Rings of Fate

Curses and Crowns, Book 1

De: Melissa de la Cruz

Narrado por: Kirsten Leigh, Alexander Cendese

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.

©2026 Melissa de la Cruz (P)2026 Recorded Books

Better than buttered biscuits!

I ate this up like a buttered biscuit straight from the oven (iykyk). Rings of Fate is an epic romantasy that had me so completely engrossed I genuinely did not realize how much time had passed while reading. Melissa De La Cruz delivers a story that is immersive without being overwhelming, striking that perfect balance where the world building is both simple and complex in all the right ways. The rules of the world feel intuitive, yet layered, making it easy to sink into while still feeling rich and intentional.

What truly stands out is how vividly De La Cruz brings her characters to life. Each one feels distinct, emotionally grounded, and purposeful, which is no small feat considering the diversity of personalities and motivations woven throughout the story. Dietan and Aren are pure perfection—hands down one of my favorite romantasy pairings in a while. Their relationship is built on sharp banter, mutual respect, and genuine connection, and I found myself smiling through nearly every interaction they shared.

When you think of romantasy novels, it’s hard not to notice how often we’re given the same archetype: the ultra-lethal, weapon-wielding, untouchable badass FMC. And while Aren is absolutely a badass, she’s not the traditional version we’ve grown used to—and that’s exactly why she shines. Her strength feels grounded, practical, and deeply human. She doesn’t rely on flashy weapons or exaggerated bravado… she uses a skillet, and honestly? That might be my favorite detail in the entire book. It’s refreshing, endearing, and perfectly encapsulates Aren’s character: resourceful, resilient, and powerful in her own way.

Rings of Fate is a standout romantasy that feels both comforting and exciting, familiar yet refreshing. With engaging world building, emotionally resonant characters, and a heroine who proves that strength doesn’t have to look the same in every story, this book is an absolute must-read for romantasy lovers. I devoured it—and I’d happily do it all over again.

Great Book and Female narrator

The story itself was great, but I hated the male narrator and the female voice he would do for Aren. The female narrator did a great job, and if it wasn’t for her, I would have given up on this one. I love Melissa De La Cruz’s writing, as I grew up with her Blue Bloods series, so I wasn’t surprised that I enjoyed this one. It’s just a fun fantasy novel with some spice and adventure.

Bad MMC, insta love

I really disliked the voice of the MMC especially when he tried to voice the FMC or other characters. The book was not well written and it was insta love which I don’t care for either.

If you enjoy listening to a male Anime voice, this is for you.

However, if you’re not, you might not want to listen to this one. Lots of dramatic delivery, added exclamation marks, and heavy anime-style intonation.

Can’t stand the male narrator

The female parts and story are really good. But each time the chapter changes and it’s the male narrator…. It’s so cringe worthy. Part of the time his voice is fine but he seems to mix up voices and makes the female character very nasally/whiny sounding and that’s not her character. He has an odd quiver to his reading that I just couldn’t get over. The story lines entertaining and over I enjoyed the book.