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My name is Mac Brennan and that's the only thing I can remember about myself. Not why I woke up in a dumpster. Not why my right arm is as black as pitch and covered in glowing red tattoos, and certainly not why a vicious death cult is after me.
Actually, that last part isn't true. I know why the death cult is after me. It's because I saved that damned girl from them. I didn't know who she was at the time, but I'd have done it anyway. I just don't like it when girls get beat up, call me old fashioned.
Still, I can tell she's hiding something behind those devilish eyes, and if I want to find out what it is, I'll have to help her.
My name is Mac Brennan. I have no memory, and I'm a werewolf-hunting, hellfire-flinging version of Faust himself.
*Book 2: Marked ( B01D04ULFQ) is on sale for only $3.99!*
Actually, that last part isn't true. I know why the death cult is after me. It's because I saved that damned girl from them. I didn't know who she was at the time, but I'd have done it anyway. I just don't like it when girls get beat up, call me old fashioned.
Still, I can tell she's hiding something behind those devilish eyes, and if I want to find out what it is, I'll have to help her.
My name is Mac Brennan. I have no memory, and I'm a werewolf-hunting, hellfire-flinging version of Faust himself.
*Book 2: Marked ( B01D04ULFQ) is on sale for only $3.99!*
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2017
About the author
J.A. Cipriano
92 books586 followersWhen New York Times Bestselling author, J. A. Cipriano was in second grade, his teacher gave everyone in class a journal to write down whatever they wanted. Their first subject was to write about something they didn’t like. J. A. chose to write about why he didn’t like writing. His reasoning was simple. He had bad handwriting. Even then, he was destined to be an engineer due to his messy scrawl.
Unfortunately, he found through the course of this little adventure that he actually liked writing. That year was sort of the high point for his writing career because he won a writing contest for the state. He got to go to a big dinner and his teacher was all dressed up.
He kept writing little stories, year after year, and in sixth grade, won another contest. In seventh grade, he broke his arm and got the cast signed by both Dean Koontz and Stan Lee. It is, by far, the coolest cast he’s owned. That was about the time he found video games and anime. His writing turned mostly toward fanfiction until about ninth grade when he wrote his first novel, a small book about twenty thousand words called Revelations. In sophomore year, he wrote two more books to complete the trilogy because he saw Star Wars that year and learned trilogies were the cool thing to do.
He rewrote Revelations during his senior year, and his wife swears it is the best thing he’s written. J.A. is not so sure. Every time he reads it, he cringes, but then again, he hates everything he writes, so there is that.
It was about that time, he got heavily involved in a fanfiction writing group, but that isn’t one hundred percent accurate. It was a world based on a popular anime but everything was created especially for this world. It made it so that every story someone wrote was unique.
Imagine writing a Star Wars novel set 1,000 years after A New Hope, where everything that happened was a distant memory and you get the idea. You have the force, some distant memories of the past, and that’s pretty much it.
He wrote about a million words (863K to be exact) for them before he decided to do his own thing. He wrote another novel. He put it in a drawer. He wrote another one that eventually became the basis for The Hatter is Mad. His next novel was Kill It With Magic, his first real novel. It’s not bad, but it’s bumpy. This is unfortunate because the books get loads better as the series progresses.
Since then, he’s written six more novels, four of which are in the Lillim Callina Series, and one in the Abby Banks series. The other is stuck in a drawer for time undetermined. He’s writing his next book now which is about werewolves fighting mummies in Ancient Egypt. After that, he will move onto Abby Banks 2. The Spy Within will come out in June or July.
J.A. also has three chinchillas. Two of them are grey, and because of this, they are named Slate and Cadmium. The third is named Jet because he’s black, and Jet is old English for black. See, creative. He also has a cat named Turtle. This does pose problems for his two-year-old from time to time.
Unfortunately, he found through the course of this little adventure that he actually liked writing. That year was sort of the high point for his writing career because he won a writing contest for the state. He got to go to a big dinner and his teacher was all dressed up.
He kept writing little stories, year after year, and in sixth grade, won another contest. In seventh grade, he broke his arm and got the cast signed by both Dean Koontz and Stan Lee. It is, by far, the coolest cast he’s owned. That was about the time he found video games and anime. His writing turned mostly toward fanfiction until about ninth grade when he wrote his first novel, a small book about twenty thousand words called Revelations. In sophomore year, he wrote two more books to complete the trilogy because he saw Star Wars that year and learned trilogies were the cool thing to do.
He rewrote Revelations during his senior year, and his wife swears it is the best thing he’s written. J.A. is not so sure. Every time he reads it, he cringes, but then again, he hates everything he writes, so there is that.
It was about that time, he got heavily involved in a fanfiction writing group, but that isn’t one hundred percent accurate. It was a world based on a popular anime but everything was created especially for this world. It made it so that every story someone wrote was unique.
Imagine writing a Star Wars novel set 1,000 years after A New Hope, where everything that happened was a distant memory and you get the idea. You have the force, some distant memories of the past, and that’s pretty much it.
He wrote about a million words (863K to be exact) for them before he decided to do his own thing. He wrote another novel. He put it in a drawer. He wrote another one that eventually became the basis for The Hatter is Mad. His next novel was Kill It With Magic, his first real novel. It’s not bad, but it’s bumpy. This is unfortunate because the books get loads better as the series progresses.
Since then, he’s written six more novels, four of which are in the Lillim Callina Series, and one in the Abby Banks series. The other is stuck in a drawer for time undetermined. He’s writing his next book now which is about werewolves fighting mummies in Ancient Egypt. After that, he will move onto Abby Banks 2. The Spy Within will come out in June or July.
J.A. also has three chinchillas. Two of them are grey, and because of this, they are named Slate and Cadmium. The third is named Jet because he’s black, and Jet is old English for black. See, creative. He also has a cat named Turtle. This does pose problems for his two-year-old from time to time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
February 28, 2016
Comic book action hero and shallow plot
This is a good book for some fast, gory action. In fact, it's non-stop action, no character or story development. We don't know Mac Brennan, but we learn he never gets hungry, thirsty or tired, never has to use a bathroom or sleep, never goes into shock, never gets seriously injured. We know he expresses his thoughts almost entirely in similes. "They flew at me like dive bombers." "The door was like the lair of a dragon." "I was like a dog with a bone." And so on. And so on. We know Mac Brennan (for that's how he refers to himself) thinks and talks in wacky one liners ("them's the breaks") that probably sounded funnier in the author's head. And that's about it.
Any wizard book inevitably is going to be compared to either Harry Potter or Harry Dresden, and this one falls in the latter category. Overwhelmed hero with a of gold underneath it all. Magical protective overcoat. Nonsense words shouted out to make wizard stuff happen. Chivalrous toward the ladies. But unlike Harry Dresden, Mac Brennan never suffers, never has a moment of introspection, never questions his purpose or impulses. Mac senses he's almost out of time to finish something vitally important but instead goes chasing after some stranger he met so he can save her, why? What the hell?
Also annoying are the ultra convenient powers Mac suddenly uses as different needs come up. It makes it hard to care if he's in peril because, what the hell, he'll just produce another magic ability he didn't know he had.
Three stars if you want non-stop mindless action and blood splattering gore with no real plot or depth.
Two stars if you like an actual story with actual developed characters.
One star if you're looking for something original and not another superficial take on a disheveled, wisecracking, rune-wielding reluctant hero of a wizard.
This is a good book for some fast, gory action. In fact, it's non-stop action, no character or story development. We don't know Mac Brennan, but we learn he never gets hungry, thirsty or tired, never has to use a bathroom or sleep, never goes into shock, never gets seriously injured. We know he expresses his thoughts almost entirely in similes. "They flew at me like dive bombers." "The door was like the lair of a dragon." "I was like a dog with a bone." And so on. And so on. We know Mac Brennan (for that's how he refers to himself) thinks and talks in wacky one liners ("them's the breaks") that probably sounded funnier in the author's head. And that's about it.
Any wizard book inevitably is going to be compared to either Harry Potter or Harry Dresden, and this one falls in the latter category. Overwhelmed hero with a of gold underneath it all. Magical protective overcoat. Nonsense words shouted out to make wizard stuff happen. Chivalrous toward the ladies. But unlike Harry Dresden, Mac Brennan never suffers, never has a moment of introspection, never questions his purpose or impulses. Mac senses he's almost out of time to finish something vitally important but instead goes chasing after some stranger he met so he can save her, why? What the hell?
Also annoying are the ultra convenient powers Mac suddenly uses as different needs come up. It makes it hard to care if he's in peril because, what the hell, he'll just produce another magic ability he didn't know he had.
Three stars if you want non-stop mindless action and blood splattering gore with no real plot or depth.
Two stars if you like an actual story with actual developed characters.
One star if you're looking for something original and not another superficial take on a disheveled, wisecracking, rune-wielding reluctant hero of a wizard.
April 26, 2016
All of a sudden, before he knew it, in less than a blink of an eye
I only made it through 54% of the book. I didn't measure it empirically, but it felt like there wasn't page in the book that didn't include someone getting hit in the head, shot, stabbed, set on fire, run over, cursed, blown-up, irradiated, beaten to a pulp, eviscerated, etc. The writing wasn't terrible, just the content. No character development, just a lot of spontaneous, and unexplained violence. The main character is barely 2 dimensional, while the others bear so little description they barely exist, until they inexplicably die, again. Sorry I read as much as I did. I gave it 2 stars because I held out longer than I should have hoping something would change. So, one extra star for hope.
I only made it through 54% of the book. I didn't measure it empirically, but it felt like there wasn't page in the book that didn't include someone getting hit in the head, shot, stabbed, set on fire, run over, cursed, blown-up, irradiated, beaten to a pulp, eviscerated, etc. The writing wasn't terrible, just the content. No character development, just a lot of spontaneous, and unexplained violence. The main character is barely 2 dimensional, while the others bear so little description they barely exist, until they inexplicably die, again. Sorry I read as much as I did. I gave it 2 stars because I held out longer than I should have hoping something would change. So, one extra star for hope.
May 29, 2020
3.5 stars
I liked the story. It's a nonstop, action packed, noir story. It was a bit short, but there is never a dull moment and the author makes use of every minute/page. It was great. There are tidbits of nerdy pop culture distributed throughout the story. And the camp, oh the camp. I loved it.
I did find myself wincing more than a couple of times however. Some of the sexist things that came out of Mac sometimes made me want to throw something at him. I've listed the first one that smacked me across the face below. Could it be worse? Of course, but it could be better, also. Who knows. Maybe I'm just being overly sensitive.
"Are you okay?" I asked, moving across the laundromat and offering her my left hand. I wasnt sure if she was one of those "I don't need a man's help" girls. For all I knew, she'd be pissed at me for saving her when she'd totally had those thugs right where she wanted them.
I liked the story. It's a nonstop, action packed, noir story. It was a bit short, but there is never a dull moment and the author makes use of every minute/page. It was great. There are tidbits of nerdy pop culture distributed throughout the story. And the camp, oh the camp. I loved it.
