I used to be a morning person. The zombie apocalypse put a stop to that.
For the past two years, a virus aptly named Dawn rises every day at first light to kill any human it touches, turning them into ravenous zombies. There’s no cure, no form of resistance against it, nothing to turn things around.
Most of the living humans are gone now. Only those of us with a different kind of blood are spared the killing blow of Dawn.
With the dead walking and eating their way across the lands, I fight every day to stay alive.
I’m fae and trapped here on Earth after a vacation gone wrong, wandering this doomed realm with only a virtual pet for company, pining for my homelands.
But then along comes Miko Reyes—yummy alpha werewolf with muscles for days. He’s moody, broody, and can kick some serious booty. After he helps me escape a deadly predicament, I find myself sticking with him and his pack of merry wolves.
Everything about Miko gets me hot under the collar. Seriously hot. And it might just be wishful thinking on my part, but is there something there between us? Hmmm...
Regardless, the man is a warrior, a machine, a true leader, and he is determined to bring an end to the Curse of Dawn.
I just hope it can become a reality.
Curse of Dawn is the first book in a Post-Apocalyptic M/M Romance series packed with action, adventure, a virtual pet which never needs its batteries changed, and the undeniable attraction between a fae and an alpha werewolf.
Richard Amos is an author from England who is constantly lost in the worlds he writes about, and the ones in the queue yet to be written. He also has more books in his house than anything else, and is never without a book (and chocolate) in his hands when he's not writing. He’s a proud nerd who loves to dance. Hard.
Richard writes MM Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, and Paranormal Fiction, all with tons of kick-ass action, adventure, and good doses of romance.
Zombie apocalypse where supernatural beings aren’t affected by the virus? MCs are a Fae who was on vacation on Earth and got trapped and a broody Alpha werewolf? Mysterious symbols and hope for a cure? What could go wrong?!
Unfortunately the dialogue is stilted and repetitive. Miko intentionally puts Orion in danger, is cagey and rude, and then lets other people make excuses for him. I couldn’t stand him tbh and hope Orion finds a better Alpha to fall for.
I really enjoyed the characters and read this in a single day. What more do you want? Sunshine fae boy rescued by a grumpy alpha werewolf who MAY OR MAY NOT BE his mate 🫣
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Basic words are spelled incorrectly multiple times. That’s not a mistake. That’s sloppy fucking writing and a lack of editing.
Solider instead of Soldier Causally instead of casually
Some chapters are one/two sentences. Ridiculous considering we learn nothing about the characters this way. Over half this book is cheesy immature dialogue. There are pages upon pages of dialogue with nothing else happening.
And the repetition. Wolf shifter dude, Miko spends three chapters saying sorry for something he did DELIBERATELY. In fact, the word sorry is used 78 times throughout the book.
And let’s talk about this big strong zombie killing alpha who’s scared to fucking death of Lance, who’s merely another shifter🤦🏻♂️
Another thing that irked. The words used to describe zombies. Speedies and slowies. Yes. These ADULT characters use childish words to describe zombies in an ADULT novel. Then again, the main character is immature as fuck so it fits with the other made up words.
This book is about a zombie apocalypse - what's not to love about that?
This book dragged/meandered for the first 70% of the book. The two main characters had a lot of page-wasting/filling time by daydreaming and hashing out the same issues/concerns over and over. At about the 73% mark, the story was back to back action, plot twists, etc.
One of the main characters - Miko - came off like a wishy washy teenager. I really tried to like him, though. The storyline is a good one. The characters are very present and believable, but I wish they had gotten more page time. I'm hoping the next book(s) does not drag out like this one and that Miko actually acts his age and as a competent Alpha.
