watchnrant 's review for:

The Dawn of the Cursed Queen by Amber V. Nicole

4.0

adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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The Dawn of the Cursed Queen (Gods & Monsters, #3)

A cursed soul, a god reborn, and a love powerful enough to end worlds

Amber V. Nicole’s The Dawn of the Cursed Queen is a slow-burning inferno of anguish, loyalty, and love that refuses to die. As the third installment in the Gods & Monsters series, it pulses with emotion and danger. Rather than accelerating the plot, it focuses on emotional excavation. It’s quieter than its predecessor, yet no less powerful, laying critical foundations for the final war to come.

Dianna and Samkiel remain the heart of the narrative. Dianna’s journey continues to unravel the consequences of her choices. Resurrecting Samkiel cost her part of her soul, and the void left behind becomes both metaphor and menace. She is at once savior and monster, wrestling with power that threatens to consume her. Samkiel, in contrast, is softer light: chivalrous, golden-hearted, and unwavering in his love. Their relationship is tested again and again. What emerges is not brokenness, but transformation. Their markless marriage, forged in grief and defiance, is one of the most poignant moments in the series so far.

What Amber V. Nicole does best is complexity. Villains like Kaden and Isaiah are not just evil for evil’s sake. They are wounded, obsessive, and twisted by grief, ambition, and loss. Even the side characters—Camilla, Vincent, Cameron—bring emotional weight and shifting allegiances. Multiple POVs deepen the scope without overwhelming the core narrative, enriching the world with betrayals, fractured families, and fragile alliances.

Thematically, The Dawn of the Cursed Queen is steeped in brotherhood, rejection, identity, and redemption. The cost of power, of love, and of survival is steep. Through blood-soaked battles and moments of quiet intimacy, Nicole reminds us that even monsters can ache for belonging. Love, in its most guttural form, has the power to reshape destiny. The emotional stakes are immense. The ending, a brutal reckoning with both triumph and tragedy, left me breathless.

Despite pacing that lags in the middle and some filler chapters that may frustrate plot-driven readers, I was completely drawn in. The realms are forever changed. The characters are scarred but unforgettable. And with the final war looming, I’m more invested than ever.

For readers who love:

Morally gray heroines, tragic lovers, enemies-to-lovers, soul bonds, resurrection magic, found family, goddess vs. god war, epic romantic sacrifice, slow burn tension

Rating: ★★★★☆

Final Verdict:

Emotionally devastating, beautifully written, and thematically rich. A perfect storm of pain, power, and passion. I’m ready for the next battle.