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Dragon Cursed
AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Now optioned for film by Amazon MGM Studios!
The moment you see a dragon is usually your last…
Since the dragons emerged–along with the scourge that ravaged our lands and people–there’s only one human city that remains Vinguard.
But the hellfire from above is nothing compared to the threat from within. For there is no worse fate than being dragon cursed. Slowly and excruciatingly, you’ll be transformed into a mindless beast who destroys everything–and everyone–you love.
Any of us could be tainted. Any of us could be lying. Any of us could be caught and killed by the authorities.
And I’m terrified that I might be next.
There’s only one other person who might suspect my secret. He’s like my shadow, following me wherever I go. Part protector, part tormentor, fully annoying. Sometimes I think I am just one of the million unfathomable secrets he keeps hidden.
Because Lucan definitely knows something.
And if I’m dragon cursed, death might be the only mercy I get.
Now optioned for film by Amazon MGM Studios!
The moment you see a dragon is usually your last…
Since the dragons emerged–along with the scourge that ravaged our lands and people–there’s only one human city that remains Vinguard.
But the hellfire from above is nothing compared to the threat from within. For there is no worse fate than being dragon cursed. Slowly and excruciatingly, you’ll be transformed into a mindless beast who destroys everything–and everyone–you love.
Any of us could be tainted. Any of us could be lying. Any of us could be caught and killed by the authorities.
And I’m terrified that I might be next.
There’s only one other person who might suspect my secret. He’s like my shadow, following me wherever I go. Part protector, part tormentor, fully annoying. Sometimes I think I am just one of the million unfathomable secrets he keeps hidden.
Because Lucan definitely knows something.
And if I’m dragon cursed, death might be the only mercy I get.
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2026
489 people are currently reading
35113 people want to read
About the author
Elise Kova
54 books17.5k followersJoin Elise's mailing list to never miss a giveaway, release, sale, and more: https://elisekova.com/subscribe/
ELISE KOVA is a USA Today bestselling author. She enjoys telling stories of fantasy worlds filled with magic and deep emotions. She lives in Florida and, when not writing, can be found playing video games, drawing, chatting with readers on social media, or daydreaming about her next story.
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ELISE KOVA is a USA Today bestselling author. She enjoys telling stories of fantasy worlds filled with magic and deep emotions. She lives in Florida and, when not writing, can be found playing video games, drawing, chatting with readers on social media, or daydreaming about her next story.
Say Hello!
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
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January 5, 2026"After all, it takes monsters to kill monsters. And that is what they have made me."
End-of-the-world vibes, dragon edition. Love this for me/us.
End-of-the-world vibes, dragon edition. Love this for me/us.
January 16, 2026
5☆ 🗡️ 🐉 ❤️🔥 “𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙢𝙚”
wowWOWwow this was so good and refreshing!!! it’s also giving big elden ring vibes so love that 🤏🏻🙂↕️
our characters live in the last remaining human city, vinguard, after dragons and a deadly blight take everything out. at the age of 18 you are sent to the tribunal, a test to rule out if one is dragon cursed (aka a curse that slowly and painfully turns you into a mindless dragon) and let me tell you this “test” … what in the hell???
the plot had me gripped. this world is cruel but so interesting being we are contained to this one city that no one ventures outside of. it’s a dark fantasy vibe with a romance subplot with very good tension!! (i’m talking a slight brush of hands has you squealing)
₊˚⊹ ᰔ 𝖎𝖘𝖔𝖑𝖆 was such a good fmc. i love her determination throughout the whole book and was rooting for her the whole time!! i just wanted to hug her UGH. also her character development was very good!
⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ 𝖑𝖚𝖈𝖆𝖓 something about the quiet ones, who watch from a distance but are always there to step in and protect love it!!! also some of things we find out about him 🤫 my heart!!
the last 20% what the fuck was that? THAT SHIT HURT MY FUCKING FEELINGS😭😭 i am so unwell. screaming, crying and throwing up!!! also so many questions hellloooo book 2 right now!!
⋆˚₊ ➵ “ℐ𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓂𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇, 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇. ℬ𝓊𝓉 𝒶𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇, 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓅𝒾𝒸𝓀 𝓊𝓅 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝒷𝓇𝑜𝓀𝑒𝓃, 𝒿𝒶𝑔𝑔𝑒𝒹- 𝑒𝒹𝑔𝑒𝒹 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒹𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝑜𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝓌𝑒𝓇𝑒, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝒾𝓉 𝓈𝑜 𝒻𝒶𝓇 𝒹𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑜𝒶𝓉𝓈, 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝒶 𝓋𝑜𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝑜𝓊𝒷𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝑔𝒶𝒾𝓃” ➴˚.⋆
wowWOWwow this was so good and refreshing!!! it’s also giving big elden ring vibes so love that 🤏🏻🙂↕️
our characters live in the last remaining human city, vinguard, after dragons and a deadly blight take everything out. at the age of 18 you are sent to the tribunal, a test to rule out if one is dragon cursed (aka a curse that slowly and painfully turns you into a mindless dragon) and let me tell you this “test” … what in the hell???
the plot had me gripped. this world is cruel but so interesting being we are contained to this one city that no one ventures outside of. it’s a dark fantasy vibe with a romance subplot with very good tension!! (i’m talking a slight brush of hands has you squealing)
₊˚⊹ ᰔ 𝖎𝖘𝖔𝖑𝖆 was such a good fmc. i love her determination throughout the whole book and was rooting for her the whole time!! i just wanted to hug her UGH. also her character development was very good!
⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ 𝖑𝖚𝖈𝖆𝖓 something about the quiet ones, who watch from a distance but are always there to step in and protect love it!!! also some of things we find out about him 🤫 my heart!!
the last 20% what the fuck was that? THAT SHIT HURT MY FUCKING FEELINGS😭😭 i am so unwell. screaming, crying and throwing up!!! also so many questions hellloooo book 2 right now!!
