Bitter Ashes Series by Sara C. Roethle

Madeline is cursed. A touch from her, even accidental, can kill, and she’s haunted by the victims she never meant to hurt. Alone, isolated, and remorseful, she thinks life can’t get any worse--until she’s kidnapped in the middle of the night and thrown into a secret world more twisted than her darkest nightmares.The Vaettir claim to be the children of the gods, created by the fates themselves, and tell her she’s one of them--and that they can help her control her abilities... moreMadeline is cursed. A touch from her, even accidental, can kill, and she’s haunted by the victims she never meant to hurt. Alone, isolated, and remorseful, she thinks life can’t get any worse--until she’s kidnapped in the middle of the night and thrown into a secret world more twisted than her darkest nightmares.The Vaettir claim to be the children of the gods, created by the fates themselves, and tell her she’s one of them--and that they can help her control her abilities. But not everything is as it seems, not all gods are good, and the dark powers surrounding Madeline are no exception. She finds herself in the middle of an ancient search for a dangerous and all-powerful charm, one that has the power to kill all humans and bestow its bearer dominion over all. Amid the secrets and danger is Alaric, a deadly cat shifter, who’s as mysterious as he is alluring.When the Vaettir’s plans come to light and Madeline is betrayed, she embarks on a quest to find the charm herself, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Her dark gifts may just be the key to everything, but will she be able to accept them in time, or will the Vaettir destroy mankind, and inherit the earth?Find out in Death Cursed, the first book in a series sure to please fans of Bella Forrest’s Shade of Vampire and Ilona Andrew’s Kate Daniels series.Discover the underworld of the Vaettir, gods and monsters, secrets and lies, and a temptation equal parts irresistible and deadly... less

A small part of Madeline had hoped to call the Salr home, but hope can be a cruel thing. Now it's up to her to find what everyone else is looking for, and she'll have to commune with the dead to do it. The real question is, what will she do with the ancient charm when she finds it?Enter the mischievous Viking. Mikael seems to know more about Madeline's quest than she does. His ancient vendetta will take her back to his homeland... moreA small part of Madeline had hoped to call the Salr home, but hope can be a cruel thing. Now it's up to her to find what everyone else is looking for, and she'll have to commune with the dead to do it. The real question is, what will she do with the ancient charm when she finds it?Enter the mischievous Viking. Mikael seems to know more about Madeline's quest than she does. His ancient vendetta will take her back to his homeland. Unfortunately for Madeline, Mikael was born about a thousand years ago. In order to return home, Madeline will face the massacre of an ancient village, less than friendly Vikings, and the spinners of fate themselves. The stakes are higher than ever, but at the very least, Madeline finally knows just what, and who, she's fighting for. less

"What was to come made one little blood-oath pale in comparison. After all, what was a little blood between acquaintances?" Madeline is playing a dangerous game, with rules not bound by honesty, fair play, or even space and time. When her quest to destroy the charm becomes risky beyond reproach, she'll have to seek the aid of a mischievous Viking to even the odds.

Madeline can ignore the monsters at the door as long as she likes. The monster in the mirror is another story entirely. Madeline is cursed. Cursed to kill with a touch, and to feel every last emotion of her victims. She thought her life couldn’t get any worse until she’s kidnapped in the middle of the night and thrown into a secret world more twisted than her darkest nightmares... moreMadeline can ignore the monsters at the door as long as she likes. The monster in the mirror is another story entirely. Madeline is cursed. Cursed to kill with a touch, and to feel every last emotion of her victims. She thought her life couldn’t get any worse until she’s kidnapped in the middle of the night and thrown into a secret world more twisted than her darkest nightmares. The Vaettir claim to be the children of the gods, created by the fates themselves, but not everything is as it seems. Not all gods are good, and the dark powers surrounding Madeline are no exception. She finds herself in the middle of an ancient mystery with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Her dark gifts may just be the key to everything, but will she be able to accept them in time? Content warning: some darker themes are present in these books that may not be suitable for all audiences. This set includes: -Death Cursed -Collide and Seek -Rock, Paper, Shivers less

What do the Morrigan, a necromancer, and an ancient Viking have in common? Nothing, except for a common goal. Now that Madeline has been reunited with Alaric and the others, she must align herself with her enemies if she hopes to succeed in what she originally set out to do. Together, Madeline, Alaric, and Mikael will try to take down Estus once and for all . . . though they might have to open up a permanent gateway to the old gods in the process.

The old gods have returned, and there will be hell to pay. Now that Yggdrasil has been regrown, Madeline must face the old gods' judgment. She shouldn't exist, and they know it. The world has been irreparably changed, and perhaps the Vaettir no longer have a place in it. Madeline had thought that once she destroyed her rival she would be safe. Now she knows just how wrong she was.

This collection includes: Truth or Death, Blind Man's Bluff, and Collide and Seek Truth or Death: "We laughed together, covered in blood and surrounded by corpses, and I knew my life would never be the same again." In the middle of the night, Madeline is snatched from her life of chosen solitude into a world where she might actually belong... moreThis collection includes: Truth or Death, Blind Man's Bluff, and Collide and Seek Truth or Death: "We laughed together, covered in blood and surrounded by corpses, and I knew my life would never be the same again." In the middle of the night, Madeline is snatched from her life of chosen solitude into a world where she might actually belong. Due to her empathy and other "gifts", Madeline is a danger to humans, and finds solace with others like her, despite the fact that they're also her kidnappers. Still, she knows she should escape, but something about dark, but oddly comforting Alaric has her debating her choices, and questioning her moral fiber. Blind Man's Bluff: In this installment, Madeline learns more about the Vaettir than she bargained for, and while a romance with Alaric might seem like a terrible idea, she's not sure she can resist. He and his sister, Sophie, are the only two among the Vaettir who care to interact with her. They make her feel like she might actually belong, despite the side-long glances and hushed conversations of the other Vaettir. Yet, belonging comes at a price, and it may be one too large for Madeline to pay. Collide and Seek: "Betrayal is a funny thing. The sting of it often sticks with us longer than the thrill of love, the fire of hatred, or the emptiness of loss. Betrayal eats at us when we know we should be happy, and it overwhelms us when we're already sad." Madeline had hoped to call the Salr home, but hope can be a cruel thing. Now on the run from the very people who introduced her to her new world, she'll struggle not only with her view of those around her, but with her view of herself. "I could avoid thinking about the monster at the door as long as I wanted. The monster in the mirror was another story entirely." less

Worlds collide in over 1,300 pages filled with gods, necromancy, and magic! Madeline is cursed. A touch from her, even accidental, can kill, and she’s haunted by the victims she never meant to hurt. Alone, isolated, and remorseful, she thinks life can’t get any worse--until she’s kidnapped in the middle of the night and thrown into a secret world more twisted than her darkest nightmares... moreWorlds collide in over 1,300 pages filled with gods, necromancy, and magic! Madeline is cursed. A touch from her, even accidental, can kill, and she’s haunted by the victims she never meant to hurt. Alone, isolated, and remorseful, she thinks life can’t get any worse--until she’s kidnapped in the middle of the night and thrown into a secret world more twisted than her darkest nightmares. The Vaettir claim to be the children of the gods, created by the fates themselves, and tell her she’s one of them--and that they can help her control her abilities. But not everything is as it seems, not all gods are good, and the dark powers surrounding Madeline are no exception. She finds herself in the middle of an ancient search for a dangerous and all-powerful charm, one that has the power to kill all humans and bestow its bearer dominion over all. Amid the secrets and danger is Alaric, a deadly cat shifter, who’s as mysterious as he is alluring. When the Vaettir’s plans come to light and Madeline is betrayed, she embarks on a quest to find the charm herself, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Her dark gifts may just be the key to everything, but will she be able to accept them in time, or will the Vaettir destroy mankind, and inherit the earth? Discover the underworld of the Vaettir, gods and monsters, secrets and lies, and a temptation equal parts irresistible and deadly... This set includes: -Bitter Ashes -Collide and Seek -Rock, Paper, Shivers -Duck, Duck, Noose -Shoots and Tatters -Truth or Death less