When I closed the last page of A Curse of Wings & Gems, I felt like I’d stepped out of a dream filled with curses, storms, and hauntingly beautiful songs from the sea. This book is about Edmar, a Dragon King cursed to bind himself to brides chosen by fate, each doomed to die, and Emmy, a mermaid princess burdened with dangerous magic and shackled by the expectations of her people. Their stories intertwine across decades of longing, loss, and the constant pull of destiny. The world itself is vast, with kingdoms above and below the sea, ruled by kings, dwarves, and ancient forces, each holding secrets that keep the tension alive. It is a story about power and love, but even more so about chains, both magical and emotional, and the desperate fight to break them.

The writing pulled me in right away. Huston’s style is lush and dramatic, full of imagery that makes the setting shimmer. The opening scenes with Edmar flying through the storm or Emmy enduring the pain of her magic are vivid, and I could almost feel the salt air or the sting of fire in her veins. I admired the ambition, and the rhythm of the sentences often matched the emotions of the characters, which kept me hooked. The shifting perspectives between Edmar and Emmy also added layers, though sometimes I wanted them to linger longer in their thoughts before switching.

What I liked most were the emotions underneath the fantasy spectacle. Edmar’s exhaustion with his curse hit me hard. That sense of being trapped in endless repetition, of watching love turn to ashes over and over, felt raw and painful. Emmy’s plight, on the other hand, carried a different weight. Her fear of her own power and her father’s cold willingness to barter her away felt both heartbreaking and infuriating. I found myself rooting for her to rebel, to scream, to burn it all down if she had to. That frustration was real, which shows the author succeeded in making me care. At the same time, the romance felt fragile, more like a thread of hope than a blazing fire, and I actually liked that. It felt earned rather than rushed.

I’d recommend this book to readers who love epic fantasy mixed with aching romance, especially those who don’t mind a slower, descriptive pace that lingers on atmosphere. If you enjoy stories where curses shape kingdoms and love feels both impossible and inevitable, this will be your kind of tale. It’s not a light read, and it thrives on mood as much as plot, but for me, it was a fun adventure.

Pages: 676