The Curse Girl

By Kate Avery Ellison

When her father tries to steal magic from the mysterious, beastly master of the "Curse House" outside her home town, seventeen-year-old Beauty is the one who becomes a prisoner of the Beast in reparation. Will isn't anything like she expected. He's the same age as she is, for one thing. He's also really handsome, contrary to local legend. Well, maybe the whole "beast" thing is meant to be metaphorical, because he's a total jerk.

Between the house's weird magic and Will's snobby attitude, the situation is nearly unbearable, and Beauty only wants to escape. But there are ... complications. The witch who cursed Will left him a riddle to solve and four years to figure it out. And now that Beauty's become a part of this messed up fairy tale, she'd better help Will figure out the riddle so they can break the curse, or she's going to remain a prisoner in the curse house too.

Because the four years are almost up.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kate Avery Ellison
• Release date: May 14, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452438290

Kate Avery Ellison

When I'm not writing, I enjoy watching NBC comedy shows, playing video games, and eating ice cream cake. While it’s true that I'm currently working on a zombie novel, don’t let that fool you. I am decidedly Team Unicorn.

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Reviews for The Curse Girl

[rachelda-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Curse Girl is a quick and enjoyable read. Kate Avery Ellison sticks to the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast, but adds just enough of her own ideas and twists to make it refreshing. I found myself quite caught up in the love story of Beauty and Will - the romantic / intimate moments were well done. This novel isn't overly complex, and because it's a retelling of a classic tale, it is predictable... But what else can a reader expect going into a young adult fairy tale adaptation? I read the Curse Girl in just a few hours. It's great if you're looking for something quick to keep your mind busy.

[tt_14 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

*I received this book to review by the Author*This story is a re-telling of the classic story Beauty and The Beast. If you are familiar with this Disney story you are able to recognize all the characters in this book easily.Beauty also called "Bee" for short is a modern version of Belle. Bee is 17 years old living the regular teen life which includes hanging out with friends and dating Drew one of the cutest guy in school. Bee's life takes a drastic and enchanting change when her low down father trades his daughters life to the towns Legendary "Beast" for his second wife's well being.I absolutely Adored this book! Two thumbs up and Five Stars for this crafty re-telling of a story that is so close to everyone's heart! The Author jump's right into the story from the first page which was very smart of her because the readers really dont need a lot of background because this is such an old story. I also appreciated how the author took all the special elements of the book including the Rose,the housekeeper,the curse, and The Beast and ran with it and made her own twisted story of Love,Murder,Betrayal,Forgiveness, and a little magic!This was a short and lovely read. The Author plays a game of tug of war on your every emotion while reading and I found myself laughing out loud to "No He didn't" to "No She didn't!". I also loved the character commentary between Bee and William bickering back in forth and I laughed out loud when Will told Bee that her names fits her because she acts like a Bitch! LOL HILARIOUS!! I enjoyed this from beginning to end. All the twist and turns along with the mystery behind the events that lead to everyone being Cursed and the mystery to figure out how to break the Curse that has taken on a life of it's own.Recommend to: I recommend this book to everyone who loves the original story of Beauty and The Beast. You will definitely have fun reading this and figuring out who all the characters are because of the twists the author puts in the story. A must read! I will definitely be reading more of Kate's books!Cover Rating: 5 stars! The cover is a Beauty! :)Favorite Quotes: "If being happy prevents you from being good, then I'd rather you were miserable. Misery breeds repentance, after all."-Marian/Witch -The Curse Girl by Kate Avery"Hatred is an ugly thing, Bee. It's like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets. It corrupts the person holding it inside."-Liam-The Curse Girl by Kate Avery

[jessibelle_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The book was cute. I didn't expect it to be an exact following of Beauty and the Beast, but it was. There were minor change ups, which in turn lead me to give this book a 3. It reminded me too much of the movie, as well as the book Beastly. Overall, the author does well with adapting this book, but it left me wishing she did more.

[nadineroselarter · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The Curse Girl is a pretty decent retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast tale. I liked the idea of The Fey Lands as well as the origami magic and other magic at play in the house. Unfortunately I didn't love the main character too much. The hot-headed feisty-for-barely-any-reason female doesn't do it for me anymore. I found her a little unnecessarily dramatic. As a whole I liked the idea of the story, but the constant use of the word "jerk" and the slamming of doors and stomping out of rooms in a huff became redundant very quickly. I must admit though that YA is not my genre at all and my thoughts on the book do not in any way mean that others might not enjoy it. It is relatively well-written (apart from a few cases where continuity and sense might be a bit questionable) and I imagine it is definitely a book that teenagers might enjoy reading.

[ldybug_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A gripping story from the start. Kate Ellison brings you into a house that has had a curse put on it by an angry witch. This house has is a legend and tells of a beast that lives inside who eats children. Bee, has come to be trapped inside this house.She is the only one who is able to break the curse and set the beast(Will) and his sister Rose, free. It is a lesson to be learned that breaks the curse. I was thrilled with this book, the characters are strong and I cannot wait to read more from this author!

[kristincedar · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Review of “The Curse Girl.” Thoroughly enjoy this book. Based off of the fairy tale of Beauty and Beast, this novel turned the Disney story on its’ head. The story did start off a bit confusing, but as the novel progresses, there is a real gift to Mrs Ellison’s writing to make the reader want more. All of the imagery within the story helped greatly, and can only wish for more of this cast of characters; so good, I’d read it again.

[sandeen_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A new take on a very old tale, Kate Ellison hat's off for pulling this off. I have read most of the re-tellings of Beauty and the Beast out there, and this really is a new version of it. Mostly because she stuck close to the story, at least what I expect from the story, while keeping the readers guessing the entire time. Not something that's easy to do with such well know story.I love that she put it in modern day, and brought shape-shifters, fey, and a whole different world into it. And kept the Beast from being what amounts to an old man, she made him a real teenager, not just some old person who looks like one. Thank-you!This story is a must read for any lover of fantasy, Beauty and the Beast, or teen novel. That is the only draw back to this book, it is certainly a teen book, with the main character often lacking eloquence.Overall, a great book, and I look forward to seeing what Kate Ellison gives us next.

[elbakerone · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Taking a modern spin on the classic tale of "Beauty and the Beast", Kate Ellison's The Curse Girl begins with teenage Beauty, also known as Bee, arriving at the doorstep of a strange old house known to be the home of the village Beast. Dropped off by her father as something of a sacrificial lamb to save his family, Bee bravely enters the house where a world of magic awaits her.The labyrinthine mansion with its self-lighting candles and ever-changing rooms and corridors is but one of many wonders Bee encounters as the structure's denizens are even more unique. She meets Butler and Housekeeper who are as integrated into the house as their names suggest and the little girl Rose, who becomes more plant-like every day. And then there is the Beast. Rather than some bizarre monster, Bee encounters the head of the household as a young man named Will. A large scar mars his countenance but the most beastly thing about him is in fact his short temper. Bee, however, has a fiery personality to match Will's own, and she soon discovers that it's up to her to break the riddle-filled curse that holds them all enslaved if she ever wants a chance to go home.I enjoyed the fantasy elements that Kate Ellison blended into this story. The characters are intriguing and the puzzles involved in the curse were unique. I didn't find Bee particularly easy to relate to - the book would probably be better suited to a younger audience - but I still appreciated her spirited nature. I also enjoyed the relationship between Bee and Will, which developed throughout the story.With a sprinkling of fairies, witches and shapeshifters, the urban fantasy work manages to update "Beauty and the Beast" for today's teen readers, while still maintaining the elements of the story that make it so beloved. All in all, The Curse Girl is a creative new take on a classic story.

[andreat78_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have been sitting here for about 10 minutes, trying to start writing. But I can’t seem to stop ogling the gorgeous cover of The Curse Girl. From the beautiful girl, to the gorgeous bluish/purplish colors, and the magic dust (or is it stars?); the cover to this book is a definite win. As you might have deduced from the synopsis, The Curse Girl is a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. I’ve never read a re-telling of a classic tale, so I was excited to take this book on. When the story opens, Beauty (who also goes by Bee) has been betrayed, then abandoned by her father. Bee has been given up to the Beast to pay for her father’s sin. When her father leaves Bee at the Curse House, she must enter the spooky mansion and become a prisoner of the curse herself. As you might imagine, given that his nickname is Beast, the owner of the mansion, Will is arrogant, hateful and condescending. The house is filled with employers and family members who have also been saddled with the curse. Bee must decide whether to succumb to her fate, or work with Will to solve the riddle that makes up the curse. The Curse Girl is filled with several memorable characters. There is Bee, of course. Bee is a funny, snarky, spunky girl. She never lets Will’s “beastly” personality get her completely down. She is immediately up to the challenge of solving the riddle. Will, as I stated before, definitely has some character flaws. While he is often irritable and rude, you always get the sense of his underlying despair and vulnerability. Will’s sister, Rose, is a delightful little girl. She is often the peacemaker to Will and Bee. There is also Liam, a boy chained in the basement of the mansion, whose screams wake Bee at night. The most surprising character of The Curse Girl is the house itself. Kate Ellison managed to make the house into another living, breathing, albeit spooky character. While all of these elements make for a great story, The Curse Girl is not limited to the modern world. There is also Fae Land, the home of all mythical creatures. There are faeries, trolls, witches, elves vampires and werewolves. No one in Fae Land is trustworthy, and all are dangerous. Of course, the mystery to breaking the curse is the driving force of the story. What will break the curse? Will Bee and Will find a way to work together before time runs out? The Curse Girl is a story filled with a tremendous sense of magic and wonder, which made it a very charming book. Kate Ellison managed to take a “tale as old as time” and create a charming story of her own. *I received a copy of The Curse Girl from the author, Kate Ellison, who asked me to give an honest review*