The plot line was a great idea, and I was intrigued to see how it was going to play out. It was a light and cute read, and while I enjoyed it while I was reading, it didn’t hook me or have me as invested in the events or the characters as I would’ve hoped.

I would say this is very light fantasy, and would be perfect if you’re into romance and want to get into fantasy books. However, the world building was very minimal with most of the focus on the relationship between the romantic leads, which might disappoint if you want to read this with the fantasy in mind. There were essentially no plot twists, and I could easily guess what would come next at all points. Still, while it wasn’t a read that had me on the edge of my seat, it was still a nice and cozy read and easy to get through regardless of me hoping it would’ve given me something more.

This one was much more romance driven than fantasy, the fantasy felt quite minimal and I’m not a huge romance reader, I need the fantasy element to really come through for me:

I also wish we had more of the characters lives and relationship before the book started, the scene wasn’t really set, we were just thrown in. I did love the relationship though, I could almost feel the passion between each page.

Even with its issues, I did enjoy this and will definitely recommend it to my fellow readers who love a good romance.

I loved this Romantasy! When Bria has to choose between being charmed with the mark of luck or the love of her life it isn’t even a choice. However, everyone else seems to have different opinions for her.

A forbidden love. She has all the luck in the world as he is cursed to have all the bad. Falling in love from afar. For if they ever touch both would lose their luck.

Loved this book. At times I wanted to shake Wes because it was clear that Bria wanted him. Not only to take her good luck away but to really be with him. He felt he was not worthy and she tried to show him he was. It wasn’t until Bria almost died for Wes to give in to what she wanted.

This book has solidified 2 things for me:
1. Shaylin Gandhi is officially an auto-buy romantasy author for me!
2. My TBR just grew exponentially with the urgent need for MORE short fairytale retellings!

This 250-page novel is PACKED with all the good stuff: brothers best friend tension, touch-her-and-you'll-regret-it vibes, forbidden love that makes your heart ache, ANGST that had me feeling very nostalgic for classics like the Princess Bride, The Swan Princess, and Sleeping Beauty.

We're thrown headfirst into Bria's world, and while she wasn't my <i>absolute</i> fave FMC, let's be real, Weston Wildes is pure book boyfriend material. Like, forget grand gestures, give me a man who remembers my favorite drink. Just a heads up, this leans a little New Adult, so buckle up for some delicious angst, a dash of miscommunication, and a sprinkle of drama!

And can we just take a moment to appreciate Kimberly M. Wetherell's narration? Her voice truly brought this story to life!

Bottom line: If you're craving a quick, fun, and angsty romantasy escape with a hero who will make your heart do the happy dance, Once Charmed, Twice Cursed is your next read!

Thank you to Tantor Audio, Shaylin Gandhi, and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Once charmed, twice cursed

Bria is one of the luckiest girls in the world. She has survived multiple tragic events and escaped without a scratch. This has led her to 99 offers of marriage, but she only has her eyes on one person- her brother’s best friend. And the only 1 who hasn’t proposed to her.

Winston has the mark of the null that can negate Bria’s luck with his touch. Bria decides to move on with the suitor her brother picks for her, and on the way to her doomed wedding, she gets kidnapped. So much for luck! Seems like there is more than one null in town.. Bria tries to find her way back, but also may be able to use her kidnapper to erase the barrier between her and Winston to be together.

This was a super short fantasy that you can easily read even if you aren’t into fantasy and enjoy it. It’s basically a romance with like one fantasy concept added in related to their luck.

Thanks to NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 4/29/25.

was given an advanced reader copy of this book in audio format free of charge via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

The narration is excellent and does an brilliant job of bringing the world of the story to life. The characters too are given their own voices and manner of speech. There are no words to express how much that enhances the story for the listener.

In a world where some are are marked by the God's for good or ill all Bria wants is to be seen not for her Mark of Luck but just for herself. Sadly her brother has decided that she will be married to a savage black hearted duke.

His reason for selling her to such a man? If she didn't want then surely her luck would have prevented the duke even noticing her. Surely she can see this is perfect.

But her heart longs for her brothers best friend and accountant Weston Wildes. He also bears a mark but its the opposite hers. Where Bria is blessed by Lady Fortuna , she has turned her face away from Weston.

Will fates be kind and allow them to be with one another ?

This is an incredible story . The romance is real and the sexy times are beautifully intense deeply emotional. I really enjoyed this read more than I ever thought I would.

⭐️3.8 Stars⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook! This was a fast paced, easy read throughout the book. I really enjoyed the main characters and seeing them find their way to each other throughout this book while also navigating their magic stopping each other from being together. I would definitely read from this author again! Thank you again to NetGalley for this audiobook!💕📚

I am absolutely sure that I liked this book, but not sure I fell in love with it.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, & the Tantor Audio for the audioARC in return for an honest review!

I really started out liking this story a lot; a young girl born with luck that seems all too good to be true (because it is) and a boy born equally as touch by the gods and yet his bad luck hung over him like a dark ominous cloud waiting for its opportunity to strike him dead. By some twist of fate these two are forced into close proximity and as a result they both become normal as one blessing cancels out a curse and vice versa. It would seem all is possible for Bria and safe for Weston if they could continue living each other spheres undisturbed. Yet everything changes when Bria's family quite literally sells her to the highest bidder, a duke with a foul temper and many wives in the grave. Had her luck run out?
Yet, Luck was not done with Bria yet and this is where the story to lose a bit of its appeal for me. That said, I still found the rest of the story worthy of completion because who doesn't want love to concur all? I can't go into further details without spoilers, so I advise any reader to pick up a copy of this book and find out for themselves.

No regrets!!!!
Solid 3 out of 5 stars

Once Charmed, Twice Cursed is a romance novel with low fantasy. There was one small bit of magic. Some people have good luck, and others have bad luck. There is no explanation as to who is chosen or why. Though we do hear the goddess’s name many times, Fortuna, she has no further involvement other than the blessing or curse at birth. This is an excellent book for a romance reader who may want to start trying fantasy.

The plot moved along quickly. I was never bored. I finished in just a few days. Though at some points the plot moved a little too quickly, and I wished some things were drawn out more.

I did enjoy the tension between the characters. I believe this was the author’s biggest strength. The relationship was believable and very sweet. Bria’s fascination with Weston is very clear, and you can feel the tension simmering between them. There is a quiet tension between Bria and her brother as well. This builds throughout the book until it comes to a breaking point.

I did not buy Weston as a tough guy, hardened against the world. Despite the attempt to portray him as such.

I could go the rest of my life without hearing the word ‘triquetra’ again. It was constantly referenced in the place of her ‘mark’, the thing that Fortuna gave her. I had utterly no idea what it was, and if it was explained, I completely missed it. A triquetra is commonly called the trinity knot. For some reason, the extended references to her triquetra irritated me. It was a small irritation. The only other complaint I have is that there is a scene later on that is supposed to be traumatic for a character. However, I felt that calling the situation traumatic was stretching things a bit. Had the traumatic scene been drawn out more, it would have had a better impact.

In the end, there is a really touching redemption in Bria’s family and the book as a whole ends well.

Once Charmed, Twice Cursed was such an exciting and magical read! I loved how the story blended charm, danger, and a touch of romance so perfectly. The main character’s journey kept me hooked the whole time full of twists, magical surprises, and emotional moments that made me root for her even more. The world-building was vivid and enchanting, and the stakes felt real. If you love stories about magic, curses, and second chances, Once Charmed, Twice Cursed is a must-read!

This is a fun, easy read, focusing primarily on the romantic relationship of the main characters. I was expecting the fantasy elements to have more of an impact on the story, but the world building is fairly light and the role of magic is relatively simple. I wasn’t aware this was a Princess Bride retelling until I finished the story, but it’s clear on reflection!
Kimberly M. Wetherell‘s read is fantastic. All the characters felt distinct enough, and the expressive narration made this a really engaging listen.

This is a brilliant quick romance.

It’s very light touch fantasy so it’s suitable for any romance reader, whether they enjoy fantasy or not.

The narrator does a fantastic job of bringing the characters and story to life. It’s an uplifting story of love, hope, and learning.

I went into this expecting something dark and gritty... Instead I got a wholesome friends to lovers, wholly vanilla, honestly pretty predictable story. This would be perfect for fans of romance that's very, very light on the fantasy elements. And maybe change the cover to portray what this story is about?

The narrator was fabulous though! Can't say enough good things about the narrator and will definitely be finding more books read by her!

Once Charmed, Twice Cursed. It never occurred to me that being "always lucky" could be a bad thing until I read this book, where once again the selfishness of human beings would become a blessing into a curse. Bria may be marked with the symbol of the fortune goddess, but she is born into a family full of selfish, unbearable people. They don't see her as a person, but as an object to exchange, and she has always let that be, hoping that the day she has to marry, her brother will realise the only person she wants is his best friend, Weston, the only "null marked" (unlucky) in town.

Firstly, I have to admit I wanted to shake Bria nearly the whole book, I was so glad for her character arc, I jumped out of happiness in the last chapters, and Weston... I missed a bigger change in his persona; he needs to improve his self-esteem, but I enjoyed their story. It was a fast and "easy" romance with the right amount of spice.

Secondly, I want to talk about the narrator. Kimberly M. Wetherell did an amazing job in this audiobook. Her acting was incredible, and I loved how she changed her voice and her cadence—chef's kiss. I am not sure I would have liked this book as much reading it instead of listening, she was the perfect Bria.

Finally, I want to thank Tantor Audio, Shaylin Gandhi, and Netgalley for letting me listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who really enjoys romance and wants to dip their toes into fantasy—especially readers in their late teens or early 20s. It’s a fun, light read, though I found myself wanting more from the world-building. The story wrapped up neatly, almost too neatly, and I doubt we’ll be seeing more of this world in the future.

When I saw it was marketed as fantasy, I expected more immersive elements and a broader world. But really, we only hear about five locations, and most of the story takes place in a single room—or, occasionally, another confined space like a carriage. That’s what I get for coming in with high expectations. That’s what I get for coming in with high expectations. Still, the romance plot was cute. There were a few twists I didn’t see coming, which kept things exciting. I always appreciate when an author can genuinely surprise me. I love foreshadowing, but it can sometimes give too much away—this book struck a nice balance.

At times, I also felt like I was parachuted into the middle of the story. I would’ve loved to see more of Bria and Weston’s decade-long friendship—the slow-burn of love behind shared smiles and traded books. Their bond and passion are obvious on the page, but I wanted more time with it, more build-up. Honestly, I would have loved an extra 150 pages to flesh out what felt missing.

The characters themselves were easy to connect with. Their growth felt natural, even if I wish Bria had reached her realization a bit earlier. Understanding both of their lives—marked by being charmed, cursed, and forced into new identities—added depth and made their journeys feel believable.

Overall, the romance was sweet and satisfying, and there’s definite appeal here for those looking for a quick, heartfelt story with just a dash of magic.

Once Charmed, Twice Cursed by Shaylin Gandhi is a standalone romantasy that I really enjoyed. I thought this was a fascinating story and was beautifully told.

I thought the characters were well developed and very interesting. Bria’s life was a reminder that too much of a good thing is bad.

The narration by Kimberly M. Wetherell was wonderful! I loved how she brought the story to life!

I thought this was a fun read. It was a quick read and I enjoyed reading it very much!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Once Charmed, Twice Cursed by Shaylin Gandhi
Narrated by Kimberly M. Wetherell
Publisher: Tantor Audo
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy
Expected Publication Date: April 29, 2025

Loved this book! I even finished it in one day! Very quick read and a wonderful story line. There were some twists and turns but it kept me engaged.

This was a cute, charming book. It was a light read, but when that is what you are looking for, it’s perfect!

It’s a stand alone, which I love! There were a couple of questionable choices made by the author, a couple times when I went “now why did she do that?” But there were also times when I went “yes!!! I love that!!” So they canceled each other out.

The narrator was great. She really set the tone for the book.

This isn’t going to be one that sits with me forever, but it is one I enjoyed while I read it!

I love the way this book teetered the line between the Princess Bride and Assistant to the Villain. It is a low steaks fantasy, and not all too spicy either, but in the very best way. This is the kind of book you can lose yourself in and I absolutely lost myself in it.

It is sweet, believable, and altogether really fun story. I appreciate the way this book allows me to let go of reality for a little bit and jump into another world without intense stress.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️.5/5