I was utterly thrilled when NetGalley announced they had started to also make audio books available. I had only recently gotten into audio books after mostly listening to podcasts beforehand. One of the first I requested was Cursed Objects by J.W. Ocker because... well, come on! This is my first audio book review, but I will be covering many of the same points. Thanks to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review.

Cursed Objects starts out with its very own curse, warning the reader against stealing the book. This is a very wise warning as it is, as Ocker himself admits, the most comprehensive compendium of cursed objects in the world. You don't want to mess around with those. And yet Cursed Objects is full of people messing around with these objects. Why do we believe in curses and especially in cursed objects? Some objects make sense. Of course some of the rich people who owned the Hope Diamond got themselves into weird situations. Others make less sense. But how can an object make you see werewolves? Ocker makes it clear you don't have to believe in cursed objects to enjoy reading about them, nicely side-stepping the question some may go into the book with.

Cursed Objects starts if with an explanation of cursed objects and how they differ from the other paranormal objects we may be used to. It was a nice little technical section before getting into the different sections of the book which cover different types of objects. One of my favourite stories is 'The Ring of Silvianus' which is in the first section 'Cursed Under Glass', which is closely linked (at least in pop culture awareness) to Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. I was also fascinated by the last few sections that looked at the business of cursed objects and why certain objects that we might expect to be cursed aren't. It really broadened the book and added something of more interest.

Cursed Objects isn't a scary book. Those wanting to gasp out loud and be horrified may be slightly disappointed, but those wanting to hear fun stories about weird objects will feel right at home. There is a real levity to the book that I enjoyed. It's a joy to read about/listen to stories about objects from all across the world and it is very clear that Ocker has a respect for these objects and the cultures they stem from. He does his best to tread lightly and with respect wherever cultural misunderstandings are a possibility. The research that has gone into this book shows Ocker's personal commitment to the topic.

Tim Campbell is a great narrator who really brings out all of Ocker's hard work, which is everything you could ask for from a narrator. His tone is serious when discussing the more seirous aspects of these objects, but also very humorous when the book calls for it. The audio book I listened to was about 5 hours long, which is the perfect length. It is something that can be listened to in one go or dipped into occasionally for the different stories. I will definitely be going back to this and re-listening.

I absolutely adored Cursed Objects. It was a joy to listen to and I will definitely be looking for a hard copy as well. Ocker is an author I will be keeping an eye on and Campbell did a great job as a narrator.

I’m surprised to be using this word for a book about cursed objects, but this was fun. The topic was super interesting and well researched, but the author also gave it a humorous flare. It was everything I never knew I wanted from a book like this. The cursed objects often resulted in or were caused by death, so the fact that this still felt like a light and fascinating read throughout was amazing.

Not that it really matters, but I also found myself saying “WHAT??” a lot.

The narrator was an excellent complement to the writing & made for a great listening experience.

I would like to thank NetGalley, RB Media, and J.W. Ocker for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was an entertaining book filled with spooky things and the history behind them. Some of the objects are well know and others I had never heard of before. The author also has a fun sense of humor thrown in to make it lighter. Definitely a fascinating read.

This was a fun and quick read. While I knew some of the objects and stories shared, there were also tons that were new to me and have me itching to read more. Perfect research fuel and inspiration.

The low gravely voice of the narrator seems like a good choice for the narration of this book. However, the tone at the start (which I believe originates in the author’s voice) feels a little condescending toward the mystical, which might be off-putting for those who believe in mystical curses and want to read about cursed stuff.
The English theory nerd in me loves the dedication toward defining terms at the start. And yet it is done in a very accessible way—I approve. (In the first 5% it calls something a “platonic ideal” I am so nerdy for this author’s way of writing.)
The narrator has amazing pronunciation of foreign names, which I believe is a particular benefit to having the audiobook rather than the text.
Fascinating look into other cultures and their beliefs and superstitions; I appreciate that this book is not dedicated to only stories that are centered around Western European and American culture.
Not very scary but definitely interesting. A good fall read / listen for sure.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* super interesting book but ngl cant get over how weird it is to call Wisconsin a great lake state.... like i guess youre not wrong but i had to rewind and relisten to it twice bc i was so thrown off, and ive even been to where they were talking about so its was just so weird lol

Feeling spooky? "Cursed Objects" by J.W. Ocker is the perfect read to start your Halloween season. Quick, fun, and witty, this book explores your favorite stories in history in a way that gets straight to the good stuff. I highly recommend this book to individuals who tend to shy away from nonfiction. "Cursed Objects" is light, accessible, and ideal for readers who want to explore the haunted mysteries of the world without becoming too terrified. I would say this book is but a light taste of scary- the best to read right before bed.

What a fantastic collection of stories about cursed objects! I really enjoyed this audiobook and although I think the author believes more in the "nocebo effect" than he does curses, the stories still lent an eerie vibe and Ill admit, some of the talk about demons cursing dolls and those who came in contact with them made me turn it off when listening late at night, due to an extreme case of heebie-jeebies! Stories like this are just in time for everyone's spooky October needs! This went on sale Sept 15th, check it out! If you are on Netgalley, its audiobook will archive on the 30th of this month so make sure you request it asap!!

A nice collection about cursed objects in history. The writing is accessible and easy to understand without a lot of jargon cluttering it. I enjoyed the narration. Ultimately a worthwhile read, but nothing to really write home about.

Some fascinating bits (the Hope Diamond, the Dybbuk Box, the real serial killer's head on display in a Ripley's Believe it or Not!), some cheesy bits (the "were-sheep" *snicker*), some unnecessary bits (a whole bit at the end about "not cursed" objects, the placebo effect). The audiobook narrator was fantastic.

Narration: Mr. Campbell does an awesome job here; reminds me of narrators from similar unexplained mysteries TV shows and was quite enjoyable to listen to. The tone and cadence are perfect for this topic. Of course, he doesn't have to do a cast of characters (which would be the only reason he doesn't get a 5* performance).

The book was a fun survey of some famous cursed objects (Hope diamond, Tuts Tomb, et. al) and many of the fantastic stories that come with them (and where they are now in case you want to live life dangerously) ... all delivered with an irreverent sense of humor that made it extremely entertaining. After looking 'under glass' (museums), he heads into the crypt for some ghoulish fun before continuing on to grandma's attic for some more modern curses. He also covers how some of these things 'become' cursed (or at least how they get their reputation). The closest he gets to any scientific inquiry was when he picked up a 'cursed object' on eBay for a year long experiment ... which is to say that None of this is very scientific ... so check your skepticism at the door and just enjoy the trip ... which finishes up talking about weird objects that should be cursed ... but aren't.

Oh ... and don't steal this book ... it's cursed :-)

I was given this free advance review copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#CursedObjects #NetGalley #TimCampbell

Super quick and fun read! Loved listening to all the quirky stories about objects I knew were “cursed” but didn’t know the back story for. Will pick up other things by this author in the future

This book was just not for me. I can see why people will like it though. It just felt like a school textbook, listing items and a small description of why they are considered cursed.

Cursed Objects by J.W. Ocker is a very entertaining audiobook. I liked how each item was discussed individually in each chapter with location and date(s) of curses. I also enjoyed some of the funny one-liners delivered throughout. It was interesting to hear of objects I’ve heard of in the past but never knew the “cursed” history behind it.

Sections of this book were really engaging, others less so. I listened to this audiobook and probably would have enjoyed it more as an actual book or an ebook. The chapters about museums dedicated to cursed objects, for example, I would have wanted to take note of where they are located. I can't do that while driving, however, and that's where the section popped up for me.

Interesting. I like how each chapter was broken down to cover 1 item. All the stories were interesting, some of them were familiar because they had been made into movies, but many I had never heard about before. Narrator was good. It was easy to follow.

Not only was this a great book, this was a great audio experience as well. While you do miss out on the illustrations from the print book, you're really not missing out on much of anything. The narrator does an excellent job. Although some of his accents weren't all that great. Nicely paced book of spooky, weird objects.

What a wonderfully spooky, entertaining, educational, and laugh-out-loud funny book! J.W. Ocker is known as a superb tour guide for oddities and the macabre, and he upholds his reputation in fine fashion here. At the heart of this book is the conviction that reputedly cursed artifacts are great springboards for storytelling, and this really comes through in the tales Ocker weaves (complete with locations and body counts). This is the perfect book for the Halloween season!

I don't typically read non-fiction because I like weird things. Well this book had weird things, and had them in droves. Some of the cursed objects I had heard of (the Hope Diamond, Robert the Doll, the Dybbuk Box) and some that I didn't (like the Antikythera mechanism, the Black Angel of Oakland Cemetery, or Otzi the Iceman). The author is very tongue-in-cheek about some of the cursed object stories, but he seemed to have an open mind which made it more enjoyable.

The narrator was terrific. I felt like I was sitting around with some guy that liked to tell stories. Definitely worth giving it a try.

Princess Fuzzypants here: This is the first audiobook we have reviewed. Momma is old school, mainly because she is old. She loved books and it took her a long time to accept e-books. Now she loves the idea of carrying around her library in one little tablet. For us audiobooks were for commuters who wanted to do something while travelling or little old ladies like my Nanny who no longer can read.

We thought this might be a good book with which to conduct a highly unscientific test. We actually enjoyed the audiobook. The narrator was interesting. We liked his delivery as it captured the slightly tongue in cheek slant of the stories. The author is clearly not convinced that objects can be cursed but is willing to keep an open mind. More often than not, there is an explanation for the “curse” but some are left open to the imagination of the reader. This is not a book for a firm believer in every conspiracy and story ever woven. But for those of us who enjoy the trip into a nether world where much is possible, it is enjoyable.

Reviewing the book and the experience, I would give it a solid four purrs and two paws up. I might even check out more audiobooks. Maybe.