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The Curse of Soulwaker
Dunegray, commander of the undead Cursed legion, has led it in terrorizing and spilling blood throughout the kingdom of Nahmval. When Zerael, a powerful young sorcerer, lifts the curse, Dunegray and her army must learn to live among the very people they oppressed.
But the Curse never forgets its servants.
While she struggles with her newfound mortality and haunting visions, Silnus, a dark figure from the past, returns. Dunegray must prevent him from harnessing the Curse, or else she will be Cursed again and forced to destroy the people she’s learning to love, obliterating the last remnants of her humanity in the process.
To save her people and this new world she misunderstands, Dunegray and Zerael are commanded to search for new allies in the coming war. This journey throughout Nahmval will reveal hidden motives and a secret that could unravel both Zerael’s country and Dunegray’s identity.
But the Curse never forgets its servants.
While she struggles with her newfound mortality and haunting visions, Silnus, a dark figure from the past, returns. Dunegray must prevent him from harnessing the Curse, or else she will be Cursed again and forced to destroy the people she’s learning to love, obliterating the last remnants of her humanity in the process.
To save her people and this new world she misunderstands, Dunegray and Zerael are commanded to search for new allies in the coming war. This journey throughout Nahmval will reveal hidden motives and a secret that could unravel both Zerael’s country and Dunegray’s identity.
398 pages, Hardcover
Published October 29, 2024
29 people are currently reading
1553 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Elwood
2 books149 followersSharon's debut epic fantasy The Curse of Soulwaker is out now!
Sharon grew up in France surrounded by fantasy video games and books. At age 11, she taught herself to speak English by watching Harry Potter and traveled the world to get her law and psychology degrees.
Now, she dedicates her time to relaxing people with her ASMR channels on YouTube (ASMR Glow). She lives with her husband and her two rescue dogs, which she loves like children.
Her comfort realms are Tolkien’s, World of Warcraft, Harry Potter, or Star Wars. 100% basic and unapologetic.
It was her dream to be a writer. She still has a lot to learn on her way, but she's always willing to learn, so reviews are very much appreciated. They help her hone her craft so she can be better! ♥
Sharon grew up in France surrounded by fantasy video games and books. At age 11, she taught herself to speak English by watching Harry Potter and traveled the world to get her law and psychology degrees.
Now, she dedicates her time to relaxing people with her ASMR channels on YouTube (ASMR Glow). She lives with her husband and her two rescue dogs, which she loves like children.
Her comfort realms are Tolkien’s, World of Warcraft, Harry Potter, or Star Wars. 100% basic and unapologetic.
It was her dream to be a writer. She still has a lot to learn on her way, but she's always willing to learn, so reviews are very much appreciated. They help her hone her craft so she can be better! ♥
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
October 31, 2024
This has a fascinating twist on redemption and morality, following Dunegray, the former commander of the undead Cursed legion, as she’s suddenly forced to coexist with the very people she once terrorized. The lifting of the curse transforms her from an unfeeling warrior to a mortal grappling with remorse, identity, and purpose. Dunegray is a sharp-edged, tough character who rarely reveals her vulnerable side, making her intriguing yet hard to fully connect with on an emotional level—a potential challenge for readers who prefer a more intimate lead.
The world-building is richly detailed, immersing readers in the realm of Nahmval and the complexities surrounding the Cursed King and his dark legacy. It raises compelling moral questions: can someone be redeemed if their past choices were not fully their own? The kingdom’s willingness to forgive the Cursed legion initially felt too lenient but gained at least a little credibility through the exploration of Nahmval’s history and their understanding of the curse’s control.
While the plot itself is engaging, the prose has a certain stiffness that may take some time to warm up to. The omniscient, shifting POV can be jarring, though it does allow for a broader look at this intricate world and its layered conflicts. Ultimately, the mix of dark fantasy, politics, and moral exploration makes The Curse of Soulwaker a unique and intriguing read. If you’re looking for a book that tackles the gray areas of redemption with an atmospheric world, this one is worth a try.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
The world-building is richly detailed, immersing readers in the realm of Nahmval and the complexities surrounding the Cursed King and his dark legacy. It raises compelling moral questions: can someone be redeemed if their past choices were not fully their own? The kingdom’s willingness to forgive the Cursed legion initially felt too lenient but gained at least a little credibility through the exploration of Nahmval’s history and their understanding of the curse’s control.
While the plot itself is engaging, the prose has a certain stiffness that may take some time to warm up to. The omniscient, shifting POV can be jarring, though it does allow for a broader look at this intricate world and its layered conflicts. Ultimately, the mix of dark fantasy, politics, and moral exploration makes The Curse of Soulwaker a unique and intriguing read. If you’re looking for a book that tackles the gray areas of redemption with an atmospheric world, this one is worth a try.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
November 14, 2024
Thank you so much to The Nerd Fam for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ♡
I was captivated by the unique premise and storyline of this book; it felt unlike anything I’ve read recently and grabbed my attention right from the start.
Following Dunegray—a fierce and commanding female character leading the Undead armies—as she evolves from a figure devoid of self-identity, fear, or emotion to one grappling with newfound morality after a shift in The Curse was fascinating. I really enjoyed Dunegray’s character; her strength was compelling. I found myself rooting for Dunegray and on the edge of my seat through most of the book.
The epic battle scenes were a standout, bringing intense, high-stakes action to the story. While I appreciated the creativity, some sections felt brief and abrupt, while others were more drawn-out, which occasionally affected the pacing. I would’ve liked to see the chapters just a few pages longer.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the themes the author explored. I’m always here for a story featuring powerful women. I WILL be reading the next book!
I was captivated by the unique premise and storyline of this book; it felt unlike anything I’ve read recently and grabbed my attention right from the start.
Following Dunegray—a fierce and commanding female character leading the Undead armies—as she evolves from a figure devoid of self-identity, fear, or emotion to one grappling with newfound morality after a shift in The Curse was fascinating. I really enjoyed Dunegray’s character; her strength was compelling. I found myself rooting for Dunegray and on the edge of my seat through most of the book.
The epic battle scenes were a standout, bringing intense, high-stakes action to the story. While I appreciated the creativity, some sections felt brief and abrupt, while others were more drawn-out, which occasionally affected the pacing. I would’ve liked to see the chapters just a few pages longer.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the themes the author explored. I’m always here for a story featuring powerful women. I WILL be reading the next book!
November 4, 2024
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC.
**
Unfortunately the book and I were not a good match, even though I was super pumped over the blurb and concept. I do think the author did a fantastic job with the worldbuilding and creating the lore but for me, I struggled to connect with the characters and found the shifting POV’s a little confusing. But really, that’s a me thing.
If you like detailed lore in a high fantasy setting, characters that have a strong agenda and an FMC who isn’t afraid to get to the front line of a battle, this book might be for you.
**
Unfortunately the book and I were not a good match, even though I was super pumped over the blurb and concept. I do think the author did a fantastic job with the worldbuilding and creating the lore but for me, I struggled to connect with the characters and found the shifting POV’s a little confusing. But really, that’s a me thing.
If you like detailed lore in a high fantasy setting, characters that have a strong agenda and an FMC who isn’t afraid to get to the front line of a battle, this book might be for you.
October 15, 2024
I have so many thoughts and feelings and I can’t really put them down in words. The world building, the characters, the story …. It was fantastic and just wow .. I love it so so much. We get to follow and strong FMC how takes no shit and uses her sword more than her words. It was truly a movie in my mind while reading this book and just love the FMC so much and where the story is taking us, can’t wait for more!!! ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
October 30, 2024
I went back and forth between 4 and 5 stars on this one, so I'm going to land on 4.5.
This book is dense in its world and character building. The descriptive portions when we enter a new part of the country sets such a vivid stage all the way down to the shade of a flower. It's truly beautiful.
This is an Omni-POV story, and I think this is important to know ahead of time. It will seem like we are switching around on POVs and yes, technically we are, but I'd implore you to think about it from a standpoint that this story has an omniscient narrator.
This story in of itself is AMAZING. The whole concept is so fresh, I love the storyline. I love our characters. Our FMC, Dunegray is utterly fascinating. On top of her history, we get to watch her go from having no feelings to watching her getting to start experiencing bits and pieces of humanity. I suspect we will see more and more as this trilogy develops and we see more of who Dunegray becomes as her humanity develops (though she probably wouldn't admit to this).
This world is TOUGH. whew. We have a lot of division here, and our characters have a lot to overcome.
I am excited to get more Zerael, and I hope we get more Ambrose too.
We ended quite dramatically, and I love it. I'm already ready for that next installment and what's to come in this world and what happens next to Dunegray!
Overall: recommend!
This book is dense in its world and character building. The descriptive portions when we enter a new part of the country sets such a vivid stage all the way down to the shade of a flower. It's truly beautiful.
This is an Omni-POV story, and I think this is important to know ahead of time. It will seem like we are switching around on POVs and yes, technically we are, but I'd implore you to think about it from a standpoint that this story has an omniscient narrator.
This story in of itself is AMAZING. The whole concept is so fresh, I love the storyline. I love our characters. Our FMC, Dunegray is utterly fascinating. On top of her history, we get to watch her go from having no feelings to watching her getting to start experiencing bits and pieces of humanity. I suspect we will see more and more as this trilogy develops and we see more of who Dunegray becomes as her humanity develops (though she probably wouldn't admit to this).
This world is TOUGH. whew. We have a lot of division here, and our characters have a lot to overcome.
I am excited to get more Zerael, and I hope we get more Ambrose too.
We ended quite dramatically, and I love it. I'm already ready for that next installment and what's to come in this world and what happens next to Dunegray!
Overall: recommend!
October 28, 2024
First and foremost thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC. #thecurseofsoulwaker #thenerdfam
I enjoyed the premise of this book and the plot line. It’s definitely different to the current mainstream fantasy books and I really appreciated that. We follow the story of Dunegray, the strong and fierce commander of the Undead armies, who goes from having no sense of self-identity or fear or emotion, to battling with her new morality when a shift in The Curse occurs.
I struggled to bond with the writing style of this book unfortunately, and felt it was quite short and choppy in some points, and then quite lengthy and over-stuffed in other areas. The changes in POV also made me feel like it was slowing the storyline when we were just getting on a roll of plot changes.
Overall, I felt positive about this book and the storyline and will definitely stay tuned for the next book.
Rating: 3.75, rounded up to 4
⭐️⭐️⭐️.✨
I enjoyed the premise of this book and the plot line. It’s definitely different to the current mainstream fantasy books and I really appreciated that. We follow the story of Dunegray, the strong and fierce commander of the Undead armies, who goes from having no sense of self-identity or fear or emotion, to battling with her new morality when a shift in The Curse occurs.
I struggled to bond with the writing style of this book unfortunately, and felt it was quite short and choppy in some points, and then quite lengthy and over-stuffed in other areas. The changes in POV also made me feel like it was slowing the storyline when we were just getting on a roll of plot changes.
Overall, I felt positive about this book and the storyline and will definitely stay tuned for the next book.
Rating: 3.75, rounded up to 4
⭐️⭐️⭐️.✨
October 31, 2024
What a cliffhanger!! Thank you The Nerd Fam for the gifted arc.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a strictly fantasy story, and this was a great one to get back into the genre. While it took me a bit to get used to the pov changes, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this.
Dunegray really just took my heart and did not let go. Experiencing this journey with her, as she navigated her new world, was highly emotional. I lost count of how many times I cried. She was such a beautiful and flawed character. And beyond Dunegray, the other characters were all so unique. It was easy for me to tell them apart and pick up on their little quirks.
The world building was phenomenal. Lush and vivid, and full of so much depth. Each place was so unique; from the geography to the very people who inhabited them. The magic was so intriguing as well.
I’m beyond excited for what comes next. That last five percent really had my heart pounding.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a strictly fantasy story, and this was a great one to get back into the genre. While it took me a bit to get used to the pov changes, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this.
Dunegray really just took my heart and did not let go. Experiencing this journey with her, as she navigated her new world, was highly emotional. I lost count of how many times I cried. She was such a beautiful and flawed character. And beyond Dunegray, the other characters were all so unique. It was easy for me to tell them apart and pick up on their little quirks.
The world building was phenomenal. Lush and vivid, and full of so much depth. Each place was so unique; from the geography to the very people who inhabited them. The magic was so intriguing as well.
I’m beyond excited for what comes next. That last five percent really had my heart pounding.
October 30, 2024
3.5/5
High fantasy where the MC is a badass, no nonsense woman that everyone is afraid of? Count me in!
There was a lot of really great world building in this one so it took a while to get to the action. I even had to take notes because I couldn't remember everything. But once we got
to the last quarter of the book I was hooked and flew through it.
Because there was so much world building, which is necessary and I appreciate, the book started a bit slow for me. However now that everything is set up, the rest of the trilogy can focus more on plot and I'm so excited to see where it takes me!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC
High fantasy where the MC is a badass, no nonsense woman that everyone is afraid of? Count me in!
There was a lot of really great world building in this one so it took a while to get to the action. I even had to take notes because I couldn't remember everything. But once we got
to the last quarter of the book I was hooked and flew through it.
Because there was so much world building, which is necessary and I appreciate, the book started a bit slow for me. However now that everything is set up, the rest of the trilogy can focus more on plot and I'm so excited to see where it takes me!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC
April 28, 2025
I liked this book more than I was expecting. I listened to the audiobook, which seemed well done and I liked both narrators. I do plan to listen to at least the first sequel.
Some components reminded me vaguely of other stories, but over the course of the story the settings came across as unique. I appreciated how it wasn't just your standard races and creatures. It did put in the work for world building while moving the story along.
The first third was a bit slow for me, but the rest of the book went very quickly. I'm interested to find out what happens next.
Some components reminded me vaguely of other stories, but over the course of the story the settings came across as unique. I appreciated how it wasn't just your standard races and creatures. It did put in the work for world building while moving the story along.
The first third was a bit slow for me, but the rest of the book went very quickly. I'm interested to find out what happens next.
October 29, 2024
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC!
Sadly this book was not for me. I think that the book had a super cool and unique concept. I also this book had a really awesome world that had the potential to be great. However, the world building and character development felt a bit flat to me. Everything felt a little anticlimatic.
I think this series has a lot of potential and I think there will be a lot of people who really love this book and the following series, however it was just not for me.
Sadly this book was not for me. I think that the book had a super cool and unique concept. I also this book had a really awesome world that had the potential to be great. However, the world building and character development felt a bit flat to me. Everything felt a little anticlimatic.
I think this series has a lot of potential and I think there will be a lot of people who really love this book and the following series, however it was just not for me.
October 28, 2024
Oh my f***ing heart
October 25, 2024
I love a good dark fantasy. I saw the blurb for this one and just knewI wanted to read it and see what it is all about. Also this book cover really pops out! The world building in this book is spot on! The way the world building was written was done beautifully! The FMC is strong, fierce, and loyal. The internal battles the FMC deals with a depicted wonderfully! We get to see how she deals with different emotions and how her past made her who she is.
So know that this book is paced slower. Overall a 3.5 star read! The world building I just can't get enough of!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC. #thecurseofsoulwaker #thenerdfam
So know that this book is paced slower. Overall a 3.5 star read! The world building I just can't get enough of!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC. #thecurseofsoulwaker #thenerdfam
October 25, 2024
DNF
Me siento un poco mal por haber dejado de leer este libro porque me llamaba mucho la atención y la verdad es que empezó muy bien, pero es que no podía seguir. Me he forzado a llegar al 60% y lo he tenido que dejar porque me veía entrando en un bloqueo
Los multiples POV del libro, que van cambiando de repente sin aviso, en una misma excena, sin ninguna separación y a veces, en mi opinión, de forma innecesaria, hacían muy complicado seguir la historia.
Por otro lado, aunque la trama me estaba gustando al inició y me daba la sensación de que el universo cresdo tenía una buena profundidad para ser interesante, alrededor del 40% se me empezó a hacer muy lento y pesado, con pocos avances y repetitivo.
Así que muy a mi pesar, y agradeciendo de todos modos la oportunidad a The Nerd Farm por mandarme el ARC, este libro no ha sido para mi.
Me siento un poco mal por haber dejado de leer este libro porque me llamaba mucho la atención y la verdad es que empezó muy bien, pero es que no podía seguir. Me he forzado a llegar al 60% y lo he tenido que dejar porque me veía entrando en un bloqueo
Los multiples POV del libro, que van cambiando de repente sin aviso, en una misma excena, sin ninguna separación y a veces, en mi opinión, de forma innecesaria, hacían muy complicado seguir la historia.
Por otro lado, aunque la trama me estaba gustando al inició y me daba la sensación de que el universo cresdo tenía una buena profundidad para ser interesante, alrededor del 40% se me empezó a hacer muy lento y pesado, con pocos avances y repetitivo.
Así que muy a mi pesar, y agradeciendo de todos modos la oportunidad a The Nerd Farm por mandarme el ARC, este libro no ha sido para mi.
November 13, 2024
What do you expect from the woman who was a Cursed King’s commander that now finds herself the unexpected leader of her people? Did I mention she doesn’t want to be and that the human King has his own expectations for Dunegray?
There is a lot of world building in this book, the author Sharon Elwood did a phenomenal job of describing all the different lands. This was well written, very descriptive, at times it felt a bit repetitive with the descriptions. I kind of wish it had been split in to 2 books because there was so much information and world building in this one. I like the idea of the Cursed! Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC!
Go check it out if you like epic fantasy!
There is a lot of world building in this book, the author Sharon Elwood did a phenomenal job of describing all the different lands. This was well written, very descriptive, at times it felt a bit repetitive with the descriptions. I kind of wish it had been split in to 2 books because there was so much information and world building in this one. I like the idea of the Cursed! Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC!
Go check it out if you like epic fantasy!
January 28, 2025
4/5⭐
General feeling after I finished it - I liked it!
At the beginning I had some mixed fillings about this. Thankfully the story came out to be great.
Some fresh magic system. I might need to read the book again to understand it better.
Anyway, recommended from my side.
Who knows - by the end of the year this might be one of my favorite dark fantasy 😎
Thanks to the Nerd fam for providing me with the ARC copy of this book.
General feeling after I finished it - I liked it!
At the beginning I had some mixed fillings about this. Thankfully the story came out to be great.
Some fresh magic system. I might need to read the book again to understand it better.
Anyway, recommended from my side.
Who knows - by the end of the year this might be one of my favorite dark fantasy 😎
Thanks to the Nerd fam for providing me with the ARC copy of this book.
May 29, 2025
The Curse of Soulwaker by Sharon Elwood is a great read for fantasy nerds who enjoy a strong female lead and a lot of lore and detail in their world building. Much of the story focuses on the lead character Dunegray's attempt to live among the humans she once terrorized while under an undead curse. This includes what it means to be human and what kind of person she would be as well as what kind of world she is in.
As such, a lot of the world and how she perceives it is the main focus of the book and it's very well detailed and explained using a rich vocabulary and colorful depictions. The book focuses heavily on this while also still not going into minute detail. Elwood has designed a rich world with living elements to it defined by its people and history. And yet, it still feels like there's so much more to learn about this world with some continents and lands not entirely explored.
Dunegray herself is very well written, with her being very relatable in trying to be, oddly enough, unrelatable and cold. Despite not speaking much, her dialog is very well done, and her inner monologue is very descriptive. There's a lot of work and care explaining the inner turmoil Dunegray has with both what she was as well as the futility of what is being taught to and expected of her. One issue however is there is a narrative split between what we're told she is and what happens currently in the plot. Most of what happens in the book depicts what Dunegray is supposed to be rather than what she has been and while that's narratively accurate to the story, it causes an issue with the reader connecting to what she is trying to change from.
The other characters in the book can fluctuate in quality. The more important side characters, such as Zerael, are also well written and while not given as much time as Dunegray still receive the attention to flesh out their personalities and have well written dialog. So it does stand out when the dialog of other smaller characters feels stilted and wooden, and contrasts the main characters' dialog unfavorably. Sometimes, this does include more talkative characters which can make the dialog as a whole feel trite.
However, if there's one issue that's the most prevalent, it's the plot structure. Some information feels like it could've been saved for later in the interest of pacing and other events could have had even more information given. The problem is never too much information but when it's given to the reader. As a result of this, the story's pacing fluctuates between glacial and frantic. Many lore explanations take their time while many action sequences go by quickly. It's ultimately a good problem to have when you have the reader wanting more, but it is an issue when it's because some things feel misplaced or missing.
Ultimately, I feel this is an engaging book with some structure and pacing issues and some occasional rough dialog. It definitely feels like a first book that wants to establish its world more than tell a story beginning to end. However, if you understand that and that's okay with you, this is an engaging read that will make you hotly anticipated the next book.
As such, a lot of the world and how she perceives it is the main focus of the book and it's very well detailed and explained using a rich vocabulary and colorful depictions. The book focuses heavily on this while also still not going into minute detail. Elwood has designed a rich world with living elements to it defined by its people and history. And yet, it still feels like there's so much more to learn about this world with some continents and lands not entirely explored.
Dunegray herself is very well written, with her being very relatable in trying to be, oddly enough, unrelatable and cold. Despite not speaking much, her dialog is very well done, and her inner monologue is very descriptive. There's a lot of work and care explaining the inner turmoil Dunegray has with both what she was as well as the futility of what is being taught to and expected of her. One issue however is there is a narrative split between what we're told she is and what happens currently in the plot. Most of what happens in the book depicts what Dunegray is supposed to be rather than what she has been and while that's narratively accurate to the story, it causes an issue with the reader connecting to what she is trying to change from.
The other characters in the book can fluctuate in quality. The more important side characters, such as Zerael, are also well written and while not given as much time as Dunegray still receive the attention to flesh out their personalities and have well written dialog. So it does stand out when the dialog of other smaller characters feels stilted and wooden, and contrasts the main characters' dialog unfavorably. Sometimes, this does include more talkative characters which can make the dialog as a whole feel trite.
However, if there's one issue that's the most prevalent, it's the plot structure. Some information feels like it could've been saved for later in the interest of pacing and other events could have had even more information given. The problem is never too much information but when it's given to the reader. As a result of this, the story's pacing fluctuates between glacial and frantic. Many lore explanations take their time while many action sequences go by quickly. It's ultimately a good problem to have when you have the reader wanting more, but it is an issue when it's because some things feel misplaced or missing.
Ultimately, I feel this is an engaging book with some structure and pacing issues and some occasional rough dialog. It definitely feels like a first book that wants to establish its world more than tell a story beginning to end. However, if you understand that and that's okay with you, this is an engaging read that will make you hotly anticipated the next book.
December 4, 2024
Rating: 4/5
Spice: 0/5
Plot: 5/5
Primary Genre: Paranormal Dark Fantasy
Blurb: Dunegray, commander of the undead Cursed legion, has led it in terrorizing and spilling blood throughout the kingdom of Nahmval. When Zerael, a powerful young sorcerer, lifts the curse, Dunegray and her army must learn to live among the very people they oppressed. But the Curse never forgets its servants. While she struggles with her newfound mortality and haunting visions, Silnus, a dark figure from the past, returns. Dunegray must prevent him from harnessing the Curse, or else she will be Cursed again and forced to destroy the people she’s learning to love, obliterating the last remnants of her humanity in the process. To save her people and this new world she misunderstands, Dunegray and Zerael are commanded to search for new allies in the coming war. This journey throughout Nahmval will reveal hidden motives and a secret that could unravel both Zerael’s country and Dunegray’s identity.
The Good:
* I read an actual TON of fantasy earlier in the year and I haven’t read any lately so this was a nice toe dip back into fantasy after a ton of romance/dark romance. This book still deals with dark themes/elements and the FMC is definitely giving morally gray vibes at times which is a nice switch up from all of the morally gray MMCs that seem to be in almost every romance novel lately.
* It feels so weird to be thinking/saying this but it was actually kind of nice to read a book with no spice in it. There actually wasn’t any romance in this book, it was straight up fantasy. I usually don’t read fantasy unless it’s fantasy romance but I really enjoyed this book because the plot was really interesting.
* There is some interesting exploration of dark moral themes that surprised me. This book went much deeper than I expected it to and that impressed me.
* There was a mystery aspect that made the story even more intriguing
The Meh:
* This isn’t a plot or writing flaw whatsoever but cliffhangers are definitely not my favorite and this book is a cliffhanger. Once I was at 80% I knew and the book seemed to drag for me and I didn’t really want to pick it up because I had a feeling about it and my feeling was correct.
* Towards the end of the book some of the world building started to feel a bit incomplete but I’m assuming that’s at least partially due to the cliffhanger.
Bottom Line:
This was the best fantasy novel I’ve read to date by an indie author. It’s also the only fantasy novel I’ve read with zero romance so that’s saying a lot. It’s got quite a bit paranormal in it and less of the elves/trolls type of characters that you traditionally find in a lot of high fantasy novels. It’s unique in a wonderful way. If you want to dip your toe into fantasy but you prefer it without romance and you want something different than a Lord of The Rings type of vibe, I would highly suggest that you pick this up. Even if you aren’t into fantasy, I think that you’ll enjoy this plot.
Read more reviews at my website : www.introvertsbookclub.com
Spice: 0/5
Plot: 5/5
Primary Genre: Paranormal Dark Fantasy
Blurb: Dunegray, commander of the undead Cursed legion, has led it in terrorizing and spilling blood throughout the kingdom of Nahmval. When Zerael, a powerful young sorcerer, lifts the curse, Dunegray and her army must learn to live among the very people they oppressed. But the Curse never forgets its servants. While she struggles with her newfound mortality and haunting visions, Silnus, a dark figure from the past, returns. Dunegray must prevent him from harnessing the Curse, or else she will be Cursed again and forced to destroy the people she’s learning to love, obliterating the last remnants of her humanity in the process. To save her people and this new world she misunderstands, Dunegray and Zerael are commanded to search for new allies in the coming war. This journey throughout Nahmval will reveal hidden motives and a secret that could unravel both Zerael’s country and Dunegray’s identity.
The Good:
* I read an actual TON of fantasy earlier in the year and I haven’t read any lately so this was a nice toe dip back into fantasy after a ton of romance/dark romance. This book still deals with dark themes/elements and the FMC is definitely giving morally gray vibes at times which is a nice switch up from all of the morally gray MMCs that seem to be in almost every romance novel lately.
* It feels so weird to be thinking/saying this but it was actually kind of nice to read a book with no spice in it. There actually wasn’t any romance in this book, it was straight up fantasy. I usually don’t read fantasy unless it’s fantasy romance but I really enjoyed this book because the plot was really interesting.
* There is some interesting exploration of dark moral themes that surprised me. This book went much deeper than I expected it to and that impressed me.
* There was a mystery aspect that made the story even more intriguing
The Meh:
* This isn’t a plot or writing flaw whatsoever but cliffhangers are definitely not my favorite and this book is a cliffhanger. Once I was at 80% I knew and the book seemed to drag for me and I didn’t really want to pick it up because I had a feeling about it and my feeling was correct.
* Towards the end of the book some of the world building started to feel a bit incomplete but I’m assuming that’s at least partially due to the cliffhanger.
Bottom Line:
This was the best fantasy novel I’ve read to date by an indie author. It’s also the only fantasy novel I’ve read with zero romance so that’s saying a lot. It’s got quite a bit paranormal in it and less of the elves/trolls type of characters that you traditionally find in a lot of high fantasy novels. It’s unique in a wonderful way. If you want to dip your toe into fantasy but you prefer it without romance and you want something different than a Lord of The Rings type of vibe, I would highly suggest that you pick this up. Even if you aren’t into fantasy, I think that you’ll enjoy this plot.
Read more reviews at my website : www.introvertsbookclub.com
October 21, 2024
Rating 3.75 so I rounded it to 4 .
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for this gifted E- ARC
This story pulled me in immediately with its intriguing premise—a cursed warrior forced to reconcile her past while embracing a new reality. Yes please 🙌🏾 Dunegray, the fierce and formidable commander of the Cursed legion, faces challenges both external and internal after the curse binding her to the undead is lifted.
Compelling as the plot was, I found that the pacing and shifts in the point of view (POV) often slowed the story down and made it difficult to stay fully engaged.
The world-building in the kingdom of Nahmval is rich, and Elwood’s depiction of Dunegray’s struggle with newfound mortality is intriguing. Her internal battle—learning how to live among the very people she once oppressed—adds depth to her character. There’s also an interesting dynamic between her and Zerael, a young sorcerer whose abilities release her from the curse, though their relationship felt underdeveloped at times due to the narrative’s shifts.
Strengths:
* Dunegray’s Character: As an FMC, Dunegray is everything you’d expect from a powerful warrior: strong, determined, and complex. She wrestles with her past as the leader of the Cursed army and the guilt of her role in terrorizing the kingdom. Her internal journey is just as engaging as the external one, and her resilience in the face of both enemies and her own haunted past makes her a standout character.
* The Concept: The idea of a cursed army learning to live among their former enemies was fascinating. It set the stage for moral dilemmas and interesting interactions between Dunegray and the people of Nahmval. The curse itself is an ever-looming threat, adding tension to the plot, particularly with the introduction of Silnus, a dark figure from Dunegray’s past.
Challenges:
* Pacing: Despite the high stakes, the action took too long to unfold. The buildup felt overly drawn out, which made it difficult for me to stay hooked. I expected the tension to rise faster, but the story lingered in setup for too long before diving into the meat of the conflict.
* POV Shifts: The sudden and often confusing shifts in POV detracted from the flow of the story. It felt disjointed at times, which made it harder to connect with the characters or stay immersed in the narrative. The constant shifting made it difficult to feel grounded in the world, and I found myself pulled out of the story more often than I would have liked.
* Underdeveloped Relationships: While there’s potential in the dynamic between Dunegray and Zerael, their bond didn’t quite reach its full potential. The focus on world-building and Dunegray'sn internal struggle overshadowed some of the character relationships , leaving me wanting more depth .
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for this gifted E- ARC
This story pulled me in immediately with its intriguing premise—a cursed warrior forced to reconcile her past while embracing a new reality. Yes please 🙌🏾 Dunegray, the fierce and formidable commander of the Cursed legion, faces challenges both external and internal after the curse binding her to the undead is lifted.
Compelling as the plot was, I found that the pacing and shifts in the point of view (POV) often slowed the story down and made it difficult to stay fully engaged.
The world-building in the kingdom of Nahmval is rich, and Elwood’s depiction of Dunegray’s struggle with newfound mortality is intriguing. Her internal battle—learning how to live among the very people she once oppressed—adds depth to her character. There’s also an interesting dynamic between her and Zerael, a young sorcerer whose abilities release her from the curse, though their relationship felt underdeveloped at times due to the narrative’s shifts.
Strengths:
* Dunegray’s Character: As an FMC, Dunegray is everything you’d expect from a powerful warrior: strong, determined, and complex. She wrestles with her past as the leader of the Cursed army and the guilt of her role in terrorizing the kingdom. Her internal journey is just as engaging as the external one, and her resilience in the face of both enemies and her own haunted past makes her a standout character.
* The Concept: The idea of a cursed army learning to live among their former enemies was fascinating. It set the stage for moral dilemmas and interesting interactions between Dunegray and the people of Nahmval. The curse itself is an ever-looming threat, adding tension to the plot, particularly with the introduction of Silnus, a dark figure from Dunegray’s past.
Challenges:
* Pacing: Despite the high stakes, the action took too long to unfold. The buildup felt overly drawn out, which made it difficult for me to stay hooked. I expected the tension to rise faster, but the story lingered in setup for too long before diving into the meat of the conflict.
* POV Shifts: The sudden and often confusing shifts in POV detracted from the flow of the story. It felt disjointed at times, which made it harder to connect with the characters or stay immersed in the narrative. The constant shifting made it difficult to feel grounded in the world, and I found myself pulled out of the story more often than I would have liked.
* Underdeveloped Relationships: While there’s potential in the dynamic between Dunegray and Zerael, their bond didn’t quite reach its full potential. The focus on world-building and Dunegray'sn internal struggle overshadowed some of the character relationships , leaving me wanting more depth .
October 24, 2024
Set in a lush new world where the Cursed have been sent to kill mortals on the order of their Cursed King, Sharon Elwood has done a remarkable job of writing a compelling story about Dunegray and her Cursed legion of the dead. It is the first in Elwood’s epic fantasy series that is a must-read for fans who seek action-based fantasy with a fantastical lore and word-building.
When Zerael, a young sorcerer, lifts the curse, Dunegray, the commander of the Cursed legion, and the rest of the Cursed are forced to understand what it is to be mortal now that they no longer are the Cursed. The struggle of having to live in the mortal world and adjusting to their customs as well as wanting to stick together is what makes up Dunegray. She struggles with the new world and the new role, and that struggle lasts throughout the entirety of the book. It is interesting to see how the powerful and cold Dunegray learns to accept the things that has happened and learn to move forward with those she has left. I really enjoyed reading her growth.
As for the fantasy part, it was amazing to read. Like every epic fantasy book you begin to read, it is a bit hard to get into with the new rules and designs of a foreign world. However, once you get into the story, the world kind of builds up into your mind like a movie. I really liked the lore behind the Cursed and King Huran the best; though, the storyline behind Silnus and how he became the villain is also great.
Everything about this book is phenomenal except for one thing, the shifting of the POVs. Going into the story, I thought Dunegray was the only one whose perspective that we would get in the story. That proves not to be the case when we’re given the perspectives of other different characters. I could see what the Elwood was trying to do with that, but it did kind of threw me out of loop and made it a bit hard to figure out what was happening. That’s my only issue, otherwise, the book is great.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐥𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐫𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐑𝐂!
When Zerael, a young sorcerer, lifts the curse, Dunegray, the commander of the Cursed legion, and the rest of the Cursed are forced to understand what it is to be mortal now that they no longer are the Cursed. The struggle of having to live in the mortal world and adjusting to their customs as well as wanting to stick together is what makes up Dunegray. She struggles with the new world and the new role, and that struggle lasts throughout the entirety of the book. It is interesting to see how the powerful and cold Dunegray learns to accept the things that has happened and learn to move forward with those she has left. I really enjoyed reading her growth.
As for the fantasy part, it was amazing to read. Like every epic fantasy book you begin to read, it is a bit hard to get into with the new rules and designs of a foreign world. However, once you get into the story, the world kind of builds up into your mind like a movie. I really liked the lore behind the Cursed and King Huran the best; though, the storyline behind Silnus and how he became the villain is also great.
Everything about this book is phenomenal except for one thing, the shifting of the POVs. Going into the story, I thought Dunegray was the only one whose perspective that we would get in the story. That proves not to be the case when we’re given the perspectives of other different characters. I could see what the Elwood was trying to do with that, but it did kind of threw me out of loop and made it a bit hard to figure out what was happening. That’s my only issue, otherwise, the book is great.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐥𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐫𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐑𝐂!
December 3, 2024
I am not a Fantasy book reader. I have read The Last Wish and TLOTR and my knowledge on the genre is limited. So this is my view as a Classics normie.
The Curse of Soulwaker separate's itself from the current Romantacy Meta in various ways that I quite honestly apricate.
1.There is absolutely no romance in this book. That may change in the future, but this book is entirely focused on Dunegray's relationship with herself. The reader gets to learn about the protagonist at the same time as she does, which creates a strong empathetic connection between the two. This includes the books world building, or rather lack there of, as the reader knows only as much as Dunegray knows.
2. This book bucks the Tolkien fantasy tropes by not including a world of Elves and Dwarfs, instead opting to populate the world with more primal and celestial figures. She wears her influences on her sleeve which, if I were to guess, includes The Elder Scrolls, Final Fantasy, and maybe Chronicles of Riddick (I have no way to prove this but The Cursed remind me of the Necromongers?)
My only criticisms really come down to the prose. Being a Classics normie, I very much adhere to the principle of "Economy of Words." A writer should try to not say something in ten words if they can say it in seven. There were often tags and descriptors that felt like road bumps keeping the reading from being as smooth and effortless as it could be. Also repetition of certain descriptive words. Humans are pattern seekers and it can be distracting to notice the use of certain words over and over. One word in particular sticks out in my mind, "Navy."
