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Art Mages of Lure #1
A Pintora de Maldições (Magos da Arte Livro 1)
Art is magic. Art is a curse.
Briar can curse with the flick of a paintbrush. Her paintings maim, bewitch, and—most effectively of all—destroy. But Briar doesn't want to hurt people anymore. She has fled her family's deadly curse business to start a new life peddling nonlethal jinxes and petty revenge.
Briar’s destructive powers catch the eye of a charismatic young outlaw called Archer, who hires her to help him save a kidnapped friend from a ruthless baron. Briar thinks this is her chance to make amends for her crimes, but the family business won’t let her go so easily.
When her violent past jeopardizes Archer’s rescue mission, Briar must confront the dark arts she left behind—and decide what she’s willing to destroy in order to be good.
Briar can curse with the flick of a paintbrush. Her paintings maim, bewitch, and—most effectively of all—destroy. But Briar doesn't want to hurt people anymore. She has fled her family's deadly curse business to start a new life peddling nonlethal jinxes and petty revenge.
Briar’s destructive powers catch the eye of a charismatic young outlaw called Archer, who hires her to help him save a kidnapped friend from a ruthless baron. Briar thinks this is her chance to make amends for her crimes, but the family business won’t let her go so easily.
When her violent past jeopardizes Archer’s rescue mission, Briar must confront the dark arts she left behind—and decide what she’s willing to destroy in order to be good.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 9, 2020
154 people are currently reading
1452 people want to read
About the author
Jordan Rivet
36 books528 followersJordan Rivet is an American author of YA science fiction and fantasy featuring determined heroines, vivid worlds, and daring missions. Originally from Arizona, she lives in Hong Kong with her husband.
Jordan's YA fantasy series include Steel and Fire, Empire of Talents, The Fire Queen’s Apprentice, and Art Mages of Lure. Her science fiction includes Wake Me After the Apocalypse, The Seabound Chronicles, and The Lost Clone.
Jordan's YA fantasy series include Steel and Fire, Empire of Talents, The Fire Queen’s Apprentice, and Art Mages of Lure. Her science fiction includes Wake Me After the Apocalypse, The Seabound Chronicles, and The Lost Clone.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
October 9, 2020
Ah, now, this is the kind of story I've been trying to find for a very long time!
I grew up on Robin Hood and used to dive for any "Robin Hood flavored" releases hoping they would deliver the same adventure, atmospheric wonder and dark whimsy as the original tale. But nope, this is the age of realism and every story I read left me abysmally disappointed (if I wanted realistic Robin Hood, writers, I would just read historical fiction).
But I tried this one. Rivet is one of the few writers I trust to deliver. ALWAYS. And she did not disappoint!!
Curse Painter was a lush, unique tale with so many nods to the original and Sir Walter Scott that I pretty much squealed in happiness the entire read. I would have to say Archer is probably Rivet's best male mc yet (yes, I still love you, Siv). He was an insanely perfect blend of cocky, self-assured but good-hearted and just clever enough to make you trust his moves but just mistake-prone enough to leave you thinking it might just all come crashing down on him (literally). Briar was enjoyable. I didn't connect with her as much as some of Rivet's other female protags, but her internal struggles and desire to bring good to the world make her a character whose journey I can't wait to continue.
This is a "travel" story and what a feast for the mental senses each place was! The descriptions were so rich, it was easy to get completely lost vividly imagining the towns, countryside, forests and climax setting (which shall not be named).
While this story is listed as the first book in a new series, it can stand on its own. I'm not sure where Archer, Briar & Co. will be headed next, but I will be there.
And can we take a moment to gush over the cover?? (not posted here yet) This is one ARC I will be running out to buy a physical copy of because #coverlust.
I grew up on Robin Hood and used to dive for any "Robin Hood flavored" releases hoping they would deliver the same adventure, atmospheric wonder and dark whimsy as the original tale. But nope, this is the age of realism and every story I read left me abysmally disappointed (if I wanted realistic Robin Hood, writers, I would just read historical fiction).
But I tried this one. Rivet is one of the few writers I trust to deliver. ALWAYS. And she did not disappoint!!
Curse Painter was a lush, unique tale with so many nods to the original and Sir Walter Scott that I pretty much squealed in happiness the entire read. I would have to say Archer is probably Rivet's best male mc yet (yes, I still love you, Siv). He was an insanely perfect blend of cocky, self-assured but good-hearted and just clever enough to make you trust his moves but just mistake-prone enough to leave you thinking it might just all come crashing down on him (literally). Briar was enjoyable. I didn't connect with her as much as some of Rivet's other female protags, but her internal struggles and desire to bring good to the world make her a character whose journey I can't wait to continue.
This is a "travel" story and what a feast for the mental senses each place was! The descriptions were so rich, it was easy to get completely lost vividly imagining the towns, countryside, forests and climax setting (which shall not be named).
While this story is listed as the first book in a new series, it can stand on its own. I'm not sure where Archer, Briar & Co. will be headed next, but I will be there.
And can we take a moment to gush over the cover?? (not posted here yet) This is one ARC I will be running out to buy a physical copy of because #coverlust.
September 8, 2020
I was excited when I heard that Jordan Rivet was writing a Robin-Hood-inspired fantasy and took the first opportunity to snag an ARC...but I'm not going to lie, I think CURSE PAINTER might be my favourite Rivet book yet. Archer is a really delightful character who had me chuckling out loud several times in the first chapter or two, while Briar quickly won my heart with her conflict between the destructive magic she wields so powerfully and her determination to do good despite everything. Our adventure begins when Archer recruits Briar for a mysterious mission to rescue an imprisoned damsel, which sets both their mysterious pasts on a spectacular collision course.
There was a LOT that I loved about this book - dark secrets! morally conflicted characters! a unique and fascinating magic system based on art! swashbuckling! awesome, complex female supporting characters! - but I think most of all I loved the way the book was structured with occasional interludes from an omniscient narrator. Poetic and reminiscent of a folktale, they give the story the feeling of an old tale handed down from one storyteller to another, encouraging the reader to pause and think about the deeper meaning behind the story. I loved them and the extra feeling of weight and resonance they gave the story. I'm excited to see what happens to Archer and Briar next!
There was a LOT that I loved about this book - dark secrets! morally conflicted characters! a unique and fascinating magic system based on art! swashbuckling! awesome, complex female supporting characters! - but I think most of all I loved the way the book was structured with occasional interludes from an omniscient narrator. Poetic and reminiscent of a folktale, they give the story the feeling of an old tale handed down from one storyteller to another, encouraging the reader to pause and think about the deeper meaning behind the story. I loved them and the extra feeling of weight and resonance they gave the story. I'm excited to see what happens to Archer and Briar next!
April 29, 2021
This was a fun fantasy story with a unique magic system. I loved how the story's plot kept getting richer and deeper as the characters traveled. And, can I just say how much of a sweetheart Archer is??? Seriously, that boy deserves every scrap of happy ending that comes his way!
I listened to the audiobook version, which was well done.
I listened to the audiobook version, which was well done.
July 6, 2023
I love Robin Hood (even though I haven’t read a ton of the lore), so when I heard this was a retelling of the legend mixed with magic based entirely on art I was exited and curious about how the author would pull this off, and I wasn’t disappointed!
Briar and Archer are great, flawed characters I latched onto immediately and was rooting for from start to finish and while the other outlaws didn’t stand out to me (aside from the Voice Mage who I’m blanking on how to spell his name…) I enjoyed them and how they rounded out the crew all the same. The magic system confused me a bit with the rules of how and why things worked or didn’t, but I got the gist enough to follow along with what was going on.
I guessed many of the plot twists which didn’t detract from the story though one part where a character tells another they don’t like some personal information I was a bit confused by, as it didn’t make a lot of sense as to why they were saying such a thing at that moment when it wasn’t necessary. This book can be read as a standalone as well in case you’re interested in it but don’t want to commit to a trilogy. 😉
I really enjoyed this book and am curious to see where these characters go next!
‼️Content‼️
Language: bastard; damn
Violence: a character falls out of a tree; a teacup explodes; a character is magically thrown out a door; a cottage is set on fire; a guy punches another until he bleeds (not detailed); a man’s hit in the head with a rock; fighting with weapons and magical objects (not detailed); a man’s stabbed in the chest with a sword (not detailed)
Sexual: mild suggestive hints/comments; a kiss (not detailed)
Drug/Alcohol: people smoke
Other: magic; magical abilities and objects; mages; a character is locked in the stocks; exploding barrels; a character is called a witch; death; magical explosions; tunnels and a wall collapse
Briar and Archer are great, flawed characters I latched onto immediately and was rooting for from start to finish and while the other outlaws didn’t stand out to me (aside from the Voice Mage who I’m blanking on how to spell his name…) I enjoyed them and how they rounded out the crew all the same. The magic system confused me a bit with the rules of how and why things worked or didn’t, but I got the gist enough to follow along with what was going on.
I guessed many of the plot twists which didn’t detract from the story though one part where a character tells another they don’t like some personal information I was a bit confused by, as it didn’t make a lot of sense as to why they were saying such a thing at that moment when it wasn’t necessary. This book can be read as a standalone as well in case you’re interested in it but don’t want to commit to a trilogy. 😉
I really enjoyed this book and am curious to see where these characters go next!
‼️Content‼️
Language: bastard; damn
Violence: a character falls out of a tree; a teacup explodes; a character is magically thrown out a door; a cottage is set on fire; a guy punches another until he bleeds (not detailed); a man’s hit in the head with a rock; fighting with weapons and magical objects (not detailed); a man’s stabbed in the chest with a sword (not detailed)
Sexual: mild suggestive hints/comments; a kiss (not detailed)
Drug/Alcohol: people smoke
Other: magic; magical abilities and objects; mages; a character is locked in the stocks; exploding barrels; a character is called a witch; death; magical explosions; tunnels and a wall collapse
April 22, 2021
3.5 stars. Fairly predictable but well done light fantasy romp.
December 31, 2020
Love love love It!
May 18, 2022
I went into this expecting more romance, but what I ultimately got was a pretty good tale of a band of characters setting out to rescue a fair maiden before she's made a pawn in the schemes of two feuding lords.
Most of the story is focused on the journey and the rescue, giving it an air of adventure and intrigue as characters' pasts are revealed and they go through various obstacles to achieve their goal. I'm pleased to say it has all the necessary parts of a novel, with the ending falling on a worthwhile note that something was achieved, but allowing there to be more development in subsequent books.
I didn't particuraly enjoy the romance, simply because it just sort of... happens. There's a few lines about attraction and the declaration of love is told in a separate passage like a storybook narrator. I'd say it's better to go into this story seeking a sort of fairytale adventure story, rather than a romance.
The magic system was quite unique, though, as a painter myself, I can't express how frustrating it would be to have your power tied to paints and brushes, especially in all the capacities Briar has to wield her power: suddenly and quickly, with limited supplies. Painting is hard work and trying to do it fast and cleanly under pressure is... well, its own skill set.
I'm not super invested in continuing the series, however, but I might give book #2 a try anyway just to see if it'll grab me a bit more than this one did. I think this could have been a standalone, to be honest, since it unfolds and wraps up pretty well, despite the loose threads (like the feud between the lords).
Most of the story is focused on the journey and the rescue, giving it an air of adventure and intrigue as characters' pasts are revealed and they go through various obstacles to achieve their goal. I'm pleased to say it has all the necessary parts of a novel, with the ending falling on a worthwhile note that something was achieved, but allowing there to be more development in subsequent books.
I didn't particuraly enjoy the romance, simply because it just sort of... happens. There's a few lines about attraction and the declaration of love is told in a separate passage like a storybook narrator. I'd say it's better to go into this story seeking a sort of fairytale adventure story, rather than a romance.
The magic system was quite unique, though, as a painter myself, I can't express how frustrating it would be to have your power tied to paints and brushes, especially in all the capacities Briar has to wield her power: suddenly and quickly, with limited supplies. Painting is hard work and trying to do it fast and cleanly under pressure is... well, its own skill set.
I'm not super invested in continuing the series, however, but I might give book #2 a try anyway just to see if it'll grab me a bit more than this one did. I think this could have been a standalone, to be honest, since it unfolds and wraps up pretty well, despite the loose threads (like the feud between the lords).
Read
November 22, 2020DNF at 42%
There was nothing wrong with this book, but it was truly just meh. All of the characters felt kind of bland, and I just could get into it. And the fact that I was at, like, 40 percent and still wasn't intrigued made me have to stop it. I am disappointed, as I had been looking forwards to this, but oh well.
There was nothing wrong with this book, but it was truly just meh. All of the characters felt kind of bland, and I just could get into it. And the fact that I was at, like, 40 percent and still wasn't intrigued made me have to stop it. I am disappointed, as I had been looking forwards to this, but oh well.
October 29, 2021
3.5
A basic YA fantasy that was easy to read and enjoyable. It wasn't very deep or dark or dramatic, just a light read with interesting magic and a nice twist.
A basic YA fantasy that was easy to read and enjoyable. It wasn't very deep or dark or dramatic, just a light read with interesting magic and a nice twist.
November 26, 2021
К моему собственному удивлению мне понравилась эта книга, хотя ее слива я ожидала в любой момент — большинство отзывов не слишком хвалят "Художницу проклятий", да и рейтинг говорил сам за себя. Но несмотря на то, что книга действительно в определенные моменты проседала и казалось, что сюжет уже не станет увлекательным вновь, в общем история ничем не хуже других фэнтези книг от современных авторов. По крайней мере, во время прочтения "Художницы проклятий" мне ни разу не хотелось удариться головой о стену, а в нинешних реалиях это уже показатель годности.
Из-под ее кисти вышло слишком много боли и зла, замаскированных яркими цветами.
Начало вышло определенно завлекательным: с первых же страниц мы встречаемся с Брайер в процессе подготовки ею того самого проклятия, о котором говорит название книги и аннотация. И не стоит разочаровываться из-за того, что картина, которую рисует Брайер, да и все ее последуюшие картины тоже, уровня начальной школы — у девушки на самом деле есть дар при помощи незамысловатых рисунков и совмещения в них разных цветов творить индивидуальные проклятия и получать плату за свои услуги. Вот только первое проклятие, которое творит Брайер на страницах книги, случайно получается чересчур разрушительным, привлекает к девушке лишнее внимание властей и вынуждает ее бежать. И заодно приводит к знакомству с другим главным героем, от лица которого также ведется повествование, — профессиональным вором Арчером, которому требуются услуги девушки для очередного дела. Но похищение планируется далеко не обычное — нужно выкрасть живого человека, да еще и так, чтобы никто ничего не заметил. А как же провернуть такое щепетильное дело без художника проклятий?
Сюжет не сказать чтобы сложный, и такой же получилась сама книга, по своей структуре больше напоминающая квест: герои идут в точку А, чтобы достать редкие краски для Брайер, а потом двигаются к точке Б, где должно произойти похищение, во время путешествия выполняя небольшие задания и попадая в передряги (потому что за поимку всех выставлена награда и в каждой точке пути их неминуемо узнают - неужели профессиональная шайка воров совсем не знает, как скрываться? ). Такое в фэнтези сейчас встречается сплошь и рядом, но что делает эту книгу особенной, так это магия. Автор создала удивительну�� систему магии и четко описала ее работу: то, какими способностями владеют колдуны (помимо художников проклятий встречаются также маги голоса, которые умеют звуками атаковать, исцелять и прочее) и к��к их контролирует государство, внося в перечень лицензированных магов, для которых каждое заклинание отслеживается и сразу же обозначает местоположение мага на территории государства. Каждый раз, как происходило что-то магическое, у меня на самом деле перехватывало дыхание от того, как тонко автор все это продумала и прописала. Еще это магическое что-то часто заканчивалось чем-то кровавым и даже смертями персонажей, что натолкнуло меня на мысль, что когда-то "Художница проклятий", возможно, планировалась для более взрослой аудитории, но популярность young adult переманила ее к себе (а я бы почитала такой new adult с огромным удовольствием и уверена, что получилось бы не хуже "Неночи").
Также стоит отметить адекватных персонажей. В первую очередь порадовала Брайер, отличившаяся самостоятельностью и остротой ума, не говоря уже об ее исключительном таланте и абсолютном отсутствии склонности к нытью. Свой дар Брайер пытается, как может, использовать во благо, чтобы в отличие от своих родителей, приносить поменьше вреда и даже обращать проклятия во что-то хорошее, и к созданию каждой своей картины подходит с чрезвычайной креативностью. Арчер мне понравился куда меньше: его действия и решения постоянно вызывали вопросы, так как выходили боком всем членам его команды, и всем в итоге приходилось его спасать. Странно вообще, что с таким подходом и склонностью к скрытности он вообще стал главарем банды, в которой есть люди, более годящиеся на роль лидера.
Остальные аспекты книги, к сожалению, как я уже писала в начале, слегка провисли: и структура королевства, разделенного на две части под властью разных людей, которые, конечно же, ненавидят друг друга, и отношения Брайер и Арчера, которые уж слишком быстро переросли от "я его/ее совсем не знаю" до "у нас тут вообще-то любовь". Если бы их любовный интерес остался на стадии зародыша, история казалася бы куда более органичной, учитывая, что персонажи знакомы всего пару недель (хотя это не точно, потому что временные промежутки в книге не обозначаются).
