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Cursed

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Lucan thought it was just a fling.

He never should have messed around with a witch.

Gargoyle shifter brothers, Lucan, Danton, and Mattias, are attacked by a vengeful witch. She locks them in stone form and clouds their memories with dark magic.

A curse that controls their lives.

She has stolen their free will. How will they cope with the darkness?

CURSED is a prequel in the Underground Encounters series, set in a gothic club that attracts supernatural creatures. Discover how a curse has changed the fates for the gargoyle shifters who guard at Vamps. Each hero appears in a separate story in the series.
· Danton in HEAT
· Lucan in INFLAME
· Mattias in TORCH

Damaged heroes, fated mates, and forbidden love--find those and more at Vamps. Escape into a thrilling new world of steamy paranormal romance featuring sexy shifters, thirsty vampires, sensual witches, and gorgeous gargoyles!

Underground Encounters series
Each can be read as a standalone.

Book 1: SMOLDER (a vampire / firefighter romance)
Book 2: FIRE (a witch / firefighter romance)
Book 3: IGNITE (a feline shifter / rock star romance)
Book 4: BURN (a vampire / shapeshifter rock romance)
Book 5: HEAT (a gargoyle shifter romance)
Book 6: BLAZE (a gargoyle shifter rockstar romance)
Book 7: COMBUST (vampire / witch romances)
Book 8: INFLAME (a gargoyle shifter / witch romance)
Book 9: TORCH (a gargoyle shifter / werewolf romance)

Start the Underground Encounters series today!

Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2019

343 people are currently reading
334 people want to read

About the author

Lisa Carlisle

148 books593 followers
USA Today bestselling author Lisa Carlisle loves stories with dark, brooding heroes or quirky outcasts. Her romances have been named Top Picks at Night Owl Reviews and The Romance Reviews.

When she was younger, she worked in a variety of jobs, moving to various countries. She was stationed in Okinawa while in the Marines, backpacked alone through Europe, and worked in Paris before returning to the U.S. She owned a bookstore for a few years as she loves to read. She’s married with two kids, two cats, and too many fish.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
Profile Image for Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️.
2,946 reviews2,674 followers
February 2, 2023
Gargoyle shifter prequel!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: N/A
Heat/Steam: N/A
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌍
Character development: 😠😘🤓
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Solo Narration

The Hero: Lucan - he was a gargoyle shifter who got involved with a witch, Veronique, against his clans wishes. He thought they were just having some fun, while she took things more seriously. When things went bad, she cursed him and his brothers, Danton and Mattias. They were locked in stone for centuries, only able to come out once in a while to help humans in trouble and only able to stay out for 24 hours at a time.

The Story: Memories of the witch had left the brothers as part of the curse. Lucan wanted revenge against Veronique but couldn’t even remember what she looked like. At some point after years of guarding the Paris streets, they were approached by a vampire named Michel to come to the US and be guards in his goth nightclub called Vamps.

This book is told via solo narration and was narrated by Bridget Bordeaux. She has a good voice though each character sounds pretty much the same, she distinguishes between different people by different accents not changing her voice. I didn’t really like the french accents. The story is only the back story of the three brothers, no romance. The book was good for a prequel with just background story information, though I wish Lucan had a romance, there was the start of Danton’s romance which comes later in the series.

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Profile Image for "Avonna.
1,462 reviews588 followers
June 21, 2020
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

CURSED (Underground Encounters Book #0) by Lisa Carlisle is the start of the paranormal/urban fantasy series featuring gargoyles, vampires, shifters, witches and demons. I have read other books in this series and have loved them all and this short story did not disappoint.

This story introduces the French gargoyle shifter brothers, Lucan, Danton and Mattias who are happily living with their clan. Lucan starts seeing a witch, who believes their relationship is more than just the fling Lucan believed it to be. When she comes across the brothers discussing her and Lucan, she believes they are speaking disrespectfully of her and she curses them with a black spell that locks them in their stone forms and clouds their memories of her.

As the brothers adapt to their cursed lives, they find that when they see someone in danger, they are released from their stone forms for 24 hours.

Are they to be cursed forever? Or will the brothers be able to find a way to break the curse?

This is an intriguing introduction to the gargoyle brothers, Michel their vampire boss and VAMPS the underground alternative goth nightclub. Ms. Carlisle has done a good job of worldbuilding in such a short book. I do not usually like cliffhangers, but since I read this book after the book that gives us Danton’s story, I was not upset and did not have to wait.

