Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Forced marriage, Violence, Death, Blood, Coercive control, War
A Curse of Shadows and Ice
by Catharina Maura
Book 1 in Shadowbound
Pick it when you want the arranged-marriage version of Beauty and the Beast: a feared emperor, a princess with dangerous magic, and feelings that refuse to stay tactical.
goodreads 4.06/5 8,617 ratings
storykind_community 2/5 1 rating
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length320 pages
Series statusOngoing series
Spice4/5 · Passionate / intense
PacingFast
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Enemies to lovers
- Male/female pairing (M/F)
- Medium burn
- High
- Passionate / intense
- Romantic fulfillment
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- Brooding prince
- Protective love interest
- Possessive / claiming
- The swoon
- Cursed
- Power imbalance
- Tension / anticipation
- Tension finally satisfied
- Possessive alpha
- Push and pull
- Power dynamic
- Escape
Fantasy promise
- Romantasy
- Beauty and the beast
- Royal court / palace
- High fantasy
- Witches/wizards/warlocks
- Arranged marriage
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- Castle / fortress
- Grimdark / dark fantasy
- Shadow beings / shadow fae
- Small town / village
- Forced proximity
- Forbidden love
Reading experience
- Dual POV
- Fast
- Romantic
- Fast-paced
- Moderate
- Low
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- Royalty
- Dark
- Dramatic
- Witch/mage
- Magical
- Seductive
- Reluctant chosen one
- Angsty
- Emotional
- Sacrifice / chosen to die
- Immersive
- Beauty and the Beast retelling
- Forbidden desire
- Bargain with consequences
- Cursed bloodline
- Protect at all costs
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Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.
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Similar because
Sacrifice / chosen to die · Brooding prince · Magical
Different because
Spice is lower (1/5 vs 4/5). Medium pacing rather than Fast.
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Similar because
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Similar because
Witch/mage · Magical · Witches/wizards/warlocks
Different because
Medium pacing rather than Fast. A longer read (487 vs 320 pages).
Book details
- Length
- 320 pages
- Publisher
- Forever
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book