What do you think?
Rate this book
The Witches of Thistle Grove #2
From Bad to Cursed
Opposites attract in this wickedly charming rom-com by Lana Harper, author of Payback’s a Witch.
Wild child Isidora Avramov is a thrill chaser, adept demon summoner, and—despite the whole sexy-evil-sorceress vibe—also a cuddly animal lover. When she’s not designing costumes and new storylines for the Arcane Emporium’s haunted house, Issa's nursing a secret, conflicted dream of ditching her family’s witchy business to become an indie fashion designer in her own right.
But when someone starts sabotaging the celebrations leading up to this year’s Beltane festival with dark, dangerous magic, a member of the rival Thorn family gets badly hurt—throwing immediate suspicion on the Avramovs. To clear the Avramov name and step up for her family when they need her the most, Issa agrees to serve as a co-investigator, helping none other than Rowan Thorn get to the bottom of things.
Rowan is the very definition of lawful good, so tragically noble and by-the-book he makes Issa’s teeth hurt. In accordance with their families’ complicated history, he and Issa have been archenemies for years and have grown to heartily loathe each other. But as the unlikely duo follow a perplexing trail of clues to a stunning conclusion, Issa and Rowan discover how little they really know each other… and stumble upon a maddening attraction that becomes harder to ignore by the day.
Wild child Isidora Avramov is a thrill chaser, adept demon summoner, and—despite the whole sexy-evil-sorceress vibe—also a cuddly animal lover. When she’s not designing costumes and new storylines for the Arcane Emporium’s haunted house, Issa's nursing a secret, conflicted dream of ditching her family’s witchy business to become an indie fashion designer in her own right.
But when someone starts sabotaging the celebrations leading up to this year’s Beltane festival with dark, dangerous magic, a member of the rival Thorn family gets badly hurt—throwing immediate suspicion on the Avramovs. To clear the Avramov name and step up for her family when they need her the most, Issa agrees to serve as a co-investigator, helping none other than Rowan Thorn get to the bottom of things.
Rowan is the very definition of lawful good, so tragically noble and by-the-book he makes Issa’s teeth hurt. In accordance with their families’ complicated history, he and Issa have been archenemies for years and have grown to heartily loathe each other. But as the unlikely duo follow a perplexing trail of clues to a stunning conclusion, Issa and Rowan discover how little they really know each other… and stumble upon a maddening attraction that becomes harder to ignore by the day.
368 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2022
424 people are currently reading
30961 people want to read
About the author
Lana Harper
8 books1,606 followersLana is the New York Times bestselling author of Payback's A Witch and the forthcoming From Bad to Cursed from Berkley Books. Writing as Lana Popovic, she is also the author of YA novels Wicked Like a Wildfire, Fierce Like a Firestorm, Blood Countess, and Poison Priestess. Lana studied psychology and literature at Yale University, law at Boston University, and is a graduate of the Emerson College publishing and writing master's program. She was born in Serbia and lived in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania before moving to the United States, where she now lives in Chicago with her family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,670 reviews
February 11, 2023
I cannot believe in myself for saying this but it’s whole truth: I loved the second installment even more than Payback’s a witch.
The never ending family feud between Avramovs and Thorns was legendarily developed. They reminded me of incarnations of Capulets and Montagues!
The enemies to lovers trope was perfectly thrown into equation and the sexy chemistry between two all time nemesis Issa and Rowan was fiery and intense!
The series keep growing on me at each book! I’m definitely addicted and never say no to a next installment! But so far this one is my favorite!
So many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
The never ending family feud between Avramovs and Thorns was legendarily developed. They reminded me of incarnations of Capulets and Montagues!
The enemies to lovers trope was perfectly thrown into equation and the sexy chemistry between two all time nemesis Issa and Rowan was fiery and intense!
The series keep growing on me at each book! I’m definitely addicted and never say no to a next installment! But so far this one is my favorite!
So many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
May 17, 2024
**3.5-stars**
From Bad to Cursed is the second novel in The Witches of Thistle Grove paranormal romance series.
For those unfamiliar with this series, the books are companion novels. They take place in the small, magical town of Thistle Grove following the same timeline, but each book focuses on different main characters.
In this installment, we're treated to Isidora Avramov and Rowan Thorn in a classic enemies-to-lovers scenario; one of my favorite romance tropes.
With the Beltane holiday approaching, the whole town of Thistle Grove is gearing up for the celebration. Unfortunately, before it even begins, their festival prep is sabotaged by a dark magical attack and a member of the Thorn family is seriously injured.
The four families end up selecting Issa and Rowan to investigate the mysterious attack. The two aren't happy about the pairing. They have a bit of a past.
It involves a falling out at a local animal shelter that ended in Issa cursing Rowan with a batch of evil squirrels.
Nevertheless, as they begin working together, the chemistry is evident. Before long, they're dropping their guard and getting to know one another better. Maybe they should have done this years ago.
This was a fun story. I love the feel of Thistle Grove. It's cozy and magical, full of interesting characters and events. I will say that I'm not sure how memorable this installment will be for me, but I definitely enjoyed it.
There were some solid steamy scenes, a compelling mystery and charming magical elements. The plot itself is low-stakes, but that's not a bad thing. It was a relaxing, fun read and everyone needs one of those occasionally.
Additionally, I appreciated the backdrop of family dynamics. Issa and Rowan both come from close-knit families, but the functioning of those families is very different.
I like how that was explored a bit. It was sort of a great example of how there is no one set way to be a loving family; it comes in all forms and functions. Every family is different, it doesn't mean they love less.
I'm definitely planning to continue on with this series. I like returning to the town and getting to know different people every time, but also seeing a bit of the previous characters. It feels like meeting up with old friends.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am looking forward to the next book, Back in a Spell.
From Bad to Cursed is the second novel in The Witches of Thistle Grove paranormal romance series.
For those unfamiliar with this series, the books are companion novels. They take place in the small, magical town of Thistle Grove following the same timeline, but each book focuses on different main characters.
In this installment, we're treated to Isidora Avramov and Rowan Thorn in a classic enemies-to-lovers scenario; one of my favorite romance tropes.
With the Beltane holiday approaching, the whole town of Thistle Grove is gearing up for the celebration. Unfortunately, before it even begins, their festival prep is sabotaged by a dark magical attack and a member of the Thorn family is seriously injured.
The four families end up selecting Issa and Rowan to investigate the mysterious attack. The two aren't happy about the pairing. They have a bit of a past.
It involves a falling out at a local animal shelter that ended in Issa cursing Rowan with a batch of evil squirrels.
Nevertheless, as they begin working together, the chemistry is evident. Before long, they're dropping their guard and getting to know one another better. Maybe they should have done this years ago.
This was a fun story. I love the feel of Thistle Grove. It's cozy and magical, full of interesting characters and events. I will say that I'm not sure how memorable this installment will be for me, but I definitely enjoyed it.
There were some solid steamy scenes, a compelling mystery and charming magical elements. The plot itself is low-stakes, but that's not a bad thing. It was a relaxing, fun read and everyone needs one of those occasionally.
Additionally, I appreciated the backdrop of family dynamics. Issa and Rowan both come from close-knit families, but the functioning of those families is very different.
I like how that was explored a bit. It was sort of a great example of how there is no one set way to be a loving family; it comes in all forms and functions. Every family is different, it doesn't mean they love less.
I'm definitely planning to continue on with this series. I like returning to the town and getting to know different people every time, but also seeing a bit of the previous characters. It feels like meeting up with old friends.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am looking forward to the next book, Back in a Spell.
May 14, 2022
Lana Harper knows how to draw readers into a story with one sentence.
From Bad to Cursed
is the second book in The Witches of Thistle Grove series. It meshes bits of several subgenres including paranormal romantic comedy, supernatural suspense, and a mystery. Isidora (Issa) Avramov is a member of one of the four witch families that founded Thistle Grove, Illinois. Her family’s specialty is necromancy. When someone starts sabotaging town celebrations using a strong necromantic curse and a member of the Thorn family gets hurt, Issa and her nemesis Rowan Thorn are selected to serve as co-investigators.
Issa chases thrills, is pragmatic, stubborn, and bold; she’s the artistic director for the family’s haunted house, and secretly wants to design her own clothing line. However, guilt and fear are holding her back. Rowan is a by-the book type of person and has a low opinion of Issa after she volunteered at a wildlife sanctuary seven years ago while he was a veterinarian intern there. Both experience growth as their investigation unfolds, but I wanted to see a more profound change in him. The other characters are racially and lifestyle diverse and had an appropriate amount of depth for their roles.
The writing is terrific and flows so well the pages flew by. The plot is solid, absorbing, and intriguing with a storyline that definitely packed a punch. The diverse characterization and great world-building details provide insight into the town’s inhabitants and their differences. With the brisk pace, readers can feel the angst of the two main characters as they try to make sense of the circumstances they find themselves in, with perplexing clues and surprising feelings. The ending has some surprises that will likely astound some readers. A small quibble was the immaturity of the two main characters, especially during the first half of the book. They didn’t act as if they were in their mid-to-late 20’s. Themes include hatred, family, family dynamics, romance, friendship, envy, misunderstandings, family obligations versus personal desires, anxiety, and much more.
Overall, this tense and engaging novel unleashes wit, suspense, action, and romance that make it a powerful page-turner. If you enjoy excellent paranormal romances with a mystery, then I recommend that you check out this one. I am looking forward to finding out what happens next in Thistle Grove. This novel works as a standalone novel, but readers will get more background if they start with book one.
Berkley Publishing Group and Lana Harper provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for May 17, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
---------------------------------
Review to be posted during the week prior to publication (per publisher guidelines).
Issa chases thrills, is pragmatic, stubborn, and bold; she’s the artistic director for the family’s haunted house, and secretly wants to design her own clothing line. However, guilt and fear are holding her back. Rowan is a by-the book type of person and has a low opinion of Issa after she volunteered at a wildlife sanctuary seven years ago while he was a veterinarian intern there. Both experience growth as their investigation unfolds, but I wanted to see a more profound change in him. The other characters are racially and lifestyle diverse and had an appropriate amount of depth for their roles.
The writing is terrific and flows so well the pages flew by. The plot is solid, absorbing, and intriguing with a storyline that definitely packed a punch. The diverse characterization and great world-building details provide insight into the town’s inhabitants and their differences. With the brisk pace, readers can feel the angst of the two main characters as they try to make sense of the circumstances they find themselves in, with perplexing clues and surprising feelings. The ending has some surprises that will likely astound some readers. A small quibble was the immaturity of the two main characters, especially during the first half of the book. They didn’t act as if they were in their mid-to-late 20’s. Themes include hatred, family, family dynamics, romance, friendship, envy, misunderstandings, family obligations versus personal desires, anxiety, and much more.
Overall, this tense and engaging novel unleashes wit, suspense, action, and romance that make it a powerful page-turner. If you enjoy excellent paranormal romances with a mystery, then I recommend that you check out this one. I am looking forward to finding out what happens next in Thistle Grove. This novel works as a standalone novel, but readers will get more background if they start with book one.
Berkley Publishing Group and Lana Harper provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for May 17, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
---------------------------------
Review to be posted during the week prior to publication (per publisher guidelines).
October 23, 2024
Victory!! I’ve finally found a witch romance that worked for me! This was super cute and wasn’t cringey or awkward and Teddy Hamilton’s voice was nowhere near the audiobook. We only got Issa’s POV and I LOVE that because Rowan was actually a ✨mystery.✨ He felt like more than a wet dream of what makes the “perfect love obsessed man.” He seemed real and flawed and very, very hot because of it.
Both Issa and Rowan made mistakes and were at fault for situations in the past and present, but they had good conversations and neither one took the brunt of the blame. It’s always nice when the characters are held accountable and actually learn something.
There was mystery, evil to defeat, and a clear path from start to finish. We weren’t inundated with nutty worldbuilding or too many made-up words. The book did feel like it was trying to be too ~hip~ with some of the language and references it used, but they weren’t all that bad in the grand scheme of things.
As for steam, I was hoping for a bit more. There wasn’t any explicit language during the sexy times besides one time, and the sexy times is code for two times. And of those times, one was interrupted. I also wanted to experiment more with his healing magic or whatever it was during sex because she hinted earlier on that it would feel real ✨good.✨ The sex scene did take place on the edge of an underground pool so bonus points for literal wetness.
- Also there wasn’t a condom and she was only on birth control and there wasn’t any reference to pulling out which in and of itself is stressful to me lol.
I recommend the audiobook, as the narrator was a amazing and again! not! Teddy! Hamilton! I swear that man sounds angry all the time. I know he’s trying to be growly and hot but it just makes my skin crawl in a decidedly not hot way.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶.25/5
I was sent a free finished copy of this book by the publisher! Opinions are honest and my own.
Both Issa and Rowan made mistakes and were at fault for situations in the past and present, but they had good conversations and neither one took the brunt of the blame. It’s always nice when the characters are held accountable and actually learn something.
There was mystery, evil to defeat, and a clear path from start to finish. We weren’t inundated with nutty worldbuilding or too many made-up words. The book did feel like it was trying to be too ~hip~ with some of the language and references it used, but they weren’t all that bad in the grand scheme of things.
As for steam, I was hoping for a bit more. There wasn’t any explicit language during the sexy times besides one time, and the sexy times is code for two times. And of those times, one was interrupted. I also wanted to experiment more with his healing magic or whatever it was during sex because she hinted earlier on that it would feel real ✨good.✨ The sex scene did take place on the edge of an underground pool so bonus points for literal wetness.
- Also there wasn’t a condom and she was only on birth control and there wasn’t any reference to pulling out which in and of itself is stressful to me lol.
I recommend the audiobook, as the narrator was a amazing and again! not! Teddy! Hamilton! I swear that man sounds angry all the time. I know he’s trying to be growly and hot but it just makes my skin crawl in a decidedly not hot way.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶.25/5
I was sent a free finished copy of this book by the publisher! Opinions are honest and my own.
June 3, 2022
Another 2.5 rounded up, methinks! While I definitely think I enjoyed this installment a bit more than the first book in the series, this was still just kind of okay for me. Not terrible by any means, but probably not something I'll really remember much about in a few months if I'm being honest lol
CW: anxiety, on page depiction of panic attacks
CW: anxiety, on page depiction of panic attacks
August 18, 2022
Isidora Avramov being an Avramov can summon demons as the family's magic surrounds necromancy, demons, the spirit world, and such. She also designs costumes for her family's Arcane Emporium’s haunted house with her cousin. This year's Beltane festival is approaching and Avramovs don't participate in this as the festival is all about growth and light magic but like all the other founding magical families, they have to attend. When the festival is in full swing, the Thorn family member gets hurt. Since the magic is dark that's caused hurt, everyone suspects it is an Avramov family member so one person each from the Thorn family and the Avramov family is selected to work together to find the culprit and hopefully reverse the damage caused. Isidora gets paired with Rowan Thorn, her sworn enemy so obviously she isn't looking forward to working with Rowan. Would they be able to find the culprit and more importantly, would they be able to overcome their differences?
After the lovely if not overly impressive Payback's a Witch, I thought this would follow up to be good if not better but I was so wrong. Wow! this was bad. Like really bad. I started and stopped a hundred times before coming up with a strategy of reading one page at a time and even that was too much. I had to force myself to finish this. The only reason I finished this was to find out the culprit of the curse even though I had guessed that halfway through.
If I thought, Payback's a Witch had a YA feel to it, this was even worse. Isidora was such an immature person, the way she acted one would think, she was fourteen years old. I did not like her character at all. What's even worse and even more juvenile was the reason for her hatred towards Rowan. She hated Rowan for seven years for a very idiotic reason. And it only gets worse.
Their relationship had no time to develop. Isidora and Rowan hadn't interacted with each other for seven years but the first time they interact, all Isidora can think of how hot Rowan is and how she is so turned on. Then they are all over each other and then they don't want to talk about it for another stupid reason. It's 2022, can't writers come up with something different and original than a formula that's been done a gazillion times where they split up towards the end for extra drama rama?
I did not like the romance or any of the main characters. The whole romance was forced and full of cringe. At least, in the first book, I liked Talia and some of the other side characters that were featured. In this book, a couple of those characters make an appearance even those were not good. I can't believe how weak Talia's character was shown here. Linden is Rowan's twin and she wasn't even included for a second here. So much for the twin connection. Emmy was there for a bit but she isn't a character I love or even like. This book also could have benefitted from a dual POV and maybe then I might have enjoyed it a bit more but then again maybe not because I didn't like Rowan as the main character.
But Isidora was worse. She's in a dilemma at the start and she isn't feeling her family connection for another stupid reason and all that could have been solved only if she had talked to her family. But no, she tells the reason to Rowan because she found a real connection there. She wants to do her own business and not work in the family business. That's it. That's the reason, she was just so disconnected from everything. Ridiculous! There was this scene where Isidora is chilly and Rowan doesn't give her his jacket and she gets miffed. I mean, she is a witch self-proclaiming the best there is in the dark arts and she is a woke millennial, independent, and a badass female but this - this she gets mad at. First of all, she's hated the guy for years, and secondly, when you are constantly saying how you are the best at everything and don't need anyone to take care of you, why get annoyed at this stupid thing? As I said, she behaves so poorly and immaturely.
I hate when the writers try to lift someone by putting others down. In this, judging a family based on their ancestors did not work for me and all the straight white men are at fault and blah blah blah. Again, please come up with something substantial and original.
Then there's the mystery. Ugh! after all that built up, this was such a dud and that was the only reason, I had continued reading this. This reminds me of a Hallmark Tv movie and also of The Ex Hex. Did no one else suspect the twist copied from The Ex Hex? Also, some parts reminded me of Harry Potter when Voldemort returns.
At least, the magic system was explained better in the Payback's a Witch, here it made less sense than in the previous book. The writing was not engaging at all. Nothing worked for me in this. I have to say that I won't be continuing with this series.
1 star
After the lovely if not overly impressive Payback's a Witch, I thought this would follow up to be good if not better but I was so wrong. Wow! this was bad. Like really bad. I started and stopped a hundred times before coming up with a strategy of reading one page at a time and even that was too much. I had to force myself to finish this. The only reason I finished this was to find out the culprit of the curse even though I had guessed that halfway through.
If I thought, Payback's a Witch had a YA feel to it, this was even worse. Isidora was such an immature person, the way she acted one would think, she was fourteen years old. I did not like her character at all. What's even worse and even more juvenile was the reason for her hatred towards Rowan. She hated Rowan for seven years for a very idiotic reason. And it only gets worse.
Their relationship had no time to develop. Isidora and Rowan hadn't interacted with each other for seven years but the first time they interact, all Isidora can think of how hot Rowan is and how she is so turned on. Then they are all over each other and then they don't want to talk about it for another stupid reason. It's 2022, can't writers come up with something different and original than a formula that's been done a gazillion times where they split up towards the end for extra drama rama?
I did not like the romance or any of the main characters. The whole romance was forced and full of cringe. At least, in the first book, I liked Talia and some of the other side characters that were featured. In this book, a couple of those characters make an appearance even those were not good. I can't believe how weak Talia's character was shown here. Linden is Rowan's twin and she wasn't even included for a second here. So much for the twin connection. Emmy was there for a bit but she isn't a character I love or even like. This book also could have benefitted from a dual POV and maybe then I might have enjoyed it a bit more but then again maybe not because I didn't like Rowan as the main character.
But Isidora was worse. She's in a dilemma at the start and she isn't feeling her family connection for another stupid reason and all that could have been solved only if she had talked to her family. But no, she tells the reason to Rowan because she found a real connection there. She wants to do her own business and not work in the family business. That's it. That's the reason, she was just so disconnected from everything. Ridiculous! There was this scene where Isidora is chilly and Rowan doesn't give her his jacket and she gets miffed. I mean, she is a witch self-proclaiming the best there is in the dark arts and she is a woke millennial, independent, and a badass female but this - this she gets mad at. First of all, she's hated the guy for years, and secondly, when you are constantly saying how you are the best at everything and don't need anyone to take care of you, why get annoyed at this stupid thing? As I said, she behaves so poorly and immaturely.
I hate when the writers try to lift someone by putting others down. In this, judging a family based on their ancestors did not work for me and all the straight white men are at fault and blah blah blah. Again, please come up with something substantial and original.
Then there's the mystery. Ugh! after all that built up, this was such a dud and that was the only reason, I had continued reading this. This reminds me of a Hallmark Tv movie and also of The Ex Hex. Did no one else suspect the twist copied from The Ex Hex? Also, some parts reminded me of Harry Potter when Voldemort returns.
