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Unmasking the Curse
Loathed and feared. Sold into a hateful marriage. Can she escape a prison to embrace her power and unexpected love?
Arianna Park is resigned to misery. Bound to an enchanted porcelain mask to contain a devastating curse, she’s set to wed a venomous man for the sake of her destitute family. But when a handsome stranger saves her from a fate worse than death, she’s shocked when he claims to be afflicted with the same blight.
Silas Belmont keeps his emotions well-buried. Brooding and aloof, visiting his sister takes an intriguing turn when he rescues a young beauty harboring a dark gift. And seeing in her a kindred spirit, he guides her in mastering her talent only to find himself begrudgingly captivated by the intelligent but naïve lady.
After Arianna inadvertently breaks propriety and incurs her betrothed’s wrath, she flees with her hero. And as Silas feels the walls around his heart crumbling, he fears his hidden sin will doom them both to ruin.
Can they break free of their twisted pasts and unite as one?
Unmasking the Curse is the stirring first book in The Aralian Series of romantic fantasies. If you like heroines with untapped fire, dour heroes, and simmering passion, then you’ll adore Chelle Cypress’s darkly beckoning tale.
Buy Unmasking the Curse to unleash what lies within today.
Arianna Park is resigned to misery. Bound to an enchanted porcelain mask to contain a devastating curse, she’s set to wed a venomous man for the sake of her destitute family. But when a handsome stranger saves her from a fate worse than death, she’s shocked when he claims to be afflicted with the same blight.
Silas Belmont keeps his emotions well-buried. Brooding and aloof, visiting his sister takes an intriguing turn when he rescues a young beauty harboring a dark gift. And seeing in her a kindred spirit, he guides her in mastering her talent only to find himself begrudgingly captivated by the intelligent but naïve lady.
After Arianna inadvertently breaks propriety and incurs her betrothed’s wrath, she flees with her hero. And as Silas feels the walls around his heart crumbling, he fears his hidden sin will doom them both to ruin.
Can they break free of their twisted pasts and unite as one?
Unmasking the Curse is the stirring first book in The Aralian Series of romantic fantasies. If you like heroines with untapped fire, dour heroes, and simmering passion, then you’ll adore Chelle Cypress’s darkly beckoning tale.
Buy Unmasking the Curse to unleash what lies within today.
498 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2023
51 people are currently reading
1413 people want to read
About the author
Chelle Cypress
6 books108 followersChelle Cypress is a voracious reader, mother, wife and anime enthusiast. As a child, Chelle dreamed of becoming a published author. Through hard work, many late nights, and copious amounts of coffee, she has finally achieved her dream of sharing the stories of her heart with the world. Chelle infuses her writing with themes from classic literature, regency romances, and fantasy. She enjoys blending the contents together in a novel that she hopes speaks to the hearts of her readers. Chelle has used writing as a therapeutic outlet which has helped her maintain her sobriety (7/30/21).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
October 26, 2023
This book really grabs you right from the first page. It's one of those books where right away you know that you're going to like it and it never lets you down.
The plot was so creative here. It's definitely not something I've read before but has some of the same feels as maybe beauty and the beast or pride and prejudice giving it a fresh yet familiar feel.
The characters were fantastic. I've said in almost every review that has a fmc like Arianna that we love us an independent girlie. She goes from being a door mat to a badass who doesn't back down from protecting those that she loves. I'm still not sure how I feel about Silas, though. I'll get back to you on that after book 2 😂
I love multi pov books. I'm nosey and I like to know what all the characters are thinking 😂 Theo chapters might have been my favorite little add in. It's nice to have the pov of the "bad guy".
My only complaints really are the pacing and some word choices. The pacing felt a bit off for me. The will they/won't they felt a bit drawn out and a few of the more dramatic scenes felt a bit rushed? As for word choices a few of the descriptive words were used somewhat repetitively and that's a personal preference thing but it still did unfortunately keep me from giving it five stars.
It's a book I highly recommend and I can't wait to read book two!
The plot was so creative here. It's definitely not something I've read before but has some of the same feels as maybe beauty and the beast or pride and prejudice giving it a fresh yet familiar feel.
The characters were fantastic. I've said in almost every review that has a fmc like Arianna that we love us an independent girlie. She goes from being a door mat to a badass who doesn't back down from protecting those that she loves. I'm still not sure how I feel about Silas, though. I'll get back to you on that after book 2 😂
I love multi pov books. I'm nosey and I like to know what all the characters are thinking 😂 Theo chapters might have been my favorite little add in. It's nice to have the pov of the "bad guy".
My only complaints really are the pacing and some word choices. The pacing felt a bit off for me. The will they/won't they felt a bit drawn out and a few of the more dramatic scenes felt a bit rushed? As for word choices a few of the descriptive words were used somewhat repetitively and that's a personal preference thing but it still did unfortunately keep me from giving it five stars.
It's a book I highly recommend and I can't wait to read book two!
April 26, 2024
The concept of this book is really interesting, but it fell flat in execution for me. There were plot points that never got explained, that I thought should have been. There was very little plot development for a long stretch in the middle of the book. The book got interesting about 400 pages in, which should have happened much sooner to keep my attention. I will not be continuing the series.
I didn’t enjoy this book, but that doesn’t mean you won’t. I’m the outlier here since most people have given this book five stars. If it sounds interesting to you, give it a shot!
