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The Bloodstone's Curse
Armies gather. Dark magic stirs. A renewed threat stands at the heart of it all.
After Eamonn's captivity and Leyna's daring rescue, both long to return to a normal life. Their peace is short-lived when a new amulet emerges—powered by Eamonn's blood and wielded by Rothgard, who they presumed to be dead.
As Rothgard seizes control of the provinces, Eamonn is determined to make up for his failures by visiting the magical realm of Avaria. While learning more about his newly discovered heritage, Eamonn contends with the darker side of his power—and what he's willing to risk for revenge.
With new alliances come greater challenges and deeper betrayals. Eamonn and Leyna find themselves torn between love and vengeance while the future of their country hangs in the balance.
After Eamonn's captivity and Leyna's daring rescue, both long to return to a normal life. Their peace is short-lived when a new amulet emerges—powered by Eamonn's blood and wielded by Rothgard, who they presumed to be dead.
As Rothgard seizes control of the provinces, Eamonn is determined to make up for his failures by visiting the magical realm of Avaria. While learning more about his newly discovered heritage, Eamonn contends with the darker side of his power—and what he's willing to risk for revenge.
With new alliances come greater challenges and deeper betrayals. Eamonn and Leyna find themselves torn between love and vengeance while the future of their country hangs in the balance.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 7, 2023
3 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Angela Knotts Morse
5 books57 followersANGELA KNOTTS MORSE is a lover of fantasy, musicals, good food, and cats. Though her background lies in laboratory science, she is living her dream as an author writing magical stories. Her days are filled with taking care of her three young children, her greatest blessings, but she manages to squeeze in time for writing late at night when the house is quiet.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 9, 2023
Yessssss that walking the line and in the gray fully! Love more capturing you in every way and just will PULL you in!
I received this ARC for an honest review.
I received this ARC for an honest review.
November 8, 2024
I enjoyed the continuation of the story, though Eamonn drove me absolutely crazy at times! Be warned. I absolutely loved the section in Avaria! I wish it continued for longer. I’m looking forward to reading book 3 when it comes out!
October 24, 2023
(I received an ARC and will give an honest review)
Angela Knotts Morse continues the beautiful worldbuilding and the vibes of classic fantasy in this second installment. She also ups the stakes of magic and romance (clean) in a way that keeps the reader captivated throughout the majority of the book.
With raised stakes and an expanded world, I found myself tearing through about half of the book, before things started to slow down. It became hard to cheer for the main characters as they made terrible decisions and the romance died out with Eamonn's morally grey, possible corruption. But the introduction of new characters (and one old one who came back) kept it interesting for me.
Ending on a cliffhanger, this novel kept me hoping for the best from the following installment and crossing my fingers for the redemption of the characters that were more loveable before magic ruined everything.
Angela Knotts Morse continues the beautiful worldbuilding and the vibes of classic fantasy in this second installment. She also ups the stakes of magic and romance (clean) in a way that keeps the reader captivated throughout the majority of the book.
With raised stakes and an expanded world, I found myself tearing through about half of the book, before things started to slow down. It became hard to cheer for the main characters as they made terrible decisions and the romance died out with Eamonn's morally grey, possible corruption. But the introduction of new characters (and one old one who came back) kept it interesting for me.
Ending on a cliffhanger, this novel kept me hoping for the best from the following installment and crossing my fingers for the redemption of the characters that were more loveable before magic ruined everything.
November 7, 2023
Endorsement:
Welcome back to Sarieth! The sequel to The Thief’s Relic doesn’t disappoint. Morse layers politics, magic, darkness, and light as our heroes navigate new relationships and heavy responsibilities. Questions are answered—and more questions arise, ending in a show-down that’s worth the wait.
If you enjoy YA fantasy that has that same ancient feel of great fantasy classics, you’ll enjoy this book! Between the romance, betrayal, intrigue, and strategy, book two has given us solid footing for why things have happened the way they did. And for your romantasy lovers out there? This book takes the romance up a notch compared to book one! But the deeper the love, the deeper the heartbreak…that’s all I’ll say.
Can’t wait to see how Morse pulls it all together in book three!
Welcome back to Sarieth! The sequel to The Thief’s Relic doesn’t disappoint. Morse layers politics, magic, darkness, and light as our heroes navigate new relationships and heavy responsibilities. Questions are answered—and more questions arise, ending in a show-down that’s worth the wait.
If you enjoy YA fantasy that has that same ancient feel of great fantasy classics, you’ll enjoy this book! Between the romance, betrayal, intrigue, and strategy, book two has given us solid footing for why things have happened the way they did. And for your romantasy lovers out there? This book takes the romance up a notch compared to book one! But the deeper the love, the deeper the heartbreak…that’s all I’ll say.
Can’t wait to see how Morse pulls it all together in book three!
July 19, 2023
Even better than the first! The line between light and dark grows thinner by the page in Angela Morse's captivating tale of corrupting power and enduring love that will leave readers eager to uncover secrets and join the rebellion.
-Kayla Ann, author of Well of Dreams
-Kayla Ann, author of Well of Dreams
December 14, 2025
If you love fantasy sequels that deepen the magic, complicate the characters, and raise the emotional stakes, The Bloodstone’s Curse delivers precisely that. As the second installment in Angela Knotts Morse’s Son of Avaria trilogy, this book leans into the messy middle in the best way—expanding the world, testing loyalties, and forcing its hero to confront truths he can no longer ignore.
Returning to Avaria
Picking up after the events of The Thief’s Relic, The Bloodstone’s Curse finds Eamonn and Leyna hoping—briefly—for peace. That hope doesn’t last long. A dangerous magical artifact resurfaces, one tied intimately to blood, power, and legacy, and its appearance threatens to unravel everything the characters fought for in book one.
What truly works here is how the story balances external danger with internal conflict. This isn’t just about stopping a villain or surviving another quest—it’s about identity, inheritance, and the cost of power. The stakes feel sharper because they’re personal.
Character Growth Takes Center Stage
Eamonn’s arc is the emotional backbone of this novel. He’s no longer simply reacting to events; he’s grappling with who he is and what his abilities mean. The weight of expectation, fear of corruption, and pull of vengeance all collide in ways that feel organic and compelling.
Leyna continues to be a strong presence—steadfast, brave, and emotionally grounded. The relationship between Eamonn and Leyna adds heart to the story without overpowering it. Their bond feels tested by circumstance rather than manufactured drama, which makes it all the more satisfying.
Expanding the Magic and the World
One of the highlights of The Bloodstone’s Curse is how it broadens the world of Avaria. The magic system—particularly its connection to blood and lineage—becomes more layered and morally complex. Power here isn’t flashy for the sake of spectacle; it comes with consequences, and the story never lets you forget that.
Political tensions and shifting alliances add depth to the narrative, giving the book a slightly darker, more mature tone than its predecessor while still staying accessible to YA fantasy readers.
A True Middle Book (In a Good Way)
This is very much a second-book sequel—it builds, deepens, and complicates rather than resolves. Some threads are left deliberately open, and the pacing reflects its role as a bridge to the final installment. Rather than feeling frustrated, though, it creates anticipation and emotional investment in what’s to come.
Final Thoughts
The Bloodstone’s Curse is a strong continuation that trusts its readers to handle nuance, emotional complexity, and slow-burning tension. Fans of character-driven fantasy, thoughtful magic systems, and sequels that aren’t afraid to sit in uncertainty will find a lot to love here.
If you enjoyed The Thief’s Relic, this sequel doesn’t just revisit that world—it pushes it into darker, richer, more emotionally resonant territory.
Recommended for:
* YA fantasy readers who love character growth
* Fans of magic tied to blood, legacy, and consequence
* Readers who enjoy immersive second books that set up epic finales
Returning to Avaria
Picking up after the events of The Thief’s Relic, The Bloodstone’s Curse finds Eamonn and Leyna hoping—briefly—for peace. That hope doesn’t last long. A dangerous magical artifact resurfaces, one tied intimately to blood, power, and legacy, and its appearance threatens to unravel everything the characters fought for in book one.
What truly works here is how the story balances external danger with internal conflict. This isn’t just about stopping a villain or surviving another quest—it’s about identity, inheritance, and the cost of power. The stakes feel sharper because they’re personal.
Character Growth Takes Center Stage
Eamonn’s arc is the emotional backbone of this novel. He’s no longer simply reacting to events; he’s grappling with who he is and what his abilities mean. The weight of expectation, fear of corruption, and pull of vengeance all collide in ways that feel organic and compelling.
Leyna continues to be a strong presence—steadfast, brave, and emotionally grounded. The relationship between Eamonn and Leyna adds heart to the story without overpowering it. Their bond feels tested by circumstance rather than manufactured drama, which makes it all the more satisfying.
Expanding the Magic and the World
One of the highlights of The Bloodstone’s Curse is how it broadens the world of Avaria. The magic system—particularly its connection to blood and lineage—becomes more layered and morally complex. Power here isn’t flashy for the sake of spectacle; it comes with consequences, and the story never lets you forget that.
Political tensions and shifting alliances add depth to the narrative, giving the book a slightly darker, more mature tone than its predecessor while still staying accessible to YA fantasy readers.
A True Middle Book (In a Good Way)
This is very much a second-book sequel—it builds, deepens, and complicates rather than resolves. Some threads are left deliberately open, and the pacing reflects its role as a bridge to the final installment. Rather than feeling frustrated, though, it creates anticipation and emotional investment in what’s to come.
Final Thoughts
The Bloodstone’s Curse is a strong continuation that trusts its readers to handle nuance, emotional complexity, and slow-burning tension. Fans of character-driven fantasy, thoughtful magic systems, and sequels that aren’t afraid to sit in uncertainty will find a lot to love here.
If you enjoyed The Thief’s Relic, this sequel doesn’t just revisit that world—it pushes it into darker, richer, more emotionally resonant territory.
Recommended for:
* YA fantasy readers who love character growth
* Fans of magic tied to blood, legacy, and consequence
* Readers who enjoy immersive second books that set up epic finales
December 29, 2025
The Bloodstones Curse by Angela Knotts Morse is a captivating fantasy that delivers adventure, heart, and intrigue in equal measure. From the opening pages, the story pulls you into a richly imagined world where danger and discovery walk hand in hand. The plot is tightly woven, with clever twists that keep the stakes high and the pages turning.
What truly sets this book apart is its characters. The protagonist is layered and compelling, balancing vulnerability with strength, while the supporting cast adds depth and emotional weight to the journey. The author does an excellent job blending action with quieter, character-driven moments, making the story feel both exciting and meaningful.
With vivid world-building, strong pacing, and a satisfying emotional arc. It is a standout read for fantasy lovers and an amazing follow up to The Thief's Relic. It’s the kind of book that leaves you eager for more and thinking about the story long after you’ve finished. Highly recommended and cannot wait to finish this trilogy.
What truly sets this book apart is its characters. The protagonist is layered and compelling, balancing vulnerability with strength, while the supporting cast adds depth and emotional weight to the journey. The author does an excellent job blending action with quieter, character-driven moments, making the story feel both exciting and meaningful.
With vivid world-building, strong pacing, and a satisfying emotional arc. It is a standout read for fantasy lovers and an amazing follow up to The Thief's Relic. It’s the kind of book that leaves you eager for more and thinking about the story long after you’ve finished. Highly recommended and cannot wait to finish this trilogy.
November 25, 2023
I'm completely captivated in this second book to this series. It builds on the enchanting world, adding higher stakes and deeper romance, though the pacing stumbles midway. The characters' flawed choices make it hard to root for them, especially as the once-bright romance fades due to Eamonn's morally grey path. I thoroughly enjoy characters that feel real and have good and bad aspects about them. New faces keep things interesting, and a cliffhanger ending leaves me eager for the next book.
The author weaves politics, magic, and emotional turmoil seamlessly, giving weight to relationships and responsibilities. This YA fantasy, reminiscent of classic tales, balances romance, betrayal, and intrigue masterfully. As love intensifies, so does impending heartbreak, setting the stage for an intense final chapter.
I cannot wait to see where the author takes this story in future installments to the series!!
The author weaves politics, magic, and emotional turmoil seamlessly, giving weight to relationships and responsibilities. This YA fantasy, reminiscent of classic tales, balances romance, betrayal, and intrigue masterfully. As love intensifies, so does impending heartbreak, setting the stage for an intense final chapter.
I cannot wait to see where the author takes this story in future installments to the series!!
January 21, 2024
When Eamonn returns a broken man, both physically and mentally, he wants nothing more than for life to return to normal. But he has discovered magic, and as his urgency to seek revenge grows, his willingness to learn all he can about that magic intensifies. A trip to Avaria results in lessons learned and love found. But as Eamonn is torn between doing what is right in his heart and what he thinks is necessary, both choices could cause him to lose his first true love if the revenge he seeks is achieved.
The Bloodstone’s Curse did not disappoint. Each chapter added elements of conflict, both internally for the characters as well as the plot of the story. While the timespan of the book is short, Angela Morse infuses detail after detail into each chapter. I couldn’t help but feel the tension between the characters, and it kept me reading “just one more chapter.” And now, I patiently wait for the third installment.
