Cursed Under London

Cursed Under London is the first book in a historical romantasy series set in an alternative Elizabethan London. In Upper London, home of humans, Fang and Lazare both wake from their untimely deaths to find themselves no longer fully human. Fang and Lazare team up with Fang's friend Nell (a Welsh apothecary) and Amber the tiny dragon to try and reverse the curse upon them. The mystery takes them down into Deep London, home of everything distinctly not-human!

I loved the Discworld/Rivers of London tone to this book. The blurb isn't exaggerating when it says that this book is hilarious - I laughed out loud many times, and even had to read out quotes to my Terry Pratchett-loving husband to explain my outbursts. My favourite quote is probably:
'They were masked, but we do have a physical description of John,' continued Peanut, quickly. 'Um... "Gorgeous, just really nice eyes and hair, fit arms, bum like two tennis balls squeezed into a sock".'

It was just so easy to read, and the humour never felt forced. I read this book in one go, just hours after getting the ARC because a historical paranormal romantasy is like my holy grail, and as soon as I started reading it, I was sucked right in. The plot was super strong - there is absolutely no filler in this book and so it's just comedy, heart and action all the way through.

I am so glad this is a series, because I can't wait to see more of the alternative/fantasy Elizabethan world, and I definitely need to see what happens with/to these characters next! The central group were all interesting and fully fleshed out and they weren't just caricatures which could have easily been done. I loved how inclusive the world was, and it was just so heartwarming even with all the death and chaos happening around the characters. To say I am rooting for Fang and Lazare is an understatement. This was my first book by this author, but it definitely won't be my last!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.

Oh, this book was everything to me.

The little band of main characters were incredible. I mean, seriously could not have been any better. I was dying laughing at the dialogue going on between our core four throughout most of it (except, of course, when we did a real quick 180 and I was having my heart shredded to pieces). Biggest shout out my girl Amber, aka the tiny dragon who showed up to help in every single combat scene but promptly dipped when the dangerous situation is, in fact, dangerous. She's so me. The most iconic dragon to ever dragon.

Also, Kit Marlowe is canonically a horny zombie in this book. Which, like, is insane and also quite possibly one of the funniest running bits I've ever read in a novel before.

But as for the story itself, I loved it. It was fast-paced enough to keep me engaged throughout, and still never felt like things were being rushed. I was so incredibly curious about what the hell was going on with Larzare and Fang and their whole 'undead but, like, also not' thing and, while I'm satisfied with the answers I've gotten, there's still so much to expand on and I am already fiening for book two.

Cursed Under London by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch is a novel about the London that humans inhabit and the "Under London" that non-humans live in.

Lazare and Fang have somehow died but haven't turned into the creatures that inhabit Under London - be it any number of supernatural beings, but they aren't quite human either. To try and find out why they haven't turned and to reverse the curse they are under, they find themselves in all sorts of situations along with their newly found friends Amber, who is a dragon, and an apothecary, Nell.

I enjoyed the secondary characters and the way that Lazare and Fang handled themselves - the humor that all of the characters displayed was natural and not forced, truly funny, and it made the book speed by.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this most enjoyable book, I hope to read more from the author. All opinions are my own.

"Cursed Under London" is a cozy fantasy novel centered around two men living in the 16th century London, Lazare and Fang. They both seemingly meet their demise but miraculously avoid death or transformation into vampires, werewolves, zombies, or other supernatural beings. To unravel the mystery behind their peculiar circumstances, they join forces with a charming dragon named Amber and a witty Apothecary named Nell. As the story unfolds, the characters find themselves entangled in increasingly complex situations, while a budding affection develops between Fang and Lazare.

The premise of this book is quite intriguing. I enjoyed the concept of Upper London, where regular humans reside, contrasting with Deep London, inhabited by supernatural beings. Additionally, the novel is fast-paced, with a dynamic plot that keeps the characters constantly on the move. However, what truly sets this book apart is its humor. The dialogue between the characters is infused with so much wit that I found myself giggling throughout. The banter between Fang and Lazare is particularly delightful. Additionally, I appreciated the other characters, especially Amber the dragon. It's not easy to weave together a romantic arc and a found family trope seamlessly, but the author executed it magnificently in this case.

I have two small issues with this book, which are probably personal preferences and may not be a bother for other readers. Firstly, as it's a cozy fantasy book, I felt that the stakes were a little too low for me to become fully invested. The fact that the main villain turned out to be a caricature did not help in this regard. Secondly, I didn't quite connect with the fact that the world depicted was modeled on Elizabethan England. While I understand that it's a fantasy and historical accuracy isn't necessary, I would have liked to feel more of the spirit of that era. It felt like the setting was chosen primarily to feature specific characters living in 16th-century England, such as Kit Marlowe or Elizabeth herself, rather than for thematic or world-building reasons. This universe could have been modeled on any other period of history, or even the present day.

Still, I very much enjoyed this book because of its humor and excellent writing. I would recommend it to urban fantasy lovers, as well as readers seeking books similar to those by T. Kingfisher, but with even more humor.

I am a fan of this author. Cursed Under London doesn't disappoint. It's a charming fantasy with well drawn characters and good world building, infused with her trademark humor.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC.

With laugh out loud humor, ‘Cursed Under London’ is a wonderful reprieve in a genre that often takes itself too seriously. In an alternative version of 1500’s London where the magical ‘undead’ and the living coexist peacefully, our trio of Lazare, Fang, and Nell threaten to upset the balance after they die, but come back as something not quite dead, not quite living. All of this leads to a fun, compulsive read, that highlights Hutchinson Crouch’s mastery of satire through mocking dialogue during battles, a bisexual William ‘Bill’ Shakespeare and Christopher ‘Kit’ Marlowe, but also twists around who’s plan they’ve all been tangled into. I loved nearly every character we meet, all of whom are LGBT+ and have greater banter between one another. There are layers to each character too; clearly haunted by their individual pasts, which they lean on each other as a found family to overcome. This reminded me of an adult version of ‘House by the Cerulean Sea’, same level of lightheartedness, but a pitch or two more violent & spicy.

What Hutchinson Crouch Get's Right:
• Loveable, found family of characters with unique abilities I hadn’t read before
• ‘Will they, won’t they’ tension between Fang & Lazare! UGH just kiss already!
• Little touches in the story that make it London- mentioning of a tube system, diplomatic subplots, and familiar landmarks- but we get to explore a whole new London too with the undead

"One thing about haunted houses was, it was never the house’s fault that it was haunted. It was just a vessel, into which the ghosts of years of sadness were poured and trapped."

An alternative London where a tentative peace hangs in the balance between upper London ( human ) and deepside London ( supernatural).
Thee unlikely people are cursed with eternal life. Fang, Lazare and Nell set out to break the curse while trying to avoid the wrath of Londons seedy gangs and without causing an diplomatic incident.

This story had me hooked from the outset. Each character is emotionally complex bringing life and sense to the decisions they make. A somewhat found family the group explores the different and unexpected ways that love can grow, despite not being blood.
The cliffhanger was a cruel edition to this story, it has set up the sequels nicely, however the lack of current closure between two of the characters is mildly frustrating.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Farrago for allowing me to read this arc copy of Cursed Under London. It was a super cosy romantasy and I enjoyed every bit! The characters are so fun, got hilarious banter, like I was laughing out loud reading this.

What a fun fantasy novel. Full of action, monsters, love and action packed adventures. And gay love.I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more from the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

What a lovely different unique take on a book I really really enjoyed it.
Loved the characters so well written I could just picture them, loved how easily it flowed and how I followed the fast paced interesting story.
I love a story which is so completely different.
I did really enjoy it

Cursed Under London is so very fun! It is a fantasy rom-com set in an alternate Elizabethan London where vampires, werewolves and dragons roam the streets and live underground in the ‘Deepside.’ The world-building was very cool, and I enjoyed seeing a London that was still recognisable, with landmarks, places, and the tube system (albeit in a very different form). It follows Fang and Lazare, who both find themselves come alive again after being killed. They now have to deal with unique new powers as they find a way to undo the curse that doesnt allow them to die, while navigating the chemistry that has begun to build between them. The book is really funny, and has some amazing comedic moments, as famous historical figures from the time period crop up as zombified versions of themselves in places you wouldn’t expect. The supporting cast are hilarious characters, especially tiny urban dragon Amber, whose snarky commentary throughout the book made me laugh.
I did enjoy how fast-paced the book was, everything moved really quickly, and I didn’t find myself bored. I did struggle to form an attachment to some of the characters, but I can see that being a me issue. I also didn’t particularly care for the romance, it didn’t seem like either character actually had their heart in it. The villain did seem a little bit of a evil caricature, without a defined reason for doing what he did, but he was still very fun.

I would like to see where the series progresses, as I believe it will be a trilogy, as the ending definitely had me concerned for the fate of the group. Overall, I really enjoyed this read, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, cozy, and funny fantasy read! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read the ARC.

This was a fun story with characters that were funny and enjoyable! I loved the setting as well, and I felt that it was very well suited for this type of cozy romance story!

So I actually loved this book - my real rating is 4.5 stars but I found down!

It was refreshing to read a cosy fantasy that doesn’t revolve around tea or coffee for once - most cosy fantasy’s seem to be unoriginal since legends and lattes.

Alongside this I also loved the fact that the two main characters (each others love interest) were men - you never get mlm romantasy books so I enjoyed the change.

I’ve seen a few moans about the plot lacking: it’s a cosy fantasy. Most cosy fantasy’s have next to 0 plot and the ‘battle’ lasts about two pages.

The perfect read to cleanse your reading palate.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Oh I loved this one - i'm a sucker for a historical fantasy romance and this did not disappoint.

This book is a delightful romp through 17th century London and features a host of fantastical creatures including fae, vampires, werewolves and dragons. The overall tone is lighthearted with the banter and bonds between the main characters being one of the stand out strengths for me.

I also think getting the balance between found family and romance right can be a tricky feat, especially in the first book in a series, but Cursed Under London seemed to handle it effortlessly. Absolutely cannot wait for book 2, what a belter!!

(Full review to come on my tiktok @lilyoliviareads)

I'm torn about how to rate/review this book. On the first page, I was delighted and fully expected it to be a five-star read. As things went on, though, the parts that didn't work kept rearing their niggling heads. First, there were the POV issues (way too many, given that the proper number is zero), and then there was the predictable downfall of the book's Big Bad (without any intervention by the protagonists, as another reviewer pointed out). Along the way, I liked a lot of the characters but didn't love them. I didn't object to the choice to incorporate anachronisms, and I thoroughly enjoyed the humor. Overall, I think the author may simply have tried to do too much, and the result was... uneven. By the time we got to the end (setting up for a sequel), I didn't much care. I'm rounding up to four stars for the humor and the really interesting concepts.

My thanks to the publisher/NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

Imagine Elizabethan portal urban fantasy and you can’t go too far wrong. This was more dark than funny – and maybe not a totally original concept – but I really enjoyed it. I like a good trio of MCs and a story where the mundane butts up against the supernatural. Overall I found this to be great fun.

I really enjoyed Cursed Under London! It was a dark comedy/fantasy/romance that is more dark than funny, but that was ok with me! This book is full of action, scary monsters/creatures, lots of adventure, and sprinkles of all different kinds of love.

I was intrigued by the description of this book (a version of Elizabethan London where paranormal beings exist) but I wasn't sure what to expect. This book turned out to be a lot of fun!

This book is certainly not going to be winning any prizes for historical accuracy (the characters use modern turns of phrase, the sexual morality is modern etc) but it is very obviously not trying to be. This is a completely alternate universe -- where swans can be the Royal Guard, where there's a Deep London, a dragon Queen of Wales and... you get the picture. Realism isn't the point.

Rather this book is full of an engaging mystery, a grumpy/sunshine MM romance, a great cast of supporting characters, and a well-developed world. My only criticisms are that I the ending felt a little rushed (and the defeat of the villain a little too easy?) and that I wish a little more use was made of the time period -- although the inclusion of Kit Marlowe and another playwright known as "Bill" was a fun addition. Given this is the start of a series perhaps we may see more Elizabethan influence in later books.

Overall a thoroughly engaging read and a solid four stars. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing this copy.

These two characters and this laugh out loud romance story was excellent !
It's also mixed with a well built fantasy plot which I found quirky and fun to read .

Overall I liked all of the main characters on the quest featured in this book with my favourite being lazare.

The story of book 1 ends as a cliffhanger so i already can't wait for book 2 to come out !!

Historical Fiction can be a hit or miss for me. That being said, if you add paranormal into historical fiction, there is a 1000 percent chance that I will love it.

The setting was great, the characters were fantastic, the story itself was great. I ate this story up and I can't wait to read more from this author!

What a fun book!! The cover caught my attention, as a Graphic Designer I was obsessed with font, colors and layout!

The story was a wild ride yet cozy and warm. I enjoyed the characters and the story line very much. Do yourself a favor and read this book!

10/10 recommend!

'Cursed Under London' was delightful. I honestly could not keep my book away. It was my first book from this author and let me tell you, I am curious to read her other series. It was well written and the characters were well developed and endearing. I can't wait to read more about their adventure.

I enjoyed this book. On the positive side, I found the story interesting. The protagonists were well-developed and I liked their relationships. There was also some humour. I generally don’t like romance stories, but I thought that the romance was written well and not overdone. On the negative side, I found the villain was cliched and the ending was predictable. I also wasn’t a big fan of the reveal. But overall, I did enjoy the book and I was glad that I read it, hence the 4-star rating. Thank you to Netgalley and Farrago Books for the digital review copy. .

This was a fun romantasy adventure story. Fun storyline and characters you can't help but love.

In this story, we follow a group of misfits in Upper London. Lazare (the Frenchman actor), Fang (the sexy grumpy Easterner), Nell (the Welshwoman apothecary), Amber (the lil dragon), and Tem (the fae child).
This group of unlikely characters are trying to figure out the strange happenings in Upper London, minus the normal happenings of living amongst Vampires, Werewolves, dragons, etc. Lazare and Fang have been inflicted with an almost "undead" curse that they go on an adventure to solve. This leads them to Deep London where the laws are different and the undead rule.

I had a fun time with this novel and would definitely recommend for feel good silly fantasy readers :)

Cursed Under London is a truly hilarious and fun read! An absolute must if you enjoy low-stakes fantasy settings or dark comedies!

In a world where dragons, vampires, werewolves, and zombies mingle with humans, you can find Upper London, home of humankind, and Deep London, home of the supernatural. Two human men, Fang and Lazare, find themselves between worlds when they wake from their untimely deaths no longer fully human, but immortal with mysterious powers that aren’t of any known supernatural origin. Fang reluctantly teams up with Lazare to try to learn more about their curse in the hopes of reversing it. Together, along with Fang’s apothecary friend Nell and a tiny dragon named Amber, they embark on a journey that puts them at the center of a dangerous plot that draws them further into the world of Deep London.

Fang is a self-sacrificing idiot (as his friends would say) that tries to give off an asshole persona but deep down is a sweetheart who lives to protect the underdog. (He absolutely had my heart the moment we found out he died stopping gang members from abusing a street cat!) Lazare, on the other hand, is a flamboyant, aspiring actor who craves the spotlight and wants everyone to like him. Lazare and Fang have great banter and definitely have an opposites-attract situation going on with plenty of sexual tension to boot. Overall, I enjoyed their dynamic, but it felt like Lazare developed feelings too quickly given how reluctant Fang was about the situation for most of the book. Additionally, I really enjoyed the diverse cast and there were several wonderful supporting characters in the story that I loved too.

Overall, I enjoyed the humorous dialogue, the fast-paced, dynamic plot, and the mingling of supernatural London with 16th-century London. I hadn’t read any of Gabby Hutchinson Crouch’s books before, but after reading Cursed Under London, I’m excited to check out more of her stories. I especially can’t wait to see what our undead/immortal protagonists get up to next!

Thank you NetGalley and Duckworth Books for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this cozy historical fantasy that was sent in an alternate version of Elizabethan London. We follow Lazare and Fang two people that have recently died...but not quite. They have to figure out what has caused their new immortal life and are drawn into the dark side of London. The characters are great. There are a ton of different magical beings in this world. The stand out being Amber, the small but mighty dragon. I'm excited to see where this series goes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrago Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“I just wasn’t expecting that angle right in my eyeline.”

There was not a single thing I didn’t enjoy about this book. The writing is very tongue-in-cheek and it was right up my alley (preferably not dripping with excrement thank you very much). The three main characters along with their small cat-like dragon are witty, funny, and very very likeable.

I would dive in front of a wooden stake for Amber in a heartbeat. 10/10 would pet and feed dried newts. She may be small but her personality more than makes up for the lack of height in those stumpy little legs. And little Tem has my whole heart in the palm of her hand and obviously “little-Amber” clutched tight in the other.

The pacing is adventurous and it’s wonderful. There never seems to be a dull moment or a lull in action for too long and the world building interwoven with history from Elizabethan London along with a touch of magic and the occult is a recipe for an unputdownable book.

I haven’t laughed this much reading a book in a long time, one of my favourites of 2024.

I enjoyed this story. It was a comfy fantasy, but it also contained a mystery. I'm not a fan of how it ended(mostly due to the fact that it was a cliff hanger), but I will absolutely be buying the next book. I do think it was very much a modern take on Elizabethan England, but it was done well. Will recommend to others.

A little Dragon walks into an alley...

That's basically what happens in the first few pages and what followed just had me laughing constantly.
This book is a funny fantasy story with exciting plot twists, a queer edge to it and a found family that just
keeps on growing.
It does play in an alternative London

The writing is well done and the world building is really easy to understand.
Sometimes it can be really overwhelming if a book has different supernatural species and POV's but that is not the case here.

So if you are a fan of the following tropes this book is definetely for you:
- Queer romance
- Found family
- Urban Fantasy
- Supernatural vibes
- The cutest smallest dragon ever!

Cursed Under London was an extremely enjoyable read, and I am grateful I was able to read it thanks to NetGalley. I absolutely adored this take on historical london and found the magical political system to be a unique and well fleshed out one that was genuinely interesting. The relationships and dynamics of the characters were also enjoyable, especially considering the found family aspect, which is a personal favourite trope of mine. Additionally, this book was truly humerous, and the more gross humour was exactly the kind of humour I was expecting from a writer who worked on horrible histories. I truly can't wait to see what more is to come in this series

It’s in the title.

“Cursed Under London” is set in the not-so-pleasant Elizabethan London. The underground world of werewolves, vampires, and other beings really comes to life. There are rules everyone must follow, including the humans, and the supernatural is an accepted way of life.

🧟 Love
🧟 Found Family
🧟 Quest
🧟 Deception
🧟 Dragons, vampires, zombies…Oh, my!

The “cursed” is normally seen as the villain, but they are fighting amongst each other in this world. They are hungry, tired, and kept within the confines of a society that doesn’t acknowledge they have feelings, wants and needs.

The witty banter and humor in this novel is an added bonus to the well-written prose of the time period it is set in. I found myself laughing a little (out loud) and smiling as I continued to read to the end.

I give it 5/5 stars. I enjoyed it and I appreciate the lightheartedness of this fantasy.

Special thanks to #NetGalley and #FarragoBooks for this ARC to review. Publication date is set for July 4, 2024.

This is a fun story.
While it does have a lot of filler I didn’t think was necessary it was a fun read.
It’s a 3.5 for me but I’m rounding it up.
There wasn’t enough tension or stakes in this book imo.
It didn’t fully suck me into the world and I really wanted it to.
It’s cute, it’s fun, it’s funny, but there was a bit to much banter almost to the point that it didn’t make sense at points, like it was just trying to interject humor where the story was flat.

Oh my god this was so good, so queer and so hilarious. The humour reminded me of Pratchett dry sarcastic humour. But I just was so invested in the story and the characters the entire time. I was on the edge of the seat. And if that doesn't convince you: It has dragons.

