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inkdrinkers's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"I'd offered her the world, but I'd waited too long to do it."
Picking up immediately after the events of Shadow Princess, Cursed Fates throws the Vega Twins into the startling reality that life has become much more than academy bullies, and real darkness creeps in as their fatal enemy.
I finished Shadow Princess on January 10, 2023. I just finished Cursed Fates on September 8, 2023. It took me seven months to mentally, emotionally, and physically prepare to tackle this book. I had countless friends warn me that it was rough, that it was like putting your soul through a blender and hitting the highest setting. I tried my best to prep and I still came away gasping, upset, and blindsighted.
I don't do spoilers in reviews. But what I will say is this is easily one of the best written of the series so far. There are SO MANY moments that, in reflection, hint at so much of the plot. It's very well done and I'm both extremely upset and also thrilled that I enjoyed the pain this much. I was a wreck for 80% of the book, peppered in with some laughter because there were some truly amazing scenes that I will never forget. Can I rectify that with the sheer amount of pain I'm feeling right now? I don't know. I just know that I spent a good portion of my highlights just screaming obscenities and knowing I signed up to me emotionally tortured.
There's something about these characters that have just utterly wrapped themselves around my soul. I genuinely love every single one of them, I want to fiercely protect them all. And I know I'm in for some absolute hell and trauma with the next few books. But I can't help but be ready for it, because I want them to get their happy ending SO BAD.
I really, really love these books. I love this world and I love how insane of a ride it is. I'm back in my Zodiac Academy era, everyone better watch out.
Content warnings: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse
Picking up immediately after the events of Shadow Princess, Cursed Fates throws the Vega Twins into the startling reality that life has become much more than academy bullies, and real darkness creeps in as their fatal enemy.
I finished Shadow Princess on January 10, 2023. I just finished Cursed Fates on September 8, 2023. It took me seven months to mentally, emotionally, and physically prepare to tackle this book. I had countless friends warn me that it was rough, that it was like putting your soul through a blender and hitting the highest setting. I tried my best to prep and I still came away gasping, upset, and blindsighted.
I don't do spoilers in reviews. But what I will say is this is easily one of the best written of the series so far. There are SO MANY moments that, in reflection, hint at so much of the plot. It's very well done and I'm both extremely upset and also thrilled that I enjoyed the pain this much. I was a wreck for 80% of the book, peppered in with some laughter because there were some truly amazing scenes that I will never forget. Can I rectify that with the sheer amount of pain I'm feeling right now? I don't know. I just know that I spent a good portion of my highlights just screaming obscenities and knowing I signed up to me emotionally tortured.
There's something about these characters that have just utterly wrapped themselves around my soul. I genuinely love every single one of them, I want to fiercely protect them all. And I know I'm in for some absolute hell and trauma with the next few books. But I can't help but be ready for it, because I want them to get their happy ending SO BAD.
I really, really love these books. I love this world and I love how insane of a ride it is. I'm back in my Zodiac Academy era, everyone better watch out.
Content warnings: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
aubrieanne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Cursing, and Grief
Minor: Death, Torture, and Police brutality
unicornofthesea's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Confinement, Violence, Blood, Sexual content, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Torture, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping
lyla_wicks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
absolutely adored seeing the major character and relationship development that took place throughout this book. much of the book did not focus too much on the actual plot, however i completely did not mind, as it allowed as to get to know and love the characters so intensely. the angst between tory and darius and darcy and lance was just so perfect and emotional to read about, and i am super excited (and a bit scared) to see where the next book takes us in terms of this
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Torture
Moderate: Child abuse
_alyssar_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Torture, Death of parent, Blood, Physical abuse, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Car accident, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity
dkgreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Holy. F*cking. Sh*t.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Bullying, Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
ashleyj_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My heart is WRECKED. I am completely heartbroken.
I was hooked with book 3 and I can't get enough! I just wish I could read faster (but also not because I love being able to soak it up slowly!).
There are so many amazing things about the writing and the story. The writing style, subplots, and plot twists blow me away more and more with each book.
Can we make sure everyone is okay in book 6 though? I might lose my mind.
I was hooked with book 3 and I can't get enough! I just wish I could read faster (but also not because I love being able to soak it up slowly!).
There are so many amazing things about the writing and the story. The writing style, subplots, and plot twists blow me away more and more with each book.
Can we make sure everyone is okay in book 6 though? I might lose my mind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
briochebun's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4 out of 5 ☆’s.
”I’d been born to rule. And I was going to claim my place in blood.”
ੈ✩‧₊˚
I’m going to keep this one short and sweet because I just finished ”Cursed Fates” and am not okay at all…
ੈ✩‧₊˚
I LOVED getting to see the Darcy + Tory bond a bit with the Heirs in this novel — it was a refreshing change in dynamic.
I also enjoyed seeing Xavier + Darius bond with their mother more in this novel as well!
The rest of the novel was painful though…I having nothing else to say about that (I am currently trying to wipe everything bad that happened from my memory).
ੈ✩‧₊˚
P.S. BlueLance better reunite in the next book. ♡
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Gun violence, and Bullying
jackeline_cruz_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Sexual content
nikitanavalkar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.25
Really I don’t think I have enough of my heart or soul or any body parts left to give to this series. As this series progresses into more and more unhinged territory, it seems to be taking me right along with it, and I’m at least 87% sure to need intense therapy once I actually finish it. RIP my mental health, but at least I’ll be unhinged and happy? Or miserable, Idk there’s a 50-50 chance at this point.
We are back again right where we left off, in the pits of abject misery. Okay JK, but we are certainly back to swinging between the lowest of lows and the highest of highs, between immeasurable pain and uncontrollable laughter and budding friendships and found family and epic romance and stupid hope and once again an ending that’ll leave you gasping, wondering if you were sucker punched. Right in the soul-ar plexus. I might be running out of emotional superlatives, but for this series I shall keep trying. And it’s impossible to get into it without some spoilers, so proceed with caution.
Yes, we finally get Romance with a capital R, between Darius and Tory too thank all the fucking stars. Or don’t, because they’ve been a Bitch most of this book. And it is exactly the kind of epic I wanted y’all. Star crossed. Lives ruined. Bloodshed. Epic. With the steam dialed even hotter. It’s our favorite dragon boy and Phoenix twin (both twins are my fave ssh) after all. Yet they’re also more wholesome somehow? So. Much. Pining. Darius showed up y’all, all the promise I knew he had, all that damaged brokenness, everything coalesces into a beautiful dragon man, who will quite literally defy the stars for his love. Every single gesture, grand or tiny, pulled at my heartstrings. Just, swoon okay. Tory isn’t far behind either, taking responsibility for her own fuckups and going all in at last. And she’s of course, always up for rattling the stars. Until that thing at the end of course. Because we obviously aren’t done with the pain yet.
Darcy and Orion remain the thing we must protect at all costs. Darcy with her special brand of soft but unyielding strength, Lance with his weird nerdy psychotic professor who’s only soft for his girl (and his bff 😂) bit. However, same as Darcy, I’m very into his psychotic hardass professor version. More heart eyes and swoon, yes. Together they’re couple goals, fuck that forbidden nonsense. But no, even with all they went through at the end of the last book, they don’t get a break for long. BECAUSE WE CAN’T HAVE NICE THINGS REMEMBER? DAMMIT LANCE 😞
Geraldine is the light of my whole existence and she and Max are one of the things keeping the darkness at bay for me. Seth is finally, finally putting a pin in his jerk ways to give us the friendly puppy dog we need to see. Him and Caleb, I just need it okay? Please for the love of stars. Caleb was always a good friend and this book showed just how good, that poor vampire baby.
The relationships in these books are a key element, and they flourish in this book, especially all the deeply complex friendships that go from budding saplings born of respect even when they’re at odds to full blown soul bonds in this one. The platonic connections developing between Orion and Tory and now Darcy and Darius are the gift that keep on giving. I already admired how the twins and the heirs are able to compartmentalize their feelings, challenging each other and trading barbs as needed and protecting each other when prudent. Them matchmaking? Trying to fight the literal stars for their friends? The heirs always having each other’s backs and expanding that to include the Vegas? It gave me life. I’m a lifelong A. S. S. + H. O. R. E. S member now. #squadgoals I’ve said before if they all worked together, they could change their messed up world, and we see a preview of that, and it is glorious. Their bonds are literally forged in fire (or all the elements really) and are stronger for it. There’s so much POWER in them standing with instead of against each other and I need more of that please. Because they gon need it. Of course I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a shout-out to my twins and their phenomenal bond in every single review, because that’s what makes this series worth all the pain I’m going through as I read it. Every single sister moment between them is a balm to my cynical soul. I love their love, but I also love how very real they are with each other.
The horrors at the end are again triggered by a single stupid, if well meaning decision, but our girl is nothing if not self aware and readily owns when she messes up. Doesn’t make it any less harrowing and doesn’t mean I wasn’t enraged by the consequences. Another 3 books worth of plot happens in this book, and I still felt like some storylines haven’t even begun yet, let alone reached their potential. But we know there’s at least 3 more books to come, so pray for me I guess.
We are back again right where we left off, in the pits of abject misery. Okay JK, but we are certainly back to swinging between the lowest of lows and the highest of highs, between immeasurable pain and uncontrollable laughter and budding friendships and found family and epic romance and stupid hope and once again an ending that’ll leave you gasping, wondering if you were sucker punched. Right in the soul-ar plexus. I might be running out of emotional superlatives, but for this series I shall keep trying. And it’s impossible to get into it without some spoilers, so proceed with caution.
Darcy and Orion remain the thing we must protect at all costs. Darcy with her special brand of soft but unyielding strength, Lance with his weird nerdy psychotic professor who’s only soft for his girl (and his bff 😂) bit. However, same as Darcy, I’m very into his psychotic hardass professor version. More heart eyes and swoon, yes. Together they’re couple goals, fuck that forbidden nonsense. But no, even with all they went through at the end of the last book, they don’t get a break for long. BECAUSE WE CAN’T HAVE NICE THINGS REMEMBER? DAMMIT LANCE 😞
Geraldine is the light of my whole existence and she and Max are one of the things keeping the darkness at bay for me. Seth is finally, finally putting a pin in his jerk ways to give us the friendly puppy dog we need to see. Him and Caleb, I just need it okay? Please for the love of stars. Caleb was always a good friend and this book showed just how good, that poor vampire baby.
The relationships in these books are a key element, and they flourish in this book, especially all the deeply complex friendships that go from budding saplings born of respect even when they’re at odds to full blown soul bonds in this one. The platonic connections developing between Orion and Tory and now Darcy and Darius are the gift that keep on giving. I already admired how the twins and the heirs are able to compartmentalize their feelings, challenging each other and trading barbs as needed and protecting each other when prudent. Them matchmaking? Trying to fight the literal stars for their friends? The heirs always having each other’s backs and expanding that to include the Vegas? It gave me life. I’m a lifelong A. S. S. + H. O. R. E. S member now. #squadgoals I’ve said before if they all worked together, they could change their messed up world, and we see a preview of that, and it is glorious. Their bonds are literally forged in fire (or all the elements really) and are stronger for it. There’s so much POWER in them standing with instead of against each other and I need more of that please. Because they gon need it. Of course I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a shout-out to my twins and their phenomenal bond in every single review, because that’s what makes this series worth all the pain I’m going through as I read it. Every single sister moment between them is a balm to my cynical soul. I love their love, but I also love how very real they are with each other.
The horrors at the end are again triggered by a single stupid, if well meaning decision, but our girl is nothing if not self aware and readily owns when she messes up. Doesn’t make it any less harrowing and doesn’t mean I wasn’t enraged by the consequences. Another 3 books worth of plot happens in this book, and I still felt like some storylines haven’t even begun yet, let alone reached their potential. But we know there’s at least 3 more books to come, so pray for me I guess.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Violence