs, and if she’s not reading a book, she’s listening to one.
