Nightcurse

by Emma Hinds

Cursed with eternity, haunted by love–discover the truth about living forever in this achingly atmospheric dark academia fantasy

Emrys Swift is so dead. One hundred and fifty seven years worth of dead, to be exact. He’s a Revenant, nightcursed, destined to be stuck being seventeen forever. Hidden away, he spends his infinite days as an undead librarian of witchlore at the NeverEnd library–until a new Revenant arrives and magical artifacts start going missing, jeopardizing his beloved home.

Emrys’s mortal enemy and annoyingly attractive shapeshifter Aubrey Vale is determined to solve the mystery – with Emrys’s help. Suddenly Emrys and Aubrey are magically bonded together on a quest into the dark and frost-bitten world of night-kin. But as Emyrs and Aubrey interrogate ghosts and face drowning by mermaids, deathly creatures aren’t the only spectres haunting them. With the ghoulish Night Hunt chasing them down, can they outrun the secrets of Emrys’ death and Aubrey’s life? And if they can save NeverEnd’s future, can they have a future together?

Hauntingly gorgeous and tender, Emma Hinds’ Nightcurse is both a Gothic mystery and an enemies-to-lovers romance about navigating life and love in the face of death.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Queer, LGBT, Young Adult, Paranormal, Adult

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 13, 2026

About the author

Emma is a fiction writer and playwright living and working in the North of England. She graduated from St. Andrews University with an MLitt. in Creative Writing in 2014. She focuses on historical narratives, female voices, and Queer stories. She was longlisted for BBC Writersroom, and has been part of the Write Now Penguin and Random House project. In 2020, she was longlisted for the Mslexia Novel competition. Emma identifies as Queer and uses She/Her pronouns.

Reviews

[BookishKB]

🕯️🖤 Nightcurse 🖤🕯️

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Dark Academia
• Enemies to Lovers
• Gothic Fantasy
• Magical Library
• Revenant MMC
• Magical Bond
• Paranormal Mystery
_ _ _

📅 Pub Date: October 13, 2026
Thank you to Wednesday Books, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[She’s Stranger Than Fiction]

4.25 stars

This YA dark academia romantasy has all sorts of cozy vibes. Emrys, our protagonist, is a very sweet Victorian revenant and has been sheltered for most of his life - both among the living and as the undead. Then Aubrey, a shapeshifter who is very much alive, arrives. Their story evolves as Emrys learns more about life and about himself, and the two of them get pulled into a dangerous series of heartbreaking events that change their world forever.
I really enjoyed this book. It is so different from lots of the other stuff out there and blends magic, folk tales, found family, friendship, nurturing and being nurtured, and the nature of love. Emrys is the protagonist I never knew I needed: sweet, naïve, cynical, loving, and jealous. Aubrey is bold, brash, outrageous, and brilliant but also very vulnerable. The characters are very realistic and well-written. This is a YA novel, but it doesn’t have the level of immature drama that some books in this genre can’t seem to escape. These characters have plenty of angst, but it is understandable and quite realistic. This is a great novel for YA and adult audiences. I really enjoyed it. I subtracted about 3/4 of a point because the ends were tied up too neatly. It made the ending feel as artificial as riding into the sunset is in old movies. Otherwise, the book is great! Recommend!

Thanks to Emma Hinds , Macmillan Publishers , and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this uncorrected digital galley. The opinions here are my own.

[Jessica Swan]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

DNF @20%

Slow start. Not really holding my interest. I can see I'm in the minority here though because of the positive reviews so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

But Witchlore by this author was fantastic so please give that a shot if you're curious. And if the plot of this one sounds good, I hope you enjoy it!!! <3

[Theo]

Received an ARC from the Goodreads giveaway a few weeks ago and started reading shortly after receiving it. Overall, I greatly enjoyed it. I have been searching for good LGBTQ+ fiction and I have found great success here. I have not read any books by this author before, but I plan to read Witchlore after this.

Note: the rest of this review contains spoilers. I did try my best to keep it mild, and they are under spoiler tags.

Setting:

First notes are on the setting, which appears to be the same as Witchlore based on the summary of Witchlore referencing Demdike College, and that same college appearing as a background setting in this book. However, the characters don't spend significant amounts of time around Demdike, so, while I have not read Witchlore, I don't think there's any appearances of characters from that book in this one.

It is unclear if magic is a secret from the public in this setting. The main characters encounter mermaids and the public doesn't seem to think much of it, but at the same time, they have to live in a library and hold no social media presence lest people find out they don't age .

The setting does not appear to have an exact year, but is set in modern times and handles it well.


