Review: A Curse of Beasts and Magic by Jeaniene Frost

Title: A Curse of Beasts and Magic
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Series: Beautiful and Beastly #1
Publication: May 26, 2026 by Bramble
Genre: Romantasy, Paranormal Romance
Find it on: Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Waterstones
Rating: 5/5★

New York Times bestselling author of The Night Huntress series Jeaniene Frost returns with a brand-new series! It’s Beauty and the Beast meets The Witcher, except Beauty IS the Beast, and he’s the Warden keeping mythical beings in check in our world and beyond.

Raine Stone is living a nightmare. Ever since she survived the attack that killed her family, she's been hiding a terrible secret--and a Beast inside her.

It feeds on violence and chaos, but she restrains its urges by playing vigilante on the city streets. Until one night, Raine uses the Beast’s energy to heal an elderly gentleman from a seemingly random attack and discovers a new world of danger—literally.

Remington “Remy” Byrne knows the wall between a realm of deadly mythic creatures and our own world is very fragile. After all, he’s the Warden who guards the gateways between them. Raine’s Beast contains power that could tip the scales in a sinister plot against Remy’s rule—if she allies with him.

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

A Curse of Magic and Beasts is Jeaniene Frost's newest fantasy book. And since I'm a longtime fan of her work I was obviously very excited to read it. My only regret is that I wasn't able to start the book sooner. I was hooked right from the start and ended up loving the story and characters so damn much!

We meet Raine, who's an ER nurse and carries a dark secret with her. For the last eleven years a terrible and violent beast has hidden inside of her. It craves violence and pain and when the beast comes out Rain can't stop it from turning it's victims into nothing but ash. This is why Raine goes after bad people to satisfy the creature so she won't hurt any innocents. Her way of life is lonely and doesn't allow for any close relationships but Raine will do anything to make sure she won't hurt anyone that doesn't deserve it. 

One day she ends up rescuing a confused older man from unknown creatures thanks to her beast. The man claims to know what she is but Raine chalks it up to dementia. Until the man's grandson shows up to have a little chat with her. Turns out he is no one less than Remmington "Remy" Byrne, billionaire mugul extraordinaire. But he isn't just that. He's a Warden. And Raine is trespassing on his lands. So he strikes a deal with her. Try to heal his grandfather's mind that has been magically altered and erased and he'll help her with her beast. The catch? They'll need to spend a lot of time together and be in a fake relationship. 

The story was a great ride. It has action, mystery, spicy romance and a fantastic cast of charactrs. I loved getting to know Raine. She was a bit closed off to other people due to everything that she went through in her life, but even so she had a huge heart and would do everything to help another person. Remy, on the other hand was dark, hard to pin down and full of secrets. He and Raine has sparks flying right away and these turned into a full on blaze the more time they spend together and the more danger they walked into.

One of my favorite things about this book was how it had a bunch of various types of paranormal creatures. We're talking dragons, selkies, fae, sirens and so many more. I enjoyed this aspect so much and it made me curious as to which other creatures there are. I also loved how it was a portal fantasy with access to other worlds different from the earth that Raine knows. The possibilities seem endless! There were a few twists and turns in the story that i hadn't seem coming, which is something I always love. The ending also took me by surpirse. I think that I literally went "what?!" when it ended so I absolutely can't wait to see where things go next.

A Curse of Beasts and Magic was an amazing pageturner that I couldn't put down. Jeaniene Frost's trademark strong and witty heroine didn't let me down one bit. That combined with a strong plot, a steamy romance and a bunch of intriguing characters made this a favorite of mine instantly.

About the author:

Jeaniene Frost is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy romance. Her works include the Night Huntress series, the Night Prince series, the Night Rebel series, the Broken Destiny series, and the Beautiful And Beastly series. Jeaniene’s novels have also appeared on the Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal, ABA Indiebound, and international bestseller lists. Foreign rights for Jeaniene’s novels have sold to twenty-two different countries.

Jeaniene lives in Maryland with her husband, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Jeaniene also enjoys reading, writing, poetry, watching movies, exploring old cemeteries, and traveling – by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.

Website | Instagram | Goodreads | TikTok | Bookbub

 

Book Blitz: Hearth or Heart by Emily Lane

Welcome to the book blitz of Hearth or Heart by Emily Lane. Check out the excerpt below and enter the giveaway to win $50 Amazon gift card (open INTL).
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Hearth or Heart by Emily Lane
(The Bowman Girls, #1)
Publication date: July 13th 2026
Genres: Adult, Historical, Historical Romance, Romance

After her father dies, Effie Bowman and her eight sisters are left penniless, homeless, and alone. Salvation comes in the form of the new custodian of the estate, Mr Thornaby. But the more she learns of Mr Thornaby, the more she realises he needs her discretion as much as she needs his security.

In her efforts to moderate the wild Mr Thornaby, she recruits the unlikely aid of ton society’s most determined widower, Sir John Callander.

As the season progresses and Effie pulls Sir John deeper into her desperate schemes to moderate Mr Thornaby, both are forced to wonder if Effie is attempting to tame the wrong gentleman.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Of all the consequences to befall a clutch of daughters belonging to an entailed estate, this one was quite outside the common.

‘£20 a month in pin money?!’ cried Effie.

‘Each.’

Mrs Thornaby, ensconced in a cream morning gown of twilled French silk that seemed to defy her age, smiled most becomingly upon her niece.

‘That is just for your frills and affects and whatever other small accoutrements you young girls require these days,’ said Mrs Thornaby. ‘Your dresses, gowns, and hats, of course, can be drawn against my son’s account.’

‘Ma’am, I could never.’

‘Oh, yes, you could,’ said Mrs Thornaby. ‘That boy has too much money.’

Effie’s eyes flashed, and she yanked her gaze down.

Grimacing, Mrs Thornaby said, ‘So, your mother has told you a little of it, I collect.’

‘She has, ma’am,’ Effie admitted.

Mrs Thornaby looked her up and down.

‘Your mother tells me you are an exceptionally good manager.’

Now the talk of money had faded, Effie’s calm, dark eyes levelled upon Mrs Thornaby once more.

‘Yes, ma’am, it’s true.’

‘I suppose with eight sisters, borne of a mother of my sister’s temperament, you, as the eldest, should rather be forced into such a role, even if it was not of your disposition.’

A smirk crossed Effie’s features as she declared, ‘That much is true, to be sure.’

‘But men and boys are a different matter indeed.’

Effie’s hands, trying to thread a needle, paused. She set her embroidery box down and took up her cup of tea.

‘I have no brothers.’

‘Clearly,’ said Mrs Thornaby. ‘And husbands? What thoughts have you on them?’

‘Not so many, ma’am. I can scarcely imagine having one, never mind plural!’

Mrs Thornaby did not laugh. Instead she set down her teacup with a clatter.

‘As you may have heard, my son returned last night from Brighton.’ She paused. ‘My son is… a particular kind of fellow.’

Effie’s brow arched. Having heard—during the small hours of the morning—this particular kind of fellow stumble through the upstairs hallway singing about the roast beef of Great Britain, she was inclined to agree with a great many insinuations that issued from that vague sobriquet.

‘Indeed?’

‘He is now, of course, the custodian of your late father’s estate—by some contortion of family lines.’

Society in the northeast of England was sparse. Somehow, Mrs Thornaby’s son had ended up taking title to the entail of her sister’s late husband’s estate.

‘Yes.’

‘It is all that is natural, then,’ Mrs Thornaby went on. ‘That my son should marry you, to maintain my sister’s place at Barraton.’

What little of the sisterly rivalry that had been passed on to Effie permitted her to regard this piece of charity with deep suspicion. Her eyes cinched a touch.

‘With respect, ma’am, I fail to see why Mr Thornaby should want to marry me.’

‘I do not.’

Blushing, Effie picked up her embroidery box again. ‘I mean, ma’am, that Mr Thornaby must have a great many… um, admirers. I cannot see that he will mark me with any distinction.’

‘He will not, but I shall tell him he is to marry you. Likely, the novelty of it will tickle him, and he will entertain it for a while. Thereafter, it is your duty to… charm him.’

Effie touched her nose. She looked around the cavernous room.

It was an early, grey morning, but the shiny mahogany and silk furniture, glossy wallpapered walls, and great sash windows shone under the blaze of three gilded hearths.

‘Oh. I see.’

Mrs Thornaby’s eyes followed Effie’s, and she grimaced.

‘We are family, Miss Bowman. Now more than we ever were. My son represents Barraton. He is Barraton.’

Effie’s jaw quirked.

‘To put things plainly, my dear, it has lately come to my attention that my son is very much in need of the companionship, temperance, and governance that a wife must, to some unions, bring.’

Mrs Thornaby paused.

‘Now, am I saying that my son is bereft of the faculties required in choosing or acquiring a wife? I am not. But one cannot but put more faith in one’s own family, especially a family so interconnected.’

Effie bowed her head. ‘It would be in my best interests, indeed, to… govern Mr Thornaby—as a wife or no.’

‘But as a wife especially,’ Mrs Thornaby reiterated.

Author Bio:

Emily Lane writes sweet, clean Regency Romance perfect for fans of Georgette Heyer, Sophia Holloway, and Sophie Irwin. Hearth or Heart, her debut, launches July 13th. By day, Emily is a Management Consultant in the Lifesciences industry - she hopes her novels have just as much chemistry as her job! She lives in Thailand, which would be inconvenient but for the hot weather.

