Cursed

Beholder #1

by Christina Bauer

Alternate-cover editions can be found here and here

Although Elea’s the most powerful necromancer in history, she’s spent most of her nineteen years imprisoned in the Midnight Cloisters. Enchanted manacles keep her unique brand of soul magick in check. While the guards and initiates seem contented to torment her, the Cloister’s Mother Superior is obsessed with finding a safe way to destroy Elea, both body and soul.

Escape seems impossible until a handsome hunter named Asher offers to help. Elea takes a chance and soon develops feelings for the mysterious stranger. However, Asher may not be who he claims. Then again, Elea may not be, either…

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Magic, Fiction, Amazon

ebook

First published March 29, 2016

About the author

Christina 'CEE BEE' Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes young adult romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too. Christina lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby. She loves to connect with her fans at ChristinaBauerAuthor.com.

ANGELBOUND ORIGINS
About a quasi (part demon and part human) girl who loves kicking butt in Purgatory's Arena
1. Angel bound
2. Scala
3. Acca
4. Thrax
5. The Dark Lands
6. The Brutal Time
7. Armageddon
8. Quasi Redux
9. Clockwork Igni
10. Lady Reaper
11. Reaper Games
12. Angry Gods

ANGELBOUND OFFSPRING
The next generation takes on Heaven, Hell, and everything in between
1. Maxon
2. Portia
3. Zinnia
4. Rhodes
5. Kaps
6. Mack
7. Huntress
8. Gage
*This is a finished series

ANGELBOUND LINCOLN
Events of Angelbound from Lincoln's POV
1. Duty Bound
2. Lincoln
3. Trickster
4. Baculum
5. Angelfire

ANGELBOUND XAVIER TRILOGY
The story of the Archangel Xavier
1. Archenemy
2. Archnemesis
3. Archangel

FAIRY TALES OF THE MAGICORUM
Modern fairy tales with sass, action, and romance
1. Wolves And Roses

2. Moonlight And Midtown

3. Slippers And Thieves

4. Shifters And Glyphs

5. Bandits And Ball Gowns

6. Fire And Cinder

7. Fairies And Frosting

8. Towers And Tithes
9. Mirrors And Mysteries
10. Rapunzels And Powers

DIMENSION DRIFT
Dystopian adventures with science, snark, and hot aliens
1. Scythe
2. Umbra
3. Alien Minds
4. ECHO Academy
*This is a completed series

PIXIELAND DIARIES
The story of sassy pixie, Calla, and her elf crush, Dare
1. Pixieland Diaries
2. Calla
3. Dare
*This is a completed series

BEHOLDER
Where a medieval farm girl discovers necromancy and true love
1. Cursed
2. Concealed
3. Cherished
4. Crowned
5. Cradled
*This is a completed series

VAMPIRES OF THE DAEMONVERSE
Adult fantasy written under my pen name, CEE BEE
1. Violins and Vampires
2. Veils and Vampires
3. Vixens and Vampires
4. Valor and Vampires

Reviews

[Lillian ☁ Cloud 9 Books ☁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

***** 4 Stars *****

I really like this magical fantasy! There's romance, adventure, and lots of magical encounters. This definitely satisfied my cravings for something exciting.

The story first introduces Elea and explains her normal life on her farm. She knows how to use a little bit of magic, but doesn't plan on becoming a powerful Grand Mistress Necromancer. Unfortunately her plans change when a powerful curse is placed on her. A deadly curse that will make her burn eternally.

She has five years to break the curse, and the clock is ticking. On her journey, she meets allies that also want to defeat the man that placed the curse on her. One of them is a powerful young man named Rowan.

Rowan is a caster that also knows magic. He and his group have been waiting for someone like Elea to help them in the fight. He's bold, strong, and knows how to make Elea blush.

I really enjoyed the plot and characters. However, I do wish that this story explained Elea's experience when she was learning how to use her power. The story just skips five years of her life and jumps to the part where she's a powerful necromancer. There were also some areas where the story felt a bit choppy, but I still had a lot of fun reading this, and I can't wait to start the next book.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Cursed is book one in the Beholder series by Christina Bauer and didn't fail to deliver. Elea is feared by many due to her being a necromancer and after her best friend dies from a curse that is now attached to her due to him loving her, she will stop at nothing to break it. I loved how strong Elea's character was and how fierce and defiant she was that nothing and no one would get in her way. Rowan is sent to Elea to enable her to break said curse and the two fall for each other along the way. I really hoped for more within the romance between the pair, but I'm hoping that book two will fuel a slow burn into a flame! Both characters are amazing, and I can't wait to see how they develop within this series. The author does a fantastic job of not only setting the scene of a new magical universe, but bringing two amazing characters to life.

[Scratch · Rating 1 out of 5]

I considered giving this 2 stars simply because it hit so many buzz words that appealed to me. Necromancy? Magical familiars? Love that stuff. But, the quality of this novel is about what you would expect from a bright high school kid.

Setting aside the simplicity of the plot, or how we are dumped into this magical world with gods, and two different magic systems, without much explanation at all? The author made a lot of typos that shouldn't be possible in this day and age. Microsoft Word should have put squiggly green lines under all the sentences that were missing a verb. There were some very basic typographical errors across this entire novel.

Elea is one of those cliché magical teenage heroines whom is mysteriously without any parents. She has "necromancer" powers, which are never clearly explained for the reader. In context, it appears to be some kind of bone magic? For some reason, Elea can channel magic through her bones for super strength, talks about feeling her bones moving underneath her skin, etc. Later in the novel, we learn that necromancers decorate with bone statues that may or may not be capable of coming to life. But, just when you think you can sum up necromancy by saying, "bone magic," then there is a throwaway reference to a minor side character who voluntarily made herself into a ghost to protect a necromancer nunnery. This character is only mentioned briefly, and this ghost aspect to necromancer magic is hardly mentioned again. (Yes, I know that "necro" means death. There is just no attempt to explain the magic system in this novel. It's more like the protagonist has power over the aesthetic trappings of death, and that's good enough to say "necromancy.")

The plot starts out describing how the protagonist inherited a farm that she --somehow-- manages all on her own, without any employees. Maybe because magic? The farm is coveted by her neighbors. But, this farm subplot is quickly dropped for the "curse" angle. Basically, a friend of hers gets cursed by an evil king, and he is able to pass this curse onto Elea because he loves her, regardless of the fact she just wants to be friends with him. After she --very conveniently-- runs into this friend, just in time to hear his last words of explanation and watch him die (what timing!), she abandons the farm we were told was so desirable, and escapes to necromancer training. Then we jump ahead 5 years so that we the readers don't actually get to SEE that training.

She encounters "casters," whom are apparently the other type of mage in this universe. The male lead/love interest is a "caster," and we are told this means he has elemental power. In practice, we mostly see that casters have magical animal familiars. And it would appear that "casters" (cringe-worthy name, btw) actually create these animals rather than take control of them.

Somehow, both necromancers and "casters" (blegh) are capable of teleportation, and they also appear to both be capable of flinging fireballs and invisibility spells. No real explanation is provided for any of this. I don't know what teleportation has to do with either necromancy or elements, but, plot convenience? I guess?

The relationships are not earned. I'm ignoring the cliché hetero romance between two people who just met. No, I am more upset about how at one point when Elea is taken into captivity, she develops very strong maternal feelings for a child based upon extremely limited interaction. Then, she develops deep fondness for a fellow female prisoner based upon equally little interaction. The child's mother arbitrarily gifts the child to Elea's custody, even though, at that point, Elea had done very little to show she deserved the honor of protecting this woman's child. What is even more bizarre is how the protagonist describes herself feeling such strong emotions for these relative strangers, especially given how she waxed on about how frigid necromancers typically are.

There are a couple gods we're supposed to respect for... some reason. I don't know whether these two are the only gods in this universe, or the most important gods, or what. They had physical bodies and kept talking about the limits to their powers, so they seemed more like powerful mages to me, but, okay. We'll go with "gods." What exactly does it mean to be a god in this world? I don't know. They provide a deus ex machina around the whole "curse" angle that was supposed to drive the plot.

Very little physical description is provided for the characters, the scenery, or much of anything else. That, combined with some truly terrible typographical errors, made me feel like I was reading a high school kid's creative writing assignment rather than an actual, published novel. Can I send this author notes that I would have liked to write in the margins? Can I tell her that she might make it as an author someday, even though I know from the internet that she has somehow managed to publish MULTIPLE novels?

[Jen (jenslostinthepages) ♥Star-Crossed Book Blog♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

After I had so much fun devouring Christina Bauer's Wolves and Roses, I knew I had to try her other series. I thought Cursed would have a similar vibe and be filled with tons of fun and snark. But once I read the first few chapters, I realized that these two series were worlds apart. While Cursed was an adventure that was filled with magic and heartfelt characters, it was impossible not to notice the darkness that permeated throughout certain parts of the story. This was an entirely different type of fun, and I'm so glad I gave Cursed a try.

After so many years of hard work, the time had finally come. I would either defeat the Tsar… Or suffer forever in fire.

Elea watched her one true friend die a horrific death. He was cursed by the Tsar, and not only would he continually burn to death for all of eternity, but she would die from the same curse in five years. To destroy the curse, and set her and her friend Tristan free, she must kill the Tsar. By the second chapter we jumped ahead five years where Elea had completed her training to become a Grand Mistress Necromancer. With only one week left to live, she was ready to find and take down her target, the Tsar.

Right now, my mission hinged on Rowan’s trust in me.
And mine in him.

I absolutely loved Elea! She definitely didn't have an easy path in front of her, but she was tough and resilient. She always tried her hardest, no matter how dire her circumstances were. And I loved that she thought things out and tried to make the best decisions. She was someone I would want next to me in a battle! Thankfully luck seemed to be on her side when a man named Rowan came into the picture. He was a Caster who wanted to get rid of the Tsar too.

“I suppose I was worried.”
“You’re over six feet tall and large as a barn. Plus, you can cast spells that affect me, so you’re strong in magick as well. I can’t imagine what you’d have to worry about.”
“I wasn’t worried for myself, Elea.”
The impact of his words seeped in. He was worried about me. - Alea and Rowan

I still have a lot to learn about Rowan, but the little that I do know, I love! He was brave, loyal, fierce and I saw so much good in him. I couldn't help but notice that Rowan and Elea had a lot of similar traits and would make a fabulous couple *smiles hugely*. While there was definitely chemistry between them, Elea was set on her goal and tried her hardest not to succumb to his charm. But I have tons of hope that that will change in the future. They were too magnetic around each other for it not to go anywhere!

The sun dipped so low behind the church, it almost touched the horizon.
Panic chilled me to the core. The curse was happening.
The fires awaited me, and there was nothing I could do.

As Alea and Rowan worked together, a lot of action came their way. But there were also slower moments, friendships developed, and clues were discovered about what was truly happening. There was also a twist that made me feel awful for Alea, she was definitely put through the ringer! So by the end of the book I felt like there was a little bit of everything to be found in Cursed. And that ending left me excited to see where the rest of the series will take me! So if you enjoy books about magick, with strong heroines, then definitely check this book out!

PS There were some typos in this book. But I emailed the errors to the author and they are to be fixed. :)

*Book was kindly provided by Christina Bauer in exchange for an honest review*

For more of my reviews, please visit:

[Magda · Rating 3 out of 5]

What would you do to save yourself from a horrible death and even worse fate in an afterlife? Elea has to train her powers to defeat an evil mage who cursed her.

It looked like just another day on her farm - do the chores and get rid of yet another suitor. But this annoying candidate for her hand brings some scary news with him.

Her best friend is in trouble - he's about to die from an evil curse put on him by the Tsar. And it looks like Elea is about to receive this curse too. She'll have five more years to live. Five more years to train her rogue necromancer powers and kill the Tsar. It's the only way she can finish the curse.

That would pretty much sum up the first chapter, or rather an introduction to the book. The next we hear about Elea is when she's almost five years older and received the highest rank in her necromancer training. She has a week to kill the Tsar.

Elea is a very strong character. She doesn't give up, she knows what she wants and she intends to achieve it. The only thing she has a problem with is keeping her emotions at bay. A necromancer should control herself all the time. Falling in love is also not something she should do ;). Obviously, that's exactly what happens. Elea and Rowan are into each other from the very first dream that joins them. It seems a twisted fate in a shape of their gods interfered here, but it's still a hard case of love at first sight.

I found this newly created world fascinating. I live the idea of splitting magic users to necromancers and casters. The glowing bones/veins were a bit weird, but I liked that idea too. Oh, I could write you few thing more about the magic and the world, but I'm afraid I'd spoil something, so you'll have to read it if you want to know more.

And the action... Since most of the story happen within a week it's all moving fast. You won't get bored reading it, the fights are well done and some nice spells are used. The villains to their job to make you hate them, especially Marlene.

I admit the book's not perfect, there few minor things that annoyed me, but I'm still glad I read it.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Check my reviews at: https://maginibooks.wordpress.com

[Aneta Bak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another breath-taking book written by Christina Bauer! Cursed takes on a new spin about the world of Necromancers and Casters and it is absolutely fantastic.

All Elea wants to do is work on the farm that finally became hers! She has no problems with using her untrained powers to chase away potential suitors that just want to take ownership of her farm. When Elea gets a message that her only friend Tristan is in trouble, she races to his bedside. Tristan was cursed by the new Tsar, and curse also affects the person you love the most, and in Tristan's case, that was Elea. Elea now has only 5 years to live before the curse takes her, and the only way to end this curse is to train her powers and kill the Tsar.

I absolutely loved the characters that Christina created! Elea is such a strong and determined character, you can't help but fall in love with her and admire her passion. You get to see the lonely but confident side to her when she's alone on the farm, and then the powerful but wise side to her after she becomes trained and goes on the quest! My favourite aspect was that she's so trustworthy that she couldn't see someone very close to her lying and tricking her, which is something I could definitely relate to.

I loved the relationship between her and Roland. He brings out a better side in her and its absolutely adorable to see how much he cares! The relationship went by really slow, but I found that absolutely perfect. It's definitely nice to see a relationship take its time and not be one of the "love at first sight" novels (that never comes true).

The world building was alright, nothing too exciting but the landscape where the story takes place was described fairly well.

Normally I would rate a book this good five stars, but there was something about it where I just can't give it full stars. It was really fantastic, but I'm not sure if it was the little world building or the fact that it was a little slow in the beginning of the book.

Either way, this was a fantastic book and I would highly recommend it to all fantasy lovers. If you have read other books by Christina Bauer, you will definitely love this one as well, and if you haven't then I recommend checkin out her other series called Angelbound.

Happy Reading,
- Aneta

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave it 3.5 stars

CURSED started out pretty slow but quickly started catching my attention and once it did, I was interested until the end.

The events in CURSED happen really fast. We get some background, then jump into the action pretty quickly. Elea knows what she needs to do and doesn't let anything—even personal danger—pull her off course. Which really isn't surprising considering if she doesn't stay on course she will die. She works hard and I could definitely see that in everything she did.

It is clear pretty early on that Elea and Rowan will fall for each other. They were sent to each other to achieve their mutual goals and their connection grows really fast. Unfortunately I didn't get the amount of romance I wanted out of these two. Hopefully book two will bring that out.

I enjoyed the Beholder series world. Bauer has a great imagination and her words really brought everything to life. Once you get past the slower beginning the flow of the story picks up and I had no problem staying in the scenes. There are quite a few things left up in the air after CURSED ended and I will be keeping an eye out for book two, CONCEALED, so I can find out what the characters will be up to next.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Ashley Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Elea is cursed. She has no way to escape the curse but to kill the man who cursed her. To do that she must become a trained Necromancer, but does she have enough time? Her plan is iffy at best but then she meets Rowan and things change. Her plan changes and perhaps her heart as well. Rowan is a Mage who has a power unlike anything Elea has seen before. Together they are in a race against time to lift the curse on Elea and free the land.
The whole cast of characters was great to me. Elea is strong and doesn't exactly fit what a Necromancer should be but she is the best out there. Rowan is just as strong, if not stronger, and dedicated to his people and Elea. Together they are unstoppable. I loved Rowan's group, I liked them all...well most of them. There was one, but I think he is going to grow on me as more happens in future books. There is plenty of action, magic, suspense, love, romance, and friendship through this book and it is woven together in a wonderfully addictive way.
Absolute 5/5 for me. I cannot wait to see what happens next with these characters.

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

[Coco.V]

FREE on Amazon today (11/03/2017)!

[Katherine Paschal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Elea lives a simple life taking care of her parent’s farm until one day when she receives notice that her good friend Tristan has been injured. Elea goes to him, but finds that he has been cursed for opposing the new Tsar of the Necromancers and is left on his death bed with only moments left. Tristan tells her that because he holds her most dear, she too is cursed with the death curse, and has but 5 years left until she too will die and her soul will join his in eternal torment. Elea wants to fight back and decides it is time to use her necromancer skills and seek training to take on an ultimate enemy.

I was excited to read this book because I love Ink Monster publishing company and I had heard really good things about this author, and the story is about necromancers which are super cool. Unfortunately, I just could not get into or really enjoy this book. For some reason, I just felt kind of blah about everything I read and while I was reading, I never once was engaged in the story or connected to the characters. I think I was a little overwhelmed with details, which makes since due to this being the first in a series and the world needs to be built, but it was too much for me to care about at once. I really wanted to like this, but I honestly just didn’t. Maybe my expectations were too high, so it could entirely be my fault in this situation. As a side note, I can’t quite put my finger on why I could not engage with the story and I don’t have any specific problems with the book to list as to why I didn’t like it. It just really did not speak to me and was nothing like I was hoping it would be. The setting in the story reminded me a lot of the Hendee's series Dhamphir, which I love, so maybe I was comparing it subconsciously to an incredibly engaging world with characters I love and know. If that’s the case, then I understand why the story didn’t mesh for me.

On the positive, the world build was intense. There many types of magic/power/supernatural groups of people, each with a different skill, way of acting/behaviors, certain clothing and living space. The groups were so detailed down to the very last thing about each person. I started to identify and categorize new characters based on what they looked like or acted without prompting from the author. I give mad props to the author for her details and the complex layers of this magical world.

I am positive that someone else will be in love with this book, and based on the other reviews I read on Goodreads, tons of people do love this book. Sadly it just was not for me. I would like to try reading something else by this author in the future.