I did find myself wincing more than a couple of times however. Some of the sexist things that came out of Mac sometimes made me want to throw something at him. I've listed the first one that smacked me across the face below. Could it be worse? Of course, but it could be better, also. Who knows. Maybe I'm just being overly sensitive.
"Are you okay?" I asked, moving across the laundromat and offering her my left hand. I wasnt sure if she was one of those "I don't need a man's help" girls. For all I knew, she'd be pissed at me for saving her when she'd totally had those thugs right where she wanted them.
January 18, 2018
While listening to this all I could think of is that this author must be a fan of Jim Butcher cause it really had that sort of feel to me. Not that that is a bad thing cause I love The Dresen Files. :) It just sort of falls flat here.
Mac Brennan wakes up in a dumpster and has no memories except what his name is or at least what he thinks it is. His arm is black and it has red tattoos on it and he has no idea how it happened or what it is.
When he helps a young woman get away from some men, at first she is nice to him then she sees his black arm and throws him out. Apparently, he has made some sort of pact with a demon and that is why his arm is in the shape it's in.
When the thugs come back and he helps her again he finds out they are werewolves. Well, if demons exist he figures why not werewolves. No matter how much he tries to keep the lady out of trouble she ends up getting kidnapped.
Mac is a Cursed, what everyone calls a person who made a deal with a demon for power. The only thing is he doesn't remember doing it. It gave him lots of power and seemed to turn him into a werewolf hunter since they took the girl. Now people are trying to kill him. Who knew saving a lady could get you killed.
For a guy with no memory, he sure is a cocky fellow. Hey, I'm Mac Brennan. My name is Mac Brennan I can do anything...blah blah. If I have to hear how he is Mac Brennan one more time I might reach into the book and strangle him. :(
This one has five CD's and I couldn't make it go faster like I like to do and felt my mind wondering during the last half of the fourth CD. Sighs. :(
I had high hopes for this one but for me it just fell flat. Though it seems to have a lot of decent reviews goodreads so if you like UF type books you might try it as it could just be me. :)
Mac Brennan wakes up in a dumpster and has no memories except what his name is or at least what he thinks it is. His arm is black and it has red tattoos on it and he has no idea how it happened or what it is.
When he helps a young woman get away from some men, at first she is nice to him then she sees his black arm and throws him out. Apparently, he has made some sort of pact with a demon and that is why his arm is in the shape it's in.
When the thugs come back and he helps her again he finds out they are werewolves. Well, if demons exist he figures why not werewolves. No matter how much he tries to keep the lady out of trouble she ends up getting kidnapped.
Mac is a Cursed, what everyone calls a person who made a deal with a demon for power. The only thing is he doesn't remember doing it. It gave him lots of power and seemed to turn him into a werewolf hunter since they took the girl. Now people are trying to kill him. Who knew saving a lady could get you killed.
For a guy with no memory, he sure is a cocky fellow. Hey, I'm Mac Brennan. My name is Mac Brennan I can do anything...blah blah. If I have to hear how he is Mac Brennan one more time I might reach into the book and strangle him. :(
This one has five CD's and I couldn't make it go faster like I like to do and felt my mind wondering during the last half of the fourth CD. Sighs. :(
I had high hopes for this one but for me it just fell flat. Though it seems to have a lot of decent reviews goodreads so if you like UF type books you might try it as it could just be me. :)
February 28, 2016
This had the possibility of being a good book, but had a few major hangups:
1) It's backbone is all references to other books, comics, and stories. We aren't talking a peppering here, we are talking a whole goddamn spice rack. With maybe an extra spice rack thrown in for good measure. Die Hard? Twilight? Marvel Comics? DC Comics? LOTR? Etc. Everything in the book was a reference to something else.
2) "Emotional Basketball". "I was scared", "You look scared", "He looks scared!" If it takes you 2-3 pages to have multiple characters repeat the same emotions, in an inane way, time and time again? You might want to re-think the narrative a bit. We get it.
The basics of the book were these two things, stitched together. The idea was a decent one, but it would have been better with a bit more originality.
1) It's backbone is all references to other books, comics, and stories. We aren't talking a peppering here, we are talking a whole goddamn spice rack. With maybe an extra spice rack thrown in for good measure. Die Hard? Twilight? Marvel Comics? DC Comics? LOTR? Etc. Everything in the book was a reference to something else.
2) "Emotional Basketball". "I was scared", "You look scared", "He looks scared!" If it takes you 2-3 pages to have multiple characters repeat the same emotions, in an inane way, time and time again? You might want to re-think the narrative a bit. We get it.
The basics of the book were these two things, stitched together. The idea was a decent one, but it would have been better with a bit more originality.
February 22, 2016
I need more!
Holy cow! This is a no-holds-barred, non-stop action thrill ride the likes you've never seen before in urban fantasy. Mac Brennan is a gun-shooting, hellfire-wielding badass with amnesia who battles werewolves, gargoyles and demons in order to save the day and find out just who he is and what the hell is going on. The voice, dialogue and humor are spot on, and the twists and turns will keep you guessing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't WAIT for the next one!
Holy cow! This is a no-holds-barred, non-stop action thrill ride the likes you've never seen before in urban fantasy. Mac Brennan is a gun-shooting, hellfire-wielding badass with amnesia who battles werewolves, gargoyles and demons in order to save the day and find out just who he is and what the hell is going on. The voice, dialogue and humor are spot on, and the twists and turns will keep you guessing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't WAIT for the next one!
May 5, 2016
A wild nonstop action-packed devilish ride! I love how the pacing of this novel kept going, always keeping me on the edge of my seat. I read that someone compared it to a comic and I would agree. It was like a dark fantasy comic. It actually reminded me of Constantine.
Mac was a humorous antihero that was fun to read. I'm interested to see where the story goes from here.
I received a copy in exchange for a review.
Mac was a humorous antihero that was fun to read. I'm interested to see where the story goes from here.
I received a copy in exchange for a review.
June 17, 2017
A dark hero
This story is like a magical Jason Bourne movie. Mac has no memories except who he is, which is better than Bourne's predicament. Even though dealing with demons would usually be a stupid move, it sounds like Mac had no choice if he wanted to save someone close to him. He is a natural hero but he is dark and doesn't mind killing to get the job done.
I had a hard time with a few things. The memory issues made it hard to follow sometimes. Also, he talks in his head a lot especially when he feels guilty or is about to make a decision that is stupid and goes through his thinking process.
This story is like a magical Jason Bourne movie. Mac has no memories except who he is, which is better than Bourne's predicament. Even though dealing with demons would usually be a stupid move, it sounds like Mac had no choice if he wanted to save someone close to him. He is a natural hero but he is dark and doesn't mind killing to get the job done.
I had a hard time with a few things. The memory issues made it hard to follow sometimes. Also, he talks in his head a lot especially when he feels guilty or is about to make a decision that is stupid and goes through his thinking process.
May 27, 2020
A fun campy romp that feels like a love letter to Noir and Nerdy Pop Culture.
November 13, 2016
When Mac Brennan wakes up in a dumpster the only thing that he can remember about himself is his name. It also doesn't help that he's naked as the day he was born and that his left arm is covered in a black tar like substance which seems to turn red when he is in peril. Mac knows that there's something he needs to accomplish and that time is running out but he has no idea what that might possibly be. Before Mac has a chance to even remotely figure any of this all out, he finds that he has angered a werewolf and that they are out for blood.
Cursed is only 184 pages long but it felt like a three hundred page book. I only managed to finish it through a fierce determination. No way was I letting Cursed defeat me but it was a very near thing. There's absolutely no character development in Cursed, not even for the protagonist, who for some strange reason has to repeatedly remind the reader of his name. Not only does Mac repeatedly say his name, he takes the time to tell the reader that he can accomplish anything. I suppose I should be thankful that Mac at least refrained from referring to himself in the third person, though he did sound like a ridiculous author insert.
So the long and short of it is that Mac sold his soul to a demon and in return he gained some pretty amazing powers. Cipriano uses Mac's amnesia as a device to cover for the fact that when ever Mac is in any kind of trouble, he pulls a new power out of his ass or mumbles some mystical phrase and boom, problem solved. I could have dealt with this if it happened once or twice but it was a near constant throughout Cursed. Having these long action scenes allowed Cipriano to avoid having to do any work with real world building or characterisation.
So, Mac knows that there's a woman and a child that he cares about who are in danger. It would make sense if he put all of his efforts into learning about himself, his skill set, or even the people he knows he cares about who are in danger. What does Mac do? He decides to risk his life, take on a demon, werewolves and a fellow Cursed, all in an effort to save a woman and child that he's known for a N.Y. minute. What the ever loving hell? In fact, it's not until the last few pages of the book that he finally gets around to searching for the people he cares for. This of course is when Cursed ends on a cliffhanger of sorts because there's no better way to finish off a book filled with cliches than with a shitty ending.
There's absolutely nothing original about Cursed. Sure, it's cool to come across pop culture references in books but when the author steals everything that isn't nailed down, it's no longer cool but a stunning lack of imagination. The wizard in the trench coat with the supposed heart of gold has been DONE; it's been done to death.
For someone who supposedly is the good guy, Mac has a funny way of showing it.
Read More
Cursed is only 184 pages long but it felt like a three hundred page book. I only managed to finish it through a fierce determination. No way was I letting Cursed defeat me but it was a very near thing. There's absolutely no character development in Cursed, not even for the protagonist, who for some strange reason has to repeatedly remind the reader of his name. Not only does Mac repeatedly say his name, he takes the time to tell the reader that he can accomplish anything. I suppose I should be thankful that Mac at least refrained from referring to himself in the third person, though he did sound like a ridiculous author insert.
So the long and short of it is that Mac sold his soul to a demon and in return he gained some pretty amazing powers. Cipriano uses Mac's amnesia as a device to cover for the fact that when ever Mac is in any kind of trouble, he pulls a new power out of his ass or mumbles some mystical phrase and boom, problem solved. I could have dealt with this if it happened once or twice but it was a near constant throughout Cursed. Having these long action scenes allowed Cipriano to avoid having to do any work with real world building or characterisation.
So, Mac knows that there's a woman and a child that he cares about who are in danger. It would make sense if he put all of his efforts into learning about himself, his skill set, or even the people he knows he cares about who are in danger. What does Mac do? He decides to risk his life, take on a demon, werewolves and a fellow Cursed, all in an effort to save a woman and child that he's known for a N.Y. minute. What the ever loving hell? In fact, it's not until the last few pages of the book that he finally gets around to searching for the people he cares for. This of course is when Cursed ends on a cliffhanger of sorts because there's no better way to finish off a book filled with cliches than with a shitty ending.
There's absolutely nothing original about Cursed. Sure, it's cool to come across pop culture references in books but when the author steals everything that isn't nailed down, it's no longer cool but a stunning lack of imagination. The wizard in the trench coat with the supposed heart of gold has been DONE; it's been done to death.
For someone who supposedly is the good guy, Mac has a funny way of showing it.
Read More
February 16, 2016
This is a delightful new series by Cipriano. It is full of suspense, magic, witches, werewolves, vampires, and demons and the need to do whatever it takes to protect those you love, even if you don’t remember who they are, or even who you are for that matter.
