The curse of the somber eye is a legend that has captivated people's imagination for centuries. It is said to be a curse that affects a person's eye, causing it to become dark and gloomy. The curse is said to be the result of a tragic event that occurred many years ago. According to the legend, a beautiful princess was once deeply in love with a prince from a distant land. However, their love was forbidden, as their families were feuding. The princess's father, in an attempt to end the love affair, cursed the prince with the somber eye.
What happened in A Darker Shade of Magic? (Shades of Magic #1)
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4.4 stars on Amazon
4.04 stars on Goodreads
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***** Everything below is a SPOILER *****
The princess's father, in an attempt to end the love affair, cursed the prince with the somber eye. This curse caused the prince's eye to become dark and lifeless, reflecting the pain and sadness he felt. The curse soon spread to the princess as well, causing her eye to become somber as well.
What happened in A Darker Shade of Magic
Kell has been traveling between the worlds of London since he was a boy. There are four Londons: Gray London (non-magical), Red London (rich with magic), White London (sick with magic) and Black London (already fallen to black magic). Kell lives in Red London and only Black London is closed to him. Kell has the mark of a blood magician: one blue eye and one completely black eye and this makes him an Antari. There are only two known to exist. Antari can make doors of magic that only they can pass through (while holding a relic from the destination London). They are the only ones that can travel between the Londons.
Kell often visits a particular tavern, which is the one place that is always present in all of the London’s, though it has a different name in each. He is famous even in Gray London, where the tavern is called the Stones Throw. The owner there is called Barron and people come to see Kell, the magician, and trade other-London artifacts with him.
Rhy is Kell’s “brother” and a Prince of Red London. Kell is adopted into the royal family. Kell doesn’t remember much of his childhood or where he came from. He was brought to the palace when he was young and when he was twelve he first noticed the memory rune on his arm. He suspects his adopted parents put it there.
Holland, the other Antari, and property of the twin rulers of White London, gives Rhy a pendant as a birthday gift and says it is for strength. Rhy is about to have a birthday party to celebrate his 20th year.
Lila Bard, wanted thief and pickpocket, lives in Gray London. She dreams of being a pirate and possesses a beloved map that she thinks of as the map to anywhere. Due to a fire, she is forced to go back to Barron at the tavern.
White London is in decay being so near to Black London. Red London is partially responsible because they sealed themselves off so long ago after Black’s fall.
Kell takes a letter to Astrid one of White London’s rulers. Kell is asked to join them for a drink and he has a bit too much. Later he stumbles to the tavern and a strange woman convinces him to take a letter and payment with him back to Red London.
Kell goes to deliver the letter in Red London but someone is waiting for him. He has been set up. He runs but the payment he was given contained a magic stone and a tracking rune. He is chased until cornered. The person perusing him is being manipulated and carries a sword of the royal guard. The stone gives Kell extra strength to stop time when fighting the man. The stone is rough on one side and smooth on the other as if it has been broken. The magic that Kell and the stone used to defeat the hired cut-throat creates a shell around him which later breaks apart and is absorbed into his body. His eyes turn pitch black.
Kell gets away from other pursuers by retreating to Gray London. There is an engraving on the smooth side of the stone that says “Vitara” which is the word for magic in the magic language. He runs into Lila and she robs him of the stone so he follows her to her rooms at the Stone’s Throw tavern. He tells her that it is magic and she is able to use the stone to create a sword. Kell is realizing just how powerful it is.
Kell leaves and Lila throws the black sword out the window. Later another man finds it and keeps it. The sword makes him stab himself and then dissolves into his body through the wound. When he wakes up he has two black eyes and black veins run under his skin.
YOU MIGHT LIKE:Holland tracks Lila down and forces her to call out for Kell. To her surprise, Kell comes to her rescue. Lila runs away and Kell and Holland battle it out. Kell becomes chained with magic but Lila (feeling guilty) returns, disarms Holland, and helps the injured Kell get away. She brings him back to the Stone’s Throw where Barron helps her tend to him. Later Holland kills Barron as he searches for Kell and Lila.
Kell agrees to allow Lila to come with him on his self appointed mission to take the black stone back to Black London where it belongs. Using the magic of the stone for Lila, they are able to successfully travel to Red London together.
The dark magic continues to spread from person to person using host bodies, turning their eyes pitch black.
Kell and Lila visit a shopkeeper named Fletcher to find a White London trinket, a white rook, that will allow them to travel on. Unfortunately Fletcher alerts the royal guard. Lila is able to conceal herself using the stone and she hangs back while Kell goes with the guard back to the palace. After they leave, Lila sees one of the guards slit Fletcher’s neck before leaving.
At the palace during Rhy’s birthday party, Astrid has taken over Rhy’s body with magic and Kell is the only one that knows. Astrid wants to completely open the doors between worlds and she wants her and her brother, Athos to rule. She also reveals that there is another half to the stone. Lila shows up to help and Astrid realizes that she has the stone. Astrid stabs Rhy and is able to take over another person’s body. Anyone that holds her pendant (Rhy’s gift from Holland) is taken over. Kell and Lila attempt to escape with the unconscious but healing Rhy.
They pass through a secret door that takes them to one of Kell’s childhood sanctuaries. Rhy dies but Kell uses the stone to bring Rhy back and bind his body to his own. They both now have a mark branded on their chests. The stone attaches itself to Kell. While here, the priest asks Lila about her glass eye. Most people don’t notice. She says she doesn’t remember. She was told she lost it as a baby.
They plan to travel together to White London but Kell is stopped by Holland and remains in Red London and Lila ends up in White London by herself. She feels threatened by some men and shoots one of them.
Holland tries to take the stone from Kell but Kell ends up stabbing him. Kell thinks he allowed him to do it. Holland looked relieved to be meeting death. Afterwards Kell won’t leave his body and takes him to White London where he finds Lila cutting her way through several men.
The couple was devastated, as their love was now marked by this curse. They tried to break the curse, searching for remedies and seeking help from magic healers, but nothing seemed to work. Over time, the curse of the somber eye became known throughout the kingdom. People began to fear and shun those afflicted by it, believing that it brought bad luck and misfortune. Those with somber eyes were often ostracized from society, forced to live in isolation. The curse of the somber eye became a symbol of tragedy and unrequited love. It represented the pain and longing felt by those who are unable to be with the ones they love. The curse also served as a cautionary tale against forbidden love and the consequences that can come with it. While the curse of the somber eye is just a legend, it continues to capture people's imagination and serve as a reminder of the power of love and loss. It serves as a reminder that sometimes, love can come with a heavy price and that not all love stories have a happy ending. In conclusion, the curse of the somber eye is a captivating legend that highlights the power of love and the consequences that can come with it. It serves as a cautionary tale and a reminder of the pain and longing that can accompany forbidden love..
Reviews for "The Curse of the Somber Eye: A Modern-Day Myth or a Supernatural Sorrow?"
- John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Curse of the somber eye". The story was all over the place and had no clear direction. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any depth. The acting was mediocre at best, with dull performances that failed to evoke any emotions. The special effects were underwhelming and didn't add any value to the film. Overall, it felt like a wasted opportunity for a potentially interesting concept.
- Emma - 1 star - "Curse of the somber eye" was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. The plot was confusing and hard to follow, leaving me with more questions than answers. The pacing was incredibly slow, making the already dull story unbearable to sit through. The performances were wooden and lacked any chemistry. The dialogue was cliché and cringe-worthy. I found myself counting down the minutes until it was finally over. Save yourself the disappointment and avoid this film.
- David - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Curse of the somber eye", but it turned out to be a major letdown. The scares were predictable and relied too heavily on cheap jump scares. The story felt disjointed and failed to engage me. The editing was sloppy, and the transitions between scenes were jarring. The ending was unsatisfying and left me feeling underwhelmed. Overall, it lacked the suspense and atmosphere that a good horror movie should have. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this one.
- Sarah - 2 stars - "Curse of the somber eye" has an intriguing premise, but it falls flat in execution. The pacing was off, with long periods of nothing happening followed by sudden, rushed action. The characters were unrelatable and made questionable decisions throughout the movie. The plot twists were predictable, and the attempts at creating suspense were ineffective. I found myself losing interest halfway through and had to force myself to finish watching. Overall, it had potential but failed to deliver a satisfying experience.