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danimae1981's review against another edition
5.0
Cursed is the 2nd book in the Gilded duology by Marissa Meyer and should be read after reading the first book. It continues the retelling of the tale of Rumpelstiltskin from the perspective of Serilda. I experienced this book in its audiobook format, narrated by Rebecca Soler. I really enjoyed listening to this expressive narrator who really helped the story come to life for me.
I enjoyed the first book in the duology, rating it 4 stars, but Cursed really blew me away, earning it a 5-star rating. The book was filled with wonderful details that really brought it to life. There was lots of action, and though you have a general idea about how the story will go, there are twists and turns that catch you by surprise. We are introduced to some new characters, while bringing back many of the characters from the first book. I was so invested in the story that I found it hard to stop and listened to the entire 16-hour audiobook over the course of 2 days. I don't want to give away any of the plot, but it was definitely an emotional rollercoaster. Reading this book really reinforced my love for this author's work. This duology is a must-read for fans of fairy tales and fantasy stories!
Thank you to Marissa Meyer, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the free advance release audiobook! All opinions in this review are my own.
I enjoyed the first book in the duology, rating it 4 stars, but Cursed really blew me away, earning it a 5-star rating. The book was filled with wonderful details that really brought it to life. There was lots of action, and though you have a general idea about how the story will go, there are twists and turns that catch you by surprise. We are introduced to some new characters, while bringing back many of the characters from the first book. I was so invested in the story that I found it hard to stop and listened to the entire 16-hour audiobook over the course of 2 days. I don't want to give away any of the plot, but it was definitely an emotional rollercoaster. Reading this book really reinforced my love for this author's work. This duology is a must-read for fans of fairy tales and fantasy stories!
Thank you to Marissa Meyer, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the free advance release audiobook! All opinions in this review are my own.
cranky_hedgehog's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
erinjuliaadams's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
eponineeurydice's review against another edition
5.0
Oh. Oh my goodness, my heart is so full. That, Marissa, was a GOOD STORY. A story laced in familiarity, just enough for it to feel like one you already know, but so full of new life as well. A story spun so beautifully that it leaves you satisfied, but also a little sad to be saying goodbye. A story not without its flaws, but that's why I love it so much, because that's the nature of the human soul. And that's what stories do: they are made of the human soul. Its triumphs and its perils and the simplest things that make us who we are, but also the most magical. This duology is a study in storytelling, and let me tell you, it is gorgeous and so magical and it filled me with such wonder. It was a tale that gave me joy, awe, and sadness; anger, worry, and contentment. And Marissa Meyer is truly a master of words. She can spin the simplest things, words, into a golden tale like none I have heard before. I just... I cannot possibly convey in a simple review the things that I felt while reading this. It was so full of action, the story so complex that I couldn't possibly picture how everything would work out. And I couldn't have known how it would end, or how I'd have just the right amount of questions to still be thinking about this story for a while. My heart is so full. There's nothing like a good story, and that's what this book is about. While it is also full of stories, it, in itself, is a beautiful fairytale, and the fact that each story can be interwoven so masterfully is honestly astounding. Marissa, thank you for bringing such a beautiful book into the world, a book full of beautiful, imperfect characters; a book full of sumptuous description and heart-wrenching emotion; a book that reminded me of childhood, of a simpler time. And for those reading this review, please, please pick up Gilded, and this duology in general. I hope you will not be disappointed, because it is my belief that there's a story out there for everyone, and this was one of mine.
talkstofish's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Gilded series was one of my favorite reads of the year - I only regret that I didn’t finish before my hold at the library was up because it took ages to get again! A sequel to Gilded, Cursed is a masterful, mature retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin story. I was riveted by the battles, tense during the realizations that savvy readers may have already caught earlier, and cried in the throne room with the gods for the fates of our heroes. I highly recommend this duology to fantasy lovers who want something in between young adult and high fantasy.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death, and Violence
Because this book involves battles, keep in mind that there are deaths involved.gabbieday00's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
3.25
The end was good but the rest of the book was so slow.
lullysbooks's review against another edition
4.0
"When she talked, she could hardly keep herself from telling the most outlandish tales, as though her tongue could not tell the difference between truth and falsehoods. She began to trade in stories and lies herself, and while the other children delighted in her tales—so full of whimsy and enchantment—the elders knew better."
Dopo aver amato Heartless, potevo forse farmi sfuggire il retelling di Rumpelstiltskin sempre dalla penna della Meyer? Ovviamente no, e credetemi non mi ha delusa.
La Meyer riesce a rivisitare la fiaba originale, mantenendone inalterati alcuni elementi, ma al contempo giocando con altri per creare una storia sì conosciuta, ma che risulta comunque originale e piacevole da leggere. L'inserimento di elementi del folklore tedesco, tra cui la caccia selvaggia, contribuisce a creare un'atmosfera sorprendentemente cupa, e molto, molto dark.
Il ritmo è incalzante, con colpi di scena (alcuni prevedibili, altri meno) che ti tengono col fiato sospeso e incollato alle pagine. I personaggi risultano ben costruiti e interessanti, e la penna dell'autrice è scorrevole e ti trasporta nella storia, giocando con i nostri sentimenti. Posso solo dirvi che arrivata alla fine del secondo libro ero emotivamente provata, e mi sono commossa🥹
L'unica pecca che mi sento di trovare è che il libro è classificato come ya, e la protagonista ha 18 anni, ma proprio per le situazioni anche pesanti che vengono a crearsi avrei preferito un rating più maturo e una protagonista più adulta (e, oserei dire, potrebbe necessitare di un trigger warning...)
Dopo aver amato Heartless, potevo forse farmi sfuggire il retelling di Rumpelstiltskin sempre dalla penna della Meyer? Ovviamente no, e credetemi non mi ha delusa.
La Meyer riesce a rivisitare la fiaba originale, mantenendone inalterati alcuni elementi, ma al contempo giocando con altri per creare una storia sì conosciuta, ma che risulta comunque originale e piacevole da leggere. L'inserimento di elementi del folklore tedesco, tra cui la caccia selvaggia, contribuisce a creare un'atmosfera sorprendentemente cupa, e molto, molto dark.
Il ritmo è incalzante, con colpi di scena (alcuni prevedibili, altri meno) che ti tengono col fiato sospeso e incollato alle pagine. I personaggi risultano ben costruiti e interessanti, e la penna dell'autrice è scorrevole e ti trasporta nella storia, giocando con i nostri sentimenti. Posso solo dirvi che arrivata alla fine del secondo libro ero emotivamente provata, e mi sono commossa🥹
L'unica pecca che mi sento di trovare è che il libro è classificato come ya, e la protagonista ha 18 anni, ma proprio per le situazioni anche pesanti che vengono a crearsi avrei preferito un rating più maturo e una protagonista più adulta (e, oserei dire, potrebbe necessitare di un trigger warning...)
esavinelli's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.5
The audiobook was 16 hours and I felt like nothing happened. I just really felt like bad stuff just kept happening to Serilda and they didn't really show the romance. Most of the time she was just on her own wondering. Also the foreshadowing made the plot twists not that surprising. Overall I did not like this duology.
lauren_doppler's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75