⋆˚₊ ➵ “ℐ𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓂𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇, 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇. ℬ𝓊𝓉 𝒶𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇, 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓅𝒾𝒸𝓀 𝓊𝓅 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝒷𝓇𝑜𝓀𝑒𝓃, 𝒿𝒶𝑔𝑔𝑒𝒹- 𝑒𝒹𝑔𝑒𝒹 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒹𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝑜𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝓌𝑒𝓇𝑒, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝒾𝓉 𝓈𝑜 𝒻𝒶𝓇 𝒹𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑜𝒶𝓉𝓈, 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝒶 𝓋𝑜𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝑜𝓊𝒷𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝑔𝒶𝒾𝓃” ➴˚.⋆
January 22, 2026
2.75 ★— An explosive ending rarely saves a mediocre middle for me, and this book is no exception.
I’ve enjoyed many of Elise Kova’s series, so a dragon-focused YA romantasy from her was something I knew I couldn’t pass up. Unfortunately, Dragon Cursed disappointed me in quite a few ways, even though my expectations weren’t particularly high going in.
One of the biggest issues this book has is the constant telling instead of showing. The story never trusts the reader to interpret anything on their own. Every potentially interesting interaction, emotional beat, or bit of tension is immediately broken down and explained by the text itself. Nothing is allowed to breathe, and it becomes exhausting very quickly.
Another major problem is the extremely mediocre middle section. The majority of the book takes place in a trial-like environment, where the heroine has to survive various tasks while working alongside other characters. If you’re going to make a trial arc the core of your story, it has to be compelling and filled with alllll the tension, danger, and strong character dynamics.
But… nothing. This book delivers the most uncooked chicken romance imaginable. As I mentioned earlier, every feeling the FMC and MMC have for each other is spoon-fed to the reader, and even then, the emotional payoff is nonexistent. The side characters fare no better, including the heroine’s supposed best friend, who never felt truly developed or important.
In general, the trials themselves weren’t interesting or well thought out, and I never felt the sense of danger or urgency that should come with a plot involving young people being placed in life-threatening situations to potentially trigger a curse. The stakes just didn't feel real.
The ending throws a lot at you, with multiple shocking moments and revelations, but because I was never invested in the characters or the story that this book set up, this didn’t land for me at all. If anything, I felt mostly overwhelmed with what was set up in the last few chapters in the story.
All this is so frustrating, because the ideas here have the potential to be interesting. The romance could have worked! And I genuinely enjoyed the dragon lore and how the dragons themselves were depicted! But with how generic and underdeveloped everything else felt, I walked away feeling let down by this.
Ultimately, this book reads like a first draft of something that could have been a tense, action-packed survival story, but it needed much stronger execution to get there.
I’ve enjoyed many of Elise Kova’s series, so a dragon-focused YA romantasy from her was something I knew I couldn’t pass up. Unfortunately, Dragon Cursed disappointed me in quite a few ways, even though my expectations weren’t particularly high going in.
One of the biggest issues this book has is the constant telling instead of showing. The story never trusts the reader to interpret anything on their own. Every potentially interesting interaction, emotional beat, or bit of tension is immediately broken down and explained by the text itself. Nothing is allowed to breathe, and it becomes exhausting very quickly.
Another major problem is the extremely mediocre middle section. The majority of the book takes place in a trial-like environment, where the heroine has to survive various tasks while working alongside other characters. If you’re going to make a trial arc the core of your story, it has to be compelling and filled with alllll the tension, danger, and strong character dynamics.
But… nothing. This book delivers the most uncooked chicken romance imaginable. As I mentioned earlier, every feeling the FMC and MMC have for each other is spoon-fed to the reader, and even then, the emotional payoff is nonexistent. The side characters fare no better, including the heroine’s supposed best friend, who never felt truly developed or important.
In general, the trials themselves weren’t interesting or well thought out, and I never felt the sense of danger or urgency that should come with a plot involving young people being placed in life-threatening situations to potentially trigger a curse. The stakes just didn't feel real.
The ending throws a lot at you, with multiple shocking moments and revelations, but because I was never invested in the characters or the story that this book set up, this didn’t land for me at all. If anything, I felt mostly overwhelmed with what was set up in the last few chapters in the story.
All this is so frustrating, because the ideas here have the potential to be interesting. The romance could have worked! And I genuinely enjoyed the dragon lore and how the dragons themselves were depicted! But with how generic and underdeveloped everything else felt, I walked away feeling let down by this.
Ultimately, this book reads like a first draft of something that could have been a tense, action-packed survival story, but it needed much stronger execution to get there.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
WOW. WOW. WOW.
Listen... I am not usually a YA reader. In fact, I normally side-eye YA like, "Sure, kiddo, tell me about your dramatic high school heartbreak."
But this book? THIS BOOK.
It grabbed me by the collar, sat me down, and said, "You're not going anywhere." I was turning pages faster than my coffee could cool. I am OBSESSED and I need Book 2 STAT. Someone please time-travel me to the release date.
As a 42-year-old reading YA, I usually struggle because the characters feel immature and the development can be... well... flimsy at best. Not here. These characters are engaging, layered, and gloriously well-developed. I cared. I stressed. I cheered. I may have yelled at the pages a few times.
Elise has officially become an auto-buy author for life. Take my money, take my emotions, take my sleep schedule-I'm in.
Listen... I am not usually a YA reader. In fact, I normally side-eye YA like, "Sure, kiddo, tell me about your dramatic high school heartbreak."
But this book? THIS BOOK.
It grabbed me by the collar, sat me down, and said, "You're not going anywhere." I was turning pages faster than my coffee could cool. I am OBSESSED and I need Book 2 STAT. Someone please time-travel me to the release date.
