Liées par un sortilège: La malédiction de Célia 1

Weird Girls #1

by Cecy Robson

En apparence, Celia Wird et ses trois sœurs ressemblent à n'importe quelles autres femmes de la vingtaine, à un détail près : elles sont le fruit d'un sortilège qui a mal tourné et qui les a dotées de pouvoirs uniques qui les rendent... comment dire ? Un peu étranges.

Les sœurs Wird se portent très bien sans croiser la route des créatures du coin : vampires, loups-garous, sorcières de la région du lac Tahoe... jusqu'à ce que l'une d'entre elles fasse exploser un vampire, pour se defendre. Tout le monde sait que les vampires ne représentent pas une menace, et qu'en tuer un est passible de la peine de mort. Mais bientôt, il y a de nouvelles attaques de vampires, liées à la soif du sang, et la population commence à se demander si une épidémie ne serait pas en train de décimer les vampires de Tahoe. Celia accepte à contrecœur d'aider Misha, le séduisant chef d'une famille de vampires contaminée. Mais Aric, à la tête d'une meute de loups-garous déterminée à anéantir la famille de Misha pour protéger les environs, conseille à Celia de ne pas prendre part au combat.

Tiraillée entre deux alpha sexy, Celia doit trouver un moyen de satisfaire tout le monde et – ah oui ! – de ne pas offrir son cœur à la mauvaise personne ni succomber à une mort atroce. Car à présent que la créature maléfique à l'origine de l'épidémie connaît l'existence de Celia, il est sur sa trace, ainsi que sur celle de ses sœurs. Les choses n'ont jamais été aussi compliquées pour Celia Wird.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Vampires, Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Magic

Audible Audio

First published December 31, 2012

About the author

Cecy Robson is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author.

As an immigrant of El Salvador with proud Nahua Pipil indigenous heritage, Cecy worked as a registered nurse for twenty-three years and is honored to have received multiple accolades for her writing. In her free time, Cecy creates magical worlds, heart-stopping romance, and young adult adventure.

You can find Cecy laughing, crying, and cheering on her characters as she pens her next story.

Connect with Cecy online at www.cecyrobson.com

Reviews

[Cece ❀Rants, Raves &Reviews❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sass, excellent. The plot, fast pace. the chemistry, sexy. But the character development? Motherfucking JACKPOT !!



Meet the whole bookish gang: the Weird sisters, the asshole vampire, the mischievous werewolf BFF, the nerdy magic scientist and the pantiedropping werealpha

I mean go back and reread our misfit heroes and just be in AWE with me that these author developed EACH of them to be full characters to rival the main character. Now lets break them down a little bit...

Here I thought I’d read the sassiest heroines in the genre… I WAS WRONG. Enter the Weird sisters, each born with unique *curses* I mean gifts, they each badasses in their own rights but with TOTALLY dif personalities

Cecilia is the shapeshifter .. not a werewolf.. yes there’s a goddamn difference. Her POV was all about protecting her family which means she a little rough around the edges …

“I really like it, " he murmured once more.
Say something. Anything. Tell him you love him and want to have his puppies.
"Haven't you ever had tea before?”

Tis rare when an Urban Fantasy book can grab me from the first chapters !! Cuz most drrrraaaaggggg out all the world and character building and you just want some goddamn plot!! But this book, oh LORDDYYY this one definitely got me hooked after the first few pages with our Sisters being forced into the paranormal world after a nasty encounter with vampires. The action, humor, danger, sisterly bonding, and witty one liners brought a fresh new take on a cliche paranormal world

“Taran, if you’re going to lead, try being a little quieter.”
Taran huffed. “Who gives a shit, Celia? After all the gunfire and screaming, these bastards know we’re here.”

I was cackling while reading the sisters teasing each other. It honestly surprised me how much I just adored the sisters badass dynamic that they all used their powers and worked together to survive the paranormal realm. It was just a great break from the usual **IMMA LONER vibes ** that most heroines give off

“You’re so screwed,” Taran declared. “My sister is going to kick your asses!” ….
The wolves’ hackles collectively rose as they set their diabolic sights on me. They moved as a single unit away from Taran and toward their newest prey. Me. Thanks Taran.”

Taran is the gorgeous model sister who will fuck you then fuck you up *flips hair*

“Do you think it’s all the swearing? Son of a bitch, is that it? I swear too goddamn much?”

Shayna is the bubbly surfer chick that can control and sharpen anything yalllll

“The guards eyed Shayna, dumbfounded. One guy wiped his eyes. “The fuck?”
Hank looked incredulous. “Why the hell is she skipping?”
“It is a tactic to distract the guards,” Misha whispered. “I am sure of it.”
Taran huffed. “Actually, the little goof always skips when she’s excited.”

Then there’s sweet innocent Emme the healer telekinetic (eh)

The plot revolved on how each of these characters played a key role where the sisters learning more about supernatural world, murderrrr, vampire courts, and typical supernatural shenanigans!

“Son of a bitch, you couldn’t have waited fifteen freaking minutes for me to get there?”
“We’re off Highway Eighty-nine in South Tahoe. Take a right at the white fir sapling”
“Take a right at the white fir sapling!? Are you crazy? There’s a million fu—”
Emme disconnected her call. “Bren says he’s disappointed we didn’t call him sooner. He’ll try to track us now and will hopefully join us momentarily.”

Funny and light-hearted, yet still has that great gruesome urban fantasy action

As the first book in series, it really set up the world with *average plot* but AMAZING characters that I just can’t wait to see what mischief they get into next. It was great that the author chose four misfits as her heroines, and each of them with own exclusive skill set and strong personality... like it doesn't even feel right to call them secondary characters.

Filled with mystery, action, a little bit of romance, creepy villains and plenty of heart, Sealed with a Curse is the beginning of a gloriousssss series and I’m excited as fuuuck

[Alexandria · Rating 5 out of 5]

SKEPTICAL . It is how I feel with any author of an Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance of whom I haven't read before. And it is exactly how I approached reading this novel. I immediately went in search of anything and everything that I might find disapproving about this book, and came up with......nothing. Yes, nothing.

Instead, I fell headfirst, flat on my face, in love with the story, characters, and writing. At this point I commenced drooling on myself over Misha and Aric, and all the other hot man candy in this book. *fans self dramatically*


Also laughing my ass off at Taran and her crazy antics, and then feeling ready to kick major ass right along with Celia.(who is a fucking bad ass by the way)


When you read a novel as amazing as this one, all you can do is a) force other people to read it too so you can spread the love and talk about how awesome it is, or b) beg and plead with the author to haul ass and release the next novel before you go into withdrawal. I, at the moment, am doing a little bit of both.

I don't want to jump the gun and say that Cecy Robson is an amazing author, time and more books by her will tell,but I am going to say I freaking love this book and I adore her for writing it. And if the next installment of this series is anywhere near amazing as this one was, then the world of PNR and UF better watch out for this bad ass bitch. Oh my goodness, my first five star rating of 2013! Woot Woot!!!

[Maja (The Nocturnal Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You should have seen the look on my face when I finished the last chapter of Sealed with a Curse. It was downright comical! I always get excited when I discover a new series I like, but when it’s Urban Fantasy, I get virtually ecstatic. And lo and behold, Cecy Robson wrote a very promising first installment.

Celia Wird and her three sisters have supernatural powers as a result of a backfired curse. Emme is telekinetic and has the ability to heal people, Taran is a magic worker, Shayna can turn just about anything pointy into an arrow or a sword and Celia is a shifter with a powerful tigress living inside her. The sisters are nothing alike, and yet they are extremely close. Their parents died when they were very young and after a few foster homes, some of them terrible, Celia took over and gained custody of her younger sisters. As the oldest, she is used to being responsible for the others, and as the strongest, she is used to protecting them.

The girls aren’t exactly human, but they aren’t exactly part of the paranormal community either. They are stuck between two worlds, and their biggest desire is to be left alone. But powers like theirs can hardly go unnoticed and before they know it, they’re fighting paranormal battles all over the city.

Based on what I wrote so far, I think you can easily conclude what type of character Celia is. She is responsible, strong, determined and caring, and she always puts her sisters first. Buried under so many responsibilities, Celia has trouble relaxing and her loneliness is almost tangible – as a rule, men sense the predator within her and tend to run the other way. There’s a barrier between her and her sisters as well. She might be a Wird sister, but her role is essentially parental and that makes it difficult for her to be their friend.

But fear not, romance lovers! There is a man strong enough for Celia, one that will brush off all her weirdness and accept her for what she is. He is… (mine!)… Aric, a pureblood werewolf and a guy with huge responsibilities on his shoulders, but he handles them well. He takes nothing lightly, which makes him perfect for our girl. These two will make you swoon, my friends!

While I liked Celia, Emme and Shayna, I didn’t feel the same about Taran. She is the loud one, the one who always swears and complains and says inappropriate things at most unfortunate moments. It took me a while to warm up to her, but eventually I did, and that’s all that counts. The sisters were all interesting individually, but I really enjoyed their group dynamics and the little things between them, but most of all, how well they knew each other. It helped that I have a sister who’d do anything for me (and vice versa, of course) so it was very easy for me to relate.

The fight scenes, especially the huge one around the middle, tended to get a bit confusing. I had to go back a page or two a few times because they weren’t descriptive enough and I couldn’t connect it all in my head. But all things considered, that one can easily be overlooked, and I’m sure these big, ambitious scenes will get better in time.

The second book, A Cursed Embrace, should be out in July, but I’m ready to bribe, beg and offer eternal servitude to Cecy Robson or Penguin for an early copy. True, I have no pride, but who needs pride when I can have Aric?

[Carmel (Rabid Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads.

One of my goals in life is to devour every installment in every Urban Fantasy series the moment they release, but regrettably I’m stuck “adulting” more often than I’d like which forces me to pick and choose, and that’s why Cecy Robson’s WEIRD GIRLS were left on my shelf until 2016. There is a silver lining though; I can now bask in six full length and several short stories worth of awesomeness in one great big listening spree!

I liked that the author chose four misfits as her heroines, and that each of them came with an exclusive skill set and personality. It really helped set them apart from the typical vampires/werewolves staples, and gave Robson a lot of wiggle room when it came to establishing her baseline. The oldest sibling, Celia Wird, was the MC, and I’m glad that she went with that format albeit; we still got lots of the other sisters as well.

The quick fire pacing, and spectacular fight scenes definitely appeased my need for violence, and the humorous dialogue was further boosted by Renée Chambliss’ sharp performance, but I’ll get to that in a minute. The plot was this novel’s only weak spot; I found it to be rather commonplace, and although I do enjoy a healthy helping of beefcake with my fiction, the potential for an Aric / Misha love triangle is high.

Chambliss’ narration was right on point with Robson’s writing. I think that I would have had no problems differentiating the characters on page because of their unique speech patterns, but the noticeable voice nuances made the experience bullet proof. The reader also doubtlessly contributed to making the punch lines funnier, and cranked up Shayna’s “dudes” and Taran’s potty mouth. Emme’s sweetness was likewise apparent.

SEALED WITH A CURSE had a nice ending to it; however it left me hungry for more too!

[Iris Hunter (InstagramREADS) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowsa! I liked this book so much we have picked Sealed with a Curse by Cecy Robson MUST READ of this winter! Four times a year we nominate a book from the paranormal genre that we think you Must Read. Not think about it…. We just know you going to love these! We had not so many this year as we would have liked… But boy do I have one for you now!! *grins*

MY THOUGHTS
“Wow … Speaking of force of Nature!
The beginning of a new series that keeps you hooked till the last page!”


Sealed With a Curse is the first installment of the The Weird Girls Series by Cecy Robson what promises to be an exciting addition to the PPRW ” (Paranormal Romance Readers World), Cecy Robson has written about an unique world full over werewolves, wereracoons, werebobcat, vampires and of course the 4 kick-ass sisters that you will love as your own family!

Sealed With a Curse got me hooked from the first page and left me feeling like I just said good bye to a good old friend, what a terrible feeling to leave this loving story that had me sucked in all the way! (This is positive . This story has everything an Paranormal romance book should have; lots of action, the sisters, love, flirts, smoking hot men and your favorite paranormal beings but most important a lot of fun! This series has all the potential to grow in to a fantastic series.

I think Cecy will be telling a story about an other sister with each book and in Sealed With a Curse its all about Celia. Like one of the book characters discibed; knife-trower, fire-breather, gypsy a tigress (were-cat). Celia is the were, but I have to say that besides the maincharacters, the Sister Taran has become one of my favorites and love to read more about her in the future. Cecy has done a terrific job with the sisters and it really surprised me that she was able to write about each sister so in her own way that it was easy to follow each sister. Cecy did this so good, that if she would have removed the naming you still would have understand which sister would have said what!

“She slumped a little when she saw me and shot the wolves a siren grin. “You’re so screwed,” she declared. “My sister is going to kick your asses!” ….
The wolves’hackles collectively rose as they set their diabolic sights on me. They moved as a single unit away from Taran and toward their newest prey. Thanks Taran.

To bad this book doesn’t containes any pictures because Celia meets some eye-candy in this book a Head- Vamp Misha and her love, a hunk of a were Aric. I only wished there was a little bit more romance between the main characters. A kiss and love eyed scenes was just not enough for me! I hope this can be upped a little notch in the next installment of The Weird Girls Series.


Misha didn’t appear taken by her charm. He eyed her as if she’s asked him to make her a garlic pizza in the shape of a cross. I laughed: I couldn’t help it. Leave it to Shayna to try to befriend the guy who’ll probably suck us dry by sundown.

I can’t wait! I am so excited… I am curious to what book 2 will bring me
.
Maybe more different kind of shifters? At least more about the sisters and that is enough for me!

Cover: As a designer I always force myself not to say anything about the covers…because every designer thinks she better But is this case I can’t!. Sorry … But I love it! Great Detail, font and don’t forget the hands of Celia! Chapeau!

Read more of my reviews at Paranormal Cravings - Book Reviews. Subscribe by e-mail and you will be notified of Giveaways, Events, News, Peek Preview Excerpts!

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap! I think I found a new fav!
Full review to come soon!

edit for Full Review:

It is rare that an Urban Fantasy book can grab me from the first few pages. Maybe because usually there is a lot of world and character building going on and sometimes that can make the story drag a little, even if the book is fabulous by the end.

But this book, this one definitely got me hooked after the first few pages. Their was action, humor, danger, sisterly bonding, witty one liners, something fun and completely unique and a whole new world just waiting to be discovered and I knew I wanted to discover it.

I immediately liked the Wird sisters and I knew this was going to be one heck of an adventure filled with lots of the sarcastic humor that I adore along with some kick butt women that wouldn't let me down.

I really didn't mean to start this one when I did. I downloaded it while waiting for one of my daughter's to be out of school thinking I would just read for a few minutes to get a feel for the story and before I knew it I was completely engrossed in the story and I didn't want to put it down. I love it when an author can capture my attention like that.

And even though I had another book I was really suppose to be reading, I had to read this. I just had to, the story and characters demanded it and who am I to argue? Besides, I hate confrontation and no way was I going to tick off the tiger...

I will admit that as much as I didn't want to put this one down I did when I found out there was a prequel called The Weird Girls. I am so glad I did too because the novella gave a lot of background on the Wird Sisters that I was missing with Sealed With a Curse. Their past and the whole thing with the witch coven confrontation when they first moved into town, what happened to their parents. Also more about their powers and how they came to get them. Really this is a must read before you even start this one. So much is told and explained.

I absolutely love Celia. She is fierce and protective and just plain kick butt. She is everything I love in a strong female heroine. Well really all the sisters are. Taran is hilarious with her sailor mouth, Emme with her sweetness and Shayna with her “dudes” , I loved them all.

And can we talk about the men? Yum! There is definitely some eye candy in this one and I really hope we get more background info on some of them because I would love to learn more about them as the series progresses and I have a feeling, Gem, Koda, Aric, Misha and Liam will play a very big part in the next books, at least I really hope so!

Robson has outdone herself. It is hard finding something really great in the adult genre to read that is different and really can capture my attention (other than series I already read) and this one definitely has all of that. I will be pre-ordering the next book in the series for sure and not only will I be ordering it, but I will be anxiously awaiting it.

[Angela Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a way to end my year!!!

Review will be posted at Under The Covers Book Blog
Cecy Robson is a rising star...Sealed With a Curse is even better, funnier, more suspenseful, and more kick ass than its prequel ~Under The Covers

Cecy Robson is a rising star and I'm glad to be a part of her beginning. Like I said on my review for The Weird Girls, she will make her mark with this series and this novel supports my prediction even more. Sealed With a Curse is even better, funnier, more suspenseful, and more kick ass than its prequel.

Though they were outcasts growing up, they are definitely making their place in the preternatural world. For the Wird Sisters, saving the world definitely “sucks donkey balls” but they know it must be done. They battle rogue vampires that are sweeping through Lake Tahoe. Infected Vamps be damned, they will protect each other, their new home, their new friends and do it “rambo-meets-Bridget Jones Style”. These girls can kick ass like there’s no tomorrow.

Ms. Robson brought four powerful preternatural sisters, master vamp that is a “perfect replica of man and Greek God combined” and pure blooded royalty wolf that can cause “nipplus erectus”. With that, she added “supernatural smack downs”, secondary characters that are frequently naked with “but t cheeks tight enough to crush wood”. What more can I ask for?

I love every bit of this book. The world building is amazing, well developed characters, funny banters, and action scenes page after page. Celia, Taran, Shayna and Emme had me laugh out loud, awed by their sisterhood and cheer for their triumphs. These girls including their creator are ones to watch out for, indeed.

*ARC provided by publisher

[Lady Gabriella of Awesomeness (SLOW) · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 Star This read felt very Young-Adult to me,which is not really my cuppa.So you should probably take my rating,with a grain of salt.Just sayin.



It was a challenge not to DNF this read and somehow I successed pulling through this one.

My BIGGEST problem with this book,was how difficult it was for me to connect to main lead,Celia.She was just going on and on about her life so much..it just came to a point where I couldn't care less about what was happening to her or her sisters,even if I tried.



The secondary characters were diverse yes,but Also very superficial,lacking any depth or traits that made them memorable or lovable enough to want to know their story.

The plot had a bit too much going on every few pages,killing it's chance at building a solid read with intense senses because it kept distracting the readers with random mundane things.

Overall,Wouldn't really recommend.And no,not really planning on reading the sequel either. :/

[Melliane · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

Mon avis en Français

My English review

After the novella that precedes this book, I was curious to discover an entire story featuring our four sisters. I must say it is quite rare to have so many main characters in the same novel, and as I said for the novella, I think it is a big work to make them all interesting, as well as the secondary characters. But Cecy Robson has completely succeeded in this challenge, and it was very interesting to learn more about all our protagonists. However, I hope that we can find more about each personality.

We directly fall in the middle of the story from the beginning of the novel. Indeed, the four sisters are part of a trial after they killed a vampire and they’ll choose now their fate. But realizing that the vampire had become rogue, the charges are quickly dropped and life returns to normal. Did I say normal? Oups, it’s a mistake, this event is only the beginning of many other problems. Between the vampires who become more and more bloodthirsty and the werewolves who try to face them, the four sisters won’t be bored.

As for the short story, we follow in this novel the point of view of Celia, a character who is very complex. For her, her sisters are the most important persons in the world, and she would be capable of anything to protect them. The beast that she has in her, keeps her away from the others ... but it's not necessarily by choice, every persons crossing her eyes are scared by her, something that greatly complicates things. She will evolve throughout the novel, allowing us to discover her determination but also her fragility. And when two men are suddenly interested in her, her life gets more complicated and she does not really know how to handle all these upheavals. But well, we can understand her! Aric and Misha are both fascinating and I confess that I have immediately appreciated both of them. It is true that if I had to choose between the two of them, I would probably choose Aric, but Misha is an extraordinary character and I look forward to know a little more.

The plot is also very good and although I thought I knew several times the answers, the author perfectly manage to lost us and mislead us throughout the story to finally give us the truth about everything. We still have many things to discover whether about the characters or the culture of each species and I am eager to know more. I enjoyed the novel and I was completely carried away by this first book. It’s a new great series.

[Lori {Romancing the Dark Side} · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romancing the Dark Side Review:

A breakthrough series in the urban fantasy genre!

The Wird Sisters are back with even more butt-kicking action, suspense and sarcasm than before! There's never a dull moment for these four sisters who try their best to stay under the radar of the supernatural world only to have it show up on their door step. When Celia's sister Taran has an encounter with a vampire who ends up dead, the Wird sisters are brought forth to the vampire council for judgement, and in turn asked to help identify a plague infecting the vampires of the region by none other than the man who almost had them executed, the charming Master vampire Misha. Just when things aren't interesting enough, the Wird Sisters meet a pack of sexy werewolves and Celia think she's met her match in Aric, the pack Alpha. Together the sisters will try to solve the mystery of the vampire infection while taking a chance on a pack of werewolves in the hopes of finding happiness.

Sealed with a Curse delves deeper in the paranormal world of the Lake Tahoe region and introduces us to more than just witches. Celia is still the protective sister and matriarch of the family who will stop at nothing to ensure the safety of her siblings. I find her to be the most multi-faceted and complex of the sisters and I love how she's the oldest and strongest fighter of the group, yet totally clueless when it comes to matters of the heart, it shows the real devotion she has to her sisters. Celia's lack of experience with men makes the semi-love-triangle with her, Aric and Misha all the more interesting. While most women would love nothing more than to have these two very different Alpha males vie for her attention, Celia is usually embarrassed and confused by it all.

The men in Sealed with a Curse are the sexy heroes I love in my literary world and each has his own charm and distinct personality. There are a few sexy men in this book but I'll focus on the two main ones. Aric, the werewolf, is a great combination of Alpha male and sweetheart. I like that he takes his time courting Celia. Misha on the other hand is far from the brooding vampire, he's flirty and regal and wastes no opportunity to woo Celia. While we clearly learn where Celia's heart lies by the book's end, it's fun to watch these two yummy men compete for her affection. I really enjoy that unlike the other romances in the story, Aric and Celia's relationship isn't instant and is slowly blossoming.

My favorite element of this series is the connection and interaction between the sisters. The author has fully developed each personality and given each sister a voice, along with her own paranormal ability. The Wird sisters have great chemistry and their bond is worthy of envy. I connected with them instantly and commend Ms. Robson for introducing us to some strong heroines with Latina roots instead of the usual cookie-cutter leading ladies we often see in the genre.

Filled with mystery, action, a little bit of romance, creepy villains and plenty of heart, Sealed with a Curse undoubtedly supersedes its prequel, The Weird Girls. Cecy Robson's writing style is fluid and stellar in my opinion, there's just enough detail without taking away from the engaging plot. The Wird sisters will charm their way into your heart and wishing you were part of the family! I'll anxiously await their next thrilling adventure.

{ebook courtesy of NetGalley for review.}

[Monty Cupcake ☠ Queen of Bloodshed ☠ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good start to a series. It definitely seems like the beginning to series as a lot of things are left in transit.

The story is about Celia and her 3 sisters. She's the eldest and basically the one in charge. She is the most mature, where two of her sisters are loud and brash with the youngest being shy and delicate. The sisters all have unique paranormal powers because they received them via a curse, so they're still human but with added talents. After they kill a bad vampire they come to the attention of the supernatural community and a master vampire's attention. Misha, the master vamp, wants their help killing off infected vampires and into Celia's pants.

