Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor is a popular mystery adventure game that was released in 2004. The game takes place in an English manor, and players take on the role of Nancy Drew as she tries to uncover the secrets of the manor and the mysterious curse that haunts it. One of the main secrets in Curse of Blackmoor Manor is the identity of the "Beast of Blackmoor". Throughout the game, players encounter strange occurrences and sightings of a mysterious creature. It is up to Nancy to gather clues, solve puzzles, and piece together the truth about the Beast and its connection to the manor. Another major secret in the game involves the ancient ritual of the Moonstone.
This is a pretty good book to get into the series with but I don’t necessarily think that you need to read it first. Personally, I like reading a book series in order as it tends to make things easier but not always. It introduces you to the main players in this series well enough and gives you a good mystery to boot. The one thing I couldn’t really wrap my head around at this point in the whole series is the Kate/Curran relationship.
The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings and the death of Kate s guardian may be part of the same mystery. The book starts with her fresh off a case covered in nasty goo and sewage is not fresh by any means when she gets word that her old guardian has died.
Another major secret in the game involves the ancient ritual of the Moonstone. The Moonstone is a powerful gem said to hold the key to breaking the curse. Players must investigate the manor and its surroundings to find the Moonstone and learn how to perform the ritual correctly.
Review: Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
Is it just me, or are a lot of urban fantasy heroes more or less the same? They can kick serious ass, they have mysterious and as-yet-untapped powers, their parentage is often a question mark, they’re loners, and they’re also smart-asses with short fuses who can’t choke back an insult to save their lives. Meet Kate Daniels, the latest urban fantasy protagonist to check off all those boxes.
At the beginning of Magic Bites, mercenary Kate is passing a usual lonely night in her apartment and nursing an injury from her latest job when a vampire, “piloted” by an undead Master named Ghastek, interrupts her evening with a question: “When was the last time you saw your guardian?” Soon, Kate finds herself on special assignment for the powerful Order of Knights of Merciful Aid as she tries to figure out exactly what happened to her guardian, Greg Feldman — the only person her father trusted with the truth of Kate’s parentage.
I ended up liking Magic Bites, but I have to admit that I came close to putting it down early in the book because Kate felt so cookie-cutter. She’s a mercenary with a magic sword and a mysterious past who refuses help from anyone, including Greg. In a situation where diplomacy would help Kate keep her mysterious powers under wraps–which we are told, over and over again, is a must for her safety–Kate flings insults and starts a fight instead. I wanted to sympathize with Kate’s occasional loss of temper, but mostly I found myself annoyed by her apparent lack of smarts.
I was also annoyed by the book’s mysterious treatment of Kate’s powers and parentage. Kate herself knows who her parents are and what she’s capable of, but she avoids revealing this crucial information to the reader, even though the book is written in first-person narrative. I love mysteries, but I find it kind of obnoxious if the main character knows the answer and is just refusing to share. It also makes for some awkward writing, as Kate’s narration does cartwheels in order to avoid revealing facts that the authors* want to hold out on us.
Finally, the book’s pacing is jumpy. The authors occasionally skip a scene or two and let the reader know about crucial events or conversations after the fact. Sometimes this works, but at other times, I really felt like the skipped scene would have added important character development.
So why did I stick with it? First, the worldbuilding in Magic Bites really intrigued me. A resurgence of magic brought about a quasi-apocalypse, and now the world is divided into “tech time,” when technology works normally and magic is unreliable, and times when “the magic is up,” when magic flares and most tech doesn’t work. The authors have a lot of fun imagining what life would be like in this world. (For example, what happens if you drive a magic-fueled car when the magic is up, but then have to return when the magic is down?) Kate’s world also won major points with me for bringing back gross and scary vampires. No emo Edward Cullens in sight here.
Second, Kate herself started to grow on me. Her actions became more cautious and her investigation became more interesting, she developed something resembling a sense of humor, and her mistakes made me wince in sympathy instead of roll my eyes. I also liked that she has to put work into being an ass-kicking mercenary. We see her lifting weights and training, which is a nice change of pace.
I’d recommend Magic Bites as beach or airplane reading for urban fantasy fans. It’s a debut with some flaws, but overall I enjoyed it. I’ll be intrigued to see if the sequel, Magic Burns, makes me want to keep reading.
Rating: Library Loan
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* The books are written by a husband-and-wife team, Ilona and Andrew Gordon.
There was a ton of great action, mystery, and magic throughout this novel. The pacing was fast and relentless, and that part of things kept me glued to my seat most of the time. I think if the other elements were improved this definitely could’ve been a five star for me, but for now I’m giving it a 3.5.
There are also smaller secrets and hidden areas within the manor itself. Players must explore the various rooms, hallways, and gardens to uncover hidden passageways, secret compartments, and hidden objects. These secrets often hold important clues and information that help players progress in the game and solve the mystery. In addition to the secrets within the manor, players must also interact with the various characters in the game to uncover information and gain their trust. Each character has their own secrets and motives, and it is up to Nancy to unravel their stories and uncover the truth. Overall, Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor is filled with secrets waiting to be discovered. The main objective of the game is to uncover the truth behind the curse and solve the mystery, but it is the many secrets and hidden areas that make the game exciting and engaging. Whether it's uncovering the identity of the Beast, finding the Moonstone, or exploring hidden areas within the manor, players will be kept on their toes as they delve deeper into the secrets of Blackmoor Manor..
Reviews for "Nancy's Greatest Challenge: The Secrets and Dangers of Curse of Blackmoor Manor"
1. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor Secrets". The game seemed to lack any real direction and the storyline was confusing. The puzzles were also extremely difficult and didn't seem to have any logical solutions. I found myself getting frustrated and bored rather quickly. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this game to anyone looking for an enjoyable and engaging mystery experience.
2. Mark - 1 out of 5 stars - I really disliked "Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor Secrets". The graphics were outdated and the characters felt one-dimensional. The dialogue options were limited and didn't provide enough depth to the story. Additionally, the gameplay was slow and tedious, with repetitive tasks that added nothing to the overall experience. Overall, I found the game to be a waste of my time and money.
3. Emily - 2 out of 5 stars - "Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor Secrets" lacked the intrigue and excitement that I usually associate with Nancy Drew games. The puzzles were overly complex and didn't add any value to the storyline. The characters felt flat and uninteresting, and the voice acting was subpar. I found myself losing interest quickly and not wanting to continue playing. Overall, I would say this game was a disappointment and not up to par with other Nancy Drew titles.
4. David - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really hoping for an immersive and thrilling mystery, but "Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor Secrets" didn't deliver. The storyline felt disjointed and lacked a clear direction. The puzzles were frustratingly difficult and didn't provide enough guidance or clues to solve them. The overall gameplay felt slow and tedious, and I found myself losing interest quickly. I would not recommend this game to anyone looking for an enjoyable mystery experience.