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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
2nd Read, November 2023:
Still enjoyed how everything came together and the mixing of folklore and fairytale in this world! The mystery element was very compelling - although slower at the beginning, the pace picks up for the rest of the book. I especially love the ending and the "epilogue" of sorts - it was perfect for the tale!
1st Read, November 2022:
In my experience, very few last books can wrap up a story as well as Cursed does for the Gilded duology! This was hands-down a 5 star read for me, and I enjoyed every single second I spent reading it!
There's not too much I can say about plot right off the bat without spoiling the end of Gilded, but just know that Cursed picks back up right where we left off. I was expecting a little more excitement and action right away, given how the first book ended, but the start of Cursed is a little slow. If anything, this portion is where I think the book could be slimmed down a tiny bit. BUT, we do learn so much about the castle and the Dark Ones/Erlking/ghosts' way of life (and maybe some subtle future plot points!!) that I don't regret that it was included.
In addition, Serilda and Gild were both strong characters. We got to see Gild a lot more and experience his mischievous nature. I adore their interactions together! On a side note, I also enjoyed the banter that Serilda and the Erlking had together--top notch evil unearthly king and feisty mortal girl throwing it down in word battles.
After the initial slowness, the pace graudally picks up until about 60% through, where all hell breaks loose. Whereas Gilded is spooky and macabre and melancholy, Cursed has much more vibrancy and magic and history. Don't get me wrong, there's still a lot of cruelty on the part of the Erlking, but there is also more of a focus on the background and context of Serilda's world. I feel like there is a lot I could catch going back and reading it a second time, just because of the amount of history and stories that actually end up playing into the overall plot! Plus, there were a couple twists that had me yelling in surprise!
I loved the addition of all the fairytale elements and creatures! I enjoyed reading more about the Moss Maidens, about the old gods, and about the mythical creatures that the Erlking is hunting. This added so much complexity to the story and plot, and it twisted up nicely with the Rumpelstiltskin aspect. Cursed definitely expands beyond your typical Rumpelstiltskin retelling! And with that, the ending was so satisfying and I didn't feel like any pieces were missing or not wrapped up. It may have moved a little fast right at the end, but I appreciated the way the "epilogue" was written. It left me feeling hopeful and satisfied!
There's not a whole lot more I can say without giving key plot points away, but I absolutely adored this series! Marissa Meyer writes amazing fairytale retellings, and this was no different. I will be rereading these books in the future, that's for sure! 5 wholehearted stars from me!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio via Netgalley for the advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review!
Still enjoyed how everything came together and the mixing of folklore and fairytale in this world! The mystery element was very compelling - although slower at the beginning, the pace picks up for the rest of the book. I especially love the ending and the "epilogue" of sorts - it was perfect for the tale!
1st Read, November 2022:
In my experience, very few last books can wrap up a story as well as Cursed does for the Gilded duology! This was hands-down a 5 star read for me, and I enjoyed every single second I spent reading it!
There's not too much I can say about plot right off the bat without spoiling the end of Gilded, but just know that Cursed picks back up right where we left off. I was expecting a little more excitement and action right away, given how the first book ended, but the start of Cursed is a little slow. If anything, this portion is where I think the book could be slimmed down a tiny bit.
Spoiler
It seems like we spend 30% 'looking for their bodies' and then they find them and . . . disregard them cause they can't leave without the children? And not much feels like it is happening in the background around that time, either. But, after the Erlking revealed that he knew Serilda's secret later, I did want to go back and reread, so that was clever!In addition, Serilda and Gild were both strong characters. We got to see Gild a lot more and experience his mischievous nature. I adore their interactions together!
Spoiler
though sometimes, they did feel too young to have a baby, ahah.After the initial slowness, the pace graudally picks up until about 60% through, where all hell breaks loose
Spoiler
all Verloren breaks loose? lolI loved the addition of all the fairytale elements and creatures! I enjoyed reading more about the Moss Maidens, about the old gods, and about the mythical creatures that the Erlking is hunting. This added so much complexity to the story and plot, and it twisted up nicely with the Rumpelstiltskin aspect. Cursed definitely expands beyond your typical Rumpelstiltskin retelling! And with that, the ending was so satisfying and I didn't feel like any pieces were missing or not wrapped up. It may have moved a little fast right at the end, but I appreciated the way the "epilogue" was written. It left me feeling hopeful and satisfied!
There's not a whole lot more I can say without giving key plot points away, but I absolutely adored this series! Marissa Meyer writes amazing fairytale retellings, and this was no different. I will be rereading these books in the future, that's for sure! 5 wholehearted stars from me!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio via Netgalley for the advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review!
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Gilded & Cursed by Marissa Meyer narrated by Rebecca Soler: 4 stars
I do love the way that Marissa Meyer weaves old stories into amazing new tales. I always say I’m not the biggest fan of happy endings but I was sobbing when Gild and the baby could not come back. I actually love the ending of this book and I really liked the way the duology fit together. And the Earlking… I love to hate him. Perchta, just hate, but the Earlking was such an interesting character to read about. I also loved the portrayal of the gods, all androgynous and all represented by amazing mythological beats of all kinds. The detail in the world building of this book was insane. The towns and the basic lives of the townspeople contrasted with monsters that wandered the forest and Adalheid’s haunted castle; it was so interesting in every chapter. I also just love the way Rebecca Soler reads, definitely one of my top narrators.
I do love the way that Marissa Meyer weaves old stories into amazing new tales. I always say I’m not the biggest fan of happy endings but I was sobbing when Gild and the baby could not come back. I actually love the ending of this book and I really liked the way the duology fit together. And the Earlking… I love to hate him. Perchta, just hate, but the Earlking was such an interesting character to read about. I also loved the portrayal of the gods, all androgynous and all represented by amazing mythological beats of all kinds. The detail in the world building of this book was insane. The towns and the basic lives of the townspeople contrasted with monsters that wandered the forest and Adalheid’s haunted castle; it was so interesting in every chapter. I also just love the way Rebecca Soler reads, definitely one of my top narrators.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was an excellent sequel to Gilded. It was dark and magical and entirely compelling. I love stories that have me genuinely surprised and that truly put characters into difficult conflicts. I loved that I sincerely could not tell if this story would have a happy ending or not (no spoilers on which way it swings), and the plot perpetually kept me on my toes. It was exceptionally well-written, which is the standard that I've come to expect from all Marissa Meyer books. The pacing was great and the stakes felt appropriate for Serilda's situation. As with the first book, I cannot recommend this duology enough as the perfect autumnal/October read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child death, Death of parent, Pregnancy
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I liked this book even better than the first in the duology. The first book did a lot of work setting up the world, the characters and the romance. I enjoyed how much more this book had to offer as it developed the mythology and the dire circumstances our main characters were in.
It was a perfect fall read and certainly had a lot of dark and gory imagery. I'm not a big fan of dark gothic stories but this one was great. I appreciated how the author was committed to a dark fairytale retelling and did not tone down the evilness of the villains. It was also refreshing to see an enemy be a true enemy. I am so used to enemy to lover books I was giddy every time the MC called out the villain.
It was a perfect fall read and certainly had a lot of dark and gory imagery. I'm not a big fan of dark gothic stories but this one was great. I appreciated how the author was committed to a dark fairytale retelling and did not tone down the evilness of the villains. It was also refreshing to see an enemy be a true enemy. I am so used to enemy to lover books I was giddy every time the MC called out the villain.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
An exceptional ending
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed the book and was satisfied with the end, but the book felt long to me. I do think I enjoyed this book more than Gilded and maybe because it was less about the romance (that felt really fast in Gilded) and more about the gods and the history of the land. I also liked learning some secrets about Serilda, which I feel like I should have clued into earlier. Sometimes listening to audiobook means I miss some story clues. Gild and his spoons was funny.
I think the best thing about the series is remembering pieces of the story of Rumpelstiltskin, which I haven’t read in a while. As the story unfolds, it was fun seeing how Meyer rewrote the tale and kept the key points of the tale. Meyer is definitely an author I will pick-up just for the fairytale retellings, which she is very good at.
I think the best thing about the series is remembering pieces of the story of Rumpelstiltskin, which I haven’t read in a while. As the story unfolds, it was fun seeing how Meyer rewrote the tale and kept the key points of the tale. Meyer is definitely an author I will pick-up just for the fairytale retellings, which she is very good at.