"Cursed Magic" (Rejected Fate Trilogy Book 2)

                               by Jen L. Grey 

Review by Katy Grant

 

 In trying the free Ember’s sister, Briar, from her captors Ryker was wounded and is quickly bleeding out. They need to escape to heal their wounds but with the Shadow beings closing in on them Ember fears none of them will make it out alive.  In hopes of saving Ryker and the others she orders them to head for the cars while she stays behind to fight off the Shadows.  Suddenly a shrill whistle sounds and the Shadows start to retreat. With some help from Raven’s vampires, they make it back to the vampire’s strong hold, but all are injured.

There has been a balance in the supernatural world with vampires, shifters and witches normally not mixing. With the attacks upon the wolf shifters, and so many lives lost, there is fear it won’t stop with them. With a tentative alliance between the vampires and wolves another ally comes forward. The Shae pack has also been violently attacked losing many of their people. Bruce, their alpha, has come to ask to join them, offering his help. They need a plan to stop these creatures, learn who they are and the reasons behind the attacks.

 It all seemed to start with Reid Blackwood’s rejection of Ember. They are certain the Blackwood pack is behind the attacks with the help of a witch using spells. However, in spite of their alliance with Queen Ambrosia and her vampires there are some vampires that make Ember uncomfortable. There appear to be no outright lies or overt actions but a feeling that something isn’t right. And while she wants to trust Ryker, since they have grown closer, he is hiding something too. So much mistrust, uncertainty, feelings that Ember is struggling to deal with when it comes to Ryker. In several instances Ember finds herself in control of magic she wasn’t aware she even had. She sees Ryker’s eyes change, something others don’t seem to see, then a coldness comes over him. Also, she is the only one who can sense/feel and somewhat see a wavering image when the Shadows are close. There is a shimmering in the air, but it isn’t formed clearly enough to recognize any one shape.

 Some of the shifters and vampires are happy with their alliance. Staying ahead of the Shadows, stopping them from killing more shifters, discovering for certain who is behind all the killings and why may be the answer to survival. If Ryker’s pack members learn that he is hiding something from them, they could well lose even more who are willing to stand with them in the fight.

Traditionally, witches have kept to themselves, not wanting to get involved with the other supernaturals however, being certain that the Shadows are being cloaked by a spell means they need the help of a witch. There is such a one who owes Queen Ambrosia a favor. When a small group driven by Raven visit with the witch, they find her house in array, and she is no where to be found.

 I felt that this tale was built on hidden layers readers will peel away as the story continues but each layer hides patches of secrets, answers that can’t be attached to the right question and emotions that flow and ebb like the tide, with an occasional storm stirring up. Ryker swears that he and Ember are mates, but she can’t read him, he refuses to admit that there is a change that comes over him at times. Raven doesn’t always share information with the others as if she too is hiding something. There are truths, half-truths, lies, secrets, and mysteries while Ember and Ryker run afoul of trust in their feelings for each other.

 I felt like I was on a slip/slide with this next part of the story. Things I thought I knew turned to smoke drifting direction or did an about face. Maybe people aren’t who I thought they were. Lies can be hidden within twisted words. But through it all I still wanted to hold on to my conviction that Ryker and Ember were meant for each other even if they struggled to agree on the actions they needed to take, the half-truths they shared and those they could trust.  I am eternally grateful to Jen L Gray for giving us a softer cliffhanger this time around since I had to do a quick step to keep up with all the action and deviltry.  Things will come about, in the last book in the trilogy, I am sure.

 For myself, I am really enjoying all the action, suspense, the romance that is slowly playing out, the mystery of who and why. And in the end what is to be gained?  While the pain and heartache of all those who were lost make this a poignant tale it adds to the gauntlet of emotions that run through it.  Loaded with questions to savor, characters to befriend, to love, the need for justice and a final resolution it is not one I want to rush too quickly to an end.