Curses, Keys, and Secret Societies

Sisters of Light and Shadow #2

by Breanne Randall

Dark secrets. Deadly choices. A destiny that can’t be outrun. Welcome to Shadowcraft Academy.

Eléa Deniz has dreamed of her home in the French countryside for the last four years after nearly dying in the Forgotten Forest. But when she finally returns, she finds the estate has become host to the Shadowcraft Academy, an elite graduate school where a world of mysteries and power plays await. It’s there she discovers a secret about her magic that’s not just a threat to the established order, but a prophecy that could change everything. What’s worse, her father is the school’s enigmatic and ruthless headmaster with an agenda of his own—one that could tear their world apart if she can’t find a way to stop him.

As alliances shift and her power is tested, Eléa becomes torn between Alex, her stoic first love whose loyalties are as murky as his past, and the brash, irreverent Logan, who challenges her to see herself in new ways. Faced with her father’s schemes, a secret society, and the weight of her own magic, Eléa must decide: Will she embrace her fate, or fight to reclaim her power and forge her own path? Destiny is calling... and it demands a price.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Witches, Fiction, Paranormal, Magic

384 pages, Paperback

Published May 26, 2026

About the author

Breanne lives in the sleepy foothills of Northern California with her husband, two daughters, and a slew of farm animals. When she’s not writing, you can find her wandering the property searching for fairy portals or serving elaborate stuffed animal tea parties.

As a journalist, her work has been featured in Good Housekeeping, Fit Pregnancy, Disney Family, Bustle, Brides, et. al. A seasoned traveler, she imbues her stories with the magic and culture collected from the over forty countries she’s visited.

Reviews

[Elle G. Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curses, Keys, and Secret Societies was everything I wanted in a magical academy fantasy novel! From the first chapter I felt completely immersed in the world and was so intrigued by the secrets and magic! The characters were stellar as well. I loved Eléa and watching her grow into her power and make things right despite her family had me feeling so satisfied. There’s even a little romance twist that completely shocked me, but it also made me feel giddy with excitement! I absolutely adored it!

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Haley C · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so thrilled and surprised to receive this arc! I was really excited to read it, as I’ve always been interested in reading her books! This one was marketed as an interconnected stand-alone that completes a duology.

Firstly, I understand that I was reading an uncorrected proof and many of the hang ups I had will probably be fixed before publication! That being said… I had no clue what was going on in the first few chapters. When I see a book is an “interconnected standalone”, i believe that means I can read it without reading the other books in the series. This one, however, started off heavily referencing the previous book, things that happened in the story and characters we apparently met then. That made it really hard for me to find my footing and get into a groove with the story.

Secondly, lots of things felt rushed and sudden. I think the set up was just a little rough for me and it made it hard for me to get into and enjoy the fun elements that the book does have. I love a witchy dark academia setting! This one just fell flat for me, as it stands currently!

Thank you for the opportunity and the arc!

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

This fantasy romance was very middle of the road for me. There were a number of aspects that I thought were great, engaging and really drew me in while others lacked development. This is the second book in the Sisters of Light and Shadow. I found it easy to follow even though I have not read the first and I got the basic idea of what happened in the first.
The writing style was ok, I felt some descriptions and details were lacking. I wanted so much more from the interactions and tension from the main characters especially Elea and Alex mostly felt the distaste for each other and shock from how much they changed.
Elnea’s father was pretty predictable in this story with actions and stuff. I was a bit thrown the school just being at their house and it seems like not a lot of students would be able to live there or train. I don’t think I will be continuing, I am just not invested enough in characters, romance or the fantasy elements.
I received an advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

[Sam]

DNF @ 38%.

I absolutely loved Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things, so I was ready to return to that world. While the magic system here is the same, there’s very little else related.

Unfortunately, I think this book suffers the same treatment as Randall’s debut The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic - which I did not care for. The characters are the driving force of the story but they aren’t well fleshed out at all. Each person has one defining characteristic and that’s it. It was really strange that Elea returned home to see her dying mother and, upon learning her mother had already passed, just kinda… stayed? She had a life she left behind??

Overall I’m supremely disappointed. Randall is a very hit-or-miss author for me. I’ll continue to give her a chance because I do enjoy the worldbuilding.

Thank you to NetGalley, Breanne Randall, and Dell for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Juli Farrar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had the privilege of receiving an e-arc for this book, unfortunately this took me forever to get into. I was so confused in the beginning by what was happening that it was hard to get more excited about the story. With the help of skimming and pushing through a bit I was finally able to get more into it and the world building.

Overall it had some good bones for structure, i liked the FMC and the magic system of shadow-crafters and light-crafters, along with the overall history attached to the main plot points. It just needed to be fleshed out a little more in a way that didn’t really overextend the development of the story too much where you loose interest or just can’t get into it.

The final ten chapters are what kept my attention and truly got me to want to know more about what would happen to the characters. It was a decent story to read.

Thank you netgalley for the e-arc.

[Emily Aldana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was kinda bummed with this one. I loved Spells, Strings and Forgotten Things but it was really hard getting into this one. I think I was pumped for a story featuring one of Calliope's sisters and then it turned out to be Eléa (who I didn't really remember meeting in SSAFT). Basically Eléa goes home to visit her dying mother and learning her father is hosting a magic college.
The whole thing feels slow. I still love Breanne Randall's writing but this one was hard to get through. I just wasn't that interested in what Eléa's father was doing. And I missed the cast of characters from the first book.
It was really hard to find the motivation to pick this one up whenever I put it down and kinda ended up skimming it. I hope to get back to it but it's going to be hard.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine for the eARC!

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 solid stars!!

I received this book from the publisher, Dell/Random House Publishing Group, via NetGalley and this is my honest review.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book and made the decision to read this book because of the authors declaration that the MMC was written based on Dean Winchester. I have been an avid supernatural fan since I was 16 (I’m now 36)! So, I decided to give this book a chance.

I will also note that I did not read book one coming into this book. I was not confused in anyway. I did have questions about the magic system, but I will not fault the author for this because it could very much be my fault since I didn’t read book one. I made the decision to read book two without reading book one because I read that these were standalone’s in an interconnected series.

- ☝️standalone in an interconnected series
- witches 🧙 & wraiths
- 🪄magical academy in a magical house 🏡
- cursed 🤬
- ⭐️⭐️multicultural diversity (gender, race, languages, traditions, culture)
- ❤️‍🩹 trauma and healing
- finding oneself 💪🏻
- ❤️ emotionally mature MFC
- the men… one based on Dean Winchester from Supernatural 😜

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. There were several surprises and twists throughout the book that kept me hooked. Most of them I did not see coming, well done to the author!

Starting with the characters:

The MFC: The MFC had a childhood trauma history and the abusers were her grandfather and father. She also had a male best friend whom she was in love with, but one day he just disappeared. She was devastated by this and, when she turned 18 years old, she moved away to the United States to live with her brother and his fiancé since her childhood love was gone. Overall, this was a very well balanced, healthy, emotionally mature, and optimistic woman. I LOVED this MFC. FINALLY an emotionally mature MFC 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 She was thoughtful, usually did not make impulsive decisions, but did on occasion because she was a human, making her very realistic. She saw the good in people and challenged others to also see the good in people. I thought that the author created a very realistic dynamic with this MFC, particularly her thoughts and emotions about the two men in her life. Often, when we are attracted to and/or love someone, logic doesn’t play a big role. That’s what happened in this book with his MFC, and again, it was realistic to the human condition of emotions.

I’m about to go on a little bit of a rant, but overall, I loved this MFC. It was just this one piece that irritated me. One of my pet peeves is the word “abandoned” when that is not what happened. It’s actually an incredibly toxic word often used in relationships to manipulate and gaslight others. Specifically, people with equal status, power, and resources cannot abandon each other. They can leave, but not abandon. For example, parents can abandon children, a husband making the only money in the family can abandon his wife, and animal owners can abandon their pets, etc.. But, friends who have the same resources and status cannot abandon each other. There is a psychologist who does a lovely job talking about how toxic the word “abandonment” is in relationships and why it’s a super red flag, particularly for the person saying it.

Now, if someone leaves randomly without warning, I can see how that is devastating, but that’s still not abandonment. We need to get better at using language around when abandonment is actually happening. So, to see that the word abandonment was used in this book by the MFC in regards to her friend who was of equal status, power, etc., was disheartening for me as a reader. The MFC uses the word abandonment to weaponize her feelings towards Alex. She clearly had no idea why he left and she took it incredibly personal, fine she was a teenager, I get that. But, now she’s an adult and she’s still stuck in this toxic role of being the one who was abandoned because he left without telling her. 🙄

I go on this long point because, as a previously mentioned, this MFC was rather mature. The author established a very thoughtful and emotionally intelligent woman. So, to have her shift into this emotionally toxic word/place I was a little bummed. Again, this is just a pet peeve of mine. The MFC does move past this word and I was able to let it go. However, I did want to mention it in my review for those who also think the word abandonment is misused.

Moving on: The MFC was stuck between her attraction to Alex, her childhood best friend that she loved, and the new, intriguing American, Logan. She knew Alex had a mask on that was pushing her away so she pushed back. All while Logan was fun and fresh and didn’t hold her back; rather, he was always supporting her in her growth and independence. He had her back no matter what. Normally, I am not a big fan of love triangles because I find them done poorly. However, the author did an excellent job with this love triangle. I really loved both MMC‘s and could feel the MFC‘s emotions. There were so much depth written about her and her feelings, I really enjoyed this.

Logan: Now, the Dean Winchester from Supernatural coded character, Logan. American accent, skeptical, dry humor, “bad boy,” cynical, often used sexual banter, no shame, arrogant, presumptuous, loved pie, had a flask, and wore a necklace on a leather string. The MFC assumed he drove a vintage car and started bar fights; yep, the author got all that right! He jumped right into conspiring with the MFC and they had such fun banter. He said “son of a b*+*h,” classic statement of Dean’s. Loved all of it!! Logan’s humor, personality, sexual comments, and banter were exactly everything I wanted them to be, especially in serious situations he was still cracking jokes. Seriously, I LOVED this. Logan also mentioned his father taught him everything about hunting and his mother died young, which he saw happen. Then, some of the hints to Supernatural were lovely, like the comments about trapping in a salt circle, iron, and pentagrams, as well as hell hounds. I absolutely loved this character, I just had to say that again.

A warning/thought: the author did, however, copy Supernatural and I don’t know how to feel about that. Logan said “saving people, hunting things, that’s the family motto.” Changing “business” to “motto” was not enough. I wish she had been a little more creative when using the classic Supernatural statement.

Alex: Alex was the MFC’s childhood best friend and first love. He was incredibly mysterious, kept secrets, and wore a mask almost the whole book. Alex did not have a really big part in this book until the very end, even though his presence was really important to the plot and the MFC. The little parts of the story where he was present, they were tension filled and hot.

Relationships:

The MFC and Logan: These two were a great pair. I loved all the small moments between them. I especially loved when the MFC stood up for Logan when her brother‘s best friend, Malik, was being a jerk. I also loved how Logan used humor and satire to stand up for himself, not anger. I loved the moments between the MFC and Logan because Logan always believed in her and reminded her that her found family was unconditional and it did not matter what power any of them had or what they did, including doing bad things, because they would always have each other‘s backs no matter what (very Dean statement). She really needed someone like him to push her to grow and find herself. What made me sad was that, EVERY SINGLE TIME the MFC and Logan would have a moment together, she would think about Alex. I interpreted this as the author was foreshadowing who the MFC would choose. Also, I thought about how, if I broke down Dean’s character (again whom Logan was written after), Dean always chose his family over the girl. So, my guess while reading was that Logan’s character was needed to help push and support the MFC, as Dean does in Supernatural, but they would not end up together.

The MFC and Alex: Lets start from the point when the MFC meets up with Alex four years after they last saw each other. The MFC was so desperate to see and touch him again. I cringed a little bit, I wanted her to have more of a backbone and stand up for herself, not be this desperate “why did you leave me” person. The interactions between them after their first meeting continued to have the MFC using a more desperate approach with him to get him to open up because she just wanted him to love her again. We, as the readers, and the MFC, could see that he did want her, but he kept his big wall of cold feelings up. This created so much heat and tension between them when his mask would slip because we all knew he still loved her too. Alex was keeping secrets and wouldn’t budge a good chunk of the book for mysterious reasons. FINALLY the MFC grew (with support from her friends and Logan) and started focusing more on what Alex needed and less on her feelings. She started being a stable support person for him by verbally telling him that she knew him and loved him, no matter what he had done thus far in his life. I addition to her unconditional support of him, she started to stand up for herself and not put up with his crap, this made me so excited. Alex was being protective of her and shared nothing, as he believed it would keep her safe. She challenged him back by growing as a person, developing her magic, and overall being independent, no matter what he wanted. She finally believed in herself, showing Alex his need to protect her was not warranted nor wanted. Eventually, the dynamic shifted, and he finally opened up to her.

There was a shocking revelation about the men and I WILL NOT SHARE ANYTHING. But, let me tell you, you’re likely wrong, I was, which I am so happy about! Well played! EVERYTHING made sense when this twist was revealed. I was getting a little antsy with the MFC for dragging along two men, was starting to think I may lose respect for her. Nope, respect still intact. Again, it all made sense!

Friends: the friends were strong, supportive, and diverse. The banter and camaraderie with all of them was great. They added to the plot and were very critical to the MFC‘s growth. They had unconditional love and support for each other, well, they were also willing to call each other, all of which was beautiful.

The story:
- The author is quick to kill people off! I was shocked!!
- There was a twist at 40% I didn’t see that one coming. Then, it’s historic progress, there were several other twists that I did not see coming. Again, there is a surprise with the MMC‘s.
- Overall, the pacing was moderate throughout. It did slow down in the middle, which got a little boring. However, it picked back up and got intriguing again.
- this is a well rounded, heart filled story
- there are themes intertwined into the story that are important to think about in our real world, such as bigotry, discrimination, racism, and power going unchecked by one man. The message about how we need to come together to find the solution as a team was not missed by me.
- the characters are diverse in many ways, including one transgender character. I loved this! There are different cultures, languages, ethnicities, sexualities, and traditions represented.

The plot: the plot is about the MFC finding herself, healing from her trauma, and fighting for the future. The story had a great blend of plot, individual character development, relationship development, romance, and magic. Overall, each character finds themselves, fights the patriarchy, heals both physical and emotional wounds, and finds their place in a better world.

[Nathalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dean Winchester fans: this one’s for you. The follow up to Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things, this story is everything you want from a dark academia romantic fantasy. Although you don’t have to read book one before reading this book, I found that it provided a lot of context as there was some overlap and background info that is necessary to understand the bigger plot.

Eléa gets her own story this time, and it’s all about reclaiming and stepping into your power. This book is told solely from her POV, and the progression is amazing. In this story you get not one, but two love interests: one of them is the essence of Dean Winchester from Supernatural, and the other is broody and tortured. So, you know: win-win. And the resolution is the only way I will accept a love triangle from now on (no spoilers).

One of my favorite aspects of this story was the chateau itself. It is enchanted to provide whatever the inhabitants need, and offers Eléa everything she should have (whether she wants it or not). I, too, would love to be given endless tea and croissants. Basically, this house is the most comforting sprinkle of magic in this story.

The rest of the book is fraught with dark magic, hidden machinations, and a gauntlet of dangerous school mandated activities. I really enjoyed trying to figure out what was really going on behind the scenes, and the reveals were done in a way that was shocking but made sense. Highly recommend this one, especially if you enjoyed the first book!

“You think you’re funny, don’t you?” she said, but her smile belied her words.
“Oh, I think I’m adorable,” he said with a wink.

Curses, Key, and Secret Societies releases on May 26, 2026. Thank you Dell (via Netgalley widget) for gifting me with an eARC, all thoughts expressed are my own.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 stars. I hate to give such a low rating, but I really struggled with this one. It took me forever to finish because when I stepped away from it, I had a hard time finding the motivation to pick it back up. And I further delayed writing this review since I wanted to be honest about not enjoying it while still being fair.

It’s not a bad book. It’s based on a creative concept, and I appreciated some of the twists, but I just didn’t care enough about the characters or the plot to feel engaged. Even towards the end, when the stakes were at their highest, when the big truths were revealed, it still felt a bit bland to me.

I was invited to read this as an ARC, and since it’s the second book in a duology, I decided to do some homework and quickly cranked out the first one, Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things, in audio. It was messy, but still entertaining, and very much elevated by the voice of one of my favorite narrators (Saskia Maarleveld). So perhaps I would have enjoyed this sequel a little more as an audiobook as well.

My thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine | Dell for inviting me to read this ARC.

[Kristin Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent conclusion to the Sisters of Light and Shadow! Everything I wanted and more.

Eléa Deniz has always had a complicated relationship with her home and family. But after the events of the dark forest, she's come home hoping to reconcile her past and present. What she doesn't expect is for her childhood home to have turned into an academy for Shadowcrafters with her father as the headmaster and her estranged childhood best friend as one of it's professors.

It's obvious to Eléa that her father is up to something, but what she's not sure. She chooses to remain at the academy, joining the ranks of students and honing her own magic while she seeks to find out just what Ahmed is up to. But the course work is more than challenging, its deadly, and the rigorous code of conduct just might be her undoing as her heart splits itself between her childhood friend and a mysterious new American who encourages her to embrace independence. Can Eléa survive the academy and get to the bottom of what is going on once and for all? Will she embrace all that she is and come into her own power or will she find that the hand fate has dealt her is too much to bear?

This is the third novel of Breanne's that I've read and when I tell you that her writing only improves with each book she has published, I mean it. I was hooked by this one from the moment I started reading and it was so hard to put this one down. I know, I took a month to read it so it doesn't seem like that but trust me, I thought about this book every moment I wasn't reading.

I adore Eléa. Despite her tragic childhood, she's such a strong and kindhearted woman with a good head on her shoulders. She really comes in to her own in this book and I loved watching her take each and every independant step. And don't even get me started on Alex and Logan. Hubba hubba. I love them both so very much and it was hard to choose who I loved more. Logan's Dean Winchester inspirations are very obvious and perfect in every way. From his backstory to his mannerisms, I had a really hard time not picturing Jensen Ackles every time Logan was on the page. And Alex, gah, I am a sucker for a tragic, broken boy. I can fix him I swear.

A lot of our favorite side characters are back in this one, even if their appearance is brief. And we get to meet a whole new chast of other compelling side characters that give this story a truly fleshed out feeling. I'm honestly sad this is over. If Breanne ever decides to write more in this world, I'd be there for it!

[Jordan Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book combined so many of my favorite things into one. Witchcraft. Elite academia. Secret Societies. A spicy love triangle. Curses that must be broken and hierarchies that must be challenged. And, most importantly, a flannel wearing, pie loving, fluently sarcastic, Dean Winchester inspired male character. What more could you need?

Much like Breanne Randall’s previous two books, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I love when a book ends up having a plot twist that I don’t see coming. The sarcastic wit of some of the characters had me laughing out loud at several different points, and I just genuinely think this author knows how to write stories about witchcraft in such a unique way, to where it’s unlike any other witchy books I’ve read before (and I’ve read a lot). I loved the community and friendship, and I’m happy to say that Breanne has done it again with a great read.

Side note, there is something about Breanne’s books that make me immediately crave the things she writes about. In her first novel, The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic, I baked the rum soaked peach muffins from the recipe and literally haven’t stopped thinking of them since. In her second book, Spells, Strings and Forgotten Things, I started craving tea so badly (and I’m a coffee girl.) This time, I was only a few chapters in when I read about croissants and immediately had to order a chocolate croissant. I think that speaks to the magic of her writing, even my stomach wants to be pulled into the stories 😂

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

[Sarah Medeiros · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

I wanted to read this one because there was heavy marketing on a Dean Winchester-inspired MMC and I will say, if you’re a fan of Supernatural and Dean, you’ll get a lot of little winks that are fun to find.

This is book 2 in a series of interconnected standalones. I haven’t read book 1, so I expected to be a little like a fish out of water at the start (and I was) but you can eventually infer all of the information that I assume you had as groundwork in book 1.

The magic system is cool and there’s a sentient castle- and I’m always a sucker for a sentient castle. There’s just something about thinking, I could use a snack and voilà, a croissant appears. Perfect.

Overall, the story had potential, but fell a bit flat for me. I like that we are experiencing the magical world that exists in our modern day world, but sometimes the pop culture references and slang pulled me out of the story.

I do think if you’re looking for whimsy in a dark academia setting with a few twists and turns that you’ll enjoy yourself. Particularly if you read and loved book 1.


