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abby_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I enjoyed this book. I think it was a good sequel. This is a dark fairytale retelling. The characters are entertaining and there is come character development. The relationship between the characters is interesting. The plot is a little predictable though I did enjoy it. The writing style is lovely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Death, Gore, Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, War, Torture, Animal death, Child death, Murder, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abandonment, Body horror, Death of parent, Infertility, Kidnapping, and Confinement
hspfost's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Child death
bandysbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Once long ago, I read and enjoyed The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, so naturally when I saw Cursed, I thought I might enjoy it as well. I don't know if it's just that I was much younger when I read The Lunar Chronicles or if this duology isn't quite of the same quality, but I was left wanting.
We have a fairytale retelling which is Meyer's bread and butter. This time it's of Rumpelstiltskin. Instead of centering on Rumpel himself, we have a story that features a damsel in distress and he is her protector of sorts. I thought the way she twisted the story was fairly interesting.
Where it fell apart for me was the main character. I found her incredibly frustrating. I can't count how many times the bad guy did something horrible, she pleads with him, and then he does something even more horrible. He's clearly a sadist who gets off on psychological torture and she gives him exactly what he wants by begging him. She even makes deals with him on multiple occasions and they always end with him doing something terrible and finding a loophole in the deal. I understand trying once, but after he backstabs her once, she should never make a deal with him again. It honestly got a bit tedious.
Also, this book relies heavily on the unplanned pregnancy trope which is one of my least favorite tropes. I get that it's an important part of the story arc, but it just wasn't for me.
All in all, I just think I am maybe the wrong demographic for this book. I could imagine a 14 or 15 year old reading and enjoying this, but as a 35 year old there was a lot that left me cringing. I honestly wouldn't have read this second book in the duology, had I not had an ARC of it. If you're into young adult fantasy, you might enjoy this.
* I received an E-ARC of this from Netgalley. This in no way affects my review.
We have a fairytale retelling which is Meyer's bread and butter. This time it's of Rumpelstiltskin. Instead of centering on Rumpel himself, we have a story that features a damsel in distress and he is her protector of sorts. I thought the way she twisted the story was fairly interesting.
Where it fell apart for me was the main character. I found her incredibly frustrating. I can't count how many times the bad guy did something horrible, she pleads with him, and then he does something even more horrible. He's clearly a sadist who gets off on psychological torture and she gives him exactly what he wants by begging him. She even makes deals with him on multiple occasions and they always end with him doing something terrible and finding a loophole in the deal. I understand trying once, but after he backstabs her once, she should never make a deal with him again. It honestly got a bit tedious.
Also, this book relies heavily on the unplanned pregnancy trope which is one of my least favorite tropes. I get that it's an important part of the story arc, but it just wasn't for me.
All in all, I just think I am maybe the wrong demographic for this book. I could imagine a 14 or 15 year old reading and enjoying this, but as a 35 year old there was a lot that left me cringing. I honestly wouldn't have read this second book in the duology, had I not had an ARC of it. If you're into young adult fantasy, you might enjoy this.
* I received an E-ARC of this from Netgalley. This in no way affects my review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Murder, Torture, and Child death
iz_kap1225's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Mystical and adventurous. Has some sad scenes but nothing MAJOR, just slight sad parts. Very good in my opinion. Book two after Gilded.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Child death, Gore, War, Murder, Death, Animal death, Death of parent, and Violence
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I wanted to read this book as I enjoy most of Marissa Meyer’s work. However, with all three series that I’ve read, I have always struggled with the first book. This book was the same. I was waiting for a big reveal or plot twist, and it sort of happened, but I wanted it to be bigger.
This book is told from Serilda’s point of view. She was cursed by the god of lies and has developed a talent for storytelling. Serilda and Gild cannot break the curses that tether their spirits to Adalheid’s haunted castle. There they remain trapped for eternity. On the night of the Endless Moon, the Erlking means to capture one of the seven gods and so be reunited with his lovers, Perchta, who has been banished to the underworld. But it soon becomes clear that the Erlking’s hunger for vengeance won’t be satisfied with a single wish, and his true intentions have the power to alter the mortal realm forever. Serilda and Gild have no choice but to thwart his plans, all the while solving the mystery of Gild’s forgotten name and freeing all the ghosts kept in servitude to the dark ones. As the evil forces gather, it seems only their love is strong enough to sustain them. This book is a young adult fantasy.
This series has been difficult. The world building wasn’t there and there wasn’t much character building expect that Serilda is a storyteller and she’s trying to save her boyfriend and she’s pregnant and protecting kids. I think I also struggled with this book as I didn’t understand all the God analogy of it. Serilda was a damsel in distress that was trying to save herself but just couldn’t and then rejected help and is still wanting to save herself but won’t leave Gild. Erikling’s got some back story in this, but I would have loved to have fallen for villain in this book rather than the MCs. Gild’s sister sort of saved this book and I would have loved for her to be the hero and then had to be getting the sunlight. I hated how it ended and I don’t think Serilda deserved the happy ending for being a mischievous liar.
This book is told from Serilda’s point of view. She was cursed by the god of lies and has developed a talent for storytelling. Serilda and Gild cannot break the curses that tether their spirits to Adalheid’s haunted castle. There they remain trapped for eternity. On the night of the Endless Moon, the Erlking means to capture one of the seven gods and so be reunited with his lovers, Perchta, who has been banished to the underworld. But it soon becomes clear that the Erlking’s hunger for vengeance won’t be satisfied with a single wish, and his true intentions have the power to alter the mortal realm forever. Serilda and Gild have no choice but to thwart his plans, all the while solving the mystery of Gild’s forgotten name and freeing all the ghosts kept in servitude to the dark ones. As the evil forces gather, it seems only their love is strong enough to sustain them. This book is a young adult fantasy.
This series has been difficult. The world building wasn’t there and there wasn’t much character building expect that Serilda is a storyteller and she’s trying to save her boyfriend and she’s pregnant and protecting kids. I think I also struggled with this book as I didn’t understand all the God analogy of it. Serilda was a damsel in distress that was trying to save herself but just couldn’t and then rejected help and is still wanting to save herself but won’t leave Gild. Erikling’s got some back story in this, but I would have loved to have fallen for villain in this book rather than the MCs. Gild’s sister sort of saved this book and I would have loved for her to be the hero and then had to be getting the sunlight. I hated how it ended and I don’t think Serilda deserved the happy ending for being a mischievous liar.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Blood, and Pregnancy
Minor: Death of parent
love3v07's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Death
hollow_lyric's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Better than the first one
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
emilyjadereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
mdeck24's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Pregnancy
halfbloodprincess_hogwarts's review against another edition
I was reminded how heartbroken the first book left me and felt it going further downhill starting this title. Honestly, I am not trying to read any books that will further upset me and am throwing in the towel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Child death, Confinement, Pregnancy, and Emotional abuse