Once upon a time, in a remote village, there lived a beautiful and kind-hearted princess named Isabella. She was known for her compassion and generosity towards her people. It seemed as though nothing could tarnish her pure heart and noble spirit. However, little did anyone know that a curse was destined to befall her. One day, a traveling sorceress visited the village and caught sight of the princess. Enchanted by Isabella's enchanting beauty, the sorceress grew jealous and decided to cast a curse upon her.
This may be a short and fun read, it took me under 3 hours, but Sterling doesn’t hold back when it comes to our side characters. We have her cousin, Vivi and her husband, both of which were the main characters in the first book in the series, Sam, Cait & Parker the three witches she takes under her wing and of course Wells, neighbour, tyrant and heartthrob. But, the absolute best side character, IMO, was Sir Purrcuvil, Gwyn’s talking cat who had me absolutely howling in parts. Every single one of these characters is well built, so you can’t help but love them all, but they also all help propel Gwyn’s characters progression throughout the story. Through them we see Gwyn grow up, become more at home with herself and start letting new people into her life and heart.
But when a mysterious new coven of witches come to town and Gwyn s powers begin fading, she and Wells must work together to figure out just what these new witches want and how to restore Gwyn s magic before it s too late. She absolutely rocks, her magic helps run the town and she s quirky as heck, all of which ensured I fell a little in love with her by the end of the book.
Enchanted by Isabella's enchanting beauty, the sorceress grew jealous and decided to cast a curse upon her. She approached the princess and gave her a sweet kiss on the cheek, disguising her ill intentions behind an innocent gesture. Unbeknownst to Isabella, the sorceress had whispered an incantation during the cursed kiss.
Book Review: Of Curses and Kisses
For Princess Jaya Rao, nothing is more important than family. When the loathsome Emerson clan steps up their centuries-old feud to target Jaya’s little sister, nothing will keep Jaya from exacting her revenge. Then Jaya finds out she’ll be attending the same elite boarding school as Grey Emerson, and it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime. She knows what she must do: Make Grey fall in love with her and break his heart. But much to Jaya’s annoyance, Grey’s brooding demeanor and lupine blue eyes have drawn her in. There’s simply no way she and her sworn enemy could find their fairy-tale ending…right?
His Lordship Grey Emerson is a misanthrope. Thanks to an ancient curse by a Rao matriarch, Grey knows he’s doomed once he turns eighteen. Sequestered away in the mountains at St. Rosetta’s International Academy, he’s lived an isolated existence—until Jaya Rao bursts into his life, but he can’t shake the feeling that she’s hiding something. Something that might just have to do with the rose-shaped ruby pendant around her neck…
As the stars conspire to keep them apart, Jaya and Grey grapple with questions of love, loyalty, and whether it’s possible to write your own happy ending.
Review: If you’ve ever read any of Sandhya Menon’s novels, you know she is an expert at writing slow-burning steamy romances and “Of Curses and Kisses” is no exception. The fun twist to the story is that it is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast and what a unique retelling it is.
As always, Menon’s strength is in her characters and Jaya and Grey are no exception. Jaya is very headstrong and at times, can be very frustrating. She fiercely loves her family and is committed to her role as princess and future queen, which was admirable and what I loved about her. She becomes engaged to someone she doesn’t love, but is willing to sacrifice her happiness for her family and community. Grey’s story is much more heartbreaking as he is an extreme introvert due to his father’s emotional abuse. He is a very caring person but often hides that part of himself to protect his heart. Together, Jaya and Grey challenge each other while at the same time bring out the best in each other. There were so many moments where Grey made Jaya question her decision for revenge as she got to know him and there were moments where Jaya brought Grey out of his shell. Because of that, they both allowed themselves to be vulnerable with each other, which to me, were some of the best moments of the book. I feel in love with Jaya and Grey as they fell in love with each other.
