Cursed city

By: Golden, Kate

Published by Ace, 2026-09-29

"Welcome back to Harker Academy for Deviant Defense, where the line between hunter and hunted has never been thinner. Viv Abbot will do whatever it takes to rescue Reid Graveheart, the reformed Brood demon she loves-even if it means teaming up with his violent, unpredictable older brother, Deacon. Her uneasy truce with him offers Viv something Reid never could: the chance to embrace her darkness. As the search for Reid intensifies, Viv and her friends must maintain appearances on Harker grounds while wading into Astera's seedy underbelly with none other than the White Stag as their guide. But when a bounty on Viv's head puts those she loves most 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 protect 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, surviving her second year 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?"-- Provided by publisher.