I received this title from the publisher in return for my honest review.
For more reviews visit my blog at http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

[Marija K.]

I absolutely loved Angelbound series but this felt like it was written by a different author.
I got 40% in the book and couldn't continue. The world building was vague and rushed so it seemed like huge chunks of book were missing, and then some pages in she just crams a bunch of explanations instead of letting it flow gradually throughout the whole book. The characters were plain boring and the romance was ridiculous. It came out of nowhere and she literally fell for the first guy she met after being in a Cloister for 5 years and not to mention in a span of just a few hours after leaving it.
Elea was supposedly this Great Mistress Necromancer which i thought was a big deal and would be someone very powerful and it was presented that way in theory but the first mage she encountered managed to overpower her...i mean seriously??
I'm not even gonna try to rate this one since i dnf it.
Maybe i'll go back to it eventually and finish it just not now or in the near future.

[Sarah Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most days, Elea couldn’t care less about being a witch, even if she does have special powers over spirit and bone. Why bother with incantations when you’re a farm girl? Elea only uses her Necromancer magic to speed up chores and scare off suitors.

Everything changes when the evil Necromancer Tsar curses Elea. Now, she only has five years left before she burns as a ghost, tortured for all eternity. They say there’s nothing she can do, but Elea disagrees. Embracing her Necromancer ability, Elea trains as a magical assassin. Her goal? Kill the Tsar before his curse kills her. After years of preparation, Elea’s finally ready to strike.

That’s when everything goes horribly wrong.

A handsome warlock named Rowan steps up to help. Elea wants him as an ally, but she can’t ignore the mixed-up feelings that come with every one of Rowan’s crooked smiles. An assassination mission is no time to fall in love, but Elea’s heart may have other ideas…

How do you live when you know you are going to die 5 years time and you even know what time??
This Is Elea's curse to die five years later within constant flames and pain!!

So the only choice is to become an High Priestess that can have the powers to kill Tsar Viktor who has placed the curse on her, but in 5 years the Tsar has killed all other Necromancer who would be any threat. Is there anyone out there that can help Elea, then Elea dreams about a man Rowan, can he help her defeat the Tsar and save the Sisters, good story would have preferred the story to have been longer instead of split into a series, but well written with a storyline that keeps you interested.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story and the characters in this series. The editing for the ebooks was not great. There are quite a few errors as you read through (enough to make it very noticeable). But if you are the type that can read past the errors this is a good series to pick up.

[Cas ♛ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initial thoughts: Ooh, curses! Elea has such spirit and I love that Christina Bauer didn't make it too easy for her and Rowan.
—————————————————
~I received a copy from the author and willingly reviewed it~

Elea has been cursed by the Tsar, Victor. Training hard to kill him and break the curse, almost five years later Elea journeys to the Midnight Cloister, where she knows Viktor will be. But her travelling spell backfires and she finds herself in the company of one talented and handsome caster, Rowan. They must trust each other in order to survive, but how much trust is too much?

Friends, foes, potential allies? Elea will have to decide which is which on her own. Her quest won't be easy, one slip up may end her life or life as she knows it. Many games are played by all, a dangerous balancing act. Hybrid magic remains the only way to defeat the powerful mage Viktor, but Elea must learn to harness it first. The Midnight Cloister is more sinister than it seems, filled with secrets which prove the Tsar is conducting more experiments than believed.

It isn't easy for Elea to succeed, but she perseveres and continues to fight even as each part of her plan falls to pieces. As she learns through mistakes, the knowledge gained in this experience is the key to her shot at defeating Viktor. The help of others is crucial but first she must pass their tests.

Development of magic, a tough trip, and so much more awaits you in Cursed! You won't want to miss this great fantasy novel about a girl who refuses to accept her destiny and will fight the hard uphill battles thrust her way.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://functioninginsanity.blogspot.c...

Rating: 5 Stars

There hasn’t been a book by Ink Monster that I haven’t completely loved and Cursed is no exception. We follow Elea, a girl with necromancer magic, who doesn’t see the need to use it for much but helping in chores around the farm. No formal training or anything. Then one day her best friend returns to town with the news that the new Tsar has placed a curse and she will burn and burn as a ghost tortured for all eternity in five years to the day. Elea knows the chances of her changing the curse are slim but she is determined. Embracing her powers she goes to be trained, made into a Grand Mistress able to kill the Tsar and void his curse. Five years of training and planning and then everything goes wonky when she runs into a handsome mage in Caster magic, Rowan. He has new information that makes her rethink her entire strategy and consider a partnership with this man who brings her a lot of confusing feelings.

Our MC Elea is a bit older, 18 when the curse is placed and then 5 years of training, so this story does contain a bit of adult material in way or violence and some language. Nothing extreme just a friendly notice that the characters are a bit older. Elea is a strong character who has had to fight for everything she holds dear and then when she is cursed she continues to fight, determined to fight the odds against her. She is fiery and I liked her instantly. She has magic but she isn’t controlled by it or reliant on it, just using it to help her with her normal life chores still doing work herself. Sometimes we find people with magic become lazy, let’s be honest I would, but not Elea. As she is trained they are taught to not show emotion, complete control of your emotions is a key to controlling the magic, but she’s a bit quick tempered and more in the speak/act then think part of the population; so 90% of us. Then she is pushed back out into a world in which she has to interact with vast amounts of people that is so different from her life thus far it’s a challenge. Rowan, our handsome Caster is guarded sure when he needs to be but he is also open and warm in ways that Elea isn’t used to. Their dynamic is rather fun. His type of magic is both similar and different and seeing them together was interesting for sure. Plus, he’s a sexy and powerful mage who wants to help so even someone trying to keep emotions cut off is going to notice.

There is a lot going on from planning and improvising to accomplish their goal. Nothing is ever as easy as it seems. There is always bumps along the way. I really enjoyed getting to know some of the secondary characters as well like Nan, Ada, Sophie, Laurel, Orion, Jakob, even Marlene and Viktor were very interesting. Plus we learn about the different types of magic and what they mean to Changed ones, cloisters, familiars and more. Bauer was able to create a unique little world that was easy enough to pick up and understand and want to know more about. There is action and suspense moving things along with just a touch of romance sprinkled in as we uncover the mysteries that are laid out before us.

I highly recommend this book for anyone enjoying a bit of magical adventure. I mean there are some brutal moments that hit you square in the feels but that makes it better. You connect with them and fall easily into the story. I flew through it and am already look forward to the sequel and seeing if some of my pending theories are true. Cursed is out now and I hope you will check it out because I need to discuss in spoiler-y detail with someone ASAP! Only half kidding ;)

[Marie -The Reading Otter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review:
2.5ish Stars

This book was kind of just okay for me. The concept was pretty interesting, but the world building was a little weak at times. There was a lot that wasn't really explained all that well to fully give me an idea of what kind of world this was, the culture beyond one character. A lot was left to the imagination.

The plot was a little weak at times as well. The main character is supposed to be 18 at the start of the book, who finally just got full ownership of her family's farm. She's trying to ward off suitors who are after said farm. But when it's revealed that she is cursed, she just up and leaves for 5 years. It's never mentioned how she, or if she was even able to maintain ownership of the farm. She mentions having servants, but where does her money come from, how is she paying them after she left to get training? These little details don't have a huge impact on the plot, but they are still details that maybe should have been addressed in some way since through most of the book she is talking about how she can't wait to go back to her farm and live a peaceful life.

The character supposed ages didn't really match up with how they acted or reacted to situations. They are supposed to be in their early 20's, but they behave like the typical 15-17-year-old YA characters. It made the dialog awkward at best more than once. There was some needless drama thrown in when really it didn't add anything to the plot or any character development.

All-in-all, this book was really just okay, there was nothing special about the characters or the plot that would set this book apart from many other books in this genre. But it wasn't terrible either.

[Hannah D · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting story with action, love and vengeance, Cursed was a fantastic read. In a world of magic and necromancers, Elea is a young but powerful necromancer that is cursed by the evil necromancer Tsar. Given only five years to kill the Tsar to save herself and her best friend from death and eternal torture, she quickly becomes a powerful necromancer hell bent on murder.
I loved it. Just like every other novel by Christina Bauer and Inkmonster, Cursed was incredibly well written. Cursed has a very good plot and each character was rounded and unique. Elea was strong, intelligent and honorable, which was great to read about. The plot unrolled at a good pace, making the storytelling smooth and entertaining. There was plenty of mystery and action to keep interest, while not overdoing it. There was surprisingly little romance but that did not take away from the story whatsoever, but I anticipate there will be more romance further in the story. I cannot wait until the next installment in the series. I definitely recommend it and give Cursed the rating of FOUR AND HALF STARS OUT OF FIVE!!!

Want more of me? Go to: http://thenotsopubliclibrary.blogspot...

[Felicitia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am lucky enough to receive an e-arc of this book in exchange of an honest review, huge thanks to Ink Monster and Netgalley.

Another kick-ass novel by Ink Monster! Trust Christina Bauer to deliver a super bad-ass heroine and majorly page-turning plot line. Cursed is definitely a must read for you guys who love PNR or UF.

The concept of necromancers and casters are definitely unique compared to our usual vampire werewolf stories (not that that's not interesting either). The whole story is so well written that you just can't help finishing the whole novel in a blink. One step through the first chapter and I am definitely hooked. If you read my review of Christina Bauer's previous book Angelbound, you would know how obsessed I am with her writing style. Furthermore, our heroine Elea is the kind of heroine that I always look for in the books I read, strong willed woman who can stand up by herself. And then there's our swoon worthy hero, Rowan. I don't know what else I can say other than 'he's amazing.'

Although I can't help but hoped that the romance developed faster than it did. Some people might think that it's fast enough but I just love a good fast paced steady romance in an action novel, the one that stood there in the background midway through the story while the other conflicts unravels.

Overall, not perfect but I can't deny that I am in LOVE with this book! totally recommended! Now I just need to occupy myself while I'm waiting for the next instalment.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I've said before, I'm trying to stay away from YA/NA because I just have so many books to read and I need to cut down somewhere. When I got the invitation to read this book, it intrigued me enough I had to read it. Besides, I have read Ms. Bauer before and liked her as an author. I am so glad I did read this book! I liked the premise of the main character Elea being cursed and having to take steps to enhance her Necromancer powers to save herself, her friend, and to go after the person who had cursed them both. I wished we could have seen a little bit of the process, but I understand that would have made the book much longer. Rowan was a nice addition to the cast of characters and I think I see a lot of potential between him and Elea. I'm really glad it wasn't an insta-love, but a slow burn, if I'm right about their attraction. So, all-in-all, this book was fast-paced after the initial slowness in setting up the plot, a wonderful cast of characters to really get to know, well-written, and a definitely a need to know more after the end. No, there wasn't exactly a cliffhanger, just more of some loose ends that need tiding up, leading to more wonderful books! Get this book; you won't be disappointed!

Thanks to NetGalley and Ink Monster LLC/INscribe Digital for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review. This exact review will also be posted on Amazon and Goodreads.

[Hetal · Rating 4 out of 5]

To see more reviews, considering taking a peek at my first in series YA book blog here

Man How did I forget the wild adventure that this was!?

Cursed is about 22 year old Elea who is a farm girl minding her own damn business until...circumstances force her to become a super badass grand Mistress necromancer in order to defeat the villain who placed a curse on her and her people. After 5 years of rigorous training, Elea feels she is ready...until she meets a nomad named Rowan who turns her world upside down. If Elea is to have any chance of victory, she must work together with Rowan in more ways than one.

This was the perfect mesh of magic and romance. Curses! Spine ripping spells! I slow budding romance. HELL I'M THERE. Also, I really do feel like the the Elea on the cover depicts her perfectly. For once the image in my mind's eye and artist's seem to agree.

Elea is a bad ass, I love that no matter how hard she tries, she can't shut off her emotions as a good necromancer should. It makes her right in all the wrong ways.

Rowan is entertaining and handsome as hell but as wayyyy to many secrets that frustrate me to no end sometimes. "Trust me" he's always saying... WHY SHOULD I!?!?!?

Anyway, an overall great read because who the held doesn't love badass necromancers!?!?

[Tara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wasn't impressed. Great buzzwords that drew my attention. The premise and magic systems were interesting in theory. However, the execution was a slog, and the writing felt amateur and low-effort with very simple sentence structure. Multiple issues of double words (i.e. "... she bent her arm so that so that it was the right angle.") that a competent editor should have caught. I was shocked to learn Bauer has a BA in English, and put out this quality of writing. The only reason I slogged through was to see how the story ended, and it was pretty lackluster. She has many other books, but she's going on my #authorstoavoid list.

Additionally, the GR description of the book is ENTIRELY different than the book's plot. And who is Asher?! From the GR description:

Although Elea’s the most powerful necromancer in history, she’s spent most of her nineteen years imprisoned in the Midnight Cloisters. Enchanted manacles keep her unique brand of soul magick in check. While the guards and initiates seem contented to torment her, the Cloister’s Mother Superior is obsessed with finding a safe way to destroy Elea, both body and soul.

Escape seems impossible until a handsome hunter named Asher offers to help. Elea takes a chance and soon develops feelings for the mysterious stranger. However, Asher may not be who he claims. Then again, Elea may not be, either…

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is not my normal read as lately I have been hitting the erotica/contemporary romance hard. However, it had to do with necromancy and that is something I simply cannot pass up. Necromancy is something I am highly interested not only because it is rarely written about (compared to vampires, shifters, etc.), but also because rarely is the hero/heroine ever the necromancer. Usually the necromancer is the villain/antagonist.

This story was refreshing, like a breath of fresh air from what I have been reading. Elea is such a powerful character, both in magic and personality. I could definitely get behind her and her ideals. The author’s created world was also fascinating. I felt she not only created a marvelous world but also did a good job at explaining it. Sometimes in fantasy novels, I get lost concerning the author’s created mythology, but I wasn’t with this novel.