It was exciting to start a brand new series by Ruchard Amos. I'm a huge fan of his world building talents and the complexity of his characters. This time, Richard takes us to the post-apocalyptic London, and the atmosphere has been created so perfectly that you can feel the gloom and the tension of danger and never-ending risk of death. The MCs are paranormals: fae and werewolf. There are other species among the supporting characters, too: vampires, mages, and even trolls. Love the diversity. We come to know the characters when they are fighting for survival trying to fight off the hords of zombies who are basically former humans infected with the deadly virus, which appeared seemingly from nowhere and changed everything. Orion and Miko are loveable characters, but as always, Richard doesn't make them superheroes. No, they are flawed, vulnerable, and even fragile. But that is exactly why you believe them when you read the book. The romantic part is Richard's usual slow burn, but it seems that this time, it burns a bit faster (which I totally welcomed). As you can imagine, the group of characters is not only trying to survive. They want to end the nightmare the world has submerged into. Which is obviously not an easy task. Hence, it's a series. The book ends in a kind of cliffhanger, very intriguing, and I can't wait to see where Richard will take us with such a twist of the plot. Really loved the book and highly recommend it to all paranormal and urban fantasy fans.
I took a chance on this book as I have never read just a MM romance and this one did not disappoint. It happens to combine my love of zombie books with fantasy and romance so it’s what drew me in but the writing and story telling are amazing and have kept me entertained. In the first we chapters we find ourselves with Orion a fae who was vacationing in London and ended up stuck when the zombie inducing mist the Dawn causes humans to turn into zombies. He has been here a few years now but he is now trying to find a way home. All the doors to his world were shut at the start of the zombie apocalypse but he keeps his hopes up that one day they’ll open and he can return. While fighting to survive he ends up meeting people who end up saving his life and is introduced to the leader of this group, Miko. Miko is pretty much single minded in his attempt at finding out how to stop the cause of the zombies. Orion develops a crush on him and tries to fight his feelings for this difficult alpha. The alpha is convinced Orion is somehow linked to the Dawn curse and is unsure of him. As the book unfolds we learn more about the situation. Of course there is someone working against them and I have my suspicions on what his part has been. I’m also excited to see an unexpected person from Orions past show up and can’t wait to see how that plays out with Orion and Miko. I’m super glad I gave this book a chance and am excited to see what happens in the next book.
Richard Amos is doing it again... With "Curse of Dawn" he managed to create a new and fascinating paranormal world, filled with awesome characters and all the complexities I love about his work. The post-apocalyptic world these characters are living in, is brutal and tough, but the characters at the center of the story still manage to hold on to their love and care for others. I love how mutidimensional this author's characters are; they always have something fragile (and even cute), while also being strong and caring. Together, they bring a certain lightness to a world that's filled with cruelness and despair. It creates a perfect blend of emotions while enjoying this story.
I do enjoy a good post-apocalyptic storyline, so for me this book isn't outside of my comfort zone in any way. Still, there is a lot more to this story than that. There are plenty of twists and turns (and I'm positive a lot more to come), involving the world they're living in, but also involving the wider paranormal world and all its inhabitants. With Miko's pack we got a wonderful found family that might grow throughout the series, and the push and pull between Miko and Orion is hot to watch.
I'm truly fascinated by this story, and excited to find out what will be next.
I’m not usually a fan of zombie stories but this one caught my interest immediately, and now I need book 2! The world building, as I’ve come to expect from this author, is fabulously detailed and quirky, as are the characters. I love that this is set in the UK with twists on familiar places now they’re overrun with zombies.
I loved Orion, a fae stuck on Earth in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, and how he views the world. I’m intrigued by Wendy, his virtual pet, who seems powered by magic as well as science, and I wonder if she’s going to play a bigger part going forward.
Miko does brooding so well, but underneath is a good guy trying to make a difference and fix the world. His back story is tragic. I liked the way it is revealed as the story progresses. I loved how he’s determined not to fall for Orion, and how that works out for both of them.
The supporting cast are great. I loved how the twist with the search for the Oracle. I didn’t see that coming! Lance is a nasty narcissist who needs a huge dose of karma. I’m trusting the author to deliver that by the end of the series.
And that revelation at the end… I didn’t realise when I started reading that this was the first in the series, and figured it wasn’t going to be resolved by the end of the book.
Curse of Dawn is the newest book that blends together zombies with MM paranormal romance. Get ready for all the fun, and watch out for the slowies and the speedies! If you hear hissing...run! Meet Orion, a fae, trapped Earth side when the portals between Fae and Earth were closed when a deadly virus began to spread and decimate the human population. Any “pure” humans were taken over and turned into flesh eating monsters by “dawn.” All Orion really wants is to get back home, but that’s not going to be an easy road for him. Staying alive is enough of a challenge, but hope surfaces through the unexpected aid from another. Cue becoming a part of a group and meeting...Miko. Tough, infallible, a touch moody, but he has his reasons. But what neither of them is expecting is the sparks that fly between them. This book is packed with drama, and this author does not disappoint in staying true to his writing style. Curse of Dawn is gripping, a page-turner, and hard to put down. Questions of “what is going to happen next” will haunt you as you read this book. No major cliffhanger, but you will be wondering where things go from here as certain revelations come to light. Hands down 5 out of 5 stars
Curse Of Dawn is the first book in this series. I loved reading it as it has lots of action and wonderful Characters. The Storyline is easy to follow and it pulls you in quickly until the very end. The scene takes place in an Apocalyptical time with Zombies that are running all over the world. They were created from a red mist that comes out every morning at dawn and it went in search of all the humans. There’s no cure, no form of resistance against it, nothing to turn things around. Orion is a Fae and he has a very cool gift that he can do when somebody is injured. He is stuck in the human world as it is now inhabited by Zombies. The Gates to Faerie are closed for safety and precautionary measures. Trev is a purple Troll and he has a purpose that he doesn't even know about. Miko Reyes the yummy alpha werewolf with muscles for days. Miko is the pack leader of the little group that has found Orion and Trev. So, if you love Fae with cool gifts, Hot broody Alpha wolves and Tall purple Trolls.. the maybe this book is for you. All in all I loved reading this book and gave it the 5 stars that is deserved. I can't wait to read the next one.
Another great Richard Amos series begin. Good things come to those who wait. I've been waiting patiently for a new Richard Amos series, and yes, I realize that writers need recharge, research and plotting time. But this effort has paid off in droves. I love book #1 - 'Curse of Dawn' in his latest anthology is an absolute delight.
Zombies, vampires, blood mages werewolves and, of course, fae. The two MCs are brilliant - a werewolf alpha trying to keep the remnants of his pack together and a lost fae who got trapped on earth as a zombie apocalypse exploded and thus closed off his ability to return home. Of course, they find their way together - the author paints this relationship building in a brilliant manner. In addition a cast of supporting team mates and a host of fierce enemies is also stitched together in Amos's signature blend of heart, courage, dastardliness and, as always, humor.
This entry book is a roller coaster - I admittedly love all of Amos's work - but thiis up there amongst his finest offerings.
-the world building. Dystopian, post-apocalyptic London, rendered in such a way that it’s easy to imagine. Plus, the ravages of a a mysterious zombie virus that has decimated humans and left what’s left of the world to a varied cast of supernatural entities.
-the characters. Leads Orion (fae more optimistic, a lot of the time, than you’d think circumstances might warrant) and Miko (brooding alpha werewolf, who somehow manages to both embody and transcend his trope) are interesting as individuals and as a potential pairing, and they’re more than enough to keep the narrative intriguing on their own, but there are some solid supporting characters/ found family dynamics as well.
-the plot. I won’t say too much about this, as it deserves to be experienced on its own terms, but the stakes are high, wheels are turning, and there’s definitely more story to come in subsequent books, which I already can’t wait to read.
