This book kept me on the edge of my seat! The spicy scenes were very well written. I wonder if there's going to be a third book that goes into Margo and Beelzebub's story.

I will say that the main male character (Gray) is very controlling and manipulative, but does have a sweet side. I recognize that this is not something I want in my own life and it can be somewhat hard to read in a book, but I think Harper L. Woods wrote this character somewhat tastefully.

A sincere thank you to Harper L. Woods, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for an advanced audiobook copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC.
When I received this audiobook I didn't realize it was book two. I rushed to library to get The Coven so I could give it a listen first.
All in all I found The Cursed to be an spicy book with a confusing story. I wanted more from the sequel.

As I come to write my review, I am so disappointed as I read that this is a completed duet? I feel like there were so many loose ends and so many ways the author could continue this story!! Maybe that’s a lie/not correct? I need to know.

I was so impressed with the first book in this series so it was disappointing that the second felt rushed. Willow and Gray forgave each other way too quickly for the whole first like 75% of this story to be about revenge.

But alas, I am now a Harper Woods Stan. I need to read more of her novels. I immediately borrowed the whole Of Flesh and Bone series on audiobook from the library upon completing the Coven of Bones novels! I can’t wait to dive in to these new stories and have my heart crushed by some new characters!

If you love dark romance and enemies to lover then this is for you. The main characters were likable but unfortunately to me the book wasn’t that memorable. Still 4 stars for me, and while it was fuel POV. I’m not a big fan of the narrators in this audiobook doing the other voices.

"The Cursed" begins right where book 1 "the Coven" left off, in the throws of passion and the ultimate betrayal. With Gray's true identity now revealed and Willow's life's purpose thwarted, she forced to choose between the safety of her coven, her vision for a better future, and her heart. Gray on the other hand, knows exactly what he wants, Willow, and he's willing to give up everyone and everything in order to have her.

This book includes:
- witches with elemental magic
- demons and Mr. Satan himself
- betrayals both big and small
- dual POV
- enemies to lovers dark romance
- cursed daggers
- prophecies of the three faced goddess
- cliffhanger ending
- TW: check before reading
- brooding and dangerous MMC

It's hard to comment too much on "the Cursed" without spoilers fo book one, so readers beware this review will not include book 2 spoilers, but it will spoil book 1.

Reading this book left me with complex feelings. With many of the main conflicts, I felt like we had 0 plot progression which left me so frustrated. I totally open to books that are character driven, instead of plot driven, but there were holes there as well. I found Willow to be annoying with her commitment to individuals that really don't care if she's dead or alive. I don't know if she's naive or dumb, but the narration insisted that Willow is some sort of natural born genius/leader, but her actions did not align with that characterization. Her motivation was pretty clear <reckless self sacrifice at every turn>, but it was repetitive and dull. I liked Gray a lot more, his motivations were very clear to me when it came to Willow, however his general goal for the Coven was completely lost to me. What was his point of reuniting with his vessel? To just continue being a teacher? That's fine, but his behavior, propensity for violence, and raising of the demons doesn't really align with that.

All that said. "the Cursed" is engaging and fast paced. The witchy world really draws you in and the spice is **chef's kiss**. For the ambience, world, and the fact that book 1 was pretty good, I am giving this book stars.

I recommend this book for lovers if "Fourth Wing" and "the Bargainer."

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper L. Woods, and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to read and review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863

This book wasn’t as good as the first. The plot was lacking and it focused too much on the smut, which isn’t my favorite. I need more plot than smut in my books.

Absolutely LOVED this book!! I was approved just last week and it pushed me to finally read The Coven (which had been in my kindle library) and devoured this series! So good!

I loved this audiobook!! Once again Grey is just perfection! I loved this conclusion to the duet.
Ellis as Grey was amazing! I definitely would like to listen to more audiobooks from him. Emilia did a wonderful job as Willow. This was a very good dual narration.

I had just finished book one when I was granted this ARC. I was extremely excited and had high standards going into it. The Cursed certainly did not disappoint. I loved every moment of it! The narration really brought it to life, and I feel like I need to listen to book one so I can get that same experience. It was very dark and ominous but overall a great listen. I felt like the narrator for Grey did a fantastic job sounding edgy and giving that ominous feel. A very special thank you to Netgalley, Harper L. Woods, and Dreamscape Media for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you enjoyed book one you will love this one. The audiobook was amazing and I really enjoyed it. I was so excited to get this one.

With demons, witches, familiars, werewolf-like creatures who lurk in a forbidden forest and now angels in the mix, The Cursed was another darkly atmospheric read from Harper L. Woods. Hollows Grove university for witches is now under new rule after Willow unwittingly opened the seal that contained Lucifer the Morningstar and allowing him to rise from the bowels of hell claiming his witchling as his consort as he did so. Full of twist and turns, secrets and revelations, their forbidden romance sizzles as Willow realises the full extent of her magical abilities in strength going from the easily manipulated young girl to the powerful witch, she was always meant to be, taking her place as the Covenant, but nothing is as it seems, and Willow might have yet another destiny to fulfil. There was fantastic character growth as well as Willow realised how everyone around her had manipulated her for their own ends but not before yet another shocking cliff hanger that leaves me hopeful of more from this series.

I loved the book, but the narration provided by Ellis Evans and Emilia Bauer brought The Cursed to life. To begin with I did think that Ellis’ characterisation of Gray was done in a bit of a monotone but the more I listened, I began to realise that his performance had a sinister edge to it making him sound all the more ominous and giving me all the chills while Emilia’s portrayal of the teenage Willow, torn between her love for Gray and her duty to the witches as Covenant was spot on. Together these narrators did justice to one of my favourite releases this year.

⭐️⭐️/5
Before going into my review I have to say that, like for book 1, I had great expectations for The Cursedbut I was disappointed yet again. Sometimes it happens that a book or a series really isn´t for us, and this series is mine. It was truly a struggle.

Thank you to Net Galley and Dreamscape for giving me the possibility to listen to the audiobook. Like always Dreamscapemedia Productions was very good, even if during the male actor chapter there was a faint noise that was a little annoying before I got used to it.
Still, the actors did a very good job voicing the various characters and I give two stars solely for this.

Storywise this book was as bad as the first one. For the first 80% nothing happens, and I really really really didn´t like any of the characters.
A couple of the side characters were more interesting than the protagonists and of all the books I have read this year I think this one was one of the worst regarding the plot.

So yeah, 2 stars, and I consider myself generous.

Ummm obsessed!!!!!! Grey & Willow (melting) I really liked this book, however I listen to the audio and just wished the voice for grey was a little deeper.

I took receiving this arc as my time to finally read the first one and I'm both happy and sad I waited. Happy because I did not have to wait to slide into the second one.
Sad because I didn't get to read it sooner.

I'm not sure why I thought this was going to be a duology, but thinking so I was so nervous how the whole book was going to end because STUFF. KEEPS. HAPPENING!!!!

AND NOW I HAVE TO WAIT!?! AFTER THAT ENDING?!?

I beg the book gods to help me through this time of need

This was not the book for me but as far as the writing goes and the audio production, I do think it is enjoyable.

The audio was well done and fit the story well. The writing flowed well and the story moved at a good pace.

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Morningstar in part 2 of this series about a forbidden, unique relationship of the creator of vampires, Lucifer himself and his fated witchling. Demons, Angels, Witches and Vampires collide!

Now, in his true form, Lucifer aka Gray is “wed” to Willow, powerful, feared and awed by some. Willow and her coven of witches plot to end Gray in order to restore the coven from his evil chaos, while battling her deep desire and love for him. Little does she know, someone in her coven is willing to see her dead in order to do so.
Gray, on the other hand, just wants Willow to love him and build a life with her. Wants to make his home together, with her. He wants all of Willow and wants her to stay willingly, not be held captive.

Filled with serious spice and smut! This sequel will leave readers wanting more, in which the conclusion hints at a further extension…so I hope! I know there have been quite a few reviews that bashed this sequel as lacking, poor plot and writing, but I absolutely disagree! I listened to the audiobook which was super good!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

Yet another excellent audiobook production! I patiently waited for the chance to listen to the audiobook rather than read The Cursed when it was released, a hard wait as I was so ready for the continuation of the series.

The Cursed picks up where we left off with Willow and Gray in The Coven, betrayal still fresh between them, but this book follows their journey together and it was yet another fabulous book in the series. I say series because while I expected merely a duology, it's clear with events in this book it will be a more sweeping series and I am here for it!

This one is even spicier than the first book and even darker. If you read and liked The Coven, don't wait to read The Cursed, be ready to delve deeper into the world of Crystal Hollow.

I truly wanted to give this 5 stars. As i have loved this duet. It lost a star due to not wrapping things up. While i do understand that was to set up a spinoff for other characters. There is still so much for willow and gray that have been left unanswered on how it will play out. It made everything happening in the last 10% of the book feel rushed and incomplete. But overall i did truly enjoy Willow and Grays journey. The narrators were good

I am wholly obsessed with anything that Harper writes, because it is so gripping and truly such incredible story telling. With every book that comes out, I fall instantly more in love with the characters, the world, and the story that Harper is giving us.

I could not put this audiobook down, I was listening to it all the time and falling more and more in love with it, with every second I listened.

Obsessed with this audiobook!

This book, overall, was a 4 star read for me. The story was interesting, kept me enthralled and wanting to know what would happen next. Gray and Willow have a real roller coaster of a relationship and this book is mostly them trying to navigate their new reality after ending of The Coven. For narration, it is a 3 star read. The male narrator was fine, good variation in voices and inflection that matched the scene. The female narrator, however, was not my favorite. Whenever she was voicing a male character, the voice was the same for them all-deep, and they talked in slow motion with almost no emotion. The inflection on sentences always seemed just a little bit off, and tone sometimes didn’t match the situation.