At the same time, Celia is crushing hard on the local alpha werewolf, Aric, but she's shy, so it stays PG. She ends up hanging out with Aric and his best guy friends due to the issue with the vamps and her sisters all being interested in the werewolves. Btw, there are zero steamy scenes in this book beyond some slight kissing. I liked Aric, he was normal and didn't do anything weird you had to blame on him being a werewolf. He was protective and helpful. I also liked Celia even if she oft ran into danger, she didn't do it in a TSTL way, she did it in a yeah, I may be injured, but I have to help because it's right and innocent people are suffering. I'm hoping the next book kicks it all up a notch.

[Jessie Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

What it's about: This is book one of the Weird Girls series and involves four sisters, who each has powers that are … well, weird … and the cause of a backfired curse. When one of the sisters accidentally blows up a vampire (vampires aren't aggressive in this series), they're going to have to figure out what's going on before things get crazier.

Why you should read it: This is a funny book. Seriously, I was laughing and enjoyed reading every page. Celia is complicated and caught between two dominant men, both on opposing sides of the war/issue/complication. The best part, though, to me was the interaction between the sisters. Each has her own personality and story, which makes the sisters witty and amazing individually and together. I'm looking forward to reading more of the Weird Girls and have put the series on my auto-buy list. If you're looking for fun, adventure, a messy love triangle and an awesome family, check out Sealed With a Curse.


To see what Cecy says about her series check out the HEA Blog http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I haven’t been reading a lot of urban fantasy lately. Almost all the UF I had been reading had the heroine down-trodden with no “happily-ever-after” in sight. There were a few exceptions but UF just wasn’t fun for me anymore… until NOW!!!

I had such a blast reading Sealed with a Curse. It took me back to all the UF books I read when I first started reading. I picked up a little bit of Rachel Morgan’s “unique-ness”, saw some Anita Blake and her hot master vamp Jean-Claude and alpha were-wolf Richard (although our wolf has a clue), and the fight scenes definitely reminded me of Mercedes Thompson. But Ms. Robson wrote a unique new world that ended up being a one day barrel through read for me. That never happens for me when I read UF!!

Setting / World Building

Set in Dollar Point, CA, on Lake Tahoe (I love when you can actually look up book settings on a map), four sisters have learned to survive on their own without their parents. They are all in their twenties now working as nurses and living together under one big roof. All the sisters have been “cursed” with unique supernatural abilities. Celia, the oldest sister, is definitely the mother-figure of the group as she’s the one who takes control and leads everyone when “situations” arise. She mostly ends up doing that because she has no one else in her life to boss around as most guys are frightened of her. Let’s just say her unique ability tends to scare the boys away.

Story / Tempo

Right from the start, the girls are in a “situation”. The second oldest sister, Taran, has killed a vampire and all the sisters are going to vampire court to answer to charges of murder. I absolutely love that this book starts off with maniacal “vamp court”. I do love my vamps so maybe that’s what sold me right off the bat. Ms. Robson uses it as a way to introduce each of the girl’s abilities. It also gives us insight into each of their personalities. World building is off the blocks running already – LOVE! And it wasn’t hard to keep up, either.

The pace did slow down just a tiny bit in the middle but I think it was for the good of the book. It was a point in the story for Celia’s introspection. I don’t think many people will even notice it. And the big mystery of the story is really cool and well done. Although I hate to admit it – I totally guessed it in the beginning. Just not to the extent of the big reveal. The big reveal, I thought, was a pretty good reward despite guessing who the big baddie(s) was behind the plague on the vampires.

Characters

The part of the story I enjoyed the most was the dynamics between the sisters. I want more and more of the sisters! Each is so different in personality but none of them is annoying (at least to me). I think if I had to pick one I wanted to be, it would be Shayna. She’s just so sneaky with her toothpicks (just go read the book!), although I don’t think I can go around calling everyone, “dude”. I can see so much potential in the series: individual stories about each sister, stories from the vampire world, stories about the weres…

Speaking of weres, there was mention of a werewolf alpha, Aric, in the synopsis. Oh, my….. I do love my alphas! Aric is definitely a new book boyfriend of mine!! He’s hot, protective, but he’s not perfect. I like a man with a flaw or two (case in point, my number one boyfriend, Rehvenge, but I digress…). Our other leading man, Misha, reminds me a little of Mircea Basarab (from Karen Chance’s Cassie Palmer series) and Eric Northman, thrown in a blender 50/50. Cocky, smart, and definitely a Northern European god in the looks department.

Overall, I think Sealed with a Curse has the perfect mix of urban fantasy: 33% Mystery/world building – 33% Kick butt fight scenes – 33% Romance. This is definitely a lighter, fun read. Don’t go looking for a deeper meaning to life or the mysteries of the universe explained. This is a let-your-mind-go and escape to where ordinary girls can get “cursed” with extraordinary powers and just have fun, damn it. I bet someday the girls won’t think it’s a curse…. discuss amongst yourselves.

The next book in the series, A Cursed Embrace (Weird Girls #2) is expected to be published July 2nd, 2013. Crap, that’s too long….

[Kait Ballenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis: Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls—with one tiny exception: they're products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them, well, weird…

The Wird sisters are content to avoid the local vampires, werebeasts, and witches of the Lake Tahoe region—until one of them blows up a vampire in self-defense. Everyone knows vampires aren't aggressive, and killing one is punishable by death. But soon more bloodlust-fueled attacks occur, and the community wonders: are the vampires of Tahoe cursed with a plague?

Celia reluctantly agrees to help Misha, the handsome leader of an infected vampire family. But Aric, the head of the werewolf pack determined to destroy Misha's family to keep the region safe, warns Celia to stay out of the fight. Caught between two hot alphas, Celia must find a way to please everyone, save everyone, and oh yeah, not lose her heart to the wrong guy—or die a miserable death. Because now that the evil behind the plague knows who Celia is, it’s coming for her and her sisters. This Wird girl has never had it so tough.

Genre: Urban Fantasy

First Sentences: "The courthouse doors crashed open as I led my three sisters into the large foyer. I didn't mean to push so hard, but hell, I was mad and worried about being eaten. The cool spring breeze slapped at my back as I stepped inside, yet it did little to cool my temper or my nerves. My nose scented the vampires before my eyes caught them emerging from the shadows. There were six of them, wearing dark suits, Ray-Bans, and obnoxious little grins. Two bolted the doors tight behind us, while the others frisked us for weapons. I can't believe we're in vampire court." How can you not love an opening like that? Within the first few paragraphs, Robson has already drawn me into her fictional world. Vampire court? Pretty cool idea, not to mention the tension is already palpable. Celia is in a fierce mood and a pinched situation, surrounded by enemies. That equals badass action!

Brownie Points: As I said in my review of the Weird Girls' novella, Robson has an outstanding and superb voice filled with all the right stuff--humor, sass, emotion and a relatable narrative character--and Sealed with a Curse doesn't disappoint. The Wird girls continue to be fun, sympathetic characters, you can't help but love. No matter their perils or mistakes, Celia and her sisters are easy to champion as they battle with werewolves, vampires, and a viscous supernatural vampire virus throughout the course of the novel. What really stood out as a unique trait to me (as a romance writer and reader) was the stronger than usual romantic elements within this urban fantasy. In the UF genre I often find myself craving more romance than I'm given. This wasn't the case in Sealed with a Curse. It walks the perfect line between sexy romance and action packed urban fantasy, so romance readers and urban fantasy lovers alike will enjoy this novel. Besides, who doesn't love a rivalry between two sexy supernatural men? Aric the werewolf and Misha the vampire? I vote both, please! It's clear who is the winner of Celia's heart, but I won't spill the beans ;-)

Beefs: No major beefs. Sealed with a Curse hits the ground running with action and tension, and it kept me hooked and longing for more up to the very last page.

Ending: As with any great novel, I didn't find the plot predictable in any way. I continued to be surprised by it's twists and turns in the best of ways.

Recommendation and General Comments: Overall, I can't say enough great things about The Weird Girls series. Both the self-titled prequel novella and Sealed with a Curse are a fantastic jump-start to what I'm certain is going to be a continuously capitvating and enchanting series. The second novel in the series, A Curse Embraced, cannot come soon enough! Unfortunately, we'll have to wait until July 2013 for that one =(

I highly recommend this book to readers who love urban fantasy, and those who enjoy paranormal romance as well. The novel will be available in both paperback and e-book formats starting December 31st! A reasonably priced awesome read. So get your asses in gear and pre-order, folks!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved loved loved this book! This book was everything I was hoping the last book I read would be. The characters are fun, they are sassy and kick major ass! “Because girls kick ass, it says so on a t-shirt”. (This was on some tv show or movie but I can’t remember which one) LOL A I adored Celia and all three of her sisters. Each had a fully developed and completely different personality. Anyone with a sister can certainly appreciate the sister bond they share! I know I did. ;) Ms. Robson has such a funny, fun exciting writing style. I was captured from the first and it did not let me go until the very end, I didn’t want to let this world go and was sad when I saw the pages dwindling. I immediately checked to see what other books I could devour by this author and was glad to see a prequel was out but sad to see the second book in this series won’t be out for months! Waiting sucks!

So the story starts and we are in vampire court, it was a great way to throw us into this new world. You actually find out a lot about this new world from the vampire court and more about the sisters and their individual powers. Their powers are different and unique from any other being, they are not vampires or true were’s or witches and each sister has a different skill set. They are a result of a backfired curse. They were supposed to be cursed with illness at their birth but instead they developed super cool powers! Celia is our “alpha” and POV for this book. We get major time with the sisters but it’s Celia’s voice we hear throughout.

Misha is a Master Vampire who is losing all of her “family” to bloodlust. Vampires in the world are typically non-violent and more charming then scary. But when they fall into bloodlust no one is safe. When Tahoe becomes an epidemic of bloodlust driven vamps, Misha turns to the Wird sisters to help him save his family. They are not too keen on the idea but realize that this has become a bigger problem.

There is major action from page one until the last page. You know how some books lead you up to a major battle and then it’s over basically before it begins? Well this is so not the case here, there are several battles and each one is not a disappointment and continues to build to a final showdown that will not leave you hanging. I do have to say, I saw the bad guy coming from a mile away, but I still liked to see how the events unfolded and where they ended up. Each sister puts the smack down in their own way and only as a collective unit are they successful. I liked that they worked together as a team along with the other major players of the books. Even with all of the action this book was not lacking in emotion. You clearly knew how each sister was feeling especially Celia. Her emotions were right there for you to grab a hold of and feel along with her. A surprising emotion we got from Celia was loneliness and it would tear at your heart. She is surrounded by love from her sisters but they have a much easier time finding men to be interested in them. With the nature of Celia’s beast she scares men away more often than not and is often left alone while her sisters are out on the town.

Although, I wouldn’t necessarily consider this book a “romance” although there are plenty of love interests involved. I think it’s more intended to be an Urban Fantasy type of deal where we will be following Celia as the primary and her sisters. With this book we get a quasi love triangle. Misha makes it clear he has an interest in Celia but Celia meets a sexy Alpha of the new Were-Wolves that recently came into town. They have a tumultuous relationship and Celia has to dodge sexy vampire Misha at every turn. Each sister also get a sexy wolf to themselves and it’s fun to see how the whole group interacts. It’s like a quadruple date! It’s such fun!
I loved everything about this book and would recommend it to anyone. It was a joy to read and I can’t wait until the next installment.

[Melissa Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this story of the sisters with werewolves and vampires. Great action and story, with a touch of blooming love. Can't wait for the next one!

****FULL REVIEW****

4.5 Stars!

Trying to avoid the supernatural world Celia, who is more use to being alone, and her three sisters end up in Vampire court, charged with murder of one of Misha Aleksandr family members, to prove they were not as guilty yet to learn of a bloodlust spreading through the vampire families. Now the Supernatural world knows of the sisters and are sneaking around for a peek, and pictures. However Misha, the lead vampire who tried to have them killed, is now interested in the dominating Celia, but Celia may have her eye on a werewolf. Misha's having troubles in his family. Bloodlust. His vampire family eats well and shouldn't be suffering from this, which means magic is involved. He fears the upheaval of the vampire world maybe the reason - to kill him and take his power. Misha asks Celia, having no ties to the supernatural world, for her help to fight his rival and prove his remaining family innocent and should live. Celia sees the affects of the bloodlust on the human world and makes her choice. Misha and his families time is limited. The sisters jump full force into the supernatural world finding themselves in the middle of werewolves fighting for the world and vampires along with bloodlust vampires.

This book starts off strong, the girls are already in trouble - in vampire court. Quickly we see touches of what each girl's personality is along with a hint to their individual powers even mention of toothpicks with one, to make you curious what she can do with them (serious weapons!).

Action, story, humor, magic, and blooming love all wrapped in one gift here. So many magical variations so makes for a cool action fight. Their is explanations of connections between werewolf and vampire weaknesses and the rules to their kinds. Great set up with action and story blended. Fun quick comments and using current people, places, happenings, and things to relate. Makes me happy with all these elements present.

I suggest making this a weekend read as you're not going to want to stop! I wanted to know if I was right on who was behind the happenings, how much more trouble Celia and her sisters would find, and if Celia got her man.

The blooming love... now, this story has two amazingly hot men and one woman. BUT, this is not what I would call a love triangle. Even though both are interested, she has eyes for one. I loved this. Now there is budding romance in the background with all the sisters as well, but I would not say this is the focus of the story. It's an added top notch bonus to this supernatural story.

This is a definite one for a great weekend read. Cecy has started her series with a kick start, and I CAN NOT WAIT for the next books to come out!

[Frankie Ness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review at Talk Supe

True to its Urban Fantasy flavor, SEALED WITH A CURSE has a lot of magic, ass kicking and door busting scenes. The story is pumped with adrenalin plus with four sisters sharing the limelight, the story is far from stale and boring. Each sister has her own personality: Shayna has the surfer attitude; Emme is as sweet as honey; Taran the diva; and Celia the indomitable big sister. None of these girls are cookie-cutter supers too, I have to admit I was a little skeptical that their abilities sound a little comic-book-RPG at first but Cecy's outside-the-box approach really worked in her favor. These sisters are incomparable and reading their stories is beyond entertaining I can't wait for book 2, A Cursed Embrace (June 2013), to come out.

[Marcela (BookaholicCat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sealed With a Curse is the first book in the new series The Weird Girls by Cecy Robson.

After trying to hide from the supernatural community for many years the Wird sisters find themselves being judge by the Vampire Court for killing one of the members of the Vampire master Misha Aleksandr’s family.
After interrogation it is determined that the vampire in question was suffering from bloodlust and needed to be killed, the Wird sisters are found innocent but have awaken not only the vampire tribunal interest but also Misha’s.
Celia Wird is the eldest of the four sisters and because of her nature (she can shift into a Golden tigress) she is not used to getting attention of men, they usually run away from her; but now she finds herself as the whole focus of Misha’s attentions. She knows she shouldn’t like it, he’s a powerful vampire, one that wanted them dead but there is something in him almost impossible to resist.
When more members of Misha’s family get infected with bloodlust he realizes somebody is targeting his family and requests Celia’s help with the investigation of these incidents.
Celia doesn’t want to get involve in vampire problems but there is something in Misha that doesn’t let her say no. She try to keep her sisters (Emma, Shayna and Taran) away but it’s impossible, the Wird sisters are like the Three Musketeers, “all for one, one for all”.
This investigation made them cross paths with the Pack of werewolves of the area, more specifically with Aric Conner the Alpha of the pack. A man that with his sole presence make Celia’s hormones go into overload. We also meet Aric’s most trusted members of the pack Koda, Gemini, and Liam.
Vampires want the issue solved, same with the werewolves who are tired of hunting blood-lusted vampires, the only problem is that the werewolves don’t care if solving the issue means killing all the vampires in the process, something Celia will not allow now that she kind of considers Misha her friend. But maybe what she and her sisters want is not what they could achieve.

I will try not to gush too much in this review but I know it’s going to be hard because I really loved this book, you have been warned.

Since the first page of Sealed with a Curse Mrs. Robson takes us in a ride and doesn’t let us go until the very last page. Imagine a big roller coaster with many lows where you are enjoying the smooth ride and highs that have you on the edge of your chair biting your nails, that is Sealed With a Curse.

As I said in my review of the prequel to this series The Weird Girls Mrs. Robson does a stellar job with the characterization of her characters, she gives us four sisters all different and with unique characteristics that made them easy to identify. We have Celia the eldest of the sisters and in a way the most responsible of them; from an early age after the death of their parents she took charge of her little sisters and have seen for them ever since. She loves them dearly but at the same time without wanting she sometimes resent them, because it’s difficult for her to see them make their lives and meet people while she feels lonely and rejected by men, at least until Misha and Aric come to her life.
We also have Taran, she is the second sister, her powers are relating to controlling lightening and flames. She has a short temper and likes to fight. Next to Celia she has protected her little sisters Shayna and Emme.
Shayna is the carefree sister; she is a blade master and can control metals. She prefers to find a happy and easier solution to problems before fighting but she’s not afraid of getting her hands dirty. Finally Emme, she is the sweetest of the sisters and a caregiver, she has healing powers and some telekinesis. Her sisters have protected her all her life from the dark sides of life and she always believes the best in people.

Now to the hotties of the story Misha and Aric, ok, there are more hotties, thank you Mrs. Robson, but Misha and Aric are the main hotties.
When first I met Misha I didn’t like him and wasn’t sure about his real intentions towards Celia, but the more I saw of him the clearer the image of who he really was became to appear and it was impossible not to like him.
Aric is the Alpha of his pack, a very responsible man and as any alpha very protective of the people he cares for. The attraction between him and Celia is off the charts, I have some theories about it but they may be a bit spoilerish so I won’t share them with you. Even though Aric and Celia want to be together I don’t think their road ahead is going to be an easy one, not only Celia is not a were, she is an anomaly and Aric’s family is considered “werewolves royalty”. I can’t wait to see what Mrs. Robson have in store for them in future books.

As I said before this book was a ride, with a fast pace that grabbed me from beginning to end and keep me guessing until the very end. Mrs. Robson gave us some curveballs here, some which took me out of my game, I’m usually pretty good at guessing who the bad guy is but in this case it was almost a surprise when I learned who was it.

The story is entertaining, gritty and funny. I found the balance between humor and darkness perfectly balanced, I think I cringe and laugh out loud the same amount of times. Sealed with a Curse it also a book of many great lines, after reading it I realized I have highlighted a great part of the book.

Mrs. Robson writing is topnotch; it’s amazing Sealed With a Curse is her first full-length novel. I was right in my review of Weird Girls, I have found a new favorite series, one I recommend to all urban fantasy and paranormal romance lovers.
I’m looking forward to July 2nd, 2013 to the release of the second book of the series, A Cursed Embrace.

I recommend you to clear your calendar and have the delivery menu ready when you are reading Sealed with a Curse because after you start reading it you won’t be able to put it down until you reach its very last word.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks

Sealed with a Curse is the first book in debut author Cecy Robson’s Weird Girls series and let me tell you, it’s fantastic. As soon as you start this book, you are drawn into the action. Cecy writes as though you know what is going on so there isn’t any of that ‘so this is the world and this is what happened before the book started and this is what you should expect so pay attention so you don’t miss anything’ crap detail. I like this idea and I think you will too.

Let’s talk story. The main story revolves around the vampires in the area and how they are in the midst of a widespread bloodlust epidemic. I know, this is not really new but how it was done was very interesting. And let me tell you, the vampires once they infected…gr-oss! I also like how the werewolves were the protectors of humanity. They were basically the police for the supernatural, and ladies…the werewolves…yum!

The werewolves weren’t just yum, they were fantastic! There are four sisters in this book and four werewolves – oh lookie, one for each of them! I found Cecy matched everyone up really well. But she didn’t make it too easy for all of the girls as there is one coupling who isn’t quite a couple yet and you just keep wondering ‘why the hell not?’ as you read. I am really looking forward to seeing what is up with that in the next book.

The werewolf who stood out the most to me was Aric. Holy hell on a cracker this man was exceptional. Sexy, smart, sexy, alpha without being too much so, sexy… *drool* He is the perfect match for Celia – their chemistry is just incredible. Speaking of Celia, I think it’s time to chat about the girls, a.k.a. the weird sisters.

Emme is the youngest. She is crazy shy and the way she talks sometimes made me wonder at her age. Her shyness is what gives her a unique voice and makes it easy to tell she’s speaking when it’s her turn for dialogue in the book but it also makes her sound very young. She’s in her early twenties and sometimes I found she almost sounded like she was a teenager. But she is a sweet character and she does have quite the backbone when the sisters let her use it. I have a feeling that Emme will grow quite a lot during this series and it will be wonderful to witness her coming into her own.

Shayla is the fun sister and she says ‘dude’ a lot. In the prequel novella (you can read my review here), Shayla used that word a lot and it made me nervous to read her in this full length book. You see, it’s not really used much where I live so when ‘dude’ this and ‘dude’ that comes onto the page, I sort of cringed. But it seems I worried for nothing. It does suit her in the novel and it’s not used to the point where I wanted to find a surfboard and smack her with it. Shayla is a very loyal character and she was a lot of fun to read. I loved her with her werewolf Koda too. They were too cute together.

Taran is a bit on the wild side being all sexy and a little hot tempered. She made me giggle with her potty mouth and her attitude. Her power is impressive too! Her werewolf Gemini has an impressive ability too. I can’t wait for you guys to read about it.

Finally we have Celia. This series is being told from her perspective and I think Cecy made a perfect choice to use her as the voice for these books. She is a wonderful read. Her beast tends to scare people away so she doesn’t have any friends let alone romantic entanglements. Also, being the eldest, she has taken it upon herself to be the head of the family and that’s an added responsibility she doesn’t take lightly. Cecy does a fantastic job writing Celia. You can really feel her loneliness and her desire to find someone to share everything with…other than her sisters. She is loyal, very intelligent, strong… I just really liked her. A lot.

Each sister possesses powers thanks to a curse gone wrong and each girl’s is different. Something that struck me as cool was that none possessed overly usual abilities. I know that we are just scratching the surface of what these girls can do. What we know so far is that they are very powerful and strong. It’s going be a lot of fun to see more of what the sisters can do in future installments.

There was one little ‘issue’ that came up that turned out being nothing but while it was talked about, I was thinking ‘oh no…really?! why?’ But since it went away quickly enough, it wasn’t enough to kill my enthusiasm for the book. I’m glad Cecy wrote that as she did or I would have been pretty bummed. But I’m still totally psyched about this series and can’t wait to try A Cursed Embrace when it hits shelved in July 2013.

Overall, Sealed with a Curse was impressive. The pace was fantastic, the story exciting and the chemistry between all of the characters was just great. I loved everyone in this book – even the creepy people. Everyone was compelling and added a lot to the story and to the world Cecy created. I strongly recommend this book.

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sealed With a Curse starts out in medias res, and that pace pretty much matches what is found throughout this novel. I was a bit clueless at first as to what was going on, but I got sucked into the narrative and the Wird sisters' story almost immediately. There is more or less nonstop action, and the cool thing, is the heroine and her sisters are the main ones kicking butt and taking names. Along with laugh-out-loud humor and wonderful sisterly bonding, with a touch of romance, that adds up to a very enjoyable book.

Celia and her sisters were cursed before birth, but the curse backfired into a blessing. They are all gifted with unusual abilities. Despite the strangeness of the four Wird sisters' abilities, three of them manage to have busy dating lives and all four fulfilling careers as a nurse. Celia had a big issue that precluded dating a lot. She has an inner tigress that makes her one tough woman. Most men can't handle that. Celia fears that she never will meet that guy. Until she sees a hunky werewolf running with his pack. Their gazes connect, but that doesn't mean that they will "connect". And there is an epidemic of vampires turning into feral, bloodthirsty killers, so they might not get the chance to 'connect' anyway. Aric Connor might be the man of Celia's dreams, but as a purebred werewolf, she might not be a good partner to settle down with on his end. However, master vampire, Misha Aleksandr thinks Celia is pretty awesome, wooing her with expensive gifts and his supernatural vampire allure, which Celia is a lot more immune to it than she would have thought. Instead, her heart beats for Aric.

