Cursed by the Black Heart

by Eryn Brooks

Everyone knows the story of Hansel and Gretel… Or do they? The true story from the witch's perspective is not what you would expect, because after all - history can be twisted.

Cursed with magic in a land where it is a death sentence, Katharina is constantly on guard. Banished from the castle ten years ago, she still tries to make the most of her new home… until someone close to her is murdered.

Overcome with grief, she retreats into the Black Forest only to be confronted by the terrifying Dark Fae. Stories of his cruelty are that of nightmarish legend, primarily used to scare children into obedience.

As the lines between heroes and villains blur, Katharina finds that lies are being spread about her that paint her as being far more dastardly than even the Dark Fae. Can she finally make peace with her past and bring the truth to light? Or will the darkness of the Black Forest be the only place she can find solace?

Genres: Fantasy, Fae

152 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2024

About the author

Eryn Brooks is a proud Dandelion (military brat). She currently resides in Texas with her South African husband and fur babies, when she’s not traveling around the country in her RV.

Reviews

[Kez Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone knows the classics from Hansel and Gretel... the evil Witch, the lure of the gingerbread, but this novella retelling takes things back a step and shows the powers of rumours and fear.
Katharina has hidden her magic for most of her life and despite her healing and kindness, the villagers treat her as an outcast and continue their cruel whispers. One day she returns home to find everything in chaos, with rumours of a dangerous dark fae as the cause.
In her grief her magic begins to lose control, and she accepts the aid of the Fae. She hopes to find the answers she needs from her new Fae teacher, until she realises it's the same dark fae that destroyed her world.
Confronted by anger and despair she plans for revenge and the dark wild magic rises again.
This is a fast paced fantasy, with a sassy animal companion, a feisty witch and a broody Fae.
It shows the powers of words in twisting the truth, and is a journey of acceptance and trust.


🗡️ "Damn him, he knew my ears were sensitive as a Fae's. If I were a cat I would be purring"

🗡️ "It seems magic saved me when no one else would"

🗡️"He straddled the line between pretty and rugged, and I simply wanted to stare at him for a month non-stop. Was that weird? Most definitely"

🗡️"We all have monsters hiding in our past. It's how we choose to face them that decides our fate"

🗡️"Come to me without any magical influence, and I will seduce you until you shatter, for as long as you want"

[Devika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This next part in the Once upon a curse series will be telling some history and is featuring the villian from the original fairytale. This book will tell the true story of the witch from Hansel and Gretel. This fairytale is quite dark of it's own, but what will this retelling bring?

This book is a short one and oh my, lots is happening. The start is really strong and I could really feel with Katharina. However, when she meets new people, the story seems to quicken. In my opinion, this book would have been so much better if it was a little bit longer and if there was more focus on the romance in stead of the magic wielding.

Check out my full review on my blog Boekensteeg

[Ana-Maria Derzsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦

⮞ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝/𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ⮜
I liked the premise of the story and how Katarina is the villain. I also enjoyed her backstory about the prince, and the privilege.

However, either the story was too short or the book wasn't that well executed. The story had a beginning which would've explain why she would turn into a villain, but that never happened. Once the plot twist happens it felt like she just went on with her life quite fast, while I was waiting for that moment when she becomes the villain...

Also the timeline felt a bit jumpy, one day she's grieving and the next she moved on and falls in love with someone else. The new relationship gave me the feeling they are moving to fast and considering they barely had any interactions the love just felt rushed.

Overall, the story is enjoyable but there were some things that made no sense to me and felt rushed.


⮞ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞/TW ⮜
Story is 2.5 flame peppers.

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Review Policy

[Vivian R Wyatt-Aldrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cursed by the Black Heart is a twisted Handsel and Gretel retelling. And when I say twisted, I mean it.
Katarina (Gretel) is a witch who lives with Waren (Hansel) her lover. Any time Katarina uses her magic it smells like her favorite ginger bread recipe.
She is a healer and loves to help people.
She is asked to come and heal a child who fell one morning. After healing the child, the father comes after her. Once she is safe, she heads home.
Only to find it turned to ash and her beloved burned to a crisp.
Katarina is then thrust into a journey of discovery, heart ache, pain and second chances!
It's a great story with an adventure to die for.

[Marcia - itsabookthing2021 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cursed by The Black Heart is a Hansel and Gretel retelling and I absolutely loved reading this. I loved how the Hansel and Gretel lore was sprinkled throughout the story in it's unique way and not a straight out retelling as such. Katherina was a great main character, I felt so sorry for her but I loved how she was strong and how she developed through the story. I loved her interactions with the other characters, how she was with Ruhan, I loved those two together.
I really enjoyed how the world was built and how the storyline developed, I really was invested in this story and the characters within the pages. The writing for me was perfection too, it really lured me into the story and kept me gripped to the very end. I loved everything about this book, it's definitely a favourite of the collection.

[Crystal Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Hansel and Gretel retelling but from the witch’s pov. It told a story on how she became the person she was. It gave a nice background, not that it justifies who she was, but it was a nice retake of the story. This was a quick and easy read.

Katharina wasn’t always the wicked and horrible witch in the forest. She had magic powers who could heal and she used it for good. After time she felt like she was not appreciated because she wasn’t thanked and she felt like they were taking advantage of her. After some time and losing someone close to her, she gives into the dark side.

"We all have monsters hiding in our past. It's how we choose to face them that decides our fate"

[Sydney Victorson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one just wasn’t for me. I’m cool with retellings being loosely done, but honestly I don’t think you could call this a Hansel and Gretel retelling by any stretch of the imagination. A couple Easter eggs here and there, but there wasn’t really much tying it to the original tale at all.

The writing style was also definitely not for me. There were an insane amount of adjectives and adverbs used, to the point where I became super aware of them. It distracted from the story, and sometimes their usage didn’t even make sense.

The FMC/MMC relationship felt super rushed and illogical. It just didn’t feel believable to me.

[Beba Andric · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tantalising tidbits the author sprinkles when introducing Katharina at the beginning of this book, of concealed magic, of rampant magic, a magic which has a will of it's own, fueled my desire to discover more. And as I was reading, her life opened up before me. S life living in the castle with her mother, her life where she had to keep her magic hidden because it was forbidden, a life she was forced to flee at the tender age of 16, a life of contentment with her partner and lover, Warren, even though they lived amongst the predudice of the villagers, a life that was once more snatched away from her, forcing her to flee...again. Witnessing your life going up in smoke, quite literally, sets her on a path for vengeance. Very easy to see how she managed to get my sympathy, right? Primarily a healer, a woman of compassion, her bitterness opens up a different channel, one she struggles to put a lid on. A sanctuary by the elves is her only hope, except, the one she swore she'd eliminate, Ruhan, is the very one who can help her. Fiach, Katharina's cool familiar sure has his friendship with her tested. I adored how steadfastly supportive he was. And I enjoyed seeing the pieces of the puzzle settle into Katharina as she discovers everything she knew, isn't. It's all a lie, starting from the very king who ousted her from her home 10 years prior.

The final few chapters were a really unexpected twist and I cheered rather loudly when Katharina did, well, what she did! I did find the pacing a inconsistent, I found some parts a little too fast, and others were slower, but I enjoyed this story, although I didn't really see a Hansel and Gretel retelling until almost the end of the book, it was a quick and entertaining read.

[Lindsey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 🌶️🌶️

A quick read that makes you ask the question “what makes a villain?”. Is the villain truly someone born into the role or is it created by being pushed past their breaking point? I love stories that allow you to see how the villain came to be. The line between good and evil is a fine one and I fully believe we all go back and forth between in.

A Hansel and Gretel reimagining told from the witch’s POV and how she came to be what she is. Katharina wasn’t always the witch in the forest. She was actually a human who held the magic to heal. She used this power for good, but after some time felt taken advantage of and was never thanked. Then when she loses someone very close to the, the rage and emotions becomes too much. She gives in to the darker side of her emotions, but while reading the story it really is understandable.

