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Fated, Cursed, and Claimed #2
A Cage of Blood and Light
He waited sixteen hundred years to find her again. He'll raze the world before he loses her twice.
Madelyn James is the only human in a pack of wolves. The soft one, the breakable one, the girl everyone swore to protect and no one ever let be brave. She's spent her whole life aching to be something more than ordinary. She's spent all summer aching for something far more dangerous: the cold, beautiful, impossible professor she can't stop wanting, and can't begin to explain why.
Axton Ambrose is the first vampire ever made, and he didn't cross a continent to teach. He came for her. Dragged out of sixteen centuries of darkness by a woman who shouldn't exist. Because once, before a jealous god remade him into a monster and then his own newborn hunger destroyed the only thing he had ever loved, Axton had a wife.
And Maddy is wearing her face.
The same fate that stole her the first time is circling to take her again. This time, Axton refuses to grieve. So he does the only thing a monster knows how to do. He steals her. He chains her at the edge of the world. And he swears that nothing, not the pack hunting her, not the rival who covets her blood, not even the Devil who made him, will ever pry her from his hands.
But Maddy was never as breakable as they believed. And the longer she's caged with her monster, the more she remembers. What she was, what she's becoming, and the terrible, beautiful truth neither of them survived the last time around.
Some loves don't end. They just wait for the next lifetime to finish what they started.
*** This is book 2, after A War of Hearts and Fate. You do not have to read book 1 to enjoy this one. Maddy is a side character in book 1 and Axton comes in at the end of the book. If you are a die-hard reader, you'll likely want to read book 1 first. Book 3 will be Ashleigh's story. For that one, readers really should start with book 1. ***
Madelyn James is the only human in a pack of wolves. The soft one, the breakable one, the girl everyone swore to protect and no one ever let be brave. She's spent her whole life aching to be something more than ordinary. She's spent all summer aching for something far more dangerous: the cold, beautiful, impossible professor she can't stop wanting, and can't begin to explain why.
Axton Ambrose is the first vampire ever made, and he didn't cross a continent to teach. He came for her. Dragged out of sixteen centuries of darkness by a woman who shouldn't exist. Because once, before a jealous god remade him into a monster and then his own newborn hunger destroyed the only thing he had ever loved, Axton had a wife.
And Maddy is wearing her face.
The same fate that stole her the first time is circling to take her again. This time, Axton refuses to grieve. So he does the only thing a monster knows how to do. He steals her. He chains her at the edge of the world. And he swears that nothing, not the pack hunting her, not the rival who covets her blood, not even the Devil who made him, will ever pry her from his hands.
But Maddy was never as breakable as they believed. And the longer she's caged with her monster, the more she remembers. What she was, what she's becoming, and the terrible, beautiful truth neither of them survived the last time around.
Some loves don't end. They just wait for the next lifetime to finish what they started.
*** This is book 2, after A War of Hearts and Fate. You do not have to read book 1 to enjoy this one. Maddy is a side character in book 1 and Axton comes in at the end of the book. If you are a die-hard reader, you'll likely want to read book 1 first. Book 3 will be Ashleigh's story. For that one, readers really should start with book 1. ***
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2026
About the author
N.E. Henderson
19 books1,134 followersN. E. Henderson is an Amazon top 30 best-selling indie author who doesn’t like a long, drawn-out grovel by the hero in the book. If the heroine can’t accept an apology and forgive the man she loves, does she even really love him?
Nancy writes spicy contemporary and supernatural romance. Plot always outweighs the spice!
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Nancy writes spicy contemporary and supernatural romance. Plot always outweighs the spice!
Visit my Amazon Author page
https://www.amazon.com/N.-E.-Henderso...
Join my Newsletter
https://newsletterscriv.com/p/cmtc3z5...
Follow my on Instagram
http://www.instagram.com/nehenderson
Follow me on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/NEHendersonAu...
Join my Reader Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thefi...
Follow me on TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@authornehende...
Follow me on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/nehenderson
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 2, 2026
🔗 2026 IG Listened to... | 🔗 2026 TT Listened to...
Thank ypu so much for sending me this ARC-Copy. I truly appreciate it!
⚫️ Fantasy romance
⚫️ m-f romance
⚫️ Pace: medium
🚨 Make sure to read the trigger warnings.
📚 Ebook / Braille
⚫️ Microtropes: college, teacher, vampires, wherewolves, age gap, character driven, open door spice, plot over spice, light on ow drama, multi pov, war, emotional
⚫️ First of all, I LOVE that this book is interconnected with A War of Hearts and Faith. If you haven’t listened to that audiobook yet, consider this your sign. It’s seriously a must-listen!
Now, back to this story…
One thing I particularly enjoyed was the dialogue between the MMC and the FMC. Their intellectual conversations were genuinely interesting and pleasant to read, and I really enjoyed seeing their dynamic develop through those moments.
I also loved how realistic the FMC’s emotions felt. She has doubts, conflicting feelings, and questions about everything happening around her. She’s honest with herself about those feelings, even when she isn’t ready to be honest about them with her family. That made her feel very relatable and authentic to me.
I'm looking forward to read 'A Reign of Shadow and Frost'. Coming late 2026.
Thank ypu so much for sending me this ARC-Copy. I truly appreciate it!
⚫️ Fantasy romance
⚫️ m-f romance
⚫️ Pace: medium
🚨 Make sure to read the trigger warnings.
📚 Ebook / Braille
⚫️ Microtropes: college, teacher, vampires, wherewolves, age gap, character driven, open door spice, plot over spice, light on ow drama, multi pov, war, emotional
⚫️ First of all, I LOVE that this book is interconnected with A War of Hearts and Faith. If you haven’t listened to that audiobook yet, consider this your sign. It’s seriously a must-listen!
Now, back to this story…
One thing I particularly enjoyed was the dialogue between the MMC and the FMC. Their intellectual conversations were genuinely interesting and pleasant to read, and I really enjoyed seeing their dynamic develop through those moments.
I also loved how realistic the FMC’s emotions felt. She has doubts, conflicting feelings, and questions about everything happening around her. She’s honest with herself about those feelings, even when she isn’t ready to be honest about them with her family. That made her feel very relatable and authentic to me.
I'm looking forward to read 'A Reign of Shadow and Frost'. Coming late 2026.
September 3, 2026
Cage of Blood and Light is the the 2nd book in the Fated, Cursed and Claimed series. This series has been by far one of the best paranormal/shifter series I've read. While this is a standalone I highly recommend you read book 1 especially since the series is interconnected.
Nancy has a way to draw you into her stories with captivating characters and plotlines no matter the subject. This one involves Axton Ambrose who's 1600 years old and the first vampire ever created and Maddy James a 20 year old human who was adopted at birth by wolf shifter parents. With her being the only human in the pack she is considered breakable and to be protected even though she only wanted to be seen as anything but fragile. She heads for college where she feels a pull she can't explain to Professor Ambrose even if he acts like she doesn't exist.
Axton has been tormented since his creation by a memory he can't quite grasp until he senses a human who he's drawn to who looks like what he lost when he was created. So he becomes a professor at the college she's attending to figure out what it is about her.
Maddy and Axton story is told in a dual POV that is action packed, suspense-filled, mysterious, dangerous with twists, turns, betrayals, heartbreak, bravery and an undeniable connection pulling them together. It has a captivating group of secondary characters that bring life, drama, camaraderie and at times a sense of humor to this emotional storyline.
I received an ARC from the author and I'm voluntarily leaving my review.
5+ well deserved and amazing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I can't wait to see where book 3 Reign of Shadow and Frost tell the story of Ashleigh and Caleb wolf shifters lead us.
Nancy has a way to draw you into her stories with captivating characters and plotlines no matter the subject. This one involves Axton Ambrose who's 1600 years old and the first vampire ever created and Maddy James a 20 year old human who was adopted at birth by wolf shifter parents. With her being the only human in the pack she is considered breakable and to be protected even though she only wanted to be seen as anything but fragile. She heads for college where she feels a pull she can't explain to Professor Ambrose even if he acts like she doesn't exist.