Once you start reading this series, you are going to be hooked!
Profile Image for Sheila.
536 reviews10 followers
June 10, 2019
Cursed
I have always wondered how those three handsome gargoyle brothers with the French accents got to America and settled into Vamps. This is their story.
Lucan was a young and frisky gargoyle. He met a pretty witch named Veronique. They had a fast and hot romance. She wanted him to leave everything and run away together. They both were so young. Lucan refused her and she was unhappy. At the time Lucan had no idea that she was pregnant with his child. Read INFLAME for Lucan’s full story.
Veronique comes back and curses Lucan and his two brothers. They turn to stone and their memories become confused. They can return to flesh only if there is danger. It is hard on Lucan to know that a vengeful and crazy witch has cursed him but it also involves his two brothers, Danton and Mattias.
They wander around France and settle near Notre Dame. They meet a vampire named Michel.
If you love VAMPS, the underground alternative goth nightclub like I do this story is written for you. I love a good backstory. This prequel lends richness to the start of the nightclub and where those realistic gargoyle statues that are inside and outside of the nightclub. Are they all cursed gargoyles? Read and find out, you will not be disappointed!
Profile Image for Ana.
2,038 reviews6 followers
June 10, 2019
Years ago in France Lucan the youngest of the 3 gargoyle brothers liked to live in the fast lane and despite the bad blood with witches his libido would not be controlled which condemned them all to a life in stone. They realized that they could not undo the curse with their magic or that of their clan, but were gifted with 24 hours in their human form whenever they came upon evil.

Danton, Matthias and Lucan are offered a job by a vampire who learns of their plight, as Guardians at a club he is opening up in the US that caters to all kind of strange humans and supernatural beings. Hoping for more time to figure out a way to relieve themselves of the curse they travel to the States and enter their new lives as Stone Sentries at Vamps where you can meet anyone.

Will love be strong enough to break their curse though.
Profile Image for Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon).
16.4k reviews216 followers
October 22, 2019
Another great read, with lots of chemistry and hotness. This is a well written story and hooked me from the start.This is a quick hot read, with a interesting plot and fantastic characters, great emotion and Loads of steam!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jessica Walters.
95 reviews4 followers
September 14, 2019
I didn’t LOVE this. I am hoping as the more I get into the series I will enjoy it more. I personally just think it’s the writing style. Not the concepts.
I love anything supernatural or fantasy. And I love the ideas of crossed over romance. This just gave me a taste. So maybe the more I read the series the more I will enjoy. A quick read with so much potential.
Here’s to continuing the path....
Profile Image for Megan Riverina Romantics.
1,367 reviews75 followers
February 27, 2020
Rating: ❤❤❤❤

This novella is included in the book Smolder to which I listened.

Cursed is the prequel to the Underground Encounters series. The series revolves around a goth club called Vamps.

This delightful little story is about three of the stone gargoyles that decorate the club and how they got there. They're actually cursed shifters, brothers, and will eventually get their own stories later on in the series. I loved the repartee between the brothers and thought it was fantastic. I found myself grinning at their comments and actions more than once. And while the idea of a curse trapping shifters in one form or another isn't original the details of this specific curse were. As was it's interesting loophole.

I think that the author captured her readers attention enough with this short novella to ensure that they'll keep on reading the series. That is, after all, the purpose of a story like this. I think that it's a cool world that Carlisle has created and I know that I'm interested in learning more about it.
Profile Image for Sher.
284 reviews
June 10, 2019
Lucas is a young Gargoyle shifter who is out for a good time and not ready to settle down.
He meets a young beautiful witch named Veronique.. She thinks she is in love and ready to settle down with Lucas. But he wants to play the field.
He tries to break it off nicely....Well she follows him home to his brothers...What starts as a candid conversation between brothers turns into a disaster for them all.
She curses them for eternity. But there is a way to break the curse..They must find their true loves.
Great prequel to the Underground Encounters Series..
Excellent series. Maybe we will get more. We can always hope.
3,423 reviews20 followers
June 10, 2019
Hell hath no fury....as the saying goes. Double that for a witch. Lucan should never have had just some fun with her. He was warned she was dangerous. Witches and gargoyles don't match. Now not only does he have to suffer the consequences, so do his brothers.

Her curse leaves them in their stone form except for ...

Is there any way to remove the curse? Will leaving their country home and going to the city with the offer by a non-human give them a chance to overcome the curse?