At least, the magic system was explained better in the Payback's a Witch, here it made less sense than in the previous book. The writing was not engaging at all. Nothing worked for me in this. I have to say that I won't be continuing with this series.
1 star
October 7, 2022
it was fine, i liked the romance but it focused a lot more on the mystery which is fine but like… i’m reading a romance not a mystery book.
June 21, 2022
1.5 stars rounded down because this was a terrible follow-on to Payback’s a Witch 🤷🏻♀️
If I had to summarize this book in one word, it’d be cringey. Between the MANY references to the zodiac as if it were an actual important determining factor in one’s personality, ridiculous slang-y dialogue like “holy fucking spaceballs Batman!”, multiple references to how Issa is nothing like rich cishet white men even though she’s only one step removed as a rich cishet white woman, a completely predictable “”mystery”” from the very first chapter, a totally RIDICULOUS explanation for Rowan and Issa being ““enemies””, an uncomfortable comparison and discussion of judging people by their family name to being racist, and an overdramatic third-act ““breakup”” that was resolved within five minutes, this was TOO MUCH.
And it makes me so sad because I really liked Payback’s a Witch. I really liked Emmy’s journey of emotional growth that had some real conflict and a great resolution. This had none of that. And of course it wasn’t queer, and had some of the same tropes I don’t like in m/f romances.
All of the above explains pretty much all of my problems with this book, but mainly, the dialogue just felt so forced. People don’t really talk like this irl, with constant witty comebacks referencing popular culture (literally everyone was trying to be witty). Some of Rowan and Issa’s interactions felt so off to me too. Like their discussion about him not giving her his jacket. Why would she have expected that from a guy she pretty much disliked? Their relationship progressed very quickly (I mean, she was drooling all over him from the start, and constantly thinking about how BIG his muscles were, even his HANDS and CALVES lmao I’m sorry I can’t 🤣). And Rowan was so upfront with his emotions at all times in a way that felt like what women wish men in their 20s were like and not what they’re actually like.
The explanation for why they were “enemies” was so ridiculous.
Speaking of white, this line made my blood boil: “Since I wasn’t a white male genius fueled by cultivated anguish, I didn’t tend to be at my most creative when mired in angst.” GIRL, YOU ARE A WHITE WOMAN. That along with “Morty was the kind of broadly appealing genderqueer person who made some cishet dudes clutch the manly equivalent of their pearls” and “He sounds super high-touch, on top of being a poster boy for white, rich, and privileged” (because what makes you any different Issa?) just made me mad. If there’s anything I’ve learned in my antiracism journey, it’s that white woman can be JUST AS BAD, if not worse, than white men. And society tends to reward them for it. White women, please, stop scapegoating white men and assuming you are good. I also noticed this in Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, but it’s even worse here since Issa is rich cishet and white herself, and seemingly not queer at all. Her only disadvantage in “normie” (FUCK I was so tired of her saying that) society is her gender, and even that she can use to her advantage. I say all this as a white woman myself 🙃
The “mystery” in this book was so obvious from the very first chapter.
Also, the whole thing with Issa feeling randomly disconnected to her family and wanting to study fashion but so worried her family is going to excommunicate her felt like a storyline out of a YA novel.
Basically, Issa was grating as a character, and the many terrible and predictable plotlines and popular culture references only made the experience worse. But that extra half star is because I did enjoy the descriptions of the Beltane / Flower Moon Festival (though I did laugh at the tradition that split “female-identifying” and “male-identifying” witches lmao “men” and “women” are words and where do non-binary folk go anyway?), and the new world building and characters we got to flesh out the world of Thistle Grove. I don’t think I’ll read the next book, because this one really didn’t entice me, but I’m slightly willing to pick up any future book about a Thorn.
If I had to summarize this book in one word, it’d be cringey. Between the MANY references to the zodiac as if it were an actual important determining factor in one’s personality, ridiculous slang-y dialogue like “holy fucking spaceballs Batman!”, multiple references to how Issa is nothing like rich cishet white men even though she’s only one step removed as a rich cishet white woman, a completely predictable “”mystery”” from the very first chapter, a totally RIDICULOUS explanation for Rowan and Issa being ““enemies””, an uncomfortable comparison and discussion of judging people by their family name to being racist, and an overdramatic third-act ““breakup”” that was resolved within five minutes, this was TOO MUCH.
And it makes me so sad because I really liked Payback’s a Witch. I really liked Emmy’s journey of emotional growth that had some real conflict and a great resolution. This had none of that. And of course it wasn’t queer, and had some of the same tropes I don’t like in m/f romances.
All of the above explains pretty much all of my problems with this book, but mainly, the dialogue just felt so forced. People don’t really talk like this irl, with constant witty comebacks referencing popular culture (literally everyone was trying to be witty). Some of Rowan and Issa’s interactions felt so off to me too. Like their discussion about him not giving her his jacket. Why would she have expected that from a guy she pretty much disliked? Their relationship progressed very quickly (I mean, she was drooling all over him from the start, and constantly thinking about how BIG his muscles were, even his HANDS and CALVES lmao I’m sorry I can’t 🤣). And Rowan was so upfront with his emotions at all times in a way that felt like what women wish men in their 20s were like and not what they’re actually like.
The explanation for why they were “enemies” was so ridiculous.
Speaking of white, this line made my blood boil: “Since I wasn’t a white male genius fueled by cultivated anguish, I didn’t tend to be at my most creative when mired in angst.” GIRL, YOU ARE A WHITE WOMAN. That along with “Morty was the kind of broadly appealing genderqueer person who made some cishet dudes clutch the manly equivalent of their pearls” and “He sounds super high-touch, on top of being a poster boy for white, rich, and privileged” (because what makes you any different Issa?) just made me mad. If there’s anything I’ve learned in my antiracism journey, it’s that white woman can be JUST AS BAD, if not worse, than white men. And society tends to reward them for it. White women, please, stop scapegoating white men and assuming you are good. I also noticed this in Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, but it’s even worse here since Issa is rich cishet and white herself, and seemingly not queer at all. Her only disadvantage in “normie” (FUCK I was so tired of her saying that) society is her gender, and even that she can use to her advantage. I say all this as a white woman myself 🙃
The “mystery” in this book was so obvious from the very first chapter.
Also, the whole thing with Issa feeling randomly disconnected to her family and wanting to study fashion but so worried her family is going to excommunicate her felt like a storyline out of a YA novel.
Basically, Issa was grating as a character, and the many terrible and predictable plotlines and popular culture references only made the experience worse. But that extra half star is because I did enjoy the descriptions of the Beltane / Flower Moon Festival (though I did laugh at the tradition that split “female-identifying” and “male-identifying” witches lmao “men” and “women” are words and where do non-binary folk go anyway?), and the new world building and characters we got to flesh out the world of Thistle Grove. I don’t think I’ll read the next book, because this one really didn’t entice me, but I’m slightly willing to pick up any future book about a Thorn.
