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
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:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose
I liked the set up too Sophia and look forward to listening to the next one!
ReplyDeleteKelley Armstrong has such a clever mind.
DeleteI skimmed your review, because its on my reading list. Glad to see it was an enjoyable listen.
ReplyDeleteSuper! Looking forward to seeing how you liked it, Nadene!
DeleteI really enjoyed this one. It started a little too quirky but then it settled in to a good story.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
Yeah, I was glad that I stuck with it b/c I struggled at first.
DeleteParanormal cozy mystery sounds good :)
ReplyDeleteI'm liking this type of cozy more and more. :)
DeleteOhhh, sounds like a really nice read. Awesome review Sophia Rose!
ReplyDeletexx
Vanessa @ Blushing Geek
I was definitely into this one by the end. Thanks, Vanessa!
DeleteI love Kelley Armstrong. This cover looked a little YA, so I didn't grab it (though I've enjoyed her YA in the past, just not in a YA mood right now). I'll have to give this one a try. Wonderful review.
ReplyDeleteMelanie @ Books of My Heart
Yeah, I get that. I avoid YA a lot unless it is certain authors I like.
DeleteThis one is adult, but I could see where the cover would fool you. :)