From Bad to Cursed

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!