One kiss could awaken a kingdom… or doom it to eternal darkness.
One kiss could awaken a kingdom… or doom it to eternal darkness.
When a reluctant thief with the power to control thorns is forced to break an ancient curse, she must risk entering the dangerous Dreamplane to save a cursed prince—but some magic comes with a price too deadly to pay.
In the kingdom of Solstraea, where the skies are gray and thorns rule the land, a centuries-old curse has imprisoned Prince Kael in an eternal sleep. Only one person can break the spell—Liora Thornhand, a thief with a rare, dangerous gift she never wanted.
Captured and offered a deal she cannot refuse, Liora must venture into the deadly Dreamplane to find Kael’s heart, hidden deep within a magical rose. But as she battles nightmare creatures and faces her own dark past, she learns that waking the prince might cost her more than just her freedom—it might cost her life.
In a world filled with twisted thorns, cursed roses, and dangerous shadows, Liora will have to decide: will she risk everything to save a kingdom she doesn’t belong to, or will she let it fall into eternal darkness?
Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Brigid Kemmerer, "A Curse of Thorns and Slumber" is a spellbinding mix of dark fantasy, romance, and a daring quest through a world where magic is as treacherous as it is beautiful.
A Curse of Thorns and Slumber is the second book in the Legends Reborn series. It is a no-spice fantasy romance adventure. Books can be read in any order.
Awakening from the Shadows: Healing Through A Curse of Thorns and Slumber
By Marie-Hélène Lebeault
When I began writing A Curse of Thorns and Slumber, I didn’t realize how much of myself I’d find in Liora Thornhand. On the surface, she’s a thief—clever, resourceful, and unafraid to take risks. But beneath her sharp edges, she’s someone who feels trapped by the weight of her past and the curse that defines her.
What I didn’t realize at the time was how much Liora’s journey mirrored my own.
Living in Functional Freeze
Before writing this book, I was in a place I now know as functional freeze. Life felt overwhelming—new challenges, old traumas, and the constant pressure of being my family’s sole support. I didn’t feel like I could stop, even when I was burnt out. So I did what many of us do: I kept going. I handled everything that needed to be done, but inside, I felt stuck.
Writing Liora made me confront that feeling. She’s spent years surviving but not living, using her wit and defiance to mask the fear and pain she’s never been able to fully process. Her journey isn’t just about breaking a magical curse—it’s about breaking free from the fear that keeps her running.
The Thorns Around Us
In the story, Kael’s curse binds him to the Shadowthorn, a monstrous force that transforms him every night. Liora’s curse is more subtle, but just as cruel: the mark that brands her as dangerous and keeps her apart from the world.
For me, the thorns represented everything that held me back: burnout, fear of failure, the need to keep going no matter the cost. Writing this story helped me see that the thorns around us aren’t always visible, but they’re no less real. They trap us, suffocate us, and keep us from moving forward.
But Liora’s story reminded me that thorns can be cut away. That we can face them, one by one, and find a way through.
The Power of Connection
One of the most healing parts of writing this book was exploring Liora and Kael’s relationship. At first, they’re like two broken pieces that don’t fit—but as they learn to trust each other, they begin to heal.
Kael doesn’t save Liora, and Liora doesn’t save Kael. They stand beside each other, showing that even when we feel trapped by our circumstances, we don’t have to face them alone.
For me, that was a powerful reminder: that it’s okay to lean on others, to let someone see the cracks in your armor. Sometimes, the people we let in are the ones who help us find our way out.
For Anyone Who Feels Stuck
If you’ve ever felt like you’re just surviving—caught in the grind of responsibility, fear, or exhaustion—I hope Liora and Kael’s story speaks to you.
Healing doesn’t happen overnight. It’s messy and painful and full of doubt. But even when it feels impossible, there’s always a way forward.
This story reminded me that no matter how thick the thorns may seem, they don’t have to define us. We can break free. We can find light.
And we can wake up.
Liora wound her way through the maze, her eyes darting warily over the roses as she passed. The thorns seemed to move, ever so slightly, as if they were alive, reaching toward her. She kept her distance, but the path ahead offered no clear direction, and she had no idea how long she had been walking.
Time, like everything else here, felt strange.