As a 42-year-old reading YA, I usually struggle because the characters feel immature and the development can be... well... flimsy at best. Not here. These characters are engaging, layered, and gloriously well-developed. I cared. I stressed. I cheered. I may have yelled at the pages a few times.
Elise has officially become an auto-buy author for life. Take my money, take my emotions, take my sleep schedule-I'm in.
Want to read
January 8, 2026a book about DRAGONS written by the genius ELISE KOVA??? SIGN. ME. UP.
UPDATE: THIS IS GOING TO BE ADAPTED INTO A MOVIE!!! I couldn’t be more excited about this book and happy about Elise, she deserves it so much her stories and worlds are the BEST EVER!
UPDATE: THIS IS GOING TO BE ADAPTED INTO A MOVIE!!! I couldn’t be more excited about this book and happy about Elise, she deserves it so much her stories and worlds are the BEST EVER!
![Profile Image for vxmpslibrary [hiatus exams].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1765812676i%2F123295506._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
January 10, 2026
.3.75 stars.
.my thoughts.
Elise Kova's upper ya fantasy Dragon Cursed introduces us into a new world of hers, with enchanting dragons.
I honestly enjoyed reading this book, because there was something that kept me hanging and made me want to imagine myself what could possibly happen.
the characters were likeable to the utmost. I don't really have a lot to say for our main characters because they were likeable okay? I don't know what I could say more about it.
I was surprised to find my name, just without the 'y'. I hated Pia before, but I kind of loved her when I got to know about her like wow hey she's so pretty jk.
Ember and Myla I loved them too.
Saipha was a good friend to our protagonist, I loved this red girl and understood her fear, she was someone Isola could lean on.
Lucan, for a second I thought he was a simple character but meh. wow, what a drastic change and reveal it was. I liked it.
honestly I would recommend this, upper ya fantasy. it is also selected for movie adaptation so let's just see.
.my thoughts.
Elise Kova's upper ya fantasy Dragon Cursed introduces us into a new world of hers, with enchanting dragons.
I honestly enjoyed reading this book, because there was something that kept me hanging and made me want to imagine myself what could possibly happen.
the characters were likeable to the utmost. I don't really have a lot to say for our main characters because they were likeable okay? I don't know what I could say more about it.
I was surprised to find my name, just without the 'y'. I hated Pia before, but I kind of loved her when I got to know about her like wow hey she's so pretty jk.
Ember and Myla I loved them too.
Saipha was a good friend to our protagonist, I loved this red girl and understood her fear, she was someone Isola could lean on.
Lucan, for a second I thought he was a simple character but meh. wow, what a drastic change and reveal it was. I liked it.
honestly I would recommend this, upper ya fantasy. it is also selected for movie adaptation so let's just see.
January 6, 2026
**review based off e-arc from Entangled Publishing & NetGalley**
I had a really hard time deciding between 2 and 3 stars.
The concept of this story seems really interesting. It has all the makings of a great book. But I didn’t like the characters, the writing, or the plot.
In this world, humanity has retreated to one cave like place, with building going up like stalagmites on the surface, and built in downward spiral of stalactites jn the underground. The reason they live in such a dire place is the curse of dragons. Not only do dragons like to destroy and kill, but they also bring an imbalance to magic and a scourge to the land making it inhospitable.
But dragons have to come from somewhere.
In this world, they come from humans. Some people are born cursed with a dragon within. At some point they change and become mindless killing machines. To try to protect themselves and root out the cursed, all children are forced to go through a tribunal. Three weeks of challenges and torture to try to force the change.
This is where the plot drops off. Because the trials really aren’t that bad. And they aren’t very organized. There is literally no rhyme or reason to why they are attempting certain trials and how they are supposed to force the change. Furthermore, they are supposed to be faced with stuff in between trials, and certainly the main characters run into trouble the first couple of nights- but that’s kinda cause they went looking for it? Like if she had just stayed in her room she would have been fine. Also she talks about what she went through the second night the rest of the book, but it really didn’t seem that bad, and she managed to overcome it pretty quickly.
That leads me to the characters.
I hated the main character. I thought she was whiny. And stubborn. And totally fake. Her best friend also got progressively whinier as the book went on. Finally the male protagonist was also annoying. I can feel she was going for brooding, and I got yearning from him. But when he had a chance with the main girl, he literally said we can’t do this and walked away. Only to change his mind and kiss her in the next chapter. With no explanations of why he was being so mercurial.
Finally, the writing.
I don’t know what happened here. I have read some of Kova’s other books and loved them! But the POV in this book made me feel like it was telling rather than showing and letting me feel it. Maybe it was just because I found the main character so annoying? Towards the end of the book I also felt the writing/plot got a little messy. There’s one point where the main character says she has to keep these two other names in mind, and I was like-who the f*** are these people. I have literally no idea but she’s saying it like these two people are really important and influential to the story.
This one was a miss for me. But I will continue to support and reads Kova’s books.
I had a really hard time deciding between 2 and 3 stars.
The concept of this story seems really interesting. It has all the makings of a great book. But I didn’t like the characters, the writing, or the plot.
In this world, humanity has retreated to one cave like place, with building going up like stalagmites on the surface, and built in downward spiral of stalactites jn the underground. The reason they live in such a dire place is the curse of dragons. Not only do dragons like to destroy and kill, but they also bring an imbalance to magic and a scourge to the land making it inhospitable.
But dragons have to come from somewhere.
In this world, they come from humans. Some people are born cursed with a dragon within. At some point they change and become mindless killing machines. To try to protect themselves and root out the cursed, all children are forced to go through a tribunal. Three weeks of challenges and torture to try to force the change.
This is where the plot drops off. Because the trials really aren’t that bad. And they aren’t very organized. There is literally no rhyme or reason to why they are attempting certain trials and how they are supposed to force the change. Furthermore, they are supposed to be faced with stuff in between trials, and certainly the main characters run into trouble the first couple of nights- but that’s kinda cause they went looking for it? Like if she had just stayed in her room she would have been fine. Also she talks about what she went through the second night the rest of the book, but it really didn’t seem that bad, and she managed to overcome it pretty quickly.
That leads me to the characters.
I hated the main character. I thought she was whiny. And stubborn. And totally fake. Her best friend also got progressively whinier as the book went on. Finally the male protagonist was also annoying. I can feel she was going for brooding, and I got yearning from him. But when he had a chance with the main girl, he literally said we can’t do this and walked away. Only to change his mind and kiss her in the next chapter. With no explanations of why he was being so mercurial.
Finally, the writing.
I don’t know what happened here. I have read some of Kova’s other books and loved them! But the POV in this book made me feel like it was telling rather than showing and letting me feel it. Maybe it was just because I found the main character so annoying? Towards the end of the book I also felt the writing/plot got a little messy. There’s one point where the main character says she has to keep these two other names in mind, and I was like-who the f*** are these people. I have literally no idea but she’s saying it like these two people are really important and influential to the story.
This one was a miss for me. But I will continue to support and reads Kova’s books.
January 18, 2026
5 Stars
HOLY MOLY. Elise Kova does it again!
I was so excited for this and yet it STILL exceeded my expectations! If you enjoy YA fantasy and dragons...this is definitely for you!
Dragon Cursed is about a land ravaged by dragons. There is one city left called Vinguard which has a special font full of something known as etherlight that can be used via sigils to protect against and kill attacking dragons. However, these humans can become cursed and change into a dragon, so the city is based around a religion and army of Mercy Knights who give "mercy" to the person inflicted by killing them.
The lead female, 18yo Isola had a run in with a dragon 6 years ago and survived. It gave her a special connection to the etherlight and therefore she is known to be the possible future saviour of humanity.
She enters a 3 week test to make sure she isn't Dragon Cursed with her best friend and Lucan, someone she doesn't trust but feels a connection to...
This story is filled to the brim with drama, emotion and danger. The worldbuilding is SO well done, complex enough to be totally unique and intricate but not enough to be confusing. The storyline is really interesting and filled with twists and turns, most of which I did not see coming! The magical aspect was so well done and I loved the idea of the sigils to control the etherlight/magic!
It is an upper YA story in my opinion as it has no smut but does have torture and violence.
The characters!! I bonded super quickly to Isola the FMC, she is brave yet vulnerable, strong yet emotional and also super smart yet terrified. These contrasts made her super relatable. She isn't a lead that is a know it all, nor is she an idiot. She utilises her friend's strengths but doesn't wholly rely on them. She is brilliant! The MMC Lucan is quiet, thoughtful, protective and mysterious. I adored him straight away even when I didn't know much about him. I love how he protects Isola but also let's her handle things herself. He is such an intriguing character and I cannot wait to know more in the next book! Plus their connection and banter was top tier! The side characters especially Isola's best friend and her mum were brilliant. Even the evil Vicar who made my skin crawl served an excellent purpose!
The writing, as ever with Elise Kova was exceptional. I was hooked from start to finish and struggled to put the book down...it so SO addictive and the brilliant writing and short chapters makes it highly readable.
Overall, an utterly brilliant start to this new series and I am over the moon that it lived up to my expectations. I am already desperate for book two because what an ending!!
Please note that I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
HOLY MOLY. Elise Kova does it again!
I was so excited for this and yet it STILL exceeded my expectations! If you enjoy YA fantasy and dragons...this is definitely for you!
Dragon Cursed is about a land ravaged by dragons. There is one city left called Vinguard which has a special font full of something known as etherlight that can be used via sigils to protect against and kill attacking dragons. However, these humans can become cursed and change into a dragon, so the city is based around a religion and army of Mercy Knights who give "mercy" to the person inflicted by killing them.
The lead female, 18yo Isola had a run in with a dragon 6 years ago and survived. It gave her a special connection to the etherlight and therefore she is known to be the possible future saviour of humanity.
She enters a 3 week test to make sure she isn't Dragon Cursed with her best friend and Lucan, someone she doesn't trust but feels a connection to...
This story is filled to the brim with drama, emotion and danger. The worldbuilding is SO well done, complex enough to be totally unique and intricate but not enough to be confusing. The storyline is really interesting and filled with twists and turns, most of which I did not see coming! The magical aspect was so well done and I loved the idea of the sigils to control the etherlight/magic!
It is an upper YA story in my opinion as it has no smut but does have torture and violence.
The characters!! I bonded super quickly to Isola the FMC, she is brave yet vulnerable, strong yet emotional and also super smart yet terrified. These contrasts made her super relatable. She isn't a lead that is a know it all, nor is she an idiot. She utilises her friend's strengths but doesn't wholly rely on them. She is brilliant! The MMC Lucan is quiet, thoughtful, protective and mysterious. I adored him straight away even when I didn't know much about him. I love how he protects Isola but also let's her handle things herself. He is such an intriguing character and I cannot wait to know more in the next book! Plus their connection and banter was top tier! The side characters especially Isola's best friend and her mum were brilliant. Even the evil Vicar who made my skin crawl served an excellent purpose!
The writing, as ever with Elise Kova was exceptional. I was hooked from start to finish and struggled to put the book down...it so SO addictive and the brilliant writing and short chapters makes it highly readable.
Overall, an utterly brilliant start to this new series and I am over the moon that it lived up to my expectations. I am already desperate for book two because what an ending!!
Please note that I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2026
OK, I’m keeping this at four stars for now, however, I definitely didn’t enjoy this as much as the authors other series that I’ve read. I know that this is only going to be two books, but I feel like she does better with building up the world and characters when there are more books to work with, but I did definitely still enjoy this and will be picking up the sequel whenever it comes out. RTC
January 6, 2026
I thouroghly enjoyed this YA fantasy about dragons and what it means to be dragon cursed. The story flowed and kept me engaged the entire time. The characters are authentic and brave. They go through so many trials and then everything comes to a head and you are hoping for the best. The cliff hanger has me wanting to read the next installment.
