The Cursed Series from Rebecca Donovan is so completely engaging from the very beginning. Mystery, suspense, nail biting, sitting on the edge of your seat read! So much is going on and in the middle of it all is Lana!!!
ABSOLUTELY a page turner.

Part 1, If I’d Known, is much like a novella. It’s short and fairly quick to read. Laying the ground work for Lana by chronicling her young life and that of her family. Raised by a single mother she grew up on the rough and tough side of town. Street smart, tough as nails she and her friends have navigated life to the best of their abilities. To Lana life dealt folks with a “curse” … a trait in which how they dealt with life. Lana was HONESTY. She could not tell a lie to anyone and she couldn’t deal with anyone who did. This was a promise that she made to her now deceased grandmother.

On an evening out with her friends Lana is inadvertently a witness to a couple of crimes and by association ends up arrested. And though she could easily tell the police exactly what happened she chooses to remain quiet. As is already apparent by her arrest is that her friends could be caught up in this mess. So, she will protect them at any cost so that they will not have any connection with what went down. But she also didn’t lie, she chose to hold the truth. Needless to say, Lana takes the consequences of not implicating who did it as well as protecting her friends.

Part 2, Knowing You, rather than being sent to a juvenile facility Lana ends up being sent to Blackwood. Blackwood is a correctional school that runs on a very rigid schedule, with very limited and controlled free time. Cut off from the outside world the hope is that students will straighten up and do better academically as well as make better life choices. First of all Lana is not the typical Blackwood student. While all the students attend for one reason or another for questionable choices they’ve made, they are all from well to do families. Why Lana was sent there is an uncertain matter.

It's at Blackwood that things really begin to get kinda bizarre. First the strange mazes on the school grounds, passages that lead to secret rooms, strange, threatening notes in Lana’s room. If not for her newfound BFF at Blackwood Ashton and her confidant Brendan trying to help her decipher the cryptic messages Lana would be even more alone. These three working together with the help of he friend Joey, whom she actually knew from before her internment at Blackwood, to solve the many unanswered questions.

Now you know that we can’t forget a little romance in The Cursed Series!! Can the girl who doesn’t believe in love be swayed? Meeting Grant sure has her working overtime to not allow feelings from getting involved. But will this truly become a thing?

I loved the suspense, the mystery and the unanswered questions and how they are interlaced within this story. So much is happening in this book that it will leaves your head spinning. AND holy moly I was so NOT prepared for that ending!! Bring on they the next book!

This was a very interesting read for me, I enjoyed it as it’s definitely a young adult read that ends kind of on a cliffhanger, I still have so many questions. I really liked how Lana thought that a person’s strongest attribute is their curse, it’s interesting to think that way but I totally could see that being true. Lana’s curse is truth, therefore she never lies and believes she physically can’t and she is easily able to pickup on other people’s “curses”. I truly believe watching her mother become broken hearted over and over again made Lana jaded about love. She was forced to grow up for her age but at times you could still see the young kid she truly is come out when she was being immature and rude especially when it came to showing emotions. It was sometimes irritating how immature she could be towards authority figures or peers but I had to remind myself she’s only 15 which made me also annoyed by how cynic and hot and cold she could be. My favorite thing about the book is the mystery aspect, for instance the people that help her are mysterious about why, it’s like her mother is hiding things from her, and the ordeal that landed her at a strange school is interesting and kept me guessing about what will happen next. I am very interested in seeing what happens next after what all was revealed in the end. After reading this, I believe we are all cursed with our own virtues and they could be used for our own demise or used for our greatest stories.

I could not put this down! The plot pulls you in and Rebecca writes with such detail it was amazing! That ending oh my goodness I need part 3 now!

The cursed series parts 1 & 2 are a young adult book about A fifthteen year old girl from the wrong side of the tracks who had to grow up very fast because her mother has a tendency to fall in love with the wrong guys. So every time some guy breaks her mother’s heart Lana has to take care of her, school and her mother’s job so they have money to live for. She takes care of the people she loves an every one else she pushes away. She is very resilient, strong willed and stubborn.
In part 1 we are introduced her, her 2 best friends Tori and Nina, Joey and Parker Harrison and Vic and Lincoln who is Joeys friends! It expands over one day and night which turns out to be the most horrible day and night in Lana’s life! They are invited to a mystery party and on the way there when they are at the party Lana witnesses some awful things that in the end gets her arrested and sent to juvie.
Part 2 is about Lana is getting sent to a boarding school for the rich kids where she has the chance to change her life for the better! She is sent here in stead of juvie. But she figures out some things about the school and the students that are weird and she doesn’t know who to trust. And suddenly she gets some strange notes on her wall that sends her on a mystery to find out who did it.
I liked part 1 better than part two because Lana is more flatly described in the part 2 and the story dragged a lot part 2 too.
I can recommend this book!
I got this book for free as an arc through Next step PR in exchange for an honest review.

honesty might get you killed. Perspective being a fault when you can see so much and know so much that it makes you suspect or can get you into trouble.
I truly enjoyed this young adult book, even though it was nothing like I expected it would be. When I first saw the title, and even after reading the synopsis, I assumed the curses would be like magical curses bestowed on the characters. They aren't magical, just true character traits that get the person hurt, even those these traits are always seen as good traits to have.
The characters are strong and well developed. The writing is good and smooth and very enthralling. The story itself sucks you right in so you want to keep reading and have to read til the end. And the ending leaves you craving more. I'd definitely recommend this book to other readers, but don't expect it to be a light, quick read. There's a lot to these pages- love, danger, mystery. I'm looking forward to the next in series.

Firstly i looked at the title and the cover then I read the synopsis and knew it was a book I was going to read. Lana is our heroine, she may be young but due to circumstances is mature for her age. The story is intriguing and intense with so many layers to it. Part 1 was the appetizer where we get to know Lana and her friends. Part 2 is where the real story begins with so many twists and secrets even the reader will be questioning who to trust. The author has built an amazingly detailed story. I have as many questions as I do theories, can't wait for the next parts.

This was an interesting book to read! The 1st part was like a huge mess, I couldn't figure out the ins or the outs, didn't see the point, and I was only reading for the hope that I was carrying for the book! And YES!! The 2nd part was something else! I loved it and I couldn't keep it down!

HOT DAMN - This book was AMAZING!!! I CANNOT wait for the next book to release with parts 3 &4.

Part 1 is more of a novella and sets the stage for Part 2 and the next book (Parts 3 & 4). I loved every single bit of this book and was truly surprised by easily I could visualize everything.

The Cursed Series is definitely geared more toward YA age of 16+ because of scenes and topics that are brought up. One thing that I feel the need to point out is that 16 year olds in different situations and life styles react and do things differently. (view spoiler) When you read the book - you will see what I mean.

Rebecca brought out so many emotions in this book. I loved how everything felt so real and like it was playing out before my eyes. Rebecca's writing truly comes to life right off the pages. The character are real and so raw with their emotions and their actions.

And then there is the suspense - OMG!! Love the suspense that is slowly building in this book. I love the unknown surrounding Lana and how all these characters intertwine with one another. I love every characters because they all are equally important and bring so much to this book. I still have so many unanswered questions and I really need to know where this all ends.

Rebecca has written a fascinating and page-turning YA Romantic Suspense that everyone will love. I devoured this book within one day and that's with working 8hrs plus doing all the other motherly and wifely duties added in. I could not put this book down - as much as I did not want it to end, I had to know what was going on and where this story was going.

Bring on Parts 3 and 4, Pronto!!

Part 1
Lana Peri has the night of her life, for all the wrong reasons. Her upbringing has been colourful to say the very least. She had to grow up very quickly when her grandmother died, to support her mother who hasn't really took responsibility and grown up herself. 

Lana luckily has some good friends who will stand by her no matter what. A night out to a secret club puts Lana in a very difficult position, and worse of all, she is being looked at as a scapegoat.  This is when her whole life is thrown upside down.

Fabulous characters, very believable and I was completely hooked.

Part 2
Lana Peri's life as she knows it has just been completely ripped away from her.  Her lawyer has managed to get her out of the detention centre and secure a place in a boarding school.  It's no ordinary boarding school, but it is miles away from home and she has to cut all connection from her friends and will only earn their contact over time.

Lana is placed in the school over the summer when there are only a small number of students, giving a chance to settle in. She discovers that most of the other students there are from rich families and feels rather out of place, not understanding why she's there really. The few students she does make friends with all seem to accept Lana without wanting to know too much about her background until she meets Grant. She starts to question everything she thought she knew about life.

Some good twists and turns in the book, with a few surprises. Quite a good twist and a cliffhanger at the end. Looking forward to the rest of the story.

I really wanted to like this book, but it's probably because New Adult genre just isn't for me. I had an awful lot of trouble connecting to the heroine and characters and to be honest, I couldn't finish it. Please don't let my short review put you off if you're into mysterious reads.

This author has always been a favorite of mine and this time she has shown me she can really write anything! These first 2 books send us in a whirlwind... my mind is still going in circles as to how this story is going to play out. You will not know what is true or who can be trusted... but im super excited to find out!! I would say this is a bit of a romance but its more of a mysterious thriller that u wont be able to stop reading not matter how confused or creeped out you become!
I would give the series a 4 stars so far and highly recommmend to others.. so get to one clicking now!!


Lana is complicated and often juvenile. She lives in a crappy neighborhood, barely getting by with her mom. A night of debauchery ends up with Lana arrested. But her charges are layered. In order to stay out of juevi (she's been previously) she's sent away to a private school, in the middle of nowhere.
This story is multi layered. You have a huge cast of characters; some carryover from part 1 into part 2.
But there is more than what happened before she was arrested. And somehow these kids at are her new school are connected.
I struggled with this review. I liked it until I didn't. I felt it often got side tracked. And the amount of boys drove me a lil crazy as well how she seemed bipolar with Grant.
I can't wait to see how this story progresses and what the final outcome is.



Lana is cursed with the virtue of Truth. Everyone has a curse, this is hers.
Part one is the set up. Lana has a crazy night that leaves her in a large amount of trouble.
Part two places her in her punishment, which is an elite, and strange, private school.
This book seems to not make up its mind about genre. Mystery, yep all the way. Romance, yes. But there is also this almost magical vibe with supernatural undertones. Strangely, you want to keep reading and figure this all out.
It ends on a cliffhanger, so be aware of that!

First of all, I don’t know how to review this book without only saying: go read it!! But I’ll try! Intriguing, fast paced, great characters, wonderful writing. It’s only the beginning. I really believe this is the kind of book you should go blind. Don’t try to read spoilers, don’t read the last page first, just enjoy the ride. From the first page you don’t know who to believe, how everything connects, where the story is going. I spent the whole book trying to decipher all that is happening behind the curtains and when I think I have some clue, everything shifts. Lana is a wonderful character and I can’t wait the next book to see more of her and her new challenges!

I'm more of a romance reader but every now and then I like to try a different genre, something out of the ordinary, something that completely blows my mind. The Cursed Series by Rebecca Donovan was exactly what I was looking for and then some. Oh my goodness, what an amazing read that took me places I've not experienced in a very long time.

First of all, don't let the fact this is a YA story push you away. Secondly, because the story has been divided up into parts, don't wait to start reading it. So what if there's a cliffhanger--Rebecca Donovan was masterful when she created Lana's story and you will be left holding your breath, anticipating what's to come. The depth of the story, what Lana deals with, and the twists and turns, will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I'm not sure how long we'll have to wait for the conclusion, but this is one of those stories I will want to go back and re-read again before finding out the truth, how it's all going to end. It was THAT good. Give Rebecca Donovan a try if you've never read her before because she will take you on an epic journey!

Part 1:
"Were all cursed, Every single one of us."

It’s meant to be a night Lana and her best friends will never forget. And it is… for all the wrong reasons.

Part 2:

Under suspicion for a crime she watched him commit, Lana will pay for her silence. Her new lawyer strikes a deal, sending her to a boarding school in Vermont.

Fast, and accelerating read. Amazing attention to detail. Loved this series!! The relationships and interactions between characters were perfectly timed etc.

First off I must say this is the best book I have read in quite a few years!
The story was so well written and the characters were so interwoven and complex that I could not put this book down.
I resonated with Lana and her belief that everyone has a curse. These curses could be good and/or bad but the curse was theirs to endure.
The characters were intermingled with the perfect amount of mystery that the reader believes they are witnessing these lives and how they played out eagerly and with an abundance of interest.
This is my first book by this author, Rebecca Donavan, and I excitedly look forward to reading all her others.
A beautiful 6 star book!

The Cursed Series, Parts one and two sucked me in. Part one was shorter then Part two. I love Lana. She's a smart tough girl. She pulled me into the story. I loved her theory on being cursed. In Part one Lana and her friends have a Friday night out. Their Friday night is crazy and doesn't turn out like planned. Lana is loyal to her friends and takes the fall of things that happen. In Part Two we get the aftermath of Part one. Lana finds her self in a new place to navigate. We get more characters in part two. I wasn't sure how everyone was going to play out in the story so when I new character was introduced, I jotted down a little note so I would remember who they were. There is mystery and layers to this story. I hadn't realized that there would be more then two parts to the story until the ending. I can't wait to read more.

The cover is stunning and draws you in to find out exactly what this story is about. The writing is perfection. I love when an author gives you mote questions than answers it makes you question everything you read. Who is keeping secrets? Who can be trusted. Afte reading parts 1 and two I must say the trust factor is very limited. I enjoyed the personalities of the characters they have great depth and I have a love to hate connection with a few of them. The story is well rounded yet leaves you on your toes. In my heart I can't help but feel there is way more then meets the eye with this crazy school and I can't wait to get my hands on the next books. Our curse doesn't define us only our choices change the path our lives take.

Holy crap!! I started reading this and was pulled in right from the start. I loved Lana, she may be young but she sees the world differently from just about everyone around her. When her curse gets her sent to the private school she doesn't know who to trust.

It's hard for her to trust. Is she going to trust the wrong person? I was almost biting my nails to see what was going to happen next. The suspense was killing me! I felt like I was right there with her trying to figure out everything.

Then at the end...the CH I was like noooooo......I seriously can't wait for the next installments of this series. I need to find out what they find out!!!

Rebecca Donovan is such a great writer! Her ability to capture readers’ attentions and hold them with dramatic scenes, broken and scarred characters, and fast-paced plots is just amazing in every way. The Cursed series parts 1 & 2 was gritty and downright addictive. It’s definitely geared toward the 16+ audience, but it pulled me in and kept me on the edge of my seat ’till the end!

“I’ve come to accept that, regardless of how honest or silent I am, the truth is fated to destroy my life.”

Part one of this seems like a novella type book that hypes you up and prepares you for the real plot in part two. Like I said, I was captivated from the beginning and at times this book felt real. The characters are young but are put in mature situations; it’s really intriguing to see their reactions to it all. I loved how Rebecca created curses like loyalty, honesty, etc. for these characters; it really fit with the whole theme she had going on and it was a major issue throughout the entire book. Our heroine, Lana’s, cure is honesty…she’s honest to a fault and sometimes it just gets her into trouble.

The plot itself is very well written and filled with drama and suspense. When Lana is put into a new situation things aren’t what they appear. Someone has it out for her and at times it’s hard to see how she’s going to handle each crazy situation. I loved it all, honestly! The suspense was the best part; this book kind of has a Pretty Little Liars feel to it and that in itself has made it an addictive page-turner for sure!

Overall, this book was really good. The characters are young, real, and forced to endure situations that are pretty intense. The plot was amazing; it kept me entertained and crazy paranoid through the whole thing! I’m definitely going to need the next installments ASAP!

*Thank you so much Rebecca Donovan and The Next Step PR for the ARC. The opinions and views I have expressed here are solely my own and are in no way a representation of the author and/or publisher.*

Le résumé donnait le ton et il est évident que le mystère va agir jusqu'au tout dernier chapitre. Nous n'avons pas toutes les clés en main pour comprendre ce qui va pousser Lana à endosser des responsabilités qu'elle ne devrait pas assumer. Une soirée entre amis va très mal finir et c'est elle qui va en payer le prix le plus fort.



Le récit est donc constitué en deux parties. D'un côté, nous allons découvrir le caractère très trempé de notre héroïne Lana Peri qui régente sa vie et qui définit la sienne mais aussi celle des autres selon une moralité qui est en fait une malédiction. Par exemple, elle se sent condamnée à toujours la vérité , aussi blessante soit elle et on peut vous assurer qu'elle ne tourne jamais sa langue sept fois dans sa bouche avant d'asséner le coup fatal. Tous les événements vont donc nous mener à cette nuit bouleversante. Lana est une adolescente qui n'a qu'une seule amie et il s'agit de Tori. Elle est toujours dans les coups tordus et les soirées arrosées. On dit qu'il faut que jeunesse se fasse mais certains événements risquent bien de leur échapper. J'ai aimé découvrir le personnage de Lana car elle est très protectrice envers ceux qu'elle "aime". Elle a endossé un rôle d'adulte pour épauler sa mère alors que les rôles auraient dû être inversés. Avec ses amies, elle agit un peu pareil et c'est bien ce qui risque de la mener à sa perte. C'est une jeune femme très intelligente mais qui prend un certain plaisir à gâcher son potentiel en adoptant une attitude rebelle.



D'un autre côté, nous sommes les témoins de l'après dans le sens où nous la retrouvons non pas dans une centre pour délinquants juvéniles mais dans un pensionnant de haut standing et aux règles très étranges et très cadrées. On pourrait se dire que le cadre est une bonne chose mais en y regardant de plus près, les adolescents sont privés de toute liberté et chacun de leur geste ne passe pas inaperçu. Dans ce nouvel univers, nous retrouvons Lana telle qu'elle était . Elle restera en présence de personnages qui nous rappellerons son passé. Brenan est sans aucun doute le personnage le plus déstabilisant du groupe. Il a cette perception des autres qui est effrayante car il sait détecter la moindre information à votre sujet sans jamais nous dévoiler comment il parvient à se résultat. On retrouve aussi les Harrison dans cette nouvelle partie et dès le début, je ne savais pas si je pouvais leur faire confiance. Parker est le plus âgé et il sera toujours là à protéger ses proches mais en faisant cela ne se protège t-il pas lui même? Joey est un personnage que j'ai aussi eu du mal à cerner et à qui j'ai aussi eu du mal à faire confiance. Quant à Lance , nous le découvrons à Blackwood et il nous semble plus sympathique que ses frères. Que dire de leur père Niall qui est toujours aussi très ( ou devrais je dire trop ) présent?



Dès qu'elle arrive dans cet univers qui est à des années lumières du sien , les menaces ne vont pas tarder à revenir. Ces messages cryptés forcent donc notre héroïne à rester sur ses gardes et elle qui n'a jamais fait confiance à personne ne risque pas de changer d'avis. Nous allons devoir récolter des indices dans ce brouillard qu'est devenue l'intrigue et en fermant ce roman, j'ai encore des tas de questions qui me trottent en tête. Certes nous avons l'intrigue principale qui est résolue mais certaines zones ombragées auraient méritées d'être plus approfondies. Je ne dirais pas que je reste sur ma faim mais il me manque comme un point final à l'intrigue. Je pense que le fait que je ne sois pas friande des fins ouvertes explique cela .



Bref, je retrouve la plume de Rebecca Donovan dans un univers qu'elle n'avait pas encore essayé et c'est un essai plutôt réussi. Elle parfait à nous tenir en haleine avec ces personnages et leur prétendue malédiction. La saga Cursed vous fera plonger dans une histoire mystérieuse au dénouement tout aussi nébuleux.