Dragon Cursed
the must-read dragon fantasy romance from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Arcana Academy
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Dragon Cursed
Narrated by:
Amanda Dolan
Buy Now for $31.39
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Narrated by:
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Amanda Dolan
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By:
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Elise Kova
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 standing: Vingard.
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.©2026 Elise Kova (P)2026 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
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Critic Reviews
Pulse-pounding romance, vivid world-building, and badass dragon hunters make for a bloodthirsty and brutally fun read. The stakes couldn't be higher - I devoured every page. This is the YA fantasy I've been waiting for!
Kova delivers a solid start to a new romantasy series with detailed worldbuilding, an intriguing plot, and a compelling main character. The first-person narration draws readers in quickly, and the complexity of the fantasy elements will appeal to existing genre fans, while the romance has the potential to bring in new readers
The concept is genuinely one of the strongest parts of the book. Humans being cursed to become dragons? Obsessed. The idea that dragons aren’t just creatures but something born from within adds such a dark, compelling layer to the world. It’s unique, unsettling, and full of potential - and I found myself really drawn to that aspect of the story.
The setting and underlying themes also stood out. There’s a clear exploration of control, religious power, and systemic manipulation woven throughout the story that feels very relevant and, at times, uncomfortably familiar. It gave the book more depth than a typical YA fantasy and added an interesting layer to Isola’s journey.
That said, the execution didn’t fully land for me.
A large portion of the book centres around the Tribunal trials, which are meant to push characters to their breaking point to trigger the dragon curse. While the idea is brutal and high-stakes, the reality felt a bit repetitive and, at times, oddly underwhelming. Instead of feeling tense or dangerous, some moments came across as more unnecessarily cruel than genuinely gripping, and the pacing through this section dragged.
I also struggled with the character development, particularly with the side characters. The relationship between Isola and her best friend had a strong foundation, but I wanted more depth and emotional weight. For a bond that’s meant to be central, it felt underexplored until much later in the story. Similarly, other side characters didn’t feel as fleshed out as they could have been.
The romance had potential, but it leaned more on being told rather than truly felt. I didn’t find myself fully invested in the connection, even though the dynamic itself could have worked with more development.
On a writing level, there was a noticeable tendency toward telling rather than showing, which made it harder to fully immerse myself in certain emotional beats or moments of tension. Combined with the slower middle, this made parts of the story feel longer than they needed to be.
That said - the final stretch of the book definitely picks up. The ending delivers a series of reveals and a cliffhanger that shifts the direction of the story quite dramatically. I went into this thinking it was a standalone, so the ending caught me off guard, but it does set up the next book in an intriguing way.
Overall, Dragon Cursed is a YA fantasy with a fantastic core concept, dark undertones, and strong thematic ideas around power and control. While the execution didn’t fully meet my expectations - particularly in pacing, character depth, and emotional payoff - there’s still enough here to keep me curious about where the story goes next.
If you enjoy YA fantasy with dragons, trials, and a touch of social commentary, this is still a decent read - and a really approachable entry into YA fantasy since it’s not overly complicated. I will be picking up book two because that ending?? rude.
A good entry to YA Fantasy
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The magic system felt fresh and different from other dragon fantasy books I’ve picked up, which immediately helped this story stand out. I was invested in the mystery surrounding Isola and whether she was truly the Chosen One or actually Dragon Cursed.
I also loved being wrong about Saipha. I was certain betrayal was coming, but their friendship ended up being one of the sweetest parts of the book. Lucan was a strong male lead, and I’m definitely curious to see where his relationship with Isola goes next.
The trials were intense, and the ending was easily my favourite part. Great twists, strong action, and a cliffhanger that absolutely makes you want the next book immediately.
My only issues were some repetitive pacing, occasional confusion around how the magic system was explained, and a few scenes that were harder to picture clearly.
Amanda Dolan did a really good job with the narration. She handled all voices well, including the male characters, and there were no awkward moments that pulled me out of the story. That said, this kind of fun escapist fantasy would be even stronger with duet narration in future books.
For YA fantasy (which I’m not usually a fan of) this was a great time… but would be even better written as an adult fantasy
Fun Dragon Fantasy with a Strong Audio Performance
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Dragon cursed is the book for you!!!
Do you like mystery, slow burn romance, political and so much more. Read this book you won’t regret it!
The character development and back story is fantastic and love love love the cliff hanger! I cannot wait for the next book.
Spoilers below!!!!⬇️
The ways the people in this universe sees dragons as cursed and just go in for the mercy kill to stop the worst from happening! Isola and Lucan friendship bonding and the way he protects her from any harm or at least tries to stop it. Some of his back story and what Isola doesn’t know about him and when she realises her feelings towards him 😍😍❤️ then the betrayal at the end and the loss of her loved ones. Elise ! Your book is amazing 😻
Dragon cursed!!!!!! 🐉 🥰😍
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Will leave you needing the sequel ASAP
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