The Bloodstone’s Curse did not disappoint. Each chapter added elements of conflict, both internally for the characters as well as the plot of the story. While the timespan of the book is short, Angela Morse infuses detail after detail into each chapter. I couldn’t help but feel the tension between the characters, and it kept me reading “just one more chapter.” And now, I patiently wait for the third installment.
November 5, 2023
The Thiefs Relic (Book 1) was intense, it introduced us to the amazing characters, the mystery and magic, and was a gripping YA Epic Adventure.
This book knocks everything up a notch, there's more magic, more drama, cunning plots, tragic secrets revealed, and it's darker.
Alongside old friends and new, boundaries are tested, lines are crossed, and fighting the corruptive powers is a balancing act between revenge, rage, trust and love.
Eamonn is being pushed into the morally grey depths he might not resurface from, and Leyna is battling her heart and morals to save him, from Rothgard and himself.
This was another intense journey with devastating betrayals, and the ending is a rollercoaster of emotions, need the final book asap!
This book knocks everything up a notch, there's more magic, more drama, cunning plots, tragic secrets revealed, and it's darker.
Alongside old friends and new, boundaries are tested, lines are crossed, and fighting the corruptive powers is a balancing act between revenge, rage, trust and love.
Eamonn is being pushed into the morally grey depths he might not resurface from, and Leyna is battling her heart and morals to save him, from Rothgard and himself.
This was another intense journey with devastating betrayals, and the ending is a rollercoaster of emotions, need the final book asap!
December 29, 2025
I love how I got to dive back in as if I never put down book one! I also really love how realistic Morse kept this situation. Eamonn is so blinded by vengeance that he has justified what he's doing/wanting to do with being the ONLY way - no matter right or wrong - to protect and save those he loves, but in doing so he's pushing those very people away and essentially risking his own corruption. Things are not as they seem, and they seem to be a step behind every time, esp with being so singlemindedly focused they are missing essential details! So excited to see how Morse wraps all this up in book three as another cliffhanger has left me with so many more questions and anticipation!
November 23, 2023
Here is an honest review. As I read the begining chapters of The Thief’s Relic, it took a bit for the story to draw me in. But as the story progressed, I saw the authors story telling grow and deepen and bring me in to the world of the Son of Avaria. This led me to read the second installment of this trilogy, and i genuinely enjoyed it! It took me two days to fly through the story that kept me captivated and interested, nervous and exited. My only complaint? The story ended! I’m looking forward to the third installment of this trilogy
November 3, 2023
This book had me hooked! It was so hard to put down after I started reading. I loved being introduced to more of the interesting world Morse has built and learn more about the magic system mentioned in the first book, The Thief's Relic. This book was a roller coaster of emotions, especially with the ending! (Honestly, I'm still trying to process the ending. I need the third book ASAP.) If you like YA fantasy books similar to Eragon, you might enjoy The Thief's Relic and The Bloodstone's Curse!
December 28, 2023
So much drama! So much angst! So many hard choices and watching a character make the wrong choices for reasons they think are good! I thought this book was stronger than the first one, and I liked learning more about the world and the magic. I'm still a little bit iffy about the Kaethiri but I have high hopes that more will be explained in the third book. And the way this book ended! WHAT?! I need to know what will happen!
November 13, 2024
Really enjoyed the next installment. I have to admit that Eamonn drove me crazy though. I won't give any reasons why as that would be spoilers, but suffice to say I really hope he shapes up! My favorite section was Avaria-related.
September 29, 2024
Just finished this book and I’m in something in a quandary.
I absolutely loved this book. The magic was awesome, the storyline compelling and the personal touch equally endearing. But like the author, I’m struggling to see a way forward.
Please don’t let that detract you from reading this book. Like book 1 , it was so worth a read and any suggestions to the author for a way forward would be most welcome.
I , for 1, am so happy I read this book. For me it was an empowering example of how channeling your temper and trying to stay calm is an example we all could use.
Enough of the lecture.
In conclusion this is a great fantasy book to read. You’ll be glad you did.
I absolutely loved this book. The magic was awesome, the storyline compelling and the personal touch equally endearing. But like the author, I’m struggling to see a way forward.
Please don’t let that detract you from reading this book. Like book 1 , it was so worth a read and any suggestions to the author for a way forward would be most welcome.
I , for 1, am so happy I read this book. For me it was an empowering example of how channeling your temper and trying to stay calm is an example we all could use.
Enough of the lecture.
In conclusion this is a great fantasy book to read. You’ll be glad you did.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews