This book was ok. I was really intrigued are the beginning, especially with Nimue’s parts and I loved the aspect of the Hidden. Unfortunately as the book went on I lost interest. There were several different storylines and the only one I was really interested in was Nimue’s.
I requested this book from netgalley because it is slated to be a Netflix show next year and I thought it would be fun to have read the book before the show came out. It seemed like it was a book written about a show (almost like a script) instead of a book having a show based on it (if that makes sense). I think it will make a better show than a book.
Like I said before, I liked the aspect of the Hidden and it seemed so prominent at the beginning of the book, but it basically stopped being talked about and I forgot it was even a part of the book until it popped back up near the end.
I’m not 100% familiar with the story of Arthur, but I feel like this book wasn’t really a retelling. I recognized the names from the original story, but it seemed like it didn’t follow the original story at all.
Overall it was good enough for me to read the whole thing although it took me probably an hour to read the last 5% just because I wasn’t interested enough to sit down and read it. I think the show will end up being good, so I can’t wait to watch it!

I liked that this was a different take on the King Arthur/Lady of the Lake story, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I know it’s also going to be a Netflix show, and I’m not sure which one came first, but it felt like someone watched the show and was writing what happened as they watched it. I’ll probably still give the show a try, but I felt like the book left a lot to be desired.

Thanks to NetGalley for sending me a copy of this to review! I had heard about the book at BookCon, and it sounded intriguing. A King Arthur retelling, gender swapped. Admittedly, I'm only vaguely familiar with the King Arthur story. But this was an enchanting retelling, nonetheless!

I'll start out by saying I can't wait to see the finished copy so I can see the finished illustrations. I think they'll definitely add a lot to the story; a magical element that's missing without the finalized art. As far as I can tell, they supplement the story really well and help to create the atmosphere Wheeler has created in the story.

Seeing familiar characters also really helps to bring the story to life. However, there were times where I found it a tad difficult to follow the story, and I wonder if it would have helped if I was more familiar with the original King Arthur. There were characters that I recognized, but I couldn't remember how they fit into the original. But, they're well-rounded characters that you're cheering for in the end, pulling you into this magical world that Wheeler has created.

After a bit of research, I've also learned that this isn't necessarily a retelling, just telling the story from a different lens. Would I have rathered a female version of King Arthur? Yes, I think so. However, I did enjoy Nimue's story, and her dedication to helping her people. She was the focal point of the book, and she shined throughout. I'm curious about the Netflix adaptation, because the overall book definitely read like a movie. It definitely lends itself to an onscreen adaptation.

There's also a lot of history in the book, which helped me to learn about the time period the book was set in. An overall enchanting story, just a bit different than I expected.

I'm going to be quite honest here, I haven't read any of the original Arthur legends but I know the gist of it from my friend (who, bless her soul, endured all my questions). .

To start off, the author is a screenwriter so naturally this book reads like one which was something I personally wasn't too fond of. I understand it's going to be a Netflix series so it's pretty obvious it'll be like a script, but I don't remember it being advertised as one. Also, this isn't a "gender-bent" retelling of the legend, instead it's being rewritten through the perspective of Nimue. I also want to point out that there are triggers, especially within the first few chapters, so if violence against women triggers you, I would stay clear.

Besides that, the book is written through different points of view and after a while it's hard to tell if they're all part of the same story or not. Sort of felt like they were off wandering on their own and I'm left wondering if they'll get to the same point. The "climax" was a bit underwhelming - when it came to I was just left like "well.. okay then."

However, I did enjoy the illustrations so props to the artist. To end, if you're a fan I would hold off until the series comes out.

This is a fun, fast paced book that just needs a little more. A little more back ground, a little more character development. I enjoyed the book just wished for more depth. I enjoyed the illustrations by Frank Miller. I will check out the series on Netflix. If you like Arthurian legends and fast paced adventures I think you will like this one.

Cursed is a fresh take on the Arthur/Sword in the Stone/Lady of the Lake mythos. Nimue is a Fey, suddenly thrust into a rebellion between Man-Blood and Fey kind. The religious order of the Red Paladins are sweeping through Fey towns, burning their elders at the stake and torturing the survivors that they find. Arthur is a human who feels kinship with Nimue, but not enough to risk his own skin. Nimue picks up allies and enemies on her way to meet the has-been magician Merlin.

Cursed is an Arthurian retelling.

Overall, I thought the story was well-paced. It was action-packed, engaging, and eventful. I found the last half of the story a lot more intriguing than the first half due to the story-building. It was like everyone was meeting at the same place and battle would soon ensue.

I felt like the story lost a little of the grandeur that we see in our original tale of Arthur. Everyone is a little dumbed-down, or maybe just not as invincible as we are shown. Merlin is a drunk, Nimue is the new Arthur, Arthur is the lovesick dog, and Lancelot is probably my favorite character. The real stars of the show and most relatable were the side characters: Lancelot, Iris, and Morgan. I want to know so much more about those characters than the protagonists. Iris is so interesting!

I'll be honest, probably my biggest complaint is the artwork. I found it a bit creepy :/ And it reminded me of a kid drawing on an Etch-A-Sketch (harsh, I know! But that was what I kept thinking of every time I saw the artwork). I think the story would've been better without it because I felt like I was looking at the same picture thirty different times and Nimue looked like a dude.

There is a lot of potential for more stories, or spin-offs to come from this original novel. I can see a lot of readers being interested in our side characters potentially having a larger role in the series. One thing missing for me was the world-building. We see some description of the characters, but I couldn't clearly picture any of them. I would like to see more description of the dress, landscape, and characters.

Cursed is the story of "coming of age". It is a story of friendship, survival, deceit, and acceptance. Being as the author is a screenwriter, I can definitely see this becoming a popular show on Netflix and the novel gaining momentum in the months to come.

It's been a while since I've read an Arthurian legend retelling and I went into this with so much anticipation. The story itself was original enough in its "unique twist" but the story read like the background of the writer - a screenplay. The attention wasn't as focused on elements that we would normally pay attention to in a fictional novel. The character development on page wasn't overwhelming impressive but I can see how it can translate well to screen. Overall, this book was a mediocre read but I am very excited to see how the story unfolds in a different media.

This story is another Arthurian retelling. And I have to say that I was fairly disappointed in it. It tried to take things from other stories such as the Lord of the Rings and the Throne of Glass series and do something with it all and well for me it just didn't work out all that well. The opening started ok but by the middle I was trying to figure out what in the world this book was trying to do. It does nothing with the time period either. I know this one is going to Netflix and at least for me it seems like this one might come over better on the screen than it did on paper. I will most likely check it out when it starts.

Overall, this book tried to hard to be great.

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I really wanted to love this book because the premise seemed really interesting and I love a good Arthurian tale, but I didn't feel all that connected to the characters. I never felt fully interested in the story. This may have been due to the writing style which was very choppy at times.

However, I am excited for the Netflix show because I think it could be a really good adaptation of this story!

I really liked this book. The writing was very witty. It was an interesting prequel to the legend of Arthur which I love.

I did not care for this book. I can usually immerse myself in a story and read for long stretches without interruption, but that was not the case this time. I'm not sure if it was the characters, or the storyline, but I could not finish it.

As a middle school teacher I am constantly looking for new books that will entice teenagers to read. I also like to find books that take on old material that I still believe my students should be exposed to, but will probably not be into if I used the original source material. I was very excited to receive a galley of Cursed for these reasons and also, because it has been optioned by Netflix to become a series.

KING ARTHUR’S COURT
Cursed brings us into the Arthurian Tales, but with a new spin to it. We learn that there is a sword in the stone and that whomever pulls it, will become the new king of the realm. What everyone was not prepared for is that the chosen one may very well not be a man at all. What if that new ruler was, in fact, a queen?

A DARK DRUID RISING
Nimsue is an outcast in her Druid village. She is frequently drawn to the dark arts and it leaves her feeling alone and also feared by her fellow villagers. When her village is attacked and ultimately slaughtered by the Red Palladins, Nimsue, becomes charged to bring back the ancient sword to a powerful sorcerer as her mother lays dying.

Teaming up with a mercenary named Arthur and refugee Fey Folk from across England, Nimsue is on a mission to save her people and avenge her mother’s death. The visuals are amazing throughout and the style of the story will keep students reading.

However, the book reads more like a screenplay in that it jumps quickly from scene to scene and is clearly written for its eventual Netflix debut. This can either be confusing for students or it could keep their attention with the choppiness of the writing. I think it would heavily depend on the audience in your classroom.

When this series eventually does come to Netflix, it could be really helpful in creating interactive lessons around the story versus the Netflix episodes. Students will love the visuals which really brought this book to life for me.

BOOK INFORMATION
Cursed by Thomas Wheeler will be available for purchase on October 1, 2019 from Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers with ISBN 9781534425330. To be linked to special pre-ordering pricing click the link at the top of this section. This review corresponds to an advanced electronic galley that was supplied by the publisher in exchange for this review.

It was a little gory but it enjoyed it. I liked the characters. I feel like I need to brush up on Arthurian legend. I am eagerly awaiting a second book.

I really like Arthurian Myth, and I haven't read a lot of retellings (save for Avalon High by Meg Cabot which is amazing), so I was really excited to get my hands on this book. I think this book has an interesting take because it pulls in a lot of the myths but also puts it in the backdrop of how Christianity started to take over. It really focuses a lot on how pagans and people of other religions were straight up hunted down by the church. It's definitely an interesting take on the myth, but in the historical context it makes a lot of sense.

I kind of love that in this retelling the hero is actually Nimue...not Arthur. Girl is a BAMF, and I loved watching her grow in strength. She went from a young girl who didn't want any responsibly, but ends up as the person who can stop the war. I also enjoyed that Merlin is kind of written as a drunk in this book. It made me laugh. That's not really a spoiler, but he has some interesting things about him in this one.

This book also has some illustrations along with the printed words which are done by Frank Miller. Miller is pretty big in the comic world, so he might sound familiar to you. I have to admit...I don't think I really care for his illustration style. I think I will get a lot of hate for that, but I just don't think it's for me. The artwork in here didn't really appeal to me all that much, but if you are a Miller fan you will probably really enjoy it.

My only big obstacles with this book was the ending! It ends on a big moment, that just felt so incomplete to me. I'm not sure if this is just one book and its going to be a series. The ending just felt a little flat to me.

I think if you like Frank Miler or are interesting in Arthurian myth you will enjoy this one!

*I received a review copy of this book via the publisher Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing via Netgalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Can you ever have too many Arthurian retellings? The magic, the characters, the intrigue, all with a different spin, which is what Thomas Wheeler has done with his own sense of flare and creative license.

CURSED has the plot, the bones and some pretty original thoughts, but something was just off for me, maybe that special spark that fantasy brings to a story. Expect to see characters in a completely different light, some positive, some, not so much. Told through Nimue’s point of view, we see everyone through a different light and heroes of old become something less, something not exactly larger than life.

I felt I was being fed more of a visual tale, less of a story, could that be because this is designed for commercial viewing and not as a book for mental viewing and imagination? This tale skimmed the surface of what could have been a very deep pool of creativity.

So, yes, you can have too many Arthurian tales, but only when they miss the mark of magic! 2.5 Stars

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. My honest review is voluntary.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster's for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book is what drew me to want to read the ARC, but instead of an enticing story I got a letdown. Due to the choppy writing style, I could not get into the story or really appreciate any of the characters.

It's an amazing concept with the female twist on the King Arthur legend if the writing weren't such a drag.

Reading this book and knowing it’s going to be a Netflix series, I was so excited. I’ve always loved Arthurian stories and anything that has to do with that stuff.
The characters were really well developed and I liked the plot. Overall I gave it 4/5 stars!

I'm not very knowledgable with the Arthurian tales other than being a big fan of Disney's The Sword in the Stone. So going into this story, I didn't have much knowledge about characters and how they normally are portrayed. With that being said, I have no idea if this story would be better or worse for those who are more in-depth with Arthurian lore.

The story was nice, I liked the magic and Fey folk and how they were put into the story. I also enjoyed the different personalities of the characters. A lot of the characters were cute and I liked some of the relationships but as far as character building, I wasn't really attached to any of them. They were cute and I liked some of the humor but I never gained a strong feeling for any of them.

The plot was very strange for me as I wasn't sure what the point actually was and I wasn't very happy with how it ended either. I believe there is supposed to be another book so maybe the continuation of that one will make this ending better.

Everything about the book for me was pretty average. Average characters and events and writing style. No spectacular visuals and descriptions, just ya know. Average. Although I will say I feel like the Netflix series is going to be pretty good so I am looking forward to that.

I was by no means bored with the story, It's still pretty good I just wish I would have gotten more excitement from it, really.

Though I don’t typically review this type of story, I thought it might be good to this time. Especially since it will soon be showing on Netflix. However, it just wasn’t a good fit. Even though I really tried to get involved in the story, the writing felt choppy and I was only periodically interested.

Basically, Nimue’s village is ransacked and she becomes an orphan. But before her mother dies, she gives Nimue a mission: to hand off the sword to Merlin. If this type of story appeals to you, I think it’s probably a good one to check out. And I have to admit, as a Netflix series, I might really find it interesting. But as a book, not so much.


What Concerned Me:
I had a very hard time connecting with the writing, probably more so than the story.

What I Liked Most:
I’m anxious for this to appear on Netflix. As a show, I may really like it.