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A review by jkneebone
From Bad to Cursed by Lana Harper
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A delightful sequel to Payback’s A Witch, that follows Isidora Avramov (Talia’s younger sister) and Rowan Thorn (Linden’s twin brother/the Thorn scion) as they have to overcome their past dislike of each other in order to work together to investigate a dangerous hex that was cast on one of Rowan’s cousins.
This book was super fun! Issa as a narrator was a delight to read. I loved the world of Thistle Grove in book 1, and I loved how Harper expanded it in this book - both by showing us more about how the Avramovs and the Thorns live, and by bringing us to a different season (springtime! Beltane!).
I enjoyed the Issa and Rowan romance and how we got to see them choose to move past their differences and learn to work together. I was also super drawn into the mystery aspect of the plot - it definitely kept me guessing (and worried!) til the end. My only gripe was with the language which at times felt overly trendy - I didn’t notice that in book one but maybe it bothered me more here? I dunno. It reads like it’s going to sound outdated in a few years, but I guess there’s nothing wrong with that style. Overall, a super enjoyable read that definitely continues the trend of book one - if you liked that one, you’ll like this one!
This book was super fun! Issa as a narrator was a delight to read. I loved the world of Thistle Grove in book 1, and I loved how Harper expanded it in this book - both by showing us more about how the Avramovs and the Thorns live, and by bringing us to a different season (springtime! Beltane!).
I enjoyed the Issa and Rowan romance and how we got to see them choose to move past their differences and learn to work together. I was also super drawn into the mystery aspect of the plot - it definitely kept me guessing (and worried!) til the end. My only gripe was with the language which at times felt overly trendy - I didn’t notice that in book one but maybe it bothered me more here? I dunno. It reads like it’s going to sound outdated in a few years, but I guess there’s nothing wrong with that style. Overall, a super enjoyable read that definitely continues the trend of book one - if you liked that one, you’ll like this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content