Lady Vago's Malediction

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Lady Vago's Malediction

Thank you to A.K.M. Beach for providing me with a copy for an honest review!

As a banshee, it is Lady Vago's duty to be at her loved ones' sides when they pass over. But she is unable to leave the burned out remains of her castle. Each death she feels brings ever increasing torment as she is denied her right to be at their sides. Determined to find out why she is cursed, Lady Vago searches for the answers buried within her past life. The remaining souls trapped with her bring forth objects that may hold her memories. With each new memory that surfaces, Lady Vago travels farther down the path to her downfall.

Lady Vago's Malediction is a gothic fantasy with a bewitching mystery. Readers will be swept up in Lady Vago's desperate search for memories. Each new piece of the past pulls readers further into the story. But they will not see the full picture until the end. The memories are torn into fragments and allow you to see from multiple character POVs. And as each memory built upon one another, the story grew in intensity

Being able to see how various characters viewed Lady Vago brought a new level of awareness to the nobility's ignorance. Lady Vago had a brilliant mind, but it didn't matter because she was only noble by marriage. While her husband treasured her and often sought her advice, she was seen as a threat. But Lady Vago refused to back down and forged ahead with what she believed in. I loved how A.K.M. Beach portrayed the relationship between Lady and Lord Vago, and the support they gave to one another despite the whispers and gossip from their court.

And it was refreshing to have the Irish banshee lore incorporated into the story instead of making Lady Vago another villain. Before reading this book, I had no knowledge of the lore and was pleasantly surprised to learn about it. Lady Vago is a tormented character readers can't help but connect with. In life, she was a peasant who rose into the ranks of nobility with marriage and proved that peasants deserved a voice.

Given how this book ended, I am left craving to know more. I highly recommend this to fans of gothic fantasy.