June 19, 2022
i’m happy to announce that i’m joining a blog tour for from bad to cursed, the sequel to payback’s a witch! i absolutely loved payback’s a witch and was desperate to dive into this one. it was nice being back in thistle grove and learning more about the characters!
this book follows issa avramov, talia’s younger sister, and rowan thorn. the thorn family is attacked and issa and rowan work together to figure out who did it and how to stop them, while trying to sort through their conflicting feelings for one another. i really enjoyed seeing the differences between the two families and getting to watch the two characters realize that they may have been wrong about one another in the past. the enemies-to-lovers trope is done really well in this one!
i also really enjoyed getting to see talia and emmy again. i think that the plot was a little weaker in this one, because i really enjoyed the one in payback’s a witch, but it was still enjoyable. there’s more diversity in this one, which i enjoyed, and i really liked both of the main characters!
this would be a fantastic halloween read and i recommend it for people who liked the first book and people wanting a fun, witchy romance. thank you once again for a copy! it comes out on May 17th.
this book follows issa avramov, talia’s younger sister, and rowan thorn. the thorn family is attacked and issa and rowan work together to figure out who did it and how to stop them, while trying to sort through their conflicting feelings for one another. i really enjoyed seeing the differences between the two families and getting to watch the two characters realize that they may have been wrong about one another in the past. the enemies-to-lovers trope is done really well in this one!
i also really enjoyed getting to see talia and emmy again. i think that the plot was a little weaker in this one, because i really enjoyed the one in payback’s a witch, but it was still enjoyable. there’s more diversity in this one, which i enjoyed, and i really liked both of the main characters!
this would be a fantastic halloween read and i recommend it for people who liked the first book and people wanting a fun, witchy romance. thank you once again for a copy! it comes out on May 17th.
November 5, 2024
3.75⭐️
From Bad to Cursed is a delightful mix of magic, romance, and mystery that had me hooked from the start. Isidora Avramov is a fascinating heroine—she’s a bit of a rebel with her demon-summoning skills, wild personality, and bold fashion sense, yet her softer side shines through with her love for animals and her secret dream of becoming a designer. When sabotage rocks the Beltane festivities, Issa has no choice but to team up with Rowan Thorn, her uptight, play-by-the-rules rival from the Thorn family.
The chemistry between Issa and Rowan is electric, and their “enemies-to-lovers” dynamic brings plenty of wit and banter. Harper does a fantastic job with the opposites-attract trope, making their romance feel both fun and deeply satisfying as they slowly let their guard down. The mystery of who’s behind the festival sabotage is well-woven, with twists and turns that keep you guessing.
While the plot sometimes takes a backseat to the romance, the magical world Lana Harper has built is so vibrant and immersive that it doesn’t detract from the enjoyment. From Bad to Cursed is perfect for anyone looking for a charmingly spooky rom-com with heart, humor, and a little bit of mischief. A fantastic addition to any paranormal romance shelf!
From Bad to Cursed is a delightful mix of magic, romance, and mystery that had me hooked from the start. Isidora Avramov is a fascinating heroine—she’s a bit of a rebel with her demon-summoning skills, wild personality, and bold fashion sense, yet her softer side shines through with her love for animals and her secret dream of becoming a designer. When sabotage rocks the Beltane festivities, Issa has no choice but to team up with Rowan Thorn, her uptight, play-by-the-rules rival from the Thorn family.
The chemistry between Issa and Rowan is electric, and their “enemies-to-lovers” dynamic brings plenty of wit and banter. Harper does a fantastic job with the opposites-attract trope, making their romance feel both fun and deeply satisfying as they slowly let their guard down. The mystery of who’s behind the festival sabotage is well-woven, with twists and turns that keep you guessing.
While the plot sometimes takes a backseat to the romance, the magical world Lana Harper has built is so vibrant and immersive that it doesn’t detract from the enjoyment. From Bad to Cursed is perfect for anyone looking for a charmingly spooky rom-com with heart, humor, and a little bit of mischief. A fantastic addition to any paranormal romance shelf!
February 6, 2024
It was such a joy to be back in the world of Thistle Grove. Harper delivers yet again.
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
May 29, 2022
Enjoyable, but not as cute at the first one??
I did like the creepy factor, but I think a lot of my disappointment is because I thought there would be LGBTQ+ rep and there was not (both leads are straight) even though the world is very queer. Rowan the LI is Black, and I did like that the author did not shy away from racism in America and magical worlds.
However, the frenemies to lovers was meh. Although I'll definitely be reading that third book because I do like this world!
I did like the creepy factor, but I think a lot of my disappointment is because I thought there would be LGBTQ+ rep and there was not (both leads are straight) even though the world is very queer. Rowan the LI is Black, and I did like that the author did not shy away from racism in America and magical worlds.
However, the frenemies to lovers was meh. Although I'll definitely be reading that third book because I do like this world!
January 2, 2023
first read of 2023🕺
I thought this one was cute, i actually really enjoyed reading it. I read it in a few hours , which is shocking, but that just shows how much this book sucked me in. I’d have to say I enjoyed this one more than paybacks a witch. I really enjoyed the mystery of this one since I couldn’t really figure it out until the end. I wish this book was dual pov though because I’d love to have seen Rowan’s thoughts through the story. Overall super cute and really liked this one
I thought this one was cute, i actually really enjoyed reading it. I read it in a few hours , which is shocking, but that just shows how much this book sucked me in. I’d have to say I enjoyed this one more than paybacks a witch. I really enjoyed the mystery of this one since I couldn’t really figure it out until the end. I wish this book was dual pov though because I’d love to have seen Rowan’s thoughts through the story. Overall super cute and really liked this one
September 5, 2023
Isidora is a thrill chaser, a wild child. When she is not designing costumes and new storylines, she is dreaming about ditching her family's witchy business to become an indie fashion designer. But when someone is sabotaging the celebrations leading up to the Beltane festival with dark magic, a member of the rival Thon family gets badly hurt, putting the Avramovs under suspicion.
From Bad to Cursed was such a fun witchy read as we start moving into spooky season. I found Isidora and Rowan to be the best. They were witty and their banter was just too good. Once enemies now... lovers, their attraction is maddening in the best of ways. Dare I say, I enjoyed this one more than the first? Although Payback's a Witch was still really good. If you are looking for witchy books to get you in the mood, give Lana Harper's books a read! I will be starting the third book of The Witches of Thistle Grove, Back in a Spell, really soon!
Happy reading!
From Bad to Cursed was such a fun witchy read as we start moving into spooky season. I found Isidora and Rowan to be the best. They were witty and their banter was just too good. Once enemies now... lovers, their attraction is maddening in the best of ways. Dare I say, I enjoyed this one more than the first? Although Payback's a Witch was still really good. If you are looking for witchy books to get you in the mood, give Lana Harper's books a read! I will be starting the third book of The Witches of Thistle Grove, Back in a Spell, really soon!
Happy reading!
January 8, 2023
3.5 ⭐️ - An enemies to lovers romance with a Romeo & Juliet style family feud at the center of its storyline.
I loved the opposites attract, sexy chemistry between Issa and Rowan. They had to put their grudge aside to work together to uncover who is causing witches harm in Thistle Grove.
While I enjoyed the story overall, it was definitely a slower burn and there were times when it felt long. The audiobook was well narrated though and definitely helped me enjoy the book, despite it's slower pace.
I loved the themes of family and balancing expectations and a sense of obligation with your own desires which played a big role in the overall plot. It was also nice to see the characters we’d met in book 1 and meet even more of the Thistle Grove witches. I enjoy getting to know a community over the course of a book series, so that it feels like catching up with old friends when reading and this series has that feel to it. Looking forward to book 3.
I loved the opposites attract, sexy chemistry between Issa and Rowan. They had to put their grudge aside to work together to uncover who is causing witches harm in Thistle Grove.
While I enjoyed the story overall, it was definitely a slower burn and there were times when it felt long. The audiobook was well narrated though and definitely helped me enjoy the book, despite it's slower pace.
I loved the themes of family and balancing expectations and a sense of obligation with your own desires which played a big role in the overall plot. It was also nice to see the characters we’d met in book 1 and meet even more of the Thistle Grove witches. I enjoy getting to know a community over the course of a book series, so that it feels like catching up with old friends when reading and this series has that feel to it. Looking forward to book 3.
January 31, 2023
Enemies to lovers? ✅ Small town romance? ✅ Witchy vibes? ✅ Reverse grumpy sunshine? ✅✅✅
July 19, 2022
Favorite Quotes:
We glared at each other, the distance between us seeming to thin and contract, pulsing like a heartbeat, as if our shared loathing were potent enough to actually distort the fabric of reality.
I glanced up at the massive gilded portrait of Margarita Avramov— our family’s ancestor and one of the four original founders of Thistle Grove— hanging on the flocked maroon wallpaper above the fireplace. She appraised the crowd of her descendants with black and lustrous eyes, set in the kind of gorgeous resting bitch face that could launch a thousand ships, probably mostly out of screaming terror.
A gratified glow fueled by pure pettiness lit just beneath my ribs. There’s a certain special exhilaration to driving the object of your loathing to soothing breathing techniques.
I was playing with the worst kind of fire here, and I knew it— but when had that ever stopped me before? When had it ever done anything at all, besides making me want to keep blazing my way down trails marked “forbidden”? For me, the forbiddenness usually tended to be the point.
Quit trying to salt my game.
My Review:
I rarely read this genre as I am far too lazy for all the world-building so I’m unfamiliar with the different roles and rules and types of magic, but despite the extra effort it took, I found the divisions and petty feuds between death magic and green magic quite clever. I was pleasantly surprised by the range and diversity of the author’s pen with keen snark, biting humor, and creepy curses and spells. The plot was intricate and slowly unfolded with unpredictable story threads and a bit of everything with thick and juicing servings of salty language, an entertaining macabre mystery, a fledgling romance, sensuality, and family drama. I enjoyed the change of pace and have decided I should indulge in this genre more often.
We glared at each other, the distance between us seeming to thin and contract, pulsing like a heartbeat, as if our shared loathing were potent enough to actually distort the fabric of reality.
I glanced up at the massive gilded portrait of Margarita Avramov— our family’s ancestor and one of the four original founders of Thistle Grove— hanging on the flocked maroon wallpaper above the fireplace. She appraised the crowd of her descendants with black and lustrous eyes, set in the kind of gorgeous resting bitch face that could launch a thousand ships, probably mostly out of screaming terror.
A gratified glow fueled by pure pettiness lit just beneath my ribs. There’s a certain special exhilaration to driving the object of your loathing to soothing breathing techniques.
I was playing with the worst kind of fire here, and I knew it— but when had that ever stopped me before? When had it ever done anything at all, besides making me want to keep blazing my way down trails marked “forbidden”? For me, the forbiddenness usually tended to be the point.
Quit trying to salt my game.
My Review:
I rarely read this genre as I am far too lazy for all the world-building so I’m unfamiliar with the different roles and rules and types of magic, but despite the extra effort it took, I found the divisions and petty feuds between death magic and green magic quite clever. I was pleasantly surprised by the range and diversity of the author’s pen with keen snark, biting humor, and creepy curses and spells. The plot was intricate and slowly unfolded with unpredictable story threads and a bit of everything with thick and juicing servings of salty language, an entertaining macabre mystery, a fledgling romance, sensuality, and family drama. I enjoyed the change of pace and have decided I should indulge in this genre more often.
June 18, 2024
Yikes, I need to stop buying multiple books of unknown (to me) authors. The writing style was so banal and full of slang, and the main characters were awful. If you like the enemies to lovers trope, I hope you are easy to please because this felt very forced. I cringed and skimmed my way through this, but maybe the next one will work out better.
February 19, 2023
The way I love the Avramos....
Enemies to lovers f/m this time. I could see the whole series on TV.
I'm totally swoon by Elena Avramos... she could be an amazing ice queen.
I loved going back to Thistle Grove and meeting Issa and Rowan.
Issa... damn... I love her... but Talia and Emmy have still my whole heart.
2 more books to read and hope more will come. Can't get enough of the settings of this paranormal series, and the darkness of the Avramos. Hot as hell... pun intended. Yet... still so much humanity in them.
Enemies to lovers f/m this time. I could see the whole series on TV.
I'm totally swoon by Elena Avramos... she could be an amazing ice queen.
I loved going back to Thistle Grove and meeting Issa and Rowan.
Issa... damn... I love her... but Talia and Emmy have still my whole heart.
2 more books to read and hope more will come. Can't get enough of the settings of this paranormal series, and the darkness of the Avramos. Hot as hell... pun intended. Yet... still so much humanity in them.
October 1, 2022
3.5 little witchy enemies to lovers. Although it was enemies lite. Issa refers to Rowan as her arch-nemesis so I think it counts.
I liked this just fine, honestly my favorite part was the vibe The Bitters(FMC family home) had, very Addams Family mansion. The fact that the MMC was the green earthy witch was also a fun twist.
The characters were fine, the story was fine. It didn’t knock my sock off but it was enjoyable enough.
Really I’m still looking for the witchy Rom-com of my dreams. And I’ll keep reading all the witch romance books I can until I find it.
I liked this just fine, honestly my favorite part was the vibe The Bitters(FMC family home) had, very Addams Family mansion. The fact that the MMC was the green earthy witch was also a fun twist.
The characters were fine, the story was fine. It didn’t knock my sock off but it was enjoyable enough.
Really I’m still looking for the witchy Rom-com of my dreams. And I’ll keep reading all the witch romance books I can until I find it.
November 18, 2022
This is book 2 in a series. I think I liked the first book Payback's a Witch a bit better but I'll definitely be reading the next one when it arrives in 2023.
