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smallbob's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
shellc86's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ditten's review
Not for me. I accidentally fell asleep while reading and though I continued again afterwards, I was sadly not any more interested in the story.
Thanks to Black Crow PR, and the publisher for the ARC
Thanks to Black Crow PR, and the publisher for the ARC
shaunasbookshelf's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The first 60% of this book was really slow for me. I didn't have much interest in the characters and I didn't find there was a good level of character development.
Around the 60% mark I found it picked up a bit and I enjoyed the last part of it a lot more. I wasn't a fan of the multiple povs not being separated by chapter. It could get slightly confusing at times. I didn't really enjoy the pov of Honkensby. I also found that some moments of tension and build up were destroyed by the dialogue. One instance that stands out was during a tense moment when the exclamation "gods farts" was used. This just isn't my type of humor and I found it slightly off-putting.
I did however love Nell, Amber and Tem. I liked Fang but also found him deeply annoying. I really enjoyed the friendship between Nell and Fang and the fact that he refused to admit they were friends somehow made it better. I also adored seeing him be tender with Tem who so clearly needed it. Amber was really silly and gave off the vibes of a dog who would greet a burglar with kisses.
I did really like the plot twist ending. The end of the book being left on a bit of a cliffhanger makes sense considering this is the start of a series.
Overall it seemed like the type of book I would enjoy but it just fell short especially when it came to character development and dialogue.
Around the 60% mark I found it picked up a bit and I enjoyed the last part of it a lot more. I wasn't a fan of the multiple povs not being separated by chapter. It could get slightly confusing at times. I didn't really enjoy the pov of Honkensby. I also found that some moments of tension and build up were destroyed by the dialogue. One instance that stands out was during a tense moment when the exclamation "gods farts" was used. This just isn't my type of humor and I found it slightly off-putting.
I did however love Nell, Amber and Tem. I liked Fang but also found him deeply annoying. I really enjoyed the friendship between Nell and Fang and the fact that he refused to admit they were friends somehow made it better. I also adored seeing him be tender with Tem who so clearly needed it. Amber was really silly and gave off the vibes of a dog who would greet a burglar with kisses.
I did really like the plot twist ending. The end of the book being left on a bit of a cliffhanger makes sense considering this is the start of a series.
Overall it seemed like the type of book I would enjoy but it just fell short especially when it came to character development and dialogue.
whatsmichireading's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
If you love the playful anachronism in The Knight's Tale mixed with the playful adventure vibes of an at home D&D game I think this book will be right up your alley. Though Cursed takes place in an alternate Elizabethan England (complete with delightful run ins with Kit Marlowe and Billy Shakes) full of supernatural entities that are full of bureaucracy that language and humor is very 20th century. If you accept this and go with it, you'll have a great time. Fang and Lazare have both recently had unsuccessful death experiences, and come out of those with strange new powers not quantifiable in the societal norms of paranormal London. In their quest to figure out what's happening to them they'll enlist the help of Welsh potion maker Nell, Mediocre Dragon Nell, and lost fae child Tem. The swan captian of the Royal Guard Honkensby is hot on their tail though, so they'll escape to Deep London in search of answers. And it would be foolish to fall for one another on the way right? ... Right??
If you're looking for a fun romp of an adventure, this book is for you. My main critique is mostly that i sometimes found the POV tenses to be confusing. The book is told from a number of 3rd person limited point of views, but i found sometimes that they switched without the usual indicator that we were following someone else's thoughts. Not sure if that's something that will be fixed in final print runs and was just a result of having the early e-arc.
Thank you to NetGalley and Farrago books for the arc! Out July 4!
If you're looking for a fun romp of an adventure, this book is for you. My main critique is mostly that i sometimes found the POV tenses to be confusing. The book is told from a number of 3rd person limited point of views, but i found sometimes that they switched without the usual indicator that we were following someone else's thoughts. Not sure if that's something that will be fixed in final print runs and was just a result of having the early e-arc.
Thank you to NetGalley and Farrago books for the arc! Out July 4!
aruktai's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
An enjoyable read, with an interesting twist on Elizabethan London life with magic and supernatural creatures involved.
While the plot was slow to start, quite a few characters being introduced and some of the interactions being downright comical (any and all interactions with the Hapenny's), the main few were soon solidified and quickly grew with their unique personalities and quirks. I also enjoyed the character interactions within, Nell being a personal favourite. Fang was full of intrigue, his backstory quite saddening and unrevealed under not-so-nice circumstances.
There were a lot of potential for the plot line to go, especially with exploring Tem and the Alchemist, however it felt a tad lacklustre after the big reveal only for nothing much to happen. The book did end on a cliffhanger, though, so perhaps it'll be further explored in the sequel.
While the plot was slow to start, quite a few characters being introduced and some of the interactions being downright comical (any and all interactions with the Hapenny's), the main few were soon solidified and quickly grew with their unique personalities and quirks. I also enjoyed the character interactions within, Nell being a personal favourite. Fang was full of intrigue, his backstory quite saddening and unrevealed under not-so-nice circumstances.
There were a lot of potential for the plot line to go, especially with exploring Tem and the Alchemist, however it felt a tad lacklustre after the big reveal only for nothing much to happen. The book did end on a cliffhanger, though, so perhaps it'll be further explored in the sequel.
slaapkameractivist's review
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in July (pre order available now)! Oh my god this was so good, so queer and so hilarious. The humour reminded me of Pratchett dry sarcastic humour. But I just was so invested in the story and the characters the entire time. I was on the edge of the seat. And if that doesn't convince you: It has dragons.
dlrosebyh's review
1.5
Thank you to Negalley and the publisher for giving me a free e-ARC of Cursed Under London in exchange of an honest review.
Honestly, I don't think this book is for me. It felt like it was... too boring? I don't know, but I felt like it was just full of rambles instead of an actual plot.
Honestly, I don't think this book is for me. It felt like it was... too boring? I don't know, but I felt like it was just full of rambles instead of an actual plot.
litwithnick's review
5.0
A big thank you to Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, Farrago Books and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC, allowing me to read this book early.
There was not a single thing I didn’t enjoy about this book whatsoever. The writing is very tongue-in-cheek and it was right up my alley (preferably not dripping with excrement thank you very much). The three main characters along with their small cat-like dragon are witty, funny, and very very likeable.
I would dive in front of a wooden stake for Amber in a heartbeat. 10/10 would pet and feed dried newts. She may be small but her personality more than makes up for the lack of height in those stumpy little legs. And little Tem has my whole heart in the palm of her hand and obviously “little-Amber” clutched tight in the other.
The pacing is deliciously adventurous and it’s wonderful. There never seems to be a dull moment or a lull in action for too long and the world building interwoven with history from Elizabethan London along with a touch of magic and a big heaping of the occult is a recipe for an unputdownable book.
I haven’t laughed this much reading a book in a long time, one of my favourites of 2024.
There was not a single thing I didn’t enjoy about this book whatsoever. The writing is very tongue-in-cheek and it was right up my alley (preferably not dripping with excrement thank you very much). The three main characters along with their small cat-like dragon are witty, funny, and very very likeable.
I would dive in front of a wooden stake for Amber in a heartbeat. 10/10 would pet and feed dried newts. She may be small but her personality more than makes up for the lack of height in those stumpy little legs. And little Tem has my whole heart in the palm of her hand and obviously “little-Amber” clutched tight in the other.
The pacing is deliciously adventurous and it’s wonderful. There never seems to be a dull moment or a lull in action for too long and the world building interwoven with history from Elizabethan London along with a touch of magic and a big heaping of the occult is a recipe for an unputdownable book.
I haven’t laughed this much reading a book in a long time, one of my favourites of 2024.