The Bowman Girls is Emily's first Regency romance series, with 3 books currently planned:

Hearth or Heart (out now)

Past or Promise (Late 2026)

Duty or Devotion (Late 2026)

Website / Instagram / Facebook / Newsletter

GIVEAWAY!

Hearth or Heart Blitz

Vacation Time!

Hi everyone!

Just a quick little post to let you all know that I'm away on vacation for a week (10 - 17 July).
I'll be back to my regular blogging schedule when I'm back.

Happy reading everyone and see you soon!

 

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Fatal Monsters by Jane Draycott

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read.
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Fatal Monsters: Cleopatra, Her Sister Queens and the Downfall of a Dynasty by Jane Draycott
Expected publication: November 5, 2026 by Atlantic Books

Today, Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt is the most famous woman of the ancient world. Yet she was not the only queen of her generation. She had an elder sister, Berenike, and a younger one, Arsinoe, both of whom also ruled Egypt.

The circumstances in which three sister queens each sought power for themselves were unprecedented. Women had not ruled Egypt since the time of the Pharaohs, 1,500 years earlier. But it was also anathema to the Romans, who had many vested interests in Egypt. As Republicans, the Romans despised monarchy - a monarchy controlled by women was beyond comprehension.

Acclaimed historian Jane Draycott tells the fascinating story of three powerful sisters, their rivalry and their efforts to stand up to the might of Rome.

Another book about Cleopatra (and her sisters)?
SOLD!

What book are you awaiting today?

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Titles That Include the Word "Dream"

   
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
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This Week's Topic:
Book titles that include the word "dream"

In Your Dreams, Holden Rhodes by Stephanie Archer
Once Upon a Dream by Liz Braswell

Dreamland by Nancy Bilyeau
Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas

Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning
Knight of My Dreams by Lynsay Sands

Enemy of My Dreams by Jenny Williamson
A Seduction of Dreams and Nightmares by A.J. Locke

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
Dream of You by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Have you read any of these books?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 06/07/2026

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn @ The Book Date.
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What I Read Last Week:

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

What I'm Reading Now:

A Curse of Beasts and Magic by Jeaniene Frost
Ravager by Karina Halle

What I'll Read Next (Maybe):

The Odyssey: A Modern Retelling by Liv Albert
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

Have you read any of these books? Do you want to?
What are you currently reading or what will you read next?

Book Blitz: Lady Petra and the Wolf by Anna Valleria

Welcome to the book blitz of Lady Petra and the Wolf by Anna Valleria. Don't forget to check out the excerpt and enter the giveaway below to win a $20 Amazon gift card (open INTL).
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Lady Petra and the Wolf by Anna Valleria
(Lords Fall First, #2)
Publication date: July 2nd 2026
Genres: Adult, Gothic, Historical, Mystery, Romance

In Victorian London, Lady Petra, the daughter of the powerful and manipulative Earl of Kemberley, has spent her life as a silent pawn in her father’s political games. While the ton sees a perfectly poised debutante, Petra is secretly a woman of industry who runs a sanctuary for abused servants in a derelict London theatre.

Julian, the Viscount Wolfridge, known to the world as Wolf, is a cynical rake with a secret heart of gold and a childhood spent on the Bristol docks. When he proposes a fake courtship to Petra to stir her indifferent betrothed into action, he doesn’t realize he is stepping into a web of secrets far deeper than his own. As Petra’s world of mystery and Wolf’s path of redemption collide, they must decide if a marriage born of a trap can ever survive the truth.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

She shut her mouth abruptly, the sparks in her eyes extinguished as she retreated once more into the mask of a composed, distant lady. He despised when this happened, as it did ever so often when he approached her. He lived for the moments he could tease her, to break her composure, to see those eyes light up, even if it was in disdain or scorn.

Wolf knew himself to be an unrepentant rake, undeserving of John’s friendship or loyalty. Despite this self-knowledge, a fierce, uncharacteristic longing arose in him at that moment: he wished for someone to argue so passionately on his behalf, to proclaim him a good man.

Remembering himself, Wolf discarded such a maudlin thought.

“I am not obligated to explain my motivations to you, Lord Wolfridge.” Her tone was meticulously polite, yet beneath the kindness, he detected a veiled reproach that ignited his blood.

“And yet…” he went on as if he had not heard her. “Your white knight is not here. Nor has he been here in a very long time.” In her eyes, a battle of pride, hurt, and anger raged, and for a moment, he nearly regretted his casual cruelty. Yet, there was a purpose behind his malice.

“You more than anyone know he is busy.” Petra spoke quietly, her words clipped. “I have long wondered why you do not share the same sense of industry as Lord John.”

Indolent. The word lurked in their conversation and Wolf again regretted pushing this issue to the surface. A lord does not dirty his hands with work. He takes what he wants and leaves the work to others.

Ignoring his father’s tedious voice, which always stirred a confusing mix of feelings, he redirected his thoughts to his best friend, John Longley. John possessed all the virtues he lacked: he was honorable, kind, and diligent. He would despise him if John weren’t like a brother to him. Why did the notion of Lady Petra marrying John trouble him so much? It was none of his concern.

Yet, he couldn’t let it go.

“Has he not communicated that to you himself, Lady P?” he asked, relishing the way his lips popped on the P. He could swear he almost saw a tick of her jaw at his use of the sobriquet bestowed upon her by the gossip rags.

“As we have established, Lord John is very busy, my lord. He does not have time for frivolous goings on of the ton,” she said more firmly this time.

“And yet, my lady, I can see the small seed of doubt this might cause you.” He watched her jaw almost tick again, and for a brief moment, savored the victory of being right. “Does his absence not pain you, Lady P?” He wasn’t entirely certain of the outcome he wanted from his teasing, but he relished the rare opportunity to be able to read her expression.

Her eyes met his, and he was struck again by the intensity of her gaze as it searched his face. He felt her assessing his intent, seeking any hint of malice or desire to hurt her. In that moment, he understood that such an aim was entirely absent from his heart. Wolf could not quite articulate the purpose of his banter, but an instinct told him Petra and John would not suit. It was patently clear that John possessed not the slightest inkling of the gravity with which Petra had regarded their supposed understanding.

John’s ignorance was not due to neglect; in fact, he was one of the few gentlemen who didn’t seem inclined to constantly leave his wife behind. Rather, he had been distracted by some persistent, unspoken melancholy, as though his mind and heart were fixated entirely on someone or something else. Wolf suspected, however, that the cause of this melancholy was not Lady Petra, given that the look of longing vanished whenever her name was mentioned.

Staring into Petra’s mahogany eyes, a plan came to him. Devious, perhaps, a bit underhanded, but one that would prove to Petra that she and John would not suit.

“Let me court you,” he blurted out.

For once, Lady Petra’s entire face showed what she was thinking as her mouth fell into an almost perfect “O.”

She really was rather adorable. Where did that thought come from? “Adorable” was not in his lexicon. As she began to regain her composure and start to form a reply, Wolf followed his initial, impulsive request before she could respond. “Not a real courtship, mind you, just something to shake Lord John into the parson’s trap. Fearing he might lose you should hasten the nuptials, yes?”

In truth, this ruse would not hasten the betrothal, but help free John, and ultimately free Petra.

Why he wished her to be free, he was not going to examine too closely.

Author Bio:

Anna Valleria is an award-winning historical romance author who believes that everyone deserves to see themselves on the page. Her mission is to write steamy Regency and Victorian stories featuring socially active heroines and devoted heroes that reflect windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors for all readers, including characters of different sizes, backgrounds, abilities, and neurodiversities. Her novel The Baron Takes a Wife was the 2025 winner of the Hearts Through History Romance Through the Ages Contest in the published Georgian/Victorian category.

Currently residing in a beautiful, historic city in the southeastern U.S. with her family and a rescue pup. If she's not writing, she's likely in a coffee shop, walking with her son or dog, or trivia with her team, Stone Cold Jane Austen.

Website / Goodreads / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!

Lady Petra and the Wolf Blitz

Monthly Wrap-Up: June 2026

 
Monthly Wrap-Up is my once-a-month post recapping all the books I’ve read.
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This month has been A LOT. I became unwell and had to go to the ER, moving to a different apartment two days later and on top of that we landed in a 10 day heatwave that was pretty extreme for Belgium. 😩 It's a wonder I read anything at all. At least all the books I read were really good!

Bookish Stats:

books read: 5

physical books: 1

ebooks: 1

audiobooks: 3

Angel Down by Daniel Kraus — 4/5★
Sparking Fire Out of Fate by Brigid Kemmerer — 5/5★

The Governess Game by Tessa Dare — 4/5★
Homer's Odyssey by Barry B. Powell — 4/5★

The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare — 4/5★

Have you read any of these books?
What was your favorite book of the month?

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2026

  
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
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This Week's Topic:
Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the Second Half of 2026

Biblical Outlaws: What the Bible's Most Despised Characters Can Teach Us by Anthony B. Pinn
Livia: Mother of Rome by Caitlin C. Gillespie

Agrippa by Robert Harris
Cursed City by Kate Golden

Medea: A Life by Edith Hall
The Goddess Queen by Alice Roberts

Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo
Goddesses: A History of Love & War by Ronald Hutton

Brief Lives of the Ancient World by Guy de la Bédoyère
A Court of Thorns and Roses 6 by Sarah J. Maas

What are your most anticipated books releasing in the second half of 2026?