An ancient curse demands they be enemies. But they were never good at following rules. When spirits chose Ori as the only person who could save humankind from war with the crow monsters, she knew she'd do whatever was required to save her family... Until it meant turning against Su-Jin, the boy she'd come to care so much about. The boy who strives to protect people just as much as she does. Determined to find an alternative way to stop the armies of crows and save her best friend who was captured by them, Ori embarks on an epic journey. She and Su-Jin must evade capture while seeking a mystical sword that may break the curse that's blocking Ori from accessing her greatest magical weapon against the crows, the binding power of the Hallowed Slayer. But the dark flame within Su-Jin grows stronger by the day. Ori knows that trusting him is dangerous, because if his dark flame gains control, it will force him to turn against her. And if she falls, no magic will be strong enough to protect humankind from being decimated by the crows. But what if the one person she shouldn't trust is the only person she wants to? Tress of the Emerald Sea meets Beauty and the Beast in this enchanting sequel full of slow-burn romance, Asian mythology, and bonds so strong they cannot be broken by mere armies and curses.