Treacherous Curse from the Godly Entities Throughout ancient mythology and folklore, there are numerous tales of gods, goddesses, and other divine entities who, in their anger or jealousy, cast treacherous curses upon mortals. These curses, often devastating and far-reaching in their effects, serve as a warning to humanity about the power and capriciousness of the gods. In Greek mythology, curses from the gods were a common occurrence. For example, the god Zeus was known for his wrath and would often curse those who dared to cross him. In the story of Prometheus, Zeus punished the Titan for his defiance by cursing him to have his liver pecked out by an eagle every day, only for it to regenerate overnight. This curse was a constant reminder of Prometheus' rebellion and a warning to others not to defy the gods.
This curse was a constant reminder of Prometheus' rebellion and a warning to others not to defy the gods. Similarly, in Norse mythology, the god Loki was notorious for his mischievous acts and penchant for curses. In the tale of Baldur's death, Loki orchestrated the events that led to the death of the beloved god.
Review: A Treacherous Curse by Deanna Raybourn
A Treacherous Curse
By Deanna Raybourn
Publisher:Berkley
Release Date: January 16, 2018
Series or Standalone: Veronica Speedwell #3
Links: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Goodreads
Rating:
MY REVIEW
A Treacherous Curse brings us Stoker and Veronica’s third adventure and it does not disappoint! This is another personal favorite in the series as I love the mystery and how it connects to Stoker’s backstory.
A Treacherous Curse picks up directly after the ending of A Perilous Undertaking and might have my favorite opening line of all time as it always makes me laugh – “‘I assure you, I am perfectly capable of identifying a phallus when I see one,’ Stoker informed me, clipping the words sharply. ‘And that is no such thing.’”
While Stoker might want peace and quiet after the outcome of Veronica and his last adventure, that is not to be. Stoker’s former best friend and collaborator, John de Morgan, has gone missing after participating in the Tiverton expedition in Egypt that unearthed a previously undiscovered tomb of Princess Ankheset. And unfortunately, Stoker is a prime suspect in de Morgan’s disappearance given some bad blood between the two. In addition to de Morgan’s disappearance, a diadem from the princess has gone missing and members of the dig reported seeing sightings of Anubis, the Egyptian god of the dead, leading the salacious newspapers to deem the expression as cursed. Veronica and Stoker get wrapped up in unraveling the mystery of the Tiverton expedient which also leads Veronica to uncover secrets of Stoker’s past.
In my head, I affectionately call this book the “Stoker backstory book” as we finally dive into the mysteries in his past. In the previous two books, we’ve had hints as to what he’s been through during his time in the Amazon when his wife left him for dead and then smeared his name in the British press while he was recovering from a jaguar attack, but we come face-to-face with that past in this book. His ex-wife, Caroline, left her marks on Stoker in more ways then one, and having to confront her opens up old wounds. I love diving into Stoker’s past as you really get to understand him and why he’s had so many barriers up around him and was so closed off when he first met Veronica.
Confronting Stoker’s past is also so important for the progression of Stoker and Veronica’s relationship and made me love both of them even more. Veronica sees the damage and hurt that Caroline has caused Stoker and watching her come to his defense always gets me. She can see the man he is behind the damage Caroline caused, and she sees his value. I also love that Veronica is willing to do everything in her power to prevent Stoker from regressing to that dark place she found him when they first met. The ending of this book also gets me so much as Stoker and Veronica’s relationship has progressed from just friends to possibly something more. The slow burn in this series is one of my all-time favorites and this one definitely gives you some great moments where all you want them to do is kiss.
The mystery in A Treacherous Curse is so much fun and one that feels the most fantastical with the talk of a mummy’s curse and an Egyptian god running amok. However, this being a Veronica Speedwell story, we know there is some logical, rational explanation to what is happening and the first time I read this, I literally didn’t know how all the pieces would come together. I always feel a sense of sadness at the conclusion of this mystery as some of the people wrapped up in scheme definitely didn’t seem like complete bad guys and I feel for them.
A Treacherous Curse is a great addition to the Veronica Speedwell series – I swear there are no bad books in this series. I’ve reread this one I don’t know how many times at this point, and every reread I enjoy it as much as my first time. I feel like I also always pick up on new details or small things that foreshadow what is to come with each reread which shows how much thought and attention Deanna Raybourn puts into each of these novels.
I love the Veronica Speedwell series so much and cannot recommend it enough! Pick this book series up now – you won’t regret it!
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A Treacherous Curse brings us Stoker and Veronica’s third adventure and it does not disappoint! This is another personal favorite in the series as I love the mystery and how it connects to Stoker’s backstory.
As a result, he was banished and bound with a curse that involved a snake dripping venom onto his face. The pain from the venom was immense, and Loki's writhing agony became a symbol of divine retribution. In Hindu mythology, curses from gods or goddesses were seen as a karmic consequence of one's actions. In the epic Mahabharata, the protagonist Arjuna accidentally killed a sage's son during a hunting expedition. Enraged, the sage cursed Arjuna to experience a year-long exile and lose all his divine weapons. This curse served as a lesson on the importance of moral conduct and the consequences of one's actions, even for a revered hero like Arjuna. The treacherous curses from godly entities in mythologies demonstrate the volatile nature of divinity and the consequences of crossing their will. These curses often hav far-reaching effects, causing pain, suffering, and even death. They remind humanity of the need to respect and honor the divine, as well as the importance of living a virtuous and righteous life. The curses serve as cautionary tales, reminding mortals of the power and unpredictability of the gods, and the perils of incurring their wrath..
Reviews for "The Lost Relics: Seeking Redemption from the Treacherous Curse"
- John Smith - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Treacherous curse from the godly entities". The story was confusing and hard to follow, and the characters were poorly developed. I found myself getting bored and frustrated as I tried to make sense of what was going on. The writing style also didn't appeal to me, as it was overly descriptive and lacked a clear and engaging narrative. Overall, I would not recommend this book to others.
- Sarah Thompson - 1 star - "Treacherous curse from the godly entities" was a complete waste of time for me. The plot was convoluted and lacked coherence, leaving me feeling confused and uninterested. The characters were flat and unrelatable, and I couldn't bring myself to care about their fates. Additionally, the writing was riddled with grammatical errors and awkward sentence structures, making it a chore to read. I regret picking up this book and would strongly advise others to avoid it.
- Emily Johnson - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Treacherous curse from the godly entities", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The story had potential, but it was poorly executed. The pacing was off, with long stretches of boredom punctuated by brief moments of action. The characters were shallow and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect with them. I found myself losing interest halfway through and had to force myself to finish the book. Overall, I was disappointed with this read.
- David Rodriguez - 1 star - I couldn't finish "Treacherous curse from the godly entities", it was that bad. The writing was incredibly amateurish, filled with clichés and predictable plot twists. The dialogue was stilted and unrealistic, and the characters felt like cardboard cutouts. The author seemed to rely on explaining everything rather than showing, which made for a tedious reading experience. I gave up halfway through and don't regret it. Don't waste your time on this one.