What do you think?
Rate this book
Cursed Luck #1
Cursed Luck
Listening Length 12 hours and 20 minutes
Kennedy Bennett comes from a long line of curse weavers. For centuries, her family has plied their trade in Unstable, Massachusetts, a quirky small town that’s welcomed paranormal practitioners since the dawn of spiritualism. Kennedy has recently struck out on her own, opening an antiques shop in Boston, where her speciality is uncursing and reselling hexed objects.
Then Aiden Connolly walks into her life with an offer she really should refuse. The scion of a wealthy family of luck workers, Aiden has a scheme to get his hands on the most famous cursed object of all: the mythical Necklace of Harmonia. He’s not the only one after the necklace, though. And he’s not the only one looking for a curse weaver to fix it. Kennedy’s sisters are kidnapped, she finds herself plunged into the underbelly of the magical world where even Aidan soon finds himself in over his head.
Kennedy Bennett comes from a long line of curse weavers. For centuries, her family has plied their trade in Unstable, Massachusetts, a quirky small town that’s welcomed paranormal practitioners since the dawn of spiritualism. Kennedy has recently struck out on her own, opening an antiques shop in Boston, where her speciality is uncursing and reselling hexed objects.
Then Aiden Connolly walks into her life with an offer she really should refuse. The scion of a wealthy family of luck workers, Aiden has a scheme to get his hands on the most famous cursed object of all: the mythical Necklace of Harmonia. He’s not the only one after the necklace, though. And he’s not the only one looking for a curse weaver to fix it. Kennedy’s sisters are kidnapped, she finds herself plunged into the underbelly of the magical world where even Aidan soon finds himself in over his head.
13 pages, Audible Audio
First published May 4, 2021
410 people are currently reading
3064 people want to read
About the author
Kelley Armstrong
302 books33.5k followersKelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 501 reviews
January 13, 2022
It always takes me a little bit of time to adjust to Kelley Armstrong's writing style, but once I do I'm usually hooked right away!
I honestly thought it was going to be a bit different this time... Why? Well, I settled into the character building, the world building, the plot of the story but, for me, it was just going a little too slow. However, at some point I became hooked! At some point it all mattered! At some point I couldn't put the book down... and then it ended...
I love Kennedy and her sisters and I love Aiden... I enjoyed all the characters and the storyline!
I do have the 2nd book ready to read but I'm waiting for book 1.5 to be released as a single short (as opposed to being part of an anthology book) and I don't have to wait long, bring on Jan 18th!
I honestly thought it was going to be a bit different this time... Why? Well, I settled into the character building, the world building, the plot of the story but, for me, it was just going a little too slow. However, at some point I became hooked! At some point it all mattered! At some point I couldn't put the book down... and then it ended...
I love Kennedy and her sisters and I love Aiden... I enjoyed all the characters and the storyline!
I do have the 2nd book ready to read but I'm waiting for book 1.5 to be released as a single short (as opposed to being part of an anthology book) and I don't have to wait long, bring on Jan 18th!
May 8, 2021
Cursed Luck by Kelley Armstrong
Cursed Luck book 1. Paranormal mystery with a hint of romance.
Kennedy owns an antique shop in Boston, the cover for her skills of removing cursed objects of their spells and then reselling the clean item. After underhandedly proving that Kennedy is a witch, Aidan contracts with her to find and unweave a spell on a famous antique necklace. Kennedy agrees because somehow connected, her sisters were kidnapped and she will do anything to protect her family.
Intriguing and complex with spells, luck, hidden Gods and tricksters.
The chemistry between Kennedy and Aidan was soft and romantic. The inclusion of bad and good luck offsetting each other was amusing. The tricksters were annoying and arrogant. Of course.
Absolutely enjoyed and look forward to reading more.
I listened to the audio version narrated by Carly Robins. She did a fantastic job of voice inflection and emotions tones. I noticed a few editing adjustments but they were minor and not obtrusive. I enjoyed her overall performance.
I started at 1.0 speed and after an hour increased to my usual 1.25.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and @Dreamscapeaudio.
Cursed Luck book 1. Paranormal mystery with a hint of romance.
Kennedy owns an antique shop in Boston, the cover for her skills of removing cursed objects of their spells and then reselling the clean item. After underhandedly proving that Kennedy is a witch, Aidan contracts with her to find and unweave a spell on a famous antique necklace. Kennedy agrees because somehow connected, her sisters were kidnapped and she will do anything to protect her family.
Intriguing and complex with spells, luck, hidden Gods and tricksters.
The chemistry between Kennedy and Aidan was soft and romantic. The inclusion of bad and good luck offsetting each other was amusing. The tricksters were annoying and arrogant. Of course.
Absolutely enjoyed and look forward to reading more.
I listened to the audio version narrated by Carly Robins. She did a fantastic job of voice inflection and emotions tones. I noticed a few editing adjustments but they were minor and not obtrusive. I enjoyed her overall performance.
I started at 1.0 speed and after an hour increased to my usual 1.25.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and @Dreamscapeaudio.
June 24, 2021
2.5 Stars
Some parts were interesting, but some parts made me want to skim-read. The romance alone was very slow burn (as in they don’t even kiss in this book) which was a let down. There’s apparently a sequel coming out in 2022, but I think I’ll skip it.
Some parts were interesting, but some parts made me want to skim-read. The romance alone was very slow burn (as in they don’t even kiss in this book) which was a let down. There’s apparently a sequel coming out in 2022, but I think I’ll skip it.
July 20, 2021
This story starts with Kennedy doing a job for Connolly that's a bit of a setup. It culminates with her in his business with the door locked and him going, "hear me out". And Kennedy loses all her calm and goes full nuclear on him and that drew me in immediately. Because too often this scene plays out with the woman in a vulnerable position giving in and hearing him out even if she then decides to blow him off. So I liked that she pulled out all the stops because what he did was not right and that he'd think it was okay was a problem. I loved that she called him out and in the strongest possible terms. And then made stick.
And I liked that Connolly was one who learns his lesson well and that while he may default to arrogant it isn't an excuse for him to stay there. He's actively learning, is what I'm saying, and I enjoyed seeing him grow. But then, that's kind of what ended up being a problem with the story. Because he's the only one who grows, really. And it isn't that it makes for an unbalanced relationship (though it does), so much as that Armstrong reiterates that message in other circumstances (not with Connolly, with other guys). And does it over and over again to the extent that the story ended up feeling like a polemic against icky men forever imposing their wicked will on women.
And the thing is, and I'm pretty sure Armstrong didn't mean it this way, it comes across a bit as infantilizing those women because the message is that they are unable to resist even the mildest forms of coercion. So a "good" man is one who hesitates to even express an opinion or preference because doing so might, just possibly, cause a woman to feel compelled to agree or to suppress her own preferences or opinions in favor of his. And because those little interactions are surrounded by big events where bad guys actively oppress the women they deal with (including Kennedy), those little moments become inextricably tied to the big ones such that any man not constantly walking on eggshells when a woman is around is an oppressing jerk just like the ubiquitous bad guys.
Why yes, I am elevating a very minor aspect of the story and spending lots of time on it. Why do you ask? Sigh. The plot is riveting and the pace relentless and Connolly is adorable and Kennedy awesome. And I loved seeing them grow together in trust and acceptance to overcome some horrendous odds and do the right thing along the way. Seriously, I stayed up way too late on a work night just to finish this and I regret nothing.
And while I'll admit that the ending matched the characters and events very well, I hated that Connolly was ready to wimp out and that Kennedy's bravery had to be sly because of events that made her romantic choices ultra-pressured. I'm a romantic. I wanted hijinks. What we get is stronger and, frankly, better, but I don't care, I still want them together in that way.
So this ends with four stars because of the little aspects that kept drawing me out of the story and the ending that I wish (irrationally) were different. I'm not sure if I'm interested in more of the series, though I'm definitely not interested in the shorts currently on offer. We'll see if Armstrong decides to continue, and I wonder if she'll shift to one of Kennedy's sisters' PoVs?
A note about Chaste: The events are fast and not a lot of time passes. So even though there's a solid foundation of trust and they have chemistry in spades, there's not any shenanigans. So this is pretty chaste, despite a dream or two that hinted at there possibly being more.
And I liked that Connolly was one who learns his lesson well and that while he may default to arrogant it isn't an excuse for him to stay there. He's actively learning, is what I'm saying, and I enjoyed seeing him grow. But then, that's kind of what ended up being a problem with the story. Because he's the only one who grows, really. And it isn't that it makes for an unbalanced relationship (though it does), so much as that Armstrong reiterates that message in other circumstances (not with Connolly, with other guys). And does it over and over again to the extent that the story ended up feeling like a polemic against icky men forever imposing their wicked will on women.
And the thing is, and I'm pretty sure Armstrong didn't mean it this way, it comes across a bit as infantilizing those women because the message is that they are unable to resist even the mildest forms of coercion. So a "good" man is one who hesitates to even express an opinion or preference because doing so might, just possibly, cause a woman to feel compelled to agree or to suppress her own preferences or opinions in favor of his. And because those little interactions are surrounded by big events where bad guys actively oppress the women they deal with (including Kennedy), those little moments become inextricably tied to the big ones such that any man not constantly walking on eggshells when a woman is around is an oppressing jerk just like the ubiquitous bad guys.
Why yes, I am elevating a very minor aspect of the story and spending lots of time on it. Why do you ask? Sigh. The plot is riveting and the pace relentless and Connolly is adorable and Kennedy awesome. And I loved seeing them grow together in trust and acceptance to overcome some horrendous odds and do the right thing along the way. Seriously, I stayed up way too late on a work night just to finish this and I regret nothing.
And while I'll admit that the ending matched the characters and events very well, I hated that Connolly was ready to wimp out and that Kennedy's bravery had to be sly because of events that made her romantic choices ultra-pressured. I'm a romantic. I wanted hijinks. What we get is stronger and, frankly, better, but I don't care, I still want them together in that way.
So this ends with four stars because of the little aspects that kept drawing me out of the story and the ending that I wish (irrationally) were different. I'm not sure if I'm interested in more of the series, though I'm definitely not interested in the shorts currently on offer. We'll see if Armstrong decides to continue, and I wonder if she'll shift to one of Kennedy's sisters' PoVs?
A note about Chaste: The events are fast and not a lot of time passes. So even though there's a solid foundation of trust and they have chemistry in spades, there's not any shenanigans. So this is pretty chaste, despite a dream or two that hinted at there possibly being more.
September 3, 2021
I wasn’t sure how I would like this when I first started reading, but it eventually grew on me. With the plot twists leading up to the ending, I was sold.
This was a fun, quick read and an excellent choice for an audiobook! I absolutely adored the banter and I think that is definitely one of Armstrong’s strongest points. I like the main romance but it was incredibly slow-burn, with the mystery taking up way more of the plot. I do love a slow burn, though, and I’m looking forward to book two. The narrator was amazing as well and 100% contributed to my enjoyment of the book.
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me this audiobook in exchange for a review.
This was a fun, quick read and an excellent choice for an audiobook! I absolutely adored the banter and I think that is definitely one of Armstrong’s strongest points. I like the main romance but it was incredibly slow-burn, with the mystery taking up way more of the plot. I do love a slow burn, though, and I’m looking forward to book two. The narrator was amazing as well and 100% contributed to my enjoyment of the book.
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me this audiobook in exchange for a review.
July 3, 2021
I like Kelley Armstrong's books so I was pleased to find a new audiobook from her just when my wife and I had some long drives ahead of us. And it was the start of a new series so it promised something fresh.
At first, the tone surprised me. I hadn't expected Kelley Armstrong to be headed for Molly Harper Dark Moon Hollow country- stories about supernaturals that aim at a little tension, a lot of humour and a low burn of sexual tension that occasional flames on with obligatory sex scenes - but I thought, 'Why shouldn't she try something different? And anyway, this is Kelley Armstrong so it's bound to be good'.
It wasn't.
As the miles went by I started to appreciate just how well Molly Harper does all that light-hearted but sexy stuff. Kelley Armstrong had all the right ingredients but lacked whatever magic it is that makes this kind of cake rise.
There are some good ideas here. A whole new magic system about curse workers and luck workers. A cursed necklace. Kidnapped siblings. A woman and a man forced to work together until their initial antagonism converts into mutual respect and then deep attraction (Yeah, saw that coming but that's part of the fun) and bad guys who might be good guys but who definitely have something to hide.
But the pacing was uneven. Some of the banter fell flat. The sexual tension felt forced and self-conscious. Some of the bad guys are cardboard cutout villains.
We continued to listen because we were driving and because some of the ideas were good and this was Kelley Armstrong so it was bound to get better.
The book lasted longer than the drive but we came back to it tonight to give it another go. Just before we hit the 75% mark we got a long and clumsy exposition of who some of the good/bad guys were. It should have been a big reveal, instead, it felt like an info dump. That was followed by a reveal of the bad guy behind the kidnappings. Exciting? No. The bad guy had all the threat of a pantomime villain. At that point my wife and I decided to abandon the book. Three more hours of it held no appeal and we didn't care what happened to any of these people..
If you want to try a sample for yourself, click on the SoundCloud link below.
May 31, 2021
I enjoyed the first part with the mystery but I didn't like the end part.
May 19, 2021
Cursed Luck is the first book in the Cursed Luck urban fantasy series.
Kelley Armstrong is my favorite author. So I was beyond excited to get to read her newest release.
She describes the genre as urban fantasy. The story is set in the real world. But some of the characters have powers and there are some magical elements. So it's a paranormal series.
The narrator is 25 year old Kennedy Bennett (1st person POV). She and her sisters are curse weavers. She has a small antiques showroom in Boston. But she is from the small town of Unstable, Massachusetts.
This book was an enjoyable read. I loved the idea of cursed objects. And I absolutely loved that Kennedy's specialty was uncursing and reselling hexed objects.
The main male character is Aiden Connolly. He comes from a wealthy family of luck workers, which I found fun and fascinating.
There is a mystery aspect too which I really liked. A bunch of people are after the famous and cursed Necklace of Harmonia.
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Kennedy and Aiden. They were funny and sarcastic. And these two totally grew on me. I would say that the book isn't a romance. But there is some romance in this story.
The book definitely took on more fantasy/magical elements than I was expecting. And at first I was taken aback. The beginning part really read like a contemporary mystery (with just a few magical elements). But as I kept reading I enjoyed this aspect of the book.
This is an easy fun read with an enjoyable mystery. The book doesn't end in a cliffhanger. But I am very interested to see what happens in the next book.
*This book was originally written as an online serial.
*I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Kelley Armstrong is my favorite author. So I was beyond excited to get to read her newest release.
She describes the genre as urban fantasy. The story is set in the real world. But some of the characters have powers and there are some magical elements. So it's a paranormal series.
The narrator is 25 year old Kennedy Bennett (1st person POV). She and her sisters are curse weavers. She has a small antiques showroom in Boston. But she is from the small town of Unstable, Massachusetts.
This book was an enjoyable read. I loved the idea of cursed objects. And I absolutely loved that Kennedy's specialty was uncursing and reselling hexed objects.
The main male character is Aiden Connolly. He comes from a wealthy family of luck workers, which I found fun and fascinating.
There is a mystery aspect too which I really liked. A bunch of people are after the famous and cursed Necklace of Harmonia.
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Kennedy and Aiden. They were funny and sarcastic. And these two totally grew on me. I would say that the book isn't a romance. But there is some romance in this story.
The book definitely took on more fantasy/magical elements than I was expecting. And at first I was taken aback. The beginning part really read like a contemporary mystery (with just a few magical elements). But as I kept reading I enjoyed this aspect of the book.
This is an easy fun read with an enjoyable mystery. The book doesn't end in a cliffhanger. But I am very interested to see what happens in the next book.
*This book was originally written as an online serial.
*I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2021
This is the first book written by Kelley Armstrong that I’ve ever read and I love her style. The book follows Kennedy Bennet (a curse weaver) and Aiden Connolly (a luck worker) as they try to find the infamous Necklace of Harmonia. But they’re not the only ones after it. Filled with schemes, kidappings, magic, a hint of romance, and great backstories, Cursed Luck is a very entertaining read.
Perfect book if you like:
✨ magic
✨ curses
✨ greek and roman mythology
The characters were all amazing, and Kennedy is an excellent narrator. I found myself gasping, laughing and all other sorts of other very notable reaction to the story.
There is not much to say without revealing parts of the plot, so I’ll just leave it simple: I love this book. Regarding the romance, during the last minute of the audiobook, Kennedy said everything that I had been thinking throughout the book and I am extremely satisfied with this ending for book 1.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for providing me with a copy of this audioARC in exchange for an honest review. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy.
I normally do not like audiobooks since I tend to get distracted but this was not the case with Carly Robins’ narration style. She put a lot emotion into it and made very interesting voices for the different characters. I was, at absolutely no point during the 12 hr long audiobook, distracted by anything else.
Perfect book if you like:
✨ magic
✨ curses
✨ greek and roman mythology
The characters were all amazing, and Kennedy is an excellent narrator. I found myself gasping, laughing and all other sorts of other very notable reaction to the story.
There is not much to say without revealing parts of the plot, so I’ll just leave it simple: I love this book. Regarding the romance, during the last minute of the audiobook, Kennedy said everything that I had been thinking throughout the book and I am extremely satisfied with this ending for book 1.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for providing me with a copy of this audioARC in exchange for an honest review. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy.
I normally do not like audiobooks since I tend to get distracted but this was not the case with Carly Robins’ narration style. She put a lot emotion into it and made very interesting voices for the different characters. I was, at absolutely no point during the 12 hr long audiobook, distracted by anything else.
August 6, 2020
So thankful the author gave us this amazing serial story to help us through this crazy time. I had so much fun reading it each week and am a little sad it is over. I truly enjoyed every chapter of it!
July 29, 2025
“No, I take you for a creature of limitless unpredictability and dauntless intrepidity. I would not put it past you to sneak in a quick tour while fleeing evil henchmen, and I mean that in the best possible way. "
This book was a lot of fun! I had some good laughs along with the plot, and I really enjoyed the characters as well as side characters.
We also get some fun mythology along with our leads mystic powers- our FL being a curse worker and our ML being a luck worker. Plus with where the story goes it def opens up a bigger world for the next books.
June 29, 2021
This was just exactly what I was expecting, in a good way. A bit slow due to being a first book, but really greatly setup and I'm into the relationship!
Owned ebook 3/2 for the month
Overall owned book 5/5 for the month
Owned ebook 3/2 for the month
Overall owned book 5/5 for the month
March 20, 2022
Cursed Luck is an exuberantly fun urban fantasy adventure, full of fabulous characters, fun magic, and a great intermingling of ancient myths with contemporary reality. I loved the heroine and her family and friends, I really enjoyed the romantic subplot, and this would have been a 5-star read for me all the way if it weren't for a really unfortunate couple of paragraphs in the middle where two older & wiser advisors expound on how the real reason one particular villain is so evil (and he really is evil - he's a domestic abuser, a killer, and a very scary man)...is because of his disability (an issue with his foot that was acquired during childhood).
There are a lot of great essays online explaining why the trope of disability turning people evil is so toxic and so very cruel to real-life disabled people...so I won't get into the whole mess right here. But I will say that I was deeply disappointed to see that bigoted explanation given without any contradictions or questioning from other characters within the text.
So it's a sign of just how great the characters really are throughout the rest of the novel (including that particular scary bad guy, whose disability I do NOT blame for his evil) that I kept on reading anyway and am planning to keep going with the series. In my head, I just deleted those 2-3 paragraphs of unnecessary ableist theorizing from the book. (And honestly, if I knew the author better, I'd diplomatically suggest that she might do the same for future editions.)
Everything before that was just hugely fun, though, and the ending was fantastic. I'm really looking forward to more stories featuring these characters and this world.
There are a lot of great essays online explaining why the trope of disability turning people evil is so toxic and so very cruel to real-life disabled people...so I won't get into the whole mess right here. But I will say that I was deeply disappointed to see that bigoted explanation given without any contradictions or questioning from other characters within the text.
So it's a sign of just how great the characters really are throughout the rest of the novel (including that particular scary bad guy, whose disability I do NOT blame for his evil) that I kept on reading anyway and am planning to keep going with the series. In my head, I just deleted those 2-3 paragraphs of unnecessary ableist theorizing from the book. (And honestly, if I knew the author better, I'd diplomatically suggest that she might do the same for future editions.)
Everything before that was just hugely fun, though, and the ending was fantastic. I'm really looking forward to more stories featuring these characters and this world.
May 21, 2021
Kennedy Bennett and her two sisters come from a long line of curse weavers and Kennedy’s specialty is uncursing valuable objects and then reselling them. When she’s approached by Aiden Conolly, a luck worker, to uncurse the infamous Necklace of Harmonia, they butt heads, and she refuses to work for him. However, when Kennedy’s sisters are kidnapped and the evidence points to it being related to Aiden’s request, she hunts him down and they team up to find her sisters. Kennedy and Aiden quickly get over their differences and form a complimentary team and there are hints of an attraction growing between them.
This was a fun magical story! I’ve seen a few reviews calling it a cozy Urban Fantasy, and I totally agree with that description. It reminded me of the The Guild Codex series by Annette Marie in that it’s a lighthearted adventure/mystery with a lot of silly humor. Urban Fantasy-Lite in a way. I thought the magical world Ms. Armstrong presented was an original and interesting concept: humans with a variety of magical talents based on Greek Mythology. I will say that I did get a little lost on some of the roots because there are so many variations of names in the Greek Mythos, but I just went with it, and it didn’t hamper my enjoyment of the story.
The mystery wraps up, but the relationship between Kennedy and Aiden is just starting with a possible romance to come. Kennedy is left with a “souvenir” from this caper, and I wonder how it will impact the story going forward. I look forward to the next story!
Carly Robins narrated the story, and I thought her voice represented Kennedy perfectly. Fun and sarcastic, she had great comedic timing! I’d like to continue the series by audio with her as the performer. I listened at 1.4x normal speed.
A copy was kindly provided by Tantor Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun magical story! I’ve seen a few reviews calling it a cozy Urban Fantasy, and I totally agree with that description. It reminded me of the The Guild Codex series by Annette Marie in that it’s a lighthearted adventure/mystery with a lot of silly humor. Urban Fantasy-Lite in a way. I thought the magical world Ms. Armstrong presented was an original and interesting concept: humans with a variety of magical talents based on Greek Mythology. I will say that I did get a little lost on some of the roots because there are so many variations of names in the Greek Mythos, but I just went with it, and it didn’t hamper my enjoyment of the story.
The mystery wraps up, but the relationship between Kennedy and Aiden is just starting with a possible romance to come. Kennedy is left with a “souvenir” from this caper, and I wonder how it will impact the story going forward. I look forward to the next story!
Carly Robins narrated the story, and I thought her voice represented Kennedy perfectly. Fun and sarcastic, she had great comedic timing! I’d like to continue the series by audio with her as the performer. I listened at 1.4x normal speed.
A copy was kindly provided by Tantor Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2021
I love Kelley Armstrong so I was beyond excited to hear about this all new world and series. I instantly knew I had to read it and requested the audio book on netgalley. I was beyond excited to be approved and I was not disappointed. I loved the narrator and thought she really brought the characters to life, but especially the main character Kennedy.
I have a couple continuity questions about how magic works in this world (if there is always balance and you have to weave/Unweave curses in balance how are there cursed objects to start?) but they were minor and I image as the series continues they will flesh out a bit more like the other amazing worlds she has crafted over the years.
If you like mythology than this is the book for you. A completely unique take on Greek/Roman mythology that I truly loved! Kennedy and her sisters are curse weavers. They curse or uncurse objects and their family has been doing this for generations. Aiden Connolly is a luck weaver (not a Leprechaun!) and their paths collide sending them on an adventure of the ages as they try to obtain and uncurse the most famous cursed object ever.
I have a couple continuity questions about how magic works in this world (if there is always balance and you have to weave/Unweave curses in balance how are there cursed objects to start?) but they were minor and I image as the series continues they will flesh out a bit more like the other amazing worlds she has crafted over the years.
If you like mythology than this is the book for you. A completely unique take on Greek/Roman mythology that I truly loved! Kennedy and her sisters are curse weavers. They curse or uncurse objects and their family has been doing this for generations. Aiden Connolly is a luck weaver (not a Leprechaun!) and their paths collide sending them on an adventure of the ages as they try to obtain and uncurse the most famous cursed object ever.
June 15, 2021
This started kind of slow but I think that's fairly normal for books that have to introduce magic systems and by the time we got to the I was very into it. Looking forward to additional relationship building for Kennedy and Connelly, as well as hopefully future romance between some of the side characters.
(For my Paige/Lucas friends out there, I think the relationship dynamics here will be good for you, even if Kennedy is much more of a free spirit than Paige is.)
(For my Paige/Lucas friends out there, I think the relationship dynamics here will be good for you, even if Kennedy is much more of a free spirit than Paige is.)
March 30, 2022
Ahoy there me mateys! I love Kelley Armstrong! I discovered her through her young adult book,
sea of shadows
, and she became me most read author of 2016. I have not read all her stuff because not all of it appeals to me. This sounded interesting but it be urban fantasy which I don't usually like. However,
Matey Nicole's review
convinced me to give it a whirl. I did and then read book two.
I liked both and the duology is exactly as advertised. There is magic, a tiny bit of romance, some action, and some snark. I am not a romance book person but I really enjoyed Kennedy and Aidan's slow-burn friendship. The first book's plot about a cursed necklace is a bit silly and fun. I felt a bit like the magic world building didn't always make a lot of sense but went with it. The characters' interactions are the focus of the series. A there is a fun cat.
I must admit that I liked book one a bit better than book two which dealt with a series of cursed paintings. Book two's plot was a bit convoluted and the ending was silly. This didn't bother me too much because it was fun and the characters were me focus. I loved the motel scene. I got exactly what I wanted out of these books - hours of entertainment in another world. Enjoyable fluff. I am more than satisfied. Arrr!
Side note: The author wrote book one as an escape during Covid and posted it in installments online to help others have an escape. Cool.
I liked both and the duology is exactly as advertised. There is magic, a tiny bit of romance, some action, and some snark. I am not a romance book person but I really enjoyed Kennedy and Aidan's slow-burn friendship. The first book's plot about a cursed necklace is a bit silly and fun. I felt a bit like the magic world building didn't always make a lot of sense but went with it. The characters' interactions are the focus of the series. A there is a fun cat.
I must admit that I liked book one a bit better than book two which dealt with a series of cursed paintings. Book two's plot was a bit convoluted and the ending was silly. This didn't bother me too much because it was fun and the characters were me focus. I loved the motel scene. I got exactly what I wanted out of these books - hours of entertainment in another world. Enjoyable fluff. I am more than satisfied. Arrr!
Side note: The author wrote book one as an escape during Covid and posted it in installments online to help others have an escape. Cool.
December 27, 2021
Several Goodread friends of mine really like Kelly Armstrong (thinking of you, Katie!) and I keep saying that I want to give her a try (I know she has written A LOT, but she's new-to-me) only to backtrack when I see too many books in one series.
Until this one... because Katie's review for the second book said "Why is this duology?" and I thought, THAT'S perfect! Only two books!
Well, I really enjoy this one!! First of all, I like the whole concept of curse-weaver (don't think I read about those a lot in urban fantasy/paranormal romance) and later on when . I actually got that "AHA!" moment right before Kennedy, which made me very happy.
Kennedy is a fun character to read - free-spirited and brave. And I LOVE how she coaxes Aiden to be more relaxed, even if at the first time, she totally calls Aiden on his action. Aiden seems to be the one who is going to slowly progresses as character - what him having that emotional parental baggage so big, it can fill in a whole warehouse. But that also means that their relationship is a slow-burn and I'm up for that!
I need to say something about that parental baggage, though. Over the years, I become quite dissatisfied with "evil women trope" usually comes in form of evil female ex-es that bound to destroy the happiness of the main characters (I usually encounter this in MM romance, though).
Currently, I start to also despise any romance with "evil parents" in it - parents who treat their children as business pawns, or dangling many responsibilities on them, or see them as a way to fulfill their own dreams. Usually, I encounter this in MF historical romance (urgh those parents!) since I start to read those in the past few years. Aiden's parents seem to be one of those and I feel that need to whack them on the head!
Anyway, I love this, and I already have book lined up on my Kindle
Until this one... because Katie's review for the second book said "Why is this duology?" and I thought, THAT'S perfect! Only two books!
Well, I really enjoy this one!! First of all, I like the whole concept of curse-weaver (don't think I read about those a lot in urban fantasy/paranormal romance) and later on when . I actually got that "AHA!" moment right before Kennedy, which made me very happy.
Kennedy is a fun character to read - free-spirited and brave. And I LOVE how she coaxes Aiden to be more relaxed, even if at the first time, she totally calls Aiden on his action. Aiden seems to be the one who is going to slowly progresses as character - what him having that emotional parental baggage so big, it can fill in a whole warehouse. But that also means that their relationship is a slow-burn and I'm up for that!
I need to say something about that parental baggage, though. Over the years, I become quite dissatisfied with "evil women trope" usually comes in form of evil female ex-es that bound to destroy the happiness of the main characters (I usually encounter this in MM romance, though).
Currently, I start to also despise any romance with "evil parents" in it - parents who treat their children as business pawns, or dangling many responsibilities on them, or see them as a way to fulfill their own dreams. Usually, I encounter this in MF historical romance (urgh those parents!) since I start to read those in the past few years. Aiden's parents seem to be one of those and I feel that need to whack them on the head!
Anyway, I love this, and I already have book lined up on my Kindle
May 13, 2021
I have read books by Kelley Armstrong and love how she incorporates magic into the real world. At first the narration of this audiobook sounded very mechanic and automated but as I listened on, the flow and reading style improved. The voices of some of the secondary characters were very rich and enigmatic and became a really enjoyable part of listening to the audiobook.
The story was a little predictable but still a good and classic feeling urban fantasy. I loved the small town feel and the relatable characters. The book was cozy and I would definitely recommend as an easy read. Something I’d take to the beach or keep in my purse when I had a moment to read but it’s not a book I would binge in one night eager to get to the next part.
As someone who has read other books by Kelley Armstrong this was something I enjoyed but also not my favorite in terms of action or romance from her. I did appreciate the exploration of differing magic and the connections it made to the origins of said magic. Very interesting and I would definitely continue the series.
The story was a little predictable but still a good and classic feeling urban fantasy. I loved the small town feel and the relatable characters. The book was cozy and I would definitely recommend as an easy read. Something I’d take to the beach or keep in my purse when I had a moment to read but it’s not a book I would binge in one night eager to get to the next part.
As someone who has read other books by Kelley Armstrong this was something I enjoyed but also not my favorite in terms of action or romance from her. I did appreciate the exploration of differing magic and the connections it made to the origins of said magic. Very interesting and I would definitely continue the series.
May 6, 2024
This one was good, but nothing Earth-shattering about it.
I enjoyed the concept, and I think the next book will be good to hit the ground running and take this storyline places. You can never hate on a series that throws a leprechaun in the mix.
This was a definite new series setup book, resulting in some repetition and lag times.
The audio narrator did not feel like the best choice, as I was not as engaged in her performance as I could have been. It could have just been a "me" problem, though.
Overall a solid 3.
I enjoyed the concept, and I think the next book will be good to hit the ground running and take this storyline places. You can never hate on a series that throws a leprechaun in the mix.
This was a definite new series setup book, resulting in some repetition and lag times.
The audio narrator did not feel like the best choice, as I was not as engaged in her performance as I could have been. It could have just been a "me" problem, though.
Overall a solid 3.
August 26, 2021
DNF. I made it about 30% and realized that I am not enjoying this enough to continue. I feel like there are no stakes in the book. The characters feel a little flat, and the plot is a little too basic.
May 24, 2022
Not my cuppa. I was bored through most of the book. Its saving grace was the last 15-20%. And the reason I upgraded my rating to 2 stars.
Whether you want to slog through the remaining 80% though…
Whether you want to slog through the remaining 80% though…
July 14, 2021
Seeing this author’s name on a book is really all it took, but adding in the urban fantasy world of magically gifted NOT witches sweetened the pie nicely. I’ve enjoyed Carly Robins narration work before so I happily plunged into the excitement of a new series.
The setup of an antique store owner who un-curses objects and sells them in her store, her connection to two lively sisters back in her hometown, and the appearance of a suave, seemingly arrogant wealthy businessman who needs her secret curse-breaker expertise even as he irritates her to high heaven was fab. There was a lighter, humorous tone to Kennedy’s thoughts when she was pondering her life and especially her cat companion. But soon, the lighter tones give way to some suspense with the mysterious disappearance of her sisters and Aiden’s story about a powerful cursed necklace being behind it.
Kennedy started out shaky for me. She starts off with a huge chip on her shoulder and got in her own way. Aiden made some mistakes, no doubt, but she made just as many with all her assumptions in the beginning and sometimes after though, I get it, she is very motivated to stand on her own and be independent because of her past and her personality. But, it gets better, fortunately. She’s plunged deep into a situation, learning as she went, and did a great job of finding her way through. She gets together a good working team including Aiden to go up against a formidable unknown foe. I enjoyed the low buzz of attraction with Aiden who isn’t the prig she initially thinks he is. I found him awkwardly adorable, but game to partner Kennedy. The romance will hopefully develop as the series progresses.
At first, this book had the tone of a paranormal cozy mystery, but after some twists and turns, it plunged into a grittier suspenseful world of urban fantasy though the wry humor is a nice balance. The big moments come and I was right there in the moment. I loved the mystery of the necklace, who’s after it, and even the wavering, but growing trust between Kennedy and Aiden on the hunt. Her background was definitely an asset. The set up for the series is good. This book finished off the immediate plot of the cursed necklace and her kidnapped sisters, but Kennedy is put on a new and interesting path that will be explored as the series progresses.
Carly Robins was a great match for the book and the characters. I loved the way Carly Robins voiced Kennedy and the others. She brought out the sisters relationship and then later the team going after them and the necklace with some great camaraderie. The exciting moments were even better. I hope she does the whole series.
So, all in all, it was a good introduction to another series by a great author. Curses, luck, engaging characters, and an exciting plot to entice the urban fantasy lovers.
My thanks to Tantor Audio for providing the MP3 audiobook to be listened to in exchange for an honest review.
The setup of an antique store owner who un-curses objects and sells them in her store, her connection to two lively sisters back in her hometown, and the appearance of a suave, seemingly arrogant wealthy businessman who needs her secret curse-breaker expertise even as he irritates her to high heaven was fab. There was a lighter, humorous tone to Kennedy’s thoughts when she was pondering her life and especially her cat companion. But soon, the lighter tones give way to some suspense with the mysterious disappearance of her sisters and Aiden’s story about a powerful cursed necklace being behind it.
Kennedy started out shaky for me. She starts off with a huge chip on her shoulder and got in her own way. Aiden made some mistakes, no doubt, but she made just as many with all her assumptions in the beginning and sometimes after though, I get it, she is very motivated to stand on her own and be independent because of her past and her personality. But, it gets better, fortunately. She’s plunged deep into a situation, learning as she went, and did a great job of finding her way through. She gets together a good working team including Aiden to go up against a formidable unknown foe. I enjoyed the low buzz of attraction with Aiden who isn’t the prig she initially thinks he is. I found him awkwardly adorable, but game to partner Kennedy. The romance will hopefully develop as the series progresses.
At first, this book had the tone of a paranormal cozy mystery, but after some twists and turns, it plunged into a grittier suspenseful world of urban fantasy though the wry humor is a nice balance. The big moments come and I was right there in the moment. I loved the mystery of the necklace, who’s after it, and even the wavering, but growing trust between Kennedy and Aiden on the hunt. Her background was definitely an asset. The set up for the series is good. This book finished off the immediate plot of the cursed necklace and her kidnapped sisters, but Kennedy is put on a new and interesting path that will be explored as the series progresses.
Carly Robins was a great match for the book and the characters. I loved the way Carly Robins voiced Kennedy and the others. She brought out the sisters relationship and then later the team going after them and the necklace with some great camaraderie. The exciting moments were even better. I hope she does the whole series.
So, all in all, it was a good introduction to another series by a great author. Curses, luck, engaging characters, and an exciting plot to entice the urban fantasy lovers.
My thanks to Tantor Audio for providing the MP3 audiobook to be listened to in exchange for an honest review.
October 18, 2021
The writing in the beginning was a bit awkward but as I continued to read it felt like the author found her flow. The plot was pretty good and engaging. The basic premise of the story is a pretty interesting concept: descendants of God's who don't have immortality but I have different gifts that allow them to do some super natural things. I loved how feisty the MC is and yet still super compassionate and willing to help out when she can. I also like the fact that the author didn't give the MC a strong support group and then have her completely ignore them as she got together with the main love interest and got further into the problem, but instead had her still leaning on them and asking them for advice. I really like the picture of her family. I also have a soft spot for the simple acts of care and affection which is what we got between our two MCs and I loved that more than any overt romance the author might have given us.
Plot: 4 stars
Characters: 4 stars
World building: 3 stars
Overall: 4 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Characters: 4 stars
World building: 3 stars
Overall: 4 stars
August 8, 2021
Had a lot of fun with this, very into the world building, very very excited to see where we go next with this.
May 26, 2021
3,75 stars
February 18, 2023
So, after reading the polished, published version of this story, I wanted to give a review that goes into a little more detail. Firstly, it was an interesting experience getting to read a first draft of this and then seeing the finished version a year later. There weren't really any changes to the story, just a little more detail added in some parts and some overall "cleaning-up" and fixing minor continuity issues. I really loved reading this story in installments and continually refreshing the website on the days a new chapter was coming to see if it's there yet. But it was at least as much fun to get to read through the story as a whole in one sitting. (I avoided rereading the online version because I didn't want the first draft to get established too much in my head instead of the final version.)
This story is lighter in tone than the author's other books and the characters and magic system are so much fun! Kennedy was such a snarky and likeable narrator and the way her character and Aiden's character clashed at first, but then started understanding each other better and working together was just great. And the other characters - Kennedy's sisters, Jonathan, Vanessa, Marius, Mercy (whom I hope we'll actually meet in person in the next book) - were such a joy to read as well.
The magic system of curse weavers, luck workers and the connection with Greek mythology was interesting (and parts of it were such a surprise, too). The setting is partly in Boston, where Kennedy and Aiden live, partly in New York, and partly in Unstable, the small town where Kennedy grew up and where her sisters still live. Unstable was very charming, a town full of psychics - real and fake ones - and I hope we're going to get to spend a little more time there in future stories. (From the excerpt of the novella "Goddess of Summer Love" that was included at the back of my ebook version, it looks like this wish will be granted. Yay!)
As for any romance aspects in the story: there wasn't much of that, since Kennedy and Aiden only meet at the beginning of the book and the whole thing takes place over only four days - four days where they are busy chasing after missing/kidnapped siblings and discovering some very surprising things about some of the people they encounter. Considering the short span of time these characters know each other, I really liked that there wasn't more romance. I'm not a fan of insta-love. But the little hints there were at a possibility for romance in the future makes me really look forward to where these two are going next. I totally want them to end up together. Still, I'm very happy it didn't happen after just four days of knowing each other. I can't wait for the novella in the summer, and then after that book #2, High Jinx.
[Edit February 2023: reread in audio format, great narration and it's available on Audible Plus]
--
Original review: August 2020 (online version)
I loved getting to read the first draft of this on the website. Now I can't wait to see the edited version next May. I'm so happy that it looks like this will be the start of a new series, too. I love Kennedy and Connolly, and I love all of the secondary characters. And I love this world of curse weavers and luck workers and . It's just so much fun!
That's all I'll say for now. Planning to review it in more detail next year after the ebook/print release on May 4, 2021.
This story is lighter in tone than the author's other books and the characters and magic system are so much fun! Kennedy was such a snarky and likeable narrator and the way her character and Aiden's character clashed at first, but then started understanding each other better and working together was just great. And the other characters - Kennedy's sisters, Jonathan, Vanessa, Marius, Mercy (whom I hope we'll actually meet in person in the next book) - were such a joy to read as well.
The magic system of curse weavers, luck workers and the connection with Greek mythology was interesting (and parts of it were such a surprise, too). The setting is partly in Boston, where Kennedy and Aiden live, partly in New York, and partly in Unstable, the small town where Kennedy grew up and where her sisters still live. Unstable was very charming, a town full of psychics - real and fake ones - and I hope we're going to get to spend a little more time there in future stories. (From the excerpt of the novella "Goddess of Summer Love" that was included at the back of my ebook version, it looks like this wish will be granted. Yay!)
