And Break the Pretty Kings by Lena Jeong (ARC Review)

Information

Goodreads: And Break the Pretty Kings
Series: None (yet?)
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Netgalley
Publication Date: June 20, 2023

Official Summary

A crown princess. A monster the gods fear. A destiny no one can outrun.

Inspired by Korean history and myths, this rich and evocative high-stakes fantasy is perfect for fans of Gallant and Six Crimson Cranes.

Mirae was meant to save her queendom, but the ceremony before her coronation ends in terror and death, unlocking a strange new power within her and foretelling the return of a monster even the gods fear. Amid the chaos, Mirae’s beloved older brother is taken–threatening the peninsula’s already tenuous truce.

Desperate to save her brother and defeat this ancient enemy before the queendom is beset by war, Mirae sets out on a journey with an unlikely group of companions while her unpredictable magic gives her terrifying visions of a future she must stop at any cost.

Review

And Break the Pretty Kings has a lot of potential, with its headstrong protagonist, high-stakes plot, and complex world building. Unfortunately, there is simply so much going on in the book, from the characters’ backstories to the country’s history to the ever-changing plot and predictions and multitude of attempted plot twists that the main emotion I experienced while reading was confusion. I don’t know what to say, besides that a more heavy-handed developmental editor might have been able to draw out the gem of the story that’s clearly at the heart of this, but that didn’t happen.

Jeong gives a good attempt at world building, but the way the information is imparted isn’t always clear. There are times the protagonist alludes to things about history or politics or religion that are just hints of what’s going on, but it’s not until later in the novel that a full explanation is given, leaving readers to kind of guess and fill in the blanks in the meantime. And then there’s the fact that things keep changing. Some of this, I believe, is because the protagonist is supposed to be wrong about some things. So, for instance, she starts the novel talking about the apparently obvious gods-given destiny of her family to “unite the peninsula,” and it isn’t until later readers get a fuller picture that this might be wrong and maybe not even ordained by the gods. (But maybe it IS ordained by the gods. As I said, it’s not clear!)

The author also attempts to add some suspense and plot twists, but to me it just makes everything more crazy and confusing. One gets the idea there’s a love interest. But wait, maybe it’s another guy. Or possibly a third guy. And there there . . . isn’t actually a romance in the book at all. Just hints that the protagonist will have a love interest in her future. One of three guys, maybe. The same thing happens with the villain. One guy’s the villain, then he’s not? Or maybe he is? This stuff didn’t really “keep me on my toes” or keep me engaged; it just seemed wild because something I and the protagonist believed was true changed page by page. There wasn’t enough build-up between the changes.

Finally, I’m not sure about the magic. There’s a whole magic system developed, which seems fine overall. The weird part is that the protagonist is supposed to have legendary, unparalleled magic, the type of powers predicted by the gods to be the great salvation or the great downfall of a nation, something no one has seen before that everyone should fear! The reality is a letdown. the protagonist only uses the power a handful of times, and it’s not really a *magic* or an action, in some sense. There’s no way to predict what using her power will result it. It’s an interesting idea, but not really impressive in the way the author seems to have intended.

The book is fine. I think a lot of people will love it. I was largely confused and not really invested. The ending strongly implies there will be a sequel, though I haven’t seen any information about that yet. I, for one, will not be reading it.

Cursed by Marissa Meyer (Briana’s Review)

INFORMATION

Goodreads: Cursed
Series: Gilded #2
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Purchased
Published: 2022

OFFICIAL SUMMARY

Before the Endless Moon, when the Erlking means to capture one of the seven gods and make a wish to return his lover, Perchta, from the underworld, Serilda and Gild attempt to break the curses that tether their spirits to Adalheid’s haunted castle. But it soon becomes clear that the Erlking’s hunger for vengeance won’t be satisfied with a single wish, and his true intentions have the power to alter the mortal realm forever. Serilda and Gild must try to thwart his wicked plans, all while solving the mystery of Gild’s forgotten name, freeing the ghosts kept in servitude to the dark ones, and trying to protect their unborn child.

Romance, danger, and Serilda’s journey to find her power as a woman, a mother, and a storyteller make this reimagining of Rumpelstiltskin one that Meyer fans—old and new—will treasure.

REVIEW

Spoilers for Gilded!

An exciting and atmospheric read, Cursed is a flawless sequel to Gilded. Meyer left readers on a bit of cliffhanger at the end of book one, and Cursed picks up and keeps thing moving at a steady pace. Meyer is one of my favorite YA fantasy authors, as she delivers solid book after solid book, and this is no exception.

The characters are rounded out here, and readers can see more of what makes each of them tick. Gild starts to envision more of his past and who he might have been. Serilda begins to grow into her role as a potential queen, even as she mourns the loss of her loved ones. And the reader might even find themselves with a shred of sympathy for the villains, even as they are clearly inhuman and seem to revel in cruelty.

The one thing I didn’t love about Cursed is that there aren’t a lot of wins for Serilda and her friends. This isn’t a flaw in the book, of course, but personally I would have loved a bit of light, to see a few things turn out as our protagonists hope or plan! The constant triumph of darkness made the book a bit of bummer to read at times; I definitely had to be in the right headspace.

I also continue to be confused at the designation of this duology as YA. I think it’s quite the thing many teen readers would like, so no problem there, but some of the concerns seem more adult. Serilda, as one will know having read Gilded, spends much of this book pregnant, for instance. And, you know, preparing for her wedding and being married. Not the usual teen fare. I did laugh a bit at Serilda’s complaints she wasn’t experiencing symptoms of pregnancy, like fatigue or aching feet or vomiting. So I suppose I see some teen realism in that naïveté and her belief she would really love to experience those things.

Cursed is, nonetheless, a fabulous read, and if you enjoyed Gilded, you will certainly want to pick up this, as well.

Read Krysta’s review of Cursed here.

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

Information

Goodreads: The Davenports
Series: Davenports #1
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Library
Published: 2023

Summary

The year is 1910 and, thanks to the efforts of the formerly enslaved William Davenport, his family enjoys wealth and status in Chicago–and are one of the few Black families to do so. Olivia Davenport dreams of making her family proud with a good marriage, but finds herself falling in love with a political activist instead. Meanwhile, her sister Helen wants nothing more than to work in her father’s company and scorns the idea of falling in love at all–until she falls for her sister’s suitor. Their brother John hopes to bring the family business into the future, but risks it by falling in love with their maid, Amy-Rose. And Olivia’s best friend Ruby has her sights set on winning John’s heart to please her parents, until she ruins her own plan when another man captures her heart. All of them soon must choose. Will they do what their parents and society expects? Or risk it all for love?

Review

I admit I do not read much romance, as I typically struggle with the genre. I enjoy romance in a book, but typically prefer that other plot elements take center stage. The Davenports, however, intrigued me with its promise of overlooked history (as well as that gorgeous cover!). So I took a chance. And I can definitely say that The Davenports has all the drama a person could want in a romance.

The point of the book is apparently not to be suspenseful, since the official summary gives the main plot away. Essentially, every main character in the book is in love with the “wrong” person. Olivia is meant to marry a society gentleman, but prefers a political activist. Her sister Helen loves her suitor. Ruby loves John, but John loves someone else. And so on and on. The point is to discover how all of them will figure out how to disentangle themselves. The book has a motivating message about being true to one’s self and disregarding society’s expectations. I think the book is even sincere, since this is a YA. Maybe the maid really will marry the son of one of the city’s most powerful businessmen! But, still, there is an element of doubt that will keep readers flipping pages.

One should note that this book really is primarily a romance. It is set in 1910 and inspired by actual historical figures. However, the intention is not to delve into the past or educate readers, though events relating to the Jim Crow laws are pushed forward in time so Olivia (and readers) can learn more about them. There are even small details and expressions that are anachronistic– a reference to espresso that seems out of place and a mention of “mutual uncoupling,” for instance. But I believe the book is meant to be a sort of YA Bridgerton, meaning that the romance remains the focus. Even the characters’ other concerns in regards to finding their purposes in life or their identities (like joining political causes, starting a small business, or convincing their father to start manufacturing automobiles instead of carriages) feel more like set dressing than primary concerns. Readers who expect otherwise may be disappointed.

My main issue, however, is not with the genre, but with the fact that series or at least a sequel is planned. The book has four POVs and probably should have been split into books each focusing on one of the girls. Instead, readers flip from each girl to the next in succession, with the final climax occurring at the end. That is, while most romances have the breakup scene/obstacle to romance in the middle, The Davenports throws all the wrenches in at the final chapters, as a sort of cliffhanger. It feels odd for a genre book to be doing something so un-generic. I would have been more satisfied had this been one book with a conclusion, or one book focused on one protagonist, with the rest receiving companion books.

All that being said, The Davenports is a fun romance! The relationships are deeply tangled and readers who enjoy the genre will surely root for the sympathetic characters and wonder how they will all end up with the right person in the end. An entertaining read!

Clock Striker, Volume 1: “I’m Gonna Be a SMITH!” by Issaka Galadima, et al

Information

Goodreads: I’m Gonna Be a SMITH!
Series: Clock Striker #1
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Library
Published: 2023

Summary

The legendary Smiths, warriors who used technology in battle, are believed to be gone. But young Cast still dreams of joining their ranks–and receives the opportunity of a lifetime when one of last Smiths takes her on as an apprentice. Now Cast and her mentor Ms. Clock are embarked on a dangerous mission to protect lost Smith technology from falling into the wrong hands. But it is a mission that could be deadly.

Review

I do not read a lot of manga which makes it difficult for me, I suppose, to really comment on how well a particular manga works in comparison to other, respected works. My perspective is that of the casual reader, one who sometimes dips their toes into the ocean of this storytelling form, and who may or may not continue in farther, depending on the experience. My non-expert opinion, then, is that the first volume of Clock Striker feels fun and enthusiastic–but also a bit unoriginal. It plays up a lot of tropes that perhaps fans really relish. But I was hoping for something that felt more exciting.

I’m Gonna Be a SMITH! is a book for readers that enjoy the good old standbys– legendary artifacts, secret organizations, gangster-style villains, a Cinderella-esque rise from obscurity to influence, and lots of girl power. I often enjoy tropes myself, so none of this is necessarily a flaw. I was just hoping that it would all combine into something that still felt fresh, and with characters that I could really care about. Mostly, however, I remember what seems to be a sort of standard, superhero-esque origin story combined with lots of confusing fight scenes and an overuse of, “Haha! You thought a mere girl couldn’t beat you! Eat dirt, sexists!” triumphs. The messaging is a bit heavy-handed, even if it is a message many readers will enjoy.

This foray into manga did not particularly leave me wanting more. However, I can see it being very popular with tweens and teens, who might be newer to some of the tropes and undoubtedly excited for all the girl power moments. While I will not be reading book two, I would recommend the series to other fans of manga.

Saigami, Vol. 1: (Re)birth by Flame by Seny

Information

Goodreads: (Re)Birth by Flame
Series: Saigami #1
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Library
Published: 2015, 2022

Summary

Ayumi is normal teenage girl until she finds herself in the world of Aesztrea, where people have dragons and some wield elemental powers. When Ayumi discovers she has the ability to wield fire, she decides to compete to become one of the elite Saigami warriors.

Review

Often, very standard books prove the most difficult to review. The first volume of Saigami feels very familiar. A teenage girl does not feel like she belongs–until she finds herself in a fantasy world, where she possesses the ability to control fire. Her father is shrouded in mystery and her powers are abnormally strong. But, to help her pass the test to become an official Saigami, she has the goofy boy-next-door and his handsome, broody friend. Basically, I’ve read this book before. Several times in fact. It was never going to impress me, even though it is solid. I think teens newer to this plotline will enjoy it more, though.

I admit I do not read much manga in general because a lot of the covers I see are, frankly, off-putting. I hear good things about some series, but I simply cannot take them seriously when the female characters all have gravity-defying watermelons for busts. I know some people argue that this is “empowering,” but when these characters are designed by men and appear to cater to the male gaze, it feels objectifying to me, not empowering. So I was relieved to see this cover, where the female protagonist looks rather normal. It seemed like a book I could read and maybe even recommend, without having to wonder about the dynamics of guiding people towards teen reads that objectify girls. That was genuinely encouraging for me. So, points for having a realistic-looking protagonist who is depicted as powerful and not as an object for the male gaze.

Ayumi’s personality is realistic, as well, and I think that could draw teen readers to the series. Though she is clearly being set up as a type of Chosen One, Ayumi is still new to this world and to her powers. Consequently, she can come across as annoying and whiny as she adjusts to the Saigami lifestyle. And, that’s fair. Many people who found themselves in a world they could not understand and then had to journey into the wild and learn how to camp and sleep on the hard ground for the first time would probably whine, too. Ayumi makes up for this by having a kind heart. I think readers will want to root for her.

The plot, as stated above, feels rather bland. The artwork I had trouble following; I had no idea what was supposed to be happening in the fight scenes, and had to rely on the dialogue to (hopefully) tell me. But I think teen readers will like the dragons and the fire scenes. There are also hints of mystery surrounding Ayumi’s past and a gesture towards some potential romance and some drama as Ayumi trains to become a Saigami. While this is not a standout for me, I do think teen readers will be more generous to the story and more excited about it.

Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson

Information

Goodreads: Nine Liars
Series: Truly Devious #5
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Library
Published: 2022

Summary

1n 1995, nine graduating Cambridge students travel to a country estate for a final farewell party. Two do not make it till morning. The police believe the dead students interrupted a burglary, but one of the survivors is not so sure. Fast forward a few decades, and teen sleuth Stevie Bell takes the case when one of the survivors goes missing.

Information

Nine Liars continues the story of Stevie Bell as she and her friends join her boyfriend David for a short study abroad in England. Though the draw of the story might be said to be the unsolved 1995 mystery David’s new friend Izzy puts before Stevie, the book gives equal weight to concerns such as Stevie and David’s troubled relationship, looming college applications, and a feeling of loss as the Stevie and the others head towards graduation and a parting of the ways. Personally, I found myself more interested in the cold case than Stevie’s continued relationship drama. But the culprit is obvious from the start, and Stevie proves strikingly clueless in solving this mystery, until the very end, when she magically pulls out some tangential evidence that would never hold up in court. The disappointing reveal of how it all went down, combined with Stevie and David’s excruciating on-and-off again relationship spell the end of my interest this series.

Though there are initially seven suspects for this case (which I personally think is too many characters to introduce at once–and Maureen Johnson seems to realize this since she utilizes a sort of dramatis personae as a shortcut to give readers their appearances and main traits), there are, sadly, only two viable suspects based on the evidence. This meant that I waited eagerly for the entire book, not to discover who had committed the crime, but why. The reveal is a major letdown and made me feel a bit miffed that I had read an entire book for such a halfhearted attempt at a motive.

Because there are only two main suspects, and because it is obvious that the 1995 case was not a burglary attempt, but a murder, it is absolutely baffling that Stevie struggles so long with this case. Readers know that nine people went to an isolated estate in 1995, and two were killed. One of the survivors says that she believes one of her friends killed the others. Then that survivor disappears. Stevie, for the bulk of the book, honestly seems not to consider at all that one of the other six is behind the modern-day disappearance. She even casually goes off to spend a day with them in the isolated estate, without ever raising the possibility that she has willingly hanging out with a potential murderer in a place no one can save her.