Characters:

Emrys:

The story focuses around Emrys, who is somewhere between 17 and 157 years old, just depends on how you count. Emrys is a revenant, so he is technically undead and therefore does not age. The book does not explore why people become revenants, most of them just see it as the will of God. Revenants are also believed to hold no magic powers, but it is shown repeatedly throughout the book that he has at least some magic powers. This is also never explored.

Emrys was 17 when he died and became a revenant. Because he was not a legal adult (over 18) when he died, he has been deemed forever a child. This means he is not allowed to be paid, hold a bank account, or move out. He instead gets to live and work full time in a library helping college students. He, and all the other under-18 revenants that live with him, are literally sentenced to an eternity of unpaid retail work. This gets mentioned a few times in the first chapters, then is used as a bit of a joke later, and then is never brought up again.

I mention Emrys lives with other revenants. They inhabit and run a library for a magical college. If you are a fan of the found family trope, this handles it well.

Emrys is the POV for the entire book.

LGBTQ+ rep: Emrys is demisexual and provides good representation of it. I have also not seen this identity represented in queer fiction before.


Aubrey:

Emrys and Aubrey have already met when the story begins, and Emrys already does not like him, as Aubrey seems to be a bit rude sometimes. Aubrey has a complex past, that gets somewhat revealed, but most of the conflicts of his past are not resolved by the end of the book, so it kind of doesn't seem to go anywhere unless they're setting up a second book.

LGBTQ+ rep: Aubrey can easily be read as a trans man, (and is likely intended to be) but it is not explored much.


Support characters are diverse, fleshed out, and Emrys has a well defined relationship with most of them.

I keep encountering books that claim their protagonist is highly intelligent that then have the characters act like idiots, and it frustrates me greatly. Thankfully, no one in this book falls into that description.


Overall plot:

The overall plot is good, though I would have assumed the Night Hunt played a larger role based on the description. It does not end on a cliffhanger, but a sequel would definitely not feel forced, which is a definite plus.

The romance is believable and built up over a sufficient amount of time that it makes me believe its enemies to lovers and not "we hate each other, but are now head-over-heels because the other person's hot suddenly for no apparent reason".


ARC had a handful of typos and some instances of weird wording, I am confident this will be ironed out before release.

5/5 Summary: Very British, very good LGBTQ+ representation, strong characters with a solid ending. I would recommend this to anyone in search of: queer fiction, enemies to lovers, found family, or modern fantasy.

[Jackie]

A haunting story about love , loss and everything that happens after.

“The Nightcurse” is what happens after those who have passed started resurrecting as revenants forever frozen at the age of their death never growing even as time around them passes. Emrys is stuck at 17 even though his death was over a hundred years earlier he is still fuzzy on the details but knows he has spent his time trying to make the most of it except for his ongoing died with shapeshifter Aubrey Vale. As their paths cross again they find themselves as reluctant allies as objects start going missing and they have to hunt for who or what may be messing with the unnatural order of things.

This was such an interesting story and take on resurrection. Having always loved vampires and the lore of being frozen in time it’s interesting how this book shows the mental and emotional pitfalls of being stunted at a certain age. There is no growth or maturity that comes with age even though the years pass and the frustration of technically being an adult but treated like a child was so fascinating. Not to mention the layers that come with sexuality and how it was handled , or not even talked about, throughout history and how that kind of unwarranted shame can linger in a person.

Emrys needed the biggest hug the entire story him trying to handle this new responsibility of being a tutor to a new revenant while it’s being taken away by his enemy was enough but when he learns about the day he died and the questions it leaves was so heartbreaking. His insecurities and just not having any real way to identify who is his because of the time period he is from made that journey all the better as he was able to look at it from a more modern and welcoming lense with the community he had built around him and that include Aubrey.

That’s not to say this book isn’t without its scares there a particular scene overlooking the sea that I am going to have nightmares about but the conversation about who a soul belongs too was so creative and fun. There’s a lot of questions surrounding what is to become of those who come back and what happens when they wish to return to those who have not come back and it’s so layered and painful but you also understand that desire.

An interesting book and one that I think will hit home for a lot of people.

*special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

[Rachel Feeck]

It’s kinda like a teen boarding school in an exclusive library, except nearly everyone is already dead. This includes Emrys Smith, a nerdy book boy who died one hundred and thirty seven years ago at the age of seventeen, and like all other revenants, he hasn’t aged a day since. He’s a walking disaster when it comes to reading the room and relationships, and yeah, he hates the annoying, pretty, very-much-still-alive shapeshifting researcher Aubrey, the boy who may have stolen his tea one time and always has an obnoxious nickname at the ready, and it’s just so endearing to see Emrys bumble through everything, trying not to wear his soft, sad little heart on his sleeve.

While the external plot starts as a soft burble of mystery (some books are missing from the library? oh gosh, oh dear), it’s the characters that bring the story to life. After a hundred years as essentially an unpaid intern, Emrys yearns for more responsibility, and while the “adult” revenants are clearly right that he remains immature, he begins to wonder whether this is truly his nature as an unaging revenant or if their expectations aren’t letting him grow. Other revenants include Tommy, a bit of an older brother (though he hasn’t been dead as long), Madeleine the uppity nun, and Sasha, recently deceased and still coming to terms with everything Emrys is teaching her about her new existence (social media? Yeah, not allowed). All bring their own lived experiences, tragically few though they are, and perspectives on the eternity ahead of them, assisting with magical archives and staying out of the general public eye.

There’s a fun blend of archaisms with modern lingo, reflecting Emrys’s life in olden times and this old soul’s adaptation to change. The large amounts of introspection can become repetitive - accurate fretting is not always the most riveting read - but Emrys won me over with his literary preferences. (Bonding over Master and Commander? Be still, my heart.) The magical elements throughout are generally quiet, apart from the revenants and a few ghostly types, although it picks up in the second half.

Expect books and bickering, family lost and found, ill-advised road trips, and existential crises (so, how do you handle eternal existence while everyone you know lives and dies? Not well? Cool, cool.)

**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**

[notreallyacat]

I almost didn't read this because I loved Emma Hinds's first YA book, "Witchlore," so much that I didn't want to risk that this might not compare. But I'm so glad that I took the risk!

I feel like Emma Hinds and Andrew Joseph White (disclaimer: pretty different reading experiences haha) are both reaching back through time and healing my inner teenager with the kinds of books I wish I could have read back then. And I realize that saying that is cheesy and the sort of thing that teenage-me would have rolled their eyes at, but I just can't stress enough how great it feels to read books with characters like me in genres I actually enjoy. No matter what happens on the page, it feels kinda like a warm hug.

BUT ANYWAY. Nightcurse seems to take place in the same world as Witchlore, but while certain elements of magic and world-building come up again, it doesn't just replay the same notes. To be clear, I keep mentioning Witchlore, but the books are clearly standalones—the shared world seems more like a little signature or Easter egg, like Charles DeLint's frequent returns to Newford or Christopher Moore's ongoing use of the same universe across his books. The world is magical, but the world-building isn't overwhelming—the book is very character- and plot-forward, which is always my preference. As you can probably guess, the characters were the biggest draw for me, and, well—I loved them. The plot is engaging, the setting is interesting, and in spite of everything, the book ended up feeling cozy. So much to love.

One disclaimer: I'm seeing a lot of people calling this dark academia, and as the honorary dark academia police, I'm here to say that it's not! It takes place at a school (er, a library associated with a school), and the characters appreciate learning. You could probably give it dark academia vibes in your head as you read if you wanted to. But by the strictest definitions of the term, it really doesn't qualify, so if you're looking for a traditional dark academia book, don't be disappointed!

🎧 I listened to the audiobook edition, and it was worthwhile just for the accents. The variety felt very intentional and fleshed out the characters nicely...and the American accent in particular was so endearing that the accent alone made the character one of my favorite characters. This would be good in any format, but the audiobook is worthwhile!

(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC! All opinions are, of course, my own.)

[Marie -The Reading Otter]

Thank you NetGalley for this review copy

Review:
This is a tough book to review. There are things in this book that kept me interested, but more in a "where is this going" way than it having me on the edge of my seat to find out. This book took me quite some time to finish.

It was not enjoyable to be stuck in Emrys' head the whole time for this book, I think if it had been dual POV with any of the other characters it could've added some complexity or nuance to the story. Emrys was a little annoying for most of the book, and often only thought of himself and how things were affecting him. Him being tasked with being Sosa's mentor for him had little to do with helping her adjust, and more to do with proving himself to other people to benefit himself later. And when he messes up and losing that position, in stead of apologizing to Sosa for neglecting his duties, he finds a way to make it about himself.

Aubrey wasn't any better, they really are two sides of the same coin when it comes to things. Everything is also about what can benefit himself, and who is the most useful. But since he's the other Main character, or the main side-character, I think POV chapters from him could have been useful.

As for Sosa, her presence at the start of this book made it seem like she was going to be more involved with the plot, but she was hardly there for most of the book. I think she was supposed to represent the sister Emrys lost when he died, but I don't think it did the leg work to get there. Tommy and Madeline are the other younger revenants in this book, and they almost don't matter for the plot of the book until the very end of the story.