She blames the Dark Fae for her misery and falling to the dark side, so sets out on a journey to seek revenge. As she continues down this path she learns that not everything is as it seems, she’s judging someone as quickly as she’s been judged, and rumors are just that rumors. There is so much more to the Dark Fae than she knows and she realizes stories are often mixed up as they are passed down to people.
I enjoyed this book! It was a quick read compared to others in the series, but still enjoyable. I love a good origin story and this was that! I loved seeing what formed Katharina, her meeting with the Dark Fae, and how the Dark Fae becomes entwined with her.

As always, review any author notes before reading.

Tropes:
🖤Enemies to Lovers
🖤Hansel and Gretel Retelling
🖤Orphan Heroine
🖤Damsel Out of Distress
🖤Forced Proximity
🖤Found Family
🖤Novella Length

[Leigh W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Katharina has built a life for herself in a village that distrusts magic. She tries to hide her magic, be helpful and part of the village, but rumors always have a way of following her. She had hoped the village that once helped her would actually accept her. But the dreaded Dark Fae has been seen in the woods by her house making the mistrust of the village heighten. After a series of tragic events she is forced to move on and she finds her magic not behaving properly. Katharine now finds herself being caught by the Fae. But can the help and home they are offering be taken at face value?

I enjoy reading stories about the ‘villain’ and seeing the events from their perspective. This was a woman who has a tragic backstory and events happen to her and lets her ugly emotions take over. Which I find completely understandable and am more surprised she didn't explode sooner. And I get her anger with the Dark Fae and how she related what happened to her to him. I started to lose my momentum once she started her magic lessons. I feel she glossed over the events that we witnessed and never addressed those properly. The pacing in the book went super quick after that with events feeling like they were rushed through and not expanded on as much as I would have liked. I did enjoy the side characters and the banter in the story and would love to see more of this world expanded on.

[RaeAnne Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Hansel and Gretel retelling but from a different perspective. This book is part of a bigger series called Once Upon A Curse, though it is a stand alone so dont worry!!! This was a pretty fast read as it is around 150 pages. I do feel parts were a bit faster then i would have liked or in a sense skipped but it makes sense wanting to keep it a short story as it isnt meant to be more then just this one book. If it was a bit longer i still would have enjoyed it though

This book shows just how far fear and rumors can go in a world. Now we follow Katharina who was looked down upon and treated as an outsider to the village she lived near. Unfortunately Katharina was helping someone in the village, and when she returns home it is completely ruined. She heard rumors that an evil fae was the cause of her ruin.

Katharina takes to finding this dark fae and getting revenge for what he did to her. But as time goes on her magic seems to become uncontrollable and she has to instead turn to this fae for help. As she continues to be around him she realizes sometimes rumors are not true and get twisted. This is an enemies to lovers book! And the end of the book made me so happy though and i cheered for these two.

I did receive this book as an ARC and this is my honest review! Thank you so much for this opportunity. i loved this book!

[Jules Just Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

“We all have monsters hiding in our past. It’s how we choose to face them that decides our fate.”

This book had a pretty strong start, and I felt for Katharina. Her life is turned upside down with her home destroyed, lover murdered, and spurned by her village. She's found by the Fae and taken in to learn more about her magic. The Dark Fae thought to be responsible for her life's turn of events is the person who's supposed to train her.

This is where I felt the book should've been fleshed out more. There wasn't an explanation or anything with Waren's death. It seems she forgot about him pretty easily and fell for the Dark Fae quickly. There could've been more tension or angst. The relationship needed more development.

Then, they had a goal of replacing the cruel, magic-hating king with his kinder son. And that ending battle was a bit disappointing. They were caught and cornered by assassins, about to get into a fight, then magic exploded and boom. Epilogue and they lived Happily Ever After.

Overall, this book had potential, but I would've liked it to be longer and more detailed. (And I'm not quite sure where the Hansel & Gretel retelling comes from besides the gingerbread smell of magic 🤔)

Thanks so much to the author for the gifted ebook!

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have some conflicting feelings about this book but I really like the story. There’s love, persecution, hate, bigotry, kindness, grief, acceptance, betrayal, you name it and it’s probably there.

I really really liked the main characters, I love them together, their magic, the chemistry their magic has, the spice is nice, and I adore addressing the rumor-mill. Even the supporting characters are great and lovable. The twist that turns it into a Hansel and Gretel retelling while bringing things full circle is fantastic! This book has some really good messages. Don’t believe rumors and be kind to one another.

In my personal opinion I want so much more, the plot is there but it has semi holey time hops that give you a little whip lash. The story is very good I would just enjoy more density to the story, more expansion. It just felt rushed. I would read from this author again.

[Odette Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a rollercoaster ride from the very start! There's so much to unravel in this story, from a near-death experience to a house burning down. It's a fresh take on the classic tale of Hansel and Gretel, told from the perspective of the witch, and it's a real eye-opener about not taking everything at face value.

The pace of the story was exhilarating, especially after encountering the fae. However, I was left craving more details about the main battle. It felt like we went from mind-blowing magic to a few months later without much in between. I was dying to know what really went down. Nonetheless, it was a fantastic quick read overall!

I received an ARC copy of this book for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Trina Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW this was the best story ever so far. It was a page turner and the suspense was incredible intense. I was on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t even put it down literally. This story was based on retelling of the classics story of Hansel and Gretel and the evil Witch, who lure the children into the foster as they were turn into gingerbread, cookies mind blowing with a twists and turns. It was action packed of chaos and madness and danger. Will they be able to save the children’s lives and themselves too.
I definitely recommend this book and you won’t be disappointed. I received advance copy of this book via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion. Trina Jones

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great (but loose) retelling of Hansel and Gretel - from the witch’s perspective!
I loved the struggle that Katherine has with controlling her emotions - she’s had a lot of things happen and even more to sort through. What’s the truth, and what’s a lie? Her character development is great but she’s too quick to forgive herself and others. Each of the other characters bring everything together in a story of discovery and love… I think I would have liked a bit more about them, but it’s from her perspective so it makes sense.

“We all have monsters hiding in our past. It’s how we choose to face them that decide our fate.”

[I8mzbhvn2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most know the story of Hansel and Gretel and the witch who lures children in with goodies.... but do they really? In this retelling, it comes from the witches prospective. Nothing is what it seems to be, and how stories and rumors change with each person who tells it. Katharina (the witch) only wants to help others but is unsure of her full potential with her magic, until she meets Ruhan, a Fae, who helps guide her in the ways of magic and teaches her how to control it. You don't want to miss out on reading this book! It has twist and turns, good and evil, magic, a witch and fae! Not to mention a slow burn love story where you would least expect it!

[Belinda Clemons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cursed by the Black Heart is the true tale of the Witch from the classic Hansel and Gretel. Katharina isn't the witch that she is told to be. when someone she is close to is killed her grief has Katharina making the Dark Forest her home. While in the Dark Forest she meets the Dark Fae Ruhan, who parents tell their kids about, saying he's cruel to scare them, and she also learns of the rumors that have been going around about her calling her evil. And more worse than Ruhan. as we all know rumors arnt always true. These two are just perfect I really loved their relationship and seeing it grow. I also loved Katharina's sassy familiar lol.

[Brittni Shafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delicious twist!! I love stories that make you wonder who the real Villian truly is and this one really fulfilled that desire/love. The plot was absolutely magical and I found myself reading just for the incredible world and Katarinas life story. The romance was a delicious plus!! These two started off as true enemies and their turn to lovers was everything. I wish this story was longer because I didn't want it to end! I could have read a trilogy of this but this version was still satisfying.

Thank you for the ARC

[Lexie Huffine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what it claimed to be

This book states it’s a Hansel and Gretel retelling, but I didn’t get that at all. Just because there are mentions of a gingerbread witch in the forest doesn’t make it a retelling.

This book also felt very rushed and gave little to no explanation to things as a fantasy novel should. There were an insane amount of nods to magic or gods that were only mentioned once, with no explanation. Is there supposed to be more books that explain things? It left me very confused and left out.

[tattooedbooknerdgirl35 (Amanda Lynn) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say I really loved Cursed By the Black Heart, this book has it all magic, a powerful hungry king, a witch, Fae, other powerful creatures, little bit of spice all thrown into an amazing story.

I have to say I really enjoyed the storyline of the two main characters Katharina and Ruhan. Their stories are filled with people who misjudge them and the heartache they both face and how they found their way to each other. They bring out the best in each other.

This book definitely have you on edge of your seat to finish, I am completely in awe of this story.

[Michelle Reopel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if the story of Hansel and Gretel is a twisted version and we are able to see what really happened through Katharina, the witch’s, point of view. What follows is a story of persecution, love and affection, grief, vengeance, and hope.
I enjoyed the story and liked Katharina and Ruhan. The world was well built. There were a couple places where the pacing felt odd, but overall I really enjoyed it.

[Carrie Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and sweet fantasy with witches, Fae, magic, and a twist on a Hansel and Gretel retelling.

I really enjoyed this book, I even stayed up late on a work night to finish it. 🤣 Just wish the ending wasn’t as rushed and some things had more explanation, rather than being cold dropped into the story.
Would recommend if looking for a quick fantasy read. Held my attention from beginning to end. 🩵

[Tattedbooknerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if the witch from hansel and gretel was always just misunderstood? Katarina is a good witch but we know how rumors spread and make people out to be what they are not. When Katarina comes home to find her life thrown upside down, she seeks help for her out of control magic with the fae. But things are not as they seem. Grab this book and follow this witch on her journey of hope, grief, vengeance and love.

[Damita Perez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed the book overall, this didn't come off as a retelling until a brief mention of it at the end. If you read the story just as a fantasy, it makes more sense.

I also got very confused by the relationship in the story, considering one minute she was wishing death on him and the next wanting to spend the rest of her life with him.

Overall, this wasn't my favorite in the Cursed By series but not a bad book on its own.

[Shayay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy this series with a twist on fairy tale villains! This one is inspired by Hansel and Gretel. Katharina keeps her magic hidden and tries to fit in, but things and people keep making things difficult for her. Enjoy the magic and the Fae aspects. I would’ve liked a bit more development on the characters and romance, but the story was a good one. 3.5 rounded to a 4 because I like the setup for the story and how the story develops.

[Raina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Hansel and Gretzky retelling but told from the witch’s view. What if everything you think you know about the witch was a lie? What if magic and fae were despised by the king? Katharina may come as unique and happy surprise to you. She is our witch and does smell like gingerbread. But the rest of her story is filled with twists and even romance. A wonderful fresh take on a supposedly evil witch.

[Shaquilla Lunsford · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

It's always interesting reading a story from the villain's point of view, especially when it leaves you rethinking who the actual villian is. While I would have liked to see more of the MCs relationship arc and new life in the second half of the book, it was overall a fun twist on Hansel and Gretal.

[Caitlynn Gilles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a unique, beautiful dark twisted Retelling of this wonderful classic tale💜Even though she went through alot of heartbreak, it lead her towards her 1 true person💜✨️ Her & Ruhan's love story is one that was not expected but absolutely loved seeing it unfold! What a fun way to add the gingerbread twist! You'll definitely want to read this one!

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. It felt like there was so much missing however . It kind of went too fast through everything and I think it should have been longer and more cohesive. It also didn’t really feel like a retelling it was not tell the end it even seems stall like one
Overall I give this 2.5 ⭐️
This author has so mush potential and I will be checking out more in the future to see how she grows 🫶🏻