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Truth Cursed
Speaking the truth can be a dangerous thing.
Cressida Hoth is alone in the world. Orphaned and unwanted, she is inflicted with a peculiar curse by her mischievous aunts and banished to a finishing school in the secluded kingdom of Dernmont. Students train in every accomplishment suitable for young music, dancing, etiquette…and strangely, poison-making, fencing, and lock-picking.
The school is a front for a rebel spy ring, and when her training is complete, Cressida is selected to join a mission to infiltrate the kingdom’s royal court. She has been thrown unceremoniously into a world of ball gowns and espionage, but she is still under a curse, and it threatens to expose them all.
Defending her teammates and her secret, Cressida discovers that the kingdom’s buried history and the truth behind her curse run far deeper than she imagined.
Cressida Hoth is alone in the world. Orphaned and unwanted, she is inflicted with a peculiar curse by her mischievous aunts and banished to a finishing school in the secluded kingdom of Dernmont. Students train in every accomplishment suitable for young music, dancing, etiquette…and strangely, poison-making, fencing, and lock-picking.
The school is a front for a rebel spy ring, and when her training is complete, Cressida is selected to join a mission to infiltrate the kingdom’s royal court. She has been thrown unceremoniously into a world of ball gowns and espionage, but she is still under a curse, and it threatens to expose them all.
Defending her teammates and her secret, Cressida discovers that the kingdom’s buried history and the truth behind her curse run far deeper than she imagined.
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Published February 18, 2025
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April 4, 2025
3.5 stars ✨ Clean Fiction - Fantasy
About this book:
“Cressida Hoth is alone in the world. Orphaned and unwanted, she is inflicted with a peculiar curse by her mischievous aunts and banished to a finishing school in the secluded kingdom of Dernmont. Students train in every accomplishment suitable for young ladies: music, dancing, etiquette…and strangely, poison-making, fencing, and lock-picking.
The school is a front for a rebel spy ring, and when her training is complete, Cressida is selected to join a mission to infiltrate the kingdom’s royal court. She has been thrown unceremoniously into a world of ball gowns and espionage, but she is still under a curse, and it threatens to expose them all.
Defending her teammates and her secret, Cressida discovers that the kingdom’s buried history and the truth behind her curse run far deeper than she imagined.”
Series: As of now, no. Seems to be a stand-alone novel.
Spiritual Content- The phrase “God willing” is said once by Cressida; A head monk gives the blessing to a group that includes “May the white mountain open your heart and close your wounds. May its stones bring you truth, and in truth, may you find the peace of its Creator and the courage He imparts.”; Someone says she has faith in Mt. Vindeca “and it’s Maker”; Going to a monastery; Mentions of a monastery (also called a holy site) & monks; A handful of mentions of Cressida praying (but never said towards Whom; including a mention of praying for forgiveness from an action); A few mentions of paintings and tapestries depicting religious scenes; A mention of someone not being a miracle worker;
*Note: “Damming” evidence against someone is said twice in different forms; Phrases like “for heaven’s sake” and “heavens” are used twice and once; There is no magic in this book as the dusts and powders used and discussed are from mines (which are illegal substances), including the one Cressida thinks she was “cursed” by (see Negative Content section for more information); A monastery has a pool with healing minerals that are said to have healed and strengthen those who drink the water; *Major Spoilers* ; Mentions of monks taking a vow of silence which someone says “the personal sacrifice aids in his devotion”; A few mentions of alchemy with healing stones from a mountain; A mention of someone speaking reverently about the stones of a mountain (in terms of a promise/swearing upon them); A mention of people raising a glass to a mountain.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: A ‘dumb’, a ‘what the blazes’, a ‘wretch’, two ‘shut up’s, and three ‘stupid’s; Fictional phrases like “(bloody) stones of Vindeca” (two forms) and “by the stones (of Vindeca)” (two forms); A mention of curses (said, not written); Some eye rolling & sarcasm; Eavesdropping; Killing someone in self-defense, burying the body, drugging others, & guilt about it (plus continuing to think about the body and felling like a murderer, up to semi-detailed); Being attacked, Fighting/Self-defense, Being threatened (including with harming another) and held at knife-point, Holding others at knife-point, Being tied-up and locked in a room, Pain, Injuries, Blood/Bleeding, Passing out, & Grief (up to semi-detailed); A bit of manipulating others; Remembering seeing the deaths of her parents (murdered by arrows) & being forced to drink a drugged tea (up to semi-detailed); Seeing fights & others knocked out (up to semi-detailed); *Spoilers* ; There are drugs for putting someone in a deep sleep, to only be able to tell the truth, and cause forgetfulness; Due to her aunts forcing her to drink a tea with a drug in it, Cressida considers herself “cursed” and unable to lie or not answer a question that is directed towards her (she recalls them forcing it down her throat, up to semi-detailed); Cressida is compelled by the “curse” to always answer the truth and quickly, if Cressida tries to prevent answering a question, she will be in pain, light headed, and eventually passing out and bleeding from her nose (said to cause her death if she tries to do it again; She tries to withhold answering a few times, up to semi-detailed); Cressida has no warm feelings for her aunts and how they abused her growing up by always forcing her to answer their questions; A girl at the school says insulting things to and about Cressida; Cressida has a glass of wine at a dinner (which she does not enjoy the sour taste) & side characters drink wine at dinners and parties; Many mentions of deaths/murders (including of parents and siblings plus Cressida’s own parents), grief, how they happened (arrows and slit throats), seeing it happened, finding the bodies (Cressida saw her parents murdered), & the murderers (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of drugs, being drugged, & drugging others; Mentions of bodies (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of wars, battles, deaths, & someone wanting to start a war; Mentions of treason, traitors, prisons/dungeons, crimes, & arrests; Mentions of pain, injuries, blood/bleeding, & passing out (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of alcohol, wine, drinking (including at dinners and socially at parties), & those who are tipsy or had too much; Mentions of lies, lying, liars, deception, & manipulation (including a teacher telling Cressida to lie on the mission if needed); Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of hunting; A few mentions of hatred & self-loathing; A few mentions of a pipe & smoking; A couple mentions of breaking into someone’s room; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of wolves digging up a dead human’s body; A mention of freezing to death; A mention of thieves; A mention of robbing a place; A mention of an ale houses; A mention of vomiting;
*Note: Cressida has a panic attack (up to semi-detailed).
