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Waves of Sorcery #1
The Cursed Soul
Cursed. Forgotten. Reborn.
Doraan and his entire crew are cursed to never walk on land again. For ten long years, they have roamed the sea, attacking and pillaging to survive. Doraan placed all his faith in his family to find a way to break their wretched curse, but when he discovers that his hope of freedom was nothing more than a dream, his world comes crashing down.
Kamira is on the run from a life she never wanted. Finding shelter by stowing away on a ship docked far out to sea, Kamira disguises herself as a boy in the hope of making it to the ship's next port alive. Little does she know—their craft won’t be stopping at any port.
Stuck aboard a vessel full of pirates with no destination in sight, Kamira fears they will not only discover that she is a woman but also a sorceress. Now she must face the threat of being thrown overboard–or worse, being turned in to the empire for hiding her outlawed gifts.
As Kamira struggles to keep her identity hidden and gain their trust, Doraan sees her as a glimmer of hope for their cursed fate, even if it comes with a steep price. With danger at every turn, Kamira and the crew of the Cursed Soul must navigate treacherous waters in an attempt to not only save themselves but all of Emmoria.
Doraan and his entire crew are cursed to never walk on land again. For ten long years, they have roamed the sea, attacking and pillaging to survive. Doraan placed all his faith in his family to find a way to break their wretched curse, but when he discovers that his hope of freedom was nothing more than a dream, his world comes crashing down.
Kamira is on the run from a life she never wanted. Finding shelter by stowing away on a ship docked far out to sea, Kamira disguises herself as a boy in the hope of making it to the ship's next port alive. Little does she know—their craft won’t be stopping at any port.
Stuck aboard a vessel full of pirates with no destination in sight, Kamira fears they will not only discover that she is a woman but also a sorceress. Now she must face the threat of being thrown overboard–or worse, being turned in to the empire for hiding her outlawed gifts.
As Kamira struggles to keep her identity hidden and gain their trust, Doraan sees her as a glimmer of hope for their cursed fate, even if it comes with a steep price. With danger at every turn, Kamira and the crew of the Cursed Soul must navigate treacherous waters in an attempt to not only save themselves but all of Emmoria.
375 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2023
32 people are currently reading
6697 people want to read
About the author
K.C. Smith
6 books202 followersMy only goal in writing is to create adventurous stories full of magical worlds that allow the reader an escape from the real world for a while. I want you to have fun when reading one of my books!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
June 17, 2023
It’s dope.
September 18, 2023
I’m not usually one for pirate books but let me tell ya… the chokehold this book had me in was so real!
Unique and exciting adventure. An incredible page turner. I’m so excited to see how the found family trope plays out through the next book bc I’m obsessed with the Doraan, Kamira, Cormac dynamics. And that cliffhanger!!?!? The last page had my jaw dropped 😅
Found family, sorcery and curses, badass FMC. And not many triggers to be aware of. Perfect for the YA audience or a light palette cleanser!
Unique and exciting adventure. An incredible page turner. I’m so excited to see how the found family trope plays out through the next book bc I’m obsessed with the Doraan, Kamira, Cormac dynamics. And that cliffhanger!!?!? The last page had my jaw dropped 😅
Found family, sorcery and curses, badass FMC. And not many triggers to be aware of. Perfect for the YA audience or a light palette cleanser!
April 11, 2024
*Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC*
The Cursed Soul is a story of epic sea adventure consumed with remarkable writing and deeply layered characters. I particularly liked Kamira’s character!
As a big fan of Pirate Fantasies, this one had all the necessary elements to make it a standout one. The only quibble I have is that the book was too short, but it makes me only more excited about the second installment 🌊
The Cursed Soul is a story of epic sea adventure consumed with remarkable writing and deeply layered characters. I particularly liked Kamira’s character!
As a big fan of Pirate Fantasies, this one had all the necessary elements to make it a standout one. The only quibble I have is that the book was too short, but it makes me only more excited about the second installment 🌊
February 9, 2024
The Cursed Soul is a delightful pirate adventure that’s so easy to devour in one sitting. It’s the perfect palate cleanser and is a good old fashioned fantasy adventure that brought me a lot of joy. There isn’t any romance, but it honestly wasn’t needed!
He was cursed to only set foot on land once a year for one hour and hasn’t seen his family in 10 years. She is on the run and keeping deadly secrets while she masquerades as a young boy on a ship full of deadly pirates. They need each other’s help and team up to break the curse put on Doraan and his crew. But unrest is present and a war is brewing in an attempt to take back their kingdom.
I love pirate books so so much and I was so excited to read this book because of that. And I just love Katelyn’s writing. There’s lots of Pirates of the Caribbean vibes which I adored. The slow growing friendship between Doraan and Kamira made me so happy. And the found family! The world building was just the right amount of detail.
I 10/10 recommend reading this at the beach or in warm weather because the vibes are perfect.
I was pleasantly surprised by the ending and eager for book 2!
Things to expect:
- YA pirate adventure
- Fast paced
- Elemental magic
- They don’t know they are enemies
- Forbidden magic
- Found family
- Sorcerers and magic
He was cursed to only set foot on land once a year for one hour and hasn’t seen his family in 10 years. She is on the run and keeping deadly secrets while she masquerades as a young boy on a ship full of deadly pirates. They need each other’s help and team up to break the curse put on Doraan and his crew. But unrest is present and a war is brewing in an attempt to take back their kingdom.
I love pirate books so so much and I was so excited to read this book because of that. And I just love Katelyn’s writing. There’s lots of Pirates of the Caribbean vibes which I adored. The slow growing friendship between Doraan and Kamira made me so happy. And the found family! The world building was just the right amount of detail.
I 10/10 recommend reading this at the beach or in warm weather because the vibes are perfect.
I was pleasantly surprised by the ending and eager for book 2!
Things to expect:
- YA pirate adventure
- Fast paced
- Elemental magic
- They don’t know they are enemies
- Forbidden magic
- Found family
- Sorcerers and magic
April 4, 2024
fantastic
Oh my stars! This was a thrilling and fantastic story. Pirates, magic, curses it had it all. And the plot twists perfect. It had me flipping to find out the truth and what happens next. K.c Smith did fabulous job in her world building and was wonderful in her descriptions. The pirate language wasn’t too overbearing. This book was a wonderful read.
Oh my stars! This was a thrilling and fantastic story. Pirates, magic, curses it had it all. And the plot twists perfect. It had me flipping to find out the truth and what happens next. K.c Smith did fabulous job in her world building and was wonderful in her descriptions. The pirate language wasn’t too overbearing. This book was a wonderful read.
November 17, 2023
If you love found family, pirates, and epic adventure including curse breaking then this one is definitely for you!
Doraan and his crew are cursed to never walk again on land except for one day per year when they can return home but as ghosts of themselves. After ten years and with the Empire approaching war, Doraan is determined to break the curse. Everything changes when Kamira, a sorceress on the run is able to stow away on the cursed ship.
I loved Kamira. She’s a smart, headstrong FMC who challenges the grumpy Doraan at every turn. I loved watching the two of them break down their barriers in order to build trust.