I have to mention how inventive Menon’s retelling of Beauty and the Beast this is. Clearly Jaya is meant to be “Beauty” and Grey is meant to be “Beast” (he even refers to himself as a beast) however, there were moments that I felt the roles were reversed. Grey is a truly beautiful soul and sometimes Jaya was so consumed with her desire for revenge that some of her actions were “beast-like”. They way Menon used the mythical rose from the original story, as a rose shaped ruby pendant that was the start and the end of the curse, was beautiful. As the pendent falls apart Jaya and Grey relationship grows, as the two initially bond over the falling petals of the pendant. It was a beautiful balance and created a lovely tension to their relationship.
I’ve loved all of Sandhya Menon’s books and “Of Curses and Kisses” is added to that list. It was a fun, steamy, romantic novel and one that everyone should read.
The plot, however, felt a little forced. Whereas The Ex Hex was driven forward mostly by the magical elements, The Kiss Curse focused equally on Gwyn and Wells’ relationship and the loss of Gwyn’s magic. It resulted in both plots not feeling very developed and like there weren’t a lot of stakes with either. I did like the small twist toward the end, though.
From that moment on, the princess's life was forever changed. At first, she didn't notice anything unusual, but soon strange things began to happen. Isabella's once radiant smile turned into a permanent frown, and her vibrant laughter was replaced with constant sighs. Her skin, once smooth and flawless, became pale and lifeless. No matter how much she tried to fight it, the curse had taken hold of her. The entire kingdom was in shock and disbelief as they watched their beloved princess wither away before their eyes. The curse brought by a simple kiss had stolen Isabella's joy and vitality, leaving her a mere shell of her former self. Desperate to find a solution, Isabella's loyal companions set out on a perilous journey to search for a cure. They traveled far and wide, consulting with wise sages and powerful wizards. After months of searching, they finally stumbled upon an ancient book of spells that contained a potential remedy. With hope rekindled, the companions returned to the village with newfound determination. They conducted an intricate ritual, hoping to reverse the curse that had plagued Isabella for so long. As the last incantation was spoken, a dazzling light enveloped the princess, and the curse was finally broken. Isabella's beauty and happiness were restored, much to the delight of her people. The curse brought upon her by a simple kiss had been shattered, and she could finally resume her role as the benevolent ruler she once was. This story serves as a reminder that appearances can be deceiving and that a single act can have profound consequences. Isabella's curse was brought upon her by a kiss, a seemingly innocent gesture. It reminds us of the importance of being cautious and discerning, for even the most well-intentioned actions can carry unintended repercussions..
Reviews for "The Forbidden Curse: A Love that Destroys with a Kiss"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I really didn't enjoy this book. The premise sounded interesting, but the execution was lacking. The plot felt rushed and underdeveloped, and the characters were one-dimensional. The writing style was also quite amateurish, with awkward phrasing and a lack of fluidity. Overall, it was a disappointing read and I wouldn't recommend it.
2. Jacob - 1 star - I couldn't even finish this book. The story was utterly predictable, and it felt like I had read the same plotline a hundred times before. The characters were incredibly cliché and lacked depth, making it difficult to care about their fate. The dialogue was also cringe-worthy and felt forced. I found myself skipping ahead in hopes of finding something more engaging, but unfortunately, that never happened. Save your time and skip this one.
3. Olivia - 2 stars - I found "A story about the curse brought by a kiss" to be quite underwhelming. The concept had potential, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was inconsistent, with long periods of stagnation followed by rushed and confusing moments. The romance felt forced and lacked chemistry, making it difficult to invest in the central relationship. Additionally, the world-building was minimal, leaving many unanswered questions. Overall, the book failed to live up to its promising premise.
4. Liam - 3 stars - I had mixed feelings about "A story about the curse brought by a kiss". On one hand, the concept was intriguing and had potential. However, the execution left much to be desired. The plot felt disjointed, and the pacing was uneven. The characters were not fully fleshed out, making it difficult to connect with them. The writing style was decent, but it wasn't enough to salvage the overall experience. While it had some redeeming qualities, I can't wholeheartedly recommend this book.