Cursed Ever After
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
“Charming, zany, and a whole lot of fun—Cursed Ever After is a breath of fresh air.” —Margaret Owen, New York Times–bestselling author of the Little Thieves and the Merciful Crow series
Cursed Ever After is a dazzling romantic fantasy debut brimming with snark, humor, and banter-filled romance perfect for fans of The Princess Bride and Once Upon a Broken Heart.
Love is not for cursed girls. Risa is better off without it.
Risa Porto is a Bad Thing who was born on a Bad Day and is cursed with Bad Luck. After years of taking the blame for every calamity, mishap, and minor inconvenience that befalls the townspeople of Barrow, Risa longs to escape her village. And on her seventeenth birthday, her wish is granted.
Sort of.
Risa owes a (very annoying) witch a favor, and it comes in the form of a quest: She must escort Prince Javi—the youngest, handsomest, and least significant of the kingdom’s princes—through the dark (and deadly) Bosque to his wedding. This measly errand quickly spirals into a struggle with greedy assassins, a murderous cult, a vicious tyrant, and Risa’s own curse.
Most unfortunate of all . . .
Risa is not immune to Javi’s charms. The more time she spends with the prince, the stronger—and more irritating—her urge to kiss him becomes.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Debut author Naranjo blends swashbuckling adventure with wry humor in a romantic fantasy that juggles charm and peril. All her life, residents of Risa Porto's small village in the kingdom of Kheadon have inexplicably used Risa as a scapegoat for unfortunate events, believing she's been cursed since birth. When the witch Brunhilda appears on Risa's 17th birthday with a quest, Risa is certain that the ensuing journey will end badly. She's tasked with escorting charismatic Prince Javier, the seventh son of the king, to the distant land of Madros in time for his upcoming wedding to the country's princess. Javi's easy confidence and rakish wit clash with Risa's fatalistic outlook, and their dynamic—marked by sharp, sarcastic banter—provides a lively counterpoint to the dangers they encounter along their route. From frightening forests to treacherous towns, the pair face witches, assassins, and a growing sense that their mission is more complicated than it first appeared. They are soon joined by a mysterious girl known only as Wolf, whose own apparent curse adds another layer of intrigue. As Risa projects her fears onto every misfortune, convinced she is the source of the Latinx-cued characters' troubles, her assumptions gradually morph over the course of a pensive narrative that invites both protagonist and reader to question the nature of fate and self-perception. The result is an empowering tale of friendship, first love, and self-acceptance. Ages 12–up.
