The Zero Curse

The Zero Enigma #2

by Christopher G. Nuttall

Caitlyn Aguirre is no magician ... ... But that doesn't make her useless. After discovering her true talent and uncovering the long-lost secret behind Objects of Power, Cat returns to school - intent on showing everyone what she can do. But her mere existence is a threat to the balance of power, convincing some to befriend her, some to try to use her ... and some to remove her. And when she and her closest friends become the target of a deadly plot, she must use all her wits to save them and escape before she becomes the first casualty in a deadly war.

Genres: Fantasy, Magic, Young Adult, Audiobook, High Fantasy, Paranormal

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 13, 2017

Reviews

[S.J. Higbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoy well-told fantasy school adventures and Nuttall’s first book in this series, The Zero Blessing, was an excellent start. If you haven’t yet read it, I recommend you go back and pick that one up before going any further, as there is a chunk of important backstory you’re missing. Caitlyn won’t make much sense to you if you don’t do so… Given the major twist at the end of the first book, I really liked the direction in which this one went – compared to the Molly Harper series, I think the sudden change in the dynamic is far more adroitly handled here.

While I wasn’t completely surprised when the shoe dropped and the stakes were abruptly raised, but I was impressed and gripped by the way the adventure then got a whole lot darker. I’m aware Nuttall is capable of killing off important supporting characters, so was on my toes throughout. As ever, I found it difficult to put this one down until it was over. I will definitely be continuing with this series during the year. He is an accomplished author, whose books are excellent value and this one is highly recommended for fans of exciting magical school adventures.

9/10

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent second book in a series.

I really enjoy reading this author. I have read several of his other series with great pleasure.

The Zero Curse series is shaping up to be another favorite! The protagonist is wonderfully developed, as are her family and friends. The plot kept me racing through. I was sad to finish! The story takes place in a magical world where all the upper class have powers. Our protagonist has none - or so she thinks! Until she is sent to academy with her sisters (the first book).

In this sequel, we watch as these powers and their potential set the entire community on edge and lead to great danger for the main character, her best friend (who is the wrong class, but a magician nevertheless) and another gifted forger who is willing to overlook the enmity between families to join this loyal trio.

And now I will wait anxiously for the third book! Great read!

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really didn't want this book to finish, and I can't wait for the next and final volume. I love stories that try to analyse how magic might work.
As usual, I have a couple of niggling complaints.
1 "Magic didn't make someone invincible - I'd humiliated my sisters often enough to make that clear". If this is true, the reader has not been informed. One sister, yes, but Caitlyn has made a deal with the other sister.
2 "It had nearly killed Rose and I" - I suppose I should be used to this appalling misuse of "and I", which I hear more and more often from people who should know better, but it still irritates me.

[Rick Stuckwisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent continuation of the Zero Enigma series. Magnificent storytelling. I never cease to be amazed at Christopher Nuttall's abilities, not only to craft and develop such wonderful characters and compelling stories, but to imagine and build such interesting and believable literary worlds. His grasp of social structures and the dynamics of human relationships is great, and I love the way that he's been able to envision the intricate laws of magic and its workings within his fictional universes. Can't wait for Book 3 now in this engaging series.

[Francis Chamberland · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Zero Curse (The Zero Enigma Book 2) Review

Dear Christopher, I am really enjoying this series and look forward the reading the next book in the series. You are an interesting and excellent author with excellent stories under your belt. All your various stories are outstanding and fun to read. I highly recommend reading your stories to anyone interested in reading great stories. Thanks for the entertainment!

[michael hooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Fast paced page turner that I couldn't put down I stayed up late to finish it. I can't wait for the next one I highly recommend the series

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t really enjoy the first book in this series The Zero Blessing partly because I found the constant abuse a bit depressing. At the end of that book Cat had found ways of using ‘Objects of Power’ to even the odds against her abusers, this made the start of this book much more enjoyable.
The story develops quite slowly but gets a little bit tedious as ‘Cat’ keeps going over the same ground about her lack of magic and vulnerability, I kept thinking why doesn’t she just arm herself with dozens of protective ‘Objects of Power’?
The second half of the book was definitely more exciting, but the author was so intent in keeping the reader in the dark about the kidnappers that it just turned into a series of almost random disasters.