Just a lot of this book felt a little all over the place. I feel that there are a number of loose ends, but I also feel like there isn't any more story to tell. I just don't really know how to feel about this book. I think if I liked the characters more, I could forgive the things parts that I didn't enjoy as much.

[Sissi and the Books]

This book grabbed me IMMEDIATELY. No slow start, no dragging setup, just straight into the world and vibes from page one.

This was genuinely beautiful. The writing had such an atmospheric feel to it (ghostly dark academia with witchy eerie vibes and portals and magic but like... in a fun paranormal way), and all the characters felt really distinct and alive.

The world itself felt super original to me too. Witches and shapeshifters exist, but not in the usual mainstream fantasy way, and then there are the night kin — people who die but don’t fully stay dead. Emrys is a revenant, basically this sad ghost/zombie hybrid who died at 17 and stayed emotionally stuck there despite existing undead for 157 years. This was quite interesting to explore. He lives in this massive library with other revenants, helping college students while being monitored by the Merlin Order that keeps track of supernatural creatures.
Then a brand new revenant appears for the first time in forever, and Emrys and his academic rival Aubrey both want the position of tutor/guide for them. However, the plot pops off and you're taken on an adventure and a spin through this magnificent world.

But honestly, the romance was my favorite part. It’s such a patient, gentle journey of self discovery and learning to let yourself want things despite fear, grief, or the possibility of getting hurt. It was soft in a way that made me absolutely swoon.

I also had no idea this had LGBTQ+ rep going in, and genuinely, I would’ve picked it up sooner if I had known because it was done SO well.

This book was made for me. Loved this from start to finish and I already know I want to revisit this world - in new and already published books.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC! This review reflects my own opinions.

[Liz]

Nightcurse by Emma Hinds

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

This book hooked me almost instantly. It has that rare kind of opening that drops you straight into the world without easing you in, and I loved how quickly it established its tone.

The concept alone is fascinating—people who die but don’t stay gone, returning as revenants forever frozen at the age they died. Emrys, stuck at 17 despite being dead for over a century, is such a compelling lens for exploring identity, grief, and what it means to grow when your body never does. The emotional weight of that premise really carries the story.

Emrys himself was incredibly easy to sympathize with. There’s something heartbreaking about watching him navigate responsibility, relationships, and self-understanding while still being mentally tethered to the version of himself that died young. His dynamic with Aubrey Vale added another layer of tension and history that made their reluctant partnership all the more engaging.

The worldbuilding is also a standout here. The mix of revenants, witches, shapeshifters, and the strange systems built around them feels rich and unusual in a way that kept me curious the entire time. I especially liked how the story explores belonging and whether someone “belongs” to the time they died in or the life they’re still somehow living.

There’s a strong emotional undercurrent throughout, balancing mystery, eerie moments, and quieter reflections on identity and connection. The romance builds slowly and thoughtfully, focusing more on trust and emotional understanding than instant chemistry, which worked really well for the tone of the book.

Overall, this was a deeply atmospheric, emotionally thoughtful paranormal fantasy with a really unique premise and a lot of heart.

[Eggy G]

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.

Nightcurse by Emma Hinds is a young adult romantic fantasy about an undead Victorian teenager, Emrys, grappling with grief, coming of age, and falling in love while uncovering the mystery behind the disappearance of necromancy tomes with nemesis Aubrey Vale.

I was drawn to this book because I recently finished Holly Black’s Cruel Prince trilogy and wanted some more young adult fantasy with romantic subplots in my life! The dark academic setting intrigued me, and I love the messy ideas to be explored with the idea of living forever.

This book had a wonderful message, and I liked how it toyed with gender, sexual orientation, and religion in a fantasy setting. Unfortunately, I did not find the execution to be quite there. Often, I felt things were explained immediately after they happened, assigning more weight to the scene the reader witnessed than was warranted or earned. There were some juicy scenes in the beginning, but when a beat is so short and you’re given a recap right after it, it takes away from the impact. One example would be when Emrys first rides in Aubrey’s car to go to Haddon Hall. That scene was so good! But it was incredibly short and then we get a long winded explanation of what happened immediately afterward, with unearned commentary (in my opinion). I feel like this book would have been much more compelling as a series because it would give scenes time to breathe, more world-building (there’s still so much to be explained! Even the spellwork that was used, I’m confused about), and perhaps a plot that was less contrived (and by that I mean more continuous rather than disjointed).

I did like Emrys and Aubrey, and the themes themselves were interesting. I really enjoyed how Emrys and the other nightkin experienced grief. I just wish more time was spent on these juicy morsels!

[Bec]

4.5 rounded up

Nightcurse was a fun, heartfelt, emotional, and unique read. There is a spooky mystery aspect, and there were some scary moments I was not prepared for, but I loved the dark paranormal academia atmosphere. Even though there are a lot of emotional moments, it still managed to have some funny moments that had me laughing. It had a similar feeling with the tv show School Spirits, and a tiniest bit of Sorcery and Small Magics vibes. I loved both, so it made sense I loved this too. But even though I was reminded of other media, this still felt very unique, especially as it got into the second half. 

The tone was set immediately, I was hooked right away, it didn’t take too long to get to the heart of the story. The pacing was done really well, and it has a nice gradual building of anticipation.

There are a lot of parts to the magic system, it’s complex but not complicated, and thoughtfully explained and introduced at appropriate moments making the world-building seamless. 

The plot is nice, and the grieving is done well, but the romance was the highlight. I loved the slow burn, the chemistry, the banter, and the yearning from Aubrey Vale was everything. I swear I felt tiny little flutters from how palpable Vale’s feelings were. I also loved how Vale helped Emrys grow confidence and discover more about himself and his identity. 

I love Emrys Swift, he’s so precious. He has to be one of my favorite characters. My heart was aching for him at times and I wanted nothing but the best for him. And I loved the way his coming to terms with his life, or death rather, was presented. His grief was well written and he has great growth. 

[Caitlin Teaches]

Nightcurse offers interesting representation and solid emotional depths using magical analogies for real world situations and offers an interesting mystery.

Emrys Swift is a revenant, a member of the resurrected dead who died at 17 and has been stuck there for the last 150 years of resurrected life. He lives in an isolated community that concentrates the other child revenants and puts them to work in a library where they don't get respect, paychecks, or much choice. His caretakers genuinely care about him, and an entire system has been built to support them, but the result is kind of stiffing. It feels like an all too real analogy to teens and adults with disabilities.

But there's chance for change with a new young revenant named Sosa, and an opportunity to become a tutor and maybe prove that Emrys can be more and do more than everyone assumes. Too bad Emrys's rival, a shapeshifting 19 year old name Aubrey Vale, gets the position instead while Emrys gets asked to work with him in the hope that it may save their home.

Mysteries, personal histories, interesting lore, and relationships unfurl and develop from there. I really enjoyed the depiction of the struggle of emerging adult identity in adolescents who have complex identities. It feels very real with parallels to growing up in a restrictive religious environment. The depiction of underrepresented queer identities is thoughtful and much appreciated.


Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book.

[Denise Rodriguez]

Review based on advanced reader copy received from the publisher

Nightcurse by Emma Hinds is a YA dark academia seeped in a unique magic system and LGBTQIA+ themes. We follow Emrys as they navigate an eternal life that is suddenly filled with mystery and the discovery of everything that involves living and not living, including love.

With Emrys and Aubrey as our two main characters we are able to see two opposing perspectives on the magical and utterly British world that they live in and the mystery aspect of the book not only allows them to see each others perspectives but also see the other person in a different light. Following the two of them learn more about each other and more about how the other must navigate their life has so many realistic and attainable elements that it is quite literally so hard to not fall in love with the way that they exist when they are near each other. While Nightcurse is not my first experience with magical dark academia I can safely say that Hinds does a beautiful job blending the two together. There was never a moment where I was wishing for more of one or the other and the characters not only help with that but propel the feeling foward.

This book is filled with so much banter and love and a beautiful found family that it is impossible to not enjoy the whimsy that seeps from it. I definitely will be looking into reading more of Emma Hinds work.

[Sarah]

I was captivated by this book. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down.

This is a coming of age book for a teenage dead boy, who has been emotionally stuck as a 17 year old despite having lived as a dead boy for over a hundred years. So many themes are covered - identity, loss, exploitation, discrimination, and sexuality. These themes are covered well and subtly. The author doesn’t hit you over the head with over the top symbolism.

For the most part, this book is really well written. I genuinely felt like I was reading the thoughts of a Victorian teenager. When Aubrey and Emyrs argue, the emotional pain felt real and raw.

My magic complaint is that the magic system isn’t explained, so I had no idea what was going on during the climax of the book. I lacked the context. Okay, there’s a circle of women dancing. Is that scary? There’s a giant beam of light. Is that good or bad for our heroes? Who’s winning? I had a lot of questions at the end too. How did Emyrs know that Gwen was wrong about the portal? What did that warning mean? Is Emyrs magical?

Despite the weak ending, I enjoyed the initial part of the book so much that I gave this 5 stars instead of 4. Do you know that feeling where you get so absorbed in a book, that you have to sit there after finishing as you adjust back to reality? Yeah, I definitely got that feeling with this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC.

[Cait]

Emrys has been dead for over 150 years and found his new home: NeverEnd. This magical library has become his safe place, but his safety and comfort have been recently threatened. Revenant Emrys is paired with his archrival Aubrey Vale for the sake of finding missing revenants and sacred objects in hopes of saving their future together at NeverEnd. Emrys and Aubrey go through many trials and tribulations while on their adventures and learn to grow as complex individuals because of their past and present actions.

Nightcurse by Emma Hinds is a book filled with yearning, queer love, death, and grief which is all packaged up in a beautifully cozy fantasy-mystery book focusing on the happenings in a magical paranormal world. I did feel as if the book had lower-stakes compared to what I was expecting, but maybe this was just how I interpreted the story. I loved the expressions of love in many ways throughout the book: familial, platonic, and romantic, and how all of the characters have realistic and believable connections to one another. There is a light sprinkling of religious themes throughout, but not in the ways I've seen it used before. The magic system was unique and refreshing to read, but did get a little confusing to me at times since nothing was fully explained. Overall a wonderful read and I'm so happy to have spent time in this magical world.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, Emma Hinds, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Maggie]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the e-ARC.

Nightcursed is the story of a teenaged undead revenant who accidentally magically binds themself to an alive shapeshifter to try and figure out why some magical books have disappeared and maybe discover love on the way? I really did enjoy the premise of the book, I'm just not entirely sure it was for me? we are whisked into a world where being witches, or shapeshifters, or any magical being, is sort kf totally normal but then there's also some bigotry? shapeshifters hate witches and vice versa for kind of no reason? and pple get brought back from the dead also for kind of no reason? but as revenants, these undead more or less have no way to reach any sort of after life so they're left in this sort of purgatory like limbo where they can't move on, but also ghosts exist and are different. the book follows Emrys Swift who is one of these revenants who doesn't remember their own death but accidentally makes a magical deal with a student at the library their forced to "volunteer" (read: work for no pay besides room, board, and food) at, to find some books that have gone missing. together the duo develop feelings while also figuring out who took the books and for what reason. I would definitely recommend this to someone much younger than I, as it is very YA, or someone just starting their fantasy reading journey and doesn't want full on world building and a complicated magic system

[Gee]

The narrative voice of this story drew me in from the first page. The world building of the revenants is fascinating, as is their (unfair IMO) hierarchy that is dependent on their age at death. This book has all the paranormal goodies rolled into one: magic, revenants, ghosts, witches, shapeshifters, necromancy, etcetera.

Our dynamic duo starts out as enemies and their relationship evolves over the course of the book as they are at odds with one another throughout their joint adventure. A lot of their bantering had me audibly laughing and the open discourse about sexuality sprinkled throughout this book was wonderful. These characters are very well developed and even the side characters have depth as well as meaningful relationships with Emrys (MC whose POV the story is told through).

This book was seriously just a pleasure to read from start to finish. It just felt like a cozy warm hug and would have been everything I wanted in a book when I was a *young adult*.

TLDR:
👻 forced proximity
👻 slow burn enemies to lovers
👻 LGTBQ+
👻 paranormal entities galore
👻 found family
👻navigating grief

Be sure to grab a copy when it’s released on October 13, 2026!

Thank you to Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press) and Emma Hinds for providing this eARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Alex]

What a massive thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for facilitating the e-galley. This was such a refreshing YA read with great representation and a palatable story.

The world and magic system are totally new to me, as I understand this exists in the same world as another of Emma Hinds' novels. The story of Emrys stands alone well, and I felt instantly immersed in the world and could easily follow along. For such a novel, I think the pacing and balance between showing and telling are well done. It's not so much that the reader becomes overburdened with details, but instead wraps the ideas and concepts around the reader while gently nudging them ahead. I can see where a reader who wants more development, worldbuilding, or immersion might have some gripes with the writing, but I feel it does well, especially for a YA read.

I was not expecting such representation! It was so great to see asexuality explored so well and kindly. The exploration and existence of sexuality and gender in this is so natural and doesn't feel like a marketing point. It's acknowledgment and being seen in such a comforting way.

Hinds also handles grief and religion in such a way that is so respectful, yet real and raw.

I truly enjoyed this read, and I think it's going to have great reader reception upon release. I can't wait to share this with spooky gremlin readers.

[Anna Gergerich]

This was my second ARC read for Emma Hinds, and once again I am blown away! Nightcurse is a delightfully dark academia-coded paranormal fantasy with a queer undead protagonist, found family, magical mystery, and rivals to lovers excellence! Play on!

