Skylar thought she could catch a break. After her near-death encounter with the psychotic leader of the Society, Kasia Armani, and still dealing with the Dark Prince trying to possess her body, she should be on the first flight out to a resort island.
Too bad the universe has other plans.
Reports of an ancient, legendary being called the Cursed One are popping up all over the world. According to Fae myth, whoever manages to find and possess this being will gain unbelievable power. Nearly unstoppable power. Power to do incredible good…or evil.
Naturally, Kasia wants it. And Skylar can’t let that happen.
It’s up to her, Asher, and their friends from the Academy to find it first. But with those closest to Skylar harboring dangerous secrets of their own—and her crazy heart telling her it wants Asher as more than a friend—this journey may be the hardest one she’s ever taken.
It could also be the deadliest.
Shifters, vampires, magic, romance! Jump into the second book of the fast-paced YA urban fantasy the Darkness Within series. A snarky heroine, a swoon-worthy hero, a paranormal world like you’ve never imagined…These are YA urban fantasies you won’t want to put down!
“This book definitely has to be read…” ~Tassi, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★
“Action and Adventure from start to finish. I feel like I've been on the roller coaster of narrow escapes and harrowing experiences.” ~C, Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★
“The adventure continues and it does not disappoint! This is a fun fast read that you won't be ready for it to end.” ~Amazon Reviewer ★★★★★
Sean Fletcher was born in the broiling, arid state some people lovingly refer to as Texas. He is the Amazon bestselling author of YA fantasy, in addition to other forthcoming books whose characters will not give him a moment's peace until they get their turn in the spotlight. When not making things up and putting them on paper, he can be found hiking, biking, or traveling, sometimes all at the same time.
Get two free YA fantasy books from Sean's Heir of Dragons and Mage's Apprentice series when you sign up for his author newsletter ➜ https://www.subscribepage.com/seanfle...
Doesn't seem that long since I was reviewing Called By Darkness...time has seemed to fly and I think reading a whole lot of other books in between helped a lot lol. I hope all you guys have gone ahead and read book one because this book is everything you need! I was dragged right back into this world before I could even process that I was actually reading the second book!
This book definitely has to be read...I'm a true fan of this series and I just absolutely adore the characters that have been created. Skylar is bound to make you laugh and Asher, Mia and Colston are the perfect friends. I know I said this in my last review but they all really compliment each other.
First off, I loved how this story started with Skylar and Asher in Greece fighting massive magical boars for the Academy's practical hours. I couldn't help but laugh it was just a perfect opening scene...but it soon morphs into something more. 'Of course it does' you're saying, it is Skylar afterall that we are talking about. Anywho, the two split up to track down two of the boars that ran in different directions and well Skylar finds herself in an odd predicament. She's following the trail and then she finds this magical cave that is one minute empty and the next poof there's this mansion of a house that's just randomly appeared, with someone standing inside that waved at her. Next minute boar crashes into her and yep the house is no longer there!! There one minute gone the next.
But then to make matters more interesting say hello to the mother of all earthquakes. Lucky for Skylar, Asher came to check in on her boar situation and helps her out from a massive sink hole she got sucked into. See? it gets right on into it. And as a fun little teaser of our number one bickering partners...I bring to you Skylar and Asher right after this little event.
"You’re just a walking harbinger of destruction, aren’t you?”
“Oh, you know, just thought I’d do a little remodeling while I was here.”....
....“Okay, not that I’m blaming you for destroying the inside of a mountain…” Asher said. “But it was there before you went in, and now…” He pointed back at the now-blocked entrance.
“Sounds an awful lot like blaming to me,” I said, hands on my hips.
Now I had to mention this disappearing mansion for a reason...why you ask? well because the book is kinda centred on this house. You see once Sky and Asher get back from their trip, many of the other students are whispering about this disappearing house....and it just so happens that this house is very important. You see the Fae imprisoned this being many years ago because of its potential of great evil...but at the same time it's not naturally evil...think of it more like this...it all depends on the hands that wield it...and remember Kasia and her Society? Yep they are totally after it.
We all know that the Fallen Star and their leader Kasia are totally power hungry...and we all know how much Kasia loves her revenge. Yep she's still on that train.