I enjoyed this book more the first one and will definitely be reading the next one. I would have given this book 3.5 stars if this was possible.

[Per Gunnar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second installment in The Zero Enigma series by Christopher Nuttall. The Zero Enigma is a series with a magical fantasy world where the main protagonist has…zero!…magic.

I have to say that I have, even after reading this second book, not yet accustomed myself to this concept. Even though Caitlyn in general proves to be fairly capable of handling herself I do feel that something is lacking. Actually I keep hoping that Caitlyn will discover that she actually has some different power or something. That is, some power other than being able to put together magical trinkets. Okay, I am perhaps a bit disrespectful in referring to Objects of Power as magical trinkets but it kind of is that to me.

In this book we continue the quest for the lost knowledge of Objects of Power. Thanks to the scheming and plotting of Caitlyn’s enemies, well they happen to be enemies of more than Caitlyn actually, she is thrown on a path that not only helps here discover some of these secrets but also the history of Zeros in the ancient empire as well as the fate of the Eternal City. I will not spoil the story by giving any details but I did feel a bit disappointed at the reason for the Eternal City’s downfall. But then maybe this is just due to personal bias. It was a reason that I did not expect after all so…

As usual when it comes to books from Christopher Nuttall the writing is excellent, the characters and their interaction as well as the universe building and story is very well done. As I mentioned above the one things that I do have a wee bit of a problem with is the main protagonist being devoid of magic. This makes the book miss my “sweet spot” a little and is the main reason I rate it one star short of 5 out of 5 stars.

Despite this and thanks to the quality of the writing I quite enjoyed this book and are indeed looking forward to see where the story goes.

[Jas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 starts with the interesting tale of when Aunt Stregheria turned the three girls into frogs, and only Caitlyn could break the spell, this being the point at which he believed that she had some magic, but of course she was a Zero.
As the story starts, we see Caitlyn starting to fully embrace her powers as a Zero, and forging at her Family home, her Father having set up a full workshop for her (feeling guilty for how he has treated her for the last several years of her life). However, Caitlyn’s actions at the end of book 1 have come with a huge cost, everyone now knows she can create objects of power, objects that have not been created in over a 1000years, and are the most valuable items in all of the kingdom. She has just become the most valuable and sought-after person in the Kingdom, possibly more powerful than the King himself.
And with this comes a price, as everyone now wants a piece of her. At the start of book 2, Her great Aunt Stregheria has arrived at the Family home, and been allowed to enter, even after she was banned for life after previously hexing the children. They have allowed her to come because of the Caitlyn situation, and the advice she can offer, as she has so many connections in “High Society”, and may be able to offer Caitlyn some protection. Of course, Caitlyn would prefer to be turned back into a frog again.
Without giving too much away, the story progresses and Cat returns to Jude’s, it having been decided that this is the safest place for her, given that supposedly, no one will touch her on the school grounds as it is neutral territory, and none of the wizarding families would breach this.
Caitlyn returns with Rose, and she is greeted to a completely different school to the one she went to first time around. People are nice to her, want to be her friend. The teachers all want to talk to her, even the upperclassman seem to know who she is. But Caitlyn doesn’t really want all the attention, she just wanted to be normal and learn. She still can’t do magic.
All of her classes have been altered, and it is fascinating looking at how they have adapted the different lessons for her, such as potions setting up some space at the back of the class, away from other students, so their magic doesn’t interfere with her potions. She is also given different tasks to the rest of the class, with the understanding that she both already understands the basics they are doing, and she can achieve something so much more. This is the same in all of her classes, and especially in Forging, in which Master Tallyman has created her own separate forge for her to work at in isolation, everyone else is banned from entering. He gives Caitlyn the broken sword of power to fix, telling her that if she by some miracle fixes it, she can keep it.
Caitlyn starts to receive countless requests for favours to create objects of power from Upperclassman and thinks it is great as she can create this network of favours for herself, and potentially Rose as well for their future. However, things are not all that they seem, some have nefarious goals, and before Caitlyn knows what has happened, she, Rose and Akin have been taken.
I don’t want to give too much away, but the story suddenly takes a very dark turn part way through, when the three of them are kidnapped by unknown people. Caitlyn has no one to fight them, as she is just a Zero without her objects of power, she can do nothing against magic. Unfortunately, Rose and Akin are put under spells that make it impossible for them to help or respond in anyway (I’ll let you read about that). As a result, Caitlyn is trapped, with no way out.
Until she is told she has to create Objects of Power for her captors, and this gives her a desperate chance, but will it be enough?
This story is a multi-faceted story arc, we get to see the start, in which there is the fallout from the discovery of Caitlyn’s abilities, and her duel, as well as her return to school, and Nuttall does a brilliant job of describing the impact this has on each of the characters. There are so many exceptional characters in this story, from the sisters (Alana is just wonderful as well), to the other siblings, Akin and Isabella, and their rather complex family. Isabella is a fascinating character, trapped in a family that is a Patriarchy, but easily the more powerful heir, and the one that wants it, as Akin is happy with forging, and just doing other things, he has no interest in running the family. The politics of this and other aspects of this story makes for outstanding world building.
Rose continues to be another wonderful character, she is growing all the time, and she has so much depth, she really grounds Caitlyn in reality and gives he so much perspective. But she also gives Akin some to. The character work is just outstanding, I could fill pages on just how brilliant the characters are in this story.
Allowing these characters to be so captivating, is the outstanding world-building, which is just masterful. The backdrops, these locations, from Aguirre Hall, to Jude’s to the multiple other locations (no spoilers) in this book, they are just so well done, and provide this quality to the story, making it so realistic and gritty.
This is an extraordinary sequel, in a series about a young girl growing up in a world in which everyone has magic but her. She is not just blind in the world of the sighted, but almost without the 5 senses in a world of those with them. And she has just found out, that she doesn’t need them, because in this world, she can create objects that allow her to have all of those senses and more. This book is almost better than the original, and shows that the series is just going to be beyond exceptional, and an absolute must read!! This is a series that is for those that either liked Harry Potter, or liked it and wanted something a bit darker and deeper, for this takes the story to a new level. It is an absolute must read. Nuttall is brilliant.

[CK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good but left wanting

Great story but I still feel like the character's inner dialogue does not fit with the age said in the books, Cat, Rose and Akin all seem older which I don't really mind just doesn't make sense. Great intrigue and history in this story, but felt too short. I wanted more to the story as it felt more like a part 1 of a two part book. I'm glad some of the story took place outside the school so we learned a bit more of the world. The series is heading in a good direction so I will be buying the next one when out.

[mr richard martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable and entertaining.

I could not out the book down. When a specific action occurs the consequences that follow are completely unforeseen. It's not often a book can catch me out. Well done indeed!!!!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, this was a crazy story for book 2. Caitlyn's secret is out and while she is trying to build a patronage network via private commissions for upperclassmen, someone else is working to secure her work exclusively - via kidnapping and enslavement.
The strength of Cat and her friends really shone through the trials they were forced to endure and, while her immediate captors were captured, the identity of who they worked for was not.
Here's hoping that gets revealed soon, before there are more attempts on her life.
Despite all the bad stuff, though, there were some good things. Cat flew. Sort of. Granted her landing was closer to Launchpad McQuack's ability than an ace pilot, but still. She flew! And that hasn't been done since before the downfall of the Thousand-Year Empire. I hope she gets to fly again - without the whole running-for-your-life-to-escape-the-people-who-are-trying-to-enslave-you part. That part definitely doesn't need to happen again. Lol.

[Doug Sundseth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent character development (with the caveat below). The characters have individuality and change appropriately in the course of the book.

The plot is tense and fast moving, and the resolution is earned by the protagonist's actions.

The world design is a bit strange, and as yet not particularly revealed, but it seems to have promise.

Recommended.

