Cursed by the Dawn

New
244671506
Author(s)
Age Range
13+
Release Date
August 04, 2026
ISBN
9780316587778
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Perfect for fans of Adalyn Grace, this captivating sequel to the New York Times-bestselling Dream by the Shadows is filled with revenge, romance, and redemption.

Esmer Havenfall thought freeing Erebus from his five-hundred-year imprisonment would end her nightmare. Instead, it has only just begun. Now bound by fate and darkness, Esmer and Erebus are no longer just dreamers—they are Shadow Weavers, wielders of a power both divine and damning. And something is already clawing its way through the Dream Realm’s cracks.

Raelion, the demon king lurking within Mithras, is poised to destroy the world. His corruptive curse spreads like a plague, twisting dreams into nightmares and turning humans into monsters. If Esmer and Erebus are to survive, they must achieve the forge an army from the broken and unravel ancient horrors before it’s too late. But when Esmer and Erebus are abruptly cast from the Dream Realm into a kingdom teetering on the edge of ruin, they quickly learn that something monstrous has already slipped through—and their love might be the first thing it devours.

Editor review

1 review
Dark and dramatic close to a romantic duology
(Updated: July 22, 2026)
Overall rating
 
3.7
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
3.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
In which Esmer and Erebus take on the demons, with big power couple energy and not a lot of time to adapt to their new role as Shadow Weavers or the abrasive opinions of the other Weavers. While the first half takes a slower pace, from there on it’s non-stop. E&E both wrestle with self-doubt, but even as the odds stack against them, they never doubt one another (that’s right, no miscommunications here! Just plenty of love and sweetness and hm-yeah-maybe-we’re-all-going-to-die-yikes).

I quite enjoyed the first book for its dreamy atmosphere, however here I didn’t feel as immersed in the writing and was distracted by tonal shifts mid scene, or explanations of the subtext. I was more aware of romance-isms (he smelled of something, something, and something distinctly masculine, etc). It’s also a bold choice to open with a prologue that reveals things about Mithras that the characters only learn in the final act.

Some things I loved (and would've loved more of):
- Contrast of dreams vs reality and how people thrive on both
- Erebus’s best bros
- Castle renovations. No really, this was raised as a relevant relational point but not brought full circle.
- Discussions of leadership

Definitely recommend reading the duology back to back.
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