A Curse of Roses
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5.0 • 4 Ratings
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
Based on Portuguese legend, this #OwnVoices historical fantasy is an epic tale of mystery, magic, and making the impossible choice between love and duty…
With just one touch, bread turns into roses. With just one bite, cheese turns into lilies.
There’s a famine plaguing the land, and Princess Yzabel is wasting food simply by trying to eat. Before she can even swallow, her magic—her curse—has turned her meal into a bouquet. She’s on the verge of starving, which only reminds her that the people of Portugal have been enduring the same pain for years.
If only it were possible to reverse her magic. Then she could turn flowers into food.
Fatyan, a beautiful Enchanted Moura, is the only one who can help. But she is trapped by magical binds. She can teach Yzabel how to control her curse—if Yzabel sets her free with a kiss.
As the King of Portugal’s betrothed, Yzabel would be committing treason, but what good is a king if his country has starved to death?
With just one kiss, Fatyan is set free. And with just one kiss, Yzabel is yearning for more.
She’d sought out Fatyan to help her save the people. Now, loving her could mean Yzabel’s destruction.
A Curse of Roses includes themes, imagery, and content that might be triggering for some readers. Discussions of religious-based self harm, religious-based eating disorders, and religious-based internalized homophobia appear throughout the novel.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In 1288, 17-year-old Princess Yzabel of Aragon bears a terrible curse: whenever she tries to eat, the food turns into flowers, leaving her unable to consume a bite. Her kingdom, meanwhile, suffers from famine and pestilence that leave her people as starved as she is. En route to meet a whistleblower about a missing harvest, without the knowledge of her controlling fianc , 19-year-old King Denis of Portugal, Yzabel learns of the Enchanted Moura, a legendary being who may be able to break the curse. Yet Fatyan, the Moura, is herself trapped in magical bindings, from which she can only be freed by a kiss. Yzabel needs Fatyan to help her reverse the curse; in exchange, Fatyan will help end the famine by teaching Yzabel how to turn flowers into food. The "sacrilegious kiss," however, awakens a desire that complicates her plans to save her people, and may even mean her own downfall due to Portugal's religious observances. Pinguicha's debut takes place against this unique historical backdrop, flavored with beguiling fantasy elements and a sensitive exploration of the implications of desire upon religion. Though limited descriptions hamper immersion, a delicate queer romance between strong heroines propels the plot forward. Ages 14 up.
Customer Reviews
Highly Recommended
A historic fantasy set in medieval Portugal and inspired by a legend of the miraculous transformation of bread into roses. But is it a miracle or a curse for your touch to turn food into flowers? This story explores themes of self-harm, disordered eating, and the legacy of religious intolerance, all tied up in a slow-growing romance between a future queen and the magical woman who may be her only hope of surviving. Pinguicha has the knack of framing her story with realistic historic attitudes, beliefs, and reactions without suggesting that it places a happy ending out of reach. Highly recommended.