Title: The Curse that Binds
Author: Laura Thalassa
Series: Bewitched #2.5
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: July 1, 2025
Format: eARC (NetGalley)
Pages: 490
Tropes: Morally Grey Hero, Touch Her and Die, Obsessive Possessive Alpha Hero, Fated Mates, Friends to lovers, Strong Heroine, Witch x Sorcerer, Historical Romance (Ancient Civilizations), They’ll do anything for one another
The Curse that Binds Book Review
"Hello, my amage," he says in Sarmatian, the sound drawing out goose bumps. When he speaks to me, the roughness in his voice gentles. "My eyes have waited years to see you." His gaze deepens. "But it was worth the wait."
The Curse that Binds is hands down one of my top reads of 2025. I have been captivated by the Bewitched series since the first book came out. I’m so addicted to the romance, steam, and suspense, as well as the unique plot and the history between Selene/Roxilana and Memnon.
I was honestly unsure about requesting the ARC since I already knew how it would end. However, it was an engrossing read that left me with a terrible book hangover – worth it. The story was everything I was hoping it to be.
Note: This is a detailed review & contains spoilers.
If you’re wondering about the best reading experience, I would actually recommend this reading order:
"I have crossed rivers and kingdoms, I have fought armies and bandits to be here before you. For you are mine and I am yours, and those are my soul's deepest truths."
The Curse that Binds explains many aspects of Memnon and Roxilana, their past, and how they became the people we see in Books 1 and 2. There were a lot of ‘ah’ moments happening, and knowing the ending, I was also like ‘No, no. Hit the brakes, we need to stop this.’ I bawled my eyes out at the end to witness their first era ending.
The way Laura wrote this book, in tune with past alluded to in the previous books, is mind blowing.
No, little witch, he finally says. You won't be marrying anyone besides me. His voice is confident and uncompromising. I am coming for you. I will leave tomorrow at first light, and I will get there before a wedding takes place. And when I do, he continues, I will make graves of these grooms and anyone else who comes between us. Violent delight threads his words. You're mine.
Roxilana has been dealt with bad cards right from her childhood. Violently uprooted from her family by the Romans, she now lives with an abusive adoptive mother. The light in all this darkness is a boy’s voice in her mind, someone she can converse with. And that’s how the friendship of Memnon and Roxilana begins.
Over time, they develop feelings for one another, and Roxi discovers another part of herself. This is a JOURNEY, something I don’t want to get into in detail because it is an amazing experience as a reader.
Roxi is completely different from Selene. She starts off innocent and naive, relying on Memnon for everything. Slowly though, she grows into her own person.
She has her own sense of morality and opinions, which she stands by but compromises for Memnon. She is willing to slay demons and dragons for Memnon, her love for him so strong amidst the chaos.
"We cannot do this—not on the altar." "Why not?" he asks, grabbing my hips and lifting them. Even if these Roman gods are not our own... "This is a holy place." "Yes," Memnon agrees. "And this is a holy act, too."
Memnon, oh my god. I loved him and his love for Roxilana. He was completely dedicated to her, every action and every decision was for her. He was so into her that I was enamored with that version of Memnon. He is playful, encouraging, and so supportive. Morality aside, I totally fell for him (Roxi, girl, I get it lol).
This book reveals a lot about Memnon, and I understood his cruelty towards Selene (the current era), his motives to conquer, and his one-track mind. I was fascinated with his origin story and sorcery magic.
Memnon is ruled by his magic and its cost, and Selene is the pillar that keeps him upright.
"Roxi, you are my first and last thought each day. I have longed for you more than I care to admit- not just as my friend and confidant but also as my lover and wife and amage."
The romance was off the charts in this one – slow burn and downright sweet. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but the love they had for one another, the slow-building romance, their dedication and passion, and their banter and dialogues, I couldn’t get enough of them.
Such a good wife, he praises. So good. So obedient— "You're about to get a foot in your face." He laughs against me. Fine, he concedes, rarely obedient. Highly vicious.
Again, I want to salute Laura for writing this series with thorough research on the historical aspects and trying to stick to the basics. Her writing style transported me to this ancient civilization, and I could actually feel and visualize everything.
—
This book gutted me in the best way.
If you love a well-developed series, a morally grey hero who will burn the world down for his wife, a strong-willed heroine, well-rounded character arcs, paranormal, magic, and fantasy, then this is for you.
The Curse that Binds Blurb:
The prequel to the 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.
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About Laura Thalassa:
Found in the forest when she was young, Laura Thalassa was raised by fairies, kidnapped by werewolves, and given over to vampires as repayment for a hundred year debt. She’s been brought back to life twice, and, with a single kiss, she woke her true love from eternal sleep. She now lives happily ever after with her undead prince in a castle in the woods.
… or something like that anyway.
When not writing, Laura can be found scarfing down guacamole, hoarding chocolate for the apocalypse, or curled up on the couch with a good book.
Books in the Bewitched Series:
