Elizabethan London? CHECK! Fantasy rom-com. CHECK!

This was such a fun read! I laughed out loud so many times and the characters were so well-written and the romance was so sweet that I found it hard to put my Kindle down. It totally gave me cosy-fantasy vibes, which i'm such a fan of right now!

This is the first book i've by this author by it 100% won't be the last!

Had a bit of a slow start but once the story got going the pacing was great. The cast of characters was chaotic and fun and I enjoyed how everything collated together at the end and left off for the sequel

This was a great disappointment. The plot was uninteresting, the comedic bits didn’t work, and the characters were two-dimensional one-trick ponies, with one of my pet peeves of keeping the backstory from the reader until it doesn’t matter and hiding pertinent facts about the character’s looks. There was insta-lust and love based purely on looks—and with the bland characters, it couldn’t be based on anything else—and a lot of talk of sex, but nothing delivered. Instead, we got a puritanistic moralising about bare male bits and buttoks, as if those weren’t the stable of Tudor comedy. But the worst was the worldbuilding.

I simply cannot understand why the author had chosen alt-Tudor England for the setting and then didn’t use any elements of Tudor world. Mentioning Marlowe, Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth is just name-dropping, not world-building. Instead, there were anachronisms that were probably supposed to be funny, like gluten, tourism, and Chinese on the other side of the world, although the book lost me already at Blackfriars Bridge.

If you can’t make your chosen era work for your comedy and fantasy elements, choose a different era or create your own world. This combined with the failed mix of comedy, romance and constant peril made everything seem tone-deaf. And then, the book just ended. While it was a blessing, it didn’t solve anything. It didn’t make me want to find out where this all leads either.

The story was nice and I liked the LGBTQIA representation but the story overall felt too childish for me. The characters didn’t draw me in and the fantasy element was both too simple but also confusing at the same time. I think this book should have been flagged as YA as I did expect it to be more grown up than it was. I wouldn’t want to continue with the series.

I received Cursed Under London by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch for free by Black Crow PR & Farrago Books for an honest review, thank you so much for my beautiful copy!

It was so fun being part of this cover reveal, it is absolutely stunning and the concept of this book is so much fun! I really enjoyed the cosy vibes of this story but unfortunately the story wasn't my cup of tea. I would’ve loved some more worldbuilding and found the first half of the book to be rather slow. However, I did love the characters. They were so fun and I really enjoyed how they became a ragtag group on an adventure! Plus, I really liked the use of one of my favourite tropes - the grumpy guy having to become a father figure - it was so CUTE!

If you’ve read "Neverwhere" and wished it had a heavier dose of humour, this book will be a delightful discovery. The novel offers a captivating blend of urban fantasy and sharp wit, set against the backdrop of an imaginatively re-envisioned Elizabethan era. It's a refreshing departure from the usual contemporary or Victorian settings, breathing new life into the genre.

One of the standout features of the book is its immensely likeable cast of characters. Each member of this motley crew is well-developed, with unique quirks and personalities that make them feel real and relatable. Their interactions are a joy to read, filled with humor, warmth, and occasional poignancy. The author’s skill in worldbuilding is equally impressive, crafting a richly detailed environment that draws you in from the very first page. The Elizabethan setting is vividly brought to life, with intricate descriptions that evoke the sights, sounds, and smells of the era.

The novel is also notable for its frequent breaking of the fourth wall, which adds a delightful meta-dimension to the narrative. These moments are cleverly executed, often providing humorous commentary or ironic insights that enhance the reader's engagement. Additionally, the creative use of the Tube as a narrative device adds an extra layer of intrigue and charm to the story.

However, there are moments when the book’s humour feels a bit forced, teetering on the edge of cringe. While these instances are relatively few, they can momentarily disrupt the otherwise smooth and enjoyable flow of the story. Despite this minor flaw, the overall tone remains lighthearted and entertaining, ensuring that these lapses do not detract significantly from the reader's experience.

In conclusion, this novel is a highly enjoyable read for fans of urban fantasy, especially those who appreciate a good laugh. Its unique setting, endearing characters, and inventive narrative techniques make it a standout addition to the genre. I am eagerly anticipating further adventures of this charming band of misfits, whose endearing flaws and heroic exploits have left a lasting impression.

First, I’d like to thank NetGalley and Duckworth and Farrago Books for providing me with the eARC of this book!

"Cursed Under London" is a fun little fantasy with quirky characters and an entertaining mystery plot. Two men in 16th century Elizabethan England wake up after dying — they don’t know each other nor do they know how they managed to come back to life. Additionally, neither of them come back quite right: Lazare, a French actor, comes back with a pair of wings and Fang, who seems to be just suffering through life up until this point, can now create weird and revolting illusions. The next problem? These new abilities fit none of the known creatures roaming the world at this time, not dragons or vampires, zombies or ghouls. Brought together by a little dragon, they set out to find out what happened to them.

The cast of characters is quite fun and likeable enough to care for them, although for the romance part the pacing feels a little off (the characters in question have barely exchanged 5 words before one starts to lust after the other and it turns into love just as quickly, which just didn’t jibe with me). The group dynamics as a whole are entertaining, though.

The biggest shortcoming for me was the world building/the setting.
As it stands, setting the story in Elizabethan England felt unnecessary. The atmosphere never clicked into place and besides a few name drops — Queen Elizabeth I and Kit Marlowe most notably — it’s entirely unrecognisable. While I understand that having the characters talk in perfect Elizabethan jargon is difficult to realise, the dialogue here felt too modern and again took away from the historic setting. Hutchinson Crutch could’ve set this story in a completely made up fantasy world and it would’ve probably fit a lot more seamlessly. It just doesn’t feel like there’s any particular reason for the book to be set in Elizabethan England, the story never gives you one.
This might not weigh as heavily for others, but for me it largely took away from my enjoyment.

I’m giving this book 2,5 stars, rounding up, because the characters really were fun, I just wish the setting would’ve been constructed better.

3.25 ⭐️

Thank you Netgalley for letting me get an early copy of Cursed Under London in exchange for my honest review! 🖤

One thing a book has to do to get a high review from me is hold my attention enough for me to want to continue reading when I'm at home, as I do most of my reading at work. Unfortunately, this book just didn't get me to that point. Cursed Under London suffers from a lack of originality; its characters are familiar archetypes found in most works of the 'cozy fantasy' genrec, including in fanfiction -- which is what this felt like a lot of the time. That's not to say that reading like a fanfic is a bad thing by any means, but to get anything higher than 3 stars, the writer at least has to make me care. It also suffered from a bit of a tonal problem; I wasn't always sure who this book was written for in terms of audience age range.

I admittedly did enjoy the setting and the concept of 'two' Londons, one for humankind and one for the undead. That was a lot of fun to read about and I'm sure in the inevitable sequel, there'll be tons more to explore throughout this intriguing world. I also really got on with the humour in this book -- I'm not at all surprised that Hutchinson Crouch wrote for the Horrible Histories series; that brand of British comedy came through and worked well in contrast to the rest of the prose.

Ultimately, I'd recommend this to people who are looking to read something light and charming, but not necessarily all that memorable.

DNF @20%. Unfortunately this was not for me. I was enjoying the characters, but the story was not doing enough to keep me invested enough to finish.

I thought that a world where all supernatural creatures lived would be an interesting place to read about but I just couldn't get into it. I dunno if it was the plot or the writing :(

In an alternate timeline filled with magical species and undead humans, where "Deepsiders" live in a subterranean London populated by dragons, vampires, zombies, and all manner of dangerous creature, two "Uppersiders", Fang and Lazare, wake from ther violent deaths to find something has changed, and they are now somewhere between human and undead. Their adventure to learn more about and eventually lift this curse will take them through danger and mystery to the heart of Deepside and bring them closer to each other...

Delightfully funny, yet gruesome and horrifying, Cursed Under London succeeds with great world building and character development. Amber and Fang were real standouts for me, and this book also gets bonus points for a character name... Captain Dame Isobel Honkensby... I mean, that's just incredible...

Cursed Under London is a great story, with a fantastical world, lovable protagonists, a horrific and unsettling enemy, and so much humour! I really look forward to more in this series!

This book is super addictive. Set in a magical Elizabethan (I) London, where the busy underground is definitely not the same as the one we know. Okay, maybe not too different - it is as hot as hell down there.

Humanity and the supernatural sit at an uneasy peace in London. Whilst immortals do roam the streets of human upper London, there are laws that they must abide. Humans on the other hand don't tend to last long in lower London - there are still laws its just always open season.

With this tenuous balance, immortality is not the blessing that mysterious Fang wants to wake up from death to. Lazare is more just inconvenienced. With the help of Fangs savant alchemist contact, chased by a dark past, a few London gangs, and an angry goose - Fang and Lazare race figure out what's going on and who is trying to take them out.

Oh and I haven't had the chance to mention the star of the show, Amber. A dragon who is mighty of heart and stomach. A dragon who is completely adorable. A dragon who despite failing courage manages to save their asses now and then.

This was such a fun fantasy with excellent representation. The mystery elements were gripping and the characters absolutely made this book. I can't wait to read what comes next.

I really liked the idea of this, it's written well and feels so much like horrible histories with the quips and humour but I found it a little slow to get going but I will definitely read the next in the series as I liked the premise I just needed a bit more action.

The pacing was notably slow for the genre, which detracted from the overall experience. Additionally, many of the attempts at humor missed the mark. The narration style, which aimed for a fun and self-aware tone with quippy remarks from the characters, often felt forced. Instead of naturally revealing the characters' emotions and reactions, it seemed as though the author was dictating how the reader should feel.

The dialogue also struggled, frequently coming across as stilted and overly scripted, as if the characters were trying too hard to be witty. Despite these shortcomings, the worldbuilding and premise hold significant promise. I look forward to seeing future works from this author that might offer a more polished execution.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-ARC of Cursed Under London.

We follow Lazare, Fang-changed humans who live in the Deepside of London. Now changed, they have the gift of immortality, however this does end up causing some problems, especiallg once they venture to the Uppserisde of the city. Along with their friends, Nell (a pharmacist) and a dragon named Amber, they find a half elf child named Tem, hidden in a box, and so their adventure begins to try and take her back home.

I do have to admit, I did find the first 5 or so chapters to be extremely slow and I found that there was an overwhelm of plot and characters to start with- POV shifts from Upperside (mainly human residents) to Deepside (vampires, zombies, dragons etc.). However, by the end of the story, the found family trope and theme of love and belonging made my heart feel so happy and full. So although it had a slow start, I did end up really enjoying this story, and will definitely be looking into the next book in the series!

"The hilarious first novel in a cosy and inclusive historical romantasy series by the writer of Horrible Histories.

Two strangers.

Two Londons.

Two hearts that won't stop beating...

In an alternative Elizabethan London, Fang awakes from his death to discover he is not quite human anymore. In fact, despite having somehow acquired the power of immortality, he's also not quite vampire, zombie, werewolf or any of the other supernatural beings who roam the twin cities of Upper London and its underground counterpart, Deep London.

A jaded traveller from the Ming Empire, Fang is desperate to find a way to reverse the spell and get on with being dead when he stumbles upon Lazare de Quitte-Beuf, a theatrical Frenchman who is afflicted with the same mysterious condition. Thrown together by the curse they share, the two men set out to undo the strange magic that binds them. As they are drawn further into the shadowy world of Deep London, they unearth a dangerous plot which they appear to be right in the middle of...

And, surely, when in grave danger, the worst thing they could do would be to fall in love, wouldn't it?"

Just to clarify, Horrible Histories writer yes, Ghosts writer no.

I received a copy of this book for a free unbiased opinion.
This historical urban fantasy features an underground London below normal Elizabethan London. A dangerous version of London filled with magical creatures and normal human laws don’t apply- including the one about not eating people. In my view, Deep London makes this book stand out from others.
Fang and Lazare are the two men who find themselves becoming immortal and having to deal with the fallout. Their lives collide when they find themselves rescuing a half-fae child and having to deliver back to her fae family while trying to evade evil alchemists and Queen Elizabeth’s police.
I would have liked to have more Nell- Fang’s friend- a well-drawn and fascinating character and worthy of her own book. Nell, Fang and Lazare are outsiders in their own individual way but they way they come together towards the end will please fans of the found family genre.
There is plenty of action, magic and plot moves smoothly except for the parts where Fang and Lazarre dissect their blossoming relationship- this is a real slow burning romance.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC! 🐉🐈‍⬛🧛

I have to be brutally honest; this book could use a lot of editing.

There are PoV changes in the middle of paragraphs, sometimes it is not clear who is being referred to, and the dialogue could flow better. Also, the writing is very anachronistic. Like, "hot" and "hotties" are used multiple times throughout this book. I'm not a historian, so maybe they did say that in Elizabethan England, but at one point "re" was used, and I am fairly certain that emails had not been invented yet.

I also have to address the blurb and the fact that it is wrong! The blurb describes this book as a "cozy rom-com", which it is not! These guys die so many times, they are constantly adventuring and hauling ass. I think they chill out for like ONE (1) scene, then they immediately go back to being in danger! This is the opposite of the meaning of cozy!!

That being said! I freaking loved this. These characters are so fun to read and they were so endearing to me I fell in love with their dumbasses. These three adults share one brain cell and Nell has it 90% of the time. The other 10% is when Lazare is being emotionally intelligent, and Fang breaks the smart Asian stereotype by having the brain cell never. Also Amber the dragon is the sweetest little baby I want to adopt her and feed her all the meats she desires.

The world-building is rather interesting and fleshed out. The author does such a good job at showing how the supernatural creatures live alongside the humans, as well as how they are integrated into this society. It was really interesting getting to explore this alternate version of London (and also Deep London).

I appreciate that our main characters are PoC; with the way people get mad/debate about the existence of PoC in historical fiction, having characters that are not white + having their race be intrinsically tied to their backstories was much appreciated.

This book is also hilarious. Your mileage may vary; my bestie thought the humour was a bit much, and I personally found some of it to be ridiculous but I could still find it funny.

I also loved the stupid-ass romance. Lazare and Fang are so dysfunctional and stupid (endearing) (and moreso Fang). Their dynamic was so frustrating to read but in a good way, I promise! Also, this is pitched as a romance, but (IMO) one of the central tenets of the romance genre is that the couple ends up together by the end, which is NOT the case here.

Since this is book 1 of a series, they will probably get it together in the sequel. Which, BTW, I am beyond excited for I need it so bad.

(@ the author or publisher or whoever is in charge of this, I would love an ARC for the sequel hmu)

Set in an alternative universe version of London where the undead are real and dragons walk the Earth, Cursed Under London has a delightful premise and an intriguing set of characters who pull me in to learn more. Unfortunately, I did not find the rest of the story very compelling, and I ultimately did not finish the book. The pacing was too slow for the type of story it was trying to tell, many of the jokes fell flat, and while the narration style seems to try for a fun sense of self awareness with quippy remarks in the character's povs, this often came off instead as the author trying to tell the reader how to feel instead of showing the emotions and reactions of the characters. A lot of the dialogue felt too clunky, like the characters were reading off of an informational script or trying too hard to sound witty.

The premise and worldbuilding is very promising, and I hope to see more from this author that maybe reads a bit smoother with time :).