After learning about this house and being, known as 'the cursed one', Lucien sends his son along with Skylar, Colston and Mia to this other Academy in Denmark, to track it down...but well since it is them we are talking about...they land themselves in a bit of a pickle.
To stop some of my rambling on the story and giving everything away...which btws I'm finding really hard! Basically our little team go on a house hunt wading through many an obstacle and when they do find it, it is not what they expected. This was pretty much them at the time.
But being the champs that they are they go with the flow... and get ready for it, they want to protect it. Which will not be an easy feat. Kasia is tracking them down and what follows is a whole heap of crazy.
I know for me there was times I was like
But being the persevering person that I am I pushed through my stresses and read and read and read.
Also, I hope you haven't forgotten about that dark prince inside Skylar...coz he starting to get a wee bit impatient inside our girl trying to convince her to use the darkness inside her...remember though sometimes it takes darkness to fight darkness. And Kasia has a lot of that bottled up inside her. May the power of the wills commence!
I seriously loved so much about this book...and I'm probably going to end up sounding like a broken record...but you guys know how much I love character growth and depth and these characters are 100% nailing that. I also particularly loved watching as their friendships grew and the respect and love they had with one another. They truly learnt to work as a team. Skylar grew the most I think in this one, learning to communicate and rely more on her team-mates and they all learnt a lot through each other. I actually really respect the people they have become and cannot wait to see what more Sean has in store for us. Whatever it is....
I have a strong feeling that the next book, Enemy of Magic, that releases sometime in May, is going to be a 'fight with everything you got' kinda scenario. Oh how ready I am for that...Bring it on.
You didn't think I wouldn't mention the budding romance did you? How could I ignore it...man my heart can't take it. It's a slow-burn romance but things slowly start to change for Skylar and Asher. They just have such awesome and special chemistry...that makes you totally just sigh happily. I'm pretty sure I had a goofy smile when I read a certain part and then I laughed at myself lol.
So go grab your snacks and whatever else you need, when you go on a reading marathon, because you're going to need it with this book. Be ready to be taken on the bestest of journeys. Oh and btw its gonna stink comin' back to reality. Enjoy.
Thanks to the wonderful Sean Fletcher for sending me a copy of this amazing book in placement of an honest review, you know me guys...honesty is all you'll get from me :) If you have read book one or two, I'd love to hear from you!
Skylar just managed to get away from the grip of the vile Kasia, the same one who had cursed her and put the Dark Prince inside her but now she seems to be pitting her strength, magical and physical with Kasia once again as they both hunt to find the cursed one. The fae had said that anyone who captured and killed the cursed one would inherit all its power, so Skylar was damned if she would let Kasia get her hands on the cursed one. So she, Asher, Colson and Mia travel through farcast portals to find the cursed one themselves before anyone evil got their hands on this entity, little knowing the surprise awaiting them when they finally do find the cursed one. On the other hand Skylar is worried and anxious because of the secrets she is keeping from her friends especially from Asher who she is being drawn closer to by the day, and she knows that her friends are harbouring secrets of their own which are burdening them too. In the meantime Aspen Rivest is still absent from her life and Skylar needs to have many questions answered, is her mother evil too or is Kasia being her usual manipulative self when accusing her mother of such a horrendous crime? This 2nd book is taking us deeper into the entanglements of the academy and it's students and in this book we come across a dragon, a goblin, a vampire and of course the cursed one as we travel and see things through the eyes of our heroic group of teen mages, and all this went into making this book a magical fun read, full of tension and excitement! Enjoy.
I'm loving this series!! There is a bit of a cliff hanger sooo another book! This is well written great characters and phenomenal story line I'm excited for the next part of the adventure!🥰😍
In the second book, Skylar, Asher, Mia and Colson go looking for the Cursed One in Denmark and Norway. Kasia, an enemy, and her accomplices want the Cursed One, Skylar thinks that it may be necessary to kill the Cursed One to prevent evil supes from getting more power from the sacrifice, but is it ethical? She's getting hints that there might be a big secret about her mother that she's never been told. Secrets are a theme of sorts here, as she secretly battles the dark impulses within her, and so does another of her friends. They have several conversations that go somewhat like this: "You know you can trust me tell me stuff, right?" "Yeah, sure buddy (but I'm not telling you anything right now)." This got a bit repetitive because there seemed to be no real reason for Skylar to be so secretive. The editing is a bit sloppy, especially regarding the variable spelling of some minor character names. I am enjoying the adventure and the magical world of this series. I got this book as part of a box set from Booksprout, and this is a voluntary review.
