Fire and Bloodshed

Roxilana's story begins in fire and terror. At seven, her village in Britannia is razed by Roman soldiers. She loses her family in the chaos—her father is killed before her eyes, her mother and siblings lost to the flames. The trauma brands her soul, shaping her into a survivor. Captured and taken to Rome, she is thrust into a world of cruelty and servitude, her innocence burned away. This crucible of violence and loss becomes the foundation for her resilience, her rage, and the deep well of pain that will both haunt and empower her. The memory of that night—screams, fire, and the taste of ash—never leaves her, echoing through every choice she makes.

Voices in the Mind

In Rome, Roxilana endures the harshness of her new life, adopted by the bitter Livia, who inflicts daily abuse. Amidst this misery, a strange phenomenon emerges: a voice in her mind, speaking first in an unknown tongue, then in Latin. The voice belongs to Memnon, a Sarmatian boy thousands of miles away, who has been able to hear her thoughts for years. Their connection is inexplicable, magical, and at first, deeply unsettling. Yet, as they begin to communicate, a bond forms—one of shared pain, humor, and longing. This psychic link becomes Roxilana's only refuge, a secret world where she is seen and understood, and where the seeds of love and destiny are sown.

A Bond Forged

Over years, Roxilana and Memnon's nightly conversations become her lifeline. They share memories, fears, and dreams, transcending distance and culture. Memnon, a warrior-in-training, confesses to violence and killing, which horrifies Roxilana, but their honesty draws them closer. They teach each other language, comfort each other through pain, and become each other's only true friend. When Roxilana's magic awakens—first in self-defense against a Roman noble's assault—Memnon guides her, revealing that he too possesses latent power. Their connection deepens, blending thoughts, emotions, and even physical sensations, until they are inseparable in spirit, if not in body.

Surviving Rome's Cruelty

Roxilana's adolescence in Rome is marked by hardship. Livia's cruelty intensifies, and Roxilana's sense of self is battered. Yet, her bond with Memnon gives her strength. When she is attacked by a Roman noble, her magic erupts, saving her but terrifying her. Memnon helps her understand and control her power, revealing that magic is their birthright. Together, they navigate the dangers of their worlds—Roxilana as a powerless girl in Rome, Memnon as a young warrior facing brutal rites of passage. Their love grows in secret, a defiant act against the forces that seek to break them.

Magic Awakened

As Roxilana matures, her magic becomes both a weapon and a burden. She learns to heal, to defend, and to endure. Memnon's own magic awakens in battle, nearly killing him, but Roxilana's power saves his life across the miles. Their abilities are intertwined, their fates bound by forces beyond their understanding. The psychic bond between them intensifies, allowing them to share not just thoughts but pain, pleasure, and magic itself. This connection is both a blessing and a curse, isolating them from others but making them whole together.

Warrior and Witch

At eighteen, Roxilana faces a forced marriage in Rome. Memnon, now a king, vows to come for her. As her wedding approaches, hope and dread war within her. On the day of the ceremony, Memnon arrives with his Sarmatian warriors, disrupting the wedding and claiming Roxilana as his queen. In a whirlwind of violence and magic, she is freed from Rome's grasp. Together, they flee the city, defying the empire and forging a new life. Roxilana's transformation from victim to witch-queen is complete, her power and agency reclaimed through love, violence, and destiny.

Love Across Distance

Roxilana and Memnon's first meeting in the flesh is both awkward and electric. Years of psychic intimacy have not prepared them for the reality of touch, desire, and vulnerability. They struggle with fear, trauma, and the scars of their pasts, but their love is undeniable. Their first night together is a revelation—of passion, tenderness, and the healing power of being truly seen. As they travel east to Sarmatia, Roxilana learns the ways of Memnon's people, embracing her role as queen and warrior. Their bond, tested by distance and hardship, becomes unbreakable.

The Sarmatian King Arrives

In Sarmatia, Roxilana is introduced to a world of nomadic tribes, fierce warriors, and matriarchal traditions. Memnon's mother, Tamara, is a formidable queen, and Roxilana must prove herself worthy. She is tattooed with the clan's mark, trained in combat, and initiated into the rituals of her new people. The couple's love is both a source of strength and a political tool, uniting the tribes and inspiring loyalty. Yet, danger lurks in the form of rival kings, Roman threats, and the ever-present specter of betrayal. Roxilana's magic and Memnon's leadership are tested as they build an empire on the edge of the known world.

Wedding and Defiance

Roxilana and Memnon's Sarmatian wedding is a spectacle of blood and magic. They spill their blood into a cup of wine, drink, and bind their souls together before their people. The ceremony is both a personal and political act, defying Rome and uniting the tribes. Their marriage is passionate, tempestuous, and deeply equal—each challenging and completing the other. Together, they preside over their people, dispensing justice, forging alliances, and preparing for the wars to come. Their love is a beacon, but also a target, as enemies plot to destroy what they have built.

Magic, Power, and Passion

As queen, Roxilana hones her magic, learning to wield it in battle and in healing. Memnon's power grows, but so does its darkness—his magic is bloodthirsty, threatening to consume his conscience. Together, they face the moral cost of their abilities, struggling to remain human in a world that demands brutality. Their passion is undiminished, but the pressures of leadership, war, and infertility strain their bond. The arrival of Eislyn, a cunning fae advisor, introduces new dangers—temptation, manipulation, and the threat of betrayal from within.

The Emperor's Bargain

Rome cannot ignore the rise of the Sarmatian empire. Emperor Nero sends armies, assassins, and sorcerers to destroy Memnon and Roxilana. The couple faces betrayal from within—their closest allies turn against them, lured by Roman promises. In a devastating coup, Roxilana's family is murdered, and Memnon is cursed into a magical sleep by Eislyn, who reveals her true, treacherous nature. Roxilana, gravely wounded, flees through the ley lines—magical roads between worlds—desperate to save her husband and herself from annihilation.

Panther and Queen

Roxilana's bond with her panther, Ferox, becomes a symbol of her wildness and resilience. Together, they survive assassination attempts, magical battles, and the loss of their unborn child. Grief and rage drive Roxilana to new heights of power—and new depths of darkness. She becomes a force of vengeance, feared by enemies and allies alike. Yet, her love for Memnon remains her anchor, the one thing that keeps her from losing herself entirely to bloodlust and despair.

Lessons in Power

With Memnon cursed and the Sarmatian empire in ruins, Roxilana makes a desperate bargain with the gods. She sacrifices her memories, her life, and her very soul to cast a spell that will hide Memnon from the world, ensuring he survives until she can find him again. The curse erases all memory of Memnon from history, from the minds of mortals and immortals alike. Roxilana dies, her soul bound to the vow that she will one day return and awaken her king. The price of power is everything—love, memory, and self.

Blood and Betrayal

The final days of the Sarmatian empire are marked by betrayal. Zosines, Memnon's blood brother, conspires with Rome and Eislyn to overthrow the king and queen. Tamara and Katiari are murdered, and Roxilana is forced to slaughter her own people in a desperate bid to survive. The palace falls, and Roxilana, mortally wounded, escapes through the ley lines to the river palace, where she finds Memnon entombed in magical sleep. In a final act of love and defiance, she seals him away, curses the world to forget him, and dies, her soul bound to his.

The Price of Vengeance

Memnon, driven mad by grief, sacrifices his conscience and countless lives to bring Roxilana back from the dead. The act changes him, making him colder, more ruthless, and feared even by his own people. Roxilana, resurrected, is haunted by the wrongness of her return and the darkness in Memnon's soul. Their love endures, but the cost is immense—innocence, compassion, and the hope of peace. The cycle of violence continues, fueled by ambition, loss, and the hunger for power.

Empire of Conquest

With Eislyn's manipulations, Memnon and Roxilana unite the steppe nations, forging an empire to challenge Rome itself. Their victories are pyrrhic, each battle costing more than the last. Roxilana, weary of bloodshed, pleads for peace, but Memnon is driven by grief, pride, and the promise of glory. The couple's love is tested by ambition, betrayal, and the ever-present threat of death. As Rome closes in, the dream of a better life slips further from their grasp.

The Fairy's Treachery

Eislyn's true motives are revealed—she desires Memnon for herself and orchestrates the downfall of the Sarmatian empire. In a final act of treachery, she curses Memnon into a magical sleep and mortally wounds Roxilana. As Roxilana dies, she makes a desperate bargain with the gods, sacrificing her memories and her life to cast a curse that will erase Memnon from the world's memory, ensuring his survival until she can find him again. The world forgets Memnon, and Roxilana's soul is cast adrift, bound only by the promise to return.

Death, Sacrifice, and Immortality

Centuries pass. Roxilana's soul is reborn, her memories lost but her magic and longing undiminished. In the present day, a young woman with cinnamon hair and bright eyes discovers a forgotten tomb in the Amazon. Guided by instinct and magic, she opens the sarcophagus and awakens Memnon from his centuries-long sleep. Their story, one of love, loss, and sacrifice, begins anew—proof that some bonds are eternal, and that even the gods cannot sever the ties of true soul mates.

Characters

Roxilana

Roxilana is forged in fire and loss, her childhood destroyed by Roman violence. She is fiercely intelligent, resilient, and compassionate, but also marked by trauma and rage. Her psychic bond with Memnon is her salvation, giving her hope and purpose. As she grows, she becomes a powerful witch, a skilled warrior, and a passionate lover. Her journey is one of reclaiming agency, embracing her magic, and fighting for love in a world that seeks to break her. She is both victim and victor, haunted by the past but unyielding in her pursuit of a better future. Her greatest strength is her capacity for love—and her willingness to sacrifice everything for it.

Memnon

Memnon is a Sarmatian prince turned king, raised in a culture of violence and honor. He is fierce, proud, and deeply loyal, but also haunted by the darkness of his magic. His psychic connection to Roxilana is both a blessing and a curse, making him vulnerable and human. As his power grows, so does its cost—his conscience is eroded, and he becomes feared even by his own people. Yet, his love for Roxilana remains his anchor, the one thing that keeps him from losing himself entirely. He is both conqueror and protector, driven by ambition, grief, and the desperate need to keep his soul mate safe.

Livia

Livia is the embodiment of Rome's brutality and hypocrisy. She adopts Roxilana but treats her with contempt and violence, shaping Roxilana's sense of self and her distrust of authority. Livia's abuse is both physical and psychological, leaving scars that Roxilana must overcome. She represents the world's indifference to suffering and the challenge of breaking free from cycles of pain.

Tamara

Tamara is Memnon's mother and the former queen of the Sarmatians. She is formidable, wise, and fiercely protective of her family and people. She challenges Roxilana to become strong, both as a warrior and as a leader. Tamara's approval is hard-won, but her love is deep. Her death marks the end of an era and the loss of a guiding force in Roxilana's life.

Katiari

Katiari is Memnon's sister and Roxilana's closest friend in Sarmatia. She is brave, loyal, and compassionate, providing support and camaraderie. Her death in the Roman coup is a devastating blow, symbolizing the cost of ambition and the fragility of happiness.

Zosines

Zosines is Memnon's childhood friend and sworn brother, a skilled warrior with a hunger for power. His eventual betrayal, motivated by ambition and jealousy, is a profound wound for both Memnon and Roxilana. Zosines represents the dangers of unchecked desire and the corrosive effects of envy.

Eislyn

Eislyn is a cunning, immortal fairy who has advised Memnon's family for generations. She is beautiful, enigmatic, and deeply ambitious, desiring Memnon for herself. Her machinations drive much of the novel's tragedy—she engineers the coup, curses Memnon, and wounds Roxilana. Eislyn embodies the seductive allure of power and the destructive potential of obsession.

Ferox

Ferox is more than a pet—he is Roxilana's magical familiar, a symbol of her untamed spirit and her bond with the natural world. He protects her, fights alongside her, and provides comfort in times of grief. Ferox's survival and freedom at the end of the story represent hope and the enduring power of love.

Ilyapa

Ilyapa is a powerful sorcerer-king from a distant land, whose bloodline gives Memnon his magic. He is wise but emotionally distant, his own conscience eroded by power. His death marks a turning point, leaving Memnon vulnerable to Eislyn's influence and the darkness within himself.

Emperor Nero

Nero is the distant, dangerous antagonist whose machinations threaten Memnon and Roxilana. He is cunning, ruthless, and unyielding, representing the might and moral rot of the Roman Empire. His vendetta against the couple drives much of the novel's conflict and ultimate tragedy.

Plot Devices

Psychic Bond and Dual POV

The central device is the psychic bond between Roxilana and Memnon, allowing them to communicate, share emotions, and even physical sensations across vast distances. This connection is both a narrative engine and a metaphor for soul mates—two halves of a whole, destined to find each other. The story often shifts between their perspectives, deepening the reader's understanding of their inner lives and the evolution of their relationship.

Magic as Power and Corruption

Magic in this world is both a gift and a curse. It allows Roxilana and Memnon to survive, to heal, and to conquer, but it also demands a price. For Memnon, the more he uses his power, the more his conscience is eroded, making him colder and more ruthless. This device explores the moral cost of power, the temptation of violence, and the struggle to remain human in the face of overwhelming ability.

Ley Lines and Immortality

Ley lines—magical roads between worlds—allow for travel, escape, and the manipulation of fate. They are also the site of bargains with gods and the setting for the novel's climactic sacrifices. The use of ley lines and magical curses enables the story's final twist: Roxilana's soul is reborn centuries later, destined to find Memnon again. This device ties together themes of fate, sacrifice, and the eternal nature of true love.

Betrayal and Political Intrigue

The novel is rife with betrayal—by friends, family, and lovers. Political intrigue drives much of the plot, as Roxilana and Memnon must navigate shifting alliances, coups, and the ever-present threat of Roman intervention. The story uses foreshadowing and dramatic irony to build tension, often revealing the seeds of betrayal long before they bear fruit.

Foreshadowing and Reincarnation

From the beginning, the narrative is laced with foreshadowing—visions, prophecies, and the sense that Roxilana and Memnon's love is both fated and doomed. The final chapters reveal that their story is not truly over; Roxilana's soul is reborn, and the cycle of love, loss, and reunion will begin again. This device reinforces the novel's central message: that some bonds are eternal, surviving even death and the erasure of memory.

Analysis

The Curse that Binds is a sweeping, darkly romantic epic that explores the transformative power of love, the corrosive effects of violence, and the high cost of ambition. At its heart, it is a story about two broken souls—Roxilana and Memnon—who find in each other the strength to survive, to fight, and to hope. Their psychic bond is both a literal and metaphorical connection, symbolizing the ways in which love can transcend trauma, distance, and even death. The novel interrogates the nature of power—magical, political, and personal—showing how it can both save and destroy. Through its use of magic, reincarnation, and historical detail, the book asks what we are willing to sacrifice for love, and whether true peace is ever possible in a world built on blood. Ultimately, The Curse that Binds is a meditation on resilience, the cyclical nature of history, and the belief that some loves are truly eternal—surviving even the gods' attempts to

Last updated: September 12, 2025