Fantasy• Romance

Review: The Queen’s Curse by Taylor Ugrinow

June 23, 2026

Synopsis:

Ari has only known a life of servitude in Noctharn. As a mortal, seen as weak by the powers in her kingdom, she has endured sixteen long years of torment in the soulfire mines. She, like most in Lumin, despises eldarim, the elite members of society with the right to claim immortality from Althara, the highest power in the realm.

Desperate to provide a better life for her mother, when the king calls for fighters, assassins, and hunters to search for his lost heir, Ari doesn’t hesitate to join the quest.

What she doesn’t realize is that Lincoln Ashfield, the most skilled assassin in Noctharn, has joined it, too.

But Ari doesn’t give up easily. She would rather die trying than stay stagnant, and she will stop at nothing to find the lost heir and earn the life she deserves.

Review:

The story drew me in immediately. Ari tries to find joy in small moments, even when her stepfather is physically abusing her and her mother. She is sent to the mines as a child, being small enough to do a job most cannot do (which is a byproduct of being malnourished). It becomes her life, and living on the outskirts of the kingdom and accepting this life – one that does not have much to offer – is what she settles for. When the monthly collection of soulfire from the mines is taking place, she has an altercation at the tavern, which leaves an impression on both of them.

When an opportunity presents itself to hunt down the heir of the king, who could bring down his current rule. She is immediately interested, as it offers a way out of her situation. Meeting the person again – whom she initially ran into at the tavern – was not part of the plan.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this one. The differences between the ruling class and the humans came across as heartbreaking. Barely surviving and being treated as lesser beings felt brutal to me. Ari does not have an easy life, and while her friend Noah tries to support her, the difference in their financial standing comes across very clearly. She kind of needs him and appreciates what he does, but also resents him for not having to face the tough decisions she battles on a daily basis.
When Ari sees an opportunity for a way out, running into Lincoln is one of my favourite moments. They dislike each other but are also drawn to one another. Their decision to team up on their journey was something I was really looking forward to, and the banter, the side glances, the journey itself. I was completely on board with it.

That ending left me speechless. I had my suspicions, but I was not expecting how everything unfolded. This is how you keep me engaged. I enjoyed the book from beginning to end and didn’t want to put it down. That’s how you do it 🙂

🌙 Recension: The Queen’s Curse (The Soulfire Duology #1) by Taylor Ugrinow
📚 Genre: Fantasy, Romance
📅 Release Date: June 23, 2026
📗 available in various formats – included in kindle Unlimited
📱 Read as: Kindle
💸 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 388
⭐️ 5/5