A Curse of Beasts and Magic
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Reviewer: Jen
Rating: C+
What I’m Talking About:
Raine has held a secret inside her for over a decade: a terrible Beast dwells within her, feeding on the violence and life force of others. In an effort to keep others safe, she lives a solitary life, allowing the beast to sup on the criminal element around her. One night while saving an elderly man from kidnappers, she witnesses a shape-shifting snake and realizes she’s not the only paranormal in the world. Soon after she meets Remy, the handsome Warden of the region, and discovers the world is much larger and more dangerous than she believed.
A Curse of Beasts and Magic is the first book in Frost’s new Beautiful and Beastly urban fantasy/fantasy series. The world building is interesting, and a bit overwhelming. There are several familiar elements which are combined to create an altogether unique mythology. Residing in the human world, the story’s base is urban fantasy, with magic and shifters. But there are also fantasy elements like other worlds and the Tuatha Dé Danann. We get just a few looks at each facet, and I look forward to learning more and seeing how all the pieces work together as the series progresses.
Raine is a fascinating character. In the vein of a “chosen one” storyline, Raine doesn’t realize that she’s special in her ability to cage the Beast and wield its power. There is also an offhand mention of a prophecy, which hopefully plays out in future titles. I love that she has a good heart and strong moral compass. She’s lonely; watching her mother and grandmother be killed by the very Beast inside her, Raine isolates her self and has no friends or connections. This makes her extremely susceptible to Remy’s good looks and charm. There is certainly a love-at-first site vibe going on, but with how the book ends, it may take some time for a true relationship to develop.
Speaking of the ending – I have to say, I wasn’t a fan. Fear not, it is a complete story, with an exciting climatic battle and solid conclusion. However, like most good UF series, there is a hook to keep readers waiting for the next installment.
While there is a lot I liked about A Curse of Beasts and Magic, I found that it was just an okay read for me. There is a lot that happens and frequent moving from one place to another. I felt things were chaotic and huge, sometimes without a clear reason. I would have preferred something tighter and more compact. I was also disappointed that Remy hides things from Raine and they don’t talk about their feelings openly.
In the end, I think there is something solid here, and the series has great potential. The characters aren’t developed to the point where I love them, but knowing Frost’s storytelling abilities, I am certain the best is yet to come.
My Rating: C+
Jen
About the Book:
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?
Release Date: May 26, 2026
Publisher: Bramble
Series: Beautiful and Beastly #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Fantasy, romantic elements
Format(s): hardcover (368 pages), e-book, audiobook
Book Source: Publisher