One of my favorite books I've read this year! Katy Rose Pool has been an author who's books I immediately place at the too of my TBR since her debut novel. The only thing I didn't like about this book was the end, and it was because I NEEDED MORE!
I love this unique and exciting magic system with curses and cursebreakers. I even found the romance between Adrius and Marlow to be built up perfectly. I adored how from the very beginning of this book we got a strong sense of this world and where the power lies. I cannot wait till I am able to get my hands on the sequel and get the answers I need.

In a world where there is magic and the rich and poor can both be cursed, you can hire a cursebreaker to break your curse... so when the best cursebreaker in Caraza City finds herself given a new job of breaking the curse of the wealthy boy who not only broke her heart but humiliated her and destroyed her trust. Marlow Briggs has made a name for herself as the best cursebreaker in Caraza City, she use to be part of the rich society but gave it up after the mysterious disappearance of her mother that still haunts her to this day. Marlow spends her day breaking curses and trying to find clues as to what happened to her mother. But when her latest case brings her face to face with Adrius Falcrest, her old friend and the scion of one of Caraza’s most affluent spell-making family... and the very boy who broke her heart all those years ago her life is about to get complicated because Adrius has been cursed and he hires her to help him break it. The only problem is that he’s been cursed with a very old and forbidden curse, one that forces him to do whatever anyone commands. Marlow and Adrius must fake date as they fool society in order to try and find out who would do this to Adrius and why, it doesn’t help that that means Marlow has to enter back to the Evergarden society and face all the complicated history between her and Adrius. The more she investigates the more intertwined Adrius’s curse and her mother’s disappearance begins to connect. The fake feelings and acting between Adrius and Marlow begins to feel very real.... but it doesn’t cover the pain that he caused her all those years ago and the reasoning behind it. This is the first book in the duology, let me first start by saying that I really liked Marlow as a protagonist and I thought the world was fun, especially the investigative part of the story, what I really didn’t enjoy? Adrius. He is a terrible love interest and honestly I would have rather Marlow fall in love with Swift. Adrius is selfish, cruel, angry every time she tries to offer a solution, rude, he humiliates, and toys with her feelings, he only wants to be seen with her when he’s alone and he essentially feels ashamed of being around her and he’s a coward. I really couldn’t stand him at all, I know the author tries to give a reason for his actions in the past but I just didn’t buy it or forgive him. Seriously no thank you. Besides that, everything else in this book was really fun. I look forward to seeing how the next book ends and how the story wraps up.





*Spoilers: Adrius and Marlow were close friends when they were educated together but then after Adrius asks Marlow to bake him 3 cakes for his 17th birthday and bring it to him the next day, he publicly humiliates her and throws her feelings in her face. This is around the same time Marlow’s mother vanishes and Marlow leaves the Evergarden society. Adrius is cursed by his father who wants to control him as he also cursed Adrius’s mother and forced her to give him kids. Marlow discovers that she is Vale’s daughter, a very prominant figure in society who her mother had an affair with and left. Marlow’s mother found out about Adrius’s mother and was killed by Adrius’s father. Adrius stabs his father and Marlow covers for him saying she did it and is sent to prison (but later freed by Vale). Adrius and Marlow sort of admit their feelings for each other but never really clarify.*

*Thanks Netgalley andMacmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

“Maybe that was the real secret to a successful con: You had to know exactly what you were willing to risk.”

4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) Another YA that I loved. Is the world of YA coming back from the brink of death? I’m crossing my fingers!

Marlow’s mother went missing a year ago. Since then, Marlow has changed from master con-woman to the best cursebreaker around. She breaks curses unwillingly placed on people while still searching for clues of her mother. Her biggest client is now Adrius who is high-ranking in society and his family is also one of the top 5 for leadership because of their spellmaking.


The writing flowed smoothly and was what caught my attention at first. For YA, it felt more detailed, more in depth and well-paced. It also had Shadow and Bone vibes from the dark and grimy world of Marlow to the posh elegance of Adrius.