I didn’t enjoy this book, but that doesn’t mean you won’t. I’m the outlier here since most people have given this book five stars. If it sounds interesting to you, give it a shot!
April 7, 2024
I love all the main female characters in the story, their strength and devotion, and loyalty to each other. I didn't like the main male character as he was portrayed mostly in a cruel manner, and not enough redeeming qualities were given to balance it out. The storyline seemed to be one of interest and brought forth much discussion in our group, but at the end of the day, the pace was too slow for me, and I was still left with many unanswered questions.
September 29, 2023
This book captivated me right from the beginning! I absolutely adored it, devouring it within a span of two days, and it has now become my go-to comfort read.
The narrative revolves around Arianna Park, the female protagonist, who finds herself on the verge of marrying a despicable and abusive man in order to secure her family's financial stability. Plagued by an ancient curse, Arianna believes she burdens her loved ones and is forced to conceal her affliction behind an enchanted porcelain mask whenever she is in public.
Enter Lord Silas Belmont, a broody and swoon-worthy character who becomes infatuated with Arianna after a fortuitous encounter. Silas utters phrases like "who did this to you" and "you're mine," making it easy for me to fall in love with him.
Chelle skillfully builds up the tension, creating an exquisite sense of anticipation that had me on the edge of my seat. I found myself constantly pondering the question, "Will they or won't they?" The uncertainty surrounding the characters' future kept me engrossed and eager to uncover the outcome. It was a thrilling and suspenseful experience that added an extra layer of excitement to the story.
Throughout the story, there are unexpected twists and turns that left me gasping in surprise, as well as moments that moved me to tears.
Chelle has masterfully crafted a captivating world that completely immersed me from start to finish.
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice:🌶🌶
Do yourself a favor, when this book comes out 11/1/23 BUY IT!
The narrative revolves around Arianna Park, the female protagonist, who finds herself on the verge of marrying a despicable and abusive man in order to secure her family's financial stability. Plagued by an ancient curse, Arianna believes she burdens her loved ones and is forced to conceal her affliction behind an enchanted porcelain mask whenever she is in public.
Enter Lord Silas Belmont, a broody and swoon-worthy character who becomes infatuated with Arianna after a fortuitous encounter. Silas utters phrases like "who did this to you" and "you're mine," making it easy for me to fall in love with him.
Chelle skillfully builds up the tension, creating an exquisite sense of anticipation that had me on the edge of my seat. I found myself constantly pondering the question, "Will they or won't they?" The uncertainty surrounding the characters' future kept me engrossed and eager to uncover the outcome. It was a thrilling and suspenseful experience that added an extra layer of excitement to the story.
Throughout the story, there are unexpected twists and turns that left me gasping in surprise, as well as moments that moved me to tears.
Chelle has masterfully crafted a captivating world that completely immersed me from start to finish.
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice:🌶🌶
Do yourself a favor, when this book comes out 11/1/23 BUY IT!
February 28, 2024
While the concept of the story is excellent, the book itself was way too long. It could have been shortened & it would not have affected the story in any way. I had a hard time getting into this one in the beginning, however the last 20% or so really grabbed me and got interesting.
I did enjoy how well the characters were described, their world was easy to understand, and how Arianna developed throughout the book. I despised Theo & his evil father, as well as Arianna’s mother.
The cliffhanger at the end wasn’t a surprise, as you kind of get a feeling more is to come. I will read the next book as I want to know what happens.
I did enjoy how well the characters were described, their world was easy to understand, and how Arianna developed throughout the book. I despised Theo & his evil father, as well as Arianna’s mother.
The cliffhanger at the end wasn’t a surprise, as you kind of get a feeling more is to come. I will read the next book as I want to know what happens.
July 24, 2025
okay this one is a weird one for me. What I mean by that is that I was really interested and intrigued by the plot but when it comes to the MCs, I will admit I didn't quite vibe with them for 75-80% of the book. It was the last couple chapters when shit was going down that I was started to enjoy them. Now that's not to say they were poorly written they just weren't characters I typically enjoy.
What I mean by that is the FMC Arianna is a softer FMC and that is not to say that she was a weak FMC she actually had a quiet strength and determination and a willingness to endure hardship for the sake of her family but for me I tend to lean towards FMCs that are more take charge and more in your face. But towards the end of the book, we definitely see that below the surface is an anger just waiting to burst out and she is probably done playing nice.
For the MMC Silas I also didn't completely vibe with him because while he did some admirable things that I liked especially when it came to Arianna, but he was so closed off and keeping secrets that for me I didn't quite believe the romance between them. Now for some this would be perfect to build up the tension but for me I just needed more. I wish there had been more moments where they were together and felt the tension buildup, but it would seem like anytime, they were together, and the tension would start to build he would dip out because he didn't want to give into his feelings/desires. Again, this will work for a lot of readers but for me combined with how closed off he was just made it harder for me to get into the romance between the two of them. Now towards the end when he like Arianna finally let out in the open and broke down all the walls, I was definitely intrigued by the man.
Now for me what really kept me going was the plot. Because I wanted to find out more about the cursed because something was not adding up and that was revealed as the book went on and it led to an a really cool ending that combined with the cliff hanger makes me intrigued about the next book. Another aspect of the plot that kept me going was not just the cursed and the conspiracy going on but also the personal aspect of Arianna and her ex-fiancé who along with his father for each of their own reasons were searching for her high and low and it was only a matter of a time until they found her and I was curious how that would unfold.
