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4.64 AVERAGE
4.64 AVERAGE
After reading The Ruptured Sky last year, I was excited to get my hands on the sequel. This gritty epic fantasy captivated me with its complex and broken characters, its intriguingly dark world, and well-paced action that had me glued to the pages while simultaneously impressed that the author managed to pack so much story and detail into the relatively compact page count.
The sequel, too, more than lives up to the expectations set by the opening instalment. The main characters - Amika, Kriah, Kio, and Rei-Hai - continue to grow and evolve as their storylines take them to unexpected places, and we meet some new and fascinating characters who only add to the rich tapestry of this world. I especially loved Emanais, a newcomer to the cast who leaps off the pages.
This series has just the right balance of darkness and hope that I love in an epic fantasy series, with heart-tugging emotional turmoil alongside pulse-pounding battle scenes. The writing has enough precise detail to paint a vivid picture without being bogged down, and while still immersing the reader in the world. It’s proof that a book doesn’t need to be long or meandering to create a vivid and unforgettable experience.
This series is going from strength to strength and I can’t wait to see where events take us next!
The sequel, too, more than lives up to the expectations set by the opening instalment. The main characters - Amika, Kriah, Kio, and Rei-Hai - continue to grow and evolve as their storylines take them to unexpected places, and we meet some new and fascinating characters who only add to the rich tapestry of this world. I especially loved Emanais, a newcomer to the cast who leaps off the pages.
This series has just the right balance of darkness and hope that I love in an epic fantasy series, with heart-tugging emotional turmoil alongside pulse-pounding battle scenes. The writing has enough precise detail to paint a vivid picture without being bogged down, and while still immersing the reader in the world. It’s proof that a book doesn’t need to be long or meandering to create a vivid and unforgettable experience.
This series is going from strength to strength and I can’t wait to see where events take us next!
This review was originally published on Grimdark Magazine
Jessica A. McMinn is completely on fire in the explosive second volume of her epic Gardens of War and Wasteland quartet. Darker, grander, richer, and filled with even more delicious emotional turmoil, The Blood Curse is simply everything you could ever wish for in a sequel, and then so much more.
With most of the groundwork having been laid in The Ruptured Sky, this sequel just hits the ground running and keeps up a relentlessly captivating pacing the entire way through. McMinn masterfully eases the reader back into the story, immediately reminding us of just how dire the situation has become after all the thrilling events and revelations at the end of book 1. Second book syndrome? We don’t know her; The Blood Curse is a dangerously addictive page turner from start to finish.
Whereas The Ruptured Sky mostly felt like Amika’s story to me, I really enjoyed how this sequel smoothly broadened the scope and struck a more even balance between all these wonderfully compelling POV characters. Not only did I get even more emotionally invested in all my favourite broken babes from book 1, but I was also pleasantly surprised to find some new intriguing side characters to adore in this second instalment. Especially the pirate Emanais stole the show for me, and I now demand a prequel (or maybe an entire spin-off series) about her, thank you very much!
Similarly to Krystle Matar’s Tainted Dominion series, this dark epic fantasy series is just filled with all kinds of deeply flawed, broken, and painfully realistic characters who you simply can’t help but root for. Their morally questionable actions might make you want to strangle them at times (especially looking at you, Kriah), but gosh… if they aren’t just beautifully and tragically human.
And it was not only the individual character growth that made this sequel shine for me, but also the development of all the beautifully complex interpersonal relationships. There were some brutally tragic backstory revelations and heartachingly touching reunions, which made this sequel just an unexpectedly wild emotional rollercoaster. Moreover, The Blood Curse is even more gloriously gay than its predecessor, and we finally got some long overdue and smoking hot steamy action between certain characters that both they and I had been desperately yearning for; and it was even more delicious than I could have hoped for.
Now, I will admit that the plot set-up in The Ruptured Sky wasn’t anything that particularly wowed me, but The Blood Curse really surprised me with some of the dark doors it opened. McMinn cleverly plays around with familiar tropes, such as prophecy, chosen ones, and a rising ancient evil force, and then puts some deviously dark twists on it. Amika’s struggle with the cost of her khe’thorla powers and Rei-Hai’s fight against his dark nature had me especially glued to the page and made this story much more nuanced than I had initially given it credit for.
As in The Ruptured Sky, there were still some plot beats that felt a bit rushed or convenient to me, but nothing to the point that it broke my immersion. McMinn just absolutely nails her vision, delivering a brilliant dark epic fantasy story that is somehow both comfortably familiar and refreshingly unpredictable. Broken chosen ones, enigmatic meddling gods, thrilling demon hunting action, brutally raw mental health representation, exciting seafaring adventure, and bittersweet emotional gut punches, The Blood Curse simply has it all.
If you haven’t yet started the Gardens of War and Wasteland series, I highly recommend getting a taste of all the exquisite beauty and heartbreak this series has to offer with either of the two prequel novellas that McMinn offers for free to her newsletter subscribers; I promise you won’t regret it.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Jessica A. McMinn is completely on fire in the explosive second volume of her epic Gardens of War and Wasteland quartet. Darker, grander, richer, and filled with even more delicious emotional turmoil, The Blood Curse is simply everything you could ever wish for in a sequel, and then so much more.
With most of the groundwork having been laid in The Ruptured Sky, this sequel just hits the ground running and keeps up a relentlessly captivating pacing the entire way through. McMinn masterfully eases the reader back into the story, immediately reminding us of just how dire the situation has become after all the thrilling events and revelations at the end of book 1. Second book syndrome? We don’t know her; The Blood Curse is a dangerously addictive page turner from start to finish.
Whereas The Ruptured Sky mostly felt like Amika’s story to me, I really enjoyed how this sequel smoothly broadened the scope and struck a more even balance between all these wonderfully compelling POV characters. Not only did I get even more emotionally invested in all my favourite broken babes from book 1, but I was also pleasantly surprised to find some new intriguing side characters to adore in this second instalment. Especially the pirate Emanais stole the show for me, and I now demand a prequel (or maybe an entire spin-off series) about her, thank you very much!
Similarly to Krystle Matar’s Tainted Dominion series, this dark epic fantasy series is just filled with all kinds of deeply flawed, broken, and painfully realistic characters who you simply can’t help but root for. Their morally questionable actions might make you want to strangle them at times (especially looking at you, Kriah), but gosh… if they aren’t just beautifully and tragically human.
And it was not only the individual character growth that made this sequel shine for me, but also the development of all the beautifully complex interpersonal relationships. There were some brutally tragic backstory revelations and heartachingly touching reunions, which made this sequel just an unexpectedly wild emotional rollercoaster. Moreover, The Blood Curse is even more gloriously gay than its predecessor, and we finally got some long overdue and smoking hot steamy action between certain characters that both they and I had been desperately yearning for; and it was even more delicious than I could have hoped for.
Now, I will admit that the plot set-up in The Ruptured Sky wasn’t anything that particularly wowed me, but The Blood Curse really surprised me with some of the dark doors it opened. McMinn cleverly plays around with familiar tropes, such as prophecy, chosen ones, and a rising ancient evil force, and then puts some deviously dark twists on it. Amika’s struggle with the cost of her khe’thorla powers and Rei-Hai’s fight against his dark nature had me especially glued to the page and made this story much more nuanced than I had initially given it credit for.
As in The Ruptured Sky, there were still some plot beats that felt a bit rushed or convenient to me, but nothing to the point that it broke my immersion. McMinn just absolutely nails her vision, delivering a brilliant dark epic fantasy story that is somehow both comfortably familiar and refreshingly unpredictable. Broken chosen ones, enigmatic meddling gods, thrilling demon hunting action, brutally raw mental health representation, exciting seafaring adventure, and bittersweet emotional gut punches, The Blood Curse simply has it all.
If you haven’t yet started the Gardens of War and Wasteland series, I highly recommend getting a taste of all the exquisite beauty and heartbreak this series has to offer with either of the two prequel novellas that McMinn offers for free to her newsletter subscribers; I promise you won’t regret it.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed book 1, but this sequel was another level... More action, great worldbuilding, tragic events, heartbreak, betrayals, new allies and steamy romance!
The way these characters lives are intertwined is phenomenal, even with 4 POV it's easy to follow everyone's actions and narrative, and you can't help but be immersed in all the emotions, and root for them all.
I loved the new characters including the complexity of Emanais, the increase in magic, seeing more of the villains, and the overall darker vibes this plot had, including revealing past traumas, PTSD and the mental health elements.
The action doesn't let up either and they are constantly facing enemies, meddling gods, assassins, demonspawn, rival warriors or disease.
This is truly epic from start to finish, can't wait for the next!
✨Chosen ones
✨Prophecy
✨Dire Stakes
✨MM romance
✨Found Family
✨Good v Evil
✨Magic
✨Morally Grey
✨Violence, Death and Trauma
✨4 POV
Honest and Voluntary ARC review
The way these characters lives are intertwined is phenomenal, even with 4 POV it's easy to follow everyone's actions and narrative, and you can't help but be immersed in all the emotions, and root for them all.
I loved the new characters including the complexity of Emanais, the increase in magic, seeing more of the villains, and the overall darker vibes this plot had, including revealing past traumas, PTSD and the mental health elements.
The action doesn't let up either and they are constantly facing enemies, meddling gods, assassins, demonspawn, rival warriors or disease.
This is truly epic from start to finish, can't wait for the next!
✨Chosen ones
✨Prophecy
✨Dire Stakes
✨MM romance
✨Found Family
✨Good v Evil
✨Magic
✨Morally Grey
✨Violence, Death and Trauma
✨4 POV
Honest and Voluntary ARC review
Amika is still the coolest
Only romance is gay (MM)
Kriah is still annoying (poor thing)
Pirate Queen is fire and I want more of her story!
Rio is so damn brave and complex
Now let’s get the goddess!!!
Only romance is gay (MM)
Kriah is still annoying (poor thing)
Pirate Queen is fire and I want more of her story!
Rio is so damn brave and complex
Now let’s get the goddess!!!
Just as entertaining as the first book, The Blood Curse continues the adventures of Amika, her fallen prince brother, Kio, his demon lover Rei-Hai, and Kriah, another chosen along with Amika who has been separated from their mission but is trying to get back to them to help break the seals to release the Goddess. They need this now more than ever as a blood curse begins sweeping the lands. Author Jessica A. McMinn knows how to create a fantastical world and even more fascinating characters as reunions are emotional, relationships grow and deepen, and prickly characters become favorites as the action-packed story unfolds. Highly recommended for fans of dark fantasy stories with LGBTIQA+ representation.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Good follow up book. Looking forward to the next. Some exciting chapters, and some slower ones. Character development varies between the different main characters. Kriah frustrated me in this book. The language still puts me off some times, in some segment the language becomes more modern than what I imagine the story is told in. And then I kind of loose the vibe.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
The Blood Curse by Jessica A Mcminn is a feast for!
I love the way the author presents her stories with these stunning covers and striking maps. They are a powerful draw, before you even open the book to reconnect with the core group and return to Whyt'hallen.
Mcminn's evocative prose is the perfect vehicle to continue her worldbuilding. There is so much character development in this book, as we are taken into the past to understand motive, travel through the present to see plans enacted, then watch repercussions drive the story towards possible futures. The fantasy gets darker too, with magic, the presence of, and explanation for derived beasts and twisted plots, but the author's writing paces it perfectly and ensures readers remain sympathetic to characters. And as pieces of history are revealed, I had to feel a lot of sympathy for them. There are also several new characters I felt particularly drawn to.
Following Kio, Rei, Amika and Kriah through the pages it was plain to see them struggling, striving for small or lofty goals or learning their way in the new places they found themselves. I really enjoyed this - it made them relatable and likeable. No easy paths for these four!! Giving each their own POV chapters is an inspired technique to keep readers invested in the MC's as they tread those paths.
The inclusion of LGBTIQA+ characters is a plus for me and I appreciated the sensitive way they were presented here.
This is proving to be a highly immersive, emotional, astonishing-in-it's-scope series - and I am incredibly eager for more!
I love the way the author presents her stories with these stunning covers and striking maps. They are a powerful draw, before you even open the book to reconnect with the core group and return to Whyt'hallen.
Mcminn's evocative prose is the perfect vehicle to continue her worldbuilding. There is so much character development in this book, as we are taken into the past to understand motive, travel through the present to see plans enacted, then watch repercussions drive the story towards possible futures. The fantasy gets darker too, with magic, the presence of, and explanation for derived beasts and twisted plots, but the author's writing paces it perfectly and ensures readers remain sympathetic to characters. And as pieces of history are revealed, I had to feel a lot of sympathy for them. There are also several new characters I felt particularly drawn to.
Following Kio, Rei, Amika and Kriah through the pages it was plain to see them struggling, striving for small or lofty goals or learning their way in the new places they found themselves. I really enjoyed this - it made them relatable and likeable. No easy paths for these four!! Giving each their own POV chapters is an inspired technique to keep readers invested in the MC's as they tread those paths.
The inclusion of LGBTIQA+ characters is a plus for me and I appreciated the sensitive way they were presented here.
This is proving to be a highly immersive, emotional, astonishing-in-it's-scope series - and I am incredibly eager for more!