This was such a cute read! I was sucked in from the first couple sentences, and could not put it down until I finished. I absolutely adored the story telling, the magic system & most of all: silas and alessia. I cannot wait for book 2!

I really enjoyed Cursed! The plot was engaging, and the fast pace made it an easy and enjoyable read from start to finish. Alessia’s journey pulled me in right away, and I loved the slow-burn romance. The book is well-written and keeps you hooked with twists, magic, and a few secrets revealed along the way.

Alessia tries to help a tall, dark and mysterious man, to stop a dangerous curse that could destroy everything. The world-building is detailed but very easy to follow, and the characters are so well thought of and developed. If you love a fast-paced, magical world with a hint of romance you will really enjoy this book, I would highly recommend!
#cursed #netgalley

I really enjoyed the balance between modern reality and the fantasy aspects within this book. They did not seem too over-the-top compared to other ones I have read. Everything had some sense to it and not just all thrown in for flare or absurdity. Furthermore, the names chosen for the characters are aesthetic to the genre that it is, which made it kind of beautiful, in a sense. I realized that very early on that I had already highlighted a numerous amount of memorable quotes that I already wanted to read the next book in the series once it comes out.

This book felt so much like a FairyTale with the market audience being adult female romance and urban fantasy stories. The book even included a bit of a lesson which is also true of fairytales. Aleissa is stuck in a life that on the surface may look idyllic from the rich handsome fiance to the well to do upbringing but underneath she is drowning until she first calls on her power. Then the true tale of Aleissa begins, a tale about a woman finding her place in a world much different than the familiar. It is a tale about a woman pulled along in her life with her parents and finance planning each step going to a woman unafraid to stand up for her self, a woman so strong a selfless she even saves a cursed evil siren about to kill her.
Silas's short non-answers drove me crazy for a while but it also kept me turning the pages trying to determine when Allie wold learn the full truth. Otherwise, he was a good character trying to atone for something he was not responsible for. The other characters from Millie to Irina and from x to Lilah helped round out a good tale. I was most fascinated by learning that magic was all around Aleissa from the 6th Borough to magic corporations casting spells. However, it took Belief to open her eyes and belief in herself to help her save the world or at least the magical portion of it.
I would recommend this book and look forward to seeing where the story goes next.
Thanks to NetGalley and LaManna Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

3.5/5

If you like that one scene in A Court of Mist and Fury where Rhysand shows up at Feyre's wedding, then this book is for you.

This is a super quick book (only about 200 pages) about a girl who is about to get married, doesn't really want to and doesn't really want to. She is begging for something to happen, for something to stop this and then he shows up. This dude magically appears and takes her away to a far more magical place than New York. And that's how this story kicks off.

I would definitely recommend this, it was so quick to read and I had a fun time. I feel like because it is so short that by saying anything else, I might be spoiling something, so I shall say nothing more.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of CURSED (Book 1 of the Court of Isles urban fantasy series) by Gina LaManna in exchange for an honest review. Alessia “Allie” Wells has spent her entire life bowing down to the will of others. Now, here she stands about to marry a man she doesn’t even like, in a venue she didn’t pick, decorated in a way she didn’t want, wearing a dress, shoes, and hairstyle she finds painful. So, Alessia closes her eyes and makes a heartfelt wish to escape her desperately unhappy life. Wish granted! Alessia awakes to life on a magical island where she can live her life doing the one thing she always wanted to do—help people. There’s only one proviso, she has to BELIEVE—in magic and, even more difficult, in herself.

I liked this book and look forward to the next one. I recommend this book to fans of romantic urban fantasy featuring exotic locations, witches, mermaids, fairies, elves, gods, and magic.

#Cursed #NetGalley

Alessia always felt like she didn’t belong, but it wasn’t until her wedding day that she understood why.

I quickly fell in love with the main characters in this story, especially Millie! The action was fast paced and never boring, but there was still definitely a sufficient amount of world building to really dive into this world. There was really a sense of found family in the isles that i most definitely enjoyed.

After further research i can see the author already has a series based in this world, (although this new series can be read without spoilers) which i will definitely be open to reading in the future!

read this book in one sitting!

4⭐️

This was a great read! Will absolutely be finishing the rest in the series. I loved the writing style and the story. I have already recommended this to others I think would enjoy it and can’t wait to hear their feedback also! It was great.