4.3 (14 ratings)

The Darkest Gift (The Spells of Darkness Book 1)

Name: The Darkest Gift (The Spells of Darkness Book 1)
Rating: 4.3 (14 reviews)
Author: Nikki Welton
ISBN: B0G5R2PWB8

by Nikki Welton

ghosts

About this book

An Academy on the verge of ruin.

Two worlds divided by forbidden magic.

And a girl desperate to break the darkest curse.

For 18-year-old Amanda, the magical Academy ball was supposed to be an unforgettable night to celebrate the ending of the school year in Conifer, Colorado. But when she and her boyfriend Eric witness the most gruesome crime committed by the headmaster, they are given a choice: help him open a forbidden portal to the kingdom called Sunshadow from which no one has ever returned, or be his next victims.

Determined to discover the truth, Amanda and Eric enter the portal and follow the headmaster who claims he needs dark magic from Sunshadow to save the Academy from ruin. But, upon arrival, they are betrayed. Eric is hit with the most vicious curse, which leaves him barely alive. To save him, Amanda must reach to the deepest parts of her magic to follow the headmaster to the legendary Palace of Darkness and undo the spell before time runs out.

With the help of a warrior prince and two unicorns who are as dangerous to humans as they are magically powerful, Amanda travels deep into the land of Sunshadow, fighting the dark magic inside her and her growing feelings for the prince. Knowing that every step might be her last, Amanda will have to decide who to trust and how much she is willing to sacrifice in order to save the one she loves and find the way back home.

Publication Date: May 25, 2026
ASIN: B0G5R2PWB8

Reader Reviews

great start!

April 30, 2026

The Darkest Gift pulled me in right away with its dark academia vibes and didn’t let go. What starts as a magical academy ball quickly spirals into something far more dangerous, and I loved how fast the stakes escalated. Amanda is such an easy heroine to root for.. she is brave, determined, and willing to risk everything for the people she loves. Watching her dive into the forbidden realm of Sunshadow to save Eric had me completely invested. The worldbuilding felt vivid and eerie, especially...

My favorite book of 2026!

February 24, 2026

I loved everything about this book. It has a unique magic system using Shadows as doors and corridors between places. Relationships that remind me of the ones in A Court of Thorns and Roses which I love with all my heart. It kept me invested in the story. Characters that have depth and I would like to be friends with. The ending was not at all what I was expecting! This book made me gasp so many times thanks to all the twists. And I loved the romance. I can't say much here because of possible...

Immersive Fantasy

April 9, 2026

The Darkest Gift is the first book in the Spells of Darkness series, a series that blends portals and secret magical realms, unicorns, princes, and secrets. It seems whimsical but is slightly dark; it opens with intensity, when Amanda (our protagonist) and Eric witness their teacher committing a crime and fleeing, Eric opens a portal to Sunshadow, a kingdom which they believed was a legend. Amanda has multiple missions: the first is to save Eric, to find their teacher, and to track down a...

Great epic fantasy

April 1, 2026

I loved this book. It was an amazing epic quest with unicorn companions and a very interesting prince! ) !Image 76: Great epic fantasy !Image 77!Image 78: Great epic fantasy !Image 79 ![Image 80 Nikki](https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AEI3JUR4QXPUDTUIFSK7YSONHWVA) _5 out of 5 stars_ ##### Great epic fantasy

Great epic fantasy

April 1, 2026

](https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_avp?ie=UTF8&nodeId=G8UYX7LALQC8V9KA) I loved this book. It was an amazing epic quest with unicorn companions and a very interesting prince! * !Image 82 Helpful Sending feedback... Thank you for your feedback. Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again