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Twilight Mages #2
The Captive's Curse
Unwanted. Unloved. Unransomed. And unable to control his dawn magic by any other means…
At odds with his family and on the run, Lord Cyril is taken prisoner and held in a gloomy mountain fortress—which he brightens up quite a bit, thank you. His captor wants him to be quiet and not cause any trouble, but who cares? Cyril may need the mysterious highwayman to quell his dawn magic and keep him sane, but he’s overbearing, sardonic, and unpleasant.
Mostly. Except when Cyril can’t live without his touch, or his voice, or his rare smile…
Ser Enzo, a robber and (not quite) a gentleman, desperately wants his obnoxious, adorable, irritating, irresistible captive off his hands…and other parts. Lord Cyril’s wanton, irrepressible, and worst of all—his family won’t take him back. Enzo can’t release him without being paid. It’s against his principles.
But so is keeping his bewitching captive forever. Cyril may be his prisoner, but Enzo’s dangerously close to losing his own freedom by falling under the mage’s spell…
The Captive’s Curse is the second book in the Twilight Mages series, but it takes place concurrently with book one and can be read as a standalone. Contains wildly inappropriate discussions of vegetables (no vegetables were actually harmed in the making of this book), the mad ghost of an evil lord (the Mad Lord is harmed, to no one’s regret), and the overcoming of fears, family quarrels, and scheming villains to reach a guaranteed HEA.
At odds with his family and on the run, Lord Cyril is taken prisoner and held in a gloomy mountain fortress—which he brightens up quite a bit, thank you. His captor wants him to be quiet and not cause any trouble, but who cares? Cyril may need the mysterious highwayman to quell his dawn magic and keep him sane, but he’s overbearing, sardonic, and unpleasant.
Mostly. Except when Cyril can’t live without his touch, or his voice, or his rare smile…
Ser Enzo, a robber and (not quite) a gentleman, desperately wants his obnoxious, adorable, irritating, irresistible captive off his hands…and other parts. Lord Cyril’s wanton, irrepressible, and worst of all—his family won’t take him back. Enzo can’t release him without being paid. It’s against his principles.
But so is keeping his bewitching captive forever. Cyril may be his prisoner, but Enzo’s dangerously close to losing his own freedom by falling under the mage’s spell…
The Captive’s Curse is the second book in the Twilight Mages series, but it takes place concurrently with book one and can be read as a standalone. Contains wildly inappropriate discussions of vegetables (no vegetables were actually harmed in the making of this book), the mad ghost of an evil lord (the Mad Lord is harmed, to no one’s regret), and the overcoming of fears, family quarrels, and scheming villains to reach a guaranteed HEA.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2024
228 people are currently reading
605 people want to read
About the author
Eliot Grayson
42 books1,386 followersEliot's a lifelong Southern California girl, right down to the flip-flops and backyard garden. When she's not writing her next book, you can find her reading, drinking tea, or (more likely) catering to the demands of her kids and ancient, cranky cat.
Steamy books with delicious tension, heart-wrenching pining, and a hefty dose of action and adventure have always been her jam as a reader. Guess what she writes?
You can catch up with her on Facebook in her reader group, Eliot Grayson's Escape from Reality, or sign up for her newsletter at eliotgrayson.com.
Steamy books with delicious tension, heart-wrenching pining, and a hefty dose of action and adventure have always been her jam as a reader. Guess what she writes?
You can catch up with her on Facebook in her reader group, Eliot Grayson's Escape from Reality, or sign up for her newsletter at eliotgrayson.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
June 5, 2024
I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Eeeeee was this ever fun! I wasn't a super fan of the first in this series, but I really enjoyed Enzo and Cyril's installment. C was such a finely-balanced, OTT, bouncy, self-centred, spoiled noble spitfire, and E was the growly gorgeous ruffian who stoked his flame! They were mad at each other, and mad for each other, and I ate it all up! Also, this was quite steamy but it had a lot of heart, and I think that's what I felt was missing from Book 1. Regardless, this was the Grayson I know and love, and so I definitely can't wait for the rest of the series now because this was simply fabulous!
Eeeeee was this ever fun! I wasn't a super fan of the first in this series, but I really enjoyed Enzo and Cyril's installment. C was such a finely-balanced, OTT, bouncy, self-centred, spoiled noble spitfire, and E was the growly gorgeous ruffian who stoked his flame! They were mad at each other, and mad for each other, and I ate it all up! Also, this was quite steamy but it had a lot of heart, and I think that's what I felt was missing from Book 1. Regardless, this was the Grayson I know and love, and so I definitely can't wait for the rest of the series now because this was simply fabulous!
June 3, 2024
cyril is an absolute fucking gem, my god i loved him, he is my precious spoiled baby and can do no wrong🥺 he’s so funny and adorable and bratty and needs to be kept in a luxurious setting at all times bc that’s what he deserves!!! he’s also irresistible and he knows it:
“I didn’t want the man to be punished simply for being seduced by my beauty and charm. After all, that could happen to anyone.”🤣
like everything good and wonderful and charming and funny that happens in this book is bc of cyril!!! he’s stole the entire show, i just wish his love interest could keep up.
enzo was not giving, i hate to say it….i didn’t mind that at first bc possible growth, but over the course of the book, he just increasing….gave nothingggg😬
the sex was up to par with eliot grayson’s standards and that spanking scene was *chef’s kiss*😍 but after that spanking scene, enzo is like kinda shitty….he plays down the fact he was actually thirsty af for cyril, telling his brother, who had accidentally walked in on enzo and cyril, that:
“[Cyril] didn’t knock me over the head and hold me down, but it wasn’t like it was my idea!” (said with enzo’s dick still inside cyril😭)
really🙄 like ok maybe u weren’t the one to suggest it, but you definitely did whatever you could to make it an option (possibly the ONLY and the most enticing option too), like telling cyril that ALL of enzo’s men, aka every man in the castle, were off limits bc of a ‘no fraternizing with the prisoners’ rule. now, right before fucking for the first time enzo did offer to go out and kidnap someone else to fulfill the requirements of cyril’s curse, if need be. big whoop. anyway, enzo brother, leander, interrupts to inform enzo there’s a troop marching thru the woods bout 10 miles away. enzo immediately throws himself into action, getting dressed and leaving cyril with the parting remark:
“If you seduce any of my men or try to escape, I’ll treat you like the prisoner you are.”
😭😭😭 okay….like i get that they just argued while enzo was getting dressed but wtf😬 like what happened to thank you, i really enjoyed this, let’s do it again sometime, sorry i’ve got to run????💀 enzo comes back from that excursion and they don’t talk about it except for enzo to make a comment about how he’s not surprised cyril hasn’t asked him what happened with the troops after the way enzo bit his head off the other day. which…doesn’t really have much to do with his nasty lil parting remark.
they wake up together the next day and fuck. then almost immediately argue🤣🤣 about the mad lord who’s ghost haunts the castle and was harassing and “almost ate” cyril the day before. cyril demands an explanation about this and enzo responds:
“You aren’t owed anything except my escort downstairs so that you don’t get almost eaten again. Get dressed and come with me, if you’re coming, Your Flowery Lordship. I don’t have time to argue about it. I’ve wasted half the day in bed as it is.”
which makes cyril think the “wasting” enzo is talking about is fucking cyril. so cyril grumbles out:
“I’ll try to hurry. I wouldn’t want to waste any more of your time.”
enzo understands cyril is upset but instead of, oh i don’t know, apologizing or clearing up the misunderstanding, he’s just like:
“Fuck…Will you—damn it. Don’t get dressed. I’ll put one of my men in the hall to fend off the ghost, and you go back to bed for a while. You can have all four fucking pillows.”
like oh great, telling cyril to go back to bed, what an excellent solution🙄🤣🤣 enzo later sends up breakfast in bed and someone to light the hearth, which is a nice gesture, but you know what would be even nicer??? enzo, being nicer🤣🤣 or at least maybe acting less careless and brusque and unreadable??? but breakfast in bed charms cyril soooo bad bc enzo would have had to tell his kitchen staff that cyril was in his bed💀💀
later that morning, cyril bathes and pretties himself up for enzo and goes to find him only to find out that enzo is gone, out on patrol, without letting cyril know, and doesn’t come back until 3 days later. and enzo is all business on return bc they’ve got andreas carrying a passed out prince nikola. enzo tells them he has a mage here that can help and starts dragging cyril along with him. mind you, cyril has shit af mage skills💀💀 but he’s kept that little fact to himself. he starts to let enzo know like hey i don’t think i can help, but enzo interrupts him. cyril tries another tactic, bringing up another mage he saw at the castle who might be able to help instead, to which enzo informs cyril that she’s off mountain at the moment. cyril is pulling on his arm that enzo has a death grip on bc he’s dragging cyril along and is like:
“I can’t. Enzo, I can’t! I won’t. I won’t touch the prince, and that’s final, and you can’t make me.”
mind you, cyril trying to use his magic also has the unfortunate side effect of setting things on fire, and that’s why he’s so adamant about not touching the prince. now, idk maybe it’s just me, but wouldn’t it make sense for enzo to, oh idk, ASK cyril WHY he won’t touch the prince??? well enzo doesn’t, just gets angry and assumes that cyril is selfish and petty. cyril tries explaining:
“Have you considered that I’d be the one blamed if he died and I tried to magic him?”
enzo gives up and is all like fine, i can’t make you help him, but you will examine him. which is basically just cyril checking to make sure prince nikola is still alive. and enzo’s full of silent fury during this, then makes cyril wait outside prince nikola’s room for a long time, probably a few hours. enzo comes back and has cyril check prince nikola again, with cyril’s update being that the prince seems maybe a little stronger. enzo sarcastically tells andreas:
“I’m sure Lord Cyril’s doing his best, but I never said he’s the most skilled mage you’d find—“
to which cyril explodes and starts to argue with enzo. andreas is all like enough, both of you. enzo replies:
“I beg your pardon. Lord Cyril likes to stand upon his dignity. If he wants to be argumentative, he should go further from your prince’s sick bed. And if he wants to be known as a competent mage, he should learn how to be one.”
first of all, so enzo knows how to apologize, good to know. (he literally also says “my apologies” to andreas later in the convo, so that’s twice) second, that last sentence was my LAST STRAW😭😭😭 bruhhh😭 poor cyril bc that even hurt MY feelings💀 like enzo did u even think to listen to cyril ONCE since you returned with prince nikola??? no, u strong armed him into doing what you wanted and got mad when he objected but didn’t bother to find out why??? didn’t bother to give ur lover the benefit of the doubt??? didn’t bother to give ur lover a chance to explain??? and now ur mad all cyril can do is basically say yes he’s alive or no he’s dead…..sounds like a lot of ur fault going on rn🙄 ur fault for being an insensitive demanding asshole!!! anyway, enzo and cyril end up arguing more and eventually, enzo puts his hand over cyril’s mouth and drags him out into hall, telling andreas:
“I’ll take Lord Cyril out of earshot, I promise. Yours, anyway, I’m stuck with him.”
which granted, might have made me laugh if enzo wasn’t being a pos, treating cyril like an annoying nuisance when enzo himself was also being argumentative😭😭😭 then, enzo takes cyril up to enzo’s bedroom and flings him into the bed, just to tell cyril:
“You should pack your things. You’ll be going home today.”
what happened to cyril’s stuck with you??? lmao💀 enzo tells him that cyril’s cousin’s betrothed, whose cock cyril accidentally sucked, has paid his ransom. cyril is all like plss don’t let him take me, he’ll kill me. they end up arguing again bc duh, and then mid argument, enzo pushes cyril down to his knees talking bout “You can suck my cock, Lord Prim and Proper”. uhhhh WHAT!!!!?!!?!!?!!?!?!!? WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON RN!!!!!!!????? after all the bullshit and the fighting and the way you’ve treated cyril….and you think it’s appropriate to just push him down to his knees after telling him to pack his things and go bc his ransom was paid, and say ‘suck my cock’ and cyril will do it????!!! oops, cyril literally does and does it with desperation, like a man who’s husband just punched him but swears he’ll never do it again. like CYRIL, WHY TF ARE U SUCKING HIS COCK RIGHT NOW!!?!? STAND UP!!!!!!😭😭😭😭😭 my god, he’s been awful to u, cold and rude and unempathetic, and u get NO apology or anything, no hint that enzo might even like you as a person instead of just tolerating ur presence to fuck and bc ur his prisoner😭😭😭 lord have mercy…..and then when cyril’s done sucking his cock, enzo is like “I know how hard you are. Finish yourself off and show me.” oh so cyril has to do ALL the work??? can’t even lend a hand??😭 cool cool cool. surely enzo will say something now right??? nah, he just starts redressing. cyril is flabbergasted bc he thought they were also gonna fuck after that (like cyril pls stand up i’m begging u!!) and he’s all like um what are you doing, you’re not finished? enzo responds:
“I’d have thought you’d have noticed when I finished. And you got yours, too. I think we’re very much finished here. Your escort’s waiting for you. Pack your things, someone will come and carry your trunk down. This is farewell, Lord Cyril, because I have other matters to attend too.”
bruh???? like wtf!!!! wtf is this!!!!!😵💫😵💫😵💫 cyril is like:
“Wait! Enzo, stop. What will I do about my curse? I mean, I’m not allowed to—the other men here. And there’s a journey. What if I’m delayed?”
to which enzo responds:
“You have a week before your curse is going to affect you. You can seduce your escort on your arduous four-hour journey, if you must. Or anyone else you want. You’re not my captive anymore. And I don’t have a say in who fucks you. It’s not my concern.”
and then enzo walks out of the room. LIKE !?!?!?!?!?! you’re trying to tell me this man is smitten??? no ma’am, but he does need to be smited…..bc literally….wtf is this???😭😭😭 why is enzo actually cold and rude and awful…..like how am i’m supposed to believe he’s in love????
so cyril goes back home and fast forward 6 days, 1 day away from when cyril’s curse will strike again, cyril goes out into a secluded area surrounded by trees at the edge of the garden to play his lute and sing. all of the sudden, a hand wraps around his mouth and enzo is whispering in his ear:
“Don’t fight me. I’m not here to hurt you. […] Gods, Cyril. You have less than a day before—unless you found someone else. Did you?”
that last part was apparently “harsh and demanding and urgent”.🙄🙄 and what right do u have to be that sir!!!? cyril, the man incapable of standing on business, says:
“No. I didn’t find—I need you. Is that why you’re here?”
SCREAMMMMMM!!!!!! someone help him pls!!!!! he’s been dickmatized and isn’t thinking rationally!!!!! like after ALL that, enzo can just sneak into ur backyard to fuck and it’s an immediate yes???? no questions, no berating, no demands for apologies, no name calling, no fuck yous????🙄🙄 sigh…….then enzo responds:
“Of course that’s why I’m fucking here. Yes. And I’ve been—if you wanted me to come and fuck you, you could’ve made it easier for me, you know? Gone outside? I was getting—and then I heard your voice. Your singing. Finally.”
IF YOU WANTED ME TO COME AND FUCK YOU, YOU COULD’VE MADE IT EASIER FOR ME????!!!!?!?!?!?!!!!?!??!!?!? WHAT. THE. FUCK. the AUDACITY!!!!!!!!!! like maybe, enzo, if you would’ve actually treated cyril nicely, warmly, like someone you care about, it would’ve made it easier for me to like u!!! conversations and APOLOGIES should definitely be happening here before an immediate let’s fuck, jesus😵💫😵💫
so by this point they’ve torn off their clothes and cyril has slicked himself up (bc yes, cyril can magically clean and slick himself which i fucking love and think is so fun😍) and bent over and cyril says:
“If you’re waiting for me to beg this time, I will. You know I will.”
baby…….for the love of god, STAND UP!!!!!! enzo is all like:
“I would never, ever make you beg for something you need to live. Fuck. Never. I should be the one—but do it for me anyway. Please. I’ve been sitting in the rain for three days, and now I want to hear you.”
you would never but please???🙄🙄🙄 like yea, enzo, YOU SHOULD be the one begging wtf! so of course that doesn’t happen😒 cyril begs enzo and i’m embarrassed for him. truly. wtf has enzo done to show he even gives the slightest fuck about u, pls. bc i don’t think sitting outside ur property for 3 days waiting to fuck you with no explanation or apology for his previous shit behavior counts as romantic. so they’re laying there post fuck and cyril is thinking to himself:
“I wanted to bask in this moment forever. And perhaps I would have, if I hadn’t had the irrepressible urge to demand answers from this infuriating, contradictory man who’d tossed me out of his castle like so much garbage while insulting me….”
OKAY now we’re finally getting somewhere right!? cyril is all like:
“I thought I was a loose, incompetent dawn mage who’d put my tongue anywhere, and that it didn’t matter to you who fucked me, because I’m not your problem. But here you are. Or do you not mind that I’m such a slut, as long as it’s for you?”
to which enzo replies:
“I didn’t say any of that. I didn’t say most of that. Fuck, I implied a lot of it, and I shouldn’t have. I don’t—Lord Cyril, I don’t think you’re a slut, because that’s not a word that anyone—you can fuck anyone you want. That doesn’t say anything about your character. It might apply if you’d sucked your cousin’s fiancé’s cock on purpose, I guess. But the gods only know that blaming you for needing a cock when you’ll die without it, fuck, I’d never think that. Never. Beatrice was so angry with me for sending you home without giving her a chance to say farewell to you. Apparently you charmed everyone. Her son cried. I felt like a monster. I promised them I’d tell you—the whole place felt darker after you left. For them, I mean! For them. Anyway, everyone misses you.”
wow what about u being a fucking rude ASSHOLE tho???? no mentions of that??? no apologies for that?? also the “for them” and the “everyone misses you”…..i’m exhausted. so ur an asshole AND a loser bc you can’t admit shit to cyril and it’s not cute like it’s supposed to be bc u SUCK!!!!! anyway, enzo continues when cyril asks why he’s really here:
“I don’t know why I couldn’t control myself. Why I couldn’t stay away. But I had to come. The thought of you turning to another man to give you what you needed made me—…”
you don’t know??? really??? that’s the best you can do??? that’s all you have for cyril when literally a week from now you’re gonna show up to fuck again with two rings in ur pocket????😒😒😒 appalling af. anyway, they keep going back and forth about nonsense until enzo shuts cyril up with a kiss……their FIRST kiss btw💀💀💀💀 so yea that’s about 75% in and i’m not talking about the rest of the book bc idgaf !
i’m still giving this 3 stars mostly bc cyril, even tho he’s in the trenches, he’s still wonderfully bratty and i love him, and i do like eliot grayson’s writing. this was wack tho. most unswoonworthy mc ever in enzo.
“I didn’t want the man to be punished simply for being seduced by my beauty and charm. After all, that could happen to anyone.”🤣
like everything good and wonderful and charming and funny that happens in this book is bc of cyril!!! he’s stole the entire show, i just wish his love interest could keep up.
enzo was not giving, i hate to say it….i didn’t mind that at first bc possible growth, but over the course of the book, he just increasing….gave nothingggg😬
the sex was up to par with eliot grayson’s standards and that spanking scene was *chef’s kiss*😍 but after that spanking scene, enzo is like kinda shitty….he plays down the fact he was actually thirsty af for cyril, telling his brother, who had accidentally walked in on enzo and cyril, that:
“[Cyril] didn’t knock me over the head and hold me down, but it wasn’t like it was my idea!” (said with enzo’s dick still inside cyril😭)
really🙄 like ok maybe u weren’t the one to suggest it, but you definitely did whatever you could to make it an option (possibly the ONLY and the most enticing option too), like telling cyril that ALL of enzo’s men, aka every man in the castle, were off limits bc of a ‘no fraternizing with the prisoners’ rule. now, right before fucking for the first time enzo did offer to go out and kidnap someone else to fulfill the requirements of cyril’s curse, if need be. big whoop. anyway, enzo brother, leander, interrupts to inform enzo there’s a troop marching thru the woods bout 10 miles away. enzo immediately throws himself into action, getting dressed and leaving cyril with the parting remark:
“If you seduce any of my men or try to escape, I’ll treat you like the prisoner you are.”
😭😭😭 okay….like i get that they just argued while enzo was getting dressed but wtf😬 like what happened to thank you, i really enjoyed this, let’s do it again sometime, sorry i’ve got to run????💀 enzo comes back from that excursion and they don’t talk about it except for enzo to make a comment about how he’s not surprised cyril hasn’t asked him what happened with the troops after the way enzo bit his head off the other day. which…doesn’t really have much to do with his nasty lil parting remark.
they wake up together the next day and fuck. then almost immediately argue🤣🤣 about the mad lord who’s ghost haunts the castle and was harassing and “almost ate” cyril the day before. cyril demands an explanation about this and enzo responds:
“You aren’t owed anything except my escort downstairs so that you don’t get almost eaten again. Get dressed and come with me, if you’re coming, Your Flowery Lordship. I don’t have time to argue about it. I’ve wasted half the day in bed as it is.”
which makes cyril think the “wasting” enzo is talking about is fucking cyril. so cyril grumbles out:
“I’ll try to hurry. I wouldn’t want to waste any more of your time.”
enzo understands cyril is upset but instead of, oh i don’t know, apologizing or clearing up the misunderstanding, he’s just like:
“Fuck…Will you—damn it. Don’t get dressed. I’ll put one of my men in the hall to fend off the ghost, and you go back to bed for a while. You can have all four fucking pillows.”
like oh great, telling cyril to go back to bed, what an excellent solution🙄🤣🤣 enzo later sends up breakfast in bed and someone to light the hearth, which is a nice gesture, but you know what would be even nicer??? enzo, being nicer🤣🤣 or at least maybe acting less careless and brusque and unreadable??? but breakfast in bed charms cyril soooo bad bc enzo would have had to tell his kitchen staff that cyril was in his bed💀💀
later that morning, cyril bathes and pretties himself up for enzo and goes to find him only to find out that enzo is gone, out on patrol, without letting cyril know, and doesn’t come back until 3 days later. and enzo is all business on return bc they’ve got andreas carrying a passed out prince nikola. enzo tells them he has a mage here that can help and starts dragging cyril along with him. mind you, cyril has shit af mage skills💀💀 but he’s kept that little fact to himself. he starts to let enzo know like hey i don’t think i can help, but enzo interrupts him. cyril tries another tactic, bringing up another mage he saw at the castle who might be able to help instead, to which enzo informs cyril that she’s off mountain at the moment. cyril is pulling on his arm that enzo has a death grip on bc he’s dragging cyril along and is like:
“I can’t. Enzo, I can’t! I won’t. I won’t touch the prince, and that’s final, and you can’t make me.”
mind you, cyril trying to use his magic also has the unfortunate side effect of setting things on fire, and that’s why he’s so adamant about not touching the prince. now, idk maybe it’s just me, but wouldn’t it make sense for enzo to, oh idk, ASK cyril WHY he won’t touch the prince??? well enzo doesn’t, just gets angry and assumes that cyril is selfish and petty. cyril tries explaining:
“Have you considered that I’d be the one blamed if he died and I tried to magic him?”
enzo gives up and is all like fine, i can’t make you help him, but you will examine him. which is basically just cyril checking to make sure prince nikola is still alive. and enzo’s full of silent fury during this, then makes cyril wait outside prince nikola’s room for a long time, probably a few hours. enzo comes back and has cyril check prince nikola again, with cyril’s update being that the prince seems maybe a little stronger. enzo sarcastically tells andreas:
“I’m sure Lord Cyril’s doing his best, but I never said he’s the most skilled mage you’d find—“
to which cyril explodes and starts to argue with enzo. andreas is all like enough, both of you. enzo replies:
“I beg your pardon. Lord Cyril likes to stand upon his dignity. If he wants to be argumentative, he should go further from your prince’s sick bed. And if he wants to be known as a competent mage, he should learn how to be one.”
first of all, so enzo knows how to apologize, good to know. (he literally also says “my apologies” to andreas later in the convo, so that’s twice) second, that last sentence was my LAST STRAW😭😭😭 bruhhh😭 poor cyril bc that even hurt MY feelings💀 like enzo did u even think to listen to cyril ONCE since you returned with prince nikola??? no, u strong armed him into doing what you wanted and got mad when he objected but didn’t bother to find out why??? didn’t bother to give ur lover the benefit of the doubt??? didn’t bother to give ur lover a chance to explain??? and now ur mad all cyril can do is basically say yes he’s alive or no he’s dead…..sounds like a lot of ur fault going on rn🙄 ur fault for being an insensitive demanding asshole!!! anyway, enzo and cyril end up arguing more and eventually, enzo puts his hand over cyril’s mouth and drags him out into hall, telling andreas:
“I’ll take Lord Cyril out of earshot, I promise. Yours, anyway, I’m stuck with him.”
which granted, might have made me laugh if enzo wasn’t being a pos, treating cyril like an annoying nuisance when enzo himself was also being argumentative😭😭😭 then, enzo takes cyril up to enzo’s bedroom and flings him into the bed, just to tell cyril:
“You should pack your things. You’ll be going home today.”
what happened to cyril’s stuck with you??? lmao💀 enzo tells him that cyril’s cousin’s betrothed, whose cock cyril accidentally sucked, has paid his ransom. cyril is all like plss don’t let him take me, he’ll kill me. they end up arguing again bc duh, and then mid argument, enzo pushes cyril down to his knees talking bout “You can suck my cock, Lord Prim and Proper”. uhhhh WHAT!!!!?!!?!!?!!?!?!!? WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON RN!!!!!!!????? after all the bullshit and the fighting and the way you’ve treated cyril….and you think it’s appropriate to just push him down to his knees after telling him to pack his things and go bc his ransom was paid, and say ‘suck my cock’ and cyril will do it????!!! oops, cyril literally does and does it with desperation, like a man who’s husband just punched him but swears he’ll never do it again. like CYRIL, WHY TF ARE U SUCKING HIS COCK RIGHT NOW!!?!? STAND UP!!!!!!😭😭😭😭😭 my god, he’s been awful to u, cold and rude and unempathetic, and u get NO apology or anything, no hint that enzo might even like you as a person instead of just tolerating ur presence to fuck and bc ur his prisoner😭😭😭 lord have mercy…..and then when cyril’s done sucking his cock, enzo is like “I know how hard you are. Finish yourself off and show me.” oh so cyril has to do ALL the work??? can’t even lend a hand??😭 cool cool cool. surely enzo will say something now right??? nah, he just starts redressing. cyril is flabbergasted bc he thought they were also gonna fuck after that (like cyril pls stand up i’m begging u!!) and he’s all like um what are you doing, you’re not finished? enzo responds:
“I’d have thought you’d have noticed when I finished. And you got yours, too. I think we’re very much finished here. Your escort’s waiting for you. Pack your things, someone will come and carry your trunk down. This is farewell, Lord Cyril, because I have other matters to attend too.”
bruh???? like wtf!!!! wtf is this!!!!!😵💫😵💫😵💫 cyril is like:
“Wait! Enzo, stop. What will I do about my curse? I mean, I’m not allowed to—the other men here. And there’s a journey. What if I’m delayed?”
to which enzo responds:
“You have a week before your curse is going to affect you. You can seduce your escort on your arduous four-hour journey, if you must. Or anyone else you want. You’re not my captive anymore. And I don’t have a say in who fucks you. It’s not my concern.”
and then enzo walks out of the room. LIKE !?!?!?!?!?! you’re trying to tell me this man is smitten??? no ma’am, but he does need to be smited…..bc literally….wtf is this???😭😭😭 why is enzo actually cold and rude and awful…..like how am i’m supposed to believe he’s in love????
so cyril goes back home and fast forward 6 days, 1 day away from when cyril’s curse will strike again, cyril goes out into a secluded area surrounded by trees at the edge of the garden to play his lute and sing. all of the sudden, a hand wraps around his mouth and enzo is whispering in his ear:
“Don’t fight me. I’m not here to hurt you. […] Gods, Cyril. You have less than a day before—unless you found someone else. Did you?”
that last part was apparently “harsh and demanding and urgent”.🙄🙄 and what right do u have to be that sir!!!? cyril, the man incapable of standing on business, says:
“No. I didn’t find—I need you. Is that why you’re here?”
SCREAMMMMMM!!!!!! someone help him pls!!!!! he’s been dickmatized and isn’t thinking rationally!!!!! like after ALL that, enzo can just sneak into ur backyard to fuck and it’s an immediate yes???? no questions, no berating, no demands for apologies, no name calling, no fuck yous????🙄🙄 sigh…….then enzo responds:
“Of course that’s why I’m fucking here. Yes. And I’ve been—if you wanted me to come and fuck you, you could’ve made it easier for me, you know? Gone outside? I was getting—and then I heard your voice. Your singing. Finally.”
IF YOU WANTED ME TO COME AND FUCK YOU, YOU COULD’VE MADE IT EASIER FOR ME????!!!!?!?!?!?!!!!?!??!!?!? WHAT. THE. FUCK. the AUDACITY!!!!!!!!!! like maybe, enzo, if you would’ve actually treated cyril nicely, warmly, like someone you care about, it would’ve made it easier for me to like u!!! conversations and APOLOGIES should definitely be happening here before an immediate let’s fuck, jesus😵💫😵💫
so by this point they’ve torn off their clothes and cyril has slicked himself up (bc yes, cyril can magically clean and slick himself which i fucking love and think is so fun😍) and bent over and cyril says:
“If you’re waiting for me to beg this time, I will. You know I will.”
baby…….for the love of god, STAND UP!!!!!! enzo is all like:
“I would never, ever make you beg for something you need to live. Fuck. Never. I should be the one—but do it for me anyway. Please. I’ve been sitting in the rain for three days, and now I want to hear you.”
you would never but please???🙄🙄🙄 like yea, enzo, YOU SHOULD be the one begging wtf! so of course that doesn’t happen😒 cyril begs enzo and i’m embarrassed for him. truly. wtf has enzo done to show he even gives the slightest fuck about u, pls. bc i don’t think sitting outside ur property for 3 days waiting to fuck you with no explanation or apology for his previous shit behavior counts as romantic. so they’re laying there post fuck and cyril is thinking to himself:
“I wanted to bask in this moment forever. And perhaps I would have, if I hadn’t had the irrepressible urge to demand answers from this infuriating, contradictory man who’d tossed me out of his castle like so much garbage while insulting me….”
OKAY now we’re finally getting somewhere right!? cyril is all like:
“I thought I was a loose, incompetent dawn mage who’d put my tongue anywhere, and that it didn’t matter to you who fucked me, because I’m not your problem. But here you are. Or do you not mind that I’m such a slut, as long as it’s for you?”
to which enzo replies:
“I didn’t say any of that. I didn’t say most of that. Fuck, I implied a lot of it, and I shouldn’t have. I don’t—Lord Cyril, I don’t think you’re a slut, because that’s not a word that anyone—you can fuck anyone you want. That doesn’t say anything about your character. It might apply if you’d sucked your cousin’s fiancé’s cock on purpose, I guess. But the gods only know that blaming you for needing a cock when you’ll die without it, fuck, I’d never think that. Never. Beatrice was so angry with me for sending you home without giving her a chance to say farewell to you. Apparently you charmed everyone. Her son cried. I felt like a monster. I promised them I’d tell you—the whole place felt darker after you left. For them, I mean! For them. Anyway, everyone misses you.”
wow what about u being a fucking rude ASSHOLE tho???? no mentions of that??? no apologies for that?? also the “for them” and the “everyone misses you”…..i’m exhausted. so ur an asshole AND a loser bc you can’t admit shit to cyril and it’s not cute like it’s supposed to be bc u SUCK!!!!! anyway, enzo continues when cyril asks why he’s really here:
“I don’t know why I couldn’t control myself. Why I couldn’t stay away. But I had to come. The thought of you turning to another man to give you what you needed made me—…”
you don’t know??? really??? that’s the best you can do??? that’s all you have for cyril when literally a week from now you’re gonna show up to fuck again with two rings in ur pocket????😒😒😒 appalling af. anyway, they keep going back and forth about nonsense until enzo shuts cyril up with a kiss……their FIRST kiss btw💀💀💀💀 so yea that’s about 75% in and i’m not talking about the rest of the book bc idgaf !
i’m still giving this 3 stars mostly bc cyril, even tho he’s in the trenches, he’s still wonderfully bratty and i love him, and i do like eliot grayson’s writing. this was wack tho. most unswoonworthy mc ever in enzo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2024
⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️
Just like The Royal Curse, this was some sexy, fantastical fun. Cyril was bratty and flirty, Enzo all growly and grumpy, but together they were just sweet and hot and hilarious. I loved the banter between them, the endless vegetable jokes, the dumbest arguments.
The smut was just as hot as I was expecting. You could just feel the need they had for each other.
Plot-wise, this installment had probably a bit less action moments than the first, but I still enjoyed living inside Cyril’s crazy head for a while.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
CW and tropes (spoilers):
- Captive/captor
- Magical elements
- Cursed mage (similar to an omega in heat)
- Size difference
- Spanking
- Strict top/bottom
- Rimming
- Face-fucking
“You’re not just a menace. You’re going to be the death of me.”
Just like The Royal Curse, this was some sexy, fantastical fun. Cyril was bratty and flirty, Enzo all growly and grumpy, but together they were just sweet and hot and hilarious. I loved the banter between them, the endless vegetable jokes, the dumbest arguments.
“You told me your ass wouldn’t even notice if I fucked you,”
“I think you’re going to notice,” he growled, sounding unbecomingly pleased with himself, and thrust inside.
The smut was just as hot as I was expecting. You could just feel the need they had for each other.
Plot-wise, this installment had probably a bit less action moments than the first, but I still enjoyed living inside Cyril’s crazy head for a while.
«My dawn mage’s powers rose up in a joyous crescendo to meet that innate magic of his own he seemed to possess, the ability to make me his so perfectly.»
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
CW and tropes (spoilers):
- Captive/captor
- Magical elements
- Cursed mage (similar to an omega in heat)
- Size difference
- Spanking
- Strict top/bottom
- Rimming
- Face-fucking
May 24, 2024
What a freaking gem. Eliot Grayson does it again, friends. "The Captive's Curse" was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and not only did it meet my expectations, it surpassed them: this is a delicious, wonderfully heartfelt and funny, absolutely gripping and ridiculously fun and steamy romp of a book. I devoured it; I never wanted to leave it, and I never wanted to leave its two ridiculously chaotic protagonists. Cyril and Enzo own my whole damn heart.
This second book in the "Twilight Mages" series is as gripping as its predecessor, and although it's decidedly less angsty, it's still as heartfelt and addictive: I enjoyed it immensely.
The story was bonkers, in the best way possible (failed kidnapping and ransom plot? A captor who's actually a sweatheart and a sap, and a captive mage who manages to have him completely whipped in *count pages* immediately? A mad ghost, ft. a whole lot of bedroom swapping, pillow stealing and boiling hot tension?), and I laughed out loud, swooned, banged my head in frustration, then swooned once again; rinse and repeat, from start to finish. What a freaking ride.
I loved the writing and I adored the world-building in this one too: the way Eliot's plotted this series, the Twilight mages curses, the political intrigues and the simple yet vivid high fantasy atmosphere, made everything even more special.
I obviously adored both leads. Both of them are chaotic gremlins, the silliest, horniest, most idiotic and dramatic disasters to ever exist: I laughed out loud so many times. Their banter never felt forced, and the underlying tension and frustration behind it made it 100 times better.
< “Was I face- up in your lap or face- down?” I demanded. “If I was face- down, then everyone saw my ass sticking up! It probably looked huge. Were you staring at it?”
His eyes widened absurdly, his mouth dropping open. From behind him, Leander made a sound I couldn’t quite identify. “I beg your pardon?” Enzo choked. “Last night you bent over and— were you— was I— fuck, I never should have kidnapped you.” Leander’s noises resolved into gurgles of laughter. >
I loved their dynamic so damn much, and I loved how hilarious both of them were in their own way. Like I said, they're silly and horny and quite possibly share a lonely braincell when it comes to thinking before acting and/or speaking, but I adored them. Their chemistry was fire, so damn piping hot, and I loved the steam SO. DAMN. MUCH. Eliot Grayson never fails.
I adored Cyril and his own dramatic, high-handed, flirty self, and I loved Enzo with his snark and his protectiveness.
< “Gods, Enzo, please! But not in the mud!” I cried desperately, as he yanked me closer. “Sometimes I think I don’t have the slightest idea what’s in that head of yours,” Enzo muttered, shoving me away again, already busy stripping off his coat, “even though you talk more than anyone I’ve ever met.” He laid his coat on the ground and spread it out. “There, Lord Fastidious. Get your pants off before I rip them off.” >
Like I said, I never wanted to leave.
I cannot wait to read book three: I have no idea who'll be next; or I might have an idea, but I have no idea what to expect. I do so wish Leander would be next though; I seriously doubt it, since these books are all standalones with very minor overlapping, but I'd gnaw my own foot off for him to be a Surprise/Secret Dawn Mage *prayer cicle*
Like I said, this is wishful thinking, and I'd read whichever book and couple Eliot writes next regardless. She's become one of my favourite authors ever, and I can't wait to devour whatever comes next.
I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest review.
This second book in the "Twilight Mages" series is as gripping as its predecessor, and although it's decidedly less angsty, it's still as heartfelt and addictive: I enjoyed it immensely.
The story was bonkers, in the best way possible (failed kidnapping and ransom plot? A captor who's actually a sweatheart and a sap, and a captive mage who manages to have him completely whipped in *count pages* immediately? A mad ghost, ft. a whole lot of bedroom swapping, pillow stealing and boiling hot tension?), and I laughed out loud, swooned, banged my head in frustration, then swooned once again; rinse and repeat, from start to finish. What a freaking ride.
I loved the writing and I adored the world-building in this one too: the way Eliot's plotted this series, the Twilight mages curses, the political intrigues and the simple yet vivid high fantasy atmosphere, made everything even more special.
I obviously adored both leads. Both of them are chaotic gremlins, the silliest, horniest, most idiotic and dramatic disasters to ever exist: I laughed out loud so many times. Their banter never felt forced, and the underlying tension and frustration behind it made it 100 times better.
< “Was I face- up in your lap or face- down?” I demanded. “If I was face- down, then everyone saw my ass sticking up! It probably looked huge. Were you staring at it?”
His eyes widened absurdly, his mouth dropping open. From behind him, Leander made a sound I couldn’t quite identify. “I beg your pardon?” Enzo choked. “Last night you bent over and— were you— was I— fuck, I never should have kidnapped you.” Leander’s noises resolved into gurgles of laughter. >
I loved their dynamic so damn much, and I loved how hilarious both of them were in their own way. Like I said, they're silly and horny and quite possibly share a lonely braincell when it comes to thinking before acting and/or speaking, but I adored them. Their chemistry was fire, so damn piping hot, and I loved the steam SO. DAMN. MUCH. Eliot Grayson never fails.
I adored Cyril and his own dramatic, high-handed, flirty self, and I loved Enzo with his snark and his protectiveness.
< “Gods, Enzo, please! But not in the mud!” I cried desperately, as he yanked me closer. “Sometimes I think I don’t have the slightest idea what’s in that head of yours,” Enzo muttered, shoving me away again, already busy stripping off his coat, “even though you talk more than anyone I’ve ever met.” He laid his coat on the ground and spread it out. “There, Lord Fastidious. Get your pants off before I rip them off.” >
Like I said, I never wanted to leave.
I cannot wait to read book three: I have no idea who'll be next; or I might have an idea, but I have no idea what to expect. I do so wish Leander would be next though; I seriously doubt it, since these books are all standalones with very minor overlapping, but I'd gnaw my own foot off for him to be a Surprise/Secret Dawn Mage *prayer cicle*
Like I said, this is wishful thinking, and I'd read whichever book and couple Eliot writes next regardless. She's become one of my favourite authors ever, and I can't wait to devour whatever comes next.
I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest review.
June 19, 2024
Still can't make up my mind about the magic aspect
Like the first book, I'm still not sold at all on the Twilight mage concept for multiple reasons as it's something I expect to see more in omegaverse worlds.
That aside, though, I'm totally on board with everything else in this book because it was amusing and had lots of excellent snark.
I also really liked both characters, and I found the setting for this one worked a bit better for me, too, with the mystery element and the great bunch of secondary characters.
Like the first book, I'm still not sold at all on the Twilight mage concept for multiple reasons as it's something I expect to see more in omegaverse worlds.
That aside, though, I'm totally on board with everything else in this book because it was amusing and had lots of excellent snark.
I also really liked both characters, and I found the setting for this one worked a bit better for me, too, with the mystery element and the great bunch of secondary characters.
July 6, 2024
Book 1 was kind of ridiculous and super smutty but somehow worked?? This one didn’t vibe the same for me. I’m going with 3 generous stars although I skimmed a fair bit and didn’t care for either character.
October 22, 2024
Second read through: another book I loved just as much reading the second time around! Loved the dynamic between Cyril and Enzo. Was so much fun! Highly recommend this series if you’re looking for a high heat fantasy series!
This is the second book in the Twilight Mages series but can absolutely be read as a standalone. We do see the characters in book 1 a little here but nothing that would be confusing. I do recommend book 1 still though as it was a great story.
This is a single POV story told by the Twilight Mage Cyril. I usually prefer dual POV but I didn’t have any issues with single for this story. Cyril was such a funny character but I still felt for him too. He is unapologetically himself but unfortunately he doesn’t have anyone in his life that appreciates that until he’s kidnapped. This story kind of reminded me of a Beauty and the Beast retelling which I loved.
I loved how frustrated Enzo got with Cyril but how that didn’t get in the way of him loving Cyril. They had such a great dynamic and I loved how honorable Enzo was even on the outside of the law! I was so happy with their HEA. I definitely recommend this series and look forward to reading more by this author in the future!
This is the second book in the Twilight Mages series but can absolutely be read as a standalone. We do see the characters in book 1 a little here but nothing that would be confusing. I do recommend book 1 still though as it was a great story.
This is a single POV story told by the Twilight Mage Cyril. I usually prefer dual POV but I didn’t have any issues with single for this story. Cyril was such a funny character but I still felt for him too. He is unapologetically himself but unfortunately he doesn’t have anyone in his life that appreciates that until he’s kidnapped. This story kind of reminded me of a Beauty and the Beast retelling which I loved.
I loved how frustrated Enzo got with Cyril but how that didn’t get in the way of him loving Cyril. They had such a great dynamic and I loved how honorable Enzo was even on the outside of the law! I was so happy with their HEA. I definitely recommend this series and look forward to reading more by this author in the future!
May 27, 2024
- sassy lordling x hunky highwayman
- captor x captive
- sex magic
After a masquerade mishap lands him on the outs with his family, Lord Cyril decides his best option is to head out on a ride to hide from them until things calm down. Only he finds himself kidnapped and ransomed by a mysterious and disgustingly rugged highwayman.
When things fall through with the ransom, Ser Enzo isn’t sure what to do with the frustrating little lordling who loves to complain, and certainly had no plans to bed him (even though he was very clearly attracted to Cyril). A wrench gets thrown into that plan when Enzo learns Cyril’s mage powers will kill him if he doesn’t get his zucchini on the regular.
Of course I absolutely adored all the banter and tension between Enzo and Cyril—who should have been the most insufferable character but was actually my favorite, and I loved their story so much. This series has been so much fun to read, and I cannot wait for more!
- captor x captive
- sex magic
After a masquerade mishap lands him on the outs with his family, Lord Cyril decides his best option is to head out on a ride to hide from them until things calm down. Only he finds himself kidnapped and ransomed by a mysterious and disgustingly rugged highwayman.
When things fall through with the ransom, Ser Enzo isn’t sure what to do with the frustrating little lordling who loves to complain, and certainly had no plans to bed him (even though he was very clearly attracted to Cyril). A wrench gets thrown into that plan when Enzo learns Cyril’s mage powers will kill him if he doesn’t get his zucchini on the regular.
Of course I absolutely adored all the banter and tension between Enzo and Cyril—who should have been the most insufferable character but was actually my favorite, and I loved their story so much. This series has been so much fun to read, and I cannot wait for more!
July 5, 2024
Tropes: captor/captive, secret identity, f*** or die, paranormal, forced proximity
Feels: 3/5
Steam*: 3.75/5
Kinks: spanking, brat
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: dubcon, kidnapping
3.5 Stars, I enjoyed it quite a bit but it kind of limped to the finish line a bit.
Cyril is 27. He is a rich Lord and the second son, so responsibility isn't on him. He's goofed off a lot of his life. He is a dawn mage, which means his magic is cursed and he needs to get rogered every 7 to 10 days unless he's taking a potion to suppress his magic. If he doesn't he'll be in agony and die. It's a bit of a crazy lore and it's not my favorite for reasons I get into below. Cyril develops allergy to the potion in his adulthood and he sleeps around, enjoying it for the most part. He messes with the wrong person accidentally at a masked masquerade though and pisses off his family because one of his family members is engaged to the guy. With his bad luck he manages to get kidnapped by highwayman named Enzo. Enzo tries to Ransom him back to his family for money but the family doesn't want him because they're so pissed at him. Cyril stays at Enzo's home and Enzo won't let him seduce his men, so Enzo is Cyril's only option.
They get to know each other, they banter and bicker throughout the book. There are a lot of hilarious moments in this book, I love the humor in it. They also have an undeniable chemistry that draws them together. They kind of start out as hate f******. And then the cuddling enters the dynamic. There's some good mystery and plot happening. I probably would have enjoyed the book a bit more though if Enzo hadn't done some stupid stuff at the end and the conflict kind of becoming so avoidable and predictable that it annoyed me.
Things I didn't like:
- I really don't like the lore of the curse behind this. It really is horrible. The fact that it's all about someone else's pleasure, that only they need to get off for the sufferer to be temporarily cured is so bad. It reminds me about how women's pleasure has always been unimportant and second to men's. And it's so unsafe too and it's so against their will
- I felt better about the curse and how it was used in book one because in book one, the MMC was able to use the potions to have some choice and autonomy for the majority of his adult life and he didn't have to find someone to sleep with every 7 to 10 days regardless of whether he really wanted to. For Cyril, the potion didn't work on him, he developed an allergy or something to it. At one point he was talking about how years ago he broke up with his lover and was heartbroken and didn't want to sleep with someone, and then he had to because of his allergy. It just felt unfair, icky, dubcon for Cyril even though Cyril really enjoyed sex for the most part.
- Enzo was such a jerk in this moment and he had no reason to be, so it was out of nowhere and totally at odds with his actions in a couple days when he chases after cereal and doesn't want him to be f****** someone else. Andreas from book one was a much better book boyfriend. "“You have a week before your curse is going to affect you,” he said heavily. “You can seduce your escort on your arduous four-hour journey, if you must. Or anyone else you want. You’re not my captive anymore. And I don’t have any say in who fucks you. It’s not my concern.”" Maybe if we'd seen Enzo's point of view it would have been better, but this was single POV.
- The conflict at the end where Enzo was caught at the castle was so dumb. This conflict was created because Enzo let Cyril go when he never should have. He didn't have a good enough reason to. They should have talked before Cyril left, and maybe he wouldn't have left at all.
Some notable moments:
Fair point! "“And if you don’t want to be taken for someone who’d treat a dawn mage poorly, don’t make remarks about how you think I’d use phallic vegetables in unnatural ways.” “I already said, I didn’t know you were a dawn mage!” “You shouldn’t be accusing anyone of wanting to fuck a zucchini, Enzo!”"
"“You told me your ass wouldn’t even notice if I fucked you,” he said softly, but with an edge that raised all the hair on the back of my neck. I stared at the rucked-up bedding, at the flicker of the torchlight on the stone wall. My body lay hot and heavy and throbbing, at his mercy. “Do you remember that?” I let out a whimper, pathetically muffled in the blanket. Enzo pushed forward slightly, the head of his cock starting to force me open. “I think you’re going to notice,” he growled, sounding unbecomingly pleased with himself, and thrust inside."
"“Fortitude,” he gasped. “You! Forti—oh, gods. Hardly…complain…I can’t…” I lay rigidly still, face burning, biting my lower lip to shreds, as he practically roared with mirth and then slowly wore himself down. Fuck. Him. I’d wait until he was asleep and I’d take all of his pillows—except for the one I’d use to smother him."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 3/5
Steam*: 3.75/5
Kinks: spanking, brat
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: dubcon, kidnapping
3.5 Stars, I enjoyed it quite a bit but it kind of limped to the finish line a bit.
Cyril is 27. He is a rich Lord and the second son, so responsibility isn't on him. He's goofed off a lot of his life. He is a dawn mage, which means his magic is cursed and he needs to get rogered every 7 to 10 days unless he's taking a potion to suppress his magic. If he doesn't he'll be in agony and die. It's a bit of a crazy lore and it's not my favorite for reasons I get into below. Cyril develops allergy to the potion in his adulthood and he sleeps around, enjoying it for the most part. He messes with the wrong person accidentally at a masked masquerade though and pisses off his family because one of his family members is engaged to the guy. With his bad luck he manages to get kidnapped by highwayman named Enzo. Enzo tries to Ransom him back to his family for money but the family doesn't want him because they're so pissed at him. Cyril stays at Enzo's home and Enzo won't let him seduce his men, so Enzo is Cyril's only option.
They get to know each other, they banter and bicker throughout the book. There are a lot of hilarious moments in this book, I love the humor in it. They also have an undeniable chemistry that draws them together. They kind of start out as hate f******. And then the cuddling enters the dynamic. There's some good mystery and plot happening. I probably would have enjoyed the book a bit more though if Enzo hadn't done some stupid stuff at the end and the conflict kind of becoming so avoidable and predictable that it annoyed me.
Things I didn't like:
- I really don't like the lore of the curse behind this. It really is horrible. The fact that it's all about someone else's pleasure, that only they need to get off for the sufferer to be temporarily cured is so bad. It reminds me about how women's pleasure has always been unimportant and second to men's. And it's so unsafe too and it's so against their will
- I felt better about the curse and how it was used in book one because in book one, the MMC was able to use the potions to have some choice and autonomy for the majority of his adult life and he didn't have to find someone to sleep with every 7 to 10 days regardless of whether he really wanted to. For Cyril, the potion didn't work on him, he developed an allergy or something to it. At one point he was talking about how years ago he broke up with his lover and was heartbroken and didn't want to sleep with someone, and then he had to because of his allergy. It just felt unfair, icky, dubcon for Cyril even though Cyril really enjoyed sex for the most part.
- Enzo was such a jerk in this moment and he had no reason to be, so it was out of nowhere and totally at odds with his actions in a couple days when he chases after cereal and doesn't want him to be f****** someone else. Andreas from book one was a much better book boyfriend. "“You have a week before your curse is going to affect you,” he said heavily. “You can seduce your escort on your arduous four-hour journey, if you must. Or anyone else you want. You’re not my captive anymore. And I don’t have any say in who fucks you. It’s not my concern.”" Maybe if we'd seen Enzo's point of view it would have been better, but this was single POV.
- The conflict at the end where Enzo was caught at the castle was so dumb. This conflict was created because Enzo let Cyril go when he never should have. He didn't have a good enough reason to. They should have talked before Cyril left, and maybe he wouldn't have left at all.
Some notable moments:
Fair point! "“And if you don’t want to be taken for someone who’d treat a dawn mage poorly, don’t make remarks about how you think I’d use phallic vegetables in unnatural ways.” “I already said, I didn’t know you were a dawn mage!” “You shouldn’t be accusing anyone of wanting to fuck a zucchini, Enzo!”"
"“You told me your ass wouldn’t even notice if I fucked you,” he said softly, but with an edge that raised all the hair on the back of my neck. I stared at the rucked-up bedding, at the flicker of the torchlight on the stone wall. My body lay hot and heavy and throbbing, at his mercy. “Do you remember that?” I let out a whimper, pathetically muffled in the blanket. Enzo pushed forward slightly, the head of his cock starting to force me open. “I think you’re going to notice,” he growled, sounding unbecomingly pleased with himself, and thrust inside."
"“Fortitude,” he gasped. “You! Forti—oh, gods. Hardly…complain…I can’t…” I lay rigidly still, face burning, biting my lower lip to shreds, as he practically roared with mirth and then slowly wore himself down. Fuck. Him. I’d wait until he was asleep and I’d take all of his pillows—except for the one I’d use to smother him."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2024
Well, if you fancy yourself a snarky, sassy queen of a guy who will stop at nothing to irritate a band of mysterious kidnappers, then this is definitely for you!
Cyril's (Argh, that name really did me in!) certainly a master at enraging, aggravating and exasperating Enzo, the leader of the aforementioned kidnappers who are actually a rather pleasant and well-meaning bunch of people.
There is chemistry between the two guys right from the start, which is very much based on physical attraction. Of course this is often how relationships start, but somehow it doesn’t go very much further than that. While I totally get why Cyril falls for strong, kind, gorgeous Enzo, I have no idea why Enzo really develops deeper feelings for Cyril, who plainly borders between funny and really annoying.
For some reason the magic element falls more or less totally sideways It seems to only serve as a vehicle for getting the MCs into bed asap.
I would label this as a fantasy rom com, with lots of silly (some good, some not so good for me) bickering, a repeated mention of a variety of 'sexual vegetables' (yes, rolling my eyes!) and a vaguely romantic plot.
I liked the stronger feels towards the end, when Cyril's vulnerability is explored a little more, even if the plot felt very fairy-talish and a tad superficial.
Maybe I wasn't in the mood for a character like Cyril, maybe I didn't quite gel with all his outrageous snark, but somehow I didn't quite enjoy this as much as book 1. Not a favourite by this author, but good fun, mostly.
Cyril's (Argh, that name really did me in!) certainly a master at enraging, aggravating and exasperating Enzo, the leader of the aforementioned kidnappers who are actually a rather pleasant and well-meaning bunch of people.
There is chemistry between the two guys right from the start, which is very much based on physical attraction. Of course this is often how relationships start, but somehow it doesn’t go very much further than that. While I totally get why Cyril falls for strong, kind, gorgeous Enzo, I have no idea why Enzo really develops deeper feelings for Cyril, who plainly borders between funny and really annoying.
For some reason the magic element falls more or less totally sideways It seems to only serve as a vehicle for getting the MCs into bed asap.
I would label this as a fantasy rom com, with lots of silly (some good, some not so good for me) bickering, a repeated mention of a variety of 'sexual vegetables' (yes, rolling my eyes!) and a vaguely romantic plot.
I liked the stronger feels towards the end, when Cyril's vulnerability is explored a little more, even if the plot felt very fairy-talish and a tad superficial.
Maybe I wasn't in the mood for a character like Cyril, maybe I didn't quite gel with all his outrageous snark, but somehow I didn't quite enjoy this as much as book 1. Not a favourite by this author, but good fun, mostly.
May 27, 2024
"It's not a joke. I wish it were a fucking joke, because loving anyone as much as I love you is enough to give me an aneurysm, with the trouble you get into!"
What wizardry is this!!? I swear to the goddess that one of the MCs was basically a high maintenance whiney complainer the ENTIRE book and yet I still absolutely loved him! How!?
Cyril is accustomed to a certain type of lifestyle. The kind with a big house that includes many servants. So you can imagine how he may feel being kidnapped by a "ruffian" and kept prisoner in a room with less than adequate accommodations. And also quite a large amount of onions. Not impressed would be an understatement.
Enzo, said aforementioned ruffian, has the patience of a saint. Well, maybe not a saint. He did so love to rile Cyril when the man got all worked up over being a prisoner. I really don't think Cyril understood the concept. It was a lot of fun when Enzo was giving him shit and pointing out again and again that Cyril was indeed his captive and therefore shouldn't be expecting to be treated like a prince.
"When had the man who'd so rudely knocked me off Agnethe and dragged me here to hold me hostage become the most important thing in the world to me?"
I enjoyed the progression of Enzo and Cyril's relationship, especially how it seemed everyone else in the compound seemed to get what was going on except them. Gotta love oblivious MCs. I also have to say that despite his near constant complaints, Cyril really proved himself to be a good one by the end. He may never be content without certain necessities like a private bathing chamber, but he most definitely felt content with Enzo as his man.
What wizardry is this!!? I swear to the goddess that one of the MCs was basically a high maintenance whiney complainer the ENTIRE book and yet I still absolutely loved him! How!?
Cyril is accustomed to a certain type of lifestyle. The kind with a big house that includes many servants. So you can imagine how he may feel being kidnapped by a "ruffian" and kept prisoner in a room with less than adequate accommodations. And also quite a large amount of onions. Not impressed would be an understatement.
Enzo, said aforementioned ruffian, has the patience of a saint. Well, maybe not a saint. He did so love to rile Cyril when the man got all worked up over being a prisoner. I really don't think Cyril understood the concept. It was a lot of fun when Enzo was giving him shit and pointing out again and again that Cyril was indeed his captive and therefore shouldn't be expecting to be treated like a prince.
"When had the man who'd so rudely knocked me off Agnethe and dragged me here to hold me hostage become the most important thing in the world to me?"
I enjoyed the progression of Enzo and Cyril's relationship, especially how it seemed everyone else in the compound seemed to get what was going on except them. Gotta love oblivious MCs. I also have to say that despite his near constant complaints, Cyril really proved himself to be a good one by the end. He may never be content without certain necessities like a private bathing chamber, but he most definitely felt content with Enzo as his man.
June 3, 2024
Light-hearted and fun, Eliot Grayson never fails to make me laugh.
March 2, 2025
All the stars for Cyril, what a wonderful sweet baby angel of a character. No stars for Enzo. Fuck Enzo, justice for Cyril!
I was crazy enjoying the first half of the book. It was hilarious. Cyril is an incredible character - adorable and hilarious. Enzo wasn’t great but I was sure he’d give in to his desire and care for Cyril and become a big teddy bear but no, he just becomes worse and worse. He was honestly so mean in the scene with Andreas and Prince Nikola and never ever made up for it.
To top it all off, Cyril still has to save the day, and doesn’t even get a proper wooing after.
I was crazy enjoying the first half of the book. It was hilarious. Cyril is an incredible character - adorable and hilarious. Enzo wasn’t great but I was sure he’d give in to his desire and care for Cyril and become a big teddy bear but no, he just becomes worse and worse. He was honestly so mean in the scene with Andreas and Prince Nikola and never ever made up for it.
To top it all off, Cyril still has to save the day, and doesn’t even get a proper wooing after.
May 31, 2024
I don't ask me. I blinked, and I was suddenly in the middle of this book, and despite everything, I enjoyed it so much 😂
June 8, 2024
"His kiss swept me out to sea and drowned me, the world fading into nothingness and my body and mind going pliant."
The Captive's Curse is another really enjoyable read in Eliot Grayson's Twilight Mages series. This is book 2 and it's Cyril and Enzo's story. Whilst it follows The Royal Curse and we do meet the MCs from that book briefly again in this one, The Captive's Curse can definitely be read as standalone.
Again, Eliot Grayson provides some great world-building, hilarious (and hot!) MCs, sinister side-characters, top of the range snark, a mad as hell ghost, laugh out loud moments and off the chart steam all at the same time! The world of the Twilight Mages is definitely one I can recommend.
What to Expect:
🌶️MM fantasy romance
🌶️Opposites attract
🌶️Feuding royals
🌶️So much snark
🌶️Steamy action
🌶️Treachery
🌶️Forced proximity
🌶️Magic
🌶️HEA
Loved it!
4-4.5 stars
The Captive's Curse is another really enjoyable read in Eliot Grayson's Twilight Mages series. This is book 2 and it's Cyril and Enzo's story. Whilst it follows The Royal Curse and we do meet the MCs from that book briefly again in this one, The Captive's Curse can definitely be read as standalone.
Again, Eliot Grayson provides some great world-building, hilarious (and hot!) MCs, sinister side-characters, top of the range snark, a mad as hell ghost, laugh out loud moments and off the chart steam all at the same time! The world of the Twilight Mages is definitely one I can recommend.
What to Expect:
🌶️MM fantasy romance
🌶️Opposites attract
🌶️Feuding royals
🌶️So much snark
🌶️Steamy action
🌶️Treachery
🌶️Forced proximity
🌶️Magic
🌶️HEA
Loved it!
4-4.5 stars
July 29, 2024
Eliot Grayson is a solid one-click author for me and I've told her before that I don't even need to read the blurb, I will simply line up for the book like Oliver Twist: "Please Eliot, can I have some more?!" I especially love her misfit characters and in The Captive's Curse we get a great one. Mischievous and sometimes petulant Cyril is a Dawn mage who is cursed with the need to have sex at least weekly or die an agonizingly painful death. He spends his life making sure he is given lots and lots - and lots- of reasons not to die, and making music. When he's kidnapped by the somewhat scruffy, somewhat dashing highwayman Ser Enzo, his options to avoid impending death are slim. Which is completely fine by Cyril, because he can't seem to look away from Ser Enzo and his enormous curse breaking tool. But once the ransom is paid, what future can a Lord have with a ruffian?
If the 'needing to get boinked for survival' plot point didn't grab you, look forward to sardonic humour, a crazed mad ghost, a tale of revenge and a lot of spicy spice 🔥🔥🔥.
Rating: 4
Angst: 3/5
Steam: 4/5
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
If the 'needing to get boinked for survival' plot point didn't grab you, look forward to sardonic humour, a crazed mad ghost, a tale of revenge and a lot of spicy spice 🔥🔥🔥.
Rating: 4
Angst: 3/5
Steam: 4/5
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
July 3, 2024
DNF @ 61%
the love interest is too mean to the mc 😭
the love interest is too mean to the mc 😭
May 31, 2024
✨Smutty fun with hottie hunks in medieval garb✨
This was so much fun, it had me all *squee!!* What I loved most about this book were the characters. They were so friggin cute! Enzo thought, “oh i’ll just kidnap this pretty little lord and get some quick coin”, not realizing he’d just bagged a spoiled brat who’d drive him crazy in every way. Cyril was somehow hilarious and I love that the story is told in his POV so the reader can see how baffled and entertained Enzo is by him, although Cyril himself misses it. Arguing is their foreplay and the sexual tension between them is so thick that everyone can see it but them
Cyril is a dawn mage so he is cursed to need intercourse every 10 days or so, or he’ll die. Enzo is a nice guy, besides the kidnapper thing, so he helps him out. The smut is so good and they are sweet when they both drop their guards down, but then it’s back to sexually charged bickering 😆
I think this series is unlocking some sort of medieval clothing fetish thing in me?? Half the fun is thirsting after these muscular hot guys in their clinking sword belts, linen tunics, tall boots and medieval underpants
This was so much fun, it had me all *squee!!* What I loved most about this book were the characters. They were so friggin cute! Enzo thought, “oh i’ll just kidnap this pretty little lord and get some quick coin”, not realizing he’d just bagged a spoiled brat who’d drive him crazy in every way. Cyril was somehow hilarious and I love that the story is told in his POV so the reader can see how baffled and entertained Enzo is by him, although Cyril himself misses it. Arguing is their foreplay and the sexual tension between them is so thick that everyone can see it but them
Cyril is a dawn mage so he is cursed to need intercourse every 10 days or so, or he’ll die. Enzo is a nice guy, besides the kidnapper thing, so he helps him out. The smut is so good and they are sweet when they both drop their guards down, but then it’s back to sexually charged bickering 😆
I think this series is unlocking some sort of medieval clothing fetish thing in me?? Half the fun is thirsting after these muscular hot guys in their clinking sword belts, linen tunics, tall boots and medieval underpants
May 30, 2024
A spoiled, prickly (and secretly lonely) nobleman gets kidnapped by a ruggedly handsome and surprisingly principled highwayman. Also, add in some f*ck-or-die. Need I say more?
Loved this a lot! It had the push-and-pull that is super entertaining to read and that Eliot Grayson excels at.
I only wish we'd have gotten to see more of Cyril's music, particularly Enzo acknowledging it. I also feel like there should have been a conversation about Cyril's (lack of) magical ability that was missing.
Still, the emotional beats were on point and I loved how everything connected. I'll likely reread this soon!
Loved this a lot! It had the push-and-pull that is super entertaining to read and that Eliot Grayson excels at.
I only wish we'd have gotten to see more of Cyril's music, particularly Enzo acknowledging it. I also feel like there should have been a conversation about Cyril's (lack of) magical ability that was missing.
Still, the emotional beats were on point and I loved how everything connected. I'll likely reread this soon!
September 11, 2025
Not as good as book #1 but I was still entertained?
June 7, 2024
4.5⭐️
This was so fun! I loved the banter and sass. I’m enjoying this series quite a bit.
This was so fun! I loved the banter and sass. I’m enjoying this series quite a bit.
June 10, 2024
Sassy!
Lord Cyril and Enzo the highway ruffian are enemies to lovers in the second book of this series with a theme of twilight mages meeting their forever love(r). I thought this was fun, witty and lighthearted. Some down and dirty sex as well. I liked how it ran concurrent to book #1 but you can read this as an absolute standalone.
The banter is so good. It made the book for me. Cyril could talk (or complain) underwater with a mouth full of marbles. Yep. He’s a bit of a character and Enzo is, well, kinda understanding 👌😘
Lord Cyril and Enzo the highway ruffian are enemies to lovers in the second book of this series with a theme of twilight mages meeting their forever love(r). I thought this was fun, witty and lighthearted. Some down and dirty sex as well. I liked how it ran concurrent to book #1 but you can read this as an absolute standalone.
The banter is so good. It made the book for me. Cyril could talk (or complain) underwater with a mouth full of marbles. Yep. He’s a bit of a character and Enzo is, well, kinda understanding 👌😘
June 19, 2024
one thing about me i love a sarcastic and prone to complain kind of character so Cyril was basically my favorite type of MC. I adored the first book in this series (also loved that little cameo omg) and I had high expectations for this one. I am strongly anti nickname but every variation of Lord that Enzo gave Cyril made me smile or laugh. It was such a silly bantery/funny bit throughout the whole book. Their physical chemistry was a no brainer and off the charts, but the way they sort of fell for one another was a lot softer. On Cyril's part there was a lot of trust needed and the fact that he was able to give it to Enzo, despite there being a lot of insecurities as to if being together meant anything to Enzo felt special.
Also it took me way too long to connect the dots of Enzo's lineage lol but i was more focused on how much he clearly wanted Cyril oops
The only thing i would have wanted was there were a few throwaway lines that Enzo says and Cyril is hurt by them and i sort of wish Cyril would have confronted him on them and Enzo could have explained what he meant? specifically the "it wasnt my idea" but like thats just me nitpicking??
Also it took me way too long to connect the dots of Enzo's lineage lol but i was more focused on how much he clearly wanted Cyril oops
The only thing i would have wanted was there were a few throwaway lines that Enzo says and Cyril is hurt by them and i sort of wish Cyril would have confronted him on them and Enzo could have explained what he meant? specifically the "it wasnt my idea" but like thats just me nitpicking??
June 2, 2024
“Lord No One Wants to Ransom Him and It’s Fucking Obvious Why”
I mostly had a blast with this, Cyril was a dramatic brat and I loved him so much.
forced proximity + horny inducing curse + 2 guys into each other = excuse for some consensual hanky panky.
I basically wanted to highlight and quote every line Cyril said in the book. He was hilarious both in his dialogue and in his internal monologue. His perseveration and indignation about having an okay bed while kidnapped but having a bag of onions stored in the room came up so many times and I cackled each and every one.
Enzo went too far with the gruff thing and we needed a couple more moments of him being kind or earnest, he was more lukewarm and cold than hot and cold relationshipwise for way too long. We didn’t feel a progression of closeness so much as an adjustment to a new situation, and he was a bit too cruel in a couple scenes before they had to part for a while due to plot reasons.
Still a blast, but a felt like a few tweaks could’ve made this like a 4.5 on the fun scale, ENZO. Loved his teasing though.
Some choice quotes:
when he falls off his horse 😂
“Hopefully he’d be racked with guilt for murdering me, cutting me down in my gorgeous prime. Gods, someone had better write a song about it, at least. One that rhymed, and had a wrenchingly tearful chorus.”
——
“Tell my mother to burn my lute with my body,” I rasped. “With my death, my lute should lie mute, as it were. I don’t want anyone else to play her.”
“Burn your—a mute lute? You must be joking. I hope you’re joking. And you’re not dying. I assume you mean you don’t want anyone else to play your instrument, not play your mother? That was a bit ambiguous.”
Indignation choked me nearly as much as the lingering effects of flying off a horse to my inevitable death.
——
“You knocked me off my horse! You bloody well kidnapped me! I hold you directly responsible for all of this,” I hissed. “My lack of pants. The onions.”
His eyebrows rose and he mouthed, The onions?
I chose to ignore him. “The fact that I’m a starving, maltreated prisoner!” I finished, rising to a self-righteous crescendo.
“You—it’s been a few hours!”
——
“This isn’t where we keep the produce, Your Extremely Rumpled and Wrinkled Lordship,”
——
“One Cyril probably doesn’t equal an infestation,” he agreed, his smile growing. “If there were more of you. Oh, gods help us all if there were more of you.”
I mostly had a blast with this, Cyril was a dramatic brat and I loved him so much.
forced proximity + horny inducing curse + 2 guys into each other = excuse for some consensual hanky panky.
I basically wanted to highlight and quote every line Cyril said in the book. He was hilarious both in his dialogue and in his internal monologue. His perseveration and indignation about having an okay bed while kidnapped but having a bag of onions stored in the room came up so many times and I cackled each and every one.
Enzo went too far with the gruff thing and we needed a couple more moments of him being kind or earnest, he was more lukewarm and cold than hot and cold relationshipwise for way too long. We didn’t feel a progression of closeness so much as an adjustment to a new situation, and he was a bit too cruel in a couple scenes before they had to part for a while due to plot reasons.
Still a blast, but a felt like a few tweaks could’ve made this like a 4.5 on the fun scale, ENZO. Loved his teasing though.
Some choice quotes:
when he falls off his horse 😂
“Hopefully he’d be racked with guilt for murdering me, cutting me down in my gorgeous prime. Gods, someone had better write a song about it, at least. One that rhymed, and had a wrenchingly tearful chorus.”
——
“Tell my mother to burn my lute with my body,” I rasped. “With my death, my lute should lie mute, as it were. I don’t want anyone else to play her.”
“Burn your—a mute lute? You must be joking. I hope you’re joking. And you’re not dying. I assume you mean you don’t want anyone else to play your instrument, not play your mother? That was a bit ambiguous.”
Indignation choked me nearly as much as the lingering effects of flying off a horse to my inevitable death.
——
“You knocked me off my horse! You bloody well kidnapped me! I hold you directly responsible for all of this,” I hissed. “My lack of pants. The onions.”
His eyebrows rose and he mouthed, The onions?
I chose to ignore him. “The fact that I’m a starving, maltreated prisoner!” I finished, rising to a self-righteous crescendo.
“You—it’s been a few hours!”
——
“This isn’t where we keep the produce, Your Extremely Rumpled and Wrinkled Lordship,”
——
“One Cyril probably doesn’t equal an infestation,” he agreed, his smile growing. “If there were more of you. Oh, gods help us all if there were more of you.”
May 21, 2025
4.5 stars for the narration, 3.5 for the story
I liked some parts of this more than The Royal Curse. It's another must-shag-or-die story, although the mage in this story hasn't avoided having sex in order to satisfy the curse. (And in fact, sex is his only option as he seems to be allergic to the potions Nico takes in book one.) Cyril is a hoot - pint-sized, snarky, flirty and bratty (although... Cyril - really? Could the author have picked a less sexy name?) - and I liked Enzo's deadpan responses to his smart-mouthed quips, although he's a bit too inscruitable for too long. As the whole story is told from Cyril's perspective, we don't really get much sense of Enzo being genuinely attracted to him until near the end.
That said, I liked them together; Enzo tries hard to be all 'I'm your grumpy captor so you must obey me' but fails dismally (it's clear to the listener that he's kind of entertained by Cyril's antics no matter that Cyril doesn't see it) and Cyril tries to be an ice princess with the same result. The author does a good job of showing that Cyril is hurt over the way he's been treated by his family but that he hides it beneath layers of being an aggravating, sarcastic little shit (in the best way).
Kirt Graves' narration is great - he nails Cyril's waspish humour and Enzo's long-suffering attitude in their many interactions and finds a good range of voices for the secondary characters.
Ultimately, this is a switch-off-your-brain, silly, sexy fantasy romp; the ending is a bit of a mess, but it was a fun listen overall and I'll probably pick up the next book when it appears in audio.
I liked some parts of this more than The Royal Curse. It's another must-shag-or-die story, although the mage in this story hasn't avoided having sex in order to satisfy the curse. (And in fact, sex is his only option as he seems to be allergic to the potions Nico takes in book one.) Cyril is a hoot - pint-sized, snarky, flirty and bratty (although... Cyril - really? Could the author have picked a less sexy name?) - and I liked Enzo's deadpan responses to his smart-mouthed quips, although he's a bit too inscruitable for too long. As the whole story is told from Cyril's perspective, we don't really get much sense of Enzo being genuinely attracted to him until near the end.
That said, I liked them together; Enzo tries hard to be all 'I'm your grumpy captor so you must obey me' but fails dismally (it's clear to the listener that he's kind of entertained by Cyril's antics no matter that Cyril doesn't see it) and Cyril tries to be an ice princess with the same result. The author does a good job of showing that Cyril is hurt over the way he's been treated by his family but that he hides it beneath layers of being an aggravating, sarcastic little shit (in the best way).
Kirt Graves' narration is great - he nails Cyril's waspish humour and Enzo's long-suffering attitude in their many interactions and finds a good range of voices for the secondary characters.
Ultimately, this is a switch-off-your-brain, silly, sexy fantasy romp; the ending is a bit of a mess, but it was a fun listen overall and I'll probably pick up the next book when it appears in audio.
March 19, 2025
This book was so funny! Cyril is so snarky and full of himself and I love him so much! And Enzo absolutely plays along so their banter is top notch which I ADORE! And DAMN they are so good together!
It’s gonna be hard to top these two!
It’s gonna be hard to top these two!
June 16, 2024
This was a great sequel, I loved these characters too. This author does a really good job with the sunshine and grumpy trope. I thought Cyril was amazing and glad he found his happy ending with Enzo. Plus, Enzo was pretty awesome too. Going to have to look at this author's backlist.
August 16, 2024
Cause I'm gonna need another
May 23, 2024
This was a great read and ohhh so spicy 🥵 It is the second in the Twilight Mages series but can absolutely be read as a standalone!
Twilight mages need to submit and have sex with a guy in order for their magic to not consume and harm them… yep, I don’t make the rules but damn does it create some ✨interesting✨ scenarios! Lord Cyril is one of these mages; he’s not a particularly powerful mage, with his magic mainly manifesting in his love of music and poetry. He’s also never had to worry much about his curse, with a string of lovers happy to help him out, as it were. But when he finds himself captured and held for ransom by the gruff, unimpressed Ser Enzo he is worried that his life of luxury might no longer be within his grasp. Explaining his situation to Enzo, Cyril manages to convince the highwayman to help him with his predicament… especially when his family refuses to pay the ransom!
Cyril is a total brat with a heart of gold and I adore him. He’s been kidnapped but is far more concerned with the lack of fluffy pillows and the overwhelming abundance of onions 🤣 He makes Enzo’s life a living hell and it’s so fun to watch the exasperated kidnapper gradually fall for his bratty captive. Enzo has the patience of a saint and although there were times when I wanted to shake him for hurting Cyril’s feelings, they’re just such a perfect couple!
Read The Captive’s Curse for:
✨ Brat x Brat Tamer
✨ Bratty lordling mage x gruff highwayman
✨ Sex Magic
✨ Vegetable innuendos 🍆
✨ Snuggling on cloaks
✨ A ghost and an ancient curse
✨ A bedroom filled with onions
✨ Literally way too few fluffy pillows
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC of this book 💕 It’s available on 30th May!
Twilight mages need to submit and have sex with a guy in order for their magic to not consume and harm them… yep, I don’t make the rules but damn does it create some ✨interesting✨ scenarios! Lord Cyril is one of these mages; he’s not a particularly powerful mage, with his magic mainly manifesting in his love of music and poetry. He’s also never had to worry much about his curse, with a string of lovers happy to help him out, as it were. But when he finds himself captured and held for ransom by the gruff, unimpressed Ser Enzo he is worried that his life of luxury might no longer be within his grasp. Explaining his situation to Enzo, Cyril manages to convince the highwayman to help him with his predicament… especially when his family refuses to pay the ransom!
Cyril is a total brat with a heart of gold and I adore him. He’s been kidnapped but is far more concerned with the lack of fluffy pillows and the overwhelming abundance of onions 🤣 He makes Enzo’s life a living hell and it’s so fun to watch the exasperated kidnapper gradually fall for his bratty captive. Enzo has the patience of a saint and although there were times when I wanted to shake him for hurting Cyril’s feelings, they’re just such a perfect couple!
Read The Captive’s Curse for:
✨ Brat x Brat Tamer
✨ Bratty lordling mage x gruff highwayman
✨ Sex Magic
✨ Vegetable innuendos 🍆
✨ Snuggling on cloaks
✨ A ghost and an ancient curse
✨ A bedroom filled with onions
✨ Literally way too few fluffy pillows
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC of this book 💕 It’s available on 30th May!
July 2, 2024
⭐︎
4.5 stars rounded up
⭐︎
Even better than the first in this series.
This grabbed me from the beginning. Cyril is a Lord, but also is the second brother, so his older brother does all the actual Lord-ing. But Cyril is also a Dawn Mage, or better known as a Twilight Mage, like our Prince in the first book.
Only his magic has never been amazing, and after a few years on potions, his body started to resist them for whatever reason, and he got tired of not being able to be freely himself, to have his libido suppressed, his magic suppressed, all of it.
So for a lot of years, every 10 days or so he's found men to satisfy the need his magic's curse has given him.
After an unfortunate incident at a masquerade ball, where he didn't know who he was giving a blowjob, but it turned out to be his cousin's fiance, he's in the biggest trouble with said cousin and his brother, and a bit his mother as well.
When he's out on the grounds of the estate on his horse, he gets taken by a highway robber, ruffian, criminal, whatever you want to call it.
Enzo is of course tall, broad, ruggedly hansome, with a huge cock 😉 and even though Enzo has taken Cyril captive and isn't exactly a nice man, Cyril can't help but be wildly attracted to him. Also, Enzo never locks the door to the room they put him in, he's never tied up, he's never physically harmed in any way, and Enzo clearly despises the thought of rape as well, as well as his men.
Cyril is quite a character, but he's also pretty beautiful, and knows it. But he's also wildly insecure, with good reason. Because the men he's been with have always only wanted him for sex, but Cyril ultimately craves love. His brother is horrible to him - and as it turns out, doesn't even care to pay the ransom to get him back. Also his brother would prefer that Cyril wasn't killed, but only for appearances sake, really. He makes it clear he wouldn't be too broken up about Cyril dying.
Also with Cyril's magic never having been great, that's also a great source of insecurity for him. And Enzo, at first, doesn't make it easier on Cyril's self esteem.
Enzo, it is clear - even though we don't get his POV, which I desperately wanted - is very attracted to Cyril, but doesn't want to be. And he's had a tough life that's led to his gruffness, and he obviously has a very hard time expressing himself and his feelings. His stumbling over his words several times throughout this - or not finishing sentences - showed that.
But Cyril is something else entirely that he doesn't see coming. Enzo clearly tries to push Cyril away several times throughout this - which, knowing exactly why with his POV would have been great, and so that's mainly the reason for my .5 stars off.
Just knowing why, exactly, would have been great. I was able to guess from what Cyril found out, but we never hear the exact reason why from Enzo himself. It just would have been nice to get that exact reason with his POV.
It all works out in the end, but he says some harsh things to Cyril, even near the end when they've formed a bond then in the beginning when they hadn't. So just knowing his reasoning for that would have been good.
Otherwise, I really enjoyed this. When these two weren't being mean or making jabs at each other (Enzo more than Cyril, although Cyril had a few of his own), they were actually quite funny and sexy together. Their witty banter just worked so well, and the chemistry was very good - although they always have sex, the whole time, with Enzo at least with a shirt on and I was getting a bit frustrated by that because I wanted him to be naked too - although Cyril was never fully naked either, I believe - and I wanted Cyril to drool over his chest 😂 But also I wanted to get to the more intimate sex scenes between them - they were hot but not loving or romantic at first - with them fully naked. Even at the end, since they're outside, they both have clothes on still. I was like take them all off arghhh haha.
Not too big a deal overall, but just something I started to notice. Like also it was sexy that they couldn't wait to get it all off, but...no, I wanted full nudity, dammit 😭
Anyway, I digress. The plot worked well, and the climax was exciting, and these two just worked well together.
I don't know if we'll get more from this series, but since these two only had one little crossover scene with the couple from the first book, I can totally see there being a next book with a new couple not related in any way to the characters we met in this book.
Either way, I'm definitely excited to read more of this author in the future. Two solid outings definitely gives me hope for more wins in the future.
So, onto the next! 🥳
My Ratings for the Twilight Mages series:
🔅 The Royal Curse: 4.25 stars (my review)
🔅The Captive's Curse: 4.5 stars
Even better than the first in this series.
This grabbed me from the beginning. Cyril is a Lord, but also is the second brother, so his older brother does all the actual Lord-ing. But Cyril is also a Dawn Mage, or better known as a Twilight Mage, like our Prince in the first book.
Only his magic has never been amazing, and after a few years on potions, his body started to resist them for whatever reason, and he got tired of not being able to be freely himself, to have his libido suppressed, his magic suppressed, all of it.
So for a lot of years, every 10 days or so he's found men to satisfy the need his magic's curse has given him.
After an unfortunate incident at a masquerade ball, where he didn't know who he was giving a blowjob, but it turned out to be his cousin's fiance, he's in the biggest trouble with said cousin and his brother, and a bit his mother as well.
When he's out on the grounds of the estate on his horse, he gets taken by a highway robber, ruffian, criminal, whatever you want to call it.
Enzo is of course tall, broad, ruggedly hansome, with a huge cock 😉 and even though Enzo has taken Cyril captive and isn't exactly a nice man, Cyril can't help but be wildly attracted to him. Also, Enzo never locks the door to the room they put him in, he's never tied up, he's never physically harmed in any way, and Enzo clearly despises the thought of rape as well, as well as his men.
Cyril is quite a character, but he's also pretty beautiful, and knows it. But he's also wildly insecure, with good reason. Because the men he's been with have always only wanted him for sex, but Cyril ultimately craves love. His brother is horrible to him - and as it turns out, doesn't even care to pay the ransom to get him back. Also his brother would prefer that Cyril wasn't killed, but only for appearances sake, really. He makes it clear he wouldn't be too broken up about Cyril dying.
Also with Cyril's magic never having been great, that's also a great source of insecurity for him. And Enzo, at first, doesn't make it easier on Cyril's self esteem.
Enzo, it is clear - even though we don't get his POV, which I desperately wanted - is very attracted to Cyril, but doesn't want to be. And he's had a tough life that's led to his gruffness, and he obviously has a very hard time expressing himself and his feelings. His stumbling over his words several times throughout this - or not finishing sentences - showed that.
But Cyril is something else entirely that he doesn't see coming. Enzo clearly tries to push Cyril away several times throughout this - which, knowing exactly why with his POV would have been great, and so that's mainly the reason for my .5 stars off.
Just knowing why, exactly, would have been great. I was able to guess from what Cyril found out, but we never hear the exact reason why from Enzo himself. It just would have been nice to get that exact reason with his POV.
It all works out in the end, but he says some harsh things to Cyril, even near the end when they've formed a bond then in the beginning when they hadn't. So just knowing his reasoning for that would have been good.
Otherwise, I really enjoyed this. When these two weren't being mean or making jabs at each other (Enzo more than Cyril, although Cyril had a few of his own), they were actually quite funny and sexy together. Their witty banter just worked so well, and the chemistry was very good - although they always have sex, the whole time, with Enzo at least with a shirt on and I was getting a bit frustrated by that because I wanted him to be naked too - although Cyril was never fully naked either, I believe - and I wanted Cyril to drool over his chest 😂 But also I wanted to get to the more intimate sex scenes between them - they were hot but not loving or romantic at first - with them fully naked. Even at the end, since they're outside, they both have clothes on still. I was like take them all off arghhh haha.
Not too big a deal overall, but just something I started to notice. Like also it was sexy that they couldn't wait to get it all off, but...no, I wanted full nudity, dammit 😭
Anyway, I digress. The plot worked well, and the climax was exciting, and these two just worked well together.
I don't know if we'll get more from this series, but since these two only had one little crossover scene with the couple from the first book, I can totally see there being a next book with a new couple not related in any way to the characters we met in this book.
Either way, I'm definitely excited to read more of this author in the future. Two solid outings definitely gives me hope for more wins in the future.
So, onto the next! 🥳
My Ratings for the Twilight Mages series:
🔅 The Royal Curse: 4.25 stars (my review)
🔅The Captive's Curse: 4.5 stars
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