Не смотря на все недочеты и скучную тягучесть сюжета в моменты, когда герои просто перемещались с точки на точку, книга получилась весьма хорошей, и даже открытый финал ее не испортил. Как по мне, то с концовкой и так все ясно и можно даже не обращаться к следующей книги серии, аннотация которой меня, к тому же, особо не впечатлила: герои будут разыскивать редкого заклинателя и пытаться опередить в этом злодей - бррр, опять квест (да еще и с ребенком...), ну хватит с меня этого добра, а то и приестся может.
Из-под ее кисти вышло слишком много боли и зла, замаскированных яркими цветами.
Начало вышло определенно завлекательным: с первых же страниц мы встречаемся с Брайер в процессе подготовки ею того самого проклятия, о котором говорит название книги и аннотация. И не стоит разочаровываться из-за того, что картина, которую рисует Брайер, да и все ее последуюшие картины тоже, уровня начальной школы — у девушки на самом деле есть дар при помощи незамысловатых рисунков и совмещения в них разных цветов творить индивидуальные проклятия и получать плату за свои услуги. Вот только первое проклятие, которое творит Брайер на страницах книги, случайно получается чересчур разрушительным, привлекает к девушке лишнее внимание властей и вынуждает ее бежать. И заодно приводит к знакомству с другим главным героем, от лица которого также ведется повествование, — профессиональным вором Арчером, которому требуются услуги девушки для очередного дела. Но похищение планируется далеко не обычное — нужно выкрасть живого человека, да еще и так, чтобы никто ничего не заметил. А как же провернуть такое щепетильное дело без художника проклятий?
Сюжет не сказать чтобы сложный, и такой же получилась сама книга, по своей структуре больше напоминающая квест: герои идут в точку А, чтобы достать редкие краски для Брайер, а потом двигаются к точке Б, где должно произойти похищение, во время путешествия выполняя небольшие задания и попадая в передряги (потому что за поимку всех выставлена награда и в каждой точке пути их неминуемо узнают - неужели профессиональная шайка воров совсем не знает, как скрываться? ). Такое в фэнтези сейчас встречается сплошь и рядом, но что делает эту книгу особенной, так это магия. Автор создала удивительну�� систему магии и четко описала ее работу: то, какими способностями владеют колдуны (помимо художников проклятий встречаются также маги голоса, которые умеют звуками атаковать, исцелять и прочее) и к��к их контролирует государство, внося в перечень лицензированных магов, для которых каждое заклинание отслеживается и сразу же обозначает местоположение мага на территории государства. Каждый раз, как происходило что-то магическое, у меня на самом деле перехватывало дыхание от того, как тонко автор все это продумала и прописала. Еще это магическое что-то часто заканчивалось чем-то кровавым и даже смертями персонажей, что натолкнуло меня на мысль, что когда-то "Художница проклятий", возможно, планировалась для более взрослой аудитории, но популярность young adult переманила ее к себе (а я бы почитала такой new adult с огромным удовольствием и уверена, что получилось бы не хуже "Неночи").
Также стоит отметить адекватных персонажей. В первую очередь порадовала Брайер, отличившаяся самостоятельностью и остротой ума, не говоря уже об ее исключительном таланте и абсолютном отсутствии склонности к нытью. Свой дар Брайер пытается, как может, использовать во благо, чтобы в отличие от своих родителей, приносить поменьше вреда и даже обращать проклятия во что-то хорошее, и к созданию каждой своей картины подходит с чрезвычайной креативностью. Арчер мне понравился куда меньше: его действия и решения постоянно вызывали вопросы, так как выходили боком всем членам его команды, и всем в итоге приходилось его спасать. Странно вообще, что с таким подходом и склонностью к скрытности он вообще стал главарем банды, в которой есть люди, более годящиеся на роль лидера.
Остальные аспекты книги, к сожалению, как я уже писала в начале, слегка провисли: и структура королевства, разделенного на две части под властью разных людей, которые, конечно же, ненавидят друг друга, и отношения Брайер и Арчера, которые уж слишком быстро переросли от "я его/ее совсем не знаю" до "у нас тут вообще-то любовь". Если бы их любовный интерес остался на стадии зародыша, история казалася бы куда более органичной, учитывая, что персонажи знакомы всего пару недель (хотя это не точно, потому что временные промежутки в книге не обозначаются).
Не смотря на все недочеты и скучную тягучесть сюжета в моменты, когда герои просто перемещались с точки на точку, книга получилась весьма хорошей, и даже открытый финал ее не испортил. Как по мне, то с концовкой и так все ясно и можно даже не обращаться к следующей книги серии, аннотация которой меня, к тому же, особо не впечатлила: герои будут разыскивать редкого заклинателя и пытаться опередить в этом злодей - бррр, опять квест (да еще и с ребенком...), ну хватит с меня этого добра, а то и приестся может.
June 10, 2021
okay hear me out, i started this on a whim, with no idea what to expect, and ended up binge reading the entire thing in one night. this book drew me in from the first page—the first line being: "this story begins with a curse", and i think if you gave it a chance, you might love it too. first of all, it's an exceptionally unique concept and the worldbuilding is brilliant, and i loved the characters from the very first chapter. and look at that cover, because wow! this book is insanely underrated and i think it deserves so much more love and recognition, and so do these characters! 5/5, it was just the right pace and of course it gets brownie points because it made me binge it in one sitting hehe
December 23, 2022
Per leggere la recensione in blog cliccare qui:
https://ilconfinedeilibri.blogspot.co...
https://ilconfinedeilibri.blogspot.co...
August 18, 2024
A very interesting and unique magic system…. The characters were interesting, the storyline and world building were good…. But what the hell was that ending?!! 4 stars
February 20, 2021
Excellent clean read with engaging characters, great world-building, and a unique and fascinating magic system. I'll be reading book 2 and looking into other book by this author!
May 25, 2021
A very interesting concept that I never really got into. The idea of a Curse Painter and the lore around it was very interesting and intriguing, and that in itself made this a 2 star rather than a 1.
This was a book I wanted to know the ending to, so I kept myself from DNFing. I felt like it drug on and on in parts and I never really cared much for any of the characters.
And the end of the book just ends. There is no resolution, no ties to the loose strings, they just are left dangling in hopes you care enough to find out what happens in the next book.
I will not be finding out, and I can’t suggest you do either.
This was a book I wanted to know the ending to, so I kept myself from DNFing. I felt like it drug on and on in parts and I never really cared much for any of the characters.
And the end of the book just ends. There is no resolution, no ties to the loose strings, they just are left dangling in hopes you care enough to find out what happens in the next book.
I will not be finding out, and I can’t suggest you do either.
January 1, 2022
Lovely concept. Painting curses was such a cool thing to read about. Briar was my favourite character. All the other characters weren't really nice to her so I didn't like them too much. The story derailed and got boring with every page so I really lost interest.
(Also, let woman go feral. She picked up the sword and almost stabbed the asshole but noooo, vengeance would change her. Yeah no shit! Change her for good so she won't let any man take advantage of her, ever. Stab that asshole!)
(Also me restarting this book after getting into F1 and being shocked everytime the narrator said Esteban 😂)
(Also, let woman go feral. She picked up the sword and almost stabbed the asshole but noooo, vengeance would change her. Yeah no shit! Change her for good so she won't let any man take advantage of her, ever. Stab that asshole!)
(Also me restarting this book after getting into F1 and being shocked everytime the narrator said Esteban 😂)
October 13, 2020
A great start to a new series in a new and interesting world. It has all the elements of a great read, adventure, action, a little romance and plenty of plot twists. I would quibble that despite the story is reportedly inspired by the stories of Robin Hood and one of the main characters being called "Archer" I don't think anyone actually fires a single arrow until about 2/3rd's of the way through the book - I was expecting to see more marksmanship more often.
May 15, 2022
This book was ok. It kind of ended abruptly and I'm not sure if I'm interested enough in reading the next book. I feel like we didn't get to know the characters enough to care about them. I also don't think enough about the magic was explained. There author never really explains how it actually works like are people born with it or can anyone learn it? If I run out of things to read, I might read the next book, but I'm not going to right away.
August 10, 2024
This was badly paced and not that interesting. The characters were shallow, the relationships never fully developed, and the reveals were obvious, not that interesting. The worldbuilding and magic were thin and poorly explained. I felt like I spent the whole book waiting for the adventure to start, for the story to start, and then what there was of it just ended, without resolution. A sequel or series is all well and good, but man, at least give a full story in the first book.
October 16, 2020
This book was great! I couldn’t have loved Archer and Briar more. The story was well told and I’m all about a good Robin Hood type story. I can’t wait for the sequel! Jordan Rivet is definitely one of my favorite authors.
February 11, 2022
So many loose threads here. They didn't solve anything. Let's start with briar doesn't know her mother died. What of jemma's secret? And her threat to briar? They didn't even specify that archer chose briar over his duty and over mae. Did briar permanently joined the team? Arghhhhh
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2024
É uma boa história, mas a tradução e/ou revisão foram um tanto descuidadas. Tem erros de português/digitação, algumas frases simplesmente não fazem sentido. Ainda bem que não prejudicaram a leitura ao ponto de me fazer desistir de terminar.
October 5, 2024
Ugh... This is hard. I really wanted to like this book. I always go into a book with 5 stars and then take away if it's bad...😮💨 This might be a long review, and I'll try to do it without spoilers...
First off, the story, the actual story and characters are super interesting. There was mystery and intrigue, I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens. HOWEVER, that's the only good. That's the one star.
Now, let's talk about why it's only one star. The writing was really hard to read.
This is a dual pov(sort of) She starts off by staying in the our MFC and then we switch into our MMC, she has two different paragraph break images to show who's pov we'll jump into but then we randomly switch back and then we are in both and who knows. It becomes omniscient... And then in chapter 18, we jump into a random person's head that we've never seen or heard of before. And then again later. But only those two times. There are conversations between characters that are not our main ones and they wouldn't even be around... So, yeah...
Next, it's very repetitive and predictable. Exceedingly so. There was a whole chapter that just told us about the fight that we just read. And that leads into the telling not showing. This book is told to you. We don't get to really be enthralled in it so much that it's just info dumping and very repetitive, but also at the same time inconsistent.
The descriptions feel off. Let me give a random example so no spoilers... If you were to walk through a haunted house, you would want to feel scared, excited, nervous... You wouldn't be noticing how beautiful and lovely the decorations are. Get it? Not yet? Let's try another one... If you were kidnapped and thrown into a dungeon, you'd expect to feel scared, terrified, you'd be crying and wondering what was going to happen, right? You wouldn't be paying attention to the soft breeze against your skin. So in short, the emotions that she evoked did not match the scene.
Now, just random little stupid stuff that is unrealistic... Paint does not dry that fast, you can't paint in the rain, horses get tired, and you CAN'T leave a 3 day old baby with a DOG!
The predictability was painful at times, and she had some foreshadowing that you think, oh, when she brings this back in, it'll be awesome! But it turned out to be eh...
I REALLY, REALLY wanted to like this book. It sounded so interesting... But it felt like I was reading a first draft. Very rambley, very telly, very predictable. This is categorized as a fantasy, slow burn romance... They kissed once, and there wasn't enough tension between the two that made me care one way or another about them.
And lastly, the formating was totally messed up. Any time that there was any italics, whether it was internal thought or for emphasis, the rest of the chapter was in italics. The same goes for bold. And there were spaces before commas, and then in one spot, an entire paragraph lay over another one so it was unreadable.
This was hard to rate a one... But it just fell short.
First off, the story, the actual story and characters are super interesting. There was mystery and intrigue, I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens. HOWEVER, that's the only good. That's the one star.
Now, let's talk about why it's only one star. The writing was really hard to read.
This is a dual pov(sort of) She starts off by staying in the our MFC and then we switch into our MMC, she has two different paragraph break images to show who's pov we'll jump into but then we randomly switch back and then we are in both and who knows. It becomes omniscient... And then in chapter 18, we jump into a random person's head that we've never seen or heard of before. And then again later. But only those two times. There are conversations between characters that are not our main ones and they wouldn't even be around... So, yeah...
Next, it's very repetitive and predictable. Exceedingly so. There was a whole chapter that just told us about the fight that we just read. And that leads into the telling not showing. This book is told to you. We don't get to really be enthralled in it so much that it's just info dumping and very repetitive, but also at the same time inconsistent.
The descriptions feel off. Let me give a random example so no spoilers... If you were to walk through a haunted house, you would want to feel scared, excited, nervous... You wouldn't be noticing how beautiful and lovely the decorations are. Get it? Not yet? Let's try another one... If you were kidnapped and thrown into a dungeon, you'd expect to feel scared, terrified, you'd be crying and wondering what was going to happen, right? You wouldn't be paying attention to the soft breeze against your skin. So in short, the emotions that she evoked did not match the scene.
Now, just random little stupid stuff that is unrealistic... Paint does not dry that fast, you can't paint in the rain, horses get tired, and you CAN'T leave a 3 day old baby with a DOG!
The predictability was painful at times, and she had some foreshadowing that you think, oh, when she brings this back in, it'll be awesome! But it turned out to be eh...
I REALLY, REALLY wanted to like this book. It sounded so interesting... But it felt like I was reading a first draft. Very rambley, very telly, very predictable. This is categorized as a fantasy, slow burn romance... They kissed once, and there wasn't enough tension between the two that made me care one way or another about them.
And lastly, the formating was totally messed up. Any time that there was any italics, whether it was internal thought or for emphasis, the rest of the chapter was in italics. The same goes for bold. And there were spaces before commas, and then in one spot, an entire paragraph lay over another one so it was unreadable.
This was hard to rate a one... But it just fell short.
April 5, 2021
I got this Audiobook for free. My opinions are my own. / Real Rating = 3.5*, rounded up for being a "safe" read.
I had already read and liked this book - so, when I saw it on Tantor's publication list, I want ahead and requested it. One of the reasons I enjoyed it is that I am a "sensitive" reader, i.e. I don't enjoy cursing, detailed violence, or explicit scenes. It was nice to just be able to read/listen to this book without having to keep wincing, or skip anything.
One of the themes of this book, which is one I really like, is that of individuals who have been raised in an immoral or unethical situation and who are doing their best to learn how to make better choices. This applies to both of our leads. I look forward to reading the next one and seeing where they go from here. My favorite quote related to this was:
“You know how talented she is, and she has this powerful need to do what’s right, even though a huge part of her just wants to blow things up. It’s incredible to see her fighting against the cards she’s been dealt, choosing to walk a difficult path no matter how many times she has failed.”
Despite most definitely not being Instalove (on one side at least), I did feel like the progression of feelings in the main relationship was a bit fast. But I appreciated that there were several instances where they went and did things together (not exactly dates, but chances to get to know each other better), and these were some of my favorite parts of the book.
I do feel that there was a lost opportunity for Briar to develop more of a relationship with each of the other members of the group, including the dog (who was great, but not in it enough). Just a few additional small, positive, scenes with each could have done it.
CONTENTS: 1 or 2 mild swear words and a rude nickname (said twice) / Peripheral character pregnant out of wedlock / Characters who have made poor choices in the past but are feeling their way towards a moral future / One memory of a painful execution, and a couple of battle scenes (not too descriptive)
NARRATION: Sound Quality = Very Good / Speed = a bit Slow (I always speed things up) / Emoting = Good / Voices = I would have preferred more differentiation in the characters' voices and for them to match their characters a bit more. I also kept forgetting that some of the characters were as young as they are, since the narrator sounds older / Overall it was acceptable.
I had already read and liked this book - so, when I saw it on Tantor's publication list, I want ahead and requested it. One of the reasons I enjoyed it is that I am a "sensitive" reader, i.e. I don't enjoy cursing, detailed violence, or explicit scenes. It was nice to just be able to read/listen to this book without having to keep wincing, or skip anything.
One of the themes of this book, which is one I really like, is that of individuals who have been raised in an immoral or unethical situation and who are doing their best to learn how to make better choices. This applies to both of our leads. I look forward to reading the next one and seeing where they go from here. My favorite quote related to this was:
“You know how talented she is, and she has this powerful need to do what’s right, even though a huge part of her just wants to blow things up. It’s incredible to see her fighting against the cards she’s been dealt, choosing to walk a difficult path no matter how many times she has failed.”
Despite most definitely not being Instalove (on one side at least), I did feel like the progression of feelings in the main relationship was a bit fast. But I appreciated that there were several instances where they went and did things together (not exactly dates, but chances to get to know each other better), and these were some of my favorite parts of the book.
I do feel that there was a lost opportunity for Briar to develop more of a relationship with each of the other members of the group, including the dog (who was great, but not in it enough). Just a few additional small, positive, scenes with each could have done it.
CONTENTS: 1 or 2 mild swear words and a rude nickname (said twice) / Peripheral character pregnant out of wedlock / Characters who have made poor choices in the past but are feeling their way towards a moral future / One memory of a painful execution, and a couple of battle scenes (not too descriptive)
NARRATION: Sound Quality = Very Good / Speed = a bit Slow (I always speed things up) / Emoting = Good / Voices = I would have preferred more differentiation in the characters' voices and for them to match their characters a bit more. I also kept forgetting that some of the characters were as young as they are, since the narrator sounds older / Overall it was acceptable.
September 8, 2020
Curse Painter Jordan Rivet
(I was provided with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review)
Briar escaped her Power Hungry Parents who only cared to use their talents for Money, Prestige, and Destruction and tried to live a life out of the attention of Authorities, and by only using her considerable Power to exact justice for the downtrodden and to stay in peace in her quiet and cozy little cottage and practice. Her plans went sideways when a Village Smithy wanted revenge on a man of power who shorted him in an arrangement, and he employed Briar to teach him a lesson with a non-lethal curse.
She struggled in a tree to paint the curse while she finds she is being watched by someone through the trees. She makes one little mistake and the Adventure starts from there. She finds the Man watching her is named Archer since he visits that night to offer her a job, plus The Sheriff and the owner of the house she cursed wanted her dead making her choice to leave simple. He wanted to break into a Castle and for using her gifts, she would be paid a handsome price, and she would be free to move on to a new cottage and a Peaceful life once again.
She meets her new partners in crime, his Dog which was also named Sheriff, and after some time traveling together and getting in and out of trouble together, they start to bond and she finds that the reason for the job is far different than she first understood it to be, and it’s moved to a far more intractable location she has to curse them into. Trouble, being attacked on the way, finding the people guarding the new location are someone she knows, and secrets slowly are exposed by all sides as they proceed to finish their job.
This was an easy and suspenseful read, and before you know it you’re at the end cursing the universe in general, and hoping the next installment of Briar and Archer is coming around the corner. Now I’m going to paint a curse on Jordan to finish the next one quickly.
(I was provided with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review)
Briar escaped her Power Hungry Parents who only cared to use their talents for Money, Prestige, and Destruction and tried to live a life out of the attention of Authorities, and by only using her considerable Power to exact justice for the downtrodden and to stay in peace in her quiet and cozy little cottage and practice. Her plans went sideways when a Village Smithy wanted revenge on a man of power who shorted him in an arrangement, and he employed Briar to teach him a lesson with a non-lethal curse.
She struggled in a tree to paint the curse while she finds she is being watched by someone through the trees. She makes one little mistake and the Adventure starts from there. She finds the Man watching her is named Archer since he visits that night to offer her a job, plus The Sheriff and the owner of the house she cursed wanted her dead making her choice to leave simple. He wanted to break into a Castle and for using her gifts, she would be paid a handsome price, and she would be free to move on to a new cottage and a Peaceful life once again.
She meets her new partners in crime, his Dog which was also named Sheriff, and after some time traveling together and getting in and out of trouble together, they start to bond and she finds that the reason for the job is far different than she first understood it to be, and it’s moved to a far more intractable location she has to curse them into. Trouble, being attacked on the way, finding the people guarding the new location are someone she knows, and secrets slowly are exposed by all sides as they proceed to finish their job.
This was an easy and suspenseful read, and before you know it you’re at the end cursing the universe in general, and hoping the next installment of Briar and Archer is coming around the corner. Now I’m going to paint a curse on Jordan to finish the next one quickly.
September 18, 2020
Having been an avid reader of Ms Rivet's books from the beginning, I was ecstatic to learn she was at last ready to start publishing one of her passion projects, The Art Mages of Lure, starting with The Curse Painter. I was fortunate to be a part of her ARC team, and am excited to share with you my review of what I am certain is going to be a best seller.
Briar is a young woman trying to come to terms with the great conflict between the nature of her gifts and the person she wants to become. Always on the run from her past and the authorities, she despair of ever leading a life of happiness.
Archer is a young man full of passion and led by a noble heart, determined to try and soften the damage done to the commoners by the greed of their lord. Roving the countryside with his crew, what he longs for the most is to make a difference and prove that he is better than his birth.
When these two are brought together during the course of a daring mission, each finds themselves driven to build the other up and help them to see themselves as the world does, rather than the people they believe themselves to be.
Rivet's writing has grown tremendously throughout her career, and The Curse Painter, a Robin Hood retelling, highlights her writing at its best. The story flows seamlessly from beginning to end: the characters are well-defined and highly relatable, the humour feels natural, the systems of magic are unique and convincing.
From the first sentence to the last, I couldn't put this book down, and I can't wait for the second to be released to see what new mischief Briar, Archer, and the crew get up to!
If you are a long-time fan of Rivet's or are new to her writing, this book is definitely one that you don't want to miss!
Briar is a young woman trying to come to terms with the great conflict between the nature of her gifts and the person she wants to become. Always on the run from her past and the authorities, she despair of ever leading a life of happiness.
Archer is a young man full of passion and led by a noble heart, determined to try and soften the damage done to the commoners by the greed of their lord. Roving the countryside with his crew, what he longs for the most is to make a difference and prove that he is better than his birth.
When these two are brought together during the course of a daring mission, each finds themselves driven to build the other up and help them to see themselves as the world does, rather than the people they believe themselves to be.
Rivet's writing has grown tremendously throughout her career, and The Curse Painter, a Robin Hood retelling, highlights her writing at its best. The story flows seamlessly from beginning to end: the characters are well-defined and highly relatable, the humour feels natural, the systems of magic are unique and convincing.
From the first sentence to the last, I couldn't put this book down, and I can't wait for the second to be released to see what new mischief Briar, Archer, and the crew get up to!
If you are a long-time fan of Rivet's or are new to her writing, this book is definitely one that you don't want to miss!
