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The Cup and The Prince
(Kingdom of Curses and Shadows #1)
by
One prince wants her out.
Another wants her as a pawn.
Someone wants her dead.
Zora wants to win the cup and tell them all to screw themselves.
Yes, 17-year-old Zora cheated her way into the Royal Games, but it was for a very good reason. Her ex-boyfriend thought she couldn't attain glory on her own. Just because she was a girl. And he was the real cheater. So she took his ...more
Another wants her as a pawn.
Someone wants her dead.
Zora wants to win the cup and tell them all to screw themselves.
Yes, 17-year-old Zora cheated her way into the Royal Games, but it was for a very good reason. Her ex-boyfriend thought she couldn't attain glory on her own. Just because she was a girl. And he was the real cheater. So she took his ...more
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Start your review of The Cup and The Prince (Kingdom of Curses and Shadows #1)
"Fail to measure your competition, and you'll soon be measuring your failures."
While The Cup and the Prince was at times entertaining, I found the overarching story nothing unique and the relationships (whether romantic or friendly) slightly underdeveloped.
~★~ What is this book about? ~★~
After Zora’s boyfriend cheats on her and demeans her worth for being a girl, she cheats herself into the royal games in his place.
In a kingdom where being a woman means quick judgement, Zora is underestimate ...more
While The Cup and the Prince was at times entertaining, I found the overarching story nothing unique and the relationships (whether romantic or friendly) slightly underdeveloped.
~★~ What is this book about? ~★~
After Zora’s boyfriend cheats on her and demeans her worth for being a girl, she cheats herself into the royal games in his place.
In a kingdom where being a woman means quick judgement, Zora is underestimate ...more
ARC copy provided in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changes my rating or review.
4 addictive stars!
Ooo this was such fun! Our badass MC wouldn't take no for an answer (in a good way) and showed everyone that women are just as capable as men, making her a brilliant main character. I loved seeing her progression through the story, and her humour was wonderful! Add in the stunning pettiness and her astounding revenge plan, and Zora might just be my new favourite book best friend.
"C ...more
4 addictive stars!
Ooo this was such fun! Our badass MC wouldn't take no for an answer (in a good way) and showed everyone that women are just as capable as men, making her a brilliant main character. I loved seeing her progression through the story, and her humour was wonderful! Add in the stunning pettiness and her astounding revenge plan, and Zora might just be my new favourite book best friend.
"C ...more
Big thanks to the author for sending me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review! <3
I couldn't stop reading! I highly enjoyed the story, hence the rating! :)
Here's my review for The Cup and The Prince!:
1. Theme
The theme of the book is quite similar to some other classic YA stories. But nonetheless the story the author wrote was unique! It had such a unique take on fantasy and storytelling!
2. Plot
I loved the plot! It was fast paced, it was exciting, it was thrilling and it was so ad ...more
I couldn't stop reading! I highly enjoyed the story, hence the rating! :)
Here's my review for The Cup and The Prince!:
1. Theme
The theme of the book is quite similar to some other classic YA stories. But nonetheless the story the author wrote was unique! It had such a unique take on fantasy and storytelling!
2. Plot
I loved the plot! It was fast paced, it was exciting, it was thrilling and it was so ad ...more
I have received an e-arc copy of this book via netgalley.
Spoiler free review
-Synopsis-
Two things drew me into this book; The cover (which is absolutely stunning) and the author. This is my second book i’ve read by Day Leitao Star Spark being the first (which I also left a review for) I loved star spark a lot and the cup and the prince did not disappoint! I think that the cup and the prince is a unique book (in a good way of course). This book has a lot of potential and I can’t wait for the nex ...more
Spoiler free review
-Synopsis-
Two things drew me into this book; The cover (which is absolutely stunning) and the author. This is my second book i’ve read by Day Leitao Star Spark being the first (which I also left a review for) I loved star spark a lot and the cup and the prince did not disappoint! I think that the cup and the prince is a unique book (in a good way of course). This book has a lot of potential and I can’t wait for the nex ...more
2.75 stars
takes a deep breath
Okay, where to start?
The Cup and The Prince tells the story of 17-year-old Zora, a girl from a village called the Dark Valley, a place that’s been sentenced to isolation for the shadow monsters that spawn within its walls. When her boyfriend tries to pressure her into sex and cheats on her, she exacts revenge by taking his place in the royal games, representing the Dark Valley for the first time since their condemnation. There, she gets caught up with the three royal ...more
takes a deep breath
Okay, where to start?
The Cup and The Prince tells the story of 17-year-old Zora, a girl from a village called the Dark Valley, a place that’s been sentenced to isolation for the shadow monsters that spawn within its walls. When her boyfriend tries to pressure her into sex and cheats on her, she exacts revenge by taking his place in the royal games, representing the Dark Valley for the first time since their condemnation. There, she gets caught up with the three royal ...more
For lovers of the Folk Of The Air series and haters-to-lovers trope, read this book!
I was instantly drawn by the synopsis as I love court drama, especially with badass female characters. The story is about Zora. A girl from the Dark Valley, who finds her way into the triannual royal tournament. She immediately becomes immersed in court politics and has to win the Blood Cup to prove her worth. But that meant facing problematic princes and terrifying challenges.
Now I enjoyed it as a read, but if ...more
I was instantly drawn by the synopsis as I love court drama, especially with badass female characters. The story is about Zora. A girl from the Dark Valley, who finds her way into the triannual royal tournament. She immediately becomes immersed in court politics and has to win the Blood Cup to prove her worth. But that meant facing problematic princes and terrifying challenges.
Now I enjoyed it as a read, but if ...more
Well, that was disappointing. I would’ve DNFed it if it weren’t so short.
This is a typical case of a great premise but not so great execution.
The premise: One prince wants her out. Another wants her as a pawn. Someone wants her dead. And also: A badass female MC? A royal competition? Dark magic? Court games?
The execution: There are princes. And a female main character who suddenly starts crying every now and then. Also a competition and some magic. And everything is written like this. Very anti- ...more
This is a typical case of a great premise but not so great execution.
The premise: One prince wants her out. Another wants her as a pawn. Someone wants her dead. And also: A badass female MC? A royal competition? Dark magic? Court games?
The execution: There are princes. And a female main character who suddenly starts crying every now and then. Also a competition and some magic. And everything is written like this. Very anti- ...more
I’d like to thank the publisher for giving me “The Cup and The Prince” in exchange for my honest review.
The cup and the prince is about Zora, a girl of seventeen years old, she lives in the Dark Valley, the worst place in the kingdom because the shadows creatures spawn from the dark and attack the people, so the jobs are to defeat every shadow.
Zora it’s the girlfriend of Seth, the chosen one to go to represent the Dark Valley in the games of the kingdom, until she found out about something that ...more
The cup and the prince is about Zora, a girl of seventeen years old, she lives in the Dark Valley, the worst place in the kingdom because the shadows creatures spawn from the dark and attack the people, so the jobs are to defeat every shadow.
Zora it’s the girlfriend of Seth, the chosen one to go to represent the Dark Valley in the games of the kingdom, until she found out about something that ...more
read my full review on wordpress
I was gifted this book on NetGalley as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was written by Day Leitao and is set to be published on October 15th, 2020 by Sparkly Wave.
I think there’s a lot of potential in this world that Leitao is building. Perhaps this is one of those YA series that takes a book or two to hit it’s stride. Even from the start of this book to the end of it, the world building improves, the characters become more robust, there’s just m ...more
I was gifted this book on NetGalley as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was written by Day Leitao and is set to be published on October 15th, 2020 by Sparkly Wave.
I think there’s a lot of potential in this world that Leitao is building. Perhaps this is one of those YA series that takes a book or two to hit it’s stride. Even from the start of this book to the end of it, the world building improves, the characters become more robust, there’s just m ...more
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.
Zora lives in a kingdom where being a woman means being inferior and underestimated. After she learns that her boyfriend cheated on her and was planning on leaving her, she cheats her way into the royal competition held only once every three years.
First, I loved the world-building. Zora comes from the Dark Valley, where shadow creatures come to life if there is shadow. People in her village always have lights on, they don't use any covers, skirts, o ...more
Zora lives in a kingdom where being a woman means being inferior and underestimated. After she learns that her boyfriend cheated on her and was planning on leaving her, she cheats her way into the royal competition held only once every three years.
First, I loved the world-building. Zora comes from the Dark Valley, where shadow creatures come to life if there is shadow. People in her village always have lights on, they don't use any covers, skirts, o ...more
This book is coming out on October 15th, yay! It's a brand new series and I'm super excited about it.
You can find more info about it and buy links at https://dayleitao.com/books/the-cup-a...
It was a fun story and I had some inspiration from Minecraft in the worldbuilding. I started thinking what it would be like to live in a place where monsters spawn in the dark, and the implications of that. From there, the story went on. I guess it's also a little about being a woman in male-dominated spaces. ...more
You can find more info about it and buy links at https://dayleitao.com/books/the-cup-a...
It was a fun story and I had some inspiration from Minecraft in the worldbuilding. I started thinking what it would be like to live in a place where monsters spawn in the dark, and the implications of that. From there, the story went on. I guess it's also a little about being a woman in male-dominated spaces. ...more
ARC BOOK REVIEW FOR NETGALLEY
"Contrary to what stories told, being petty, revengeful, and deceitful felt amazing." ~ The Cup and The Prince
This is the perfect series for fans of the Poison Study series and the Throne of Glass books. I love how "The Cup and the Prince" has the similar concept of a young girl traveling to a new kingdom and completing dangerous tasks. Just like in "Poison Study" and "Throne of Glass," the main heroine of this novel learns about court intrigue, tries magic spells, a ...more
"Contrary to what stories told, being petty, revengeful, and deceitful felt amazing." ~ The Cup and The Prince
This is the perfect series for fans of the Poison Study series and the Throne of Glass books. I love how "The Cup and the Prince" has the similar concept of a young girl traveling to a new kingdom and completing dangerous tasks. Just like in "Poison Study" and "Throne of Glass," the main heroine of this novel learns about court intrigue, tries magic spells, a ...more
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me this book for review. This does not have any influence on my thoughts or opinions.
5/5 Stars
THAT ENDING THOUGH??!!!?
Oh man, what a pleasant surprise. I never go into any book with high hopes because I think they all deserve a fair chance to make an impression on me. However, I never expected to absolutely love this book as much as I did.
This book has some of the things I love most in the book world: court politics, badass w ...more
5/5 Stars
THAT ENDING THOUGH??!!!?
Oh man, what a pleasant surprise. I never go into any book with high hopes because I think they all deserve a fair chance to make an impression on me. However, I never expected to absolutely love this book as much as I did.
This book has some of the things I love most in the book world: court politics, badass w ...more
Big thanks to the author for sending me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review❤I couldn't stop reading! I loved the story😇
Here's my review for The Cup and The Prince:
1. Theme
The theme is of the book is mostly similar to other classic Ya Fantasy stories.
But nonetheless the story the author wrote was unique! And i loved it and couldnt put it down.
2. Plot
I loved the plot! It was fast paced, it was exciting, it was thrilling and it was so adventurous! The writing style was so satisfyi ...more
Here's my review for The Cup and The Prince:
1. Theme
The theme is of the book is mostly similar to other classic Ya Fantasy stories.
But nonetheless the story the author wrote was unique! And i loved it and couldnt put it down.
2. Plot
I loved the plot! It was fast paced, it was exciting, it was thrilling and it was so adventurous! The writing style was so satisfyi ...more
I read "The Cup and the Prince" in one day, only stopping when absolutely needing to, I loved this story, I fell in love with Zora from the very beginning. I appreciated her moral greyness and her sarcasm, her love for her people and strength,
I figured out a plot twist quite early on, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment at all, and even though it was something I don't usually appreciate, it was done masterfully by Day Leitao.
In general, I'm a sucker for outsiders and magical games or jus ...more
I figured out a plot twist quite early on, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment at all, and even though it was something I don't usually appreciate, it was done masterfully by Day Leitao.
In general, I'm a sucker for outsiders and magical games or jus ...more
“It was hope that kept her going, hope that prevented her heart from growing cold. Except tonight. Tonight, she was fueled by anger. And it was so much more powerful than hope.”
The Cup and The Prince follows the story of Zora, a girl who lived her life inside walls due to mistakes that were made years and years ago. Her people were supposedly the root of those mistakes and were forced to live in the Dark Valley, a place that consists of creatures that can spawn and kill anyone, anytime, anywhere ...more
The Cup and The Prince follows the story of Zora, a girl who lived her life inside walls due to mistakes that were made years and years ago. Her people were supposedly the root of those mistakes and were forced to live in the Dark Valley, a place that consists of creatures that can spawn and kill anyone, anytime, anywhere ...more
There may be nothing better on the world than a book that once you start reading you can not put it down, and this book did that for me. Grabbed ahold and demanded I'd read straight to the end.
If you, like me, are a fan of strong female characters who take matters into their own hands, then you will love Zora. I am hesitant to say more because I don't want to spoil it for you but the book kicks off with a devastating revelation that would have me reaching for the ice cream and tissues. Instead ...more
If you, like me, are a fan of strong female characters who take matters into their own hands, then you will love Zora. I am hesitant to say more because I don't want to spoil it for you but the book kicks off with a devastating revelation that would have me reaching for the ice cream and tissues. Instead ...more
I read this book in 2 days. I was hooked! It was an easy read and easy to follow. Love the storyline and characters! I need the sequel now :)
Thank you to Netgalley and Sparkly Wave for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
(actual rating: 3.5/5)
This book is pitched as "Throne of Glass meets Minecraft", and it did not disappoint.
The only reason Zora cheated to get into the Royal Games is that her boyfriend cheated on her, thought that she could never win because she was a girl, and planned on leaving the Dark Valley on their own. But things start heating up and her life becomes more and more in danger, while she gets in ...more
(actual rating: 3.5/5)
This book is pitched as "Throne of Glass meets Minecraft", and it did not disappoint.
The only reason Zora cheated to get into the Royal Games is that her boyfriend cheated on her, thought that she could never win because she was a girl, and planned on leaving the Dark Valley on their own. But things start heating up and her life becomes more and more in danger, while she gets in ...more
2.5 stars
This was a solid start to the Kingdom and Curses and Shadows series, however I am slightly underwhelmed.
The Cup and the Prince was marketed as Throne of Glass meets Minecraft, and I can definitely see the similarities. The Minecraft references made me chuckle and it was pretty fun to pick out all the references.
The story was extremely fast-paced and this kept me reading. I am a sucker for tournament-based tropes and will read anything with the said trope. However, at the beginning of th ...more
This was a solid start to the Kingdom and Curses and Shadows series, however I am slightly underwhelmed.
The Cup and the Prince was marketed as Throne of Glass meets Minecraft, and I can definitely see the similarities. The Minecraft references made me chuckle and it was pretty fun to pick out all the references.
The story was extremely fast-paced and this kept me reading. I am a sucker for tournament-based tropes and will read anything with the said trope. However, at the beginning of th ...more
First off, I was really entreated to get this book because of its beautiful cover and as well as its promising premise which revolves around the strong female character and the complexities of royalty life. And you know the drill, having royalties in a YA Fantasy is such a *chef kiss.
Anyway, the plot is very clear, nothing that can confuse you because the whole ride is very interesting for readers to follow up. Unputdownable I would say. You can actually read this book in one sitting due to its ...more
Anyway, the plot is very clear, nothing that can confuse you because the whole ride is very interesting for readers to follow up. Unputdownable I would say. You can actually read this book in one sitting due to its ...more
Thank you to Victory Ediing Netgalley Co-op for providing me with ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Absolutely devoured this book in no time!
Easy flowing writing style , intriguing setting and world building makes it such a compelling read.
Our main female character Zora - living in the isolated part of the kingdom ( the Dark Valley) is a teacher to the children in her community, helping them with self defense against the dangerous creatures that can spawn from dark spots in this dangerous pla ...more
Absolutely devoured this book in no time!
Easy flowing writing style , intriguing setting and world building makes it such a compelling read.
Our main female character Zora - living in the isolated part of the kingdom ( the Dark Valley) is a teacher to the children in her community, helping them with self defense against the dangerous creatures that can spawn from dark spots in this dangerous pla ...more
Oct 04, 2020
Steff Pasciuti
rated it
did not like it
Shelves:
2020,
arcs,
annoying,
coming-of-age,
love-triangles,
diverse-authors,
meh,
ya,
wasted-potential,
a-little-unrealistic
| Read on Reader Fox |
Zora went outside after Layla fell asleep. There were people talking, discussing.
Books like The Cup and the Prince by Day Leitao kind of piss me off. I'm sure you've read books like this one before. They have all the makings of a fantastic story. The overall premise is great, the ideas are intriguing, there's an opportunity for amazing commentary, and you're genuinely excited to read it. But the second you pick up the book, you start cringing. And that cringing does no ...more
Zora went outside after Layla fell asleep. There were people talking, discussing.
Books like The Cup and the Prince by Day Leitao kind of piss me off. I'm sure you've read books like this one before. They have all the makings of a fantastic story. The overall premise is great, the ideas are intriguing, there's an opportunity for amazing commentary, and you're genuinely excited to read it. But the second you pick up the book, you start cringing. And that cringing does no ...more
I guess I'm going to be the unpopular opinion here, but this was not good.
I had such high hopes for this, I mean, just look at that cover. I wanted to love it, but this is one of the dullest, most boring books I've ever come across.
For starters, the writing was bad. Like, really bad. The dialogues seemed like they were taken from a cringey teen movie with lots of pointless drama that just didn't fit the overall ambience of the story. The book was full of choppy sentences and the same words or p ...more
I had such high hopes for this, I mean, just look at that cover. I wanted to love it, but this is one of the dullest, most boring books I've ever come across.
For starters, the writing was bad. Like, really bad. The dialogues seemed like they were taken from a cringey teen movie with lots of pointless drama that just didn't fit the overall ambience of the story. The book was full of choppy sentences and the same words or p ...more
I read "The Cup and the Prince" in one day, only stopping when absolutely needing to, I loved this story, I fell in love with Zora from the very beginning. I appreciated her moral greyness and her sarcasm, her love for her people and strength,
I figured out a plot twist quite early on, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment at all, and even though it was something I don't usually appreciate, it was done masterfully by Day Leitao.
In general, I'm a sucker for outsiders and magical games or jus ...more
I figured out a plot twist quite early on, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment at all, and even though it was something I don't usually appreciate, it was done masterfully by Day Leitao.
In general, I'm a sucker for outsiders and magical games or jus ...more
Wow! What a great read! So much angst and plot twists, where everyone has hidden motive and some you do not even know where their true thoughts lie. I love Zora, for she is such a strong and independent character, who wants to prove herself. She fights the shadows in the Dark Valley and has knowledge of potions. After a betrayal, she decides for some revenge and wants to prove her worth. Everyone wants to use Zora for some purpose, which has her pulled in many directions and leads to confusion,
...more
I received the book from the author as a free arc, in exchange for a review. I just loved the synopsis of it and couldn't wait to get into it. So basically we have this fierce, selfless and hopeful heroine named Zora who comes from this valley which fight these shadow monsters, children are taught from a young age how to defend themselves.
An invitation is extended to the Valley to compete in what is known as the Royal Games. A champion is chosen from her Valley who happens to be her boyfriend Se ...more
An invitation is extended to the Valley to compete in what is known as the Royal Games. A champion is chosen from her Valley who happens to be her boyfriend Se ...more
Readers of the KInder Poison and Shadow and Bone will thoroughly enjoy this book. It is a well balanced blend of magic, court intrigues, action, and romance.
17 year old Zora enters the Royal Games in her ex’s place as a way to show him that she is capable of achieving glory. However upon arriving she finds herself in the middle of three brothers each with their own agenda.
Going into the story I thought there would be a little more romance than was show cased however I believe future books in th ...more
17 year old Zora enters the Royal Games in her ex’s place as a way to show him that she is capable of achieving glory. However upon arriving she finds herself in the middle of three brothers each with their own agenda.
Going into the story I thought there would be a little more romance than was show cased however I believe future books in th ...more
I read this book in one night. It was well written and a great storyline. I honestly was not able to predict what would happen next as I can with some books. Warning, once you get to the end you will want to read the sequel immediately, but you will have to wait a few months.
Okay wow. This book caught my eye but I didn’t think I would be so immersed in the story that I would finish the book in ~4 hours (over the course of 2 nights). The world building, the romance, the mystery, the magic, the badass feminist main character. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series. I could not put this book down!
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I'm originally from Brazil but I've been living in Montreal, Canada for over 15 years. I've always loved to write stories, and I like to always include romance, action, magic and humor in my writing. I think stories can touch us deeply.
My upcoming book is The Cup and the Prince. If you sign up for my newsletter, you can get its prequel, The Shadows and the Childre ...more
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Kingdom of Curses and Shadows
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