The Cursed One - Monika Guss

Lyra's story broke my heart from the very beginning. The losses she endured before this book even starts are devastating, and unlike her peers, she enters this new world completely unprepared. Everyone around her has spent years training, learning, and preparing for what lies ahead, while Lyra is simply trying to survive.

To make matters worse, there is a prophecy hanging over her head, and everyone expects her to be something extraordinary before she's even had a chance to figure out who she is. Watching her navigate those expectations, endure the judgment of others, and slowly come into her own power was one of the most rewarding parts of the story.

Ares couldn't be more different on the surface. While he understands loss in a way few people can, his upbringing gave him advantages Lyra never had. He was trained. He was respected. He understands his power and how to use it. The contrast between the two of them created such an interesting dynamic because while they share similar pain, they've been shaped by it in completely different ways.

And then there's Ares and Lyra together. What starts as hatred and resistance slowly transforms into something so much deeper. Their relationship is intense, emotional, and impossible to ignore. But what truly stood out were Ares's words. The way he expresses his feelings is absolutely beautiful. There were multiple times I found myself rereading his conversations because they carried so much weight and emotion. Few characters have managed to put their feelings into words the way Ares does.

Bella was another standout for me. Lyra desperately needed someone in her corner, and Bella became exactly that. She helped Lyra understand a world she had been thrown into without preparation, welcomed her into the group, and never made her feel like an outsider. Beyond that, Bella is simply an incredible character in her own right. Strong, loyal, and more than capable of handling herself, she quickly became one of my favorites.

And that ending... Absolutely not. I was not prepared for what happened. The final chapters completely caught me off guard, left me with a thousand questions, and immediately had me needing the next book. It was one of those endings that leaves you staring at the page wondering how you're supposed to wait for answers.

What was between us was mine - sacred in a way nothing else in this damned world was.