Love triangle, gothic romance and a supernatural thriller!
Serenity has just completed her second year at UPenn, the day after coming home to Rochester on summer break. She learns her brother, Kendrick, has fallen into deep depression and lost his gifted abilities. Days later, Serenity and Kendrick visit the Grand Coven, the authority over all witches. However, the Beta Coven is trying to take over their power AND believe they’re above ALL coven law. One member almost kills Serenity, but she survives only to be betrayed. She finds herself desperate and torn between her first love, Nathan, and the handsome and powerful immortal warlock, Thomas. Who will she choose?
From the Author- The book as been recently re- edited and rewritten. Sorry for any inconveniences
"Blessed & Cursed: The Gifted Series" by Toni Hawkins takes a bold step away from its predecessor, plunging readers into a world rich with occult horror and fantasy. This sequel expands the narrative by introducing a range of new challenges and enigmatic dilemmas for Serenity, the protagonist, as she navigates the complex dynamics of love and power in a modern witch coven. The plot thickens with a web of mortal and immortal witches, set against a backdrop of dark, atmospheric intrigue that consistently surprises with its clever twists and turns.
The story, which begins with Serenity returning from college to rescue her brother from supernatural peril, quickly spirals into a tense power struggle entwined with a compelling love triangle involving Nathan and the warlock Thomas. Hawkins' writing shines in its ability to blend magical elements with the messy realities of romantic entanglements and familial loyalty, all while maintaining a swift pace that captivates from start to finish. This series will particularly appeal to those who relish stories of witchcraft, shadowy lore, and narratives that dance on the edge of light and darkness.
"Blessed & Cursed: The Gifted Series" by Toni Hawkins offers a captivating supernatural tale filled with intriguing characters and an engaging storyline. Hawkins presents a fresh and imaginative take on supernatural themes, witches and covens, which keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.
The recent editing of the book is commendable, but there's room for improvement in the flow of language. Another round of editing focusing on enhancing the prose's flow would elevate the reading experience even further. Despite this minor critique, the book deserves a five-star rating for its compelling plot and well-developed characters.
Overall, "Blessed & Cursed" is a great read for fans of supernatural fiction. While the author's talent shines through, collaborating with a professional editor could further polish the book and take it to new heights.
I enjoyed the mix of Gothic romance and supernatural intrigue. The story follows Serenity as she returns home to help her brother, Kendrick, while navigating a power struggle among witches and a romantic dilemma between Nathan and Thomas. The characters are compelling, and the twists kept me interested, though I did spot a lot of grammar mistakes and the frequent past and present tense mix ups stalled the flow for me. With a professional edit this book could be 5*
The first chapter was a mess of grammar, to the point I’d give up on trying to understand the flow of development, and continue on with the story. The second chapter started better grammar wise, but the continuity of errors and awkward sentences remained persistent. Dialogue was a bit stiff and repetitive at times as well. Overall, I would say the story focus is a cool, could be better with greater development, but heavy editing and proofreading is needed.
This story pulled me in right away with its mix of magic, family bonds, and emotional conflict. Serenity feels real and relatable, especially as she navigates betrayal, coven politics, and her brother’s struggles. The love triangle adds real tension without overpowering the plot, and the world-building around the covens is intriguing. A fast, engaging read that leaves you eager to know what Serenity will choose next.
A good read. There are some slow areas, but for the most part, this is a well written story and worth reading. The characters have decent depth to them abs the dialog flows well.
This witchcraft soap opera was sudsy fun, but way too bogged down in the melodrama. I enjoyed the sisters interaction of good vs evil, but rolled my eyes and howled with laughter as the drama climaxed. Take a chance if you dare, it is a fantasy good time.
It’s much more different from the first book of the series. There will definitely be twists and turns; you will absolutely feel sorry for the main character.