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Fracture Pact #1

The Cursebound Thief

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Six of Crows meets Heist Society in this new young adult fantasy series.

The world wants a hero. The curse needs a thief.

The party of the decade stands between Jerek Holden and saving the people he would do anything to protect. After twelve years, he’s finally found a way to break the curse that ripped all magic from the world and destroyed the peace that took generations to build. All he needs is one, simple artifact. But he can’t steal the heliostone alone.

A girl with a soul of fire.
A vampire bound by a vow.
A werewolf bent on revenge.
A knight torn between honor and duty.
A hacker to keep them all alive.

The fate of magic lies in their hands―if they can survive long enough to pull off the heist of the century.

420 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2022

155 people are currently reading
639 people want to read

About the author

Megan O'Russell

52 books493 followers
Megan started writing when she discovered playing Cordelia in King Lear leaves you way too much time waiting backstage. She began her career as an author during an ill-fated trip to Oz. She hasn't stopped writing (even when living on a tour bus) since.

Megan's wanderlust has led her all over the globe. When she's not planning her next escapade, she's diving into fantasy worlds where she doesn't have to worry about what rules she's supposed to follow or how many pairs of socks she can fit in her suitcase.

Her love of storytelling has helped Megan weave her real-life exploits into seven different book series. From the epic fantasy world of Ilbrea to the paranormal dystopian romance of Girl of Glass, there is always is a new way to escape into adventure.

Megan would love to connect with you on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or TikTok but feels obliged to warn you in advance that you will be hearing about her cats…a lot.

If you want to stay up to date on all Megan's books and adventures (and hear about her cats) you can find all her social media links, including where to sign up for her readers community at: https://linktr.ee/meganorussell

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5 stars
106 (51%)
4 stars
47 (22%)
3 stars
30 (14%)
2 stars
10 (4%)
1 star
12 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
Profile Image for Sarah Cradit.
Author 99 books898 followers
April 28, 2022
This ARC was my first introduction to O'Russell's writing, but it won't be my last.

The Cursebound Thief is a refreshing, vibrant take on the heist trope that elevates the game. The key to the success of ANY heist story is the chemistry between the characters, and TCT had that in spades. They were all so unique and jumped off the page. I felt like I was right there with them the whole time.

Fans of Six of Crows will be charmed by the magnetic bond of the team, set to an engaging story that will keep you reading into the night.
1,156 reviews6 followers
September 3, 2022
I am not quite sure how this author does it, but usually, I don't want to read books with vampires/werewolves/mermaids in them, but when Megan writes about them, I really enjoy the books! So if, like me, you are a bit wary of paranormal stuff in books, don't worry about it one bit, and buy the book - I am pretty sure you will enjoy it, as I did!
There were a lot of clever and original ideas in this book, and so I am greatly looking forward to the rest of the series. There were plenty of twists and action, always necessary for me, and as the book progressed and we understood the characters more, seemed well written and certainly characters that I, as a reader, did care about. I find this essential for a good read.
1,279 reviews23 followers
April 7, 2022
Megan has done it again with a story that you will have a hard time putting down and only other obligations kept me from reading it straight through as I wanted.

The magic of the paranormals has been almost totally eradicated and it’s up to a band of teenagers to try and right the world again so that innate power they once had can be restored to those it was taken from. Each one of the group have specific traits and abilities which will help them in that quest.

There are thrills, adventures, adrenaline pounding excitement and page turning events just waiting for you to “read all about it”!

I enthusiastically recommend this book and this new series by Megan as one both young adults and adults will enjoy. Who is the real villains in this world of magic and who would siphon it all off of those who it was a part of from birth and why? Those questions await you as you enter this new thrilling world where we mortals can only read about and wish we possessed those powers and abilities our new friends display for rest assured these characters will be your new friends long before you reach the end of this exciting first book in this new series. There are twists and turns to surprise you and the thrilling ending to this book will have you anxiously awaiting the next book in the series to see what happens next!

Megan’s series are books that you’ll be up at night still reading because you don’t want to put the book down! The stories are fresh and original and downright addictive! You’ve been warned now so when you find yourself wanting to answer the “pull” to return to the book you’ll know you’re hooked and glad for it!

My suggestion while we all wait impatiently for book two to be available is to pick up a completed series like Girl of Glass or Ena of Ilbrea and devour them while you wait anxiously for book two in this series to come out. Believe me you’ll enjoy those series and you’ll be glad you found a new author you’ll never want to let go of!
Profile Image for Emily.
381 reviews16 followers
April 19, 2022
Another fantastic story by Megan O'Russell!

Having several narrators works so well for this story - we get to experience the story through the eyes of a human/somb, a werewolf, a div, a vampire, a mage who has basically been cut off from magic as has the rest of the magical world, and a mage who somehow kept her power.

The world feels modern with over a decade of being post-magic - aka the Fracture giving a nuanced and interesting setting that felt incredibly real and consistent.

The characters were all multidimensional with unique backstories and personalities. Bringing them all together to attempt a heist with huge potential repercussions is the belief that they can succeed and that their plan is enough. The stakes are high, the story is intense, the feelings are real, and the mystery is compelling.

Highly recommend.
Profile Image for #ByFelicia.
550 reviews9 followers
April 6, 2022
I love Megan O’Russell, there I said it! I was totally looking forward to this series and I’m so excited. If you love a good heist, then this is for you! It’s like Leverage and The Ocean’s series with a paranormal twist. We get multiple POV’s from the main character cast. It really brings the story full circle. The chemistry of the cast is great. I enjoyed watching them bond and band together. The story moves along at a good pace so you’re never left lagging. Keep in mind this is a series so there is a bit of a hook at the end. One that I’m definitely eager for! Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Emma Minazza.
837 reviews29 followers
September 3, 2022
Loved this book! Six of crows-esque and loved the adventure! Very fast paced, loved the story, characters and felt a real connection between the group. The cover is stunning and the writing flows well.

Loved Ari the most, she has powerful and loyal characteristics, she was a big part of the group and her, Eve and Grace were a good fit with the group. Loved the mixture of werewolf, witch, vampire and human members in the storyline. Couldn't wait to see what happened as the journey progressed!

I've really enjoyed this book and will look out for more from the author!
Profile Image for Christopher Russell.
8 reviews2 followers
September 4, 2022
Wonderful take on the heist trope. The six characters are fully fleshed out, and their voices so unique, you really get to know them and see the mission from every angle. The way Megan utilizes the environment during the heist scenes to remind us where we just left each character is nothing short of masterful.
Profile Image for Craig Smith.
1 review
September 4, 2022
Just got my copy and am excited to tear into it! I love this author and the amazing body of work Megan has put forth over the years, especially the Ilbrea Guild Series. So I know this is going to be another excellent adventure!
Super excited to dive into The Cursebound Thief!!!
Profile Image for E.G. Creel.
Author 13 books25 followers
September 4, 2022
The rating is being dragged down by unethical trolling from fake accounts created all on the same day.
Profile Image for U.
9 reviews
September 5, 2022
Trolls are angry with the writer and creating fake accounts with 1 to zero books listed in their account. The book hasn’t been released yet so they haven’t read it.
I haven’t read the book yet either but since trolls can post fake ratings, I am leaving a 5 star review.
I have read several of the writers previous books and loved her stories. I am sure this book is great as well.
Profile Image for Theresa.
1 review3 followers
September 4, 2022
If you loved Six of Crows by this author or you just want a good thrilling mystery, you will LOVE The Cursebound Thief. I am in the middle of the Ena of Ilbrea but I paused reading it to snag one of the pre-release copies of Cursebound Thief. I couldn’t put it down. It was everything I was looking for in an action-packed summer read. I 10/10 recommend pre-ordering & getting this book as SOON as it comes out. In the meantime, definitely check out this authors other books, I loved the Ena of Ilbrea series and I think that’s a great place to kick off while you wait for Cursebound Thief! Great work O’Russell - can’t wait to read more.
12 reviews
September 20, 2022
The world and character building of this book were quite well done. I personally did not enjoy parts of the relationship aspects, but it did not take away from the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of this book. Megan does a really great job on her writing.
4 reviews
September 3, 2022
My threshold for poor writing is pretty low, but this book somehow managed to dodge even the lowest of my standards.

