Book: Curse The Heart by Emily Blackwood
Reviewed by Karina's Magical Reads
Rating: 5/5
Curse the Heart begins right were Beg the Night ended, where Sinner & Athena have been captured and being transported into the grips of The Ministry...AGAIN. This book takes you on an emotional ride of just how far you will go for someone you care for. We get 3 POV's in this book; Sinner, Athena & Margaret (Margaret is Sinner's Sister). I appreciated Margaret's POV because it really helped build the story and enhance the world beyond The Ministry walls. Sinner & Athena are thrust into what we are told are War Games. They are grouped with other Mystics to begin training for these games that The Ministry states is preparation for the future battle with the Earthlies. Earthlies are said to be dangerous and the enemies of the Mystics. Sinner and Athena want nothing to do with The Ministry or their War Games, but the situation they find themselves in doesn't allow for any other choices. Sinner remains as possessive and protective of Athena as ever, but Athena is a bada$$ in her own right. In their time at the barracks camps, you really get to dive more into both of their characters and watch as they both struggle with understanding if the feelings they have are real or a product of their "half claiming/bonding". This is a secret they have to keep for their own protection from the people that hold them captive or it could jeopardize everything.
The author does an amazing job of world building, character development and magic systems. I have been hooked by this series from the very first chapter of book 1. The pacing and plot keep you heavily engaged, along with the attraction, tension and yearning between our MC's. The story also takes it a step further and introduces some well loved side characters and Found Family moments.
I highly recommend this series for those who love Dystopian Dark Fantasy Romance novels with: Great Plot, Magic Systems, Shadow Daddy, an FMC who is more powerful than the MMC and doesn't know it yet, Found Family, Plenty of heart stopping moments, Slow Burn, tension and mystery.
Thank you, Emily, for this early e-ARC copy. I genuinely love this series and cannot wait for the next book, because that cliffhanger left me staring at the wall.