Tl;dr: exciting and interesting and well worth checking out.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Curse of Dawn by Richard Amos is book one in the Curse of Dawn Series. I’ve read other books by this author and enjoyed them greatly, so when I saw there was a new series coming I was super excited to read it. I will say this book isn’t a standalone but it is super addictive and I now I have to wait patiently for the next one. This combines some of my favorite things together such as an apocalypse, Fae and a werewolves. Add in suspense, intrigue, action and mystery this makes for one interesting read to the point I read this book in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down! The writing and worldbuilding was incredible and oh my gosh the tension and chemistry between characters was on another level. Speaking of characters I absolutely loved Orion and his quest for survival and don’t even get me going about Miko. Who doesn’t love a broody werewolf? Everything about this book was great and I personally didn’t see that plot twist coming that happened. I think to say this might be my favorite book Richard Amos has written. Two thumbs up!
Orion the lost fae and Miko the werewolf fighting to keep his pack together. Each is trying to survive the Dawn curse which appears every AM seeking to taking the lives of remaining humans in the wrecked city of London. In typical Richard Amos' style, the reader will discover tension, tragedy, and passionate romance. With the coming of the Dawn Orion found himself on the wrong side of his Fae world, locked out of the doors that unabled him to escape back to his world and for two years he has survived the zombie onslaught of the speedies and the slowies (his lables). Miko is the savior and enabler of his pack, keeping all members together in their Haven that now includes Orion who has finally discovered and became a member of a family. His only other family had been his virtual pet, Wendy. A humanistic element of alpha Miko that helps him deal with the extreme tension he must deal with is a stress ball that Orion aptly names Belle. The plot is full of intrigue that entices the reader to make ready for Book #2 Blood and Dawn. I am glad I bought this first book.
A mysterious pink mist turns the humans of Earth into zombies. Fae and shifters are two of the species that the mist doesn't affect. It's a never ending fight for survival. Orion, a Fae, has survived for two years. He finds a troll, Trey, and together they find Haven, home to a pack of four werewolves. It's an original storyline, a post apocalypse view of London. There's survival, the horror of this new world. Love and caring, a found family. Trey and the wolf alpha, Miko, have a strong chemistry. The secondaries are strongly supportive. Hope comes to them in the form of a possible cure for the pink mist, called Dawn because it appears at the dawn of each day. Typical of Amos, there's a HFN ending. And a cliffhanger. Not usually my favorite things. But Amos writes them so well. It's a good, fairly quick read. Want book two soon. I received an advance copy of this book and this is my review.
Curse of Dawn by Richard Amos is an exciting apocalyptic M/M fantasy romance. A strange red mist comes With the dawn killing every human it touches, turning them into zombies. The few that remain untouched by dawn are vampires, shifters, and fae. Miko desires to save the world and hopes to do so with the help of his pack and Orion, the fae he believes he has been dreaming of. As old enemies surface will they be able to accomplish this task? This story is filled with action. There are also plenty of secrets, surprises, and twists. I loved the characters they are all unique. There is some pretty amazing world-building going on in this story. Despite the gore and darkness, There is still room in the apocalypse for hot and steamy romance. I rate Curse of Dawn 5 out of 5 stars. I didn't want to put this one down. I loved getting to know Orion, Miko, and the pack. If you like action and spicy stories of M/M fated mates you will love this book!
This author's world building capabilities are consistently so good and I love a post-apocalyptic zombie caper, so I knew going into Curse Of Dawn that I was in safe hands.
What we get is the start to a truly entertaining meeting of paranormal beings…some friends, some foes, some…well, let's just say TBC. As for our MCs, the first is Orion, a fae visitor who ended up being trapped in this alternate version of London when Dawn struck. He's brave, resilient and does the right thing; though he does have some emotional baggage. And then there's Miko, an alpha wolf shifter. The front he presents to his pack and to Orion is that of the stoic leader, coldly detached…the man with the plan. What lies beneath, though, I think is going to be a whole lot more complex. We get a hint or two, but I suspect there's much more to learn about this guy. Orion and Miko share an instant attraction but, as with most of this author's work, the relationship is slow burn. It's hardly a meet cute - they really don't make good first impressions, but the chemistry is undeniable.
There's potential for some great found family vibes to be built with the side characters. Orion's new friendship with Trev and their being taken in by Miko’s pack has the hallmarks of a group of survivors who are there to care for and support each other. It also feels like the scene is set for a lot of plot-based twists and turns - we understand how Dawn works to turn humans into zombies, but there's just one hint about what to do about it. There are clearly defined enemies, but also an interloper whose presence may just cause a bit of chaos.
Exciting; full of action, intrigue and great characters…Curse Of Dawn is a fantastic start to an new urban fantasy PNR series. I'm on the edge of my seat for more of Orion and Miko’s adventures. 5*
An e-copy was provided by the author. This is my honest review.
Orion, a fae trapped in the human world, is trying his best to out live the Dawn curse, all by his lonesome. But then he meets Tree and together they are found by Miko and his pack of wolves. All of a sudden, history years of loneliness, with only his digital pet as company, is over - or are they? The action is high from start to finish - this is not a stand alone, and it ends on a mild cliffhanger. A tale of found family, of old foes, and of impossible choises. I’m not a zombie fan, but it is not too overwhelming. I know RA’s style and this one is no different - it is refreshing and a breath of fresh language. I adore all the very British terms and words. If you love tales as describes above, but are are not a fan of zombies, I would still recommend giving it a go. I didn’t regret it, that’s for sure.
Welcome to the zombie apocalypse. A virus called Dawn had turned humanity into mindless zombies craving flesh, roaming the earth without any other purpose. Cells of supernaturals are still resisting and surviving, among others a Fae called Orion who together with a troll named Trev join a very small shifter pack to increase survival chances. Yet everything gets complicated with pack power plays and mate bonds and reappearances from the past... and one ominous prophecy for defeating the threat. The opening to the new series has the distinctive manuscript of this author with the typical MM romance, set into a post-apocalyptic world with interesting character cast and many plot twists. There are lots of secrets, funny moments even in the most desperate situations, and sparks flying all around. Enjoyable read.
With gallons of trepidation, I took his hand—calloused and rough, so strong. A spark of heat bit at my palm as I made contact, his nostrils flaring as he clearly felt the same thing. He recoiled, inspecting his hand. I licked my lips. “One of us must be super charged.” Static electricity. That’s all it was. He cocked a brow at his palm. “Are you okay?” Miko blinked, offering me his hand again without a word. I took it, letting him pull me onto the ledge. We stood inches apart, his breath on my face. Hands still joined… My lips parted, a flush of warmth racing across my skin as he stared at me. He’s not taking his hand back…‘
What an exciting new series first book Richard Amos has gifted us! Curse of Dawn is an MM Romance Fantasy that takes place after a curse called ‘Dawn’ has turned most humans into zombies. Orion is a fae on vacation who must remain after all the portals to Faerie are closed to avoid Dawn seeping into it.
Surviving is foremost for every shifter, human or magical creature, so Orion is thrilled to find a small group of shifters to hide with, until he starts to wonder if he is being used by the alpha wolf shifter he feels drawn to.
The mysterious myth of finding an oracle is their focus, where they may be given info to stop the cursed Dawn!
I am a big Richard Amos fan, so there was no way I wasn't going to read this but I have to say upfront this book started with two significant strikes against it for me. First, I'm "meh" when it comes to zombie stories and second, the pandemic is scars are still fresh and I wasn't sure I would be able to read a book that seemed like it would strike too close to that bone. Thank goodness I dove in! The world building in this book is amazing and the pairing of the fae Orion and the hot, brooding werewolf alpha Miko who is determined to both protect his pack and find a way to save the world was fantastic. I could hardly put the book down as I followed their journey, learned their backstories and hoped for their success. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
Richard Amos does such a great job creating new interesting worlds, Curse of Dawn is no different. He somehow always manages to make new intriguing paranormal worlds with amazing characters. In this book, the characters are going through a post-apocalyptic setting it is challenging environment for sure, yet the main characters are able to find passion and care for each other. I enjoy the way Richard Amos writes complex characters who seem to be vulnerable yet strong. All of these characteristics bring a beautiful lightness to the plot and story.
