Some secrets should stay buried. The Crystal Curse is the seventh book in the epic Metalwood Saga series. In the unforgiving deserts of Valaralda, Trey—a scholar and reluctant mage—is thrust into a perilous expedition to unearth the Key, a long-buried weapon capable of saving the universe from an ancient, cataclysmic force. Guided by enigmatic texts and accompanied by a mismatched team of allies, Trey ventures into Akhenaten’s pyramid, where deadly traps and long-forgotten magic guard the secret of the Key. But Valaralda's mysteries go far deeper than Trey ever imagined. Betrayal threatens his fragile group, while memories of a forbidden ritual—the Sending—reveal the staggering cost of survival. As tensions rise, Trey must confront his own doubts, survive Arra’s dangerous magical awakening, and remember the monumental decision that defined the past twenty thousand years. The sands hold secrets older than anyone knows, and Trey’s search for answers may awaken something far worse than anyone imagined. Will he unravel the legacy of Akhenaten in time, or will the desert’s wrath swallow them all?