Note: The characters in the protagonist's class are not described in a way that is believable for a 12-year-olds, even in the strange world of novel characters. Fortunately, if you assume that they are, say, 14-15, the story works pretty well. Heck, it's a fantasy world. Perhaps their year is longer. (There is nothing in the story to support that, btw. It's a Kessel Run retcon at best. 8-) )

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost there

I truly wanted to love this book, and it almost succeeded. But things would keep bogging down. In its defense, once when I thought I'd figured out where things were going and I was about to put it down, the plot suddenly took off in a new and interesting direction. I read all the way to the end, still wanting to like it, but just not quite getting there. Even so, I look forward to the next installment. Hopefully the author will learn how to deliver on the very real promise of the world and its characters.

[Apallo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storywise it is wonderful. Needs a true editor to go through it however. I honestly lost count over how many times the phrase 'and yet' was used throughout the story. Oh and did you know the main character can't use magic? I didn't, I had to be reminded every chapter. Sometimes I forgot and had to be reminded a few times each paragraph 'cause you know it wasn't mention enough times in the previous book.

[Vaidotas · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a very good book. Not bad enough to be unreadable. But reading this you get desire to do something else, maybe more meaningful things. Maybe do some home chores. Do some homework (it can't be SO boring... Right?). Maybe even pick up that hobby you always wanted to try!..
Author have tendencies to repeat same things over and over, and... (let's not repeat ourself... }:D) As if he have made function keys on keyboard as shortcuts to some sentences. So he would need to write less... }:D

[Joe Strickland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story is getting better. His homage to, I think, Maxwell's Demon brought back some excellent memories. The only problem is just as in the first book the internal dialogue is childish but not childlike. CGN has very smart people do very stupid things. This time things were exciting enough for me to cut some slack.

[Eric Bertone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, it was a nice addition to the series and I feel it provides a good basis for what is to come. My only thoughts were that at times it seems a little drawn out and overall not much has happened, and then you reach the ending and it is over just like that, which was a little surprising and I was expecting a little more there.

[Pat Dailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great variation on the source of magic.

One of the best magic series I have read. It helps to read his earlier magic series like Schooled in Magic to understand the difference in the source of magic.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

What a story! Book two brings an extreme amount of excitement and adventure to the story! I couldn't easily out it down. I cannot wait for the next book to see where the story takes us. I wish this would continue for a few more books as its very well written and told.

[Grueffelueff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book and look forward to the third one. The only thing that bothered me, everytime it was mentioned: the protagonists are supposed to be 11 or 12 years old. The thoughts and actions of Cat and her friends just dont FIT.

[pdarnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of audiobook format.

Once again Saskia Maarleveld continues the fantastic narration. I also again read this whenever I had a moment to listen. It's such a wonderful escape, taking me away from reality for those few moments. I love when I am whisked away and become lost in the tale.

[Scott Wozniak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong continuation

The plot started a little slow, but right I was worried that this would be a small story, it not only sped up, it expanded the scope of the adventure. I’m looking forward to the series conclusion.

[Ruby Ridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is becoming a truly great series, I am really enjoying the development of the system of magic and the main character's figuring out of things as she goes along.
Already got #3 locked and loaded - can't wait to get started

[Kimberly Gordon-Bercich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kidnapped

Cat is kidnapped and forced to make objects of power. Will she be able to save herself and her friends? This is an action packed adventure that will tare the friends apart or cement their friendship.

[Tony Hinde · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm pleased that this book took a long detour outside of the school. That's not my favorite trope.

The stakes have gone up as has the scope. More politics are explored as well as some moral issues. Overall this sequel has kept my interest.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice second book. The story moves along nicely and keeps you interested in the characters. I am looking forward to the next book.

[Barbara S. Fetty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

Enjoyed immensely. Would recommend to anyone who likes fantasy. Can't wait for next book to see what happens with the three of them.

[Baines · Rating 2 out of 5]

It would be a decent book if the main character would just stop reminding the reader she is a zero constantly. Got about 1/4th into it and I just don't have the interest to get past this flaw.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story!

Christopher Nuttall is one of my favorite authors. I love his take on magic and his coming-of-age stories. Please keep them coming.