Cursed Vault

Riley Cruz, Book 4

De: L.A. McBride

Narrado por: Maria McCann

Stealing magical artifacts was supposed to be my golden ticket, not a death sentence.

Securing a dangerous book of spells should’ve earned me some time off and a fat bonus. I’d hoped to spend my days breaking in the new climbing wall at G.O.A.T. headquarters, hanging out with a hot alpha werewolf, and planning my next karaoke set.

Instead, the Enclave hands me a ten-day ultimatum and a job hunting a cursed artifact that got their last two thieves killed. When the search turns up clues about my parents, I’ll do whatever it takes to discover who I am—even if it takes blood magic to do it. Being a null was bad enough. What I am is worse. Unless I get a handle on this magic, my freedom won’t be the only thing at risk.

The more I unravel my past, the more I discover I’m not the only one keeping secrets. And if this prophecy is right, that artifact I’m hunting is the only thing standing between us and the demons waiting to lay waste to our world.

Cursed Vault is the fourth book in the Riley Cruz series about a goat shifter who steals magical artifacts. If you like fun, fast-paced urban fantasy with quirky characters and a dose of slow-burn romance, this is the book for you.

©2025 Lisa McBride (P)2025 Lisa McBride

Still the G.O.A.T.!

**ARC READER - All opinions are my own!**

Riley has been working hard to get past her time under Carl’s thumb in the Santa Fe pack. Since then she’s moved to KC, MO, made friends, found family, and built up her circle of trust with amazing people who absolutely have her back. Her relationship with Max Volkov has grown to be one of fully-fledged love, and she and her crew are seeking out demon artifacts for the Enclave regularly, expenses paid, and rewards on delivery.

Life’s been pretty good for Riley, especially since settling things with Carl’s pack and putting some solid protection on her crewmate Nash, the only mortal in the bunch. Between overhauling the G.O.A.T. crew’s new headquarters into a thing of beauty as well as her personal living space, things are looking up for the little goat shifter. Never mind that it’s now been ordered both by the witches council and the Enclave that Riley join a coven, something she’s avoided like the plague. Never mind that the local coven overlord has an OBVIOUS ulterior motive…

“Cursed Vault” is the fourth novel to the Riley Cruz spin-off series from the award-winning Kali James series by L. A. McBride. It lives in the same world as Kali James and features a new perspective on characters fans already know and love. It also allows readers to see more of events that may have been only briefly mentioned in the OG series, which is an absolute treat! The hits keep on coming, and the humor is on point! The settings are rich, the characters dynamic, the action keeps coming, the burn slow-and-steamy, and the book is unputdownable! I highly recommend this book and look forward to Riley’s continuing solo series! And if audiobooks are your jam, all four books in the series, including this one, are BEAUTIFULLY narrated by the ever-talented Maria McCann!!

I received a free copy of this e-book and audiobook and am voluntarily leaving a review.

One of my favorite narrators

Reread/listen: I absolutely love e this narrator, she is one of my favorites. She really brings all the characters to life. I always enjoy reading the stories and then when it gets closer to the release of the next book, when I am able to listen to the audio I fall in love with this series even more. Riley still is one of my favorites characters and I look forward to the next book in this series!

Riley finally has a place to call her own for her team. She’s furnishing and upgrading her headquarters with her latest payout from the Enclave. But now she has to worry about being handed over to the Kansas City Coven and into the greedy hands of Martha. And now they find out that Martha is intending on purchasing the warehouse the team is leasing from an old enemy of Max’s. Plus, the Enclave already has a new assignment that only Riley can handle and it’s personal for her.
Riley is one of my all time favorite characters! I am so glad she got her own series! She is absolutely hilarious and fun and so down to earth. She never hesitates to help any of her found family. And Max… every book makes me fall little more in love with Max! He is absolutely book boyfriend material. And the revelations from Max in this book were so shocking! (Although I really should have guessed, I didn’t!)
This book would absolutely not be the same without the Stitch Witches. I can’t decide who I love more, then it Riley!! (I would still love to read a book or series about just these ladies!) Helen is such a firecracker and Bea makes me snort laugh! The fact that they adopt Garth as a grand chicken is just perfect as well!
The plot in this book kept taking turns I never saw coming. The story moved along at a great pace and then at the end I was literally on the edge of my seat to see what was going to happen. I could not put the book down I had to find out if Hughes and Martha would get away with whatever their plan was. Of course, there are still loose ends and now Riley has to go after the artifact the Enclave wants. I am now (semi) patiently waiting for the next book bc I am so ready for more of Riley and her story!