Beyond the world and the characters, author, Richard Amos has built, there a so many unexpected twists within the story; this book was so much fun to read!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I love a new series with all its feelings and hopes before you start the first book. I started this with those feelings, and I was excited to see that this is a winner. This seems to be a mashup between The Walking Dead, Red Dawn, and a couple of other movies in a very good way. Miko and Orion are a tortured couple of people who have to deal with pasts that aren’t exactly in the past anymore, all while trying to remain alive. I quite enjoyed the twists and turns this novel lead us on, and I was surprised at the ending. I can’t wait to see how they are going to get out of this latest pickle they’re in. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
New twist on Zombies? Okay, you have my attention.
I love this author and was incredibly excited to read this new series. I was not disappointed in this story. Pink mist turning humans into Zombies at Dawn? It is so different from any other post apocalyptic book I've read. Orion was a great character. He did everything possible to survive and not get eaten. Miko was a great addition. He is broody and moody and a total alpha-hole. I loved it. I was completely unprepared for that ending. I just didn't see the plot twist coming and now I have about 10 million questions and I am dying to find out what happens next.
This book has everything action, mystery, fated mates, humor and digital pets. What more could you need?!!
I absolutely loved this book! The story takes place in a post apocalyptic modern day. There is a mysterious mist that comes everyday at dawn and turns humans into zombies. The premise itself is very different from your typical zombie story, and the world building is amazing, as one expects from Richard Amos. The cast of characters are divine and so lovable. Except Lucas. He can go take a hike in a zombie horde.
Such a wonderful blend of action, horror, intrigue and romance.
If you love zombie books with a good dose of mystery and romance definitely check this book out!
I love this authors books and I was so excited to read the first book in a new series. Orion had come to earth for vacation and return after 2 weeks to his world. Unfortunately, a new “smoke” called Dawn turned humans into zombies but does nothing for the supernatural community. Fast forward two years and he is saved from an attack. He shortly meets Miko, a werewolf, and alpha of the pack. Told in mostly Orion’s point of view, it tells the story of how they are surviving this new reality and to figure out how to stop it. Along the way, Miko initiates a mate bond. Great world building with some heat and great chemistry. I cannot wait to read book 2 to see what happens next.
I didn't have any expectations when I started reading, but I could not put it down. Pink mist that turns humans into Zombies at Dawn. Okay, I'm intrigued… The world building was phenomenal. Orion was great. His grit and determination to survive shone through. Miko was awesome, your not so typical broody, moody alpha-hole. YES Please! Nothing could have adequately prepared me for that ending! But I guess I'll be waiting patiently for the next one to find out what happens next. I'm so glad to have found this author and I'll be checking out his backlist while I wait…
Not gonna lie, I was a little apprehensive about this book when I saw it had zombies, but I shouldn't have been. This book sucks you in, right from page one, and doesn't let go. Action, romance, Fae, shifters, zombies, this book literally has it all. This book was so good, I could not put it down and accidentally finished it in one day. The shifters are smoking hot, the bad guys are super evil, and the zombies are.... really zombieish. I really enjoyed this book, even though it ends in a bit of a cliffhanger. I'm really looking forward to book 2.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love Richard Amos. This seems like a great start to another great series. I'm generally not into zombie stories, but this seems like it may be different. Crossing my fingers. After reading the other reviews, there's not a lot I can say that will bring anything different to light.
Just one thing-keep an eye on the fae ex-boyfriend. I have a feeling he'll come to play a large role in the upcoming books.