The Curse of the Wretched

They thought she was dead. She was just biding her time.

The kingdom of Genad has one legend: the heroic prince Balfour defeated the heinous, shadow-wielding witch Ophesia and saved the kingdom.

Imagine their surprise when she appears at the new king's coronation and curses them again.

The new crown prince, Thom, is tasked by his overbearing father to finish what his ancestor started, though he has little hope of success. But armed with his ancestor's journals, he ventures up the mysterious mountain where she was last known to dwell, only to be imprisoned without any hope of escape.

Thom isn't giving up without a fight. His new captor is reclusive, but not unkind, and eventually concedes to dine with Thom every evening. Through stilted conversations about art, books, and poetry, Thom learns more about Ophesia's heart, and unravels more of the mystery of what really happened on this mountain with his legendary ancestor.

Because after all, history is written by the victors.

The Curse of the Wretched is the first book in the Wretched Curse series, a spicy, gender-swapped Beauty and the Beast retelling with forced proximity, hidden identities, shadow magic, and slow burn yearning. Perfect for fans of Carissa Broadbent's Daughter of No Worlds, Alix E. Harrow's The Everlasting, and Rebecca Ross's A River Enchanted. This is the first fantasy romance from award-winning cozy fantasy and young adult author S. Usher Evans.