The Dawn of the Cursed Queen is the third installment in the Gods & Monsters series, a sprawling epic that chronicles a celestial war among divine siblings. The narrative picks up in the aftermath of a catastrophic betrayal that reshaped the cosmic order. The Book of Azrael, the first book in the series, establishes the central mythology of the story: When Unir, the king of the gods, named his son, Samkiel, as his heir, war broke out across the realms. The rebel gods killed Unir, and, in his grief, Samkiel fractured the planet and reassembled the pieces, tying himself to the immortal seal that keeps the realms apart. Samkiel’s brother Kaden, an Ig’Morruthen, searches for the mythical Book of Azrael, which holds the key to unsealing the realms.

Meanwhile, Kaden transforms two mortal sisters, Dianna and Gabby, into Ig’Morruthens and binds Dianna to him for eternity. As Kaden and Dianna search for the Book of Azrael, Dianna is captured by Samkiel and his kingsguard. Dianna escapes and makes a bargain to kill Kaden and give the book to Samkiel in exchange for her sister’s safety. As Dianna and Samkiel work together to find the book, their transactional relationship evolves into a genuine bond. As they share their first kiss, Kaden launches a global broadcast in which he kills his captive, Gabby, live television. Overwhelmed with grief and rage, Dianna transforms into her monstrous Ig’Morruthen form and wreaks havoc on the world.

In the series’ second book, The Throne of Broken Gods, Dianna, sick with grief over Gabby’s death, joins forces with Camilla, a powerful witch, and begins torturing and murdering those who aided Kaden in Gabby’s capture, burning whole worlds to ash with the power of her rage. As Dianna grows more and more destructive, Reggie, a fate loyal to Dianna, joins forces with Samkiel to subdue her and remind her of her need for human connection. As Samkiel and Reggie work together to restore Dianna’s humanity, Kaden begins systematically capturing and mind-controlling the members of Samkiel’s kingsguard and hunting Dianna. Samkiel and Dianna’s bond grows stronger, deepening into love.

Meanwhile, Kaden invades Rashearim and performs a ritual to unseal the realms and destroy Samkiel. As Dianna portals to his side, Samkiel confesses his love and dies in her arms, dispersing his power across the sky. Dianna threatens Death itself that she will destroy the whole world if Samkiel’s life is not restored. Samkiel revives, but Dianna knows it will not be without a cost. In The Dawn of the Cursed Queen, Nicole follows Dianna and Samkiel’s quest to defeat Nismera, who has declared herself king of the 12 realms, scattering, slaughtering, or subjugating those loyal to Samkiel’s kings. As they fight to restore Rashearim, the novel explores the complex loyalties and deep-seated traumas that drive its characters.