Sexual Content- Two hand kisses (flirty greetings and lingering too long), a not-detailed kiss, and a border line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kiss; Some touches, embraces, hand holding, being near another for their warmth, (barely-above-not-detailed); Some blushes & winks; Some noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); A man touches Cressida’s cheek and her skin crawls because of it; Another man skims over Cressida’s body in a “clinical” way after an injury, but it still makes her blush; Cressida meets a (handsome and young) male spy in the middle of the night and when they are caught by a maid, he makes it look like they were having a tryst (by embracing her, making a show of rebuttoning his collar, & grinning “rakishly” at her; the maid insults Cressida by calling her “rough” and one of those girls who “play around”; Rumors about the two of them meeting at night go around the staff); One of the girls says she has no interest in becoming a spy via the way of becoming the king’s mistress or “anything vulgar like that”; When a note from a prince is said about the “great pleasure” of meeting one of the girls, she panics that she’s “going to have to, that he means—“ and Cressida says they wouldn’t have been put on this mission if they had to do “unseemly, compromising things”; Mentions of flirting, flirtation, & a class for flirting (that Cressida doesn’t do well in); A few mentions of rendezvous between couples; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of handsome men; A couple mentions of men ogling Cressida and the other girls; A couple mentions of a man getting too close to Cressida for her comfort; A bit of attraction, possibly love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: At age 15, Cressida is said to have “a woman’s shape already” & a few mentions about it (a roommate asks her if she likes it and Cressida responds “not really”; A couple years later, it’s mentioned by a teacher that the other girls were jealous of Cressida and the rude comments to her slower down when the other girls began to “mature”).
-Cressida Hoth, age 15-17
P.O.V. of Cressida
336 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
One thing you can always count on me being interested in is boarding school or academy plots. Was it the Barbie Princess Charm School movie or Zoey 101 episodes I watched growing up? I’m honestly not sure, but it’s a trope/theme that makes me instantly interested in a book if it’s said to have that. (As a side note: I would personally compare this book more to Barbie and the Three Musketeers movie than the Princess Charm School movie.)
So, I was a bit bummed that we speed ran through half of the boarding school plot with two years quickly passing. Because of that, it felt a little like Cressida was a different character in some ways after the time has passed and I didn’t know her very well in the second part of this book. Now mind you, that’s not 100% accurate but perhaps more like 60%—which was enough for me to notice that difference. She did have a couple times where “you don’t think I can do it” and getting offended when someone told her about the mission being dangerous—which was a bit ironic because she had just done the same thing to one of the other girls.
The last half unfortunately fizzled a bit for me, which was a major bummer! I’m not sure if it was me or the book. I wasn’t expecting some events towards the end, though, which kept me on my toes. I do think this might have been better as a duology, however? It felt a little packed and then rushed towards the ending with the reveals. Because we only get Cressida’s POV and she’s not involved in every single thing or event, there’s a lot of telling by other characters and explaining their roles or what they found, which cut down on the action and excitement for me, personally. This is what ultimately dropped my rating a bit as my enjoyment of the plot lessened, unfortunately. That said, if there was ever a second book, I would definitely read it to see what happens next in this world!
I think avid YA readers and those in their teens might be willing to overlook the “flaws” I didn’t care for and I probably would have enjoyed this book more a handful of years ago. It was still interesting and entertaining, but I found the execution of some parts to be a little lackluster.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
About this book:
“Cressida Hoth is alone in the world. Orphaned and unwanted, she is inflicted with a peculiar curse by her mischievous aunts and banished to a finishing school in the secluded kingdom of Dernmont. Students train in every accomplishment suitable for young ladies: music, dancing, etiquette…and strangely, poison-making, fencing, and lock-picking.
The school is a front for a rebel spy ring, and when her training is complete, Cressida is selected to join a mission to infiltrate the kingdom’s royal court. She has been thrown unceremoniously into a world of ball gowns and espionage, but she is still under a curse, and it threatens to expose them all.
Defending her teammates and her secret, Cressida discovers that the kingdom’s buried history and the truth behind her curse run far deeper than she imagined.”
Series: As of now, no. Seems to be a stand-alone novel.
Spiritual Content- The phrase “God willing” is said once by Cressida; A head monk gives the blessing to a group that includes “May the white mountain open your heart and close your wounds. May its stones bring you truth, and in truth, may you find the peace of its Creator and the courage He imparts.”; Someone says she has faith in Mt. Vindeca “and it’s Maker”; Going to a monastery; Mentions of a monastery (also called a holy site) & monks; A handful of mentions of Cressida praying (but never said towards Whom; including a mention of praying for forgiveness from an action); A few mentions of paintings and tapestries depicting religious scenes; A mention of someone not being a miracle worker;
*Note: “Damming” evidence against someone is said twice in different forms; Phrases like “for heaven’s sake” and “heavens” are used twice and once; There is no magic in this book as the dusts and powders used and discussed are from mines (which are illegal substances), including the one Cressida thinks she was “cursed” by (see Negative Content section for more information); A monastery has a pool with healing minerals that are said to have healed and strengthen those who drink the water; *Major Spoilers* ; Mentions of monks taking a vow of silence which someone says “the personal sacrifice aids in his devotion”; A few mentions of alchemy with healing stones from a mountain; A mention of someone speaking reverently about the stones of a mountain (in terms of a promise/swearing upon them); A mention of people raising a glass to a mountain.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: A ‘dumb’, a ‘what the blazes’, a ‘wretch’, two ‘shut up’s, and three ‘stupid’s; Fictional phrases like “(bloody) stones of Vindeca” (two forms) and “by the stones (of Vindeca)” (two forms); A mention of curses (said, not written); Some eye rolling & sarcasm; Eavesdropping; Killing someone in self-defense, burying the body, drugging others, & guilt about it (plus continuing to think about the body and felling like a murderer, up to semi-detailed); Being attacked, Fighting/Self-defense, Being threatened (including with harming another) and held at knife-point, Holding others at knife-point, Being tied-up and locked in a room, Pain, Injuries, Blood/Bleeding, Passing out, & Grief (up to semi-detailed); A bit of manipulating others; Remembering seeing the deaths of her parents (murdered by arrows) & being forced to drink a drugged tea (up to semi-detailed); Seeing fights & others knocked out (up to semi-detailed); *Spoilers* ; There are drugs for putting someone in a deep sleep, to only be able to tell the truth, and cause forgetfulness; Due to her aunts forcing her to drink a tea with a drug in it, Cressida considers herself “cursed” and unable to lie or not answer a question that is directed towards her (she recalls them forcing it down her throat, up to semi-detailed); Cressida is compelled by the “curse” to always answer the truth and quickly, if Cressida tries to prevent answering a question, she will be in pain, light headed, and eventually passing out and bleeding from her nose (said to cause her death if she tries to do it again; She tries to withhold answering a few times, up to semi-detailed); Cressida has no warm feelings for her aunts and how they abused her growing up by always forcing her to answer their questions; A girl at the school says insulting things to and about Cressida; Cressida has a glass of wine at a dinner (which she does not enjoy the sour taste) & side characters drink wine at dinners and parties; Many mentions of deaths/murders (including of parents and siblings plus Cressida’s own parents), grief, how they happened (arrows and slit throats), seeing it happened, finding the bodies (Cressida saw her parents murdered), & the murderers (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of drugs, being drugged, & drugging others; Mentions of bodies (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of wars, battles, deaths, & someone wanting to start a war; Mentions of treason, traitors, prisons/dungeons, crimes, & arrests; Mentions of pain, injuries, blood/bleeding, & passing out (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of alcohol, wine, drinking (including at dinners and socially at parties), & those who are tipsy or had too much; Mentions of lies, lying, liars, deception, & manipulation (including a teacher telling Cressida to lie on the mission if needed); Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of hunting; A few mentions of hatred & self-loathing; A few mentions of a pipe & smoking; A couple mentions of breaking into someone’s room; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of wolves digging up a dead human’s body; A mention of freezing to death; A mention of thieves; A mention of robbing a place; A mention of an ale houses; A mention of vomiting;
*Note: Cressida has a panic attack (up to semi-detailed).
Sexual Content- Two hand kisses (flirty greetings and lingering too long), a not-detailed kiss, and a border line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kiss; Some touches, embraces, hand holding, being near another for their warmth, (barely-above-not-detailed); Some blushes & winks; Some noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); A man touches Cressida’s cheek and her skin crawls because of it; Another man skims over Cressida’s body in a “clinical” way after an injury, but it still makes her blush; Cressida meets a (handsome and young) male spy in the middle of the night and when they are caught by a maid, he makes it look like they were having a tryst (by embracing her, making a show of rebuttoning his collar, & grinning “rakishly” at her; the maid insults Cressida by calling her “rough” and one of those girls who “play around”; Rumors about the two of them meeting at night go around the staff); One of the girls says she has no interest in becoming a spy via the way of becoming the king’s mistress or “anything vulgar like that”; When a note from a prince is said about the “great pleasure” of meeting one of the girls, she panics that she’s “going to have to, that he means—“ and Cressida says they wouldn’t have been put on this mission if they had to do “unseemly, compromising things”; Mentions of flirting, flirtation, & a class for flirting (that Cressida doesn’t do well in); A few mentions of rendezvous between couples; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of handsome men; A couple mentions of men ogling Cressida and the other girls; A couple mentions of a man getting too close to Cressida for her comfort; A bit of attraction, possibly love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: At age 15, Cressida is said to have “a woman’s shape already” & a few mentions about it (a roommate asks her if she likes it and Cressida responds “not really”; A couple years later, it’s mentioned by a teacher that the other girls were jealous of Cressida and the rude comments to her slower down when the other girls began to “mature”).
-Cressida Hoth, age 15-17
P.O.V. of Cressida
336 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
One thing you can always count on me being interested in is boarding school or academy plots. Was it the Barbie Princess Charm School movie or Zoey 101 episodes I watched growing up? I’m honestly not sure, but it’s a trope/theme that makes me instantly interested in a book if it’s said to have that. (As a side note: I would personally compare this book more to Barbie and the Three Musketeers movie than the Princess Charm School movie.)
So, I was a bit bummed that we speed ran through half of the boarding school plot with two years quickly passing. Because of that, it felt a little like Cressida was a different character in some ways after the time has passed and I didn’t know her very well in the second part of this book. Now mind you, that’s not 100% accurate but perhaps more like 60%—which was enough for me to notice that difference. She did have a couple times where “you don’t think I can do it” and getting offended when someone told her about the mission being dangerous—which was a bit ironic because she had just done the same thing to one of the other girls.
The last half unfortunately fizzled a bit for me, which was a major bummer! I’m not sure if it was me or the book. I wasn’t expecting some events towards the end, though, which kept me on my toes. I do think this might have been better as a duology, however? It felt a little packed and then rushed towards the ending with the reveals. Because we only get Cressida’s POV and she’s not involved in every single thing or event, there’s a lot of telling by other characters and explaining their roles or what they found, which cut down on the action and excitement for me, personally. This is what ultimately dropped my rating a bit as my enjoyment of the plot lessened, unfortunately. That said, if there was ever a second book, I would definitely read it to see what happens next in this world!
I think avid YA readers and those in their teens might be willing to overlook the “flaws” I didn’t care for and I probably would have enjoyed this book more a handful of years ago. It was still interesting and entertaining, but I found the execution of some parts to be a little lackluster.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
August 14, 2025
2.5 Stars ✨
Clean Ya/Middle grade Fantasy
Audio via Hoopla 🎧 4/5 Stars ✨
This reminded me of Ella Enchanted if she went to spy school. I really liked the truth aspect but after about 50% things started to get a bit boring for me. The writing was good, just not enough going on to make me excited about the story as a whole. It read a bit more like a middle grade than anything. It was a clean read and I’m sure I’m just not the target audience for this one. Would still recommend for a younger audience looking for clean reads.
Clean Ya/Middle grade Fantasy
Audio via Hoopla 🎧 4/5 Stars ✨
This reminded me of Ella Enchanted if she went to spy school. I really liked the truth aspect but after about 50% things started to get a bit boring for me. The writing was good, just not enough going on to make me excited about the story as a whole. It read a bit more like a middle grade than anything. It was a clean read and I’m sure I’m just not the target audience for this one. Would still recommend for a younger audience looking for clean reads.
![Profile Image for Jacquelyn 💐 {This Rapunzel Reads} [Jesus Christ, my Living Hope].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1766269624i%2F169222098._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
September 23, 2025
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I bought this book on a whim while it was on sale and it was really good! I was surprised how much I enjoyed it! It was very different from what I normally read and not something I would normally pick up. But I was pleasantly surprised! Cressida was an interesting character. She was cursed to always tell the truth. Even with that, she is a remarkably strong and brave woman. I really enjoyed her! Emric was intriguing from the start. I was rooting for the two of them to get together from the beginning! He also sent me on a roller coaster of trusting him and then not trusting him…haha! The training and spy missions were so cool to see and be immersed in! It was action packed and exciting! It kept me hooked from the start even if I didn’t quite understand everything that was happening…haha! I do recommend this book and am interested in reading more by this author!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I bought this book on a whim while it was on sale and it was really good! I was surprised how much I enjoyed it! It was very different from what I normally read and not something I would normally pick up. But I was pleasantly surprised! Cressida was an interesting character. She was cursed to always tell the truth. Even with that, she is a remarkably strong and brave woman. I really enjoyed her! Emric was intriguing from the start. I was rooting for the two of them to get together from the beginning! He also sent me on a roller coaster of trusting him and then not trusting him…haha! The training and spy missions were so cool to see and be immersed in! It was action packed and exciting! It kept me hooked from the start even if I didn’t quite understand everything that was happening…haha! I do recommend this book and am interested in reading more by this author!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
April 3, 2025
The truth would choke me if it wasn’t set free.
This cloak-and-dagger young adult fantasy is an immersive adventure laced with intrigue, compelling characters, and natural moral questions, and I loved it.
Featuring:
• Boarding school for spies
• Winter setting
• Female friendships
• Chivalry
• Ballgowns and cloaks
• Fencing
• Harp music
• Hidden daggers and secret tunnels
• Castle corridors, tapestries, and a monastery greenhouse
• A very unusual and unique requirement to speak the truth
With its deliberate build, the novel layers in more and more mystery and plot twists as it progresses, and countless times I wished I didn’t have to set it down to attend to other duties. As the characters pursue truth and answers, they stumble into certain moral quandaries and betrayals that magnify the stakes and pull the reader in more deeply. Each character possesses a distinct, real voice and contributes to the storyline, with the heroes proving truly heroic and the villains proving truly dastardly. Vivian. Miss Selkirk. Rosalie. Prince Roland. Miss Tepsom. Emric (especially Emric). (Plus, the sprinkling of romance forms one of the sweetest, most wholesome romances I’ve yet discovered in the young adult fantasy genre.)
Cressida, too, is now one of my favorite female protagonists. Lonely, afraid of delegating responsibility and relinquishing control, and afflicted with threads of resentment over her truth curse, yet thoughtful, clever, sensible, and proactive, she’s the perfect character to narrate this tale. I connected with her more and more as I read, and every twist and turn had me rooting for her and her allies more fervently.
With its Georgian-era vibes, low-key magical flavor, magnetic mystery, and storyline certainly reminiscent of Black Widow and Ella Enchanted, as one endorser commented, this is a marvelous debut. Very much recommended, and I’m so looking forward to more tales from Angie Dickinson!
🗡️ heads-up for some references to Cressida being abused for the truth she’s forced to speak, some men’s potentially unsavory intentions, some violence, and a couple of kisses (everything is extremely tasteful and fits well in the story) 🏹
March 14, 2025
"Truth Cursed" by Angie Dickinson is a fun story full of mystery and adventure! If you like books with boarding schools, spies, swords and ball gowns, this book is for you! The story reminded me a bit of “Ella Enchanted” and is perfect for middle grade and early young adult readers (although I also thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult). Cressida Hoth, our main character, is forced to always tell the truth, through a curse that her evil aunts inflict upon her. Later her aunts drop her off at a boarding school that is secretly a rebel spy ring. How can Cressida be a spy when she is forced to tell the truth? Will that prove a danger to herself and others? Is telling the truth a curse? I love how Angie Dickinson explores the power of truth through Cressida’s story. In fact, n an interview, Ms. Dickinson revealed that the idea for Cressida’s truth curse stemmed from her own social anxiety.
I love the settings and descriptions in this story. Of course, there is a lot of exciting swordplay and intrigue, which had me on the edge of my seat. I did not guess a big reveal at the end, which left me gasping! I also appreciated the themes of true worth, honor and responsibility. There is a sweet romance between Cressida and another character (he is such a cinnamon roll). I really hope Ms. Dickinson writes more books in this world. I highly recommend this fun and creative story full of intrigue, spies and ballgowns.
Content: I give this book a PG rating. Some examples of the content: the main character is an orphan; a child witnesses her parents’ murder; reference to a mistress; a character is forced to drink a magical potion against her will; mention of alcohol; brief mention of madness; some violence; a character possibly has PTSD; a character was abused in the past.
TW: a character is an orphan; mention of madness; possible PTSD and past abuse.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
I love the settings and descriptions in this story. Of course, there is a lot of exciting swordplay and intrigue, which had me on the edge of my seat. I did not guess a big reveal at the end, which left me gasping! I also appreciated the themes of true worth, honor and responsibility. There is a sweet romance between Cressida and another character (he is such a cinnamon roll). I really hope Ms. Dickinson writes more books in this world. I highly recommend this fun and creative story full of intrigue, spies and ballgowns.
Content: I give this book a PG rating. Some examples of the content: the main character is an orphan; a child witnesses her parents’ murder; reference to a mistress; a character is forced to drink a magical potion against her will; mention of alcohol; brief mention of madness; some violence; a character possibly has PTSD; a character was abused in the past.
TW: a character is an orphan; mention of madness; possible PTSD and past abuse.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
December 27, 2025
3.75 ✨
Oh man I don’t know how to review this book. It feels a little odd to ngl. Hmm so I feel like this book had a plot that I should love and be obsessed with but I just wasn’t. I feel like the last quarter of the book just dragged and I really had to force myself to keep reading. But it was still interesting which doesn’t make much sense to me 🤔. Idk, I liked someone of the Christian elements but at the same time it felt thrown in and like I was reading a secular book at the same time. Maybe it was like the high level of deception in the book, or even when there was killing that kind of threw me off guard. Idk it’s just very difficult and odd to explain. I liked the idea behind it but the execution just wasn’t great for me personally.
If you are looking for a book with curses and trying to solve it and stuff like that I would prob recommend Wishtress by Nadine Brandes. Has the same storyline but just better pure vibes in my opinion! 🤗
Anyways byeeee and happy reading!!! 📖❤️❤️
Oh man I don’t know how to review this book. It feels a little odd to ngl. Hmm so I feel like this book had a plot that I should love and be obsessed with but I just wasn’t. I feel like the last quarter of the book just dragged and I really had to force myself to keep reading. But it was still interesting which doesn’t make much sense to me 🤔. Idk, I liked someone of the Christian elements but at the same time it felt thrown in and like I was reading a secular book at the same time. Maybe it was like the high level of deception in the book, or even when there was killing that kind of threw me off guard. Idk it’s just very difficult and odd to explain. I liked the idea behind it but the execution just wasn’t great for me personally.
If you are looking for a book with curses and trying to solve it and stuff like that I would prob recommend Wishtress by Nadine Brandes. Has the same storyline but just better pure vibes in my opinion! 🤗
Anyways byeeee and happy reading!!! 📖❤️❤️
June 19, 2025
Enjoyable fantasy mixed with adventures and mystery! I loved the truth curse concept🩵🪄
3.5 stars✨
3.5 stars✨
January 5, 2025
Fencing, boarding school, questioned loyalty, spies, curses, AND it's like Ella Enchanted with a twist? If (like me) you love all those things, this book might just be your vibe. 😍 Cressida Hoth is cursed to tell the truth to every question she's asked, and it's put her in a lot of uncomfortable situations over the years. When the headmistress of her girls' school gives her a mission as a spy, Cressida has to be more careful than ever in how she copes with her curse- for which she's hopeful she can soon find a cure. I loved the setting of this story, the concept of learning to be a spy with a truth curse, and the uncertainty of who could be trusted.
Also Emric. Emric is precious.
My only "complaint" is I just never quite... connected with it? I liked the characters and the plot, I just never felt super invested for whatever reason. I also sort of felt like the climax got a little lost. That's all just my personal experience with it, though, and it's still a quite good read!
Also Emric. Emric is precious.
My only "complaint" is I just never quite... connected with it? I liked the characters and the plot, I just never felt super invested for whatever reason. I also sort of felt like the climax got a little lost. That's all just my personal experience with it, though, and it's still a quite good read!
January 28, 2025
Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, true love... what more could one ask for? This book was so perfectly reminisce of the kind of stories I adored as a young teen, and I love it for that.
The characters were fun and real and I loved the dynamics between them. The whole story was a charming, adventurous read, which I thoroughly enjoyed!
The characters were fun and real and I loved the dynamics between them. The whole story was a charming, adventurous read, which I thoroughly enjoyed!
September 29, 2025
3.25 stars
"How could someone without the ability to lie ever become a spy?"
This was an enjoyable fun book. It reminded me a lot of The False Prince, so if you liked that book, I would recommend this one.
Characters:
I liked Cressida. I felt bad for her when she had to speak bluntly.
Emric was fine. He isn't the best but he was good.
Things I liked:
It was an interesting story. It was quick. I liked the romance in it.
Things I did not like:
The fact that they were seeking to avenge their family did not sit well with me, for vengeance is in the Lord. The book had maybe one or two plot holes, so that kind of bothered me.
Trigger Warnings:
Mentions of swords, poisons that make people do things like always tell the truth or fall asleep, death, murder, a mention of what would happen if her friend is chosen to be the princes bride. 14+
Overall:
I liked it but it wasn't my favorite. I felt the same way about The False Prince, though. If you liked the False Prince or just knights and kings/espionage, go get this book.
Thank you for reading my review.
"How could someone without the ability to lie ever become a spy?"
This was an enjoyable fun book. It reminded me a lot of The False Prince, so if you liked that book, I would recommend this one.
Characters:
I liked Cressida. I felt bad for her when she had to speak bluntly.
Emric was fine. He isn't the best but he was good.
Things I liked:
It was an interesting story. It was quick. I liked the romance in it.
Things I did not like:
The fact that they were seeking to avenge their family did not sit well with me, for vengeance is in the Lord. The book had maybe one or two plot holes, so that kind of bothered me.
Trigger Warnings:
Mentions of swords, poisons that make people do things like always tell the truth or fall asleep, death, murder, a mention of what would happen if her friend is chosen to be the princes bride. 14+
Overall:
I liked it but it wasn't my favorite. I felt the same way about The False Prince, though. If you liked the False Prince or just knights and kings/espionage, go get this book.
Thank you for reading my review.
March 12, 2025
3.5⭐️ rounded up
November 2, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
🏹⚔️🤺🏹⚔️🤺
First off, I want to say that Angie Dickinson definitely has a writing gift! I have never written a book and I can only imagine how difficult it is. Overall, I enjoyed this book! It gave me Princess Academy vibes and also Ella Enchanted vibes (though I have only ever watched the movie 🤫) Also A Little Princess vibes, believe it or not!
I only had a few issues, thus the 3.5 stars.
1. I wish that Cressida and Emric’s relationship had been hinted at and dripped throughout the rest of the book a bit more. It definitely was, but I think I wanted some more scenes of them learning more about each other, which I didn’t get till the latter half of the book.
2. The plot felt a little off to me. I don’t want to critique it a lot because it’s hard for me to put my finger on exactly what I didn’t like. I wish there had been a little more suspicion cast on some of the characters, and I think perhaps, has the book been longer the mystery aspect could have been more intriguing to me. The plot felt a little rushed, especially toward the end and I feel it got a tiny bit repetitive.
With that being said, I definitely don’t want to give people the impression that the writing wasn’t good because it really was! The characters were fun and the whole idea of the story was definitely promising.
I would 100% be interested in Angie Dickinson’s next book! She is for sure a promising author!
I would say if you like royalty and themes of escape and royal history (also fencing and potions 😉) you would enjoy this!
🏹⚔️🤺🏹⚔️🤺
First off, I want to say that Angie Dickinson definitely has a writing gift! I have never written a book and I can only imagine how difficult it is. Overall, I enjoyed this book! It gave me Princess Academy vibes and also Ella Enchanted vibes (though I have only ever watched the movie 🤫) Also A Little Princess vibes, believe it or not!
I only had a few issues, thus the 3.5 stars.
1. I wish that Cressida and Emric’s relationship had been hinted at and dripped throughout the rest of the book a bit more. It definitely was, but I think I wanted some more scenes of them learning more about each other, which I didn’t get till the latter half of the book.
2. The plot felt a little off to me. I don’t want to critique it a lot because it’s hard for me to put my finger on exactly what I didn’t like. I wish there had been a little more suspicion cast on some of the characters, and I think perhaps, has the book been longer the mystery aspect could have been more intriguing to me. The plot felt a little rushed, especially toward the end and I feel it got a tiny bit repetitive.
With that being said, I definitely don’t want to give people the impression that the writing wasn’t good because it really was! The characters were fun and the whole idea of the story was definitely promising.
I would 100% be interested in Angie Dickinson’s next book! She is for sure a promising author!
I would say if you like royalty and themes of escape and royal history (also fencing and potions 😉) you would enjoy this!
December 24, 2025
This is probably my favorite book of 2025. The feels, the suspense, the well-crafted characters and world, the twists! <3 I just love it so much. It reminds me of Ella Enchanted, Princess Academy (Shannon), and Carmen Sandiego (because I don't know much about the Black Widow, haha).
This is one of those books that I just can't describe. I'll need a few rereads before I can tell someone about how great it is. ;) But another reviewer (Amelie) put it all well in her review, even the content warnings. Please do check that out, and then read Truth Cursed! It's an amazing book. :D
This is one of those books that I just can't describe. I'll need a few rereads before I can tell someone about how great it is. ;) But another reviewer (Amelie) put it all well in her review, even the content warnings. Please do check that out, and then read Truth Cursed! It's an amazing book. :D
February 17, 2025
This magical fantasy has Jane Eyre and Three Musketeers vibes!
The setting is reminiscent of a fairy tale with a secluded kingdom, mountains and towns, and of course royalty. Cressida Hoth has been cursed by her aunts after she had to drink a truth powder. Her aunts called it a “gift to the world”, but Cressida has nothing but difficulties because of it. To make matters worse her aunts send her away to a finishing school to become more well bred and out of their hair. Cressida works to become a fine young lady but struggles with being too blunt with her conversational skills. Always having to tell the truth will do that. Then Cressida finds out that she and a few other students are selected to be spies, and suddenly her new subjects like poison-making, lock-picking and fencing become things that she can do well without her curse stopping her. Cressdia and her classmates are assigned a task where they have to get information from the royal court, hopefully without getting caught.
This story has intrigue, action, suspense, and romance. If you like stories that have a fight for truth, discovering a person's worth and purpose, friendship, forgiveness and redemption, this story has it all.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Angie Dickinson and Enclave Publishing. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
The setting is reminiscent of a fairy tale with a secluded kingdom, mountains and towns, and of course royalty. Cressida Hoth has been cursed by her aunts after she had to drink a truth powder. Her aunts called it a “gift to the world”, but Cressida has nothing but difficulties because of it. To make matters worse her aunts send her away to a finishing school to become more well bred and out of their hair. Cressida works to become a fine young lady but struggles with being too blunt with her conversational skills. Always having to tell the truth will do that. Then Cressida finds out that she and a few other students are selected to be spies, and suddenly her new subjects like poison-making, lock-picking and fencing become things that she can do well without her curse stopping her. Cressdia and her classmates are assigned a task where they have to get information from the royal court, hopefully without getting caught.
This story has intrigue, action, suspense, and romance. If you like stories that have a fight for truth, discovering a person's worth and purpose, friendship, forgiveness and redemption, this story has it all.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Angie Dickinson and Enclave Publishing. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
July 7, 2025
I always love a good secret agent story, but with fantasy element? That wasn’t on my bingo card for 2025, but I’m obsessed.
TRUTH CURSED reminded me a lot of Gail Carson Levine (particularly Ella Enchanted and A Tale of Two Castles) and Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. It’s a delightful blend of intrigue with a touch of old-fashioned charm.
With many surprising twists and turns, Truth Cursed is a story that kept me wondering what would happen next to this girl cursed to tell the truth.
TRUTH CURSED reminded me a lot of Gail Carson Levine (particularly Ella Enchanted and A Tale of Two Castles) and Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. It’s a delightful blend of intrigue with a touch of old-fashioned charm.
With many surprising twists and turns, Truth Cursed is a story that kept me wondering what would happen next to this girl cursed to tell the truth.
January 20, 2025
3.5 rounded up to 4.
I wasn't sure how I would like this one, since I'm not big on first person, assassin stories, or Victorian-reminiscent time periods. But Dickinson brings solid characters and character voices to this story, which made reading it much easier.
While I would love to have seen a bit stronger prose in several spots and could have done without the 10 page info-dump at the end, it was overall pretty good, and I'd be interested to see more from the author.
I wasn't sure how I would like this one, since I'm not big on first person, assassin stories, or Victorian-reminiscent time periods. But Dickinson brings solid characters and character voices to this story, which made reading it much easier.
While I would love to have seen a bit stronger prose in several spots and could have done without the 10 page info-dump at the end, it was overall pretty good, and I'd be interested to see more from the author.
August 23, 2025
This book was so cool! I loved the victorian/fantasy aesthetics, Cressida and Emric's relationship, and oh boy and all the twists and turns!!!!
Cws: magical substance abuse
Cws: magical substance abuse
November 13, 2024
In one of its endorsements, Truth Cursed is compared to Ella Enchanted, which really is a fantastic comp title for it.
Dickinson's writing style is different from most YA books nowadays and more classic-feeling, which fits nicely with the plot of the book. I was expecting there to be a little more page time exploring Cressida's time at the school, but the pacing makes sense. There are also plenty of twists along the way to surprise the reader.
Overall, Truth Cursed is a lovely novel perfect for younger YA readers and fans looking for spies and intrigue.
Cautions: one kiss; light romance; brief, non-graphic moderate violence
(I received an eARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)
Dickinson's writing style is different from most YA books nowadays and more classic-feeling, which fits nicely with the plot of the book. I was expecting there to be a little more page time exploring Cressida's time at the school, but the pacing makes sense. There are also plenty of twists along the way to surprise the reader.
Overall, Truth Cursed is a lovely novel perfect for younger YA readers and fans looking for spies and intrigue.
Cautions: one kiss; light romance; brief, non-graphic moderate violence
(I received an eARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)
February 18, 2025
A middle grade - YA crossover or for a younger YA crowd.
A fast pace, low magic, fantasy adventure story in the vein of Ella Enchanted and the Princess Academy series. I felt as though this was a cloak and dagger story with a sisterhood community that would have done Jo March proud.
I loved this story for this age category so so much. I have 13yo and 11yo daughters who have higher reading intelligence but also are fairly innocent. I want to hold onto their innocence at their age and feel like this is a niche age category that is being neglected at this time in publishing due to bookstagram and booktok. I'm so happy that Angie took on the challenge!
Thank you to Angie Dickinson and Enclave Publishing for sending me an early digital copy of this book for review.
A fast pace, low magic, fantasy adventure story in the vein of Ella Enchanted and the Princess Academy series. I felt as though this was a cloak and dagger story with a sisterhood community that would have done Jo March proud.
I loved this story for this age category so so much. I have 13yo and 11yo daughters who have higher reading intelligence but also are fairly innocent. I want to hold onto their innocence at their age and feel like this is a niche age category that is being neglected at this time in publishing due to bookstagram and booktok. I'm so happy that Angie took on the challenge!
Thank you to Angie Dickinson and Enclave Publishing for sending me an early digital copy of this book for review.
March 4, 2025
This book had a very slow start that normally would have made me put it down. However, I'd heard enough good things about it and I was in love with the vibes of it so I decided to keep reading.
The story did pick up and I became more engaged with the characters. By the end it became a solid four stars but I couldn't see myself rereading it.
It was a very interesting story though and a lot of fun! I mean, spies in training being given their first mission to work undercover?? What could be more fun?
Cressida was a very interesting character. I admit, I never related with her very well but she was still a lot of fun. Her courage to give being a spy her best shot despite her curse was very admirable.
Overall, I would recommend this book for lovers of spies, secrets, and curses set amongst castles (with secret passageways) and mountains. Looking for your next fun read? Try this one!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The story did pick up and I became more engaged with the characters. By the end it became a solid four stars but I couldn't see myself rereading it.
It was a very interesting story though and a lot of fun! I mean, spies in training being given their first mission to work undercover?? What could be more fun?
Cressida was a very interesting character. I admit, I never related with her very well but she was still a lot of fun. Her courage to give being a spy her best shot despite her curse was very admirable.
Overall, I would recommend this book for lovers of spies, secrets, and curses set amongst castles (with secret passageways) and mountains. Looking for your next fun read? Try this one!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 30, 2025
I made it to page 188 then DNFed it.
It's been a good month or so since I began reading this book and it's never caught my interest fully when I pick it up...
The premise is very interesting! But none of the characters were very interesting, and the plot was so-so...
I own this one so maybe I'll finish it some day, but for now I'm calling it quits.
It's been a good month or so since I began reading this book and it's never caught my interest fully when I pick it up...
The premise is very interesting! But none of the characters were very interesting, and the plot was so-so...
I own this one so maybe I'll finish it some day, but for now I'm calling it quits.
November 17, 2024
FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.
Jane Eyre meets Black Widow in this original fantasy story, filled with intrigue and plot twists and a dash of sweet romance. I haven't read anything quite like this before, and I loved every minute of it!
Characters: I quite enjoyed the characters. I felt so sorry for Cressida, though by the end she more than proved that she can take care of herself, so perhaps my sympathy isn't required? Emric was pretty cool, too (although I don't like his name... sad face).
Content: This one's quite clean. Two characters are obviously attracted to one another, and there are a couple of undetailed kisses. There are some violent sequences, including a somewhat graphic death. A character is attacked. A character was emotionally abused as a child.
Writing: The plot is engaging throughout, but the ending did feel a little too... neat, if that's the right word. Everything resolved itself quite quickly, and I kept waiting for one final plot twist. That didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book, though!
Summary: This is a unique story, with the fascinating concept of telling the truth being a consequence of a curse. It raised a lot of fun thematic questions, making for an unforgettable theme about what truth really is. I highly recommend it for readers aged 14+!
Jane Eyre meets Black Widow in this original fantasy story, filled with intrigue and plot twists and a dash of sweet romance. I haven't read anything quite like this before, and I loved every minute of it!
Characters: I quite enjoyed the characters. I felt so sorry for Cressida, though by the end she more than proved that she can take care of herself, so perhaps my sympathy isn't required? Emric was pretty cool, too (although I don't like his name... sad face).
Content: This one's quite clean. Two characters are obviously attracted to one another, and there are a couple of undetailed kisses. There are some violent sequences, including a somewhat graphic death. A character is attacked. A character was emotionally abused as a child.
Writing: The plot is engaging throughout, but the ending did feel a little too... neat, if that's the right word. Everything resolved itself quite quickly, and I kept waiting for one final plot twist. That didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book, though!
Summary: This is a unique story, with the fascinating concept of telling the truth being a consequence of a curse. It raised a lot of fun thematic questions, making for an unforgettable theme about what truth really is. I highly recommend it for readers aged 14+!
December 26, 2025
This was a stunning read! I loved how the main character was cursed to only tell the truth and yet she manages to work it so people don’t find out. I could read an entire series based in this world. The ending left me wanting more and interested in further pursuing justice.
March 26, 2025
If Ella Enchanted and Princess Academy Palace of Stone were combined and rewritten for the teen audience, this would be the result.
November 16, 2024
What a fun read! Cressida is such a likable character who you can’t help but root for. I enjoyed the suspense and tension in the action scenes. I also loved that her skills with sword were believable. Everything she learned at the finishing school was so cool—I’d definitely want to be in her classes.
I’m a romantic, so every page featuring Emric was a delight. Their budding relationship was so sweet.
I think this is a wonderful book that teenage girls (and adults like me) would love! I definitely recommend adding it to your TBR.
I’m a romantic, so every page featuring Emric was a delight. Their budding relationship was so sweet.
I think this is a wonderful book that teenage girls (and adults like me) would love! I definitely recommend adding it to your TBR.
August 25, 2025
Good, sadly I didn’t really connect with any of the characters and the story didn’t go the way I expected. I liked the concept of not being able to lie but it could have been done better as in explored more. I liked the guy character the most out of everyone. It can get a bit dark at times, death, murder is a big deal in this, evil people. But other than that it was good.
July 12, 2025
This novel is full of adventure and mixes boarding schools and castles together into one plot, making for an unusual and intriguing story and setting. Perfect for younger YA readers or anyone wanting a quieter fantasy novel!
March 6, 2025
I don’t read much fantasy, but the description of Truth Cursed by Angie Dickinson sounded right up my alley! A finishing school that’s really a front for training specific young women to become spies with the goal of infiltrating the royal court? And its star pupil is secretly under a curse that makes it impossible for her to lie? Yes please! Color me super intrigued. And it turns out that the fantasy elements are light enough to make a perfect read for people like me who aren’t big fantasy fans. It’s just enough to give the story a magical, fairy tale feel and immerse us in the adventure.
I loved Cressida, our main protagonist, right away, thanks in large part to being able to get in her head through the first person narration. Her dry wit and blunt speech (thanks to the truth curse) are a delightful combination, and I really enjoyed all the complex layers involved with her backstory and her present situation. Specifically, an orphan… at a boarding school… that’s really a training school for spies… and then becoming a spy… who is under a curse to always tell the truth. The underlying reason that they even need to spy on the royal family intrigued me and knowing that Cressida’s inability to lie could sabotage the whole mission at any moment kept me invested in the story. As did a dash of romance (which y’all know I’m always here for) and the dashing Emric, whom I also loved but wasn’t sure we could trust. And honestly that’s a theme that’s cleverly woven into the fabric of this story, making the title more nuanced the longer you read.
Bottom Line: If you love reading about adventure, espionage, castles, friendships, daring escapes, and even a little poison… if you’re a lifelong fan of fairy tales… if you think the best sort of clothing comes with secret pockets for your daggers… if you enjoy immersing yourself in settings that blend together the moods of several different time periods… and if you find it interesting that a young woman who can’t lie becomes a spy, then you definitely need to read Truth Cursed by Angie Dickinson. I really enjoyed the author’s writing voice, her layered characters, and her creative worldbuilding, and while this debut novel appears to be a standalone I can definitely see it becoming a series and would love to hear that it has. It’s ‘all my fave fairy tales’ meets ‘Jane Austen’ meets ‘Jane Eyre’ meets ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’ and I’m here for it! Perfect for fans of Jessica Day George, Gail Carson Levine, Melanie Dickerson, and Sara Ella!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
I loved Cressida, our main protagonist, right away, thanks in large part to being able to get in her head through the first person narration. Her dry wit and blunt speech (thanks to the truth curse) are a delightful combination, and I really enjoyed all the complex layers involved with her backstory and her present situation. Specifically, an orphan… at a boarding school… that’s really a training school for spies… and then becoming a spy… who is under a curse to always tell the truth. The underlying reason that they even need to spy on the royal family intrigued me and knowing that Cressida’s inability to lie could sabotage the whole mission at any moment kept me invested in the story. As did a dash of romance (which y’all know I’m always here for) and the dashing Emric, whom I also loved but wasn’t sure we could trust. And honestly that’s a theme that’s cleverly woven into the fabric of this story, making the title more nuanced the longer you read.
