When I saw this title come through I was SO EXCITED to get to listen and review it!

When the Netflix show first came out I couldn’t wait to give it a watch because it looked right up my alley. I made it through about three episodes before I had to give up because it just wasn’t grabbing me (I have several reasons, if you want to hear them and talk about the show hit me up on instagram and we can chat) I kept having the thought that the book would be better, be able to expand on the things I felt the show glossed over. So naturally when I got the chance to listen to the audiobook I jumped at the chance to dive in and get the answers I was hoping for.



Sadly, that didn’t exactly happen.



Let me be perfectly clear, this story is NOT BAD… it’s just not everything I was hoping it would be. I feel like the story (and subsequently the show) could have used a little bit longer in the creative oven to finish getting fully baked. At every turn, where I was expecting them to take an awesome leap, they took a baby step instead.

I am a total sucker for Arthurian legend and retelling, so I went in wanting to love this story. Cursed is a unique take on the legend of Arthur focusing on a strong-willed girl, Nimue, and her quest to fulfill her mother’s dying request against all odds. Set in post-Roman times in the fledgling British Isles before there was a single English King, this story builds on Celtic oral histories and legendary tales of Druids to build the unique world this story exists in.

I think what really did this story in, is the fact that it was optioned by Netflix before the book was actually written. It feels very much like it doesn’t know what it is trying to be…. is it a novel? is it a graphic novel based on a show? a graphic novel meant to be the basis for a show? and honestly… it ends up feeling like a bit of all of them, and none of them.

I WANTED to love this story, I really did, but it just didn’t live up to its potential. That being said, it has some solid action, and Nimue’s story and growth have merit. All in all I just felt like this book was…. fine. As far as the narration goes, Katherine Langford did a commendable job for someone not familiar with the book narration side of things.

Breakdown:
Overall 3
Story 3
Narration 3