Mortal Curse
GENRE
FANTASY/ROMANCE/PARANORMAL
Core Theme
LOVE & IDENTITY
TIME PERIOD
Contemporary
COMPARABLE TITLES
BROKEN MATE, BLOOD OATH, TWILIGHT
CHARACTER LIST
DANNIKA: LEAD. FIERCE, DETERMINED, KIND, POWERFUL.
RAINE: AN ALPHA SHADOW WOLF WHO SAVES DANNIKA’S LIFE AND FORMS A PASSIONATE BOND WITH HER. HE BECOMES DANA’S MATE.
MADDOCK: THE ALPHA OF THE WOLF CLAN. HE IS HATEFUL AND DISTRUSTFUL TOWARDS DANNIKA BECAUSE SHE’S A FEMALE SHIFTER.
Logline
When a reaper attack thrusts Dannika into the shadow shifter world and her transition results in her imprisonment, she turns to Raine, the shadow who saved her. As dissension in the shadow shifter clan increases, she learns that being the only woman to survive the transition isn’t her only secret.
Target Audiences
Age: 18-34,35-54,55+
Target Gender: Universal,Female Leaning
Setting
USA
Based on a True Story
No
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: self-published
Publisher: Me
Year Published: 2022
Starting Description
While working at the homeless shelter, Dannika experiences a hallucination and ends up in an altercation with an eerie new patron at the shelter. Leaving work early to take some food to Don, a regular of the shelter, she finds him dead and is attacked by the creature that killed him.
Ending Description
While the leader of the Shadow Wolf clan doesn't trust her, she has proven herself a worthy Shadow Warrior. With her ability to shift into her wolf and cougar form as well as her shadow form, other clans have taken an interest in her. She has chosen Raine and agreed to become a hunter and his mate.
Group Specific
Information not completed
Hard Copy Available
No
ISBN
979-8794901603
Mature Audience Themes
Nudity
Plot - Other Elements
Happy Ending,Other
Plot - Premise
Overcoming Monster/Villain,Internal Journey/Rebirth,Other,Quest
Main Character Details
Name: Dannika Ray
Age: 22
Gender: Female
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Badass,Confident,Honorable,Modest,Blunt,Selfless,Skillful,Funny,Sarcastic,Secretive,Unapologetic,Lone Wolf
Additional Character Details
Name: Raine
Age: 100
Gender: Male
Role: Mentor
Key Traits: Adventurous,Masculine,Sexy,Blunt,Selfless,Skillful,Romantic,Seductive,Strong Moral Code,Unapologetic,Heroic,Heartthrob,Faithful,Engaging,Confident,Complex,Badass,Aggressive
Additional Character Details
Name: Maddock
Age: 175
Gender: Male
Role: antagonist
Key Traits: Masculine,Narcisstic,Patriotic,Power Hungry,Outspoken,Skillful,Sarcastic,Secretive,Leader,Decisive,Confident,Complex,Aggressive,Badass
Additional Character Details
Name: Steele
Age: 175
Gender: Male
Role: emotional
Key Traits: Masculine,Modest,Patriotic,Outspoken,Skillful,Secretive,Strong Moral Code,Unapologetic,Leader,Educated,Honorable,Heroic,Faithful,Engaging,Empathetic,Confident,Complex,Charming,Badass
Development Pitch
I have premium - please have professional screenwriter add this section.
Genre
ACTION, ROMANCE, MATURE AUDIENCE, DRAMA, WAR, FANTASY
Brief
Dannika’s normal life is turned completely around when she’s attacked by a reaper. Raine, a handsome shadow shifter, tries to help, but tells Dannika that women do not survive the transformation into shifters. Miraculously, Dannika survives and is more powerful than anyone could expect. She chooses Raine as a mate, and together they must prepare for an imminent war against the reapers, who grow stronger every day.
Overall Rating
FAIR
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: GOOD
Characterization: FAIR
Commerciality: GOOD
Franchise Potential: GOOD
Pace: FAIR
Premise: GOOD
Structure: FAIR
Theme: FAIR
Accuracy of Book Profile
It is accurate.
Draw of Story
The premise of this story is imaginative and original. I was immediately drawn into this book because it doesn’t waste any time with jumping into the action and building a vast and interesting world. As soon as Dannika is attacked, the plot grips readers. The author introduces so much fascinating lore and backstory when it comes to the world of the reapers and the shadow shifters.
Possible Drawbacks
Raine and Dannika’s intense connection doesn’t feel earned, as the two barely spend any time together or get to know each other before essentially falling madly in love. While the writing was consistently strong, the character motivations didn’t feel as genuine and organic as they needed to be. There are also numerous sex scenes in this book, and some of them feel repetitive in nature. Finding ways to progress Dannika and Raine’s emotional/personal connection through the numerous sex scenes would help them stand out more.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY RELIES HEAVILY ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
For some readers, the hook in this story will likely be the steamy love story at its core, but I believe the true hook is the impressive world that the author has built. Reapers, shadow shifters, and clan politics keep this fantasy world feeling original and compelling.
Fanbase Potential
If adapted, I do believe this project could have a large fanbase. The combination of fantasy and romance represents a popular genre, particularly with women. However, the sexually explicit nature of this project might limit its reach, as it feels like a project YA audiences would connect with well, but it could be too explicit for some readers.
Awards Potential
This project feels more like a summer blockbuster than an awards contender, so it likely wouldn’t have awards potential.
Envisioned Budget
MEDIUM BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
TRUE BLOOD, TWILIGHT
What’s New About the Story
The world of this story is incredibly original. The history and lore makes this world feel lived in and real. It also makes the stakes feel high regarding the threat of the reapers. The ‘alpha’ connection that Dannika and Raine share doesn’t feel very original. The fact that they’re inexplicably bonded and that they almost immediately fall in love also feels quite standard for the genre.
Lead Characters
Dannika is sassy and bold. Her snarky, powerful personality makes her stand out. She stands up for herself, and even if it puts her in a dangerous situation, she always puts herself first and speaks up for what she believes in.
Uniqueness of Story
I believe this project has the potential to be a rare gem, but it’s not quite there yet. There’s an imbalance between the strong world of the story and the weak connection between the main characters. This book has all the potential in the world though, as the plot and premise is very strong.
Possible Formats
Film: Studio, Streaming TV Series: Cable, Streaming
Analyst Recommendation
WORK IN PROGRESS
Justification
The connection between Raine and Dannika is arguably the most important thing about this book, and currently, it feels a bit forced and tough to believe. Allowing Dannika and Raine to connect more on a personal and emotional level early in the story would be beneficial. Trimming some of the sex scenes and instead adding more action to the plot would also be helpful, as Dannika has tons of impressive skills and powers, but she rarely gets to actually use them.
Tips for Improvement
Raine and Dannika’s relationship would need to feel far more developed and genuine. Allowing these characters to really open up to each other on an emotional level would help sell their intense bond and connection.
Brief
When Dannika is attacked by a reaper, even Raine, the sexy shadow shifter who saved her, doesn’t expect her to survive. She does survive though, and her power continues to grow. As the reapers create an army and prepare for war, Raine and Dannika fall deeply in love, all while helping the shadow shifters prepare as well.
What We Liked
There’s a lot to love about this book. The writing is consistently strong, the world building is incredibly impressive, and the core love story is steamy and sexy. This book weaves fantasy, the supernatural, and romance together to create a book that is surprising, riveting, and engaging from start to finish.
Film: This project would make for an epic film adaptation. It feels like the natural starting point of a franchise, the visuals are exciting and fit for the big screen, and the ending will leave audiences wanting more. The big budget feel of this book makes it a great option for a film adaptation.
TV: The world of this project would be a perfect fit for a TV adaptation because it contains so many stories to tell. Clan politics, personal relationships, and interesting flashbacks could all be utilized to create a strong show. There’s enough substance in this book for many seasons of TV.
Key points:
Great world building.
Steamy romance.
Strong female lead.
Solid writing style.
Impressive franchise potential.
Synopsis
Dannika is a normal young woman working at a homeless shelter until she’s attacked by a mysterious creature. She survives with the help of Raine, who tells her that he is a shadow shifter and the creature that attacked her was a reaper. If Dannika survives the virus in her body, she too will become a shadow shifter, but according to Raine and his wolf clan, women do not survive the transformation.
Dannika does survive, and she proves again and again to be more powerful than anyone expects. The clans argue over what to do with her and whether or not to trust her.
Maddock, the wolf clan alpha, particularly does not trust her. Dannika tries to leave and go back to normal, but the reapers are fixated on her. Raine persuades Dannika to return to the clan. Dannika chooses Raine as her mate, and the two form a bond that’s both physical and emotional as they grow closer.
The threat of the reapers continue to grow and Dannika learns that they are creating an army. If they can take out all of the shadow clans, they can essentially transform humans as they please. The end of the book teases the fact that the reapers still plan to come for Dannika.