This book had no shortage of magic and pirate adventures, which I was absolutely loving for. I honestly wanted to be a part of the crew!
Thank you to the author and Book of Matches Media for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All thoughts are my own.
Doraan and his crew are cursed to never walk again on land except for one day per year when they can return home but as ghosts of themselves. After ten years and with the Empire approaching war, Doraan is determined to break the curse. Everything changes when Kamira, a sorceress on the run is able to stow away on the cursed ship.
I loved Kamira. She’s a smart, headstrong FMC who challenges the grumpy Doraan at every turn. I loved watching the two of them break down their barriers in order to build trust.
This book had no shortage of magic and pirate adventures, which I was absolutely loving for. I honestly wanted to be a part of the crew!
Thank you to the author and Book of Matches Media for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All thoughts are my own.
October 3, 2023
Mesh together the best elements of "Pirates of the Caribbean", "Merlin" and "Avatar the Last Airbender" and you get this high seas epic, bursting to the gills with magic and heart-pounding adventure!
Quick Synopsis (No Spoilers!):
Doraan is a young captain, faced with a curse that prevents him and his crew from stepping on land...
Kamira is a stowaway, hiding a deep secret that would cost her her life, and attempting to blend in among an impossibly cursed crew...
Little do they know that their chance meeting will alter the course of both of their lives.
The fates of Doraan and Kamira become intertwined, and though they are on opposing sides of a bigger battle, they must learn to trust each other in order to escape the grasp of an inconceivably powerful sorceress that threatens them all.
Thoughts:
Long story short: I LOVED this book!
Pirate adventures don't always translate well on paper for me, but this one had me completely enraptured! I loved the twists and turns along the way, as well as the fast-paced action. The villain was a genuine threat, and that added the right touch of suspense to the plot.
I'm a sucker for romance in books, so I was admittedly concerned that I would miss that here... BUT I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really enjoyed seeing two completely platonic main characters! The story could focus on the action and adventure, without the hindrance of a romance subplot.
Doraan and Kamira's slow build of trust was beautifully executed, and they had a bit of a Merlin/Arthur vibe to their friendship, which I adored!
We also need to just take a second to talk about how heart-wrenchingly sweet Cormac is! Every scene he was in, he stole. This sea-worn father figure was so caring for Doraan, but also gave him just the right amount of butt-kicking to get him in gear when he needed it. It was the perfect dynamic! Petition to see a Cormac prequel in the future...?!
There's so much rich lore in this world that has a lot of potential for future stories down the road (YAY!) and let me tell you, that freaking CLIFFHANGER almost ended me! (I love cliffhangers though, so it's fine lol) I can't wait to see where those events lead in the next book!
Friends. Do yourself a favor. PICK UP THIS BOOK.
Quick Synopsis (No Spoilers!):
Doraan is a young captain, faced with a curse that prevents him and his crew from stepping on land...
Kamira is a stowaway, hiding a deep secret that would cost her her life, and attempting to blend in among an impossibly cursed crew...
Little do they know that their chance meeting will alter the course of both of their lives.
The fates of Doraan and Kamira become intertwined, and though they are on opposing sides of a bigger battle, they must learn to trust each other in order to escape the grasp of an inconceivably powerful sorceress that threatens them all.
Thoughts:
Long story short: I LOVED this book!
Pirate adventures don't always translate well on paper for me, but this one had me completely enraptured! I loved the twists and turns along the way, as well as the fast-paced action. The villain was a genuine threat, and that added the right touch of suspense to the plot.
I'm a sucker for romance in books, so I was admittedly concerned that I would miss that here... BUT I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really enjoyed seeing two completely platonic main characters! The story could focus on the action and adventure, without the hindrance of a romance subplot.
Doraan and Kamira's slow build of trust was beautifully executed, and they had a bit of a Merlin/Arthur vibe to their friendship, which I adored!
We also need to just take a second to talk about how heart-wrenchingly sweet Cormac is! Every scene he was in, he stole. This sea-worn father figure was so caring for Doraan, but also gave him just the right amount of butt-kicking to get him in gear when he needed it. It was the perfect dynamic! Petition to see a Cormac prequel in the future...?!
There's so much rich lore in this world that has a lot of potential for future stories down the road (YAY!) and let me tell you, that freaking CLIFFHANGER almost ended me! (I love cliffhangers though, so it's fine lol) I can't wait to see where those events lead in the next book!
Friends. Do yourself a favor. PICK UP THIS BOOK.
March 23, 2025
It's an epic adventure! The plot was a journey filled with self-discovery, magical elements, and found family. The character development paced well with the story. My favorite part of this story was the friendship that builds between the MC's. The story was dual POV, so I appreciated seeing both of their perspectives as their bond developed and the story progressed. There were a lot of exciting parts that made this a fun fantasy read—pirates, sorcerers, unique elemental magic, surprising twists, adventure, and more!
*Thank you, K.C. Smith and R&R Book Tours, for an ARC of The Cursed Soul. All opinions are my own*
*Thank you, K.C. Smith and R&R Book Tours, for an ARC of The Cursed Soul. All opinions are my own*
October 16, 2023
The Cursed Soul is the newest book from KC Smith, and I'm gonna need her to write the follow IMMEDIATELY lol because that ending!!
Doraan and his crew are cursed to never be able to walk on land or bring their ship to port. They were cursed by a powerful sorceress a decade ago, but Doraan and his men are still determined to find a way to break the curse.
Kamira, on the run from her past, is able to board the ship, The Cursed Soul. But now she realizes that her life may still be in danger since Doraan and others are against sorcerers, which she is one of. I loved Kamira, she is a strong female MC, brave and determined and fearless.
Another thing I really loved were the characters and the relationships between them all in this book. Fans of found family will love this rag tag crew on The Cursed Soul. I really loved the father-son-esque relationship between Doraan and Cormac. And I love that Kamira found a new home with the members of Doraan's crew.
The ending definitely ends on a cliffhanger, with plenty more story to come. There are also some big reveals in this, and I literally couldn't put this book down to sleep. I cannot wait to see how things are resolved for Kamira, Doraan, Cormac, and other characters.
Thank you MTMC Tours for the gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.
Doraan and his crew are cursed to never be able to walk on land or bring their ship to port. They were cursed by a powerful sorceress a decade ago, but Doraan and his men are still determined to find a way to break the curse.
Kamira, on the run from her past, is able to board the ship, The Cursed Soul. But now she realizes that her life may still be in danger since Doraan and others are against sorcerers, which she is one of. I loved Kamira, she is a strong female MC, brave and determined and fearless.
Another thing I really loved were the characters and the relationships between them all in this book. Fans of found family will love this rag tag crew on The Cursed Soul. I really loved the father-son-esque relationship between Doraan and Cormac. And I love that Kamira found a new home with the members of Doraan's crew.
The ending definitely ends on a cliffhanger, with plenty more story to come. There are also some big reveals in this, and I literally couldn't put this book down to sleep. I cannot wait to see how things are resolved for Kamira, Doraan, Cormac, and other characters.
Thank you MTMC Tours for the gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.
November 7, 2023
This was a fun pirate adventure. There was a good amount of action and the plot was well executed. The pacing was also good. Both the male and female main characetrs were well developed. The only thing that disappointed me was that I was under the impression that there would be some romance, but that was killed pretty quickly. A platonic relationship between the two characters was refreshing to see though, as this is not often done. This permitted the story to focus on the found family aspect. The plot twist at the end was unexpected and leaves the reader wanting more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 23, 2023
I wish I could give this book 10 billion stars. I honestly was captivated the whole time I read this. Thank ya so much to K.C. Smith for the arc of this book. Ya all should go read it!! It comes out October 3rd!! The magic, lore, history, the plot were all fantastic! And that cliffhanger... I want the next book like now but this one hasn't even officially come out yet!! Will be excited to hear when the next installment will be!!
November 13, 2023
Oh man!! What did I just read?? How can it end on such a shocking cliffhanger with so many questions at the last minute of the story? I thought that somewhat the story is figured out that what can I expect in the next instalment but now I freaking have no clue what is coming.
I mean how does it take a 360-degree turn in a different direction??? KC Smith really did a number on this one. Frankly speaking, it was all going very basic with the world-building and the suspense was building slowly although I had a lot of questions since the start but in the last few chapters, everything got very exciting and thrilling.
I hardly read about pirates but when I do I end up loving them and this one was no different. The story grew through the entire journey from its mystery to its characters to the plot twists and the world still is in question as to how things are happening, and what characters are playing what role exactly in this mystery.
Kamira was instant love for me. She is fierce, strong and strong-headed, I loved how well she turned up and how well she embraced her characteristics. Whereas Doraan is a very interesting one, in this case, everything looks simple but has many layers to explore.
The story is engaging from the start and drew me in within a few chapters of reading with its magical traits. I enjoyed the journey of “Cursed Soul” and I want to see more of them and of new characters whom we have seen only glimpses of. Everyone should try this story and give it a fair chance. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I mean how does it take a 360-degree turn in a different direction??? KC Smith really did a number on this one. Frankly speaking, it was all going very basic with the world-building and the suspense was building slowly although I had a lot of questions since the start but in the last few chapters, everything got very exciting and thrilling.
I hardly read about pirates but when I do I end up loving them and this one was no different. The story grew through the entire journey from its mystery to its characters to the plot twists and the world still is in question as to how things are happening, and what characters are playing what role exactly in this mystery.
Kamira was instant love for me. She is fierce, strong and strong-headed, I loved how well she turned up and how well she embraced her characteristics. Whereas Doraan is a very interesting one, in this case, everything looks simple but has many layers to explore.
The story is engaging from the start and drew me in within a few chapters of reading with its magical traits. I enjoyed the journey of “Cursed Soul” and I want to see more of them and of new characters whom we have seen only glimpses of. Everyone should try this story and give it a fair chance. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
October 24, 2023
Actual rating 3.5⭐️
March 5, 2025
This was so fun! 👏🏻
The world was amazing, Kamira’s magic is great, I don’t think we’ve seen the true extent of her power yet! I’m 100% reading the next in this series!
The world was amazing, Kamira’s magic is great, I don’t think we’ve seen the true extent of her power yet! I’m 100% reading the next in this series!
August 9, 2024
The Cursed Soul is the first book in the Waves of Sorcery series by K. C. Smith. It's about Kamira, a sorceress in hiding that boards the ship of the cursed captain Doraan and his crew. Doraan puts all his hope to break the curse in Kamira and together they try their best to save the crew.
I'm usually not a huge fan of pirate stories, but I really liked The Cursed Soul! I love the combination of piracy and elemental sorcery, especially water sorcery, as it made the story super interesting. The characters were also pretty cool and I liked following the alternating POVs. All in all I would definitely recommend this book to all pirate and sorcery fans!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I'm usually not a huge fan of pirate stories, but I really liked The Cursed Soul! I love the combination of piracy and elemental sorcery, especially water sorcery, as it made the story super interesting. The characters were also pretty cool and I liked following the alternating POVs. All in all I would definitely recommend this book to all pirate and sorcery fans!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 22, 2023
Review ✨️
The Cursed Soul by @balancingbooksandcoffee
This book was unexpected, I don't usually enjoy non romance based books yet I'm really happy I gave this one a shot, it was spectacular!
I love pirate stories, I love strong women, found family and I love magic! This book has it all!
While there is little romance, I found myself satisfied with it never the less.
I think people that love Pirates of the Carribean will love this one.
The Cursed Soul by @balancingbooksandcoffee
This book was unexpected, I don't usually enjoy non romance based books yet I'm really happy I gave this one a shot, it was spectacular!
I love pirate stories, I love strong women, found family and I love magic! This book has it all!
While there is little romance, I found myself satisfied with it never the less.
I think people that love Pirates of the Carribean will love this one.
August 4, 2024
This was such a fun YA pirate fantasy story!
The story truly kept me captivated- there was non-stop action. I couldn’t put it down (though I forced myself to slow down). The characters were developed well. Doraan was such a grump at first, but I grew to love him. Kamira is a fantastic FMC - strong and determined, but not perfect. Cormac is one of my favorite secondary characters of all time. The twists and turns were awesome, and that ending has me dying for the next book.
Let’s not forget the magic system!! The elemental magic was perfect. I particularly enjoyed the further explanation of it later on in the book (I can’t explain because spoilers).
Overall, it was a great YA pirate fantasy and I need the next one like yesterday!
Thank you Books of Matches Media for the gifted copy. All views are my own.
The story truly kept me captivated- there was non-stop action. I couldn’t put it down (though I forced myself to slow down). The characters were developed well. Doraan was such a grump at first, but I grew to love him. Kamira is a fantastic FMC - strong and determined, but not perfect. Cormac is one of my favorite secondary characters of all time. The twists and turns were awesome, and that ending has me dying for the next book.
Let’s not forget the magic system!! The elemental magic was perfect. I particularly enjoyed the further explanation of it later on in the book (I can’t explain because spoilers).
Overall, it was a great YA pirate fantasy and I need the next one like yesterday!
Thank you Books of Matches Media for the gifted copy. All views are my own.
May 8, 2024
A really interesting read, different to the normal pirate romantasy books out there.
The worldbuilding was good, and I liked learning about the sorcerers along with the main character.
The characters were also interesting, with a bit of humour thrown in.
It does end on a cliffhanger though. I will definitely read the next one to see where it goes next.
The worldbuilding was good, and I liked learning about the sorcerers along with the main character.
The characters were also interesting, with a bit of humour thrown in.
It does end on a cliffhanger though. I will definitely read the next one to see where it goes next.
February 9, 2024
“𝐼’𝓂 𝒹𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓈𝒾𝓉𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒷𝒶𝒸𝓀 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓁𝑒𝓉𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓂𝓎 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒 𝓅𝒶𝓈𝓈 𝓂𝑒 𝒷𝓎. 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝑔𝑜 𝒷𝒶𝒸𝓀. 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒 𝐼 𝑜𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝒹.”
Do you like twists? Well this one has a doozy that I did NOT see coming.
If you like
Found Family
Self-Discovery
Magic
Pirates
Than you will definitely enjoy this one.
I am officially in my “Pirate Era”
This is YA Adventure Fantasy, and their is no big romance in this one, but the plot makes it all worth it.
Kamira is an strong fmc and I loved her personality.
Doraan … oh put Doraan… has been cursed to the sea for 10 years, and I just could not help but feel soo much pity for him.
He really just wants to be able to go home, and even when he does eventually get freed from the curse, still does not have the hea he expected.
I cannot wait for book 2!
Do you like twists? Well this one has a doozy that I did NOT see coming.
If you like
Found Family
Self-Discovery
Magic
Pirates
Than you will definitely enjoy this one.
I am officially in my “Pirate Era”
This is YA Adventure Fantasy, and their is no big romance in this one, but the plot makes it all worth it.
Kamira is an strong fmc and I loved her personality.
Doraan … oh put Doraan… has been cursed to the sea for 10 years, and I just could not help but feel soo much pity for him.
He really just wants to be able to go home, and even when he does eventually get freed from the curse, still does not have the hea he expected.
I cannot wait for book 2!
February 17, 2024
4.5 🌟. Another great story by KC Smith . 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒍 was a fun read, full of adventure, secrets, magic, mysterious curse, self-discovery, and found family. It held my attention throughout the entire book. I also enjoyed that it is dual POV, so you get the story from both MCs. Doraan is full of anger and resentment, but once you get his story, you understand why. Kamira is sweet and helpful and determined to help those in need, and Cormac is the gentle father figure everyone loves. The ending, though...looking forward to the next installment in this series.
July 15, 2024
"He was dead to the world, dead to his people, and the ghostly grim reaper had taken him and all the other cursed souls on this ship. They were wandering souls, stolen from life too soon."
First of all... this book is freaking amazing! Dual POV, badass FMC, reluctant hero, and high seas adventures! It's not a fantasy romance... it's straight-up pirate adventure! Full of elemental magic and genuine friendships. And that ending 😳 I need book 2 asap!
First of all... this book is freaking amazing! Dual POV, badass FMC, reluctant hero, and high seas adventures! It's not a fantasy romance... it's straight-up pirate adventure! Full of elemental magic and genuine friendships. And that ending 😳 I need book 2 asap!
March 26, 2024
If you are a fan of pirates, epic adventures, found family, and fantasy, this book is for you. If you’re not, this book is still for you and it will make you a fan. I loved everything about this book from the pacing to the characters to the tropes and the world building. It’s found family and exciting adventures. This will make you want to run off and become a pirate. I could not put it down.
November 15, 2023
Doraan has spent the last ten years alongside a crew of pirates, cursed to never walk on land again just trying to survive. Once a year, on Doraan's birthday, the crew can return home but as ghosts of themselves, forever looking in on their old life but always being just out of reach of touching it, forever grasping onto the faintest glimmers of hope that the curse can be broken and they can be reunited with their loved ones. Now with the Empire of the brink of civil war, Doraan is more determined that ever, racing across the treacherous seas, to discover a cure.
Kamira, is an elemental sorcerer, hunted and running from the life that haunts her every waking moment, she finds refuge on a ship anchored far out the coast of Aksahri. Disguising herself as young boy, she takes her chance to escape her fate, and make a new life for herself as far away from this horrific land as possible. However, now she has a very different danger to face, to keep her identity hidden and work alongside the ships young but stoic captain, to get the freedom she longs for.
This story grabbed hold of me and refused to let go from the first sentence.
Doraan has been on the seas for eleven years, pillaging and finding any way he can to survive, holding on to the love he holds for his family and the hope that his family are fighting just as brutally to bring him home. Cursed by a sorceress as a teenager for his father's murderous choices, he's faced no end of trauma, pain and endless suffering on the waves, isolated and longing to just feel the sand beneath his feet. Doraan is determined, and desperate, to follow any and all leads to break the curse and taste the freedom that has been so tantalisingly close his whole life. Stoic, battle toughened, and hardy, Doraan just wants to get himself and his crew back home, in Kamira he finds a kindred spirit, someone as youthful and mischievous as him, lighting up his soul and brining him relief from the endless weight that has sat so heavy on his shoulders all these years.
Kamira on the other hand is head-strong, fearless and unbelievably strong, and has one hell of a razor sharp wit. Running from the life that was forced upon her, she finds refuge on The Cursed Soul. Wily and resourceful, and full of determination to escape her old life and forge a new one, filled with freedom, where she can be herself completely and embrace her powers without having to hide behind the mask expected of her in a world that hunts witches. The isolation and loneliness of being away from her family, and the exhaustion of having to constantly hide her abilities as a sorceress was truly so moving and palpable. Kamira comes from a wealthy family, brought up to control and suffocate her powres, Kamira has never felt so free as she does out on the sea, allowing her magic to roam and play, brings a new form of release, and a child like joy she long ago forgot. However, the fear of being discovered by the crew, and the frosty, rigid captain, keeps her power slightly concealed, with the additional fear of their unknown reactions. Watching her come into her own throughout the storyline, embracing and finding joy and love for her magic was so empowering and incredible, she harbours this endearing child like wonder, and it was so moving and inspirational to see her tapping into a childhood she never really got to have in a world so intent on suffocating her powers, and chaining her to a life of obedience.
Honestly, I was blown away by this story. Get ready for a swashbuckling, high seas adventure with intense stakes, and some truly remarkable and vibrant characters. This story is brimming with political intrigue, and deep secrets, it'll immerse you into Kamira and Doraan's voyage with such ease, that you'll forget all about reality and make you fall in love with pirates all over again. Do prepare yourself for the ending though, because it had me GASPING and pacing the room, I am so invested in these character's journey's and with so many secrets still left to uncover, I am so excited to dive back into this world when the next book is released.
Kamira, is an elemental sorcerer, hunted and running from the life that haunts her every waking moment, she finds refuge on a ship anchored far out the coast of Aksahri. Disguising herself as young boy, she takes her chance to escape her fate, and make a new life for herself as far away from this horrific land as possible. However, now she has a very different danger to face, to keep her identity hidden and work alongside the ships young but stoic captain, to get the freedom she longs for.
This story grabbed hold of me and refused to let go from the first sentence.
Doraan has been on the seas for eleven years, pillaging and finding any way he can to survive, holding on to the love he holds for his family and the hope that his family are fighting just as brutally to bring him home. Cursed by a sorceress as a teenager for his father's murderous choices, he's faced no end of trauma, pain and endless suffering on the waves, isolated and longing to just feel the sand beneath his feet. Doraan is determined, and desperate, to follow any and all leads to break the curse and taste the freedom that has been so tantalisingly close his whole life. Stoic, battle toughened, and hardy, Doraan just wants to get himself and his crew back home, in Kamira he finds a kindred spirit, someone as youthful and mischievous as him, lighting up his soul and brining him relief from the endless weight that has sat so heavy on his shoulders all these years.
Kamira on the other hand is head-strong, fearless and unbelievably strong, and has one hell of a razor sharp wit. Running from the life that was forced upon her, she finds refuge on The Cursed Soul. Wily and resourceful, and full of determination to escape her old life and forge a new one, filled with freedom, where she can be herself completely and embrace her powers without having to hide behind the mask expected of her in a world that hunts witches. The isolation and loneliness of being away from her family, and the exhaustion of having to constantly hide her abilities as a sorceress was truly so moving and palpable. Kamira comes from a wealthy family, brought up to control and suffocate her powres, Kamira has never felt so free as she does out on the sea, allowing her magic to roam and play, brings a new form of release, and a child like joy she long ago forgot. However, the fear of being discovered by the crew, and the frosty, rigid captain, keeps her power slightly concealed, with the additional fear of their unknown reactions. Watching her come into her own throughout the storyline, embracing and finding joy and love for her magic was so empowering and incredible, she harbours this endearing child like wonder, and it was so moving and inspirational to see her tapping into a childhood she never really got to have in a world so intent on suffocating her powers, and chaining her to a life of obedience.
Honestly, I was blown away by this story. Get ready for a swashbuckling, high seas adventure with intense stakes, and some truly remarkable and vibrant characters. This story is brimming with political intrigue, and deep secrets, it'll immerse you into Kamira and Doraan's voyage with such ease, that you'll forget all about reality and make you fall in love with pirates all over again. Do prepare yourself for the ending though, because it had me GASPING and pacing the room, I am so invested in these character's journey's and with so many secrets still left to uncover, I am so excited to dive back into this world when the next book is released.
January 11, 2024
Pirates, Magic, Adventure and a race to find answers before war breaks out!
I’ve previously read K.C.’s book, A Lust for Blood and absolutely loved it, so when I saw they had written a new book I was really excited. I’ve been avoiding the Young Adult genre as of late but the pirates plot and knowing K.C.’s writing style it had me so intrigued and am I ever glad I did!
This book is a fabulously fresh read!
ARC kindly provided from the author/publisher via BookSirens for an honest review.
Doraan and his crew are cursed to only walk on land once a year, and when they do as ghosts to only observe and never interact with their loved ones. They’ve been at sea for over 10 years waiting for someone to break the curse. When it becomes obvious no one else can help, Doraan takes on the task of breaking the curse himself, but where do they begin?
Kamira is on the run and must hide who she really is or run the risk of being killed by the current king who has a no magic policy. With her people being slaughtered, she finds refuge on a ship of pirates. As she tries to keep who she is a secret from those on the ship, they all begin to wonder if Kamira finding them is exactly what they need to break the curse.
This book was an incredibly fun read. K.C. took a little bit of Pirates of the Caribbean, a little bit of Avatar: The Legend of Korra, their great fantasy world building and spun it all into this magical high seas adventure. There is such a bigger world built here that was only just touched on in this first instalment of the series, that I can’t wait for the next book!! Speaking of can’t wait until the next book; THAT CLIFFHANGER TWIST! I did not see that coming, and immediately went running to see when the next book is due for publication. 2025 cannot come fast enough.
I stated earlier I haven’t been in the mood for YA books lately and it’s true, but this book wasn’t too heavy on the YA front. The characters are youngish (early 20s), but I felt were written so well. I often find it exasperating when you’ve got young characters who don’t act they’re age or their actions just seem out of place for the situation. There were times where Doraan’s reactions felt a little like a preteen throwing a temper tantrum instead of a 24 year old, but one of the older crew immediately puts him in his place and we’re reminded he’s been the youngest alone on the ship for 10 years with no interaction with anyone else his age for a decade. It just solidified my love of this found family crew. I noticed several had listed this as a YA Romance. It isn’t really, maybe the small inkling of something that could become something in the future. Predominantly, this book is about found family supporting each other in times of great need.
Thank’s to this book I’m definitely on a Pirate genre kick to start 2024!
I’ve previously read K.C.’s book, A Lust for Blood and absolutely loved it, so when I saw they had written a new book I was really excited. I’ve been avoiding the Young Adult genre as of late but the pirates plot and knowing K.C.’s writing style it had me so intrigued and am I ever glad I did!
This book is a fabulously fresh read!
ARC kindly provided from the author/publisher via BookSirens for an honest review.
Doraan and his crew are cursed to only walk on land once a year, and when they do as ghosts to only observe and never interact with their loved ones. They’ve been at sea for over 10 years waiting for someone to break the curse. When it becomes obvious no one else can help, Doraan takes on the task of breaking the curse himself, but where do they begin?
Kamira is on the run and must hide who she really is or run the risk of being killed by the current king who has a no magic policy. With her people being slaughtered, she finds refuge on a ship of pirates. As she tries to keep who she is a secret from those on the ship, they all begin to wonder if Kamira finding them is exactly what they need to break the curse.
This book was an incredibly fun read. K.C. took a little bit of Pirates of the Caribbean, a little bit of Avatar: The Legend of Korra, their great fantasy world building and spun it all into this magical high seas adventure. There is such a bigger world built here that was only just touched on in this first instalment of the series, that I can’t wait for the next book!! Speaking of can’t wait until the next book; THAT CLIFFHANGER TWIST! I did not see that coming, and immediately went running to see when the next book is due for publication. 2025 cannot come fast enough.
I stated earlier I haven’t been in the mood for YA books lately and it’s true, but this book wasn’t too heavy on the YA front. The characters are youngish (early 20s), but I felt were written so well. I often find it exasperating when you’ve got young characters who don’t act they’re age or their actions just seem out of place for the situation. There were times where Doraan’s reactions felt a little like a preteen throwing a temper tantrum instead of a 24 year old, but one of the older crew immediately puts him in his place and we’re reminded he’s been the youngest alone on the ship for 10 years with no interaction with anyone else his age for a decade. It just solidified my love of this found family crew. I noticed several had listed this as a YA Romance. It isn’t really, maybe the small inkling of something that could become something in the future. Predominantly, this book is about found family supporting each other in times of great need.
Thank’s to this book I’m definitely on a Pirate genre kick to start 2024!
October 21, 2023
A Pirate ship. A Sorceress. A Curse.
Embark on an exhilarating journey into the depth of this mesmerising Fantasy world, if you're a fan of " The pirates of Caribbean ". Set in a fictional Fantasy world, " The Cursed Soul" will sweep you off your feet with elemental magic, sorcery, and powerplays. First book in the duology "Waves of Sorcery", this is an incredible work by K.C.Smith.
Unfolding amidst the windswept seas, the story begins when Doraan and his crew head towards Aksahri for their yearly family visit. Cursed to never walk on land, The crew of the ship " The Cursed Soul" has been roaming the seas for ten years as pirates. Beginning with anticipation and Excitement, the visit eventually turns out to be a nightmare they were not prepared for.
At the right Instance, Kamira, who was fleeing from the land, gets aboard the ship anchored in the sea, being the first one to board the ship in ten years apart from the crew. she hid herself as a boy in the ship, expecting to alight in the next shore, unaware of the curse and the crew. Afterall, she, herself had dangerous secrets.
