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Harker Academy #2
Cursed City
Not yet published
Expected 29 Sep 26Win a free kindle copy of this book!
5 days and 05:54:22
50 copies available
U.S. only
Welcome back to Harker Academy for Deviant Defense, where the line between hunter and hunted has never been thinner.
To rescue someone close to her, Viv Abbot must team up with Reid’s violent, unpredictable older brother, Deacon. Her uneasy truce with him offers Viv something Reid never could: the chance to embrace her darkness.
Viv’s mission takes her to the center of Astera’s seedy underbelly with none other than the White Stag as her guide. But when a bounty on Viv’s head puts those she cares about in danger, Viv will be forced to go to lengths she never dreamed in order to protect them.
With enemies closing in from all sides and a ticking clock on her life, Viv must save the Half City from destruction while surviving a betrayal that strikes at the heart of everything she’s fighting for. Because in a world where monsters wear familiar faces and temptation cuts deeper than any blade, making it through her second semester at Harker will take more than skill—it will take everything Viv has left to give. Who can she really trust in a city that thrives on lies?
To rescue someone close to her, Viv Abbot must team up with Reid’s violent, unpredictable older brother, Deacon. Her uneasy truce with him offers Viv something Reid never could: the chance to embrace her darkness.
Viv’s mission takes her to the center of Astera’s seedy underbelly with none other than the White Stag as her guide. But when a bounty on Viv’s head puts those she cares about in danger, Viv will be forced to go to lengths she never dreamed in order to protect them.
With enemies closing in from all sides and a ticking clock on her life, Viv must save the Half City from destruction while surviving a betrayal that strikes at the heart of everything she’s fighting for. Because in a world where monsters wear familiar faces and temptation cuts deeper than any blade, making it through her second semester at Harker will take more than skill—it will take everything Viv has left to give. Who can she really trust in a city that thrives on lies?
523 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 29, 2026
About the author
Kate Golden
14 books4,575 followersKate Golden is the USA Today bestselling author of both The Sacred Stones and Harker Academy trilogies. When she isn’t writing, Kate is an avid book reader, puzzle addict, and game night enthusiast. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their puppy, Milo.You can find her on Instagram at @KateGoldenAuthor and on TikTok at @Kate_Golden_Author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 470 reviews
September 12, 2026
THIS is how you write a sequel!! Utterly incredible, addictive and such a fantastic continuation of the plot. If you’re craving 2000s paranormal vibes, buffy, the vampire diaries ALL the bingeable urban/paranormal vibes, you absolutely need to read this series. Book one was fun, but book two was even better! Probably one of the most exciting/fun love triangles I have read in a long time. FIVE STARS!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you kate golden, netgalley & berkley for the eARC—all thoughts are my own!
✦ publication date: october 06, 2026
hi kate, if you’re reading this, please look away! i don’t want to traumatize you, but oh boy, did you traumatize me. 😭
you know those rare books that make you have a full blown existential crisis and suddenly wish you lived in a fictional world instead of, well, reality? that is exactly what this book did to me after i finished it (or did it finish me?).
i'm keeping this PG because it’s an arc review, but GOODNESS GRACIOUS. kate golden is putting something illegal in these pages because i inhaled this book like a starving bitch. everyone talks about second book syndrome, but apparently, kate didn’t get the memo, because this is somehow even better than half city.
this book picked up right where half city ended. someone goes missing and viv abbot has to team up with deacon, reid’s dangerous and unpredictable older brother. working with deacon is difficult, but he offers viv something reid never could: a way to stop fighting her own dark side. viv’s mission takes her into the darkest parts of the city with the criminal known as the white stag as her guide. but when a bounty is put on viv’s head, the people she cares about are put in danger. to protect them, viv must do things she never thought she was capable of. and with enemies everywhere and very little time left, viv must save her city from destruction while dealing with a painful betrayal. in a world where monsters look like normal people and secrets are deadly, viv realizes that surviving her second semester at harker academy will take every bit of strength she has. who can she really trust when everyone around her is lying?
this is hands down one of the best urban fantasies i've ever touched. the writing is super effortless, and the characters are so complex, especially deacon. and the found family? chef’s kiss. penny, sophia, peter, elliot, ward, and baz… i would die for every single one of them. their friendship is the soul of this story.
viv’s growth is legendary. she’s impulsive, sure, but her loyalty is unmatched. she’s officially one of my favorite leads ever. and deacon? i would literally crawl over a mile of legos just to say hi to this man. he’s foul-mouthed, flirtatious that made my panties drop, and somehow still a total baby girl. he's like jacks from oubah and cardan greenbrier from the cruel price, but make it 18+ version lol. i am unwell. and reid? pookie, i love you, and loving you hurts.
the emotional rollercoaster was real: 10%: laughing. 20%: fidgeting. 40%: frustrated. 60%: sobbing. 80%: nervous sweating. 100%: pulling my hair out till i almost became bald because THAT ENDING?! miss author, you are not getting away with this! i'm sending you my entire therapy bill.
i'm still reeling. one minute i was giggling, and the next i was crying until my nose was running. just do yourself a favor: read this the second it comes out.
now, i need to go cry in a dark corner for the next three to five business days.
౨ৎ ⋮ more by kate golden
— if not my baby
— half city
— the scared stones trilogy
✦ publication date: october 06, 2026
hi kate, if you’re reading this, please look away! i don’t want to traumatize you, but oh boy, did you traumatize me. 😭
you know those rare books that make you have a full blown existential crisis and suddenly wish you lived in a fictional world instead of, well, reality? that is exactly what this book did to me after i finished it (or did it finish me?).
i'm keeping this PG because it’s an arc review, but GOODNESS GRACIOUS. kate golden is putting something illegal in these pages because i inhaled this book like a starving bitch. everyone talks about second book syndrome, but apparently, kate didn’t get the memo, because this is somehow even better than half city.
this book picked up right where half city ended. someone goes missing and viv abbot has to team up with deacon, reid’s dangerous and unpredictable older brother. working with deacon is difficult, but he offers viv something reid never could: a way to stop fighting her own dark side. viv’s mission takes her into the darkest parts of the city with the criminal known as the white stag as her guide. but when a bounty is put on viv’s head, the people she cares about are put in danger. to protect them, viv must do things she never thought she was capable of. and with enemies everywhere and very little time left, viv must save her city from destruction while dealing with a painful betrayal. in a world where monsters look like normal people and secrets are deadly, viv realizes that surviving her second semester at harker academy will take every bit of strength she has. who can she really trust when everyone around her is lying?
this is hands down one of the best urban fantasies i've ever touched. the writing is super effortless, and the characters are so complex, especially deacon. and the found family? chef’s kiss. penny, sophia, peter, elliot, ward, and baz… i would die for every single one of them. their friendship is the soul of this story.
viv’s growth is legendary. she’s impulsive, sure, but her loyalty is unmatched. she’s officially one of my favorite leads ever. and deacon? i would literally crawl over a mile of legos just to say hi to this man. he’s foul-mouthed, flirtatious that made my panties drop, and somehow still a total baby girl. he's like jacks from oubah and cardan greenbrier from the cruel price, but make it 18+ version lol. i am unwell. and reid? pookie, i love you, and loving you hurts.
the emotional rollercoaster was real: 10%: laughing. 20%: fidgeting. 40%: frustrated. 60%: sobbing. 80%: nervous sweating. 100%: pulling my hair out till i almost became bald because THAT ENDING?! miss author, you are not getting away with this! i'm sending you my entire therapy bill.
i'm still reeling. one minute i was giggling, and the next i was crying until my nose was running. just do yourself a favor: read this the second it comes out.
now, i need to go cry in a dark corner for the next three to five business days.
౨ৎ ⋮ more by kate golden
— if not my baby
— half city
— the scared stones trilogy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4! DEACON > REID. Total daddy energy. This was juicy!
FULL REVIEW COMING!!
Initially I wasn't going to read the Harker Academy series at all but since I received this ARC, I decided to read Half City and it wasn’t bad but it also wasn’t that great. A lot of filler and we don’t even get to the real plot until 70%. But it did leave me curious and wanting to see what happens next.
But this is SO MUCH better than Half City.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group/Ace and the author, Kate Golden for an early copy of this book.
Publication date: September 29, 2026
FULL REVIEW COMING!!
Initially I wasn't going to read the Harker Academy series at all but since I received this ARC, I decided to read Half City and it wasn’t bad but it also wasn’t that great. A lot of filler and we don’t even get to the real plot until 70%. But it did leave me curious and wanting to see what happens next.
But this is SO MUCH better than Half City.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group/Ace and the author, Kate Golden for an early copy of this book.
Publication date: September 29, 2026
Want to Read
March 18, 2026SHE MOVED UP THE RELEASE DATE!!!
deacon endgame!!!! deacon endgame!!!!!
deacon endgame!!!! deacon endgame!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was provided an e-copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
✅✅ Viv & Deacon forced to work together
✅ Pace
✅ Plot
✅ Twists & Betrayal
✅ Demons / Hunters / Magic
✅ Action, hunting, and fighting
✅ Morally grey characters
✅ Found family
✅ Romance & Good relationship development
✅ Sexual tension / Hate to friendship to more…
✅ He helps her in the shower when she is hurt
✅ Forced to work with her enemy to save the one she loves
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: blood, mention of torture (the torture happens off-page), death of loved ones
❗️❗️Cliffhanger
🔥 Spice level : 🌶️.5 / 5
Deacon.
That should be my whole review.
❗️❗️Mild spoilers about the romance in the review. I hid the real spoilers, but there is some information about the context and events Viv finds herself in that could be mildly spoilery
But then again, if you didn’t figure out that there was potential for a hint of something between Viv and Deacon, you need to reread the first book and pay better attention.❗️❗️
A wonderful, stellar sequel.
It’s as if the author read my review of the first book, wrote down every tiny things that bothered me, and fixed them all in this sequel: we see more of Penny, the relationship between Viv and Reid gets more layers and Viv also takes some time to think about them, and the fact that maybe they are not the best fit for each other, and on top of it all, Deacon is much more present, to my utter delight.
This book picks up right where Half City left off, with Viv asking Deacon to help her save Reid from the brood. It was made clear in the first book that Reid and Deacon have a strained and complex relationship, and we learn more about it and about their past in this sequel. Still, despite their past feuds, Deacon does not hesitate to work with Viv, and tries his best to find and free his estranged brother. This book is less of a mystery to solve and more of a race against the clock to find Reid before he gets killed by the brood, and find a way to free Viv from the syrabraxa before she loses her sanity, or before the High Thane finds her and kills her.
Everything feels more intense in this book: the stakes are higher, and the twists and betrayals hurt even more. The last 20% of the book had me gasp out loud so many times, and I was on the edge of my seat until the very last page. Of course, it ends with a cruel cliffhanger, and if I was overjoyed to have an ARC 4 months before the release of this book, now I feel like crying because the wait until the third book will be 4 months longer for me…
Viv and Deacon being forced to work closely together created such perfect tension between them. Their conversations are full of snark (on Viv’s side) and innuendos (on Deacon’s side), and the sexual tension slowly building between them promises something intenseif when they act upon it. Deacon is also, surprisingly (well, surprisingly for Viv, not for us readers), the one to help Viv see how great she is, and how she should embrace her aeon side instead of hating it. She started this book hating him, and being ready to hate him until the day she died, but he showed her that he was more than a cold demon, and that in his way, he cared about people, and he genuinely wanted to help her.
I devoured this book even though I am not usually a fan of books where the love interests are apart for too long. Viv is separated from Reid for most of this book, but I didn’t even care because Deacon and his friends were such a wonderful addition to the cast, and let’s be honest, Deacon and Viv have great chemistry. All in all, Deacon is also a more intriguing and compelling character, and I love how he pushes Viv out of her comfort zone, but also manages to make sure that she knows he has her back.
The first book focused a lot on Viv, and how she struggled with her life as an aeon, but this one is more about learning to accept her abilities and love herself. In Half City, we could feel how lonely Viv was, how she wished she could stop being an aeon, stop hunting, and just live a normal, quiet, human life. This sequel is like a healing journey for Viv and her sense of self-worth. She is forced to see that she can’t stop being a hunter any more than she can stop breathing, and that being an aeon can be a gift instead of a curse. She learns to see the good side of her abilities instead of focusing on the negative aspect of it, and she learns to value herself and love who she is, instead of despising her urges and thinking that she is not a good person because of those urges. It felt so good to see her come to these realisations and slowly learn to love herself entirely, with the good and the less shiny parts.
Viv goes through a subtle but powerful healing journey and great character growth. She remains the strong, badass fighter we met in the first book, but she allows herself to be more vulnerable in this sequel. She also accepts the fact that while she might be tempted to act alone in an attempt to protect those she loves, she is stronger when she accepts her friends’ help. She is not as intense (and annoying) with the whole “it’s my duty and mine alone to protect this city and kill every deviant around because I’ve been doing this for years and I have more experience than everyone here” speech and attitude, thankfully. Here, Viv is forced to face her insecurities, and it makes her stronger, more confident, and more mature overall.
Deacon’s fans will worship this sequel. He was intriguing in the first book, and we all wanted to see more of Reid’s mysterious brother. Well, he is under the spotlight in this sequel, and I loved every minute of it. Deacon is cunning, arrogant, and hot, and I need more of him. I expected him to be colder at first, but he is so confident in himself and his abilities that he just doesn’t seem to care if Viv sees some of his vulnerabilities, so he allows himself to show a softer side early on. This mix of confidence, wit, and sex appeal is hard to resist, and when we realise that, on top of it, he is loyal, kind (even if he tries to hide it), and can be vulnerable in front of others? I was a goner.
The romance and various relationship development in this sequel are incredible. I finished the first book liking Reid, but also finding that his romance with Viv felt a little rushed, and that a little something was lacking.
The world-building remains compelling and vivid. Most of the story happens during the winter, and while it is not as frigid as the weather we have here in Quebec, we could feel how the city seemed to reflect Viv’s dark mood. Everything felt colder and gloomier, but Astera remained an electric city full of life and magic. I also enjoyed that Viv spent a lot of time outside of Harker Academy; it allowed us to see more of Astera and gave this book a more serious tone than the first one, where Viv was mostly focused on attending class and getting good grades while figuring out who killed her dad. The Academy is relegated to the background here, because Viv needs to fight for her life and Reid’s, and going to class is just not even close to being on her priority list anymore.
I am so happy we saw more of Penny in this book! I said in my review of Half City that it was sad we didn’t see her that much, especially when she was described as Viv’s “other half”. Well, not only is she more present in this book, but she is an active part of the plot. She remains by Viv’s side, tries her best to come to terms with the fact that deviants exist, and gets involved in the search for Reid and for Viv’s cure. She also wins everyone around her with her unwavering genuine kindness and positivity, and she better have a happy ending with a certain werewolf, because that girl has so much sweetness in her; she deserves the best possible ending.
I appreciate that even though Viv does not spend much time at Harker, Elliot, Peter, and Sophia remain important. Too often, secondary characters get swiped to the side and forgotten as the plot progresses and the setting changes, but Viv remained in contact with them, and they continued to be there for her and help her whenever she needed them. There is also the addition of Baz and Ward, two of Deacon’s employees and friends, and they fit very well in Viv’s Goonie squad, as Deacon calls them.
This book is a new favorite of mine, without a doubt, and I know I will eagerly reread it before the third one comes out. I am so happy and thankful to Kate for sending me an ARC, but on the other hand, I now have to wait for countless months with this cliffhanger that leaves me with so many mixed feelings… I don’t know how I will cope.
1. Half City ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Follow me on Instagram 🙂
✅✅ Viv & Deacon forced to work together
✅ Pace
✅ Plot
✅ Twists & Betrayal
✅ Demons / Hunters / Magic
✅ Action, hunting, and fighting
✅ Morally grey characters
✅ Found family
✅ Romance & Good relationship development
✅ Sexual tension / Hate to friendship to more…
✅ He helps her in the shower when she is hurt
✅ Forced to work with her enemy to save the one she loves
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: blood, mention of torture (the torture happens off-page), death of loved ones
❗️❗️Cliffhanger
🔥 Spice level : 🌶️.5 / 5
“The place I’ll never return to. The place I never left.”
Deacon.
That should be my whole review.
❗️❗️Mild spoilers about the romance in the review. I hid the real spoilers, but there is some information about the context and events Viv finds herself in that could be mildly spoilery
But then again, if you didn’t figure out that there was potential for a hint of something between Viv and Deacon, you need to reread the first book and pay better attention.❗️❗️
A wonderful, stellar sequel.
It’s as if the author read my review of the first book, wrote down every tiny things that bothered me, and fixed them all in this sequel: we see more of Penny, the relationship between Viv and Reid gets more layers and Viv also takes some time to think about them, and the fact that maybe they are not the best fit for each other, and on top of it all, Deacon is much more present, to my utter delight.
This book picks up right where Half City left off, with Viv asking Deacon to help her save Reid from the brood. It was made clear in the first book that Reid and Deacon have a strained and complex relationship, and we learn more about it and about their past in this sequel. Still, despite their past feuds, Deacon does not hesitate to work with Viv, and tries his best to find and free his estranged brother. This book is less of a mystery to solve and more of a race against the clock to find Reid before he gets killed by the brood, and find a way to free Viv from the syrabraxa before she loses her sanity, or before the High Thane finds her and kills her.
Everything feels more intense in this book: the stakes are higher, and the twists and betrayals hurt even more. The last 20% of the book had me gasp out loud so many times, and I was on the edge of my seat until the very last page. Of course, it ends with a cruel cliffhanger, and if I was overjoyed to have an ARC 4 months before the release of this book, now I feel like crying because the wait until the third book will be 4 months longer for me…
I’ve come to hate nothing more than when Deacon is right.
Viv and Deacon being forced to work closely together created such perfect tension between them. Their conversations are full of snark (on Viv’s side) and innuendos (on Deacon’s side), and the sexual tension slowly building between them promises something intense
I devoured this book even though I am not usually a fan of books where the love interests are apart for too long. Viv is separated from Reid for most of this book, but I didn’t even care because Deacon and his friends were such a wonderful addition to the cast, and let’s be honest, Deacon and Viv have great chemistry. All in all, Deacon is also a more intriguing and compelling character, and I love how he pushes Viv out of her comfort zone, but also manages to make sure that she knows he has her back.
The first book focused a lot on Viv, and how she struggled with her life as an aeon, but this one is more about learning to accept her abilities and love herself. In Half City, we could feel how lonely Viv was, how she wished she could stop being an aeon, stop hunting, and just live a normal, quiet, human life. This sequel is like a healing journey for Viv and her sense of self-worth. She is forced to see that she can’t stop being a hunter any more than she can stop breathing, and that being an aeon can be a gift instead of a curse. She learns to see the good side of her abilities instead of focusing on the negative aspect of it, and she learns to value herself and love who she is, instead of despising her urges and thinking that she is not a good person because of those urges. It felt so good to see her come to these realisations and slowly learn to love herself entirely, with the good and the less shiny parts.
Viv goes through a subtle but powerful healing journey and great character growth. She remains the strong, badass fighter we met in the first book, but she allows herself to be more vulnerable in this sequel. She also accepts the fact that while she might be tempted to act alone in an attempt to protect those she loves, she is stronger when she accepts her friends’ help. She is not as intense (and annoying) with the whole “it’s my duty and mine alone to protect this city and kill every deviant around because I’ve been doing this for years and I have more experience than everyone here” speech and attitude, thankfully. Here, Viv is forced to face her insecurities, and it makes her stronger, more confident, and more mature overall.
“Who is the girl?”
Landon pushes me forward. “Vivienne Abbot.”
“It’s Viv,” Deacon growls at him.
Deacon’s fans will worship this sequel. He was intriguing in the first book, and we all wanted to see more of Reid’s mysterious brother. Well, he is under the spotlight in this sequel, and I loved every minute of it. Deacon is cunning, arrogant, and hot, and I need more of him. I expected him to be colder at first, but he is so confident in himself and his abilities that he just doesn’t seem to care if Viv sees some of his vulnerabilities, so he allows himself to show a softer side early on. This mix of confidence, wit, and sex appeal is hard to resist, and when we realise that, on top of it, he is loyal, kind (even if he tries to hide it), and can be vulnerable in front of others? I was a goner.
The romance and various relationship development in this sequel are incredible. I finished the first book liking Reid, but also finding that his romance with Viv felt a little rushed, and that a little something was lacking.
The world-building remains compelling and vivid. Most of the story happens during the winter, and while it is not as frigid as the weather we have here in Quebec, we could feel how the city seemed to reflect Viv’s dark mood. Everything felt colder and gloomier, but Astera remained an electric city full of life and magic. I also enjoyed that Viv spent a lot of time outside of Harker Academy; it allowed us to see more of Astera and gave this book a more serious tone than the first one, where Viv was mostly focused on attending class and getting good grades while figuring out who killed her dad. The Academy is relegated to the background here, because Viv needs to fight for her life and Reid’s, and going to class is just not even close to being on her priority list anymore.
I am so happy we saw more of Penny in this book! I said in my review of Half City that it was sad we didn’t see her that much, especially when she was described as Viv’s “other half”. Well, not only is she more present in this book, but she is an active part of the plot. She remains by Viv’s side, tries her best to come to terms with the fact that deviants exist, and gets involved in the search for Reid and for Viv’s cure. She also wins everyone around her with her unwavering genuine kindness and positivity, and she better have a happy ending with a certain werewolf, because that girl has so much sweetness in her; she deserves the best possible ending.
I appreciate that even though Viv does not spend much time at Harker, Elliot, Peter, and Sophia remain important. Too often, secondary characters get swiped to the side and forgotten as the plot progresses and the setting changes, but Viv remained in contact with them, and they continued to be there for her and help her whenever she needed them. There is also the addition of Baz and Ward, two of Deacon’s employees and friends, and they fit very well in Viv’s Goonie squad, as Deacon calls them.
This book is a new favorite of mine, without a doubt, and I know I will eagerly reread it before the third one comes out. I am so happy and thankful to Kate for sending me an ARC, but on the other hand, I now have to wait for countless months with this cliffhanger that leaves me with so many mixed feelings… I don’t know how I will cope.
1. Half City ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Follow me on Instagram 🙂
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
HUGE thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc! I’m just so lucky this year, please let it continue this way 🥹💗
Cursed City picks up where Half City left off and is very fast paced in the beginning. We follow Vivienne as she tries to figure out where the mmc is. While the beginning was fast paced, it quickly fizzled out and from 15-90% was actually slow paced and I found myself feeling very underwhelmed.
What I loved most about Half City was actually the side characters ; but they had less page time in this instalment, which did play on my enjoyment a lot. It’s not that I don’t like the fmc but I’m just extremely indifferent towards her… I would much prefer if Penny was the fmc.
Now the romance is possibly the thing I feel the weirdest about. I didn’t like the romance in Half City because the teacher-student dynamic makes me gag, but she spent the whole book looking for him, and ignoring all possible clues sent her way about his person. He gave me the ick in the first book and he did here again. And the thing is I have to agree with everyone that Deacon is better but he’s the mmc’s brother? Am I the only one feeling weird that she slept with the second mmc’s brother?
Deacon was the most interesting character in this sequel, but all the sleeping around didn’t warm me up to his character. They clearly had feelings for each other (that whole dynamic was WEIRD)… so the sleeping around should’ve stopped? There’s a lot more information about sex preferences in that one and there’s a mention that Reid never satisfied her despite them only sleeping together once. It was definitely foreshadowing what’s coming in the third book.
Another thing that bothered me was that the stakes are supposedly very high - but that’s not what was demonstrated. If she had a few months before going insane, why was Peter & Fiona they only people looking into it? Wouldn’t you want to look for stuff & have all of your friends help too? I get that she wanted to find Reid but he wasn’t the priority. And her mom casually hanging out with the villain?? How was that not remedied from the get go?
To be quite honest though, the aspect that really hindered my enjoyment was how thin the plot actually is. I noticed plotholes from the get go and they actually unfolded how I thought they would at the end.
This book, in my opinion, suffered from middle book syndrome and I was annoyed by the ending.
Overall, I don’t really know where I stand with this trilogy. With all the foreshadowing, the next one will definitely be Kinky City and I’m not sure I’ll be there for it.
Cursed City picks up where Half City left off and is very fast paced in the beginning. We follow Vivienne as she tries to figure out where the mmc is. While the beginning was fast paced, it quickly fizzled out and from 15-90% was actually slow paced and I found myself feeling very underwhelmed.
What I loved most about Half City was actually the side characters ; but they had less page time in this instalment, which did play on my enjoyment a lot. It’s not that I don’t like the fmc but I’m just extremely indifferent towards her… I would much prefer if Penny was the fmc.
Now the romance is possibly the thing I feel the weirdest about. I didn’t like the romance in Half City because the teacher-student dynamic makes me gag, but she spent the whole book looking for him, and ignoring all possible clues sent her way about his person. He gave me the ick in the first book and he did here again. And the thing is I have to agree with everyone that Deacon is better but he’s the mmc’s brother? Am I the only one feeling weird that she slept with the second mmc’s brother?
Deacon was the most interesting character in this sequel, but all the sleeping around didn’t warm me up to his character. They clearly had feelings for each other (that whole dynamic was WEIRD)… so the sleeping around should’ve stopped? There’s a lot more information about sex preferences in that one and there’s a mention that Reid never satisfied her despite them only sleeping together once. It was definitely foreshadowing what’s coming in the third book.
Another thing that bothered me was that the stakes are supposedly very high - but that’s not what was demonstrated. If she had a few months before going insane, why was Peter & Fiona they only people looking into it? Wouldn’t you want to look for stuff & have all of your friends help too? I get that she wanted to find Reid but he wasn’t the priority. And her mom casually hanging out with the villain?? How was that not remedied from the get go?
To be quite honest though, the aspect that really hindered my enjoyment was how thin the plot actually is. I noticed plotholes from the get go and they actually unfolded how I thought they would at the end.
This book, in my opinion, suffered from middle book syndrome and I was annoyed by the ending.
Overall, I don’t really know where I stand with this trilogy. With all the foreshadowing, the next one will definitely be Kinky City and I’m not sure I’ll be there for it.
Read
March 24, 2026ALKDFJLSK <-- my brain after reading this book. I'm obsessed with these characters. The sexual tension. The found family. THE BANTER!!!
Here's my official blurb:
Cursed City is a magical combination of urban fantasy, Buffy nostalgia, and a forbidden romance that sizzles right off the page! It's whip-smart and packed with action, with romance that had me kicking my feet. I would die for Viv and her quirky little pack of hunters, but I would *kill* for the MMC and his smart, sassy mouth.
Here's my official blurb:
Cursed City is a magical combination of urban fantasy, Buffy nostalgia, and a forbidden romance that sizzles right off the page! It's whip-smart and packed with action, with romance that had me kicking my feet. I would die for Viv and her quirky little pack of hunters, but I would *kill* for the MMC and his smart, sassy mouth.
Currently Reading
September 23, 2026After the diabolical ending of Half City, it's time to get dem answers and find out which of my corkboard red string theories were cooking or sucked.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I fell for Kate Golden's trap (iykyk) with this second book, and I am here for it 😭 After entering the world she created and meeting the characters on the first book, you think that this one would be as straightforward with how the first book ended? Well, think again!!!! The second installment was INCREDIBLE. You get so many things revealed, and then you start to question everything, making your reading experience even sweeter. Like seriously so so sweet 👀✨
I’m trying my best not to spoil, but I definitely can say that you will get shocked with some revelations, and not to mention that the plot thickens and ends INSANEEEE 🤭 We see our girl Viv get more badass and start to embrace her true aeon self. I also love her friend group and seeing how they get involved like a little gang fighting and solving crime (made me think of scooby doo but dark academia edition). And then obviously, you meet Deacon, and his true personality starts to flourish, and it is glorious and perfect. Don’t even get me started on his attitude, it does something for me 🔥
This book seriously brought forth my love for urban fantasy. The fantasy of it all with displays of power and the exposure of so many different fantasy species and having the city as the world. Then you combine that with delicious romance, banter, tension, and action just made it freaking bingeable.
Anyway, I hope it goes without saying this was a 5 star read. ⭐️ I adored it, and I will be here patiently waiting for book 3, which I just know will bring in allllllllll. Read it pls so I can fangirl even harder 🥹✨
Swipe to see my immediate reactions when reading the quote using the multi caption feature heheh 😜
Thank you Ace Books pub and Kate Golden for my eARC!!!
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
YOU SNEAKY SON OF A GUN!!! I WAS BAMBOOZELED!!! so... 5 stars lmao
I’m trying my best not to spoil, but I definitely can say that you will get shocked with some revelations, and not to mention that the plot thickens and ends INSANEEEE 🤭 We see our girl Viv get more badass and start to embrace her true aeon self. I also love her friend group and seeing how they get involved like a little gang fighting and solving crime (made me think of scooby doo but dark academia edition). And then obviously, you meet Deacon, and his true personality starts to flourish, and it is glorious and perfect. Don’t even get me started on his attitude, it does something for me 🔥
This book seriously brought forth my love for urban fantasy. The fantasy of it all with displays of power and the exposure of so many different fantasy species and having the city as the world. Then you combine that with delicious romance, banter, tension, and action just made it freaking bingeable.
Anyway, I hope it goes without saying this was a 5 star read. ⭐️ I adored it, and I will be here patiently waiting for book 3, which I just know will bring in allllllllll. Read it pls so I can fangirl even harder 🥹✨
Swipe to see my immediate reactions when reading the quote using the multi caption feature heheh 😜
Thank you Ace Books pub and Kate Golden for my eARC!!!
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
YOU SNEAKY SON OF A GUN!!! I WAS BAMBOOZELED!!! so... 5 stars lmao
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5/5
Thank you eternally to Netgalley and Berkley for this e-arc!
This is nothing short of a stellar sequel, that takes everything I already loved beyond measure in Half City, my favourite read of 2025, and somehow elevates it into god-tier status. Half City I described as the perfect urban fantasy, and that only continues within Cursed City. This is not only a PERFECT sequel, but a PERFECT urban fantasy novel. I'm once again in complete awe of Kate Golden and her writing abilities. I could take 10000 urban fantasies from her and never get tired of them. She infuses an electric, tech-filled world with magic, deadly and gorgeous all at once. Her character work is spectacular, her weaving of plot and romance immaculate, and her development of the romantic arc in this book is nothing less than MASTERFUL.
I read Half City as an e-arc in October 2025, the perfect time for that late summer, early fall set book. Six months later, and I've been BURSTING with anticipation for this sequel. Cursed City, set for the majority during winter, is elevated by the bleak yet stunning atmosphere and scenery of Harker Academy and the Half City. This world in winter is alluring like nothing else, but Fever Dream is the highlight. Both neon night club and cozy home, Fever Dream is everything I wanted it to be and more. As Viv discovers more layers of Fever Dream and its inhabitants, her world only deepens in intrigue, romance, and danger.
Viv Abbott - heroine of my heart. Her growth in this book is beautiful to witness. Her immense self loathing is exposed with sharpness, her mental health treated with the proper delicacy. All of her insecurities are scrutinized, her trauma picked apart, to let someone stronger come forth. Viv's growth made me want to hug her so so bad. She is grieving and angry and messy in this novel, but she is the Viv of book 1 just the same with her empathy, immense love for her friends, her grit, wit, determination, and impeccable sense of humour (the toilet water quip is one of the funniest things I've read EVER). I will defend and love Viv for eternity.
Now, if you guys have read my review of Half City, you may know I gushed over a certain blonde demon named Deacon Graveheart. And let me tell you, he SHINES in this novel. I NEED HIM RIGHT NOW!!! I'm in LOVE with this man a million times over. He's hot and sexy and smart, but also achingly vulnerable at times, a steady pillar of strength, and someone who will do anything and everything for those he is loyal to. His sense of humour had me laughing out loud. His character development in this book was INSANE. Uncovering his layers just brings new facets and interpretations to everything he's done. I LOVE HIM!!!! I can't gush about Deacon enough.
Our side characters are once again the perfect found family. Penny's bigger role in this book was delightful as she was my favourite side character in book 1. Seeing her grow into someone willing to stand up for herself was so so rewarding. Sophia is funny and as achingly sad as always. Elliot is charming, funny, and strong. Peter is insanely smart, and slowly coming out of his emotional shell. Our new side characters, Baz and Ward, are iconic. As for Reid, I wasn't his fan in book 1 and although I grew more sympathetic of him here, I still don't jive with him!
The romance. My GOD. I'm not spoiling the direction here, so don't yell at me in the comments. BUT IT WAS INSANE. SLOW BURN BEYOND BELIEF. THE MOST TAUT SEXUAL TENSION EVER. Slowly uncovering layers of someone you once hated with ease. The slow realization that someone's very core can only be seen if you're willing to see them at their highs and lows. Soft moments peppered in between the intensity of feeling something but being unwilling to name it out of fear that it will be used against you. Kate Golden is nothing short of a master of romance, and this book left me in awe of her ability to create a romance so brimming of emotion, with a finger on the pulse of every messy facet of modern love. The angst had me on the verge of tears.
The plot of this book is an exquisite elevation of book 1. The stakes are higher, the twists are punchier, and the ending is even more insane. I knew how it would end back in book 1 (one can never accuse me of NOT making 3830 theories at once), and am SO terrified for book 3. The pacing of this one is a bit slower than book 1, giving readers time to really ruminate in the impossible stakes Viv must face. This book makes sure that her feelings and emotions are tied with the plot, making the journey so so rewarding. This book is filled with delicious action scenes aptly filled with gore and violence, more mysteries that slowly click into place, and a final 15% that will have your jaw on the floor. Kate's writing is elegant and propulsive as always, twisting the knife at the last second for maximum emotional damage.
Cursed City will, without a doubt, become not only a top 3 read of 2026 for me, but also become a new comfort read. It's THAT good and is, in my head, the urban fantasy version of ACOMAF. Stunning, stellar, and a masterpiece of fiction. Kate Golden is once more a genius!
Thank you eternally to Netgalley and Berkley for this e-arc!
This is nothing short of a stellar sequel, that takes everything I already loved beyond measure in Half City, my favourite read of 2025, and somehow elevates it into god-tier status. Half City I described as the perfect urban fantasy, and that only continues within Cursed City. This is not only a PERFECT sequel, but a PERFECT urban fantasy novel. I'm once again in complete awe of Kate Golden and her writing abilities. I could take 10000 urban fantasies from her and never get tired of them. She infuses an electric, tech-filled world with magic, deadly and gorgeous all at once. Her character work is spectacular, her weaving of plot and romance immaculate, and her development of the romantic arc in this book is nothing less than MASTERFUL.
I read Half City as an e-arc in October 2025, the perfect time for that late summer, early fall set book. Six months later, and I've been BURSTING with anticipation for this sequel. Cursed City, set for the majority during winter, is elevated by the bleak yet stunning atmosphere and scenery of Harker Academy and the Half City. This world in winter is alluring like nothing else, but Fever Dream is the highlight. Both neon night club and cozy home, Fever Dream is everything I wanted it to be and more. As Viv discovers more layers of Fever Dream and its inhabitants, her world only deepens in intrigue, romance, and danger.
Viv Abbott - heroine of my heart. Her growth in this book is beautiful to witness. Her immense self loathing is exposed with sharpness, her mental health treated with the proper delicacy. All of her insecurities are scrutinized, her trauma picked apart, to let someone stronger come forth. Viv's growth made me want to hug her so so bad. She is grieving and angry and messy in this novel, but she is the Viv of book 1 just the same with her empathy, immense love for her friends, her grit, wit, determination, and impeccable sense of humour (the toilet water quip is one of the funniest things I've read EVER). I will defend and love Viv for eternity.
Now, if you guys have read my review of Half City, you may know I gushed over a certain blonde demon named Deacon Graveheart. And let me tell you, he SHINES in this novel. I NEED HIM RIGHT NOW!!! I'm in LOVE with this man a million times over. He's hot and sexy and smart, but also achingly vulnerable at times, a steady pillar of strength, and someone who will do anything and everything for those he is loyal to. His sense of humour had me laughing out loud. His character development in this book was INSANE. Uncovering his layers just brings new facets and interpretations to everything he's done. I LOVE HIM!!!! I can't gush about Deacon enough.
Our side characters are once again the perfect found family. Penny's bigger role in this book was delightful as she was my favourite side character in book 1. Seeing her grow into someone willing to stand up for herself was so so rewarding. Sophia is funny and as achingly sad as always. Elliot is charming, funny, and strong. Peter is insanely smart, and slowly coming out of his emotional shell. Our new side characters, Baz and Ward, are iconic. As for Reid, I wasn't his fan in book 1 and although I grew more sympathetic of him here, I still don't jive with him!
The romance. My GOD. I'm not spoiling the direction here, so don't yell at me in the comments. BUT IT WAS INSANE. SLOW BURN BEYOND BELIEF. THE MOST TAUT SEXUAL TENSION EVER. Slowly uncovering layers of someone you once hated with ease. The slow realization that someone's very core can only be seen if you're willing to see them at their highs and lows. Soft moments peppered in between the intensity of feeling something but being unwilling to name it out of fear that it will be used against you. Kate Golden is nothing short of a master of romance, and this book left me in awe of her ability to create a romance so brimming of emotion, with a finger on the pulse of every messy facet of modern love. The angst had me on the verge of tears.
The plot of this book is an exquisite elevation of book 1. The stakes are higher, the twists are punchier, and the ending is even more insane. I knew how it would end back in book 1 (one can never accuse me of NOT making 3830 theories at once), and am SO terrified for book 3. The pacing of this one is a bit slower than book 1, giving readers time to really ruminate in the impossible stakes Viv must face. This book makes sure that her feelings and emotions are tied with the plot, making the journey so so rewarding. This book is filled with delicious action scenes aptly filled with gore and violence, more mysteries that slowly click into place, and a final 15% that will have your jaw on the floor. Kate's writing is elegant and propulsive as always, twisting the knife at the last second for maximum emotional damage.
Cursed City will, without a doubt, become not only a top 3 read of 2026 for me, but also become a new comfort read. It's THAT good and is, in my head, the urban fantasy version of ACOMAF. Stunning, stellar, and a masterpiece of fiction. Kate Golden is once more a genius!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
KATE GOLDEN HAS DONE IT AGAIN- THIS WAS AMAZING IM OBSESSED
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no, im never going to shut up because WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE AN ARC OF MY MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2026?!
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no, im never going to shut up because WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE AN ARC OF MY MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2026?!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The release date for this one is quite distant, but sometimes you just can't wait! It was not only better than expected; it was by far better than book one. However, this isn't a sequel to jump into don't skip book one as it lays the groundwork and introduces readers to the lore of this world.
⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️
Book one ends on a jaw dropping cliffhanger and Cursed City picks up right there in those moments where the story left off. Viv has to put her differences with Deacon aside so they can work together to launch a rescue mission. It soon becomes clear that there's more to Deacon than power and swagger he shows Viv how to embrace her darker tendencies instead of resenting them. He reminds her that her actions save lives. They find out Viv has a price on her head and her family who know nothing of her extracurricular activities are in imminent danger because of it. There are enemies everywhere and some are wearing familiar faces which breaks her heart. She must try and save Half City from utter chaos and destruction.
👹👹👹👹
But who can she trust when secrets abound and the lies flow freely?
📚📚📚📚
So, my little ☝🏻wrap up is rather vague on facts. I don't want to give away ANYTHING. If you're interested in book 1 or 2 avoid spoilers like the plague because being surprised is half the fun in this world of twists. I liked experiencing Viv growing a bit in this installment which is a nice addition in action packed urban fantasy. As for everyone screaming DEACON!!! Oh, he definitely delivers in actions, vibes, and pushing limits so yeah, DEACON!! I found myself much more engaged this time around the way the story came together with plenty of threads to explore and tie together kept me turning over possibilities late into the night. The book ends with much promise to continue the series, and I can't wait to see what happens next!
✨✨✨✨
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️
Book one ends on a jaw dropping cliffhanger and Cursed City picks up right there in those moments where the story left off. Viv has to put her differences with Deacon aside so they can work together to launch a rescue mission. It soon becomes clear that there's more to Deacon than power and swagger he shows Viv how to embrace her darker tendencies instead of resenting them. He reminds her that her actions save lives. They find out Viv has a price on her head and her family who know nothing of her extracurricular activities are in imminent danger because of it. There are enemies everywhere and some are wearing familiar faces which breaks her heart. She must try and save Half City from utter chaos and destruction.
👹👹👹👹
But who can she trust when secrets abound and the lies flow freely?
📚📚📚📚
So, my little ☝🏻wrap up is rather vague on facts. I don't want to give away ANYTHING. If you're interested in book 1 or 2 avoid spoilers like the plague because being surprised is half the fun in this world of twists. I liked experiencing Viv growing a bit in this installment which is a nice addition in action packed urban fantasy. As for everyone screaming DEACON!!! Oh, he definitely delivers in actions, vibes, and pushing limits so yeah, DEACON!! I found myself much more engaged this time around the way the story came together with plenty of threads to explore and tie together kept me turning over possibilities late into the night. The book ends with much promise to continue the series, and I can't wait to see what happens next!
✨✨✨✨
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Currently Reading
August 28, 2026So, I didn't realize ARC's had a read by date... oops, I'll just have to wait for my official copy so I can read the whole thing 😅
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Little old me? Got an ARC? No one tell them they made a mistake, let me have this
Thank you Kate Golden
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Little old me? Got an ARC? No one tell them they made a mistake, let me have this
Thank you Kate Golden
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 ⭐️
Wow!! While I liked and enjoyed Half City, I absolutely LOVED Cursed City.
"The place I'll never return to. The place I never left."
What's inside:
-Betrayal
-Demon Daddy
-Paranormal Creatures (fae, were, demons, vamps, etc)
-Forced Prox
-Slow Burn
-Urban Fantasy
-Black Cat FMC
-Yearning and top tier Tension
-High Stakes
-Found Family
-Dark Academia
-Enemies to Lovers
-Snark and Banter
Kate Golden definitely took things up a notch in Cursed City, the sequel to her series opener, Half City. I devoured this in less than 24 hours because it was impossible to put down. I literally passed out with it in my hand because I wouldnt put it down to sleep.
I completely fell in love with the MMC. He is a strong but damaged demon that slowly, and unfailingly shows our FMC her value and worth, that she is worth loving BECAUSE of who she is and not in spite of it. The way this man puts her first in all things and refuses to let her devalue herself is a masterful story in how love can be healing and powerful in so many ways.
I love all of these characters. Viv's friends/found family are all complex characters that bring personality that blends with the story and makes you love them all. And Viv, even through her pain and trauma, she refuses to quit and tirelessly protects the people she cares about.
The MMC - whew DADDY! You absolutely need to read this book and meet this man. His snark and sarcasm - their banter - it brings moments of levity, hot tension, and also exposes tender, hidden feelings disguised as humor.
This is well written and immersive and I am hooked! I will be over here salivating for the next book because THAT ENDING!! Not at all what I expected - it simultaneously broke my heart and gave me hope at the same time.
Definitely recommend reading this series if you havent already, and you should 100% read Cursed City when it releases in September.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for an eARC via NetGalley.
Wow!! While I liked and enjoyed Half City, I absolutely LOVED Cursed City.
"The place I'll never return to. The place I never left."
What's inside:
-Betrayal
-Demon Daddy
-Paranormal Creatures (fae, were, demons, vamps, etc)
-Forced Prox
-Slow Burn
-Urban Fantasy
-Black Cat FMC
-Yearning and top tier Tension
-High Stakes
-Found Family
-Dark Academia
-Enemies to Lovers
-Snark and Banter
Kate Golden definitely took things up a notch in Cursed City, the sequel to her series opener, Half City. I devoured this in less than 24 hours because it was impossible to put down. I literally passed out with it in my hand because I wouldnt put it down to sleep.
I completely fell in love with the MMC. He is a strong but damaged demon that slowly, and unfailingly shows our FMC her value and worth, that she is worth loving BECAUSE of who she is and not in spite of it. The way this man puts her first in all things and refuses to let her devalue herself is a masterful story in how love can be healing and powerful in so many ways.
I love all of these characters. Viv's friends/found family are all complex characters that bring personality that blends with the story and makes you love them all. And Viv, even through her pain and trauma, she refuses to quit and tirelessly protects the people she cares about.
The MMC - whew DADDY! You absolutely need to read this book and meet this man. His snark and sarcasm - their banter - it brings moments of levity, hot tension, and also exposes tender, hidden feelings disguised as humor.
This is well written and immersive and I am hooked! I will be over here salivating for the next book because THAT ENDING!! Not at all what I expected - it simultaneously broke my heart and gave me hope at the same time.
Definitely recommend reading this series if you havent already, and you should 100% read Cursed City when it releases in September.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for an eARC via NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Author
arc provided in exchange for an honest review.
4.75 stars
oh. my. GOD. acomaf who? this was insaneeee and i am TERRIFIED of that ending - i needed book #3 like yesterday!
this book was brilliant - even better than book #1 but with the same entertainment value, addictive nature, fast-paced action, and kickass heroine. i'm not going to spoil the romance, but i will say that it fixed all my previous grievances, and had me kicking my feet, staying up until 3am, and losing my mind. so, so precious, heartwrenching, and powerful! and the one moment of his perspective... oh yeah. i'm obsessed.
“Vicious and smart… No wonder [REDACTED] was a goner for you.”
i loved that we still got to see our favourite side characters despite having less of the actual demon school - and i think it was good to move on from the school, because god knows my queen is already set for crushing all the evil she can, and it really helped move the plot along. i also appreciated that this book gave us a more four-dimensional, layered perspective on the overlapping worlds: the creatures and their own respective judgements and castes, the political complexities, the tough balance between Viv's two families.
“If I have anything in this life, it’s my reflexes. In death – in oblivion – I will be catching star particles with my fingertips before they land on my skin.”
i'm so, so excited to see how this series continues, and UGH frothing at the mouth thinking about how the romance will continue to develop. incredibly compelling, enjoyable, and unique!!! urban fantasy for the win!
thank you to the author, the most lovely Kate Golden 💗
~~~
GOT AN ARC FROM THE SWEETEST AUTHOR EVER!!!
Cannot WAIT to read this one!
4.75 stars
oh. my. GOD. acomaf who? this was insaneeee and i am TERRIFIED of that ending - i needed book #3 like yesterday!
this book was brilliant - even better than book #1 but with the same entertainment value, addictive nature, fast-paced action, and kickass heroine. i'm not going to spoil the romance, but i will say that it fixed all my previous grievances, and had me kicking my feet, staying up until 3am, and losing my mind. so, so precious, heartwrenching, and powerful! and the one moment of his perspective... oh yeah. i'm obsessed.
“Vicious and smart… No wonder [REDACTED] was a goner for you.”
i loved that we still got to see our favourite side characters despite having less of the actual demon school - and i think it was good to move on from the school, because god knows my queen is already set for crushing all the evil she can, and it really helped move the plot along. i also appreciated that this book gave us a more four-dimensional, layered perspective on the overlapping worlds: the creatures and their own respective judgements and castes, the political complexities, the tough balance between Viv's two families.
“If I have anything in this life, it’s my reflexes. In death – in oblivion – I will be catching star particles with my fingertips before they land on my skin.”
i'm so, so excited to see how this series continues, and UGH frothing at the mouth thinking about how the romance will continue to develop. incredibly compelling, enjoyable, and unique!!! urban fantasy for the win!
thank you to the author, the most lovely Kate Golden 💗
~~~
GOT AN ARC FROM THE SWEETEST AUTHOR EVER!!!
Cannot WAIT to read this one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Holy six stars. Honestly, I don’t even know what to say besides: WTF, WOW, AHHH!!! This book was everything I wanted and then some. We pick up right where we left off in Half City, and from that moment on it’s completely full throttle. Every chapter hit like a shockwave! I’m not exaggerating when I say I felt emotional whiplash the entire time. I was so consumed by the story that putting it down felt almost impossible. In fact, I tried to slow myself down because I just knew Kate was going to gut me with another cliffhanger… and wow, did she deliver. Painful doesn’t even begin to cover it. Like, how dare you stop there??! I need book three immediately!!
The character growth in this book was incredibly impactful. Watching the bonds within the found family deepen was one of my favorite parts, especially for Viv. Her journey really stood out. Seeing her confront her inner demons, come to terms with the gray areas of her world, embrace the darker parts of herself, and still find the strength to love who she is, was powerful and genuinely moving.
Now, I know some of you are waiting for me to talk about Reid and Deacon, but I’m choosing silence…for now. Sorry, not sorry. *evil laughs* What I will say is this: I liked Reid in Half City, but the second Deacon showed up? Yeah, I was done for. You mean to tell me I’m supposed to ignore the confident asshole with tattoos who drives a motorcycle?? I’m just a girl. (And let me be clear—I’m talking about ME, not Viv, so don’t start! yes I’m talking to YOU, you know who you are.)
As for the real questions: did Kate pull a Tamlin with Reid? Does Deacon have his own love interest? I have my answers…but you’ll have to discover for yourself. *devil smirks*
While this book still carries echoes of Crescent City, House of Devils, and Zodiac Academy, it leans even more into those The Vampire Diaries and Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes.
HUGE TY to netgalley for sending me an e-arc! Can you send me book three already, tysm!
The character growth in this book was incredibly impactful. Watching the bonds within the found family deepen was one of my favorite parts, especially for Viv. Her journey really stood out. Seeing her confront her inner demons, come to terms with the gray areas of her world, embrace the darker parts of herself, and still find the strength to love who she is, was powerful and genuinely moving.
Now, I know some of you are waiting for me to talk about Reid and Deacon, but I’m choosing silence…for now. Sorry, not sorry. *evil laughs* What I will say is this: I liked Reid in Half City, but the second Deacon showed up? Yeah, I was done for. You mean to tell me I’m supposed to ignore the confident asshole with tattoos who drives a motorcycle?? I’m just a girl. (And let me be clear—I’m talking about ME, not Viv, so don’t start! yes I’m talking to YOU, you know who you are.)
As for the real questions: did Kate pull a Tamlin with Reid? Does Deacon have his own love interest? I have my answers…but you’ll have to discover for yourself. *devil smirks*
While this book still carries echoes of Crescent City, House of Devils, and Zodiac Academy, it leans even more into those The Vampire Diaries and Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes.
HUGE TY to netgalley for sending me an e-arc! Can you send me book three already, tysm!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
”The place I’ll never return to. The place I never left.”
HI HELLO I AM SCREAMING. Rip my heart out of my chest why don’t you!!!!
Is it really any surprise that I loved this?? Since I finished Half City in October, I have absolutely been DYING to read Cursed City. And sorry but I need to brag because my bestie El and I are actually so amazing… WE HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE OCTOBER WAITING FOR THE [REDACTED] REVEAL AND [REDACTED] AND WE WERE RIGHT. WE KNEW IT. WE KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN. I’m of course not going to say what but like oh I am just !!!! Like wow are we amazing HAHA I’m so proud of us. (No but seriously can you imagine how insane we felt briefly for a while when it was only us feeling this way?? LOL I feel so validated🤝)
Spoilers for HALF CITY below (because I mean I can’t NOT talk about that person anymore) but no spoilers from CURSED CITY of course.
ALSO DISCLAIMER: I have loved Deacon from the moment he appeared in Chapter 39 of HALF CITY so of course I will be gushing about him in this review but this doesn’t mean anything about where the romance is heading !!!
I knew from the moment I finished Half City that Cursed City would be a 5 star. From the snippets to actually starting the book… guys, I don’t even have words. This was everything that I wanted and more. Blessed with Viv’s presence. Blessed with Viv and the goonie squad (please I’m actually dead over this nickname btw). Blessed with the Viv and Penny moments. (I want to sob I love them so much) Blessed with the Viv and Deacon moments. LIKE HELLO?! I am not exaggerating when I say I was laughing from the first chapter because of these guys. Their banter was actually golden, god tier, I AM OBSESSED. Deacon loves pissing off Viv it’s literally his new favourite hobby, I could not stop laughing over so many scenes LOL. AND THE NEW SHIPS??? YES, MORE THAN ONE. I AM SOOO HERE FOR THEM. YES YES YES. And the new lore??? The reveals we get?? My jaw dropped SO MANY TIMES. I MEAN HELLO?? Some reveals I even guessed!! (Though for two of them I only saw them after someone pointed things out and then on my HF city reread I soo saw it and agreed) And the reveals I didn’t see coming?!?! I really could not stop gasping. Truly this book had EVERYTHING.
Right when Viv was finally finding her place at Harker, chaos came in and everything’s been totally awful for her. Reid’s missing, the sybraxa is on her back, the Brood are after her, and she has lots of doubts about some things!! She really was going through IT like oh my god someone give her a break. I constantly wanted to give Viv the biggest hugs.
Viv learning to love herself and appreciate every part of herself, the dark parts especially that she considers evil. OH I absolutely adored the different perspective she was given in this and how she slowly realized and came to terms with some things. IT HAD ME SO EMOTIONAL. This book has literally cemented Viv as one of my favourite main characters in existence. Her character just feels so so real, the anger, the fear, the uncertainty, the loneliness… I am forever Viv's #1 defender, fight me.
Self-loathing has been a constant theme throughout this series and especially in Cursed City do we see it more. I love how Kate explored it through not only Viv but also other characters as well. And I'm still waiting on some backstories like it's a NEED. Prepare yourself to feel like crying 92357925 times throughout this book !!!
I genuinely am suffering because I realize the downside to reading this so early is that I cannot gush to my heart’s content about Deacon😩 Y’all trust me when I say he will NOT disappoint (though really I think that was obvious from chapter 39 in Half City sooo). The amount of goofy things he would say, like please I love him your honour. The famous historical figures he’s apparently met??? It’s so random and I can’t even imagine it but I believe it LOL. His sense of humour, his loyalty to his people, his bluntness and the way he would be pushing Viv to embrace her darkness and accept herself AHHH I LOVE HIM. “It’s not a burden to be what you are” Deacon spitting facts!!! They have the most beautiful friendship imaginable, I cannot express it enough. The way their relationship progressed was so natural and beautifully written, there were so many scenes that had me emotional because of the tenderness and vulnerability in them like um HELLO don’t make me cry!!! Best new friendship that came out of this book.
Then the romance… no spoilers but once again it was EVERYTHING. KATE, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH YOU ABSOLUTE QUEEN. Amazing development to witness and that's all I'll say!!!
And then talking about the side characters, we get more of a lot of them who didn’t appear too much in book 1 and I adored it SO much. PENNY MY GIRL !!!!! WE GET SO MUCH MORE OF HER AND I LOVED EVERY SINGLE SCENE. She is a literal sunshine incarnate, everyone needs a Penny in their life. And SOPHIA. Sophia continues to be the absolute queen that she is. And Peter and Elliot !!!! Love them as always. Plus getting some Ward and Baz oh they are so so interesting !!! I absolutely need more of everyone in book 3, I’m so excited.
Never have I wished to yap more and especially to mention in detail all my favourite scenes and quotes (spoiler: there are A LOT), but this is an ARC so! Just know that I have over 350 annotations on my kobo and 10 pages full of reactions, which should tell you how much Cursed City totally had me in a chokehold. There was never a dull moment, in fact, your heart will constantly be going like 📈📉📈📉. ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE END. I was in a constant state of anxiety and oh my goddd I will never be getting over it. There’s no doubt that this series is one of my favourite series ever and has one of the best written couples, I LOVE THEM. Waiting until Summer 2027 will be absolute torture, but I can’t wait!!
Thank you thank you thank you to Kate, Emily and Berkley Publishing/Ace for the ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!! Eternally grateful to be on the street team!!!
____________
pre-read review:
I WILL BE ON MY KNEES WAITING FOR THIS BOOK. #blondemensupremacy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5⭐️ 1🌶️
Following the dramatic events at the ending of Half City, Viv must team up with Reid's brother - The White Stag - to find him after his capture by the Brood. But when a betrayal hits closer to home than she ever expected, everything she's fighting for is put at risk. With danger closing in and her own life on the line, Viv has to find a way to save both herself and Half City before it's too late…
I loved Half City and had been so excited to see where Cursed City would take Viv- and safe to say I was not prepared! The sequel to the Harker Academy series drops straight back into the action. The plot didn't go anywhere near where I expected. It completely exceeded my expectations and honestly I think I loved it even more than book one.
The character growth here really stands out in book 2. I went from feeling quite lukewarm about Viv to genuinely liking her, and I did a complete 180 on more than one other character along the way.
Like the first book the writing style still leans slightly YA/New Adult, but if anything, the narrative flows even more naturally this time. The pacing is relentless, I tore through it at lightning speed and simply couldn't put it down. And the yearning in this installment is on another level entirely!
It kept me hooked and guessing right up to the end and even then I didn’t see it coming. It ends on a brilliant, but terrible, cliffhanger! Easily one of my favourite romantasy sequels in ages, I can’t wait for the next book.
Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the arc.
Following the dramatic events at the ending of Half City, Viv must team up with Reid's brother - The White Stag - to find him after his capture by the Brood. But when a betrayal hits closer to home than she ever expected, everything she's fighting for is put at risk. With danger closing in and her own life on the line, Viv has to find a way to save both herself and Half City before it's too late…
I loved Half City and had been so excited to see where Cursed City would take Viv- and safe to say I was not prepared! The sequel to the Harker Academy series drops straight back into the action. The plot didn't go anywhere near where I expected. It completely exceeded my expectations and honestly I think I loved it even more than book one.
The character growth here really stands out in book 2. I went from feeling quite lukewarm about Viv to genuinely liking her, and I did a complete 180 on more than one other character along the way.
Like the first book the writing style still leans slightly YA/New Adult, but if anything, the narrative flows even more naturally this time. The pacing is relentless, I tore through it at lightning speed and simply couldn't put it down. And the yearning in this installment is on another level entirely!
It kept me hooked and guessing right up to the end and even then I didn’t see it coming. It ends on a brilliant, but terrible, cliffhanger! Easily one of my favourite romantasy sequels in ages, I can’t wait for the next book.
Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the arc.
Want to Read
July 16, 2026~Pre-read~ Yes sir, I got the ARC.. but like many other ARCs I have not read the first book yet, so cheers to starting Half City... RTC
February 22, 2026
I FEAR I WILL NEVER RECOVER
Cursed City picks up right where Half City left off and is an action packed ride to the very end. I’m over the moon to say that there is ZERO second book syndrome here, and I’d dare to say that this is not only my favorite book in the series so far, but my favorite Kate Golden book of all time.
this book has everything i look for in an urban fantasy sequel - more lore and world building, deeper character connections (especially side characters), fast pacing, and twists that i didn’t see coming. i already loved the setting of grungy half city contrasted with gothic academia Harker Academy, but i loved getting to pull back the curtain into certain characters’ worlds 👀
i am obsesseddddd with the side characters and im wholly invested in their romances as well. PROTECT THEM ALL AT ALL COSTS
this book had me gasping and sitting up in my seat at some parts - i was that flabbergasted. consider my gasts flabbered.
AND THE ROMANCE? THE TENSION? THE - DARE I SAY - YEARNING? it was done so well. i love a slow burn that makes me WAIT AND WAIT AND WAIT questioning if anything will ever happen. oh and it was painful. my favorite brand 😩
Cursed City is literally that girl and if you haven’t picked up Half City, please take this as your sign to do so. worth all the hype, especially if you’re a shadowhunters / vampire diaries girl looking to feel ALIVE
thank you endlessly to Kate Golden for the early opportunity to read and review Cursed City! these thoughts are all my own and my genuine feral musings 🫶🏼
Cursed City picks up right where Half City left off and is an action packed ride to the very end. I’m over the moon to say that there is ZERO second book syndrome here, and I’d dare to say that this is not only my favorite book in the series so far, but my favorite Kate Golden book of all time.
this book has everything i look for in an urban fantasy sequel - more lore and world building, deeper character connections (especially side characters), fast pacing, and twists that i didn’t see coming. i already loved the setting of grungy half city contrasted with gothic academia Harker Academy, but i loved getting to pull back the curtain into certain characters’ worlds 👀
i am obsesseddddd with the side characters and im wholly invested in their romances as well. PROTECT THEM ALL AT ALL COSTS
this book had me gasping and sitting up in my seat at some parts - i was that flabbergasted. consider my gasts flabbered.
AND THE ROMANCE? THE TENSION? THE - DARE I SAY - YEARNING? it was done so well. i love a slow burn that makes me WAIT AND WAIT AND WAIT questioning if anything will ever happen. oh and it was painful. my favorite brand 😩
Cursed City is literally that girl and if you haven’t picked up Half City, please take this as your sign to do so. worth all the hype, especially if you’re a shadowhunters / vampire diaries girl looking to feel ALIVE
thank you endlessly to Kate Golden for the early opportunity to read and review Cursed City! these thoughts are all my own and my genuine feral musings 🫶🏼
May 17, 2026
I present to you, a 6 STAR ARC ❤️🔥🥵🔥
It’s a good thing I got this arc because I was essentially foaming at the mouth for more immediately upon finishing Half City. IDK WHAT I WAS EXPECTING BUT IT WAS NOT THAT. What I actually got was in fact… BETTER. 🥵🥵🥵🥵
I’m actually blown away. Kate Golden… YOU ABSOLUTE GENIUS YOU….. 😍🖤🔥
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! I’M FERAL FOR THIS BOOK!!! EVERY page on kindle was highlighted. Half City is gonna have to move over (one spot over) because I have a new ❤️🔥 FAVE BOOK OF THE YEAR ❤️🔥
THIS is how you write a sequel!!!! I’ve been pondering for DAYSSS how to write this review. It’s so hard because I want to SCREAM at the top of my lungs about why exactly this book had me in such a chokehold, but I can’t 🥵 so just trust 😩. The growth and development of the story and all the characters was exactly what you could hope for. I only fell more in love with Viv and the gang. This is the same exciting and fun energy of the first book, the same “this is so addicting I literally can’t put it down” kind of vibes and pace, the same found family love, the same unhinged wild black sheep Viv, and the same Laugh Out Loud humour and genuinely hilarious one liners from all the characters… BUT…. the plot thickens and the stakes get higher. If Half City was the sun, Cursed City is the moon. I went through ALL the emotions reading this. Golden adds a whole other layer that I NEVER would have imagined and this just got so much juicier! This book was SO UNPREDICTABLE, gripping and thought provoking as themes of good vs bad, morality and humanity are explored. I could not put this down and I NEVER wanted it to end!! 😩🖤
I couldn’t be happier and more grateful to have had the incredible opportunity to read this book so early 🥹 thank you so much @netgalley @berkleypub I am now going to spend the next several lonely months in a corner talking to myself about the happenings of this book 🙃
Cursed City comes out Sept 29, 2026! RUN, DONT WALK for this one 🔥🖤
It’s a good thing I got this arc because I was essentially foaming at the mouth for more immediately upon finishing Half City. IDK WHAT I WAS EXPECTING BUT IT WAS NOT THAT. What I actually got was in fact… BETTER. 🥵🥵🥵🥵
I’m actually blown away. Kate Golden… YOU ABSOLUTE GENIUS YOU….. 😍🖤🔥
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! I’M FERAL FOR THIS BOOK!!! EVERY page on kindle was highlighted. Half City is gonna have to move over (one spot over) because I have a new ❤️🔥 FAVE BOOK OF THE YEAR ❤️🔥
THIS is how you write a sequel!!!! I’ve been pondering for DAYSSS how to write this review. It’s so hard because I want to SCREAM at the top of my lungs about why exactly this book had me in such a chokehold, but I can’t 🥵 so just trust 😩. The growth and development of the story and all the characters was exactly what you could hope for. I only fell more in love with Viv and the gang. This is the same exciting and fun energy of the first book, the same “this is so addicting I literally can’t put it down” kind of vibes and pace, the same found family love, the same unhinged wild black sheep Viv, and the same Laugh Out Loud humour and genuinely hilarious one liners from all the characters… BUT…. the plot thickens and the stakes get higher. If Half City was the sun, Cursed City is the moon. I went through ALL the emotions reading this. Golden adds a whole other layer that I NEVER would have imagined and this just got so much juicier! This book was SO UNPREDICTABLE, gripping and thought provoking as themes of good vs bad, morality and humanity are explored. I could not put this down and I NEVER wanted it to end!! 😩🖤
I couldn’t be happier and more grateful to have had the incredible opportunity to read this book so early 🥹 thank you so much @netgalley @berkleypub I am now going to spend the next several lonely months in a corner talking to myself about the happenings of this book 🙃
Cursed City comes out Sept 29, 2026! RUN, DONT WALK for this one 🔥🖤
May 20, 2026
☆ 5 stars
Cursed City is the second instalment in the Harker Academy series by author Kate Golden. Now this is how you write a sequel that everybody is going to be talking about. I think I lost my jaw somewhere on the floor by the halfway point, and just never bothered trying to find it for the duration of the book as the twists kept on coming. This book does not struggle with ‘middle book syndrome’ at all as every single chapter feels written with clear intent. The first half of the story progressed slightly slower which I loved as its main focus was on character exploration and development, and then the second half picks up on pacing as this is where all of the major action begins to happen. This book provides answers to just the right amount of questions whilst leaving enough left unsaid to leave you desperate for more. The found family elements and character exploration were written to perfection as I find myself finishing this sequel with a much greater understanding on all of their complexities and intricacies. I had the absolute best time letting my theories fly whilst simultaneously crashing out in the DMs of my friends that have also read Cursed City early… and now I’m feeling bereft in knowing the wait that I have ahead of me in my anticipation for news on book three after that diabolical (compliment) ending.
