Cursed

Tysseland Chronicles #1

by Monica Wolfson

When 17-year-old Sasha orders her latte at a local café, she hardly expects to get robbed. Strangely, the men don’t want money from the register. Instead they are interested in the necklace she is wearing that her mother gave her years ago.
Sasha can’t understand why the men would want the worthless piece of stained glass that hangs around her neck from a leather cord. It’s not worth anything or is it? She comes to realize not all value is measured in dollars and cents.
This is the night she meets Evan, who saves her life by distracting the robbers as the couple dodge flying bullets. It takes days for Sasha to acknowledge that her burgeoning magic abilities helped keep them safe. She’s adamant in keeping that secret from Evan. She doesn’t want him to know she’s a freak.
Cursed is a thrilling romantic and exhilarating read. Monica Wolfson takes readers to a fantasy world they won’t want to leave.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

215 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 2013

About the author

I am a suburban Detroit-based mom, wife, runner and occasional mountain biker.
Things I love:
Coffee
Running, I have done three half and one full marathon.
Cycling, I used to mountain bike a lot and then I had a kid. There went the cycling. It's a good thing the kid has turned out pretty good. She's an adorable almost 4.
Books, I mostly read YA although have been known to read mysteries, thrillers, nonfiction, some literary and fantasy like George R.R. Martin.
TV, I love TV. It's a guilty pleasure and I have lots of must see TV like Glee, Friday Night Lights, the Good Wife, Vampire Diaries, Game of Thrones, Once Upon a Time, Mad Men and Grimm. I have recently become a fan of The Killing, Homeland and The Walking Dead. I am a Buffy The Vampire Slayer freak with two references in Cursed (June 2013) and Evolution (late 2013 or early 2014).

If you have read my books, thank you. If you are thinking about reading my books, thank you.

I don't consider myself a writer. As a newspaper reporter for the past 15 years, I find writing the hardest part of my job. It's grueling. I'm not a wordsmith.
But I subject myself to the torture because I have stories to tell. So thank you for putting up with me.

Reviews

[Alisha Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this book. I liked Sasha immediately and thought her feelings rang true to the teenage experience that so many of us have already went through (such as loving her mom, but not being able to stand her most of the time). I also thought the idea behind the story was a good one.
That being said, the book felt rushed just for the sake of wrapping up the story. Evan at first is cold towards Sasha, but then has (what seems like) an immediate change of heart. He also decides to be her protector without really knowing or caring what he is getting himself into. All of the characters except Sasha were one dimensional and their emotions seem to change at a moment's notice without any explanation. Sasha's emotions changed a lot, too, but at least we had her inner thoughts to help us piece together her changing moods.

I think this book would have been better as a novella or a short story because as I previously stated: the idea is a good one. But unfortunately there wasn't enough back story or explanation for the character's actions to warrant it being a full length novel. Hopefully if this becomes a series we get to know the characters a little bit more, and learn more about the world Sasha lives in.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won my copy through the Goodreads FirstReads contest.

OK. I like the premise of this book. The main characters, Sasha and Evan, are well-developed and interesting. However, there are some major problems with the construction of this book. There are inconsistencies (as another reviewer mentioned) about whether Sasha had met Evan's grandmother. The proofing/editing for this novel is slim to non-existent. Besides plot inconsistencies, there are grammatical mistakes galore. I tried to overlook them, but they are everywhere! And they're not just typos. Some of them are major mistakes or wrong word usages. One example is "decent" where "descent" should be. These mistakes make you say, "What?!" and force you to reread the sentence. They disrupt the flow of reading. With all that said, I applaud the imagination and creativity. The romantic scenes are really romantic, sensual even. I felt they belonged more in a Harlequin novel than a YA book. Otherwise, this novel really needs editing. Oh, and the page count for the book info needs updating from 215 to 295. Overall a good, creative effort, but please have this edited before printing any more copies!

[Sharon Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as 17-year old Sasha is finally getting a hold on who she is as a coming-of-age young adult, her world is turned upside down with the exposure of a family secret that she is actually the daughter of a princess of an alternative universe and her life is in extreme danger.

And the one after her is her own grandmother!

With the help of her new friend, cute brave barista Evan, Sasha must go through her share of trials and tribulations to shake off an old curse and free herself and her family from the tyranny of the Queen. Plus she has to find time to explore her feelings for Evan at the same time! A lot of burdens to be handled by one so young, but feisty and smart Sasha is up to the challenge!

Monica Wolfson has created a fascinating universe for her debut novel, "Cursed," and has populated it with a suspenseful storyline, a cast of intriguing characters and a healthy dash of romance that makes this a thrilling read for fans of coming-of-age novels.

I highly recommend it!

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. Sasha was a little whinny but with everything she was going through I could understand. Even though she was scared she still did what she had to do and didn't wait for anyone else to save her. I can't wait for book 2.

[Gelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait. #2 please.

[Books A-Brewin' · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an e-book copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I include that line with all the books (electronic or physical), but it has never held as much weight as it does now. I fell in love with the cover of this book and fangirled so heavily that the author gave me a copy of the third book (not yet published) to compare it to. It too was gorgeous, by the way. So, when I first started reading I was absolutely positive that I would love the story. While in some aspects I was correct, others I was not.

The story opens with Sasha, a young college student who frequents a less populated cafe due to its homey feel and comfortable fireplace to read or study beside. One evening, while avoiding going home, she stops in and meets Evan. The same night they are held at gunpoint by a couple of masked thugs. They escape, barely, with the help of Evan's quick thinking and Sasha's budding magical abilities. After that it is a tale of evil queens, magical worlds, a growing romance, and Sasha's struggle to simply stay alive and find answers to who she is, where she comes from, and why she's being hunted.

Sounds interesting, right? To an extent, yes, it was. The story line of Sasha and the world of Tysseland was all in all well thought out and something that would spurn many a fantasy lover into intrigue. However, a lot of it was poorly executed. There were boundaries the protagonists encountered that made me wonder how they were going to figure a way out of it, but then the problem just seems to disappear with no rhyme or reason. One minute, I'm on the edge of my seat with bated breath, trying to play out the different scenerios that could save the heroine and her love interest, the next it gets fixed with no explanation as to how. It's like slowly chugging up a steep hill on a rollercoaster, excitement and thrill is almost palpable and then once you reach the top they stop the ride and tell you to get off because that's it.

Another aspect I struggled with was the romance. As an example of the rollercoaster metaphor, Evan tells Sasha he can't be with her because he's not in an place in his life where he can handle a relationship (heard that before, so... that's real), then all of a sudden he is ready. No interactions between the characters occurred to cause this sudden change of heart, no death-defying antics, and no reason for it to happen out of the blue. After that, the connect between Sasha and Evan just never resonated with me. I didn't feel emotionally involved with them so their confessions of love or romantic interludes were met with a sad sigh that I wasn't closer to them so I could almost feel what Sasha or Evan were.

Now, I don't want you to think the entire book was a flop. It was not. The fantasy aspects of the story were fantastic. The different world with its many facets? The evil, remorseless queen? The questions of Sasha's magical abilities? Those were all the things that kept me reading and kept me involved. The people of Tysseland and their stories would make for fun interludes in Sasha's story (I need to know more about Deal!)

I think that despite some of the flaws I found personally in the execution of the story, Cursed was okay.

[Mandy Sickle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received Cursed from the author in return for an honest review. Sasha life changes on the night that she stepped into her favorite coffee shop. On this night she notices the guy behind the counter but before she can flirt to much the door bursts open and the pair is held at gunpoint. The robber is intent on getting Sasha necklace but the pair is able to escape with the help of the blue sparks coming from Sasha’s hand. Suddenly strange men are after her who throw fireballs, but at least she’s sparked the interest of the cute coffee guy.

After talking to her mother she learns that her grandmother whom she’s never met has cursed her intent on getting revenge on her daughter Willow Bean. With the help of Evan her coffee guy she sets out to find a way to break the curse before it’s too late. She also learns that she will need to travel through a portal to another world where her grandmother is the queen. Will Sasha and Evan be able t
o break the curse before it’s too late?

Sasha is a fun character who reminds me of myself picking the non-trendy coffee shop to read. She’s easy to connect with smart and keeps a cool head when fireballs are flying. I think Evan is a perfect complement to her because they each have their own issues but fit well together. Cursed has a variety of interesting supporting characters that keep the story interesting. The romance between Sasha and Evan is sweet it’s innocent and clean romance.

Cursed is an intricate story filled with whirlwind adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. A perfect blend of action and romance that keep me drawn into the story I had a hard time putting it down till I was done. The author has created a story that mixes the human world with the fantasy world which I found intriguing. The characters in Cursed are engaging and easy to connect with you can’t help cheering them on as they fight against her grandmother. I really enjoyed all aspects of Cursed it’s a fun story that leaves you wanting more. I look forward to reading the next installment and seeing what happens with Sasha and Evan. I highly suggest if you like fantasy with romance you check it out it’s a fantastic story. Plus how can you not love the beautiful cover?

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When I was asked to review this I wasn't completely sure but then I saw the cover and it's totally beautiful, and I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover but this one had me reaching for it.
This book is quite short at just 150 pages, a very quick read indeed. I enjoyed the plot, and the storyline flows well. A cursed teenager (Sasha) must find a way to reverse the curse before she dies. Throw in magic, a bit of a romance story, some action/fight scenes and it's complete. I actually enjoyed the progression of the story and wanted to know what happened next, but I struggled connecting with the characters a bit. The book is written very much in a 'telling' way. There isn't much emotion in the text. It reads a little bit like a list, very short sentences and paragraphs. For example - Chapter 7 (page 48)
"Sasha glowed with happiness. Evan had come to her birthday party. Even though he sort of accepted the invitation, she wasn’t sure he would show up."
Full stops represent a pause or breath, so this becomes very disjointed. I wanted the writing to elaborate a bit, show me she's glowing with happiness don't tell me. Yes Evan has come to her party, but when did she notice him walk in? What is he wearing? Has he bought her a present? Not all these details have to be included but a bit more information would make a massive difference.
I suppose I pick this up a lot as it was a criticism I received a lot when at school and I've been wary of it since.
After reading this for a while I sort of started to get used to it, but I just feel like I was reading from the outside looking in at the events, whereas I usually like to feel like I'm in the story, with the characters.
So I was a little bit disappointed with that, but as the story was very good it balanced it out for me, and I would recommend it as a quick, light, fun read.

[Michelle Michal Ramos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sasha has bigger problems than having a birthday and they're not your garden variety teenager problems. Bigger problems than a fair-weather, flightily, sometimes cruel friend like Cady. Bigger problems, even, than whether or not the hunky blue-eyed Evan likes her. Sasha has a problem with blue sparks. Shooting out of her hands. See? Sasha's got problems.

And if blue sparks aren't enough trouble, she suddenly finds herself at the center of dangerous situations and becomes paranoid that someone is out to get her. But you know what they say: You're not paranoid if people really are out to get you!

Cursed, set in Austin, the city I've called home for the last 14 years, doesn't beat around the bush--the story takes off at a good clip, right from the start. It's a fun story and the characters are likable and relatable; you won't find overly angst-ridden teens here. Even as Sasha moves through the story, she's your typical teen: she fights with her mom; she has boy trouble; she argues with her girl friends. Evan, the object of her affection, is fleshed out pretty well for not being the lead in the story, and I suspect that if there's a follow-up book, we'll learn much more about him. Wolfson crafted a novel with many more stories to tell and I think readers will stick with her for the whole tale.

As much as I enjoyed the overall story, however, the book isn't without issues. Wolfson needs an editor--if you're the least bit annoyed by missing commas, this book might drive you crazy. The story also has a small continuity problem in one detail. At one point in chapter 11, Sasha meets Evan's grandmother. She has a conversation with her, but a few chapters later, Sasha asks Evan about his grandmother and says she was curious because she'd never met the woman. It's a small detail, but it's one easily fixed and doesn't detract from the overall story.

I liked Cursed and it took me through a recent bout of insomnia. I'd gladly read more Wolfson has to share about Sasha.

[Kelesea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Title: Cursed

Author: Monica Wolfson

Age Group: Teen/Young Adult

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Tysseland Chronicles, book one

Star Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars


This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review--thank you so much, Monica!


First off, I want to say that I'm a fantasy novel junkie. It doesn't really matter what kind--urban, medieval, science fiction oriented--if it's a fantasy, I'm all over it. And the cover on this book--it's so freaking pretty! And I was very excited to read this. I wanted to love it, but unfortunately, there were a lot of issues with this book that really bogged down the narrative. I loved the idea of it--it had everything I wanted in a fantasy novel--magic, new worlds, romance, and excitement, and of course, an evil queen! But there are some parts of the novel that really need to be ironed out.


The editing of this novel really needs some work; at times the writing kept jumping back and forth between past and present tense, so it was hard to follow in some spots. The world-building was vague and confusing--I couldn't really picture Tysseland, except as a vague, confusing picture of a magical world slightly infused with our world's modern technology.


I liked the characters, especially Sasha, though at times it seemed like she was concentrating more on her infatuation with Evan, the hot guy who happens to save her life throughout the book. I also really enjoyed Evan and Sasha's relationship--it wasn't instant and moved along at a good pace. But other characters, like Sasha's sister Hannah, Vania, and Willow, seemed to only be vague people in the book--I didn't get to know them, and so they didn't feel real.


This book has a lot of potential--a fantasy foundation, a kick-butt main character, an exciting premise and good pacing, but it really needs to be cleaned up. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it--it was fun!

literatureobsessed.blogspot.com

[Tiffany Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found out about this book from a blogger who writes YA reviews. The story was great. it was so original and compelling with the modern world and the Tysseland world. i liked how the story was told from both places. i can't say i liked all the characters in the book, and i guess i'm not supposed to, but I did like the family dynamics. My mom and i didn't get along either and the antagonistic attitude toward her mother was very realistic.
The romance was also one of those realistic painful experiences that i've been through. Who hasn't dated a guy who was for it and then against it and then for it? it doesn't say the guy is the right one for her but then again Evan is so torn up with his own personal problems that he just might be if he can get over himself.
i'm looking forward to the sequel.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a five-star kind of person, even for my own book!!
This book is a modern fairy tale. I love realistic YA books but also ones that have paranormal or fantasy elements.
This book isn't based on anything specific but I did like how the TV show Once Upon a Time flips between a modern and fairy tale world.
I like a good love story like anyone else and hope my flawed teens touch your heart.
I found my teen years lonely and I think some of that seeped in here. My father thinks I am trying to make a statement about my mother and grandmother. He didn't believe me when I said the negative portrayals are just a coincidence.
Enjoy.

[H · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Point to note: the idea is a great one. I like the way the story flickers between our world and a fantasy one. The characters are easy to relate to and the storyline is attractive.

However, the writing style is a little laboured at times; the author goes into unnecessary detail in some parts and this interrupts the flow of the story. Sometimes less is more I think, and the same can be said of the rather amateurish cover.

It really is a great YA yarn, easy to read and doesn't strain the grey matter much. It just needs a little more professional polish!

[Colleen Start · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It had a strong female lead in Sasha who wanted to solve her own problems instead of waiting to be rescued. So many young women in YA books do stupid things and get themselves in situations where they have to be rescued by the handsome boy. in this story she makes her fate and is ASSISTED by a boyfriend. Teamwork. I know that sounds pragmatic but it's also so different from most of the books out there. the story is also super stellar in that Sasha's mother has this complicated past that affects Sasha. It's clear the story isn't over and I can't wait for book #2.

[Brenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cursed is fast pace easy read that kept me wanting more! although i wish there was more to the love story between the main characters I found in the end the story worked well and has me now wanting to read more. I will be posting a full review on my blog @ http://two-tall-tales.blogspot.com stay tune!

[i. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A modern fairytale with an evil queen a handsome boy and a naïve princess, some magic, some romance and a little bit of action including spells, talismans, frenemies, portals and an ogre. An easy read for the last days of summer.

www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com

[Allison Ingman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hooked on this story and couldn't wait to see how it ended. loved all the magic and the different realms. young teens will love it. A great short read.