I loved the sister camaraderie the most in this book. They really had each others' backs. I liked how each sister had a distinct personality. They were individuals, but they worked and lived together in harmony. I also enjoyed the humor a lot (although it is sometimes of the raunchy, foul-mouthed variety). At first, I thought that would book would be too silly for me, but Robson proved she could hang with the Grade A Kickbutt Action Writers crew with her seriously intense action scenes. Readers who don't like gory description should be warned, because the author doesn't skimp on these. But seeing the Wird sisters kick butt and hold their own against a slew of powerful immortals makes up for some icktastic moments.

I thought it was cute how Celia's sisters all found romance with other weres associated with Aric. Although I didn't like the assumption that sleeping with them that fast was 'normal' whereas Celia was weird because she didn't get physical with guys like her sisters did. Sort of an inherent value judgment against people who choose a celibate lifestyle, for whatever reason. Granted, Celia did tend to be very self-pitying about her lack of a love life. I do think she could have dated more if she wanted to. And it's perfectly fine if she didn't date much, if she was okay with it. The fact that Misha definitely found her sexy and appealing from the beginning of the book (even before she met Aric) was proof that there was nothing wrong with Celia. Misha thought she was better than sliced bread, and he could have any woman he wanted. A man who couldn't handle her wasn't worth it anyway. I think deep down, Celia didn't want to settle for a Mr. Now when she could have Mr. Right.

Overall, this was a very good book. Lots of action, hilarious humor, great sister bonding. I liked that there is good ethnic diversity in this novel. The Wird sisters have Latin descent on their mother's side, and numerous characters are of different ethnic/racial backgrounds. The world-building was good, with some interesting takes on vampires, werewolves, witches, and other paranormals. Personally, the romance wasn't the biggest draw for me, although it was good. I liked the sister bond the most and the action, but the romance is pretty good (for an urban fantasy book). But there is definitely good chemistry and romantic promise for those who want that in the urban fantasy. This is a series I look forward to continuing.

[Lynsey is Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a shaky start, I really enjoyed this.

Despite taking a while to grab me and a few minor complaints about the characterization of the Wird sisters, this ended up being a really fun urban fantasy romp with some great action scenes, sizzling sexual tension and really fun magical elements.

Told from eldest sister Celia Wird's POV, she and her three sisters are introduced to us in the opening scene already in hot water with master vampire, Misha, having been summoned to "vampire court" on charges of murder. This introduction—which was used as a convenient way to tell us about each sister's unique supernatural abilities—raised instant warning flags for me as it became apparent the sisters had all been given personas so large and so extreme as to be bordering on the ridiculous. I realize the need to make it easy for us differentiate between them, to make each stand out, but for someone like myself who appreciates more subtly nuanced characters, the Spice Girl-like qualities of the sisters' personalities made me baulk.

There's the brash, crude and loud sister—Taran (Scary Spice).

There's the blonde-haired, timid and shy sister—Emme (Baby Spice).

There's the fun-loving, bouncy, calls everyone "dude" sister—Shayna (Sporty Spice).

The protagonist, Celia, however (who must be some amalgamation of Posh spice and Ginger Spice since that's all that's left) was a much more complex character (thank heavens!) and I grew to like her a lot. As the eldest sister, she's taken on the role of protector/defender of the family, having also the strongest physically ability when it comes to fighting. She's a Tigress shape-shifter with some other... interesting... abilities as well, all derived from a curse that was put on all mother Wird's unborn children. A badass when it comes to fighting, but totally hopeless when it comes to relationships and those "men" thingies, I really enjoyed discovering these two very different sides to her nature. I also felt quite sorry for her since she was quite a lonely character as well. Having an inner "beast" that people—whether they know it not—can sense, has always caused them to give her a wide berth. Her sisters are the ones that go on dates and get noticed by the opposite sex, not Celia. Until, that is, very Hot and very Alpha werewolf, Aric, who is her beast's equal in every way, comes on the scene!

I loved Aric. He was the perfect blend of strong manly man and total sweetie-pie. The romance was one of my favourite things about this book, actually. That and the action! It's not just the personalities that are big in Robson's world! Oh no. Even the Big Bads were Marvel comic book-like in their size, strength and descriptions. They could give Hulk a run for his money any day of the week! I found myself glued to these sections and up rather late at night finishing the book as I just couldn't put it down. Which is always nice.

So overall, while not perfect, this book was Fun with a capital F once it got going and I will definitely be reading the next one, A Cursed Embrace, when it comes out in July 2013. If you can accept some larger than life aspects in your Urban Fantasy, you should enjoy this book, as I did.

4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Kate Anders · Rating 5 out of 5]

To read this review and others like it check out my site, www.ufreviews.com

I really enjoyed the novella that introduced these sisters and the world they live in, I liked it so much I gave it five stars. So I was pretty excited to read the full length novel, because while I do like novellas, novels have always been my favorite. Another thing that made me look forward to this book is how all encompassing this world is. What I mean by that is there are so many books out there that focus on one set of supernaturals, like vampire books, shifter books, etc. I love when I get to read a book that has all kind of supernaturals in it, they all have to learn to coexist, which almost never happens, and it creates some great situations and cultural clashes. So now that you know why I was looking forward to the book, let me tell you what I actually thought of it.

First off I have to say that the pacing on this book was an improvement from the novella. The novella was a great read, although it started off a little slow on the pacing, and I think that's because it had to convey a lot of information to the reader in a short amount of time. The book though is right on point for pacing. It starts off strong, and continues all the way through. I am always impressed when a book can maintain good pacing throughout, what it means for you as the reader is be prepared, you aren't going to want to put the book down, it's too much fun!

Another one of the cool factors of this book is how much diversity exists not just in the world building, but also in the core group of characters themselves. Each sister has such different personalities, and such different abilities. It makes each one interesting in their own respect. I think the only way to refer to the sisters is as an ensemble cast. Books that tackle having so many "main" characters can be difficult, they risk becoming overwhelming to the reader, and having too many main characters can mean that it takes longer for the reader to develop an emotional connection with all the characters. I really didn't feel like I had that problem with this book. I really enjoyed all the characters, it was actually pretty easy to keep them all straight because they are all so much their own individuals. I have to say that Robson handled it like a pro.

I really enjoyed the secondary characters too, I felt like they each brought something different to the table, and helped to keep the book exciting. There is definitely some romance in the book, so I think the PNR fans will enjoy the book, although I think as the series evolves the steam factor will probably increase in a very enjoyable manner.

Overall, I have to say I really did enjoy the book. It was just a fun ride. I felt like from beginning to end everything was just so much fun to read and I loved the characters, all of them. I'm sure you could draw a lot of parallels from this series to others, which is the case for all books, but Robson did a great job carving out a place just for her characters and stood on her own two feet. It's a great start to a series that I can't wait to read for years to come.

[Kate SeRine · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve been hanging out on my blog lately, you’ve probably seen me gush about Cecy Robson’s THE WEIRD GIRLS: A NOVELLA. Well, I just finished an ARC of her debut urban fantasy novel, SEALED WITH A CURSE, and let me tell you, folks — it totally blew me away! The things I loved about the novella are even more extraordinary in the novel.

I was so impressed with how deftly Robson balances action, suspense, and humor. In addition, the sexual tension between protagonist Celia and the men vying for her affection is fantastic! I have to say, I’m rather smitten with both Aric, super sexy alpha werewolf, and Misha, super sexy master vampire. (Are you sensing a “super sexy” theme here?) Even though it’s pretty clear which man Celia should choose, there are definitely some obstacles (both internal and external) to them getting together, which keeps the relationship interesting. And the rivalry between the two men provides several opportunities for hilarious pissing contests in an effort to win Celia’s heart.

For you action-junkies, SEALED WITH A CURSE certainly doesn’t disappoint! This is a fast-paced, action-packed story that will keep you plowing through the pages to find out what happens next. And consider yourself warned — the last few chapters had my heart pounding! I sincerely LOVED this novel and can’t wait until the second book in the series, A CURSED EMBRACE, comes out in July 2013!

[Amy Lillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't often read paranormal and I am not a fan of vampires. But I L-O-V-E the Wird Sisters! They are funny, strong, and have their own distinct personalities. They are fiercely protective of each other emotionally as well as physically. They are everything you could ask for in a sister--and with special powers to boot.

Told exclusively in Celia's POV, the stories are action packed and laugh out loud funny with quick, witty dialogue and internal thought. I found myself reading "just one more chapter" until it was well past my bedtime.The sexual tension is out of this world and remains through out the entire book. And somehow (IMHO), Cecy makes the vampires (except for the ones with the bloodlust) almost tolerable--LOL. Actually the way the vampires are portrayed even made a vampire "liker" out of me.

In short, you should put these titles on your TBR list and at the very top. You don't want to let these get by you!

[Fangdangled · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great read! The Characters are well developed and the story really pulls you in. It is a fun ride, the action is stellar and I didn't want it to end. Cecy Robson has created a fabulous new world and I can't wait for her next release!

[layla is a picky reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

So funny! I was laughing like a mad person at three a.m. in the morning. Those four sisters are really something *snickers*

[Somia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 sisters who due to a curse that was meant to destroy them, instead have unique gifts that make them Other even within the paranormal world. When they are forced in front of a paranormal tribunal/court for murder, their troubles start as they find themselves in the middle of a battle that puts their very lives at risk.

There were moments were things felt a tad predictable and cliché, and when it came to the sisters and their love interests the heat and attraction I expected to pulsate of the page didn't. More depth and fleshing out of the diverse secondary characters was needed.

The love triangle between Celia, Misha and Aric felt unnecessary by the end of the book.

An interesting read that kept me mostly engaged, I wouldn't mind reading book 2 in the series but only if I can get it via KU or the local library once lockdown is a distant memory.

[Lucy Dosch (EBookObsessed) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cecy Robson’s debute novel, Sealed with a Curse, focuses on Celia Wird and her sisters, brutally nicknamed “the weird sisters” since school. The sisters were just plain old humans who were cursed at birth. But that curse became a gift…sort of. Celia can shift into a tiger. Just don’t get her too close to any other animal spirit, or she can end up shifting against her will. No new puppies for these sisters. Taran is the supersexy/badass sister who can harnesses the power of fire. Shayna can turn any metal into a blade and any wood into a weapon. (“Luke Skywalker could suck it. He had nothing on Shayna.”) Little sister, Emme, has the ability to heal her sisters. She can also use The Force…I mean, she can move things with her mind. Together these sisters are formidable, but they have been trying all their lives to stay under the supernatural radar, not wanting their odd presence known to be the weres, vampires and witches that live nearby.

That was going well for them until Taran had a date gone bad with a vampire and it took all four sisters to bring him down. They were then “requested” to show up to Vampire Court to be held accountable for their actions. When it was determined that the vampire was acting under bloodlust, they were excused with the Court’s apologize, but now it is too late. Nowadays they have supernatural stalkers hiding in their bushes trying to get a look at the weird sisters of Tahoe.

Now the very elegant, powerful and very rich Master Vampire, Sir Misha Aleksandr. Misha is fascinated by the lovely and spirited Celia and he wants her help to find out who is attacking his family. Of course, he would also do anything to get Celia into his bed.

While helping Misha hunt down infected vampires might not be every girl’s dream date, it does bring Celia face to face with the gorgeous, sex-on-a-stick Alpha werewolf, Aric Connor. Aric and his pack of werewolves believe themselves to be guardians of the earth and it is their duty to protect the humans from the bloodlusted vampires, not Celia’s. So Aric will do anything to keep Celia safe…and out of Misha’s bed.

Although Celia attempts to get these two powerful, supernatural alpha males to work together to protect the poor, unsuspecting humans who are being treated like blood-filled tic-tacs by the infected vampires, it seems Misha and Aric are more concerned about who gets to play patty cake with Celia.

With vampires and werewolves drawing battle lines in the sand, it is up to Celia and her sisters to find out who is behind the bloodlust, keep the locals safe…and to keep that wereraccooon out of their garbage. Dude, put on some pants!

THOUGHTS:

This was an incredibly entertaining story. It had a great blend of humor, action and romance. It was written in a first person perspective, told by Celia, who is funny and quirky and it is delightful to be in her head. You can see why all the delicious supernatural hotties want a bite out of the charming Celia. This 20-something is not as popular with the boys as her sisters, due to her inner-tiger scaring them away, so she is uncomfortable with all the attention she is receiving, but not to the point it is awkward. She’s more baffled.

There is a prequel that I have to pick up which I am sure focuses on all the sisters.

I don’t know yet if this is a series or a trilogy, but it seems Book #2 (which comes out July 2nd) is also told by Celia. I can’t wait to see where that goes.

Although I don’t believe this is marketed at a young adult book, I will note that there are no sex scenes and only a few subtle sexual references such as “making my girly parts tingle”. It was delightful and entertaining without the full sexual assault that some books have. Maybe you could share this with your older teens (parent’s discretion).

Definitely pick this up if you like your paranormal with a twist of fun.

Received an ARC from the publisher. Thank you.

See more at http://ebookobsessed.com

[Cat Russell (Addicted2Heroines) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sealed with a Curse is a fantastic urban fantasy debut filled with bad ass heroines, sexy supernatural heroes, intense action scenes, and plenty of laugh out loud moments.

The Wird sisters, Celia, Shayna, Taran, and Emme, were all well-crafted characters with a variety of personalities and unique talents. They possess abilities that are not easily defined and cannot be placed into one category. This makes them oddities in the supernatural community.

Celia, the Wird sister who is the main focus of this story, has the ability to shift into a tiger. But she's not a were. Of all the sisters, Celia is also the loner of the group. She's the least social, the least likely to date, and places the care of her family above everything else.

They have all lived separate lives from the majority of the supernatural community, preferring not to flaunt their magical talents and remain under the radar. But all of that changes when Taran is accused of murdering a vampire and they are all forced to stand on trial.

This is when they are brought to the attention of vampire master Misha Aleksandr and he eventually plays a large role in Celia's life. Both as someone who is romantically interested in her and someone who drags her into a mystery that places her and her sisters in danger.

But Celia has her sights set on Aric, leader of the werewolf pack. They have an undeniable, very intense attraction and I loved the relationship that developed between them. He's constantly looking out for Celia and makes several attempts to talk her out of helping Misha in discovering who is responsible for the ravenous, bloodlusting vamps that are roaming the city.

Sealed with a Curse is a debut that urban fantasy fans will happily devour. Robson has created an imaginative world with an abundance of paranormal creatures and a likable group of heroines that excel at kicking ass. The sequel, A Cursed Embrace, is scheduled to release July 2, 2013.

[Angela (Angel's Book Nook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

~ 5 Cursed Stars ~

OMG I loved it! I have been looking forward to reading Sealed with a Curse ever since I read Cecy Robson Novella The Weird Girls . I enjoyed her writing so much. From the moment I opened the book I was drawn into her world and could not put it down. So much action, adventure and romance blooming.

I enjoy each of the Wird sisters. They all have unique abilities and personalities that add to the story. I just loved Celia in this book. Her funny reportorial kept me laughing throughout the book, she is strong, and lonely, but does not let that loneliness stop her from doing what must be done.

Being introduced to the the hunky wolf Aric was great! I loved the connection you see growing between Celia and Aric as well as the other sisters getting set up with their hunky wolves.

This story has everything a paranormal romance book should have; lots of action, the sisters, love, flirts, smoking hot men and your favorite paranormal beings, but most important a lot of fun!