From Bad to Cursed picks up after the events in the previous book so you should definitely give that one a read first or you'll be left wondering about a few things. In this book, two witches with a contentious past are forced to work together when their families choose them to solve a crime that defies all of their witchcraft rules. Forced into constant proximity with each other, Rowan and Isadora slowly become friends who are attracted to each other but they are still enemies because, uh, they want to be? It's always been that way? Their families can't stand each other? There's a lot prejudice in the witchy community? Also, they need to have a few honest conversations, maybe? I don't know. They drove me a little bananas.
This was cute and I loved certain scenes but the conflict keeping the couple from being a couple was a bit underwhelming to me. But maybe not for you? I'm a grouch so it seemed silly to me and it dragged on too long for my impatient butt. The rest of the book was fun though.
From Bad to Cursed picks up after the events in the previous book so you should definitely give that one a read first or you'll be left wondering about a few things. In this book, two witches with a contentious past are forced to work together when their families choose them to solve a crime that defies all of their witchcraft rules. Forced into constant proximity with each other, Rowan and Isadora slowly become friends who are attracted to each other but they are still enemies because, uh, they want to be? It's always been that way? Their families can't stand each other? There's a lot prejudice in the witchy community? Also, they need to have a few honest conversations, maybe? I don't know. They drove me a little bananas.
This was cute and I loved certain scenes but the conflict keeping the couple from being a couple was a bit underwhelming to me. But maybe not for you? I'm a grouch so it seemed silly to me and it dragged on too long for my impatient butt. The rest of the book was fun though.
May 22, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed Payback's a Witch, so I fully expected to feel the same way about this sequel. Unfortunately, this one didn't work quite as well for me. I still had a good time reading this, and it gave me some Once Upon a Time vibes, but I just didn't connect to the characters in the same way. I would have liked to see a little more focus on the romance, because as it is, I felt like the mystery took over a little and I didn't end up feeling like I'd gotten to know the characters all that well, which makes it a little hard to ship them.
September 7, 2022
Ehhhh wasn’t as good as the first one. A weak plot
September 9, 2023
why do we feel the need to insert cringey millennial humor and mentions of TikTok into books? Why???
May 17, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley books for the ARC. It hasn't affected the content of my review.
I liked this even better than the first one. I actually think what I like most about this series doesn't really have anything to do with the featured romances. I just like this world, and I like that Lana Harper is creating a fictional place that is not just full of eccentric townspeople and coziness, as one expects from a small town romance series, but also continues to flesh out the history of Thistle Grove, how the magic works there, and the dynamics between the four families. There is an actual fantasy plot in here, just like the first book!
Here, the romance is between Talia's sister Isidora Avramov, and Rowan Thorn, who are shoved together in an investigation after a Beltane ritual is sabotaged by dark magic. Issa has disliked Rowan intensely ever since her stint volunteering for the local animal shelter ended in her dismissal, and she was only volunteering. She knows that Rowan doesn't like her because she's an Avramov. And Issa is sick of feeling judged for being a "wicked Avramov", especially when she is feeling guilty for not wanting to be involved in the family business anymore. She wants to strike out on her own, but fears her family's reaction if she does.
I was surprised by how creepy this book was, and not that it was terrifying or super dark or anything, just much darker than I had been expecting. I liked the way the darkness here and the central mystery plot (Rowan and Issa are investigating who is sabotaging Beltane, after Rowan's cousin is seriously injured, magically and physically) lent the whole thing stakes. Especially since there were a couple of moments where the central pairing got less interesting for me, the plot and the town kept me intrigued even when other things were at more of a lull.
I am actually really excited for the third book, which will feature Nineve Blackmoore (who we meet in this book) and the genderqueer owner of the Shamrock bar, Morty. The premise on that one sounds super intriguing to me in a way the first two didn't, and I liked them quite a bit.
[4.5 stars]
I liked this even better than the first one. I actually think what I like most about this series doesn't really have anything to do with the featured romances. I just like this world, and I like that Lana Harper is creating a fictional place that is not just full of eccentric townspeople and coziness, as one expects from a small town romance series, but also continues to flesh out the history of Thistle Grove, how the magic works there, and the dynamics between the four families. There is an actual fantasy plot in here, just like the first book!
Here, the romance is between Talia's sister Isidora Avramov, and Rowan Thorn, who are shoved together in an investigation after a Beltane ritual is sabotaged by dark magic. Issa has disliked Rowan intensely ever since her stint volunteering for the local animal shelter ended in her dismissal, and she was only volunteering. She knows that Rowan doesn't like her because she's an Avramov. And Issa is sick of feeling judged for being a "wicked Avramov", especially when she is feeling guilty for not wanting to be involved in the family business anymore. She wants to strike out on her own, but fears her family's reaction if she does.
I was surprised by how creepy this book was, and not that it was terrifying or super dark or anything, just much darker than I had been expecting. I liked the way the darkness here and the central mystery plot (Rowan and Issa are investigating who is sabotaging Beltane, after Rowan's cousin is seriously injured, magically and physically) lent the whole thing stakes. Especially since there were a couple of moments where the central pairing got less interesting for me, the plot and the town kept me intrigued even when other things were at more of a lull.
I am actually really excited for the third book, which will feature Nineve Blackmoore (who we meet in this book) and the genderqueer owner of the Shamrock bar, Morty. The premise on that one sounds super intriguing to me in a way the first two didn't, and I liked them quite a bit.
[4.5 stars]
April 8, 2023
It’s not very often that I enjoy a sequel just as much as the first book, but I can say that with this one!
This book follows two characters that made an appearance in Payback’s a Witch. A member of the Avramov family (Isidora) and a member of the Thorn family (Rowan). Which if you remember from book one, they absolutely hate each other 😂
My favorite part of this book was the opening of it, because Isidora was explaining how thrilling demon summoning is. So it sucked me right it from the very first page!
This sequel and this whole series is warm, witchy, cute, and cozy. And it’s also has some spice in it too for good measure. 1/5 🌶️
You can’t be a witchy book lover and not read this series! Definitely recommend!
This book follows two characters that made an appearance in Payback’s a Witch. A member of the Avramov family (Isidora) and a member of the Thorn family (Rowan). Which if you remember from book one, they absolutely hate each other 😂
My favorite part of this book was the opening of it, because Isidora was explaining how thrilling demon summoning is. So it sucked me right it from the very first page!
This sequel and this whole series is warm, witchy, cute, and cozy. And it’s also has some spice in it too for good measure. 1/5 🌶️
You can’t be a witchy book lover and not read this series! Definitely recommend!
March 24, 2022
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
From Bad to Cursed is the sequel to Payback’s a Witch, a series of companion novels that take place in the charming town of Thistle Grove. Thistle Grove is a special place, filled with cute shops, friendly people, and the feeling of magic in the air. Literally. Unknown to the “normies” of the town, the four founding families are all modern day witches who get their magic from the power source in the lake nearby. These families have worked together to protect the town for generations, despite them not always getting along. Such is the case for the Thorns and the Avramovs. The Thorn’s practice Green magic, light and healing and good vibes only. Meanwhile the Avramovs are necromancers, practitioners of Death magic. The two families are complete opposites to each other, and therefore have had a rivalry spanning hundreds of years. Our main characters, Isidora Avramov and Rowan Thorn, have taken this rivalry to the next level due to the rocky past they share, and have barely tolerated each other’s presence for years. But when a member of the Thorn family is viciously attacked by an unknown person using Death magic, Isidora and Rowan are forced by their leaders to work together to find the culprit. What follows is a hilarious romcom filled with laugh-out-loud insults and roasting, drunken adventures, a magical mystery, and a softening between the two characters so slow and reluctant that it will melt your heart while making you laugh hysterically at the same time.
After reading Payback’s a Witch last year and falling in love with the town of Thistle Grove, I was so excited that Lana Harper was planning on revisiting this world. And she did not disappoint! From Bad to Cursed was such a fun romantic comedy (heavy on the comedy), and I had a wonderful time reading it. It was unexpectedly hilarious and had me laughing at nearly every moment, but still with a romance that had me smitten from page one.
The characters are easily the best part of this book, especially our main characters and the budding romance between them. I bought the chemistry between our love interests immediately, well before they even admitted it to themselves. The attraction between them, both physical and emotional, was palpable and left me so excited to see how things were going to develop. From page one, the two spend every moment together hurling insults, but even before they start to actually like each other, it was never done with malicious intent. They make each other laugh, although they both try their hardest to hide the fact that they think the other is hilarious. This is very much an enemies to reluctant friends to lovers trope, which is easily one of my favourite tropes in romance, and one that I don’t see often enough.
The setting and atmosphere is just as good as it was in the first book. I was a little worried at first when I realized that this book takes place in the spring, as the fall setting in the first book was so perfect for Thistle Grove. But the magic is still just as present, and it ended up having a more cottagecore/forest witch feeling to it, which I just adored. I loved the descriptions of their festivals and yearly rituals that they were doing throughout the book; it was so much to learn more about the history of the witches and see more of what they’re all about. I really love the magic system in this world! We got to see more of it in this book, and got to watch Isidora and Rowan explore each other’s magic and teach each other about it. It was fascinating to see the different sides to their magic, and get a more in depth look at how it worked for them, as well as the similarities and differences between them.
In terms of plot, this was possibly the weakest aspect of the story but it was still enjoyable! Rowan and Isidora have to uncover the mystery of who cast the hex that hurt Rowan’s family, and so they have to interview people, follow clues, and try to piece things together. I did find it to be fairly predictable, and even the plot twist at the end didn’t surprise me in the least. I hadn't fully guessed what was going to happen, but I did have a general idea of where the plot was going that ended up being correct. But even with the plot not being the most inventive thing that I’ve ever read in my life, I was okay with that as I was more here for the romance anyways.
Overall, From Bad to Cursed was a fantastic addition to The Witches of Thistle Grove series, and I ended up giving it four stars. It was fun, fast paced, steamy, and just generally a good time. I could definitely see this one becoming one of my favourites in the romance genre!
From Bad to Cursed is the sequel to Payback’s a Witch, a series of companion novels that take place in the charming town of Thistle Grove. Thistle Grove is a special place, filled with cute shops, friendly people, and the feeling of magic in the air. Literally. Unknown to the “normies” of the town, the four founding families are all modern day witches who get their magic from the power source in the lake nearby. These families have worked together to protect the town for generations, despite them not always getting along. Such is the case for the Thorns and the Avramovs. The Thorn’s practice Green magic, light and healing and good vibes only. Meanwhile the Avramovs are necromancers, practitioners of Death magic. The two families are complete opposites to each other, and therefore have had a rivalry spanning hundreds of years. Our main characters, Isidora Avramov and Rowan Thorn, have taken this rivalry to the next level due to the rocky past they share, and have barely tolerated each other’s presence for years. But when a member of the Thorn family is viciously attacked by an unknown person using Death magic, Isidora and Rowan are forced by their leaders to work together to find the culprit. What follows is a hilarious romcom filled with laugh-out-loud insults and roasting, drunken adventures, a magical mystery, and a softening between the two characters so slow and reluctant that it will melt your heart while making you laugh hysterically at the same time.
After reading Payback’s a Witch last year and falling in love with the town of Thistle Grove, I was so excited that Lana Harper was planning on revisiting this world. And she did not disappoint! From Bad to Cursed was such a fun romantic comedy (heavy on the comedy), and I had a wonderful time reading it. It was unexpectedly hilarious and had me laughing at nearly every moment, but still with a romance that had me smitten from page one.
The characters are easily the best part of this book, especially our main characters and the budding romance between them. I bought the chemistry between our love interests immediately, well before they even admitted it to themselves. The attraction between them, both physical and emotional, was palpable and left me so excited to see how things were going to develop. From page one, the two spend every moment together hurling insults, but even before they start to actually like each other, it was never done with malicious intent. They make each other laugh, although they both try their hardest to hide the fact that they think the other is hilarious. This is very much an enemies to reluctant friends to lovers trope, which is easily one of my favourite tropes in romance, and one that I don’t see often enough.
The setting and atmosphere is just as good as it was in the first book. I was a little worried at first when I realized that this book takes place in the spring, as the fall setting in the first book was so perfect for Thistle Grove. But the magic is still just as present, and it ended up having a more cottagecore/forest witch feeling to it, which I just adored. I loved the descriptions of their festivals and yearly rituals that they were doing throughout the book; it was so much to learn more about the history of the witches and see more of what they’re all about. I really love the magic system in this world! We got to see more of it in this book, and got to watch Isidora and Rowan explore each other’s magic and teach each other about it. It was fascinating to see the different sides to their magic, and get a more in depth look at how it worked for them, as well as the similarities and differences between them.
In terms of plot, this was possibly the weakest aspect of the story but it was still enjoyable! Rowan and Isidora have to uncover the mystery of who cast the hex that hurt Rowan’s family, and so they have to interview people, follow clues, and try to piece things together. I did find it to be fairly predictable, and even the plot twist at the end didn’t surprise me in the least. I hadn't fully guessed what was going to happen, but I did have a general idea of where the plot was going that ended up being correct. But even with the plot not being the most inventive thing that I’ve ever read in my life, I was okay with that as I was more here for the romance anyways.
Overall, From Bad to Cursed was a fantastic addition to The Witches of Thistle Grove series, and I ended up giving it four stars. It was fun, fast paced, steamy, and just generally a good time. I could definitely see this one becoming one of my favourites in the romance genre!
May 13, 2024
I liked this one a lot more than the first in the Thistle Grove series
July 7, 2022
3.5 stars. I think this one had more mystery than romance but the romance was slow burn so that's good. It also wrapped up nicely with our characters' issues. It was nice but slow. When the action picked up towards the end, it definitely made me like it more.
dnf
February 19, 2022 I think every 2022 release tht i’ve read so far has been ass
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,670 reviews