Overall, I enjoyed the plot and while I didn't vibe with the two MCs for most of the book I did start to enjoy them to the end. Which means I will be continuing the next story and perhaps in the next book I will start to fall in love with the characters.
This book is about Arianna who has been loathed and feared for most of her life. Why...well she is one of the cursed and what that means is that deep within her is a dark magic with the power to destroy anyone who gets in its path if it were unleased. So, she like other cursed beings with the help of the priestesses wear an enchanted porcelain mask to contain the curse anytime she leaves her room which has been made into a magical safe room. She had resigned herself to a life of misery and being a burden to her family when to the surprise of everyone someone makes an offer of marriage to her and her family jumps at the chance to not just get rid of her but also save themselves from destitute. But the man she is to marry is a venomous man who will make every day with him worse than the next. But leading up to the wedding she runs into handsome man who wants to safe her from this fate worse than death. The reason he is also suffers from the same curse and has learned to master and control it that he doesn't need a mask to shield others from the darkness. Now he says that he just wants to save a kindred spirit so she could have the life she deserves. At least that is what he tells his sister rather than mentioning he is captivated by this intelligent but naive lady who he wants to save. But the time comes for when they must run to keep Arianna safe after incurring the wrath of her betrothal and the best way to keep her safe is for them to marry. But what started out as a marriage of convivence has started to break down Silas's walls as he gets to know her and train her. But with his walls crumbling it is not just losing his heart that he fears but also his secrets coming to light that could end up dooming them both.
What I mean by that is the FMC Arianna is a softer FMC and that is not to say that she was a weak FMC she actually had a quiet strength and determination and a willingness to endure hardship for the sake of her family but for me I tend to lean towards FMCs that are more take charge and more in your face. But towards the end of the book, we definitely see that below the surface is an anger just waiting to burst out and she is probably done playing nice.
For the MMC Silas I also didn't completely vibe with him because while he did some admirable things that I liked especially when it came to Arianna, but he was so closed off and keeping secrets that for me I didn't quite believe the romance between them. Now for some this would be perfect to build up the tension but for me I just needed more. I wish there had been more moments where they were together and felt the tension buildup, but it would seem like anytime, they were together, and the tension would start to build he would dip out because he didn't want to give into his feelings/desires. Again, this will work for a lot of readers but for me combined with how closed off he was just made it harder for me to get into the romance between the two of them. Now towards the end when he like Arianna finally let out in the open and broke down all the walls, I was definitely intrigued by the man.
Now for me what really kept me going was the plot. Because I wanted to find out more about the cursed because something was not adding up and that was revealed as the book went on and it led to an a really cool ending that combined with the cliff hanger makes me intrigued about the next book. Another aspect of the plot that kept me going was not just the cursed and the conspiracy going on but also the personal aspect of Arianna and her ex-fiancé who along with his father for each of their own reasons were searching for her high and low and it was only a matter of a time until they found her and I was curious how that would unfold.
Overall, I enjoyed the plot and while I didn't vibe with the two MCs for most of the book I did start to enjoy them to the end. Which means I will be continuing the next story and perhaps in the next book I will start to fall in love with the characters.
This book is about Arianna who has been loathed and feared for most of her life. Why...well she is one of the cursed and what that means is that deep within her is a dark magic with the power to destroy anyone who gets in its path if it were unleased. So, she like other cursed beings with the help of the priestesses wear an enchanted porcelain mask to contain the curse anytime she leaves her room which has been made into a magical safe room. She had resigned herself to a life of misery and being a burden to her family when to the surprise of everyone someone makes an offer of marriage to her and her family jumps at the chance to not just get rid of her but also save themselves from destitute. But the man she is to marry is a venomous man who will make every day with him worse than the next. But leading up to the wedding she runs into handsome man who wants to safe her from this fate worse than death. The reason he is also suffers from the same curse and has learned to master and control it that he doesn't need a mask to shield others from the darkness. Now he says that he just wants to save a kindred spirit so she could have the life she deserves. At least that is what he tells his sister rather than mentioning he is captivated by this intelligent but naive lady who he wants to save. But the time comes for when they must run to keep Arianna safe after incurring the wrath of her betrothal and the best way to keep her safe is for them to marry. But what started out as a marriage of convivence has started to break down Silas's walls as he gets to know her and train her. But with his walls crumbling it is not just losing his heart that he fears but also his secrets coming to light that could end up dooming them both.
June 21, 2024
4.75⭐️
Unmasking the Curse is a loose beauty & the beast retelling with beautiful, rich prose that it was such a wonderful read. The magic system is one of the most interesting and the lore behind it is amazing. I felt for Arianna and her treatment by her mother, the Aralians & her betrothed. I wanted to free her myself, but as soon as Silas came into the picture I knew it was going to get good.
The slow burn is slow but worth the wait. I loved the interactions between Arianna & Silas. His coldness being armor to protect himself is amazing. The two of them have definite chemistry despite the fact the two of them don't want to fall for each other. I loved that when she finally broke free of her chains, Arianna finally started to become her own person and decided what she wanted to do.
The whole cast of characters come alive with the beautiful writing. I loved the action scenes and it added a bit of suspense for what is still to come. The farther I got into this, the more I fell in love. I cannot wait for more from Chelle.
🎭 Beauty & the Beast vibes
🎭 Loosely historical setting
🎭 Curses and Secrets
🎭 Slow Burn
🎭 Marriage of convenience
🎭 Broody "Who did this to you" "You're mine" MMC vibes
🖤🖤🖤
Unmasking the Curse is a loose beauty & the beast retelling with beautiful, rich prose that it was such a wonderful read. The magic system is one of the most interesting and the lore behind it is amazing. I felt for Arianna and her treatment by her mother, the Aralians & her betrothed. I wanted to free her myself, but as soon as Silas came into the picture I knew it was going to get good.
The slow burn is slow but worth the wait. I loved the interactions between Arianna & Silas. His coldness being armor to protect himself is amazing. The two of them have definite chemistry despite the fact the two of them don't want to fall for each other. I loved that when she finally broke free of her chains, Arianna finally started to become her own person and decided what she wanted to do.
The whole cast of characters come alive with the beautiful writing. I loved the action scenes and it added a bit of suspense for what is still to come. The farther I got into this, the more I fell in love. I cannot wait for more from Chelle.
🎭 Beauty & the Beast vibes
🎭 Loosely historical setting
🎭 Curses and Secrets
🎭 Slow Burn
🎭 Marriage of convenience
🎭 Broody "Who did this to you" "You're mine" MMC vibes
🖤🖤🖤
October 3, 2023
I was so excited and thankful to get an ARC for this book! It’s a solid 4 ⭐️ book for me. The fantasy world was interesting and different than many others already out there. The romance and tension for the FMC & MMC were good. It had some spice, but not overwhelming to the story. I look forward to the next book!
October 16, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
First off, Arianna’s character progression throughout the book was so satisfying to read. Arianna is who the story mainly follows as she navigates between the life that was forced upon her and the life that she desperately desires. There’s dual POV, arranged marriage, slow burn romance, a strong FMC, a broody MMC, great supporting characters, and a fresh plot that is different than what we normally see in our fantasy books. The length of the book was perfect. I felt like I got just enough while still wanting more. If this was the first book I can’t imagine what the second book will be like.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
First off, Arianna’s character progression throughout the book was so satisfying to read. Arianna is who the story mainly follows as she navigates between the life that was forced upon her and the life that she desperately desires. There’s dual POV, arranged marriage, slow burn romance, a strong FMC, a broody MMC, great supporting characters, and a fresh plot that is different than what we normally see in our fantasy books. The length of the book was perfect. I felt like I got just enough while still wanting more. If this was the first book I can’t imagine what the second book will be like.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2023
I am a sucker for angst, and this book is bursting with it. This is a fantastic debut novel, and I loved the Pride and Prejudice vibes! A FMC you love to watch come into her own and a MMC you fall hard for—even if you want to shake him several times. This is a slow burn that burns very hot, cools off, and then catches fire again. There are some spicy scenes in this book, and there are some triggers to look out for, so make sure you read them so you are not caught unawares. For fans of touch her and unalive, marriage of convivence, and morally gray book boyfriends!
September 26, 2023
I received an ARC of this book which releases 11/1.
I enjoyed this story and it kept me interested all the way through to the end. I was invested in the characters very early on and I did not see the twist coming!! I am excited to read the next book in the series.
I did have one pet peeve - three words felt overused throughout the book (in my opinion): taciturn, handbreadth, conveyance.
I enjoyed this story and it kept me interested all the way through to the end. I was invested in the characters very early on and I did not see the twist coming!! I am excited to read the next book in the series.
I did have one pet peeve - three words felt overused throughout the book (in my opinion): taciturn, handbreadth, conveyance.
April 30, 2024
I enjoyed many parts of this especially Arianna finding her voice after years of abuse. I think this is something many of us can relate too.
Silas irritated me with his feels a lot but at the same time, I get it lol I run far away from my feelings too.
The pacing was a bit slow but I did love the overall story and the meaning within the story 💜
Silas irritated me with his feels a lot but at the same time, I get it lol I run far away from my feelings too.
The pacing was a bit slow but I did love the overall story and the meaning within the story 💜
May 30, 2025
Hmm, I'm not quite sure how I truly feel about this book. I think it was a great premise, I love the idea of a curse being bound by a mask and that mask alerting everyone encountered that the curse exists. I love that it's a Beauty and the Beast reimagining with a marriage of convenience (yes, there's "that's my wife!", "who did this to you?", and he'll burn the world down for her).
I was graciously gifted a free copy of the audiobook from Chelle and sadly, I think that might be where my issue lies. At first I did enjoy it, it's duet narration which was so fun (I can't remember if I've read a duet narrated audiobook before). But at some point, I found myself disengaged and I'm not sure if it was the story itself or the narrators. I did find the male narrator a bit Disney dramatic if that makes any sense at all (almost Gaston sounding, which I guess would kind of fit the B&tB reimagining theme, to be fair) and the female narrator was a bit almost monotone, so both voices together kind of clashed for me. And some vocal acting choices made some scenes feel almost comical when they were not supposed to be.
I did feel that some portions of the book dragged on a bit, but others felt a bit rushed, so pacing also plays a factor in my rating.
Anyway, I think maybe eventually I will reread my physical copy to see if it is truly the story itself or the narration that left me feeling conflicted on whether I enjoyed the book overall.
