The Seer’s Curse is the debut book from A.K. Nikole, a YA fantasy novel that weaves together multiple timelines in a fantasy romance that will have younger readers glued to their books. The novel operates on two primary plot threads: Rune’s contemporary awakening to her magical heritage following her grandmother’s death, and Perrone’s 17th-century journey from sheltered ignorance to supernatural awareness in witch-hunt era Rouen. The result is a book that is both gripping and emotionally engaging for older kids and teenagers.
When Mamó Madelelina Leblond tells her granddaughter Rune, “Magic flows in your veins, my child,” she does more than reveal a family secret; she sets in motion a chain of events that stretches back through centuries of hidden history. Rune has grown up in an isolated mountain valley, learning herbalism, weather lore, and self-reliance under Mamó’s gentle guidance, never suspecting these lessons were part of a magical inheritance. Her grandmother’s death, and the mysterious green leather journal she leaves behind draws Rune into the legacy of her ancestor named Perrone.
Perrone is an ordinary young woman with no inkling of the extraordinary forces shaping her life. The daughter of Rouen’s head Keeper during the height of the witch hunts, she enjoys comfort and privilege, dreaming of palace balls and romance. Yet her world rests on carefully guarded deceptions designed to keep her true heritage hidden. Her recurring dreams of the mysterious Jovier begin to erode that normality. Soon, she will learn that the same magic she has been shielded from all her life now marks her as the key to an ancient prophecy.
Nikole’s prose excels in sensory detail, particularly in descriptions of natural settings and magical phenomena. The storm-lit scene of Mamó’s revelation, the marble and oak grandeur of Rouen’s library, and the misty, atmospheric quality of dream sequences all contribute to an immersive reading experience. The author’s apparent background knowledge of anthropology adds a layer of authenticity to the sections set in France and the magical system, grounding supernatural elements in recognizable natural traditions. This fusion of the tangible and the mystical allows the magic to feel both wondrous and believable, as if it might exist just beyond the edge of our everyday perception.
The book also benefits from Nikole’s careful pacing, which balances intimate character moments with slow-building tension. Conversations are layered with unspoken meanings and minor gestures. These quiet beats give the reader space to absorb the stakes and invest emotionally in Rune and Perrone’s intertwined fates. Equally effective is the way Nikole uses setting as an extension of character. Rune’s mountain valley, with its glacier-fed lake and oak forest, reflects her grounded, introspective nature, while Rouen’s bustling streets and imposing architecture mirror Perrone’s growing entanglement in political and magical intrigue. The only minor criticism might be that sometimes the changing perspective may make the book difficult to follow at points for younger readers, and some parts feel a bit rushed, but these aren’t significant problems.
In blending richly realised environments, layered character work, and a magic system rooted in natural lore, The Seer’s Curse creates a world that feels both richly imagined and layered with history. The sensory writing brings the physical world to life and also draws out the emotional power of the story’s most pivotal moments. By the final pages, the reader is left with the lingering scent of herbs, the echo of whispered prophecies, and the sense that the boundaries between past and present—magic and mundane—are far thinner than they appear.
Overall, this is an accomplished, page-turning debut novel from A. K. Nikole and the perfect late summer escape for younger readers who enjoy fantasy that includes a dose of romance and mystery. Highly recommended, especially for fans of Outlander and A Discovery of Witches.
You can get your copy of “The Seer’s Curse” here!