I want to thank Entangled Publishing for the advance reader copy, free physical book. My review is voluntary.
I want to thank Entangled Publishing for the advance reader copy, free physical book. My review is voluntary.
Want to read
December 29, 2024this might be my most anticipated fantasy of 2025 🥰
January 1, 2026
“i’ve never had someone hold me like this before. saipha always is there for me. she always has my back. but this is something more. this feels like… like if i were to lean on him, he wouldn’t pull away. as though he’s a break against a storm i didn’t even notice on the horizon.”
🐉🗡️🖤🍂🗝️
i am so amazed by this story and elise kova’s writing. reading this book gave me the same high of reading fourth wing for the very first time. that is not to say that this is anything like fourth wing, it completely stands on its own and is nothing like it and is SUCH a fun and unique story. i am obsessed with our two main characters, isola & lucan. isola’s strength and determination to save those she loves is so admirable. she is put through HELL and continues to persevere through it all. i also loved lucan so much. i was so suspicious of him at first, but his character development was amazing. he protected isola over and over again without her ever knowing and continued to do so until the very last page. this was so action packed and fast paced and i never felt myself growing bored or waiting for something to happen. i cannot recommend this book enough, i think this could be the next romantasy to completely blow up and take over the fantasy world!
🐉🗡️🖤🍂🗝️
i am so amazed by this story and elise kova’s writing. reading this book gave me the same high of reading fourth wing for the very first time. that is not to say that this is anything like fourth wing, it completely stands on its own and is nothing like it and is SUCH a fun and unique story. i am obsessed with our two main characters, isola & lucan. isola’s strength and determination to save those she loves is so admirable. she is put through HELL and continues to persevere through it all. i also loved lucan so much. i was so suspicious of him at first, but his character development was amazing. he protected isola over and over again without her ever knowing and continued to do so until the very last page. this was so action packed and fast paced and i never felt myself growing bored or waiting for something to happen. i cannot recommend this book enough, i think this could be the next romantasy to completely blow up and take over the fantasy world!
January 14, 2026
Super good but really reminded me a lot of fourth wing
January 11, 2026
What an utter waste of my time. The beginning was super promising and had me FOOLED. After the 30% mark, the book took a turn and by the end it was nearly nonsensical. The world made no sense. The magic was probably the strongest part but was still confusing. The mcs were boring and if I had to read how the mmc looked at the fmc with “approval” ONE MORE TIME I was going to throw the dang book. The fmc had zero personality and made the most ridiculous decisions. Living in this world would be absolute torture, and reading about it was pretty close.
January 12, 2026
I wonder how long we will have to wait for the next installment as this kind of just cut off? it was a fast-paced read with plenty betrayal and sadness.
December 31, 2025
4.5
If Elise Kova writes it, I read it. It’s a fast, fun read that I knew I knew I needed to read slow or else I would inhale it in one day. With that being said- Elise created a world and story that has me wishing I could somehow record the cinema that played in my head while reading.
Isola lives in Vingard, the last stronghold in a world ravaged by dragons and the deadly scourge- a blight that kills anything and everything. As the girl who survived a dragon attack that left her with a scar on her heart and two gold eyes, Isola is considered Valor Reborn, the new savior of her world. But Isola is a fraud. She may even be dragon cursed. She is controlled by the Vicar, forced to do his bidding. To take her place as a full citizen, Isola must go through the mysterious Tribunal to prove (or disprove) she isn’t going to turn into a dragon. The good part? Her best friend will go through the Tribunal with her. The bad part? The Vicar’s son, Lucan, will also be in the Tribunal.
Top tier YA fantasy, in my humble opinion. The chapters are short, the pace is fast, and the world building is fantastic. I really love the gritty, cruel world. Isola is a fiery teenager ready to bust out of her chains. Lucan is way more than he seems. Some well-placed foreshadowing makes a few things a little predictable, but I did not see everything that was coming in the end. I’m super pumped for the next book!
Why the 4.5? It’s pretty formulaic. Don’t get me wrong, the magic and world are incredibly unique! But Elise definitely has a trend with her male main characters. I don’t love that they all seem the same. The tropes were typical fantasy romance. I know that the predictability will turn a good amount of people away. I’m a fan and not a hater, so I enjoyed it- I just wish she would change up the formula a little bit.
“Remember: The deadliest dragon is the one within.”
THANK YOU to Entangled and Mayhem for the gifted eARC!!
If Elise Kova writes it, I read it. It’s a fast, fun read that I knew I knew I needed to read slow or else I would inhale it in one day. With that being said- Elise created a world and story that has me wishing I could somehow record the cinema that played in my head while reading.
Isola lives in Vingard, the last stronghold in a world ravaged by dragons and the deadly scourge- a blight that kills anything and everything. As the girl who survived a dragon attack that left her with a scar on her heart and two gold eyes, Isola is considered Valor Reborn, the new savior of her world. But Isola is a fraud. She may even be dragon cursed. She is controlled by the Vicar, forced to do his bidding. To take her place as a full citizen, Isola must go through the mysterious Tribunal to prove (or disprove) she isn’t going to turn into a dragon. The good part? Her best friend will go through the Tribunal with her. The bad part? The Vicar’s son, Lucan, will also be in the Tribunal.
Top tier YA fantasy, in my humble opinion. The chapters are short, the pace is fast, and the world building is fantastic. I really love the gritty, cruel world. Isola is a fiery teenager ready to bust out of her chains. Lucan is way more than he seems. Some well-placed foreshadowing makes a few things a little predictable, but I did not see everything that was coming in the end. I’m super pumped for the next book!
Why the 4.5? It’s pretty formulaic. Don’t get me wrong, the magic and world are incredibly unique! But Elise definitely has a trend with her male main characters. I don’t love that they all seem the same. The tropes were typical fantasy romance. I know that the predictability will turn a good amount of people away. I’m a fan and not a hater, so I enjoyed it- I just wish she would change up the formula a little bit.
“Remember: The deadliest dragon is the one within.”
THANK YOU to Entangled and Mayhem for the gifted eARC!!
January 22, 2026
I so badly wanted to give this 5 stars yall because dragons, obviously 🙄
Dragon Cursed started out so freaking good! I was hooked because dragons, deadly trials, a corrupt government, and the “chosen one” trope are always a good time. Unfortunately, around chapter 35-40 it lost a bit of momentum for me, hence the 4 stars, but the ending!!!!
Holy cannoli Batman! I know this literally just came out but I can’t wait for book 2
Dragon Cursed started out so freaking good! I was hooked because dragons, deadly trials, a corrupt government, and the “chosen one” trope are always a good time. Unfortunately, around chapter 35-40 it lost a bit of momentum for me, hence the 4 stars, but the ending!!!!
Holy cannoli Batman! I know this literally just came out but I can’t wait for book 2
Want to read
January 6, 2026Release Day! I am really looking forward to this one! ❤️🔥❤️
January 15, 2026
(2.5) ts lowkey pmo 🥀 every day im reminded why i dont read straight romantasy…. (it wasn’t actually like atrocious it’s just every single other romantasy book in a dragon(??) remix) (also there were less dragons than i was expecting)
honestly it was horrible but i think all the things that i liked weren’t enough to redeem it. my main takeaway is we are having a lazy writing epidemic bc every book like this reads like they’ve been taught that how they write is showing not telling but babes it’s really not. also the excessive half-baked metaphors were not it. ngl, isola didn’t pmo that bad (yay!!), but the romance was weird (progression/dialogue; fake enemies to lovers) and lowkey the “twists” weren’t that good except maybe one total?? (.5 + .5)
also saipha’s arc pmo…… more female friendships guys!!!! no more female friends as plot devices!!!! also one last thing the magic needed to be explained better and also i didn’t really completely understand the politics??? and also the valor reborn thing like i get it but also she’s a child????? how would she have saved everyone???? age up your mc’s guys bc this is lowkey unrealistic for an 18yo…. at least the romance was decently accurate intensity wise ANDDD they weren’t insta love!!! i loved that at the end isola said it’s not love yet but it could be!!! yes yes yes!!!
anyway yeah that’s it thanks guys please advocate for interesting writing/plot/world/romance in your romantasy books because i don’t hate the genre i hate what we’ve made it!!!!
honestly it was horrible but i think all the things that i liked weren’t enough to redeem it. my main takeaway is we are having a lazy writing epidemic bc every book like this reads like they’ve been taught that how they write is showing not telling but babes it’s really not. also the excessive half-baked metaphors were not it. ngl, isola didn’t pmo that bad (yay!!), but the romance was weird (progression/dialogue; fake enemies to lovers) and lowkey the “twists” weren’t that good except maybe one total?? (.5 + .5)
also saipha’s arc pmo…… more female friendships guys!!!! no more female friends as plot devices!!!! also one last thing the magic needed to be explained better and also i didn’t really completely understand the politics??? and also the valor reborn thing like i get it but also she’s a child????? how would she have saved everyone???? age up your mc’s guys bc this is lowkey unrealistic for an 18yo…. at least the romance was decently accurate intensity wise ANDDD they weren’t insta love!!! i loved that at the end isola said it’s not love yet but it could be!!! yes yes yes!!!
anyway yeah that’s it thanks guys please advocate for interesting writing/plot/world/romance in your romantasy books because i don’t hate the genre i hate what we’ve made it!!!!
January 10, 2026
• Adjustments: 4.5 stars!!!
• POV: 1st Person / Single
• Book Spice: None
• Content Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book and the world of Vinguard. The lore immediately hooked me from page 1, and I closed the book with so many questions, in a good way. I am genuinely excited to see those questions answered in book 2.
While I did predict one of the major plot twists, several others completely caught me off guard and made me even more eager to reach the conclusion of this duology. The pacing and reveals kept things engaging without feeling repetitive or drawn out.
As for the romance setup, the MMC was easily one of my favorite characters in the book. That said, I do wish the romantic interest had been shown more through on page interactions rather than us being told the FMC’s feelings so early on. It felt like we were spoon fed the FMC’s feelings at times. A little more buildup and shared moments would have connected me more to that aspect.
And lastly, I am SO excited that this is becoming a movie. After seeing the map and experiencing the world through the story, it just makes sense. This world feels cinematic, and I can already picture how incredible it could be on screen.
Thank you Entangled Teen, Mayhem Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
• POV: 1st Person / Single
• Book Spice: None
• Content Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book and the world of Vinguard. The lore immediately hooked me from page 1, and I closed the book with so many questions, in a good way. I am genuinely excited to see those questions answered in book 2.
While I did predict one of the major plot twists, several others completely caught me off guard and made me even more eager to reach the conclusion of this duology. The pacing and reveals kept things engaging without feeling repetitive or drawn out.
As for the romance setup, the MMC was easily one of my favorite characters in the book. That said, I do wish the romantic interest had been shown more through on page interactions rather than us being told the FMC’s feelings so early on. It felt like we were spoon fed the FMC’s feelings at times. A little more buildup and shared moments would have connected me more to that aspect.
And lastly, I am SO excited that this is becoming a movie. After seeing the map and experiencing the world through the story, it just makes sense. This world feels cinematic, and I can already picture how incredible it could be on screen.
