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Desert Cursed #9
Realm of Demons
The final (for real this time!) book in the heartpounding, bestselling series. Get ready for the last ride with Zamira, Maks, Lila and Balder as they race to save . . .well I can't say, that would be a spoiler if you haven't ready book eight . .
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2022
489 people are currently reading
700 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Mayer
155 books7,277 followersA long time ago, in a galaxy far away, I was born into a family of Star Wars nuts. I have a lot of siblings (somewhere I lost count but I think there was more than could be numbered on one hand) and being one of the young padawans I was subjected to Star Wars marathons, on a regular basis. If you've read any of my books you'll see there is often a reference to said movies as a small homage to my upbringing. May the force be with you and all that jazz.
I started writing when I realized I didn't want to grow up not believing in magic, or not believing in creatures everyone else said didn't exist. That being said, I have never seen a fairy, unicorn or dragon. I had a neighbour who swore they fed the leprechauns in their garden, but I never caught the little buggers no matter how long I lay in wait. (And consequently had to help the neighbours plant new flowers to replace those I killed waiting for the leprechauns to show their faces.)
Along the way, I found my husband who is the rock that keeps me from floating away into my dreams, and we have a little boy who is the centre of our world. Living on a farm keeps us busy (as if the writing wasn't enough) and I have more than my share of stories about wrestling with cows, helping birth calves and ending up in the creek during the process, falling in the mud (we'll call it mud but we all know that on a farm, mud is rarely mud) and chasing escaped livestock in the hopes the four legged convicts don't make it to the highway.
I've taken up archery, and the goal is to move into horseback archery in time (you know, when I can hit the target on a consistent basis) and when no one is looking, I love to bake (this doesn't happen often as it's hard to keep the sweet treats in stock with two boys in the house.)
As to what's coming next for me? More stories (since those never stop inside my head, I might as well share them with all of you!) and more adventures. Pretty much, when the fancy strikes, I'll jump on it. Leap before you look I'm sure that motto was created for me.
Or was that . . . think big and dream bigger, ready, set, pull the trigger . . . yeah. That one is a good one too. But only if you have a gun. And are hunting elephants. Which is not cool because of so many reasons. Let's stick with the first one with an addendum.
Leap before you look and let your dreams carry you on their wings. And that, my friends, is me in a nutshell.
I started writing when I realized I didn't want to grow up not believing in magic, or not believing in creatures everyone else said didn't exist. That being said, I have never seen a fairy, unicorn or dragon. I had a neighbour who swore they fed the leprechauns in their garden, but I never caught the little buggers no matter how long I lay in wait. (And consequently had to help the neighbours plant new flowers to replace those I killed waiting for the leprechauns to show their faces.)
Along the way, I found my husband who is the rock that keeps me from floating away into my dreams, and we have a little boy who is the centre of our world. Living on a farm keeps us busy (as if the writing wasn't enough) and I have more than my share of stories about wrestling with cows, helping birth calves and ending up in the creek during the process, falling in the mud (we'll call it mud but we all know that on a farm, mud is rarely mud) and chasing escaped livestock in the hopes the four legged convicts don't make it to the highway.
I've taken up archery, and the goal is to move into horseback archery in time (you know, when I can hit the target on a consistent basis) and when no one is looking, I love to bake (this doesn't happen often as it's hard to keep the sweet treats in stock with two boys in the house.)
As to what's coming next for me? More stories (since those never stop inside my head, I might as well share them with all of you!) and more adventures. Pretty much, when the fancy strikes, I'll jump on it. Leap before you look I'm sure that motto was created for me.
Or was that . . . think big and dream bigger, ready, set, pull the trigger . . . yeah. That one is a good one too. But only if you have a gun. And are hunting elephants. Which is not cool because of so many reasons. Let's stick with the first one with an addendum.
Leap before you look and let your dreams carry you on their wings. And that, my friends, is me in a nutshell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
May 15, 2022
Spoiler! Fair warning but I have things I need to say.
I gave this book 3 stars because I really love the author and I don’t want to insult her by giving her less than that. However, she broke my heart a little with this book. She admittedly had a rough time writing it, she mentioned that in numerous places so I went into reading it a little apprehensive. I still thought she’d finish the series on a high note. But I was wrong.
The first thing that irked me was the relationship with Maks and Zam. They literally just got back together after however much time he’d been kidnapped and drugged/seduced.. and she had experienced so much trauma of her own and they go right into another battle.. and literally right after that they’re like, ‘hi, you good? I’m good, let’s go!’ There wasn’t any time to nurture that relationship which the author has made seem paramount in all these other books. So much character development and growth until she just didn’t want to bother anymore. We just glossed right over that.
Bryce and Kiara get the brush off… all of a sudden Shem is there? The little dragon that Maks meets, what was the point? Jasten just happening to show up and being able to help miraculously in some strange ghost form? Robert, what the heck just new characters everywhere? Inexplicably there is a powerful jinn inside Maks who can save the day.. Did Steven die? Is Mamitu dead or not? What was the significance of her ring? Who is the friend they are going to meet? Do they get their magic back? The chaos demon seemed important but actually wasn’t? Characters were just invented on a whim to carry the story to a quick end. It’s frustrating because I really loved this series and I wanted closure and to know they got a HEA. But yeah.. I’m not so sure they do. And I hate that.
I gave this book 3 stars because I really love the author and I don’t want to insult her by giving her less than that. However, she broke my heart a little with this book. She admittedly had a rough time writing it, she mentioned that in numerous places so I went into reading it a little apprehensive. I still thought she’d finish the series on a high note. But I was wrong.
The first thing that irked me was the relationship with Maks and Zam. They literally just got back together after however much time he’d been kidnapped and drugged/seduced.. and she had experienced so much trauma of her own and they go right into another battle.. and literally right after that they’re like, ‘hi, you good? I’m good, let’s go!’ There wasn’t any time to nurture that relationship which the author has made seem paramount in all these other books. So much character development and growth until she just didn’t want to bother anymore. We just glossed right over that.
Bryce and Kiara get the brush off… all of a sudden Shem is there? The little dragon that Maks meets, what was the point? Jasten just happening to show up and being able to help miraculously in some strange ghost form? Robert, what the heck just new characters everywhere? Inexplicably there is a powerful jinn inside Maks who can save the day.. Did Steven die? Is Mamitu dead or not? What was the significance of her ring? Who is the friend they are going to meet? Do they get their magic back? The chaos demon seemed important but actually wasn’t? Characters were just invented on a whim to carry the story to a quick end. It’s frustrating because I really loved this series and I wanted closure and to know they got a HEA. But yeah.. I’m not so sure they do. And I hate that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2022
Utterly fantastic and brilliant conclusion to what has been an absolutely amazing series. This book is action packed, thrilling, exciting and answers any and all unanswered questions we have. We take one last wild adventure ride with Zam, Lila and Maks.
The final showdown had me gripping my kindle tightly and turning the pages quickly to see how it would all play out. I laughed, I might have shed a tear or two and I gasped at some of the things transpiring before my eyes. It was a fantastic and exciting ending!
I think all of us readers have formed a special bond with Zam, Lila and Maks and hate to see them go but they will always have a place in our hearts.
The final showdown had me gripping my kindle tightly and turning the pages quickly to see how it would all play out. I laughed, I might have shed a tear or two and I gasped at some of the things transpiring before my eyes. It was a fantastic and exciting ending!
I think all of us readers have formed a special bond with Zam, Lila and Maks and hate to see them go but they will always have a place in our hearts.
May 1, 2022
Shifters, Dragons, Demons, Unicorns & a bonus twist crossover in the form of my favorite “Blue Eyed” rescuer… #FRIEND 💙💀
What’s not to love about this final installment for Zam and her band of perfectly imperfect misfits…
In a world where the rule of thumb is, “Never trust a demon”, Zam is forced to do just that… multiple times!!! Not good odds for sure.
But the real question and lesson is, who do you really trust? Instincts? your heart? Your inner circle of friends you call family? Yes, yes and YES!!!… Because that is how they have gotten this far ‘mostly in tact’…
Zamiras final journey came full circle, incorporating everything they’ve been through across the years that got them to this point. It all came to an end in a way that I was not expecting. (I will not spoil the ride, but let’s just say a few twists that were thrown in there have my brain scrambled a bit.)
Definitely got the closure I wanted for this series and for Zam and her gang.
Don’t get me started on the huge twist in the form of a cameo of my favorite skeleton… before he was a skeleton… 😱💙💀 (I have much to look forward to from the future books of Shannon Mayer & I cannot wait for ‘Mr. Blue Eyes’ to have his story told finally in his novella that’s due to come out later this year for those who backed her Kickstarter and later releasing on Amazon. This book gave up a few new tidbits of his story that left me wanting more. #FRIEND)
“SM always leaves me wanting more!”
👀😏
What’s not to love about this final installment for Zam and her band of perfectly imperfect misfits…
In a world where the rule of thumb is, “Never trust a demon”, Zam is forced to do just that… multiple times!!! Not good odds for sure.
But the real question and lesson is, who do you really trust? Instincts? your heart? Your inner circle of friends you call family? Yes, yes and YES!!!… Because that is how they have gotten this far ‘mostly in tact’…
Zamiras final journey came full circle, incorporating everything they’ve been through across the years that got them to this point. It all came to an end in a way that I was not expecting. (I will not spoil the ride, but let’s just say a few twists that were thrown in there have my brain scrambled a bit.)
Definitely got the closure I wanted for this series and for Zam and her gang.
Don’t get me started on the huge twist in the form of a cameo of my favorite skeleton… before he was a skeleton… 😱💙💀 (I have much to look forward to from the future books of Shannon Mayer & I cannot wait for ‘Mr. Blue Eyes’ to have his story told finally in his novella that’s due to come out later this year for those who backed her Kickstarter and later releasing on Amazon. This book gave up a few new tidbits of his story that left me wanting more. #FRIEND)
“SM always leaves me wanting more!”
👀😏
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2022
Feels Incomplete and Incredibly Rushed
*POTENTIAL SPOILERS* The story felt rushed, and like the author lost interest in doing the series justice, making things very confusing at times. Character development was non-existent, and some new ones were introduced for a millisecond before they were dropped as unimportant. Why have them at all, other than the author got lazy and couldn't figure out how to get to the ending without cobbling on unnecessary McGuffin characters? Too many loose ends weren't tied up with the established characters, and after all of the talk of freeing the dragons, it happened "off-screen" and had only a few lines of dialog. Show, don't tell. This series fell off dramatically in quality, which is too bad, since I loved the first books. And which "old friend" was Zam talking about?!
*POTENTIAL SPOILERS* The story felt rushed, and like the author lost interest in doing the series justice, making things very confusing at times. Character development was non-existent, and some new ones were introduced for a millisecond before they were dropped as unimportant. Why have them at all, other than the author got lazy and couldn't figure out how to get to the ending without cobbling on unnecessary McGuffin characters? Too many loose ends weren't tied up with the established characters, and after all of the talk of freeing the dragons, it happened "off-screen" and had only a few lines of dialog. Show, don't tell. This series fell off dramatically in quality, which is too bad, since I loved the first books. And which "old friend" was Zam talking about?!
April 29, 2022
Well, that’s it. That’s all she wrote. This is the ninth and final book in the Desert Cursed series, and I am going to really miss Zam, Lila, and Maks, as well as the other characters. When they all head for the final showdown with Asag, nothing and no one are as they seem, and they have to figure out the lies, deceptions, friends, and enemies before they reach his castle. This is a great series, and just like all the series I’ve read by this author, it was well-written, action-packed, and full of suspense, love, laughter, tears, and above all a great way to spend some time with. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
May 20, 2022
Disappointing
Horrible ending and too many convenient characters at the end that were just thrown in as needed. No substance. Very disappointing!
Horrible ending and too many convenient characters at the end that were just thrown in as needed. No substance. Very disappointing!
May 2, 2022
Realm of Demons
Trust and betrayal abounds in the last installment of the Desert Cursed series. Zam and company continue to forge ahead, trying to do their best to save not only themselves and their loved ones, but also the dragons who were stolen as eggs to give the demon energy. Zam’s magic has been removed, causing her to rely only on her inherent strengths which, thankfully, include her ability to shift. Maks can also still shift. Again the couple split up to accomplish more tasks important to the outcome they desire. Maks is to try to free some of the dragons, not realizing how important he is to the demon’s plan. Lila was not so lucky. She remains in her small form, which is absolutely no issue for this brilliant little dragon. While Lila would have liked to go into her large form to be able to fly Zam to the castle, that would have shortened the story up a bit too much. The brilliance of Ms. Meyer is bringing all the struggle to her readers. No one gets off easy, especially the reader invested in these characters. We are almost as exhausted as the characters until the end. I can only hope that Ms. Meyer will revisit this world sometime in the future. The characters are strong, well drawn and are people I would like to know more about.
Trust and betrayal abounds in the last installment of the Desert Cursed series. Zam and company continue to forge ahead, trying to do their best to save not only themselves and their loved ones, but also the dragons who were stolen as eggs to give the demon energy. Zam’s magic has been removed, causing her to rely only on her inherent strengths which, thankfully, include her ability to shift. Maks can also still shift. Again the couple split up to accomplish more tasks important to the outcome they desire. Maks is to try to free some of the dragons, not realizing how important he is to the demon’s plan. Lila was not so lucky. She remains in her small form, which is absolutely no issue for this brilliant little dragon. While Lila would have liked to go into her large form to be able to fly Zam to the castle, that would have shortened the story up a bit too much. The brilliance of Ms. Meyer is bringing all the struggle to her readers. No one gets off easy, especially the reader invested in these characters. We are almost as exhausted as the characters until the end. I can only hope that Ms. Meyer will revisit this world sometime in the future. The characters are strong, well drawn and are people I would like to know more about.
January 23, 2023
“Laughter, playing, loving - even in these darkest moments that we faced. This was worth fighting for, this was worth going to battle against an undefeated demon, his army, and a slew of dragons that were under his control.”
This sums up why Zamora continues to fight all kinds of supernatural beings. She, Lila, and Maks are family. This is their last quest and it’s a doozy. There are so many characters that play a part in this journey. Whom can they trust? There are plenty of demons that they cannot trust!
As per usual, there is action, tension, and laughter galore. There are even a few surprises.
What a wonderful, spirited fantasy series! I had the best time enjoying these books.
This sums up why Zamora continues to fight all kinds of supernatural beings. She, Lila, and Maks are family. This is their last quest and it’s a doozy. There are so many characters that play a part in this journey. Whom can they trust? There are plenty of demons that they cannot trust!
As per usual, there is action, tension, and laughter galore. There are even a few surprises.
What a wonderful, spirited fantasy series! I had the best time enjoying these books.
May 27, 2022
Love this series
I love this series. It's one that you can go months in between reading one to read in the next and not be lost. I am hoping we get a little more down the road because I'm going to miss Zam, Maks, and Lila.
I love this series. It's one that you can go months in between reading one to read in the next and not be lost. I am hoping we get a little more down the road because I'm going to miss Zam, Maks, and Lila.
August 29, 2022
Paperback copy
May 2, 2022
This is it, the final showdown, and As usually Shannon is THE MASTER of deception. Zam is set to go head to head with the demon overlord Asag. Does she want to? Hell no! But she will if it means saving her friends and family as well as all the poor dragon kidlets stolen in the night and being held against their will…because one thing we know of Zam, Lila, and Maks is that they are suckers for helping children. Steven taking Reyhan to Asag was probably the first step in fatal mistakes Asag could make in underestimating Zam. Of course no one is as they seem, lies abound, and friendships are tested all in the name of getting to the final battle. Chaos ensues…literally! The run through the demon city is literally nightmare after nightmare thrown at the character but as always the bada$$ perseveres!
April 28, 2022
This book was great! I am so sad to see this series end. I love Zam, Lila, Maks, Balder and Batman.
The time has come for Zam, Maks and Lila to take on Asag and he is throwing everything he has at Zam and her friends to stop her from reaching him.
Asag the demon king is the thing that nightmares are made of. He loves to play with his victims and he is truly enjoying his game with Zam, but like so many others he just might have underestimated Zam and her friends.
Zam has promised to free the stolen baby dragons, rescue Reyhan and Fen, and kill Asag or banish him and she will do whatever it takes to fulfill her promises even if it means her death.
The action is non stop and the deviousness of the demons and their helpers just keep adding more challenges for Zam and company.
I am in love with the new addition Robert, shoulder length dark hair, bright blue eyes sounds like another Robert from another series. Of course there are differences between this Robert and the Robert from her "Midlife Bounty Hunter Series." I love them both.
I would love to see this series continue. I think another book or two telling more about some of the characters that were introduced in the last few books would be great. I would like to know what becomes of Reyhan and Robert and Lila and Fen.
If you love a strong female protagonist that does not become helpless the minute her love interest enters the story then you will love this book and the entire series. I would tell you to start with " Witches Reign" the first book in the Desert Cursed Series.
The time has come for Zam, Maks and Lila to take on Asag and he is throwing everything he has at Zam and her friends to stop her from reaching him.
Asag the demon king is the thing that nightmares are made of. He loves to play with his victims and he is truly enjoying his game with Zam, but like so many others he just might have underestimated Zam and her friends.
Zam has promised to free the stolen baby dragons, rescue Reyhan and Fen, and kill Asag or banish him and she will do whatever it takes to fulfill her promises even if it means her death.
The action is non stop and the deviousness of the demons and their helpers just keep adding more challenges for Zam and company.
I am in love with the new addition Robert, shoulder length dark hair, bright blue eyes sounds like another Robert from another series. Of course there are differences between this Robert and the Robert from her "Midlife Bounty Hunter Series." I love them both.
I would love to see this series continue. I think another book or two telling more about some of the characters that were introduced in the last few books would be great. I would like to know what becomes of Reyhan and Robert and Lila and Fen.
If you love a strong female protagonist that does not become helpless the minute her love interest enters the story then you will love this book and the entire series. I would tell you to start with " Witches Reign" the first book in the Desert Cursed Series.
December 16, 2022
ok - series review -
1. there's no such thing as an alpha. that was a concept created by scientists observing captive wolves. felines and canids don't do that in real life, they are way more cooperative than that. so that sort of made me annoyed everytime the trope was used - i felt like it could've been accomplished without pseudoscience - this is fantasy after all.
2. the ending was rushed and odd. a few pieces weren't clear, and it seemed like she was just ready to be done and figured we could figure things out or assume things. meh. fine. but the whole plot of the last 3 books was just tossed aside "oh kidding, it was all lies" 3/4 of the way through the last book? what? i guess she had other writing to do...
3. 'it's happily ever after bc she has a mate and a kid' - um. sure. what happened to the golden dragon? what happened to the earthquake dragon they were looking for? what happened to the eggs? just. so many weirdly loose ends. and really, their magic is just, gone, and they're fine with it, after being a special snowflake for so long - ALL this silliness was to find herself a kid and a dude. gah.
4. so none of the older generation were worthwhile, except i guess lila's gramma, maybe flora - it bothers me when there aren't any elders that are alive to be protected and valued and their wisdom respected.
Anyway. it was good brain candy for the first 6 books or so, despite the silliness.
1. there's no such thing as an alpha. that was a concept created by scientists observing captive wolves. felines and canids don't do that in real life, they are way more cooperative than that. so that sort of made me annoyed everytime the trope was used - i felt like it could've been accomplished without pseudoscience - this is fantasy after all.
2. the ending was rushed and odd. a few pieces weren't clear, and it seemed like she was just ready to be done and figured we could figure things out or assume things. meh. fine. but the whole plot of the last 3 books was just tossed aside "oh kidding, it was all lies" 3/4 of the way through the last book? what? i guess she had other writing to do...
3. 'it's happily ever after bc she has a mate and a kid' - um. sure. what happened to the golden dragon? what happened to the earthquake dragon they were looking for? what happened to the eggs? just. so many weirdly loose ends. and really, their magic is just, gone, and they're fine with it, after being a special snowflake for so long - ALL this silliness was to find herself a kid and a dude. gah.
4. so none of the older generation were worthwhile, except i guess lila's gramma, maybe flora - it bothers me when there aren't any elders that are alive to be protected and valued and their wisdom respected.
Anyway. it was good brain candy for the first 6 books or so, despite the silliness.
May 5, 2022
5/3/22 - This storyline is pretty vague in my memory so just for grins I looked back to see when I had read book #8. I finished it on 11/9/21, and if my Goodreads account is accurate I’ve read 148 books since. No wonder I can’t keep track. On a positive note, some of them have been written by Ms Mayer.
Now wait a dadgum minute. On page 148 an unnamed shadow demon (Later named Robert) tells Lila that Asag needs the souls of the child (Reyhan) the Queen of the dragons (Lila) and Zamara, guardian of the desert.
On page 158 Soleil tells Zam that Asag needs the unicorn horn that Zamira has, the child (Reyhan) and the last Jinn master (Maks)
I think there may have been other groupings mentioned. Are these contradictions just the demons fucking with everyone’s heads?
Reyhan acquires a fancy dagger at one point and I thought it would be used for her bloodletting. Nope, never mentioned again. Neither is the dragon named Seven that Maks set free. He also seems to abandon searching for the ground shaking dragon called Two with little explanation.
Asag seemed to be vanquished pretty quickly after all they had gone through to get to him. Dare I say anticlimactic? And what’s with the gold dragon? I don’t remember it at all. (That’s probably my memory lapse) How/if they were going to reclaim their stolen magic is just left hanging.
Now wait a dadgum minute. On page 148 an unnamed shadow demon (Later named Robert) tells Lila that Asag needs the souls of the child (Reyhan) the Queen of the dragons (Lila) and Zamara, guardian of the desert.
On page 158 Soleil tells Zam that Asag needs the unicorn horn that Zamira has, the child (Reyhan) and the last Jinn master (Maks)
I think there may have been other groupings mentioned. Are these contradictions just the demons fucking with everyone’s heads?
Reyhan acquires a fancy dagger at one point and I thought it would be used for her bloodletting. Nope, never mentioned again. Neither is the dragon named Seven that Maks set free. He also seems to abandon searching for the ground shaking dragon called Two with little explanation.
Asag seemed to be vanquished pretty quickly after all they had gone through to get to him. Dare I say anticlimactic? And what’s with the gold dragon? I don’t remember it at all. (That’s probably my memory lapse) How/if they were going to reclaim their stolen magic is just left hanging.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2022
Wow realm of demons (desert cursed book #9) was everything I could of wanted to read and more. I have been in love with Zam, Lila and Maks since the first book and in each one I love them more and more. Zam is one bad ass shifter who would do anything for her friends and family and takes no crap from anyone. She is stuck with Lilith who is stuck in the form of a sword. This book has no shortage of excitement and takes you on a ride with all of the creatures Zam and the crew have had to face in all the books before.
This book made me hold my breath more than once and want to scream at some of the characters. I also laughed while reading some parts of it. Once I picked the book up I couldn't put it down and while I didn't want the series to end Shannon ended it perfectly.
I'm so glad all of my favorite characters ended up surviving and that they succeeded in their mission.
Shannon mayer is truly a rockstar author and I can't wait to read her next book. If you haven't started this series what are you waiting for you won't be dissapointed.
This book made me hold my breath more than once and want to scream at some of the characters. I also laughed while reading some parts of it. Once I picked the book up I couldn't put it down and while I didn't want the series to end Shannon ended it perfectly.
I'm so glad all of my favorite characters ended up surviving and that they succeeded in their mission.
Shannon mayer is truly a rockstar author and I can't wait to read her next book. If you haven't started this series what are you waiting for you won't be dissapointed.
May 2, 2022
I've been in love with this series from the start, and this, the 9th and final book in the Desert Cursed books, brings it to the perfect conclusion!
We start out with Zam, her crew, and family, about to embark on the most perilous adventure yet, the last and final run at the demon Asag. If you've been following, and read the pervious 8 books, you know this little black shifter *housecat* of the Bright Lion Pride has heart!
Dynamite comes in small packages, and between Zam and Lila, Asag needs to be on the watch, as he has members of Zam's family, and dragons that need to be freed, and she's not going to take no for an answer.
Through the desert, meeting up with friend and foe alike, finding out that the truths you had believed were anything but the truths you thought them to be, and fighting for not only your life, this story is what you've been waiting for. So many new truths uncovered, so many questions answered, enjoy your last trip with this cast and crew, it's set to be a wild ride!
We start out with Zam, her crew, and family, about to embark on the most perilous adventure yet, the last and final run at the demon Asag. If you've been following, and read the pervious 8 books, you know this little black shifter *housecat* of the Bright Lion Pride has heart!
Dynamite comes in small packages, and between Zam and Lila, Asag needs to be on the watch, as he has members of Zam's family, and dragons that need to be freed, and she's not going to take no for an answer.
Through the desert, meeting up with friend and foe alike, finding out that the truths you had believed were anything but the truths you thought them to be, and fighting for not only your life, this story is what you've been waiting for. So many new truths uncovered, so many questions answered, enjoy your last trip with this cast and crew, it's set to be a wild ride!
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May 6, 2022Realm of Demons by Shannon Mayer is here. The final book in the Desert Cursed series. The epic battle is come. Zam is heading into her final fight to save those she loves and to try and bring peace to the land. Can she do it? Who or what will she lose on the way to the ultimate fight?
This book is so bittersweet. I've loved the series from the beginning and absolutely ate it up, but seeing Zam's story end is a hard pill to swallow. Realm of Demons picks up where book eight left off, and moves forward with a great pace that kept me page-turning. There are some hiccups here and there in the story, but it really is an engaging novel. I wanted a bit more in the romance angle, but I loved having so many familiar characters come together in this book. It really took things up a notch.
I'm going to miss these characters so much, but I hope that maybe we can revisit them in a spin-off. LOL! Hey! You never know. I'm rating this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. Good bye Zam and crew, you'll be missed but forever remembered.
This book is so bittersweet. I've loved the series from the beginning and absolutely ate it up, but seeing Zam's story end is a hard pill to swallow. Realm of Demons picks up where book eight left off, and moves forward with a great pace that kept me page-turning. There are some hiccups here and there in the story, but it really is an engaging novel. I wanted a bit more in the romance angle, but I loved having so many familiar characters come together in this book. It really took things up a notch.
I'm going to miss these characters so much, but I hope that maybe we can revisit them in a spin-off. LOL! Hey! You never know. I'm rating this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. Good bye Zam and crew, you'll be missed but forever remembered.
May 8, 2022
Full of the "yuhses"! Perilous, hilarious, devious, precious, & of course, Audacious Zam!
The most snarky, uncrushable FRamily around are finally ready to face the final challenge, and dispatch Asag, The Beast from the East, back to where he came from. (🎶Or so help me, so help me🎶... sorry Monsters, Inc. moment🤣)
Zam's F-you's, Maks the Toad, Lila with her Shakepearian quotes, and of course Balder, join up with friends, and sometimes foes, plus a most welcome cameo of one blue-eyed FRIEND I love from the 40 Proof Series😱, creating one dynamite story, from page 1!
From facing all the devious, heartbreaking trials they've ever had, getting "help" needed from unlikely sources, surviving the battles and completing the tricky tasks, they do it in true Zam fashion. The series wraps up breathlessly, in an HEA you won't likely forget!
Note: I suggest re-reading Kingdom of Storms: book 8, before starting this one!
My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own, and no compensation was received.
The most snarky, uncrushable FRamily around are finally ready to face the final challenge, and dispatch Asag, The Beast from the East, back to where he came from. (🎶Or so help me, so help me🎶... sorry Monsters, Inc. moment🤣)
Zam's F-you's, Maks the Toad, Lila with her Shakepearian quotes, and of course Balder, join up with friends, and sometimes foes, plus a most welcome cameo of one blue-eyed FRIEND I love from the 40 Proof Series😱, creating one dynamite story, from page 1!
From facing all the devious, heartbreaking trials they've ever had, getting "help" needed from unlikely sources, surviving the battles and completing the tricky tasks, they do it in true Zam fashion. The series wraps up breathlessly, in an HEA you won't likely forget!
Note: I suggest re-reading Kingdom of Storms: book 8, before starting this one!
My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own, and no compensation was received.
April 28, 2022
Wowza.... What an ending to a wonderful series.... I laughed, I cried, I chewed my nails down to the quick all while on the edge of my seat. This book has all the feels from the beginning to the very last page, it will keep you on your toes.....
At 14% I was crying, not because I was sad but because of the wording. It gave you happy tears because when you think about it the words was so true. And the further I got in the book the more profound they became. Shannon knows how to write an awesome story.
The story picks up right where it ended from the last book. Zam, Lila and Max go through a lot to fight this King of demons. The demon is bored so he gives them lots of trouble and trials to go through just to reach him. Boy what a roller coaster ride that was. It will keep you on your toes trying to figure it out. But it is so worth it.
I was given this book as an arc for an honest review.....
I very highly recommend this book.....
It is well worth the read, you'll love it I promise....
At 14% I was crying, not because I was sad but because of the wording. It gave you happy tears because when you think about it the words was so true. And the further I got in the book the more profound they became. Shannon knows how to write an awesome story.
The story picks up right where it ended from the last book. Zam, Lila and Max go through a lot to fight this King of demons. The demon is bored so he gives them lots of trouble and trials to go through just to reach him. Boy what a roller coaster ride that was. It will keep you on your toes trying to figure it out. But it is so worth it.
I was given this book as an arc for an honest review.....
I very highly recommend this book.....
It is well worth the read, you'll love it I promise....
May 1, 2022
“I’m no lady, I say..." A version of one of my favorite quotes from this entire series, iykyk, is in this story and it's going on my favorite quotes wall.
What an amazing ride. If you haven't started this series yet, why not? Do it! The series is now complete, and it mostly feels like the end of an incredible journey. I hate that this series had to end, but I'm enthralled with the way it happened.
Zamira, Maks, and Lila are a family with probably the worst luck ever. But their love for each other, the strength of the individual and the unit, and their tenacity make this story, and the whole series, so very compelling. The world building, the characters, and, maybe especially, the story arc are done so extremely well. There were so many twists, so many lies and truths to sort out, interesting puzzles for the characters and for me. I loved every second I spent engrossed in the tale.
What an amazing ride. If you haven't started this series yet, why not? Do it! The series is now complete, and it mostly feels like the end of an incredible journey. I hate that this series had to end, but I'm enthralled with the way it happened.
Zamira, Maks, and Lila are a family with probably the worst luck ever. But their love for each other, the strength of the individual and the unit, and their tenacity make this story, and the whole series, so very compelling. The world building, the characters, and, maybe especially, the story arc are done so extremely well. There were so many twists, so many lies and truths to sort out, interesting puzzles for the characters and for me. I loved every second I spent engrossed in the tale.
August 8, 2022
A conclusion with dare I say, hope?
I finally got to read this and wow, just wow! I won't give spoilers and that is harder with this one than some of the others, because there are so many worthy moments.
I can say this, this was EPIC! The writing and sheer depth that Shannon Mayer takes us to in this "final" installment of The Desert Cursed Series is both creative and mind blowing. Zam, Maks, Lila and Balder are up against everything including the kitchen sink this time as they face off against Asag. If you started this book with questions, you won't have them later and if you haven't read the previous 8 books in the series, stop and go back so you have the full enriched experience.
I hate when any series comes to a conclusion and if this one has to, it was done with sass and style, although I am praying for either a spinoff or a pickup series later. Thank you for such an amazing book and an incredible series to add to my collections.
I finally got to read this and wow, just wow! I won't give spoilers and that is harder with this one than some of the others, because there are so many worthy moments.
I can say this, this was EPIC! The writing and sheer depth that Shannon Mayer takes us to in this "final" installment of The Desert Cursed Series is both creative and mind blowing. Zam, Maks, Lila and Balder are up against everything including the kitchen sink this time as they face off against Asag. If you started this book with questions, you won't have them later and if you haven't read the previous 8 books in the series, stop and go back so you have the full enriched experience.
I hate when any series comes to a conclusion and if this one has to, it was done with sass and style, although I am praying for either a spinoff or a pickup series later. Thank you for such an amazing book and an incredible series to add to my collections.
May 10, 2022
So I loved the first 3 books in this series!!!! Even books 4-6 but the last few are more because it’s hard to say good by to characters you love. Still wouldn’t miss it for anything! Just not as exciting and new to read. With this book the action starts right off and if it’s be to long since previous book you may want to catch up first with a reread. We start right away following Zam And her crew on a mission to save the baby dragons and send a nasty demon and all that serve him back to the realm that they belong in. Lots of lies they have to try to figure out and Zam certainly has a hard time figuring out who to trust. Lots of action and twist and worry if everyone will make it to the end of this journey. You never know what Shannon has in store for everyone. So though I would in a heart beat read the first three in this series again it was still worth reading them all!
January 29, 2023
a fit finish for a wild ride
I cannot say enough good things about Shannon Mayer and her fantasy worlds. The first urban fantasy book I read a few years ago was her Celtic trilogy and if you’d told me 10 years ago that I would like this genre, I would have had you committed for therapy. Something clicked, though with that first series and since then, I have read everything she has written and then everything I could find from Elizabeth Hunter; K. F. Breene; Naomi Novick; Victoria Danan; and their ilk so one could say Shannon Mayer changed my life. Do yourself a favor and pick up book 1 of the Rylee Adamson series and you too can have a wild ride with dragons, shifters, elementals and more. And an out of control kindle budget. Good stuff. And it beats the dry stuff I used to read.
I cannot say enough good things about Shannon Mayer and her fantasy worlds. The first urban fantasy book I read a few years ago was her Celtic trilogy and if you’d told me 10 years ago that I would like this genre, I would have had you committed for therapy. Something clicked, though with that first series and since then, I have read everything she has written and then everything I could find from Elizabeth Hunter; K. F. Breene; Naomi Novick; Victoria Danan; and their ilk so one could say Shannon Mayer changed my life. Do yourself a favor and pick up book 1 of the Rylee Adamson series and you too can have a wild ride with dragons, shifters, elementals and more. And an out of control kindle budget. Good stuff. And it beats the dry stuff I used to read.
August 17, 2023
Realm of Demons was well written to Mayer's usual standards, with high-stakes impossible situations at every turn, but it doesn't feel like a proper ending. Yes, , but the end? The Happily Ever After? That summary was short (at 5 minutes remaining in the audiobook, the protagonists were still talking about the recovery of their journey. At the end, our misfit family is set to go on another adventure to find someone. There is no epilogue to wrap up their lives and adventure. I feel disappointed by this open-ending; I really hate saying that because the series as a whole has been fun. Maybe Mayer will continue in the future because ending at 9 books seems odd. If this weren't the end of the series I'd rate this 4.5 stars, but as it stands I'm at a 3.
April 27, 2022
I am so thrilled to have one more ride with Zam and her chosen family. I love the Desert Cursed series. These characters are some of my all time favorites. They are true Ride or Die. Anything and everything can happen in this world. With this installment, the adrenaline gets pumping as Zam, Lila, and Maks race to save their friends. As well as the entire world from the horror that threatens. They are under a massive time crunch while facing demons at every turn. On top of that, they still need to help the dragons. Shannon Mayer's stories always show me the best and worst that people are capable of. There's always at least one powerful moment that I think of long past the end of the book. This one is no exception.
April 30, 2022
The is the final book of the desert cursed series so if you haven't read the previous ones, go and do it now! If you have read them and it's been a while, go and reread then now! (This is what I did after starting the first chapter and realizing that I'm lost).
I so love this world and I love the characters, they are amazingly written, they complement each other and I specifically love that Zam will never sacrifice the one for the many.
Like all novels of Shannon, there are too many twists and turns for my personal taste (hence 4 stars), but the world building and character building she does, never ceases to amaze me and enthrall me.
Highly recommend this to experience this phenomenal Finale to this great series!
I so love this world and I love the characters, they are amazingly written, they complement each other and I specifically love that Zam will never sacrifice the one for the many.
Like all novels of Shannon, there are too many twists and turns for my personal taste (hence 4 stars), but the world building and character building she does, never ceases to amaze me and enthrall me.
Highly recommend this to experience this phenomenal Finale to this great series!
May 6, 2022
The last ride with Zam, Lila, and Maks and it did not disappoint. This book is the perfect ending for Zam’s story. It’s a page-turning, action packed ride till the very end. It picks up right where Kingdom of Storms left off. Reyhan has been taken and is on her way to Asag. Zam, Lila, and Maks must head to the demon city to complete the final task to defeat Asag, save Reyhan and Fen, and free the dragon hatchlings. Just getting to Asag’s castle is proving to be a major challenge. They are going to need help. The only problem … who can they trust and are they telling the truth? This final ride was a seriously tense one with some twists and turns. In the end, Zam got the happy ending she deserved with her chosen family.
June 8, 2022
I can’t believe it’s over! I’ve been in love with this series and these characters from the very start. It’s hard not to love everything about this world and it’s characters.
This book was intense from start to finish. Zamira, Lila and Maks were racing against the clock to end Asag’s reign of terror. Of course Shannon couldn’t make it easy on them! Wills were tested, lies were brought to light and emotions were constantly running high.
This book was an excellent way to end the series. It tied up all the loose ends that were left after the gang defeated the emperor. I couldn’t have asked for a better wrap up for these characters. While I am sad that it’s over, I’m so happy I was along for the ride.
This book was intense from start to finish. Zamira, Lila and Maks were racing against the clock to end Asag’s reign of terror. Of course Shannon couldn’t make it easy on them! Wills were tested, lies were brought to light and emotions were constantly running high.
This book was an excellent way to end the series. It tied up all the loose ends that were left after the gang defeated the emperor. I couldn’t have asked for a better wrap up for these characters. While I am sad that it’s over, I’m so happy I was along for the ride.
July 3, 2022
I loved this book and really the entire series. Zam is the misfit, the underdog up against impossible odds, and each and every time she found herself in a crazy situation I kept rooting for her and cheering when she figured out how to get herself and her friends out of them! I couldn't put the books down because I couldn't wait to see what happened to them next. They're full of action and adventure, magic and fantastical creatures.
Zam is my favorite kind of heroine -- smart, snarky, caring, and willing to do whatever she needs to to complete whatever tasks are set in front of her. The banter between Zam, Lila, and Maks is pure gold. It helps that I love Shakespeare too and kept trying to remember where the insults and lines they throw at each other came from before they told me.
Zam is my favorite kind of heroine -- smart, snarky, caring, and willing to do whatever she needs to to complete whatever tasks are set in front of her. The banter between Zam, Lila, and Maks is pure gold. It helps that I love Shakespeare too and kept trying to remember where the insults and lines they throw at each other came from before they told me.
May 1, 2022
I love this series so much. These characters are so fierce and loving. Zam will do everything I'm her power ro save the family of her heart. Always full of action and twists throughout these book. I am never sure what is going happen and that is part of the appeal to me. I am so glad Maks and Zam were together in this book finally after everything they have been through. I could not have asked for a better ending for Zam and the gang. I love seeing how everything intertwines from book one to book nine. How many times they were lead astray but still preserved. One of my favorite worlds that I will miss.
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