The Curse of Saints

April 24, 2023
A queen’s lethal spy discovers dark magic in Dramis’s dense and befuddling romantasy debut and series launch. Aya’s sharp operative skills and devotion to her kingdom, Tala, has earned her the rank of the Queen’s Third, a role she loves even though it means she must fight alongside her archrival, Will. Then Kakos, the continent’s “ostracized southern kingdom,” invades Tala, and in the ensuing skirmish Aya reacts instinctively in a moment of desperation, unleashing dangerous magic she didn’t know she possessed. When the queen learns of her power, she sends Aya and Will to the Western Kingdom, Trahir, to hone Aya’s skills and become Tala’s greatest weapon. War is still brewing and relations with Trahir are shaky at best, so Aya and Will must tread carefully if they are going to make it out alive. Dramis’s expansive world is challenging to grasp, with both a byzantine magic system and intricate political scheming to untangle. The enemies-to-lovers romance between Will and Aya, meanwhile, suffers from a lack of chemistry, making it difficult to believe both their animosity and their eventual love. Readers will hope for more cohesion in book two. Agent: Jessica Killingley, BKS Agency.

May 1, 2023

DEBUT Aya, part of the Queen's most trusted trio of commanders, is a spy trying to root out those who would attempt to bring dark magic back into existence. When a celebration turns deadly, Aya goes well beyond her normal magical affinity to protect others with a power that has not existed for hundreds of years. To learn more about what her new powers mean, she travels with her nemesis Will, the Queen's Enforcer, to the kingdom of Trahir to study with the Saj, those with magical knowledge. While in Trahir, Will and Aya must work together to discover what she is, stop others from using her as a political pawn, find evidence to free her framed friend from prison, and uncover a plot to stop dark power from ruling the world. They can only succeed if they start trusting each other. With that many plotlines, some are left underdeveloped or end abruptly. Equally abrupt is the sudden reversal of animosity as Aya and Will fall in love. VERDICT Debut author Dramis's new series has lots of potential, introducing an exciting world precariously balancing good versus evil magic in kingdoms ruled by ordinary humans.--Eve Stano

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 14, 2023
In the land of Tala, Visya are those who have an affinity of a god. Aya has the affinity of persuasion, making her adept at being Queen Gianna's Spymaster and part of the queen's Tria. Aya has never questioned her duty, but when it's discovered that she may be the Second Saint of a foretold prophecy, Aya becomes a pawn in a game she no longer wants to play. Also on the gameboard is Will, the queen's Second and the bane of Aya's existence. The animosity is mutual--but so is the attraction. As Aya and Will figure out their feelings for each other, political intrigue threatens to keep them apart. But will Aya's power lead to their ultimate demise? Dramis' debut kicks off a series with political scheming, adversaries to lovers, steamy scenes, and magic from the gods. While a little verbose, book one does a great job setting up the action for book two. For fans of Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.