Utterly boring, not even a fun mindless adventure-- not to mention full of errors. I truly think the author didn't even care about anything but publishing this for a quick buck. Such a shame.

If you're looking for a good read, look elsewhere for something that won't be a complete and utter waste of your time.
Profile Image for T.L. McDonald.
Author 10 books102 followers
September 9, 2022
The Cursebound Thief is the first book by Megan O’Russell I’ve read, and I have to say, I absolutely enjoyed it. I’ll definitely be checking out her other books/series.

The Cursebound Thief finds six friends/slight enemies/new acquaintances banding together to form a motley crew of sorts who aim to mend what’s left of magic through thievery, subterfuge, and a dangerous plan that could go wrong at any moment.

The story is told from six different POV, allowing for every character to shine in their own right. I’ll admit it took me a minute to keep everyone straight, but since they each have their own personality and wants, I was able to distinguish who was who fairly quickly. And I have to say, I enjoyed the story being told this way. It gave it a movie kind of feel, getting everyone’s take on what was going on, while also allowing for different sub-stories to take shape. My only complaint is that with six different POV, I felt like I didn’t get to know each of the characters as well as I could have, but with more books in the works for this series, I’m sure there will be plenty of time for a deeper dive into who they are, making for a rich, well-rounded story.

Overall, this was a great, well-written book full of mystery and danger, with a bit of an Ocean’s Eleven feel to it. I can wait to see what comes next in book two, especially after that ending.
1 review
September 4, 2022
Terrible writing, and the characters are boring.
70 reviews
June 28, 2024
Chapter 1. Man is gonna blow up house with his CAT INSIDE?!

NO. I'm out. Even if this is the bad guy, curl up and plot with your cat like a normal Villain. We don't voluntarily kill our pets.

If you have read this book and this doesn't actually happen please message me and I'll continue. But for now, I'm out.
Profile Image for Bailey.
62 reviews4 followers
February 11, 2024
Maybe 3.5

This book was very YA but it was done well. I enjoyed it.
The book is multi POV. It starts off with two characters calling in favors and slowly pulling all the people together they need for their heist plan to be pulled off. I wish the story would have maybe started by giving those two original characters some back story but when you find out how Jerek’s dad died it’s a good twist.
It’s pack with action, tension, magic, mystery, flirtation, banter, and YA cheesiness.
It leaves you on a massive cliffhanger that basically forces you to read the rest of the series if you ever want to find out what happens and if two of the characters die. (Probably won’t)
663 reviews5 followers
November 22, 2024
Author Megan O'Russell in the Cursebound Thief has sketched a world which we ordinary "normal" won't know nor even actually suspect of existing. That world is one of the Fue. It is a world inhabited by werewolves. And vampires. And magic wielders.
Except some years ago something strange happened. The magic disappeared, with but a weak strand or two still existing.
This is the world that Jerek Holder wants to restore. But to do so, he needs to steal a certain relic. And he cannot do so alone.
Thus an adventure is started that will pull you along to surprising places, even more interesting characters and unexpected plot twists.
Enjoy
Profile Image for Katie Buckingham.
651 reviews7 followers
September 20, 2022
Fun faced pased Heist YA paranormal adventure. That seems like a lot to pack in but it flows smoothly and quickly. Throw in a magic museum, which I would love to hear more about, and you have a great adventure read. The show Friends, but teens and a mix of a vamp, magician, hacker, werewolf and more! Pick up your copy and check it out!
Profile Image for Leigh's Little Library.
457 reviews10 followers
September 20, 2022
I really enjoyed this fantasy heist with young mythical beings banding together to save the magical world.
Diverse and likable characters and a great story line. Can't wait to read the next book
2 reviews
September 7, 2022
I can’t wait for this book I have all of Megan’s books she is absolutely amazing wonderful person and author.
391 reviews1 follower
August 10, 2023
Jerek Holden had a plan to fix magic in the world. Twelve years ago, magicians were all of a sudden unable to dip into the river of magic, and Jerek thought he knew a way to fix that. It would take a lot of people to accomplish this task because it was a heist of a certain magical object, and this was no second-floor heist that needed to be done. No, this magical object was in a newly constructed private museum, and the heist was scheduled on its opening day. But first, Holden needed to gather his friends and someone who did not know who they were. His friends consisted of a werewolf, a vampire, a specially trained human, a computer hacker, and a girl who did not know she was also a magician.

Let me start by saying that this series starter has a lot of promise. But, what I don’t like is the “everything under the sun” and the kitchen sink thrown in when it comes to advertising its genres. At least, that was the way it was advertised on Google. While some genres were spot on, some were from left field. I’m not sure this book should be advertised as a juvenile-acceptable read, but that is a subjective opinion and probably best determined by the parents or guardians. This book lacks a lot of world-building, relying on generally known places to fill in for a description. What world-building there is can be descriptive enough to put the reader in the setting. There seems to be little to none of the ethereal world-building. However, the character interaction is very well done, even if the character’s backgrounds are doled out as needed to fit the circumstances.

This, in my humble opinion (too much?), book has great magical-related potential, including paranormal and supernatural elements. This book has a human, a werewolf, and a vampire all working together. It’s like they walked into a bar together to set up a bad joke. Hold it! I think they did. LOL! Well, maybe not, but at least it is not the same old fare of vampire versus werewolf. I give this electronically wrapped tome five stars out of five stars, even with its few editing errors.

Profile Image for Cait Marie.
Author 30 books361 followers
October 1, 2022
I’ve never really read a heist book, but they’ve always intrigued me. So, when I had the chance to review an ARC of this one, I didn’t hesitate.

And it did not disappoint.

The Cursebound Thief jumps right into the action, switching from character to character pretty quickly in the beginning to introduce all of the members of the team. They’re spread out across the country, doing their own things, and it was fun seeing them all brought together. Though, I will admit, I’m still not clear on some details on how that happened.

The leader of the group, Jerek, has done his research, with the help of his hacker, Ari. However, it didn’t really explain how he knew to even look for some of the team. I’m assuming from his father’s research, but I still have a lot of questions about it all. It didn’t take away from the story, but I do wish some of the details and history would’ve been fleshed out a little bit more. I’m hoping these things might expanded on as the series continues.

As I said, this book jumps right in, and it doesn’t ever slow down. I loved that most of the chapters were on the shorter side because it kept making me say, “Just one more chapter.” It was pretty quick paced in general, but it didn’t really feel rushed. Instead, it made it difficult to put down.

I’m so intrigued with this story and the world O’Russell has created. The characters are all unique and feel well rounded, but again, I wish we had some of those explanations on how Jerek knew to look for them. But I loved them all! I love how they became this kind of family of misfits working to save the world. Overall, the book was really fun and well written. I cannot wait for book two!

*I received a free advanced copy of this book for my honest review.

**Originally reviewed on Functionally Fictional.
201 reviews4 followers
September 22, 2022
I want to preface this by saying that Young Adult books are NOT my thing. And as hard as I tried, I couldn't force the characters older in my mind which sometimes works too move the story into a different place. I've been reading smut almost exclusively for the past 2 years so I'm accustomed to certain things. Not saying that I don't like or read books with no sexy times, I do. But this was, for my tastes, quite young. The good news is if you're looking for a mostly clean good story, I can recommend this one. There are hints of MM and a tiny bit of FF. If I had kids in the 10-15 year old range I would have zero issues with them reading this.

This was probably a 3.5-3.75 star read that I rounded up. I doubt I would have chosen to read this on my own but I saw the author's TikTok and I wanted to support her. This is a YA book that definitely is written and appropriate for younger readers. The basis of the story, the breaking of Magic, is one I enjoy. I also really like the heist...in books and movies! The writing was good. The story flowed well, I didn't find any glaring errors or omissions. The main characters are all clearly identifiable without being boringly stereotypical. I would have liked to go deeper into Jerek and Ari's stories but I have a feeling that'll be in book 2. The world building was good. Could have been more but again, as this is a series there's room for more in subsequent books. The cliffhanger wasn't bad and leaves you wanting to know more. Do I want to know more? Maybe. Will I read the next book? I don't know.

But don't assume my negatives will also be yours. Each reviewer (at least the non troll ones) has a set of expectations and life experiences that affect if and how they enjoy a book. Yours are not mine. Give Cursebound Thief a chance.
Profile Image for Nicola Hancock.
518 reviews7 followers
October 8, 2022
This is a mahoosive read with 84 chapters but don’t worry each chapter is short and sweet and the style and the layout is captivating especially if read on a kindle. You’re presented with a floor plan at the start which left me so intrigued for once it wasn’t a map. I loved how each chapter was told from different perspectives of Jerek, Grace, Lincoln, Ari, Jack
I loved how the perspectives came together as each storyline and character connected. I instantly wanted to know who the ‘Maree’ were and what it meant in terms of protection and why they were a secret society so from this point the author grasped my full attention.

The get together of characters are on a mission to save the feu people and mend the fracture to restore magic. It’s completely modern and not far fetched and you can imagine it being reality. I thoroughly enjoyed the flow of conversation between the characters and the humour that the author creates. I definitely was quite fond of Jack and Ari, they were probably my favourite characters from the beginning. I didn’t expect the book to contain Vampire pick pocketer’s on top of magicians so I absolutely loved the quirky story lines.

This is an incredible adventure fantasy book that has memorable characters that really set out to achieve their end goal no matter what obstacles present themselves. I cannot wait for the next book in this series to be released.
Profile Image for Blake.
1,304 reviews45 followers
September 6, 2023
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I completely change my mind on a series, so want to change my scoring down a lot. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)

DNF*

I found the mulitple POV annoying. I gave up when got 22 pages in and its now a 5th POV. More annoying, for me, we're not told anything about who each of these people are. I really like to have an age range with gender at least, to help voice them!

First time read the author's work?: Yes

Will you be reading more?: No

Would you recommend?: No


------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)

All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked

Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
Profile Image for Sam | Sambooka23.
700 reviews31 followers
September 18, 2022
This is my first book by @orussellmegan and definitely not my last. As someone who is enjoying the fantasy more and more, this was right up my street just now. This book tour has been arranged by the wonderful @instabooktours and Vic, you’re always smashing it out the park - this is a fab book!

I loved the short chapters throughout the book, it kept me gripped wanting to find out what was coming next. The different POV’s from multiple characters was great, it gave the reader a more in-depth look at their feelings. I love reading a book from different perspectives.

I thought this was a great read, it was very vivid, intriguing and gripping. The characters throughout developed so well and became a group that worked well together. I thought it was a very original storyline with a lot of twists, turns and shockers.

If you’re a fan of the fantasy world then by all means, this is a must read for you. The ending for me was a cliffhanger and a half… I don’t know how long I can wait to read on. I can’t wait for book two.

Thank you to @orussellmegan and @instabooktours for having me on tour and allowing me a copy of this book. Thank you Megan for the lovely note and character cards - it was a lovely additional touch.
859 reviews15 followers
September 21, 2022
Their legacy was stolen from them, and they plan to steal it back. Jerek Holden can buy anything he wants - except the connection to magic that was stolen from him. To get it back, he is assembling an unlikely team of teenagers that might just have the skills to pull of the biggest heist of the century. They have a plan, but only one shot to get it right, and the stakes are much higher than they realize.

Fast paced story that introduces a really fun, diverse, inclusive group of characters. I liked the way the effects of magic spilled into the "real world". Mostly a hidden magic system, but some interesting bleed-throughs. Lots of suspense and plenty of humor. O'Russell keeps it real, which is nice in a fantasy. YA, stays clean - some kissing, no real romance, there is some violence, and not everyone gets through the conflicts unscathed.

Book 1 of the Fracture Pact series, this book does have a fully story arc, but it is far from the end of the story and does end with a huge unfinished issue/teaser for the next book. Highly recommended for fans of Megan O'Russell's Bryant Adams, Maggie Trent, and The Tethering series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews

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