This was ok. It was a short read but had moments of not making much sense. It felt rushed but I guess that's to be expected in a short book. I got frustrated with the FMC not knowing certain things but as the reader, we did. Overall, it was an alright book but I won't read the next one.

Alessia “Allie” Wells is a doctor, a runaway bride, and a firm nonbeliever in magic—until a dark stranger kidnaps her from her wedding and takes her to a mysterious island.
There, she discovers an enchanting world filled with mythical creatures and a deadly curse that only a true Fae can break. The problem? Fae were wiped out centuries ago… except for her.
As Allie embraces her destiny, she falls for the powerful man who took her—but if she can’t undo the curse, she’ll lose him, the island, and the only place she’s ever truly belonged.

Since I was in a pretty big reading slump (at least for me), this book came at the perfect time—it had everything I needed, and I truly enjoyed it. I’m amazed at how well the world was built; the world-building is excellent. From the very first chapter, I was hooked, wanting to know what was happening and what would come next.
I’m not sure if the book is just really fast-paced or if it was something else, but as a slow reader, I finished it surprisingly quickly. It’s super easy to follow, yet it keeps you engaged with constant tension and excitement.
This book has everything—romance, fantasy, Fae, unicorns, fated mates, Greek gods... I don’t even know what’s missing, haha! It’s written in first-person POV from Alessia’s perspective, and I love how her integration into this world is portrayed—it feels gradual and natural.
Although there’s nothing I can point out as truly wrong, in my opinion, this is a 4-star read. I feel like something was missing, like something just didn’t fully click for me.
That said, I can’t wait for the next book in the “Court of Isles” series—I really hope it comes out soon! I definitely recommend reading this book, especially if you're drawn to fantasy worlds—it’s so easy to immerse yourself in this one.

This was cutesie, cheesy, and mostly entertaining but not anything exceptional. The amount of times our FMC said okie dokie should be criminal. That just felt very random and out of place for a fantasy story. The author did a good job at telling, but not showing. It was a short book, so I expected things to go fast but I wish there had been a bit more depth. Also, I saw someone asking if there is spice, and the answer is no. The most that happens is kissing. (This isn't me complaining about that either, just wanted to give others a heads up in case they were also wondering about this.) Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

-NetGalley-
Maybe spoilers!!
I really liked the book, it was very fluid and easy to read. I was surprised when I picked up the book today, I was 48% through, a few hours passed and I was already 85% through! It's written in a very nice way. Like I said: it's fluid.
I still feel like Silas is hiding something, it creates doubts for me just like Millie, I feel like the author could have developed the characters more, told us more about their story. Millie, I feel like there's something there that would be good to explore.
Atlas seemed like an important person, necessary and with a brief development (for a first book) but just right.

And on the other hand, what will happen to Hades?
What happens to the people who left? Will they come back? Is the island completely healed?

I look forward to the next book!

Thank you for the oportunity to read this book and thank Gina for this amazing story.

Court of Isles #1: Cursed is a heartwarming and charming fantasy that will leave readers with a sense of joy and contentment. The story masterfully weaves together themes of communication, friendship, and healing, offering an uplifting experience that makes it a true delight to read.

The world-building is engaging and unique, pulling you into a magical realm that feels both fresh and immersive. The plot is easy to follow, yet offers enough intrigue to keep you invested in the journey, with great potential for further development as the series continues.

The characters are a highlight, with the relationships between the main characters and supporting cast adding a depth and warmth to the story. The dialogue is witty and engaging, and the characters themselves feel lively and well-rounded. You can’t help but become attached to them, especially as their growth and connections evolve throughout the book.

Court of Isles #1: Cursed is an easy-to-read fantasy that balances heart, humor, and magic, making it a fantastic choice for anyone looking for a lighthearted yet immersive read. It’s a perfect start to what promises to be a wonderful series!

This was extremely difficult to read. I’m not sure if there was an issue with the publisher but I haven’t had a book in such rough shape on netgalley. All of that being said, I couldn’t get down with the writing style. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This very cozy fantasy Is perfect for lower young adult read. Possibly upper young adults that love a fluffy, fated mates, predictable, no spice, Fay story. It was a really quick read for me, finished in one sitting- But it was an enjoyable read at the start. Even though I'm more of a long read, magic history, complex lore kind of person, I do enjoy a cozy read as a palette cleanser but personally this one just lined me up for dissapointment.

The story is about a woman who wishes to escape her dull life and wishes extra hard while at the altar at her wedding where time freezes, a mysterious man appears in front of her and She is magically transported to a hidden aisle.

The isle is right there in the human world but hidden from human eyes, its Full of magical creatures, witches and mermaids and she must believe first that magic is real and then in her self, in order to save them all from the curse.

After living a life of being told what to do and when to do it, she finds this new freedom exhilarating. And we get to watch as she settles in to this new stronger version of herself while she comes alive with the powers that the island holds. with a dash of the Greek gods and a sprinkle of old wounds left a fester; this story had incredible potential but it just felt flat for me!
It was a case of being told about the story rather than being shown it or allowed to discover it, and the worst of it was that we all knew the female main character is Fae, not human, and we all knew about the spoilers that were coming. However, she didn't find/work out any of it until around 80% in- which left no room for character growth and was extremely frustrating as a reader, to say the least!

The first chapter is great, as is the world building. It sets the book up like it's going to be a 5 star fantastic read and a wonderful series, but then it became lazy, Or perhaps rushed. (The author does have around 50 books out. So I feel these books are probably a case of quantity over quality.)

I won't be openly recommending this to others, and I won't be reading any more of the series.
However, if someone comes along that loves a fluffy, predictable, cosy fantasy with a happy ending- then this will be the first on my list.

Thank you so much to net galley and Gina lamana For this opportunity to arc Reed, the review is my own truthful opinion given feely

This book went by way too fast. The story and plot were there. The characters were perfect. I just felt like it was a shortened quick version of a story that could have been at least 300 to 400 pages long. I would have loved to see more details and some of the ideas elaborated on.

Thank you netgallery and LaManna Books for providing a E-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Attention Romantasy Lovers: Your next cozy urban fantasy is here!

This was a nice treat! A palate cleanser if you will filled with modern fairytale whimsy and a lighthearted tone that carries our whisked away bride off on an adventure where she must uncover the mystery of this cursed land.

This book has:
Banter
Shadow Daddy Silas
Wedding kidnapping
Mystery
Magic
Cozy Vibes

A treat to read and a fun set up! A tad insta lovey for my taste but curious to see where Gina will take this!

Alessia is at the altar, about to commit to a marriage she has been pushed into by parents and a fiance who don't seem to see her as a person, when a man appears out of thin air to whisk her away. She arrives in a magical land that is also being destroyed by a curse. This was a little…superficial? I don't know how to word it, but it felt like there was no depth to anything that happened. Just here's Alessia plopped down into a fantastical situation, learning to use magical powers conveniently quickly and saving the day with no real struggle, no big deal. The romance also had no substance. Typical story, Alessia and Silas barely interact except to bicker and irritate each other but also they are passionately in love and eventually act on it, blah blah. It was obvious they were going to end up together because of course, but it didn't feel like there was really any stake it in for either of them. Finding out they were somehow fated to be "mates" felt gross. Even Alessia's parents and fiance were like caricature villains in a way, making it hard to believe that someone so easily cowed by them could suddenly become something of a hero with barely any character development to back it up. The plot itself was good, but I didn't like how it all came together. 2.5 stars rounded to 2.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book, in return for an honest review.

Cursed follows Alessia as she’s ripped from her normal life into a world of magic, where she has to confront her true past and this curse that’s threatening it all.

I really like the premise of this book, and I think the author has some really good ideas - the execution of it all just wasn’t the best. Unfortunately, the book falls into the habit of telling instead of showing a lot of the time. It doesn’t feel like Alessia has to work for anything that happens, it all conveniently falls into place and works for her. There are some very unnatural pieces of dialogue that are obviously just there to give the reader exposition, which completely ruins the flow of the conversation and scene.

The main relationship here, between Alessia and Silas, was quite disappointing. I’m a massive fan of a slow burn romance, so these two ‘falling in love’ after only knowing each other a few days was such a let down. They know literally nothing about each other, yet I’m supposed to believe they’re in love? Not happening.

As this is the first book in the Court of Isles series, I’m curious as to where the author will take the story next (although I can probably guess) - however I’m not sure I’ll be picking up any more books in this series.

Oh boy, this book had me hooked from the early pages. A remnant scene of ACOMAF where the wedding is crashed by Mr Dark and Handsome. But as this story and plot continued, as did the uncovering of Silas and Alessia- it just became more convoluted and the story was too hard to keep up with. There was moments where the fantasy didn’t feel like a fantasy book- it felt too modern with the cross over of real worlds and fantasy worlds. Some books can write and immerse these two components well, but this book just didn’t do it for me. I wished to love it more.

Really enjoyed this book and the banter between Silas and Alessia. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series. A nice combo of romance and fantasy. No spice.

Wondering if there’s history between Atlas and Millie and if they’re going to get their own romance? Also, need to know more about the baby unicorns.

You will ABSOLUTELY love this book if you are a OUAT fan! This story definitely had those vibes and I am so here for it! I had a great time reading this one. I think the only thing keeping me from giving a 5 star review is that it felt like it could have been a little bit more fleshed out.

Wow what a fun addicting fantasy with a sprinkle of romance! I was pulled into this story right away!!! I was rooting for Alessia the entire time and it was sooo awesome to see what happened in the ending, which I kind of figured it would happened just didn’t know how, but it lived up to my expectations and had a few twists and surprises that I wasn’t expecting too!! If you like “cozy” fantasy stories or even just romantasy or fantasy stories then you will love this one!!! I am saying this is more of a cozy fantasy because it didn’t have a ton of action or things going on but it was still an awesome story that I ended up loving! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series once they are released!!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a cost fantasy with a dark and broody mmc. The fmc was relatable and you really saw her blossom throughout the book. I wish it had of been a bit longer just to expand on some bits but otherwise this was a great palette cleanser. 3.5 stars

*NetGalley ARC Review*

⭐️⭐️⭐️| 🫑

This was a cozy, quick read fantasy with a need to find yourself FMC and a “I will give my life for her” shadow-ish daddy. Those new to fantasy or those that tend to avoid dark romance/fantasy may enjoy this book. For those avid romantasy fans, this one might fall a little flat.

The characters were enjoyable, and the Isle was whimsical. Loved Millie and Lily’s characters. I actually like that Alessia had to go back home to face her family and truly decide to return to the Isle.

While I enjoyed the premise of the book, it felt like this could have been a trilogy within itself or even a longer story. It felt rushed and predictable. Like super predictable. Things were just spelled out so clearly that you didn’t really have to guess. And with the pacing of the story, you’d soon see how it all unfolded. I just felt like some scenes missed some needed tension and mystique. Maybe even a little more build up or backstory.

The ending just ended. Like she stitch him up with her super magic faeness and reemerged a White Castle out of the water. And we get “I’m not your queen, I'm your mate. The end.” A little epilogue with the residents returning and setting the scene for the next installment would have been nice. Maybe even a quick scene of Silas and Alessia make the castle a home. Anything. Needed a little more, but that was my genuine sentiment constantly while reading Cursed.

Overall, this was a cute, quick read. This is bell pepper spice y’all. You might get like a kiss or two. Hard to call it slow-burn because the book moves so quickly. But you get fae, fated mates, curse/cure, a whimsy magical island, and a smidge “touch her or die”. I’m interested enough to see how the series unfolds.

Cursed by Gina LaManna was such a fun, cozy escape! With its Gilmore Girls-esque charm (but make it magical), this book swept me away to The Isle, a place full of mystery, fascinating creatures, and one seriously stubborn curse.

Alessia is the kind of protagonist I love—smart, skeptical, and deeply passionate about helping people (hello, she prescribes Pepto to a vampire with heartburn!). Her journey from no-nonsense doctor to reluctant magical savior was equal parts entertaining and heartwarming.

I do wish we got more backstory on who she really is and how her life ended up the way it did—everything wrapped up a little too neatly. But do I actually care? Nah. The world is enchanting, the characters are charming, and I’ll 100% be reading the next book. If you love fish-out-of-water heroines, reluctant magic, and a swoony, powerful love interest, Cursed is absolutely worth the read!

Im sorry to say I didn’t like this book. There was something missing in the story. It progressed way to quickly and lacked a depth to it.

A quick enjoyable read but for me the plot was predictable.
But I will continue the series for sure.