From Bad to Cursed

I don't care what straight people do in the privacy of their own home but I wish they wouldn't shove it down our throats


Jokes aside it was fine. Suffers from similar problems to the first one with regards to the “rules” of the magic system but it felt easier to ignore since they weren't being explained this time. I mean, I keep reading them so I must be fine with it.

This author writes dialogue in a way that made me think she was at least in her 50s and trying to write 20-somethings while never actually having interacted with 20-somethings - to the point where I could actively only take a few pages at a time due to the sheer amount of cringe it induced? So this is like, 2.5 rounded up just because I love the witchy small town vibe, so while I sort of can't stand the characters, I will in fact be reading the entire series

4.25/5

This book was definitely better written and developed than the first one. Firstly, the worldbuilding was much more detailed (for example we learned that Emmy had a lot of cousins, not just Delilah like we were led to believe in the first one). Secondly, we got more characters this time around, some good, some worse. We've got more places this time around and more rituals described and I loved it.

Both Issa and Rowan were a delight. I loved how antagonistic they both were at the beginning and how their partnership changed their relationship for the better. Not gonna lie, I was hoping that the demon from the beginning of the book would be involved in the plot again and I was happy I was right - too bad it was over so quick though.

I loved Issa's struggle with her dreams and familial duty and how that was resolved. I was also surprised, that just like Talia in the first book, she called her mother by her first name. Why was that if they're super close? I thought Talia was just being rebellious and not seeing eye-to-eye with Elena, but Issa's doing it too.

A few things I didn't like: Rowan and Lin are twins and we only got one or two mentions of Lin throughout the entire book. Where is she? Shouldn't she be around, making sure that Issa plays nice with Rowan? Being in his corner cheering them on? And we only got a throwaway line about her, that Rowan told her about him and Issa. Like come on, she should have been involved with the plot, considering, HER TWIN BROTHER WAS A TARGET THERE.

Also, I would have loved Rowan's pov in the book. Show me an obsessed and unhinged man, Lana. I want to see his thoughts too!

From Bad to Cursed is completely different from the first book in “The Witches of Thistle Grove” series. Lana Harper gives us a mystery in the second book of the series.

I love this second entry of the series and I cannot wait for the third book.

Check out the rest of my review at Mx. Phoebe's Viewpoint. Link in bio.


I got this book from my library. I love my local library and you should check out yours too. Request LGBTQ+ books and they will stock them! #freethebooks

I very much enjoyed the characters and their relationship in this book! So much fun for a rainy afternoon. The ending was magical, too. <3

> slight spoilers ahead<

I will say, the mystery element wasn't super engaging at first–I think because of the lack of viable suspects, perhaps, or because I didn't understand enough of the world at first to see how the crime could be investigated? However, the conclusion to it was very satisfying and all my questions were answered. I really liked how it circled back around to the beginning, too!

Overall, the attitude and sheer fun of this book was very engaging. I'll most likely check out the others in the series :)