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heyheyhaley's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual harassment
aleah__latham29's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
tien's review
3.0
Curses and Smoke is a love story set moments before the explosion of Mount Vesuvius that destroyed the region. The tale begins 4 weeks prior to the explosion where Tag, a healer slave, just returned from Rome to find his childhood friend, Lucia, grown into a lovely young woman. Lucia, however, is also his owner's daughter and forbidden to him. Lucia, on the other hand, had never really seen Tag as a slave but a friend. She herself loves to read and has noticed changes in her surroundings yet been unable to raise anyone's interest in her observations. Even as they planned their future happiness, others conspired to tear these lovers asunder.
This was a comfortable read / listening for me -I liked the characters and the setting and I also loved the arguments about freedom. There were some twists in the story yet I did find that the author held back her punches 'til right at the end when I really did NOT want it (WTH was that Ending?! I demand a rewrite! ).
This was a comfortable read / listening for me -I liked the characters and the setting and I also loved the arguments about freedom. There were some twists in the story yet I did find that the author held back her punches 'til right at the end when I really did NOT want it (
abookishaffair's review
4.0
In "Curses and Smoke," author Vicky Alvear Shecter creates a wonderful young adult romance in the shadow of the famous destruction of the city of Pompeii by way of volcano. Lucia has lived a privileged life even if it is under the shadow of her very tough father, who seems both cool and distant when it comes to listening what Lucia wants for her future. He's just not that interested if it doesn't fall into the plans that he already has for her. Tag's life is limited by the fact that he's a slave and he just might have a curse on him. Lucia and Tag know that they should not want to be together but love is a strange thing that hits you when you least expect it.
I loved the love story between Lucia and Tag. Both of them are great characters. Lucia wants so much more for her life than just what her father wants for her. She wants to be educated and she wants to educate others. She wants to be happy and marry who she wishes instead of the old man (who may be cruel) that her father wishes for her to marry. Tag was especially interesting to me because he's a healer and he is also a slave. For what ever reason, I really, really like reading about healers and medics in historical fiction and non-fiction. I'm endlessly fascinated by what they practiced and what they thought about what would heal or hurt. I also thought it was so interesting to read about his slavery. In this day and age, doctors are revered and they make a ton of money. This is most definitely a severe contrast from Tag's day. I didn't really know that a healer would be part of the slave class and you all know how I love learning something new! Shecter had a really good way of engaging the reader with these characters and really making you care about them.
The historical detail in this book was really good as well. Pompeii is still very fascinating to so many people today. Next time I go to Italy, I would really like to go to Pompeii (no time last time!) to see the site. It was a true tragedy and Shecter captures that through her writing. I loved all of the different details, which really helped me to understand the event in a different way.
While I liked the story, I wished that the end of the story had some more concreteness to it. I really, really don't want to give anything away so allow me to be vague but I sort of wanted to know what happened after the book ended. And that's all I can really say because saying anything else would be giving too much away and you all should read this book... so... yeah!
I loved the love story between Lucia and Tag. Both of them are great characters. Lucia wants so much more for her life than just what her father wants for her. She wants to be educated and she wants to educate others. She wants to be happy and marry who she wishes instead of the old man (who may be cruel) that her father wishes for her to marry. Tag was especially interesting to me because he's a healer and he is also a slave. For what ever reason, I really, really like reading about healers and medics in historical fiction and non-fiction. I'm endlessly fascinated by what they practiced and what they thought about what would heal or hurt. I also thought it was so interesting to read about his slavery. In this day and age, doctors are revered and they make a ton of money. This is most definitely a severe contrast from Tag's day. I didn't really know that a healer would be part of the slave class and you all know how I love learning something new! Shecter had a really good way of engaging the reader with these characters and really making you care about them.
The historical detail in this book was really good as well. Pompeii is still very fascinating to so many people today. Next time I go to Italy, I would really like to go to Pompeii (no time last time!) to see the site. It was a true tragedy and Shecter captures that through her writing. I loved all of the different details, which really helped me to understand the event in a different way.
While I liked the story, I wished that the end of the story had some more concreteness to it. I really, really don't want to give anything away so allow me to be vague but I sort of wanted to know what happened after the book ended. And that's all I can really say because saying anything else would be giving too much away and you all should read this book... so... yeah!
elizabethd's review
5.0
Vicky is so good at placing us in ancient civilizations and really giving us a taste of what life was like - it's similarities to ours and it's differences. Doing your hair with a friend seems so normal, so today, until the characters use unusual styling tools or oils and you remember you are in ancient Pompeii. The day-to-day concerns seem so modern-day until the volcano rains down and immortalizes their stories. History lessons never give you the taste and smells and casual interactions that Curses does. I could smell the sea, taste the unusual foods. In Curses I came to understand how the religion of the day winds through even the most casual actions. (Same as we do today, but with different deities and customs.) All these subtleties put you THERE, in the moment, experiencing Lucia and Tag's relationship. Which, by the way, Vicky remains one of the best romance scene writers I know. I highly recommend CURSES AND SMOKE!
assimbya's review
3.0
Really solid historical research, and took it in some interesting directions! But, unfortunately, very cliched plot and characterization, and the pacing was weird and distracting at times.
anniedelsignore's review
4.0
*I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
The second I looked at this book and realized it was about Pompeii, I just knew that I had to read it. I have a weird, morbid fascination with Pompeii--I can't even help it. I love the movies, the tv shows on the History Channel, and the songs (just a little Bastille shoutout because I can). So, I'm extremely glad that this book didn't disappoint and just continued to add on to my Pompeii obsession.
What I liked: Oh gosh was there a lot of research done on this book! There's cool mythology and the geography of everything feels legit and the history surrounding the story seems so very real. Like, are we sure Lucia and Tag weren't real people? Because they totally felt like they could have existed. I loved Tag and his role in, not only the story, but in the society around him. He was a slave with dreams that pulled at my heartstrings and I wanted all good things for him. Lucia, for being an upper class citizen and not super privy to an education, was quite intelligent and intuitive. Not only was there a lot of interesting mythology in this book, but there was a neat little (teeny tiny) paranormal twist about curses that added to the story. It did a lot for the relationship between Lucia and Tag, too. And speaking of that romance... hello heartbreak. But I'll get to that...
What I didn't like:... here. Ugh, I know it's a story about Pompeii and obviously things aren't going to turn out all sunshiny and rainbowy, but I really wanted a happy ending you guys. At this point, I don't even care how realistic it is, I just wanted to smile when it was all over--especially since they went though so.much. Besides all my unrealistic and albeit naive expectations, there were some spots that were a bit slow and really focused on the historical side of things. That being said, I didn't personally have a problem with it because I consider myself a history nerd and so that information was interesting to me. But others might find it tedious--just a little warning.
This book was a roller coaster of emotions in the best way possible, and I really felt a connection to the characters. I was constantly rooting for them, and that's all I can ask for in a book, really. Mix in the drama of Pompeii and we've got ourselves an interesting read, y'all.
The second I looked at this book and realized it was about Pompeii, I just knew that I had to read it. I have a weird, morbid fascination with Pompeii--I can't even help it. I love the movies, the tv shows on the History Channel, and the songs (just a little Bastille shoutout because I can). So, I'm extremely glad that this book didn't disappoint and just continued to add on to my Pompeii obsession.
What I liked: Oh gosh was there a lot of research done on this book! There's cool mythology and the geography of everything feels legit and the history surrounding the story seems so very real. Like, are we sure Lucia and Tag weren't real people? Because they totally felt like they could have existed. I loved Tag and his role in, not only the story, but in the society around him. He was a slave with dreams that pulled at my heartstrings and I wanted all good things for him. Lucia, for being an upper class citizen and not super privy to an education, was quite intelligent and intuitive. Not only was there a lot of interesting mythology in this book, but there was a neat little (teeny tiny) paranormal twist about curses that added to the story. It did a lot for the relationship between Lucia and Tag, too. And speaking of that romance... hello heartbreak. But I'll get to that...
What I didn't like:... here. Ugh, I know it's a story about Pompeii and obviously things aren't going to turn out all sunshiny and rainbowy, but I really wanted a happy ending you guys. At this point, I don't even care how realistic it is, I just wanted to smile when it was all over--especially since they went though so.much. Besides all my unrealistic and albeit naive expectations, there were some spots that were a bit slow and really focused on the historical side of things. That being said, I didn't personally have a problem with it because I consider myself a history nerd and so that information was interesting to me. But others might find it tedious--just a little warning.
This book was a roller coaster of emotions in the best way possible, and I really felt a connection to the characters. I was constantly rooting for them, and that's all I can ask for in a book, really. Mix in the drama of Pompeii and we've got ourselves an interesting read, y'all.
makaylariley's review
5.0
This tore my heart out and ground it into the ground with its figurative boot.
It did a really good job of exploring how love and loss affect people and love across social boundaries.
It did a really good job of exploring how love and loss affect people and love across social boundaries.
morganthebookishbeagle's review
5.0
MY NERVES. MY HEART. I don't think I've ever read a book about Pompeii so that was refreshing. The whole time though I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. You know what's coming. Mostly. I might have teared up when I finished... and I might have whimpered too.
Fantastic characters. Great historical flavor. Interesting if cliched premise. You know a book is good when it takes every trope you expect and exceeds them far beyond their scope. It makes you understand why the tropes exist in the first place. There was slight insta-love but I found it acceptable and fleshed out under the circumstances of impending doom. Definitely recommend this undercover gem of YA historical fiction.
Fantastic characters. Great historical flavor. Interesting if cliched premise. You know a book is good when it takes every trope you expect and exceeds them far beyond their scope. It makes you understand why the tropes exist in the first place. There was slight insta-love but I found it acceptable and fleshed out under the circumstances of impending doom. Definitely recommend this undercover gem of YA historical fiction.
isobelk_18's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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