Emrys is an immortal revenant, stuck at age seventeen for eternity. He has found his home with other young undead at NeverEnd library. However, our sheltered young protagonist must uncover forgotten memories of his past and work with his shapeshifter rival Audrey Vale in order to keep his home structure and found family from dismantling.

For those who love audiobooks, Roly Botha is the perfect Emrys. Their accent perfectly fits the character and setting, and he switches and differentiates between characters with ease. Some of the singing wasn’t my favorite, but overall the performance elevated my immersive experience as I was lucky enough to receive both an eARC and an ALC for this story.

I loved this story so much. Hinds writes the young characters very honestly. So even when they say or do rash or annoying things it’s absolutely understandable and relevant to the story and motivation. There’s teen angst, clever plotting, mysterious magical creatures, chaos, queer joy, and also lots of pining. And I loved it all.

I’m very grateful to both Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for providing multiple mediums through which I could enjoy this story via NetGalley.

[Lindsay Brogan]

It took me a little bit of time to really get into this. Emrys wasn't unlikeable but I didn't immediately root for him either. He was just ever so slightly annoying and uptight. While this is the point of his character and his growth is very enjoyable to read, it took longer to be invested because of it. When the story got going and Vale and Emrys really started working together, I was hooked.

I did feel like some of the discussions around sexuality were a little too after school special-y. It was a little heavy handed in terms of explanations and "finding oneself" but I think that could be because I'm an adult and this is a YA novel so it might not feel that way to someone young who is in the midst of figuring out who they are. I think the representation overall was well done and the relationship between Aubrey and Emrys was very sweet and a delightful slow burn.

This is the perfect book for October/November. The haunting mysterious elements of the night kin were perfect. It was just a little eerie but not scary. Very atmospheric! I also love that it's a standalone. We need more standalones!

[Jeremy Reppy]

“Nightcurse” starts off a little slow, but it is ultimately a beautiful story. I liked that the child revenants were from different time periods — Emrys living and dying in industrial era Manchester, Tommy dying in WWI, Sosa a Syrian refugee. This gave them different perspectives on life, love, family, society, etc., influencing how they interacted with each other and the world around them. Having Emrys be demisexual and gay was an interesting twist, especially as the concept of demisexuality was foreign to him. He just knew he had only been romantically/sexually attracted to one person, and he was still mourning the loss of his love.

The book explores various power dynamics and general relationships — witches versus shapeshifters; humans versus magical beings; witches/shapeshifters versus revenants; adult revenants versus permanent teenage revenants; the Merlin Foundation and its “policing” of magical beings, etc. The story is full of secrets and misunderstandings and unknown powers. Emrys, in particular, does not realize the power he possesses.

[billie]

OKAY, sooo this was kind of sad and tragic. We follow Emrys, a revenant who died with his first love at 17. The only thing is he doesn’t exactly remember what happened. He teams up with shapeshifter Aubery Vale to find answers. The unlikely pair go on a misshaped adventure, meeting powerful ghosts, deadly mermaids, and other creatures of the night. Including riding a ghostly stag named Percy.

I had previously read Witchlore by the same author earlier this year… and there were some similarities between the two. Certain plot points being very similar as well. I think I liked Witchlore a smidge better. This one is still good, though; this story freezes your heart but then slowly warms and thaws it back to a hopeful, happy ending with the message of being brave when everything in the future is so unknown.

I will likely continue to read Emma Hinds's next works even if they’re similar. I enjoy her writing, the world she’s created, and how the magic works within it. Special thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the e-arc!

[Caitlin]

4.5/5 Stars

Oh man, I really liked this book. We have a gothic fantasy mystery where a Revenant must work with a shapeshifter to find magical relics and books that have gone missing. The aesthetic is dark academia meets gothic classic in Northern England. Needless to say, I was hooked.

I loved how the book tackled the ideas of grief, gender and sexuality, and religion within the narrative. Emrys and Aubrey have to work so hard to grow and learn to trust each other that it makes every small step forward that they make together that much more satisfying.

I really loved Roly Botha's narration for the audiobook. They do a great job bringing the melancholy gothic vibes to life. Between Nightcurse and Witchlore, Emma Hinds and Roly Botha are one of those author and narrator pairings that works so well and I hope to see Botha continue to narrate Hinds's work in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the ALC and e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Cherie • bookshelvesandtealeaves]

4.5 stars

Thanks so much to St Martin’s Press & Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

This was such a beautiful, emotional book. I feel like it tugged at my heart in all the right ways.

Emrys and Aubrey are so great together. I often worry with enemies to lovers that the bickering will be too much for me, but that just never felt the case here. While I felt that Emrys’s hatred of Aubrey was unfair and he was seeing the worst in every good intention, the bond they formed quickly overshadowed that. I loved the progression of their relationship, the slow burn of it, all of Emerys’s uncertainties about his own sexuality and how considerate Aubrey was of that.

