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Cursed: Once Detected, Never Protected
When sixteen-year-old Colette Holland moves with her family to Calexico, she discovers that this migration is a curse for her — a threat to her own existence — for she is considered as “cursed”, being born on February. 29th, a date known to most Calexico’s residents as “the cursed date”. No one born on this date was kept alive in the city, so could she be the only one who survives?
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 26, 2022
1 person is currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Cindya Nesr
1 book12 followersCindya Nesr, a Lebanese first-time author of the science-fiction, dystopian novel Cursed, has stepped into the path of writing at a very young age, turning her hobby into a passion and then, into a phenomenal talent.
Besides her ambition of making her dream of studying medicine after graduating from high school come true, Cindya is quite fond of writing and reading, especially science-fiction, young adult novels, and she manifested her admiration to these genres by reflecting them within her first novel, Cursed, which she initiated at the age of 15 and self-published at 17.
She is confident that this step is the beginning of her journey in going global, as she has won several short story writing competitions that proved her creativity and extraordinary potentials. Cindya also writes articles for an international magazine, engaging in multiple international conferences as a keynote speaker and chief organizer for being a public relation officer in IIU-ISDC.
Currently, Cindya is working on her second novel, which she is looking forward to impress readers with as much as she has done with Cursed.
Besides her ambition of making her dream of studying medicine after graduating from high school come true, Cindya is quite fond of writing and reading, especially science-fiction, young adult novels, and she manifested her admiration to these genres by reflecting them within her first novel, Cursed, which she initiated at the age of 15 and self-published at 17.
She is confident that this step is the beginning of her journey in going global, as she has won several short story writing competitions that proved her creativity and extraordinary potentials. Cindya also writes articles for an international magazine, engaging in multiple international conferences as a keynote speaker and chief organizer for being a public relation officer in IIU-ISDC.
Currently, Cindya is working on her second novel, which she is looking forward to impress readers with as much as she has done with Cursed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 17, 2022
Colette is bullied at her new school which she attends after her family moves from Canada. The building of the company for which her father worked caught fire, leaving them financially distressed. They had to cut down on expenses and sell off their things, including expensive clothes, just to buy sufficient food for the family.
There is an air of mystery, especially when Colette receives a message from an anonymous girl to meet her at a library at night. Her brother tags along as both of them fear that she might be killed due to being "cursed". At the library, there are a boy and a girl waiting for Colette while she is still unaware of their names and intentions. She is in a dilemma when asked to choose between saving her life by wronging someone else and allowing the people to know who she is resulting in a hunt for her. The story revolves around Colette's fight against an unjust system that demands to kill anyone who is born on 29th February, the cursed date.
I loved Adrian from the very start. Another character that caught my fancy was Caleb, the way he sacrificed himself for his sister without a second thought, and in turn for the greater good, was heart-touching.
The language was simple and it was a quick read. A promising debut by a young author.
There is an air of mystery, especially when Colette receives a message from an anonymous girl to meet her at a library at night. Her brother tags along as both of them fear that she might be killed due to being "cursed". At the library, there are a boy and a girl waiting for Colette while she is still unaware of their names and intentions. She is in a dilemma when asked to choose between saving her life by wronging someone else and allowing the people to know who she is resulting in a hunt for her. The story revolves around Colette's fight against an unjust system that demands to kill anyone who is born on 29th February, the cursed date.
I loved Adrian from the very start. Another character that caught my fancy was Caleb, the way he sacrificed himself for his sister without a second thought, and in turn for the greater good, was heart-touching.
The language was simple and it was a quick read. A promising debut by a young author.
May 17, 2023
I have just finished "Cursed: Once detected, never protected" by Cyndia Nesr, reading it in my tablet thanks to the kindle unlimited subscription of my girlfriend.
Being bullied in school is not the major problem for Colette, the main character of this sci-fi dystopian story. Her true challenge lies in the discovery that she is cursed simply for being born on February 29th. Individuals born on this day, known as the "cursed date," are targeted and hunted by an organization determined to eliminate them from their city, Calexico.
The story swiftly unfolds as Colette, aided by newfound friends, embarks on a life-or-death escape while simultaneously challenging the unjust and corrupt system.
I thoroughly enjoyed the engaging narrative of a group of young individuals fighting against a profoundly corrupt system. The characters are well-developed throughout the story, evolving as they navigate increasingly perilous situations. This quick read is crafted for a young adult audience eager for adventure and action-packed scenes.
I congratulate the author for writing such enjoyable story and thus I utterly recommended it.
Being bullied in school is not the major problem for Colette, the main character of this sci-fi dystopian story. Her true challenge lies in the discovery that she is cursed simply for being born on February 29th. Individuals born on this day, known as the "cursed date," are targeted and hunted by an organization determined to eliminate them from their city, Calexico.
The story swiftly unfolds as Colette, aided by newfound friends, embarks on a life-or-death escape while simultaneously challenging the unjust and corrupt system.
I thoroughly enjoyed the engaging narrative of a group of young individuals fighting against a profoundly corrupt system. The characters are well-developed throughout the story, evolving as they navigate increasingly perilous situations. This quick read is crafted for a young adult audience eager for adventure and action-packed scenes.
