I hope you’re wearing a seatbelt, because I finally picked up The Cursed by Harper L. Woods and I definitely have some thoughts on that wild ride. I really wanted to love this one since The Coven was such a good time, but this ended up being one of those reads that left me feeling a little conflicted. I suggest grabbing a cigarette and a cold shower – you’ll need it after the plot insanity and spice levels in this one!
**Please note: Major spoilers ahead**
Plot Summary
Betrayal.
He was the deception waiting in the night; the truth I never saw coming. After a lifetime of manipulation, I finally learned the truth. I was his puppet—even if I never saw my strings.
Even knowing how deep his betrayal runs, I can’t shake the undeniable connection between Gray and I—the way a single glance from him sets my soul on fire. We are not the same. We’re enemies, poised to battle for the future of the very thing I’d wanted to destroy.
With the Covenant gone, the revenge I thought I wanted is no longer my priority. The witches that remain played no role in my aunt’s death, and the only person standing in the way of righting those wrongs is the very man determined to keep me in his bed.
But the remaining members of the Coven will never forgive me for the role I played in their demise and subjugation, and the worst part of all is that I can’t even blame them for it. I’d been naive, believing my own delusions of grandeur when destiny clearly had other plans for me. Plans that had been set in motion centuries before my birth.
But even that had been a lie, and now it is my duty to do everything in my power to undo it.
To protect my Coven from my husband’s hatred—no matter what the cost.
(Via Goodreads)
Quality of Writing
Rating: 4/5
The writing style in The Cursed felt pretty consistent with what we got in the first book, which I appreciated. However, I did run into a few speed bumps trying to piece together the immediate aftermath of the previous cliffhanger. Even though The Cursed picks up right where we left off in book one, there were some continuity hiccups that made things a little confusing to follow at first. Once I got my bearings, the flow was solid, but those early logic gaps definitely made me do a double take.
Plot Development
Rating: 2/5
Honestly, the plot in The Cursed felt like it was hanging on by a thread. There was this big goal of Willow trying to unify the covenant, but the actual steps to get there were super fuzzy and kind of confusing. Most of the book felt like a massive smut fest where the actual story was just fighting for its life in the background. By the time I hit the cliffhanger ending, it felt a bit pointless because the buildup just wasn’t there. I can’t quite tell if the plot was trying to be overly complex or if it was just totally vacant, but it definitely didn’t click for me.
Characters
Rating: 2/5
The issues I had with the side characters in the first book are still hanging around in The Cursed. Everyone besides the leads still feel like stage dressing, which is a bummer because there’s so much potential for a stronger ensemble. Even worse, the dynamic between Gray and Willow actually felt like it regressed. I think the author was aiming for that “sexy possessive MMC” vibe, but it didn’t quite land for me – he just came across as straight up abusive at times.
Ease of Reading
Rating: 3/5
Once again, the writing structure in The Cursed is smooth, but the whisper of a plot still managed to trip me up at times. I again found myself having to reread sections just to make sure I hadn’t missed something important. There was a bit of an attempt at world building and lore with the introduction of Gray’s “origin story”, but it didn’t really feel like it was introduced organically. Instead, it felt like it was just dropped in to set up another antagonist for future books in the series.
Ending
Rating: 4/5
Despite having next to no plot for most of the ride, I actually really enjoyed how things wrapped up in The Cursed. Somehow, everything managed to fall into place right at the finish line. I’m definitely intrigued by the introduction of the Archangel Michael as the new big bad – it sets a cool tone for what’s coming next. I’m assuming the third book is going to go into Beelzebub and Margot’s journey through literal Hell, which does pique my interest for sure.
Would I Recommend This Book
Solid maybe. I’m a sucker for theological fantasies, and the Coven of Bones series definitely has a lot of potential in that department. But if you’re the kind of reader who needs a linear plot that actually moves forward and doesn’t just pause for a massive smut fest for several chapters, The Cursed might not be your cup of tea.
If you’re here for the vibes and the spice, go for it, but just be prepared for the story to take a backseat for a while!
Overall Rating
To sum it all up, The Cursed was also a mixed bag. The writing itself is solid, but the execution of the story once again felt a little messy. Between the continuity slips and a plot that basically went MIA in favor of the smut, it wasn’t the easiest follow. I was also pretty disappointed that the side characters are still just fading into the background, and the main romance took a turn into toxic territory that I just couldn’t get behind. That being said, the ending actually did a great job of pulling things together. The new antagonist and the shift in focus for the next book have me genuinely curious to see where the series goes from here.
Book Rating: 3/5
Spice Rating: 5/5
Curious about how I rate my reads? Check out my Rating System Blog Post for more!
Let’s Talk
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Reading Stack
Previous Book: Edge of Darkness
Current Book: Immortal/The Curse That Binds
Next Book: Crown of Midnight
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