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Cover of Trials of the Cursed

Trials of the Cursed

by Jillian Witt

🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate·spoiler·Champions of Chaos #2

Why Read This?

You'll experience a satisfying emotional journey of grief, trust rebuilt, and characters pushed to their limits for freedom.

Synopsis

When emotion is the key to Emberline’s magic, hers are impossible to hide, even from the man who betrayed her. Emberline uncovered truths she so desperately sought, but they upturned everything she thought she knew. She fled Kavios, grieving her closest family member and any chance of taking power from the Blessed. In a cruel twist, the only hope to change her fate lies with the man who deceived her. Her only consolation is that she took the mine’s captive with her. Hart lived two hundred years with a single to free himself of the goddess’s obligation. He has stolen, sacrificed, and changed the course of a kingdom in service of his goal. Now, his objective is not so clear, with his and Emberline’s paths inextricably linked. They say it's an honor to be a Champion, but with the goddesses pulling the strings, Emberline and Hart will never know peace. When the pair learns of another way, Emberline is left with a choice. Her heart was broken in more ways than one when she left Kavios. These impossible trials would require not only cooperation with her former bodyguard but vulnerability. She must decide the lengths she's willing to go to free herself and the people of Kavios from the goddess’s game. Emberline may be determined not to put her faith in Hart again, but the ties of their magic mean her emotions betray her at every turn. The most dangerous person to keep them from might be herself. This is the conclusion of Hart & Emberline’s duology, but readers can expect more stories in the Champions of Chaos series.

At a Glance

0.00 ★ Goodreads
Spice Level🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate
Endingspoiler
PairingM/F
Romance Pacingslow burn
Energymedium

Top Tropes

bodyguard/protection detailforced proximitysecond chancebully romancegames/trials romance

Mood

darkintenseemotionalsuspensefulangsty

Book Details

Goodreads Rating

0.00 ★

Published

2026

Primary Genre

Romantasy

Pairing

M/F

POV

First Person

Romance Pacing

Slow Burn

Audiobook

Format

Standard

Narrator Count

Single

Tropes

RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

Mood

Writing Style

emotionalimmersiveatmosphericbrooding

Story Pacing

medium

Emotional Weight

heavy

Energy Required

medium

Vibes

Brooding high-stakes trials with dark emotional tension that feels like walking a knife's edge between betrayal and redemption.

Characters

FMC Archetype

morally gray fmcsurvivorprotector

MMC Archetype

bodyguard/protectormorally gray mmcdark/tortured soul

Relationship Dynamics

mutual piningreluctant allies to loverstensionslow burn

Spice Details 🌶️

🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
Spice Level 3

Spice Style

emotional / lovingslow / sensual

Getting Steamy

None

Bringing the Heat

None
deathemotional abusetraumaviolencecaptivitydubious consentgrief

World & Setting

World Type

high fantasymythological

Primary Setting

competition / gamesroyal court / palace

Fantasy Creatures

Reading Context

Emotional Payoff

the angst deliveredtension finally satisfiedcharacter growth

Best Time of Year

autumn

When & Where to Read

at night

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