As for any romance aspects in the story: there wasn't much of that, since Kennedy and Aiden only meet at the beginning of the book and the whole thing takes place over only four days - four days where they are busy chasing after missing/kidnapped siblings and discovering some very surprising things about some of the people they encounter. Considering the short span of time these characters know each other, I really liked that there wasn't more romance. I'm not a fan of insta-love. But the little hints there were at a possibility for romance in the future makes me really look forward to where these two are going next. I totally want them to end up together. Still, I'm very happy it didn't happen after just four days of knowing each other. I can't wait for the novella in the summer, and then after that book #2, High Jinx.
[Edit February 2023: reread in audio format, great narration and it's available on Audible Plus]
--
Original review: August 2020 (online version)
I loved getting to read the first draft of this on the website. Now I can't wait to see the edited version next May. I'm so happy that it looks like this will be the start of a new series, too. I love Kennedy and Connolly, and I love all of the secondary characters. And I love this world of curse weavers and luck workers and . It's just so much fun!
That's all I'll say for now. Planning to review it in more detail next year after the ebook/print release on May 4, 2021.
January 18, 2022
REREAD 2022
This book was as much fun the second time around as the first. I'm only sad the short story isn't available in audio as well, or I would have sprang right onto that when finishing this. Don't really have anything to say that I didn't say in the original review, so here we are. I'm keeping the original rating.
------------------
Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars
THIS WAS SO MUCH FUN! I ended up not wanting to put the book down at all, and only did so toward the end because I was exhausted and couldn't really understand the words anymore.
It's like the perfect blend of the Otherworld-series and the Cainsville-series. Funny and snarky and slow-burn and supernatural. A little all over the place, but in a natural way.
And there actually was a twist there that I didn't see coming! I can't remember the last book that actually surprised me with its twist!
My one downside to this book was that there were a bit too many names for me to keep track of. On more than one occasion, I had to stop and think to remember who was who, but that's more a reflection on my own mind and memory than the author's skill - which I think very highly of.
I am a bit unsure as to how to rate this book. I don't really have anything negative to say, but I usually reserve a full 5/5 star rating for when something touches me emotionally. Unfortunately, this one didn't do that for me, other than bring me general joy reading, so maybe that should be enough? If not for that, then because of the twist I didn't see coming...
Ok, I'm giving it a 4.5/5 stars, and rounding up to five. That felt right.
This book was as much fun the second time around as the first. I'm only sad the short story isn't available in audio as well, or I would have sprang right onto that when finishing this. Don't really have anything to say that I didn't say in the original review, so here we are. I'm keeping the original rating.
------------------
Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars
THIS WAS SO MUCH FUN! I ended up not wanting to put the book down at all, and only did so toward the end because I was exhausted and couldn't really understand the words anymore.
It's like the perfect blend of the Otherworld-series and the Cainsville-series. Funny and snarky and slow-burn and supernatural. A little all over the place, but in a natural way.
And there actually was a twist there that I didn't see coming! I can't remember the last book that actually surprised me with its twist!
My one downside to this book was that there were a bit too many names for me to keep track of. On more than one occasion, I had to stop and think to remember who was who, but that's more a reflection on my own mind and memory than the author's skill - which I think very highly of.
I am a bit unsure as to how to rate this book. I don't really have anything negative to say, but I usually reserve a full 5/5 star rating for when something touches me emotionally. Unfortunately, this one didn't do that for me, other than bring me general joy reading, so maybe that should be enough? If not for that, then because of the twist I didn't see coming...
Ok, I'm giving it a 4.5/5 stars, and rounding up to five. That felt right.
May 27, 2021
I received an advance reader copy of this book to listen to in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
***AUDIO BOOK VERSION ***
Cursed Luck is the first book in a new paranormal mystery series by one of my favourite authors - Kelley Armstrong.
This book had me pulled in from the start and the narrator did an amazing job with the reading of it!
In this book we meet Kennedy Bennet who is a curse weaver from a family with long line of curse weavers. She and her sisters are close and when Kennedys sisters go missing, she goes into a tailspin.
Aiden Connelly is from a long line of luck weavers and becomes entangled in the search for Kennedys sisters.
Along the way they are embroiled into a search for the curse necklace of Harmonia which is the mystery part of the story.
I loved the touch of romance between these two characters in this book and hope more comes of it in the next book!
The mystery intermingled with magic and paranormal elements was amazing and I can't wait for book 2!
***AUDIO BOOK VERSION ***
Cursed Luck is the first book in a new paranormal mystery series by one of my favourite authors - Kelley Armstrong.
This book had me pulled in from the start and the narrator did an amazing job with the reading of it!
In this book we meet Kennedy Bennet who is a curse weaver from a family with long line of curse weavers. She and her sisters are close and when Kennedys sisters go missing, she goes into a tailspin.
Aiden Connelly is from a long line of luck weavers and becomes entangled in the search for Kennedys sisters.
Along the way they are embroiled into a search for the curse necklace of Harmonia which is the mystery part of the story.
I loved the touch of romance between these two characters in this book and hope more comes of it in the next book!
The mystery intermingled with magic and paranormal elements was amazing and I can't wait for book 2!
July 21, 2021
The author in her intro calls this book "light and fun," and it was sort-of light and fun paranormal urban fantasy. But I guess my notion of light and fun is a bit different from Ms. Armstrong's, because it seemed a bit too intense for me. For the entire book, every few pages, the heroine encountered new and complicated problems to deal with. She never catches a break, and I don't like this approach to fiction.
The pacing is furious and the tension high (too high for me). I did finish the story, but I was tempted more than once to abandon it. That said, overall it was an engaging read with a sympathetic protagonist and a bunch of interesting secondary characters. I'm still not sure if I want to read another book in the series. Maybe...
The pacing is furious and the tension high (too high for me). I did finish the story, but I was tempted more than once to abandon it. That said, overall it was an engaging read with a sympathetic protagonist and a bunch of interesting secondary characters. I'm still not sure if I want to read another book in the series. Maybe...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 501 reviews