Axton has been tormented since his creation by a memory he can't quite grasp until he senses a human who he's drawn to who looks like what he lost when he was created. So he becomes a professor at the college she's attending to figure out what it is about her.
Maddy and Axton story is told in a dual POV that is action packed, suspense-filled, mysterious, dangerous with twists, turns, betrayals, heartbreak, bravery and an undeniable connection pulling them together. It has a captivating group of secondary characters that bring life, drama, camaraderie and at times a sense of humor to this emotional storyline.
I received an ARC from the author and I'm voluntarily leaving my review.
5+ well deserved and amazing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I can't wait to see where book 3 Reign of Shadow and Frost tell the story of Ashleigh and Caleb wolf shifters lead us.
September 4, 2026
A cage of blood and light❤️🩹
Oh my gosh, the long awaited second book in this series is finally out in the world and what a fantastic read🙌
Axton is a 1600 year old vampire, working as a professor at the same college as Maddy. Maddy is our beloved human from the Bloodmoon pack and considered fragile and breakable by those around her😕 Which for all intents and purposes she is, but she’s also been raised by wolves and is stronger and braver than anyone thinks.
When it becomes clear she has a crush on her professor, no one dissuades her from taking a summer course that he is holding..but only because they don’t know what he is😳
As usual a well paced and developed story with great characters❣️ I can’t wait to read Ashleigh and Caleb’s story next. I received an advanced copy and voluntarily leave my honest review🖤
Oh my gosh, the long awaited second book in this series is finally out in the world and what a fantastic read🙌
Axton is a 1600 year old vampire, working as a professor at the same college as Maddy. Maddy is our beloved human from the Bloodmoon pack and considered fragile and breakable by those around her😕 Which for all intents and purposes she is, but she’s also been raised by wolves and is stronger and braver than anyone thinks.
When it becomes clear she has a crush on her professor, no one dissuades her from taking a summer course that he is holding..but only because they don’t know what he is😳
As usual a well paced and developed story with great characters❣️ I can’t wait to read Ashleigh and Caleb’s story next. I received an advanced copy and voluntarily leave my honest review🖤
September 4, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Cage of Blood and Light was everything I could have imagined and more! It was absolutely worth the wait. Maddy and Axton’s chemistry was incredible, and I loved watching their relationship unfold.
From the very beginning, I was completely captivated and pulled into the story. The world, the characters, and the twists kept me turning the pages, and I honestly didn’t want to put it down. This book had everything I look for in a great read, and I’m already wanting more!
Definitely a book I would recommend! ❤️
A Cage of Blood and Light was everything I could have imagined and more! It was absolutely worth the wait. Maddy and Axton’s chemistry was incredible, and I loved watching their relationship unfold.
From the very beginning, I was completely captivated and pulled into the story. The world, the characters, and the twists kept me turning the pages, and I honestly didn’t want to put it down. This book had everything I look for in a great read, and I’m already wanting more!
Definitely a book I would recommend! ❤️
September 7, 2026
I could not put this down!! I loved Kane and Kate's story and Madelyn and Axton's story is even better!! A human raised on pack lands goes to college. The oldest living thing seeks her out and becomes her professor. What could go wrong?! It seems perfectly acceptable and normal, right? So much could go wrong, and does!!
September 21, 2026
breathtaking
This book had me on the edge of my seat. My emotions were all over the place reading this. I loved it so much. I have read all of this authors books and this one is one of the best.
This book had me on the edge of my seat. My emotions were all over the place reading this. I loved it so much. I have read all of this authors books and this one is one of the best.
September 16, 2026
4.5⭐️
3🌶
Loved. I cannot tell you how excited I was
for this book after reading book 1. I had
a great time. Can't wait for book 3!
3🌶
Loved. I cannot tell you how excited I was
for this book after reading book 1. I had
a great time. Can't wait for book 3!
September 11, 2026
Can we talk about the epic-ness of this story? This felt like going back in time with the way this reminded me of stories I loved years ago. The depth of the angst and longing. The centuries of build up and the way it all pulled together was feeling epic. I loved the non-typicalness of the characters and how their stories fell into place. This was diffidently a top read of the year for me.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews