Listened to this as an audiobook. Loved it! Many of the cursed objects in this book I had heard about previously but still learned some info about them I did not know before. And there were several I had never heard about. Learned so much and am now eager to learn even more. Loved the author’s snark and humor and the narrator chosen for this audiobook was fantastic. Four and a half stars.

I was utterly thrilled when NetGalley announced they had started to also make audio books available. I had only recently gotten into audio books after mostly listening to podcasts beforehand. One of the first I requested was Cursed Objects by J.W. Ocker because... well, come on! This is my first audio book review, but I will be covering many of the same points. Thanks to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review.

Cursed Objects starts out with its very own curse, warning the reader against stealing the book. This is a very wise warning as it is, as Ocker himself admits, the most comprehensive compendium of cursed objects in the world. You don't want to mess around with those. And yet Cursed Objects is full of people messing around with these objects. Why do we believe in curses and especially in cursed objects? Some objects make sense. Of course some of the rich people who owned the Hope Diamond got themselves into weird situations. Others make less sense. But how can an object make you see werewolves? Ocker makes it clear you don't have to believe in cursed objects to enjoy reading about them, nicely side-stepping the question some may go into the book with.

Cursed Objects starts if with an explanation of cursed objects and how they differ from the other paranormal objects we may be used to. It was a nice little technical section before getting into the different sections of the book which cover different types of objects. One of my favourite stories is 'The Ring of Silvianus' which is in the first section 'Cursed Under Glass', which is closely linked (at least in pop culture awareness) to Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. I was also fascinated by the last few sections that looked at the business of cursed objects and why certain objects that we might expect to be cursed aren't. It really broadened the book and added something of more interest.

Cursed Objects isn't a scary book. Those wanting to gasp out loud and be horrified may be slightly disappointed, but those wanting to hear fun stories about weird objects will feel right at home. There is a real levity to the book that I enjoyed. It's a joy to read about/listen to stories about objects from all across the world and it is very clear that Ocker has a respect for these objects and the cultures they stem from. He does his best to tread lightly and with respect wherever cultural misunderstandings are a possibility. The research that has gone into this book shows Ocker's personal commitment to the topic.

Tim Campbell is a great narrator who really brings out all of Ocker's hard work, which is everything you could ask for from a narrator. His tone is serious when discussing the more seirous aspects of these objects, but also very humorous when the book calls for it. The audio book I listened to was about 5 hours long, which is the perfect length. It is something that can be listened to in one go or dipped into occasionally for the different stories. I will definitely be going back to this and re-listening.

I absolutely adored Cursed Objects. It was a joy to listen to and I will definitely be looking for a hard copy as well. Ocker is an author I will be keeping an eye on and Campbell did a great job as a narrator.

I’m surprised to be using this word for a book about cursed objects, but this was fun. The topic was super interesting and well researched, but the author also gave it a humorous flare. It was everything I never knew I wanted from a book like this. The cursed objects often resulted in or were caused by death, so the fact that this still felt like a light and fascinating read throughout was amazing.

Not that it really matters, but I also found myself saying “WHAT??” a lot.

The narrator was an excellent complement to the writing & made for a great listening experience.

I would like to thank NetGalley, RB Media, and J.W. Ocker for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was an entertaining book filled with spooky things and the history behind them. Some of the objects are well know and others I had never heard of before. The author also has a fun sense of humor thrown in to make it lighter. Definitely a fascinating read.

This was a fun and quick read. While I knew some of the objects and stories shared, there were also tons that were new to me and have me itching to read more. Perfect research fuel and inspiration.

The low gravely voice of the narrator seems like a good choice for the narration of this book. However, the tone at the start (which I believe originates in the author’s voice) feels a little condescending toward the mystical, which might be off-putting for those who believe in mystical curses and want to read about cursed stuff.
The English theory nerd in me loves the dedication toward defining terms at the start. And yet it is done in a very accessible way—I approve. (In the first 5% it calls something a “platonic ideal” I am so nerdy for this author’s way of writing.)
The narrator has amazing pronunciation of foreign names, which I believe is a particular benefit to having the audiobook rather than the text.
Fascinating look into other cultures and their beliefs and superstitions; I appreciate that this book is not dedicated to only stories that are centered around Western European and American culture.
Not very scary but definitely interesting. A good fall read / listen for sure.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* super interesting book but ngl cant get over how weird it is to call Wisconsin a great lake state.... like i guess youre not wrong but i had to rewind and relisten to it twice bc i was so thrown off, and ive even been to where they were talking about so its was just so weird lol

Feeling spooky? "Cursed Objects" by J.W. Ocker is the perfect read to start your Halloween season. Quick, fun, and witty, this book explores your favorite stories in history in a way that gets straight to the good stuff. I highly recommend this book to individuals who tend to shy away from nonfiction. "Cursed Objects" is light, accessible, and ideal for readers who want to explore the haunted mysteries of the world without becoming too terrified. I would say this book is but a light taste of scary- the best to read right before bed.

What a fantastic collection of stories about cursed objects! I really enjoyed this audiobook and although I think the author believes more in the "nocebo effect" than he does curses, the stories still lent an eerie vibe and Ill admit, some of the talk about demons cursing dolls and those who came in contact with them made me turn it off when listening late at night, due to an extreme case of heebie-jeebies! Stories like this are just in time for everyone's spooky October needs! This went on sale Sept 15th, check it out! If you are on Netgalley, its audiobook will archive on the 30th of this month so make sure you request it asap!!

A nice collection about cursed objects in history. The writing is accessible and easy to understand without a lot of jargon cluttering it. I enjoyed the narration. Ultimately a worthwhile read, but nothing to really write home about.

Some fascinating bits (the Hope Diamond, the Dybbuk Box, the real serial killer's head on display in a Ripley's Believe it or Not!), some cheesy bits (the "were-sheep" *snicker*), some unnecessary bits (a whole bit at the end about "not cursed" objects, the placebo effect). The audiobook narrator was fantastic.

Narration: Mr. Campbell does an awesome job here; reminds me of narrators from similar unexplained mysteries TV shows and was quite enjoyable to listen to. The tone and cadence are perfect for this topic. Of course, he doesn't have to do a cast of characters (which would be the only reason he doesn't get a 5* performance).

The book was a fun survey of some famous cursed objects (Hope diamond, Tuts Tomb, et. al) and many of the fantastic stories that come with them (and where they are now in case you want to live life dangerously) ... all delivered with an irreverent sense of humor that made it extremely entertaining. After looking 'under glass' (museums), he heads into the crypt for some ghoulish fun before continuing on to grandma's attic for some more modern curses. He also covers how some of these things 'become' cursed (or at least how they get their reputation). The closest he gets to any scientific inquiry was when he picked up a 'cursed object' on eBay for a year long experiment ... which is to say that None of this is very scientific ... so check your skepticism at the door and just enjoy the trip ... which finishes up talking about weird objects that should be cursed ... but aren't.

Oh ... and don't steal this book ... it's cursed :-)

I was given this free advance review copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#CursedObjects #NetGalley #TimCampbell

Super quick and fun read! Loved listening to all the quirky stories about objects I knew were “cursed” but didn’t know the back story for. Will pick up other things by this author in the future

This book was just not for me. I can see why people will like it though. It just felt like a school textbook, listing items and a small description of why they are considered cursed.

Cursed Objects by J.W. Ocker is a very entertaining audiobook. I liked how each item was discussed individually in each chapter with location and date(s) of curses. I also enjoyed some of the funny one-liners delivered throughout. It was interesting to hear of objects I’ve heard of in the past but never knew the “cursed” history behind it.

Sections of this book were really engaging, others less so. I listened to this audiobook and probably would have enjoyed it more as an actual book or an ebook. The chapters about museums dedicated to cursed objects, for example, I would have wanted to take note of where they are located. I can't do that while driving, however, and that's where the section popped up for me.

Interesting. I like how each chapter was broken down to cover 1 item. All the stories were interesting, some of them were familiar because they had been made into movies, but many I had never heard about before. Narrator was good. It was easy to follow.

Thanks #NetGalley, @NetGalley for an advance copy of this audiobook #Cursed Objects: Strange but True Stories of the World's Most Infamous Items.
This book starts of with a bang including a catchy poem warning of the dire consequences of stealing this book, what qualifies as a cursed object and the stories about specific objects by category. The first chapter tells the fascinating history of the largest blue diamond in the world, the Hope diamond. I love this kind of story so I thought I was hooked, it reminded me of the non-fiction book Stoned: Jewelry, Obsession, and How Desire Shapes the World. Maybe it is because I have seen the diamond in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and used to have a postcard image of it as a child? Or perhaps, if I am being honest, they had me at “diamond”. Unfortunately, from there it was downhill for me, as the stories just did not have the same interest in the other topics. In fairness to the author, this is sure to be a fascinating book for the right audience.
This is a book you can read one story at a time as each can stand alone. It could be great fun for a Halloween party by a fire pit with flashlights. I was unable to find a Table of Contents for the audio version on the app and had to sneak over to Amazon to see which chapters would be of interest in the following categories:
I. Cursed Under the Glass
II. Cursed in the Graveyard
III. Cursed in the Attic
IV. Cursed in Stone
V. The Business of Cursed Objects
VI. Why Aren’t These Objects Cursed?
VII. The Curse in the Machine

• Annabelle the Doll, a Raggedy Ann doll that featured in the horror franchise The Conjuring
• The Unlucky Mummy, which is rumored to have sunk the Titanic and kick-started World War I
• The Dybbuk box, which was sold on eBay and spawned the horror film The Possession
• The Conjured Chest, which has been blamed for fifteen deaths within a single family
• The Ring of Silvianus, a Roman artifact believed to have inspired J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit
3.5 Stars

I don’t really listen to a lot of audiobooks but this one was amazing! I absolutely loved the way the narrator narrates this book. Other than that, I found this book and it’s concept very interesting. I love the story behind every object and it’s scary and amazing at the same time! I highly recommend this book!!

Not only was this a great book, this was a great audio experience as well. While you do miss out on the illustrations from the print book, you're really not missing out on much of anything. The narrator does an excellent job. Although some of his accents weren't all that great. Nicely paced book of spooky, weird objects.