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jackiehorne's review against another edition
Insta-love, an overly protective, violent hero, and an uneven of tone made me doubt the wisdom of keeping reading. I kept it up for 100+ pages, hoping it would get more interesting. But after reading an entire scene focused on fun with duck poop, I called it a day...
jholloed's review against another edition
4.0
Loving that this book plays in the same world as the Atlantis warriors I love so much, but giving you an entirely different point of view. We now get to see what else lives in the world. That being said, you don't have to have read the Atlantis series, it does stand nicely on it's own, but it does help add a certain something if you had.
The shadowy black swan, a new not damsel and a hero that doesn't believe it. I love this group! I hope like in the Atlantis series, we can catch glimpses of this pair in other book places.
The shadowy black swan, a new not damsel and a hero that doesn't believe it. I love this group! I hope like in the Atlantis series, we can catch glimpses of this pair in other book places.
bookloverchelle's review against another edition
4.0
I’m a big fan of Alyssa Day’s Warriors of Poseidon series but for some reason I was a little reluctant to begin her newest series, League of the Black Swan. Maybe the back cover didn’t entice me but because I’m a fan of hers I picked it up to try and boy was I delighted! The Cursed was a really enjoyable, entertaining paranormal romance. Rio and Luke have had their run ins but he’s tried to keep her at arm’s length. When a delivery send Rio right in to harm’s way Luke is the only person who can help. As the battle evil and the past Luke and Rio slowly open up to the attraction burning between them. What I’m really going to enjoy about this series is the next continues with the adventures of Luke and Rio, I love spending time with them!
kabauer's review against another edition
5.0
I think Rio is honestly my new favorite female lead. The book starts off with her thinking she's just an ordinary human bike messenger living in the supernatural neighborhood of Bordertown. She's coming up on her birthday when she witnesses a kidnapping. She then turns to Luke, the sexy PI she's drooled over many many times, to help her solve the case and save the girl. Through it all, get life gets turned upside down as she discovers that she is so much more than human and nowhere near ordinary. Add on to it all the mysterious League of the Black Swan and it's nonstop action.
The dynamic between Luke and Rio is sizzling. The humor and heartache are real. It's definitely worth a read, and I'm impatiently waiting for the next installment.
The dynamic between Luke and Rio is sizzling. The humor and heartache are real. It's definitely worth a read, and I'm impatiently waiting for the next installment.
inmyhumbleopinion's review against another edition
5.0
Rio was raised in a convent/orphanage and has managed to take care of herself just fine thank you. Things are strange in Bordertown where magic and other beings are normal. But as Rio approaches her 25th birthday things are weirder than normal and it all seems to be focused on her. She needs help and if it comes in the form of the super sexy wizard and private investigator Luke Oliver so much the better. Rio has had a crush on him forever but Luke has been hands off. He has his reasons and it isn't because he doesn't like her. Just the opposite in fact. But now he will do anything to keep her safe even at the peril of losing his soul.
I am a huge fan of Alyssa Day’s Warriors of Poseidon series so I had to snap up this first installment of her new series. I am thrilled that I did as this series may prove to be even better. There is a complex, imaginative world with endless possibilities. There are good guys, bad guys and guys you aren't sure about. And there is humor. Lots of humor. I recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Ilona Andrews Edge series or Richelle Mead’s Dark Swan series or anyone who likes action, adventure, romance, magic and a little spice.
I am a huge fan of Alyssa Day’s Warriors of Poseidon series so I had to snap up this first installment of her new series. I am thrilled that I did as this series may prove to be even better. There is a complex, imaginative world with endless possibilities. There are good guys, bad guys and guys you aren't sure about. And there is humor. Lots of humor. I recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Ilona Andrews Edge series or Richelle Mead’s Dark Swan series or anyone who likes action, adventure, romance, magic and a little spice.
veronica87's review against another edition
1.0
One and a half stars.
Maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind for this book but really, I think it just had too much that annoys me. There was the usual instalove (which I was ready for, this being PNR and all) but it also had one of my pet peeves: a centuries old immortal who has all the maturity of a freshman frat boy. Couple that with superficial characters, a boring plot, and a world that offers nothing new and it's no surpise that I had to force myself to finish it. Of course, the mere fact that it took me so many days to finish what is a very short book should speak volumes about my attachment to it. I'll definitely take a pass on this series as I found nothing interesting or impressive about it.
Maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind for this book but really, I think it just had too much that annoys me. There was the usual instalove (which I was ready for, this being PNR and all) but it also had one of my pet peeves: a centuries old immortal who has all the maturity of a freshman frat boy. Couple that with superficial characters, a boring plot, and a world that offers nothing new and it's no surpise that I had to force myself to finish it. Of course, the mere fact that it took me so many days to finish what is a very short book should speak volumes about my attachment to it. I'll definitely take a pass on this series as I found nothing interesting or impressive about it.
jodinicole2023's review against another edition
4.0
This new series has me hooked. The world was fascinating and the interactions between the characters main and secondary was awesome. It was a page turner for me.
elliefufu's review against another edition
4.0
The Cursed, League of the Black Swans #1, By Alyssa Day
Grade: B+
“Luke, are you-and I mean this in the nicest way possible- are you nuts?”
“You were hurting, and I wanted to help, but I didn’t know how, so I blew something up.”
Rio Jones is just an ordinary bike messenger living in Bordertown, a small section of Manhattan occupied by all types of paranormals and humans with special gifts, who can sometimes read minds depending on how powerful the person is. Rio never expected that her twenty-fifth birthday would put her in so much danger as well as unlock the secrets of the parents that abandoned her. When private investigator Luke Oliver, Rio’s long time crush, asks for her help Rio jumps at the chance and soon sparks are flying between the two. With Luke’s help Rio can finally start to put the pieces together of her past and hopefully her future.
Luke Oliver is a the person people in Bordertown come to when there is a problem and as a powerful wizard he is the best for their jobs. Luke lives his life with everyone at arm distance due to a curse that was put on him as a child but all that changes when the beautiful Rio Jones falls into his lap. Luke knows he should stay away from Rio but when she is put in danger over and over again Luke just can’t walk away. When the League of the Black Swan starts sniffing around wanting information on Rio, Luke is determined to do everything he can to keep her away from danger and in his life forever.
I really had no idea what to expect from this newest series from Alyssa Day but I am happy to say that it blew me away! From the very first pages I was swept up into this new world of Bordertown and its supernatural residents of wizards, demons, goblins, fae and more. I found myself staying up late at night and sneaking away whenever I could to get back to this magical world and Luke and Rio.
Oh Luke and Rio you are everything that I want in a paranormal romance couple. Rio is smart, funny and fearless while still having a heart of gold. She sometimes does the silly thing of putting herself in harms ways to save others but she is great at making friends and not being annoying (very hard for female heroines I’ve found). Luke, Luke, Luke I just adore you and I love you are a very powerful wizard with no game and that you put your foot in you mouth so much when trying to woo Rio. Luke is so cute and awkward with Rio, something you don’t find very often, and he is now one of my favorite heroes in romance.
There are tons of side characters besides Luke and Rio that make this book so magical. Even though there was a lot going on it was never too much and it kept the story moving without getting boring. There are still a lot of secrets and mysteries to uncover in Bordertown and with the League of the Black Swan which I cannot wait to read more about. I fell in love with this world, the characters and I can’t wait to jump back into it. This is a great book for all urban fantasy and paranormal romance readers!
Grade: B+
“Luke, are you-and I mean this in the nicest way possible- are you nuts?”
“You were hurting, and I wanted to help, but I didn’t know how, so I blew something up.”
Rio Jones is just an ordinary bike messenger living in Bordertown, a small section of Manhattan occupied by all types of paranormals and humans with special gifts, who can sometimes read minds depending on how powerful the person is. Rio never expected that her twenty-fifth birthday would put her in so much danger as well as unlock the secrets of the parents that abandoned her. When private investigator Luke Oliver, Rio’s long time crush, asks for her help Rio jumps at the chance and soon sparks are flying between the two. With Luke’s help Rio can finally start to put the pieces together of her past and hopefully her future.
Luke Oliver is a the person people in Bordertown come to when there is a problem and as a powerful wizard he is the best for their jobs. Luke lives his life with everyone at arm distance due to a curse that was put on him as a child but all that changes when the beautiful Rio Jones falls into his lap. Luke knows he should stay away from Rio but when she is put in danger over and over again Luke just can’t walk away. When the League of the Black Swan starts sniffing around wanting information on Rio, Luke is determined to do everything he can to keep her away from danger and in his life forever.
I really had no idea what to expect from this newest series from Alyssa Day but I am happy to say that it blew me away! From the very first pages I was swept up into this new world of Bordertown and its supernatural residents of wizards, demons, goblins, fae and more. I found myself staying up late at night and sneaking away whenever I could to get back to this magical world and Luke and Rio.
Oh Luke and Rio you are everything that I want in a paranormal romance couple. Rio is smart, funny and fearless while still having a heart of gold. She sometimes does the silly thing of putting herself in harms ways to save others but she is great at making friends and not being annoying (very hard for female heroines I’ve found). Luke, Luke, Luke I just adore you and I love you are a very powerful wizard with no game and that you put your foot in you mouth so much when trying to woo Rio. Luke is so cute and awkward with Rio, something you don’t find very often, and he is now one of my favorite heroes in romance.
There are tons of side characters besides Luke and Rio that make this book so magical. Even though there was a lot going on it was never too much and it kept the story moving without getting boring. There are still a lot of secrets and mysteries to uncover in Bordertown and with the League of the Black Swan which I cannot wait to read more about. I fell in love with this world, the characters and I can’t wait to jump back into it. This is a great book for all urban fantasy and paranormal romance readers!
jaded_kitty's review against another edition
4.0
I had no idea what to expect and ended up loving it. :)