I wish Aubrey’s gender identity had been explored more, but at the same time, I appreciate that it’s both very complicated and also very simple - Aubrey is Aubrey, he is as Emrys knows him, and that’s enough.

The incorporation of different night kin, of magic and the different kinds and depths of it was so fascinating and the ongoing mystery plot had me hooked.

[Alena]

This was DARK, gothic, magical, and exactly the kind of atmosphere I can completely disappear into.

I loved the sense of danger surrounding the story. There is something about a curse hanging over characters that immediately makes me start questioning everything—where did it come from, who caused it, what does it actually want, and most importantly...WHAT TERRIBLE DECISION IS SOMEONE GOING TO MAKE TRYING TO BREAK IT? 😂

Emma Hinds created an atmosphere that felt eerie without relying entirely on jump scares or horror. There was this constant feeling that something wasn't right, and I loved slowly uncovering the truth alongside the characters.

I also really enjoyed the emotional side of the story. The relationships and personal stakes made the magical danger matter so much more because I actually cared about what these characters stood to lose.

Dark magic, curses, secrets, complicated characters, and a story that kept me wanting answers? Absolutely my kind of read.

[Julia Carter]

I listened to this audiobook ARC thru netgalley and really enjoyed it. It's a YA gothic fantasy with so much atmosphere, it's bursting out. Emrys Swift is a 157 year old revenant who was only 17 when he died, so he looks like a teen. He spends his life at NeverEnd library. When magical pieces and spellbooks begin to dissapear, Emrys has no choice but to team up with rival, Aubrey Vale. Their investigation into the disappearances takes them places they did not expect.
Again, this book has atmosphere. Gothic fantasy, magical libraries, undead creatures and spooky folklore create a world that feels eerie. The romance was also an enjoyable part of the book. The enemies to lovers and development of their relationship added so much. The balance of paranormal fantasy with darker emotional themes is perfect. My only complaint is that the magis system was a bit confusing. I recieved this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my opinion. Im giving this 4 stars.

[Allyson Preble]

Emma Hinds writes such a compelling novel. She handles big topics with grace and weaves it with a fantastic plot and complex characters. Aubrey and Emry’s face some big obstacles, both internal and in the plot. The setting itself almost feels like a character itself and as usual, the magic systems she creates are unique and interesting and help drive the plot forward.

The only thing that brings this book down is that it parallels her other novel, Witchlore, a lot and a few scenes felt almost pulled directly from her previous book. That didn’t bother me too much as I read her other book almost a year ago, but I could see it getting repetitive if you read these books back to back. That aside, this is an incredible novel which tackles some deep themes and still manages to suck the reader into a fantastic world with some incredible characters.

[Sam Davis]

⭐️⭐️⭐️¾

Nightcurse had a really good concept and a story that pulled me in, but unfortunately, the characters fell a little flat to me.

I actually really liked the overall idea and the direction of the story. But the characters… we had some issues. 😂

They felt incredibly whiny and juvenile to me, which was especially noticeable for a YA book. I know YA characters are supposed to be young, but this seemed over the top. I just struggled to connect with them or feel invested in their choices.

That said, I still enjoyed the story and the concept enough to gobble this up in a day. There’s definitely something here, and I think readers who connect more with the characters will probably enjoy it more than I did.

[Ivy H.]

(Four stars, enjoyable read with a few spots that I would have liked 'more' from. Would read additional entries if it were a series.)


Copy of message sent to author regarding minor typographical errors:


Received a copy of Nightcurse through Goodreads (it's very cute); likely others have already contacted you or you became aware on your own, but here are the typos I found in the ARC:

P260, 3rd paragraph: There's a loose bracket ] after 'romantically she'

P335, 1st paragraph: After 'find Gwen' there is a comma and a period ending the sentence.

P365, 2nd paragraph: This might actually be a style choice, but I'm not sure; Gwen says "I have atoned, I have /atoned/ I have endured" and I think I would usually expect a comma after that second 'atoned.' But again, that might be a style choice, so excuse my interpretation if so.

P366, 4th paragraph (Emrys speaking): It begins again with a string of examples he's making, with commas omitted (and I think you might just be going for a breathless burst of words, but the readability does degrade the longer it goes on), however there is /definitely/ a missing comma/period/etc before the closing quotation mark between 'vice' and 'I choke.'

Apologies if this is old information for you, but if not, hopefully it's helpful. It was an enjoyable read, and the world was interesting. Will look forward to any follow-ups with these characters. Have a great day!