It definitely has a young adult feel to it though. Regardless, I loved it and can’t wait to read more. If you are a fan of strong heroines with interesting magic, and a fascinating world beyond imagination, then you may enjoy this novel. Not to mention the young love that spurs main characters. I am all for young, dewy eyed love…

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really captivating story, I wasn't sure what to think about it going in I hadn't read anything like it before. I can say I really enjoyed it though.

Elea is a Necromancer who hasn't bothered to learn anything about her gift until one day she becomes cursed by an Evil Necromancer Tsar. Elea takes things into her own hands and trains to kill the Tsar so she can end her curse.

I loved Elea I thought she was a strong character she was enjoyable to read about. I liked reading about Necromancer magic its something I haven't read much about in books so it was new and fun for me. I was also really intrigued by Rowan and the magic he does which is called a Creation Caster. I like the romance that happens between them, I think there's a lot there left to explore into. I want to read more on their personalities and whatever connection they have. I'm excited to read the next book and see where everything leads!

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

[Vesper Vesper · Rating 5 out of 5]

From one of my favorite independent authors, Christina Bauer, comes a new series that may as well be put on my, well, favorite new series. I loved reading her Angelbound series and when I saw an e-mail asking me to review Cursed, I almost fainted and immediately downloaded it on my Kindle.

Necromancers have always been one of my favorite beings and though the whole necromancer thing in the story are a bit dull compared to what I know, I still ate up the story like candy. Let's start off with Elea who begins off as an untrained necromancer who doesn't want to learn more about her abilities. As someone like me, I couldn't believe her not wanting to be one and get more powerful and under control. She is a solid character and her strong nature is always a favorite trait for me.

I really loved how... (more via website)

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elea is a Necromancer but only uses her magic for doing chores on the farm and getting rid of suitors. When she rushes to save her friend Tristan she gets cursed by an evil Necromancer that she will die in 5 years and haunt the earth as a ghost forever. She uses those five years studying with the best magic makers she can find and than goes on a quest to find the evil Tsar and destroy him to break the curse. Rowen, a handsome mage offers to help. This is the first book in the Beholder series and is a great read for teens and young adults as well as older readers. Full of magic, evil villians, curses, and a quest for revenge, it's everything young reader like in their fantasy reads. Ms. Bauer has the Angelbound series that I really like and this new one promises to be just as fascinating.

[Alli Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely LOVED this book! Christina Bauer is an amazing writer and I'm already desperate for the next book.

Cursed is the perfect blend of "magick", adventure, deception, evil bad guys, kick ass heroines, and the perfect sprinkling of romance. The world Ms. Bauer is building is such a beautiful blend and balance of magic and non-magic, darkness and light, and so much mystery. It reminded me a bit of Garth Nix's Abhorsen series - except this heroine is sassy and having none of your shit.

I absolutely recommend this book for anyone who loves fantasy and strong female characters.

[Airwreckah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise. But it felt like a rough draft. There were a few typos, sure, but really it was the feeling of displacement that I got, a sense of detachment from the action, that spoiled some of it for me. There were lots of cool, ideas and characters but they felt underdeveloped, like everything was at 85% completion.

I would read a sequel, though I wouldn't pay $4 for it, but this one felt much too scattered.

I liked the writing in the Angelbound series better- the plotting felt much tighter.

[Arlene Arredondo · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptionally engaging tale, full of twists and magic.
Love the strong and willful character, Elea, and how she fights against all the odds of burning for eternity bound by a curse cast by a powerful Tsar on her beloved friend Tristan. She has only five years to change her fate and become a powerful Necromancer. Her path will be filled with challenges, friendship, deception and maybe love.
Great start to this New Series of paranormal fantasy fiction “Beholder”.
Note: I received a digital copy free for review purposes.

[The Damsel in the Library]

*Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.*

DNF @ around 30%

This girl trains five years to become this super sorcerer and then promptly fails to do anything. She's supposed to have mastered all her emotions and then proceeds to blush, clench fists, be embarrassed etc. like a complete teenager. "Strong female?" Yeah right.
I thought I might skim to the end to see her (of course) not die, but it's too boring even for that.

[Graylark · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this because I quite enjoyed the Angelbound series by the author.

This was pretty disappointing. Characterization flimsy to nonexistent, and it was hard to care about anyone in the book, including the heroine. There was a lot of telling rather than showing, and skimming over what should have been momentous parts (such as her becoming a grand mistress in a compressed span of years). Her plans didn't make sense (she smuggled herself in as a novice and accomplished... what, exactly?) and the magic system was boring.