Curse and Craving

Of Myth and Man #1

by Jill Ramsower

My new job landed me in another country, but it might as well have been an entirely different world.
An underground world of magic and secrets ruthlessly guarded by an elite group of Fae warriors.

This place has brought out a power buried deep within me.
A dark and monstrous power.

I have no choice but to turn to the Fae for help.

Lochlan is the leader of those warriors meant to guard the border between realms.
He’s secretive and arrogant yet undeniably alluring.
I have no reason to trust him, but he’s the only person who can teach me to protect myself.

He pushes me to my limits and threatens to unravel me with every husky command.
More than anyone, he has the power to undo me.
Because with every lesson, I lose more of myself to him and this new world I never asked to be a part of.

**This book contains adult themes and content that may not be suitable for sensitive audiences.

Author's Note: Curse & Craving is a 140,000 word novel, and since its original publication as part of The Fae Games Series, it has been substantially rewritten. It is a delicious slow-burn urban fantasy romance complete with action, adventure, and a happily ever after that will have you grinning for days.

Genres: Fantasy, Fae, Paranormal, New Adult, Romance, Slow Burn, Fantasy Romance

485 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 4, 2022

About the author

Jill is a Texan, born and raised. She manages the hectic social calendars for her three active children and occasionally spends an evening with her dashing husband. Aside from being an author and a mom, she's a travel junkie and loves to read when she is not lost in her own stories.

With Jill’s books, you can count on confident heroines, plenty of steamy tension, and deliciously assertive leading men. There are no guarantees in life, but with her books, you know everything will work out in the end. However, a perfect ending would not be nearly as satisfying without a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Jill loves to add plenty of adversity in her stories, creating unforgettably dynamic characters and sneaky plot twists you will never see coming.

Find her on Facebook here-->https://www.facebook.com/jillramsower...
Never miss a release! Sign up for her newsletter here-->https://jillramsower_234b.gr8.com/
Check out her website here-->https://www.jillramsower.com/

Reviews

[Leonie · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3,5 stars)

Since I forced myself to read this while being deep in a reading slump, I actually have no idea how to rate it or what I thought of it or how to even write this review. So instead of my normal review structure, I´m just giving you the clusterf*ck of my thoughts I had while reading (which took me several days if not weeks xD)

I really like the magic system here and the incorperation of loads of folklore and mythology, with lots of different creatures.
I can´t even tell if the romance was good or not, it wasn´t really a slow burn but it wasn´t really insta-love either and it felt like an completely unnecessary love triangle was thrown in there that definitely wasn´t needed.
Ronan is the reason why women say men ain´t shit.
Becca needs to learn how to say no more often but I liked that she got to be a bit more confident by the end of the book.
I have no clue how I feel towards Lochlan. I mean he was just there with his sex faery magic and yeah.
The ending felt a bit rushed in my opinion, I somehow was expecting a bit fight (because they kept talking about war) that just didn´t really happen.
I´m kind of sad that the dog Becca had was just forgotten by the middle part of the book and then never mentioned again, he mattered!!
I liked Ashleys character, I felt like she was a really good friend towards Becca and I am excited to see more of her in the second book of the series which I definitely will be trying.

trigger warnings: rape, physical assault, torture

[Bonny Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Jill Ramsower, known for her Mafia romances which she writes extremely well, told me it was Karen Moning's Fever Series that inspired her to venture into the fantasy realm. The result, Curse and Cravings, is not only a tribute to the Fever series, but an excitng and enticing start to her venture into this genre. I absolutely loved this book and I am so glad there will be more books in this world. This is a must read for fans of Karen Moning's Fever Series and all fantasy lovers.

This book has all the vibes of Fever, a bada$$ hero and heroine as well as an awesome cast of supporting characters, and yet it is a totally different story. Unlike the Fever series, where the ever present danger continues in each book, the danger faced in this one is resolved at the end, and you get your HEA. But certainly other dangers and challenges will be faced in subsequent books of the series by other characters you've met in this one. Each book will deal with a different couple.

I love the way Jill wove the Arthurian legends, the characters of Shakespear's A Midsummer Night's Dream and even Viking mythology into this faery world. She's created a vibrant, unique world and characters that blend with the myths and legends. And don't we wonder where and how the myths and legends arose? Is there some element of truth or a real person that these myths and legends grew from? Ramsower gives us something to think about in that regard, a whole new perspective to the legends and the faery world.

This book had all the feels of a Ramsower story. You will share all the emotions with the heroine as she struggles with a new world, a future she never asked for, the challenges she faces all while trying to keep her loved ones safe. You will empathise with the H as he tries to earn her trust while guiding her through this dangerous new world she's entered and preparing her for the task ahead. I laughed, I cried, I got angry and frustrated as they faced betrayals, loss, new and dangerous adventures until finally find their way to each other; and then ultimately rejoiced in their final triumph. Solid 5 stars for this one! Can't wait for the next.

I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Will definitely be buying this one to keep in my collection when it's released.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curse & Craving was my first book by Jill Ramsower and I’m so glad to have discovered her. I’m going to read her entire backlist now. If you couldn’t tell by that statement, yes I enjoyed this book. More than enjoyed actually. I was so immersed in the story Jill created that everyday I looked forward to finally sitting down and getting sucked back in it. And that really surprised me, because even though I like fantasy, I'm a bit difficult when it comes to urban fantasy.But this one is a solid 5 star read for me and a great start to what will most likely be an amazing series.

I won’t give anything away about the book, because I don’t know how to make this review spoiler free if I start talking about the story, but the blurb covers everything you need to know.

I loved both of the MCs, Rebecca and Lochlan. In the beginning I wasn’t sure how I felt about either of them, because Becca came off very ignorant and naive and Lochlan just didn’t seem interesting. BUT DON’T LET THIS FOOL YOU. Rebecca’s character development was so satisfying and with the way she was portrayed in the start of the book we have a much clearer picture of her growth. And as for Lochlan all I have to say is don’t write him off because even though the story starts a little slow, there’s suddenly a huge BAM! and everything changes.

The way the author weaved the Irish culture and folklore with a twist on the Arthurian legend, norse mythology and a hint of Shakespear was really well done. I'm genuinely looking forward to reading more of Jill's books and I can't wait for the second installment of this series.

Thank you to Jill Ramsower and The Next Step PR for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

[Emma Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the legends of Arthur and the knights of the round table, Shakespeare and a mix of fae and sexy men with fast cars — this book is for you.

It was entertaining, fast paced and contained a version of the one bed trope. I loved Lochlan, I mean he did call her woman at one point. But mostly just said cute things and was hella supportive.

3,5/5 ⭐️ The ending was a bit underwhelming but I'll definitely read the next book in the series.

2/5 🌶 It was worth the wait.


TWs: SA, violence, knife play,

[Lovemesomebook · Rating 5 out of 5]

O M G!!

I’ve read plenty of good fantasy book recently, but this one definitely top everything else. I freaking love the fact that it mixed with arthurian retelling, norse mythology, Shakespeare play, and even a hint of viking from Fenodree love interest? Aghh I can’t wait for the next book!

This book definitely will be a good introduction for the future story of the series, and i love every detail in it. The way that Jill make every story, myth and legend that we know of and combined with her beautiful writing make everything seem plausible and i feel like I’m being absorb with every little detail that she’s shared.

Let’s we talk about the character too, almost everyone are like-able in here. I really can’t wait to see how the next book will unfold and i really hope to see more of knight, merlin’s history, and let’s not forget about the other Hunt’s men too!!

I’m super duper excited to see ashley and her mentor relationship, more about my baby Knight, also i kinda hope that there will be more Fenodree too. As much as rebecca and lochan get their own happy ending i really wish that the next book will still consist a lots of these love birds❣️I’m obsessed with lochan!!

He’s definitely not giving off any kind of similarity vibes like the other, it feel uniquely himslef(?) I don’t really imagine or even thinking of him as an inspire character at all which is refreshing in someway and i like it! Becca and lochan compliments each other really well, although we only get 2,5 spicy scene throughout the book i still enjoy everything immensely🥺🥺

It’s the first book and I already see so many potential it holds for the future book: Curse & Craving ( Ashley & Casek story). I’m in love and will never stop talking about this to my friends anytime sooner

[Jenylle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I’m usually not the biggest fan of modern fantasy books and prefer full fantasy worlds, but I honestly really liked this one! The world building of Faery was very well done, though I wish we could have seen more of it. I also love how there was a mixture of a bunch of mythology, from the Fae to Arthurian legends to Norse Mythology.

I really enjoyed the overall plot of the book. Having Becca go from a clueless mortal to a Fae who is suddenly essential to stopping a war gave me Feyre Archeron/Clary Fairchild vibes. I enjoyed Rebecca’s dynamics with all the different characters in this world. I especially liked Rebecca and Lochlan’s relationship. It was very slow burn, but I wish it was better developed. I understood that there was a sexual tension between them but I don’t know when and how the emotional aspect came into play in their relationship. She suddenly said I love you and I was very surprised with that.

One critique I have was that the final battle was a little anti-climactic. Considering this final battle took 20+ years of preparation and months of practice, it fell flat and I really expected more. When the “battle” ended I can of just sat there and said “that’s it”?

I’m really excited for Ashley’s book, however, I really like her character, maybe even more than Rebecca! I hope to see more of Faery in that book as well!

[Madelyn Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the Goodreads New Adult Book Club and Next Step PR for the ARC

This book was incredible!!! A perfect modern fantasy. I loved the world building and felt immersed the whole time.

The romance?? Yes. Perfect. It was a slow burn in the best way. The pacing felt natural and well thought out. The twists throughout their relationships were struggles that Rebecca and Lochlan had to work through, and I liked that not everything came easy to them.

I’m excited to read the next installment of this series when it comes out!!!! Rooting for Ashley!! Woooooo!!!

[Eva Gavilli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Primo libro di una trilogia, riesce bene a inglobare molti elementi e personaggi del mito arturiano in un fantasy ambientato ai giorni nostri a Belfast. Ha un bell'intreccio, personaggi interessanti (anche se alcuni dei cattivi mancano un pò di spessore), la trama è interessante e coinvolgente, un pò romance ma non troppo (classico il traingolo tra Rebecca, Ronan e Lochlan e devo dire che per alcuni capitoli mi sono anche interrogata su chi lei avrebbe scelto alla fine e mi sono chiesta se in effetti uno dei due fosse o meno uno dei cattivi). Carino il personaggio di Ashley...una nerd immersa fino al collo nei romanzi fantasy, ne sa più lei dei Fae dei Fae stessi...
Solo due aspetti mi hanno lasciata un pò interdetta.....occhio che da qua partono gli spoilers...per primo, la morte di Albericht, praticamente un suicidio senza senso: si lascia decapitare da Morgana senza alzare un dito, non prova a difendersi, non cerca di scappare, neppure è colto di sorpresa, anzi, sembra quasi che non aspetti altro che farsi ammazzare. Posso solo ipotizzare che la cosa abbia un seguito ed una spiegazione nei prossimi libri, che il suo omocidio "serva" alla trama successiva. Secondo, ma più importante, tutta la trama si basa sulla necessità di coinvolgere Rebecca nella futura guerra contro Morgana, perchè solo lei sarebbe in grado di sconfiggerla e poprio per questo viene scelta e pilotata da Merlino fin da quando è una bambina...come premessa ci può stare, ma perde di verosimiglianza alla fine del libro, quando Rebecca riesce sì a sconfiggerla, usando i suoi nuovi poteri per raggirarla, ma in quel momento appare altrettanto chiaro che Merlino sarebbe riuscito ad avere la meglio su Morgana senza neppure impegnarsi tanto e soprattutto senza bisogno dell'intervento di un'umana trasformata i Fae per l'occasione...ache questo forse acquisterà un significato nei prossimi libri, chissà.
***
First book of a new trilogy, it manages well to incorporate many elements and characters from the Arthurian myth into a modern-day fantasy set in Belfast. It has a nice plot, interesting characters (even if some of the villains lack a bit of depth), the plot is interesting and engaging, a little romance but not too much (classic the love triangle between Rebecca, Ronan and Lochlan and I must say that for some chapters I wondered who she would ultimately choose and also wondered if in fact one of them was one of the bad guys or not). The character of Ashley is cute...a nerd immersed up to her neck in fantasy novels, she knows more about the Fae than the Fae themselves... Only two aspects left me a little dumbfounded ..... spoiler alert now!... first, the death of Albericht, practically a meaningless suicide: he lets himself be beheaded by Morgan without lifting a finger, he does not prove to defend himself, he does not try to escape, he is not even taken by surprise, on the contrary, it almost seems that he is waiting for nothing more than to be killed. I can only assume that this has a sequel and an explanation in the next books, that the new plot'll need him to die. Second, but more importantly, the whole plot is based on the need to involve Rebecca in the future war against Morgan, because only she would be able to defeat her and for this reason she is chosen and piloted by Merlin since she was a child...as a premise it may work, but it loses its verisimilitude at the end of the book, when Rebecca manages to defeat Morgan, using her new powers to outwit her, but at that moment it appears equally clear that Merlin would have been able to get the better of Morgan without even trying so hard and above all without the need for a human girl transformed the Fae for the occasion ... although this will perhaps acquire a meaning in the next books, who knows.

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid four ! This is the first in this series that is clearly inspired by the Fever series by KMM and I will admit that initially it perhaps felt a little too similar for my tastes but I persevered and I’m really glad I did. Yes the heroine finds herself in Ireland and yes strange things start happening with absolutely gorgeous men appearing to take an interest in her but there the similarities end. Becca not only finds herself torn between the friendly Ronan but also attracted to the somewhat more evasive Lochlan. Add in the fact that she starts seeing things that really should only exist in nightmares and it’s clear that something is happening to Becca and it’s putting those around her in danger !
I do love a Fae story but this one not only brings old myths about them into play but adds a gorgeous Arthurian twist ! I particularly enjoyed reading about exactly what and why things were happening to Becca and rest assured her mysteries are solved giving her a happy ending but the author cunningly offers up other characters who will each get their own happy ending in subsequent books. A slight warning here though as something rather unpleasant happens to Becca but she rises above it to carry on, embrace her new reality and play the tricky Fae at their own games. A satisfactory ending to a story that I initially had reservations about. If you are looking for something that features Merlin, Guinevere and others straight out of legends then this series could well be a winner for you !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[Kendra Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a sucker for a fantasy-romance, it is by far my favorite genre and this book delivered!

Becca recently accepted a position at a museum far away from the U.S. in Belfast, Ireland. Almost immediately upon her arrival with friend Ashley weird things happen!

I was entranced from page 1 and could not wait to pick back up the book everyday after work...or early in the morning while getting ready for work. Note-to-self, putting on makeup while simultaneously reading does not work. I ended up really enjoying the book! It gave me serious Karen Maire Moning vibes along with a strong enemies-to-lovers trope that I am always a sucker for.

I don't want to mention the love interest to our heroine in this book and give it away! But I shipped her eventual hero from the beginning. They are alike in some ways, but the ways they are different really compliment each other.

Aside from the romance, I absolutely loved the secondary characters. From Ashley, to the huntsman, Merlin, the druids, Fenodree and even sweet Knight!

Very long story short, add this to your TBR list ASAP. You won’t regret it.

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[summer · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Were you following me?" "Always."

WOW. Just wow.

I've been in a reading slump recently and this book got me fired up about reading again.

Let's talk about: Rebecca
Rebecca, Becca, or Becs - whatever you want to call her. Imagine being thrust into a Faery equivalent of a world war without any prior knowledge, training, or abilities?? That's what Becs is up against. Don't get me wrong - her naivety and ignorance at the beginning of the book bothered me, but I later understood that the author deliberately did this to help us realize how much Becca changes by the end of her journey.

Let's talk about: Lochlan
At first I was not a fan. Something about how the author portrayed him rubbed me the wrong way. It wasn't that he was standoffish or arrogant - he truly just did not seem like an interesting enough male for me to pay enough attention to. HOWEVER - this quickly changed. I won't say too much because I don't want to spoil the book, but don't give up on him. The story starts off a little slow and then BOOM off to the races!

What Could Have Been Better
I think the only thing that rubbed me the wrong way about this book was how many side characters/side plots there were and how ill developed they are.

We have:
1) Bec's mom & and her dad (who is only mentioned and does not have any dialogue)
2) Ashley, Bec's BFF, who is basically a doormat. She is clearly only a plot device meant to create some tension to further Becca toward conflict. Her character was superficial to the point that all she did was drink wine, eat cheese, and get injured all the time.
3) Merlin, WHO SHOULD BE A MAIN CHARACTER, is strangely rarely in the book. He pops up randomly to spout some B.S. and then disappears before showing up at the end with a "Thanks for saving the world" before leaving again. Talk about unnecessary - the story would have developed the same way even if Merlin was a long lost character or had died years prior to Becca moving to Ireland.
4) Knight, aka Becca's amazing fluffy protector, just gets pushed to the side?? For someone who claims to love him, Becca sure does forget about him a lot.
5) Ronan....Ronan, Ronan, Ronan. I won't say much because I want everyone to draw their own conclusions...But I saw no reason for his character or the drama he brought early in the story - it served no purpose to furthering the plot line of the book.
6) Becca's trauma. I don't want to speak too much on this, but please be aware of potential triggers. I felt this served no purpose other than for us to think another character was evil and the aftermath of her trauma was handled very poorly.

I feel most of my issues with the book will be resolved in the next books of the series - we shall see.

Final Thoughts

This book has it all. It's a twist on Arthurian retelling, norse mythology, Shakespearian literature, and even has a hint of Viking lore. Don't be afraid - it's not overwhelming and I found myself pleasantly surprised with how well everything fit together. Lochlan and Rebecca's love story is not the central plot but it sure is sweet. I love how Lochlan calls Becca his little warrior - it's empowering and not cringey like a lot of other fantasy books. The adventure fantasy is well paced and I found myself curious to see what was going to happen next. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised and will be on the lookout for book two in this series.

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ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Curse and Craving was a fun book that gave King Arthur retelling vibes. And by vibes, I mean there was a Queen Guin, Morgan, and a Merlin. Not so much an Arthur or Lancelot, but beggers can't be choosers. Anyway, in this you will meet Rebecca. Now she just moved to Ireland for her dream job. She is also with her best friend Ashley for the first few weeks.

Let's just say this new adventure of hers was not boring for one second. She starts running into some men who were a bit mysterious. They said funny things to her, which made her question so many things about her life and Ireland. Then she actually met Lochlan; well, I guess she met Ronan first, but details. Either way, they both work together, and one of them is an obvious traitor. The other is kind of her mate (in a way).

The romance was romantic, but of course our girl was stubborn as hell and tried to dance around the relationship. Then, of course, she gets betrayed by someone who was close, and then things went downhill after that. On top of all that, we get the drama with Morgan and how there's this epic battle coming for Rebecca.

Oh, did I forget to mention that she is slowly turning fae because of a necklace that Merlin gave to her when she was a kid? Oops.

Yeah, things were wild, and I really liked how it was never super easy for Rebecca to learn and manage her powers. At times she thought it would be, but she was struggling with dangerous opportunities. At least until Lochlan came along and trained her. As for that big bad battle? Ugh, it was over so freaking quickly, and that's all I'm going to say.

I don't think the battle is quite done, but I do know that the next book will be about her best friend Ashley. Super excited to see what's going to go down in that one. I'm dying to know about the first night between her and Casek.

[Chinita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love the story and the whole Arthurian retelling. The way each character was unique was awesome and it brought a lot more than just Arthurian characters into the mix. It was a bit confusing at first but I truly enjoyed it.
Rebecca was so scared of everything and seeing her become bad ass was truly amazing. She adapted well given the circumstances she was in and she excelled in what she did.
Lachlan was beautiful; he loved her from the start and it was obvious. Then the way he explains his love for her in the shadow lands! I love him!!
What Ronan did was unforgivable and I hate that because of his stupidity and the way he hurt Becca it took so much from her relationship with lochlan. But I’m glad they were able to see they loved each other. The story with Morgan was a little off with me that’s why I’m giving it a 4 out of 5. The battle at the end ended not the way I was expecting but it was not bad. Happy ending for everyone.

[Anto~mcbr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having to write negative reviews is never an enjoyable endeavor. I can never help worrying that the author will take it personally and be offended, but at the same time, I just want to offer my two cents in the hope that some of my critiques will maybe be found helpful.



I believe that experience makes us more picky readers. At this point in my life, it’s safe to say I’ve spent nearly two thirds of it reading on a semi-consistent basis. Age is said to make a person wiser, and I like to believe that after heaps of books and thousands upon thousands of words read, I, at the very least, have a basic understanding of the dos and don’ts of book writing, even if the specific lingo is unfamiliar to me.



From the very first chapter of this book, I knew there was something off putting in how it was written, which would have led me to DNFing it had it not been an ARC. There was just an inordinate amount of exposition presented through dialogue.

Exhibit A (dialogue between two characters)

"Merlin is a master manipulator but not in a villainous way, per se. He's an expert at influencing people and events with the smallest touches. For whatever reason, he saw it fit to simply lay hints for us to uncover rather than hand over a dossier"

I actually did a quick Google search of things to avoid when crafting a story, and came across the “as you know, Bob” term. It boils down to info dumping basic story details by having two characters who already know these details talk about them among themselves with the purpose of clueing the reader in. The issue was, in a lot of these instances, I was already familiar with what the characters were discussing, too. Either because I’d already inferred it, or because of previous conversations that had already taken place between different characters.



Basically, the writing here came across as extremely amateurish. Now, there’s nothing wrong with that. But amateurish writing is what I would expect from someone doing fanfiction, not an experienced writer with professionally edited, multiple works published. It frankly boggles my mind a tad that an editor worth their salt wouldn’t pick up on the thorough abuse of the Bob device.



Maybe I just have unrealistically high standards, but I can’t give a high rating to a book where every single thought was verbalized, every single detail made explicit and spoon fed to the reader (show, don’t tell). Where things that had already been stated were reiterated multiple times and conversations were repeated word for word. I get researching a lot, doing extravagant amounts of plot planning, and wanting to share all that hard work with your readers, but dumping all of that into the final story is not advisable.



To illustrate that point, there were quite a few conversations in the book that were pretty much set up like interviews. The main character, Becca, would ask a dry, to the point question related to the plot/worldbuilding and whoever her interlocutor was, would give a succinct, just as dry answer. Not only did those interactions come across terribly forced and unnatural, but I felt like I was reading copy pasted bits from a plot worksheet.

Exhibit B (dialogue between two characters)

"Thank you, Cat. You don't know how much it means to me. Can I ask you why you seem so surprised that Lochlan and Ronan talk to me?"
"I can't tell you much, but they're predators, Rebecca. Those men are frighteningly powerful and dangerous. I've seen what they're capable of, and you don't want anything to do with them"
"I know you can't tell me more [...]"

Maybe an unforgiving, ruthless editor would have been beneficial to have in this instance. Someone to cut back the excessive amount of info-dumpy exposition, catch the mixed verbal tenses (nothing too terrible, but still noticeable), the unrealistic overuse of names in dialogue when directly addressing another character (how many times do you refer by name to the person you’re speaking with when having one-on-one conversations IRL?), the Irish characters having an American vernacular and the overly abundant and out-of-place giggling and grinning that completely wrecked the mood and tone of some scenes.



But also, I think the issues with this book run deeper. If I was an editor, I would have told my client it needed to be completely reworked. Starting with Becca’s character. She was not only extremely annoying, she constantly made everything about herself. Self-centered characters are so hard to root for. And in Becca’s case, she was overly dramatic on top of her egocentrism, which made her uber unlikable. Each new event kept seizing her lungs, shredding her insides, drowning her in despair. All the impact of the actually poignant scenes was taken away given that every single reaction of the main character was to the extreme. But worse than that, she was just such a worthless character.



At this point in time, “The Chosen One” trope has been done so many times, it’s hard not to roll my eyes when I stumble upon it. But I’m an open-minded reader, so I don’t judge a book based on its tropes. I’m a firm believer that execution can save and make shine even the cringiest, most tired of tropes. But that wasn’t the case here. There was nothing special about Becca. Why was she The Chosen One? No idea. Why did she want to save the world? What was the driving force behind her actions? The whole story felt pointless because I saw no clear answer to any of those questions. It was like she was a vessel for a powerful necklace and nothing more. Someone things happened to, instead of someone with autonomy, someone who made things happen.



To make things worse, the Villain to the story was just as motiveless as Becca. Their sole purpose was wreaking havoc and causing mayhem. An irrelevant main character, pitted against an equally irrelevant villain.

Pages upon pages and chapters upon chapters of our heroine training for and dreading the final showdown against the book’s Big Bad, for the fate of the human world, and everything got speedily resolved in a few measly paragraphs. Stakes? Zero. Danger? Non-existent. Final showdown? Exceptionally underwhelming. Again, pointless.



This book was just very boring and poorly written.

But, to end this admittedly harsh review on somewhat of a more positive note, I’ll say I liked how it tried weaving various legends and fictitious characters into the world. The premise that there are hints of truth to some of the most well-known literally classics, that some of those characters we’re all familiar with might not be 100% fictitious but Fae was a nice idea. So at least there was that.


**Thank you to The Next Step PR for providing me with an e-ARC copy of this title. All opinions are my own**

[Marie Lucio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted an ARC of “Curse and Craving” by Jill Ramsower in exchange for my honest review and here it is. This is the first time reading a book by this author and it won’t be the last. After reading Curse and Craving I can’t wait to continue reading the entire series. Let me tell you this story is just O. M. G. The way the story was written really suck you in from the first page to the last. You can’t help but to fall in love with all the characters not just the MCs. You will enjoy reading both Lochlan and Becca’s journey to discovery. So, grab hold to your seat and enjoy the ride this book will take you on. Because if you like action, adventure, and mystery with a hint of hot romance with your Fea, then this book is for you. This is one of the must-read books. There’s so much I want to share with you but I don’t want to spoil the book for you so I’m simply highly recommending you read it for yourself.

[Krista Peach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I was happily surprised by how much I enjoyed this read! I've never read anything else by the author, but she writes well, keeps the action moving and did a good job plotting out the storyline. I always love a good fae story, but I do find that at times, they can become repetitive or rely too much on the smut. This probably stems from the mythology and lore around the fae and their realm, faery. Most authors do stick to many of the same traditional fae elements - i.e. Seelie vs. Unseelie, use of magic, glamour, a separate faery realm, etc. The nice thing about Curse and Craving is that while it kept many of those traditional fae elements, it differentiated itself by also weaving some Arthurian legend mythos into the storyline.

Our fmc is Becca, whose just relocated to Belfast for a job. Very quickly, strange things begin to happen and she is quickly thrown into a world where the fae are real and Merlin is not just a legendary figure. A former apprentice of Merlin's has gone rogue and is threatening to unleash unseelie creatures unto earth, promising certain death and destruction. With help from the warriors of the Wild Hunt, Becca comes into her own by harnessing her new found magical powers and learning to literally fight, through combat training.

At first, there appears to be two love interests for Becca in Ronan and Lochlan. Ronan was suspicious to me from the beginning and very soon does something to Becca that is so reprehensible and unforgiveable, I feel the author did quite do this particular piece of storyline justice. I think Becca's trauma should have been explored further, especially in relation to how that affected her budding relationship with Lochlan. I loved Lochlan! When these two finally do hook up, its fire!

This is a quick read and my understanding is that while there will be a series set in this world, each book will focus on a different couple.

Potential Triggers: Mild violence, dubious consent, rape and kidnapping

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of Curse & Craving ebook for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I had not read this author before but was intrigued by the overview. I have recently fell in love with the fantasy genre and this one checks all the right boxes. Faery magic, the wild hunt, urban and historical legends. Top it off with a strong female lead character and a hot romance and you’ve got me hooked!

The story revolves around Rebecca a human unknowingly interlocked with magic and the Fae. Rebecca moves to Ireland to take a dream job opportunity and discovers she can see and interact with Fae. Rebecca was thrust into the world of Fae ultimately responsible for saving both the Fae and Human worlds.

Rebecca can’t do this alone! Lachlan is there to guide her throughout her journey and eventually they forge an unbreakable bond. Lachlan is a member of the wild hunt and takes Rebecca as his student of magic and combat ensuring she is both physically and mentally ready for the battle of her lifetime.

Along with her friend Ashley and Coworker Cat, Rebecca embarks on an amazing journey that brings her face to face with some of the most legendary characters. Some you may recognize from myths and stories and others are brand new.

Rating this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. The only reason I didn’t give this book full value was the war/battle that is described as being centuries in the making was rather flat and uninspired. Only a few pages were devoted to the battle itself versus the build up.