Bottom Line: If you love reading about adventure, espionage, castles, friendships, daring escapes, and even a little poison… if you’re a lifelong fan of fairy tales… if you think the best sort of clothing comes with secret pockets for your daggers… if you enjoy immersing yourself in settings that blend together the moods of several different time periods… and if you find it interesting that a young woman who can’t lie becomes a spy, then you definitely need to read Truth Cursed by Angie Dickinson. I really enjoyed the author’s writing voice, her layered characters, and her creative worldbuilding, and while this debut novel appears to be a standalone I can definitely see it becoming a series and would love to hear that it has. It’s ‘all my fave fairy tales’ meets ‘Jane Austen’ meets ‘Jane Eyre’ meets ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’ and I’m here for it! Perfect for fans of Jessica Day George, Gail Carson Levine, Melanie Dickerson, and Sara Ella!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
February 21, 2025
4.5 stars rounding up
"Your worth isn't determined by your usefulness to anyone. Your not disposable based on how much of a liability you are, or think you are. You are a created soul who is as worthy of forgiveness and protection as Rosalee or Rubia or the prince. And whether you feel it or not, you are not alone."
Truth Cursed is a story of Cressida, who is cursed to always tell the truth, no matter what. She feels physically sick when she fights it.
When she is sent by her aunts who she lives with to a school, she learns there the art of espionage, fencing, and other skills. She is then sent by her school with a few other classmates to woo the prince and to uncover some secrets.
Secrets, Political intrigue, mystery, powerful substances, and even deeper secrets Truth Cursed is a fast-paced, intriguing story. I went in completely blind, which made it a bit difficult to get my bearings and figure out what was going on. But toward the end I was hooked and enjoyed it a lot. The mystery of the powerful substances and what was going with all the characters kept me hooked.
The narrator, Rachanee Lumayo, did a fantastic job.
My only qualm was I wish there was more chemistry between the two love interests and a bit more romance there.
So if you are looking for a great fantasy that is appropriate for teens with just the tiniest bit of romance, this book is definitely for you.
Book Info:
Series: standalone
Genre: YA/Teen Fantasy with some romance
Romance Level: Brief Kisses only
Release Date: February 18, 2025
Publisher: Enclave
Narrator: Rachanee Lumayo
POV: single
Debut
Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: brief kisses only, some feelings of attraction
Violence/gore: Mild-killing, some blood, mild peril
Substance Use: fictional drugs (substances) used throughout
Prejudices: none
Religious Content: none
Other: death (past and present), grief (present), emotional and physical abuse (not graphic, hard to explain without giving spoilers because this physical abuse is not the typical physical abuse-it relates to the substance)
"Your worth isn't determined by your usefulness to anyone. Your not disposable based on how much of a liability you are, or think you are. You are a created soul who is as worthy of forgiveness and protection as Rosalee or Rubia or the prince. And whether you feel it or not, you are not alone."
Truth Cursed is a story of Cressida, who is cursed to always tell the truth, no matter what. She feels physically sick when she fights it.
When she is sent by her aunts who she lives with to a school, she learns there the art of espionage, fencing, and other skills. She is then sent by her school with a few other classmates to woo the prince and to uncover some secrets.
Secrets, Political intrigue, mystery, powerful substances, and even deeper secrets Truth Cursed is a fast-paced, intriguing story. I went in completely blind, which made it a bit difficult to get my bearings and figure out what was going on. But toward the end I was hooked and enjoyed it a lot. The mystery of the powerful substances and what was going with all the characters kept me hooked.
The narrator, Rachanee Lumayo, did a fantastic job.
My only qualm was I wish there was more chemistry between the two love interests and a bit more romance there.
So if you are looking for a great fantasy that is appropriate for teens with just the tiniest bit of romance, this book is definitely for you.
Book Info:
Series: standalone
Genre: YA/Teen Fantasy with some romance
Romance Level: Brief Kisses only
Release Date: February 18, 2025
Publisher: Enclave
Narrator: Rachanee Lumayo
POV: single
Debut
Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: brief kisses only, some feelings of attraction
Violence/gore: Mild-killing, some blood, mild peril
Substance Use: fictional drugs (substances) used throughout
Prejudices: none
Religious Content: none
Other: death (past and present), grief (present), emotional and physical abuse (not graphic, hard to explain without giving spoilers because this physical abuse is not the typical physical abuse-it relates to the substance)
September 26, 2025
✨ What if you could only ever tell the truth? ✨
That’s the question at the heart of Truth Cursed, and wow—what an adventurous ride this book took me on! 🗡📚 Cressida quickly stole my heart (she reminded me so much of Anne Shirley!) with her wit, honesty, and charm. Between the mystery, the humor, a dash of romance 💕, and even my first audiobook read-along (such a fun immersive experience!), this story had me hooked from the very first chapter.
⸻
✨ My Review:
What a fun and adventurous read! My September books have taken me on some incredible journeys, and this one was just as exciting as the rest.
Cressida is such a lovable heroine, instantly reminding me of Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables with her candid honesty and witty charm. The supporting cast was also wonderfully written, each character playing their role in the story with purpose and grace.
I loved the idea of a heroine who can only speak the truth, which led to so many laugh-out-loud moments while still weaving a deeper mystery throughout the book. The balance of humor, intrigue, and heart made this story a joy to read—and the sweet romance sprinkled in added just the right touch of warmth.
Doing the audiobook read-along made it even more enjoyable for me; it brought the story to life in such a unique and immersive way, and I’ll definitely be trying more in the future! 🎧✨
If you’re looking for an adventurous, witty, and heart-filled fantasy read, I definitely recommend picking this one up!
⸻
👉 Have you read any books lately with a unique heroine or magical twist? I’d love to hear your recs!
That’s the question at the heart of Truth Cursed, and wow—what an adventurous ride this book took me on! 🗡📚 Cressida quickly stole my heart (she reminded me so much of Anne Shirley!) with her wit, honesty, and charm. Between the mystery, the humor, a dash of romance 💕, and even my first audiobook read-along (such a fun immersive experience!), this story had me hooked from the very first chapter.
⸻
✨ My Review:
What a fun and adventurous read! My September books have taken me on some incredible journeys, and this one was just as exciting as the rest.
Cressida is such a lovable heroine, instantly reminding me of Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables with her candid honesty and witty charm. The supporting cast was also wonderfully written, each character playing their role in the story with purpose and grace.
I loved the idea of a heroine who can only speak the truth, which led to so many laugh-out-loud moments while still weaving a deeper mystery throughout the book. The balance of humor, intrigue, and heart made this story a joy to read—and the sweet romance sprinkled in added just the right touch of warmth.
Doing the audiobook read-along made it even more enjoyable for me; it brought the story to life in such a unique and immersive way, and I’ll definitely be trying more in the future! 🎧✨
If you’re looking for an adventurous, witty, and heart-filled fantasy read, I definitely recommend picking this one up!
⸻
👉 Have you read any books lately with a unique heroine or magical twist? I’d love to hear your recs!
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