Content Advisory: Proceed with caution if the phrase “Oh, Fortuna” stirs something deep and unhealed within you.
Alright, here’s the deal—Once Charmed, Twice Cursed is like one of those feel-good rom-coms you put on just for background noise... and then suddenly you’re emotionally invested, yelling “KISS ALREADY” while surrounded by snacks and mild confusion. Only this time, swap out meet-cutes for magical tattoos, long-standing romantic tension, and a goddess who gets name-dropped more than she actually shows up (spoiler: she doesn’t). If this was a drinking game I’d be blacked out.
This is romantasy 101—ideal for romance readers toe-dipping into fantasy. Imagine The Princess Bride if Westley had magical bad luck and Buttercup was cursed with too much good fortune. Bria and Weston? Peak mutual yearning. Their love is forbidden, complicated, and deeply magical—literally and emotionally.
The romantic chemistry is great, but the world-building? Think dropped-into-the-middle-of-an-action-scene with no manual. You’ll find yourself asking: Where do these tattoos come from? Why does one guy have turbo-luck? And why is Fortuna the most mentioned-yet-absent character since your friend who RSVPs “maybe” to every event?
Some twists surprise, others stroll in wearing neon signs. A few extra chapters and a goddess cameo would’ve helped round things out. As it stands, it’s a fast-paced, trope-filled romp that had me smiling, swooning, and whispering, “Weston, babe, please get it together.”
You’ll enjoy this if you:
* Are dipping into fantasy from the romance side of the bookshelf
* Crave angst and pining with a light magical dusting
Maybe skip if you:
* Need your fantasy fully fleshed-out and lore-heavy
* Are here for the spice (this is more “emotional smolder” than “open door”)
* Still flinch at the phrase Oh, Fortuna (fair)
In short: It’s not flawless, but it is fun. Think charming-but-could-use-a-little-more-depth—like a cupcake that’s a little light on frosting, but still totally worth the bite.

It was cute and a quick/easy listen, but also a little two cheesy for what I usually like. The FMC also seemed a little naive and “damsel in distress” for me- she had one or two moments of sticking up for herself but otherwise depending on others to do things for her. I’d also maybe describe this as a historical romance more so with just one singular element of fantasy.

This book was 3.5 stars for me. I loved the descriptive writing style of the author and how the emotions were described in such detail that you could truly feel what the characters were feeling. The plot was predictable at times and for me personally, I would have liked to see Bria come into her own sooner. Overall the book was an enjoyable and witty feel good romance.

I also feel like the narrator did an amazing job on this book and made us enjoy the already top notch banter even more.

2.5 Stars

I'm sad to say this, but this did not work for me like I wish it would.

Although this was definitely a quick read, I was honestly uninterested for most of the book. The concept sounded fun, but I felt like this book was just filled with 'meh' writing, missed opportunities, and spineless characters.

This idea had a lot of potential, but in the end, it just missed the mark for me.

Once Charmed, Twice Cursed is a fun, twist on Princess Bride but with angst… need I say more? It is a short, easy read, making it the perfect palate cleanser when you’re looking for something easy in between your heavier reads.

Don’t be deceived by its small size, at only 242 pages it was still a complete romantasy packed full of all the best tropes - brother’s best friend, kidnapping, forbidden romance, mutual pining and friend to lovers.

The pacing of the story was perfect for keeping my focus. From the very first page the author throws her reader right into the heat of the story. There was never a slow or boring moment for me.

The story was predictable but honestly I didn’t even mind because it was still so satisfying. The love that the MMC has for the FMC was so selfless and sweet. As soon as I received this audiobook ARC I immediately turned around and purchased the physical copy so that I could annotate all of the swoony quotes.

“I fell in love with you in less time than it took you to blink. Even though I knew from that first moment that I could never have you.”

"I love you. In the permanent, branded-on-my-soul kind of way. I love you so much that I'd gladly take just half of you over the entirety of any other man.”

This book was a quick stand alone romantasy that had some nice spice lots of tension and pining. Ny biggest issue with this book was that Bria did want this special gift that fortuna had blessed her with and Weston would not listen to her! It felt like everyone in the book felt like they knew best for her instead of actually caring about what mattered to her. I felt like the MMC had several moments where he seemed a bit weak and let his mark control his actions instead of fighting for our FMC. I do appreciate that the FMC was strong for herself even though that was essentially because she had no one in her corner. Also her family sucked.
The end.

