i’m probably kind of biased because the author was kind enough to offer to give my oc-pharmakeiasona-guy a cameo in this book, which of course makes it an automatic five stars—because canonically existing in one of my favorite series is not something i ever thought id be able to claim—but even ignoring that angel eye was everything id hoped it would be. it’s just as hard-hitting as cursebreakers, some parts even more so. when i saw that the arc was free to download on netgalley i dropped EVERYTHING and read it in a night

adrien is just as entertaining and relatable and witty and tragic as ever. i really like the new characters in this—the villain of this book is SO entertaining and fun to hate. they’re absolutely diabolical and make kirchoff and mulcaster from the last book look boring. and adrien’s love interest is ADORABLE. i tend to dislike romantic subplots but this one was really cute and well deserved and i love seeing a story where someone who struggles as much as adrien does still gets to experience love.

i do wish malise and gennady were a little more present, because it didn’t feel like either of them had much of an arc, instead being sidelined for the sake of the new characters. i do kinda love how casmir was just completely written out of the story LMAO like yea we’ve had enough of him. and nitpicks about the magic system and worldbuilding being a bit sparse are valid, but i can’t really bring myself to care because the characters are the heart of everything here and that’s why i love this series so much anyway. there are plenty of books with steampunk vibes and elemental magic systems, but this is the only series ive encountered with a protagonist that makes me feel so, so seen.

edit: lol it’s kind of funny seeing the name on my review pop up as adrien d. like i’m literally just some guy that happens to have the same first name and last initial haha

Building on all the strengths of the first book, ANGEL EYE is a great sequel that focuses on the characters we know and characters that we are coming to know in the second book. These character dynamics are really the strong point of ANGEL EYE, so much so that I was willing to overlook some of the weaknesses (world building and politics) and had an enjoyable time while reading.

✧₊‧˚⁀➷ 4.02/5 .ᐟ

genuinely mad at how good angel eye is because i tried reading two other books after i finished this and both are annoying me because they don't measure up.

ʚɞ ⁺˖ characters .ᐟ the main highlight of angel eye, like its predecessor cursebreakers, is very much the characters. adrien desfournraux, of course, was complex and fascinating and even more lovable than he was in the last book. i love the deeper exploration of adrien's akrasia, both in general and specifically how it was affected by the events of cursebreakers. his narrative was concluded perfectly. gennady was my favorite part of angel eye (brooding depressed 20 year old boy is such an excellent trope when he's not the romantic interest), and my one complaint is that i wish he would have appeared more often. his arc is satisfactory, but i do wish it would have been more fleshed out. like what happened to masha? of course, angel eye is from adrien's pov, and he had much bigger things to worry about. the other characters were lovely as well. malise is a gem, and i love that there's so many people in adrien's corner now. he deserves so much love.

ʚɞ ⁺˖ plot .ᐟ riveting, truly, but i do feel that the antagonist is given away too quickly. you can tell from their second or third appearance what's happening, and the suspense lies not in the mystery of the killings but when the characters will find out what the readers have known since chapter five. but i suppose that's a quite accurate depiction of abuse/gaslighting/grooming situations. and regardless, i was incredibly invested in the plotline.

ʚɞ ⁺˖ worldbuilding .ᐟ cursebreakers, as a whole, is somewhat weak on this point. i've been imagining a random ancient rome x steampunk victorian england mashup this entire time, and i genuinely don't know if it's meant to be that. the little explanations of the politics of astrum helped, but not as much as i would have liked. the dark academia/urban fantasy atmosphere is very much there, but there's not a lot that's specific to this series. there's a few modern terms replaced with medieval/french/whatever alternatives (caleche for carriage, etc) and some latin (?) terminology (basilissae, etc), but that's as extensive as the worldbuilding gets. kind of disappointing, as worldbuilding is usually my favorite part of a fantasy, but with how good everything else was, i didn't care that much.

overall, a mesmerizing novel and a mesmerizing series. i would read literally anything with these characters or just something set in the same universe. thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy!

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Madeleine Nakamura's Angel Eye is the gut-wrenching sequel to the excellent 2023 debut Cursebreakers. It's a fast paced, tightly woven thriller, and the first half is absolutely anxiety-inducing and heart-breaking. The themes from the first novel are further explored, giving a nuanced read on addiction, mental illness, and hypersexuality, while also teeming with overwhelming kindness and understanding for battered protagonist Adrien, who just can't seem to catch a break. In this book, his support system grows exponentially, and it's a joy to read amidst the tears.

All the characters from the first novel get their moments to shine, their relationship to Adrien front and center, but it's the new characters that really sell this book and make this a perfect sequel, building on the already strong foundations and creating a perfect gem. Adrien's new keeper is an incredibly intense figure, sharp and terrifying and bigger than life; and his new love interest is just what he needs, sweet and loyal and utterly unafraid, their relationship growing organically and beautifully. There are othere addictions to the cast, all absolutely delightful.

The worldbuilding was really the only thing that I thought had some small problems in the first novel, and here the issues are corrected thanks to a more narrowed focus on the city and its politics. We also lose a bit of the focused academic setting, but it works because it allows for a more thorough exploration.

This book adds on the mental anguish from the first one by adding physical and mental torture, gaslighting, and attempted rape; as such, one might want to proceed with caution, but it's a rewarding read.

Angel Eye is an excellent sequel.

Full disclosure: I was asked to blurb this book. (Which was both easy and a genuine pleasure to do, because I loved it start to finish!)

In my review of Cursebreakers (on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6117476828), I mentioned that even though I read it in January, I knew it was going to be one of my favorite reads of the year.

Angel Eye is another favorite read. It's not only AS good as Cursebreakers but, if anything, even more compelling. All the interesting themes from Cursebreakers get carried forward and it builds so, so perfectly. The dread during the thrilling parts is so real that I found myself reading with one hand over my face as if that would help me avoid seeing it... but despite that, the humor was still there. And the kind parts were so very kind, that even through the fear I felt like I could trust Nakamura at every step.

It was such a deeply satisfying read, and I loved the characters so, so much. All the old ones get their chance to shine, and the new ones are all deeply compelling and interesting; everyone felt so real. Also I simp and would die for Oliver. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

Angel Eye is a rich, dark continuation of the Cursebreakers series, deepening Adrien Desfourneaux’s arc with emotional nuance and sharp tension. Madeleine Nakamura skillfully balances political unrest, magical decay, and mental instability without ever letting the story lose its human core. Adrien’s relationships—romantic, platonic, and professional—carry real weight, and the mystery of the healer-turned-murderer unfolds with compelling dread. While the plot occasionally treads water, the atmosphere and voice are consistently strong. A layered, queer fantasy with teeth and tenderness in equal measure.

Book Review: Angel Eye by Madeleine Nakamura

A Lush, Unconventional Fantasy That Dazzles and Disturbs
Madeleine Nakamura’s Angel Eye, the second installment in The Cursebreakers Series, is a genre-defying triumph—a darkly poetic fantasy that weaves magic, psychological depth, and queer themes into a narrative as sharp as a scalpel. Following the critically acclaimed first book, Nakamura delivers another Kirkus Starred Review-worthy tale, blending lyrical prose with unflinching emotional honesty.

Key Strengths
-Atmospheric Worldbuilding: The novel’s magic system feels both eerily familiar and startlingly original, with Nakamura’s signature blend of gothic elegance and visceral grit. The cursed city of Vareille is rendered in haunting detail, its shadows alive with danger and desire.
-Complex Protagonists: The queer-led cast, particularly the enigmatic protagonist, grapples with identity, power, and morality in ways that defy fantasy tropes. Their relationships are messy, tender, and deeply human.
-Thematic Boldness: Nakamura explores trauma, redemption, and the cost of defiance with a rare sensitivity. The story’s LGBTQIA+ themes are woven organically into the fabric of the plot, never feeling tokenistic.

Potential Considerations
-Pacing: The introspective, almost dreamlike prose may challenge readers seeking fast-paced action, though every sentence serves the novel’s hypnotic mood.
-Emotional Intensity: The psychological depth can be unsettling—this is a fantasy that lingers in the mind like a fever dream.

Score Breakdown (Out of 5)
-Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – A labyrinthine journey where every twist feels earned.
-Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – Unforgettable, flawed, and radiantly queer.
-Worldbuilding: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – Vareille will haunt your imagination.
-Originality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – A genre alchemist at work.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5) – Like a whispered spell—beautiful, dangerous, and impossible to shake.

Ideal Audience
-Fans of The Raven Tower or The Spear Cuts Through Water who crave literary fantasy.
-Readers seeking LGBTQIA+ narratives that are integral rather than incidental.
-Those who relish prose that dances between poetry and prophecy.

Gratitude
Thank you to NetGalley and Madeleine Nakamura for the advance review copy. Angel Eye is a rare gem—a fantasy that cuts as deep as it dazzles.

Final Verdict
Nakamura cements her place as a visionary in speculative fiction with this sequel. While its deliberate pacing demands patience, the payoff is a story that glows in the dark—a testament to the transformative power of storytelling.

Note: This review reflects the ARC edition; minor changes may appear in the final publication.

To be honest, this book stressed me out in a good way. It was a great sequel to Cursebreakers but I was feeling bad for our MMC. He was going through so much in this book. I loved the romance in this and the protective friendships. Just felt simple and natural to the story.
My only suggestion is for adding trigger warnings about torture and a few other things but I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Angel Eye is the second book in a queer friendly mystery fantasy series by Madeleine Nakamura. Released 3rd June 2025, it's 280 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.

This is an often disturbing, directly written, and engaging novel. It would not surprise me one bit to find out that the author often has to explain on public appearances and signings why she tortures her characters so unrepentantly in the course of the books. Sensitive readers should be aware going in that there are disturbing themes including psychological manipulation, gaslighting, grooming, and abuse. Additionally, there are scenes of graphic violence and torture which were difficult to read in places.

That being said, the plot is sound and the pacing moves along at a good clip. The characterizations are well rendered and believable for the genre.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.