Review: The Curses by Laure Eve

In this follow up to The Graces by Laure Eve, the youngest Grace, Summer, is the narrator. Everything is colored by her perceptions and impulses. Family is still the most important thing to the young Graces - Thalia, Fenrin, and Summer. Wolf has become family to them too.

The first order of business becomes getting thrown out of the boarding school they've been put into since the events of the last book. They need to be together and more readily accessible to each other. As a result, they end up back at the same school as River and their other old friends like Marcus. But something funky is going on. Someone has been taking money for wishes and granting them in a way that borderlines on curses. At first, they think it's all River's doing, but as the novel goes on, it becomes clear that there is more to it than meets the eye.

A second subplot involves the curse on the Grace family and examination of whether it is possible or not to break it. There is a third subplot, but spoilers. Each of these plot points receives good coverage, but as the plot winds to a crescendo, things begin to happen quickly and out of control.

Magic is very much a part of the novel. Both in the ritualistic sense and in magical realism sense. Magic occurs whether they want it to or not. It's just more effective when they actually try to create it.

The resolution is well done. I was a little confused about the party and its popularity since the Graces had been somewhat ostracized during much of the book. Still, overall, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It's interesting and well written. Being told from Summer's point of view is a plus. She is a somewhat unreliable narrator, but she suits the story.

The Curses by Laure Eve is due to be released December 31st, 2018 from Amulet Books.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own and freely given.