Cursed by Darkness (An Urban Fantasy Novel) (Befallen Tides) [Kindle Edition]

Anna Sanders (Author)

Book Description

Check out the sequel now! --> amzn.com/B00BKKHOPS

Winx is a daevor: a demon who can coerce people into killing themselves. After using her powers to avenge her sister's death, she's sentenced to have her wings severed and serve as a soldier. But Winx refuses to play by the rules. She goes into hiding at a BDSM club in Los Angeles where nobody would think to look for a deadly daevor.

Keaton's friends and family are under attack by savages--people who arise from death as soulless monsters. Winx is the only one with the power to defeat them, and Keaton is determined to harness her dark powers... no matter what it takes.

"Cursed by Darkness" is the first in an urban fantasy trilogy, and it includes the short story, "Killed by Darkness." The sequel, "Challenged by Darkness," is available now!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

California. Her interest in writing began at the early age of 12 years old after having an eccentric and exciting English teacher. Her hobbies include hiking, killing zombies in video games, cooking, and obnoxiously singing showtunes. For the past six years, Anna has been an avid participant in the annual NaNoWriMo challenge. She currently resides in Carson City, Nevada with her husband, their two daughters, and a fluffy behemoth of a dog named Jojo. Sign up for the Red Iris Books newsletter to find out when Anna releases her next book! Visit bit.ly/PVSKTH

Product Details

• File Size: 284 KB
• Print Length: 213 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1937733262
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Red Iris Books (January 6, 2013)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B009EC25F8
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,718 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting worldbuilding but not much else January 6, 2013

By Erin Conroy

Format:Kindle Edition

I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

I really liked the idea of daevors - demons who can compel humans to commit suicide. I haven't seen that yet.

This is an interesting novel, with a fascinating world populated by demons, some type of shapeshifter, and the lixyn, who appear to be angelic. I'm not very clear on that point. And savages, which remind me of zombies.

The beginning is very intriguing, but then things kind of drop off. It didn't really hold my attention. The ending was cool -- I couldn't put it down at one point. But the middle? Kind of blah.

However, this book was very well written and I think it's a good start. Just needs a little bit more, I think.

I'll definitely read the next book in the series. Hopefully, it'll be a bit more exciting.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Ready for Book Two October 24, 2012

By Denise

Format:Kindle Edition

I really enjoyed this book. It is a little on the dark side and at times brutal, but this all sets the groundwork for what I am anticipating to be a really good trilogy. I love Winx. She is angry and broken and harsh, but the woman has strength that shines through no matter how hard she tries to ignore it. Overall the characters are likeable and the baddies are the kind you love to hate. The world was a taste of something different for me and in context is believable. When I finished, I was ready to go on to book two, which to me is always a good sign of my enjoyment of a read.
I received this book from the author with a request for my honest review without any compensation whatsoever, other than the joy of reading a new book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Unique Demon Story November 15, 2012

By Mandy Sickle

Format:Paperback

I received a copy of Cursed by Darkness from a member giveaway from Librarything. Winx is a demon known as a daevor because she's gifted with the abilities of being able to convince people to do her will as well as kill themselves. When her sister is raped and murdered Winx does what any sister would do she sets out for justice against the humans who killed her. However the three don't see it as justice instead they see it as an attack against the humans because Winx used her gift to have them mutilate themselves to death. The three devise a punishment for her that they feel is satisfactory first they remove her wings which will never grow back and drop her into their military boot camp training her to kill Savages (Zombies).

Winx has other plans, she's not the killing type and disapears in L.A. working at Skinned a strip club where she can let the little demon part of herself out. She's content to hide away from the three and live her life as a human until a handsome bandit shows up at the club looking for her. Wanting him to leave she agrees to talk to him if only to find out how he found her. When he tells her of the Savages killing his pack and that she's the only one who can help them, she doesn't bat an eye, it's when he tells her he was sent to find her by a lixyn a higher demon. Winx decides that the three know she's in L.A. and running off with Keaton might be the best choice.

The pair head for Colorado where Keaton's pack is waiting for them slaying the Savages on their way. Once they arrive in the forest Keaton heads off to find his pack and get clearance to bring Winx into the pack because they keep the location secret. While waiting for Keaton Winx takes a nap but is waken when she hears Savages attacking a lixyn demon that is up a tree, even though she's not a fan of Lixyn she heads into the forest to save the girl. Only after saving her does she learn that she's a princess daughter to the queen lixyn and she's on a secret mission.

I love the cover art it just screams read me so of course I was super excited to win a copy. I really like Winx as a character my heart went out to her when she had her wings brutally removed. She's a strong character but she does have her few and far between fragile spots. I really liked the concept for the book; I found it unique since a demon was hunting zombies in essence. The story is the first in the series so we do have a little bit of building but it does have its action spots as well. I found the chemistry between Winx and Keaton exciting they are two different creatures yet they are finding a common ground and building onto more than just a friendship. I love a good story with a little romance and Cursed by Darkness was exactly what I hoped it would be. Overall I feel the characters are well developed enough that the story flows smoothly along, creating a world I want to know more of as well as what happens next to Winx and Keaton. I look forward to reading more about Winx and her journey to gain her freedom.

More About the Author

Anna Sanders is a simple soul originally from southern California. Her interest in writing began at the early age of 12 years old after having an eccentrically exciting English teacher. Her hobbies include hiking, killing zombies in video games, cooking, and obnoxiously singing show tunes. For the past six years Anna has been an avid participant in the annual NaNoWriMo challenge.

She currently resides in Carson City, Nevada with husband, their two year old daughter and a fluffy behemoth of a dog named Jojo. To hear about Anna's latest releases, sign up for the Red Iris Books newsletter here -- bit.ly/PVSKTH