Thank you Entangled Teen, Mayhem Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Dragon Cursed, oh, where do I start with this one? Let me say I knew I'd love it going in. I've read so many Elise Kova books, and they never cease to amaze me. Dragon Cursed was no different, and did I reorganize an entire bookshelf to make room for the finished copy that's coming? Yes, yes, I did, and I can't wait to add it to the collection.
Now as for this book it's freaking brilliant, I had honestly thought I was done with dragons before reading this, now I'm back at the point of dragons on my mind 24/7 and can't wait for more, I mean I know I'll have to so there's that but I'm obsessed with this book.
I keep thinking about the family dynamics that Isola has to face from the first pages with help and potential harm she has to figure out the in's and outs of potentially being Dragon Cursed while living up to the impossibly high standards set by her family, Family drama has been on my mind a lot the last few days and this played into that pretty perfectly and while the situations are completely different I can see the depth it took for Isola to do the things that she had to do.
I will say that everyone needs a friend like Saipha. I know I wish I had one, because having someone who has your back, even when it means putting themselves in harm's way, that's not something that everyone has, but in this story, it's crucial and was written to perfection. Lucan, now there's one it took me a bit to figure out, but in the end, well, let's just say I have my favorites.
Now as to the what you all want to know, is Isola Dragon Cursed, I'm not going to tell you, what I will say is that everyone that loves a good romantasy needs to read this book, it's beyond brilliant, I find myself in the position of wondering if my first book of the year is going to be the best of the year, if nothing else this book has set the bar so high I don't know if anything can knock it off it's pedestal.
Thank you to Entangled Teen for the gifted copy of this bloody brilliant book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it, and all thoughts are my own.
Now as for this book it's freaking brilliant, I had honestly thought I was done with dragons before reading this, now I'm back at the point of dragons on my mind 24/7 and can't wait for more, I mean I know I'll have to so there's that but I'm obsessed with this book.
I keep thinking about the family dynamics that Isola has to face from the first pages with help and potential harm she has to figure out the in's and outs of potentially being Dragon Cursed while living up to the impossibly high standards set by her family, Family drama has been on my mind a lot the last few days and this played into that pretty perfectly and while the situations are completely different I can see the depth it took for Isola to do the things that she had to do.
I will say that everyone needs a friend like Saipha. I know I wish I had one, because having someone who has your back, even when it means putting themselves in harm's way, that's not something that everyone has, but in this story, it's crucial and was written to perfection. Lucan, now there's one it took me a bit to figure out, but in the end, well, let's just say I have my favorites.
Now as to the what you all want to know, is Isola Dragon Cursed, I'm not going to tell you, what I will say is that everyone that loves a good romantasy needs to read this book, it's beyond brilliant, I find myself in the position of wondering if my first book of the year is going to be the best of the year, if nothing else this book has set the bar so high I don't know if anything can knock it off it's pedestal.
Thank you to Entangled Teen for the gifted copy of this bloody brilliant book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it, and all thoughts are my own.
January 2, 2026
This was my first Elise Kova book, and wow—consider me officially intrigued. A book about dragons? Say less. That alone sold me, but what really kept me reading was how unpredictable the story felt. I wasn’t always sure where the plot was going, yet I loved realizing that I had slightly predicted a few things along the way. Finding out I was so close when certain reveals happened made the reading experience even more fun.
The final few chapters destroyed me—in the best way. I was literally covering my mouth, equal parts shocked and anxious, and that twist?? Completely unhinged. I need book two immediately because there is no way I’m done with this world yet.
My one critique is the magic system. I found myself pretty confused for a good portion of the book and even had to ask a friend to explain it to me. I wish it had been fleshed out a bit more on the page so it was easier to follow.
Overall, this was a gripping, dragon-filled ride with a jaw-dropping ending, and I’m very excited to continue the series. Thank you so much to Entangled Publishing / Entangled Teen / Mayhem Books for the gifted eARC! Release date is January 6th so do yourself a New Year’s favor and treat yourself to this book!
The final few chapters destroyed me—in the best way. I was literally covering my mouth, equal parts shocked and anxious, and that twist?? Completely unhinged. I need book two immediately because there is no way I’m done with this world yet.
My one critique is the magic system. I found myself pretty confused for a good portion of the book and even had to ask a friend to explain it to me. I wish it had been fleshed out a bit more on the page so it was easier to follow.
Overall, this was a gripping, dragon-filled ride with a jaw-dropping ending, and I’m very excited to continue the series. Thank you so much to Entangled Publishing / Entangled Teen / Mayhem Books for the gifted eARC! Release date is January 6th so do yourself a New Year’s favor and treat yourself to this book!
January 18, 2026
This is a unique upper YA fantasy book with a mild background romance element. A slow burn that’s currently on the preheat setting. World building is slowly integrated into the story as it progresses but the plot would have benefited from at least a few info dumps as it took a while to really understand all the components, for example etherlight as a primary component of the magic system while never really getting much explanation. And I have still have no idea what ethershade is, beyond just the concept of being opposition to etherlight. The world is unique, which is refreshing, and it’s obvious that there’s still so much we don’t know. I liked Isola’s fire while being plagued with so much internal conflict about her prophesied role, her family dynamics, her own personal struggles, and figuring out what she really wants. The world was starting to feel a bit too small so it was exciting to see it expand towards the end.
I think this is a promising start to an auspicious series!
I think this is a promising start to an auspicious series!
January 12, 2026
Holy craaaaappppp this was so good.
I was immediately drawn in and hooked from the first chapter. The characters are young but they have depth and life experience that makes them feel older than they are. Isola begins soft and unwilling to face conflict but as her rage grows, so does she as a character. I was rooting for her from the beginning!
There are many things that feel off but you don’t quite know why, you just know there are secrets being kept and it certainly kept me turning the pages!
The trials are absolutely brutal, probably the most brutal I’ve read yet. I loved the tension between Isola and Lucan, it was so sweet and innocent yet also a burning buildup.
