Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
The History of the Black Cursed Egg

One moment I'm fighting alongside my best friend to avenge the slaughter of his progeny—the next, I'm entombed within an eternal prison.

Years dissolve like sand through my claws, punctuated only by fleeting moments of consciousness. I hatched once for a male whose bloodlust matched my own burning rage. It didn't end well. Little did I know that killing the very person who freed me would seal my fate once more.

I have no concept of how long I slumbered in that suffocating darkness until her voice pierced the void—a siren's song that ignited something primal within me. My mate. She was calling, so achingly close I could taste her essence on the stale air. When she turned away, choosing another, I forced myself back into the numbing embrace of sleep.

But fate is a cruel mistress.

I don't know how many centuries passed before I heard her again—that haunting melody that is both salvation and torment. This time, she doesn't abandon me. This time, she takes me with her into the unknown.

Now, trapped within this cursed shell, I can only pray that her touch will be enough to shatter these ancient bonds. Because when I finally break free, the world will remember why they feared what slumbers within the Black Cursed Egg.

Some prisons are meant to contain monsters.

Others are meant to forge them.

157 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2025

150 people are currently reading
50 people want to read

About the author

Serenity Rayne

58 books520 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
185 (56%)
4 stars
97 (29%)
3 stars
38 (11%)
2 stars
7 (2%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
Profile Image for Becky.
228 reviews4 followers
October 13, 2025
4⭐️, but a low one.
"She loves me sight unseen. "
Going in, I know, much like Klauth 's story, Thauglor is going to be a little bit of a jerk. I mean, when we initially meet him and Klauth, they're imprisoned. However, I feel like Thauglor was maybe a little bit more of a jerk than Klauth. He went along with all of Klauth's plans, but why? Klauth was blinded by rage and despair, making horrible decisions. Thauglor didn't have that, but he still made the same decisions.
The second half of the book is better when he begins his "relationship " with Mina and becomes a bit of a romantic.
Thanks for choosing me to be an ARC Reader
177 reviews1 follower
October 12, 2025
Inconsistencies

I'm not giving 5 stars because there is inconsistencies in the story telling which I notice both in this book, and in 2.5 and 3. We are told time and time again that in the past (1000 years ago) that betrothals don't exist, that females are treasured, strong and respected, they aren't promised to older dragons , but in both Klauth's book and Thauglor's books this is not true. Literally, the whole events that lead to Klauth and Thauglor being imprisoned in cursed eggs is that Klauth betrothed a female dragon from birth even though he was 100's of years old at the time of her birth. Both he and Thauglor then both disrespect her because she's not a warrior dragon. In Klauth's books, he literally reaches out to other dragon family's in case he had female hatchlings for political alliances, yet in book 3, he gets angry that this practice takes place in modern time.
Don't get me wrong, I find these books interesting, but they are doing my head in with these inconsistencies. Am I missing something, or are Klauth and Thauglor just liars?
While I'm having my little rant, can someone please explain to me why so many authors write these war academy books, who apparently build armies by killing most of their students, so that the amount of students who actually survive to graduation are so few that their armies must be incredibly small, instead of just training the weaker students to be stronger? As a reader, we are required to bury our disbelief and not think about these things rationally in order to celebrate the "strength" of the main characters. Even when Thauglor is horrified that females are allowed to do the 2nd gauntlet because the gauntlet is just designed to kill weak males, I'm left scratching my head on how this is supposed to be reasonable. To be honest, all these things make it difficult to make some type of connection with these characters.
108 reviews2 followers
November 17, 2025
As others have stated with this novella about Thauglor, it just doesn’t hit me the same way as previous books. I did enjoy it once it reached the egg with Mina stage, but there was just too much repetitive information from previous books/novellas to hold me and it took me way longer to engage and finish reading it. That has delayed my read of the final book, which I very much looked forward to, and in hindsight I could have skipped straight to it instead. I did enjoy the last third or so of this book, it felt like the normal style and progressed at the right speed for its length, but the 4 stars I gave it would have been 3.5 if that were an option. Regardless I do still look forward to finishing the series which overall I have enjoyed.
1,020 reviews21 followers
November 2, 2025
The History of the Black Cursed Egg

One minute Thauglor is fighting alongside his best friend to avenge the slaughter of his progeny – the next, he's entombed within an eternal prison.

