Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Curse of Gremdon

by Ciara Knight (Goodreads Author)

4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 · rating details · 82 ratings · 52 reviews

In a world where marriage is forbidden, sex is only granted to male warriors, and the outer realm is full of murderous creatures, Arianna fights to protect the life of her only living relative, her brother.

Tardon, an elite warrior, is granted anything he desires by the Elders, but finds little joy in the voluptuous women presented to him. Born for the bloodlust found only...more

ebook, 302 pages

Published December 19th 2011 by Crescent Moon Press (first published December 18th 2011)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Best Book Covers 2011

467th out of 1,006 books — 3,049 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 558)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

May 12, 2012 Rekha Seshadri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: recd-for-review, bloggers-books

I give this a 4.5 rating.
I received a copy for review through the group Knights of the Round Table on Goodreads. I thank the author and the group for the same.
This is a fantasy set in the kingdom of Gremdon, basically a sword and sorcery style of story telling. The magic is not visible in daily life and yet is very much there in the background, playing a crucial part.
I liked the author's focus on the two main characters, elite warriors Arianna and Tardon allowing the readers to explore their int...more

like 3 likes · see review

Jul 13, 2012 Neyra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review is also found @Darkest Addictions Book Reviews

A compelling story of magic, love, lust, and deception, Gremdon grips you from page one.

In a world where marriage is forbidden, a curse plagues the land, and 'Elders' rule the inner walls of a kingdom wary of the outside world. But what happens when your brother falls ill to 'Death Fever' and his only hope for survival rests in the outer walls of the castle? Or when you fall in love against the strict rules of the 'Elders'? As a female w...more This review is also found @Darkest Addictions Book Reviews

A compelling story of magic, love, lust, and deception, Gremdon grips you from page one.

In a world where marriage is forbidden, a curse plagues the land, and 'Elders' rule the inner walls of a kingdom wary of the outside world. But what happens when your brother falls ill to 'Death Fever' and his only hope for survival rests in the outer walls of the castle? Or when you fall in love against the strict rules of the 'Elders'? As a female warrior, Arrianna is forbidden to not only marry, but to have any sexual relations with men. But neither she, nor Tardon could deny the passion that stirs between them catapulting them into a fight that would uncover the truth behind the Curse, and the deception that plagued their lands for decades.

I really liked this story. The idea of forbidden love and murderous creatures, magic and deception piqued my interest. And I was encouraged to keep reading from page one. I was introduced to Arrianna, female warrior among men of Elite status fighting the one man capable of bringing her to her knees, Tardon. She loves him, but as a female warrior, she cannot give herself to any man. When her brother falls ill to Death Fever, the curse, she turns to Tardon. Whom then, after helping find a healer, takes her to his chambers, where they find themselves in each others arms, and of course caught. Together they face a death sentence, a war of sorts, and a journey to the outside lands in search of a cure for their people.

I was weary of this book. I wasn't sure how I'd react to it. Would it be great? Or would it fail in grabbing my attention? Well, it wasn't great, it was good, but I loved it all the same :) And yes, my attention was grabbed and held tight! I'll explain..

Now, this is all great, the author did a really good job in how her story flowed and the characters intertwined with one another. My issue was that I felt the story dragged on longer than it should have. But the interactions never felt forced, there were just some instances that I believed weren't necessary in the story. Like how long it took them to travel to the outside. Was it really necessary to prolong the sentence? Their meetings with the Elders? Less talking more action thank you! :)

As far as the characters, while I liked both Arrianna and Tardon I'm not attached to them, though I did cheer for them every step of the way :D Their love is real, no insta-love, yay!! They've secretly liked each other, but again, the rules. Humph! I only found myself wanting to strangle Arrianna once, and that was while on their way to find a cure, so it wasn't too early or too late in the story :D lol. Saldor, I wanted to smack him a time or twenty, but he had good intentions for getting in the way, so he was redeemed :P I very much disliked the Elders, but that's a given. Haha ;)

In the end, I found myself sad this book is over, but glad all loose ends were tied, knotted and secured.

*Contains mild sex scenes.

This book was given to me for review as part of the Read2Review in Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Fanatics! Group.(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Feb 25, 2012 Kim Heimbuch rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, owned-hardcopy

First of all I must bring to light that beautiful cover art by Jeannie Rusch for the book "Curse of Gremdon" by Ciara Knight. This book was nothing of what I had expected by reading the back cover. From page one Ciara had me pulled into the dank world trapped within the castle walls as if shadowing Arianna myself. Her choice of imagery was spot on keeping the story flowing smoothly without losing site of her readers. if you are looking for that great book to escape within, let this one be your n

...more

like 2 likes · see review

May 02, 2012 ⚝ Ŧáẅņá ⚝ rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked it. I'm a bit like...meh, yeah it was good...not awesomely amazing, but pretty good.

The Story
The blurb does much better at explaining this story without giving secrets away. I think I would give stuff away.

Likes and Dislikes
I liked that she was a warrior and fierce, however I didn't like that she ended up crying a whole bunch (not during times of torture, but during conversations....maybe if she had been alone...then again she had a lot of crap happen to her and I prolly would have bowed...more

like 1 like · see review

Apr 28, 2012 Elena R a.k.a. Lunies R rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, will-make-your-body-parts-quiver, pnr-fantasy

Anything Forbidden is always heat to a flaming fire!

The author had a heroic story to tell,and a story she wrote indeed!

Arianna,and Tardon dreamt of the day they claimed their Elite Warrior statuses.Until a possibility of a future, with love,peace,marriage children and most of all,a life outside the castle walls away from the cursed Elders' and their wicked spells,changed everything.

Everything that they've known has a been a big lie. They were told by the Eders' that the Outer Realm,was a cursed...more

like 2 likes · see review

Jan 27, 2012 Aislynn (Stitch Read Cook) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-s-to-review, blog-book-tour, ebook, read-in-2012

A renowned warrior, gifted with the most beautiful women, Tardon is haunted by the one woman he can't have. When a sparing session puts these two together it sets in motion an incredible story of magic and love. In a world where sex is punishable by death, can Tardon and Arianna survive and find the cure for her brother's illness? Will these two be able to overcome the obstacles put in their path?

Ciara has woven such a amazing story filled with adventure, romance, mystery and deception. With gre...more

like 1 like · see review

Mar 30, 2012 Jennifer Anderson rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was familiar with Ciara's writing with her Love's Long Shadow released last year and found her style enjoyable. When Curse of Gremdon came out I knew I needed to read. And I was not disappointed.

She throws you into the heat of fighting between a male and female warrior, Tardon and Arianna. Arianna is strong and full of fight while you think at first Tardon is a bit arrogant. But that's not the case,as you soon will learn when you read.

This book is a love story wrapped in a fierce battles, a fa...more

like 2 likes · see review

May 09, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy

I purchased this book at RT2012 after meeting & speaking with the author.

It took me a bit to get into this story, but it was an overall excellent read. I was thrown for a bit of a loop near the end (in a good way)! The characters were engaging, likable and truly made the story. The plot was original mixing action and world building with a touching love story.

I think this book lays a solid foundation for the possibility of a series.

like 1 like · see review

Jan 28, 2012 Lindi Peterson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-challenge

Ciara Knight has penned an amazing novel. A fantasy world, characters so true to that world, romance and action compel the reader into a journey well worth taking. Dull moments? Not in this novel.
Arianna and Tardon's quest for truth, freedom and love bring them closer to a world they'd long forgotten. I will not include spoilers in this review, but Ciara has a fabulous style of weaving story lines to create those a-ha moments every reader loves to read.
Dive into this novel with the expectancy t...more

like 2 likes · see review

Apr 24, 2012 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Magic. Lust. Love. Sacrifice. Intensely gripping from the opening scene, this riveting tale of destiny and desire will have the reader hungering for more, page after page, all the way through the ending. In another world, a vastly oppressed culture is controlled by the corruption and evils of a Elders willing to do anything to maintain power. Two Elite Warriors must sacrifice all they have known and go against all they have been taught to vie for a chance at love; a love so condemned that it is...more

like 2 likes · see review

Mar 22, 2012 Mcgoo4 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Overall, the book was a decent read.

I was somewhat put off by the way it started off. Call me old fashioned, but that much sex at the front of a book was a little much. Yes, I knew the book was "spicy", but to me, the book pushed the boundaries of this classification and was unnecessary to the storyline to the extent to which it appeared. Yes, sex did have it's place in this book, I'm not denying that. There was just a little too much, which in and of it's self got confusing.

The setting is a "h...more Overall, the book was a decent read.

I was somewhat put off by the way it started off. Call me old fashioned, but that much sex at the front of a book was a little much. Yes, I knew the book was "spicy", but to me, the book pushed the boundaries of this classification and was unnecessary to the storyline to the extent to which it appeared. Yes, sex did have it's place in this book, I'm not denying that. There was just a little too much, which in and of it's self got confusing.

The setting is a "hold" in which an entire population lives, protected by Warriors and ruled by the Elders & their Apprentices. The people have been forbidden to leave due to the Curse of Gremdon which turns ordinary people into vile monsters. Law is upheld by Enforcers, who in turn report to Apprentices and the Elders.

Our heroine is faced time an again with being thrown in the dungeon due to her unlawful love of the hero. See, sex between warriors (which both are) is forbidden, as are marriage and children. Women are forbidden to have sex too (I think, I admit to some confusion on this point) unless they are those that are specially "trained" and given as "gifts" to warriors who have done great deeds. I kept getting lost during all of this though. It seems that between one second and the next, our heroine was in, then out, then in the dungeon again. It was very hard to follow. Then, add another main character to the mix and it got more confusing. There are many trials and tribulations they all go through, good versus evil comes into play (but who is which), and a surprising and novel twist at the end that you don't see coming.

The dialog was somewhat disjointed as was the storyline and I had a hard time staying with the book. It seemed needlessly tedious, took long time getting to the point, and then rushed to an ending.

BUT (big BUT here) toward the end I have to admit I could hardly put the book down. It got GOOD, VERY GOOD. I don't want to include any more info about it because it would be spoiling it for those who haven't read it.

I think if the dialog and storyline were smoothed out, the sex more alluded to than described in graphic detail, and the ending less rushed, it would have gone from a GOOD read to an EXCELLENT read.

All in all, read the book. You'll ultimately be glad you did.(less)

like 1 like · see review

Mar 08, 2012 Wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars

“A society that will trade a little liberty for a little order will lose both, and deserve neither.”

Those words were spoken two centuries ago by American founding father, Thomas Jefferson. (Or Benjamin Franklin. Depends on who you ask.) It popped into my head several times as I read The Curse of Gremdon. The first time was when Tardon, a celebrated warrior, was condemned to burn at the stake for a small carnal act. The Elders allow him moments of release, but this wasn’t a designated time and Ar...more “A society that will trade a little liberty for a little order will lose both, and deserve neither.”

Those words were spoken two centuries ago by American founding father, Thomas Jefferson. (Or Benjamin Franklin. Depends on who you ask.) It popped into my head several times as I read The Curse of Gremdon. The first time was when Tardon, a celebrated warrior, was condemned to burn at the stake for a small carnal act. The Elders allow him moments of release, but this wasn’t a designated time and Arianna was never intended to be a “gift.” In fact, the female warriors aren’t permitted sex at all. He claims responsibility for the incident, as he was the one who initiated, but the people believe that she bewitched him. Tardon stares down his fellow warriors as a vicious mob demands that Arianna burn as well, and he tells them, “These are the people we fight for.”

The question implied in his statement is clear: Are these people worthy of the risks they take? The answer is not so clear.

The kingdom depicted in The Curse of Gremdon is a harsh, cold place. Fog covers their skies most days. There are no small animals or abundance of plant life. Sex is forbidden to all but the male warriors, who earn these gifts by performing well in battle. Marriage is an exceedingly rare privilege. There are no children. The people have few choices. They may train to earn status among the warriors that guard the walls. They may provide a function for society, such as keeping shops or healing the sick. They may please deserving warriors. If they cannot, or will not, do one of these things, they starve in the streets of the inner court. Some rot in the dungeon. Others are tossed in fire pits. Every breath of their lives is spied by a council of Elders, who have laid down inflexible laws that are strictly enforced. As most of the citizens were children when their families sought refuge within the walls, they grew up grateful to the mysterious Elders and repay their debt with obedience.

What laws would you break to protect your family? To be with your lover? To save his/her life? What would you sacrifice to cure your sibling’s illness? To protect your heart from breaking? What would you risk to defend your people from a terror that lurks beyond your borders? What if those people didn’t deserve it?

These are just some of the questions that the author asks her leads to answer. Arianna and Tardon are two disciplined warriors who demonstrate a willingness to burn before lying, to die so the other may live. Naturally, the Elders find their devotion to each other threatening. And useful.

At its heart, Gremdon revolves around the illicit romance between Arianna and Tardon, but it’s built on a complex skeleton of illusion, lies, and pent-up lust. Nothing in the story is what it seems, from the very first scene, when Tardon discretely throws a sword fight, letting Arianna (and the Elder who was judging her) believe that she beat him. From then on, there were only two things that I was certain of as I read the book.

One, Arianna so loves Tardon that if he were mortally wounded, she would cut her heart out of her chest and shove it into his if there was a .1% chance the gesture would save his life.

Two, the Elders were bad guys. They may have saved the people of the kingdom, sheltered them in their castle, and kept them alive all those years, but nothing benevolent asks for so much simply because they can. And as the story progresses, the Elders’ price goes up.

The Curse of Gremdon is a tense, frustrating, heart wrenching romance, set in a fully realized world whose barriers against a zombie-apocalypse are weakening. In a world where hopeless people are surviving on instinct, Arianna and Tardon are bright, rebellious stars, with the strength and temerity to fight for their freedom, and everyone else’s too…whether or not their service is truly appreciated.

Ciara, please tell me there’s a sequel.(less)

like 4 likes · see review

Feb 04, 2012 Niina rated it 3 of 5 stars

The premise for the book was very interesting, and the blurb immediately captured my interest, it conjured up this image of a hot love affair, danger and fantasy - unfortunately it didn't quite deliver for me. I do love fantasy as a genre as well as romance, well duh right? ;) But while this book was good and I enjoyed most of it for me it lacked in the depth of moving the story forward. Don't get me wrong it was an active book, but while reading it I felt little unattached to the couple. It was...more

like 1 like · see review

Mar 14, 2012 Anna Dase rated it 5 of 5 stars

My Thoughts

I knew I was going to enjoy this book I just did not realize how much. I absolutely LOVED IT !!!!

Ciara has created a fresh and unique story that will leave you well on the edge of your seat. This story is full of sensual passion and adventure. A love story like no other.

Are journey is with Arianna a fierce warrior living in a kingdom where she believes that they are there to be protected from the people (well what the elders of the kingdom call them the Cursed) of Gremdon. It is not...more

like 3 likes · see review

Jan 21, 2012 Sarah Snyder rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Curse of Gremdon was a well crafted fantasy rich with adventure and excitement. I loved the idea of Arianna being the only girl in a boys club. She is the only female warrior left in her rank and it has worked extremely hard to prove her worth. Arianna has been through a great deal during her life and she has faced every obstacle head on. When the book begins she is partaking in a fight with Tardon in hopes of becoming an elite warrior.

Tardon himself is an Elite warrior and he plays a large...more The Curse of Gremdon was a well crafted fantasy rich with adventure and excitement. I loved the idea of Arianna being the only girl in a boys club. She is the only female warrior left in her rank and it has worked extremely hard to prove her worth. Arianna has been through a great deal during her life and she has faced every obstacle head on. When the book begins she is partaking in a fight with Tardon in hopes of becoming an elite warrior.

Tardon himself is an Elite warrior and he plays a large part in the story. You see, Tardon and Arianna fall in love, but they are forbidden from being together. It is against the law for Arianna (a female warrior) to have sex - which is something that I really didn’t understand. The reason given in the book is that it is believed it would mess with her ability to fight or something. The man warriors are encouraged to give into their desires; the Elder’s even send them “gifts” when they succeed in a battle. I understand that the double standard was necessary for the plot to move forward, but I wish it would have been explained a bit better.

Anyways, long story short, when the two are discovered a death sentence is hefted onto them. The only way they can redeem themselves (and earn the right to be together) is to set out on a dangerous quest for the Elder’s.

For me, this is when things started to fall apart a bit. About halfway through the book the plot began to drag. I especially had a difficult time getting through the scenes featuring Saldor. Saldor is the Dungeon Master (I don’t really know if that is the proper tile) and sort of takes Arianna under his wing. He develops a very strange attachment to her; much to Tardon’s (and my) dismay. I could never really understand what Saldor wanted and he just really rubbed me the wrong way. He is one of those characters that tries to do what’s best, but ends up making a huge mess of everything instead. And he does this repeatedly. I believe Knight intended readers to be sympathetic towards his character, but unfortunately I disliked him more and more as the book progressed.

Although the plot was slow at times, I did enjoy the overall story. And Let’s talk about the plot twists of all plot twists. About three quarters of the way through something happens that throws everything in Tardon and Arianna’s world on its head. It’s insane and I absolutely loved it.

I honestly enjoyed The Curse of Gremdon. It was heavier on the romance portion than I expected, but that didn’t really bother me. The underlying story was still well developed and the fantasy aspects well crafted, so everything balanced out rather nicely. Often with romance stories I find that the plot suffers, but that certainly wasn’t the case with The Curse of Gremdon. (less)

like 1 like · see review

Dec 22, 2011 Annette M Guerriero Nishimoto rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Today's review is on The Curse of Gremdon by Ciara Knight

This is the first book that I have read by Knight, and I must say that I am hooked. I was pulled into the magical world she has created from the very first chapter. At first I thought that this would be one of those stories that would bring me to tears, but the glistening in my eyes was for a very happy ending.

True love is never easy to find, and once you find it you never want to let it go. What if however it is forbidden for you? What if...more

like 3 likes · see review

Mar 18, 2012 Pam rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Pam by: The Knights of the Round Table

The Curse of Gremdon by Ciara Knight

Ciara has created a action packed word of warrior and magic. The story takes place in world where the people have been trapped behind the castle walls by the beasts and cursed ones who wait outside the walls. Since the walls have been closed, marriage and children have been forbidden by the elders. In this world we find Arianna and Tardon.
Arianna is trying to do what no woman has done before... become an elite warrior. The warriors are the protectors of the...more

like 2 likes · see review

Mar 15, 2012 Laurie: Almost Faemous rated it 4 of 5 stars

Originally posted on my blog http://ufreview.com/2012/03/15/the-cu...
I received a copy of this from the author through the group Knights of the Round Table on Goodreads so thanks to all for allowing me to read and review. The story is about two warriors Arianna and Tarden who leave the castle and travel to retrieve sap from the Tree of Life, the outerworld is filled with murderous "cursed" creatures and they must get the sap without falling to the curse. Arianna is doing this because her brother...more Originally posted on my blog http://ufreview.com/2012/03/15/the-cu...
I received a copy of this from the author through the group Knights of the Round Table on Goodreads so thanks to all for allowing me to read and review. The story is about two warriors Arianna and Tarden who leave the castle and travel to retrieve sap from the Tree of Life, the outerworld is filled with murderous "cursed" creatures and they must get the sap without falling to the curse. Arianna is doing this because her brother has fallen ill and the sap is the only thing that will save him and the only way the elders will allow him to be saved. Tarden is going because the elders have promised him he can marry Arianna if they are successful.

I loved the world building in this book, the images and descriptions were vivid and I could actually picture this medieval castle as I was reading. I could envision every detail and kudos to Ms. Knight it was probably the best scene setting I have read in a long time. When writing, especially fantasy I love when authors take the time to create a vivid picture of the world they want us to read share. The world was also HUGELY sexist where the male warriors were indulged and given gifts by the Elders and by gifts I mean whores. With the exception of Arianna who was the only female warrior most of the women were shopkeepers, peasants or whores.

I really liked the character Arianna, she was the only female warrior and she fought tooth and nail throughout the book to save her brother. The romance between her and Tardon was also great and I kept hoping for them to have their HEA. While the virgin thing, you know the female heroine in a romance are almost always virgins, usually gets on my very last nerve the author actually made it work. I found Arianna's innocence actually very endearing in this case.

Tardon, I found a little harder to like at times especially the beginning I found him to be a bit cliche, the broody misunderstood warrior who is really sensitive at heart but with a jealous streak a mile wide...yeah that guy. It wasn't until they set out for the Tree of Life that I found him interesting. Up until then I had found the other male characters more interesting. He started to show more depth when they left the castle and then I started cheering him on.

While I really did like the story I found the beginning dragged a bit, thrown in the dungeon brought out of the dungeon beaten up a bit back in the dungeon. Make out with Tardon almost have sex, almost get caught and lather rinse repeat. Once they set out from the castle the story got more interesting and the plot starts to unfold and questions start to get answered and that is when things got good.Overall I really did like Curse of Gremdon and I would recommend it to any fantasy fan.

3.5/5 Worth the read.(less)

like 1 like · see review

Mar 30, 2012 Marina rated it 4 of 5 stars

There is a world where Elders rule. Where marriage is forbidden, having children is forbidden. The world outside is full of dangerous creatures, but ordinary people inside are protected by The Warriors.