Thank you to Dell for the early copy!

[LindsayMcK · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an awesome follow-up to book 1✨that balances a high-stakes storyline with a cozy atmosphere and romance.
Saskia Maarleveld nails the narration! What an amazing voice she has - the grit, the accents, the emotion!👏🏼

Summary:
Eléa (Eh-lay-uh) Deniz almost died four years ago in the Forgotten Forest when her father tried to trade her life for power. Despite her understandably complicated relationship with him (and the mother who never showed her any kindness AND the late grandfather who tortured her to test her power), she has missed her family’s chateau in the French countryside and Alexandré, the best friend with whom she spent much of her childhood. However, she is shocked to find the estate now hosts the Shadowcraft Academy, an elite graduate school for shadowcraft practitioners to train them for the seemingly inevitable war against wraiths. The headmaster is Eléa’s ruthless father, Ahmed, whose power-plays and mysterious motives might tear their world apart if he is not stopped. She wants to join the academy to better “understand history and navigate its consequences” and, soon enough, Eléa is not only uncovering secrets about the craft - the way magic was unified before the Great Rift - but also her unique magic and the prophecy she is at the center of that could change everything. As her power and alliances are tested, she is torn between her connection with Alex (her stoic first love with whom she shares lots of history and whose loyalties are as murky as his past) and Logan (the the brash and irreverent American who empowers her to see herself in new ways). With the help of a secret society, Eléa must uncover the truth of her father’s schemes while bearing the responsibility of her rare magic and stepping into her power to forge her own path, one that may shape the future of the craft.

Spoilers spotted ahead…
This was a stellar sequel! Eléa as an FMC was very mature for her age and I was rooting for her throughout her journey towards self-confidence and claiming her power. The plot was well-devised - clear enough to allow you to make predictions and connect the dots, but mysterious enough to keep you on your toes wondering how certain parts will play out.

I do highly recommend reading Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things before reading this book, as it gives more background and context to the characters and worldbuilding.

How about that love triangle though?! I was enjoying Eléa exploring her dynamic with both Logan AND Alex. I did not see the twist coming and was fascinated by the choice to have magic play a part in Alex having created Logan’s identity/appearance as a trauma response from his own subconscious. He was sustaining the weight of two realities - “Elea loved Alex for his flaws, his tragedy, his strength, the many memories that were knitted in her heart no matter how much she longed to cut them out. Logan, though, was unafraid to be himself. He was the embodiment of who Alex had been - teasing and provoking and reckless - a light in the darkness. But they were two disparate parts of the same man.”🤯

How very convenient that Alexandré and Logan are one and the same! I doubt there’s ever been a love triangle wrapped up with a prettier bow than this one!🤭🎀The reveal at 83% was well-timed to fully build their distinct relationships beforehand. The MMC characters were so cleverly designed in how they were two sides of the same coin: one who wanted to protect her, no matter what, and the other who wanted her to fight her own battles. That’s one serious trauma response and one helpful way to avoid a cringy love-triangle trope!

Finally, it must be said that I’m a SUCKER for a magical house! I was already obsessed with the idea of a chateau that keeps giving you croissants you didn’t ask for, but I LOVED learning that it was her mom’s spell that first enchanted the house to show Eléa the love she could not. This was an incredible choice and a highlight of the story for me!

Memorable moments and quotes:
- That dedication! “To all my Dean Winchester-loving girls… get some pie or pudding and settle in.”🥧
- Frenchie and American 🇫🇷🇺🇸
- “For one wild moment, she wished that Alex and the American could be the same person - all the familiarity and comfort, but without all of the baggage and bitterness.”🤫
- Alex: “I was content to remember you as young and beautiful, but now - now you are incandescent… I must constantly employ every weapon in my not-insubstantial arsenal to keep you at bay…”☺️
- Logan: “I lied… the slow option is off the table.”🔥
- Alex pulling her toward him by the throat? YES.🥵🫠
- Wowza - Eléa’s momma, Celine, is a wraith (how is she still herself and able to communicate?) who had married Ahmed to protect the KEY?🗝️
- Wait wait wait - Lucien and Elena don’t have the same mom? Did we know this and I forgot??? Or is that new news?🤔
- “He was a student of the way her full lips curved into a radiant smile when she was happy or thinned when she was angry; a scholar studying the light in her eyes, the sunshine she seemed to carry with her wherever she went. He could write essays about the flames hidden within and he would get top marks on all of them.”🫠
- Eléa: “You might have worn different faces, but… no matter what… your heart belongs to me. It belonged to me as Logan and it belongs to me as Alex.”💞
- OH MY GOSH - that “I’ll show you how to yield” scene of Avaros’ attacks was so very Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part II! My jaw was on the FLOOR!😱
- “I did what I was created to do: I became the key. I just unlocked what I wanted instead of what you wanted.”👏🏼
- Alex and Logan blended into one?! Nice.😏
- What a great ending! Alex and Eléa are running the school and making sure to focus on teaching a more complete view of history as well as the truth about the Great Rift and recent Convergence.👏🏼
- A+ epilogue!!!!🙌🏼
- Eléa and her mother finally got their sun-soaked days to connect.🥹
- Calliope finally got her memories of Lucien back! Calliope’s mother, Penelope, got hers back, too! What a lovely reunion.🥰

I’m curious if Breanne Randall will keep building this world. I know I’ll read any cozy witchy stories she writes!

[Aura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curses, Keys, and Secret Societies was such a moody, magical ride. This book leans fully into secret society tension, old curses, and that quiet feeling that everyone knows more than they are saying. The atmosphere really shines. Think dusty archives, cryptic symbols, candlelight, and the constant sense that something is lurking just out of reach.

I loved how character driven the story felt beneath the mystery. The emotional weight of legacy, identity, and hidden truths gave the magic real stakes and made me care about what was unfolding. The slow unraveling of secrets kept me hooked, even when the pacing lingered a bit in places.

The MMC really did have strong Dean Winchester energy and I mean that as the highest compliment. Protective, a little haunted, sarcastic at the right moments, and impossible not to root for.

Overall this was witchy, atmospheric, and perfect for readers who love dark academia vibes mixed with emotional depth and secret society drama. Definitely one to curl up with when you want something cozy but layered with mystery.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

This was fun! It was witchy, magical, cozy, had secret societies and their drama, and some fun characters. I am always down for some sassy and fun characters!

I think a lot of people will have a lot of fun with this book.

(And it is a part of an interconnected standalone series, so you can read these books in whatever order. I read this one first and I didn't feel like I was missing massive amounts of information. If anything, I felt like I needed more of an intro to some things, but I feel like I caught on pretty quick. I didn't feel like it took me out of the story or anything like that.)

Some moments and plot points did feel a bit rushed and forced. I think it had to do with the set up of those situations.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Marina Marcello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breanne Randall has done it, she’s given us a Dean Winchester book boyfriend! She’s also given us a tasty love triangle, and you will not expect the outcome! If you love magic school, the Shadowcraft Academy is the place for you. Join Eléa as she uncovers not only family secrets, but mysteries that might change magic forever! Eléa is a well-constructed heroine in a cohort of colorful characters which includes her best friend and new friends from the Academy. Logan, our apple pie-craving American, is the Dean of our fantasy dreams! Even the chateau in which the Academy is housed is a character in its own right, caring for Eléa when she needs it most.

Alex, Eléa’s childhood best friend, and first love, is a brooding man who does not seem happy at all to see her, so the romantic tension runs quite high! If you love a love triangle, this one is toe-curling! Don’t let the romance trick you into thinking this story is all warm fuzzies and pudding; this book has high stakes for these characters. The wraith curse is at its worst, students are dying in the name of training, and Eléa needs to find out what her father is planning. Curses gives us a found family team of bad-asses with a healthy dollop of spice served alongside saving people and hunting things.

I gave this book four stars, and while it’s a standalone series, I think it’s worth it to read Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things as well.

[Missyreadsromantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️s: I really enjoyed this second book in the Sisters of Light and Shadows Duology — even more than the first!

Eléa returns to her home in the French countryside to find that her father has turned it into a magical academy, preparing young witches for the war against wraiths. And to her surprise, her childhood best friend and first love is an instructor.

Secrets and dangers abound as Eléa and her friends work to break the witches’ curse. And it’s truly heartwarming to watch her fall in love, process her trauma, and come into her power.

I really loved the balance of the cozy atmosphere and a higher-stakes storyline. And I feel like while there are overlapping characters and references to the events from the first book, this one can absolutely stand on its own!

Thanks to Dell and NetGalley for the e-ARC! All opinions are my own.

[Nicole Alycia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 🌟

Eléa returns to her family’s estate to discover it is now a magical academy for Shadowcrafters. Now she must learn to control her powers while navigating a love triangle and joining a secret society.

I struggled with this one a little. I really liked the idea of the story but some parts of it just weren’t working for me. A good portion of this book feels like a cozy fantasy romance which is kinda what I was expecting but there were also moments mixed in where it felt like the author was trying to go for more of the darker romantasy angle and it didn’t really mesh well for me. Eléa had a lot of potential as the main character but I thought her development felt rushed at times while other aspect of the story that didn’t add to the development felt drawn out …

All in all it was a solid story and I’d definitely recommend reading it if you enjoyed book 1!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book in this Sisters of Light and Shadow series but I think this second one was even stronger even though it felt like a complete standalone (which was fine by me). It's set in a remote Magic Academy, has a love triangle and a second chance enemies to lovers romance. There's a prophecy, a secret society and I think my favorite part is how memories are used as the cost of conducting strong magic. There's also some steamy/spicy bits and a fun 'Paint me like one of your French women' scenes. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary audio copy in exchange for my honest review! I can't wait to see how the series ends!!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Random House, Ballantine, NetGalley, and the author for this advanced copy. I had no idea what to expect with this one and I was pleasantly surprised. It was a lot of fun.

I loved the twist with Logan/Alex and I loved the found family and second chance romance. The descriptions made me feel like I was immersed in an old French chateau and I could almost smell the madeleines and apple pie baking. The recipes in the back of the book were a nice touch. Overall, this was a very fun, cozy read.

[M]

DNF at 37%
MMC inspired by dean winchester except it's like he was lifted out of supernatural and plopped into this book. they call him the american. he is introduced as someone who "looks like he drives a vintage car" he even says HIS FAMILY BUSINESS IS HUNTING THINGS

IDK, maybe it's just me but i dont love that it was sold as a dean winchester mmc and then there's a whole other interest w her childhood friend, and i'll never know who she ends up with because i don't actually care i'm so sorry i really tried 😭

thanks to Dell for the eARC

[Laci O’Reilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was gifted to me an an arc on NetGalley.

