Dragon Cursed (Deluxe Limited Edition) - by Elise Kova (Hardcover)

Beautiful cover and sprayed edge, great quality paper

Beautiful cover and edges

Love when my favorite books come out with the prettiest "trophies" for my shelves!!

An amazing 5 star wild ride. I loved every minute of this, and read for 2 hours straight to finish it. I did not see that ending coming! omg, I nearly threw the book. the worst part of this reading experience is having to wait for the next book. pick this up immediately.

Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova — holy wow. I could not put this book down. We follow Isola, a girl who might be cursed… or might be the one meant to save the city, when she’s forced into a brutal tribunal where magic is dangerous and it’s every person for themselves. There’s action, tension, and just enough romance to keep things extra painful (in the best way). The writing is easy to follow and really pulls you in without dumping too much world-building at once. Everything just flows, and I was fully invested the entire time. It’s honestly no surprise this already has a movie deal. I cannot wait to see this story come to life on the big screen. If you like fantasy with high stakes, magic, and a little emotional damage, this one is worth picking up.

Wow, I can’t get the story out of my head, I was surprised and fell in love with the main character. I highly recommend it, and am hoping for more in the series soon!

Dragons? Humans turning into dragons? Bring. It. On. With a fast moving plot and exciting twists and turns, you are in for a real treat! The cover is gorgeous, which immediately draws your attention and the blurb makes me want to dive right in! Dragons have abilities based on their scale colors. I love that they don't just breathe fire! To prove that they aren't cursed, humans have to go through Tribunals. Isola isn't sure if she is cursed or not. The banter back and forth between the FMC and the MMC is well done. I really like the interactions between them. You also don't know if Isola can trust Lucan; he turns on her just when she thinks she can trust him. She goes through the Tribunals with her best friend, Saipha, by her side. I love how the trials are written; they stand out from the usual portrayals in books. You are left guessing what will happen. The unexpected twists and turns are well executed! It's easy to be mislead thinking you have it figured out, only to be completely blindsinded! Wow!! This is a fantastic book! The world building, pacing and flow kept me completely engaged. I didn't want to put it down! It has you captivated in ways you never thought it would! I'm really looking forward to book two! This is a 6 star book for me! "Remember: The deadliest dragon is the one within." "Bravery isn't about conquering easy challenges. It's about facing what scares you and doing it anyway."

YA books aren’t my normal go to but there have been a few series I absolutely loved over the years. After reading the blurb for this one I knew I was going to love it as well and it did not disappoint! This book is fast paced right from the beginning and sucks you in with its unique world building, trials and corrupt political system. Not to mention the different than usual take on dragons. It has a nice, sweet slow burn romance but the trials and everything they go through is actually a bit dark and very emotional but still in a way that this a young adult book. The way it is written is suitable and can appeal to both teens and adults. And talk about major plot twists at the end! I’m definitely adding this to my favorite reads for the year and I cannot wait for the next book to come out! Thanks so much to Entangled Publishing /Entangled Teen for the arc of this book.

This book was literally fire!!!! Highly recommend! And this special edition is STUNNING!

The way this book had me in its grip! I loved the world-building, the magic system, the dragons, and the main characters. In Vinguard, in order to become a full citizen you must go through the Tribunal. It is supposed to pull the dragon out of those that are dragon cursed so they can be given mercy. Isola fears she may be cursed yet is hailed as the Valor Reborn. Lucan proposes they work together and she’s reluctant to do so because she feels he previously broke her trust. I absolutely loved their growing relationship as allies. The end left me immediately wanting the next book but we’ll have to wait for that. Thank you so much to Elise Kova and Entangled Publishing for the ARC of this debut novel for their new YA imprint Mayhem Books.

Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova is a phenomenal read! By 10% I was hooked, and the next thing I knew it was pushing 5 a.m. and I was completely lost in the story. It honestly wouldn’t surprise me if this becomes the next big fantasy sensation. Dragons, a great plot, twists that keep you turning the pages! I absolutely devoured this book and immediately ordered the hardback copy with the sprayed edges 😍 And that ending!?!? I need the next book ASAP.

Absolutely devoured this book! I'm so excited that it is going to be a movie. An absolute must read. The sprayed edges are gorgeous.

I absolutely devoured this book. The dragons, the slow burn, it was such a fun read!

4.5 stars This is one of those books where you can feel the author laying an incredibly solid foundation—and for the most part, it absolutely pays off. The worldbuilding is rich and intentional: a sigil-and-light magic system that requires balance, a city packed tight as the last human stronghold, an oppressive religious government, dragon curses, prophecy, and tribunals that decide life paths. It’s immersive in the best way, and once the pieces click, the story becomes genuinely gripping. My only reason for docking half a star is pacing. I expected the story to really take off around the 25% mark, but the momentum doesn’t fully kick in until closer to 35%. There’s a lot of front-loaded worldbuilding, and while it is important and well done, it slightly delays the payoff. That said—once it hits, it hits. The stakes sharpen, the character dynamics deepen (especially with the MMC and his complicated ties to the Creed), and the central question of prophecy vs. curse kept me turning pages. If you enjoy dense fantasy worlds, morally gray power structures, dragon lore, and slow-burn tension that you can cut with a knife, this is absolutely worth the ride. I’m very excited to see where this story goes next.

Elise Kova truly does not miss. Ever. 🔥 I saw the YA label and hesitated for exactly two seconds… then remembered who we’re talking about. This does NOT read like YA 🙌🏼 and thank the book gods for that. Action-packed from start to finish with savage dragons, deadly trials, and a dislike-to-love dynamic that hit perfectly. Forced proximity, unlikely alliances, mind games, torture, and an MMC who absolutely sees her? Say less. If you love high-stakes fantasy where survival isn’t guaranteed and dragons are genuinely terrifying, this one belongs on your TBR immediately. 🐉

Dragon cursed is a new YA duology about dragons, trials, plot twists, and action.  The city of Vinguard is the last city to survive dragon attacks, but not for long. Isola is an 18-year-old girl who was attacked when she was 12 and now doesn't know if she is dragon cursed or the next savior. She, along with other teens to be considered citizens, they must endure very tough trials to find out if they are cursed, and Isola lives in fear. At times, she believes she is cursed and wants to hide it. Since the attack, she has been treated as the savior, but Isola's doubts will create tension throughout the novel. She will have to hide secrets from her friends and not let her guard down during the trials.  It's an immersive story that reads quickly, with interesting worldbuilding. Everyone fears dragons and people who may be dragons cursed. The ferocity and danger of dragons depend on their color. I think this is so cool. The trials last three weeks and are supervised by city leaders. Some are quick and intense, while others take longer, which makes Isola more anxious. It's a story with tension and character growth. I love that Isola isn't cocky; she's brave, but she has many doubts. Saipha is her best friend, also part of the trials. The two have a team, and when Saipha discovers Isola's secrets, she continues to support her. The love interest is an enemies-to-allies-to-lovers story. From Isola's POV, Lucan has always been her shadow, lurking in the darkness, waiting for her to make a mistake, but in reality, he is fascinated by her. At first, I was a little confused because explanations were missing. Isola's POV is as if you had lived it with her, but as the story progresses, it draws me in more and more, and I couldn't stop reading. The dragons and dragon cursed are interesting, and with that cliffhanger ending, I'm sure it will be explored further in the second book. Can't wait! Overall, it's a great new duology, intense and fast-paced, with characters who keep secrets and a curse that could destroy them all. Thanks Entangled, Mayhem Books and Elise Kova for the badass ARC Read it if you like: Dragons Trials & Games Action & Danger