Unfortunately I didn't finish reading. I really tried but there was something in the writing style that I just couldn't get past.

Druid Cursed is a wild, magical ride packed with adventure, humor, and a touch of chaos that keeps you turning the pages. C.J. Burright knows how to blend epic fantasy with heart and wit, making every twist feel exciting and every character unforgettable.

I loved the way the story balances high-stakes action with moments of clever banter and genuine warmth—it’s impossible not to get swept up in the adventure. The magic feels vivid and inventive, the stakes feel real, and the characters are bold, flawed, and absolutely fun to follow.

If you love fantasy that’s daring, clever, and full of surprises, Druid Cursed is a must-read. Grab it, buckle in, and enjoy the chaos!

This was my first Gothic romantasy, and it did not disappoint. I was drawn in by the decadent setting, curious about the magic and mystery surrounding the Ravenwood estate and Samhain.

Kellen has been trapped for centuries, only about to be free for 7 days every 50 years for 7 attempts at breaking the curse. Maggie ends up at the Ravenwood estate for the exorbitant cash prize for one winner at this elusive Irish estate. What neither of them expected to find was love or a curse that could only be broken by the sacrifice of Maggie's blood.

Rituals and explorations turn dangerous and otherworldly as Caedmon, Kellen, and Maggie attempt to free Kellen and protect the balance and integrity of the land. All of Ireland is in danger if the witch who cursed Kellen gains control, and one of the fated lovers will be doomed to loneliness should they fail.

I was caught up in the mystery of the estate and the strong female character of Maggie who was a strong, loyal friend who also would only take what she earned. Her boldness made the trials that much more interesting to read and added to the complexity of her and Kellen's relationship.

The pacing was a bit off for me--too fast in some places with too much knowledge assumed, and too drawn out in others. This book does get dark with its paranormal elements so readers be aware!

Thanks to CJ Burright, Entangled Publishing, and NetGalley for this ARC read.

✨ Review: Druid Cursed by C.J. Burright ✨

The premise of Druid Cursed is definitely intriguing—ancient curses, Samhain magic, and a heroine who refuses to be anyone’s sacrifice. I went in excited for that mix of Irish folklore and romance, but I have to admit I struggled to fully get into this story.

For me, the pacing felt uneven. The beginning had promise but didn’t hook me right away, and as the romance developed, it felt a little too fast for me to buy into. Maggie is fresh off a brutal divorce, yet she’s thrown into a whirlwind connection with Kellen almost instantly—I just couldn’t quite believe in their chemistry or see the depth in their relationship beyond attraction.

That said, I did enjoy the overall concept of the druid curse—it added a unique spin that made the story stand out, and there were a few moments that gave me a smile (and even made my blood pressure rise a little in frustration, which shows I was at least invested in parts of the plot!).

Overall, this one just wasn’t for me. I loved the idea more than the execution, but readers who enjoy light, fast-burn fantasy romance with a touch of magic might still have fun with it.

⭐ 2.5–3/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, C.J. Burright, and Entangled Publishing Group LLC for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a pleasant surprise! For a standalone fantasy novel, this had the perfect amount of world building. It was easy to understand and told well. I liked how the FMC talked and acted. She was relatable. Now there were a lot of corny moments, but it made sense for the book and for the two main characters.

Druid Cursed is a charming, easy-to-digest read with a whimsical premise and just enough magic to keep things interesting ✨If you’re looking for something light, cozy, and filled with curses, druidic lore, and a fast-burn romance, it could be just what you need for a weekend escape.

Our FMC is newly divorced. FINALLY! 🙌 An older FMC, it’s genuinely refreshing 🥳 to see a protagonist who is older and dealing with real-life concerns like financial stress, housing insecurity, and emotional burnout. That age range and stage of life is so relatable 🙃 Proof that adventure and romance don’t have an expiration date 🫶. She’s relatable, grounded, and trying to rebuild her life, but..

She falls in love in less than a week (yes its to do with the plot) buuut its right after a difficult divorce and while teetering on the edge of homelessness. Emotionally, it was hard for me to buy into that 😬

That said, the book excels in creating a magical, seasonal atmosphere (samhain🎃!). The small-town vibes, the cursed items, and the light exploration of druid folklore give it a cozy, witchy feel that’s perfect for autumn or Halloween reading.

Thank you to @cjburright , @entangled_publishing , and @netgalley for the eARC!

I had the pleasure of reading an early copy of Druid Cursed thanks to Entangled Publishing, and while I appreciated the fresh direction in themes, this one landed at a solid 3 stars for me.

The story brings a mix of pop culture references and multiple POVs, which can be a fun twist if you enjoy more casual, modern fantasy vibes. I did enjoy having different character perspectives—it helped round out the plot and gave a fuller picture of the world. That said, the storyline was a bit predictable for my taste, which is what ultimately kept it from reaching 4 stars.

If you’re looking for something that blends urban fantasy tones with lighter banter and doesn’t take itself too seriously, this may be a fun read for you! It was a nice detour from my usual romantasy/epic reads.

I really wanted to love this one, it just felt like there was information missing. There's a unique plot, the MMC is down bad for the FMC, the side characters are interesting - lot's of potential here. I appreciated that the author threw you in and you learned as you went, but I felt so behind on the lore, even with this writing style I was missing the "show" and "tell" of how things worked. It felt like playing catch up and the magic just didn't make much sense or have that foreshadowing where I could even figure out what the potential solution could be. I would've liked more world building and dive into how the magic works. I don't mind insta-love and I liked that there was a "problem" to solve, but even the obstacle and resolution felt anticlimatic because there wasn't build up to how the magic worked that made it feel logical, like they figured it out and didn't just get lucky/"this works because i said so."

honestly, i probably would've DNF'ed at about 46% if i wasn't reading this as an arc because i wasn't getting why things worked in the magic and i had to push myself to read through it. i kept hoping for an explanation or something more to happen beside the "problem" but there wasn't much else to the story. there's not a lot of conflict, and the twist is predictable. it's only 400 pages and it took me days to get through. would i recommend it? probably not, but i appreciate the vision and the chance to read it.

eARC review

Urban fantasy with druids, witches, magic and curses. Sounded really intriguing, and it was! It´s a romantasy with a promised HEA, so yes it was a bit predictable. Saw the plot twist in the end coming a mile away, but it didn’t matter, because I was so invested in the story and the characters that by then I was all in it for the vibes.

It’s exciting, the past is woven with the present connecting their lives and stories. The competitions takes up less space than I expected and the mystery, figuring out how it all is connected and figuring out how to break the curse, is the main focus along with the flirting. It’s well written and I had no trouble getting swept in to the story. One complaint though, and I never thought I would comment on this, is the overuse of the word ‘twas’. Overall I really enjoyed reading this, it was dark, funny, sweet, spooky… a good mix of everything.

First off thank you to Entangled for the arc!

My thoughts:
The concept sounds great! A Druid is cursed and he must sacrifice a woman to become cured, if he doesn’t he’ll go back to his prison for eternity.
Where the concept was great the actual writing of it wasn’t.
The writing is very YA. I wouldn’t have thought it was adult if not for the spice.
The insta list/love was a lot as well. The FMC Maggie just got divorced from a terrible man and is instantly in love with the Druid. I could get it if she was going for the whole “I’m free! I’m going to celebrate by sleeping with whoever I want.” But the character was very anti man, anti love.
Tbh I just could not get into this story. With the juvenile writing and the no chemistry between the main characters I just wanted to be done.
The MMC brother nicknames the FMC Little Sparrow. Can we please please please get rid of this trend of “little” something as a nickname. It’s so tired and why is the not love interest naming her that after a 5 minute meet that has nothing to do with being bird like.

Synopsis:
A Druid needs to break a curse by sacrificing the ancestor of Sorcha, the witch that cursed him. During his only week long release he realizes that Maggie the descendants is his soul mate which makes things even more difficult. Maggie doesn’t believe in any of this and wonders why her best friend is acting like a total crazy person while trying not to fall for the man that claims he’s over 300 years old. Can Maggie survive this Druid and his curse?

Conclusion:
The plot just was not plotting. I found myself skimming. This book just wasn’t for me.

I appreciate the arc. Thank you so much!

This book was fun, intriguing, and had such a unique spin on a familiar trope. The “cursed until true love saves them” setup might be common, but the author gave it fresh life with an atmospheric setting, eerie magical moments, and an uncommon druid twist that really stood out. The curse, witches, spells, and fish-out-of-water humor with Kellen adjusting to modern life made for an entertaining read. Maggie, newly divorced and determined to stand on her own, was a strong FMC who brought plenty of spark to the story.

That said, the pacing felt uneven when some scenes dragged, while others flew by too quickly. The language also didn’t always mesh, especially when Kellen’s “old world” speech clashed with Maggie’s modern voice (I get why the author did this but sometimes it just gave me the ick lol) . And while the romance had some tension, it leaned into insta-love a little too heavily. Falling head over heels in less than a week, especially with Maggie fresh off a divorce, made it harder to buy into their “true love” connection. Lust, yes. Love, not quite yet.

With the cover and the plot I also expected the story to be moodier and darker, leaning into gothic atmosphere, but instead it read more like a contemporary romance with magical elements. That made it a lighter, easier read, though I did wish for more shadows to balance the sweetness.

Still, the premise and atmosphere made it a cozy, magical, and seasonal read. With its curses, druid lore, and a dash of romance, it’s the kind of book that fits perfectly for Halloween or when you want something light with a touch of enchantment.

A solid read to break up the monotony. A great read after finishing a long series to get back into reading.

Maggie and her bestie Wendy join a contest to win enough money for independence and freedom. Throw in twin druids and magic and it keeps the adventure going. (& spice) but the friendships were deep and that was fantastic too. It’s a light, dark/gothic themed book that definitely meets a need. Definitely recommend this read.

I received an ARC with the only request being to post an honest review.

I was really drawn in by the premise of Druid Cursed - a druid bound by a centuries-old curse, getting only seven days of freedom every fifty years, and the only way to break it requiring love…and a potential sacrifice. The Irish estate setting and the rituals woven into the story give it a gothic feel, and there’s some clever humor when the ancient-linguistics druid meets modern life. Maggie is refreshingly independent - fresh off a divorce, she’s resourceful and determined, which makes her a likable heroine.

Still, the romance felt a bit rushed - Maggie falls head over heels in just a few days, and I didn’t quite buy their “true love” connection without more chemistry or buildup. A few of the twists - especially that big reveal - were pretty easy to spot early on, which undercut some of the suspense for me. If not for the insta-love and predictable turns, I’d probably rate it higher. But overall, it’s a fun, cozy, magical story - perfect for Halloween reading or when you want something light with a touch of enchantment.

Rating/Recommend:
3.5⭐️/3🌶️/Yes

Fav Quote:

“There is nothing wrong with being afraid,” he said, surprisingly gentle. “Fear is merely a sign that you have found someone precious enough to fight for, and that is fortunate indeed.”

My Thoughts:
This is the perfect Halloween vibes book. Prepare to add this to your October TBR!
I enjoyed this read. I am not a major spooky Halloween book girl so that’s why I didn’t rate it super high. By my standards it was just okay (not bad & not amazing) but I know a ton of people who will love this book. The premise of curse breaking & scavenger hunts with broody handsome druid men is something I know many will enjoy.

Tropes:
- Druids
- Spooky Manor
- Soul Mates
- Curse Breaking
- Twin Brothers with secrets

CW:
- Adult Only Read: Language, Innuendos
- Minimal Spice. 1 or 2 short open door scenes.

𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 4/5 ⭐️
𝓢𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮 2/5🌶️

Druid Cursed by C.J. Burright is a new fantasy romance releasing 10/7/2025!

A woman is trying to win this prize money to restart her life after a divorce and a druid who is cursed to a prison only has seven days to earn his freedom. The key to break the curse means he must sacrifice the woman he loves.

Thank you to the publisher and the author for this eARC!

Kellen has my heart right now. I loved how he was so old fashioned and his speech was so outdated! It added some seemingly charming and funny moments throughout what is a little tense. We want Kellen to be free so bad! The differences between Kellen and his brother was decidedly prominent. Caedmon is free and has been able to change with times while Kellen has been imprisoned and relatively locked in the past.

I wonder if we will get Caedmon’s book! I really actually loved his character too.

Maggie just kind of rolls with the punches and the truths thrown her way. I liked that she never cowered or gave up. She fought for what she thought was right! Druids, witches, magic, and fated love. What more could we ask for?!

I would recommend this to those who want a fast-paced fantasy romance with magic, sacrifices, and fated love!

Druid Cursed is a high stakes fantasy romance with ancient rites, perilous trials, and a brooding male lead bound to a magical prison by a centuries-old curse.

I must say, the story was amazing. It was intriguing, fun, and I loved devouring this book. It's not just a romance, it's a mystery! And a darn cute one!

The world is fascinating, and the magic system is truly unique, though I had a hard time buying into the romance.

Overall, the book is beautifully written, and the banter is delicious.

This book felt like stumbling into the forest at midnight, tripping over a root, and accidentally signing up for a druid blood pact. The vibes are all mist, moss, and morally questionable magic.

The main druid is giving “mysterious hot forest cryptid who probably knows how to hex you and kiss you at the same time.” Every time he showed up I was like yes sir ruin my life with nature magic. The tension between him and the heroine had me clawing at the pages.

One of my favorite parts was the ritual scene under the moonlight. The imagery was so intense I could practically smell the smoke and hear the chanting. It walked the perfect line between eerie and swoony.

The pacing gets a little chaotic but honestly it matches the vibe. Dark curses, slow burn romance, and enough forest magic to make you side-eye every tree on your next hike.

If you love moody fantasy with romance that feels a little dangerous, Druid Cursed will have you ready to pledge yourself to the nearest stone circle.

This book had me in a chokehold for two days.
Druids, witches, hot brothers, and Irish estate....I mean, what more could you ask for?
I immediately fell for Kellen, the main male character. His old-world charm and witty banter were adorable. Maggie, the female main character, was a bada$$.
I was obsessed with this story and will shout it from the mountaintops so everyone picks it up!

Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. Way too much information was given at the beginning, making it almost pointless to keep reading.

4.5 stars. Thank you to Entangled Insiders and Entangled Publishing for the ARC copy. This was quite the read, never knew I wanted a druid so bad. Kellen was growly, grumpy and everything I want. Fantastic spooky read. Definitely worth reading in October.