fuonlyknew

A cursed prince. A dangerous dream world. A girl who
holds the key to their salvation.

One kiss could awaken a kingdom… or doom it to eternal
darkness.

When a reluctant thief with the power to control thorns is
forced to break an ancient curse, she must risk entering the dangerous
Dreamplane to save a cursed prince—but some magic comes with a price too deadly
to pay.

In the kingdom of Solstraea, where the skies are gray and
thorns rule the land, a centuries-old curse has imprisoned Prince Kael in an
eternal sleep. Only one person can break the spell—Liora Thornhand, a thief
with a rare, dangerous gift she never wanted.

Captured and offered a deal she cannot refuse, Liora must
venture into the deadly Dreamplane to find Kael’s heart, hidden deep within a
magical rose. But as she battles nightmare creatures and faces her own dark
past, she learns that waking the prince might cost her more than just her
freedom—it might cost her life.

In a world filled with twisted thorns, cursed roses, and
dangerous shadows, Liora will have to decide: will she risk everything to save
a kingdom she doesn’t belong to, or will she let it fall into eternal darkness?

Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Brigid
Kemmerer, “A Curse of Thorns and Slumber” is a spellbinding mix
of dark fantasy, romance, and a daring quest through a world where magic is as
treacherous as it is beautiful.

A Curse of Thorns and Slumber is the second book in
the Legends Reborn series. It is a no-spice fantasy romance
adventure. Books can be read in any order.

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Liora wound her way through the maze, her eyes darting warily over the roses as she passed. The thorns seemed to move, ever so slightly, as if they were alive, reaching toward her. She kept her distance, but the path ahead offered no clear direction, and she had no idea how long she had been walking.

Time, like everything else here, felt strange.

After what felt like hours, the thorny walls finally opened up into a wide clearing. At the center stood a towering rose bush, larger than any Liora had seen. Its twisted branches arched high into the sky, and nestled deep within the tangle of vines was a single glowing rose.

Her heart skipped a beat. That must be it.

But before she could take a step forward, something stirred at the base of the rose bush.

A figure, half-hidden in the shadows, stood slowly. He was tall, with dark hair falling just below his chin, dressed in clothes that looked like they belonged to another time—worn, faded, but finely made. His eyes, however, were the most striking—icy blue, with a depth that made Liora’s breath catch for a moment.

She recognized him immediately. Prince Kael.

But there was something wrong. He looked… distant. His eyes were sharp, but they seemed to look through her, not at her.

“You,” he said, his voice low and cold. “Who are you?”

Liora froze. She had been prepared for hostility, but something about the way he looked at her unsettled her. She straightened, forcing a smirk. “A thief, apparently. The mages sent me to break your curse.”

Kael’s expression hardened. He stepped forward, his gaze narrowing. “Another one,” he muttered, half to himself. “How many more are they going to send before they realize it’s useless?”

Liora crossed her arms. “So, I’m not the first. Good to know.”

Kael didn’t answer. He looked her over, his eyes flicking to the pouch at her side where she still kept the stolen jewels—though they felt utterly useless here. “Why should I believe you?”

“I don’t care if you do,” Liora shot back, her patience already thinning. “I’m not here for you, anyway. I’m here for the rose.”

At this, Kael’s eyes darkened, a flicker of something unreadable passing over his face. “The rose,” he repeated, his voice softer now, almost bitter. “Of course.”

Liora took a step toward the rose bush, but Kael moved suddenly, blocking her path. His eyes were sharper now, more focused. “You think it’s that simple?” he asked, his voice low. “That you can just come here and take it?”

She frowned, her pulse quickening. “Isn’t that the idea?”

Kael’s lips curled into a humorless smile. “It’s never that simple.”

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A Curse of Snow and Ash: 

A Snow White Retelling

Legends Reborn Book 1

She holds the power of fire and ice—now, she must decide
which one will rule.

Valira, the forgotten princess of the Ash Court, has lived
her life hidden from both her past and her dangerous magic. When she is thrust
into a world of ice and fire, hunted by two rival courts, she must unlock her
powers to stop a war—and perhaps find herself along the way.

In a world where fire and ice have been at war for
centuries, Valira, an exiled princess with no memory of her past, is hunted for
the power she doesn’t understand. Born from a forbidden union between the
Courts of Snow and Ash, Valira wields both fire and ice, a magic that could
save or destroy the realm.

When a cold-hearted assassin from the Snow Court, Prince
Caelan, is sent to kill her, their fates become entwined. As they race against
time to uncover the truth about her origins and the curse that threatens the
kingdoms, Valira must learn to control her volatile powers before the war
consumes them both.

Enemies lurk in every shadow, and trust is as fragile as
ice. But amid the chaos, a dangerous bond forms between Valira and Caelan—one
that could melt the coldest hearts or spark a fire that consumes them both.

Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Brigid Kemmerer, A
Curse of Snow and Ash is a breathtaking blend of elemental magic, fierce
romance, and high-stakes fantasy.

A Curse of Snow of Ash is the first book in the Legends Reborn series. It is a
no-spice fantasy romance adventure.

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Valira’s eyes snapped open, stinging with the frigid air. She could feel the sharp bite of the cold against her skin, but she didn’t flinch. The snow beneath her had already started to melt from the heat of her body, leaving a damp spot on her clothes. Glimpses of a steel-colored sky peeked through heavy clouds, casting a dreary light on the snowy landscape. With a shiver, she sat up and brushed off frost from her hair, revealing strands as white as the ground beneath her. Something was off about this morning, and Valira couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that settled in her gut.

Sinking deeper into the snow, Valira struggled to move her numbed fingers. She couldn’t feel the cold, but she knew it was there, biting at her skin. Despite the frozen world around her, a simmering heat pulsed in her chest. It was the only thing keeping her going.

As she stood up and took in her surroundings, she saw the trees were stripped bare of leaves, their branches coated in a layer of ice. The air smelled of snow, crisp and clean, like freshly washed laundry. How had she ended up here? She couldn’t remember anything before a sharp pain and the feeling of falling.

But as she walked forward, she noticed something strange: her feet left no footprints in the snow. She blinked and tried to clear the fog in her mind. With each step, her heartbeat remained steady, almost unnaturally so. The silence of the forest seemed to stretch on forever.

Until a sudden sound shattered it – a distant howl that sent shivers down Valira’s spine.

A small crack echoed through the stillness of the forest, causing Valira to freeze in her tracks. She immediately became alert, her senses sharpening as she scanned the area for any signs of danger. And then, she saw him – a figure cloaked in dark fur, standing at the edge of the clearing with an air of silent menace.

His eyes were a piercing icy blue, cold and calculating as they locked onto hers. As he stepped forward, his hand rested on the hilt of a long, silver blade. Valira’s heart raced, fear gripping at her chest. She didn’t know who this stranger was or what he wanted, but she knew he was not here to help her.

With trepidation, Valira raised her hand and felt a warmth spreading through her chest, traveling down her arm and into her fingers. The snow at her feet melted in a perfect circle, steam rising from the ground. She was both amazed and terrified by this unfamiliar power coursing through her veins.

The man hesitated for a moment, his grip on his sword loosening as he looked down at the melting snow with surprise. He spoke in a low, measured voice. “You shouldn’t be here.”

Valira’s heart pounded in her ears as she responded defiantly, “Neither should you.”

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Awakening from the Shadows: Healing Through A Curse of Thorns and Slumber

By Marie-Hélène Lebeault

When I began writing A Curse of Thorns and Slumber, I didn’t realize how much of myself I’d find in Liora Thornhand. On the surface, she’s a thief—clever, resourceful, and unafraid to take risks. But beneath her sharp edges, she’s someone who feels trapped by the weight of her past and the curse that defines her.

What I didn’t realize at the time was how much Liora’s journey mirrored my own.

Living in Functional Freeze

Before writing this book, I was in a place I now know as functional freeze. Life felt overwhelming—new challenges, old traumas, and the constant pressure of being my family’s sole support. I didn’t feel like I could stop, even when I was burnt out. So I did what many of us do: I kept going. I handled everything that needed to be done, but inside, I felt stuck.

Writing Liora made me confront that feeling. She’s spent years surviving but not living, using her wit and defiance to mask the fear and pain she’s never been able to fully process. Her journey isn’t just about breaking a magical curse—it’s about breaking free from the fear that keeps her running.

The Thorns Around Us

In the story, Kael’s curse binds him to the Shadowthorn, a monstrous force that transforms him every night. Liora’s curse is more subtle, but just as cruel: the mark that brands her as dangerous and keeps her apart from the world.

For me, the thorns represented everything that held me back: burnout, fear of failure, the need to keep going no matter the cost. Writing this story helped me see that the thorns around us aren’t always visible, but they’re no less real. They trap us, suffocate us, and keep us from moving forward.

But Liora’s story reminded me that thorns can be cut away. That we can face them, one by one, and find a way through.

The Power of Connection

One of the most healing parts of writing this book was exploring Liora and Kael’s relationship. At first, they’re like two broken pieces that don’t fit—but as they learn to trust each other, they begin to heal.

Kael doesn’t save Liora, and Liora doesn’t save Kael. They stand beside each other, showing that even when we feel trapped by our circumstances, we don’t have to face them alone.

For me, that was a powerful reminder: that it’s okay to lean on others, to let someone see the cracks in your armor. Sometimes, the people we let in are the ones who help us find our way out.

For Anyone Who Feels Stuck

If you’ve ever felt like you’re just surviving—caught in the grind of responsibility, fear, or exhaustion—I hope Liora and Kael’s story speaks to you.

Healing doesn’t happen overnight. It’s messy and painful and full of doubt. But even when it feels impossible, there’s always a way forward.

This story reminded me that no matter how thick the thorns may seem, they don’t have to define us. We can break free. We can find light.

And we can wake up.

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Marie-Hélène is a Canadian author. She writes young adult
quest and adventure stories rooted in fantasy, magic, and time travel. With
important coming-of-age lessons at the core of her writing, children and young
adults alike will revel in the fantastical journeys of her characters. When not
immersed in magic and mystery, you’ll find Marie-Hélène hiking, cycling, or
lying on the beach with a good book.

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