Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Relic Guardians #3

Cursed Magic

Rate this book
Fans of Lara Croft and Indiana Jones will enjoy this fast-paced urban fantasy adventure series filled with magic, action, and kick-ass characters.
What would you pay for the key to death?

Zoe and Jamie are in a race against time to recover Pandora’s Box before the unthinkable happens; it is sold to the highest bidder, and the apocalypse within is unleashed upon the world.

Zoe is furious to learn that Jamie Oxford has stolen Pandora’s Box, which she has only just recovered for safekeeping, from under MI5’s nose… and lost it. Determined to make him redeem himself for his mistake, she drags him across the world to track it down in the hands of the infamous Magicai Cleo and her team. They have an inside man, an Ordinary, clueless of the danger he is in; can he help them reach the box in time, without risking his own life?

As they struggle to keep up with Cleo and her shady business deals to sell the box for a fortune, a terrifying demonstration of the box’s power shows just how great the peril is. The stakes could not be higher, but Zoe and Jamie are too distracted by their own bickering to work effectively. Their chance to reclaim it is slipping away.

Can Zoe and Jamie avert humanity’s destruction and recover Pandora’s Box before it disappears forever?

Read Cursed Magic today for a page-turning adventure you cannot put down.


Other Books in the Relic Guardian Series

Ancient Magic Follow the adventures of Zoe Stark as she journeys to the jungles of Mexico to recover a lost artefact that could wreak death and devastation across the world.

Hidden Magic Join Hayley Bevan as she crosses realities to save a wish-fulfilling stone from the clutches of evil.

Plus the short stories

Rogue Magic

Stolen Magic

158 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2019

14 people are currently reading
47 people want to read

About the author

Meg Cowley

60 books202 followers
✒️ Romantic Fantasy with courageous heroines, protective heroes, and endearing found families to sweep you away... ✨️

Meg Cowley is a USA Today bestselling fantasy author from England. Meg writes slow burn steamy epic fantasy romances with courageous and vulnerable heroines, protective and brooding heroes, and lovable and welcoming found family in stories that will steal your heart long after the last page.

Meg's favourite past times are reading, hiking, and cooking. She can usually be found curled up with a cup of tea and a riveting fantasy romance book, cooking up a fantasy-book worthy feast, or out walking the wild, windswept moors of Yorkshire dreaming up her next story.

Visit www.megcowley.com to find out more, discover Meg’s books, find exclusive reader bonus content, and join her Romantasy Fellowship newsletter.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

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

Community Reviews

5 stars
18 (60%)
4 stars
7 (23%)
3 stars
5 (16%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Steph Warren.
1,769 reviews39 followers
September 3, 2017
*I received a free ARC of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.*

Cursed Magic is the third book in the Relic Guardians series, and while it does stand alone as a story, I would recommend reading books 1 and 2 first, as they establish both the characters and the rules of the world, magic, etc. This book dives straight on in with the characters and action without as much in the way of background explanation.

I’ve said before, when reviewing the earlier books that if you like the sound of Indiana Jones or Lara Croft, crossed with the paranormal, then these books are for you. The focus is on action: infiltration, fighting, hostages, locating and retrieving dangerous objects, spell battles and so on. The pacing is fast and tense, and the characters are skilled and efficient in their individual fields.

This installment is slightly different as there is an element of romantic relationship built into the characterisation of the main protagonists. The focus is on Zoe and Jamie; Hayley (from Hidden Magic) does make a brief appearance, but remains in the background. The changing relationship dynamics are interesting as it builds on the development of the characters so far and how they relate to each other as a team, rather than as separate people who happen to be working towards similar goals. There is also more character development here about Jamie, who I previously labelled as ‘The Thief’. I’m not taking back that description, but I like that he has more layers now, and this, in turn, shows us the beginnings of a softer, happier (but still kickass) Zoe.

There is clearly still plenty to come for these characters, with the building of a wider story arc, and almost endless opportunities for their future adventures. Due to the mild romance, mild language and lack of explicit violence (deaths occur but the details are left to the imagination), I would also recommend these books for teens and upwards who like their adventures fast-paced, action-packed and magic-filled.
Profile Image for Alison Ingleby.
Author 25 books251 followers
August 23, 2017
Really enjoyed this book. It was a great blend of action, intrigue and magic. This is the third book in the series and really starts to explore the characters and their motivations in a bit more depth than at the beginning. For me, this just helps draw me further into their world.

The rollercoaster-ride to locate and secure Pandora's Box will keep you gripped and turning page after page. Every time you think Zoe and Jamie are getting somewhere, their plans are foiled. Every time you think Cleo couldn't be any more evil, she just gets worse! I loved the evocative descriptions of Tel Aviv and Paris and can't wait to see which places these globe-trotters get to next.

Looking forward to Relic Guardian's #4 and finding out more about the mysterious Mr Davenport...
Profile Image for Jack Crowther.
17 reviews1 follower
August 24, 2017
Another fast paced Adventure. Pandoras Box has been stolen. To be sold to the highest bidder and is to be opened to show its evil power. With only Zoe and Jamie to steal it back before everything ends in disaster. Every book in this series are great reads and every book gets better. Written by two Brilliant Authors Meg Cowley and Victoria DeLuis .If you love these books be sure to check out the books written by either Author in their own not to be missed Books.
Profile Image for Elda.
1,203 reviews6 followers
September 1, 2017
This was definitely a page turning adventure just as the blurb says! It also has a lot of surprises you won't see coming. Zoe is definitely a strong protagonist and it was gratifying to find out that she and Jamie worked well together. They had to chase down Pandora's Box in creepy places across the globe. Haley makes only a brief appearance in the beginning of the story and the surprise ending, I hope, may be an indicator of her playing a bigger part in the next book in the series. I received a free copy of this book from Ms Cowley for my honest review. I highly recommend this book to all those who love magic, mayhem, and fantasy.
1,384 reviews8 followers
September 2, 2017
A frantic search for an ancient artifact that could potentially annihilate mankind. The elusive and "slightly illegal" Jamie comes out of the shadows to help Zoe find and stop the Ghost. An exhilarating adventure.
Profile Image for Leslie Sanchez.
1,774 reviews2 followers
June 6, 2019
Oh boy, poor Zoe doesn't get a break. Here she goes risking her life to collect dangerous magical artifacts, like Pandora's Box, to have MI5 take it away for "safekeeping" and it's stolen. Worse than that, it's stolen by someone Zoe knows and thought would know better. I love that Haley Bevins is learning and helping Zoe with researching the artifacts. I knew she would be a good addition to Zoe's team. Now Jamie, he needs to get his priorities in line. It's up to him and Zoe to save the world, if she doesn't kill him first. Maybe, just maybe if they live through this and he goes straight they could have something. I love that they are so free and comfortable with their magic. Makes things a lot easier.
1,281 reviews5 followers
August 17, 2017
I really loved this book. The authors, Meg Cowley and Victoria DeLuis, have written books that flow from one to another so easily it appears to be a continuous book with each one that is written. I love the character Zoe, I love how forthright she is. I also like the fact of a mysterious and inexplicable character, Mr Davenport. Who is he and what is he, hopefully the answers will appear in successive books to come. This series is an absolute joy to read. A big thank you to the authors.
210 reviews5 followers
October 21, 2017
As I said before, I do love the magic system in this series. The only thing is that I wish the books were a bit longer. Like, the length of rogue magic and cursed magic together. I don't really get why those two were separated.

Aaaaanyway, I would still highly recommend this series, and I can't wait to read the next one!
Profile Image for Gayreth Walden.
439 reviews10 followers
August 23, 2017
This is an ARC review and it is an honest review. This is book 3 of the Relic Guardians series and the best so far. Almost nonstop action with plenty of twists and turns. I especially liked that the author gave more insight into what makes Zoe and Jamie tick. They are on a perilous quest to retrieve "Pandora's Box" before it is opened and can destroy the world. Fortunately our heroes have magic and can use it when necessary. This is a great urban fantasy action/adventure story. I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Lisa Eiff.
966 reviews27 followers
April 1, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book. Zoe and Jamie set out to investigate and prevent absolute devastation as a result of opening Pandora's Box. This book includes plenty of adventure, romantic interludes related to a past relationship, danger, magic, and so much more. I recommend this book to fans of historical relics and easy to relate to characters.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.