In Mac Brennan’s search to find why he has this demon arm that has powers of its own sometimes and who he sold his soul to, who he is supposed to save, or what he is meant to do with these new powers. In the meantime, his humanity won’t allow him to leave a woman he finds being beaten by two huge men or her son to their dreadful fate.
I am so in love with this authors sense of humor! I spent more time grinning and laughing at the characters mannerisms and one-liners that I never got bored.
I’d managed to swim about five feet away before a shockwave sent me tumbling through the water, slamming my body along the cement bottom and shearing off skin from my face and hands. Breath burst from my lips in a stream of bubbles. My lungs threatened to burst as I struggled to get my legs underneath me and propel myself upward. Just as my vision was starting to go dim, my feet touched the stone bottom. I pushed off with everything I had, rocketing myself upward. Breaking the surface was like coming home, and I resolved never to go without air again.
"Every second I walked around like this increased the likelihood someone would call the police to report a guy splattered with blood was walking around in a trench coat. They’d probably shoot first, shoot second to make sure, and then ask questions third in that given scenario. I knew I would. Hell, I probably had."
"My tattoos blazed to life like a neon sign outside a strip club."
Thank you to the author and J&S, Author Services for the opportunity to read this delightful novel in return for an honest review! It was definitely my honor.
In Mac Brennan’s search to find why he has this demon arm that has powers of its own sometimes and who he sold his soul to, who he is supposed to save, or what he is meant to do with these new powers. In the meantime, his humanity won’t allow him to leave a woman he finds being beaten by two huge men or her son to their dreadful fate.
I am so in love with this authors sense of humor! I spent more time grinning and laughing at the characters mannerisms and one-liners that I never got bored.
I’d managed to swim about five feet away before a shockwave sent me tumbling through the water, slamming my body along the cement bottom and shearing off skin from my face and hands. Breath burst from my lips in a stream of bubbles. My lungs threatened to burst as I struggled to get my legs underneath me and propel myself upward. Just as my vision was starting to go dim, my feet touched the stone bottom. I pushed off with everything I had, rocketing myself upward. Breaking the surface was like coming home, and I resolved never to go without air again.
"Every second I walked around like this increased the likelihood someone would call the police to report a guy splattered with blood was walking around in a trench coat. They’d probably shoot first, shoot second to make sure, and then ask questions third in that given scenario. I knew I would. Hell, I probably had."
"My tattoos blazed to life like a neon sign outside a strip club."
Thank you to the author and J&S, Author Services for the opportunity to read this delightful novel in return for an honest review! It was definitely my honor.
October 31, 2016
Cursed (The Thrice Cursed Mage #1) by J.A. Cipriano is book one in the Trice Cursed Mage series and it was awesome! Thrilling, fascinating, magic filled, exciting, suspense-filled, and crazy is what this book is! The guy wakes up in a dumpster, no memory of how he got there or why, and now he has power! But he gets mixed up in something over his head... in with demons that want him dead... Great job!
July 2, 2016
this was good. had a lot of action so it was fun for that reason.. im not a big fan of urban fantasy and this wasnt really my favorite when it comes to that but it wasnt a bad story either. the plot was good.. the characters were good.. so overall i wiould recommend it to others and im glad i got to review it
November 18, 2016
This was a different book but in a good way. It is a good paranormal/fantasy read as it has a little of everything: werewolves, vampires, demons, etc. This is my first time reading anything by this author and I am thinking I will read the next book in this series. The characters lacked some depth for me, I felt like I couldn't connect with them. But the creativity-wow! A+ for creativity!
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October 8, 2016Many levels of nope.
I wanted to like this, but the writing is so clunky and the characters so shallow. I just can't finish it.
I wanted to like this, but the writing is so clunky and the characters so shallow. I just can't finish it.
March 3, 2024
EDIT: His name is Mac Brennan and it's hilarious I forgot that since he says I'm Mac Brennan every page.
There's a really decent idea to work off here, but the over the top Meta media references, bland MC I flip flop between enjoying and disliking, and editing issues sank it for me.
The MC (I've forgotten his name and that feels like saying something about the book) is very much a watered down John Constantine from DC. It doesn't help that he points this out himself. He also calls himself Castiel from Supernatural at one point, but he doesn't really have a distinct personality outside of having no memories. Being a Cursed, someone who sold their soul to a demon for power, he has a bunch of nondescript abilities that just show up when needed so he always beats the odds. The pacing was super off being one action scene back to back with only small breaks between for weird scenes that made little sense including being kidnapped by an Alpha werewolf he specifically mentions has braces and looks like a flat chested 17 year old girl - who turns out to be a woman from his past, they make out, and it's heavily implied he's going back to her to get laid.
Most of the language involving POC characters is off. From distasteful to just weird. There are Indigenous American characters he just refers to as The Indian over and over, the main antagonist is an Asian Cursed that repeatedly is called the Asian man, and a werewolf who had a relationship with "The Indian" is a black woman with blonde hair he announces that "the curtains match the drapes." The MC himself repeats the thought "I could tell by the way they looked at each other they'd seen each other naked" twice in the same paragraph. There are a lot of repetitive phrases and words just everywhere to be honest. I won't be continuing this series.
There's a really decent idea to work off here, but the over the top Meta media references, bland MC I flip flop between enjoying and disliking, and editing issues sank it for me.
The MC (I've forgotten his name and that feels like saying something about the book) is very much a watered down John Constantine from DC. It doesn't help that he points this out himself. He also calls himself Castiel from Supernatural at one point, but he doesn't really have a distinct personality outside of having no memories. Being a Cursed, someone who sold their soul to a demon for power, he has a bunch of nondescript abilities that just show up when needed so he always beats the odds. The pacing was super off being one action scene back to back with only small breaks between for weird scenes that made little sense including being kidnapped by an Alpha werewolf he specifically mentions has braces and looks like a flat chested 17 year old girl - who turns out to be a woman from his past, they make out, and it's heavily implied he's going back to her to get laid.
Most of the language involving POC characters is off. From distasteful to just weird. There are Indigenous American characters he just refers to as The Indian over and over, the main antagonist is an Asian Cursed that repeatedly is called the Asian man, and a werewolf who had a relationship with "The Indian" is a black woman with blonde hair he announces that "the curtains match the drapes." The MC himself repeats the thought "I could tell by the way they looked at each other they'd seen each other naked" twice in the same paragraph. There are a lot of repetitive phrases and words just everywhere to be honest. I won't be continuing this series.
October 24, 2016
This was a good book. I thought the main character was very interested and his interest in and reference to the horror/comic book genres were fun.
I know I am likely a minority in this, but I am truly weary of plots involving finding the missing spouse (usually straight man's wife) and child. (It seems like a child always has to also be missing.) For me this has become a very tiresome cliché. Surely there are OTHER motivations a character could have.
It is rather telling when I find (on my Kindle) that *40* people have highlighted one rather long paragraph that I thought just okay -- and that also had a grammatical mistake in it. *sigh*
Once again, I think books which are written as cliffhangers should be labeled as such, rather than to find out only at the very end that YOU HAVE TO BUY THE NEXT BOOK if you want to find out an actual ending to the first novel -- accept that the 2nd novel in the series is very likely and cliffhanger as well! This becomes VERY ANNOYING when you find out the next book has NOT yet been written and you have to wait a year (at least!) for the next part.
BAD AUTHORS! BAD!! *hits with rolled newspaper* BAD, BAD AUTHORS!!!
Special Note to cover artist: yes, the guy on the cover is very sexy -- BUT he IS suppose to have a demonic right arm, solid black with (sometimes glowing) red tattoos-- that includes his HAND. Yet on the covers of the 3 books I have seen in this series, *not* once has his arm/hand shown like this. I always find it troubling when an artist never seems to have read (or even skimmed) the novel they are creating the artwork for it. *SIGH*
I do want to stress I did give this 4-stars ever with all the problems I have.
. . .
July 12, 2017
Cursed (The Thrice Cursed Mage, #1
by J.A. Cipriano
A quick and reasonably enjoyable read.
What I liked:
a. I liked the main character and found the surrounding characters interesting
b. There certainly was adequate danger and action (maybe a bit too much)
c. Easy to read
d. Interesting situations
What I didn't like:
a. And yes, as usual (not always), this cost the book a star: the hated cliff hanging ending. Yes, I know the next couple of books in the series are available, but why should I read a book that the author him/herself doesn't have enough faith in to allow it to stand alone? If the author doesn't think the writing was good enough to make me want to read the next book without that cliffhanger ending, why should I?
b. Some errors, like a reference to a Cassava melon. I think Cassava is a root vegetable. Casaba, on the other hand, is a melon. Sadder, because just saying "melon" would have worked.
c. Too many loose ends, unexplained things, etc. I assume the author will clear that up in the next books, but I felt like I was reading the first half or first third of a longer book. You know. Suddenly, it just plain ends, without resolution to what seems to be the underlying issue driving the main character and his current situation.
So, no, I won't read any more of this series. However, if you don't mind a cliffhanger ending or a story broken up into separate novels, then you might really enjoy it. Different strokes.
by J.A. Cipriano
A quick and reasonably enjoyable read.
What I liked:
a. I liked the main character and found the surrounding characters interesting
b. There certainly was adequate danger and action (maybe a bit too much)
c. Easy to read
d. Interesting situations
What I didn't like:
a. And yes, as usual (not always), this cost the book a star: the hated cliff hanging ending. Yes, I know the next couple of books in the series are available, but why should I read a book that the author him/herself doesn't have enough faith in to allow it to stand alone? If the author doesn't think the writing was good enough to make me want to read the next book without that cliffhanger ending, why should I?
b. Some errors, like a reference to a Cassava melon. I think Cassava is a root vegetable. Casaba, on the other hand, is a melon. Sadder, because just saying "melon" would have worked.
c. Too many loose ends, unexplained things, etc. I assume the author will clear that up in the next books, but I felt like I was reading the first half or first third of a longer book. You know. Suddenly, it just plain ends, without resolution to what seems to be the underlying issue driving the main character and his current situation.
So, no, I won't read any more of this series. However, if you don't mind a cliffhanger ending or a story broken up into separate novels, then you might really enjoy it. Different strokes.
June 9, 2017
Fun and 'fantastical'
We wake up with the hero at the start of the book, not knowing anything. Who is the hero, why is he in this situation and what can he do about it. Amnesia means the answers to these questions come to him, and therefore to us, slowly as the story unravels.
Mac, the hero, has memories of non-personal things such as social media, geography, and also (piecemeal) use of firearms and other items. He eventually figuratively meets his inner demon (?) cat who reminds me of the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. Subsequently he's a little confused as to whether he knows things and can do things by himself our from his cat.
The whole story, from start to finish, is a wonderful, fantasia of magical breasts and abilities. Mac really does seem to be a hero, despite his demonic arm; with more altruistic tendencies than bad, or even evil, motives.
The book is part one in a series, which means that the story continues. Thankfully however, as I really hate stories that leave you desperate to know what happens, this book has an ending of sorts, though or hero still has much to do in the future. Well written, thank you J.A. Cipriano for sharing your imagination.
We wake up with the hero at the start of the book, not knowing anything. Who is the hero, why is he in this situation and what can he do about it. Amnesia means the answers to these questions come to him, and therefore to us, slowly as the story unravels.
Mac, the hero, has memories of non-personal things such as social media, geography, and also (piecemeal) use of firearms and other items. He eventually figuratively meets his inner demon (?) cat who reminds me of the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. Subsequently he's a little confused as to whether he knows things and can do things by himself our from his cat.
The whole story, from start to finish, is a wonderful, fantasia of magical breasts and abilities. Mac really does seem to be a hero, despite his demonic arm; with more altruistic tendencies than bad, or even evil, motives.
The book is part one in a series, which means that the story continues. Thankfully however, as I really hate stories that leave you desperate to know what happens, this book has an ending of sorts, though or hero still has much to do in the future. Well written, thank you J.A. Cipriano for sharing your imagination.
February 7, 2017
The protagonist in J.A. Cipriano’s Cursed reminds me of Harry Dresden with his smooth, self-deprecating voice and darkly antagonistic world. But the similarities end as Mac Brennan learns and uses his destructive powers—this is a gory tale with crueler themes. The story's set in an almost-familiar world where vampires and werewolves roam unrecognized, congregate at the occasional safe cafe location, and perhaps allow mysterious entities to inhabit their minds. But Mac’s first aim is to find out who he is and to escape an immediate and thoroughly unpleasant end. It makes for an enthralling first scene, and draws the reader quickly into the book.
Gory, dark, filled with action and suspense, Cursed is a great start to a series, a complete novel in its own right, and a fast, enthralling read. By the end I don’t know if I want to like Mac or not. But I do want to know more, and I want him to win his next battle. Serious urban fantasy without an inch of flab, this is a book I couldn’t put down until it was done.
Disclosure: I borrowed it and loved it.
Gory, dark, filled with action and suspense, Cursed is a great start to a series, a complete novel in its own right, and a fast, enthralling read. By the end I don’t know if I want to like Mac or not. But I do want to know more, and I want him to win his next battle. Serious urban fantasy without an inch of flab, this is a book I couldn’t put down until it was done.
Disclosure: I borrowed it and loved it.
July 1, 2018
This is a fast read with lots going on. If you have read the reviews there are a lot of mixed feeling towards the story and character. The main character has lost his memory, so he doesn't know who he is or his history. How the author build his character up without spoilers? They can't, We get info when Mac does in the way of memory flashes or he remembers things by instinct. I for one enjoy learning along with Mac.
There are also a lot of references to other books, characters and movies. I know this can put some people off but I liked how it gave a picture of what was happening, a visual the reader could reference.
This is a fun, explosive action packed read. There isn't much character building or world building, just the story of one day at a time how this character with no memory, power he doesn't know how to use, and a quest he needs to complete which he doesn't remember. I want to keep reading more so I can find out more. This to me is a fun read.
Warning thou, cliff hanger ending. Not a bad one, but still a cliff ender.
There are also a lot of references to other books, characters and movies. I know this can put some people off but I liked how it gave a picture of what was happening, a visual the reader could reference.
This is a fun, explosive action packed read. There isn't much character building or world building, just the story of one day at a time how this character with no memory, power he doesn't know how to use, and a quest he needs to complete which he doesn't remember. I want to keep reading more so I can find out more. This to me is a fun read.
Warning thou, cliff hanger ending. Not a bad one, but still a cliff ender.
November 15, 2017
I found this book to be interesting as far as it goes, and while I wouldn't object to reading more in the series, I'm certainly not going hunting for them. If I run across one later on, fine, I'll read it, but this just doesn't fit what I like to read.
Sure, there was lots of action, and sure, there's a seriously overpowered hero that can tank with the best of them, but that's basically all that happens here. If you like lots and lots of action, and no plot, then sure, have at it. If you're looking for actual world development, plot progression, and something meaningful other than useless violence, then you'll need to look elsewhere, because this book doesn't have it.
I suppose everyone wants an escape once in a while, and this book is great for that, but I personally like to have something useful after all is said and done, and while this book hints at that, it doesn't really deliver on it. It was certainly an interesting read, but not truly my cup of tea.
Sure, there was lots of action, and sure, there's a seriously overpowered hero that can tank with the best of them, but that's basically all that happens here. If you like lots and lots of action, and no plot, then sure, have at it. If you're looking for actual world development, plot progression, and something meaningful other than useless violence, then you'll need to look elsewhere, because this book doesn't have it.
I suppose everyone wants an escape once in a while, and this book is great for that, but I personally like to have something useful after all is said and done, and while this book hints at that, it doesn't really deliver on it. It was certainly an interesting read, but not truly my cup of tea.
April 17, 2018
Above average supernatural story
Cursed is the first book in a new miniseries featuring supernatural demons, werewolves, vampires, druids and other so far unidentified creatures.
Mac, our hero in this story, wakes up one morning in a garbage container with no memory and his right arm turned black with tattoos in a strange language.
As Mac tries to figure out what's going on, he gets involved in helping a young woman who is being attacked by werewolves. In helping her, Mac begins to discover that his right arm has magical powers the protect him and give him powers to defeat his adversaries.
Eventually, Mac must infiltrate a magically cursed house of horrors, fighting his way past werewolves and demons with the help of a vampire and a Druid to rescue the woman and her son from total damnation.
Cursed is the first book in a new miniseries featuring supernatural demons, werewolves, vampires, druids and other so far unidentified creatures.
Mac, our hero in this story, wakes up one morning in a garbage container with no memory and his right arm turned black with tattoos in a strange language.
As Mac tries to figure out what's going on, he gets involved in helping a young woman who is being attacked by werewolves. In helping her, Mac begins to discover that his right arm has magical powers the protect him and give him powers to defeat his adversaries.
Eventually, Mac must infiltrate a magically cursed house of horrors, fighting his way past werewolves and demons with the help of a vampire and a Druid to rescue the woman and her son from total damnation.
July 10, 2017
An imaginative and quite good story involving vampires, werewolves, demons, druids and humans who gain demonic powers through deals with the demons. The story begins with Mac Brennan waking up in a dumpster with no memories. Clear and succinct writing provides all the excitement and action a reader could handle. The story arc has a distinct ending, but leaves the door open for more, making this a good stand alone book as well as the introduction to a series. The descriptions are detailed to create an environment, but don't get in the way of the story. Use of supernatural beings gives a whole new dimension to the story.
August 4, 2017
About half-way through, I realised I wasn't actually enjoying this book, but thanks to how short it was, I decided to finish it anyway. It could benefit greatly from some editing - making sure that some words weren't repeated 3 times within 3 consecutive sentences and similar small, but irritating sins. Also....what's with the parable and comparisons? Almost everything he mentioned was compared to something else until it grew a bit ridiculous in some instances.
As for the plot, I liked the basic idea, but not the actual execution of it. The only saving grace was the humour, which was a bit too forced at some points, but for me, it made finishing the book possible.
As for the plot, I liked the basic idea, but not the actual execution of it. The only saving grace was the humour, which was a bit too forced at some points, but for me, it made finishing the book possible.
March 8, 2018
I don't know anything about mages with this book, as there weren't any in it. There were werewolves, Frankenstein, demons, vampires, and druids though.
Allow me to be a little self-promoting here... but this starts out a lot like my book After Life. A guy wakes up without his memory in an alley... yeah exactly the same. There are a few details though, like this guy is in a dumpster.
Anyway, he meets all sorts of other people/things and while relatively short (I'm into short ebooks this year it seems) it was a good story. A good supernatural story, something I haven't read in awhile it seems.
It is a continuing series, and I am tempted to see how it plays out.
Allow me to be a little self-promoting here... but this starts out a lot like my book After Life. A guy wakes up without his memory in an alley... yeah exactly the same. There are a few details though, like this guy is in a dumpster.
Anyway, he meets all sorts of other people/things and while relatively short (I'm into short ebooks this year it seems) it was a good story. A good supernatural story, something I haven't read in awhile it seems.
It is a continuing series, and I am tempted to see how it plays out.
December 5, 2019
Cursed Is book one of The Thrice Cursed Mage urban fantasy series.
Mac Brennan wakes up in a dustbin which is about to be emptied, knowing little more than his name. One arm is blackened with runes that he didn’t think he had before.
Stinking from other people’s rubbish, Mac goes to a laundrette hoping to steal some clean clothes. However, he gets involved in a fight to protect a woman from two thugs that he later discovers are werewolves.
In his search to find out who he is and why he can only remember wisps of images from his past, Mac joins a vampire and a druid in a daring kidnap rescue. See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-f76
Mac Brennan wakes up in a dustbin which is about to be emptied, knowing little more than his name. One arm is blackened with runes that he didn’t think he had before.
Stinking from other people’s rubbish, Mac goes to a laundrette hoping to steal some clean clothes. However, he gets involved in a fight to protect a woman from two thugs that he later discovers are werewolves.
In his search to find out who he is and why he can only remember wisps of images from his past, Mac joins a vampire and a druid in a daring kidnap rescue. See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-f76
February 12, 2020
Fun story despite the cliffhanger.
This is the kind of book I can really get into. Snarky, spooky, dangerous characters, and the main character doesn't know anything about his past other than his name. Before long, Mac Brennan discovers he has to save a woman and her son and he didn't even know who they are although he senses they are important to him. But first he has to deal with werewolves, Deon possessed bad guys and come to terms with the fact that he himself has made some sort of desk with a demon in order to do what he had to do. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
This is the kind of book I can really get into. Snarky, spooky, dangerous characters, and the main character doesn't know anything about his past other than his name. Before long, Mac Brennan discovers he has to save a woman and her son and he didn't even know who they are although he senses they are important to him. But first he has to deal with werewolves, Deon possessed bad guys and come to terms with the fact that he himself has made some sort of desk with a demon in order to do what he had to do. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
May 17, 2017
wow such a lot happened....
he wakes up in a dumpster no memory and his arm is black as the ace of spades and also sporting tattoos...
all he knows he has to rescue a mother and son but first he has to figure out who what and where he is...and then he stumbles across another woman in need of rescuing....
action packed book and an easy writing style that keeps you reading even if page after page there is action to numerous to mention or remember
he wakes up in a dumpster no memory and his arm is black as the ace of spades and also sporting tattoos...
all he knows he has to rescue a mother and son but first he has to figure out who what and where he is...and then he stumbles across another woman in need of rescuing....
action packed book and an easy writing style that keeps you reading even if page after page there is action to numerous to mention or remember
October 10, 2017
This book to me was a quick read filled with action scene after action scene after action scene (you get the picture) throughout the book. I didn't feel as if the story was great but it was alright.
I would recommend this to those that like comic book reads because that is the feel I got. Wham Bam Pop situations where the main character "surprisingly" gets out of situation with some magical power he knows nothing about.
I didn't hate the plot and would read more by this author.
I would recommend this to those that like comic book reads because that is the feel I got. Wham Bam Pop situations where the main character "surprisingly" gets out of situation with some magical power he knows nothing about.
I didn't hate the plot and would read more by this author.
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