Cursed

Written by J.A. Cipriano

Narrated by James Patrick Cronin

My name is Mac Brennan and that's the only thing I can remember about myself. Not why I woke up in a dumpster. Not why my right arm is as black as pitch and covered in glowing red tattoos, and certainly not why a vicious death cult is after me.
Actually, that last part isn't true. I know why the death cult is after me. It's because I saved that damned girl from them. I didn't know who she was at the time, but I'd have done it anyway. I just don't like it when girls get beat up, call me old fashioned. Still, I can tell she's hiding something behind those devilish eyes, and if I want to find out what it is, I'll have to help her.
My name is Mac Brennan. I have no memory, and I'm a werewolf-hunting, hellfire-flinging version of Faust himself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Jun 7, 2016
• ISBN: 9781515977193

Reviews for Cursed

[sheiladeeth_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The protagonist in J.A. Cipriano’s Cursed reminds me of Harry Dresden with his smooth, self-deprecating voice and darkly antagonistic world. But the similarities end as Mac Brennan learns and uses his destructive powers—this is a gory tale with crueler themes. The story's set in an almost-familiar world where vampires and werewolves roam unrecognized, congregate at the occasional safe cafe location, and perhaps allow mysterious entities to inhabit their minds. But Mac’s first aim is to find out who he is and to escape an immediate and thoroughly unpleasant end. It makes for an enthralling first scene, and draws the reader quickly into the book.Gory, dark, filled with action and suspense, Cursed is a great start to a series, a complete novel in its own right, and a fast, enthralling read. By the end I don’t know if I want to like Mac or not. But I do want to know more, and I want him to win his next battle. Serious urban fantasy without an inch of flab, this is a book I couldn’t put down until it was done.Disclosure: I borrowed it and loved it.

[montzaleew · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cursed (The Thrice Cursed Mage #1) by J.A. Cipriano is book one in the Trice Cursed Mage series and it was awesome! Thrilling, fascinating, magic filled, exciting, suspense-filled, and crazy is what this book is! The guy wakes up in a dumpster, no memory of how he got there or why, and now he has power! But he gets mixed up in something over his head... in with demons that want him dead... Great job!

[jetangen4571 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Scary good and full of action, adventure, suspense, but I am beginning to loathe Cipriano. I keep finding more of his stuff that I just have to read! At least I was lucky enough to get the audio on sale this time! But the rest of you don't need audio to appreciate the snarkiness. Or the personalities. OR the situations! See publisher's blurb for plot clues, but, really, just stick your nose in the pages and get carried away.

[Hayley · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Eh, it passed the time. Full of cliches, literary tropes and odd dialog. Ex. “She left me on the sidewalk, alone,by myself”.

[chrisweir-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Book takes place in a world that overlays Manhattan, but isn't on any map. It is filled with magic, fae and demons. Rio, the heroine, of the book is about to turn 25 and all kind of strange things begin to happen in her life. She sees a kidnapping while out on a job as a bike messenger. This is the start of the strange things soon an oversized trio of mythological hitman are on her tail. She seeks the help of local magician, Luke. With his help she finds the little girl who was kidnapped who in fact is the niece of the queen of the fae. We learn that both the fae and demons have an interest in Rio. It all comes to a climax at midnight on her birthday.

[darkfaerietales_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.Quick & Dirty: Magician and human struggle against competing paranormal forces to win love and acceptance of their past.Opening Sentence: Getting stabbed is hell on the dry-cleaning bill.The Review:I don’t normally do this, but I’m 100 pages into this book and I’m already frantic for book 2. After the first chapter I knew I was in trouble. Following the first five chapters, I realized that I had skipped lunch. Finally, after the first ten chapters I thought I’d take a breather and write my first impressions. This book is mind-blowing, stupendous, darn I love my review job and this book is a must read for any fan of romance, paranormal romance or just an amazing story. Off to finish this delightfully written book and will finish this review later.Usually with reviews, I give myself a few hours or even sleep on it before I write my review. Well, that is definitely not the case with this book. It has only been 10 minutes since I finished this book and I want book 2 STAT! This book reminds me of my favorite dessert — Dark Chocolate Godiva and Coffee Cheesecake. Rich, Creamy and Irresistible!The story of Luke and Rio is an engrossing read. It is not often that I will allow myself to just sit down and consume a book in one sitting or that I will feel compelled to sit and consume a book. This book left me with no ability to put it down. Every time I was dragged out of the world by my barking dog, it was sheer misery. Every time I heard a timer go off or one of my mobile devices ding, I was only dimly conscious of it. This book is better than anything I have read this whole year and that is saying a lot.The story was rich and rewarding. There were no plot holes that I even glimpsed. This world was everything that a reader dreams a world should be and then some. We are given a huge world to play in with magicians, demons, fae, mountain trolls, magical fox, grendels, poisoning, sleeping beauty, goblins and that is just the start. The research that went into this book must fill a large notebook. You can see that Ms. Day took care and joy in creating this world and all the creatures that reside within. Even some of the hideous creatures are just fascinating.The depth of this thought also includes a gigantic duck and its egg. Luke and Rio are called in to find the duck’s lost egg (I know it is hilarious, but wait there is more!). Ms Day’s wicked sense of humor thrums through this book. Here is a perfect example. “Guess it’s duck season,” Rio said and grinned. ‘“Wabbit season,” Luke corrected her….It took a rare person to appreciate a good Elmer Fudd line.” That rare person was me. I laughed so hard my sides hurt for 10 minutes.The humor and wit abound in this book. When you flip the page don’t be surprised when something magical or just plain odd happens because the world of Bordertown could have been named Looney Toons City.If I haven’t convinced you to place your hard earned cash down for this book then shame on you, but if you don’t and hear others talking about the wonder of Luke and Rio’s story, then you have well and truly been warned. While I wait not so patiently for book 2, I’m going to catch up with the rest of Ms. Day’s books. I’m glad to find another author to add the the favorite list.Finally, if a Smart TV executive reads this book or this review then option this series NOW! This is a show I would gladly watch once a week and it would fill the gaping hole that is found in the magical and romantic television void. You can thank me and all the rest of the viewers later.Notable Scene:A shudder snaked its way through Rio at the thought of Dalriata chaining Kit again, and Luke reached over and took her hand. The warmth of his fingers clasping hers sent a wave of reassurance to counter the fear.Rio stared at their joined hands, resting on the table, and wondered how long it had been since someone had held her hand. Just that simple, human bit of affection–so common and so ordinary–and she couldn’t even remember the last time she’d experienced it. She suddenly felt a little pathetic, so she pulled her hand away and put it in her lap, out of his reach.FTC Advisory: Berkley/Penguin provided me with a copy of The Cursed. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[literaladdiction · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Associate Reviewer - Shawnie:*eBook gifted by LITERAL ADDICTION in exchange for an honest review--Actual rating 4.5 SkullsThe Cursed is set in a backdrop of New York City, Manhattan to be precise, but nothing is as it seems. Welcome to Bordertown.Luke Oliver is Bordertown's resident 'dark and mysterious wizard;, and has been trying to keep a low profile. Nobody can hide forever though, and the past has a way of catching up you; no matter who you are. After having an interesting conversation with Maestro, an active member of the Order, in which he's given an envelope that contains a photograph of a young woman and nothing else, Luke is shaken; he knows the woman. He's seen her around his office building when she stops in to deliver packages, and he wants her like nothing else. Even though he's been trying to stay away from her and keep his feelings under wraps - for reasons he can never explain to her - he still feels like he knows her and things just don't add up. The burning question of the hour... Why does the League want the woman? And why do they want Luke, of all people, involved?Rio Jones - just one of the many names she uses as a shield to keep people at a distance - is an enigma. She's a 24 year old Bike Messenger in Bordertown, and her employer is a Siren. She didn't have an easy life, and from what Alyssa allows us to read in The Cursed, it's still not easy (sorry, no spoilers). After growing up in an orphanage run by a convent, Rio's got more scars and unanswered questions than she is willing to deal with, but it all comes out in the wash — or rather when she's twenty-four hours away from turning 25.The book starts out simmering, and then explodes into an all out rat race as Rio and Luke try to figure out exactly what's going on, and determine why everyone wants Rio. Turning twenty-five is significant in the supernatural world, but Rio doesn't think there is anything supernatural about her. Yeah, she can read minds, but that's nothing serious. Little does she know that things are about to get REAL serious, when two different factions basically start a war in their attempt to get her for themselves and keep her away from the other. I have to say, I was hesitant with this book, but I'm glad I got the chance to read it. I can totally see myself reading the next installments of the series. The love story that paralleled the main storyline was great. Luke and Rio had to come to terms with themselves and each other, but once they did, they were all in. My only complaint was that the book took awhile to get to where it was all going. All of the running around and the secrets/hints about who Rio really was, etc was annoying at times, yet hilarious at others.I give this 4 1/2 skulls, and absolutely recommend it.