Book Review: Ever Cursed

Ever Cursed is the story of two young women: Princess Jane, the eldest of four princesses who are beloved by their kingdom but cursed to be Without one essential thing when they turn thirteen, and Reagan, the young witch who cast the curse. The princesses have the opportunity to break the spell before it becomes True and dooms them forever, but in order to do so, they might just have to team up with the witch who cast it in the first place.

I've always enjoyed Corey Ann Haydu's work. She writes primarily the lives of complex characters facing complicated circumstances, magical or otherwise. And I've always found her approach to these stories to be engaging and clever. This is true of Ever Cursed as well, and I still can't get over how much I ended up being into this story.

I had hoped to like Ever Cursed, but I don't think I could have predicted how much I would end up feeling so invested and moved by the experience of reading this story. It's fantastical, with strong fairytale vibes providing extra whimsy and a sense of unreality to the tale. But it's also got relatable and difficult themes grounded in very real themes. (Now might be a great time for me to mention a few content/trigger warnings for this story, specifically sexual assault and eating disorders.) I really admire how Haydu wove these things into her tale in a clever way that felt very organic, and still maintained that eerie, magical vibe that most fairytales possess.

While it wasn't an easy read, for me, Ever Cursed ended up having a very strong overall message. Both Jane and Reagan had to confront the realities of their world, including the societal divides, the treatment of other people and the bits of their past and present that they cannot (or refuse to) see at the start. And when faced with these facts, they each must decide how they can use their voice and talents to stand up for the right thing. It really felt empowering to watch them both grapple with the truths that their respective lives were serving them and to make the choices they did at the very end.

To sum it up for you, Ever Cursed was very good. I was so hooked on the way Haydu chose to tell this story that I read it all in one sitting! And the thematic content was something I found myself sitting with for days after I'd finished reading. I hope you'll consider checking out this book, and I hope it ends up being the same powerful reading experience for you that it was for me.

Pub Info: July 28, 2020 by Simon Pulse | Add it on Goodreads | Buy the book!