Years dissolve likes the sands through an hour glass, punctuated only by fleeting moments of consciousness. Thauglor hatched once for a male whose bloodlust matched his own burning rage. It didn't end well. Little did Thauglor know that killing the very person who freed him would seal his fate once more.

Thauglor has no concept of how long he's slumbered in that suffocating darkness until her voice pierced the void – it was like a siren's song that ignited something primal within him. His mate. She was calling, so achingly close he could taste her essence on the stale air. When she turned away, choosing another, he forced back into the numbering embrace of sleep.

But Thauglor knows that fate is a cruel mistress.

Thauglor doesn't know how many centuries passed before he heard her again – that haunting melody that is both his salvation and torment. This time, she doesn't abandon him. This time, she takes him with her into the unknown.

Now, Thauglor is trapped with his cursed shell, he can only pray that her touch will be enough to shatter these ancient bonds. Because when he finally breaks free, the world will remember why they feared what slumbers within the Black Cursed Egg.

There are some prisons that are meant to contain monsters.

And then there are other prisons that are meant to forge them.

Thauglor is Year 3.5 in the Dragonis Academy Series by Serenity Rayne. I just love this series. And while I do know that we got to meet Thauglor in book 3 “Progeny of the Cursed Egg” I love that in this novella we get to experience a bit of his dispair and hopelessness. We also get to further experience more of his friendship with Klauth before they were both cursed.

When I read Klauth's book I was so excited for his hatching and so when I read this book there were a few reasons I was so excited for Thauglor to hatch from his cursed egg. The first I was so excited to see him be reunited with his best friend and ancient drake Klauth. And then the other I knew that Mina needed Thauglor to hatch from his egg in order for her nest to be completed with the two ancient dragons finally being a part of it.

I really felt for Thauglor, while you are reading his story you could tell that there were so many times that he was ready to just give up after so many centuries of being trapped. And then, through the shell of his egg, he heard her voice, like a sirens song, but his heart shattered when he realized that she left him behind for another, when she choose to take Klauth over him. But, over time Thauglor realized that Mina had a plan, that she didn't plan to leave him behind forever but that she had to be thoughtful and she had to have a plan for retrieving his egg and it had to be a strategic move. Thauglor realized that Mina knew that he belonged to her and he was meant to be a part of her nest and that there was no way she was going to rest till she had succeeded in her plan and he was with her at long last.

There is no way that you can deny the love, care, and even the possessiveness that Mina has not only for all her current mates but also for Thauglor. It's all palpable and that's what Thauglor needed to not only keep his hope alive and stay alive. You could tell that there were so many times that he wanted nothing more than to break free after Mina had collected his egg. And yet, Mina would reassure him that he needed to remain patient, that this wasn't his time yet, that she would tell him when it was his time.

Thauglor was envious of Klauth after he hatched and could stand by their mates side, protecting, loving, supporting her. But, at the same time, Thauglor was thankful that he Klauth was there and that Mina had been able to add the ancient dranke to her nest and Thauglor knew that Klauth wasn't going to allow anything to happen to their mate.

Thauglor knows after his long imprisonment, after nearly losing all hope, that he can wait till his dear Mina tells him that it is now his time to hatch to finally stand by her side with his best friend Klauth. And Mina keeps reassuring him that his time is coming and he know s that she is worth waiting for.

I am looking forward to seeing what happens when Thauglor does hatch and how he integrates into the rest of the nest. We already know his relationship with Klauth but it will be interesting to see how he fully gets along with the rest of the nest.

We know that the final battle is coming. We know that soon Mina and her nest will be facing her father and his army. I honestly can't wait to see this final battle and how Mina and her men are going to fare against her father, it's going to be epic.
Profile Image for Sonya.
1,302 reviews59 followers
October 9, 2025
Although we finally met Thauglor in Book 3 "Progeny of the Cursed Egg" in this novella we are given a glimpse of his despair and hopelessness as well as his friendship with Klauth before they were cursed. I was so excited for Thauglor's hatching just as much as I was for Klauth's. These two ancient dragons are truly what Mina needs in her nest in order for it to be complete.

Much like Klauth, there were moments when Thauglor was ready to give up any hope of his curse ever being broken but imagine his surprise at finding his mate while being locked away in his cursed egg only for her to leave him behind to take Klauth instead. Thauglor's heart was broken until he realized what Mina was up too and that she had no plans of leaving him behind but retrieving him would have to be a strategic maneuver. Mina knew Thauglor's egg belonged to her and she wouldn't rest until she had him.

The love, care and possessiveness Mina had for Thauglor was palpable and was exactly what he needed to keep hope alive. Many times, he wanted to break free, but Mina had to reassure him that it wasn't yet his time. Even after his BFF Klauth hatched and was able to stand by their mate's side; Thauglor was a little envious but also thankful that Mina was able to add an ancient drake into her nest.

Thauglor has been wanting a mate for so long but after his imprisonment he was about to give up hope until he heard the song of a fierce, protective and dangerous dragoness reassuring him that his time was coming and Mina has definitely been worth the wait.

I literally cannot wait for the final battle. To see Mina and her men go toe to toe against her father and his army is going to be epic.

Thank you, Serenity Rayne, for the gifted eARC.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Fowler.
171 reviews2 followers
October 6, 2025
Thauglor is a short story written about the history of the black cursed egg and should be read part of the Draconis Academy series, as it is not a stand alone. It is the 5th book in the series and contains spoilers for the other books if not read in the correct order. It does not go any further than the 4th book in the series but it does further expand on world building and do a great deal of character development for Thauglor.

For anyone curious as to how the black dragon had descendants when he had never taken a mate and had found Klauth's decision to do so, so distasteful this story explains the situation regarding his offspring. It tells more of how life was for dragons before they were cursed and how they planned for the academy to be originally.

The unfortunate part of having a short story is any flaws are more apparent and difficult to hide. Thauglor has an issue with being a bit repetitive. I don't just mean that it has to cover a lot of the story that has already been said. In the first 5 chapters he mentions that he's a romantic no less than 8 times. However, despite this I still enjoyed the story as it was a quick an entertaining read.
Profile Image for Rachel.
2,343 reviews131 followers
October 8, 2025
We finally hear from the Black Egg himself in Thauglor, the second novella in the Dragonis Academy series.


I really enjoyed reading from Thauglor's POV. He had a lot of personality. I was surprised to see his perspective on the past and Klauth differ so much. Thuglor describes it as a warring time when Klauth kind of waved it off. I did enjoy seeing their friendship from his perspective. I especially did when Thauglor was questioning Klauth's choice about his future family. It was entertaining and gave more insight into dragon behavior.


Who knew that Thauglor was a romantic? Most of his thoughts centered on wanting a true mate. What he thought she would be like. How he already sees her as his equal. Yes, his loneliness was getting to him, but he was willing to wait. Talk about swooning. Then, in the later chapters, when he gets to know Mina, it's everything. He's been all in before Mina's parents were even a thought. And his devotion to her after he hatched... yes, please.


Thauglor was a good read. I enjoyed getting to know the black dragon. I'm looking forward to seeing how he gets along with the guys and integrates into the nest in The Queen of the Cursed Egg.
57 reviews1 follower
October 7, 2025
Thauglor and Klauth are bonded warriors so much so that when Klauth’s progeny are slaughtered they burn the continent down and are trapped inside cursed eggs. Thauglor is cursed to be trapped until a rare female from rival bloodlines comes for him. His egg has alighted before but not for the right person or reasons. When Mina comes for him, he knows immediately she is his true mate. Can he hatch and save her, or will he slumber in the cursed egg forever?

Thauglor’s point of view is revealed in this installment of the Dragonis Academy and we get a wonderful peek at the friendship he and Klauth had before the curse, as well as his slumber in the cursed egg, and what Mina means to him as their bond grew through her interaction with the egg. We also see his thoughts on what he will do if his mate and any eggs she may have are threatened. Can’t wait for the next installment when Mina has all her mates together!
200 reviews1 follower
October 4, 2025
Great addition to this series.

We get to see Trauglor’s true feeling on Klauth’s betrothal all those years ago, and we learn how many of his progeny he had before he was cursed. After Klauth lost his hatchlings it leads Thauglor to remember snippets of his past with some of his progeny and what would have been lost if he went through the same thing as his friend. He can’t even begin to understand the heartbreak Klauth is going through, which is why he agrees to help him get his revenge.
When he is cursed to his egg, what worries him the most is what will happen to his progeny, but also the fate of his friend.

Then of course we get some of his life inside the egg, mostly with Mina and her mates.

It was great to see some this from his perspective.

Worth the read and helps fill in the need for the final installment.
Profile Image for Charlotte Battersby.
182 reviews9 followers
October 6, 2025
Just to state that this book isn't a standalone and does contain spoilers for the series up to this point so should be read in order.

It was great to get Thauglor's perspective on his shared history with Klauth and how he viewed the situations ongoing with his descendants. This book ends up to just after he escapes his imprisonment so offers no more in plot but further adds to the history of the world building. It offers a contrast to the shared past; Thauglor feeling almost disgust at Klauth's actions surrounding the idea of not waiting for his fated mate. The small moments captured between Klauth and Thauglor after Klauth had escaped his egg were good to see too. It shows how deep their friendship continues to be, especially with them now sharing a mate in Mina. It definitely added to the series for me as a novella and excited to see what happens in the next book!
Profile Image for Payton.
351 reviews5 followers
October 9, 2025
so good

I am honestly obsessed with being able to read Thauglors POV on everything that has occurred since he’s woken. We get to read more on his history before him and Klauth were sealed. Which absolutely helps us understand his character a bit more. He is such a hopeless romantic and his comments and obsession with Mina before he officially gets to meet her made me swoon. I swear. I could have highlighted and frankly did highlight so many of them. If you looked up softie but only for her in the dictionary, his face is what you would see right next to it. I honestly wasn’t sure how I would feel about him when we were first introduced to him, but after reading his POV he is easily one of my favorites of her mates. I cannot wait to be able read more from these characters and see how they tackle the future together.
Profile Image for Nadia Hinojosa.
397 reviews1 follower
October 10, 2025
This is the fifth book in the Dragonis Academy series. This is truly an amazing series. I love the writing style of Serenity Rayne. Come dive in and see what I mean!
The concept of love in this series is beautiful!! Thauglor is drawn to this FMC. He falls in love with this FMC, not for her looks. He falls in love with her because of her actions, her loyalty and love for her nest. He has always wanted a mate to cherish and protect. Also a mate who will stand by his side and be there for him. I love that this book was written from Thauglor's perspective. We are able to see his thoughts during the upheaval and crazy events that surround our FMC.
Thank you Serenity Rayne, for another incredible installment in this series. I loved reading it and hated when the story ended. I want and need the next book asap! I hope the next book is released very soon!
Profile Image for Ines.
1,325 reviews47 followers
October 4, 2025
Thaughlor’s story is quite similar to Klauth’s earlier in the series. We see part of the past that led to Thauglor imprisoned in his egg, life through the eggshell and the first physical meet between him and his mate. Even though his storyline and Klauth’s show a lot of similarities, his point of view is clearly different and adds a bit more context to the past.

Overall, I feel pretty similar to how I felt reading Klauth’s book; I don’t think they are really necessary to the storyline. That being said, I did enjoy finding out Thauglor is a closeted romantic… But I wouldn’t have minded skipping these two novella’s and just stick with the four bigger Academy books.
Profile Image for Lindsay BusyMom .
38 reviews
October 5, 2025
This is an exciting look into Thauglor’s point of view right before he was trapped in the cursed egg and all through Mina having his egg. Understanding his point of view, getting into some of his knowledge sharing with Mina was insightful. His desperate hope for a strong and brave mate that would find and save him from the cursed prison. Hopefully he continues to teach the nest some of the old ways that have been lost. I feel like that mighty black dragon just wants to cuddle his strong mate for weeks on end awhile. Looking forward to the rest of Mina’s story.

I recommend this book as an insight to Thauglor’s thoughts and feelings. Loved it!
Profile Image for The Magical Romantasy Tour.
38 reviews1 follower
October 9, 2025
ARC Review!

An interesting peak at Mina’s newest mate’s backstory and their growing connection. I adore Thauglor and his “romantic heart”. He is a swoon worthy MMC for sure! His bromance with Klauth is also fun to witness!

This story just gets better and better and Serenity Rayne knows how to weave a tail. It has all the fun things. Dragons, Basilisks, Griffins, and more! And all the mates? Yes please! This girl knows how to collect a harem!

While there were a few places that felt repetitive, I felt the writing was really well done. It was a nice little taste of the story while we wait for the final book!
32 reviews
October 9, 2025
Okay, where do we come up with this character names?! This short read is set in the Dragonis Academy world and gives the reader all the insight into Thauglor’s past and present (the black egg). It offers the reader great backstory with Klauth, dragon history, etc., without having to weave it into one of the full length series additions. Thauglor’s story is heartbreaking, as you can’t help but feel the resignation, anger and hope. Thauglor’s thoughts were a little repetitive in some areas, but it didn’t take away from the overall story.

No spoilers here! I can’t wait to watch his story unfold with Mina and her other men as she continues in her journey.
Profile Image for Tanya.
1,240 reviews2 followers
October 16, 2025
Thauglor is a short story about the history of the black cursed egg and is not a stand alone.
Thauglor is cursed to be trapped until a rare female from rival bloodlines comes for him. Enter Mina, his beautiful mate. However, this short story is based more around Thauglor and Klauth's friendship and the heartaches that the two endured of them went thru and what led up to the inprisonment of the cursed egg. I loved the interaction between these two great and powerful warriors, and how its a friendship that time and space could not destroy. I so desperately can not wait until he hatches and finally gets to reunite with his best friend and meet Mina and her other mates.
Profile Image for kaylaschapterchats.
517 reviews31 followers
October 4, 2025
I really enjoyed learning more about Thauglor's backstory.

He is a little different from Klauth, and so far, I really like him and his attitude.

Thauglor burned with so much hope that he would find his fated mate, and I liked his positivity.

He is extremely powerful and loyal, and I can't wait to see what he gets up to in book 4 with Mina and the guys 🖤

Thank you so much, Serenity and Meg, for the opportunity to read this story. I am forever grateful to be a part of your ARC team 🙏

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for sycokittykat - Stefanie.
1,098 reviews36 followers
October 9, 2025
The Legend of the black curse egg

I really enjoy having these little history lesson books. This one gives us Thauglor's back story.

It starts out showing how he served Klauth and ventures through their struggles and wishes for a mate. Their time when Klauth's clutch was murdered.

It shows how he was bound to the black egg. Not knowing for a very long time that he was not the only egg. He worried about Klauth.

It goes through all his thoughts and struggles through the years. Of course it comes full circle to where he hatches to save his mate.
Profile Image for Jens_Book_Cubby.
1,506 reviews55 followers
October 10, 2025
Thauglor is the fifth book in the Dragonis Academy series. It is a novella that delves into Thauglor's history and is told from his POV.

I loved this novella. I loved getting to know all about Thauglor. I loved learning more about his relationship with Klauth too. I loved the depth that this novella adds to not only Thauglor's character, but to the world they live in as well.

The writing, storytelling, character development, and world building of the story were all fantastic. I'm very excited for more from this amazing series.
Profile Image for Beth Despres-mach.
59 reviews
October 13, 2025
I'm addicted to this series!

I'm truly addicted to this series and I'm so anxious for the next book to be released. I love the originality of the storytime and how each character is different. I usually don't read a recap/another point of view story like 3.5 or 2.5 because they usually just rehashing what you already read and are fillers, but these are so worth it because they're so good and let you know what that character was thinking before and during previous books. Highly recommend this author!
70 reviews2 followers
November 5, 2025
I absolutely loved this short novella of Thauglor’s journey to get to where he is at the end of Prgeny of the Cursed Egg. His story and Klauth’s were my favorite out of this entire series so far because you really get an understanding of these characters and you see how wrong people were about the monsters they made them into. I did not expect Thauglor to be such a fierce romantic but I love it. It should be interesting to see how the rest of Mina’s story plays out now that both of her cursed eggs have hatched and they are both ready to burn the world for her.
Profile Image for Melissa.
237 reviews3 followers
October 6, 2025
Thauglor was like Klauth in the fact that it takes you through what happened to them before they were imprisoned in the eggs. You then get to experience what life was like while they were in the eggs and then it lets you see what happens after the eggs hatch. I didn’t realize what a romantic he was tbh and it was pretty sweet. I enjoyed this novella and I can’t wait to read the finale book in this series. I’m a huge fan of Thauglors and I see good things happening in the groups future.
Profile Image for Joy Whiteside.
4,842 reviews112 followers
October 9, 2025
This book, wow. It grabbed me and took me away to whole other world. One of which is vastly different then my reality. Once there you were hooked, and you could not escape until the last page was read. This book blew my mind. It moves along at a pace that is perfect for the flow of the story. The characters are amazing and you will fall in love with them. This book will not disappoint. It is a must read.
Profile Image for Andrea Gorrie.
255 reviews2 followers
October 9, 2025
Dragons!

I’m so here for the dragons! This series is so well written and I can picture how they look and my heart hurts when they hurt. Thauglor’s story while not quite as sad as Klauth, his is just as powerful. Being trapped in an egg for hundreds of years, never quite knowing if you will ever be free is gut wrenching. Knowing he’s found his mate in Mina makes my heart happy! He’s also creeping up on Klauth as my favorite mate.
Profile Image for Jeannie.
288 reviews6 followers
October 12, 2025
Loved Thauglor's POV!

Great back story! It's nice to get the POV of the history and events leading up to and during being trapped in the egg, this adds so much depth to the story of the whole series. This also answers a few questions about the past, but for me it added a few too, now I'll have to wait and see if those get answered in the next book. I loved this book and so far the series a a whole has been magnificent!
Profile Image for Kelly Bugler.
1,865 reviews7 followers
October 27, 2025
Brilliant read.
I love hearing more about the history of the cursed eggs and their beginnings. Thauglor has been waiting patiently for his mate, doing all he can to lure her in. shame its many many many years before she is born. He fights alongside Klauth to protect the Dragons but a curse has left him imprisoned with no hope of escape until Mina,
Brilliant read. can't wait to read the rest of the series
Profile Image for Tysha.
191 reviews5 followers
November 26, 2025
I'm loving this series, and this book shows former events from Thauglor's point of view. We get a better understanding of who he was before being trapped inside a cursed egg, his bond with Mina, and his thoughts and actions during his hatching.

While not essential to enjoy this series, I've found these shorter stories to provide valuable insights into this world and its characters.

I received an ARC of this ebook from Literary Inspired, and I'm voluntarily leaving this review.
Profile Image for Chele.
96 reviews
October 3, 2025
I appreciate these novellas about the dragons in the Cursed Eggs. Thauglor's backstory lets us know how/why he was caught and his point of view while he's trapped in the egg. It also gives us insight into the growing bond between he and Mina. This just keeps the momentum going until we get to Year 4 in November 2025. Can't wait!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.