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A review by meganamaral
The Cursed Sea by Lauren DeStefano
4.0
THIS. WAS. SO. GOOD.
I am not sure what happened, because the second book is usually not as good as the first one, but this book blew me out of the water. We got more of a plot as well as more answers and direction so the main characters could actually go out and do something about this war and their curses. Plus, the ending was unexpected, but felt satisfying and better than any idea I thought before reading this.
I enjoyed how the author pulled a 180 for Espel and Mar, and how they became major characters. I didn't expect the change of heart from them and thought that because they were such a huge obstacle in the first book, it would be the same in book 2, PLUS having to deal with the curse from North Arrod. Instead, we see characters from the South, joining Will on her quest back home (the second time), and them looking into her cursed life at home.
It was dark and complicated and we finally got the history of where her curse originated. We also got to see Gerdie step up and be a protective older brother as well as a more romantic Loom.
But as much as I loved all the steamy scenes between Loom and Wil, which made me want to give this 5 stars, I felt that Loom was very in the background of everything. Yes, he had his moments, but he seemed more like an emotional support human for Wil, going through her family drama. Which ultimately didn't surprise me of how this book ended. Espel coming from the dark side over to light was a HUGE plot motivator, where it makes me wonder if this wasn't the original story when writing . Don't get me wrong, it was amazing seeing her and Loom rekindle their relationship and Mar was a HUGE help when it came to all their plans, but at the same time, it surprised me how much more of a main character she was in this book behind Will.
Either way, the ending was intense, even if it all just kind of came into place, but we do get a simple happily ever after for our characters, which actually made a lot of sense with their relationship and curses. Plus, they also got to live out their dreams, even if they weren't what they initially thought they would be.
I am not sure what happened, because the second book is usually not as good as the first one, but this book blew me out of the water. We got more of a plot as well as more answers and direction so the main characters could actually go out and do something about this war and their curses. Plus, the ending was unexpected, but felt satisfying and better than any idea I thought before reading this.
I enjoyed how the author pulled a 180 for Espel and Mar, and how they became major characters. I didn't expect the change of heart from them and thought that because they were such a huge obstacle in the first book, it would be the same in book 2, PLUS having to deal with the curse from North Arrod. Instead, we see characters from the South, joining Will on her quest back home (the second time), and them looking into her cursed life at home.
It was dark and complicated and we finally got the history of where her curse originated. We also got to see Gerdie step up and be a protective older brother as well as a more romantic Loom.
But as much as I loved all the steamy scenes between Loom and Wil, which made me want to give this 5 stars, I felt that Loom was very in the background of everything. Yes, he had his moments, but he seemed more like an emotional support human for Wil, going through her family drama. Which ultimately didn't surprise me of how this book ended. Espel coming from the dark side over to light was a HUGE plot motivator, where it makes me wonder if this wasn't the original story when writing . Don't get me wrong, it was amazing seeing her and Loom rekindle their relationship and Mar was a HUGE help when it came to all their plans, but at the same time, it surprised me how much more of a main character she was in this book behind Will.
Either way, the ending was intense, even if it all just kind of came into place, but we do get a simple happily ever after for our characters, which actually made a lot of sense with their relationship and curses. Plus, they also got to live out their dreams, even if they weren't what they initially thought they would be.