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atrailofpages's review against another edition
5.0
So, I absolutely adored the first book A Touch of Gold, and could hardly wait the sequel, and it did not disappoint!
This book takes place about a month after the first one, and everything seems fine until there’s an attack at the castle causing Kora and Royce to go on another adventure to cure the curse on her father and kingdom.
It is a bit slow at first, but I love books that build up the story. It allows me to soak up the details before the action starts. Once the action started, it was endless! It was so fantastic! Kora really learned how to be a leader by learning about sacrifice, being willing to give up everything and everyone just to save her kingdom. And then having Royce who is already a leader by being captain of his crew, they’re just the perfect pair
This book takes place about a month after the first one, and everything seems fine until there’s an attack at the castle causing Kora and Royce to go on another adventure to cure the curse on her father and kingdom.
It is a bit slow at first, but I love books that build up the story. It allows me to soak up the details before the action starts. Once the action started, it was endless! It was so fantastic! Kora really learned how to be a leader by learning about sacrifice, being willing to give up everything and everyone just to save her kingdom. And then having Royce who is already a leader by being captain of his crew, they’re just the perfect pair
jcaesara's review against another edition
3.0
I was really excited to read this one considering that I really enjoyed "A touch of gold".
So, this time Kora goes after the God Dionysus to make him cure her father and save her kingdom and the entire world from destruction.
During her quest she meets the Oracle, all sorts of mythical creatures (satyrs, gorgons, etc.), she learns more about the Gods and even meets some of them: Triton and Poseidon.
The story begins very slowly. For the first 70-80 pages we had only stories, nothing really happening. But after they leave to find Dionysus everything becomes crowded as they are over and over again attacked by different sea or land creatures.
Also there were some things I didn't like in this book, such as:
- Kora kept telling us what she was thinking and always explaining things in her mind, without letting us know them from actions and words themselves
- very annoying (for me) were all of those quotes from journals of past rulers. They kept popping up at the wrong times.
- Hettie was an absolute obnoxious brat the entire book
- and Royce was barely there. I was expecting to see more of their relationship in this book. Yes he loves her and is always there for her but I wanted to see them more together.
A pleasant surprise was Triton. Besides his good looks and acting like a spoiled brat he was very funny
So, this time Kora goes after the God Dionysus to make him cure her father and save her kingdom and the entire world from destruction.
During her quest she meets the Oracle, all sorts of mythical creatures (satyrs, gorgons, etc.), she learns more about the Gods and even meets some of them: Triton and Poseidon.
The story begins very slowly. For the first 70-80 pages we had only stories, nothing really happening. But after they leave to find Dionysus everything becomes crowded as they are over and over again attacked by different sea or land creatures.
Also there were some things I didn't like in this book, such as:
- Kora kept telling us what she was thinking and always explaining things in her mind, without letting us know them from actions and words themselves
- very annoying (for me) were all of those quotes from journals of past rulers. They kept popping up at the wrong times.
- Hettie was an absolute obnoxious brat the entire book
- and Royce was barely there. I was expecting to see more of their relationship in this book. Yes he loves her and is always there for her but I wanted to see them more together.
A pleasant surprise was Triton. Besides his good looks and acting like a spoiled brat he was very funny
jujujuris's review against another edition
2.0
Felt a bit unnatural to me and the storytelling was in some parts predictable and otherwise confused, though I appreciate the thought put into Kora’s strategy.
Night on Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky and arranged for an orchestra by N. Rimsky-Korsakov, performed by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Night on Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky and arranged for an orchestra by N. Rimsky-Korsakov, performed by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
ameserole's review against another edition
3.0
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A Curse of Gold started off pretty slowly for me. About half-way through, though, it did get a bit better. Which made me pretty happy since I really enjoyed the first book and was super excited to dive into this one.
Now you still meet the same people you met in the first book, they just have a new mission. Kora is out to get God Dionysus. Of course she can't just show up on his doorstep and smack him or anything. No, she has to go on this adventure with her crew/friends and try to defeat him any way possible.
Like I said, the first part of this book is pretty boring. Nothing really happens.. except like one little fight which did nothing for me. Then there's some tension among the crew but it was to be expected. I still do love Kora and Royce together and I obviously want more from them... but for some reason I didn't get that? Yes, they love one another but I just wanted to see them being together you know.. whether it's killing someone, talking, or I don't know - ANYTHING!
Other than that, we do end up meeting Triton and Dionysus. Triton was a nice addition/surprise for me and I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending. Like, maybe.. it's just a trick? Also, it just kind of seemed a bit to easy for it to all go that way? Eh, it was still good though.
In the end, it was pretty good for a sequel and I'm not sure if there's going to be another book or not. If there is, I will gladly read it just to see what else can be thrown my way.
A Curse of Gold started off pretty slowly for me. About half-way through, though, it did get a bit better. Which made me pretty happy since I really enjoyed the first book and was super excited to dive into this one.
Now you still meet the same people you met in the first book, they just have a new mission. Kora is out to get God Dionysus. Of course she can't just show up on his doorstep and smack him or anything. No, she has to go on this adventure with her crew/friends and try to defeat him any way possible.
Like I said, the first part of this book is pretty boring. Nothing really happens.. except like one little fight which did nothing for me. Then there's some tension among the crew but it was to be expected. I still do love Kora and Royce together and I obviously want more from them... but for some reason I didn't get that? Yes, they love one another but I just wanted to see them being together you know.. whether it's killing someone, talking, or I don't know - ANYTHING!
Other than that, we do end up meeting Triton and Dionysus. Triton was a nice addition/surprise for me and I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending. Like, maybe.. it's just a trick? Also, it just kind of seemed a bit to easy for it to all go that way? Eh, it was still good though.
In the end, it was pretty good for a sequel and I'm not sure if there's going to be another book or not. If there is, I will gladly read it just to see what else can be thrown my way.
erincataldi's review
4.0
A fun sequel that I enjoyed even more than the first installment. King Midas' daughter, Kora, must find a way to defeat Dionysus (the god who cursed her father and as a result forever changed her) before he comes to their kingdom and attacks them again. Her father is weak and a myriad of beasts have started attacking the kingdom trying to attack Kora. She sets out with her lover, Royce the admiral of her father's fleet, in order to find Triton, a god who can lead them to Dionysus' hidden island. Along the way they encounter gods, monsters, and other horrible creatures and must stay alive using their wits and a half formed plan. Lovers of mythology will delight in this young adult adventure novel. Readers will want to know, are there more books in this series forthcoming?!
whitneymouse's review
4.0
**Thank you to Netgalley and Blink Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my rating**
A Curse of Gold is the sequel to 2018's A Touch of Gold. The book sees Kora and Royce on another adventure to save Lagonia, this time from Dionysus instead of a coup from within the city.
I really enjoyed this book. Maybe even more than the original. I read A Touch of Gold when it was released, but I think you would be able to read this without having read the first one. There's enough of the plot explained to jog your memory if you have read it and to fill you in if you haven't.
This book was much more heavily influenced by mythology. Book one saw fights with Triton's temptresses, but was more focused on pirates and human antagonists. This book has Dionysus and his creations, harpies, Poseidon and Triton, gorgons, etc. Fans of mythology are going to get a lot out of this book and seeing creatures and characters they're familiar with.
I also really enjoyed Kora and Royce's relationship with each other. I think often times, especially in sequels, the established couple has to go through some forced fight and break up just to realize later that they're better together than apart, so they get back together for the happy ending. This did not happen and I hope that means there is going to be a step in this direction for other YA books in the future. Kora and Royce are so genuinely uplifting to each other. They're supportive and loving. When Kora makes a decision that will put her in danger but potentially save her kingdom, Royce doesn't get mad and waste time fighting with her. He comforts and supports her. Similarly, when he's uncomfortable in a situation or afraid, Kora takes time to comfort him and check in with him. It's a wonderful look at what a relationship SHOULD look like and I hope more authors do this. I think it's important to see relationships in books where the characters are so loving with one another.
The side characters were delightful. I was especially a fan of how Triton was developed as kind of a rough around the edges, misunderstood character with hidden vulnerabilities. I wasn't expecting that from a demigod character, so it was an interesting take.
There's also a lot of action in this book. There isn't really much time where the characters stop to take a breather. It keeps the plot moving and keeps the book from dragging.
Overall, I really enjoyed A Curse of Gold. It was a good entry/ending to the story and I would recommend reading it, especially if you liked book one or are into mythology.
A Curse of Gold is the sequel to 2018's A Touch of Gold. The book sees Kora and Royce on another adventure to save Lagonia, this time from Dionysus instead of a coup from within the city.
I really enjoyed this book. Maybe even more than the original. I read A Touch of Gold when it was released, but I think you would be able to read this without having read the first one. There's enough of the plot explained to jog your memory if you have read it and to fill you in if you haven't.
This book was much more heavily influenced by mythology. Book one saw fights with Triton's temptresses, but was more focused on pirates and human antagonists. This book has Dionysus and his creations, harpies, Poseidon and Triton, gorgons, etc. Fans of mythology are going to get a lot out of this book and seeing creatures and characters they're familiar with.
I also really enjoyed Kora and Royce's relationship with each other. I think often times, especially in sequels, the established couple has to go through some forced fight and break up just to realize later that they're better together than apart, so they get back together for the happy ending. This did not happen and I hope that means there is going to be a step in this direction for other YA books in the future. Kora and Royce are so genuinely uplifting to each other. They're supportive and loving. When Kora makes a decision that will put her in danger but potentially save her kingdom, Royce doesn't get mad and waste time fighting with her. He comforts and supports her. Similarly, when he's uncomfortable in a situation or afraid, Kora takes time to comfort him and check in with him. It's a wonderful look at what a relationship SHOULD look like and I hope more authors do this. I think it's important to see relationships in books where the characters are so loving with one another.
The side characters were delightful. I was especially a fan of how Triton was developed as kind of a rough around the edges, misunderstood character with hidden vulnerabilities. I wasn't expecting that from a demigod character, so it was an interesting take.
There's also a lot of action in this book. There isn't really much time where the characters stop to take a breather. It keeps the plot moving and keeps the book from dragging.
Overall, I really enjoyed A Curse of Gold. It was a good entry/ending to the story and I would recommend reading it, especially if you liked book one or are into mythology.
alongreader's review
4.0
The blurb says this is the last one, but I hope it isn't, as there's a major thread left hanging, albeit with a hopeful end.
I enjoyed the first book of this series about a year ago. Although there's no recap, the author has managed to weave in enough reminders that I didn't feel lost when reading, and she's even managed to make them blend in rather than sticking out as exposition. It's tough to do but she's managed beautifully.
This part of the story delves deeper into Greek mythology and lore, featuring more gods and more squabbles and more items from the myths. I enjoyed reading Annie's take on them very much. This series is so clever and inventive.
Kora was a delight, and I enjoyed Hettie a lot. The guys were good, but this is really Kora's story. Lenny is amazing and Phibbs was great. Even some of the monsters were excellent characters, and I loved Kora's solution right at the end. Very clever and farseeing.
All in all, a really good read, and while I hope there's more to come, I can live with where it ended.
I enjoyed the first book of this series about a year ago. Although there's no recap, the author has managed to weave in enough reminders that I didn't feel lost when reading, and she's even managed to make them blend in rather than sticking out as exposition. It's tough to do but she's managed beautifully.
This part of the story delves deeper into Greek mythology and lore, featuring more gods and more squabbles and more items from the myths. I enjoyed reading Annie's take on them very much. This series is so clever and inventive.
Kora was a delight, and I enjoyed Hettie a lot. The guys were good, but this is really Kora's story. Lenny is amazing and Phibbs was great. Even some of the monsters were excellent characters, and I loved Kora's solution right at the end. Very clever and farseeing.
All in all, a really good read, and while I hope there's more to come, I can live with where it ended.
jodiesbookishposts's review against another edition
3.0
Much like the first book, this was solid. It did what I thought it would without rocking the boat.
I would recommend the series but it’s not one that’s going to be very memorable in future.
I would recommend the series but it’s not one that’s going to be very memorable in future.
introverteddragonscribbles's review
5.0
Sequels can be a hit or miss in any kind of series. So it’s always with squinted eyes and a dose of suspicion that I pick one up. Half the time my suspicions are correct, and I can’t even get past the first few pages.
Thankfully, A Curse of Gold made it past my suspicions!
Now that Kora has achieved her goal of setting out to find her father’s gold, she had a whole new adversary to face—one that she had been fighting against since the beginning. Dionysus, the god who had cursed her father, who had in turn cursed her. Dionysus will stop at nothing to keep Kora from fulfilling her goal by sending powerful warriors after her and her kingdom.
From the beginning, I was drawn in. The pace isn’t as quick as I would like, but still held enough of my interest for me to see it to the end. I loved seeing a whole new side to the world, and also having many questions answered about Kora and Dionysus. There are many things I could go on and on about but won’t for fear of ruining the plotline!
I will say, though, that this sequel will not disappoint! I would give the book a full five stars if it hadn’t been for some points that just irked me. I won’t say what, but there were several moments where the answer to a problem was right there and it took the characters several pages to find it. Other than that, I found A Curse of Gold to be a fantastic ending to a lovely duo of books!
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thankfully, A Curse of Gold made it past my suspicions!
Now that Kora has achieved her goal of setting out to find her father’s gold, she had a whole new adversary to face—one that she had been fighting against since the beginning. Dionysus, the god who had cursed her father, who had in turn cursed her. Dionysus will stop at nothing to keep Kora from fulfilling her goal by sending powerful warriors after her and her kingdom.
From the beginning, I was drawn in. The pace isn’t as quick as I would like, but still held enough of my interest for me to see it to the end. I loved seeing a whole new side to the world, and also having many questions answered about Kora and Dionysus. There are many things I could go on and on about but won’t for fear of ruining the plotline!
I will say, though, that this sequel will not disappoint! I would give the book a full five stars if it hadn’t been for some points that just irked me. I won’t say what, but there were several moments where the answer to a problem was right there and it took the characters several pages to find it. Other than that, I found A Curse of Gold to be a fantastic ending to a lovely duo of books!
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
dharshanirymond's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC.
The story goes like Kora's life is under threat and they go on yet another quest to win a bet against the Trickster God with the help of Poseidon's son Triton. Poseidon guest appears of course. It's like Percy Jackson going on one of POC quest (and there's a Kraken's equivalent). I know am comparing to POC yet again but that's exactly how this felt. Kora and her crew saved everybody except one and I feel bad that, that's incomplete. On a second thought that might be something to look forward if there were another book in the series.
The book was as much fun as the first one but the characters were a bit better.
Spoiler
Another mixture of stories without much world building and weak romance.The story goes like Kora's life is under threat and they go on yet another quest to win a bet against the Trickster God with the help of Poseidon's son Triton. Poseidon guest appears of course. It's like Percy Jackson going on one of POC quest (and there's a Kraken's equivalent). I know am comparing to POC yet again but that's exactly how this felt. Kora and her crew saved everybody except one and I feel bad that, that's incomplete. On a second thought that might be something to look forward if there were another book in the series.
The book was as much fun as the first one but the characters were a bit better.