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Cursed
Life hasn’t ever been the adventure Bonnie wishes it was. Stuck in the merchant town of Greymery, disgusted with the skewed morals and alarming lack of intervention from their brooding Keeper, she can’t help but look for an adventure to add some purpose and excitement to her life.
And then she finds the wolf. While everyone else in Greymery is wary of the mysterious golden wolf prowling around the town walls, Bonnie is drawn to the creature, determined to figure out the truth behind its appearance. Her quest, unfortunately, leads her straight to the library of Greymery Keep, where she has no choice but to confront Sir Killian, Greymery’s Keeper and the one person she can’t seem to get the upper hand on in an argument. Still, despite her dislike for the Keeper and his policies, Bonnie soon finds that there is more to him than meets the eye… just as there is more going on in Greymery than she could have imagined. As lies and hidden plans are revealed, Bonnie’s world shifts. She finds there is more to this mystery than just the wolf, and her search for adventure might be more than she bargained for. And while “more than she bargained for” is a dangerous place to be, Bonnie has never been one to back down from a challenge.
And then she finds the wolf. While everyone else in Greymery is wary of the mysterious golden wolf prowling around the town walls, Bonnie is drawn to the creature, determined to figure out the truth behind its appearance. Her quest, unfortunately, leads her straight to the library of Greymery Keep, where she has no choice but to confront Sir Killian, Greymery’s Keeper and the one person she can’t seem to get the upper hand on in an argument. Still, despite her dislike for the Keeper and his policies, Bonnie soon finds that there is more to him than meets the eye… just as there is more going on in Greymery than she could have imagined. As lies and hidden plans are revealed, Bonnie’s world shifts. She finds there is more to this mystery than just the wolf, and her search for adventure might be more than she bargained for. And while “more than she bargained for” is a dangerous place to be, Bonnie has never been one to back down from a challenge.
205 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2024
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 15, 2025
A stubborn librarian and an emotionless Keeper? What could go wrong?
I absolutely loved reading this book. Unlike her previous one, this book does not suffer from the numerous point-of-view shifts and over-detailed explanations. Instead, it follows a good balance of Bonnie and Killian, the two main characters, with a few looks into other people's perspectives. The detailed explanations are condensed, and I really liked the description of the library. By far, however, was the characters of Bonnie and Killian. It reminded me a bit of Pride and Prejudice in terms of characterization--Bonnie is the stubborn, prideful Elizabeth, and Killian is the distant, emotionless Darcy. Yet, as the plot unfolds, you discover that both characters are more than they first seem and even more than the archetypes I mentioned. As they grow and shift as characters, they develop an admiration for each other that is based on mutual affection for their strengths and acknowledgement of their faults. This kind of romance is more healthy than most novels of this type, and I appreciate the author's addition of it. The best part of this novel is the addition of Tirion, Adonia's messenger. His patience, Grace, and understanding of how God works, as well as his reminders to the main characters, were lovely to read. And, ultimately, that's what made both books very good: the incorporation of faith in a way that is reminiscent of Narnia and encouraging to believers. It was neat to see how Scripture, God's Voice, and the imagery/symbolism of angels and demons in fairies and fae came together in this story. For that reason, I highly recommend these books!
Content Warnings: PG level violence (with a decapitation and death of certain character that is not bloody but stated), no cussing, no alcohol/drug usage. Light romance with a kiss on the forehead as the furthest the characters show affection.
I absolutely loved reading this book. Unlike her previous one, this book does not suffer from the numerous point-of-view shifts and over-detailed explanations. Instead, it follows a good balance of Bonnie and Killian, the two main characters, with a few looks into other people's perspectives. The detailed explanations are condensed, and I really liked the description of the library. By far, however, was the characters of Bonnie and Killian. It reminded me a bit of Pride and Prejudice in terms of characterization--Bonnie is the stubborn, prideful Elizabeth, and Killian is the distant, emotionless Darcy. Yet, as the plot unfolds, you discover that both characters are more than they first seem and even more than the archetypes I mentioned. As they grow and shift as characters, they develop an admiration for each other that is based on mutual affection for their strengths and acknowledgement of their faults. This kind of romance is more healthy than most novels of this type, and I appreciate the author's addition of it. The best part of this novel is the addition of Tirion, Adonia's messenger. His patience, Grace, and understanding of how God works, as well as his reminders to the main characters, were lovely to read. And, ultimately, that's what made both books very good: the incorporation of faith in a way that is reminiscent of Narnia and encouraging to believers. It was neat to see how Scripture, God's Voice, and the imagery/symbolism of angels and demons in fairies and fae came together in this story. For that reason, I highly recommend these books!