I highly recommend this book! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

[Megan Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beta Read RTC

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Rebecca moves to Ireland for her new job, strange things start happening. The one person that can teach her to use her newfound powers is the one person she's not sure she can trust.

I love the world building; the differentiation between different Faerie lands. I typically don't read fantasy set in modern day but the set up was great. I LOVE how Jill wove together Celtic mythology, Arthurian tales, and her own creative input. Plus, there's a glossary in the back of the book complete with a pronunciation guide- always helpful!

For those mafia romance lovers, the love interest has definite mob boss vibes. With relationships, I don't love information being omitted/decisions being made for someone else HOWEVER that's me and it worked for Lochlan (see above mob boss vibes).

Rebecca is a strong female lead who maintains her independence even when she becomes romantically involved. I wanted to scream at a certain someone for not protecting her more but it made for a good story (and proved that she's a badass in her own right).

Most importantly, this book contains the best pet name "little warrior". LOVE.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC

TW: death, dubious consent

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curse and craving by Jill Ramsower.
Of Myth and Man Book 1.
My new job landed me in another country, but it might as well have been an entirely different world.An underground world of magic and secrets ruthlessly guarded by an elite group of Fae warriors.This place has brought out a power buried deep within me.A dark and monstrous power.I have no choice but to turn to the Fae for help.Lochlan is the leader of those warriors meant to guard the border between realms.
He’s secretive and arrogant yet undeniably alluring.I have no reason to trust him, but he’s the only person who can teach me to protect myself.He pushes me to my limits and threatens to unravel me with every husky command.More than anyone, he has the power to undo me.Because with every lesson, I lose more of myself to him and this new world I never asked to be a part of.
I loved it. Great story and characters. The cover was amazing. 5*.

[K. Ramjohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curse and Craving was fantasy at it best. This is the first book in the Of Myth and Man series and I can't wait for more. This author took us on a fantastic journey rich in detail and world building and I was hooked from beginning to end. I loved how she blended myths and legends into this tale from Norse Mythology to Shakespearian literature to Arthurian legend, giving us an entirely new perspective on how these legends possibly originated.
The plot was intriguing and had me riveted frantically turning each page to find out more. There was a cast of fascinating characters who you will want to learn more about. The author did a great job with character development and although the main characters will frustrate you a bit at the start in no time everything changes. You will feel the tension ad the slow burn between them and I loved that Becca and Lochlan's story was wrapped up in this book. I will admit I felt the major battle ended to quickly and too easily. Filled with adventure, action, mystery, steam, twists and turns and so much more, this novel was a great start to this new series and I would highly recommend it to lovers of fantasy romance.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. It was the kind of book that made me briefly neglect life, stay up too late, and wake up too early. The world building was artfully laid out. Jill Ramsower beautifully weaves Norse Mythology, with Celtic Mythology, and Arthurian legends and more to give us a deeper understanding of this mysterious world that most people can't see. The slow burn romance always keeps the pages turning for me, with twists and turns that I did not expect. If you enjoy fantasy romance, strong independent heroines, beautiful world building be sure to add this one to your TBR list.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars! This book does some crazy, amazing world building and delivers a fantastic fantasy that was an unexpected and perfect mix of urban and high fantasy. If you enjoyed the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning, you’re going to love this book! While not quite as dark, and definitely not as super deep (Fever was a ten book series, whereas this accomplishes it’s HEA in just one book), it definitely weaves an engrossing and highly entertaining story. The magical world is Fae, based on an Irish mythos that isn’t unusual, but with a healthy dose of Arthurian legend woven in. It’s a really cool spin on the Fae lore, without being overly complex. There’s also a very interesting spin on the Wild Hunt that parallels the Nine in the Fever Series, which I thought was pretty cool.

Becca’s immersion into this Irish world of Fae and magic is an interesting ride, full of hidden magic, sexy, mysterious Irish men, and unexpected destiny. This is the first book of the Of Myth and Men series, and it sets a really good tone and builds a great world for future stories. There were some unexpected and surprising twists to the story, and the secondary characters, which will take the lead in future books, were set up with some really interesting stories of their own that I’m looking forward to reading about. The main thing that had me bringing it just short of a five star review was that I wish there was a little more to the relationship between Becca and Lochlan. It kind of went from nothing to everything without a lot of reason or expectation, and it would have been nice to get more from Lochlan as to what drove his emotions. He was telling Becca she meant everything to him, but we never really get the driving force behind his feelings, so it felt a little bit lacking at times. It’s not that I didn’t like what they had, I think I would’ve just expected it to be more intense, given the circumstances. That said, it was really an excellent story, and I loved the progression and pacing of the story, and am looking forward to the rest of the series!

[Megan Hubble-Roney · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me longer than expected to finish this book. I can't place one reason, I think life mostly and maybe my waffling between enjoying the story and being frustrated.

Let me start by saying Jill builds lovely worlds and frustrating characters. Both lend a hand in this story unfolding. And while I think the battle at the end is important it's not really what the books is about. Did I expect the ending battle to be pages and pages..? Kind of. I don't feel cheated so much as I do that Jill was in a rush to finish the book. And she absolutely could have give her characters more depth. But that is a personal preference.

Rebecca is a much deeper, incredibly hard headed and frustrated character. I kept thinking she needed to just spill the beans and consequences be damned. At some point he half truths were going to paint her into a corner.

Lochlan was just as difficult of a character as Rebecca and so I suppose in a way they're perfect for each other. His loyalty and confidence eventually are what give Rebecca's strength that extra oomph she needs.

I spent the first ⅓ of the book wondering if I was actually gojng to have my first DNF of the year. I put the book down, walked away for a day and came back determined to figure out the who's and the what's. I'm really glad I did. In the end I enjoyed Curse and Craving.

I'm ecstatic that the following books don't are standalone and this isn't a continuing saga as think that would have gotten boring. I very much look forward to future books.

[A Book Lover's Emporium Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a rare occasion when I read a book that completely pulls me in and leaves me wanting more. Jill Ramsower’s “Curse and Craving” accomplished this. She deftly weaved a story of magic and mayhem that is fast-paced, beautifully written and utterly riveting. The characters add depth and flavor to a story that is completely captivating. From beginning to end, I could not bring myself to put this book down!

The story follows American-born, Rebecca Peterson, as she starts a new job and new life in Belfast, Ireland. After several encounters ranging from awkward to downright uncomfortable, Rebecca soon finds out she is getting more than she bargained for. As I read the story, I could only admire her strength and courage as she faced seemingly impossible odds. However, it was her relationship with the fierce, yet beguiling, Lochlan that had me absolutely enchanted. Though Rebecca is stubborn, resisting her feelings, their chemistry is undeniable and had me eagerly awaiting the moment when she would finally give in.

What I loved most is how the author masterfully constructed a story that will appeal to a broad audience. The plot is teeming with the action and adventure fantasy readers expect while also supplying the tension and slow-burn romance that lovers of paranormal romance crave. I found this detail immensely pleasing and I was delighted to be reading this book. It also has me expectantly awaiting the next book in the series!

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curse & Craving was so addicting, I finished it in one day. I loved the setting in modern Ireland and the intricate world building and magic system that Jill Ramsower created in this addicting urban fantasy romance. Curse & Craving is rich with faeries, and characters from Norse mythology and the legend of King Arthur, and I enjoyed every second of it.

The tension and slow burn between the main character, Becca, and Lochlan is exquisite, it was so well written and left me wanting more. Ramsower wrote beautiful a friendship between Becca and her best friend Ash where they would do anything for each other.

Curse & Craving is filled with discovery, a refreshing take on faeries, betrayal, and love, I loved how Becca and Lochlan's story was wrapped up nicely, though I wish that there was a bit more action at the end. I would recommend Curse & Craving to anyone who loves faeries, rich world building, great character development, and a slow burn, steamy romance.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC. This was a pretty good modern fantasy filled with Fae, magic, and romance. I enjoyed the Irish setting since I haven’t read many books set there. The romance was slow burn and there was some spice which is always good. I liked Rebecca and Lochlan even if their relationship was a little frustrating at times. I found the ending to be a little anticlimactic and thought it was resolved too quickly for the amount of build up. I also felt like it could have been a little shorter without some of the unnecessary details. Overall I enjoyed it, there are a few more books in the series focusing on other characters and I would definitely be open to reading them.

[Vera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC

I enjoyed this book tremendously! Curse & Craving is right up my alley, with a good mix of friendship, lovers, magic, Fae and smut. It is a true New Adult book.

The first few chapters had me getting used to Jill Ramsowers writing style. This was my first time reading a book written by her.

I did stumble on some facts that didn't with me all that well sometimes, but altogether the book is well-written and a joy to read!

My personal preference would be a bit more elaborate smut, but I didn't make the book any less enjoyable to me.

[☽｡⋆ Shells (jlreads_) · Rating 3 out of 5]

1 ⭐️ for the cover and the premise


—An intriguing take on the King of Arthur retelling that incorporates fae and other mythical creatures.

Yes, the writing is compelling; however, the execution and overall performance of the pacing felt short to me. I was bored several times, especially in the last 40 or 30 % of the story.

The character also didn't feel developed, and they lacked presence.

Apart from that. Wasn't it also a little anticlimactic? The part ended far too soon and did not develop as well for me as it could have if it had been more drawn out and well-executed. 

I sincerely hope that the second book is far better.

[Veronica LaRoche · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were amazing and the story had me hooked. Lochlan and Rebecca chemistry is off the charts. I absolutely loved every minute that they were together. I’m so glad that their will be more of this series.

I voluntarily reviewed this Advanced Reader Copy of this book.