The Cursed by Alyssa Day – a Review

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Description:
Bordertown private investigator Luke Oliver’s beat is the dimensional fold in Manhattan between the human and supernatural realms. But now a secret from his past—the League of the Black Swan—has surfaced. Because Luke isn’t any ordinary P.I. He’s the Dark Wizard of Bordertown, and he never backs down from a fight.

But this time the fight threatens his life and his heart. Rio Jones, the only woman he loved, needs his help against a deadly menace. Luke pushed her away once before, so she’d never fall prey to the curse that threatens to destroy him. He swore he’d never let her go again.

Luke and Rio, with the help of the newly reformed League, must keep evil forces from taking over Bordertown—all the while battling a passion on the razor’s edge between danger and desire. And going to take everything they have just to stay alive.

Review:

I am a big fan of Alyssa Day, as I loved her Warriors of Poseidon series.  With her new release, The Cursed, the first book in her new series, The League of the Black Swan, I am thrilled to say that Alyssa has done it again.  The Cursed, whereas totally different then WOP, is a great start to a fantastic new series. Day has done a magnificent job on world building, which includes wonderful characters; the fictional town of Bordertown, a supernatural realm hidden in NY, with magic, and habited by wizards, paranormal beings, demons, grendels, goblins, immortals, and the Fae.

The story begins with our heroine Rio Jones, who works as a bicycle messenger, who one night witnesses a kidnapping.  Rio finds herself frightened, and runs to the one person who can help her find the kidnapped girl, not to mention protect Rio. Luke Oliver, is our hero, and someone all of Bordertown fears and respects; who is also a wizard.

Right from the start, I loved Luke and Rio together, as they made such an awesome couple.  Both have fought their attraction to each other for awhile, but helping Rio forces Luke to realize he cannot avoid her anymore.  Their scenes together are hot, as well as having quite a bit of humor.   The whole book had a lot of humor, and was fun, in between the tense battles.

Without giving any spoilers, the crux of the story is Rio’s upcoming birthday, and why is everyone interested in that? Both Luke and Rio are stumped, but whatever it is, brings the unknown and possible danger to Rio. As the story heads to the climatic exciting ending, you can’t put the book down until you discover everything.  Alyssa brought us some great lovable characters, Luke (so swoonworthy), Rio (super kickass heroine) , Kit (who is magical, different and an awesome cool character), and Alice ( the woman of many very funny faces). There are other interesting characters like Merelith, Chance, Maestro that maybe are not as nice, but interesting nevertheless.  But it is Luke and Rio, whom you fall in love with (also Kit), and you will become totally invested in what happens to them, not to mention their hot sex scenes. 

I love the idea that Alyssa will bring all of them back, as the series will continue with Luke and Rio, and hopefully many of the wonderful characters we want to learn even more about.  The Cursed is a wonderful start to a wonderful new series by Alyssa Day.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher