The Dawn of the Cursed Queen by Amber V. Nicole

Here is a summary with spoilers of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

Book 3 focuses on the desperate search to save Logan and the rest of the Hand, while delving into several intertwining arcs. It explores Nismira’s relentless quest for power, Samkiel’s ongoing struggle to heal from his past, and Dianna’s internal battle with her lingering grief of her sister and the loss of her soul.

Nismira aims to seize control of the realms, capitalizing on Samkiel’s vulnerabilities and absence from the forefront. Meanwhile, Nevarra endures a fate similar to Logan’s, becoming a shadow of her former self. She even turns on Samkiel at one point, fighting him under the influence of her trauma and external forces.

After the realms are sealed, Dianna, Samkiel, and Orym fall into Nismera’s hands. Nismera imprisons them in a divine dungeon, stripping them of their strength and forcing them to witness her growing dominion. Her rule is merciless—she bends mortals and monsters alike to her will, cementing herself as the self-proclaimed goddess-queen. In captivity, the three uncover that Nismera intends not just to rule but to completely erase any threats to her reign, including them.

Dianna engineers their escape when she manages to steal a map from one of Nismera’s guards. The trio flees into underground tunnels that twist beneath the realms, only to find the caverns crawling with monstrous, half-feral creatures twisted by the sealing. Their escape becomes a gauntlet: Orym holds the line with blade and shield, Samkiel’s unstable powers lash out against the beasts, and Dianna channels raw magic to carve them a path forward. The tunnels collapse behind them, sealing their only way back and forcing them to push deeper into the labyrinth.

Emerging from the tunnels, they regroup with tenuous allies, but betrayal comes swiftly. Individuals they once trusted turn against them, swayed by Nismera’s promises of safety and power. Dianna learns fragments of her hidden past during these confrontations—clues that she can bend the very fabric of reality. This revelation comes at a terrible moment, as her untested ability nearly tears apart their surroundings, harming both friend and foe. The instability of her magic makes her dangerous even to her own companions.

Conflict escalates when Kaden and Isaiah, two formidable figures tied to Dianna’s past, confront her directly. These battles are brutal, fought not only with weapons but with the weight of history and loyalty fractured. Kaden’s skill and Isaiah’s cunning force Dianna to draw deeper on her unpredictable powers, while Orym and Samkiel are nearly cut down holding the line. The fights leave them battered and scattered, their unity shaken by the sheer scale of opposition arrayed against them.

In the aftermath, Dianna makes a desperate choice when Samkiel is mortally wounded—she sacrifices a part of herself to tether him back to life. This act binds their souls together and sends a shockwave across the realms, shifting the balance of power and making Dianna a beacon for both allies and enemies. Though they survive, they do so at great cost: Samkiel is changed by the bond, Orym bears fresh scars from the battles, and Dianna’s powers grow more volatile with every use.

The book ends in a pivotal showdown where Samkiel kills Kaden and captures Isiah, bringing him to the castle to extract vital information. However, just a few chapters later, the shocking truth is revealed—Kaden is not truly dead and managed to return.

It’s also uncovered that Dianna’s soul isn’t entirely lost. Instead, it resides within Samkiel, who was strong enough to absorb and carry both souls. This connection means the two of them cannot remain apart for extended periods without dire consequences.

In the final chapter, their fragile peace is shattered when Unir, the father of both Kaden and Samkiel, arrives at the castle. Using his dark powers, he lures Dianna out of bed and engulfs her in shadows. The book ends on this dramatic cliffhanger, leaving the fate of the realms—and Dianna—hanging in the balance.