After what felt like hours, the thorny walls finally opened up into a wide clearing. At the center stood a towering rose bush, larger than any Liora had seen. Its twisted branches arched high into the sky, and nestled deep within the tangle of vines was a single glowing rose.
Her heart skipped a beat. That must be it.
But before she could take a step forward, something stirred at the base of the rose bush.
A figure, half-hidden in the shadows, stood slowly. He was tall, with dark hair falling just below his chin, dressed in clothes that looked like they belonged to another time—worn, faded, but finely made. His eyes, however, were the most striking—icy blue, with a depth that made Liora’s breath catch for a moment.
She recognized him immediately. Prince Kael.
But there was something wrong. He looked… distant. His eyes were sharp, but they seemed to look through her, not at her.
“You,” he said, his voice low and cold. “Who are you?”
Liora froze. She had been prepared for hostility, but something about the way he looked at her unsettled her. She straightened, forcing a smirk. “A thief, apparently. The mages sent me to break your curse.”
Kael’s expression hardened. He stepped forward, his gaze narrowing. “Another one,” he muttered, half to himself. “How many more are they going to send before they realize it’s useless?”
Liora crossed her arms. “So, I’m not the first. Good to know.”
Kael didn’t answer. He looked her over, his eyes flicking to the pouch at her side where she still kept the stolen jewels—though they felt utterly useless here. “Why should I believe you?”
“I don’t care if you do,” Liora shot back, her patience already thinning. “I’m not here for you, anyway. I’m here for the rose.”
At this, Kael’s eyes darkened, a flicker of something unreadable passing over his face. “The rose,” he repeated, his voice softer now, almost bitter. “Of course.”
Liora took a step toward the rose bush, but Kael moved suddenly, blocking her path. His eyes were sharper now, more focused. “You think it’s that simple?” he asked, his voice low. “That you can just come here and take it?”
She frowned, her pulse quickening. “Isn’t that the idea?”
Kael’s lips curled into a humorless smile. “It’s never that simple.”
She holds the power of fire and ice—now, she must decide which one will rule.Valira, the forgotten princess of the Ash Court, has lived her life hidden from both her past and her dangerous magic. When she is thrust into a world of ice and fire, hunted by two rival courts, she must unlock her powers to stop a war—and perhaps find herself along the way.
In a world where fire and ice have been at war for centuries, Valira, an exiled princess with no memory of her past, is hunted for the power she doesn't understand. Born from a forbidden union between the Courts of Snow and Ash, Valira wields both fire and ice, a magic that could save or destroy the realm.
When a cold-hearted assassin from the Snow Court, Prince Caelan, is sent to kill her, their fates become entwined. As they race against time to uncover the truth about her origins and the curse that threatens the kingdoms, Valira must learn to control her volatile powers before the war consumes them both.
Enemies lurk in every shadow, and trust is as fragile as ice. But amid the chaos, a dangerous bond forms between Valira and Caelan—one that could melt the coldest hearts or spark a fire that consumes them both.
In a kingdom where magic is power, a cursed girl with forbidden secrets must choose between saving her family—or herself.What if the only way to break your family’s curse meant losing the one thing keeping you alive?
In the glittering kingdom of Lumestra, magic isn’t just a gift—it’s the foundation of power, wealth, and status. For Cinderella, cursed to live without magic in a world that worships it, survival means serving as a shadow in her stepmother’s household. But everything changes when she discovers a mirror housing a trapped glass mage, Caius, who holds the secrets to breaking her family’s curse.
As she trains in forbidden glass magic under Caius’s watchful eye, Cinderella draws the attention of the enigmatic Crown Prince Rilian, who sees the strength beneath her mask. But the cost of her growing power is steep, and hiding her magic in a court ruled by fear and ambition becomes a dangerous game.
When her stepsisters’ jealousy threatens to expose her, Cinderella must decide: risk everything to free her family and the glass mage—whose motives may not be as selfless as they seem—or lose herself to the curse that binds them all.
Perfect for fans of Marissa Meyer and Naomi Novik, A Curse of Glass and Shadows is a spellbinding tale of forbidden magic, court intrigue, and the power of breaking free.
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The story sounds intriguing.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds fascinating. I love the gorgeous cover.
ReplyDeleteSounds good. I like the cover.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good book. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete