This is the last book in an excellent trilogy and I loved them all: I had fun and thoroughly enjoyed the story and the world building.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

A trilogy I loved.

Every Gift a Curse by Caroline O’Donoghue is the final instalment in the All our Hidden Gifts trilogy and what a finish!!

Not really a review as it would spoil everything but this was by far my fav of all 3 books. The action doesn’t let up, we get so much more of the characters and of course the magic is still brilliant.

It’s a solid trilogy I would recommend with my eyes closed to any student/ person who wants to read a mystery/magical story set in Ireland, with brilliant rep, plot twists and characters you will grow to love so much as the series progresses.

This instalment is a wild ride and I loved it. I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you to @netgalley and @walkerbooksya for this e-arc in return for my honest review.

In the final instalment in the Gifts series, Maeve and her friends must try to figure out how to save themselves and the town from the looming threat of the Housekeeper card and the Children of Brigid.

First of all, I missed these dumbass teenagers and their dumbass antics so much, and I'm really not okay that now I'm finished I will keep missing them. Because this book got me even more invested in every single one of them, which I didn't think was possible. Each of their individual journeys from book one, plus how far they've come as a group, and seeing them come into their powers - they're fictional, but I'm so very proud of them.
I loved this deeper dive into the Housekeeper's history, it was even better (and more heartbreaking) than I was expecting. It was really the perfect culmination of the themes throughout this series; the importance of protecting those whom society does not, the prevailing cruelty of people in power, and as always, the depths of power of the church in Ireland.
All of this was so wonderfully explored through the characters' personal journeys as they are brought to the cusp of adulthood, face the pressure to choose their paths, while also, you know, facing mortal danger and threats to life as they know it.
I have always maintained I would defend Maeve to the ends of the earth, and this book really just entirely justified me in that. She is the biggest bleeding heart and her ending, while slightly bitter-sweet, was also just, perfect.
And then, the elements that probably drew me into this series in the first place; the real, genuine Irishness of everything from the dialogue, to the characters, to the setting - I can't get enough of it, and then the casual queerness throughout - love, love, love.

In all, I am already mourning the end of this series, but I am so so happy it exists.

Thank you NetGalley and Walker Books for the advanced copy of this title, received in exchange for an honest review.

Every Gift a Curse, Caroline O’Donoghue 4/5

The third installment of the All Our Hidden Gifts series and more teens are missing in the town of Kilbeg. As Maeve and her friends try to discover why and deal with the fallout of their last tangle with magic and the Housekeeper, Maeve realises something inside her is changing.

O’Donoghue’s natural ability to write solid character and good YA is present again here. This is a series I regularly recommend, as the characters juggle family issues, schooling, relationships, sex, gender against the backdrop of unpredictable magic. The irony of which is lost of none of them. The Craft smashing into Charmed in rural Ireland. A must read YA.

I love these books so much, is there anything to be said for a 4th installment? A Christmas special? A musical episode? I just can’t believe they’re over – while this is the most satisfying end to a series I’ve read in God knows how long, I’m just so upset at the idea of having no more books in this series, especially as this installment seems to open so many possible doors for the story and that world.

This is certainly the scariest book in the trilogy so far, and I barely held in a scream at the end of part one. However, this is not just because of the supernatural forces that threaten the characters: the group have to come to terms with the kind of everyday darkness lurks in everyday life, that they have been somewhat sheltered to do farl. This is why their enemies, a far right group called The Children are so persuasive: they prey on that fear, and loneliness and shame and if times this feels a little on the nose, it’s important to remember how ridiculously evil, yet prevalent those ideas are becoming in Ireland today.

The natural antidote to this, of course, is the full realisation of the central Gifts characters as their own, strong people, who flaws and all fight for themselves and each other to the end. Since the first book in this series, I’ve been so impressed at how authentic the teen characters and their friendships seem. Sometimes I fear books aimed at younger people get this bit wrong because the relationships seem a bit flat, or shallow, best friends forever or sworn enemies. By this installment of the series especially, the central characters really do love each other. They are grounded real friendship, full of stupid in-jokes, pointless fights, pride in each other but also petty jealousies too. I believe in Maeve, Roe, Lily and Fiona so fiercely, and in all the fully realised and authentic ways they connect with each other.

Every Gift a Curse was, in all honesty, a slightly disappointing end to a series I had been thoroughly enjoying up until now. I still liked the book, so I wouldn’t call it a complete letdown, but I didn’t enjoy it nearly so much. All in all, it felt a little samey, like the story told over the trilogy might have fit just as well into only two books.

The story pretty much follows on from the end of the previous book, with helpful reminders of just what happened then, as it’s been a year or so since that was published and I’d forgotten just about everything that happened in it. Maeve is cursed, or so they think, and everyone is in somewhat of a bind over how to resolve it.

I think I had a similar feeling about the pacing of the second book, at the start at least. That book was elevated, for me, by the start of Aaron’s redemption arc and the same was pretty much the case here, as it continued (although less prevalent). In terms of the plot, it all starts to feel very much the same as the previous book. It felt like there wasn’t anything that differentiated this book from its predecessor. As such, I found I was a little bored by it at points.

That’s not to say there weren’t good aspects. I liked the writing just as much as before, and the characters leapt off the page too. They were compelling enough on their own that, even though I was bored by the plot, reading about them was hardly a trial. I also liked how Aaron’s redemption arc played out, particularly how, despite it, Ro still didn’t forgive him and wasn’t pressured into doing so. Since, of all the characters, Ro is probably the one who Aaron hurt the most, I thought this was a nice way to go about things. It recognised both that Aaron still had work to do and that Ro wasn’t obliged to forgive or forget what he had done before (and it would be their choice if ever they wanted to).

So, really, the only issue that I had was the way it felt as though it had all happened before, albeit maybe on a smaller scale (as if now they were fighting the boss, where before they weren’t). With a bit of shuffling events around, you might have fit the events of the final two books into one, slightly longer, one. In the end, then, it was a solid, if slightly disappointing finale to a good series.

I Quite Enjoyed this But found it a little Too Scary in Places, Recommened reading for Spooky Nights In!
(Thanks to Net Galley for this Book).

This is the final book in O’Donoghue’s much beloved “Gifts” series and readers I am delighted to report that she did not come to play and that I also finally warmed to Maeve fully as a character because it was feeling like a bit of a struggle there for a while.

Maeve and her friends are still reeling in the aftermath of the second books out-comes, the choices they made and the outcomes of the same. Riddled with trauma, and slowly fracturing as both their coping mechanisms slowly start to pull them apart from one another, they come to realise that the infamous “Housekeeper” spirit has her eyes set on them. Both individually and as a group they are forced to make choices that will affect their lives forever, all to keep their home town safe.

Folks, I can’t sing this books praises highly enough, there is glorious magical realism, a cult that is genuinely believable as a cult, a plot twist that genuinely stopped me in my tracks when I started to twig it. I could not put this down once I started it. It is an absolute banger and the perfect end to the series.

As always I will praise O’Donoghue for her ability to right both modern and bigoted Ireland so well in tandem. Her inclusivity across gender and sexual orientation, which matters so much when writing YA, honest to god I wish this had been around in my teenage years it would have given me a lot of relief. The nuances and intricacies of the writing are absolutely fantastic; all of the weird stuff was done beautifully, sealing my ghrá for this series forever more.

It’s a solid five out of five stars for me, and I can’t wait to see where O’Donoghue’s YA writing goes next.

Every Gift a Curse, the final book in Caroline O’Donoghue’s tarot inspired YA fantasy series, is just as twisty, gripping and brilliantly written as the first two books.

After the harrowing events of book two you would expect a level of peace for our protagonists, but Maeve and the gang continue to face enemies both at home and abroad (and by abroad I mean in other dimensions) with the Children of Brigid and the return of the threat from the Housekeeper. The group are growing up, but with that and what happened to the school Maeve’s paranormal powers are also growing in unpredictable and alarming ways. It seems like the only way for the group to stave off the Housekeeper’s return is to find out more about her, and the only way to do that is for Maeve to enter a parallel dimension - and a mind - she does not know and that might take control.

I am always drawn to stories featuring magic and I loved that we found out more about the meaning of the cards and the tarot theme that ran through the story. While the trope of a group of teenage friends saving the world (or Ireland in this case) from an unknown evil and/or a group of zealots with extremist views hell bent on seizing control is not a new one in YA, Every Gift a Curse explores it in a new, nuanced way that didn’t make it feel tired. This is ultimately a story acceptance, of positive representation, of standing up for minority groups and of the importance of speaking truth to power, and we need stories like that more than ever.

I’m a massive fan of Caroline’s writing, both adult and YA, and the ending of this series was a satisfying one for me. This is a must read series for readers who love stories that centre around the tarot, the importance of friendship and of found family and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Normally I hold off posting about new books until they’re out, but I’m bringing you this review now while you still have 2-ish weeks to go to pick up the first two books in this series before it finishes!

It is no secret that I love this series, so a huge thank you to @walkerbooksya and @netgalley for being able to read it a little early. Picking back up with Maeve and her gang, we find them dealing with the aftermath of the second book and waiting for the Housekeeper to make her reappearance.

I won’t give away too much more, but I did *not* see any of the twists coming, and even though I am obviously absolutely devastated that this series is now over, it was the best ending for these characters. I cried and laughed while reading this one, and honestly I wanted to hug Maeve but I had to hug the book instead.

Maeve, Roe, Lily, and Fiona won’t be characters I’ll forget about any time soon - they’ll live on with me as they grow. (And if Caroline O’Donoghue ever wants to write an adult novel that picks up with them a decade later, I wouldn’t be mad about it…)

These are ones to pick up if you love books that feel like going home, if you love tarot, if you love friendship. I’ll never shut up about thjs series tbh, and I cannot recommend them enough.

Every Gift a Curse is the final instalment in an excellent YA trilogy from Caroline O’Donoghue and addresses everything that readers from the first two books will want to know. Will Maeve and friends finally be able to get rid of the horrible influence of the Children in Kilbeg? Is Aaron really a good person or will he go back to working with the Children? Will the ominous Housekeeper return? How will the friendships between Maeve, Fiona, Lily and Roe survive? To say this is a satisfying conclusion to the series - that deals with all these questions (and more!) - is an understatement. I would say that it is hard to imagine this being picked up and read as a stand-alone book without having read the earlier books. Also, it took me a while to get back up to speed with what had happened before and who certain characters were. Overall, fans of the series will be far from disappointed with this concluding instalment of the series.

Oh, what a brilliant ending to a brilliant series. I don’t tend to read much YA anymore, but this series reminds me that there are some absolute gems within the genre, that really can be read and enjoyed at any age.

I cannot recommend this series more, if you’re looking for an urban fantasy, steeped in magic, and reality, with a cast of characters that feel real, for all their flaws, strengths, and gifts. These books are also brilliant in their representation, with a non-binary character, and an overall message of standing up for, and protecting, minorities, even in the face of weaponised religion. There’s a really grittiness to these books, which I love, and it doesn’t shy away from the scary stuff, but it’s always grounded by the connections and friendships within the group, even when things are strained.

I won’t get too much into the plot as I worry about spoiling the first two books, which I so want more people to read, but I think this was the perfect rounding off of the series.

A glorious end to to a fantastic series. O'Donaghue has crafted a fantastic finale, a heart-wrenching story that pulls all of our favourite characters together. This was definitely a page-turner, leaving the reader on the edge of the seat. A magic story with basis in real Irish history, the trauma of the land clearly visible on the page. The story took some twisting turns, showing humility and kindness.
Such a wonderful story, and I cannot wait to see what O'Donaghue does next!

Every Gift a Curse is just fantastic. This tarot card based fantasy trilogy has been such a standout in UKYA fantasy for me over the past few years. O’Donoghue brings everything to a brilliant and explosive conclusion here, building character, lore and history even more.

Having previously read and loved All Our Hidden Gifts and The Gifts That Bind Us, I can safely say the All Our Hidden Gifts trilogy is an underrated gem. This is a trilogy that really digs into its social commentary and thrives in its proudly Irish flair. It is a modern myth in the making, with fantastical powers acting as metaphorical stand-ins for mental health, queer identity and personal struggles. O’Donoghue has created something that will truly help so, so many readers.

This trilogy really shines when it sits with our four central characters, who have been through thick and thin together. Their character development over these three books has been wonderful, with real tension, drama and changing dynamics that feel authentic. This is a real coming of age storyline that heavily focuses on the power of friendship, flawed and messy as they may be. O’Donoghue also heavily draws on themes of trauma and the cycle of trauma, leaving long lasting effects on the characters. They have to educate themselves and others to combat this vicious cycle and change the narrative. In particular, a storyline shines light on previously villainous figures and their backstories. It does not excuse the reprehensible actions of their past, but places them in a more complicated position. There is history and unearthed secrets there for you to uncover.

Every Gift a Curse breaks the mould of YA fantasy with a fresh and fantastic story that deserves to be picked up by everyone.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Caroline O’Donghue, take my five stars! My gosh this series! What a perfect ending! I am so sad to say goodbye to these characters, I love this strange, cobbled together friendship group so much. Each and every one of them has grown as a character, most of all Maeve who has gone from being an insecure schoolgirl to a powerful and compassionate young woman.

I loved this book in the series the most because it was absolutely action packed. So much happened, I was never bored and didn’t want to put it down. Caroline’s writing is impeccable and at no point did this feel “too young” or immature in any way. Caroline takes on very real world issues and not only handles them with care but brings awareness. The lore that she has created in this story is so deep and rich and the problems the characters faced were solved creatively. I could never predict how a situation was going to be resolved or which direction the plot was going to go in.

I think the message this series puts out is that we all have magic on us and we can choose to do bad things or good things with that magic. We have to educate ourselves, much like Aaron has had to do in the book, and learn before we lash out and use fear as an excuse to incite hate.

Thank you so much for this series Caroline O’Donoghue! I wholeheartedly recommend this series!

Every Gift a Curse by Caroline O'Donoghue is the third and final book in her Gifts series and what a finale it is. This series has been one of my favourites of recent years and I was hopeful that the concluding book would live up to the magic of the earlier ones, I was not disappointed.
The book picks up from the point where the previous book, The Gifts that Bind Us , leaves off and we are right back in the small town of Kilbeg with Maeve and her group of friends as they fend of the mysterious and dangerous Children of Brigid while trying to prepare for the imminent return of the vengeful Housekeeper spirit . (Trust me this all makes perfect sense if you have read the previous books and if you have not, I urge you to get on it as soon as you can.) The once close knit group is starting to fracture however, Roe's music career is starting to take off and their relationship with Maeve is under threat because of their jealousy of her friendship with Aaron, the former Child of Brigid who is now on their side. Aaron in turn is worried about Maeve , as a fellow sensitive he can tell something strange is going on, and the revelation of what that is is one of the best moments of the book.
Once again O'Donoghue's way with words is second to none, the writing in this series as a whole has been lyrical and evocative and that continues here. Her ability to create characters that the reader will care about is another real strength and in this book, and the series as a whole, she has built and developed her characters in a way that makes them come to life for the reader. as they have grown up on the page.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

As someone who doesn’t read YA or fantasy I sure do enjoy this YA fantasy series! I have so anticipated the final instalment.

We pick back up with the gang as they are trying to finish off both the Housekeeper and the Children for good. Being teenagers they are also just figuring out themselves and how to be in the world. However for Maeve this looks scarily different from the rest of her friends.

This felt like such a fitting end to a really engaging series and was sad to say goodbye to this cast of characters. No doubt anyone who has been reading these books will love the ending!

I could not open this copy fast enough!!!!!
I adored this trilogy from start to finish
This was such a strong ending to the series and it was so nice to get back with the gang for one final instalment against the Children

This was a perfect end to a trilogy. It started right where the second book left off but I soon got back into who was who. The twists are perfectly pulled off and this is going to be a whole series that I will want to read all over again.

Following straight on from the last book, each of the characters are fast growing up, but there's still a lot left unanswered. I enjoyed the return of the mysterious children of Bridgid, as well as seeing
Maeve and Lily's friendship continue to recover.
Overall, a nice way to round off this series, and a fun read.