I was graciously gifted a free copy of the audiobook from Chelle and sadly, I think that might be where my issue lies. At first I did enjoy it, it's duet narration which was so fun (I can't remember if I've read a duet narrated audiobook before). But at some point, I found myself disengaged and I'm not sure if it was the story itself or the narrators. I did find the male narrator a bit Disney dramatic if that makes any sense at all (almost Gaston sounding, which I guess would kind of fit the B&tB reimagining theme, to be fair) and the female narrator was a bit almost monotone, so both voices together kind of clashed for me. And some vocal acting choices made some scenes feel almost comical when they were not supposed to be.
I did feel that some portions of the book dragged on a bit, but others felt a bit rushed, so pacing also plays a factor in my rating.
Anyway, I think maybe eventually I will reread my physical copy to see if it is truly the story itself or the narration that left me feeling conflicted on whether I enjoyed the book overall.
October 22, 2023
Unmasking the Curse is the first book of the Aralian series, a new fantasy romance series about a young woman who is cursed by the gods. This has regency period vibes but with magic and spice. Tropes include marriage of convenience, a broody MMC, curses, slow burn and who did this to you.
The Lovely: I loved the unique plot and concept behind the curse. I really had no idea how the story was going to end, or how the issues were going to be resolved.
The Mundane: The characters were interesting and, again, kind of unique, but I felt like I didn’t become invested in their future and their story until the last 100-150 pages of the book. However, the slow burn was REAL and the angst felt authentic.
The Dreadful: I struggled with the pacing and tension of the story. A lot happened in the first 100 pages and it drew me in quickly. Then the tension sort of stalled out until the last 100-150 pages. There was character and relationship development in that middle part but not enough was actually happening to keep me invested.
Rating: 4/5 Stars 2/5 spicy flames
Recommendation: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Since I’m now more into the characters and their relationships, I will definitely be looking forward to the second book. If you like Bridgerton or regency period vibes but with magic and/or curses, I think you would like this book.
The Lovely: I loved the unique plot and concept behind the curse. I really had no idea how the story was going to end, or how the issues were going to be resolved.
The Mundane: The characters were interesting and, again, kind of unique, but I felt like I didn’t become invested in their future and their story until the last 100-150 pages of the book. However, the slow burn was REAL and the angst felt authentic.
The Dreadful: I struggled with the pacing and tension of the story. A lot happened in the first 100 pages and it drew me in quickly. Then the tension sort of stalled out until the last 100-150 pages. There was character and relationship development in that middle part but not enough was actually happening to keep me invested.
Rating: 4/5 Stars 2/5 spicy flames
Recommendation: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Since I’m now more into the characters and their relationships, I will definitely be looking forward to the second book. If you like Bridgerton or regency period vibes but with magic and/or curses, I think you would like this book.
March 3, 2025
Such A Beautiful and Original Fantasy!!
I LOVED THIS!!!
Cypress’s writing is so lush and I found myself marking all kinds of wonderful words.
This book is so unique!! It’s a Reimagined Beauty and The Beast, but one unlike any other I’ve read. It’s dark, sad, romantic and beautiful. The characters are amazing, especially Arianna! She starts out as a skinny, malnourished, unloved girl who feels she is what everyone says she is and deserves nothing good. But she grows into a beautiful, healthy, strong, confident woman who has the capacity for so much love and kindness and gives it freely. All because of Silas…Silas, sigh. He puts on his cold as ice mask, but he’s truly such a beautiful soul and cares so much for those he loves.
This beautiful book will stay with me, and I’m REALLY looking forward to the next book!! I highly recommended this masterpiece of Cypress’s!!!
I LOVED THIS!!!
Cypress’s writing is so lush and I found myself marking all kinds of wonderful words.
This book is so unique!! It’s a Reimagined Beauty and The Beast, but one unlike any other I’ve read. It’s dark, sad, romantic and beautiful. The characters are amazing, especially Arianna! She starts out as a skinny, malnourished, unloved girl who feels she is what everyone says she is and deserves nothing good. But she grows into a beautiful, healthy, strong, confident woman who has the capacity for so much love and kindness and gives it freely. All because of Silas…Silas, sigh. He puts on his cold as ice mask, but he’s truly such a beautiful soul and cares so much for those he loves.
This beautiful book will stay with me, and I’m REALLY looking forward to the next book!! I highly recommended this masterpiece of Cypress’s!!!
May 8, 2024
5⭐️ / 3🌶️
This was so good! I couldn’t put it down once I got started. The magic system and the reasons behind the cursed was really unique. I loved the twist on good vs evil and how the “victors” are the ones who rewrite histories to fit their narratives.
Silas and Arianna were a delight and watching their back and forth relationship develop reminded me of historical romances (which I adore).
Based on the foreshadowing, I can’t wait to see what happens next! ♥️♥️♥️
This was so good! I couldn’t put it down once I got started. The magic system and the reasons behind the cursed was really unique. I loved the twist on good vs evil and how the “victors” are the ones who rewrite histories to fit their narratives.
Silas and Arianna were a delight and watching their back and forth relationship develop reminded me of historical romances (which I adore).
Based on the foreshadowing, I can’t wait to see what happens next! ♥️♥️♥️
April 14, 2024
Not bad, but not good. This just wasn’t the book for me. I struggled with this read. The story is intriguing but it felt like walking through knee high tar to get to something actually happening. So many characters were infuriating and the ridiculously excessive use of the word pivot/ed/ing made it very hard to enjoy the build of the story.
