REVIEW Persephone's Curse by Katrina Leno

Persephone's Curse by Katrina Leno
Rating: 4 Stars
Release: December 2, 2025
Format: eARC (NetGalley) + Audiobook (Library)
Publisher: Wednesday Books 

 When I originally picked up Persephone's Curse by Katrina Leno, I was expecting something more heavily rooted in fantasy and mythology. However, it was a pleasant surprise to learn that the book was closer in genre to magical realism, with only hints of mythology. Audiobook narrator Phoebe Strole did an excellent job bringing Winnie's perspective to life, along with that of the other Farthing sisters.

The Farthing sisters are said to be descended from the goddess Persephone, queen of the Underworld. Or at least, that's what their aunt tells them. The fact that all four sisters can see Henry, the ghost inhabiting their attic is pretty convincing though. At the heart of this story is the relationship between the sisters. There are romantic subplots, but they are secondary to the bond between each sister. A mistake committed in a moment of raw emotion and anger threatens that bond however, and the sisters have to work together to fix things before it's too late.

While it's not the highly involved worldbuilding one would expect with a fantasy novel, I really enjoyed the way the author wove the myth of Persephone (as well as Melinoe) into the story. There were just enough fantastical elements to make things believable, without making it feel like readers were being thrown into a Percy Jackson like adventure.

Overall, this was an excellent read and I'll definitely be checking out more by this author in the future. I highly recommend this book to fans of authors like Shea Ernshaw, Isabel Ibanez, or Adrienne Young. Thank you the author, the publisher, and the team at NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary review copy. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review the book immensely.

BLOG TOUR The Beasts We Raise (Broken Citadel Book 2) by D.L. Taylor

 
Hi friends! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Beasts We Raise by D.L. Taylor, second book in the Broken Citadel series. Thank you to Toppling Stacks Tours for organizing the tour. Check out the post to learn more about the book, the author, and where you can get your own copy. Make sure you check out the other tour hosts' posts as well - the link to the schedule is below. 

Happy reading everyone!

The Beasts We Raise by D.L. Taylor (Toppling Stacks Tours)

About The Book

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publishing date: February 24, 2026

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Synopsis:

Marry her enemy. Save her realm. Forsake her heart. The heart-shattering conclusion to this dark romantasy duology is perfect for fans of Adrienne Young, Tricia Levenseller, and Brigid Kemmerer.

Newly-appointed Prime Mancella is desperate to keep the peace within her realm and within herself. Having recently acquired the power to physically split into separate versions of herself, her identity is beginning to fracture―along with her land, which is on the brink of war. The only semblance of normalcy in her life is her budding romance with thief-turned-confidant, Silver. . . at least until the mysterious Prime Reltas arrives at her doorstep asking, or rather demanding, her hand in marriage.

If Mance wants to avoid a fight that will devastate her realm, she’ll have to consider the proposal. Even if it destroys Silver. But Mance isn’t ready to give up just yet. Desperate to free herself from the betrothal, Mance must seek allyship from other Primes and learn to control her new magic. If she fails, her decision to refuse Reltas’s proposal will implode the delicate state of affairs across the realms, setting off a catastrophic war―and shatter two hearts in the process.

Content Warning: Some graphic death, grief, trauma

About the Author

D.L. Taylor is an attorney by trade. She’s worked in criminal defense and civil non-profit law, but writing has always had a special hold on her heart. Though she hails from the sunny lands of California, she married a Midwestern boy and ended up settling down outside Chicago. She has three kids, two cats, and minimal sanity, but in the quiet hours before dawn she likes to write about magic, mischief, and moral quandaries. The Beasts We Bury is her debut.

For more, you can follow her on Instagram or TikTok. Her handle is dltaylorbooks

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