{Review} SHADOW'S CURSE by Alexa Egan

ISBN #: 978-1451672923

Page Count: 416

Copyright: September 24, 2013

Publisher: Pocket Books

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

Forced by her half brother to use her dark gift of necromancy for profit, lovely Callista Hawthorne is determined to flee to her one chance for safety, her aunt in Scotland. With no hope of success unless she finds help on the long road north, she offers cursed shapechanger David St. Leger an irresistible bargain.

David—one of the mysterious Imnada—stalks the night streets of Regency London as a large black wolf. Renounced by his own kind, he spends his desperate rage on thieves and murderers. While Callista’s proposal will allow him to escape the terrible enchantment binding him, agreeing to her terms will force him into the treacherous world of the half-Fey Other, his clan’s ancient foes.

Drawn together by danger, David and Callista find passion in each other’s arms. But can they forswear the centuries of enmity separating their two races, and find a love they dare not even imagine?

Lupe's Review:

There was so much Harlequin Romance, I could hardly stand it. I think partly because I am not a HUGE fan of romance novels. I used to be. I think I read too many and now they all sound the same. Only now, they add a bit of the supernatural.

Callista is a Fey-blood necromancer who is used to her step-brother's whims for money. He is in so much debt to the top shark, Victor Corey, that he decides to repay it with her hand to Corey. Callista is desperate to escape.

David, a shapeshifter, prowls the nights in a rage, seeking out murderers and thieves in his wolf form after being renounced by his own kind, the Imnada. One night as he is out, he stumbles upon Callista in one of her failed attempts to flee her brother and Corey for good. Since she knows she can not escape without help, she offers the shapshifter a bargain he can't refuse.

As they travel, they find first friendship then passion with each other. But will it be enough to stop the forces of evil that are gathering?

I think the only part of this story that I didn't care for was that it was so predictable. Literally the same format that every romance novel takes: Heroine in trouble with villain, dashing hero with face of scalawag, they escape together (hero and heroine), some type of disagreement with them sends one packing only to have heroine taken by villain, must make crazy choice to save them both, villain dies, hero and heroine stay together in a happy ever after. Seriously. I can't take it. I just wish there were more variety. This book especially, though, frustrated me, because at one point, the author just stops, point blank, talking about Corey and his plans, then POW here he is again. Same thing with Beskin and David. I guess I had to read the first one in the series, also, because I was completely at a loss as to what the war was even about. I just felt kind of let down because there was so much that went unanswered and I think it was mostly a romance novel with some suspense added in. Too cheesy for my taste. But as far as the writing and such, it was good, which is why I gave it three stars in my Goodreads review.

*A physical copy of the book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.