The Cursebound Thief: A Contemporary YA Urban Fantasy Heist

Megan O'Russell

Sep 2022 · Fracture Pact Book 1 · Ink Worlds Press

About this ebook

The world wants a hero. The curse needs a thief.

The party of the decade stands between Jerek Holden and saving the people he would do anything to protect. After twelve years, he’s finally found a way to break the curse that ripped all magic from the world and destroyed the peace that took generations to build. All he needs is one, simple artifact. But he can’t steal the heliostone alone.

A girl with a soul of fire.

A vampire bound by a vow.

A werewolf bent on revenge.

A knight torn between honor and duty.

A hacker to keep them all alive.

The fate of magic lies in their hands―if they can survive long enough to pull off the heist of the century.

***

The Cursebound Thief is book one in Fracture Pact, a young adult, magical heist series that weaves magicians, mermaids, vampires and werewolves into a world of broken magic and tenuous alliances. Whether you’re in the mood for love triangles, a friends to lovers twist, or just crave young adult fiction books that feature girls in STEM, The Cursebound Thief is an urban fantasy YA fans will love. With runaways, orphans, strong female leads, an inclusive lgbtq+ cast, and supernatural elements abound, this is a series you won't want to miss!

***

The Cursebound Thief is perfect for fans of Sophie Davis, Angelina J. Steffort, Jesikah Sundin, R. L. Medina, Tracy Korn, Bekah Harris, Valia Lind, and Martina McAtee.

Ratings and reviews

It is a little slow at the beginning. Don’t give up, it gets better. Don’t judge the book by the cover, this isn’t just about a sexy thief. It is a group heist for a noble cause, with a variety of interesting and well-developed characters. Go read the preview. One of the things I always enjoy with Ms O’Russell’s writing is the use of multiple characters that are well developed and integral to the plot, not just some sidekicks to the protagonist. Not my favorite, but a good read.

Their legacy was stolen from them, and they plan to steal it back. Fast paced story that introduces a fun, diverse, inclusive group of characters. I liked the way the effects of magic spilled into the "real world". Mostly a hidden magic system, but some interesting bleed-throughs. Lots of suspense and plenty of humor. O'Russell keeps it real, which is nice in a fantasy. YA, stays clean - some kissing, no real romance, there is some violence, and not everyone gets through the conflicts unscathed.

It has been twelve years since magic was taken from the lives of every of person who possessed magic. Jerek Holden and many of his friends were very young when it happened, and had to deal with a great loss at that young age. Not only was magic taken from them, but also lives of parents and people they loved were lost as a result. Jerek assembles a team to help him conduct a heist to undo a curse and bring magic back to those from whom it was stolen. It sounds so simple, but turns out that bringing together very dissimilar people in a short period of time to pull off a very precise act of thievery during a very public event is not that easy. I enjoyed the characters, and the challenges they faced. I loved Megan’s rich descriptions of the ball at the Museum of Magic. Overall it was an enjoyable read.

About the author

Megan started writing when she discovered playing Cordelia in King Lear leaves you way too much time waiting backstage. She began her career as an author during an ill-fated trip to Oz. She hasn't stopped writing (even when living on a tour bus) since.

Megan's wanderlust has led her all over the globe. When she's not planning her next escapade, she's diving into fantasy worlds where she doesn't have to worry about what rules she's supposed to follow or how many pairs of socks she can fit in her suitcase.

Her latest series, Fracture Pact, finds seven teens pulling off the heist of the century to save magic. Psst…this book may feed on her love of Newport, RI, Manhattan, Las Vegas, mountains, and botanical gardens. Megan has a weakness for road trips. Having vampires, werewolves, mermaids, and hackers involved just adds to the excitement.

Her love of storytelling has helped Megan weave her real-life exploits into eight different book series. From the epic fantasy world of Ilbrea to the paranormal dystopian romance of Girl of Glass, there is always a new way to escape into adventure.

Megan would love to connect with you on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or TikTok but feels obliged to warn you in advance that you will be hearing about her cats…a lot.

If you want to stay up to date on all Megan's books and adventures (and hear about her cats), you can find all her social media links, including where to sign up for her readers community, at: https://linktr.ee/meganorussell

For Film / TV / Adaptation Inquiries:

Allen Eckhouse

Logical Talent Management

[e-mail]