3.5 stars

When an evil and dangerous magic is threatening the local Beltane festivities and targets the Thorn family, the Avramov family is quickly marked as suspects. To clear their name, Isidora Avramov agrees to team up with her rival, Rowan Thorn to investigate the evil acts of magic. While unraveling the mystery the unlikely pair find their growing attraction to each other harder to ignore.

Did I ever enjoy being back in Thistle Grove!! I was equally as happy to see many familiar faces from book 1 have a role in this 2nd installment even though the story follows two new characters, Issa Avramov & Rowan Thorn.

The enemies to lovers trope was quite well done in this one, with hot chemistry between Issa & Rowan. I honestly couldn't put this book down!

I enjoyed how easily I could connect with Issa as well. She has panic attacks and struggles with her place in life. It felt so real and made it so easy to feel for her and connect to her character.

This read has some great diversity and representation. Add in a mystery, witches, and ghosts- this was right up my alley. If you enjoy these things, I'd definitely recommend this fun and easy to read story!!

*Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC (ebook) in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

From Bad to Cursed is the sequel to Payback’s a Witch, a series of companion novels that take place in the charming town of Thistle Grove. Thistle Grove is a special place, filled with cute shops, friendly people, and the feeling of magic in the air. Literally. Unknown to the “normies” of the town, the four founding families are all modern day witches who get their magic from the power source in the lake nearby. These families have worked together to protect the town for generations, despite them not always getting along. Such is the case for the Thorns and the Avramovs. The Thorn’s practice Green magic, light and healing and good vibes only. Meanwhile the Avramovs are necromancers, practitioners of Death magic. The two families are complete opposites to each other, and therefore have had a rivalry spanning hundreds of years. Our main characters, Isidora Avramov and Rowan Thorn, have taken this rivalry to the next level due to the rocky past they share, and have barely tolerated each other’s presence for years. But when a member of the Thorn family is viciously attacked by an unknown person using Death magic, Isidora and Rowan are forced by their leaders to work together to find the culprit. What follows is a hilarious romcom filled with laugh-out-loud insults and roasting, drunken adventures, a magical mystery, and a softening between the two characters so slow and reluctant that it will melt your heart while making you laugh hysterically at the same time.

After reading Payback’s a Witch last year and falling in love with the town of Thistle Grove, I was so excited that Lana Harper was planning on revisiting this world. And she did not disappoint! From Bad to Cursed was such a fun romantic comedy (heavy on the comedy), and I had a wonderful time reading it. It was unexpectedly hilarious and had me laughing at nearly every moment, but still with a romance that had me smitten from page one.

The characters are easily the best part of this book, especially our main characters and the budding romance between them. I bought the chemistry between our love interests immediately, well before they even admitted it to themselves. The attraction between them, both physical and emotional, was palpable and left me so excited to see how things were going to develop. From page one, the two spend every moment together hurling insults, but even before they start to actually like each other, it was never done with malicious intent. They make each other laugh, although they both try their hardest to hide the fact that they think the other is hilarious. This is very much an enemies to reluctant friends to lovers trope, which is easily one of my favourite tropes in romance, and one that I don’t see often enough.

The setting and atmosphere is just as good as it was in the first book. I was a little worried at first when I realized that this book takes place in the spring, as the fall setting in the first book was so perfect for Thistle Grove. But the magic is still just as present, and it ended up having a more cottagecore/forest witch feeling to it, which I just adored. I loved the descriptions of their festivals and yearly rituals that they were doing throughout the book; it was so much to learn more about the history of the witches and see more of what they’re all about. I really love the magic system in this world! We got to see more of it in this book, and got to watch Isidora and Rowan explore each other’s magic and teach each other about it. It was fascinating to see the different sides to their magic, and get a more in depth look at how it worked for them, as well as the similarities and differences between them.

In terms of plot, this was possibly the weakest aspect of the story but it was still enjoyable! Rowan and Isidora have to uncover the mystery of who cast the hex that hurt Rowan’s family, and so they have to interview people, follow clues, and try to piece things together. I did find it to be fairly predictable, and even the plot twist at the end didn’t surprise me in the least. I hadn't fully guessed what was going to happen, but I did have a general idea of where the plot was going that ended up being correct. But even with the plot not being the most inventive thing that I’ve ever read in my life, I was okay with that as I was more here for the romance anyways.

Overall, From Bad to Cursed was a fantastic addition to The Witches of Thistle Grove series, and I ended up giving it four stars. It was fun, fast paced, steamy, and just generally a good time. I could definitely see this one becoming one of my favourites in the romance genre!

If you are a fan of the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina- you'll love this. And that I am!! It was easy to read, even though I didn't read the first book (yet)

I wasn't a fan of the AAVE and pop culture references as much though- just personal preference!

It was a <b>huge</b> surprise for me! I enjoyed this book <b>so much</b>. There was just something about it that worked for me; but hadn’t quite worked for me in the first book. Maybe this is a sign I need to go back and try the first book again!

Issa was a brilliant character and I <b>LOVED</b> everything about her. She was such a nuanced character, and one that I think people will relate to. (Even if we don’t have any witchy powers, sadly). Issa and her relationship with her family was lovely. The way Harper played out her sisters and her relationship, as well as the relationship with her mother was so well done. I loved that side plot and how it contributed to the book.

And Rowan was SO SO <b>adorable</b>. I loved when he was being so gentle and caring. It made me melt. We didn’t get as much relationship with Rowan and his family, but I like how Harper showed that Issa and Rowan had good, but different, relationships with their parents.

Oh, did I mention that this was an enemies to lovers romance? No? It is. And it is <b>well done</b>. One thing I really appreciated about this book is that miscommunication isn’t a huge trope, but done here, it was done <b>right</b>. I was very impressed with Harper for that.

This isn’t what I would call a super spicy book, it has a few spicy scenes, but by and large the book is focused on the mystery and the relationships between the characters. There are a few plot points that made me laugh, and I just loved how it was opposites attract romance too. Rival families…it pretty much hit on all the things I love.

Harper is also a great writer. It’s bliss to read this book, because the cadence and the pace of the book. Also, there is an atmosphere to this book. It reminds me of a cozy mystery, but with witches. And diversity.

There were a few important conversations had in this book regarding racism and prejudice (Rowan is a Black man).

Talia and Emmy were back (briefly) in this one, so we heard how much they were into each other. It was adorable! (I really do plan to go back and read the first book…)

I will say, Issa felt like such a strong character, but she hits a point in this book where she becomes overwhelmed. I loved the representation of anxiety and trying to deal with it on your own because you’re supposed to be “strong”.

Overall, this was a fantastic read and I highly recommend that you add it to your shelves! I know I want to!

P.S. the title is so cute too. I totally forgot I had DNF’d Paybacks a Witch until I requested this ARC, got approved and went to look. This is what happens when pretty covers and cool descriptions are briefly looked at, and not read all the way through. I guess I didn’t realize this was a sequel. 🙈

I just loved From Bad to Cursed! After a tragic curse hits a witch during a honored celebration in Thistle Grove, demon summoner Issa Avramov and noble do-gooder Rowan Thorne are forced to team up to investigate what happened. This enemies to lovers is so fun. There is something just so good too about Lana Harper’s writing. It’s descriptive and immersive, and I love the magic and the community built in Thistle Grove. While it is a sequel to Payback’s a Witch, this can definitely be read as a stand-alone too, but I did love seeing all these characters again. I also really loved the romance. Issa and Rowan are so different, so I loved the them being forced together to look into what happened and work through their initial impressions of each other. They’re sharp and witty, and their chemistry is so good! They’re characters that challenge each other and I liked watching them get to know each other. I do with there has been a little more vulnerability to Rowan and we could’ve gotten to know him a little more. The story was very Issa focused. But Issa! She is a wonderful narrator, and I liked her own conflict she had with her own family. She is sarcastic and funny and her family relationships were so sweet. I really loved the mystery in this too, the magic system in this series is amazing, with each family having their own specific brand of magic. Overall, just a great read and I can’t wait for the next one to come out!

Isadora & Rowan are two witches tasked with solving a problem in their small, witch-filled, town of Thistle Grove, but first have to come to terms with their own issues. Picking up shortly after the end of book 1, this book builds on characters we briefly meet and goes much more in-depth into the stories/history of the towns families. You will fall in love with these characters and their love story! I enjoyed this book even more than book 1 and fully recommend checking this one out!

Thistle Grove’s annual Beltane celebration is disrupted when one participant is robbed of her magic and seriously harmed by a necromantic curse. As the victim’s cousin, Rowan Thorn is determined to find the culprit. The prime suspects are members of the Avramov family, who specialize in necromancy. To prove her family is innocent, Isidora Avramov, black sheep and demon summoner, reluctantly becomes Rowan’s co-detective. Unfortunately, Rowan and Issa have been archenemies ever since Rowan got Issa banished from volunteering at the local animal shelter. While the two hunt down clues together, their preconceived notions about each other, their families, and their magics are challenged, and both are unsettled to discover desire replacing animosity. When another necromantic curse almost kills Rowan, Issa saves him and opens up her heart and her secrets to him.

VERDICT Harper (Payback’s a Witch) continues “The Witches of Thistle Grove” series strong, delivering a second installment packed with mystery, danger, lots of love-to-hate-you foreplay, family drama, and an identity crisis thrown in. Sound like a lot? It is, but still oh so fun. Highly recommended.

LJ starred review

Thank you so much to Berkley for an advanced copy of From Bad to Cursed. This book was so good!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Pub Date: May 17, 2022

I can't believe I'm about to type this...but I liked From Bad to Cursed so much more than Payback's A Witch (and I really liked PAW!).

I thought the story in this one just flowed from start to finish, and the family feud aspects gave me Romeo and Juliet vibes that I loved. And, the chemistry between Issa and Rowan was intense and written to *chef's kiss* perfection. I thought the enemies to lovers aspect was thrown in in just the perfect way, and it kept me glued to the pages. If you're looking for something to binge read during Halloween, this series is the perfect choice.

If you liked ETL, fantasy, family feuds, etc, this book is for you.

Before I begin, I would like to start with a disclaimer that I have not read the first novel in this series. However, I found this book to be accessible to new readers, and, while reading the first book would likely have made this one easier to understand, it wasn't super hard to follow with limited background knowledge.

This is one of those books that gets better the longer you read it. At first, I really wasn't sure about it, but I slowly grew more and more invested in the plot. It was light and easy to read, and I ended up reading the whole thing over the course of a day. The pacing was nice and quick and the plot progressed smoothly. While the beginning was a bit of a drag, things picked up soon after and I felt more invested in the character and plot as time went on.

Though I found her to be cringe at times, I did relate to the protagonist, Isidora. I definitely connected with her on feeling as if you don't have a sure place in the world. In addition, I liked that she had anxiety and panic attacks –– the author's description of a panic attack was really spot on, in my opinion, and it is always wonderful to see good mental illness representation in books.

The absolute worst part was the constant use of modern references or conversational slang that just felt out of place/cringe-worthy. I cringed every time the families called each other "sis" or "coz" (and no, it's not better when they do it in Russian, because it just becomes ses). I don't think I've ever called my siblings "bro" or "sis" so I really don't know why this is a thing I've seen in more than one novel, not just this one. And there were SO MANY astrological references, like "oh, what a taurus thing to say" like?? Even Isidora's narration/thoughts as the book goes on is hard to read at points. It's a bit difficult to get through –– especially with phrases like "Holy f*cking spaceballs, Batman" –– but it wasn't so terrible that I couldn't read the novel, just that it took me out of the story a few times.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this one. If you're looking for a fun, easy-to-read romance with fantasy elements, then this is likely right up your alley. 3 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

The next installment in the Witches of Thistle Grove focuses on Issa Avramov and Rowan Thorn and how they come together to figure out the mystery behind who attacked the Thorn family before Beltane. For all intents and purposes, this is an enemies-to-lovers tale that focuses on not just overcoming a 'professional' rivalry but also a lot of deep-seated family history between the two as they uncover the mystery.

I think I actually enjoyed this book more than Payback's a Witch. I am a sucker for the enemies-to-lovers trope and watching two characters who seem so different find common ground. Rowan is so adorably straight-laced that it hurts sometimes, and Issa definitely plays a bit more fast and loose. I loved seeing that dynamic play out between the two of them. I loved Rowan's comforting nature and I loved how Issa shook up his rigid lifestyle.

Overall, decent read if you're into witchy things (which I am!) and steamy enemies-to-lovers books that leave little to be desired.

I liked this one slightly less than the first, partly because of places where I felt uncomfortable with the white author writing the Black characters using AAVE. Overall, I continue to enjoy the world Harper is building.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC

Exceedingly average follow-up to Payback's a Witch. I think the series is moving toward cookie-cutter romcom that does not appeal to me. Nothing about the mystery, characters or even the setting enticed me. I found the banter between Issa and Rowan to be cringey from the start which ruined my ability to invest. Suffice to say that in a couple days I won't be able to tell you a single thing that happened in this book.

I liked Payback's a Witch but I think I like From Bad to Cursed Better. I love Romeo and Juliet retellings and I consider this to be one! Issa and Rowan had enough chemistry to really carry it through and I love the further development of the Thorns and Avramovs, as well as more of Thistle Grove. This book was sooooo funny and honestly, the perfect rom-com within a cute fantasy setting. The murder mystery aspect of the book was just okay but I really wanted a quick and easy read as well as a dive back into this world so I was not disappointed! I love, love, love witchy stories and this is a nice springtime component to the Thistle Grove series whereas the other felt more like a fall/spooky season read! Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for this ARC!!

This delicious enemies-to-lovers romance successfully follows in the footsteps of its predecessor. Once again, Harper created all of the whimsical modern-day life problems of a contemporary rom-com wrapped delightfully in the intrigue of a paranormal romance and tied it up in a bow of fun characters that feel like real people that I want to be friends with. Not only is this book eminently readable, but every page is fun to read. Issa is a funny and fresh narrator and while (like most romances) the end was comfortingly predictable, the little foreshadowed hints about the mystery element were well done. Not only was the mystery well written, but so was the enemies-to-lovers plotline. Unlike many examples of this trope, the burgeoning romance between Issa and Rowan never felt rushed or out of left field, and clear communication and consent won the day (and my heart). The book was steamy but not overly explicit with the clear focus being on the characters' romantic feelings as they developed. Just as last October, I once again find that I am impatient for the next book in this lovely series. Harper's Thistle Grove continues to be a delightful, diverse, spooky paradise that I cannot wait to visit again.
I received an ARC of this book.

I feel so lucky to have been able to read this gem early. This book was everything I was looking for. It gave the perfect amount of autumnal vibes with all the witchy vibes. The main character Isidora is fierce, funny, and a little stubborn. She is so lovable because she isn’t perfect. She is fiercely loyal which I love. It also makes her the perfect match for her enemy Rowan who is equally stubborn and loyal. I just wish the book was longer I need more of Thistle Grove!

One of the things I most enjoyed about this was the fun dialogue between Isidora and Rowan. It was so funny seeing them roast each other. I also loved the representation, like Isidora’s panic attacks and how Rowan is Black with Irish history. He’s also so good with plants omfg I love guys who are soft gardeners.

I also think this was just as good as the first book in the series, especially as there were more mystery aspects mixed into the romance and the magical systems were brought up more in depth.

Overall this was very fun and cutesy but I think the incorporation of pop culture references and corny internet/Twitter-esque slang and the mention of Tiktok was kind of eh, but I understand what the author was trying to do with modernizing the witches and lifestyles!

I can’t wait to pester all my friends into buying this book. They’re going to be in for a treat (just look at that gorgeous cover!)

I was a huge fan of Payback is a Witch and to come back to Thistle Grove (EARLY!!!) was so exciting!!
I adored the characters so much and to see this one focuses on Issa and Rowan in a very tense and exciting enemies to lovers scenario had be craving more each day!!

I think this one even topped Payback is a Witch for me, and I can't wait to tell everyone to buy it when it's in stores. The witches of Thistle Grove honestly just keep on giving. I love all the characters and the atmosphere so much.

10/10

If there was ever a book that deserved a good ol' LiveJournal-era keymash of excitement, it would be this one. Issa is a delight; thorny, but soft, and eager to make something of herself. Rowan is kind and funny, yet protective. They work so well together. And Harper really lets the mystery shine over the romance, which makes this book even more fun.

This was a solid follow up to Paybacks A Witch. It was a little slower paced because the element of the tournament was taken out of it but it was nice to experience another season of the year in Thistle Grove. The back half of it really gripped me and it very much stuck the landing. I am really looking forward to more of this series and the expansion of Thistle Grove.

Enemies to lovers + forced proximity + witchy romance + one of my favorite book worlds ever = perfect recipe for an amazing book…and From Bad to Cursed does not disappoint!
Lana has such an enjoyable, sassy writing style that flows so naturally, her books make me so happy to read. I love the world of Thistle Grove SO much and fully enjoyed this return! Isidora is such a fun protagonist and pulls you into the story straight away. I adore Emmy but I think I related to Issa even more in many ways. She is the best balance of being sassy and strong while still being soft and vulnerable too. Her journey not just with Rowan, but within herself and finding her way to what she truly wants in life is so compelling and fun to read. The transition of Issa and Rowan’s relationship from enemies to lovers was done really well and felt like a completely natural shift. Also…the squirrel hex…I am STILL randomly thinking about this days later and cracking up, HILARIOUS!!
And I was so happy to see the sneak peek for the next Thistle Grove book at the end because I definitely want to see more of this wonderful world and all the fantastic characters and stories Lana spins within it!!