Rings of Fate: Curses and Crowns, Book 1
by Melissa de la CruzCategory
About this book
SHE’S A BARMAID WHO DOESN’T BELIEVE IN FAIRY TALES. HE’S A PRINCE CURSED TO LIVE ONE. Aren Bellamore has no interest in being anyone’s princess. She’s too busy running the Raven’s Beak tavern, fending off unwanted marriage proposals, and dreaming of escape. But when a brush with death and a dangerously handsome stranger upend her life, Aren finds herself bound to a bargain that could change everything. Prince Dietan has carried the cursed Rings of Fate—ancient weapons of devastating power—since childhood. The magic is killing him, and the enemies are closing in. To make the journey to reverse his curse, he needs a bride to hide his secrets. Aren wants freedom. Pretending to be his fiancée should give them both what they want. But as their perilous journey pits them against political schemes, monstrous Kilandrar, and a growing attraction neither can deny, the line between make-believe and destiny begins to blur. And the fate of two kingdoms may depend on whether a cynical barmaid and a cursed prince are willing to risk their hearts.
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What readers are saying
SJSGood fantasy book with original plot but not mind blowing
"Overall, this was a very good book with an original fantasy concept centered around the power of the rings. The romance between the two main characters was sweet and developed as a satisfying slow burn. While I enjoyed the story, the pacing felt a bit slow at times, and some scenes came across as filler rather than contributing meaningfully to the overall plot. Ultimately, the reason I’m giving this four stars instead of five is that, while it was an enjoyable read, it didn’t completely wow me. It’s a solid fantasy novel, but not one I see myself revisiting later for nostalgia or lingering impact. ["
February 7, 2026 Verified Purchase
Kassyeaudio: 2 book: 5
"To explain my rating, the audible version of this book gives AI. I want to know how it was produced so I can avoid it in the future. The male narrator's voice for females is literally the TikTok filter. That's officially an ick. Now that I got the complaints out of the way, I absolutely adore this book. The banter... chef's kiss! The miscommunication trope is absolutely a turn off for me, but I think this book softened it enough that I was able to overlook it. But overall this was a very cute story, one I could see being a mid budget film. Well written, good and interesting plot, terrible audiobook. ["
January 16, 2026 Verified Purchase