Cormac, the quartermaster, is my favourite character in the story. The man had a sharp eye and mind, spoting everything and facing adversities head on, leading the entire crew and even Doraan sometimes. Forcina's character, though negative, was hard for me to hate knowing her backstory, and the entry of the emerald king made her less villainous, inspite of the fear elicited by her on Jaario and the sorcerers in temple of Gorria.
" The Cursed Soul " is an epic tale that combines elemental magic, sorcery, and piracy
into one thrilling adventure. From the very beginning, the readers are transported to the world of gifted and ungifted, where elements had immense power and political powerplays are on. It follows the Journey of Doraan, Kamira and the crew of "The Cursed Soul".
the elemental magic is well developed and perfectly woven to the plotline. Going on a smooth pace, the book has right amount of action, adventure and suspense until the very end. Every character, even the Jaario, who appeared only in two chapters, were exquisitely crafted, having their own personalities, backstories, flaws and ambitions.
The writing style is vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture in the mind of the reader, taking them along with the characters. and the climax.... - WHAT A CLIFFHANGER IT WAS..?!!!
The ending had me reeling for sometime, turning the nextpage in vain and wondering what'll happen next. Since the beginning, The book has been a pageturner, capturing reader inside the pages. The author succeeded in keeping the suspense until the very end and after it, Leaving a lot of questions in the reader's mind, which most possibly will be answered in the next book in the series.
overall, this is a fantastic read for anyone who loves fantasy, magic and pirates. Highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a thrilling adventure on the high seas filled with sorcery.
Embark on an exhilarating journey into the depth of this mesmerising Fantasy world, if you're a fan of " The pirates of Caribbean ". Set in a fictional Fantasy world, " The Cursed Soul" will sweep you off your feet with elemental magic, sorcery, and powerplays. First book in the duology "Waves of Sorcery", this is an incredible work by K.C.Smith.
Unfolding amidst the windswept seas, the story begins when Doraan and his crew head towards Aksahri for their yearly family visit. Cursed to never walk on land, The crew of the ship " The Cursed Soul" has been roaming the seas for ten years as pirates. Beginning with anticipation and Excitement, the visit eventually turns out to be a nightmare they were not prepared for.
At the right Instance, Kamira, who was fleeing from the land, gets aboard the ship anchored in the sea, being the first one to board the ship in ten years apart from the crew. she hid herself as a boy in the ship, expecting to alight in the next shore, unaware of the curse and the crew. Afterall, she, herself had dangerous secrets.
Cormac, the quartermaster, is my favourite character in the story. The man had a sharp eye and mind, spoting everything and facing adversities head on, leading the entire crew and even Doraan sometimes. Forcina's character, though negative, was hard for me to hate knowing her backstory, and the entry of the emerald king made her less villainous, inspite of the fear elicited by her on Jaario and the sorcerers in temple of Gorria.
" The Cursed Soul " is an epic tale that combines elemental magic, sorcery, and piracy
into one thrilling adventure. From the very beginning, the readers are transported to the world of gifted and ungifted, where elements had immense power and political powerplays are on. It follows the Journey of Doraan, Kamira and the crew of "The Cursed Soul".
the elemental magic is well developed and perfectly woven to the plotline. Going on a smooth pace, the book has right amount of action, adventure and suspense until the very end. Every character, even the Jaario, who appeared only in two chapters, were exquisitely crafted, having their own personalities, backstories, flaws and ambitions.
The writing style is vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture in the mind of the reader, taking them along with the characters. and the climax.... - WHAT A CLIFFHANGER IT WAS..?!!!
The ending had me reeling for sometime, turning the nextpage in vain and wondering what'll happen next. Since the beginning, The book has been a pageturner, capturing reader inside the pages. The author succeeded in keeping the suspense until the very end and after it, Leaving a lot of questions in the reader's mind, which most possibly will be answered in the next book in the series.
overall, this is a fantastic read for anyone who loves fantasy, magic and pirates. Highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a thrilling adventure on the high seas filled with sorcery.
October 4, 2023
The Cursed Soul is the first book in Smith's Waves of Sorcery series. It is a fantasy novel featuring Kamira and Doraan.
In an attempt to flee the city of Aksahri, Kamira runs to the dock and jumps into the first boat she sees. She rows and rows, watching the shoreline get further and further away. She does not have a plan, and is not properly attired for the cold or the wet. As luck would have it, she finds a ship and sneaks aboard and finds clothing to disguise herself as a male. She plans to stowaway until the next port, and then sneak off to start her life anew.
The ship is the Cursed Soul, and Doraan is its captain. He and his crew have been aboard the vessel for over 10 years. They have been cursed and cannot set foot on land, with one tiny exception. They survive as pirates, attacking weaker ships at sea.
Kamira is a Sorceress, one who can channel and manipulate the elements. She has an affinity for water. Unfortunately she lives in a time where the Ungifted have usurped power and have endeavoured to rid the world of all Elementalists, like herself. She has lived her life hiding her abilities, and the little she knows, she learned from her mother and brother, the only other people she knows with gifts.
Doraan and the crew of the Cursed Soul were cursed by a Sorceress, and therefore some of them have some deep seated anger and resentments towards those who are gifted. When she is discovered aboard the Cursed Soul, Kamira not only needs to hide that she is a female, but that she is a Sorceress. However she alone may be the key to unlocking the curse and allowing them to finally return home.
This book was delightfully captivating, filled with excitement, adventure and intrigue. Every time the story ebbed, it was only for a moment before throwing us into a new twist or turn. Smith did such a fantastic job with this book. I love that both a map and pronunciation guide are included at the beginning. I find they always help enhance the reading experience when authors build worlds. She also has a wonderful array of characters. I am keen to learn more about Cormac, Adonis and Forcina! And I love Kamira's expressions, such as "Bleeding Stars!" Every time it made me giggle.
This book ends with a mega cliffhanger! I have no idea when the next book is planned for release, but it can't come fast enough.
Now for my #NewToMeWord...
Hawsepipe - an inclined pipe leading from a hawse hole to the side of a ship, containing the shank of the anchor when the anchor is raised
In an attempt to flee the city of Aksahri, Kamira runs to the dock and jumps into the first boat she sees. She rows and rows, watching the shoreline get further and further away. She does not have a plan, and is not properly attired for the cold or the wet. As luck would have it, she finds a ship and sneaks aboard and finds clothing to disguise herself as a male. She plans to stowaway until the next port, and then sneak off to start her life anew.
The ship is the Cursed Soul, and Doraan is its captain. He and his crew have been aboard the vessel for over 10 years. They have been cursed and cannot set foot on land, with one tiny exception. They survive as pirates, attacking weaker ships at sea.
Kamira is a Sorceress, one who can channel and manipulate the elements. She has an affinity for water. Unfortunately she lives in a time where the Ungifted have usurped power and have endeavoured to rid the world of all Elementalists, like herself. She has lived her life hiding her abilities, and the little she knows, she learned from her mother and brother, the only other people she knows with gifts.
Doraan and the crew of the Cursed Soul were cursed by a Sorceress, and therefore some of them have some deep seated anger and resentments towards those who are gifted. When she is discovered aboard the Cursed Soul, Kamira not only needs to hide that she is a female, but that she is a Sorceress. However she alone may be the key to unlocking the curse and allowing them to finally return home.
This book was delightfully captivating, filled with excitement, adventure and intrigue. Every time the story ebbed, it was only for a moment before throwing us into a new twist or turn. Smith did such a fantastic job with this book. I love that both a map and pronunciation guide are included at the beginning. I find they always help enhance the reading experience when authors build worlds. She also has a wonderful array of characters. I am keen to learn more about Cormac, Adonis and Forcina! And I love Kamira's expressions, such as "Bleeding Stars!" Every time it made me giggle.
This book ends with a mega cliffhanger! I have no idea when the next book is planned for release, but it can't come fast enough.
Now for my #NewToMeWord...
Hawsepipe - an inclined pipe leading from a hawse hole to the side of a ship, containing the shank of the anchor when the anchor is raised
October 21, 2023
🏴☠️🌊𝔹𝕆𝕆𝕂•ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎🌊🏴☠️
🌊𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝚄𝚁𝚂𝙴𝙳 𝚂𝙾𝚄𝙻 𝙱𝚈 𝙺.𝙲. 𝚂𝙼𝙸𝚃𝙷
🌊𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️//𝟻
★☆★
𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 @balancingbooksandcoffee 𝗮𝗻𝗱 @rrbooktours 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!
What an amazing story this was!! If you love Fantasy, Pirates, Elemental Magic, & Found Family, then look no further because this is the book for you!
This book follows Doraan and Kamira and their story. Doraan is a cursed pirate captain of The Cursed Soul, and can only set foot on land one day a year. Kamira is a young sorceress in hiding and on the run. She boards The Cursed Soul disguised as a boy, and hides the fact that she is a sorceress out of fear.
I really loved the characters and the dynamic between Doraan and Kamira! Their friendship was so important to me and the Found Family vibes were so amazing. I was so happy that Kamira seemed to find a new home amongst the crew of The Cursed Soul. Kamira is an amazing FMC: she’s strong and fearless while also being gentle and caring. I loved the trust that blossomed between her and Doraan and their chemistry was amazing in a platonic way.
As a reader of primarily romance, I was a bit nervous because there isn’t any romance in this book. But the friendship between these two, and honestly the whole pirate crew, was absolutely everything to me! I loved seeing them grow to trust each other more. And we also get the Dual POV between Kamira and Doraan, which in my personal opinion, was perfect! I love Dual POV and being able to see the story from different points of view.
The world building and lore was also amazingly written. The pacing was perfect and I loved seeing each characters growth throughout the story. It was definitely a page turner and had me so enthralled throughout the whole story. It was definitely easy to get lost in this world! I think there is a lot that can be expanded on throughout the series as more books come out and I can’t wait to find out everything!
This books ends on one heck of a cliffhanger, so just be prepared to scream and want to throw your book across the room! I am absolutely needed Book 2, like, yesterday! I really loved this read so much. Overall, I highly recommend this book, especially if you love Pirates, Fantasy, and amazing Found Family and Friendship!
★☆★
🌊𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝚄𝚁𝚂𝙴𝙳 𝚂𝙾𝚄𝙻 𝙱𝚈 𝙺.𝙲. 𝚂𝙼𝙸𝚃𝙷
🌊𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️//𝟻
★☆★
𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 @balancingbooksandcoffee 𝗮𝗻𝗱 @rrbooktours 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!
What an amazing story this was!! If you love Fantasy, Pirates, Elemental Magic, & Found Family, then look no further because this is the book for you!
This book follows Doraan and Kamira and their story. Doraan is a cursed pirate captain of The Cursed Soul, and can only set foot on land one day a year. Kamira is a young sorceress in hiding and on the run. She boards The Cursed Soul disguised as a boy, and hides the fact that she is a sorceress out of fear.
I really loved the characters and the dynamic between Doraan and Kamira! Their friendship was so important to me and the Found Family vibes were so amazing. I was so happy that Kamira seemed to find a new home amongst the crew of The Cursed Soul. Kamira is an amazing FMC: she’s strong and fearless while also being gentle and caring. I loved the trust that blossomed between her and Doraan and their chemistry was amazing in a platonic way.
As a reader of primarily romance, I was a bit nervous because there isn’t any romance in this book. But the friendship between these two, and honestly the whole pirate crew, was absolutely everything to me! I loved seeing them grow to trust each other more. And we also get the Dual POV between Kamira and Doraan, which in my personal opinion, was perfect! I love Dual POV and being able to see the story from different points of view.
The world building and lore was also amazingly written. The pacing was perfect and I loved seeing each characters growth throughout the story. It was definitely a page turner and had me so enthralled throughout the whole story. It was definitely easy to get lost in this world! I think there is a lot that can be expanded on throughout the series as more books come out and I can’t wait to find out everything!
This books ends on one heck of a cliffhanger, so just be prepared to scream and want to throw your book across the room! I am absolutely needed Book 2, like, yesterday! I really loved this read so much. Overall, I highly recommend this book, especially if you love Pirates, Fantasy, and amazing Found Family and Friendship!
★☆★
October 18, 2023
I received The Cursed Soul in return for an honest review as the tour hosted by R&R Book Tours.
Doraan is cursed he has been for over 10 years after he killed the son of a sorceress and in return she forced him to become a pirate unable to walk on land. However, it's becoming more important for him to break the curse to save he sets out on a mission to break the curse. Kamira is fleeing from the only life she's known after having to protect herself she ends up on board The Cursed Soul as if fate brough her to Doraan and his cursed crew. With the help of Kamira will they be able to break the curse.
I really like Doraan as a character he may be a pirate but he's not your typical pirate and his whole crew was cursed into this life. I just love Kamira she's a sweetheart who pretends to be a boy to save her life. I really liked Cormac he's the perfect partner in crime for Doraan and support after everything they've been through. I think the sweet chemistry between Doraan and Kamira fits the story perfectly.
The author did a beautiful job creating a captivating story that kept me hooked till the very end. The characters are engaging and I found myself able to connect with both of the main characters. The dual pov is one of my favorite parts of the story because I enjoyed seeing what they both were thinking. I haven't read a lot of pirate stories but this one I found unique and exciting I couldn't wait to know what would happen next on their adventure.
This is my first book by the author and I loved every moment of the story I ended up devouring it in one afternoon. The Cursed Soul is an action packed whirlwind adventure that kept me on the edge of the set till the very end I couldn't wait to see what happens next. I really enjoyed the story and love the budding relationship between Dorran and Kamira. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to see how everything plays out and in the meantime I plan to read the authors other book because I really enjoyed her storytelling.
Doraan is cursed he has been for over 10 years after he killed the son of a sorceress and in return she forced him to become a pirate unable to walk on land. However, it's becoming more important for him to break the curse to save he sets out on a mission to break the curse. Kamira is fleeing from the only life she's known after having to protect herself she ends up on board The Cursed Soul as if fate brough her to Doraan and his cursed crew. With the help of Kamira will they be able to break the curse.
I really like Doraan as a character he may be a pirate but he's not your typical pirate and his whole crew was cursed into this life. I just love Kamira she's a sweetheart who pretends to be a boy to save her life. I really liked Cormac he's the perfect partner in crime for Doraan and support after everything they've been through. I think the sweet chemistry between Doraan and Kamira fits the story perfectly.
The author did a beautiful job creating a captivating story that kept me hooked till the very end. The characters are engaging and I found myself able to connect with both of the main characters. The dual pov is one of my favorite parts of the story because I enjoyed seeing what they both were thinking. I haven't read a lot of pirate stories but this one I found unique and exciting I couldn't wait to know what would happen next on their adventure.
This is my first book by the author and I loved every moment of the story I ended up devouring it in one afternoon. The Cursed Soul is an action packed whirlwind adventure that kept me on the edge of the set till the very end I couldn't wait to see what happens next. I really enjoyed the story and love the budding relationship between Dorran and Kamira. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to see how everything plays out and in the meantime I plan to read the authors other book because I really enjoyed her storytelling.
November 16, 2023
4.5
The Cursed Soul is a story of a crew cursed to be on waters and never set foot on land and a sorceress unknowingly boarding it while docked trying to escape her faith. It follows both the MCs, Doraan, captain of the ship, and Kamira, the sorceress who must keep her identity hidden if she wants to survive.
In the beginning, I was sure the plot of the story was simple, or at least we had all the pieces together, there is an FMC, and MMC, a crew that works best as a side character and a villain with evil intent. So the plot twists that hit especially the secrets that Kamira hides or the last 50 pages when I was not sure what or who to trust anymore, I was not ready for any of it.
Coming on to the characters, Doraan has had my heart ever since the first chapter, he went through so much at such a young age, paying for someone else’s sin and having his life snatched away from him. and the ending was such a massive cliffhanger, I don’t know what to make of it. He also struggles with a disability and his vulnerability and pain with having a wooden leg was something that was done right. I am always hesitant to pick books with a disability because I don’t know if the author would get it right, K.C.Smith gets it.
Kamira was a strong FMC and I loved her, especially in the scenes where she let her powers be seen, she was perfect. However, in a few scenes, she comes out as a spoiled girl, her laughing at everything simply because she didn’t believe in it was a little annoying but thankfully that didn’t happen often. Also, she left Jaario to be tortured when the guy only helped her, her brother promised to come back for him but honestly, I don’t trust Adonis and I think Kamira had similar feelings even though blurry.
All the characters including the ones that were merely introduced and not seen again were beautifully crafted. One of my favorite things about the book was Doraan and Kamira’s friendship and how they slowly started trusting each other with their lives.
Thank you K.C. Smith and Book of Matches Media for eARC
The Cursed Soul is a story of a crew cursed to be on waters and never set foot on land and a sorceress unknowingly boarding it while docked trying to escape her faith. It follows both the MCs, Doraan, captain of the ship, and Kamira, the sorceress who must keep her identity hidden if she wants to survive.
In the beginning, I was sure the plot of the story was simple, or at least we had all the pieces together, there is an FMC, and MMC, a crew that works best as a side character and a villain with evil intent. So the plot twists that hit especially the secrets that Kamira hides or the last 50 pages when I was not sure what or who to trust anymore, I was not ready for any of it.
Coming on to the characters, Doraan has had my heart ever since the first chapter, he went through so much at such a young age, paying for someone else’s sin and having his life snatched away from him. and the ending was such a massive cliffhanger, I don’t know what to make of it. He also struggles with a disability and his vulnerability and pain with having a wooden leg was something that was done right. I am always hesitant to pick books with a disability because I don’t know if the author would get it right, K.C.Smith gets it.
Kamira was a strong FMC and I loved her, especially in the scenes where she let her powers be seen, she was perfect. However, in a few scenes, she comes out as a spoiled girl, her laughing at everything simply because she didn’t believe in it was a little annoying but thankfully that didn’t happen often. Also, she left Jaario to be tortured when the guy only helped her, her brother promised to come back for him but honestly, I don’t trust Adonis and I think Kamira had similar feelings even though blurry.
All the characters including the ones that were merely introduced and not seen again were beautifully crafted. One of my favorite things about the book was Doraan and Kamira’s friendship and how they slowly started trusting each other with their lives.
Thank you K.C. Smith and Book of Matches Media for eARC
October 16, 2023
This was an excellent fantasy read. I would definitely classify it as a YA, as there was no spice or romance of any kind. But the adventure aspect of this book was absolutely fantastic! You've got a young woman with magical powers that she must keep hidden, cursed pirates, battles on the sea and a crazed, power hungry sorceress. Kamira is a Legion, an elemental with the power of the four elements. Elementals have been hunted and killed by the current emperor, especially Legions due to their unmatched power. Doraan is the captain of cursed pirate crew, and has been under the curse of Forcina for over ten years. All he and his crew want is to break this curse so they can go home. But how do you break a curse when you can't leave the ship, and no one outside of the crew can board?
Kamira is running away from a crime she committed when she rows out to the ocean. Expecting to die, she's surprised when she sees a ship anchored. Hoping to stow away, she sneaks aboard the ship and disguises herself as a boy. It isn't long before her ruse is up, and the crew and its captain is left wondering how did a member outside of the cursed crew come aboard? Kamira and Doraan form an unlikely yet strong friendship, and both confide with each other their secrets. However, Kamira withholds the fact that she's a sorceress because of who Doraan's father is. Kamira is determined to help them break their curse, and Doraan promises to keep her safe. But is Doraan willing to pay the price needed to break his curse? And what will happen when Kamira's identity is revealed? And who is the Emerald King determined to overthrow the emperor?
This was a high adventure, fantasy book that was wonderful! I definitely recommend for those who love a fantasy book with some mystery and intrigue. I'm excited to see what happens next for Kamira and Doraan and the crew of the Cursed Soul.
Kamira is running away from a crime she committed when she rows out to the ocean. Expecting to die, she's surprised when she sees a ship anchored. Hoping to stow away, she sneaks aboard the ship and disguises herself as a boy. It isn't long before her ruse is up, and the crew and its captain is left wondering how did a member outside of the cursed crew come aboard? Kamira and Doraan form an unlikely yet strong friendship, and both confide with each other their secrets. However, Kamira withholds the fact that she's a sorceress because of who Doraan's father is. Kamira is determined to help them break their curse, and Doraan promises to keep her safe. But is Doraan willing to pay the price needed to break his curse? And what will happen when Kamira's identity is revealed? And who is the Emerald King determined to overthrow the emperor?
This was a high adventure, fantasy book that was wonderful! I definitely recommend for those who love a fantasy book with some mystery and intrigue. I'm excited to see what happens next for Kamira and Doraan and the crew of the Cursed Soul.
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