While this book didn’t have quite the level of humor the previous one did, I still enjoyed the carefree style it was written! Another light, very enjoyable read! It was a great adventure and the author added a lot of detail I’d felt was missing from the first book. The characters had some good growth. I feel like curses are running a little too amuck, but I’m still loving the story and everything it’s bringing to the plate.
The more I read this the more I feel I’ve read something similar before. The whole ‘hot evil force trapped inside the FMC’s body’ thing is seeming so familiar that I’m almost convinced I’ve read this before. However, none of the rest of the plot is ringing any bells. So now I’m incredibly curious as to what other book(s) may have borrowed this plot before. Either way, I still think this author is doing a great job with this series and I’m looking forward to more.
Great plot and character development. We're learning more about Kasia and Skylar's mom and the Dark Prince, which is all great, and I loved the twists and turns of discovering who the Cursed One is. The dynamic between the characters is so fun and engaging. My only criticism is I really wanted more of Skylar and Asher. I felt like there were many contrived plot points placing Skylar with Colson, whom I love. And I LOVE how strong the friendships are in this book, don't get me wrong. But since this is the SLOWEST of slow burn romances (one of the slowest I've ever read lol) I was quite anxious for some more development on that. It seemed like it was squeezed in at the end as an afterthought. In general, I prefer romance to be more on the forefront, not shoved to the back burner. But that's just me.
Sean Fletcher continues to create worlds of epic proportions, and as this book continues the story of Skylar and Asher, he has yet again hit all the marks. The stakes have been upped, and every time she feels like she might be done with the drama in her life, another wave hits Skylar. She's learning to trust herself and her friends. She's growing right before our eyes with every turn of the page. The plot and character development is phenomenal. This book is a perfect reminder of why Sean Fletcher is one of my favorite authors today!!
I picked this one up as I'd read the first and enjoyed it, so was delighted to pick back up with Skylar, Asher and the gang. The book pulls you into the action from the first word, and you can't help but want to go along for the ride. I adore the characters, adore the world-building, and the hints of more to be told even within the words. Fletcher knows how to tell a good, engaging story, and this one is definitely that! I will be following this series as it continues, because I need to know more! Highly recommended!
If you like a book that keeps you hanging on to each word without as much as taking a deep breath, this is one.
Would it help, if I just ended my review at, "Must be on every one's to read list"?
But that's exactly what this series is shaping up as. A fantastic young adult saga set out in a world that has all the intrigue, magic and mystery a person might need.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Skylar and friends take on Kasia and her minions when the academy is attacked. And Skylar continues her ongoing battles with the demon prince' soul within her. I liked this sequel, although the storyline is not resolved...yet. So, until the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow! In this amazing continuation in the story... More magical adventures, intrigue, action, mystery powers, a curse (more than one?) and the start of a sweet romance (maybe?) ... I strongly recommend to read it as part of the series to fully enjoy the complexity of the plot and the twists and turns in this story set in a fantastic magical world in the middle of New York. Simply brilliant!!
I really enjoyed this book! It’s fast paced and well written. Skylar and her team have many challenges to face as they search for the Chosen One. It’s suspenseful and full of magic! I definitely recommend it!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is book 2 in the New York Academy of Magic series. I love Skylar and the rest of the characters. They are well written and developed. The storyline has action and suspense and is well written. I recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
After reading this book, I wanted to write and post this review to share my honest experiences toward the story.
Continuing where we left off in Book 1, our heroine, Skyler Rivest thinks she can finally catch a break from all the magical mayhem and adventure, and settle for a normal school experience. Unfortunately, things don’t work that way in this novel, leaving Skylar and her friends in search of the Cursed one. But her group isn’t the only ones looking for the cursed one…the Society and Kasia Armani, its leader and Skylar’s worst enemy, is also after the cursed one. And on top of that, Skylar has the Dark Prince to deal with.
Every bit as enjoyable and exciting as the first, this book continues the New York Academy of Magic series by Sean Fletcher, and contains copious amounts of action, adventure, magic, witty banter, topped off with a strong, engaging plot and absolutely amazing characters. Not to mention those twists and turns which make reading this such an amazing roller coaster ride. Honestly, I can’t wait for the third to come out!
Skylar and Asher are doing practical work for the academy in Greece when she goes into a cave to finish deal with the boar. When all of sudden she sees a house and a person waving at her. Then the a earthquake hits and the ground starts to give away. When Skylar looks, the house is gone. Asher manages to save her. When they get back to the academy to meet up with Mia and Colson, they are going over everything. When Mia gets there, she tells the others that she saw a house and the same thing happens. Then they find out others are seeing the same thing. They find out that is a dangerous being that the Fae locked away and the wards are breaking down. They decide that they will go find the Cursed One, before Kasia gets her and the ultimate power. The road to find the cursed one is a very dangerous one for the gang. Skylar is dealing with the Dark Prince, it is getting hard to deal with. She is keeping the secret from Asher and others because of her fear. She learning more about her mother and Kasia's past. This book is action packed from the first page to the last. You will be on a rollercoaster with all the twist and turn. Turns out Skylar is not the only one with secrets with curses. Her friends are hiding stuff just like she is. How will the deal with the Cursed One.
This book was really good, you will enjoy getting wrapped up in this one. There is something in her for everyone. I truly enjoyed reading this. I looking towards book 3 to what is going to happen next with these characters.
I received an ARC copy of this book and this is my honest review.
Daughter of the legendary warrior, Aspen Rivest, The New York Academy of Magic series continues in Book 2, with the epic battles Skylar must fight against The Society and its evil leader and Skylar's enemy, Kasia Armani. Supported by her close friends and enter a time of challenge away from the Academy, bringing nightmares, (for Skylar) and secrets that are gradually revealed by herself and her friends, Colson, Mia and Asher, in this eagerly-awaited sequel masterpiece by the Prince of Legend and Fantasy, Sean Fletcher.
But who or what is the eponymous Cursed One, I hear you shriek, as I diverse from the important stuff? To Skylar they appear in nightmares and night terrors, in which she envisions a distant, haunted-looking mansion and believes she sees a figure at a window. And why is this thing/person so eagerly sought by the powers of The Society and Kasia in particular? Why does she hate Skylar so much? Who unexpectedly helps the friends and who has more sinister plans in mind?
A wonderful adventure which crosses continents and kingdoms, both human and (more often) enchanted and inhabited by a huge number of supernatural and fantasy subjects and creatures, The Cursed One will keep you spellbound from start to finish and is a must for your fantasy bookshelf. Why not get both books today - it'll more than double your reading pleasure - guaranteed!
The hunt for the Cursed One is on… I thought I could catch a break. After my near-death encounter with the psychotic leader of the Society, Kasia Armani, and still dealing with the Dark Prince trying to possess my body, I should be on the first flight out to a resort island. Too bad the universe has other plans. Reports of an ancient, legendary being called the Cursed One are popping up all over the world. According to Fae myth, whoever manages to find and possess this being will gain unbelievable power. Nearly unstoppable power. Power to do incredible good…or evil. Naturally, Kasia wants it. And I can’t let that happen. It’s up to me, Asher, and my friends from the Academy to find it first. But with those closest to me harboring dangerous secrets of their own—and my crazy heart telling me it wants Asher as more than a friend—this journey may be the hardest one I’ve ever taken. It could also be the deadliest.
This is a brilliant read. Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start. Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable. Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story. Can't wait to read more of these. Recommend reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
ONE WILD ROLLERCOASTER RIDE!!! Explosive! Sean hits the motherload with this nailbiting, spine tingling, chart topping, mind-blowing, block busting bombshell. Satisfying is an understatement, this baby comes packing a punch, thrusting this bad boy into the eye of the storm, blasting it into a tailspin with an astonishing culmination. A multitude of spinning emotions bursting into play front and center. Combating the drama, tension, intrigue, danger and soaring suspense, keeps you riveted on a razors edge. Add distress and turmoil, along with perplexing situations and a boatload of trouble, propels this little fella to life spectacularly. Unnerving mishaps, manipulation, secrets and dastardly deeds thrusts this baby forward with shocking results, blowing this baby wide open. Stumbling through the trials and tribulations, along with a slew of thrilling twists and crisp turns, testing our characters in ways they could have never anticipated. The characters are realistic and genuine with traits and qualities that balance and blend into outstanding personalities. The scenes are so vividly detailed it gives the illusion you were right there standing in the middle of ground zero with them. Remarkable job Sean, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
I loved Called by Darkness, the first book in Sean Fletcher’s New York Academy of Magic series (separately reviewed). Well he’s back with a new addiction, The Cursed One (Book 2), and it’s totally fabulous. I love Skylar. She’s just the kind of snarky kick-a** heroine I adore. Asher is pretty wonderful too (and I’m looking forward to their romantic relationship growing) but as perfectly crafted as they are, it’s fast-paced, action filled thriller of a plot, the world building (that started in Book 1 with supernatural New York and its shifters, vampires, magic, and so much more), and the supporting cast both good (the gang from the New York Academy of Magic) and bad (Kasia is really wonderfully evil) that makes this such a superb urban fantasy series. I’m happy to recommend both this book and series (and urge newcomers to try book 1 first as it’s too great to miss).
Sean Fletcher did not disappoint in this book. You will want to keep reading it. Teens and young adults will love this series. WE have suspense, secrets, adventure and more. Skylar has seen something and so has others. They say its the Cursed One. Kasia wants it, can we stop her? I still have the curse that I have not told my friends about. Can she keep him at bay? Can she find the Cursed One before Kasia? Why is the other Academy doing this to us? Can I fight her and win? Can I save the others? What will my friends think if they find out about the curse that Kasia gave me? I received a free copy for review.
Clear your calendar, find a comfy spot, get your favorite drink and make sure you have enough time ahead of you, because once started you won't put it down! If you've read the first book in the series, you know what to expect: action-packed, full of amazing plot twists, excellently described scenes, extraordinary characters. And let's not forget the budding romance between Skylar and Asher, and Skylar's ongoing internal battle against the Dark Prince.
Don't miss Skylar's newest adventure! And if by any chance you haven't read the first book in the series, do yourself a favor and grab them both. You won't be disappointed!!!
The Cursed One is Book 2 in the New York Academy of Magic by Sean Fletcher and is truly an exceptional addition to an awesome series. It is superbly well written, has amazing characters (Skylar, Asher, Colton, Mia), plenty of action, lots of twists, suspense, a dragon, a goblin, a vampire, the Cursed One -- what more can one ask for. If you like academy reads with lots of magic and everything above, then this is a book and series for you and one I highly recommend. Received an ARC and this is my voluntary and honest review.
Action and Adventure from start to finish. I feel like I've been on the roller coaster of narrow escapes and harrowing experiences. Skyler and her crew are definitely fun characters to read about. Just when I think I've figured out what is going to happen it goes a completely different way. When I think of the world of mages as supernatural beings it's exactly what the author has brought to life in these books and I can't wait to continue the journey.
The Cursed one is the second book in this fabulous series and I really do recommend that these books are read in order. Skylar and her friends from the academy are searching for the cursed one before Kasia can use it for evil. She is also keeping a secret from everyone as well as trying to prove she is as good as her mother. This is a great book, and series, with enough twists, creatures and action to keep you turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.
Wow this is a fantastic read that pulls you in from start to finish. I love how the Author has brought the read to fruition. The Scenes are written so well that I coukd picture the scenes playing out as I read. Theres lots of twists and turns. I definitely recommend this fantastic series. Shauna Joesten
WOW these guys can't have a moment to breath and act their age without something bad happening!! Nasty magical creatures, psychopaths, strange houses and a slobbering dragon!! While their friendship is getting even stronger and many secrets are revealed, there is still a crazy powerful enemy at large and a lot of mysteries that need solving. Can't wait to read next book!