Cursed Under London

Cursed Under London is the first book in a historical romantasy series set in an alternative Elizabethan London. In Upper London, home of humans, Fang and Lazare both wake from their untimely deaths to find themselves no longer fully human. Fang and Lazare team up with Fang's friend Nell (a Welsh apothecary) and Amber the tiny dragon to try and reverse the curse upon them. The mystery takes them down into Deep London, home of everything distinctly not-human!

I loved the Discworld/Rivers of London tone to this book. The blurb isn't exaggerating when it says that this book is hilarious - I laughed out loud many times, and even had to read out quotes to my Terry Pratchett-loving husband to explain my outbursts. My favourite quote is probably:
'They were masked, but we do have a physical description of John,' continued Peanut, quickly. 'Um... "Gorgeous, just really nice eyes and hair, fit arms, bum like two tennis balls squeezed into a sock".'

It was just so easy to read, and the humour never felt forced. I read this book in one go, just hours after getting the ARC because a historical paranormal romantasy is like my holy grail, and as soon as I started reading it, I was sucked right in. The plot was super strong - there is absolutely no filler in this book and so it's just comedy, heart and action all the way through.

I am so glad this is a series, because I can't wait to see more of the alternative/fantasy Elizabethan world, and I definitely need to see what happens with/to these characters next! The central group were all interesting and fully fleshed out and they weren't just caricatures which could have easily been done. I loved how inclusive the world was, and it was just so heartwarming even with all the death and chaos happening around the characters. To say I am rooting for Fang and Lazare is an understatement. This was my first book by this author, but it definitely won't be my last!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.

Oh, this book was everything to me.

The little band of main characters were incredible. I mean, seriously could not have been any better. I was dying laughing at the dialogue going on between our core four throughout most of it (except, of course, when we did a real quick 180 and I was having my heart shredded to pieces). Biggest shout out my girl Amber, aka the tiny dragon who showed up to help in every single combat scene but promptly dipped when the dangerous situation is, in fact, dangerous. She's so me. The most iconic dragon to ever dragon.

Also, Kit Marlowe is canonically a horny zombie in this book. Which, like, is insane and also quite possibly one of the funniest running bits I've ever read in a novel before.

But as for the story itself, I loved it. It was fast-paced enough to keep me engaged throughout, and still never felt like things were being rushed. I was so incredibly curious about what the hell was going on with Larzare and Fang and their whole 'undead but, like, also not' thing and, while I'm satisfied with the answers I've gotten, there's still so much to expand on and I am already fiening for book two.

Cursed Under London by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch is a novel about the London that humans inhabit and the "Under London" that non-humans live in.

Lazare and Fang have somehow died but haven't turned into the creatures that inhabit Under London - be it any number of supernatural beings, but they aren't quite human either. To try and find out why they haven't turned and to reverse the curse they are under, they find themselves in all sorts of situations along with their newly found friends Amber, who is a dragon, and an apothecary, Nell.

I enjoyed the secondary characters and the way that Lazare and Fang handled themselves - the humor that all of the characters displayed was natural and not forced, truly funny, and it made the book speed by.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this most enjoyable book, I hope to read more from the author. All opinions are my own.

"Cursed Under London" is a cozy fantasy novel centered around two men living in the 16th century London, Lazare and Fang. They both seemingly meet their demise but miraculously avoid death or transformation into vampires, werewolves, zombies, or other supernatural beings. To unravel the mystery behind their peculiar circumstances, they join forces with a charming dragon named Amber and a witty Apothecary named Nell. As the story unfolds, the characters find themselves entangled in increasingly complex situations, while a budding affection develops between Fang and Lazare.

The premise of this book is quite intriguing. I enjoyed the concept of Upper London, where regular humans reside, contrasting with Deep London, inhabited by supernatural beings. Additionally, the novel is fast-paced, with a dynamic plot that keeps the characters constantly on the move. However, what truly sets this book apart is its humor. The dialogue between the characters is infused with so much wit that I found myself giggling throughout. The banter between Fang and Lazare is particularly delightful. Additionally, I appreciated the other characters, especially Amber the dragon. It's not easy to weave together a romantic arc and a found family trope seamlessly, but the author executed it magnificently in this case.

I have two small issues with this book, which are probably personal preferences and may not be a bother for other readers. Firstly, as it's a cozy fantasy book, I felt that the stakes were a little too low for me to become fully invested. The fact that the main villain turned out to be a caricature did not help in this regard. Secondly, I didn't quite connect with the fact that the world depicted was modeled on Elizabethan England. While I understand that it's a fantasy and historical accuracy isn't necessary, I would have liked to feel more of the spirit of that era. It felt like the setting was chosen primarily to feature specific characters living in 16th-century England, such as Kit Marlowe or Elizabeth herself, rather than for thematic or world-building reasons. This universe could have been modeled on any other period of history, or even the present day.

Still, I very much enjoyed this book because of its humor and excellent writing. I would recommend it to urban fantasy lovers, as well as readers seeking books similar to those by T. Kingfisher, but with even more humor.

I am a fan of this author. Cursed Under London doesn't disappoint. It's a charming fantasy with well drawn characters and good world building, infused with her trademark humor.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC.

With laugh out loud humor, ‘Cursed Under London’ is a wonderful reprieve in a genre that often takes itself too seriously. In an alternative version of 1500’s London where the magical ‘undead’ and the living coexist peacefully, our trio of Lazare, Fang, and Nell threaten to upset the balance after they die, but come back as something not quite dead, not quite living. All of this leads to a fun, compulsive read, that highlights Hutchinson Crouch’s mastery of satire through mocking dialogue during battles, a bisexual William ‘Bill’ Shakespeare and Christopher ‘Kit’ Marlowe, but also twists around who’s plan they’ve all been tangled into. I loved nearly every character we meet, all of whom are LGBT+ and have greater banter between one another. There are layers to each character too; clearly haunted by their individual pasts, which they lean on each other as a found family to overcome. This reminded me of an adult version of ‘House by the Cerulean Sea’, same level of lightheartedness, but a pitch or two more violent & spicy.

What Hutchinson Crouch Get's Right:
• Loveable, found family of characters with unique abilities I hadn’t read before
• ‘Will they, won’t they’ tension between Fang & Lazare! UGH just kiss already!
• Little touches in the story that make it London- mentioning of a tube system, diplomatic subplots, and familiar landmarks- but we get to explore a whole new London too with the undead

"One thing about haunted houses was, it was never the house’s fault that it was haunted. It was just a vessel, into which the ghosts of years of sadness were poured and trapped."

An alternative London where a tentative peace hangs in the balance between upper London ( human ) and deepside London ( supernatural).
Thee unlikely people are cursed with eternal life. Fang, Lazare and Nell set out to break the curse while trying to avoid the wrath of Londons seedy gangs and without causing an diplomatic incident.

This story had me hooked from the outset. Each character is emotionally complex bringing life and sense to the decisions they make. A somewhat found family the group explores the different and unexpected ways that love can grow, despite not being blood.
The cliffhanger was a cruel edition to this story, it has set up the sequels nicely, however the lack of current closure between two of the characters is mildly frustrating.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Farrago for allowing me to read this arc copy of Cursed Under London. It was a super cosy romantasy and I enjoyed every bit! The characters are so fun, got hilarious banter, like I was laughing out loud reading this.

What a fun fantasy novel. Full of action, monsters, love and action packed adventures. And gay love.I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more from the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

What a lovely different unique take on a book I really really enjoyed it.
Loved the characters so well written I could just picture them, loved how easily it flowed and how I followed the fast paced interesting story.
I love a story which is so completely different.
I did really enjoy it

Cursed Under London is so very fun! It is a fantasy rom-com set in an alternate Elizabethan London where vampires, werewolves and dragons roam the streets and live underground in the ‘Deepside.’ The world-building was very cool, and I enjoyed seeing a London that was still recognisable, with landmarks, places, and the tube system (albeit in a very different form). It follows Fang and Lazare, who both find themselves come alive again after being killed. They now have to deal with unique new powers as they find a way to undo the curse that doesnt allow them to die, while navigating the chemistry that has begun to build between them. The book is really funny, and has some amazing comedic moments, as famous historical figures from the time period crop up as zombified versions of themselves in places you wouldn’t expect. The supporting cast are hilarious characters, especially tiny urban dragon Amber, whose snarky commentary throughout the book made me laugh.
I did enjoy how fast-paced the book was, everything moved really quickly, and I didn’t find myself bored. I did struggle to form an attachment to some of the characters, but I can see that being a me issue. I also didn’t particularly care for the romance, it didn’t seem like either character actually had their heart in it. The villain did seem a little bit of a evil caricature, without a defined reason for doing what he did, but he was still very fun.

I would like to see where the series progresses, as I believe it will be a trilogy, as the ending definitely had me concerned for the fate of the group. Overall, I really enjoyed this read, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, cozy, and funny fantasy read! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read the ARC.

This was a fun story with characters that were funny and enjoyable! I loved the setting as well, and I felt that it was very well suited for this type of cozy romance story!

So I actually loved this book - my real rating is 4.5 stars but I found down!

It was refreshing to read a cosy fantasy that doesn’t revolve around tea or coffee for once - most cosy fantasy’s seem to be unoriginal since legends and lattes.

Alongside this I also loved the fact that the two main characters (each others love interest) were men - you never get mlm romantasy books so I enjoyed the change.

I’ve seen a few moans about the plot lacking: it’s a cosy fantasy. Most cosy fantasy’s have next to 0 plot and the ‘battle’ lasts about two pages.

The perfect read to cleanse your reading palate.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Oh I loved this one - i'm a sucker for a historical fantasy romance and this did not disappoint.

This book is a delightful romp through 17th century London and features a host of fantastical creatures including fae, vampires, werewolves and dragons. The overall tone is lighthearted with the banter and bonds between the main characters being one of the stand out strengths for me.

I also think getting the balance between found family and romance right can be a tricky feat, especially in the first book in a series, but Cursed Under London seemed to handle it effortlessly. Absolutely cannot wait for book 2, what a belter!!

(Full review to come on my tiktok @lilyoliviareads)

I'm torn about how to rate/review this book. On the first page, I was delighted and fully expected it to be a five-star read. As things went on, though, the parts that didn't work kept rearing their niggling heads. First, there were the POV issues (way too many, given that the proper number is zero), and then there was the predictable downfall of the book's Big Bad (without any intervention by the protagonists, as another reviewer pointed out). Along the way, I liked a lot of the characters but didn't love them. I didn't object to the choice to incorporate anachronisms, and I thoroughly enjoyed the humor. Overall, I think the author may simply have tried to do too much, and the result was... uneven. By the time we got to the end (setting up for a sequel), I didn't much care. I'm rounding up to four stars for the humor and the really interesting concepts.

My thanks to the publisher/NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

Imagine Elizabethan portal urban fantasy and you can’t go too far wrong. This was more dark than funny – and maybe not a totally original concept – but I really enjoyed it. I like a good trio of MCs and a story where the mundane butts up against the supernatural. Overall I found this to be great fun.

I really enjoyed Cursed Under London! It was a dark comedy/fantasy/romance that is more dark than funny, but that was ok with me! This book is full of action, scary monsters/creatures, lots of adventure, and sprinkles of all different kinds of love.

I was intrigued by the description of this book (a version of Elizabethan London where paranormal beings exist) but I wasn't sure what to expect. This book turned out to be a lot of fun!

This book is certainly not going to be winning any prizes for historical accuracy (the characters use modern turns of phrase, the sexual morality is modern etc) but it is very obviously not trying to be. This is a completely alternate universe -- where swans can be the Royal Guard, where there's a Deep London, a dragon Queen of Wales and... you get the picture. Realism isn't the point.

Rather this book is full of an engaging mystery, a grumpy/sunshine MM romance, a great cast of supporting characters, and a well-developed world. My only criticisms are that I the ending felt a little rushed (and the defeat of the villain a little too easy?) and that I wish a little more use was made of the time period -- although the inclusion of Kit Marlowe and another playwright known as "Bill" was a fun addition. Given this is the start of a series perhaps we may see more Elizabethan influence in later books.

Overall a thoroughly engaging read and a solid four stars. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing this copy.

These two characters and this laugh out loud romance story was excellent !
It's also mixed with a well built fantasy plot which I found quirky and fun to read .

Overall I liked all of the main characters on the quest featured in this book with my favourite being lazare.

The story of book 1 ends as a cliffhanger so i already can't wait for book 2 to come out !!

this was so fun! I loved the supernatural vibes and overall spells and magic! It was a fun book and i loved the writing style

Historical Fiction can be a hit or miss for me. That being said, if you add paranormal into historical fiction, there is a 1000 percent chance that I will love it.

The setting was great, the characters were fantastic, the story itself was great. I ate this story up and I can't wait to read more from this author!

What a fun book!! The cover caught my attention, as a Graphic Designer I was obsessed with font, colors and layout!

The story was a wild ride yet cozy and warm. I enjoyed the characters and the story line very much. Do yourself a favor and read this book!

10/10 recommend!