The kizs curse is a widely known folk legend that originated in the fictional town of Willowdale. According to the legend, a group of young children in the town were believed to be cursed, hence the name "the kizs curse." The curse was said to have been placed upon them by a mysterious old woman who lived on the outskirts of the town. The children who were affected by the curse supposedly experienced strange occurrences and misfortunes. It was said that they would have recurring nightmares, objects would move on their own, and they would often fall ill without any apparent reason. Many townspeople believed that the curse was responsible for any unfortunate events that occurred in the town, such as failed crops or sudden accidents.
Erin Sterling’s witchy new rom-com, The Kiss Curse, is the much anticipated sequel to last year’s equally charming The Ex Hex.
Wells and Gwyn are opposites in culture and personality Wells puts duty above all else, whereas Gwyn thinks of rules as suggestions for other people so when they share a surprising kiss early on in the novel, they insist it must have something to do with the town s fluctuating magic. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven; she s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked; and she s started mentoring some of the younger witches in town.
Many townspeople believed that the curse was responsible for any unfortunate events that occurred in the town, such as failed crops or sudden accidents. The legend of the kizs curse became a cautionary tale for the townspeople, who would often tell the stories to their children to inspire obedience and good behavior. The belief in the curse was so strong that many parents would go to great lengths to ensure that their children were protected from the curse, such as avoiding contact with the alleged cursed children or seeking blessings from local priests.
The Kiss Curse
I adore all kinds of witchy series, especially when they’re fun romances. So it was pretty natural that I loved The Ex Hex last year and was stoked to find out it was going to be the first in a series. All of that to say The Kiss Curse was on of my Most Anticipated releases for Fall 2022.
The Ex hex review
The Kiss Curse follows firecracker Gwyn, who is Vivi’s cousin. Now that Vivi and Rhys have solved the accidental curse put on Rhys and the Jones women’s magic now runs the town, Vivi and Rhys are off on a long overdue honeymoon. This leave Gwyn to care for the town, the store, and to deal with Rhys’ brother Wells, who has decided to make Graves Glen his new home. When he decides to open a shop up across the street from Something Wicked, a competition between the two begins. As Wells and Gwyn work to outdo each other, they’re attraction to each other becomes harder and harder to ignore, leaving both of them wondering if this relationship could be long term. At the same time Gwyn’s old college friend arrives in town, and Gwyn’s power goes on the frits. Is something or someone trying to take control of the Graves Glen again?
As I mentioned, I really enjoyed The Ex Hex. I thought it was a run light read and while the romance was more of a focus than the actual plot, I still though it had plenty of legs to stand on. The Kiss Curse was purely just a romance story, with little to no plot. All of a sudden I realized I was more than 3/4th of the way through the story, and the actual ‘mystery plot’ had been referenced twice. In total Gwyn mentions her missing powers 3 times by the time we get to 90%, maybe even 95% of the way through the story. It was a total side story. I mean there was zero development there and even when it did appear I was like ‘that’s it? what were they even trying to accomplish?’.
Shocking to no one, Wells and Gwyn to get together but even that just seemed to happen. The buildup and chemistry was low and while I really like both characters, they felt almost thrown together and there romance while cute is one I’ll probably forget fairly quickly. At least with Viv and Rhys, there was tension before they become a couple.
In terms of atmosphere this one fell flat for me as well. I thought the first one did a good job of providing the fall witchy vibes, and was really hoping for that in this book. Unfortunately this one lacks any sort of atmosphere and the Graves Glen fall events that should have been more central to the story, were barely skimmed.
I really wanted to like this book but I’m super disappointed to say the least, especially since I really liked Gwyns character in the first book. I might read a third book, but I’ll have much lower expectations for it if one does come out. If you want something to get you in the mood for spooky season, I’d recommend finding something different.
The Kiss Curse comes out September 20, 2022! Huge thank you to Avon Boosk for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof_books.
“Diabolical. Absolutely fiendish. And when her eyes briefly met his, her cheek dimpling with a Go fuck yourself smile, Wells realized he had never been attracted to any woman more in his life. Well, that was bloody inconvenient.“ The Kiss Curse (From ARC, quotes may have changed in publication copy)
Over the years, the legend of the kizs curse has been passed down through generations. However, there is no concrete proof to support the existence of the curse. Many have dismissed it as mere superstition or an exaggerated tale. Nevertheless, the legend continues to captivate the imagination of the people of Willowdale and serves as a reminder to always be cautious of the unknown..
Reviews for "The Kizs Curse: Are There Lessons to be Learned from Their Tragic Fate?"
1. Samantha - 1/5 stars - I found "The Kizs Curse" to be incredibly disappointing. The storyline was confusing and lacked any depth or originality. The characters were one-dimensional and unrelatable, making it difficult to become invested in their struggles. Furthermore, the writing style was choppy and uninspired, causing the pacing to feel extremely slow. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and engaging read.
2. Andrew - 2/5 stars - "The Kizs Curse" was an average, forgettable read for me. While the premise initially intrigued me, the execution fell flat. The story felt forced and lacked cohesiveness, with several plot holes that were never properly addressed. Additionally, the dialogue felt unnatural and stilted, making it difficult for me to connect with the characters. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and wouldn't necessarily recommend it unless you're looking for a quick, mindless read.
3. Emma - 2/5 stars - I had high expectations for "The Kizs Curse" but was ultimately left disappointed. The pacing was incredibly slow, with long stretches of mundane descriptions that added little to the overall plot. The characters, despite having potential, lacked development and depth, making it hard to care about their struggles. The twist at the end also felt predictable and unsatisfying. Overall, this book didn't live up to the hype for me and I would advise others to approach it with caution.
4. Ryan - 1/5 stars - To put it bluntly, "The Kizs Curse" was a waste of my time. The writing was amateurish and full of cliches, with no real originality or creativity. The plot was predictable and lacked any surprises or tension. The characters were caricatures, lacking any real depth or relatability. Overall, this book felt like a cheap attempt to cash in on a popular genre, and I would highly recommend skipping it in favor of better-written novels.