In A Curse of Blood & Stone(Fate & Flame #2) K.A. Tucker, Since realizing that she has been cast 
for the foreseeable future to a different world than she previously inhabited, Romy, now known as Princess Romeria, has tried her best to fit in and atone for her namesake’s misdoings. But so many people from Islor wish her harm. While she understands their position, she only has good intentions–something she hopes to prove by helping newly dethroned King Zander regain his power. With the help of a seer, a caster (aka: witch), and Zander’s royal guard, Romy treks across the realm toward the mountains. If only she knew that the prophecies the caster and seer have foreseen are true are false, she would feel better about their journey.
“If only we’d met in your word instead,” he whispers, his lips grazing my ear.
‘Then maybe we would have had a chance’, I finish in my thoughts.
After Zander realized Princess Romeria is not the same conniving royal who harmed his family, he began to give in to the intense feelings and attraction they now share. But having to flee his own land, with his brother claiming the throne as his own, Zander isn’t sure anyone from Islor will welcome him back home. Even if he solves the blood poisoning crisis so many are facing. One thing is true, though. He knows that he and Romy make a formidable team. Add to that his well-trained royal guard and a few others with special abilities and Zander has to believe that they will be able to fight anyone in their path. Especially once Romy’s own incredible powers begin to strengthen.
“I will not allow anything or anyone to keep us from each other again.” His brow tightens. “If that is what you want.”
“I can’t live in this world if it’s not with you by my side.”
“Then that is where I will be. Always.”
The second installment of K.A. Tucker’s Fate & Flame series was every bit as compelling and entertaining as the first. While the bonds between a few characters strengthened in A Curse of Blood & Stone, the prophecies–as well as the plots to harm the former king and his betrothed–only intensified.
‘A strange numbness washes over me. This is all happening too fast. Only months ago, I was a thief-for-hire, sent here to steal a stone. Now, I’m being handed a kingdom.’
What a thrilling world K.A. Tucker has created for her Fate & Flame series. I’m a fan of pretty much any type of fantasy, but the way Tucker melded together our heroine being from present day NYC and then getting thrown into a whole other world that is closer to medieval times is quite intriguing. Talk about culture shock. Romy in some ways reminded me of Natalie Portman’s character Jane in Thor: The Dark World. Romy found herself surrounded by huge warriors, duplicitous royals and townsfolk, with none of the modern day comforts we take for granted. And she had to navigate that treacherous new world while taking the wrath for what the real Princess Romeria had done to King Zander and his parents just before she arrived.
I will caution that these books have a huge cast and a lot of moving parts, alliances changing, plenty of deceit and lies of omission, so it is best to read these in order. Once I got a couple of chapters in and settled back into this world, I couldn’t get enough of Romy and Zander. Their relationship had taken some difficult turns. But there was still so much love and mutual respect between them, which was portrayed clearly by Tucker where this was written as dual POV. I loved getting more insight into Zander’s royal guard and seeing them interact with him, Romy, the elemental caster Gesine, and others. There was a lot of bickering at times which was uproariously funny (Romy and Jarek…oh my word, they argued like siblings!) And there were some poignant moments as Zander, Romy, and their motley crew traveled in search of a way to help the people of his homeland, Islor.
QOTD: Have you read any of K.A. Tucker’s work before? Any favorites or recommendations?
Book Info:
Publication: Published July 12th 2022 | Pub: K.A. Tucker | Fate & Flame #2
From jewelry thief to interloper to queen-in-waiting, Romeria flees Cirilea a traitor to all. But the yawning distance between her and Zander troubles her more than any king’s bounty on her head. While Zander may have escaped by her side, he seeks to regain his throne, and no immortal will ever welcome her as Islor’s queen. She fears it won’t be long before Zander abandons her as everyone else she’s ever loved has.
Zander sacrificed his crown to save Romeria’s life, yet he dreads what her existence means for the future of his realm. As Ybaris’s plan to destroy Islor unfurls, a more insidious threat, orchestrated by rival fates, lurks beneath the surface. He can offer his allies no honest explanation for why he protects the Ybarisan princess and takes counsel from Queen Neilina’s caster, leading those closest to doubt his wisdom—and his allegiance.
As their company aims for the Venhorn Mountains, steered by prophecy, Romeria is desperate to wield her newfound abilities to undo Princess Romeria’s treachery before the kingdom tears itself apart. But with the mortal rebellion swelling, bolstered by the gift of Ybaris’s poison, it may already be too late.
From internationally bestselling author K.A. Tucker comes the second novel in her Fate and Flame series, an adult fantasy story that should be read in series order.
