When I heard this book was being compared to Damsel by Elana K. Arnold, I knew I had to pick it up immediately, and I am so happy I did. I read this book in a single sitting because I simply could not put it down. I loved the strong feminist spin on the fairy tale genre in this book, and I thought the book covered some very important topics. I also loved the writing style, the characters in general, and the different perspectives we saw. This is a dark book, and it's an important one, and I'm very grateful I had a chance to pick it up.

Corey Ann Haydu creates another magical world full of twists in her new book Ever Cursed.
Five princesses were cursed by a witch by the spell of without. Each princess has lost something from the spell. One cannot eat, one cannot sleep, one cannot remember, and one cannot love. It is almost time for the curse to be removed, and Reagan, the witch who set the curse, will have to travel to the castle to help remove it.
This book has one of the most interesting magical systems that I have ever read. The system is so inventive and original. It was very easy to get immersed in this world and in the characters that inhabit it. The cover of the book is also gorgeous, that I kept pulling up the image to look at it.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys YA fantasy with fairy tale vibes.

The story hooks you in from the beginning due to the premise the author sets you up with from the state. What and how are they being cursed? And what is the deal with the mom? So many questions you get from the beginning. I will say thought, things get a little redundant towards the middle and the world just felt short. I wish it captivated me a little more. Characters were great, just wished it grabbed me more.

A powerful, compelling, and lusciously dark feminist story of identity and sisterhood. You really feel for Jane, Nora, Eden, and Alice's curses and root for them to win against the villain. That is...until you realize the villain is not who she seems and are thrown head first into this twist. I loved the world the most, the characters second, and, at times, wished the way the story unfolded was a smidge more engaging. BUT OVERALL, I LOVED IT.

I love how strong the sisters/princesses are and how Reagan, too, is just as much a victim of the system of this world. It really drives home how circumstances are a bit of what we make them and outside influences, but ultimately, it's our choice to accept fate or fight it.

I think I'd recommend this most to those who like more feminist leaning stories and are open to a slower pace of plot. Not all stories have to be fast paced, action-packed, and gore--and EVER CURSED really does it's own thing in a much more quietly beautiful way.

DNF’d at 50%

I tried to finish this. I really, really did. But, alas, I can’t and I finally gave up on this book after spending two weeks slogging through its pages.

I was lured into this book first by its gorgeous book cover, then its delicious plot. Sadly, I found the execution wanting. The worldbuilding was two-dimensional, hazy and boring. The magic system - witches cumbered by a new skirt after each spell they cast, the material of which varies in make and weight depending on the severity of the magic used - could have been something, but its impact was lost on me as the story continued its slow trudge.

The characters, much like the worldbuilding, was also lackluster. Aside from their respective curses of Without, I can barely separate the cursed princesses in my mind. Jane’s voice, although she was one of the two POV characters, was weak at most, nonbearing more often than not as I found her repeating the same thoughts over the 50% of the book that I managed to read.

What stood out, however, was Reagan. I love grey characters, especially righteously angry and vengeful characters. I thought Reagan was going to be one so, even when the story was slow to unfold, I stayed hoping to see what she would do to her anger.

My hope was for naught.

Maybe I shouldn’t have expected anything from her character, but I was set up by the opening chapter. Instead of the righteous anger and revenge that I was waiting to see, I got pettiness and immaturity. Reagan only ever listened to herself, filtering what others tell her and only hearing and seeing whatever it was she wanted. Though she said, many times, that she did what she had done to avenge her wronged mother, she never listened to her, never considered what she wanted or not wanted Reagan to do. I couldn’t help but believe that Reagan casted her curse on the princesses to appease her own feelings. Guilt or anger, I’m not sure, but it was all incredibly selfish.

Also, for all of Reagan’s professions of rage against the king, she was never forthcoming with the exact reason. The precursor event was alluded to and hinted at numerous times throughout the first half of this book, but nary an essential tidbit about it was directly mentioned and it just got frustrating. If the big reveal was to be done in the last half, I could only imagine it will be heaped and crammed until the end, and I’m not in for that.

Ever Cursed could have been more. It tried to tackle serious issues such as sexism and classism, which was appreciated. All the book’s flaws, however, overshadowed this intent. Still, I wouldn’t discourage anyone from picking up any book. Tastes differ, and while this book didn’t work for me, it could be what sparks the heart of another reader.

DNF after 30%. Nothing was really happening in the story at this point. The characters weren't that likable or relatable to me. Reviews noted that this was a really slow read and continued to drag for the rest of the book which pushed me to DNF.

Ohmmygod, this cover is stunning. Honestly, I had no clue what Ever Cursed was about but the cover caught my eye. Once I read the summary and it said for fans of Damsel I was sold (For those who don't know, Damsel is one of my favorite novels of all time.) My biggest issue with this book was the characters, I found them to be super unlikable. But I also felt like there was a ton of world building and magic thrown at me and not a lot of explanation, I felt as if I suppose to know all of this stuff already. Eventually it became a chore to pick up this book and I decided to just cut my losses.

I was not very impressed by this book. It was slow going and for the longest time, you could feel the dark truths but no one was saying them. I liked the women coming together in the end, what I did not like was how the story went about things. Mostly I am disappointed by this book.

2.5 Stars

Ever Cursed is a book that readers will absolutely love or wish they’d never read. Truth be told, it’s a book that deals with important subjects, but it’s also one I wish I’d never picked up.

There’s a note at the beginning of Ever Cursed from the author, Corey Ann Haydu. It notes that the book includes content involving sexual assault, and that it could be triggering for people who have/have had eating disorders. And while I appreciated the disclaimer upfront, I still wasn’t prepared for what I read.

At first, Ever Cursed comes across as a somewhat juvenile fairy tale. The characters, the world they live in, their manner of speaking — they all felt somewhat middle grade. There are hints leading up to the story’s big plot reveal **SPOILER ALERT** and then suddenly the entire book is about rape and the suppression of women. While the author doesn’t go into great detail as far as the assault elements go, it does weigh over everything else.

I wanted to leave Ever Cursed feeling vindicated, like something had changed. Instead, I finished the book with an unnerving feeling. The overall tone is that men are bad. No one wants to or is willing to change. And even the token “good man” felt one dimensional.

The token “good man” isn’t the only one who feels one dimensional. The story is told through the alternating viewpoints of Jane and Reagan. I never felt a deep connection with either, and because the supporting characters are flat, there wasn’t much to tether me.

My other problem came with Haydu’s world building — or lack thereof. I never got a sense of where and when the story took place. I initially got the feeling of a 17th or 18th century vibe, but then, all of the sudden, there’s talk of photographs, which seem completely incongruous technologically with the setting. Add to that the almost middle-grade prose where the f-bomb surreptitiously pops up, and it becomes an odd mix that never really finds its groove.

I did read Ever Cursed in its entirety. I wanted to finish. That’s a sign of a good writer. She just lost her way somewhere.

Ever Cursed is a dark book hidden inside a beautiful cover. It will bring some readers a renewed sense of peace and serve as a rallying cry to others. For me, it was the opposite. I recommend borrowing this from the library before purchasing it.

BOOK REPORT for Ever Cursed by Corey Ann Haydu

Cover Story: Ready for Bookstagram
BFF Charm: Roger Murtaugh
Swoonworthy Scale: 0
Talky Talk: Fantasy Wrapper
Bonus Factors: LGBTQ+, Sisters
Anti-Bonus Factor: Men
Relationship Status: Conflicted

Content Warning: Ever Cursed features scenes of sexual assault and implied sexual assault, as well as a main character who's cursed to be unable to eat, which might be triggering for anyone who's experienced an eating disorder.

Cover Story: Ready for Bookstagram
This cover very much looks like some of the more popular bookstagram posts I've seen. Just replace the title with an actual book and voila!

(This is not a knock on these posts or this cover. I prefer my bookstagram a bit more minimal, but I fully admit that they are visually appealing.)

The Deal:
Right before her thirteenth birthday, Princess Jane of Ever—and the rest of the women in her family—were cursed with a Spell of Without. Their mother, the queen, was trapped in a glass box, and Jane and her sisters cursed with various afflictions, all of which went into effect on their subsequent thirteenth birthdays. (Jane can't eat, Alice can't sleep, Nora knows no love, Grace can't remember, and Eden has lost all hope.) Now nearly 18, Jane can finally break the spell before it becomes True.

But the witch who cast the spell, Reagan, cast it for a very particular reason; she wanted the King to suffer. She was banned for her actions but has returned to Ever to give the princesses the opportunity of Undoing the spell, right before she herself turns 18, too. But when she realizes that the King hasn't suffered at all, she's not so sure that she wants to spell to be Undone, whatever the cost might be.

BFF Charm: Roger Murtaugh
Jane and Reagan are interesting young women who are frustrating in their naivety. They both, on the verge of 18, think they know right from wrong, but neither of them knows the whole picture, and what they think they do know has been carefully cultivated by their elders. I feel for them—it's not their fault that their parents/elders are keeping them in the dark—but neither of them questions their situations/knowledge until they're forced to do so. Even when said situation/knowledge seems really, really suspect.

I suppose I can't fault them too much for that, either, given that I as the reader was privy to a lot more information … but still. Don't be sheep, ladies!

Swoonworthy Scale: 0
Reagan's got some feelings toward her childhood friend, but he doesn't seem all that interested. And even worse are Jane's prospects, princes and princesses from other countries who are far too enchanted by the fact that she and her siblings are cursed, and treat them like objects rather than people.

Talky Talk: Fantasy Wrapper
Ever Cursed is a modern fantasy novel that acts like an old school fairy tale: It's a lesson/statement couched in a magical wrapper. I applaud Haydu's message, which is all about the power of women, non-binary folks, and allies—basically anyone who's not a card-carrying member of the patriarchy; it's a book I found myself pumping my fist for. That said, the book's also frustratingly slow to get to the point, and it's only a little more than 300 pages long. (Or maybe I just didn't have the patience to wait for it to get there?)

Bonus Factor: LGBTQ+
There are all sorts of people in Ever: gay, trans, non-binary, etc. It's lovely to read this sort of inclusion in a fantasy novel, and it never felt out of place or shoehorned in. (As it shouldn't, since non-cis people are just normal people and should be treated thusly.)

Bonus Factor: Sisters
We don't get to see too much of the Ever princesses relationships, mostly because they're all dealing with their curses and therefore not quite themselves, but Haydu does show how much Jane cares for them and how devoted to each other they are.

Anti-Bonus Factor: Men
Damn the man. And especially the man who thinks women should be kept in boxes and/or are only there to look pretty or for their amusement.

Relationship Status: Conflicted
You don't need me, Book, that much is plain to see. And I'm honestly left feeling a bit unsettled after our time together. On the one hand, that's a good thing—if you're not unsettled by topics like yours, you're not paying attention—but on the other, there's a pandemic on and a lot of unrest in the world right now, and I'm already feeling unsettled as it is. Maybe if we'd met at a different time, we'd be a better match?

I adored the feminist messages that Ever Cursed set forth. The story itself fell a bit short for me from time to time, but I absolutely appreciated the themes the author was incorporating into the book. So let's break down what I enjoyed versus what I did not so much.

What I Loved:

• Obviously, the "I am woman, hear me roar" chant is strong with this book! After so very long of being used, abused, and treated as lesser citizens, the women in this story rise up to stop the mistreatment and that is clearly fantastic.

• Getting the perspective of both parties, witch and princess, was pretty great. This way, we got to see why each character made the choices they did, and took the actions they had.

• The spells were intriguing, especially watching each of the princesses try to navigate life with them. Plus, the stakes felt certainly high, as many of them would have died had the spells become permanent.

• This is a dark book. So please do beware, there is a lot of triggering content (which is addressed by the author before the book begins). I do love me a dark story though, especially because that level of awful can be a very powerful motivator for change, and change is what the women in this book seek.

What I Didn't:

• I found the world-building to be lacking. I think maybe that was purposeful, so please keep that in mind (in the sense that "Ever" could be anywhere, if you will), but I am just too curious to not know more. That is on me, but here we are. If that isn't a huge issue for you, then you'll be fine!

• I didn't connect deeply to the characters. Of course they were going through a lot and it's probably hard to get to know someone when they're hangry from not eating for half a decade, but still. I just didn't get a sense of who they were, other than the hurt and wrong that had been done to them, which is obviously awful and provoked my sympathy, but not necessarily a true connection to them as individuals.

• Sometimes I felt like things were dragging a bit. Like- obviously there was a particular endgame at play in the plot, which was "uncurse the cursed". Beyond that, and the message of the atrocities done to so many people in the kingdom, there wasn't much else happening.

Bottom Line: Awesome message with a slightly less awesome execution, it's still worth a read if you can handle the tough subject matter.

DNF at 8%. I was really excited about this book. The premise sounded interesting and it had an absolutely beautiful cover, however coming off of the high of finishing a really amazing book Ever Cursed came off as lackluster and incredibly juvenile. I’m honestly not sure about the marketability for this book because the writing is so juvenile. I know I never would have been able to push through.

“There is more than one way to be brave.”

This is the powerful, feminist, dark fairytale I didn’t know I needed! I thought this would be like any other predictable YA fantasy, but it’s not at all — it’s so much more! The writing is beautiful and lyrical, the characters are flawed and hauntingly real, the magic is fantastical and terrifying and stifling, and the story itself is dark and doesn’t shy away from very real subjects. (Trigger warning: rape.)

This book is dark but brave. It doesn’t shy away. It doesn’t look away. It delves deeply and truthfully into the subject of rape. But it goes deeper: it shows what it’s like to not be believed, to be believed but not have justice, to have to be brave everyday, to feel like a possession, a thing for someone’s amusement, to be nothing except a pretty face and a trophy for men’s amusement. It shows all the ways women can be harmed by the act of rape: the woman who is raped and has to be brave everyday because of it, her family and friends who know and wish they could help her, and the women who turned their heads away so they wouldn’t know because it brings about an uncomfortable truth about someone they love.

Reagan’s mom mentions how “unfair it all is, to have things taken without permission.” The story elegantly connects rape with the spell that Reagan cast on the princesses; it took too a piece of them away without their permission. It’s an assault of a different kind — a magical one — and it works to bridge the real with the fantastical.

I’m so glad this book went back and forth between the POV of Reagan (the witch) and Jane (the princess). We get to see both sides to the story and we get to see how both of them grow as women in tough situations.

I love the magic in this world because it’s real and flawed and strict and stifling for the witches. There are rules for the spells that are cast and every spell that a witch casts ends up as a skirt around her forever; everyday spells are silk and chiffon whereas big spells are wool and burlap. Such a fascinating idea! It also plays into the fact that women are always burdened by their lives and their choices and can never escape them.

The only thing is that the ending felt a little rushed and didn’t feel as satisfying as I would’ve liked.

Overall, I loved this book!

Oh wow. Just wow. Firstly, I haven't read a story like this at all. I love the acceptance of a gender spectrum. I love the content warning at the beginning of the book. I love that one of the princesses was born a prince. I love the world-building and the price of magic. I love that this book addresses classism and sexism, rape and eating disorders, while having a fantastic tale of finding yourself and setting yourself free.

I’ve had a lot of trouble with fantasy and books like this recently, but this one I had no problems picking up and getting sucked into immediately. The story itself was so unique and different from most fairy tales, and even how the curses went and how the witches’ magi worked, all of it was so new and interesting. Every time something was tried to fix the original curse, it seemed something else popped in to either take its place, make it worse, or make it more understandable why the witch had made it in the first place.

And then there was the big reveal at the end, the big twist that while I got a tiny inkling of something like that being possible, but only from the clues the author laid down throughout the story, and bits of the synopsis. It was a really, really great twist. There were so many things in that end of the story that really do reflect the world we unfortunately still live in at times as women. And even how easy it is to convince others by things looking good on the surface, them refusing to see what is right under their own eyes at times because of being blinded by what someone wants them to see.

I downgraded on my blog rating to a 4.5 stars, because while I get the symbolism, I don’t like that they had to end up with never-ending daylight, because I love the night, and also that they got rid of the forest. Again, I get the symbolism, nothing to hide the dark things, but forests are good! So, those are my only, probably silly, complaints. Because this book is as beautiful and intricate as its cover!

This is not a good book. This is an important one. It's a book filled with difficult topics and the feeling of watching your hero become someone you never really knew. It's about losing faith and losing yourself.

Ever Cursed is not a good book, but it is a relevant book. It was a hard read, each new page bringing more heartache and uncomfortable memories. But it describes so many important moments from a survivor. It touches on topics that books with Princesses shy from.

Ever Cursed did not back down and delivered a poignant and sometimes harsh reality that many have lived with.

There are trigger warnings in the very beginning so please read and take care of yourself.

There are two point of views and they are explosive. Jane and Reagan are two girls from completely different walks of life and the parallels that Haydu drew between the two main characters were absolutely amazing. The book was very timely.

The #metoo movement is still going strong and Ever Cursed takes that movement and puts it in a way that perhaps is a bit more palatable to younger audiences while not taking anything away. Jane was turning a blind eye towards everything until it happened right in front of her. The way that a lot of people often turn away until it affects them.

Which is probably why it took so long to sound the alarm. Reagan probably didn’t do it correctly but she did something. She was the catalyst. Ever Cursed draws a lot of comparison from the world. The vocabulary used reminded me of the discussions after the protests, that are still going on by the way, where a lot of people were saying that doing so many protests and doing some drastic things to bring unrest to the country wouldn’t amount to anything.

Both in the book and in real life, change was brought. It gives you a bit of an inside peek into the #metoo movement. I loved it.

Ever Cursed by Corey Ann Haydu is an outstanding and lyrical feminist fairy tale. As the blurb states, it is a great combination of Damsel by Elana K. Arnold and A Heart in the Body of the World by Deb Caletti. If you've read either of those two novels, that description should give you an idea of what you're going to be in for with this new release. The story of the cursed princesses of the Kingdom of Ever is brutal and spare yet lyrical. The dual perspective between Jane, one of the cursed, and Reagan, the witch who cursed the family, is absolutely fascinating decision on the author's part. I was swept up as we begin to learn more of the details of the nature of the curse on the sisters, the cost of casting a curse on the witches, and the horrifying reason the curse was placed on the princesses. Although, this story is presented as a timeless fairy tale it still feels all too timely. Overall, I highly recommend Ever Cursed if you're looking for a tough but ultimately hopeful fairy tale. I'm going to need to try more of Haydu's work in the future.

The literary world is currently saturated with fairytale retellings. They come in many shapes and forms, whether it be inspired by, a twisted tale, or gender bent to name a few. Ever Cursed brings a uniqueness to this genre that is so pure and utterly unexpected. It is a beautifully rhapsodic tale that spins the traditional elements found in fairytales on their feminist heads.

Ever Cursed is the story of the Princesses of Ever. These five sisters are beloved by their Kingdom and their father, The Good King. They are also cursed. Each sister has been cursed to live Without one essential thing, to eat, sleep, love, remember, or hope. For the last five years, on their thirteenth birthdays the curse afflicts another sister. On the day of the youngest Princess' thirteenth birthday, they are given one chance to break the curse but all is not as it seems and Jane, the eldest Princess, must put her trust in her enemy but discovers along the way that all is not as it seems. 

I want to put it in very early on, as does author Corey Ann Haydu, that this book has elements that may be triggering for some readers. These include sexual assault and eating disorders. If any of these things are known triggers for you, I urge you to consider this before  reading both the book and this review with care, being mindful of what content is safe and comfortable for you. I will say that Haydu includes these elements, particularly sexual assault, with class and purpose and uses her platform to call them out.

The story is told from alternating points of view which is a writing style I adore. This gives the reader the perspective of Princess Jane and Reagan, the young witch that cursed her. Throughout each woman's chapters, the reader is given insight into life within the palace and in the kingdom of Ever. The beginning of the book focuses on building the layered world and at times felt a bit slow, but as you read further, you realise that the author has poetically sowed the seeds of this world and your detailed knowledge of the land and its people really come into play. 

The magic system within Ever Cursed is very unique and in my humble opinion, brilliant. I am not a fan when a magic user can wave their hands or wand and conjure a spell without any form of payment or consequence. In this story, for every spell a witch casts, a permanent skirt appears around their waist. Each skirt is a direct reflection of the type and strength of the spell it correlates to. The greater the spell, the heavier the skirt and the more the witch is weighed down by it. This physical manifestation of their magic is a constant reminder and such a poetic representation of the magic.

Ever Cursed is filled with incredibly strong and powerful women across a range of ages. It is a fairytale like no other because these women aren’t looking for the man to save them from their predicament. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Jane and Reagan are determined to break the curse together and throughout that journey to do that they learn some shocking truths about their own families and the people of Ever. These two main characters are supported by a host of passionate and powerful women. It was truly wonderful to see such an amazing cast supporting these two young women.

Haydu uses this book to call out many things. She uses the Princes from the other kingdoms and their vile behaviours and attitudes toward the Princesses to make commentary on the social treatment of young women. Their entitlement and sense of sense and power is on full display at the birthday celebration with each Prince claiming a Princess, any Princess really, in her cursed state and willing them to remain that way for the rest of their lives, despite the fact they are immensely unhappy and on the verge of death. These Prinelings are contrasted perfectly by Abbott Shine, a male feminist fighting for what is right and for a better Ever. This is where the trigger warning around sexual assault comes into play. The King is a self-entitled man who believes that his predatory actions against the women in his castle are just and that the women he preyed on wanted his advances. This call out by Haydu is refreshing and a perfect example of the vast landscape YA fiction can tackle. Consent is a huge topic of relevance in the YA reading bracket and Haydu broaches this with class and passion. Despite the Kings atrocious behaviour there is one redeeming feature to his character. His acceptance and love for his transgender daughter Princess Alice is a beautiful inclusion along with his attitude of his daughters loving who they choose.

Overall, there is a lot going on emotionally in this book. It is filled with social commentary about the society we live in and the inequality surrounding women. Haydu brazenly and unapologetically shines a feminist light on the flaws of society and it is a beautiful thing to behold. The inclusion of both strong female characters and allied male characters is something I haven't seen in other works before and it is such a breath of fresh air.

Ever Cursed is packed full of heavy topics. It is a story of family, loss, sacrifice, and pain but also love, strength, and the power that can be achieved when you fight for a common goal. This book was inspiring, refreshing and such a wonderful reading experience.

I feel like I need to preface this review by saying that, personally, I'm a little over these kinds of books. I'm not saying they aren't important, because they are, and I think they are 100% necessary. I can think of dozens of readers I would recommend them too. But for me, I'm just tired, and the real world sucks a lot, so reading another book about a society that's oppressive toward women really just weighs me down right now. I'm not sure that I would have even said this six months ago, but like I said, I'm just tired now. So, that said, I think personal preference played a huge part in what I liked and disliked about Ever Cursed, and it's why I just didn't have as much fun reading it as I'd hoped I would.

Let's start with the characters. Reagan and Jane are the main characters, and they alternate chapters in the story. I liked both, can't say that I had a favorite. They were really interesting. All of the characters in Ever Cursed were interesting, but getting a much closer look at Reagan and Jane, at what was going on in their heads, was pretty fascinating. They were so complex, and I appreciated that they were very flawed in their own ways. It made them both feel very real and very relatable. I don't know if it was intentional, but I felt like those two characters were the best tools used in the book to get important messages across. More than the story, more than the setting, more than the villain, Reagan and Jane were the true heart and soul of this book.

The world building on the other hand... it just didn't do it for me. It felt very much like a fairy tale, all surface and no depth. Facts were presented, the basis for a story was laid, and that was it. Nothing about the world building made it memorable or outstanding. It all felt very glossed over and bland to me. The book is pretty short, and I feel like minimal world building was the big contributor to that, but it didn't work for me. It didn't even help it to be a faster read, I just felt bored by the lack of depth.

The pacing was pretty good. I felt like the story was always moving forward steadily. Like I said though, it's a really heavy story at times, so despite being fast-paced, I definitely had moments where I had to step away. So I would definitely recommend keeping that in mind. This is a book I needed to be in the right frame of mind to enjoy and I just don't think I was.

Overall, Ever Cursed wasn't bad. It had great messages that really have stuck with me over the last few weeks. But I can't really say I enjoyed reading it. I just think that, with who I am and where I'm at now, this book wasn't for me.