A review by blurrypetals
The Blood Curse by Annette Marie

5.0

Hoo-boy what a ride. Just so you know, this review also encompasses the epilogue Annette Marie sends to those who sign up for her mailing list. If you haven't read it, I would highly suggest it because, not only is it free, but it also ties up some loose ends for this book as well as for Unleash the Storm while also setting up the next series, Blackfire.

As for this book as a whole, though, damn. I mean, damn. I'd like to formally retract and strike from the record that I ever shipped Lyre and Piper during Steel & Stone, first of all, because it's been clear since the beginning of The Night Realm that Lyre and Clio have always been meant for one another. It was horribly cute in the epilogue when Clio was teasing him about his sex life while they'd been apart; if that isn't perfect I don't know what is. Plus, the only reason they've been apart is because Lyre cared about Clio's social standing enough to wait for her for ten fucking years. Commitment! Heartbreak! Fuck yes!

I loved all the different settings this book (as well as the second book) took us to, seeing more of the Overworld, seeing that crazy tower Ash, Clio, and Lyre had to break into and fight their way through. Fuck, it was cool, man.

I dug the hell out of these books, all the Steel & Stone books, it was a nonstop fun train and I can't wait for Blackfire to start so the fun train can keep on going. Just like I said about Steel & Stone, I'm not going to go and recommend this to all my literary buddies, but it's a fun time. Not sophisticated, but who cares, nobody even likes sophistication half the time anyway.