Author: Jennifer L, Armentrout
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
ISBN: 0983157278
ISBN13: 9781937053123
Genre: Young Adult
Review Copy Source: Publisher
Dying sucks--and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.
Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he’s a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she’s more than interested. There’s just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. However, she’s willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't?
But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not've been an accident at all, she’s not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.
I always jump when I see the Jennifer is releasing a new book. I have not read any of her books and not liked them so CURSED was a no brainer, must read for me. Ember can not touch anyone or anything alive without fear that she will kill them. She takes care of her little sister and her depressed, catatonic mother on her own until one day when a mysterious boy her age changes everything.
I can't even begin to imagine what it is like to be Ember. To not be able to be touched, kissed, held or hold, touch or kiss anyone else has to be pure torture. She takes very good care of her little sister with great sacrifice to herself and is just happy to make it day to day. When Hayden is first introduced to the story I could tell right away that he and Ember would have an instant connection. He was mysterious and likable with many sides to him. Ember quickly finds out that her and her sister are not alone in the supernatural world and are whisked away to live among others. Ember as you can imagine is not to happy to have her life uprooted and does not take anything that is told to her to heart. The relationship between Ember and Hayden is pretty rocky and has many ups and downs. They don't really trust each other which makes things harder.
There was great character development throughout CURSED and some mystery on top of everything. There was some slow pacing in the beginning but once everything picked up I had no trouble staying connected to the story and characters. The mystery unravels at a good pace but the bad guy was a little obvious after a bit. It looks like CURSED is a stand alone novel but I wouldn't mind seeing another book added to it.
I gave it 3.5/5 stars