Two Warriors, Tardon and Arriana, fell in love. Arriana's only family is her brother who is sick and he needs the special serum to stay alive. Arriana, as a female Warrior, must not lose her virginity. Sex is forbidden for her, love is forbidden, she only serves as a guarding warrior, nothing more...more

like 1 like · see review

Mar 14, 2012 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fan

The Curse of Gremdon by Ciara Knight was an interesting book. First, for my ridiculous need to classify books I believe this fits into the sword and sorcery subset of fantasy novels. I truthfully enjoyed the focus on the two main characters, which allowed for the readers to fully get an emotional feel and connection to the world that Knight has created. The two main characters Arianna and Tardon were a captivating pair that had an interesting mix of complete strength and a vulnerability that was...more

like 1 like · see review

May 06, 2012 Hazel G. ( I ♥ Mr. Grey) *Fifty Shades obsessed* . rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Hazel G. ( I ♥ Mr. Grey) *Fifty Shades obsessed* by: R2R PR&UFF

Shelves: fantasy, romance-suspense

The Curse of Gremdon is a fantasy romance written by Ciara Knight. I read this as part of a R2R with Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Fanatics! As always, thanks to the mods of the group as well as the author for allowing me to participate.

Short Review:
Warriors Tardon and Arianna along with those who survived a curse, which turned normal humans into The Cursed Ones, that ravaged their lands years ago, live in a time when marriage, children and having families has been forbidden by the Eld...more The Curse of Gremdon is a fantasy romance written by Ciara Knight. I read this as part of a R2R with Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Fanatics! As always, thanks to the mods of the group as well as the author for allowing me to participate.

Short Review:
Warriors Tardon and Arianna along with those who survived a curse, which turned normal humans into The Cursed Ones, that ravaged their lands years ago, live in a time when marriage, children and having families has been forbidden by the Elders, a group of magic users who helped save the people of Gremdon when the curse happened. The castle walls they reside inside of, along with amulets the Elders have magically concocted, protect them from the hordes of Cursed Ones that live outside in the world they all once lived peacefully in. Though falling in love is against the rule of the Elders, Tardon and Arianna seem drawn to one another. Soon things go horribly wrong when they "almost" sub come to their desires, inspiring an outpouring of events that will forever change their lives, expose secrets and lies as well as endanger everyone they know and care for.

Reveiw:
This story has a terrific premise. The idea of Cursed Ones and the secrets that held both the Cursed Ones away from the castle as well as held the inhabitants captive inside the walls was a wonderful and intriguing twist. I loved the theme of family, children and marriage. Character development was good. I really liked the idea of Arianna being the only female warrior. She and Tardon were a hot and steamy romance. I liked the tid bits of background we got on each of the mains and the little triangle between Tardon, Arianna and Saldor was very well done. I also liked that you couldn't tell for sure who was on what side and who was going to betray who when it all came down. There was plenty of suspense with the characters.

With all that said, I came away from this read feeling like I had read a synopsis of all the events that happened. Things didn't flow well in the writing. It felt jerky and jumped from event to event without much description in between. I felt like I was being told the story instead of reading it. All the elements were there for a great story but I felt like it lacked a smooth and flowing writing style. Also, I was a bit disappointed that our heroin, Arianna, was this great female warrior who could defeat their top male warrior in a fight for Elite status but she was crippled throughout most of the book due to physical injuries. I really wanted to see her kick some major ass and save the day. (view spoiler)

Overall this book was a good read. I liked the idea of it and I also liked the reveal about the Cursed Ones and the people of Gremdon. I would have liked to have seen more descriptive writing detailing their surroundings both inside and outside the castle as well as more flow between scenes. Sometimes I was left confused as to where the characters were going at any given moment. However, I liked the ending and thought it was well developed and thought out. (less)

like 1 like · see review

Mar 18, 2012 Karla Phillips rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, ciara-knight

This is an amzaing read that I enjoyed very much. Ciara Knight really knows how to capture her audience's attention and keep it caught. This is one book that I wish I had a copy of in a regular book for my library. I love how she protrayed Arianna and Tardon. (view spoiler)...more

like 1 like · see review

Dec 27, 2011 Cyp rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-star, 2011-reads, adult-fiction, another-world, blog-tour, fantasy

Originally posted at A Bookalicious Story.

*3.5 stars* THE CURSE OF GREMDON is a very unique mix of Fantasy and Romance that really captivated me. Usually Fantasy novels will focus less on the romance and more on the wars and conflicts going on in their respective worlds, but TCoG has equal portions of both, and that's what I loved about it. I'm a romance junky, but I'd occasionally also like to pick up a Fantasy novel. There aren't too many of them that have a good romance to back the story up,...more Originally posted at A Bookalicious Story.

*3.5 stars* THE CURSE OF GREMDON is a very unique mix of Fantasy and Romance that really captivated me. Usually Fantasy novels will focus less on the romance and more on the wars and conflicts going on in their respective worlds, but TCoG has equal portions of both, and that's what I loved about it. I'm a romance junky, but I'd occasionally also like to pick up a Fantasy novel. There aren't too many of them that have a good romance to back the story up, so I usually steer clear of it. That's why I'd rushed to grab the chance to read TCoG when I read the synopsis and it started going on a tour, and boy, was I glad I did.

(view spoiler)

Arianna was a very strong, very resilient woman who would struggle all the way to the end. When an Enforcer (man who are much stronger than warriors but too stupid to be one) caught her in Tardon's bed, he had her neck in his grip, hanging her like nothing but she still continued to fight him. And after the Enforcer dropped her on the ground and she was burning in the inside because of the Elder's magic, she still continued to stay conscious and fight it. She's amazing. Not only that, she is a very sensual woman and she gives voluptuous a whole new meaning, I tell you! Tardon couldn't stop harping on about her overflowing breasts and imagining it burst her vest! Haha, I'm messing with you, but yes, Tardon pointed out that fact a number of times.

As for Tardon, he is the best elite warrior there is in the castle, but he is what the saying calls, "brawn without brains". Not necessarily without brains, just not that much grey matter in that thick skull of his. Lol, but he is a very desirable male. He's strong, he's caring, and um, he's good in bed. 'Nuff said.

The plot wasn't an overly-fantastical one, and I took away that 1.5/5 because it got a little dull sometimes. But there was action (plenty of fightin'), adventure, suspense, and best of all, romance. There wasn't too much emphasis on the last bit. Like I said, it's all about the balance in here. When Arianna and Tardon ventured out into Gremdon, I was so unsure of their fate! But when they saw all those beautiful sceneries, the ones they had before the "curse" descended upon them, it was very heartwarming. Very heartwarming to see them finally acting on their feelings, being happy, and when they finally decided to free the people from the "curse". You'll see the reason for the quotation marks after you've read the book.:)

Overall, I thought this was actually a pretty above average Fantasy novel - the reason for the conflict and conflict itself were a little typical, but I loved the romance and action. It isn't common for a Fantasy book to have that balance, and I read it in two sittings. I'd consider this a very good find! I'd recommend this to any Fantasy fans out there who also wants a little romance.(less)

like 1 like · see review

Apr 24, 2012 Jill rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: r2r

I'm trying to be more positive in my reviews. Sometimes I don't like a book and that doesn't necessarily mean its poorly written or junk fiction. The Curse of Gremdon has some good themes. It is a novel about people being controlled in every aspect of their lives. They eventually discover that the most important thing is marriage and family. Excellent theme. I like characters who don't take any crap from anyone and this book had that. I also liked the unique take it took on the bad guys and how...more I'm trying to be more positive in my reviews. Sometimes I don't like a book and that doesn't necessarily mean its poorly written or junk fiction. The Curse of Gremdon has some good themes. It is a novel about people being controlled in every aspect of their lives. They eventually discover that the most important thing is marriage and family. Excellent theme. I like characters who don't take any crap from anyone and this book had that. I also liked the unique take it took on the bad guys and how they dealt with the non-compliant outsiders. (I'm trying to write spoiler free, but it's impossible so from here on there be spoilers!)

*spoilers* I thought it was really original of the author to have the amulets keeping the kingdom "protected." I liked the twist that it was really a control device. That was nice and it kept it interesting since the reader knew something was rotten in Denmark, but not the extent of it. I loved the twist with the Cursed (awesome!).

Now for the issues. Sure this is a romance/fantasy. I love a good romance, but this one kept me gagging. Every five minutes Tardon is dreaming of her "lush breasts" or having an urge to touch her. His firm and pulsing manhood was just too much, I don't know how the dude walked around. It would have read better toned down and spaced out to better fit the story. If you removed every time he dreamed of having sex with her the book would have been 2 pages long. It was a little overdone. I picked up the attraction, please let it grow normally instead of having them yearning for each others bodies every second. Also, when they finally are married and get to be together, they go to a lake and rub 'tonics' all over each other. Really? Tonics? Those are the things my grandparents drank for the 'rheumatism.' Also, what manly warrior is going to rub flowery smelly stuff all over his woman? It may be a female fantasy, but if men can't lick it or eat it off of you it isn't going to happen. The next thing that bothered me was that Ariana was supposed to be a warrior equal to Tardon, but she was completely helpless for most of the book. She was either wounded, or in danger or just whiny. I don't know, but let the girl be strong for crying out loud. Let her kick some ass.

So, those were my issues. The writing didn't flow very nicely either and there were some plot holes and awkward spots where I wasn't sure what was going on. It was an easy read though, and quick, I did want to know what happened, but I wouldn't read it again or any sequels.
(less)

like 1 like · see review

Mar 25, 2012 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nook

Thanks to Knights of the Round Table for bringing this book to my attention and providing it for review. I have to say right off that I REALLY enjoyed it. The warrior culture with the forbidden areas drew me in quickly and the story twists kept me hooked. The inequality between the male and female warriors was an interesting tact. Tardon and Arianna seem doomed from the start, love is forbidden and yet they have managed to fall head on into it. Together they have to face huge issues .....What la...more

like · see review

May 04, 2012 Sharonda (SexxyBlogger) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My overall thoughts is that this is a good book and I love the premise of the story. Two warriors fight against much to protect a love that is forbidden. Tardon and Arianna risk life to save theirselves and their people.

I grew up reading books with the names similiar to Tardon and Mardel, this book reminds me of that. I loved the story between Tardon and Arianna, it was a good build up to something great. But I also felt the story dragged through the middle of the story and things took a little...more

like · see review

Jan 23, 2012 Melissa Rheinlander rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a FANTASTIC read!! There are so many great things about this book the scenes, the plot, the characters, and everything in between. Ciara Knight writes so well that you are so engrossed in the story that it is as if you are there in the moment watching every move the characters make!! You become invested in the main characters and really route for them. Then there is quite a surprising twist... actually a couple of twist that make the page turning even faster(if that were possible)! There...more

like 2 likes · see review

Jan 18, 2012 Rachel Firasek rated it 5 of 5 stars

Okay, I have to admit that I'm not a huge fantasy fan. Most of the time the totally displaced worlds and endless descriptions drive me crazy as a reader. But...that was just absolutely not the case with this book.

The beginning hooked me so totally and unequivocally that I just had to keep reading. I mean, come on, big tough (made me think of Conan the Barbarian) hottie, Tardon in a sword fight with a female warrior that was his match---or so she thought--was just a total turn on. I enjoyed the...more

like 9 likes · see review

May 20, 2012 Allyson marked it as to-read

Loved this book. I was lucky to get it thro the r2r!

like 1 like · see review

May 04, 2012 SarahSmith rated it 3 of 5 stars

I received this as part of the Goodreads group Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Fanatics: Read to Review giveaway. Overall I liked this book, it started out with a lot of promise and I enjoyed the ending, but it just seemed that the promise of a kick butt female warrior just never really happened. Arianna spent ninety percent of the story either being wounded or captured. It just seemed unrealistic especially since she was supposed to be equal to Tardon in warrior abilities.

That said, all i...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 18 19 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
The Knights of th...: The Curse of Gremdon by Ciara Knight - March 5, 2012	22	63	Jun 07, 2012 06:19pm
Book Giveaways: The Curse of Gremdon	1	6	Feb 02, 2012 07:03am
Book Giveaways: The Curse of Gremdon	1	1	Feb 01, 2012 05:12am
The Indie Exchang...: Giveaway: The Curse of Gremdon by Ciara Knight	1	7	Jan 21, 2012 08:56am

combine
Other Editions (2)

Genres

Fantasy

17 users

Romance

5 users

Fantasy > Paranormal

4 users

Science Fiction

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Ciara Knight

Ciara Knight began her writing career in 2008. She writes to ‘Defy the Dark’ with her fantasy, paranormal, and dystopian books. Her first Young Adult Series, Battle for Souls, will be published by Turquoise Morning press, with her prequel novella, Love’s Long Shadow, releasing in October 2011. Followed by Rise From Darkness (Book I) in March 2012, Fall From Grace (Book II), and Ascension of Evil (...more

More about Ciara Knight...

Books by Ciara Knight

Rise from Darkness (Battle for Souls, #1)

Weighted (The Neumarian Chronicles, #0.5)

Love's Long Shadow (Battle for Souls, #0.5)

Escapement (The Neumarian Chronicles, #1)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Curse of Gremdon

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: The Curse of Gremdon
avg rating	preview: The Curse of Gremdon Goodreads rating: 4.15 (82 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://gr-assets.com/book/show/12359615-the-curse-of-gremdon?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1324387152l/12359615.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://gr-assets.com/book/show/12359615-the-curse-of-gremdon?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Curse of Gremdon by Ciara Knight[/url]

The Curse of Gremdon

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website