Sophia Rose Reviews: Cursed Luck by Kelley Armstrong

I think this is the first time I've had Sophia Rose back to back on the blog, today she's reviewing the Tantor Audio edition of the first in a brand new Urban Fantasy Series by Kelley Armstrong, Cursed Luck.
Enjoy!

Cursed Luck by Kelley Armstrong, narrated by Carly Robins

#1 Cursed Luck

Urban Fantasy

Publisher:  Tantor Audio

Published: 5.4.21

Time:  12 hours 20 minutes

ASIN:  B08YPDJ7LG

Rating: 4 stars

Narrating: 5 stars

Format: MP3

Source:  Tantor Audio

Sellers:  Amazon/ Audible

ADD TO: GoodReads

 

GoodReads Blurb:

Kennedy Bennett comes from a long line of curse weavers. For centuries, her family has plied their trade in Unstable, Massachusetts, a quirky small town that’s welcomed paranormal practitioners since the dawn of spiritualism. Kennedy has recently struck out on her own, opening an antiques shop in Boston, where her specialty is uncursing and reselling hexed objects.

Then Aiden Connolly walks into her life with an offer she really should refuse. The scion of a wealthy family of luck workers, Aiden has a scheme to get his hands on the most famous cursed object of all: the mythical Necklace of Harmonia. He’s not the only one after the necklace, though. And he’s not the only one looking for a curse weaver to fix it. Kennedy’s sisters are kidnapped, she finds herself plunged into the underbelly of the magical world where even Aidan soon finds himself in over his head.

 

Sophia Rose's Review:

Seeing this author’s name on a book is really all it took, but adding in the urban fantasy world of magically gifted NOT witches sweetened the pie nicely.  I’ve enjoyed Carly Robins narration work before so I happily plunged into the excitement of a new series.

 

The setup of an antique store owner who un-curses objects and sells them in her store, her connection to two lively sisters back in her hometown, and the appearance of a suave, seemingly arrogant wealthy businessman who needs her secret curse-breaker expertise even as he irritates her to high heaven was fab.  There was a lighter, humorous tone to Kennedy’s thoughts when she was pondering her life and especially her cat companion.  But soon, the lighter tones give way to some suspense with the mysterious disappearance of her sisters and Aiden’s story about a powerful cursed necklace being behind it. 

 

Kennedy started out shaky for me.  She starts off with a huge chip on her shoulder and got in her own way.  Aiden made some mistakes, no doubt, but she made just as many with all her assumptions in the beginning and sometimes after though, I get it, she is very motivated to stand on her own and be independent because of her past and her personality.  But, it gets better, fortunately.  She’s plunged deep into a situation, learning as she went, and did a great job of finding her way through.  She gets together a good working team including Aiden to go up against a formidable unknown foe.  I enjoyed the low buzz of attraction with Aiden who isn’t the prig she initially thinks he is.  I found him awkwardly adorable, but game to partner Kennedy.  The romance will hopefully develop as the series progresses.

 

At first, this book had the tone of a paranormal cozy mystery, but after some twists and turns, it plunged into a grittier suspenseful world of urban fantasy though the wry humor is a nice balance.  The big moments come and I was right there in the moment.  I loved the mystery of the necklace, who’s after it, and even the wavering, but growing trust between Kennedy and Aiden on the hunt.  Her background was definitely an asset.  The set up for the series is good.  This book finished off the immediate plot of the cursed necklace and her kidnapped sisters, but Kennedy is put on a new and interesting path that will be explored as the series progresses.

 

Carly Robins was a great match for the book and the characters.  I loved the way Carly Robins voiced Kennedy and the others.  She brought out the sisters relationship and then later the team going after them and the necklace with some great camaraderie.  The exciting moments were even better.  I hope she does the whole series.

 

So, all in all, it was a good introduction to another series by a great author.  Curses, luck, engaging characters, and an exciting plot to entice the urban fantasy lovers.

 

Author’s Bio:

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

Website:  http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/

 

Sophia’s Bio:

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

Sophia’s Social Media Links:

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GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose