In this second installment of the Thistle Grove series, we get a closer look at Rowan Thorn and the Avramov younger sister, Isidora. This is an enemies-to-lovers tale, and I love to get wrapped up in the drama of those. When the two are thrown together to investigate magical misconduct, tempers and sparks fly.

I’m glad this book was from Isidora’s point of view, as I was drawn more to the Avramovs than the Harlows in the first book, Payback’s a Witch. Issa was sassy and fun, with that dangerous Avramov edge. She actually came off as more powerful than her elder sister, Talia. Issa was great at thinking on her feet and making quick decisions in a crisis. We got a peek into her vulnerability when it came to her professional wants, but I wish this would’ve been expounded upon as it didn’t quite draw me in. I felt like her work at the Emporium fit her much better than sustainable fashion designer.

Rowan Thorn, our hunky green man, comes off as very “boy next door” and the complete opposite of Issa. I’m not sure he quite overcame the “holier than thou” personality for me, but maybe that will come as the series progresses. I did like that he was a veterinarian and his magic was definitely cool. But I found myself more interested in the Thorn demesne, Honeycake, than our hero. The orchards and underground pools sound like a place I’d love to visit.

Lots of diversity in this series, so I feel like there is someone for everyone to connect to. I find it funny that I’m more drawn to the necromantic family, of which most of the town is leery. But they come off as the underdogs to me, and I like to see them rise above expectations to the chagrin of the skeptics.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Victory!! I’ve finally found a witch romance that worked for me! This was super cute and wasn’t cringey or awkward. We only got Issa’s POV and I LOVE that because Rowan was actually a ✨mystery.✨ He felt like more than a wet dream of what makes the “perfect love obsessed man.” He seemed real and flawed and very, very hot because of it.

Both Issa and Rowan made mistakes and were at fault for situations in the past and present, but they had good conversations and neither one took the brunt of the blame. It’s always nice when the characters are held accountable and actually learn something.

There was mystery, evil to defeat, and a clear path from start to finish. We weren’t inundated with nutty worldbuilding or too many made-up words. The book did feel like it was trying to be too ~hip~ with some of the language and references it used, but they weren’t all that bad in the grand scheme of things.

As for steam, I was hoping for a bit more. There wasn’t any explicit language during the sexy times besides one time, and the sexy times is code for two times. And of those times was interrupted. I also wanted to experiment more with his healing magic or whatever it was during sec because she hinted earlier on that it would feel real ✨good.✨ the sex scene did take place on the edge of an underground pool so bonus points for literal wetness.

- Also there wasn’t a condom and she was only on birth control and there wasn’t any reference to pulling out which in and of itself is stressful to me lol.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶.25/5

This sequel to Payback’s a Witch is as much fun as the first, maybe even more so. In this novel, Lana Harper continues with characters that we met in the first book, introducing a magical mystery, curses and a compelling romance. While this pair are complete opposites on the surface, they both find out they have much more in common than they thought as they’re forced to work together to figure out why the Thorn family is being targeted by curses. While the pair’s history is complicated, the romance isn’t as the author develops their relationship quickly. The author develops an opposites attract romance that is fun and intriguing with curses and a compelling mystery to keep readers hooked.

Both characters are complex but it is the dialogue and the story that shines a light on the characters. The dialogue is fun as the sparks fly between the two and the actual resolution is intriguing, with nothing as you expect. The mystery is intriguing, as the author gives the reader several possibilities but also enough hints to pick up on the truth before the end.

If you love mystery, magic, and romance, I absolutely recommend this book. There is a fun spark with it that made me read it even faster than my normal and I fell in love with the characters. Each romance by this author just gets better and better. As said in my introduction, this is fun and intriguing with a sexy romance and I can't wait for the next book in the series.

I did not finish this book, found it unengaging and was not a fan of the subject matter. The romance and storyline didn’t appeal to ,e and neither did the contemporary witches setting. The cover was cool tho

This second installment of a fun witch centered romance series is perfect for a good summer read. Another connection between the Avramov family and the Thorn family and another young woman trying to find her way in the world away from the traditions and expectations of her family.

From Bad to Cursed is the companion and sequel to Payback's A Witch. This time we follow Isadora and Rowan who we already briefly met in the first book. When a necromatic curse is flung at a Thorn member it is up to Isa and Rowan to figure out who did it. And not kill each other in the process.

I quite liked Rowan in the first book so I didn't understand why Isa had such a dislike for the guy. But that was clear from the start. Because wow is Rowan obnoxious towards her. There was clear chemistry between the two on the page. And Isa you have a dirty mind, constantly oggling the poor boy, ha.

But what I liked most about this book is returning to Thistle Grove. Getting a better look inside the Asimov family. Seeing the characters from the first book still playing their roles in the community. There still being consequences to what happened then. But most of all Isa who is trying to find how she can be herself and not just that girl from the Asimov family.

This was a bit disappointing compared to the first book in this series, which was fun and atmospheric.

This second installment has some fun moments and the overarching plot was fine, but it also had a lot of cringe-y bad elements that made me struggle to enjoy its better components.

Though the first book had a lot of hokey romance to it as well, this was decidedly worse, partly because the male romantic lead is kind of a dud and also because it’s my least favorite fiction trope in the entire world, Enemies to Lovers (Seriously, why do so many people like this? Why do you want to have to win over someone who has been mean to you instead of falling for someone who was nice to you in the first place? Ick).

There’s also buckets of virtue signaling, or perhaps it would be more apt to call it tokenism. While this is obviously better than a book that makes absolutely no attempt at diversity in its characters, this felt contrived in a way that I imagine an editor saying things like “let’s toss in some mental health issues, very trendy.”

But really all of that would have been tolerable if it hadn’t come at the expense of the best part of what these books have to offer which is delightful fall/Halloween vibes and setting. This element was outstandingly done in the first book and almost nonexistent in this book. Except for the early scenes in the orchard (by far the best part of the book and the only time Rowan seemed like an interesting human rather than a sentient blob of whiny surliness.

Talia and Emmy do make a significant number of appearances in the book, which helped. And while her story wasn’t great, I did like Issa a lot.

Another cute installment from Thistle Grove. It wasn’t earth shattering but it was entertaining and was a good palette cleanser between heavy books.

I intended to review this before the pub date, not realizing that this is book two in The Witches of Thistle Grove series. I hate reading series out of order so I placed a hold with the library for every format of Payback’s a Witch and waited for whichever one I would get first – it was the audio. I liked Payback’s a Witch and gave it three stars, but would recommend the physical book over the audio because I didn’t love the narrator. Of the two books, I much preferred From Bad to Cursed. The banter between Issa and Rowan was funny, and overall, I much preferred the storyline of this over the revenge plot in Payback’s a Witch. While the enemies-to-lovers is not one of my favourite tropes, I thought it worked so well here. Read this if you’re looking for a lighter read, full of magic and romance. I’m looking forward to book three, Back in a Spell, out in January 2023.

What could have been better?
If you’ve read the first one, I’d have to say, I thought that one was funnier.

What I loved?

This was an opposites attract and enemies to lovers and forced to work together tropes all rolled into one…and I thought it was so well done from the pacing to the funny moments of “hating” one another.

I loved the banter.

I loved the storyline and mystery that was included was super cool and well done.

I love how they discussed strength and finding yourself and forging your own path.

I loved how characters from the previous book were still heavily featured!

I love how it touched on panic attacks and prejudice and race.

I just love this little witchy stars hollow like town and all the crazy things that happen there!

If you’re looking to add books to your witchy but not scary list, this is one!

💕Favorite Quotes💕
“Must be tough like I can’t even imagine, to feel like you have an enemy inside you […] but that you can come through for yourself, find the other side… Issa, listen. That makes you strong, not weak. Strong as hell in fact.”

“We choose our own course, set sail by our own stars. And no one else can ever- should ever- hope to master us.”

4.5/5 rounded to 5

First of all, thank you as always to Berkley Publishing for the chance to read this book in advance,

I had high expectations for this title, but unfortunately I have to say it has been a big disappointment.
It was an Interesting reading for the wordbuilding and the different magical powers that characterize the various families, but for me the cool part stopped here. I was intrigued by the mystery that leads the story, but if in the beginning it made me feel the need to go on, during the pages it lost his bite as much as the love story.
They became a little bit flat and predictable, and it's a shame, because the writing style was good and there was the potetial to create something original and with more impact.
Nice reading but I think the author could do more.

Isidora Avramov is helping run her family's coveted business in Thistle Grove as the Beltane season approaches. As the witches of the town rush to pick a new Queen for the season, a dark and tainted magic threatens to destroy the whole thing, starting with the Thorns. Now, Isidora must work with tall dark and brooding archenemy Rowan Thorn to uncover the culprit. Oh, and keep herself from falling for him as well.

I was really in love with the first book in this series, Payback's a Witch. I can compare this a bit to how the series Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur is in the sense that you don't have to read the first book, but it would provide you a bit more context with the relationships happening inside it if you read it before the sequel. I will also add that there's a lot more worldbuilding present in the first book that I think would be essential going into this book, since only some of the magic explained in the first book is in this one.

Now let's get into the story itself. I really like how the plot was really simple to follow in the sense that it's a magical mystery. New elements being introduced never felt like they were overwhelming to me and allowed for a decent bit of space between each new clue. I appreciate when a mystery allows for that balance between pacing and actually solving the mystery, and it never really felt like I was bored.

Now in that free time there was a bright romance blossoming between Issa and Rowan, which honestly had some really good chemistry to it! I was a bit taken aback at first and wasn't sure if I could see it working, but as the story progressed they had some really good moments that allowed them both to be completely vulnerable, especially with Issa's panic attack. They, in a way, see each other at their worst, but still come out on top. I will admit that the ending was absolutely rushed with their relationship, since it left off on a pretty iffy point for the both of them, so I wasn't sure if their ending was deserved.

Furthermore, there is a subplot with Isidora about her wanting to break away from her family's traditions and become a fashion designer. While the final message was absolutely compelling, I felt there weren't enough moments within the story of Isidora really partaking in the act of fashion design/sewing to make a full impact on the message. For me, her talents were more told than shown, and that made the overall message dull.

From Bad to Cursed is a great new installment of a beloved debut and still includes some of your favorite characters while also bringing new ones to life.

I received a copy of this book as an e-arc from NetGalley. Any and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a fun, cute read everyone! I haven't read the author's previous work but when her next book comes out, I'll probably snatch it up.

From Bad t cursed is the story of a witch who practices necromantic magic and another who practices green magic. Literally green, plants y'all, plants.

During a ceremony, another witch is attacked with a spell that kills her magic, burns her hands and seals her magic away. And no one knows who did it. Worst of all? The spell is the kind that our MC's family is involved in so of course, they're the obvious culprits.

I actually really liked this book. It's an interracial romance. She's white, he's Black. And there's no racism. No descriptions of him being likened to food. It was just descriptions of him being attractive. Of his locs and his skin. And none of it was gross.

I never know what to expect when it comes to romances but this? I liked it. Thistle Grove feels fun. I like the way the magic works. I like the setup of the town and the families.

All of that gets an A.

The only thing I'll take points off for was the pacing of the ending, especially because the pacing of the rest of the story was really solid. It was just very rushed and wrapped up very quickly. And that was a bit of a switch up.

Other than that, it gets a four (4) out of five (5) stars from me and I'll happily recommend it to people.

I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to them and the publisher.

I am obsessed with Lana Harper's witchy world!! This romance was super fun, super witchy, and leaves me begging for more from this series.

So reading this book without reading the first Thistle Grove installment is doable! Because I did it.

I really enjoyed the enemies to lovers vibe, the mystery, the thrills, the witchyness summery vibes.

It’s a great romcom for summer when you still want your witchy-ness to come through.

I can’t wait to go back and read the first one and then for the next one!

Thanks @prhinternational for this ARC!

From Bad to Cursed segue um pouco depois dos eventos em Payback's A Witch. Aqui vamos conhecer melhor Isidora "Issa" Avramov, membro de uma das famílias fundadoras de Thistle Gove. A magia da sua família envolve necromancia e por isso estão sempre em conflito com os Thorns, outra família fundadora cuja fonte mágica vem da natureza.

Durante um evento que atencipa a celebração de um festival, uma integrante da família Thorn é atacada. À frente da investigação estará Issa junto com Rowan Thorn, com quem não tem um passado muito amigável.

Tanto Issa quanto Rowan deram as caras no livro anterior. Quando soube que teriam sua própria história aqui, eu fiquei bastante ansiosa e não me decepcionei. Afinal, nada melhor que um romance ódio ao amor com toques de magia, não é mesmo?

Issa é divertida, alto astral, um tanto teimosa e bastante audaciosa. Apesar de amar trabalhar junto da sua família, ela tem seus próprios planos de lançar uma linha de moda, mas tem medo que esse seu desejo decepcione sua mãe. Já Rowan beira a perfeição sendo bastante carinhoso e atencioso, além claro muito bonito e charmoso. Sua primeira impressão de Issa não é das melhores e vice-versa mas a convivência vai mudar esse pensamento.

O romance vai acontecendo aos poucos. Issa até que tenta negar, mas no fim acaba aceitando sua atração por Rowan. A falta de uma narração do herdeiro Thorn é sentida, mas são em pequenas atitudes que vemos sua mudança em relação não somente a Issa, mas também a concepção que ele tem sobre Avramovs.

O toque investigativo casou bem com a história, já que o relacionamento entre Issa e Rowan vai se desenvolvendo à medida que os dois investigam o culpado. Eu estava bem investida querendo descobrir o culpado e ao final a autora me surpreendeu.

A escrita da Lana é bem gostosinha, o que faz a leitura ser fluída e rápida. Também tenho que destacar a sua diversidade de personagens; mesmo que secundários, temos vários personagens não-brancos e queer. Inclusive estou super ansiosa por Back In A Spell, próximo livro que será protagonizado por um personagem não-binário.

Ooooooh I really enjoyed this book. Loved Rowan and Issa (surprisingly) - I love a enemies to lovers and this was pretty true to that. The thriller/mystery aspect was intriguing. I wanted to know what happened and who was hurting the Thorns. The climax was a good pay off as well and looped in some storyline from book 2. I was surprised by who book 3 is about - I am ready for LINDEN and although Nina is gonna be cool, I want Linden now.

The last think I will say is that I struggle with Lana Harper's portrayal of Blackness a little bit. Sometimes it is perfect - the ways that Rowan pushes. back when Issa's white privilege comes through. But there were a few references I didn't love: comparing Rowan to Killmonger instead of Thanos, using the term "mixed-race". Things like that felt a little off. I would love for Lana to use sensitivity readers, and if she did would recommend getting a few more. Happy to offer my services!

Thoroughly enjoyable. I am always a fan of enemies-to-lovers, esp when the conflict isn’t abusive. Visiting Thistle Grove is always a pleasure and while this one wasn’t quite as strong for me as book 1, but it’s also gonna be nearly impossible to measure up to “a group of women band together to take down their mutual and shitty ex.” There was also a paragraph in about the middle of the book where I thought “ding! That’s the setup for book 3!” I’m excited to see if I’m right.

A little bit paranormal romance, a little bit mystery, and a whole lot of sexual tension. I keep reading these witchy paranormal romance rom-coms and they keep falling flat, so I was SO GLAD when From Bad to Cursed is EXACTLY what I wanted. The chemistry between Issa and Rowan is - dare I say it - magical. I love the interplay betwen the enemies to lovers and opposites attract tropes in this book.
This is the second book in the series, but can be read as a standalone (though I'm going to have to go back and read the first book in the series now...)

Last year, when I read Payback's a Witch, I fell in love with both Thistle Grove and Lana's transporting prose. Payback invoked some of the most vivid, aesthetic based vibes of any book I'd read before or since and the second installment in The Witches of Thistle Grove series was no different. Where Payback's a Witch was a cozy fire in a chilly autumn, From Bad to Cursed, released today, is an iced latte in the middle of a summer thunderstorm after a 90 degree day.
From Bad to Cursed had me hooked and craving the feel of warm rain on my skin. Not only did it evoke a magical aesthetic, but orchad son and daughter of the void had one of the most compelling enemies-to-lovers romances I've read lately. And, as the cherry on the ice cream the heat will have you craving, the plot itself is a twisting and turning who-done-it.