Adrius’ curse is severe. It’s a curse that could change the path of their society but also potentially harm many people. Because of this, Marlow feels the need to stay with him to counteract the curse from working. The problem is, they were friends for years, and maybe a bit more until a year ago Adrius brushed her off like she was dirt on his shoes.

Obviously there is tension between Marlow and Adrius. It’s dramatically glorious! That posh world of his brings in so much drama and intrigue that the chances of the curse working before she could counteract it was high. Throw in a hierarchy of people in their society, tensions for power within the hierarchy and all the heirs caught in between, you just know something is about to explode.

This one was fun! The pacing was done well to hold my attention and the world was enchanting. The curse on Adrius really held my interest. The mystery of who did it to him and why and could they stop it in time was exciting throughout. It made me trust no one. I suspected most everyone at some point but the best information came last and ended spectacularly!

Thank you to Fierce Reads, Henry Holt and Co, and NetGalley for the copy!

Garden of the Cursed combines some of my favorite elements--enemies-to-lovers, deadly mysteries, and fantasy. Marlow Briggs is a well-written morally grey character who is forced to work with someone she despises. The larger mystery made me want even more from Katy Rose Pool. I can't wait to see where this goes. This is perfect for fans of Sorcery of Thorns!

Ever since Threads That Bind, I've been looking for something similar. Lo and behold, Garden of the Cursed is both reminiscent of Veronica Mars and Threads That Bind. I was very happy. The slow burn romance was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their interactions are chemistry-laden. Despite both their insistence that there are no romantic feelings, the opposite is easily discernible. The complex relationship between social class and magic is central to the story. I became more engaged as the interplay between these two central elements was revealed. I enjoyed the book and loved Marlow. My biggest gripe? It ended on a cliffhanger!

One thing about me is that i will read everything, and i do mean everything, that comps Veronica Mars (its my fave show of all time), so when i found out about this book (a fantasy for fans of VM ?!!!!) It sounded too good to pass on.
And let me tell you, it was everything i wanted it to be and more.
Marlow was a great character, a cursebreaker that was like a P.I. but for finding out who had cursed her clients, not cheating husbands.
The story itself was intriging, the many mysteries (which are maybe connected?) are great.
It also has Fake Dating, which i loveeee.
I really, really liked this book.

Can't wait for the sequel. Like really, give it to me right now.

The summary of this already had me intrigued. I think the plot was good. Its a slow burn romance. Which doesn't bother me. I do think the characters are a bit basic at time. It wasn't the worst read but wasn't a 5 star from me either. It was just a good read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

Had so much fun with this YA fantasy!

Pool does an incredible job worldbuilding, and while it was a little much to get through the first few chapters, the rest was a blast and so well paced.

Our two leads have beautiful chemistry, despite the FMC's hesitation towards our MMC, but I'm a sucker for enemies-to-lovers.

The curse breaking/fantasy aspect of this gave some ACOTAR vibes that I was totally here for.

Overall, a fun read, looking forward to book 2!

Katy Rose Pool's Garden of the Cursed is the first installment in the authors Garden of the Cursed duology. The story is told in the first person narrative by 17-year old Marlow Briggs who works for Bowery Spellshop with her best friend, Swift. The story takes place in the fictitious country of Caraza, well Caraza city actually. Marlow was able to get the same education as the Evergarden kids of the fluent Five Families that control the country and magic. These are the rich kids from influential families.

They get a special education with magic. There are five main families and Marlow's mother Cassandra worked for one, the Vale family. When her mom went missing a year ago, and her best friend/crush stopped talking to her, Marlow returned to the Marshes where she quickly became the best cursebreaker around and that's how she makes her money. Then, her ex -best friend Adrius Falcrest who she had a crush on found her after a year and told her about a compulsion curse. At first Marlow says she won't help him. But the curse is something that only the old destroyed magic books would have.

Adrius has to obey any order given to him. Marlow agrees to help while still trying to find out what happened to her mother. The closer she comes to finding the secrets behind Cassandra's disappearance, the deeper she gets into a well of twisted mysteries and secrets that have long been kept away from the gentry by the 5 families. She's thrown back in with the rich society kids as Adrius date, and has to go to balls and events. She finds one friend that seems genuine, but most others don't like her and think she's below them. Adrius's sister is getting married to a son from another family. It's a way for two families to combine and become more powerful.

The worldbuilding was very interesting! Magic exists as spells that require a hex card and the corresponding incantation. Magic and the resources needed to create spells are also gate kept by the Five Families, who essentially run the city. So, let's just say that a little birdie told me that if you really pay attention to this story, you will see why the story has been compared to Veronica Mars. The little birdie also tells me that if you are aware of the former TV series, you will recognize characters in this book, the history of our main lead, and even some of the plot points that play out throughout this book.

A big thanks to Netgalley, BookishFisrt, and Macmillan for providing both an eARC in a physical finished edition.

JUST LOOK AT THIS COVER! I am in love.

Garden of the Cursed by Katy Rose Pool is the first of a new YA duology, that follows cursebreaker Marlow Briggs as she pretends to fall in lover with her former friend-turned-enemy, to gain entrance into the deadly society that may or may not know what happened to her missing mother. But at the cost of her own heart, of course, as she starts to fall for Adrius.

I read Pool's previous trilogy, and had a love/hate relationship with it. Mostly I loved the first one, and found myself regretting and DNFing the last two. So I'm a bit skeptical what she has in store for this duology. But this first one, was amazing! I'm talking beautiful worldbuilding, amazing plot, and don't even get me started on Adrius, who literally stole the entire book.

Read this book! Read it right now! You won't regret it!

I received an ARC of Garden of the Cursed and I am so glad I did. The premise sounded like so much fun, and it did not disappoint. I especially enjoyed the unique magic system. High society fake dating, territory and gang battles, curse breaking, heists and mystery are the perfect combination for a new fast paced series. I loved Marlow as a character and the found family she has in Swift. I found Adrius as a love interest from her past and present to be a perfect foil for her Marlow's feelings as they reunited to figure out the mystery of her mother's disappearance and all that was happening behind the scenes. I was surprised by some of the twists and that cliffhanger leaves me itching for the next book .

Magic in Caraza as a whole is controlled closely by the Five Families in power who, in their gated community of Evergarden, keep the secrets of their spells close to the vest.

Marlow Briggs, who's mother was once the chevalier to the Vale family, attended school with the heirs to the Families. While there, she met Adrius Falcrest - heir to the Falcrest family. Despite what many would see as their obvious class differences, Marlow considered Adrius one of her best friends. That is, until he turned his back on her. All too soon after that, Marlow's mother disappeared and Marlow left Evergarden and Adrius behind.

Now, she makes ends meet by working as a Cursebreaker. A lucrative business, and one that brings her back into contact with Adrius when he comes to Marlow to help break a curse put on him.

As much as she doesn't want to be back in this life, Marlow cannot turn down the money, or the opportunity to so more searching for her mother. Marlow and Adrius decide to pose as a couple, figuring this is the best way to explain Marlow's presence again amongst the noblesse nouveau.

But as Marlow gets pulled deeper into the case, she begins to realize that her mother's disappearance has farther reaching consequences than she thought.

I very much enjoyed the world-building within this story. I'm intrigued by the magic system and the idea of the curse cards. I hope that we get an even bigger / better picture of everything in the second book.

This one for sure felt like such a setup. In that regard I felt like it was trying to find its footing for a while. Marlow is seemingly caught between two things: 1) figuring out what happened to her mother, and 2) helping Adrius with his curse. Quite often while reading, I felt like the story couldn't balance between the two very well and I thought that Marlow spent more time solving the mystery of her mother and anything that ended up pertaining to Adrius's curse was happenstance.

There are a lot of twists and, I don't really want to say misdirection, but I think it highlights the idea that Marlow is in over her head. She obviously has never taken on something this momentous before and I also feel like there's the need to want to find these answers for her own piece of mind, that causes her to grasp at threads sometimes.

In between all of this, I really loved the interactions between Marlow and Adrius as the slow-burn romance it's meant to be. I liked the glimpses we get from before and how that has informed Marlow's wariness when dealing with Adrius and the people in his circle now. I feel like there's so much to be said between these two. Like they keep either misunderstanding or not speaking the full truth and conflicts arise from there. I can't wait for them to get it together! :) I think the key for a lot of what will happen in the next book will hinge upon them trusting one another.

That's a big thing in this book, it's difficult to know who Marlow can trust. Besides her best friend Swift, everyone else is a morally gray character. They might help Marlow out, but they're also just as likely to turn on her if it's beneficial to them. Even if those people aren't inherently "bad" they are definitely out for their own gain, but that's kind of how it works in Caraza when you're outside the orbit of the Families. You are subject to the various gangs of the Marshes.

I've always been one to believe that duologies are only half of a whole. That it's almost unfair to judge the first part without having its companion. So even though there are a few stumbles, I think it's all part of building this world, and building Marlow's character. I'm invested and really looking forward to seeing the conclusion of this story. I want to spend more time with these characters and in this world, and if that's not the sign of a entertaining and engrossing read, then I don't know what is.

I had only ever heard amazing things about this author, so I am SO glad that this didn't disappoint!

Garden of the Cursed is a unique, high stakes YA fantasy with such a different & cool magic system and world. Marlow is SUCH a likable MC for me, she's witty and brave and determined, as well as stubborn and impulsive at times. Her back story with the Evergarden and her missing mother completely grabbed my attention.

The curse breaking & magic in this book really especially impressed me, and I loved how the lore of the world/families/spell books wrapped into Marlow and Adrius' quest to break the curse that has mysteriously been put on him. I really liked the politics of the world, and how everything has shaken out the way it has to create the Marshes and the Evergarden, especially how this effected black market magic and the gangs in the marshes. There was just so much to this story, and it unfolds very organically.

It's hard to review the ending without spoilers, but the twists at the end were all absolute surprises for me! I had no idea who cast the curse, and I really love when a story can surprise me in this way. The stakes feel very high by the end, and that cliffhanger! I'm definitely excited to continue the series. Thank you to Macmillan Children's and NetGalley for the eArc of this title!

This book grabbed me from the first few pages. I love when a story feels like something I haven’t read before.

Garden of the Cursed deals with magic kept in curse cards, a missing mother, and a fake dating…we used to be friends but now I don’t trust you kind of trope!

I loved the juxtaposition between the lower class marsh lands with the upper class garden society. It adds a gritty tang to the toxic polish.

The magic system is really fun and I can’t wait to dive deeper into its machinations in the next book. I think the possibilities are endless. When magic is controlled by an elitist society, the underbelly is trying everything it can to bring them down. Gang rivalry, black market societies. It’s all here.

Last but not least there’s a really angsty YA romance element I loved. Sure there’s miscommunication and drama but I was in it to win it. I can’t wait to see where it goes. I’m a sucker for this kind of trope. I need more! ❤️

All in all this was a solid start to a series with a great cliffhanger. A fun diverse cast, lots of growing room for future books, and just enough reveals to keep you guessing!

I really liked it! And I will 100% be reading book 2 next year. A book that totally took me by surprise.

What a great read! I had no idea I would love this so much!

Marlow has been living in the marshes for the past year, working as a curse breaker. When her mother disappeared a year ago, she had to quickly leave the elite part of the city and make her own way. Now, one of those elite, Adrius, has found her to ask for her help breaking a curse put on him.

Fake dating, magic, and all sorts of soirees and balls, this book had me in its grip. I am also so happy that there will be a sequel, and I will be able to read more Marlow and Adrius!

Definitely recommend this as a ya fantasy!

Out June 20, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

Garden of the Cursed is everything I wanted from a magical noir mystery book and then more!

Marlow Briggs has been through a lot in the past year. Her mother went missing, her supposed best friend turned his back on her, and she had to leave the beautiful city of Evergarden to live in the muck-filled Marshes. It's here that she started her work as a Cursebreaker and has become one of the best in the business. Then, Adrius Falcrest, Scion to one of the Five Families and Marlows ex-best friend, shows up on her doorstep with a curse to break. One that could end in death. Seeing this as an opportunity to figure out what really happened to her mother a year ago, she agrees to help and is thrust back into the blooming high society she once left. Forced to keep up a ruse that they are dating, Marlow and Adrius find themselves uncovering dark secrets from everybody's past and gaining enemies around every corner. The deeper she goes, the more convinced she is that Adrius' curse and her mother's disappearance could be connected.

When I say I could not put this book down, I mean it. I hung on to every word. This world is so rich with character and I can feel the difference between the Marshes and Evergarden. I found the magic system to be super compelling, and a genius way to keep something like curses and hexes feeling fresh and new. I wanted to explore all the nooks and crannies hidden in this world and find a mystery of my own.

Marlow is one hell of a protagonist. She is confident, headstrong, and stubborn, but that just makes her a good curse breaker. I found myself cringing alongside her, empathizing with her, and wanting to pull her out of the messes she gets in. I adored her character, especially her sarcasm, witty one-liners, and cat named Toad. I also absolutely fell in love with Swift, her best friend in the Marshes. He is everything I want in a supportive but brutally honest partner who will call you out when needed but will also follow you into the fire. Our other male lead, Adrius Falcrest, left me giggling and kicking my feet like a little schoolgirl. I absolutely loved his character and the relationship he and Marlow shared, however "fake", had me gasping out loud.

It would be remiss of me to end this review without mentioning one last thing that had me absolutely glued to the page: the mystery! At its core this book is a mystery and BOY does it deliver. I usually pride myself on being able to figure out plot twists in advance, at least most of the time. And I will not lie, some things I did figure out. But after finishing the book, I felt like everything I had thought before was all up in the air! what I had figured out was all just a ruse to distract me from the main twists and I could not keep up. My head was racing and my pages were flying by and the words were jumping off the page and then. It ended! What!? I cannot BELIEVE I have to sit here until the next one comes out to know what happens next. What Gives!!??!

I annotated my arc, and I have never done that before! That's how you know this book is good. Do yourself a favor and pick this book up, you won't regret it.

I received this arc from NetGalley and MacMillan Children's Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4.5/5 stars rounded up because oh my GODDDD.

Okay, first of all, this is the first in a duology. The cliffhanger HURTS. BUT...BUT....FRIENDS TO ENEMIES TO FAKE DATING TO ENEMIES?? YES PLEEEASE. Marlow is searching for answers about her mother who disappeared while working as a curse breaker. Curses (and spells) are done through playing cards with an incantation. To break a curse, you burn the card. To use a spell (or curse) you have to have the card for it. There's a black market, a criminal underworld, and five families who rule over the aristocratic side of their town and control access to learning spell crafting. It's...a wild ride. You throw in murder, mystery, secret societies, a curse that is a big big big no no and fake dating? holy cow.

Adrius and Marlow are....their CHEMISTRY. Working together to break a curse, they end up reconnecting and fake dating, and well, we all know how that trope goes. There are SO many moments where I was like oh my GODDDD because ADRIUS.

But uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh the cliff hurts. a lot. I avoided finishing this for a hot minute because there was angst and I knew I was going to be left hanging.

Anyways, 10/10 recommend.

Title: Garden of the Cursed
Author: Katy Rose Pool

Release Date: June 20th, 2023*

Category: YA Fantasy

Synopsis: Since fleeing the gilded halls of Evergarden for the muck-filled canals of the Marshes, Marlow Briggs has made a name for herself as the best cursebreaker in Caraza City. But no matter how many cases she solves, she is still haunted by the mystery of her mother’s disappearance.

When Adrius Falcrest, Marlow's old friend and scion of one of Caraza's most affluent spell-making families, asks her to help break a life-threatening curse, Marlow wants nothing to do with the boy who spurned her a year ago. But a new lead in her mother’s case makes Marlow realize that the only way to get the answers she desperately seeks is to help Adrius and return to Evergarden society—even if it means suffering through a fake love affair with him to avoid drawing suspicion from the conniving Five Families.

As the investigation draws Marlow into a web of deadly secrets and powerful enemies, a shocking truth emerges: Adrius’s curse and her mother’s disappearance may just be clues to an even larger mystery, one that could unravel the very foundations of Caraza and magic itself.

Quote: She dropped her gaze, shame and disgust flaring hot in her cheeks. Because she knew exactly what she was asking of him, and it still didn’t stop her.

The UnReel Take:
Story: 5
Writing: 5
Characters: 4
Setting: 6
UnReel AR: 5

Bottom Line: Was this an epic new favorite that re-imagined the YA Fantasy genre? No. Will I read the second one? Probably.
Oh, you need more than that?
*Small disclaimer – Garden of the Cursed was apparently heavily inspired by Veronica Mars but I never watched that show, so I can’t speak to that side of things.
Let’s start with the setting. It was way more modern than I expected, which I really liked. Garden of the Cursed is an urban fantasy set in an entirely fantastical world. It actually reminded me of Howl’s Moving Castle (the movie), not in the type of world but in the level of modernization mixed with fantasy. Also, can authors please start writing more swamp fantasy? Because that was super cool. A map would’ve been really useful though, and I’m kind of surprised the publisher didn’t include one.
I also really enjoyed the magic system which involved magical cards and will appeal to anyone who collected Pokemon cards as a kid. The magic system wasn’t super developed and there were a few holes in the logic, but overall, I bought into it.
The characters were…fine. Their dialogue was annoyingly contemporary, and they read as very young, even for a YA novel. They also fit their tropes to a tee, with an MC who jumps to wild conclusions she never questions until they blow up in her face, a gay best-friend, and a hot, rich, mean guy who’s not-so-secretly longing for our MC. There was definitely an opportunity for Pool to dig a little deeper with the characters that wasn’t taken. Another downside was how inconsistent the characters could be. Like, the MC – who is literally a detective/curse-breaker – drinks an open-drink handed to her by a total stranger. There’s also a literal spy who just openly answers any question she gets asked in great depth. Suuure.
The plot was exactly what you’d expect from a YA Fantasy novel. The big reveals were predictable, there were idealistic rebels pitted against a corrupt society, and all the characters were way too young to realistically be involved in any of the things they’re involved in. The MC never seemed to have a sense of urgency, despite the stakes being high. I didn’t actually mind any of this though, since you know what you’re getting into with a book like this, and there’s something comforting about having your expectations met EXACTLY.
The writing was also pretty generic, but it got the job done. The author included a weird mix of actual and made-up swears, which is a pet peeve of mine. There were several info dumps, mostly in the first few chapters, the flashbacks were integrated awkwardly, and the foreshadowing was heavy-handed. The author also incorporated some random French words, likely given the New Orleans-inspired setting, but they weren’t well integrated, and the grammar was wrong a few times. (Like, to the point where my low-level-Duolingo-learner-self noticed.) There were also a few typos and grammar issues, but I assume those will be fixed in the final release.

Ideal Reading Location: Your bedroom with the door closed, so no one will hear you groan out loud when the characters do something stupid.

Drink Pairing: Let’s give a nod to the swamp setting and say a hurricane.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is quite different from my typical reads, but I'd heard good things about it, so I was excited to check it out. The premise sounded interesting, but sadly, it fell flat for me. I found the worldbuilding and characters lackluster. The pacing was consistent throughout, but the storyline was all over the place. I never connected with any of the characters, who were unoriginal and even laughable at times. Adrius was so self-centered and annoying that I didn't even like him. The romance angle felt forced and could've been left out. I don't see myself checking out the sequel.

A gripping Young Adult Fantasy that had me propelled into a realm of strict magic, political intrigue, and class structure. Marlow is your savvy young woman with an enigmatic history, ridden with holes; in which we learn and investigate with her as events unravel. She’s akin to a private investigator spellcaster, who breaks hexes for a living. Que in the drama by adding the dreamy powerful heir, Adrius, and one-time friend. Tension yes, suppressed feelings, yes. Danger and mistakes, yes. It has all the “feels” and misgivings of youth that wrench your heart and stomp on it before bringing it back to life.

Intense, this book had me addicted from the start and the desire to know had me finishing it in record time. The wordsmithing, rich worldbuilding, and vulnerable, yet strong characters are worth 5-stars.