Content Warnings: PG level violence (with a decapitation and death of certain character that is not bloody but stated), no cussing, no alcohol/drug usage. Light romance with a kiss on the forehead as the furthest the characters show affection.
December 2, 2024
Bonnie’s experiences and revelations throughout Cursed reignite your Faith in the idea of something bigger than us and trusting in that Faith that our physical life journey will be purposeful and our own. The curiosity and honesty of the main character as she navigates her path keeps you wondering what her ending will be. And trust me, you’ll race to get there…but don’t go too fast or you’ll miss essential details masterfully woven in!
The plot’s familiarity to inspirational stories of bravery entwined with a passionate voice for the calling power of Faith teaches the importance of not just standing up for your beliefs, but fighting adversity to strengthen them and deepen your understanding of yourself along the way. Even if it means relinquishing some reservations, like Bonnie unexplainably does with her adversary Killian.
The book’s tone is a powerful and effective mixture of mordacity and fascination that keeps the reader asking questions and attempting to make connections and predictions along the way. (Good for you if you figure it all out…but go beyond the surface to consider the messages behind the characters and events of Cursed).
The fantasy and mystical elements marry well with each other as the clever word choices build the powerful message of wonder and acceptance.
Intriguing names throughout keep you interested in learning more about the people and places, which are developed in a way that you can visualize them as people you’ve met and places you’ve been (or want to!)
The plot’s familiarity to inspirational stories of bravery entwined with a passionate voice for the calling power of Faith teaches the importance of not just standing up for your beliefs, but fighting adversity to strengthen them and deepen your understanding of yourself along the way. Even if it means relinquishing some reservations, like Bonnie unexplainably does with her adversary Killian.
The book’s tone is a powerful and effective mixture of mordacity and fascination that keeps the reader asking questions and attempting to make connections and predictions along the way. (Good for you if you figure it all out…but go beyond the surface to consider the messages behind the characters and events of Cursed).
The fantasy and mystical elements marry well with each other as the clever word choices build the powerful message of wonder and acceptance.
Intriguing names throughout keep you interested in learning more about the people and places, which are developed in a way that you can visualize them as people you’ve met and places you’ve been (or want to!)
January 5, 2025
A tale as old as time--this beloved fairy tale is both familiar and endearing while simultaneously unique and inspirational with its underlying Christian message! Set in a similar, magical environment, Cursed invites the reader on Bonnie's journey of self-discovery as she tries to save her town from an ominous beast while staying true to her own principles and identity.
Bonnie, like Ember in the first book of the Beyond Beauty series, is a strong, independent woman who retains the magical beauty of her origin. However, she journeys beyond simply falling in love with the "beast". She learns to embrace her inner strength and integrity, face the challenges of her restrictive town, and trust herself and others, all while retaining her strong spiritual faith and foundation. While there are no talking clocks or teapots, she does befriend many memorable characters (and there are several appearances by characters from the previous novel as well!) who help in her evolution.
Killian's "beastly" nature is less about his physical appearance (although his shaggy hair does draw connections!) and more about his emotional baggage and reluctance to rely on or connect with others. Part of the beauty of the story lies in his struggles that he faces until he too turns to his faith as he grows into a partner worthy of Bonnie (and as they show in their final battle scene, they are truly united in their values, beliefs, intentions and abilities!)
There are messages of identity, healing and inner beauty that make this retelling feel both meaningful and relevant in today's world. Bonnie and Killian remind the reader that their truest strength and most exciting adventure, as well as their very partnership, is possible because of their faith and reliance on their spiritual beliefs. Their journey stays true to the original while also offering something new and empowering to the reader--and even invites us along at the end on what looks to be the next adventure in the Beyond Beauty series!
Bonnie, like Ember in the first book of the Beyond Beauty series, is a strong, independent woman who retains the magical beauty of her origin. However, she journeys beyond simply falling in love with the "beast". She learns to embrace her inner strength and integrity, face the challenges of her restrictive town, and trust herself and others, all while retaining her strong spiritual faith and foundation. While there are no talking clocks or teapots, she does befriend many memorable characters (and there are several appearances by characters from the previous novel as well!) who help in her evolution.
Killian's "beastly" nature is less about his physical appearance (although his shaggy hair does draw connections!) and more about his emotional baggage and reluctance to rely on or connect with others. Part of the beauty of the story lies in his struggles that he faces until he too turns to his faith as he grows into a partner worthy of Bonnie (and as they show in their final battle scene, they are truly united in their values, beliefs, intentions and abilities!)
There are messages of identity, healing and inner beauty that make this retelling feel both meaningful and relevant in today's world. Bonnie and Killian remind the reader that their truest strength and most exciting adventure, as well as their very partnership, is possible because of their faith and reliance on their spiritual beliefs. Their journey stays true to the original while also offering something new and empowering to the reader--and even invites us along at the end on what looks to be the next adventure in the Beyond Beauty series!
November 25, 2024
A feisty heroine, a sweet romance, a bit of fantasy adventure – and a focus on Christianity at the center. What’s not to love about this book?
Just like Ashes, Cursed focuses on a young woman’s journey through trials while building her faith in God and His will. Since this was a Beauty and the Beast retelling (which is one of my favorite fairy tales) I had high hopes, and they were met! S.G. hit the right notes with the initial hate-to-love transition. Of course the focus on internal character traits over external beauty, already a major theme in the fairy tale, worked perfectly for this series. The Biblical lessons and passages are woven in well, and since reliance on God is central to the narrative in several situations, it keeps faith from feeling shoehorned in or an afterthought.
This story is on the shorter side, which is fantastic since she skillfully left out sections that may have become repetitive or dull if lingered on for too long. I really liked the light-hearted, humorous tone used throughout the book.
It’s written in a way that can appeal to a large YA/NA audience – someone who’s in their 20s or older can enjoy this just as much as a young reader, since Bonnie could be imagined as almost any age (although the love interest is around 25). I think the story and message will be especially sweet and impactful to teenagers though!
I really liked the first book, but I feel like this one is an improvement on it, both in the plot development and dialogue. Can’t wait for the next installment in this series.
*I received this book for free as an advanced reader copy.*
Just like Ashes, Cursed focuses on a young woman’s journey through trials while building her faith in God and His will. Since this was a Beauty and the Beast retelling (which is one of my favorite fairy tales) I had high hopes, and they were met! S.G. hit the right notes with the initial hate-to-love transition. Of course the focus on internal character traits over external beauty, already a major theme in the fairy tale, worked perfectly for this series. The Biblical lessons and passages are woven in well, and since reliance on God is central to the narrative in several situations, it keeps faith from feeling shoehorned in or an afterthought.
This story is on the shorter side, which is fantastic since she skillfully left out sections that may have become repetitive or dull if lingered on for too long. I really liked the light-hearted, humorous tone used throughout the book.
It’s written in a way that can appeal to a large YA/NA audience – someone who’s in their 20s or older can enjoy this just as much as a young reader, since Bonnie could be imagined as almost any age (although the love interest is around 25). I think the story and message will be especially sweet and impactful to teenagers though!
I really liked the first book, but I feel like this one is an improvement on it, both in the plot development and dialogue. Can’t wait for the next installment in this series.
*I received this book for free as an advanced reader copy.*
July 4, 2025
SG Bacon does not disappoint with the second installment in her “Beyond Beauty” duology. Bonnie will quickly becomes your favorite spitfire , paired wonderfully with her mysterious and broody keeper. Sticking to the themes of love and faith, Bacon adds a stronger one to this thrilling adventure- trust. These characters must learn to trust in themselves, those they care about, and their God.
Weaving a new story into the magical world, Bacon’s writing draws you in right until the last hopeful turn of phrase.
Weaving a new story into the magical world, Bacon’s writing draws you in right until the last hopeful turn of phrase.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews