Bound to the Broken Crown by Astoria Hope

Bound to the Broken Crown

By Astoria Hope

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Spice Rating: 🌶🌶

Blurb:

A prince cursed to destroy everything he touched. Until he touched her.

Isca never dreamed her gift for sensing emotions would draw the eyes of princes—let alone the Assembly of Mages. Brought to court under the guise of diplomacy, she quickly learns her secret task: soothe the beast raging under Prince Emrys’ skin and deliver his heir back to the Assembly to forge into a weapon. Refusal means her family’s ruin.

But Emrys is not the monster she expected. Yes, he’s volatile. Yes, he’s destructive and dangerous. Beneath the curse, she glimpses the man—giving, fiercely protective, and unbearably lonely.

To the Assembly, Isca is a tool. To Emrys, she’s a temptation he cannot afford. He pushes her away to protect her, even as his eyes betray the truth: she is the only thing keeping him from drowning.

He could break her with a touch. She could bind him with a heartbeat. While their enemies scheme to use them as pawns, desire threatens to undo every wall they’ve built.

Together, she and Emrys could shatter the Assembly’s chains. But that would mean laying bare her betrayal—the one thing with the power to destroy both the man and the monster.

Bound to the Broken Crown is book 1 of the Magebound Courts Trilogy featuring a tormented cursed prince, the empathic mage sent to calm his inner beast, and their slow-burn romance. This book contains spicy content and graphic combat violence, Suitable for readers aged 18+

My Review:

This novel opens a romantasy series with an expansive, fairy-tale inspired foundation that blends political intrigue, emotional tension, and a carefully developed romantic arc. Drawing inspiration from Welsh mythology, the story centers on two princes locked in a long-standing struggle over succession, each representing opposing ideals of rule and power. To prevent the conflict from destabilizing the realm, the Mage Assembly intervenes by placing an outsider at court, an action that sets the entire narrative in motion.

Prince Emrys stands at the heart of the story as a ruler shaped by pain, responsibility, and an internal battle that threatens both his humanity and his crown. His arc is handled with care, allowing readers to witness the cost of leadership, the weight of guilt, and the endurance required to survive prolonged suffering. His characterization balances strength and vulnerability, making him a compelling and emotionally resonant figure. The story also explores his relationship with his twin brother, presenting a nuanced portrayal of rivalry layered with loyalty, restraint, and unspoken care.

Isca, an empath mage drawn into the royal conflict, offers a contrasting perspective grounded in emotional awareness and resilience. Though her arrival is politically motivated, her presence introduces a thoughtful examination of duty versus choice. Her magic adds depth to the worldbuilding, moving beyond familiar elemental systems and hinting at broader possibilities that may be explored later in the series.

The romance unfolds gradually, prioritizing emotional connection and narrative relevance over immediacy. The tension builds organically alongside the plot, resulting in a relationship that feels earned and integral to the story rather than incidental. Intimate moments are driven by character growth and circumstance, reinforcing the overarching themes rather than distracting from them.

In tone and scope, the novel reads like a serialized epic, combining court maneuvering, internal conflict, and moments of quiet intimacy with higher-stakes confrontations. The pacing balances action with reflection, allowing both the political landscape and the emotional arcs to develop naturally. While the focus remains on a single kingdom in this installment, the broader world is clearly positioned for expansion, particularly through unresolved political threads and characters whose loyalties and natures remain uncertain.

As the first entry in an interconnected romantasy series, this book successfully establishes a richly layered foundation. With its emphasis on character-driven storytelling, intricate relationships, and a slow-building romantic core, it offers a strong start and leaves ample room for future exploration. Readers who enjoy emotionally charged fantasy with thoughtful worldbuilding and restrained yet powerful romance will find much to anticipate in the books to come.