Once Charmed, Twice Cursed by Shaylin Gandhi is a refreshing entry into the urban fantasy genre, blending magic, mystery, and a deeply personal journey of self-discovery. The audiobook version is especially captivating, thanks to an engaging narrator who brings the characters—and the sharp wit of the protagonist—to life with nuance and flair.

The story follows a heroine who’s been through hell and back, dealing with a curse that threatens everything she’s worked for. What really stands out is how Shaylin Gandhi balances gritty world-building with emotional depth. The pacing keeps you hooked, with twists that actually surprise and character arcs that feel earned.

The magic system is well-thought-out without overwhelming the story, and there’s a good mix of action, suspense, and dark humor. The audiobook narration enhances this, making it easy to get lost in the story whether you’re driving, cleaning, or just trying to escape reality for a bit.

My only critique is that a few side characters could’ve used a bit more development—but that’s a small flaw in an otherwise immersive experience. If you’re into stories about fierce, flawed heroines navigating cursed destinies and magical mayhem, this one's a must-listen.

3.5 Stars
Thank you RBmedia for the audiobook Arc in exchange for my honest thoughts.

An easy, fast, fun read! Definitely had Princess Bride vibes (but spicier). Sometimes Bria seemed so oblivious to the truth in front of her face, and I still don't understand why Weston didn't want to touch her and make her lose her luck when it would have helped him AND when it was what Bria wanted. He also seemed to change his mind on the matter really quickly. Thanks Netgalley for the audiobook ARC!

I received an advanced listener copy of Once Charmed, Twice Cursed through NetGalley - huge thanks to the author, Shaylin Gandhi, as well as RB Media and Tantor Audio for the opportunity!

This was such a pleasant surprise. From the dramatic cover, I was expecting something a little darker or higher-stakes, but what I got instead was a cosy, charming (no pun intended) story with a refreshingly low-stakes plot that still held my attention throughout. It’s a perfect pick for when you want a gentle magical escape.

What really stood out to me was the unique spin on luck-based charms and curses. It’s not a trope I’ve come across often, and Gandhi’s take felt clever and imaginative. The worldbuilding strikes a nice balance - light on info-dumps, but rich enough to feel grounded. The narrator for the audiobook also brought just the right warmth and personality to the characters, which added to the cosy vibe.

Overall, a delightful listen and a welcome break from the usual high-tension fantasy reads. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author!

Ok so this was a rollicking good time!

I don’t read/listen to many standalone fantasy novels but when I saw this was inspired by The Princess Bride I was sold.

Bria & Weston were pining for each other for YEARS and as a result the tension was fantastic! The fact that they couldn’t touch because it would cancel out each other’s good & bad luck added an extra layer of delicious complication. Bria was a spitfire despite being coddled her whole life and being goddess-blessed with good luck and Weston was the quintessential protective type who was so self sacrificing even though his bad luck put him in a lot of gnarly situations.

The world building wasn’t complex & I appreciated it in this instance because it was very character driven. Bria’s family were in my bad books but they kinda redeemed themselves in the end.

Kimberly’s narration was brilliant! She put so much flair into the voices of each character & her inflection was perfect.

I’m so glad I stumbled across this on NetGalley & after checking out her Goodreads I already have plans to read Shaylin’s next book which I discovered is coming out later this year!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher & author for the opportunity to listen to this ARC for the upcoming audiobook release!

This was a fun quick story. It is about woman who was blessed with luck her whole life. No matter what luck just follows her around. The story starts with her standing y her window waiting for the man she loves to come and prepose to her. 99 men already have. However since the man she loves has a curse on him where he is as unlucky as she is lucky you can see that problem. This audiobook was just ok. The characters are somewhat generic. And while they each do have their own personalities, she comes off as very naïve, and he comes off a lot of self hatred. It wasn’t a bad story. I was just hoping for more, but I do believe people will like this. The narration was very good.

This was a fun quick story. It is about woman who was blessed with luck her whole life. No matter what luck just follows her around. The story starts with her standing y her window waiting for the man she loves to come and prepose to her. 99 men already have. However since the man she loves has a curse on him where he is as unlucky as she is lucky you can see that problem. This audiobook was just ok. The characters are somewhat generic. And while they each do have their own personalities, she comes off as very naïve, and he comes off a lot of self hatred. It wasn’t a bad story. I was just hoping for more, but I do believe people will like this. The narration was very good.

This book made me angry every time the MMC opened his mouth. Him telling the FMC that every woman he had sex with looked like and was a stand in for her is just gross.
The audiobook was ok.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.