Why? I guess because she is more concerned about feeling jealousy over David’s new friend Izzy? As in the past few books, Stevie and David have to have complications in their relationship. I never really liked them as a couple, however, so I only felt annoyed and frustrated by Stevie’s imaginings. Most of their drama is not organic, but tailored just to keep the will-they, won’t-they plot going. It all feels especially misplaced here, where most of their scenes together are dedicated towards a big build-up of when they will get to sleep together, and then wham! Drama! Jealousy! Confusion! Spare me.

I keep waiting for this series to impress me because it seems so popular, but Stevie never really seems to do in-depth sleuthing or any remarkable detecting. And the relationship drama takes up as much space as the mystery, when I really just want the mystery. Book five ends with a cliffhanger, but to me it feels like this series should just end.

Unfamiliar by Haley Newsome

Information

Goodreads: Unfamiliar
Series: Unfamiliar #1
Age Category: Middle Grade/YA
Source: Library
Published: 2022

Summary

Kitchen witch Planchette buys a new house, only to discover that the discounted price must have been because it is haunted! Unfortunately, Planchette’s powers are mostly good for cooking and not for exorcisms, so she heads to town to make new friends and find a little help to reclaim her home.

Review

Unfamiliar is a fun graphic novel that I am sure will appeal particular to tween and teen readers with its quirky art style and somewhat random storytelling arc. For my own part, I find it rather obvious that the book began as a webcomic. The plot is all over the place and makes no significant headway before the book abruptly ends–no closure here, just a hope that readers will return for the next installment! But I do know many younger readers who will enjoy the characters and the premise, without worrying about the overall structure. So, pick this one up if you enjoy webcomics, I guess!

I am sure many types of webcomics exist. My own limited experience, however, is that often these stories kind of meander along with no real place to go–at least not in a hurry–because the creators want readers to keep returning. Oftentimes, the focus is more on the characters than the plot. This seems to be the case with Unfamiliar. The book sets up the initial premise–that kitchen witch Planchette has a haunted house and needs help removing the ghosts–but then diverts immediately into introducing the new characters, Planchette’s found family: a siren who does not like attention, a not-powerful witch from a very powerful family, and a girl under a curse. Backstories are given and friendships formed. Aw! No need to worry about the actual problem here. The ghosts can wait while readers go on little “side quests” with all the new characters.

This sort of storytelling may be unfocused, but undoubtedly has its fans. Personally, I would have preferred for book one to have, at least, a discernible sort of arc so I could feel closure at the end, and then an invitation to keep reading with book two. I was surprised that Planchette made almost no progress on her house issue, and that the book seems to end practically mid-scene. This will, I think, frustrate some readers, even if they enjoy the story. Most readers do not want to be hanging like this. It’s not a well-crafted cliffhanger or anything like that. It just…stops. Presumably because the story was conceived of as one continuous work, and not meant to be broken up here at all.

The artwork is also a bit too quirky for my taste. I like the “cutesy” nature of the illustrations and can see it appealing to readers. I do not like the way the eyes are drawn with actual objects in them instead of pupils. (And not the usual dollar signs or hearts. More like, if the protagonist sees a pony she likes, her eyes both have ponies inside.) It looks weird and creepy, yes, but also seems like a strange shorthand. Instead of drawing characters with actual emotions, the artist can just put pictures in their eyes to show what they are thinking. I would prefer more emotive characters instead of the pupil replacement strategy.

Unfamiliar has an intriguing premise and introduces some characters I would like to see more of. It is not for me, however, a must-read series. I can see myself forgetting about it and losing interest by the time a book two is released.

Shuna’s Journey by Hayao Miyazaki, Trans. by Alex Dudok de Wit

Information

Goodreads: Shuna’s Journey
Series: None
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Library
Published: 1983; Translation 2022

Official Summary

From legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki comes a new manga classic about a prince on a quest for a golden grain that would save his land, never before published in English!

Shuna, the prince of a poor land, watches in despair as his people work themselves to death harvesting the little grain that grows there. And so, when a traveler presents him with a sample of seeds from a mysterious western land, he sets out to find the source of the golden grain, dreaming of a better life for his subjects.

It is not long before he meets a proud girl named Thea. After freeing her from captivity, he is pursued by her enemies, and while Thea escapes north, Shuna continues toward the west, finally reaching the Land of the God-Folk.

Will Shuna ever see Thea again? And will he make it back home from his quest for the golden grain?

Review

Two years before Studio Ghibli was founded, Hayao Miyazaki’s book Shuna’s Journey was released. Based on a Tibetan folktale, it follows Prince Shuna as he leaves his famine-stricken land to search for a fabled golden grain that can save his people. The trademarks of Miyazaki are all here–the epic scope, the flawed hero, the strong and determined heroine, and the beautiful artwork. Fans of Miyazaki will not want to miss out on another compelling story from the master storyteller!

Perhaps what intrigued me most about Shuna’s Journey was the sense of ambiguity it has. As with many of Miyazaki’s stories, much of the storytelling is actually left to the reader. Shuna travels across strange lands and encounters people both cruel and kind, but often what exactly is happening is never explained. Why do the city dwellers want to capture Shuna? What are the green giants? Are the gods still there? And, if so, are they good? Only the reader can decide.

The storytelling also does not fear to go its own way. Many stories on the market today seem similar to the point of being formulaic, but Miyazaki’s tale does not follow convention. If he wants to follow Shuna for most of the book, only to switch to another character’s perspective towards the end, he will! If he wants to upend the traditional way of fairy tales, he will do that, too. It is always pleasure to read something that feels original, and Miyazaki always delivers with his own unique vision.

Miyazaki fans will definitely want to check this one. The gorgeous water color artwork, especially the landscapes, are evocative, as always. And the story, strange and mysterious, is compelling, as always. This is a book that is more of an experience than a book.

Greywaren by Maggie Stiefvater

Information

Goodreads: Greywaren
Series: Dreamer Trilogy #3
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Library
Published: 2022

Official Summary

This is the story of the Lynch family.

Niall and Mór escaped their homeland for a new start, and lost themselves in what they found.

Declan has grown up as the responsible son, the responsible brother–only to find there is no way for him to keep his family safe.

Ronan has always lived on the edge between dreams and waking… but now that edge is gone, and he is falling.

Matthew has been the happy child, the brightest beam. But rebellion beckons, because it all feels like an illusion now.

This world was not made for such a family–a family with the power to make a world and break it. If they cannot save each other or themselves, we are all doomed.

Review

Potential spoilers for the book below!

I have mixed feelings about Greywaren. While Call Down the Hawk and Mister Impossible blew me away with the sheer inventiveness of the worldbuilding, and the stakes of the drama, Greywaren meanders a bit though a futile attempt to give page time to its large ensemble cast, before devolving into a too-easy conclusion that makes the former two books feel irrelevant, and that fails to give readers much closure. I wanted to love Greywaren as much as I have loved the Raven Cycle and the first two books in the Dreamers Cycle, but I admit I closed the final pages feeling perplexed. The complexity and originality I have come to expect from Stiefvater do not seem fully there.

While many readers struggled to connect with some of the characters, or found themselves disappointed by an ensemble cast instead of a full focus on Ronan Lynch, I always greatly enjoyed all the characters and the chapters from their perspectives. Hennessy and Jordan fascinated me. Carmen seemed to have great potential as a do-gooder clearly working for the wrong side. Declan easily became my favorite, as he finally got the chance to tell his story and was not simply the villain in Ronan’s. And lovable Matthew grew in the telling, finally shedding some of his naivete as he was forced to reckon with reality. All of them were great. I was even vaguely intrigued about what role Adam would play in this saga, and if the Crying Club would become relevant. So I was left wondering why half the threads in the previous books seemed dropped. I was even left wondering why the threads in this book were dropped.

In the end, it seems like maybe too much was going on for Stiefvater to deal with it all, but that seems strange given her prior books. But I was left baffled that Adam basically disappeared from the narrative, after getting a set-up that seemed to suggest his scrying would play a prominent role in Ronan’s mission. The Crying Club was never relevant at all. Matthew was set up to do something remarkable, but didn’t. And then all the characters acted completely out of character just so things could wrap up neatly. Rebels become domesticated. People die so other people can end up together, even though they don’t make sense together. Even the characters from the Raven Cycle appear, ostensibly for Declan, even though they are Ronan’s friends and not Declan’s at all? I understand the desire to give readers closure by neatly pairing everyone off and making everyone seem happy, but this is not the way.

And the ending of the book just kind of makes the whole dilemma of the first two books…disappear. I thought interesting concepts were at play. How can dreamers survive in a world that is not built for them? Should they continue to fight the nightwash, or should Ronan awaken the ley lines? If Ronan does awaken the lines, what other horrors could occur if the dreams become too powerful to control? Just because no current dreamers have thought to dream something monstrous and world destroying does not mean no one could. What if that happens? What is the plan? Well…none of that matters, anymore, dear readers! Apparently Ronan is just going to toss the whole ley line idea because, well, I’m not sure. Yeah, Bryde is gone, but the problem isn’t. Essentially, this book says, Ronan went on this entire journey to figure out who Bryde is and to awaken the ley lines just to decide he doesn’t need to because he had some personal growth instead and he doesn’t really care anymore. Or something.

The book is not a complete letdown because I still love the characters and the world Stiefvater has created. However, it does seem clear that Stiefvater struggled with the ending. I was in awe with the complexity and imagination of the first two books in the series, but it all comes crashing down here, with the book not sure where to go with all the big ideas that were raised.

Cursed by Marissa Meyer

Information

Goodreads: Cursed
Series: Gilded #2
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Library
Published: 2022

Official Summary

Before the Endless Moon, when the Erlking means to capture one of the seven gods and make a wish to return his lover, Perchta, from the underworld, Serilda and Gild attempt to break the curses that tether their spirits to Adalheid’s haunted castle. But it soon becomes clear that the Erlking’s hunger for vengeance won’t be satisfied with a single wish, and his true intentions have the power to alter the mortal realm forever. Serilda and Gild must try to thwart his wicked plans, all while solving the mystery of Gild’s forgotten name, freeing the ghosts kept in servitude to the dark ones, and trying to protect their unborn child.

Romance, danger, and Serilda’s journey to find her power as a woman, a mother, and a storyteller make this reimagining of Rumpelstiltskin one that Meyer fans—old and new—will treasure.

Review

Marissa Meyer has done it again! The sequel to Gilded brings readers on a breathtaking journey full of romance, mystery, suspense, and danger–one fans will find difficult to put down. The atmospheric worldbuilding and the intertwining of folklore and fantasy will draw readers in. But the empathetic characters and the high stakes they face will capture readers entirely. A must-read for fans of YA fantasy and fairy tale retellings!

Gilded ended on a dramatic cliffhanger, so I was only too eager to see where Meyer would take the story next. I loved that the narrative did not keep the characters safe, but repeatedly put them in untenable situations. The Erlking and his court are meant to be monsters, and it was imperative for the integrity of the story for this to be true. Fairy tales such as this are meant to be dark, meant to show that humans can persevere beyond all reasoning. And, maybe, just maybe, triumph. But that question of whether triumph is even possible anymore is the part that makes this story so gripping.

I also really loved that Serilda is a mother in this story. Motherhood is not often explored in YA books, even though it is a part of life and even something some teens might experience. Granted, I felt at times that Serilda read more like a young twenty-something than a teen, but readers do not need to only read books with protagonists exactly their age. And the motherhood element made this book feel more unique, as well as adding higher stakes to Serilda’s struggle for freedom.

Cursed is that rare thing, a sequel that lives up to its predecessor. More mythology, more intrigue, and more romance all come together to create an unputdownable read that will leave readers wishing for more. Fans of Meyer’s will not want to miss out on this stunning conclusion to the duology!