And then the ending shook me and made me yell. I need book 2 cause wtf was that. Amazing.
I was immediately drawn in and hooked from the first chapter. The characters are young but they have depth and life experience that makes them feel older than they are. Isola begins soft and unwilling to face conflict but as her rage grows, so does she as a character. I was rooting for her from the beginning!
There are many things that feel off but you don’t quite know why, you just know there are secrets being kept and it certainly kept me turning the pages!
The trials are absolutely brutal, probably the most brutal I’ve read yet. I loved the tension between Isola and Lucan, it was so sweet and innocent yet also a burning buildup.
And then the ending shook me and made me yell. I need book 2 cause wtf was that. Amazing.
January 16, 2026
I picked up Dragoncursed for the dragons and chaos, and it definitely delivered on that front. It’s fast-paced, dramatic, and very much built around danger.
I liked the darker tone and the way the curse shapes the characters’ choices. The worldbuilding is interesting without being too heavy, and it kept me turning pages even when some of the plot felt familiar.
I liked the darker tone and the way the curse shapes the characters’ choices. The worldbuilding is interesting without being too heavy, and it kept me turning pages even when some of the plot felt familiar.
January 2, 2026
If Fourth Wing, Phantasma, and Flesh and Fire had a baby, it would be Dragon Cursed. This is THE MUST READ ROMANTASY book for 2026.
Dragon Cursed is an action packed fantasy filled with trials, dragons, politics, a chosen one, found family, and a dash of no spice romance. Isola, Saipha, and Lucan have come of age but before they can be citizens of Vingard, they must survive the deadly Tribunal where they will all be pushed beyond their limits so that the government and root out the dragon cursed—people who turn into dragons. This year the Tribunal’s are extra important because Isola is the chosen one—the one who is said to have legendary magic that will eradicate dragons for once and for all. Except Isola is not sure if she is the chosen one or dragon cursed.
Thank you Entangled Publishing for surprising me with an ARC of what could very well be my first and favorite book of 2026. This is a MUST READ for all Romantasy lovers that releases on January 6, 2026.
Dragon Cursed is an action packed fantasy filled with trials, dragons, politics, a chosen one, found family, and a dash of no spice romance. Isola, Saipha, and Lucan have come of age but before they can be citizens of Vingard, they must survive the deadly Tribunal where they will all be pushed beyond their limits so that the government and root out the dragon cursed—people who turn into dragons. This year the Tribunal’s are extra important because Isola is the chosen one—the one who is said to have legendary magic that will eradicate dragons for once and for all. Except Isola is not sure if she is the chosen one or dragon cursed.
Thank you Entangled Publishing for surprising me with an ARC of what could very well be my first and favorite book of 2026. This is a MUST READ for all Romantasy lovers that releases on January 6, 2026.
January 9, 2026
i couldn't put it down.
Want to read
December 6, 2025how have i just found out about this?????????
January 9, 2026
Well this was one hell of a start to the year. How is any other book going to compare to this?!?!
January 5, 2026
This is my first review in what feels like forever… but also a goal I want to push for 2026.
*I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I’m a sucker for dragons and I don’t think that will ever end. Elise Kova is one of my favorite authors and I was so excited to see that she wrote a book with dragons in it!
Plot & Pacing: The plot was interesting and kept me invested in the story. The pacing was fairly good until about 2/3 of the way through, and then it felt rushed. The culmination and bigger picture resolved itself quickly. I would’ve liked both more development of the big picture and a more impactful ending. I felt that I saw some of the twists coming and that made certain areas less impactful for me.
Characters: I liked Isola. I had to remind myself that this is a young adult book and I don’t normally read YA anymore, so it was a bit difficult to put myself in the shoes of a younger character at times. But, that being said, her developmental level and thought processes made sense. Saphia was honestly such a sweet character. I felt her concern for her friend and enjoyed her as a side character. And Lucan — he was another character that I liked but he wasn’t the typical MMC one usually sees in today’s romantasy. That isn’t a bad thing, he was just different.
Romance: This book is categorized as a romantasy but I didn’t feel much romance from it. I would say it’s more of a fantasy romance instead. I didn’t find myself interested in the romance that much and I was rather more invested in the plot as a whole. Again, it’s not a bad thing, it’s just different.
Bottom line, I would recommend this book and I enjoyed reading it. It was my first book in a few weeks because of a bunch of stressors going on, and I’m glad that I was able to finish it before release day tomorrow!
*I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I’m a sucker for dragons and I don’t think that will ever end. Elise Kova is one of my favorite authors and I was so excited to see that she wrote a book with dragons in it!
Plot & Pacing: The plot was interesting and kept me invested in the story. The pacing was fairly good until about 2/3 of the way through, and then it felt rushed. The culmination and bigger picture resolved itself quickly. I would’ve liked both more development of the big picture and a more impactful ending. I felt that I saw some of the twists coming and that made certain areas less impactful for me.
Characters: I liked Isola. I had to remind myself that this is a young adult book and I don’t normally read YA anymore, so it was a bit difficult to put myself in the shoes of a younger character at times. But, that being said, her developmental level and thought processes made sense. Saphia was honestly such a sweet character. I felt her concern for her friend and enjoyed her as a side character. And Lucan — he was another character that I liked but he wasn’t the typical MMC one usually sees in today’s romantasy. That isn’t a bad thing, he was just different.
Romance: This book is categorized as a romantasy but I didn’t feel much romance from it. I would say it’s more of a fantasy romance instead. I didn’t find myself interested in the romance that much and I was rather more invested in the plot as a whole. Again, it’s not a bad thing, it’s just different.
Bottom line, I would recommend this book and I enjoyed reading it. It was my first book in a few weeks because of a bunch of stressors going on, and I’m glad that I was able to finish it before release day tomorrow!
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