Eleven years ago, Raine Stone survived a camping trip that killed the rest of her family, but she didn’t escape unscathed. Forced to live with the beast that murdered her family inhabiting inside her, she vigilantly fights its violent urges by using her position as an ER nurse to feed it and keep it at bay. When she witnesses an elderly gentleman getting attacked, Raine can’t help but step in to help. What she never expected was to run into other supernatural creatures. Though she figured others had to exist, she’d never met one until now.

Remington “Remy” Bryne has been controlling his part of the supernatural world since his grandmother passed away. As Warden, all supernatural creatures have to get his approval before entering his domain, which Raine never got. When Raine saves Remy’s grandfather, she’s thrust into his world and has to depend on him to help her navigate its treacherous waters. But Remy has enemies of his own, and Raine may be the deciding factor on whether or not he comes up on top.

A CURSE OF BEASTS AND MAGIC is one of those super-rare books that I had to re-read as soon as I flipped the last page. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this excited for a new series. Jeaniene Frost flips the script on this ode to the original Beauty and the Beast by making the female MC a beast. Though given his attitude, Remy isn’t quite unbeastly either. I appreciate that while Frost took inspiration from Beauty and the Beast, this isn’t a paint-by-numbers retelling. She sprinkles nods to the original while making the story completely her own. I loved the fast-paced, action-packed plot and the intriguing world-building that has magical realms hidden within our normal one.  A CURSE OF BEASTS AND MAGIC is an engrossing, binge-worthy first book in a series that I am already addicted to, and the cliffhanger ending just ensures I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.