The best thing about this book is that one of the MMCs is Dean Winchester. No his name is not Dean, but he embodies Dean. I seriously wondered if this started as a Supernatural fanfic.

That being said, I had a hard time with the pacing. Some parts seemed to drag on with excruciating detail then other times one sentence would sum up a significant portion of action.

Good for those that enjoy dark academia, and enjoy witty banter.

[meg *ੈ✩‧₊˚ (semi ia) · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for a honest review.

this definitely shouldn't be classified as a standalone when the beginning references a lot to another book that i have not read and where i felt like i had trouble connecting my footing and understanding what was even going on.

my review can obviously change once i read the other book maybe but it definitely was marketed wrong and i would not have requested this book without reading the other first.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe I’m just a vibe reader but this book had so many twists I didn’t see coming. I loved the Dean Winchester vibes of the MMC and Elea is just a girl dealing with her trauma while trying to find herself. I loved learning more about the magic system!
Plot: 9/10
Spice level: 2/5
Magic system: 5/5

[Rachel Blades · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
I am a sucker for dark academia and secret societies! I really enjoyed the premise of the book and all the characters and their complicated dynamics. This would be a great spooky season read.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a rough read for me. I have really liked all of the author’s other works, and was glad to see this tying up a lot of the loose ends from the first book. Most of all, I came here for the Dean Winchester-coded character. But it wasn’t enough for me. This felt very scattered. I did not enjoy reading most of this book. And that might be on me.

[Kalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg, this was so good! Don’t let the cutesy cover fool you, this book had so much more depth and darkness than I was expecting. I absolutely loved the dark academy setting and the magical chateau! Also, the tension was tensioning and the romance was top tier! That man can YEARN. There are so many other great things about this book that are spoilers so you just have to read it to find out! But I will say that is the best love triangle I have ever read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️ (but the tension was hot hot hot 🥵)

Thank you Dell Romance for the arc via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review!

[Meghan M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was invited to read and review an ARC of this bock via NetGalley and was incredibly excited to have been chosen!

Overall, Curses, Keys, and Secret Societies is a witchy, academia book with dark vibes and plot twists while remaining emotionally grounded and meaningful. The entire cast of characters are strong and interesting and I loved getting to know them and going on this adventure with them, especially the main character. I enjoy reading stories where “strong female lead” doesn’t mean “unfeeling or rigid”. Elea expresses her emotions and understands they are her strength, and her friends and loved ones encourage her and each other to do the same. And how could I not love the Dean Winchester inspired MMC?

I will admit that pacing felt a bit off at times with some things feeling rather sudden or dragging on, but that didn’t deter me at any point or make me want to stop because the overall story and characters kept me engaged. It took me a bit to get into the story, but when it hit its stride, I was hooked and was racing to see what would happen next!

[Kristin O'donoghue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curses, Keys, and Secret Societies, is book 2 in the Sisters of Light and Shadow series by Breanne Randall and it was so good! I definitely recommend that you read book 1 before book 2 because you need a lot of the history and context to understand the underlying conflicts and main drama. I will do my best to keep this as spoiler free as I can for both books.

In Curses, Keys and Secret Socities, we follow the story of Elea Deniz, who we met in the first book as the younger sister of Lucien Deniz, the main MMC of book 1. Elea is a member of a prominent shadowcraft family whose history has been filled with lots of family trauma and pain. In Randall's world, there are rival witch factions between those who wield the dark shadowcraft and those who use lightcraft, drawing their power from nature. The animosity and conflict between these covens is centuries old, stemming from a time when the Great Rift between their magic occurred and Shadowcraters were cursed by Lightcrafters to turn into wraiths if they delved too much into the well of their magic.

As the story opens, Elea is coming back home to France at the invitation of her father, who she doesn't really trust because of his unwavering focus to break the Shadowcrafters curse once and for all, no matter who may be hurt in the process. However, Elea is determined to learn more about the academy that her father has started to train Shadowcrafters and the secrets she knows he's hiding within its walls. Elea's return to her childhood home becomes the start of a journey of self discovery for her, as she fights to finally claim agency and control over her magic and shape what her future can look like out from underneath the shadow of her family.

While back at the Chateau D'Ancy, Elea runs into her childhood best friend and first love, Alexander. However, the brooding and intense man she meets is not the kindhearted boy she once knew and the heartache and loss of his emotional absence and past betrayal haunts her. As the days pass, Elea can sense the growing danger as the students and faculty face battles with wraiths looking to suck out their souls. However, amidst the darkness, Elea does find light and laughter in the friends, new and old, who support and care for her. Among them, she meets a handsome young American named Logan, who is HEAVILY Dean Winchester coded (Supernatural girlies I know you feel me). Logan is flirty, fun, free and immediately puts Elea at ease. 
As this new affection blooms, Elea finds herself pushed and pulled between the nostalgia of her past with Alex and the excitement of her present with Logan. All the while, Elea cannot ignore the truths she learns about her role in ending the great war that has existed between Shadowcrafters and Lightcrafters. Only time will tell if she is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to bring about true peace for all.

One of the things that I love most about Randall's stories are the relationships that she builds around her main characters and how some of the most most important ones don’t come from blood family, but from the found family of friends and community community that Elea cultivates. There are themes of sisterhood and legacy that Randall masterfully brings to life in this story as Elea learns more about her heritage, her ties to the Craft and the history of these two witch covens. It is also really poignant and painful at times to see how Elea's troubled youth was punctuated with beautiful moments of connection and innocence as we learn more about her friendship with Alex and why it is so hard for her to let go of that past when she’s faced with who he has become in the present.

I really adore how Randall weaves a wonderful tapestry of sensorial experiences and memories throughout this story. 
She has a beautiful and really unique way of bringing to life the various cultures that these individuals grew up in through rich traditions in things like cooking, baking and even drinking a flavorful cup of tea. There's so much that Randall immerses the reader in as you move through the pages of this story that you really do feel like you've been wrapped in their world in the coziest of ways. I mean a sentient chateau that brings you hot chocolate and warm, buttery croissants when you are feeling down...who doesn't want to get on board with that??!!

And finally, one can’t talk about this book without mentioning the really slow and yet very deliberate way that Randall builds the romantic tension. The way that Elea struggles with the inexplicable pull that she feels towards Alex, her first love who has long claimed her heart. The fight and raw magnetism between these two as Alex tries to push Elea away is absolute fire! That bathtub daydream scene left me blushing in the best of ways. And on the other side we have Logan, who is in so many ways is the complete opposite of Alex. He lets Elea be free of the burdens she so long has placed on herself, laugh and just be in the moment. He wants her to know she has someone who’s in her corner with no agenda and sees her for exactly who she is. Wondering just how this was all going to work out was so deliciously torturous and had me wringing my hands until the end. All I will say, is it’s definitely worth it!

It was so much fun to go on this journey with Elea. After meeting her and seeing how things came to a head at the end of book 1, it was lovely to see her really come into her own in book 2 and to also get to be reunited with some of my favorite characters. 
I definitely recommend this book and series to anyone who loves stories with plenty of magic, intense emotions, fast paced drama and a world whose quiet details will charm you into wanting to dive right into its pages!

[Ashleigh Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Curses, Keys and Secret Societies is the second book to the Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things. In the original story, the reader was introduced to two factions of power wielding witches - Lightcraft and Shadowcraft. Sworn enemies with a centuries old curse. In Curses, Keys, and Secret Societies the reader gets to dive a little bit deeper into the lore and get the conclusion we were hoping for. I enjoyed this book for the most part, but I do have a few wishes for the story that I will dive into a bit later.

If you love Dean Winchester and Supernatural, you will feel right at home with the main male character in the story. But which one you might ask? Logan? Alex? I'll leave that to you to decide who best fits Dean. Could one also be Sam.

In book one, we met Elea and she is the daughter of one of the most well known Shadowcrafters. Her dad has been searching for decades for a way to end the curse and perhaps end the practitioners of Lightcraft. Elea has never really ascribed to her dad's way of viewing the world and wa used in the worst way in the first book. But in the second book, the reader is introduced to Elea as she is finding herself and learning to stand on her own two feet. But we also sadly meet her in a moment of grief as she goes home to mourn the loss of a family member. It is during this return visit that she is inspired by her dad to help him end the curse. But end it in a way that benefits all of those involved in the curse. How might he do that? By opening an academy teaching Shadowcrafters how to safely wield their magic but also fight. Hello, lovers of dark academia. But in true storybook fashion, nothing is what it seems. Starting with the most amazing sentient castle. I would like to live in that castle. It was such a delight and I loved how the castle took care of Elea. Oftentimes, giving her what she needed most even when she didn't want it.

I loved Elea as our main female character. In the first book, I felt that I was set up to not like her mostly because she was portrayed as a damsel in distress. But in the second book, that narrative has been overthrown by a woman who knows her own mind and decides to do what she can to help the people she cares about. She is strong willed and independent and determined. She is a main character that is inspiring. She never runs from the fight even when it seems scary or overwhelming.

Now, on to the love triangle that Elea finds herself in. In one corner, we have Alex, her childhood best friend and first crush. In another corner, we have Logan, the cowboy from the United States who is new and unfamiliar. Here, Breanne Randall wrote some of the best, most tension filled scenes between the characters. It jumped off the page. Whether Elea was with Alex or Logan, the chemistry was off the characters. I spent the book flip flopping between who I wanted her to end up with. And trust me, you want to finish the book to find out.

Now a few things that weren't my favorite. I was disappointed that we didn't get to spend more time with the Petridi sisters we met in book 1. Their appearance was blink and you miss it. I was hoping to get more of their adventures and life. We also got an Easter egg that one of the big mysteries of book 1 was solved but we didn't really get a how or a resolution. My other wish was that the book, at times, had moved slower. Some of the fight scenes felt rushed and/or disjointed. Or there was so much going on that I didn't feel that the scene was given the room to breathe to make the impact that I think the author wanted. I would get a bit lost. And the conclusion to the book, while it made sense, it also felt rushed. Again, a conclusion but that didn't given a lot more to the story.

Overall, would I recommend it? Yes!

Thank you to Dell and NetGalley, for the early ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.