December 28, 2020
By a stroke of luck, I stumbled upon this Robin-Hood-inspired, action-packed book whilst shopping on Amazon. Curse Painter was filled with adventure, UNIQUE magic (that esp. artists would appreciate), romance, and unexpected plot twists. There was a prominent theme of “not letting your parents define who you are” and there was character development. I loved the MC, Briar. She was bada$$ and, in my opinion, too good for Archer…too good for any of his crew. They mistrusted her up until nearly the very end, even though she wanted to be good and she was exactly what they needed. Archer, on the other hand, made incredibly risky decisions that jeopardized the safety of his crew, yet everyone foolishly followed him without question. And the reason for said risky decisions? Well, he felt RESPONSIBLE for something that was NOT really his fault. Sure, he made an introduction between two people that led to something more dangerous, but EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN was THEIR decision. He was one of those characters who needed to be a hero for a damsel in distress but, in order to do so, asked his FRIENDS to sacrifice their LIVES. And the fact that we hardly got to know said damsel was even more frustrating, because I was therefore less invested in her safety. I honestly couldn't care less about Mae and I felt that Archer's unerring loyalty to her was entirely misplaced. Nevertheless, this was still enthralling, exciting, and entertaining, and I stayed up all night reading it. It could def. be a standalone, but this will either be a duology or trilogy. I will prob. follow up and read the sequel at some point.
April 6, 2023
How many times do I notice that the books that are not widely promoted and discussed by everyone are the most interesting for me? Few people praise this book, usually, it is openly criticized and called boring, but that's simply because there is no 18+ rating, no (un)planned sex scenes, and no rudeness, cruelty, and depravity. Instead, there is a strong connection between all the characters. "The Artist of Curses" has a logical and dynamic plot where one event leads to another. There is no spontaneous nonsense like in an Indian soap opera.
The characters are interesting enough, as there is sufficient information in the book to understand and get to know them better. However, readers forget that there are two main characters, two archives - Rose (Briar) - and we gradually learn who they really are. The other characters are secondary and we simply don't need to know more about them than what we have in the book. Personally, I found the information received sufficient, and if someone doesn't understand something, then they are simply inattentive, congratulations. In my opinion, it's good when there are questions left after reading, but at the same time there is a continuation, and there is a desire to wait for it.
What was so difficult for others to understand? That the main heroine Rose (Briar) draws curses, her strength is in paint and brushes, and she is pursued by the people she cursed.
A very interesting and mysterious story with strong young protagonists. It doesn't smell like Robin Hood here, as someone wrote in the reviews. Here they save a girl, not for the sake of banal money, but to save two innocent lives. The author shows so well what real maternal and paternal feelings are and what false, inadequate ones are. The book also explores what real love is, how some enjoy their abilities and power, forgetting reason, while others can think rationally and control their skills, creating real miracles. The author skillfully throws a trap with a hint of what will happen in the continuation, and I am left with a desire to get it as soon as possible.
The characters are interesting enough, as there is sufficient information in the book to understand and get to know them better. However, readers forget that there are two main characters, two archives - Rose (Briar) - and we gradually learn who they really are. The other characters are secondary and we simply don't need to know more about them than what we have in the book. Personally, I found the information received sufficient, and if someone doesn't understand something, then they are simply inattentive, congratulations. In my opinion, it's good when there are questions left after reading, but at the same time there is a continuation, and there is a desire to wait for it.
What was so difficult for others to understand? That the main heroine Rose (Briar) draws curses, her strength is in paint and brushes, and she is pursued by the people she cursed.
A very interesting and mysterious story with strong young protagonists. It doesn't smell like Robin Hood here, as someone wrote in the reviews. Here they save a girl, not for the sake of banal money, but to save two innocent lives. The author shows so well what real maternal and paternal feelings are and what false, inadequate ones are. The book also explores what real love is, how some enjoy their abilities and power, forgetting reason, while others can think rationally and control their skills, creating real miracles. The author skillfully throws a trap with a hint of what will happen in the continuation, and I am left with a desire to get it as soon as possible.
July 7, 2022
Oh my word, this was so good for the magic system alone.
The concept of magic coming from art is so creative and unique, and it was expertly done here. (And that beginning chapter was a perfect example of how the magic system works and how beautiful it is.) So, if nothing else, give this a shot for the magic system.
The characters are also lovely, although I feel they come off as more 'telling' than 'showing.' However, that doesn't mean they aren't well-built. Archer and Briar both have complex backstories that definitely have left their scars, and it was a treat to slowly unravel their motivations and history. Plus, I am HERE for the bandit group of Jemma, Lew, Nat, and Esteban! They're all fun characters that feel like family; they're well-developed and unique, and I'm excited to see how they'll grow further.
The plot was great, but I personally just don't like the rival families battling arc. Things were more involved than they first appeared, though, so that was cool to see.
Overall, it can read a bit flat sometimes, but the characters and magic system make it so, so worth it. Give this book a shot (and maybe grab a paintbrush because this book was hecka inspiring.)
The concept of magic coming from art is so creative and unique, and it was expertly done here. (And that beginning chapter was a perfect example of how the magic system works and how beautiful it is.) So, if nothing else, give this a shot for the magic system.
The characters are also lovely, although I feel they come off as more 'telling' than 'showing.' However, that doesn't mean they aren't well-built. Archer and Briar both have complex backstories that definitely have left their scars, and it was a treat to slowly unravel their motivations and history. Plus, I am HERE for the bandit group of Jemma, Lew, Nat, and Esteban! They're all fun characters that feel like family; they're well-developed and unique, and I'm excited to see how they'll grow further.
The plot was great, but I personally just don't like the rival families battling arc. Things were more involved than they first appeared, though, so that was cool to see.
Overall, it can read a bit flat sometimes, but the characters and magic system make it so, so worth it. Give this book a shot (and maybe grab a paintbrush because this book was hecka inspiring.)
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