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Dragon Cursed
Now optioned for film by Amazon MGM Studios!
The moment you see a dragon is usually your last…
Since the dragons emerged–along with the scourge that ravaged our lands and people–there’s only one human city that remains Vinguard.
But the hellfire from above is nothing compared to the threat from within. For there is no worse fate than being dragon cursed. Slowly and excruciatingly, you’ll be transformed into a mindless beast who destroys everything–and everyone–you love.
Any of us could be tainted. Any of us could be lying. Any of us could be caught and killed by the authorities.
And I’m terrified that I might be next.
There’s only one other person who might suspect my secret. He’s like my shadow, following me wherever I go. Part protector, part tormentor, fully annoying. Sometimes I think I am just one of the million unfathomable secrets he keeps hidden.
Because Lucan definitely knows something.
And if I’m dragon cursed, death might be the only mercy I get.
The moment you see a dragon is usually your last…
Since the dragons emerged–along with the scourge that ravaged our lands and people–there’s only one human city that remains Vinguard.
But the hellfire from above is nothing compared to the threat from within. For there is no worse fate than being dragon cursed. Slowly and excruciatingly, you’ll be transformed into a mindless beast who destroys everything–and everyone–you love.
Any of us could be tainted. Any of us could be lying. Any of us could be caught and killed by the authorities.
And I’m terrified that I might be next.
There’s only one other person who might suspect my secret. He’s like my shadow, following me wherever I go. Part protector, part tormentor, fully annoying. Sometimes I think I am just one of the million unfathomable secrets he keeps hidden.
Because Lucan definitely knows something.
And if I’m dragon cursed, death might be the only mercy I get.
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2026
303 people are currently reading
32553 people want to read
About the author
Elise Kova
59 books17.4k followersJoin Elise's mailing list to never miss a giveaway, release, sale, and more: https://elisekova.com/subscribe/
ELISE KOVA is a USA Today bestselling author. She enjoys telling stories of fantasy worlds filled with magic and deep emotions. She lives in Florida and, when not writing, can be found playing video games, drawing, chatting with readers on social media, or daydreaming about her next story.
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ELISE KOVA is a USA Today bestselling author. She enjoys telling stories of fantasy worlds filled with magic and deep emotions. She lives in Florida and, when not writing, can be found playing video games, drawing, chatting with readers on social media, or daydreaming about her next story.
Say Hello!
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
Currently reading
January 5, 2026"After all, it takes monsters to kill monsters. And that is what they have made me."
End-of-the-world vibes, dragon edition. Love this for me/us.
End-of-the-world vibes, dragon edition. Love this for me/us.
Currently reading
January 6, 2026I should probably read one of my numerous ARCs that are slated to come out this month... but no, here I am.
I want drama and I want dragons🙏
I want drama and I want dragons🙏
Want to read
January 8, 2026a book about DRAGONS written by the genius ELISE KOVA??? SIGN. ME. UP.
UPDATE: THIS IS GOING TO BE ADAPTED INTO A MOVIE!!! I couldn’t be more excited about this book and happy about Elise, she deserves it so much her stories and worlds are the BEST EVER!
UPDATE: THIS IS GOING TO BE ADAPTED INTO A MOVIE!!! I couldn’t be more excited about this book and happy about Elise, she deserves it so much her stories and worlds are the BEST EVER!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
WOW. WOW. WOW.
Listen... I am not usually a YA reader. In fact, I normally side-eye YA like, "Sure, kiddo, tell me about your dramatic high school heartbreak."
But this book? THIS BOOK.
It grabbed me by the collar, sat me down, and said, "You're not going anywhere." I was turning pages faster than my coffee could cool. I am OBSESSED and I need Book 2 STAT. Someone please time-travel me to the release date.
As a 42-year-old reading YA, I usually struggle because the characters feel immature and the development can be... well... flimsy at best. Not here. These characters are engaging, layered, and gloriously well-developed. I cared. I stressed. I cheered. I may have yelled at the pages a few times.
Elise has officially become an auto-buy author for life. Take my money, take my emotions, take my sleep schedule-I'm in.
Listen... I am not usually a YA reader. In fact, I normally side-eye YA like, "Sure, kiddo, tell me about your dramatic high school heartbreak."
But this book? THIS BOOK.
It grabbed me by the collar, sat me down, and said, "You're not going anywhere." I was turning pages faster than my coffee could cool. I am OBSESSED and I need Book 2 STAT. Someone please time-travel me to the release date.
As a 42-year-old reading YA, I usually struggle because the characters feel immature and the development can be... well... flimsy at best. Not here. These characters are engaging, layered, and gloriously well-developed. I cared. I stressed. I cheered. I may have yelled at the pages a few times.
Elise has officially become an auto-buy author for life. Take my money, take my emotions, take my sleep schedule-I'm in.
January 10, 2026
.3.75 stars.
.my thoughts.
Elise Kova's upper ya fantasy Dragon Cursed introduces us into a new world of hers, with enchanting dragons.
I honestly enjoyed reading this book, because there was something that kept me hanging and made me want to imagine myself what could possibly happen.
the characters were likeable to the utmost. I don't really have a lot to say for our main characters because they were likeable okay? I don't know what I could say more about it.
I was surprised to find my name, just without the 'y'. I hated Pia before, but I kind of loved her when I got to know about her like wow hey she's so pretty jk.
Ember and Myla I loved them too.
Saipha was a good friend to our protagonist, I loved this red girl and understood her fear, she was someone Isola could lean on.
Lucan, for a second I thought he was a simple character but meh. wow, what a drastic change and reveal it was. I liked it.
honestly I would recommend this, upper ya fantasy. it is also selected for movie adaptation so let's just see.
.my thoughts.
Elise Kova's upper ya fantasy Dragon Cursed introduces us into a new world of hers, with enchanting dragons.
I honestly enjoyed reading this book, because there was something that kept me hanging and made me want to imagine myself what could possibly happen.
the characters were likeable to the utmost. I don't really have a lot to say for our main characters because they were likeable okay? I don't know what I could say more about it.
I was surprised to find my name, just without the 'y'. I hated Pia before, but I kind of loved her when I got to know about her like wow hey she's so pretty jk.
Ember and Myla I loved them too.
Saipha was a good friend to our protagonist, I loved this red girl and understood her fear, she was someone Isola could lean on.
Lucan, for a second I thought he was a simple character but meh. wow, what a drastic change and reveal it was. I liked it.
honestly I would recommend this, upper ya fantasy. it is also selected for movie adaptation so let's just see.
Want to read
December 29, 2024this might be my most anticipated fantasy of 2025 🥰
January 1, 2026
“i’ve never had someone hold me like this before. saipha always is there for me. she always has my back. but this is something more. this feels like… like if i were to lean on him, he wouldn’t pull away. as though he’s a break against a storm i didn’t even notice on the horizon.”
🐉🗡️🖤🍂🗝️
i am so amazed by this story and elise kova’s writing. reading this book gave me the same high of reading fourth wing for the very first time. that is not to say that this is anything like fourth wing, it completely stands on its own and is nothing like it and is SUCH a fun and unique story. i am obsessed with our two main characters, isola & lucan. isola’s strength and determination to save those she loves is so admirable. she is put through HELL and continues to persevere through it all. i also loved lucan so much. i was so suspicious of him at first, but his character development was amazing. he protected isola over and over again without her ever knowing and continued to do so until the very last page. this was so action packed and fast paced and i never felt myself growing bored or waiting for something to happen. i cannot recommend this book enough, i think this could be the next romantasy to completely blow up and take over the fantasy world!
🐉🗡️🖤🍂🗝️
i am so amazed by this story and elise kova’s writing. reading this book gave me the same high of reading fourth wing for the very first time. that is not to say that this is anything like fourth wing, it completely stands on its own and is nothing like it and is SUCH a fun and unique story. i am obsessed with our two main characters, isola & lucan. isola’s strength and determination to save those she loves is so admirable. she is put through HELL and continues to persevere through it all. i also loved lucan so much. i was so suspicious of him at first, but his character development was amazing. he protected isola over and over again without her ever knowing and continued to do so until the very last page. this was so action packed and fast paced and i never felt myself growing bored or waiting for something to happen. i cannot recommend this book enough, i think this could be the next romantasy to completely blow up and take over the fantasy world!
January 6, 2026
**review based off e-arc from Entangled Publishing & NetGalley**
I had a really hard time deciding between 2 and 3 stars.
The concept of this story seems really interesting. It has all the makings of a great book. But I didn’t like the characters, the writing, or the plot.
In this world, humanity has retreated to one cave like place, with building going up like stalagmites on the surface, and built in downward spiral of stalactites jn the underground. The reason they live in such a dire place is the curse of dragons. Not only do dragons like to destroy and kill, but they also bring an imbalance to magic and a scourge to the land making it inhospitable.
But dragons have to come from somewhere.
In this world, they come from humans. Some people are born cursed with a dragon within. At some point they change and become mindless killing machines. To try to protect themselves and root out the cursed, all children are forced to go through a tribunal. Three weeks of challenges and torture to try to force the change.
This is where the plot drops off. Because the trials really aren’t that bad. And they aren’t very organized. There is literally no rhyme or reason to why they are attempting certain trials and how they are supposed to force the change. Furthermore, they are supposed to be faced with stuff in between trials, and certainly the main characters run into trouble the first couple of nights- but that’s kinda cause they went looking for it? Like if she had just stayed in her room she would have been fine. Also she talks about what she went through the second night the rest of the book, but it really didn’t seem that bad, and she managed to overcome it pretty quickly.
That leads me to the characters.
I hated the main character. I thought she was whiny. And stubborn. And totally fake. Her best friend also got progressively whinier as the book went on. Finally the male protagonist was also annoying. I can feel she was going for brooding, and I got yearning from him. But when he had a chance with the main girl, he literally said we can’t do this and walked away. Only to change his mind and kiss her in the next chapter. With no explanations of why he was being so mercurial.
Finally, the writing.
I don’t know what happened here. I have read some of Kova’s other books and loved them! But the POV in this book made me feel like it was telling rather than showing and letting me feel it. Maybe it was just because I found the main character so annoying? Towards the end of the book I also felt the writing/plot got a little messy. There’s one point where the main character says she has to keep these two other names in mind, and I was like-who the f*** are these people. I have literally no idea but she’s saying it like these two people are really important and influential to the story.
This one was a miss for me. But I will continue to support and reads Kova’s books.
I had a really hard time deciding between 2 and 3 stars.
The concept of this story seems really interesting. It has all the makings of a great book. But I didn’t like the characters, the writing, or the plot.
In this world, humanity has retreated to one cave like place, with building going up like stalagmites on the surface, and built in downward spiral of stalactites jn the underground. The reason they live in such a dire place is the curse of dragons. Not only do dragons like to destroy and kill, but they also bring an imbalance to magic and a scourge to the land making it inhospitable.
But dragons have to come from somewhere.
In this world, they come from humans. Some people are born cursed with a dragon within. At some point they change and become mindless killing machines. To try to protect themselves and root out the cursed, all children are forced to go through a tribunal. Three weeks of challenges and torture to try to force the change.
This is where the plot drops off. Because the trials really aren’t that bad. And they aren’t very organized. There is literally no rhyme or reason to why they are attempting certain trials and how they are supposed to force the change. Furthermore, they are supposed to be faced with stuff in between trials, and certainly the main characters run into trouble the first couple of nights- but that’s kinda cause they went looking for it? Like if she had just stayed in her room she would have been fine. Also she talks about what she went through the second night the rest of the book, but it really didn’t seem that bad, and she managed to overcome it pretty quickly.
That leads me to the characters.
I hated the main character. I thought she was whiny. And stubborn. And totally fake. Her best friend also got progressively whinier as the book went on. Finally the male protagonist was also annoying. I can feel she was going for brooding, and I got yearning from him. But when he had a chance with the main girl, he literally said we can’t do this and walked away. Only to change his mind and kiss her in the next chapter. With no explanations of why he was being so mercurial.
Finally, the writing.
I don’t know what happened here. I have read some of Kova’s other books and loved them! But the POV in this book made me feel like it was telling rather than showing and letting me feel it. Maybe it was just because I found the main character so annoying? Towards the end of the book I also felt the writing/plot got a little messy. There’s one point where the main character says she has to keep these two other names in mind, and I was like-who the f*** are these people. I have literally no idea but she’s saying it like these two people are really important and influential to the story.
This one was a miss for me. But I will continue to support and reads Kova’s books.
December 31, 2025
4.5
If Elise Kova writes it, I read it. It’s a fast, fun read that I knew I knew I needed to read slow or else I would inhale it in one day. With that being said- Elise created a world and story that has me wishing I could somehow record the cinema that played in my head while reading.
Isola lives in Vingard, the last stronghold in a world ravaged by dragons and the deadly scourge- a blight that kills anything and everything. As the girl who survived a dragon attack that left her with a scar on her heart and two gold eyes, Isola is considered Valor Reborn, the new savior of her world. But Isola is a fraud. She may even be dragon cursed. She is controlled by the Vicar, forced to do his bidding. To take her place as a full citizen, Isola must go through the mysterious Tribunal to prove (or disprove) she isn’t going to turn into a dragon. The good part? Her best friend will go through the Tribunal with her. The bad part? The Vicar’s son, Lucan, will also be in the Tribunal.
Top tier YA fantasy, in my humble opinion. The chapters are short, the pace is fast, and the world building is fantastic. I really love the gritty, cruel world. Isola is a fiery teenager ready to bust out of her chains. Lucan is way more than he seems. Some well-placed foreshadowing makes a few things a little predictable, but I did not see everything that was coming in the end. I’m super pumped for the next book!
Why the 4.5? It’s pretty formulaic. Don’t get me wrong, the magic and world are incredibly unique! But Elise definitely has a trend with her male main characters. I don’t love that they all seem the same. The tropes were typical fantasy romance. I know that the predictability will turn a good amount of people away. I’m a fan and not a hater, so I enjoyed it- I just wish she would change up the formula a little bit.
“Remember: The deadliest dragon is the one within.”
THANK YOU to Entangled and Mayhem for the gifted eARC!!
If Elise Kova writes it, I read it. It’s a fast, fun read that I knew I knew I needed to read slow or else I would inhale it in one day. With that being said- Elise created a world and story that has me wishing I could somehow record the cinema that played in my head while reading.
Isola lives in Vingard, the last stronghold in a world ravaged by dragons and the deadly scourge- a blight that kills anything and everything. As the girl who survived a dragon attack that left her with a scar on her heart and two gold eyes, Isola is considered Valor Reborn, the new savior of her world. But Isola is a fraud. She may even be dragon cursed. She is controlled by the Vicar, forced to do his bidding. To take her place as a full citizen, Isola must go through the mysterious Tribunal to prove (or disprove) she isn’t going to turn into a dragon. The good part? Her best friend will go through the Tribunal with her. The bad part? The Vicar’s son, Lucan, will also be in the Tribunal.
Top tier YA fantasy, in my humble opinion. The chapters are short, the pace is fast, and the world building is fantastic. I really love the gritty, cruel world. Isola is a fiery teenager ready to bust out of her chains. Lucan is way more than he seems. Some well-placed foreshadowing makes a few things a little predictable, but I did not see everything that was coming in the end. I’m super pumped for the next book!
Why the 4.5? It’s pretty formulaic. Don’t get me wrong, the magic and world are incredibly unique! But Elise definitely has a trend with her male main characters. I don’t love that they all seem the same. The tropes were typical fantasy romance. I know that the predictability will turn a good amount of people away. I’m a fan and not a hater, so I enjoyed it- I just wish she would change up the formula a little bit.
“Remember: The deadliest dragon is the one within.”
THANK YOU to Entangled and Mayhem for the gifted eARC!!
Want to read
January 6, 2026Release Day! I am really looking forward to this one! ❤️🔥❤️
January 10, 2026
• Adjustments: 4.5 stars!!!
• POV: 1st Person / Single
• Book Spice: None
• Content Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book and the world of Vinguard. The lore immediately hooked me from page 1, and I closed the book with so many questions, in a good way. I am genuinely excited to see those questions answered in book 2.
While I did predict one of the major plot twists, several others completely caught me off guard and made me even more eager to reach the conclusion of this duology. The pacing and reveals kept things engaging without feeling repetitive or drawn out.
As for the romance setup, the MMC was easily one of my favorite characters in the book. That said, I do wish the romantic interest had been shown more through on page interactions rather than us being told the FMC’s feelings so early on. It felt like we were spoon fed the FMC’s feelings at times. A little more buildup and shared moments would have connected me more to that aspect.
And lastly, I am SO excited that this is becoming a movie. After seeing the map and experiencing the world through the story, it just makes sense. This world feels cinematic, and I can already picture how incredible it could be on screen.
Thank you Entangled Teen, Mayhem Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
• POV: 1st Person / Single
• Book Spice: None
• Content Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book and the world of Vinguard. The lore immediately hooked me from page 1, and I closed the book with so many questions, in a good way. I am genuinely excited to see those questions answered in book 2.
While I did predict one of the major plot twists, several others completely caught me off guard and made me even more eager to reach the conclusion of this duology. The pacing and reveals kept things engaging without feeling repetitive or drawn out.
As for the romance setup, the MMC was easily one of my favorite characters in the book. That said, I do wish the romantic interest had been shown more through on page interactions rather than us being told the FMC’s feelings so early on. It felt like we were spoon fed the FMC’s feelings at times. A little more buildup and shared moments would have connected me more to that aspect.
And lastly, I am SO excited that this is becoming a movie. After seeing the map and experiencing the world through the story, it just makes sense. This world feels cinematic, and I can already picture how incredible it could be on screen.
Thank you Entangled Teen, Mayhem Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 6, 2026
I thouroghly enjoyed this YA fantasy about dragons and what it means to be dragon cursed. The story flowed and kept me engaged the entire time. The characters are authentic and brave. They go through so many trials and then everything comes to a head and you are hoping for the best. The cliff hanger has me wanting to read the next installment.
I want to thank Entangled Publishing for the advance reader copy, free physical book. My review is voluntary.
I want to thank Entangled Publishing for the advance reader copy, free physical book. My review is voluntary.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Dragon Cursed, oh, where do I start with this one? Let me say I knew I'd love it going in. I've read so many Elise Kova books, and they never cease to amaze me. Dragon Cursed was no different, and did I reorganize an entire bookshelf to make room for the finished copy that's coming? Yes, yes, I did, and I can't wait to add it to the collection.
Now as for this book it's freaking brilliant, I had honestly thought I was done with dragons before reading this, now I'm back at the point of dragons on my mind 24/7 and can't wait for more, I mean I know I'll have to so there's that but I'm obsessed with this book.
I keep thinking about the family dynamics that Isola has to face from the first pages with help and potential harm she has to figure out the in's and outs of potentially being Dragon Cursed while living up to the impossibly high standards set by her family, Family drama has been on my mind a lot the last few days and this played into that pretty perfectly and while the situations are completely different I can see the depth it took for Isola to do the things that she had to do.
I will say that everyone needs a friend like Saipha. I know I wish I had one, because having someone who has your back, even when it means putting themselves in harm's way, that's not something that everyone has, but in this story, it's crucial and was written to perfection. Lucan, now there's one it took me a bit to figure out, but in the end, well, let's just say I have my favorites.
Now as to the what you all want to know, is Isola Dragon Cursed, I'm not going to tell you, what I will say is that everyone that loves a good romantasy needs to read this book, it's beyond brilliant, I find myself in the position of wondering if my first book of the year is going to be the best of the year, if nothing else this book has set the bar so high I don't know if anything can knock it off it's pedestal.
Thank you to Entangled Teen for the gifted copy of this bloody brilliant book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it, and all thoughts are my own.
Now as for this book it's freaking brilliant, I had honestly thought I was done with dragons before reading this, now I'm back at the point of dragons on my mind 24/7 and can't wait for more, I mean I know I'll have to so there's that but I'm obsessed with this book.
I keep thinking about the family dynamics that Isola has to face from the first pages with help and potential harm she has to figure out the in's and outs of potentially being Dragon Cursed while living up to the impossibly high standards set by her family, Family drama has been on my mind a lot the last few days and this played into that pretty perfectly and while the situations are completely different I can see the depth it took for Isola to do the things that she had to do.
I will say that everyone needs a friend like Saipha. I know I wish I had one, because having someone who has your back, even when it means putting themselves in harm's way, that's not something that everyone has, but in this story, it's crucial and was written to perfection. Lucan, now there's one it took me a bit to figure out, but in the end, well, let's just say I have my favorites.
Now as to the what you all want to know, is Isola Dragon Cursed, I'm not going to tell you, what I will say is that everyone that loves a good romantasy needs to read this book, it's beyond brilliant, I find myself in the position of wondering if my first book of the year is going to be the best of the year, if nothing else this book has set the bar so high I don't know if anything can knock it off it's pedestal.
Thank you to Entangled Teen for the gifted copy of this bloody brilliant book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it, and all thoughts are my own.
January 2, 2026
This was my first Elise Kova book, and wow—consider me officially intrigued. A book about dragons? Say less. That alone sold me, but what really kept me reading was how unpredictable the story felt. I wasn’t always sure where the plot was going, yet I loved realizing that I had slightly predicted a few things along the way. Finding out I was so close when certain reveals happened made the reading experience even more fun.
The final few chapters destroyed me—in the best way. I was literally covering my mouth, equal parts shocked and anxious, and that twist?? Completely unhinged. I need book two immediately because there is no way I’m done with this world yet.
My one critique is the magic system. I found myself pretty confused for a good portion of the book and even had to ask a friend to explain it to me. I wish it had been fleshed out a bit more on the page so it was easier to follow.
Overall, this was a gripping, dragon-filled ride with a jaw-dropping ending, and I’m very excited to continue the series. Thank you so much to Entangled Publishing / Entangled Teen / Mayhem Books for the gifted eARC! Release date is January 6th so do yourself a New Year’s favor and treat yourself to this book!
The final few chapters destroyed me—in the best way. I was literally covering my mouth, equal parts shocked and anxious, and that twist?? Completely unhinged. I need book two immediately because there is no way I’m done with this world yet.
My one critique is the magic system. I found myself pretty confused for a good portion of the book and even had to ask a friend to explain it to me. I wish it had been fleshed out a bit more on the page so it was easier to follow.
Overall, this was a gripping, dragon-filled ride with a jaw-dropping ending, and I’m very excited to continue the series. Thank you so much to Entangled Publishing / Entangled Teen / Mayhem Books for the gifted eARC! Release date is January 6th so do yourself a New Year’s favor and treat yourself to this book!
January 2, 2026
If Fourth Wing, Phantasma, and Flesh and Fire had a baby, it would be Dragon Cursed. This is THE MUST READ ROMANTASY book for 2026.
Dragon Cursed is an action packed fantasy filled with trials, dragons, politics, a chosen one, found family, and a dash of no spice romance. Isola, Saipha, and Lucan have come of age but before they can be citizens of Vingard, they must survive the deadly Tribunal where they will all be pushed beyond their limits so that the government and root out the dragon cursed—people who turn into dragons. This year the Tribunal’s are extra important because Isola is the chosen one—the one who is said to have legendary magic that will eradicate dragons for once and for all. Except Isola is not sure if she is the chosen one or dragon cursed.
Thank you Entangled Publishing for surprising me with an ARC of what could very well be my first and favorite book of 2026. This is a MUST READ for all Romantasy lovers that releases on January 6, 2026.
Dragon Cursed is an action packed fantasy filled with trials, dragons, politics, a chosen one, found family, and a dash of no spice romance. Isola, Saipha, and Lucan have come of age but before they can be citizens of Vingard, they must survive the deadly Tribunal where they will all be pushed beyond their limits so that the government and root out the dragon cursed—people who turn into dragons. This year the Tribunal’s are extra important because Isola is the chosen one—the one who is said to have legendary magic that will eradicate dragons for once and for all. Except Isola is not sure if she is the chosen one or dragon cursed.
Thank you Entangled Publishing for surprising me with an ARC of what could very well be my first and favorite book of 2026. This is a MUST READ for all Romantasy lovers that releases on January 6, 2026.
January 9, 2026
i couldn't put it down.
Want to read
December 6, 2025how have i just found out about this?????????
January 9, 2026
Well this was one hell of a start to the year. How is any other book going to compare to this?!?!
January 5, 2026
This is my first review in what feels like forever… but also a goal I want to push for 2026.
*I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I’m a sucker for dragons and I don’t think that will ever end. Elise Kova is one of my favorite authors and I was so excited to see that she wrote a book with dragons in it!
Plot & Pacing: The plot was interesting and kept me invested in the story. The pacing was fairly good until about 2/3 of the way through, and then it felt rushed. The culmination and bigger picture resolved itself quickly. I would’ve liked both more development of the big picture and a more impactful ending. I felt that I saw some of the twists coming and that made certain areas less impactful for me.
Characters: I liked Isola. I had to remind myself that this is a young adult book and I don’t normally read YA anymore, so it was a bit difficult to put myself in the shoes of a younger character at times. But, that being said, her developmental level and thought processes made sense. Saphia was honestly such a sweet character. I felt her concern for her friend and enjoyed her as a side character. And Lucan — he was another character that I liked but he wasn’t the typical MMC one usually sees in today’s romantasy. That isn’t a bad thing, he was just different.
Romance: This book is categorized as a romantasy but I didn’t feel much romance from it. I would say it’s more of a fantasy romance instead. I didn’t find myself interested in the romance that much and I was rather more invested in the plot as a whole. Again, it’s not a bad thing, it’s just different.
Bottom line, I would recommend this book and I enjoyed reading it. It was my first book in a few weeks because of a bunch of stressors going on, and I’m glad that I was able to finish it before release day tomorrow!
*I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I’m a sucker for dragons and I don’t think that will ever end. Elise Kova is one of my favorite authors and I was so excited to see that she wrote a book with dragons in it!
Plot & Pacing: The plot was interesting and kept me invested in the story. The pacing was fairly good until about 2/3 of the way through, and then it felt rushed. The culmination and bigger picture resolved itself quickly. I would’ve liked both more development of the big picture and a more impactful ending. I felt that I saw some of the twists coming and that made certain areas less impactful for me.
Characters: I liked Isola. I had to remind myself that this is a young adult book and I don’t normally read YA anymore, so it was a bit difficult to put myself in the shoes of a younger character at times. But, that being said, her developmental level and thought processes made sense. Saphia was honestly such a sweet character. I felt her concern for her friend and enjoyed her as a side character. And Lucan — he was another character that I liked but he wasn’t the typical MMC one usually sees in today’s romantasy. That isn’t a bad thing, he was just different.
Romance: This book is categorized as a romantasy but I didn’t feel much romance from it. I would say it’s more of a fantasy romance instead. I didn’t find myself interested in the romance that much and I was rather more invested in the plot as a whole. Again, it’s not a bad thing, it’s just different.
Bottom line, I would recommend this book and I enjoyed reading it. It was my first book in a few weeks because of a bunch of stressors going on, and I’m glad that I was able to finish it before release day tomorrow!
January 6, 2026
Dragon Cursed is an enthralling upper YA fantasy book. Once Valor Reborn, Isola, enters the trials to weed out any that are dragon cursed the pacing ramps up and doesn’t back down. There’s so much to take in from the world building both in terms of the society structure, sigils, and types of dragons. This story is full of twists and surprises. Some will be easy to guess early on especially if you read a lot of fantasy or Romantasy. However, even the most seasoned readers will still be surprised by some twists. Kova masterfully lead readers in certain directions and lulled into thinking we had it all figured out before pulling back the curtain and letting us in on the truth. I adored Isola’s character. She had so many expectations put on her being declared Valor Reborn while also struggling from a dragon attack when she was younger. I felt her character was written in such a realistic way especially to how she responded to these things like never knowing people’s true intentions for wanting to be friends with her. I had a great time with this book, and I’m excited to see where the series goes.
ARC courtesy of Entangled Mayhem
ARC courtesy of Entangled Mayhem
January 3, 2026
It’s always a good day when you have books with dragons! And well, this is a YA cateogrized book. I still thoroughly enjoyed myself. Welcome to Vinguard that last human remaining city standing. The story immediately pulled me in. I was captured by the world building and the characters and it would not let me go until the very end. I needed to know what was going to happen and I was throughly sat the whole entire time. I serious think that Elise Kova has something special here and I hope it gets the hype that it deserves upon release. I really liked our main character, Isola. And Lucan. I love him, but I also at times didn’t. lol. I think in the end the story line was very well thought out and the pacing was great. Surprising enough the only other book I have read by Elise is Arcana Academy and now I’m waiting for two sequels and this is going to be my year of reading her entire backlog because I am now an Elise stan!
Thank you to Entangled Publishing for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 10, 2026
Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova is a high stakes YA fantasy, with a touch of romance sprinkled in, featuring a complex magic system, pressure of defined fate, and the ultimate test of survival.
Isola has been identified as the Valor Reborn, a title she never asked for, with a fate she doesn’t want. But in Vinguard, at the age of 18, you are sent to the Tribunal to rule out anyone dragon cursed—Isola’s greatest fear. To say Isola is tested during the Tribunal is to put it simply, but given her status as the Valor Reborn, she is pushed to every limit possible.
Kova does an incredible job with pacing throughout this book, keeping the excitement and anticipation flowing from the first page to the last. Her world building and never ending layers of character depth truly captivated me, along with the unexpected plot twists, high stake situations, and a slow burning romance between Isola and her enemy’s son, there was so much to discover in this book.
Isola has been identified as the Valor Reborn, a title she never asked for, with a fate she doesn’t want. But in Vinguard, at the age of 18, you are sent to the Tribunal to rule out anyone dragon cursed—Isola’s greatest fear. To say Isola is tested during the Tribunal is to put it simply, but given her status as the Valor Reborn, she is pushed to every limit possible.
Kova does an incredible job with pacing throughout this book, keeping the excitement and anticipation flowing from the first page to the last. Her world building and never ending layers of character depth truly captivated me, along with the unexpected plot twists, high stake situations, and a slow burning romance between Isola and her enemy’s son, there was so much to discover in this book.
January 7, 2026
What a wild ride!! I absolutely loved this one! This young adult romantasy had everything you could possible want and more! I loved the suspense and mystery of this new world! The dragons and magic were unique and the story hooked me.
Isola was great FMC! She was easy to root for and I enjoyed her fierce defiance.
Lucan was a mystery! I loved uncovering his story and I can’t wait for more!! I enjoyed his loyal to Isola as well!! So sweet!
I enjoyed the build up to the relationship and look forward to where things go from there. But moreso I’m excited to see what happens in this world with the dragons!! I so loved the twists in the end and am dying for the next one!
Be sure to check this one out if you love deadly trials, dragons, unique magicks, slow burn, young adult fantasy, chosen one, monster hunter society, and more!
Isola was great FMC! She was easy to root for and I enjoyed her fierce defiance.
Lucan was a mystery! I loved uncovering his story and I can’t wait for more!! I enjoyed his loyal to Isola as well!! So sweet!
I enjoyed the build up to the relationship and look forward to where things go from there. But moreso I’m excited to see what happens in this world with the dragons!! I so loved the twists in the end and am dying for the next one!
Be sure to check this one out if you love deadly trials, dragons, unique magicks, slow burn, young adult fantasy, chosen one, monster hunter society, and more!
January 1, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Epic read!
I just read the physical ARC of Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova and this is now my favorite book of hers. I’m not going to give spoilers, but I loved the characters so much, especially Isola. She grew a lot, she’s smart, brave, and such a loyal friend. Everything she thought she knew turned out to be something completely different, and she didn’t even get a chance to process what she went through. My heart broke for her.
The twist was crazy. I tried to finish the book in 2025, but life happened, so this is officially my first 6-star of 2026 and I’m happy about it. I can’t wait for the audiobook and any special editions.
Elise Kova never lets me down…
and I will NOT forgive her for chapter 56. 😭
Thank you to Elise Kova and the publisher for sending me a physical ARC.
I’m so grateful and excited to support this book. 💖🐉
I just read the physical ARC of Dragon Cursed by Elise Kova and this is now my favorite book of hers. I’m not going to give spoilers, but I loved the characters so much, especially Isola. She grew a lot, she’s smart, brave, and such a loyal friend. Everything she thought she knew turned out to be something completely different, and she didn’t even get a chance to process what she went through. My heart broke for her.
The twist was crazy. I tried to finish the book in 2025, but life happened, so this is officially my first 6-star of 2026 and I’m happy about it. I can’t wait for the audiobook and any special editions.
Elise Kova never lets me down…
and I will NOT forgive her for chapter 56. 😭
Thank you to Elise Kova and the publisher for sending me a physical ARC.
I’m so grateful and excited to support this book. 💖🐉
January 4, 2026
I loved this so much!
The characters, the dragons, the twists and turns.
Isola is special - or so she’s told. When she turns 18 she has to enter the Tribunal to earn full citizenship. It’s also a cut throat way to identify those who are dragon cursed.
Now Isola has to survive tests with her found allies and survive the three weeks locked in the compound. All while uncovering more about herself and the sinister happenings that surround Vinguard. And let’s not forget the dragons.
This was a five star - light on the romance as you know they’re trying to survive.
This is book 1 in a series and I will be on edge waiting for book two to get here!
The characters, the dragons, the twists and turns.
Isola is special - or so she’s told. When she turns 18 she has to enter the Tribunal to earn full citizenship. It’s also a cut throat way to identify those who are dragon cursed.
Now Isola has to survive tests with her found allies and survive the three weeks locked in the compound. All while uncovering more about herself and the sinister happenings that surround Vinguard. And let’s not forget the dragons.
This was a five star - light on the romance as you know they’re trying to survive.
This is book 1 in a series and I will be on edge waiting for book two to get here!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Vingard is the last know city that hasn't been ravaged by the Scourge. Isola and the other new adults must enter trials so prove they are not dragon cursed and to find their place in Vingard. Those that are dragon cursed will eventually turn to mindless beats that have been attacking Vingard.
I throughly enjoyed this YA fantasy. I loved the concept of how the dragons came to be. The time in the trials is truly brutal. Enough to break anyone. Its not overly graphic but I'd still recommend checking the trigger warnings. The last 100 pages is nonstop! I saw a few of the twists coming but not all of them so that was nice to be surprised. I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.
I throughly enjoyed this YA fantasy. I loved the concept of how the dragons came to be. The time in the trials is truly brutal. Enough to break anyone. Its not overly graphic but I'd still recommend checking the trigger warnings. The last 100 pages is nonstop! I saw a few of the twists coming but not all of them so that was nice to be surprised. I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As a fan of all things dragon, I knew I would like this book. But I wasn't prepared to fall in love with it. Dragon Cursed blew me away in the best way possible! The world building is absolutely fantastic. I wish I could visit Vinguard and go exploring. Plus I enjoyed the mix of complex characters. Isola is very relatable and had me rooting for her the whole time. And that incredible ending had my jaw on the floor! I can't wait to dive into the next installment and see where the story goes next. If you like YA romantasy books, this is right up your alley. I highly recommend it!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Perfect read to start off 2026!!
First off, thank you to the publisher for the ARC - unbelievably blown away I received a physical copy.
Two, regardless of receiving an ARC, this story had me on its claws from start to finish....and has me begging for book two.
I know dragons are all the rage right now. BUT, and hear me out, this book is the best YA fantasy book I've read.
The pacing and flow of this story was absolute perfection. I loved the world building and the character development was superb.
And the lead up to the end - yea, I'm all in on this series!!
First off, thank you to the publisher for the ARC - unbelievably blown away I received a physical copy.
Two, regardless of receiving an ARC, this story had me on its claws from start to finish....and has me begging for book two.
I know dragons are all the rage right now. BUT, and hear me out, this book is the best YA fantasy book I've read.
The pacing and flow of this story was absolute perfection. I loved the world building and the character development was superb.
And the lead up to the end - yea, I'm all in on this series!!
December 31, 2025
I wasn’t sure what to expect exactly from this book, I just knew it involved dragons and I was all in. With that being said, it was just ok. I felt like we were bombarded with information at the beginning and it honestly did not stop till the very end and that ultimately just threw me off the whole book. I really couldn’t connect to any of the characters and if something sad or happy would happen, I just didn’t care that much unfortunately.
I did however enjoy the information we would get about the dragons and how each colored dragon has specific power associated to it. I thought that was cool and interesting. I loved the deadly trials/competition aspect as well, wish there was a bit more to that and have those scenes be more detailed and intricate.
Thank you to entangled publishing and mayhem books for gifting me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I did however enjoy the information we would get about the dragons and how each colored dragon has specific power associated to it. I thought that was cool and interesting. I loved the deadly trials/competition aspect as well, wish there was a bit more to that and have those scenes be more detailed and intricate.
Thank you to entangled publishing and mayhem books for gifting me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2026
First off I want to thank entangled Publishers for this arc copy. The cover is just stunning. This book kept me engaged throughout the entire book. I will say the magic system and world building was a bit confusing at first but really what fantasy book isn’t lol. Over all I enjoyed all the characters. I mean anything with dragons , sign me up!
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