I loved the stories of the brothers finding love. This backstory answers a lot of questions and is a great short read.
Profile Image for Deb.
1,095 reviews
June 11, 2019
Omg! “Cursed” is the fantastic backstory about the 3 gargoyle brothers we’ve come to know and love! All I can say is it’s been worth the wait, and if you love PNR, shifters, vamps & magic, then you gotta get all of these must reads in the Underground Encounters world! I never write spoilers or copy blurbs, but I highly recommend all of these books to adult 18+ fans of fiction. Even tho I volunteered to read this, it was without any outside influences & these are my honest feelings, plus I do buy many kindle books by this author when I am able to. Now I can’t wait for more, but I will of course ;)
6,527 reviews27 followers
June 7, 2019
I have read this entire series and it was great to finally find out the back story of Danton, Lucan and Mattias whose stories I have already read. Lucan should never have mixed it up with a witch Make sure you read the books that are the individual stories for these three brothers they are already available. As always Lisa's books are fast paced with steam and energy that keeps you enthralled Her books are always a pleasure to read
Profile Image for Betty.
509 reviews2 followers
June 10, 2019
Never Cross a Witch is Lucan's mantra. Lucan is a Gargoyle Shifter who royally pissed off an evil witch. She cursed him and his two brothers. Lucan wanted revenge and he and his brothers tried to find the witch to no avail. They meet a Vampire, Michel, who wants to give them a job in his supernatural club just north of Boston. What will they do, stay or go? Will they ever be able to break the curse?
Enjoyed this short and fast story - loved the characters and the storyline.
Profile Image for Sydney M Neblett.
2,660 reviews26 followers
June 6, 2019
What a great build up
Wow! This book is the perfect lead into a long running series of books. The author gave us the back story as well as a lead into several of the books and introduced us to characters who, hopefully, will get a book of their own. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Raina.
4,194 reviews34 followers
June 10, 2019
The prequel to the series. From book one we read some of how the gargoyles ended up at Vamps. But now we get to have the whole story. A fast story that if you haven’t read the series you definitely will want to after this. This and the whole series are great reads with several types of paranormal. Definitely recommend for any paranormal romance reader.
Profile Image for Barbara.
19.2k reviews8 followers
June 10, 2019
If you have read any of the other books in the Underground Encounters series this is a must read. I enjoyed finding out how the men got cursed. I know when this series ends I want to have a couple of days to sit and read them one after the other. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and enjoyed it enough that I had to buy.
Profile Image for Trixie.
5,182 reviews
June 8, 2019
The life of the three gargoyle brothers after they were cursed, and before they found their fated mate. Now, I finally know the reason and how they were curse.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Gladys.
13.9k reviews163 followers
June 9, 2019
This is a wonderful prequel novel that gives readers the backstory of Lucan, Danton, and Mattias and how they ended up cursed. This is a treat for readers familiar with this series and the perfect starting point if you are just looking to jump in. This is my independent, impartial review.
Profile Image for Marianne.
7,191 reviews85 followers
June 10, 2019
I loved this story. It is a prequel for "Underground Encounters". It really helps flesh out the origins of the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Janet Swiftbird.
1,878 reviews6 followers
June 10, 2019
The Beginning

How can he break the curse that has kept him and his brothers immortal in stone all these years?
A great storyline and good characters to catch your attention and keep you hooked through each book in the series.
Profile Image for Emily Dickson.
1,096 reviews7 followers
June 11, 2019
This was a great prequel that gave the background on the curse that the gargoyles all had due to an evil witch that Lucan had been involved with. Loved the fast pace as these gargoyles search for a cure and end up at the Underground. Fast and fun story! I am voluntarily reviewing an arc
Profile Image for Sheryl.
2,030 reviews22 followers
June 11, 2019
have you ever wondered how the brothers became gargoyles? well here is the story you have waited for on how they were turned into the protecting gargoyles they are.

this is the prequel for the Underground Encounters series by the author.
1,707 reviews12 followers
Read
June 10, 2019
This is the prelude to Heat is an interesting look at what happened to the brothers. I was given an ARC from the author without obligation. I am providing an honest review.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews132 followers
Want to read
December 27, 2019
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/27/2019)! 🎁
Profile Image for Bea McGhie.
266 reviews12 followers
May 5, 2022
This is the first (prequel) of many books in the Underground Encounter series .
It tells how 3 brothers got cursed by a witch gone dark.
Their individial stories will be told throughout the series.
This prequel gives you but a taste of what's to come in this series.
Misfits finding their HEA.
Lisa Carlisle has done it again, I just love her writing style, her carefully thought out storylines and well developed characters.
Cannot wait to continue the rest of the series...
4,855 reviews18 followers
June 15, 2019
Good setup! Lucan rejected the suggestion of witch, Veronica to run away with her leaving both families behind. While discussing the idea with his brothers with typical bewildered male language, Veronica heard them. She responded in anger and put a curse on all three brothers. She confined them to their gargoyles in statue forms. They only reached their human forms while trying to help someone. Then they had 24 hours of freedom before converting to statue form. They spent a lot fo time in Paris until they met Michel a vampire who had a unique proposition for them. Will they break the curse? Will they survive the transAtlantic trip? Nice background. Good beginning. Ms Carlisle has what looks to be a successful series in the making. I received an ARC from Booksprout for a review.Good setup! Lucan rejected the suggestion of witch, Veronica to run away with her leaving both families behind. While discussing the idea with his brothers with typical bewildered male language, Veronica heard them. She responded in anger and put a curse on all three brothers. She confined them to their gargoyles in statue forms. They only reached their human forms while trying to help someone. Then they had 24 hours of freedom before converting to statue form. They spent a lot fo time in Paris until they met Michel a vampire who had a unique proposition for them. Will they break the curse? Will they survive the transAtlantic trip? Nice background. Good beginning. Ms Carlisle has what looks to be a successful series in the making. I received an ARC from Booksprout for a review.
Profile Image for Iluvbks.
568 reviews5 followers
June 12, 2019
I really enjoyed this short read! When Lucan breaks up with his latest she goes a little crazy. What happens when you break up with a crazy witch? She gets angry and curses not only you but your brothers as well! Lucan, Danton and Mattias are gargoyle shifters now in statue form all the time! This short read kept me turning the pages until the very end. The brothers find that they can become themselves when helping others in trouble so they move to where they can make a difference. Along comes Michel and he offers them a great opportunity to work at Vamps a Goth club.
Vamps is going to be a great place for them to meet their mates and to help those in the club if there is trouble.
This prequel to the Underground Encounters series intrigued me so much I bought the first three books in this series.
My only dislike was not knowing a time line. It has to be modern times since at the first of the book they were grilling on a gas grill. But the story talks about as the years went on.... I just like timeline.
1,992 reviews16 followers
June 13, 2019
A young gargoyle shifter breaks up with his girl and is shocked when she not only curses him but also his brothers. As a result they can only become flesh and move when they help someone in need.
Finally they will be released when they find their mates. This is the prequel to their story, giving the background and setting the stage for the first brother to find his mate.
In itself there is no romance, just the story of the three gargoyle shifters and how they get to where they are at the beginning of the story. If you want to know the background the way I do to understand a story better, then this book is for you.
Should you just be interested in romance, then skip this book - you might find it boring.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for iliana G.
1,694 reviews26 followers
June 17, 2019
Lucan thought it was just a fling.

He never should have messed around with a witch.

Gargoyle shifter brothers, Lucan, Danton, and Mattias, are attacked by a vengeful witch. She locks them in stone form and clouds their memories with dark magic.

A curse that controls their lives.

She has stolen their free will. How will they cope with the darkness?

This is the beginning of how everything happened and how Lucan Danthe on and Mattias stories started.
I really love reading the beginning of all and completing the details of the story in my mind.
An awesome ,quick read by Ms.Carlisle that will definetely make your day.Also if you haven't read the stories of the Gargoyles this start will make you want too!
Profile Image for Denise.
3,719 reviews
January 2, 2020
I ended up listening to this as part of the Smoulder audiobook. It is sort of a prequel, but only a little bit of it applied to the next two books so if you don't read it you won't miss anything up to that point.

The story is about some Gargoyle brothers who make a witch really, really angry and she curses them to be in their stone forms except when someone around them is in danger. Once they are in human form they can only stay that way for 24 hours before turning back to stone. They get a strange job offer to watch over a night club that is owned by a vampire - on the other side of the Atlantic.
Profile Image for Nicoletta Tsalafaos.
433 reviews4 followers
October 23, 2019
CURSED (a gargoyle shifter story) (Underground Encounters Book 0) by
Lisa Carlisle is a Paranormal, Romantic Suspense. A well-written short in the Underground Encounters series. This is the prequel to the gargoyle's shifter stories. Here we Meet the three gargoyle shifters who guard at Vamps. Danton, Lucan and Mattias and why a vengeful witch locks them in stone and clouds their memories. Even though their stories can be read as standalones I do recommend you read this frist. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
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