While I have enjoyed a lot of the reading I've done this year, I dont think I've had as much fun with a book as I did with The Curse of Soulwaker. I cannot wait for the Second book in the trilogy to release. If you are looking for something outside of the margins of the ever growing Romantacy sections of your local bookstores, this book could very well be for you.
The Curse of Soulwaker separate's itself from the current Romantacy Meta in various ways that I quite honestly apricate.
1.There is absolutely no romance in this book. That may change in the future, but this book is entirely focused on Dunegray's relationship with herself. The reader gets to learn about the protagonist at the same time as she does, which creates a strong empathetic connection between the two. This includes the books world building, or rather lack there of, as the reader knows only as much as Dunegray knows.
2. This book bucks the Tolkien fantasy tropes by not including a world of Elves and Dwarfs, instead opting to populate the world with more primal and celestial figures. She wears her influences on her sleeve which, if I were to guess, includes The Elder Scrolls, Final Fantasy, and maybe Chronicles of Riddick (I have no way to prove this but The Cursed remind me of the Necromongers?)
My only criticisms really come down to the prose. Being a Classics normie, I very much adhere to the principle of "Economy of Words." A writer should try to not say something in ten words if they can say it in seven. There were often tags and descriptors that felt like road bumps keeping the reading from being as smooth and effortless as it could be. Also repetition of certain descriptive words. Humans are pattern seekers and it can be distracting to notice the use of certain words over and over. One word in particular sticks out in my mind, "Navy."
While I have enjoyed a lot of the reading I've done this year, I dont think I've had as much fun with a book as I did with The Curse of Soulwaker. I cannot wait for the Second book in the trilogy to release. If you are looking for something outside of the margins of the ever growing Romantacy sections of your local bookstores, this book could very well be for you.
May 25, 2025
Review:
It is not often you encounter a book written from the point of view of the bad guys and from the very first chapter this novel ensnared my attention. The story is mainly told through the point of view of Dunegray the commander of the cursed- beings that have been cursed with immortality and powers that garnered the fear of all who inhabit the lands. Her journey is one of discovery, going from a ruthless killing machine to someone who is slowly opening herself to new feelings and emotions; Gradually becoming more human. I wont go into too many details for fear of spoiling the story but somewhere along the line Dunegray embarks on an expedition to travel through the realm of Nahmval; and what a realm it is. I will restrain myself in going into details of the varying lands and only say that this world has some of the most fantastical and magical elements I have read in long time. I would love to explore the otherworldly capital of Lethium, see the Regal and extravagant heart of Naeren, and lets not forget the obscure and macabre lands of Drusar; Each inhabited with their own unique residents, beautiful in their own ways. I highly recommend this book; It has a great story, Interesting characters, and a fantastical world brimming with creativity.
Word to Author:
I read at the beginning that your parents were the ones who believed and encouraged you to start your journey as an author. I want to thank them for giving you that original push and I want to thank you for writing this great piece of literature; It has been a while since a fantasy world so enthralled my mind. I hope this does not come off in a cringe way but this book felt warm, oddly familiar, and resonated in many occasions with the essence of my soul. I am eagerer to see where the other two novels take this journey and what other surprises are in store for our protagonist.
P.S Could you imagine experiencing a book like Dunegray did? Now that would be a game changer.
It is not often you encounter a book written from the point of view of the bad guys and from the very first chapter this novel ensnared my attention. The story is mainly told through the point of view of Dunegray the commander of the cursed- beings that have been cursed with immortality and powers that garnered the fear of all who inhabit the lands. Her journey is one of discovery, going from a ruthless killing machine to someone who is slowly opening herself to new feelings and emotions; Gradually becoming more human. I wont go into too many details for fear of spoiling the story but somewhere along the line Dunegray embarks on an expedition to travel through the realm of Nahmval; and what a realm it is. I will restrain myself in going into details of the varying lands and only say that this world has some of the most fantastical and magical elements I have read in long time. I would love to explore the otherworldly capital of Lethium, see the Regal and extravagant heart of Naeren, and lets not forget the obscure and macabre lands of Drusar; Each inhabited with their own unique residents, beautiful in their own ways. I highly recommend this book; It has a great story, Interesting characters, and a fantastical world brimming with creativity.
Word to Author:
I read at the beginning that your parents were the ones who believed and encouraged you to start your journey as an author. I want to thank them for giving you that original push and I want to thank you for writing this great piece of literature; It has been a while since a fantasy world so enthralled my mind. I hope this does not come off in a cringe way but this book felt warm, oddly familiar, and resonated in many occasions with the essence of my soul. I am eagerer to see where the other two novels take this journey and what other surprises are in store for our protagonist.
P.S Could you imagine experiencing a book like Dunegray did? Now that would be a game changer.
November 2, 2024
4 🌟
⚔️High Fantasy. 🗺️Epic World. 🧟♀️Cursed Legion. 👊Tough FMC. 🧌Mystery.
The Curse of Soulwaker follows Dunegray, the commander of an undead cursed legion who has been terrorizing the kingdom of Nahmval under a cursed king.
Zerael, a young sorcerer, lifts the curse and Dunegray and her legion must learn how to come to terms with their mortality and to navigate living among the very people they have terrorized. All while trying to prevent an old enemy from controlling the curse.
I really enjoyed this book! The world Sharon Elwood has created is so unique! Following along as Dunegray travels the land with her companions was one of my favorite parts. Each land was vastly different from each other and the descriptions the author gives you painted such a vivid picture in my mind. 🌳🌋 The mystery behind Dunegray's past and how she handles her newfound emotions had me hooked! Especially where she starts out more of a cold, stoic character. The plot line was fantastic and I cannot wait for the next installment!
With that being said there are a few heads up to be aware of.
This has more extensive world building and is very descriptive so be patient while reading.
The POV will randomly shift and it can be a little confusing. It didn't bug me but I know some people can struggle with that.
HEADS UP:
Extensive World Building
Random Shifting POV
If you are a fan of epic world building, high fantasy, and a tough FMC. GO PICK THIS BOOK UP! 🩵
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for sending me an e arc of this book.
⚔️High Fantasy. 🗺️Epic World. 🧟♀️Cursed Legion. 👊Tough FMC. 🧌Mystery.
The Curse of Soulwaker follows Dunegray, the commander of an undead cursed legion who has been terrorizing the kingdom of Nahmval under a cursed king.
Zerael, a young sorcerer, lifts the curse and Dunegray and her legion must learn how to come to terms with their mortality and to navigate living among the very people they have terrorized. All while trying to prevent an old enemy from controlling the curse.
I really enjoyed this book! The world Sharon Elwood has created is so unique! Following along as Dunegray travels the land with her companions was one of my favorite parts. Each land was vastly different from each other and the descriptions the author gives you painted such a vivid picture in my mind. 🌳🌋 The mystery behind Dunegray's past and how she handles her newfound emotions had me hooked! Especially where she starts out more of a cold, stoic character. The plot line was fantastic and I cannot wait for the next installment!
With that being said there are a few heads up to be aware of.
This has more extensive world building and is very descriptive so be patient while reading.
The POV will randomly shift and it can be a little confusing. It didn't bug me but I know some people can struggle with that.
HEADS UP:
Extensive World Building
Random Shifting POV
If you are a fan of epic world building, high fantasy, and a tough FMC. GO PICK THIS BOOK UP! 🩵
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for sending me an e arc of this book.
November 6, 2024
** ARC Review **
Title: The Curse of Soulwalker
Author: Sharon Elwood
So I’ve been going into a lot of books blind lately and I find that I enjoy it a lot. If anything, I’ll go into a book knowing the genre and maybe a very very minimal amount of the plot. It makes things so much more interesting.
I went into this book blind. It a strictly a fantasy/paranormal mystery book. There is no romance whatsoever. There’s not even a hint of a possible romance. Which is nice because sometimes with romantasy books, the plot will take a backseat to the romance. So it was nice to read a book that just focuses on the plot. Would a little romance have been nice just to get a small breather from the story? Maybe, but it still was nice to just focus on the characters and their adventure. This book was a little reminiscent of Throne of Glass to me at times. There aren’t any games to gain the king’s favor, but the FMC does become a soldier for the king in a sense. She also has a complicated past and a mentor who was like a father figure to her. But part of the complication is that she is an undead immortal which makes the story even more intriguing.
I will say there is not a lot of dialogue in this book so it gets a little overwhelming to see just pages of paragraphs. It also makes it a little harder to get to know the characters, but this is just the first book in the series. So there is room to grow and learn more about all the key characters in the book and you will want to know more by the end of the book.
Title: The Curse of Soulwalker
Author: Sharon Elwood
So I’ve been going into a lot of books blind lately and I find that I enjoy it a lot. If anything, I’ll go into a book knowing the genre and maybe a very very minimal amount of the plot. It makes things so much more interesting.
I went into this book blind. It a strictly a fantasy/paranormal mystery book. There is no romance whatsoever. There’s not even a hint of a possible romance. Which is nice because sometimes with romantasy books, the plot will take a backseat to the romance. So it was nice to read a book that just focuses on the plot. Would a little romance have been nice just to get a small breather from the story? Maybe, but it still was nice to just focus on the characters and their adventure. This book was a little reminiscent of Throne of Glass to me at times. There aren’t any games to gain the king’s favor, but the FMC does become a soldier for the king in a sense. She also has a complicated past and a mentor who was like a father figure to her. But part of the complication is that she is an undead immortal which makes the story even more intriguing.
I will say there is not a lot of dialogue in this book so it gets a little overwhelming to see just pages of paragraphs. It also makes it a little harder to get to know the characters, but this is just the first book in the series. So there is room to grow and learn more about all the key characters in the book and you will want to know more by the end of the book.
November 17, 2024
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review ❤️
Blurb:
Dunegray, once the commander of the undead Cursed Legion, is forced to live as a mortal after a powerful sorcerer lifts the curse. But the Curse never truly lets go, and a dark figure from the past threatens everything. Dunegray must battle her inner demons, protect her newfound humanity, and stop a dangerous enemy from exploiting the Curse once again.
My thoughts:
The Curse of the Soulwaker grabbed my attention right away. The chilling atmosphere and Dunegray’s dark, mysterious vibe had me hooked from the start. The world-building was fantastic, detailed and immersive, setting the perfect tone for the story. I absolutely loved was the fact that each chapter had its own title! It’s a small detail but one of my favorites, it really added to the reading experience.
That being said, I did struggle a bit with the pacing in the middle and keeping up with the narration and POV shifts. It wasn’t always easy to follow, and I found myself rereading parts to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book! It’s a fresh take on the dark fantasy genre with a unique premise and a cliffhanger that left me eagerly awaiting the next book. If you’re a fan of dark fantasy and complex characters, this one is definitely worth checking out!
💙Anti Hero
💙Magic
💙Dark fantasy Setting
💙Cursed Army
💙Maps and Journey through dangerous lands
October 21, 2024
"One could argue it was better to be dead than to roam the lands forever as a shadow of a being. To be Cursed."
Absolutely loved this story!
The story follows our FMC Dunegray who is the commander for the undead cursed legion. Said curse has forced her to perform horrendous acts throughout the Kingdom. The Curse gets lifted, however she now must live amongst the very people she hurt whilst Cursed. There is also the very real threat that the Curse could come back.
There are so many things about this story that I truly enjoyed. Let's start with our amazing and complex FMC Dunegray. She is a strong leader with a fierce loyalty and protectiveness to the people she commands. We also get to see her vulnerabilities, the guilt she feels when she thinks about the things she has done whilst cursed, her grief when she learns about her past and how she came to be.
There are also some great side characters who also bring a lot to the story. I personally found Osi & Ambrose to be quite interesting and I looked forward to scenes that they were in.
I also enjoyed the world building. The author does a wonderful job in giving us detailed descriptions whilst also keeping it fast paced enough to keep me engaged.
This was a solid 5 star read for me, I look forward to reading more of this author's work in the future.
Big thank you to The Nerd Fam for this gifted ARC.
Absolutely loved this story!
The story follows our FMC Dunegray who is the commander for the undead cursed legion. Said curse has forced her to perform horrendous acts throughout the Kingdom. The Curse gets lifted, however she now must live amongst the very people she hurt whilst Cursed. There is also the very real threat that the Curse could come back.
There are so many things about this story that I truly enjoyed. Let's start with our amazing and complex FMC Dunegray. She is a strong leader with a fierce loyalty and protectiveness to the people she commands. We also get to see her vulnerabilities, the guilt she feels when she thinks about the things she has done whilst cursed, her grief when she learns about her past and how she came to be.
There are also some great side characters who also bring a lot to the story. I personally found Osi & Ambrose to be quite interesting and I looked forward to scenes that they were in.
I also enjoyed the world building. The author does a wonderful job in giving us detailed descriptions whilst also keeping it fast paced enough to keep me engaged.
This was a solid 5 star read for me, I look forward to reading more of this author's work in the future.
Big thank you to The Nerd Fam for this gifted ARC.
January 16, 2025
The Curse of Soulwaker is a paranormal mystery that follows the main female character Dunegray, a fierce commander of a Cursed army. This novel was out of my normal range of fantasy reading, especially the mystery part. However, it held a lot of intrigue. The pacing of the beginning of the book was a bit of a roller-coaster for me, shifting from slow to fast and back, until I hit the middle of the book and it really picked up. I felt like the story had a lot of different plot paths it was trying to follow and I couldn't get a grip on what would happen next but I was invested to see.
The world building was very immersive and easy to follow; in the second part of the book it was fast paced and I would love to see more of the other lands incorporated into the next book. Dunegray is such a complex character with a background history that makes you want to root for her, as her choices did not use to be her own. The omniscient pov was a little harder to follow for me. I believe being in Dunegray's head or even a few multiple povs to read through inner monologues would have connected me to the characters, their emotions, and reasoning better.
Overall I give this book a 3.5 and I will be waiting for the next one to come out, as it did leave off on a cliffhanger that has my attention.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted arc copy of this book.
The world building was very immersive and easy to follow; in the second part of the book it was fast paced and I would love to see more of the other lands incorporated into the next book. Dunegray is such a complex character with a background history that makes you want to root for her, as her choices did not use to be her own. The omniscient pov was a little harder to follow for me. I believe being in Dunegray's head or even a few multiple povs to read through inner monologues would have connected me to the characters, their emotions, and reasoning better.
Overall I give this book a 3.5 and I will be waiting for the next one to come out, as it did leave off on a cliffhanger that has my attention.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted arc copy of this book.
January 19, 2025
Thank you The Nerd Fam for an e-arc of this book!
The best way I can explain this book is if Frankenstein was turned into a high-fantasy novel with the thoughtful and imaginative worldbuilding of Game of Thrones.
I loved the themes of this book and the question of morality and discovery of what it means to be human by Dunegray. The worldbuilding was intense, so much imagination behind each piece that felt very thought out with culture and even traditions were not looked over.
Halfway through the book I really engaged the most with the story, but it was initially jarring with the shifting-pov, especially coming from only Dunegray to then the other characters. I felt that the first half of the book took its time with the development, but the speed really picked up in the second half and was more my style in terms of engagement, politics, and exploration of characters and the world.
It took me a while to read this book because I really committed to being invovled with the intensity of the world and the emotional, or non-emotional state of the characters, taking in a lot of the history being explored.
Overall, I appreciated this book, especially after the major battle in the story in which I felt the characters overall had a better footing, my biggest highlight definitely has to be the well-thought and written world!
The best way I can explain this book is if Frankenstein was turned into a high-fantasy novel with the thoughtful and imaginative worldbuilding of Game of Thrones.
I loved the themes of this book and the question of morality and discovery of what it means to be human by Dunegray. The worldbuilding was intense, so much imagination behind each piece that felt very thought out with culture and even traditions were not looked over.
Halfway through the book I really engaged the most with the story, but it was initially jarring with the shifting-pov, especially coming from only Dunegray to then the other characters. I felt that the first half of the book took its time with the development, but the speed really picked up in the second half and was more my style in terms of engagement, politics, and exploration of characters and the world.
It took me a while to read this book because I really committed to being invovled with the intensity of the world and the emotional, or non-emotional state of the characters, taking in a lot of the history being explored.
Overall, I appreciated this book, especially after the major battle in the story in which I felt the characters overall had a better footing, my biggest highlight definitely has to be the well-thought and written world!
October 16, 2024
“Fate will come for you”
If you’re a fan of paranormal suspense with rich world-building and compelling characters, you’ll want to add The Curse of Soulwalker to your reading list! The story truly picks up steam by Chapter 3, so stick with it because from there, it’s a gripping ride.
Dunegray has only known death. She serves un-dying King Huran as commander of his army. Her people are feared as immortal killing machines and know no other way. But thanks to powerful magic, her army is defeated and her curse is broken. Her struggle to adapt to a new kind of existence in an unknown land and the loyalty to her people are what really pulled me in.
Sharon Elwood has done an amazing job with world-building, layering a dark, intricate setting that feels both otherworldly and grounded in emotion. The cast of characters surrounding Dunegray adds depth to the narrative, and I found myself fully invested in their fates.
A solid 4.5 stars for me. This is definitely one to watch out for, especially if you’re a fan of stories that blend magic, curses, and a deep exploration of power and identity.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it.
Thank you to The Nerdfam for the gifted ARC!
If you’re a fan of paranormal suspense with rich world-building and compelling characters, you’ll want to add The Curse of Soulwalker to your reading list! The story truly picks up steam by Chapter 3, so stick with it because from there, it’s a gripping ride.
Dunegray has only known death. She serves un-dying King Huran as commander of his army. Her people are feared as immortal killing machines and know no other way. But thanks to powerful magic, her army is defeated and her curse is broken. Her struggle to adapt to a new kind of existence in an unknown land and the loyalty to her people are what really pulled me in.
Sharon Elwood has done an amazing job with world-building, layering a dark, intricate setting that feels both otherworldly and grounded in emotion. The cast of characters surrounding Dunegray adds depth to the narrative, and I found myself fully invested in their fates.
A solid 4.5 stars for me. This is definitely one to watch out for, especially if you’re a fan of stories that blend magic, curses, and a deep exploration of power and identity.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it.
Thank you to The Nerdfam for the gifted ARC!
October 28, 2024
Thank you to the author and The Nerd Fam for supplying this Arc!
I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this book! It has a very strong female main character. The world building was great, and super descriptive, but not too much to where you lose the story.
I loved all the characters and the banter. The only thing I wish there was more of is maybe backstory for some of the side characters. But since this is a trilogy, I feel like this is possible later on in the series. Having said all that, it does not take away from the story at all. You still get a great main character story, and all kinds of puzzle pieces to put together.
The story concept was very unique, and I look forward to maybe seeing more of the elemental magic that was mentioned.
The emotional rollercoaster that Dunegray goes through is everything! This book even had some cozy moments, which you wouldn’t expect from the cover haha. I need more of Sinei!
I will definitely be continuing this series, and I will be running to the bookstore to buy it when it comes out!
Thank you again for this opportunity! Receiving an ARC does not at all go into my decision making when leaving a review. This books was great! 100% recommend!
I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this book! It has a very strong female main character. The world building was great, and super descriptive, but not too much to where you lose the story.
I loved all the characters and the banter. The only thing I wish there was more of is maybe backstory for some of the side characters. But since this is a trilogy, I feel like this is possible later on in the series. Having said all that, it does not take away from the story at all. You still get a great main character story, and all kinds of puzzle pieces to put together.
The story concept was very unique, and I look forward to maybe seeing more of the elemental magic that was mentioned.
The emotional rollercoaster that Dunegray goes through is everything! This book even had some cozy moments, which you wouldn’t expect from the cover haha. I need more of Sinei!
I will definitely be continuing this series, and I will be running to the bookstore to buy it when it comes out!
Thank you again for this opportunity! Receiving an ARC does not at all go into my decision making when leaving a review. This books was great! 100% recommend!
October 24, 2024
This fantasy book!! It was so different from any other fantasy I’ve read before, and I absolutely LOVED it.🔥
The beginning had me hooked and the world building was so well written, and written in such a way that the information wasn’t overwhelming me.😅
This story is so unique and the ending had me wanting book 2 immediately!😱
Dunegray, this badass woman!🔥 She goed from a heartless, cursed warrior, to a mortal warrior with emotions. Her journey throughout this book was written so well that I could feel what she was feeling in every page.🥺 Her growth was so different from any other FMC that I’ve read before, and it was beautiful yet heartbreaking to read.❤️🩹
I enjoyed the adventure the characters went on, and how all the questions I had were answered. Dunegray’s story is complicated and things happened that I could not have guessed.😱 I am now obsessed with this world and seriously neeeeeed book 2 NOW!👀
Thank you so much to The Nerd Fam and Sharon Elwood for this arc copy of The Curse of Soulwaker. It was an absolutely phenomenal fantasy book that all fantasy readers MUST read when it releases on October 29th!🔥
The beginning had me hooked and the world building was so well written, and written in such a way that the information wasn’t overwhelming me.😅
This story is so unique and the ending had me wanting book 2 immediately!😱
Dunegray, this badass woman!🔥 She goed from a heartless, cursed warrior, to a mortal warrior with emotions. Her journey throughout this book was written so well that I could feel what she was feeling in every page.🥺 Her growth was so different from any other FMC that I’ve read before, and it was beautiful yet heartbreaking to read.❤️🩹
I enjoyed the adventure the characters went on, and how all the questions I had were answered. Dunegray’s story is complicated and things happened that I could not have guessed.😱 I am now obsessed with this world and seriously neeeeeed book 2 NOW!👀
Thank you so much to The Nerd Fam and Sharon Elwood for this arc copy of The Curse of Soulwaker. It was an absolutely phenomenal fantasy book that all fantasy readers MUST read when it releases on October 29th!🔥
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