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A review by oceaneanagonye
The Captive's Curse by Eliot Grayson
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Lord Cyril is a brat. Full of himself, pompous, and used to living in luxury with his choice of men. He's also a cursed twilight mage. He's out for a ride to avoid trouble at home when Ser Enzo, a notorious highwayman, kidnaps him and holds him for ransom. But if Enzo is such a dangerous criminal, why doesn't Cyril feel any true fear in his captivity? And what happens when his asshole of a brother refuses to pay his ransom?
"The Captive's Curse" by Eliot Grayson was such a fun read! Any book that can keep me up until 4:00 in the morning is something special. I kept saying "one more chapter" over and over because I was so invested in Enzo and Cyril's story. I had previously read "The Royal Curse" which follows Prince Nikola and Andreas, so I was thrilled to be offered an ARC of the second book in the series. It definitely didn't disappoint and is now my favorite book in the Twilight Mages series.
Something that stood out to me in both books was Eliot's wit and humor. It's hard to go more than a few pages without cracking a smile at either a well-timed joke or the absurd inner monologue of our main character. I loved the banter between Enzo and Cyril, including their myraid of increasingly ridiculous nicknames for each other. I actually laughed out loud while reading this book and that's not something I usually do.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the scene setting and descriptions. It was easy to envision and get lost in the story and imagine the sensations the characters were experiencing. From a cold and muddy death bed (not really, stop being dramatic Cyril), to the frigid, stony tower of a castle as a thunderstorm rages overhead.
I would be remiss not to mention the softer aspects of this book. That being the moments of insecurity and love. Underneath all of his bravado, Cyril has fears. He doesn't know if Enzo truly feels anything for him or if he thinks he's just a tart. But the love, when it finally comes, is so strong and beautiful. Totally swoon-worthy.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed "The Royal Curse" or wants a high-heat MM fantasy with magic, curses, and a bit of action.
Special thanks to Eliot Grayson for providing an ARC of this story.
"The Captive's Curse" by Eliot Grayson was such a fun read! Any book that can keep me up until 4:00 in the morning is something special. I kept saying "one more chapter" over and over because I was so invested in Enzo and Cyril's story. I had previously read "The Royal Curse" which follows Prince Nikola and Andreas, so I was thrilled to be offered an ARC of the second book in the series. It definitely didn't disappoint and is now my favorite book in the Twilight Mages series.
Something that stood out to me in both books was Eliot's wit and humor. It's hard to go more than a few pages without cracking a smile at either a well-timed joke or the absurd inner monologue of our main character. I loved the banter between Enzo and Cyril, including their myraid of increasingly ridiculous nicknames for each other. I actually laughed out loud while reading this book and that's not something I usually do.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the scene setting and descriptions. It was easy to envision and get lost in the story and imagine the sensations the characters were experiencing. From a cold and muddy death bed (not really, stop being dramatic Cyril), to the frigid, stony tower of a castle as a thunderstorm rages overhead.
I would be remiss not to mention the softer aspects of this book. That being the moments of insecurity and love. Underneath all of his bravado, Cyril has fears. He doesn't know if Enzo truly feels anything for him or if he thinks he's just a tart. But the love, when it finally comes, is so strong and beautiful. Totally swoon-worthy.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed "The Royal Curse" or wants a high-heat MM fantasy with magic, curses, and a bit of action.
Special thanks to Eliot Grayson for providing an ARC of this story.