Vivienne ‘Viv’ Abbot continues to be tested to the absolute limit with no reprieve and I cannot express how greatly I enjoyed witnessing her journey throughout this instalment. I adore how she remained true to herself whilst also demonstrating significant growth and an increase in self-awareness in comparison to book one. Viv is impulsive and brash… but she’s also deeply loyal and fiercely protective of the people that she loves. There is not a single obstacle that she will not fight against to overcome in defence of the people, and city, that she is proud to call her own. I loved getting to witness Viv’s continued determination (and stubbornness) in her unwillingness to give up and admit defeat. Viv is a fierce and skilled fighter that puts every piece of knowledge that she has acquired as a hunter to use, and I had so much fun getting to see this being used throughout the many action-packed scenes. I was thrilled to get the chance to witness more of the softness and hidden vulnerabilities that she often keeps tightly to her chest as she learns how to let more people into her life. The way that Viv’s journey this time around is rooted in finding self-acceptance after spending an entire lifetime being resentful and afraid of what she can do? Unmatched. Perfection. This is exactly what I had been rooting for with Viv since near the beginning of book one. Her flaws and complexities are what make Viv such a compelling and relatable character to root for… and I cannot express just how excited I am to see what comes next for her character in the final instalment of the trilogy.
Deacon ‘the White Stag’ Graveheart grabbed my attention from the moment he appeared in Half City for a mere moment in time and I’m beyond thrilled that he has exceeded every expectation that I had for his character. There’s nothing I love more than an ‘irredeemable’ and self-proclaimed ‘immoral’ character who has more depth than they care to admit. I adore that beneath the surface level that he presents with is a deeply loyal and driven man that refuses to feel any shame in accepting his own nature. Deacon’s quick wit and enjoyment in riling Viv up left me grinning constantly which was desperately needed amongst the doom and gloom vibes of the plot. His personality was the perfect counterbalance to the dark events on-page and I found myself eagerly anticipating his next appearance… to the point that I’m concerned that I’ve become a Deacon-addict who will always be looking for the next fix. His calculated ruthlessness and the way he embraces his own darkness left me giddy in excitement to see what decisions he would make next. Making Deacon a focal character to the story is one of the best decisions that I think Golden could had made for this book and I’m so unbelievably eager to see what comes next for his character after that insane cliffhanger. I can’t wait to see more people inevitably fall in-love with Deacon so that we can all launch the White Stag fan club.
There is not a single thing that I can say about Reid Graveheart that wouldn’t be considered a direct spoiler so I’m going to need to stay quiet about this one for a change. If you’ve finished Half City (which, respectfully, you should’ve if you’re reading this review for its sequel) then you know that we last see Reid in a very precarious situation. A lot more is revealed surrounding his character throughout Cursed City so you’ll just need to read the book for yourself to see what fate awaits him and his relationship with Viv.
My love for the ‘goonie squad’ remains as strong as ever as they continue to rally and love one another no matter what. Sophia, Elliot, Peter and Penny (the new honorary member) hold my heart within the palms of their hands and I adored getting to see more of them throughout this book. The love they have for Viv feels beyond special as they continue to act as a foundation to build her up and show that she is worthy of their friendship. I had the best time getting better acquainted with the Fever Dream crew and the way that they seamlessly integrated into Viv’s group… and I cannot wait to see what comes next for them all in the third and final book in the trilogy.
There’s truly no denying that author Kate Golden has returned with this explosive sequel ready to start swinging and leave a lasting impact upon her readers. Cursed City is an unputdownable follow-up to the events that occur within book one and I’m going to need to join an emotional support group in the wait for book three. A Deacon Graveheart fan club too whilst I’m at it. This is easily going to be one of my favourite books of the year… and if you need me I’m going to be clawing at my walls in the wait for news on the last book of the series. I feel like a book addict that is suffering from withdrawal and the only cure is news on the series finale.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞.
The 'Harker Academy' series:
1. Half City - 4 stars
2. Cursed City - 5 stars
Cursed City is the second instalment in the Harker Academy series by author Kate Golden. Now this is how you write a sequel that everybody is going to be talking about. I think I lost my jaw somewhere on the floor by the halfway point, and just never bothered trying to find it for the duration of the book as the twists kept on coming. This book does not struggle with ‘middle book syndrome’ at all as every single chapter feels written with clear intent. The first half of the story progressed slightly slower which I loved as its main focus was on character exploration and development, and then the second half picks up on pacing as this is where all of the major action begins to happen. This book provides answers to just the right amount of questions whilst leaving enough left unsaid to leave you desperate for more. The found family elements and character exploration were written to perfection as I find myself finishing this sequel with a much greater understanding on all of their complexities and intricacies. I had the absolute best time letting my theories fly whilst simultaneously crashing out in the DMs of my friends that have also read Cursed City early… and now I’m feeling bereft in knowing the wait that I have ahead of me in my anticipation for news on book three after that diabolical (compliment) ending.
Vivienne ‘Viv’ Abbot continues to be tested to the absolute limit with no reprieve and I cannot express how greatly I enjoyed witnessing her journey throughout this instalment. I adore how she remained true to herself whilst also demonstrating significant growth and an increase in self-awareness in comparison to book one. Viv is impulsive and brash… but she’s also deeply loyal and fiercely protective of the people that she loves. There is not a single obstacle that she will not fight against to overcome in defence of the people, and city, that she is proud to call her own. I loved getting to witness Viv’s continued determination (and stubbornness) in her unwillingness to give up and admit defeat. Viv is a fierce and skilled fighter that puts every piece of knowledge that she has acquired as a hunter to use, and I had so much fun getting to see this being used throughout the many action-packed scenes. I was thrilled to get the chance to witness more of the softness and hidden vulnerabilities that she often keeps tightly to her chest as she learns how to let more people into her life. The way that Viv’s journey this time around is rooted in finding self-acceptance after spending an entire lifetime being resentful and afraid of what she can do? Unmatched. Perfection. This is exactly what I had been rooting for with Viv since near the beginning of book one. Her flaws and complexities are what make Viv such a compelling and relatable character to root for… and I cannot express just how excited I am to see what comes next for her character in the final instalment of the trilogy.
Deacon ‘the White Stag’ Graveheart grabbed my attention from the moment he appeared in Half City for a mere moment in time and I’m beyond thrilled that he has exceeded every expectation that I had for his character. There’s nothing I love more than an ‘irredeemable’ and self-proclaimed ‘immoral’ character who has more depth than they care to admit. I adore that beneath the surface level that he presents with is a deeply loyal and driven man that refuses to feel any shame in accepting his own nature. Deacon’s quick wit and enjoyment in riling Viv up left me grinning constantly which was desperately needed amongst the doom and gloom vibes of the plot. His personality was the perfect counterbalance to the dark events on-page and I found myself eagerly anticipating his next appearance… to the point that I’m concerned that I’ve become a Deacon-addict who will always be looking for the next fix. His calculated ruthlessness and the way he embraces his own darkness left me giddy in excitement to see what decisions he would make next. Making Deacon a focal character to the story is one of the best decisions that I think Golden could had made for this book and I’m so unbelievably eager to see what comes next for his character after that insane cliffhanger. I can’t wait to see more people inevitably fall in-love with Deacon so that we can all launch the White Stag fan club.
There is not a single thing that I can say about Reid Graveheart that wouldn’t be considered a direct spoiler so I’m going to need to stay quiet about this one for a change. If you’ve finished Half City (which, respectfully, you should’ve if you’re reading this review for its sequel) then you know that we last see Reid in a very precarious situation. A lot more is revealed surrounding his character throughout Cursed City so you’ll just need to read the book for yourself to see what fate awaits him and his relationship with Viv.
My love for the ‘goonie squad’ remains as strong as ever as they continue to rally and love one another no matter what. Sophia, Elliot, Peter and Penny (the new honorary member) hold my heart within the palms of their hands and I adored getting to see more of them throughout this book. The love they have for Viv feels beyond special as they continue to act as a foundation to build her up and show that she is worthy of their friendship. I had the best time getting better acquainted with the Fever Dream crew and the way that they seamlessly integrated into Viv’s group… and I cannot wait to see what comes next for them all in the third and final book in the trilogy.
There’s truly no denying that author Kate Golden has returned with this explosive sequel ready to start swinging and leave a lasting impact upon her readers. Cursed City is an unputdownable follow-up to the events that occur within book one and I’m going to need to join an emotional support group in the wait for book three. A Deacon Graveheart fan club too whilst I’m at it. This is easily going to be one of my favourite books of the year… and if you need me I’m going to be clawing at my walls in the wait for news on the last book of the series. I feel like a book addict that is suffering from withdrawal and the only cure is news on the series finale.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞.
The 'Harker Academy' series:
1. Half City - 4 stars
2. Cursed City - 5 stars
May 16, 2026
Kate Golden has officially written my perfect man.
Rich, smart, shitty & blonde—obviously. Bare minimum, if you know me.
Sad and tortured. Down bad, feral, protective, possessive. Hot and horny. Hilarious and witty. Intuitive and empathetic (reluctantly—and only for the people he cares about).
And the pièce de résistance? He is SUCH A SHIT.
Like, never has a fictional man been more of a shit since Damon Salvatore. He gets off on irritating people. His one liners absolutely slay, every time. He is the perfect level of condescending in a way that is somehow also affectionate.
And even more perfect for me than Damon, because WHITE BLONDE. I’m deceased.
Deacon Graveheart: Marry me.
(I will come back with more to say about the book which was amazing and twisty and funny and full of all the found family and hijinks and tension I could have dreamed for, but I had to get this out first.)
10/10, when is book 3? Thank you Ace for the eARC!
Rich, smart, shitty & blonde—obviously. Bare minimum, if you know me.
Sad and tortured. Down bad, feral, protective, possessive. Hot and horny. Hilarious and witty. Intuitive and empathetic (reluctantly—and only for the people he cares about).
And the pièce de résistance? He is SUCH A SHIT.
Like, never has a fictional man been more of a shit since Damon Salvatore. He gets off on irritating people. His one liners absolutely slay, every time. He is the perfect level of condescending in a way that is somehow also affectionate.
And even more perfect for me than Damon, because WHITE BLONDE. I’m deceased.
Deacon Graveheart: Marry me.
(I will come back with more to say about the book which was amazing and twisty and funny and full of all the found family and hijinks and tension I could have dreamed for, but I had to get this out first.)
10/10, when is book 3? Thank you Ace for the eARC!
April 28, 2026
first of all, a HUGE thank you to netgalley and berkeley/ace for this e-arc. this was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and i’m beyond grateful to have gotten an early copy. i devoured this in less than 24 hours, just like i did with half city, so honestly… no one is surprised.
i’ve been sitting here for the past hour trying to gather my thoughts after that ending, so bear with me because this is going to be a little chaotic (and vague to avoid spoilers).
i said this about half city and i’ll say it again: this series is such a standout in urban fantasy and i’m genuinely obsessed with how fun it is! it’s fast-paced, addictive, has a plot that keeps you on edge, romance that hurts in the best way, a unique magic system, and such a good mix of supernatural elements. it was impossible to put down.
while viv is still struggling with who she is and what she’s capable of, i loved seeing that start to shift in this book. there’s a constant push and pull between wanting to be good and fearing what’s inside her. she’s still impulsive and messy, and you might not always agree with her, but her intentions are good—and you can tell she’s slowly starting to accept the parts of herself she used to hate and figure out what she truly wants and needs.
this delivered on the slow burn, tension, banter—you name it. i was equally kicking my feet, fighting for my life, and somehow also crying? so do with that what you will lol. the development was amazing!! (i need to be so inconspicuous since my friends are going to read this review and immediately clock the way this book turned out if i don’t).
the found family is one of my favs ever. penny, sophia, peter, elliot—i love them all so much. and the new additions?? a vampire and a werewolf?? i’m already obsessed. kate also continues to deliver with the side romances, and i was fully invested in every single one. after that one scene at the end… give me book three pls.
this still gives me those zodiac academy and crescent city vibes that i loved in book one, but this time it leans even more into that vampire diaries / buffy the vampire slayer energy.
and the ending… actually DIABOLICAL. like somehow even meaner than book one?? while this entire book had me stressed, the last 10% had me shaking. i truly don’t understand how i’m supposed to wait a year for the next book without losing my mind. i need answers!!!
“𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒊’𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒐. 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒊 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕.”
i’ve been sitting here for the past hour trying to gather my thoughts after that ending, so bear with me because this is going to be a little chaotic (and vague to avoid spoilers).
i said this about half city and i’ll say it again: this series is such a standout in urban fantasy and i’m genuinely obsessed with how fun it is! it’s fast-paced, addictive, has a plot that keeps you on edge, romance that hurts in the best way, a unique magic system, and such a good mix of supernatural elements. it was impossible to put down.
while viv is still struggling with who she is and what she’s capable of, i loved seeing that start to shift in this book. there’s a constant push and pull between wanting to be good and fearing what’s inside her. she’s still impulsive and messy, and you might not always agree with her, but her intentions are good—and you can tell she’s slowly starting to accept the parts of herself she used to hate and figure out what she truly wants and needs.
this delivered on the slow burn, tension, banter—you name it. i was equally kicking my feet, fighting for my life, and somehow also crying? so do with that what you will lol. the development was amazing!! (i need to be so inconspicuous since my friends are going to read this review and immediately clock the way this book turned out if i don’t).
the found family is one of my favs ever. penny, sophia, peter, elliot—i love them all so much. and the new additions?? a vampire and a werewolf?? i’m already obsessed. kate also continues to deliver with the side romances, and i was fully invested in every single one. after that one scene at the end… give me book three pls.
this still gives me those zodiac academy and crescent city vibes that i loved in book one, but this time it leans even more into that vampire diaries / buffy the vampire slayer energy.
and the ending… actually DIABOLICAL. like somehow even meaner than book one?? while this entire book had me stressed, the last 10% had me shaking. i truly don’t understand how i’m supposed to wait a year for the next book without losing my mind. i need answers!!!
“𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒊’𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒐. 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒊 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕.”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5🌟 Kate you deserve jail time. How could you end it like that?!
First the fun parts of this book! Deacon. To no one's surprise, I am obsessed with him. It is not healthy.
“Okay, you want to hear an actual joke?” Deacon asks. “What do Vivienne and the underworld have in common?” “What?” I deadpan, turning away from the crowd to face him. He stares down at me, a foot taller than I am. I have the errant thought that those beautiful Siberian husky eyes deserve residence in a less evil skull. “They’re both too hot to be so fucking awful.”
“Will you miss me when I’m gone, lover boy?” I’ve never seen Deacon’s face so cruel. “You are insufferable. Why would anyone fucking miss you?”
Deacon is a work of art in the same way the atom bomb is.
“You framed me for murder?”
“I’m sorry, you told me you had a plan. Remember that? Remember ‘I have a plan, Deacon?’”
I can't even share the rest of my favorite quotes because they are all spoilers. The dynamic between these two is incredible. The BANTER. I was giggling and kicking my feet anytime they interacted. I freaking love their friendship.
Viv shines in this book. Her character development is so good. She is so strong and loyal to a fault. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved the side characters in this book (including a new romance that I am HERE for). I loved how the plot expanded as we learned more about the players on the board. And that ENDING. Oh my gosh. I am shook. I am foaming at the mouth for book 3 but since this book doesn't technically come out until October I fear I am going to be suffering for awhile.
Huge thank you to Netgalley for the eARC.
First the fun parts of this book! Deacon. To no one's surprise, I am obsessed with him. It is not healthy.
“Okay, you want to hear an actual joke?” Deacon asks. “What do Vivienne and the underworld have in common?” “What?” I deadpan, turning away from the crowd to face him. He stares down at me, a foot taller than I am. I have the errant thought that those beautiful Siberian husky eyes deserve residence in a less evil skull. “They’re both too hot to be so fucking awful.”
“Will you miss me when I’m gone, lover boy?” I’ve never seen Deacon’s face so cruel. “You are insufferable. Why would anyone fucking miss you?”
Deacon is a work of art in the same way the atom bomb is.
“You framed me for murder?”
“I’m sorry, you told me you had a plan. Remember that? Remember ‘I have a plan, Deacon?’”
I can't even share the rest of my favorite quotes because they are all spoilers. The dynamic between these two is incredible. The BANTER. I was giggling and kicking my feet anytime they interacted. I freaking love their friendship.
Viv shines in this book. Her character development is so good. She is so strong and loyal to a fault. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved the side characters in this book (including a new romance that I am HERE for). I loved how the plot expanded as we learned more about the players on the board. And that ENDING. Oh my gosh. I am shook. I am foaming at the mouth for book 3 but since this book doesn't technically come out until October I fear I am going to be suffering for awhile.
Huge thank you to Netgalley for the eARC.
interested-in
April 11, 2026on my knees for.. i mean, cant wait for more of Deacon 😚 OCTOBER HURRY TF UP I NEED THIS BOOK
Want to Read
May 2, 2026GUESS WHO GOT THE ARC!!! (running to read book 1 LOL)
May 3, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kate Golden, I am eating right out of your hands. Wildly, over-dramatically unwell. Begging for crumbs of book 3.
I COULD NOT WAIT to get my hands on Cursed City after I read Half City early in January. I just did an audiobook re-read, and the Teddy Hamilton of it all had me even more feral for book 2.
Cursed City picks up right where Half City left off: Reid seemingly sacrificing himself in the battle against the Brood and a desperate, syrabraxa-imbued Viv seeking help from his dangerous brother Deacon.
I am obsessed. Deacon’s snark. His and Viv’s verbal sparring. The way they slowly start to bring out the best in each other — the black and white/good and evil developing into vibrant grays. It’s just too good.
I’m so emotionally attached to all of Viv’s friends. They feel so real and distinct. I want to be part of the group!
Not sure how to talk about the plot without spoiling anything. But ugh, perfection. It all comes together masterfully. I cannot wait to do an audiobook re-read!
Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group | Ace and NetGalley for the e-ARC! All opinions are my own.
I COULD NOT WAIT to get my hands on Cursed City after I read Half City early in January. I just did an audiobook re-read, and the Teddy Hamilton of it all had me even more feral for book 2.
Cursed City picks up right where Half City left off: Reid seemingly sacrificing himself in the battle against the Brood and a desperate, syrabraxa-imbued Viv seeking help from his dangerous brother Deacon.
I am obsessed. Deacon’s snark. His and Viv’s verbal sparring. The way they slowly start to bring out the best in each other — the black and white/good and evil developing into vibrant grays. It’s just too good.
I’m so emotionally attached to all of Viv’s friends. They feel so real and distinct. I want to be part of the group!
Not sure how to talk about the plot without spoiling anything. But ugh, perfection. It all comes together masterfully. I cannot wait to do an audiobook re-read!
Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group | Ace and NetGalley for the e-ARC! All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you Berkley for the e-arc and PRH audio for the alc 🫶
💭: I loved this one! The story picks up right where book 1 leaves off and the action starts right away. I was super invested in the overall mission in this one (IYKYK) and it felt like a race against the clock scenario. I enjoyed learning more about certain characters motivations. I absolutely loved the dynamic between Viv and the MMC! I love when the tough, protective bad boy is caring and intuitive with the FMC. I really love the side characters in this one and I feel like I got to know them even better. There were some things I didn’t see coming and the ending left me reeling! I cannot wait for the final book!
🎧: This book features a mixed narration style where Taylor Harvey narrates all of the voices except for the MMC, who is narrated by Teddy Hamilton. I absolutely loved the audio! The pacing was great and the transitions during the duet dialogue were smooth. The range of voices for Taylor was also impressive and well done. Highly recommend the audio. I really enjoyed my immersive read.
💭: I loved this one! The story picks up right where book 1 leaves off and the action starts right away. I was super invested in the overall mission in this one (IYKYK) and it felt like a race against the clock scenario. I enjoyed learning more about certain characters motivations. I absolutely loved the dynamic between Viv and the MMC! I love when the tough, protective bad boy is caring and intuitive with the FMC. I really love the side characters in this one and I feel like I got to know them even better. There were some things I didn’t see coming and the ending left me reeling! I cannot wait for the final book!
🎧: This book features a mixed narration style where Taylor Harvey narrates all of the voices except for the MMC, who is narrated by Teddy Hamilton. I absolutely loved the audio! The pacing was great and the transitions during the duet dialogue were smooth. The range of voices for Taylor was also impressive and well done. Highly recommend the audio. I really enjoyed my immersive read.
May 5, 2026
4.75 ⭐️ THIS was the direction I was hoping this series would head in, I absolutely loved Half City but this book delivered simply everything I needed!
The place I’ll never return to. The place I never left.
Secrets are uncovered, the betrayal was next level, the banter was phenomenal, found family fantastic, our sweet baby Penny may even find herself in a little romantic situation as well. I also loved that we got even more mythical creatures in this book! Viv is questioning who she can trust, and may find the people she thinks she can trust the most are the ones who may betray her. Viv is fighting to find a way to remove the curse on her back, and her “reformed brood demon” boyfriend who may or may not be dead. The only person she can turn to for protection just so happens to be the scariest demon in Astera, and her boyfriend’s brother. The one place she thought she’d be safe ended up being the place she’d be hunted.
The way this book ended has me on the edge of my seat for where book 3 is headed! This series just keeps getting better and better!
Thank you so much to Berkeley publishing and Kate Golden for the opportunity to read this pre-release in exchange for my honest review.
The place I’ll never return to. The place I never left.
Secrets are uncovered, the betrayal was next level, the banter was phenomenal, found family fantastic, our sweet baby Penny may even find herself in a little romantic situation as well. I also loved that we got even more mythical creatures in this book! Viv is questioning who she can trust, and may find the people she thinks she can trust the most are the ones who may betray her. Viv is fighting to find a way to remove the curse on her back, and her “reformed brood demon” boyfriend who may or may not be dead. The only person she can turn to for protection just so happens to be the scariest demon in Astera, and her boyfriend’s brother. The one place she thought she’d be safe ended up being the place she’d be hunted.
The way this book ended has me on the edge of my seat for where book 3 is headed! This series just keeps getting better and better!
Thank you so much to Berkeley publishing and Kate Golden for the opportunity to read this pre-release in exchange for my honest review.
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