Reviews

Second Hand Curses by Drew Hayes

vam2319's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

joebunting's review

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Such a fun story. Can’t wait for the rest of the series. 

katykelly's review against another edition

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3.0

Clever interpretation and retellings, anachronistic and medieval combined.

This didn't quite pull together for me, but I did enjoy a lot about it. I couldn't picture the setting really, too many elements of a 40s detective style mixed with a medieval fairy tale to really hold in my head, though that is just me.

I did like the concept and a lot about the execution - familiar fairy tales but pursued deeper and after the tale ends, the darker side (of already dark stories) involving plots, deaths, and far more grey-area good and bad guys than your typical Cinderella.

A group called the 'B***ard Champions' containing a motley crew of scarred and secretive individuals solve cases brought to them from fairytale characters, involving a lot of adventures, fights and sarcasm. WIth their own backstories, they delve into the backstories of the well-known tales as well.

It wasn't really something I'd have picked on my own, a friend recommended it, and I didn't really take to the main characters, some of whom didn't come across well on Audible, the narrators didn't suit every role. More one for paper, for me.

I liked the separation into discrete stories and with the overall journey towards one ending involving the same few characters, though it felt a lot longer than it actually took in getting there.

It just wasn't to my taste really, though I'd have watched it as a 'Once Upon a Time'-esque TV programme and probably enjoyed it.

For fans of detective/fantasy genres.

mogffm3's review against another edition

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4.0

Really enjoyed this book, the wicked tales of fairytales gone awry. Audio recording was interesting.

rainbowbookworm's review against another edition

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4.0

Super fun spin of well-known fairy tales.

debpendragon's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

prysmo's review against another edition

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adventurous funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

mmsanford's review

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3.0

This was a nice light read. I loved the main character group and also loved how they tied in so many fairy tales in with a twists. The audible version was very good and I enjoyed the voice actors. Overall really fun read!

inkfire's review against another edition

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5.0

I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I assumed it was going to be predictable, trite, and probably more than a little embarrassing. To my surprise, it was actually very well thought through.

The main character was witty, interesting, and probably the most convincing rogue I've ever read. In addition, the setting was very believable, and I thoroughly enjoyed the twist that they put on multiple fairy tales I knew for my childhood. If there is a sequel, I will definitely read that.

malgal123's review

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5.0

Wonderful narration !!