October 23, 2024
This book was absolutely incredible! The foreshadowing was just enough to keep me intrigued, but not spoil anything. The author is an incredible writer and I loved the world that she created! The cliffhanger at the end made me want to immediately read the next book. I cannot wait until the sequel is released.
October 10, 2023
This was a truly spectacular and well written fantasy romance story I found hard to put down. It just checked off all the things that I love in a story and completely intrigued me! It is a debut novel for the author, and I can not recommend it enough. It's brilliant and a must-read!
March 6, 2025
I was excited for this one based on the summary and ratings, but this fell short for me. The plot and characters were underdeveloped. The writing was boring at times. It had potential which is why I gave 2 stars, but overall this was a disappointing read for me.
November 1, 2025
I really enjoyed this. Moving to book two!
October 12, 2023
***ARC REVIEW***
Name: Unmasking the Curse
Author: Chelle Cypress
Rate: 5 🌟
Spice: 2 🌶️
Genre: Fantasy Romance
~ Unmasking the Curse is a fantasy romance written by no other than Chelle Cypress. First, more formal thank you for letting me be part of your ARC team. It was an honor! But, Chelle you sure went all out with this book, like hands down 🙌🏼 I don’t normally read lots of fantasy romance but I sure enjoyed reading this one that it left me wanting to jump to the next book, unfortunately I have to wait….😣😫 I was so engrossed with the storyline itself that I just couldn’t put it down!!! The plot, the unexpected twists and turns, the ending… yes, especially that ending with them chapters to get to that ending OMG!!!!!! 😵💫😮🥴 It sure kept me on my toes! 😅 The action alone in those chapters had me jumping and screaming at the characters, oh and don’t forget insulting them sometimes! The Hispanic part comes out sometimes… Lol! All of it was totally worth it! But like I mentioned before, the only sad part is that I have to wait for book 2!!! The struggle is real!
Once you start to read this book you will get some of The Beauty and The Beast vibes and The Witcher. You will also get to love and hate some of the characters in this book. The two main characters will blow you away because their attraction for each other will be a slow burn for sure! Arianna FMC she is cursed and bound to a magical mask just to keep the curse under control. But underneath that mask there is this beautiful woman who just wants to be free. Her mother arranges her marriage to Theo just for money. Theo is an abusive man and also despicable. He doesn't love her, he only sees her as a lovely pet. Silas MMC is this handsome lord who knows about certain curses. How? He alone has some dark secrets that he wants to keep hidden for his protection. Why? Silas does have a heart of gold and helps Arianna out with her curse.
You will surely enjoy reading this fantasy romance. So go run and pre-order now!!! Release 11/1/23. Please read the trigger warnings.
Tropes: Touch her & Die, slowburn love, forced-proximity, and family betrayal, arranged marriage, sacrifice, fated mated, curses, magic.
Name: Unmasking the Curse
Author: Chelle Cypress
Rate: 5 🌟
Spice: 2 🌶️
Genre: Fantasy Romance
~ Unmasking the Curse is a fantasy romance written by no other than Chelle Cypress. First, more formal thank you for letting me be part of your ARC team. It was an honor! But, Chelle you sure went all out with this book, like hands down 🙌🏼 I don’t normally read lots of fantasy romance but I sure enjoyed reading this one that it left me wanting to jump to the next book, unfortunately I have to wait….😣😫 I was so engrossed with the storyline itself that I just couldn’t put it down!!! The plot, the unexpected twists and turns, the ending… yes, especially that ending with them chapters to get to that ending OMG!!!!!! 😵💫😮🥴 It sure kept me on my toes! 😅 The action alone in those chapters had me jumping and screaming at the characters, oh and don’t forget insulting them sometimes! The Hispanic part comes out sometimes… Lol! All of it was totally worth it! But like I mentioned before, the only sad part is that I have to wait for book 2!!! The struggle is real!
Once you start to read this book you will get some of The Beauty and The Beast vibes and The Witcher. You will also get to love and hate some of the characters in this book. The two main characters will blow you away because their attraction for each other will be a slow burn for sure! Arianna FMC she is cursed and bound to a magical mask just to keep the curse under control. But underneath that mask there is this beautiful woman who just wants to be free. Her mother arranges her marriage to Theo just for money. Theo is an abusive man and also despicable. He doesn't love her, he only sees her as a lovely pet. Silas MMC is this handsome lord who knows about certain curses. How? He alone has some dark secrets that he wants to keep hidden for his protection. Why? Silas does have a heart of gold and helps Arianna out with her curse.
You will surely enjoy reading this fantasy romance. So go run and pre-order now!!! Release 11/1/23. Please read the trigger warnings.
Tropes: Touch her & Die, slowburn love, forced-proximity, and family betrayal, arranged marriage, sacrifice, fated mated, curses, magic.
October 4, 2023
I'm grateful that I was picked to be an ARC reader for this book. It comes out 11/1/23
I was captivated by this book and had a hard time putting this book down. I have already been telling all my book friends to add this to their TBRs.
You get pulled into this world that is so well described that I truly felt like I could see the world with Arianna and Silas truly come to life. I'm excited to see where these characters will go in the series.
It is a slow/medium burn romance with a little bit of spice.
There are trigger warnings. Please always check them before reading because your mental health matters!
I was captivated by this book and had a hard time putting this book down. I have already been telling all my book friends to add this to their TBRs.
You get pulled into this world that is so well described that I truly felt like I could see the world with Arianna and Silas truly come to life. I'm excited to see where these characters will go in the series.
