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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
tense
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
The book delivers both epic fantasy, intimate moments and (for me) a few outright cheers (and possibly a little dance when Swift/Silvan became canon. #ishipit). If you loved the first, you’ll be thrilled by how this brings everything to a mostly satisfying ending. It’s not just about magic and curses, but about love and vulnerability and how power corrupts. Totally recommend.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cursebreaker Marlow Briggs finds herself at the heart of a deadly power struggle in the city of Caraza. In the wake of a disastrous noble wedding, Marlow is rejected from the love of her life, Adrius, who vows to marry a noblewoman. She has made many enemies in the city.
Marlow remains determined to break the powerful spell that will bend all of Caraza to a new master. As Marlow draws closer to her estranged father, she questions whether he is the villain she believed him to be. He shows her how the city could be different and makes her question if he is her ally or the villain. She is being hunted by the other factions and gangs who want to have control of the city at all costs. Marlow constantly tries to avoid danger and barely saves her own skin.
This book was fast-paced and was nearly impossible to put down. I must be clear that I did not read book one and did not have trouble getting into the story, nor did I feel lost. The book gave enough backstory to keep me moving forward. As soon as I finished this audiobook, I ordered the first book. I am genuinely invested in the characters and their story. I recommend you give it a read.
I received an ARC audiobook copy from Netgalley and MacMillan Audio in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.
Marlow remains determined to break the powerful spell that will bend all of Caraza to a new master. As Marlow draws closer to her estranged father, she questions whether he is the villain she believed him to be. He shows her how the city could be different and makes her question if he is her ally or the villain. She is being hunted by the other factions and gangs who want to have control of the city at all costs. Marlow constantly tries to avoid danger and barely saves her own skin.
This book was fast-paced and was nearly impossible to put down. I must be clear that I did not read book one and did not have trouble getting into the story, nor did I feel lost. The book gave enough backstory to keep me moving forward. As soon as I finished this audiobook, I ordered the first book. I am genuinely invested in the characters and their story. I recommend you give it a read.
I received an ARC audiobook copy from Netgalley and MacMillan Audio in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.
*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review*
Unfortunately, this was a bit of a letdown for me. The first book in this duology had me feeling charmed by both the world, the romance, and the characters. I didn't really feel that here in the conclusion. There are a few reasons for this, but the primary one is that the pacing was really, really off. The author was trying to tie off too many plot threads (and even ended up missing a few in the process) that the book felt pretty bogged down. While there were some plot threads that were resolved, they ultimately didn't feel as satisfying to me because there just wasn't time to linger and let certain moments carry any poignancy before we were shuttled along to another plot point.
Because of this, I think the romance really suffered, for me at least. I think my main reason for not liking it this time around was that in the first book, Marlow did something that really broke Adrius's trust and I felt like the resolution to that never really happened in a way that was satisfying for either of their characters. In fact, it was pretty much forgotten. That, and Adrius has this weird character moment that seemed to be completely forgotten about by the ending. To be honest, I really wish that both Adrius and Marlow had either spent less time making out in secret and more time actually talking (or, honestly, maybe even just spending time apart).
I feel like there were some moments where conversations were trying to be had about power and privilege and free will, but because of the pacing, they didn't really land in the way the author wanted them to, I think.
Overall, I feel like this was just... a bit of a mess and I came out of this not really feeling like I did when I read the first book. I wasn't satisfied and I was pretty disappointed by the whole thing.
Unfortunately, this was a bit of a letdown for me. The first book in this duology had me feeling charmed by both the world, the romance, and the characters. I didn't really feel that here in the conclusion. There are a few reasons for this, but the primary one is that the pacing was really, really off. The author was trying to tie off too many plot threads (and even ended up missing a few in the process) that the book felt pretty bogged down. While there were some plot threads that were resolved, they ultimately didn't feel as satisfying to me because there just wasn't time to linger and let certain moments carry any poignancy before we were shuttled along to another plot point.
Because of this, I think the romance really suffered, for me at least. I think my main reason for not liking it this time around was that in the first book, Marlow did something that really broke Adrius's trust and I felt like the resolution to that never really happened in a way that was satisfying for either of their characters. In fact, it was pretty much forgotten. That, and Adrius has this weird character moment that seemed to be completely forgotten about by the ending. To be honest, I really wish that both Adrius and Marlow had either spent less time making out in secret and more time actually talking (or, honestly, maybe even just spending time apart).
I feel like there were some moments where conversations were trying to be had about power and privilege and free will, but because of the pacing, they didn't really land in the way the author wanted them to, I think.
Overall, I feel like this was just... a bit of a mess and I came out of this not really feeling like I did when I read the first book. I wasn't satisfied and I was pretty disappointed by the whole thing.
3.5 ⭐️ The first one was so much better and there are probably a few more plot holes in this story that should drop it lower but I loved the characters and world enough to keep it here. There were MANY MANY parts that felt rushed and magically resolved due to a time crunch, Marlow’s mother being the biggest glaring “quick fixes” of the bunch, and I’m really disappointed in the relationship building of Marlow and Adrius in this one. I was hoping that they would figure out how to work well as a team or do some deeper trust building since Marlow betrayed Adrius in such a deep way in the first book but it really just became a lot of “all I can think about when we are apart is how much I want to be with them” and “I want nothing more than to feel their lips on mine” troupe.
However, I loved this story and the characters. I found myself in love with the world that was created enough to simply just enjoy the book. The 1920s style feel for rival gangs and the curses and amazing relationships among friends had enough hold for me to just have a fun read. There was just enough danger and that “doing the wrong thing for the right reason” type villain that just made it enjoyable. I loved how the collecting of ingredients for the spell sent them on crazy side quests and even how each of the character invested a piece of themselves into a spell that could save the world. Was it a masterpiece? No… but did I thoroughly enjoyed it and would I recommend it as a YA romantacy to anyone who asked? Absolutely.
However, I loved this story and the characters. I found myself in love with the world that was created enough to simply just enjoy the book. The 1920s style feel for rival gangs and the curses and amazing relationships among friends had enough hold for me to just have a fun read. There was just enough danger and that “doing the wrong thing for the right reason” type villain that just made it enjoyable. I loved how the collecting of ingredients for the spell sent them on crazy side quests and even how each of the character invested a piece of themselves into a spell that could save the world. Was it a masterpiece? No… but did I thoroughly enjoyed it and would I recommend it as a YA romantacy to anyone who asked? Absolutely.
adventurous
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:
No