Witch's Reign (Desert Cursed Series Book 1)

I had read the venom series before this too. They stand independently of each other with minimal cross over. This original book in the series drew me in but the next book was even more captivating. I can barely wait for the 3rd to come out next month with a possible 4th book in the fall!

If you love a good book about a strong woman, and the super natural with a love story then you will enjoy this book. Shannon Mayer writing is funny and keeps you interested the whole way through. I really like this book!

I truly loved this book!
It's spunky, original, and funny!

Zam is cursed in more than one way but all her life she has fought against it and against anyone else. She is might strong even if her shifted for isn't. But she is also loyal to a fault. Her heart rules most of her and she knows that could hurt her worse in the end.

In a battle to find stones for Ish, her mentor and pseudo mother, she also takes it upon herself to rescue her friend.

On this journey she finds herself forgiving and believing in herself in ways she never thought she would. She has Maks and Lila with her. Two beings she never would have taken on. A human and a Dragon. The dragon is personally my favorite. She's just like Zamira but in a tiny winged form.

Love this author and beginning to this series!

Honestly, is there anything Shannon Mayer writes that isn't amazing?! Rylee, Nix, and now Zam! I had no idea what to expect when beginning this journey. I am eager for book 2! How does Shannon captivate her readers so easily?!

this was the first book I have read from this author. I liked it, kept me interested and wanting to know what will happen. I love Zam and Maks and Lila (the dragon). I will read the next book in this series.

Witch's Reign is a fast paced book. It hooks you right from the start. I am learning to Love Zam!!! I have already pre ordered the next book in this series. Never a dull moment with a Shannon Mayer book !!!

This was a non stop action book. You don’t know what’s going to happen next. I really enjoyed all of the characters but it was really hard to tell the good guys from the bad ones. It is an excellent read!

LOVE this new series by Shannon. I love the crossover between worlds and yet it has a whole new perspective and group of character. Read it so fast and CAN'T wait for the next one!!! I need more of Zam and I'm dying to see where the story goes next.

Great story and so much fun to read. Who needs sleep? Apparently I don't because I couldn't put it down. Going to work the next day bleary eyed, but worth every lifted eyebrow from my coworkers. I can't wait for the next one.

I've read all of her series and this one is off to a fantastic start. Action, action, and laughs. Love the characters. This has the potential to be her best series yet and that's saying something with her great body of work. Keep it up Shannon. Thanks for the great entertainment.

Just like all of Shannon Mayer's books, Witch's Reign draws you into the fantasy world she creates and you feel like you know the characters and can't help but become emotionally invested. Zam, Maks and Lila are group of mismatched companions, but their strength lies in the bond they create from similar pasts and working to discard and overcome their so-called weaknesses to become unlikely heroes and friends. If you liked the Venom Trilogy books you'll be happy to find that these worlds overlap.

Compelling characters, strong suspense, plenty of twists and turns! This book was the reason I broke down and finally surrendered to e-reading technology. I much prefer traditional paperbacks but I could not get this one from my local library or the inter-library loan system. As much as I dislike digital books, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get my hands on this one. So glad I did!!!

Hooked me right away, I wasn’t familiar with this author but I’m now going back to read everything she’s written. Great characters, funny dialogue, and no grammatical errors. A well crafted tale.

Mayer does it again! A wonderful, action packed adventure that starts a new series off right! On a quest to save her bestfriend from the Ice Witch (and recover the jewel), Zamira assembles a motley crew of outcasts that are delightful. I laughed through most the book, but most importantly, I could not put it down! I can't wait for book 2!

Really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to the next one. This story about Zamira helps people realize that being small and weak does not mean you can't accomplish things. Zamira maybe small, but her heart and amazing courage help her defeat some of her enemies.

I can't get over how amazing these books are! If you can, you MUST listen to the audiobook! Lauren Fortgang is a godness in her performances! How does she have so many voices for everyone in the book! The adventure, the action, the characters are just all so amazing. I sometimes am just bursting out laughing at the vulgarness and the direct attitudes of the characters (especially the main character). Enjoy the book! And even better the audio book!

You know you are going to enjoy a book when you are even rooting for the horses.
Zam hasn't let the things wrong in her life compromise her integrity. Though the people around her are selfish she chooses to act with compassion and heart.
The more you find out about her past the more you will root for her! Can't wait to read more of her story.

I have loved all the books I have read from Shannon Mayer. She's taken a great formula that has worked in her other books and written a great story. Her humor is fantastic. It's always disappointing when you can guess what the author is going to do, but I didn't see these twists coming and I love that. It's easy to read and before you know it you're done and left wanting more. I can't wait for the next one!

It didn’t take me long to figure out that I wasn’t going to read this, which I suppose is a point in the book’s favour. Although I already had a pretty good idea that this book and I weren’t going to get along, I was convinced by this, on page four:

“It was finicky at the best of times in perfect conditions. Of which we were not in, with the cold and ice frosting every damn thing around us.”

“Of which we were not in...”??? I’m sorry, and I know it makes me sound like a language snob, but I prefer to read books written in somewhat better English. None of my friends or acquaintances would use such phrasing in spoken or written English, so I see no reason to inflict it on myself via a fictional character.

Yes, I know. Language snob.

This book had a hero who was absolutely terrible at making any sort of decisions for herself. Her life was based on what everyone else did or said. She oveecame that then everyone then everything that happened meant nothing cause she went straight back to it. Yawn.

I absolutely love worlds Shannon has created. What a roller coaster of emotions we go through with Zamia and her journey to help anyone who is thought to be seeker. So many twists and turns and answers still to come.with this series. I can't wait to laugh and cry (angry and sad) my way through this up coming journey with Zam and her new friends...

It took me a while to like this book. After reading last book about Guardians, I couldn’t get my mind to like something new. More I read it, more I like this book. I can’t wait to read next one.

I couldn't stop reading! This is my first book by Shannon Mayer, and definitely not my last. I love a female lead role that is smart, brave and caring like Zamira. I really hope she can forgive Maks and maybe even more ?? Ready to read book 2 now!

Well, Shannon knocked it out of the park again with Witch's Reign. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. What an incredible journey. I was sweeped away from beginning to end! Must read!!

Shannon's books are the best reading entertainment around i try to read them all. The Desert Cursed Book 1 has a great message for all that feel they aren't as good enough. It showed not to limit yourself by what others say about your abilities.
Local Lady

If I'm to be honest, I must start off by saying that If I had known that WITCH'S REIGN was part of the Venom world, I would not not have given it a chance. Thankfully there is only one mention of 'super dupers' in WITCH'S REIGN.

WITCH'S REIGN is part of the same world as Shannon's Venom series—even has some of the same characters—, but it feels different. Which in my book is actually a good start. Unfortunately I feel that we are missing a lot of information. Some backstory is explained and some secrets are revealed, but I always felt like something was being left out.

Let's talk about some of the characters. Zamira is an interesting character that I need to know more about before I can say if I really like her. I mean, for the most part I like what I know so far, but I feel like I need all the information that hasn't been revealed yet. I actually liked Maks—her 'partner' for most of the book— even with his secrets and look forward to finding out more about him. I also want to know more about Zamira's brother, I hope he has more of a spot in book two. I hated Steve from the start and won't be the slightest bit sad if he's killed off quickly along with his 'mate'. I love a good sidekick, but i felt that Zamira was a little too attached and trusting of Lila a little too quickly. I thought Lila was neat and definitely has potential, but I would have just liked to see a little more time go by before there was blind faith there. Especially due to what Lila was and who her loyalties ultimately are to.

I defiantly feel like WITCH'S REIGN has potential, but I'm not hooked yet.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I picked this up because I absolutely LOVED the Nix Series! OMG, can I just say this is even better! I'm in awe of Mayer's creativity, she not only imagines these wonderful adventures, but masterfully puts her ideas to paper! Well done, so sad the 2nd book isn't out till April!

Why can't authors write without cussing? I'm sorry but I hear enough of that on a daily basis. I do not want to read it in books. I couldn't even get through the first chapter because of all of the bad words. Is the author really that stupid that they can't write a book without bad language. I've deleted this book from my collection and have no intention of ever buying another from this author.

Couldn't get more than a few paragraphs into it. The story itself I assume is written in a fairly medieval to renaissance-ish time period (since a horse was the main mode of transportation as opposed to a dune buggy or car or what have you.) But the vernacular in which our heroine speaks is very modern, which creates a lot of disconnect.
There is also already too much magic. Not only is the world cursed with eternal winter by this witch, I have encountered an acid swamp and a "big-ass" giant, all within the first few paragraphs. All in all, not the book for me.

The Desert Cursed Series is a spin off/continuation of Mayer's Venom and Vanilla. This book focuses on Zamira and her hunt/quest to save a friend. She is "Zamira the Reckless. A Wall Breaker.” There are a lot of secrets and backstory that come out in the book but many pieces are still missing. It will be interesting to see where the series goes but it is one that I wish I could binge read the series rather than waiting for the next. I just feel too much is missing to get a good feeling for this book.