It is a slow/medium burn romance with a little bit of spice.
There are trigger warnings. Please always check them before reading because your mental health matters!
October 3, 2023
I received this and an ARC read and was totally honored by this! Thank you for the opportunity to read this ahead of time.
Sadly this took me longer to read than I would have preferred, life kept interrupting! Great story, one is have not previously read before which was nice and refreshing. Chelle did a great job with her characters and again the story line was great. Now I NEED book 2 on my life. Like asap!! Great job, can not wait to see more from this young lady!
November 1, 2023
**I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest review**
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Oh.
My.
Goddess.
I had to take a few days after finishing this book to get my thoughts in order. I love a good Regency book, which I think is the time we are in right now (thank you Bridgerton). Unmasking the Curse has become one of my favorites. Usually, my problem with any historical romance is the pacing, but I was pleasantly surprised with how this was set up and flowed.
This multi-POV story focuses on our two main characters, Arianna (great name) and Silas, with a third POV from the toadstool, Theo. Arianna is forced to wear a mask outside her room, which is spelled to allow her powers to be contained. Her family has fallen into despair after her father's death and she is marrying the shitstain, Theo, to receive a payment from his family. With sheep...yes my friends, sheep. She runs into Silas (literally) and he is shocked to see a cursed in the town of Krella, especially when his sister didn't tell him about it. Silas is in town visiting his sister and through a series of internal arguments we finally find out why he was so thrown off by Arianna.
I was nervous in a few instances because I hate the virginity trope. I love how Chelle did not focus on it, nor did Silas have that 'I'm the only guy she's been with, and she's pure' internal monologue nonsense. I am so thankful to the author for that! After that was out of the way there was so much tension, so much will they, won't they? UGH! I don't necessarily understand Silas' point in pushing back against Arianna, but damn when he finally gave in...it was chef's kiss. 🥵😮💨
I will warn you, the damn epilogue...Ms. Ma'am. Absolutely not, I am very upset and frothing at the mouth for the next one. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who is into romantasy, and anyone who enjoys Regency romances.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Oh.
My.
Goddess.
I had to take a few days after finishing this book to get my thoughts in order. I love a good Regency book, which I think is the time we are in right now (thank you Bridgerton). Unmasking the Curse has become one of my favorites. Usually, my problem with any historical romance is the pacing, but I was pleasantly surprised with how this was set up and flowed.
This multi-POV story focuses on our two main characters, Arianna (great name) and Silas, with a third POV from the toadstool, Theo. Arianna is forced to wear a mask outside her room, which is spelled to allow her powers to be contained. Her family has fallen into despair after her father's death and she is marrying the shitstain, Theo, to receive a payment from his family. With sheep...yes my friends, sheep. She runs into Silas (literally) and he is shocked to see a cursed in the town of Krella, especially when his sister didn't tell him about it. Silas is in town visiting his sister and through a series of internal arguments we finally find out why he was so thrown off by Arianna.
I was nervous in a few instances because I hate the virginity trope. I love how Chelle did not focus on it, nor did Silas have that 'I'm the only guy she's been with, and she's pure' internal monologue nonsense. I am so thankful to the author for that! After that was out of the way there was so much tension, so much will they, won't they? UGH! I don't necessarily understand Silas' point in pushing back against Arianna, but damn when he finally gave in...it was chef's kiss. 🥵😮💨
I will warn you, the damn epilogue...Ms. Ma'am. Absolutely not, I am very upset and frothing at the mouth for the next one. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who is into romantasy, and anyone who enjoys Regency romances.
October 18, 2023
If you are looking for your next favorite fantasy read, look no further.
Unmasking the Curse by Chelle Cypress is a masterfully crafted example of a blended fantasy, with inspiration pulled from both Beauty and the Beast and Bridgerton, woven together with an elevated vocabulary choice resulting in a pulse pounding and unique story with an enchanting gaslamp fantasy feeling.
From the first page you are pulled into Arianna's world. For anyone who has ever felt the impact of depression or severe isolation a feeling of kinship is unavoidable. Chelle does a phenomenal job in her depiction of the effect Arianna's situation has on her. As an elder sister myself, it was impossible not to sympathize with her need to look out for her family. Then as the story progressed her developments left me waiting with baited breath to see if she would suffocate under the pressure or become the force of nature her circumstances were forcing her to develop into.
And then there's Silas. He is going to make you bash your head off a wall. He is the epitome of a stubborn man, unable to come to terms with his own demons or communicate. And yet, it's impossible not to swoon for his protective, morally grey nature.
Not only does she give us rich main characters, she did not shy away from the antagonists of the story either. Chelle included a spectrum of malevolence, from the despicably negligent to the truly evil. Then there are the characters it takes you time to decide which side of the line they are on.
The story itself is written with a diction that the majority of authors would shy away from, but Chelle handles with a precision that was absolutely delightful. It elevated the entire work and took the story to another level. If I didn't know beforehand that this was her debut novel I would never have believed it. I cannot wait to see where the story goes from here.
Unmasking the Curse by Chelle Cypress is a masterfully crafted example of a blended fantasy, with inspiration pulled from both Beauty and the Beast and Bridgerton, woven together with an elevated vocabulary choice resulting in a pulse pounding and unique story with an enchanting gaslamp fantasy feeling.
From the first page you are pulled into Arianna's world. For anyone who has ever felt the impact of depression or severe isolation a feeling of kinship is unavoidable. Chelle does a phenomenal job in her depiction of the effect Arianna's situation has on her. As an elder sister myself, it was impossible not to sympathize with her need to look out for her family. Then as the story progressed her developments left me waiting with baited breath to see if she would suffocate under the pressure or become the force of nature her circumstances were forcing her to develop into.
And then there's Silas. He is going to make you bash your head off a wall. He is the epitome of a stubborn man, unable to come to terms with his own demons or communicate. And yet, it's impossible not to swoon for his protective, morally grey nature.
Not only does she give us rich main characters, she did not shy away from the antagonists of the story either. Chelle included a spectrum of malevolence, from the despicably negligent to the truly evil. Then there are the characters it takes you time to decide which side of the line they are on.
The story itself is written with a diction that the majority of authors would shy away from, but Chelle handles with a precision that was absolutely delightful. It elevated the entire work and took the story to another level. If I didn't know beforehand that this was her debut novel I would never have believed it. I cannot wait to see where the story goes from here.
November 8, 2023
♡ Mr. Darcy Vibes
♡ Cursed Chosen
♡ Regency Fantasy
♡ Marriage of Convenience
♡ Forced Proximity
♡ Religious Trauma
♡ "I can never love."
"Let me help you. I can show you the way to freedom."
If you followed the pipeline of Pride & Prejudice to adult, fantasy romance, this book is 100% for you. Silas gives me all the "hand flex" vibes with even more sexual tension.
In a world where being touched by a goddess equates to being cursed, Arianna hides behind a porcelain mask that keeps her deadly powers at bay, marking her as a pariah to all who set eyes upon her. All, except for him.
"As long as I draw breath, you will never be alone."
Tensions are high, and passions are dangerous, but my little angsty heart soaked up every bit of the "I want to save you, but I can never love you" moments. Silas and Arianna are everything I could want in a fantasy romance set in a regency atmosphere. This was one of my most anticipated reads, and it did not disappoint. The way this book ended left my heart in a vice grip of pain, but I just know I'll be biting my nails waiting for book two.
Dark magic, neglectful families, forbidden love, a woman desperate for freedom and safety, and the man who wants nothing more than to give it to her. READ THE BOOK.
♡ Cursed Chosen
♡ Regency Fantasy
♡ Marriage of Convenience
♡ Forced Proximity
♡ Religious Trauma
♡ "I can never love."
"Let me help you. I can show you the way to freedom."
If you followed the pipeline of Pride & Prejudice to adult, fantasy romance, this book is 100% for you. Silas gives me all the "hand flex" vibes with even more sexual tension.
In a world where being touched by a goddess equates to being cursed, Arianna hides behind a porcelain mask that keeps her deadly powers at bay, marking her as a pariah to all who set eyes upon her. All, except for him.
"As long as I draw breath, you will never be alone."
Tensions are high, and passions are dangerous, but my little angsty heart soaked up every bit of the "I want to save you, but I can never love you" moments. Silas and Arianna are everything I could want in a fantasy romance set in a regency atmosphere. This was one of my most anticipated reads, and it did not disappoint. The way this book ended left my heart in a vice grip of pain, but I just know I'll be biting my nails waiting for book two.
Dark magic, neglectful families, forbidden love, a woman desperate for freedom and safety, and the man who wants nothing more than to give it to her. READ THE BOOK.
August 23, 2025
I received an ARC copy of Unmasking the Curse and I am so glad. This book was a fresh, well-planned fantasy romance.
Arianna the FMC is a beautiful, frail girl with a curse that binds her to a painful mask. Her curse secludes her from the townspeople and causes a rift between Arianna and her mother. Arianna is arranged to marry Theo, who views her as a pet that he can abuse. Everything changes for her when she meets Silas.
Silas the MMC is a handsome lord who meets Arianna while visiting his sister. Silas knows more about Arianna's curse than most. When he learns of her abusive fiancé, Silas can't stand by and watch her suffer. However, he has secrets of his own that he does not want to share with Arianna.
The plot of Unmasking the Curse is very clever. From the very beginning of the book, every time I thought I knew what would happen something unexpected would take place instead. The worldbuilding was well done and each scene was easy to imagine. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish.
Arianna the FMC is a beautiful, frail girl with a curse that binds her to a painful mask. Her curse secludes her from the townspeople and causes a rift between Arianna and her mother. Arianna is arranged to marry Theo, who views her as a pet that he can abuse. Everything changes for her when she meets Silas.
Silas the MMC is a handsome lord who meets Arianna while visiting his sister. Silas knows more about Arianna's curse than most. When he learns of her abusive fiancé, Silas can't stand by and watch her suffer. However, he has secrets of his own that he does not want to share with Arianna.
The plot of Unmasking the Curse is very clever. From the very beginning of the book, every time I thought I knew what would happen something unexpected would take place instead. The worldbuilding was well done and each scene was easy to imagine. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish.
September 25, 2023
I love this book it’s so good it’s a gothic romance fantasy, they way she makes you feel for these characters some she made you hate ,some you love and rut for them it’s just that good it takes you on an emotional roller coaster, and the tension between the main characters it’s a slow and medium burn at the same time and leaves you wanting more
October 5, 2023
ARC review here! This book was a crazy ride. It kept me wanting more and more. Silas and Arianna are just to cute for words, I loved their story and hope that everyone who like romantasy, mates, curses, magic will like it too!
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