I congratulate the author for writing such enjoyable story and thus I utterly recommended it.
March 20, 2023
Thank you to the author for sending me the e-book in exchange of an honest review.
A debut novel on dystopia fantasy by an author who was 17 years old only when it was published. Isn't that awesome?
Colette was born on February 29th, which is the cursed date in Calexico, the place where her family has moved recently. The hidden community has taken the oath of killing the cursed for the welfare of the city. When news of Colette being cursed spreads out, she must face the challenges in life and protect her family and friends. But is it ever really that simple?
The plot is beautiful, and I like how the story unfolds and chases towards a fitting climax. I really enjoyed the friendships Colette made along the way. It explored the Found Family trope really well. The supporting characters were cherishable.
It was action-packed however, I missed the liveliness of a story. The tension. Anticipation. The dramatics. Though the book has its fair share of twists and turns, they didn't make me gasp or angsty. It was like reading an article. I missed being connected to the book.
The relationship dynamics between Colette and Adrian just felt weird to me. And thing turned out a little too conveniently every time.
Do I recommend this?
YES. I do. Cause the story is good and it's a quick read.
A debut novel on dystopia fantasy by an author who was 17 years old only when it was published. Isn't that awesome?
Colette was born on February 29th, which is the cursed date in Calexico, the place where her family has moved recently. The hidden community has taken the oath of killing the cursed for the welfare of the city. When news of Colette being cursed spreads out, she must face the challenges in life and protect her family and friends. But is it ever really that simple?
The plot is beautiful, and I like how the story unfolds and chases towards a fitting climax. I really enjoyed the friendships Colette made along the way. It explored the Found Family trope really well. The supporting characters were cherishable.
It was action-packed however, I missed the liveliness of a story. The tension. Anticipation. The dramatics. Though the book has its fair share of twists and turns, they didn't make me gasp or angsty. It was like reading an article. I missed being connected to the book.
The relationship dynamics between Colette and Adrian just felt weird to me. And thing turned out a little too conveniently every time.
Do I recommend this?
YES. I do. Cause the story is good and it's a quick read.
January 30, 2023
After Colette and her family move to Calexico, Colette makes a surprising discovery — the citizens of Calexico believe that anyone born on February 29 is cursed. Anyone born on the cursed date is considered a threat to the city and must be hunted down and killed.
After finding out she is considered cursed, Colette goes into hiding with the help of her new friends who app share the same common goal: end the myth of the cursed and save innocent people from being murdered.
I loved the concept of this plot and the idea of having a whole town buy into the idea of a cursed date. I’m also a big fan of youth taking down a corrupt system, which was key to this plot. I do wish some other plot points and characters were more fleshed out. This is a debut for a young author (17 years old), and if she can put together a story like this at such a young age, I can’t wait to see what she’ll do with more even more time and experience.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After finding out she is considered cursed, Colette goes into hiding with the help of her new friends who app share the same common goal: end the myth of the cursed and save innocent people from being murdered.
I loved the concept of this plot and the idea of having a whole town buy into the idea of a cursed date. I’m also a big fan of youth taking down a corrupt system, which was key to this plot. I do wish some other plot points and characters were more fleshed out. This is a debut for a young author (17 years old), and if she can put together a story like this at such a young age, I can’t wait to see what she’ll do with more even more time and experience.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2023
Thank you to the author for sending me a free copy.
This book felt reminiscent of the dystopian books I was obsessed with in middle school. I would have loved to read this one back then. I also liked how over the course of the book, I could tell the author was gaining more confidence in her writing because the style really solidified. I hope there is a sequel because it definitely has great potential for one.
This book felt reminiscent of the dystopian books I was obsessed with in middle school. I would have loved to read this one back then. I also liked how over the course of the book, I could tell the author was gaining more confidence in her writing because the style really solidified. I hope there is a sequel because it definitely has great potential for one.
February 26, 2023
The people of Calexico consider February 29th, a date that comes once every four years, a cursed date. Anyone born on that cursed date will be hunted down and killed. The cursed are considered a danger that needs to be eliminated, and Colette is now detected. She doesn’t know what being cursed means, but she knows that her life is now in danger. For killing innocent people over a misplaced fable, she must find those responsible for all the deaths and make them pay.
The story is a dystopian fiction with elements of suspense, sci-fi, mystery, and romance. It is written in a first-person narrative with a dramatic tone. It’s a single POV told from Colette’s perspective. This book has a few triggering themes and interesting characters that make you question a lot of things. Colette sure had me questioning a lot of her decisions. Cursed paints a vivid picture of a dystopian society, where Colette must make tough decisions in order to save herself and the people she loves.
Colette writes a letter after learning she is one of the cursed before sneaking out of the house to meet the girl who gave her a note saying she should meet her somewhere. For some reason, I couldn’t take her letter seriously. I laughed while reading it. A teenager would have made fun of the aspect at first, but then had something drastic happen to make her believe it. For me, this fast acceptance did not work. Colette freaks out when she’s told to fake her identity, but she just rolls with it when they tell her that she’s cursed. And the whole kidnapping of someone so they could take her identity didn’t make much scenes. The first thing that comes to mind when you hear “fake identity” is changing hair colour or name. Apparently, to the characters here, it means killing or kidnapping someone. She just took the other girl’s role in her life without even changing her hair colour to match the other girl’s and everyone bought it.
