marisarayden's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
the_bookish_raven's review against another edition
3.0
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After her mom dies, Chloe is sent to live with relatives she barely knows in Keene Valley. Lonely and sad, she attempts to find her place and adjust to her new life. However, she quickly becomes intrigued by Trent, another new student. He's full of secrets and she can't help being drawn to him. Things take a dark turn when Chloe's classmates start turning up dead; plus, she starts to see things that aren't really there. And then she discovers that vampires and witches are real, a fact even more terrifying than the idea of a serial killer. Chloe doesn't know who to trust in this small town she's forced to call home.
The premise of this book was a fascinating concept! It sounded like a pretty decent paranormal romance and I was looking forward to it. However, it fell a little flat for me. I didn't really like Chloe; I felt like she made a lot of bad decisions, especially at the end. Abby wasn't a very likable character either. I felt like she wasn't as good to Chloe as she pretended to be. The other friends weren't really included too much, Trent was a pretty good character though! This book ended being a bit too much about teenage drama for me to really get too into it. I was hoping for more of the murder mystery and less of a high school romance. All in all, the plot was somewhat interesting but the characters weren't my favorite. The writing was good though! Personally, I've never read Twilight but I've heard some reviews say that Twilight fans should give this book a shot! I'm not sure if I'll read the next book as I was not happy with the ending of this book, but I might be willing to give it a go as I'm still curious about some things!
After her mom dies, Chloe is sent to live with relatives she barely knows in Keene Valley. Lonely and sad, she attempts to find her place and adjust to her new life. However, she quickly becomes intrigued by Trent, another new student. He's full of secrets and she can't help being drawn to him. Things take a dark turn when Chloe's classmates start turning up dead; plus, she starts to see things that aren't really there. And then she discovers that vampires and witches are real, a fact even more terrifying than the idea of a serial killer. Chloe doesn't know who to trust in this small town she's forced to call home.
The premise of this book was a fascinating concept! It sounded like a pretty decent paranormal romance and I was looking forward to it. However, it fell a little flat for me. I didn't really like Chloe; I felt like she made a lot of bad decisions, especially at the end. Abby wasn't a very likable character either. I felt like she wasn't as good to Chloe as she pretended to be. The other friends weren't really included too much, Trent was a pretty good character though! This book ended being a bit too much about teenage drama for me to really get too into it. I was hoping for more of the murder mystery and less of a high school romance. All in all, the plot was somewhat interesting but the characters weren't my favorite. The writing was good though! Personally, I've never read Twilight but I've heard some reviews say that Twilight fans should give this book a shot! I'm not sure if I'll read the next book as I was not happy with the ending of this book, but I might be willing to give it a go as I'm still curious about some things!
woodheak's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to @booksirens and #firechickenpress for giving me a free ARC of #EternalCurse by #KaraLeighMiller in exchange for my honest review.
5 Stars
5 Stars
auburnedge's review against another edition
3.0
Truly a mash up of Twilight and Vampire Diaries. You either love it or hate it. I am still unsure. The ending made me mad as heck and I will need to wait for the second to make a full decision.
The main character is ditzy, she misses everything and it feels like the worst parts of Elena and Bella. But I still liked her?
The guy was a swoon for me. Here for it.
Overall enjoyable, read in one evening. Just wish I had the second and don't want what I think is going to happen, to happen.
The main character is ditzy, she misses everything and it feels like the worst parts of Elena and Bella. But I still liked her?
The guy was a swoon for me. Here for it.
Overall enjoyable, read in one evening. Just wish I had the second and don't want what I think is going to happen, to happen.
squeegybeckinheim's review against another edition
4.0
Eternal Curse is a vampire-human romance. The author has the dedication, "For all my fellow Twihards" in the beginning, so it can reasonably be assumed that the Twilight series was a source of inspiration. You can see some similarities, but there are a great deal of differences and this book is able to stand on its own two feet. Chloe as a character is fine. She is far less annoying than Bella. I really like Trent, though I question the choice of names for Trent and Jax when you consider the year they were born as humans. Parts of the story felt underdeveloped, but overall I really enjoyed it. I did find the use of "deepening/deepened the kiss" to be repetitive. The relationship between Trent and Chloe seemed to develop quickly, but that is usually the case in paranormal romances. I appreciated the setting of this story, and the ending was interesting and compelling enough to make we want to read the next installment. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
bubblewombat's review against another edition
5.0
Chloe is a seventeen year old girl who had to take her mother off life support as per her own wishes. Chloe blames herself for the accident that put her mother in the hospital in the first place and carries that guilt with her to her new home in Keene Valley.
Settling in with her aunt and uncle, she never expected to meet a boy who would turn her world around and make her feel alive. Unfortunately, the romance is ill fated because Trent and his family are cursed and there seems to be no way to break it. Will they manage to find a workaround?
I just knew from the blurb that I had to read this book. It looked like something I loved to read at twelve and still do at almost twenty-two years of age. I wasn't disappointed.
I didn't want to finish this book too fast because I honestly loved it. The similarities with some other series only helped me like it more. The writing was simple but addictive.
With that said, I didn't like Trent much. It's nothing specific that he did, it's just him.
Out of all the characters I think Marc and Isach were the most interesting. And I'd like to see more interactions with Chloe and Isach in future books. Speaking of, SIX BOOK SERIES? SIGN ME UP.
Even though we didn't get to meet Chloe's mother she seems pretty cool. She even reminds me of my own mother.
I didn't care much for the curse. I know that there had to be a reason why they couldn't be together but the curse still didn't strike me as a good enough one.
And I kind of spoiled the ending for myself before I even read the book because the second book came out and I read a sentence or two of the blurb so I knew one thing that was definitely going to happen, I just didn't know HOW. And the how is sad. Just when the town was starting to feel like home...
There were a few twists I didn't expect, including the "serial killer" reveal. I know Chloe was mostly out during that scene but I think maybe a bit more descriptions of what happened could've been better and more impactful.
All in all, it was a nostalgic breath of fresh air and I'm so happy I stumbled upon this gem.
*Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Settling in with her aunt and uncle, she never expected to meet a boy who would turn her world around and make her feel alive. Unfortunately, the romance is ill fated because Trent and his family are cursed and there seems to be no way to break it. Will they manage to find a workaround?
I just knew from the blurb that I had to read this book. It looked like something I loved to read at twelve and still do at almost twenty-two years of age. I wasn't disappointed.
I didn't want to finish this book too fast because I honestly loved it. The similarities with some other series only helped me like it more. The writing was simple but addictive.
With that said, I didn't like Trent much. It's nothing specific that he did, it's just him.
Out of all the characters I think Marc and Isach were the most interesting. And I'd like to see more interactions with Chloe and Isach in future books. Speaking of, SIX BOOK SERIES? SIGN ME UP.
Even though we didn't get to meet Chloe's mother she seems pretty cool. She even reminds me of my own mother.
I didn't care much for the curse. I know that there had to be a reason why they couldn't be together but the curse still didn't strike me as a good enough one.
And I kind of spoiled the ending for myself before I even read the book because the second book came out and I read a sentence or two of the blurb so I knew one thing that was definitely going to happen, I just didn't know HOW. And the how is sad. Just when the town was starting to feel like home...
There were a few twists I didn't expect, including the "serial killer" reveal. I know Chloe was mostly out during that scene but I think maybe a bit more descriptions of what happened could've been better and more impactful.
All in all, it was a nostalgic breath of fresh air and I'm so happy I stumbled upon this gem.
*Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
fairytale42's review against another edition
1.0
I tried, I really did, but...y'all, I've only ever seen the movie of Twilight, but I still know this is just another knockoff. And not a good one. I don't know why it has so many five star reviews when everything is shallow; plus, it DEFINITELY toes the line of what's labeled "clean." I personally would question having a teenager read this.
Let's start with the star of the show, the vampire in question: Trent. He shifts moods like a socialite changes clothes, and I still can't make heads or tails of his actions. I got whiplash from the constant shift between angry, guarded, and concerned. I also want to smack him for his arrogant attitude.
Now, I know - he's a vampire, so he's naturally going to think he's a gift to the earth because he has super strength, super speed, etc. But there's a way to play that off well, just as there is a way to explain strong mood shifts well. This book failed on both counts.
Onto the heroine. Chloe is very much a plain Jane who's only real personality trait is the loss of her mother. Okay, alright, I can live with that - not great, but I can live with that. What I can't stand a stupid heroine, which is the case. Chloe is just plain dumb at times. She has moments where she reacts well, but she fails to consistently keep up her guard or make healthy decisions. Characters acting poorly doesn't mean it's bad, but it IS bad when I can't tell if there's a lesson with those bad choices or if it's just lackluster character development.
My real issues is that she never questions her insane attraction to Trent. Vampires have those attractive pheromones, yes, but shouldn't she have wondered why she was so quick to trust a complete stranger? Especially a teenage guy who has no reason for helping or caring about you?
One prime example is when she gets in his car and visits somewhere with him when A) she doesn't know him from Adam and B) there have been teenage murders recently in the area. Feels highly suspicious, but she never questions it, even once she figures out who he really is. I have a feeling she's either going to get killed or turned, but she doesn't really seem to care.
The other characters felt flat, too, although I did really appreciate how Chloe's family reacted to her. It's nice to see the aunt really care about her but still struggle how to parent, since she's not technically Chloe's mom.
On a larger scale, the plot is equally silly and dark, which is an odd combination. Even though it's paranormal, the reader should be able to reasonably accept explanations as they come, but I kept wanting to roll my eyes at every reveal. Yet, it also managed to turn my stomach with some of the backstory. Points for making me feel things, but I wish I was able to enjoy the rest of the story without feeling second hand embarrassment.
Also, Chloe's "big secret" was a major let-down. It is sad, for sure, but it's not the "big reveal" I think the author was trying to go for. It reminds me of the World's Best Cup of Coffee scene in the movie Elf - great advertisement, but disappointing reality.
Overall, it's not worth it unless you're really dying for a Twilight spin-off. Not my favorite, and couldn't finish it.
Let's start with the star of the show, the vampire in question: Trent. He shifts moods like a socialite changes clothes, and I still can't make heads or tails of his actions. I got whiplash from the constant shift between angry, guarded, and concerned. I also want to smack him for his arrogant attitude.
Now, I know - he's a vampire, so he's naturally going to think he's a gift to the earth because he has super strength, super speed, etc. But there's a way to play that off well, just as there is a way to explain strong mood shifts well. This book failed on both counts.
Onto the heroine. Chloe is very much a plain Jane who's only real personality trait is the loss of her mother. Okay, alright, I can live with that - not great, but I can live with that. What I can't stand a stupid heroine, which is the case. Chloe is just plain dumb at times. She has moments where she reacts well, but she fails to consistently keep up her guard or make healthy decisions. Characters acting poorly doesn't mean it's bad, but it IS bad when I can't tell if there's a lesson with those bad choices or if it's just lackluster character development.
My real issues is that she never questions her insane attraction to Trent. Vampires have those attractive pheromones, yes, but shouldn't she have wondered why she was so quick to trust a complete stranger? Especially a teenage guy who has no reason for helping or caring about you?
One prime example is when she gets in his car and visits somewhere with him when A) she doesn't know him from Adam and B) there have been teenage murders recently in the area. Feels highly suspicious, but she never questions it, even once she figures out who he really is. I have a feeling she's either going to get killed or turned, but she doesn't really seem to care.
The other characters felt flat, too, although I did really appreciate how Chloe's family reacted to her. It's nice to see the aunt really care about her but still struggle how to parent, since she's not technically Chloe's mom.
On a larger scale, the plot is equally silly and dark, which is an odd combination. Even though it's paranormal, the reader should be able to reasonably accept explanations as they come, but I kept wanting to roll my eyes at every reveal. Yet, it also managed to turn my stomach with some of the backstory. Points for making me feel things, but I wish I was able to enjoy the rest of the story without feeling second hand embarrassment.
Also, Chloe's "big secret" was a major let-down. It is sad, for sure, but it's not the "big reveal" I think the author was trying to go for. It reminds me of the World's Best Cup of Coffee scene in the movie Elf - great advertisement, but disappointing reality.
Overall, it's not worth it unless you're really dying for a Twilight spin-off. Not my favorite, and couldn't finish it.
myblissfulbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Are you a fan of Twilight? Do you have a thing for the paranormal? If you answered yes to either of those questions you have to dive into Eternal Curse. Kara Leigh Miller has woven this magical web around her book to keep you trapped. She has bypassed (in my humble opinion) Meyer in this series.
Chloe Madison is a teenager that you just want to hold and nurture. She has lost her mom during what every person knows is one the hardest parts of life, the teenage years. Chloe is then whisked away from the only place she knows to live with family. Who would’ve want to just cuddle her up and protect her after that? Trent and his twin brother, Jax, are also new to town. Mysterious and gorgeous. Trent seems drawn to Chloe. Their connection is unexpected and weirdly strong from the beginning.
This story has everything you could want…mystery, romance, angst and heart. Miller knows how to grab a readers interest and keep it to the point you’re begging for more. That was me! I read book 1 and then rushed out to buy book 2 and preorder books 3 & 4. Now I have preordered the whole series. Yes they are all up for buying or preorder.
Miller’s world and character building skills are paramount. Everything evolves so perfectly. At no point was I left wondering how things changed so rapidly and what had I missed somehow. The flow was marvelous.
This is one book that you do not want to miss and is my favorite paranormal series of 2020. Make sure you check out Kara Leigh Miller and the Cursed series. Be prepared because Trent, Chloe and Jax will keep you on your toes and bite their ways into your heart.
Chloe Madison is a teenager that you just want to hold and nurture. She has lost her mom during what every person knows is one the hardest parts of life, the teenage years. Chloe is then whisked away from the only place she knows to live with family. Who would’ve want to just cuddle her up and protect her after that? Trent and his twin brother, Jax, are also new to town. Mysterious and gorgeous. Trent seems drawn to Chloe. Their connection is unexpected and weirdly strong from the beginning.
This story has everything you could want…mystery, romance, angst and heart. Miller knows how to grab a readers interest and keep it to the point you’re begging for more. That was me! I read book 1 and then rushed out to buy book 2 and preorder books 3 & 4. Now I have preordered the whole series. Yes they are all up for buying or preorder.
Miller’s world and character building skills are paramount. Everything evolves so perfectly. At no point was I left wondering how things changed so rapidly and what had I missed somehow. The flow was marvelous.
This is one book that you do not want to miss and is my favorite paranormal series of 2020. Make sure you check out Kara Leigh Miller and the Cursed series. Be prepared because Trent, Chloe and Jax will keep you on your toes and bite their ways into your heart.
jessica_rae's review against another edition
4.0
Blog
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
What a wonderful start to a new series i can't wait for the next book
This book gave me major Vampire Diaries (tv show) vibes it was just so good i didn't want it to end
Vampires
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
What a wonderful start to a new series i can't wait for the next book
This book gave me major Vampire Diaries (tv show) vibes it was just so good i didn't want it to end
Vampires