First, if you have not read “Gilded “, go read or listen to that before continuing on with “Cursed, “ the second offering in Marissa Meyer's “Gilded” duology. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of the audiobook version in return for an honest review. “Cursed” picks up right where we left off with Serilda battling the Erlking to save her baby from his clutches while trying to free Gild and herself by locating their bodies. The narrator was not what I was expecting when I read the first book, but quickly adapted. The tale of good versus evil was compelling and as always, the fantastical creatures were easily visualized. Does love conquer all? Maybe, maybe not. But it was fun finding out. As to whether the audiobook is the way to go, I would say only after reading the book in print form first.

This is the sequel to Gilded, please read before this one. It's a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin fairytale, a fantasy story where Serilda is the main character and finds herself trying to break the curse that binds her to Adelheid Castle and Eriking. The world-building in the story is fantastic, the character development is quite good and interesting, but the plot is everything, there is so much going on and yet you can't get enough. I was surprised by the audiobook, narrated by Rebecca Soler, she did a superb job portraying the characters, the narration was very well paced and the performance was very good. I recommend you hear this in audio.

Meyer weaved an incredible tale of lore, love and loss. This Rumplestiltskin retelling was everything I wanted it to be an more! She kept the grim dark and gritty parts of the original story and created a fantastic world around a new cast of characters.

The story here picks up where Gilded left off and sucked me in right away. Never a dull moment for these characters battling creatures of lore, gods and monsters, and learning lessons in love and loss.

There is a pregnancy trope here but it’s not your typical plot. I really enjoyed this added piece (with nods to the original tale) and thought it wrapped up the happy ending beautifully.

This is a completed duology and I’m so sad to leave these characters. I can’t wait to see what this author does next!

Another great read from Marissa Meyer. If you love revamped fairy tales you love this book. I do have to say that you absolutely have to go back and read Gilded (the first book of this series) before reading this one. It can be very confusing to follow the story of Cursed without having read Gilded first. I got a few chapters into this one and felt I was being tossed about with no idea where I was in the story. I don't mind that a book doesn't reiterate information from a previous book in the series but feel I should warn others attempting to start the series out of order.

It’s still original and what YA Fantasy dreams are made of. It’s dark, macabre and enchanting with the magic of old German fairytales. It doesn’t lean too heavily on any tropes and Serilda is still the out of her depth heroine just trying to make it work.

The book is driven by desperate emotions. Place to place, person to person, it packs in a lot. Though it was a little slower in the first half and I think it got too busy and muddied in the last quarter. It’s still wildly entertaining and a genius build from the great Marissa Meyer. Wonderfully descriptive and magical. It’s both contained by castle walls and sprawling in mythology. A fantastic mix.

My only big criticism is the lack of growth in Gild. What was fun and cheeky in book 1 became far too juvenile in book 2 when the stakes are higher and coming to a head. It was hard to see him as a romantic lead, even if the romance is not entirely central to the storytelling. It just felt off.

Also, I did the audiobook for this one (because it was what was available and free from the publisher this time around) and I didn’t totally love the delivery. Personal preference here, but I thought it was overacted to the point of annoyance, occasionally. Just a note. I definitely preferred the physical experience I had of book 1.

The ending is all wrapped up in a nice neat bow. It’s a solid duology that I definitely recommend.

Marissa Meyer consistently writes my absolute favorite fairytale retellings, and I was enraptured by this story from the very beginning to the end. The characters were funny, nuanced, and complex, and the plot felt perfectly spaced and designed. I truly can't wait to read the next book written by her. If you've been waiting to pick this one up, do yourself a favor and do so as soon as possible!

Oh wow. I was not prepared for the emotional roller coaster that was this book. I seriously don't know how Marissa Meyer does it, but her brain is a magical place.

What I love about this book so much is how much of a fairy tale it is. I know that is the point but when authors right fairytales, they just read like a fantasy book that lacks the whimsical elements that make up a good fairytale. We get that in abundance in Cursed. Her vivid imagery and metaphors are just so beautifully done.

The ending had me curled up in a ball. I was so scared! However I think it was beautifully done and I'm sad to see this duology come to an end.

I really enjoy this storybook tale inspired books. When it’s labeled as “inspired by” rather than a “retelling” I find that it has more differences and while the connection is there, is more of a familiar sounding yet brand new story. So here we have the brand new yet familiar Rumplestilskin-esque story!

Book one was amazing, I finished that so quickly I couldn’t wait to jump into this one. Thank goodness for NetGalley and their ability to always grant me books I need (or at least books I’m convinced I need).

I have the audio for this one and it was great. I love the narrator and they way she brings the characters to life, especially our MC. This is such an interesting fantasy story with very solid world building and a continued storyline from book one. Book 2 picks up right where book one leaves off and is immediately interesting and I couldn’t put this one down either!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In my experience, very few last books can wrap up a story as well as Cursed does for the Gilded duology! This was hands-down a 5 star read for me, and I enjoyed every single second I spent reading it!

There's not too much I can say about plot right off the bat without spoiling the end of Gilded, but just know that Cursed picks back up right where we left off. I was expecting a little more excitement and action right away, given how the first book ended, but the start of Cursed is a little slow. If anything, this portion is where I think the book could be slimmed down a tiny bit. BUT, we do learn so much about the castle and the Dark Ones/Erlking/ghosts' way of life (and maybe some subtle future plot points!!) that I don't regret that it was included.

In addition, Serilda and Gild were both strong characters. We got to see Gild a lot more and experience his mischievous nature. I adore their interactions together! On a side note, I also enjoyed the banter that Serilda and the Erlking had together--top notch evil unearthly king and feisty mortal girl throwing it down in word battles.

After the initial slowness, the pace gradually picks up until about 60% through, where all hell breaks loose. Whereas Gilded is spooky and macabre and melancholy, Cursed has much more vibrancy and magic and history. Don't get me wrong, there's still a lot of cruelty on the part of the Erlking, but there is also more of a focus on the background and context of Serilda's world. I feel like there is a lot I could catch going back and reading it a second time, just because of the amount of history and stories that actually end up playing into the overall plot! Plus, there were a couple twists that had me yelling in surprise!

I loved the addition of all the fairytale elements and creatures! I enjoyed reading more about the Moss Maidens, about the old gods, and about the mythical creatures that the Erlking is hunting. This added so much complexity to the story and plot, and it twisted up nicely with the Rumpelstiltskin aspect. Cursed definitely expands beyond your typical Rumpelstiltskin retelling! And with that, the ending was so satisfying and I didn't feel like any pieces were missing or not wrapped up. It may have moved a little fast right at the end, but I appreciated the way the "epilogue" was written. It left me feeling hopeful and satisfied!

There's not a whole lot more I can say without giving key plot points away, but I absolutely adored this series! Marissa Meyer writes amazing fairytale retellings, and this was no different. I will be rereading these books in the future, that's for sure! 5 wholehearted stars from me!

Serilda is still caught up in the Erlking’s court and finds her lies difficult to keep track of. But she clings to the hope of working with Gild to solve his forgotten past and maybe save him and the children from the Dark Ones. As they work together, Serilda begins to realize that the Erlking’s plot goes deeper than she ever imagined, and that if he succeeds, the mortal realm and the way of the gods will be changed forever.

I didn’t find this work to be a compelling sequel to Gilded. The first 65% of the book was completely unnecessary, doing nothing to forward the plot or to even add much to the characters and their development. The last 20% of the work was solid but everything happened at such a lightning pace that it was difficult to really be engaged with the plot’s progression. The resolution to the different plotlines occurred too rapidly to be satisfying.

The characters were absolutely frustrating. There were several instances of plot-induced stupidity (even with one of the gods) that made me want to quit reading. Also, over half of the dialogue consisted of a character blaming themselves for something, other characters telling them they’re not at fault, and them going back and forth like this for a while. Then three pages later the roles were reversed. Again, quite frustrating and added nothing meaningful or positive to the book. Serilda also lost most of her agency in this book, with things just constantly happening to and around her while she just yelled, “No!” or “Please!” It was a shame to lose the strong female protagonist of the first book.

Unfortunately, there was nothing that I enjoyed about this book, and I don’t recommend it. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read and review this book, which was published today (Nov 8).

Cursed by Marissa Meyer 🏰 💛 👑

The adventure picks off where the first one ended with Serilda trapped by Erlking and his dark ones. Serilda is trying to break Gild’s curse by discovering his true name, but as she uncovers more about the tragedy at Adalheid Castle she learns more about what the Erlking is planning next…and what role he intends for her.

Okay y’all two months ago I forecasted this to be a 5 ⭐️ sequel with the sampler gifted to me AND I WAS RIGHT. I have been a Marissa Meyer fan for years and this Rumpelstiltskin re-telling is incredible. If you like any fantasy re-telling, or fantasy in general, read this book. And then go read #thelunarchronicles by Meyer too. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -J

What am incredible way to wrap up the story staying true to the rumplestinski fairytale but being so original about it too.
Serilda was an amazing FMC from book 1 and in book 2 it didn’t change. Her only weakness is loving and caring too much and I can’t be mad at her for that. Gild wasn’t as cheeky in this book so we got to see his more serious side and I actually liked it a lot too, and together they are an amazing couple I will forever ship!
Marissa Meyer is truly the queen of retellings and I cannot wait to read whatever comes next!

Marissa Meyer is one of my favorite YA authors so I was excited to read this finale in the Gilded Duology!

Serilda and Gild reunite to foil Erlking’s plan to capture the seven Gods and take over the mortal world.

The storytelling in this book is so incredible! The descriptions are so well written it is like watching a movie in your mind as you read. It is a little on the dark and gruesome side of things, but the plot twists and constant battle between Serilda and the Erlking keep the reader intrigued to find out how the story ends. It is a long story (It took 2 eight-hour days for me to listen to it on 1.75 speed) but the ending is worth the time spent reading the book.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Rebecca Soler and loved it! Soler uses lots of inflection, emotion, and animation in her voice. She also uses different voices for each character.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

The plot thickens! And thickens and thickens, woah. Marissa Meyer keeps throwing things into the mix, but it all ties together and resolves just fine. Nothing added is frivolous or forgotten. Despite being a fairly complex, lengthy story, it's well-polished and very enjoyable. I loved finishing my ARC last night, sitting down for 3 uninterrupted hours to listen through to the end.

Rebecca Soler continues to be a delight, as a narrator. She gets a LOT of emotion into the voices of Serilda and Gild, while also having a lovely lack of emotion (while perhaps retaining only smugness) in the Erlking. And when we get introduced to one particularly nasty character, the SNARL she produces is lovely.

I really appreciate that this book has queer romances and never feels the need to justify them. Other authors might have their fantasy series and include prejudice as typical of the era, but Meyer says "There's ghosts in the castle and the mayor is a lesbian. Moving on!" Like, it's so normal in the books that it's not even LAUDED, it just IS. It's one way things can be, and no one reacts with extra positivity or negativity anywhere.

Meyer has continued her gorgeous run of fantasy reimaginings. Five gold stars!

This book had me on the edge of my seat. Every time things started like they were looking up, I would check the percentage left and know that there was another turn waiting for me. I normally can do other things while I listen to audiobooks - like clean the house, do my data entry job, etc. With this book, I frequently found myself standing stock still, clutching my face like Kevin in Home Alone as events unfolded. Literally non-stop action that kept me guessing and worrying for the fate of all of the characters I had grown to love after reading Gilded.

Rebecca Soler's narration was spot on perfect and had me feeling like she was sitting beside me telling me the story, not like I was reading an audiobook. Stopping to be an actual adult and do things like make dinner or take out the trash were actually painful while I was reading this book.

This was a pretty good follow-up to Gilded. Serilda is now with child (we still don't know how those logistics work), Gild is still a poltergeist, and the Dark Ones are up to no good (like normal). While a lot of this plot felt all over the place at times... I still thoroughly enjoyed it. This is a good ending to the duology because everything wraps up pretty nicely, but there is still a lot of action throughout the entire story.

I'm a big fan of fairy tales, so I was very happy with both books to include Serilda's versions of different stories because it felt like sitting in front of a fire and listening to your grandmother tell a wonderful tale. I think if you enjoyed the first one, you will like this one just as well.

Cursed by Marissa Meyer
4.5/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

•••Spoiler free review below•••

No one does a fairytale retelling quite like Marissa Meyer and this duology is absolute perfection. I feel like, as a society, we need more Rumpelstiltskin retellings. They never disappoint and this story is fast paced, enjoyable, and thoroughly enthralling.

I truly had no idea where Gild and Serilda’s story was going and I loved not being able to guess. Our narrator is perfect for our sassy main character so I definitely recommend binging the audio version if you’ve been putting this series off.

Cursed will be released November 8th and if it's not already on your tbr, it should be!
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Special thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for sharing an arc with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

I am sending Marissa Meyer my bill for the emotional turmoil Cursed caused me. This book...THIS BOOK... This book had me screaming with emotions the entire time. Truly incredible from start to finish. Marissa Meyer's greatest strength has always been her characters and Cursed is her best yet. The dynamic between the king and Serilda had me crazy shipping it for the enemies and enemies lovers kind of thing, but my heart also pulled for sweet and goofy Gild. (view spoiler)

I had absolutely no idea what this book was going to cover going in, and while that made me incredibly anxious 90% of the time, I had a GOOD. TIME. Another fantastic book by Marissa Meyer! *bows down to the queen of fairytale retellings*

If you're looking for a fun and emotional story set in an awesome fairytale-like land, PICK THIS BOOK UP. Definitely one of, if not the, best book I've read this year. *screams into pillow*

I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Dear Cursed,
I absolutely love fractured fairy tales. Giving characters I grew up with new depth and connections is so much fun for me. Marissa Meyer is the absolute queen of this for me. You are a brilliant end to the story of Cyrilda and Gild, bringing all of the beauty of their story to a satisfying end. You added so much more to the simple tale of Rumpelstiltskin and I loved it. Cyrilda is a deep and interesting character, with heart and depth and a self sacrificing streak that amazes me. Gild lost some of his innocence and playfulness in your story, growing in ways I didn't know poltergeists were capable of. There was so much more to your story then I was expecting, but in the end, every twist and turn made sense and helped bring you to the satisfying end I wanted.

This is a satisfying conclusion to the Gilded duology. I loved the character development of Gild and Serilda. As always, Rebecca Soler's narration is excellent.