Her brother’s behaviour was even weirder when he was like “you’re cursed, don’t talk to me” one second and then “you’re my sister and I can’t let you get hurt” the next. Even so, Caleb plays a crucial role in the plot. Being turned into a hero was amazing to read and it shows that his sacrifice wasn’t in vain.
The way they got into The Cell and became high players was too easy. As the secret group was suspicious of everyone and would eliminate anyone who posed a threat to them, how could they fool them so easily?
There are a few typos and pronouns that are unclear. Like when a girl in a hoodie sneaks a note into Colette’s hand, she starts to overthink meeting the person. At first, she was talking about it as a ‘she’, but then it turned into a ‘he’. It just confused me if she was still talking about the same person or not. And her taking another girl’s identity and referring to the girl’s family as hers added to the confusion.
I believe Cindya Nesr has great potential as a writer, and I am confident that this debut novel could kick-start her career as one. I think the plot of the story is unique. It could use a bit more depth and development in the characters, but they are as unique as the plot itself. It was a pleasant experience reading this book.
February 17, 2023
Thank you so so much to the author for sharing a copy of this book with me !!
“Then she raises her wide, perplexed, liquid eyes to meet mine before she hisses, her lips shivering, “You're cursed."
“You know what, sister, you’re like the most reckless girl I’ve ever seen. But if that’s your decision, I’m on it.”
Trigger Warning: Bullying, death, loss of friends and grief
I’m honestly in awe of the job the author did to write this Dystopian book, inspired by the Divergent series !!
A brand new story about Colette, detected as cursed at school, who will have to face many trials to survive in a world that would rather see her electrocuted!!!
I loved a lot of things in this series, from the relationship Colette has with her brother Caleb, to the new friends she made through this journey and the plot of the book itself.
Trying to protect herself from the world, forced to be alone and taking the identity of someone else and betrayed by those she loved the most … yes … what an adventure!!!
In this book there’s bene more action than I have read about in a while!!!
But at the bottom of it all there’s how being different, being cursed is a reason to be bullied when you’re young and persecuted when you’re old enough to know better!!!
I cried tears of frustration and pain alongside these characters but I also laughed and smiled at their small successes. I only hope we could get to see more of them even those who were left behind but still fighting!!!
Overall more than a pretty good ya dystopian book from an author I believe we can expect more from in the future !!
“I'll make them all pay for it. All of them.”
“Perhaps it really is. Perhaps he’s living through me. And I need to make it worth his life.”
“Hats off to you, brother. Now, the God-like Phoenix is no more a legend. Now, you are the city’s true legend.”
“Then she raises her wide, perplexed, liquid eyes to meet mine before she hisses, her lips shivering, “You're cursed."
“You know what, sister, you’re like the most reckless girl I’ve ever seen. But if that’s your decision, I’m on it.”
Trigger Warning: Bullying, death, loss of friends and grief
I’m honestly in awe of the job the author did to write this Dystopian book, inspired by the Divergent series !!
A brand new story about Colette, detected as cursed at school, who will have to face many trials to survive in a world that would rather see her electrocuted!!!
I loved a lot of things in this series, from the relationship Colette has with her brother Caleb, to the new friends she made through this journey and the plot of the book itself.
Trying to protect herself from the world, forced to be alone and taking the identity of someone else and betrayed by those she loved the most … yes … what an adventure!!!
In this book there’s bene more action than I have read about in a while!!!
But at the bottom of it all there’s how being different, being cursed is a reason to be bullied when you’re young and persecuted when you’re old enough to know better!!!
I cried tears of frustration and pain alongside these characters but I also laughed and smiled at their small successes. I only hope we could get to see more of them even those who were left behind but still fighting!!!
Overall more than a pretty good ya dystopian book from an author I believe we can expect more from in the future !!
“I'll make them all pay for it. All of them.”
“Perhaps it really is. Perhaps he’s living through me. And I need to make it worth his life.”
“Hats off to you, brother. Now, the God-like Phoenix is no more a legend. Now, you are the city’s true legend.”
February 24, 2023
Rating 3.6 ⭐
At the new school Colette attends when her family relocates from Canada, she experiences bullying. Her father lost his job due to a fire that broke out in the office building he worked in. To provide enough food for the family, they had to reduce spending and sell off their possessions, including their expensive clothing. There is a sense of intrigue, especially after Colette gets a message from an unnamed girl asking her to meet her at a library late at night. Her brother comes along because they both worry that she might be killed because she is "cursed." Colette is waiting for a boy and a girl in the library, but she doesn't know their names or what they want.
When given the option to choose
between protecting her life by wronging someone else and revealing her identity, which would prompt a manhunt for her, she is faced with a difficult decision. Colette's struggle against an unjust system that demands the execution of anyone born on February 29, the supposedly cursed day, is the central theme of the narrative.
Adrian won my heart right away, such an amazing character. This book was well written and easy to read. It became a great reading slump cure for me! Thank you for giving me the chance to read your book, such a promising author's first publication.
At the new school Colette attends when her family relocates from Canada, she experiences bullying. Her father lost his job due to a fire that broke out in the office building he worked in. To provide enough food for the family, they had to reduce spending and sell off their possessions, including their expensive clothing. There is a sense of intrigue, especially after Colette gets a message from an unnamed girl asking her to meet her at a library late at night. Her brother comes along because they both worry that she might be killed because she is "cursed." Colette is waiting for a boy and a girl in the library, but she doesn't know their names or what they want.
When given the option to choose
between protecting her life by wronging someone else and revealing her identity, which would prompt a manhunt for her, she is faced with a difficult decision. Colette's struggle against an unjust system that demands the execution of anyone born on February 29, the supposedly cursed day, is the central theme of the narrative.
Adrian won my heart right away, such an amazing character. This book was well written and easy to read. It became a great reading slump cure for me! Thank you for giving me the chance to read your book, such a promising author's first publication.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2023
This debut novel by indie author Cindya Nesr is an exciting YA science fiction/dystopian read! It follows the story of 16 year old Colette who finds herself in grave danger after discovering she is ‘cursed’. For generations, citizens of Calexico born on the ‘cursed’ date, February 29th, find themselves hunted down by an elite secret society dedicated to keeping the city safe from the ‘cursed’. Along with some new friends, Colette finds herself in the midst of this secret society with an opportunity to take it down for good!
This was a fun, quick read! I was hooked from the beginning and found it fast paced and engaging throughout! It is a great accomplishment and shows much promise for 17 year old, indie author Cindya Nesr!
This was a fun, quick read! I was hooked from the beginning and found it fast paced and engaging throughout! It is a great accomplishment and shows much promise for 17 year old, indie author Cindya Nesr!
February 24, 2023
3,5☆
The author writing got better over the novel. It just seemed as not continues writing..
I would consider it as great debut of a young author(only 17 at the time) now 18y.o Cindya 💗 The author sent me a free copy and since I loved Divergent as young, I liked the way Collette was considered cursed just because of her birthday. It made me thinking about how we may have prejudice against everyone, not depending how they look, dress or talk just as simple as birth-day.
The way the young generation is the generation of progress and pulling down the corrupted system.
The characters weren't builded over the time and it lacked a growth of side-characters. I liked the closeness of some characters and the author showing the unconditional love through her brother 🫶
Great story and I'm sure we will hear more about this young author and it'll be even better
@veriauthor.reader
The author writing got better over the novel. It just seemed as not continues writing..
I would consider it as great debut of a young author(only 17 at the time) now 18y.o Cindya 💗 The author sent me a free copy and since I loved Divergent as young, I liked the way Collette was considered cursed just because of her birthday. It made me thinking about how we may have prejudice against everyone, not depending how they look, dress or talk just as simple as birth-day.
The way the young generation is the generation of progress and pulling down the corrupted system.
The characters weren't builded over the time and it lacked a growth of side-characters. I liked the closeness of some characters and the author showing the unconditional love through her brother 🫶
Great story and I'm sure we will hear more about this young author and it'll be even better
@veriauthor.reader
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2023
I want to start this review out by thanking the author, Cindya. This book has some amazing potential. I could see this going through on a series. It was very well written.
Colette goes from a life of expensive tastes to basically nothing in what seems like a snap of a finger. Her new home is not welcoming either. The people hate her, but they also fear something darker: the February 29th curse. Colette quickly discovers from her classmates that she is cursed.
Instead of being afraid, it seems that she takes her potential running with the support from her brother Caleb. They are thrown into a whirlwind of events. I am honestly quite satisfied with how the book ended.
Colette goes from a life of expensive tastes to basically nothing in what seems like a snap of a finger. Her new home is not welcoming either. The people hate her, but they also fear something darker: the February 29th curse. Colette quickly discovers from her classmates that she is cursed.
Instead of being afraid, it seems that she takes her potential running with the support from her brother Caleb. They are thrown into a whirlwind of events. I am honestly quite satisfied with how the book ended.
April 12, 2023
Good read. YA dystopian thriller. Predictable but fast-paced story. Writing style is superb.
I had some minor issues with certain parts, especially how it's revealed that the main character is cursed. Also the constant internal monologues in the first few chapters slowed me down. But that's just my opinion. Might not be a huge issue for other readers.
Giving it 4 Rating because its by far the best read this year in terms of writing style, setting, story arc and climax.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I had some minor issues with certain parts, especially how it's revealed that the main character is cursed. Also the constant internal monologues in the first few chapters slowed me down. But that's just my opinion. Might not be a huge issue for other readers.
Giving it 4 Rating because its by far the best read this year in terms of writing style, setting, story arc and climax.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2023
This book follows the idea that a corrupt system has everyone believing that those born on February 29th are cursed. I actually love the plot and it was a good story to follow. I think the characters were great and I just loved little Caleb, looking out for his big sister!
I think this is fab as a debut novel from @nesrcindya, especially at such a young age! Can’t believe you started writing this at 15!!! I can’t wait to see what you can do with a bit more experience ❤️
I think this is fab as a debut novel from @nesrcindya, especially at such a young age! Can’t believe you started writing this at 15!!! I can’t wait to see what you can do with a bit more experience ❤️
February 5, 2023
A great young adult book that draws you in a makes you yearn for the finish. I couldn't wait to see how it all ended and I can't wait for more from this great author!
January 18, 2023
Okay to start with the storytelling and the beginning of it was flawless and the ideas where coming in straight forward and with no so much complexity at all ya3ni you'd understand all the ideas with ease which is a phenomenal thing for the novel for it to be not too complex and way too simple
Now another thing that I really liked is the story and the romance that happened between colette and Adrian and I just think that that's how romance must be just like that without all of what these new bad writers do and write which are more like something else not romance that pure one that's found here in this novel
Something else that I really enjoyed is how talented you really are with your writing and how you managed to always end every single chapter with a thrilling end to keep the reader attached to reading and never stop at all and wishes that the story has never ended
Talking about thrill I can't just ignore all that action and thrill that happen in the last couple chapters that literally got me attached and unable to move before finishing it all
Even though that there were some sacrifices here and there and some traitors as well and most importantly some stuff that about Harry Potter as well which is one of my favourite series of all time and definitely recommended
Now another thing that I really liked is the story and the romance that happened between colette and Adrian and I just think that that's how romance must be just like that without all of what these new bad writers do and write which are more like something else not romance that pure one that's found here in this novel
Something else that I really enjoyed is how talented you really are with your writing and how you managed to always end every single chapter with a thrilling end to keep the reader attached to reading and never stop at all and wishes that the story has never ended
Talking about thrill I can't just ignore all that action and thrill that happen in the last couple chapters that literally got me attached and unable to move before finishing it all
Even though that there were some sacrifices here and there and some traitors as well and most importantly some stuff that about Harry Potter as well which is one of my favourite series of all time and definitely recommended
January 18, 2023
This debut is from teen author, Cindya, and tells the story of a young girl, Colette, and the dark secrets she uncovers in her city. The plot is good and well-paced, and Cindya has so much potential as a writer. I love the eye-catching cover and I love the concept in the plot.
Thank you for sharing this book with me. I'm looking forward to seeing how you grow and develop your writing!! Keep at it and persevere!
Thank you for sharing this book with me. I'm looking forward to seeing how you grow and develop your writing!! Keep at it and persevere!
February 27, 2023
I want to start off by saying that the concept and writing were really phenomenal. Extremely unique and subversive world for sure. It is why I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars, even though there were some plot holes and things that just didn't work for me at all.
The main character, Colette, is easy to relate to and well developed. Reading her brought me back to how I was a bit at the age of 17 (which was a long time ago haha). Colette's family and friends in the story were also well written and I felt for them as people.
The main plot itself was a very interesting concept with a lot of unique elements that drew me in. The concept of the curse itself was intriguing, but I did feel let down that it wasn't explored more in detail.
The evil cell that enforced this curse was supposed to be a clean, well oiled machine of people who had everything in perfect order, but I honestly found them to be a bunch of naïve fools. As a reader of 40 years old, I found it simply impossible to believe that the leaders of this organization would immediately believe the word of children and just act upon whatever some kid told them as truth over and over again. I'm not saying children and teenagers don't have a voice or merit, but adults would at least look into what they said and verify that it was accurate before acting upon it.
The relationships with and credit given to the parental figures in the story was lacking. This author is hugely talented, but she is very young and doesn't seem to yet understand how parents feel about their children. The parents should have been tearing the entire world apart looking for their children, but their experience and feelings were simply forgotten.
The romantic subplots were very sweet and nostalgic for me. I liked the way they were written very much. They happened very quickly, but young love always does, so it made sense.
As much as I had my issues, I still wanted to know what happened next and was overall very happy with this book. I will most certainly be reading the next book from this author.
@hollisjomccollum
The main character, Colette, is easy to relate to and well developed. Reading her brought me back to how I was a bit at the age of 17 (which was a long time ago haha). Colette's family and friends in the story were also well written and I felt for them as people.
The main plot itself was a very interesting concept with a lot of unique elements that drew me in. The concept of the curse itself was intriguing, but I did feel let down that it wasn't explored more in detail.
The evil cell that enforced this curse was supposed to be a clean, well oiled machine of people who had everything in perfect order, but I honestly found them to be a bunch of naïve fools. As a reader of 40 years old, I found it simply impossible to believe that the leaders of this organization would immediately believe the word of children and just act upon whatever some kid told them as truth over and over again. I'm not saying children and teenagers don't have a voice or merit, but adults would at least look into what they said and verify that it was accurate before acting upon it.
The relationships with and credit given to the parental figures in the story was lacking. This author is hugely talented, but she is very young and doesn't seem to yet understand how parents feel about their children. The parents should have been tearing the entire world apart looking for their children, but their experience and feelings were simply forgotten.
The romantic subplots were very sweet and nostalgic for me. I liked the way they were written very much. They happened very quickly, but young love always does, so it made sense.
As much as I had my issues, I still wanted to know what happened next and was overall very happy with this book. I will most certainly be reading the next book from this author.
@hollisjomccollum
February 25, 2023
If there's one thing I can say about "Cursed", my debut baby, it would be that I'm genuinely, utterly proud to be its author at age 17!
Getting this final version accessible to you all now took me years of sweat and tears, ups and downs to reach, and I think it's the least I could do to give it 5 stars after all. I had a lot of those moments when I felt discouraged, that I felt what I'm writing is rubbish, and the exhaustion of editting it all myself got to me more times than one blinks in a day — yes, the contribution of this book was on no one's hands but me, totally.
But it's the faith I had deep down in this book that pushed me forward and kept me going. I believed "Cursed" deserved much more than to be left as an unfinished manuscript, and I refused to give it less than what I know it deserves.
"Cursed", my dear debut, has made me happier than I ever thought I can be; it granted me the privilege of being the author I am now, and at an age I never expected. I love it, wholeheartedly, that in my eyes, even its flaws are perfection. And yes, all the hard work, perseverance, and sacrifices I had to make to get this book out to the world were totally worth it, to say the least.
Each and every review of "Cursed" means the world to me. I do read every single review you guys leave, and it just fills my heart with joy. Because even though publishing this full-fledged novel felt too good to be true, it's actually real now, and the more reviews I get from you, the more I believe this is all real, that my lovely "Cursed" is real.
Your mama loves you just the way you are, "Cursed" 🤍
Hope your readers will do so too!
Getting this final version accessible to you all now took me years of sweat and tears, ups and downs to reach, and I think it's the least I could do to give it 5 stars after all. I had a lot of those moments when I felt discouraged, that I felt what I'm writing is rubbish, and the exhaustion of editting it all myself got to me more times than one blinks in a day — yes, the contribution of this book was on no one's hands but me, totally.
But it's the faith I had deep down in this book that pushed me forward and kept me going. I believed "Cursed" deserved much more than to be left as an unfinished manuscript, and I refused to give it less than what I know it deserves.
"Cursed", my dear debut, has made me happier than I ever thought I can be; it granted me the privilege of being the author I am now, and at an age I never expected. I love it, wholeheartedly, that in my eyes, even its flaws are perfection. And yes, all the hard work, perseverance, and sacrifices I had to make to get this book out to the world were totally worth it, to say the least.
Each and every review of "Cursed" means the world to me. I do read every single review you guys leave, and it just fills my heart with joy. Because even though publishing this full-fledged novel felt too good to be true, it's actually real now, and the more reviews I get from you, the more I believe this is all real, that my lovely "Cursed" is real.
Your mama loves you just the way you are, "Cursed" 🤍
Hope your readers will do so too!
March 18, 2023
Cursed: Once Detected, Never Protected
By Cindya Nesr
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔥
Cursed is a Young Adult dystopian standalone novel with elements of mystery, sci-fi, and romance mixed in. It has a single POV. This book has a few triggering themes.
As an ARC reader, I do not feel it is my job to comment on any grammar or spelling errors. Therefore, my review does not take into account any grammar and spelling errors or any missing words.
Cursed was a really good book. The storyline and plot I felt like were original, and fairly well laid out. The book follows Collete as she is forced to move to Calexico, a city on the US and Mexico border. Calexico is ruled by a centuries old superstition that anyone born on February 29 is “Cursed”.
The side characters are interesting, and the whole world that Cindya Nesr built is fascinating and makes me question a lot of the current world superstitions.
As much as I really enjoyed what I read, I found myself wanting more. More information. More details. More descriptions.
I believe Cindya has the potential to have an incredible story here. The base plot is fantastic and original in my opinion.
This book was given to me as ARC in exchange for an honest review and feedback. The opinions above are mine.
Preface:
When sixteen-year-old Collete Holland moves with her family to Calexico, she discovers that this migration is a curse for her - a threat to her own existence - for she is considered “cursed”, being born on February 29th, a date known to most Calexico’s residents as “the cursed date”. Nobody born on this date was kept alive in this city, so could she be the only one who survives?
By Cindya Nesr
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔥
Cursed is a Young Adult dystopian standalone novel with elements of mystery, sci-fi, and romance mixed in. It has a single POV. This book has a few triggering themes.
As an ARC reader, I do not feel it is my job to comment on any grammar or spelling errors. Therefore, my review does not take into account any grammar and spelling errors or any missing words.
Cursed was a really good book. The storyline and plot I felt like were original, and fairly well laid out. The book follows Collete as she is forced to move to Calexico, a city on the US and Mexico border. Calexico is ruled by a centuries old superstition that anyone born on February 29 is “Cursed”.
The side characters are interesting, and the whole world that Cindya Nesr built is fascinating and makes me question a lot of the current world superstitions.
As much as I really enjoyed what I read, I found myself wanting more. More information. More details. More descriptions.
I believe Cindya has the potential to have an incredible story here. The base plot is fantastic and original in my opinion.
This book was given to me as ARC in exchange for an honest review and feedback. The opinions above are mine.
Preface:
When sixteen-year-old Collete Holland moves with her family to Calexico, she discovers that this migration is a curse for her - a threat to her own existence - for she is considered “cursed”, being born on February 29th, a date known to most Calexico’s residents as “the cursed date”. Nobody born on this date was kept alive in this city, so could she be the only one who survives?
May 29, 2023
I have HUGE respect for authors. They can really transport readers into a whole different world and makes that a reality. I’m always in awe with their level of imagination and creativity. That’s why, knowing this author is just an 18-year-old lady who entirely wrote, edited and designed the cover herself, I wanted to dive into her debut novel almost immediately.
I LOVE:
▫️The interesting plot and writing style, even as an amateur, was exceptional. Cindya has great potential as a writer. It can be felt from the way she expressed her thoughts through the tone of the story.
▫️Colette’s character development and determination to survive. I love her passion.
▫️Caleb’s love and protection for her sister is one of my favorites.
▫️Friendship dynamics.
▫️The romantic subplot was sweet and I like that it did not overshadow the main plot. Just a perfect blend.
▫️Adrian’s character was amazing. I love how his character exposed MC’s in a different light. Sweet young love it is.
I THINK:
▫️The evil Cell. There could have been more in-depth power dynamics and settings on this part. I wish to see more established narrative in building a solid organization leaders’ characters, and there should’ve been challenges in gaining their trust so that it would pay off in such a satisfying way when reading.
▫️There could have been more parental involvement in the story. I think it would be more effective to see how the parent’s world turned upside down when their children went missing.
TW: bullying, curse, kidnapping
** 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙨𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.
I LOVE:
▫️The interesting plot and writing style, even as an amateur, was exceptional. Cindya has great potential as a writer. It can be felt from the way she expressed her thoughts through the tone of the story.
▫️Colette’s character development and determination to survive. I love her passion.
▫️Caleb’s love and protection for her sister is one of my favorites.
▫️Friendship dynamics.
▫️The romantic subplot was sweet and I like that it did not overshadow the main plot. Just a perfect blend.
▫️Adrian’s character was amazing. I love how his character exposed MC’s in a different light. Sweet young love it is.
I THINK:
▫️The evil Cell. There could have been more in-depth power dynamics and settings on this part. I wish to see more established narrative in building a solid organization leaders’ characters, and there should’ve been challenges in gaining their trust so that it would pay off in such a satisfying way when reading.
▫️There could have been more parental involvement in the story. I think it would be more effective to see how the parent’s world turned upside down when their children went missing.
TW: bullying, curse, kidnapping
** 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙨𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.
February 24, 2023
Colette's race against time and her determination to survive make way for a thrilling ride. The lucid writing and the vivid descriptions keep the reader invested throughout the course of the book.
Despite being very fast paced, I love how the book doesn't lose its emotional significance. Colette's bond with her brother Caleb (my favorite character 🙋🏽♀️) has been potrayed beautifully. Further, her feelings of happiness, anger, grief, fear, determination and despair have been woven into a beautiful crochet by the author.
Lastly, my take away from the book-
The impact with which a mere belief can change the trajectories of people's entire lives can be profound, to say the least. This is something which we should perhaps reiterate to ourselves time and time again.
Such a good read, makes me want to get back to dystopian once again! Definitely recommend it!! 💯
Despite being very fast paced, I love how the book doesn't lose its emotional significance. Colette's bond with her brother Caleb (my favorite character 🙋🏽♀️) has been potrayed beautifully. Further, her feelings of happiness, anger, grief, fear, determination and despair have been woven into a beautiful crochet by the author.
Lastly, my take away from the book-
The impact with which a mere belief can change the trajectories of people's entire lives can be profound, to say the least. This is something which we should perhaps reiterate to ourselves time and time again.
Such a good read, makes me want to get back to dystopian once again! Definitely recommend it!! 💯
March 6, 2023
The book follows the story of 16-year old Colette Holland being a new resident of Calexico city discovers that she is 'cursed' which means that for centuries, people of Calexico born on the 'cursed' date, February 29th have been hunted down by an elite society and no one has ever managed to escape from this misery. Colette's quest to survive and her urgent need to do so makes a fast paced read.
I really enjoyed Cursed - the plot was well- written and the characters were great. Loved the way Caleb looked out for his sister and how they worked together as they went through their challenging journey.💞
I really enjoyed Cursed - the plot was well- written and the characters were great. Loved the way Caleb looked out for his sister and how they worked together as they went through their challenging journey.💞
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2023
3.5 rounded up
This book was hard to put a rating on. There were things that I absolutely loved about the plot, but there were a couple things that also were hard to believe and it pulled me out of the story. First, the things I loved. The history of the cursed, I loved the time the author put into explaining all about the legend of the cursed. The dysfunctional society that believes the cursed are there to destroy the city and how they set up their tracking/hunting system was creative. I loved learning about the inner workings and roles of the cell (the system for tracking the cursed). Everything was easy to follow and there was always something happening. I liked the friendships Colette made and how they had to stay alert at all times while trying to take down this corrupt system. I could feel the suspense and emotion they were going through.
The couple things that pulled me out of the story dealt with believability, which I am usually okay with in dystopian/fantasy novels because I understand not everything is possible, but it was hard to get past in this book. Infiltrating the cell was a huge part of the plot, but the adult leaders believed everything Colette said way too easily. It was just hard to think after a short time they would have that much trust in newbies and share big secrets. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the insta love, after meeting a boy one time she couldn’t imagine life without him if anything bad were to happen.
I do think the good things outweigh the couple issues because I still enjoyed it but I go back and forth between ratings so 3.5⭐️
Thank you @nesrcindya for the gifted copy.
This book was hard to put a rating on. There were things that I absolutely loved about the plot, but there were a couple things that also were hard to believe and it pulled me out of the story. First, the things I loved. The history of the cursed, I loved the time the author put into explaining all about the legend of the cursed. The dysfunctional society that believes the cursed are there to destroy the city and how they set up their tracking/hunting system was creative. I loved learning about the inner workings and roles of the cell (the system for tracking the cursed). Everything was easy to follow and there was always something happening. I liked the friendships Colette made and how they had to stay alert at all times while trying to take down this corrupt system. I could feel the suspense and emotion they were going through.
The couple things that pulled me out of the story dealt with believability, which I am usually okay with in dystopian/fantasy novels because I understand not everything is possible, but it was hard to get past in this book. Infiltrating the cell was a huge part of the plot, but the adult leaders believed everything Colette said way too easily. It was just hard to think after a short time they would have that much trust in newbies and share big secrets. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the insta love, after meeting a boy one time she couldn’t imagine life without him if anything bad were to happen.
I do think the good things outweigh the couple issues because I still enjoyed it but I go back and forth between ratings so 3.5⭐️
Thank you @nesrcindya for the gifted copy.
March 31, 2023
Cursed by Cindya is a marvellous read. This is so far the best YA dystopian and science-fiction I've read.
The story revoles around Colette, a sixteen year old girl moved to Calexico city where she finds out she is cursed being born on 29th February. Now, her moto of life is to survive from this misery but, no one before her has managed ro escape from this curse.
I really loved Colette's and her brother's character.
The author's writing style is so good as I feel like I am watching a movie or even a part of this world which is really worth appreciation. Definitely a great read.
May 10, 2023
I must admit that I read this book rather quickly. Wanting to know what would happen next, I was unable to put it down and wanted to keep reading. I've never read a book with an idea as unique as this one, and it was so simple to read. The main character and the action-packed, suspenseful plot were what made it such a difficult book to put down. The reason for the three star rating is mainly how unexplained the idea behind killing the ‘Cursed’ was - like why that date? - and the unfinished feeling I got once I read the whole thing. The book feels like a first book in a series to me, I’d love to see what more happens in this world and how they handle everything later on.
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy🫶🏻
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy🫶🏻
July 14, 2023
at the beginning of the book i felt something of sympathy towards colette because of the circumstances and financial conditions she passed through with her family, especially to the detail of changing her school and lifestyle in general.
throughout reading, especially after the weird events and anonymous message she got,and conflects she envolved, the story was being complicated at a point after .
in addition to the "cursed" date 29th of febuary which proved how accurate was the title of this whole novel.
so glade to read this💗💗💗💗
throughout reading, especially after the weird events and anonymous message she got,and conflects she envolved, the story was being complicated at a point after .
in addition to the "cursed" date 29th of febuary which proved how accurate was the title of this whole novel.
so glade to read this💗💗💗💗
March 8, 2023
This book will transport you back to the 2010s, where dystopian novels reigned supreme! Following Colette, a girl who was born on February 29th, and her friends, the story takes us on a journey to demolish the societal systems of killing those that are “cursed” (or rather born on February 29th). It is full of action, and I was not able to put it down! So, if you’re looking for a fast-paced novel that will bring some nostalgia, definitely check out this book!! It is an amazing work for such a young author! A big thank you to the author for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review!
May 12, 2023
I enjoyed reading this book and really liked the storyline. The twists were crazy and I never knew what was going to happen next. The plot, characters, and the book in its entirety were well written and really kept my interest while reading. The story follows the FMC as she is faced with issues that risk her life and the lives of countless others but the ending turns out so well despite the sadness that occurs. Its definitely a really good read and I definitely recommend the read!
May 24, 2023
A twisted suspense story that keeps you hooked from the very start... Anybody who is born on 29th February is detected as cursed and killed under mysterious circumstances & technically the entire town is in on it.
I loved the character of Adrian the most, his character is so beautifully portrayed as righteous and pure all throughout.
It was a quick paced read about survival in a post apocalyptic world.
I loved the character of Adrian the most, his character is so beautifully portrayed as righteous and pure all throughout.
It was a quick paced read about survival in a post apocalyptic world.
June 24, 2023
It's story about girl called Colette. She was born on February 29th which is considered as a cursed date in Calexico. She was bullied in school until this one day. She didn't know she was cursed but because of one teacher this information spread out. Now she needs to protect her friends and family from being hurt.
She's just a teenage girl that need to protest herself from being killed because of date of her birth.
Relationship between Colette and Adrian was for me very weird. It was just sad that he forgot about his girlfriend that fast.
It was very interesting story with simple language. It's great for me because english isn't my first language. I read this very fast too because you're just going into this story and can't stop reading.
I recommend this book because it was very nice read. I want to congratulate author for publishing her book in such a young age. (17!)
⭐⭐⭐/5
She's just a teenage girl that need to protest herself from being killed because of date of her birth.
Relationship between Colette and Adrian was for me very weird. It was just sad that he forgot about his girlfriend that fast.
It was very interesting story with simple language. It's great for me because english isn't my first language. I read this very fast too because you're just going into this story and can't stop reading.
I recommend this book because it was very nice read. I want to congratulate author for publishing her book in such a young age. (17!)
⭐⭐⭐/5
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