Adorable, funny, and cozy fantasy! Did not know it was the beginning of a series, so the cliff-hanger ending was a shock, but the conclusion was satisfying enough. Loved the world-building with the "undead" characters and 16th-century reimagined London. Heartwarming and creative <3

Thank you to black crow PR for the early review copy!
This one is for the readers of classic quirky fantasy growing up on Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchet these are the exact worlds I crave as a nostalgic reader!

Cursed under London really reminded me of how I felt reading Neverwhere for the first time it's quirky and silly with dark undertones of something nefarious happening in historical London.

A unique mix of fantasy, historical drama and good old queer high jinks.

Cursed under London follows Fang and Lazare as they have recently almost but not quite died. A curse has lead to a strange new kind of undead never seen before and it's up to them and the friends they gather along the way to figure out what on earth is going on and why.

There is a romance subplot in this book but overall I'd say it's heavily more fantasy than romantasy!

If you're looking for a fun short read and aren't put off by a swan police officer and are infact intrigued by that this book is probably for you!

"Cursed Under London" by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch is a thrilling urban fantasy novel that takes readers on a gripping journey through the hidden depths of London's underground. Crouch's vivid imagination and expert world-building bring the city to life in all its eerie and atmospheric glory, setting the stage for a tale filled with magic, mystery, and danger. As protagonist Ellie navigates the shadowy underworld, readers are drawn into a web of ancient curses and supernatural intrigue that keeps them guessing until the very end. Crouch's writing is sharp and evocative, with twists and turns that will leave readers breathless. But it's not just the action-packed plot that makes "Cursed Under London" shine—it's also the richly drawn characters and their complex relationships that add depth and emotional resonance to the story. With its blend of urban fantasy and pulse-pounding suspense, "Cursed Under London" is a must-read for fans of the genre, offering a thrilling and immersive experience that will leave them eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.

So Fang and Lazare are two foreigners trying to make it in Elizabethan London so naturally they meet nasty ends in dark alleys through no fault of their own except they don’t quite die. They each have become sort of immortal, in a cursed kind of way. Laz has grown wings like a vampire but he doesn’t suck blood and Fang can create illusions but only horrible ones it’s all a bit peculiar. Throw in a fae child and it’s all a bit of a mess. If you’ve read any of Crouch’s work before this is familiar ground, it’s fun, funny and heartfelt. Fang is delightfully grumpy and Laz is charming sunshiny for a Frenchman, they are totes adorbs together. The setting gets a bit lost in the world building, it could be set anytime anywhere so I’m hoping that becomes more relevant in future books.

If you love the playful anachronism in The Knight's Tale mixed with the playful adventure vibes of an at home D&D game I think this book will be right up your alley. Though Cursed takes place in an alternate Elizabethan England (complete with delightful run ins with Kit Marlowe and Billy Shakes) full of supernatural entities that are full of bureaucracy that language and humor is very 20th century. If you accept this and go with it, you'll have a great time. Fang and Lazare have both recently had unsuccessful death experiences, and come out of those with strange new powers not quantifiable in the societal norms of paranormal London. In their quest to figure out what's happening to them they'll enlist the help of Welsh potion maker Nell, Mediocre Dragon Nell, and lost fae child Tem. The swan captian of the Royal Guard Honkensby is hot on their tail though, so they'll escape to Deep London in search of answers. And it would be foolish to fall for one another on the way right? ... Right??
If you're looking for a fun romp of an adventure, this book is for you. My main critique is mostly that i sometimes found the POV tenses to be confusing. The book is told from a number of 3rd person limited point of views, but i found sometimes that they switched without the usual indicator that we were following someone else's thoughts. Not sure if that's something that will be fixed in final print runs and was just a result of having the early e-arc.

GAY ROMANCE & FOUND FAMILY x AGRESSIVE FLIRTING & KITTEN/BABY ADOPTIVE VILLAGE

"(...) she loves you, people love you".
There are three things one needs to know (and love) about Lazare:
1. he has wings (book-boyfriend-height wings, if you find size important).
2. he gets his lines right (jokes about his profession aside, he does deliver).
3. he wants o make sure his love interests scream his name but also knows he loves him (before and after sex).

"He looked really very lovely in the flickering firelight. Perhaps... (...)"
There are also three things one needs to know (and love) about Fang:
1. he's a big, sad boy (give him cuddles please and thank you).
2. he has the "only for someone special smile".
3. he's a kitten daddy (no dirty jokes here, just a man and his cat).

Now, about the book per se, I'd say there are five things to highlight:
1. I personally think it has Shadowhunters vibes, not only because we have supernatural beings living their best lives in big cities, but also because there's something about it that just makes me think of the Herondale's "sad boy vibe".
2.This one is a personal preference, mostly because I'm a sucker for malexmale romance, but... THE gay romance in this book is just *CHEF'S KISS".
3. The end... Like, the way it hints who the next villain is going to be and WHO that is... Sing me up for that kinda villain going after that kinda thing.
4. Dragons. A tiny but big-hearted dragon.
5. Aggressive making out included, and, just like with gay romance, it's THE angry making out, insults included.

Enchanting characters.
Great development of the story.Very enticing story telling.
A great book 4stars.
I would highly recommended to others

This was a gripping read, I thought the characters were intriguing and I'm going to keep an eye out for more from this author.

"Cursed Under London" is a fantastical journey set in 16th century London 🏰, following Lazare and Fang as they dodge supernatural fates with the help of a charming dragon named Amber and a witty Apothecary named Nell. Their adventure weaves through Upper London's human realm and Deep London's mystical underworld. 😮💫

The book's quick pace and witty banter between characters, especially Fang and Lazare, keep the story lively and entertaining. The budding romance adds another layer of charm 💞, while Amber the dragon steals the show with her delightful presence. 🐉✨

While some may find the stakes a bit low and the historical backdrop lacking in spirit, the adventurous pacing and blend of history with magic make for an engaging read. 📚🔮

Overall, "Cursed Under London" is a delightful escape for urban fantasy enthusiasts, offering humor and excellent writing reminiscent of T. Kingfisher's works. 🌟

I enjoyed this, it was unique and quite the supernatural mystery. I love the MM romance we get in this book and how insufferable Fang is, while Lazare is all kindness and heart. A very opposing combo who team up with new and old friends to find out what the hell is going on and why they are still alive!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I truly never knew the direction this book was taking- it was witty and fun.
The world building was fantastic- seeing real life places through the lens of a magical underworld is often done, yet I found this refreshing.
This is such an original work- I expected something dark and broody, and was pleasantly surprised and impressed with this story.
I absolutely would recommend to others, and would read again

In an alternate version of Elizabethan London where supernaturals live in Deep London and humans live in Upper London Fang wakes up to realize that while he died, he did not stay that way. Imagine his surprise when he is introduced to Lazare, a fellow with same undead affliction. The two men realize that despite both coming back to life, that’s where the similarities of their conditions end and that places them firmly in the “unknown” category of supernaturals.

Increasingly suspicious that they are under a curse, Fang and Lazare, joined by the charming and hilarious Amber the Dragon and Nell the apothecary, set out to find a way to reverse the spell. As the story unfolds, Fang and Lazare’s relationships starts to grow into something more, and when they realize their curse is just the tip of the iceberg. This rag-tag group of heroes refuse to give up on the mission or each other.

This book does a great job of being a cozy fantasy novel with dashes of romance and humor thrown in. I thoroughly enjoyed my journey from Upper to Deep London. The concept for this book, a story set in an alternate london where supernaturals and humans are separated into different sections was one of the things that drew me to request the ARC and it did not disappoint. Get ready for a ride y’all, Cursed Under London surprised me in the best way. This story was so fun, the characters were cute, heartfelt (I’m looking at you Fang, we love an empathetic king), and downright funny.

I’d recommend this book for fans of the Amelia Peabody series (and if you haven’t read those, you need to). If you’re looking for a cozy, delightful, and intriguing read then this is the book for you!


Thank you so much to NetGalley and Farrago Books for allowing me to write an honest review of the ARC for Cursed Under London!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5

My review was posted to Goodreads and Instagram on 5/27/24.

Amazon review will be submitted on 7/4/24 when it is available for review and will posted on my profile within 48 hours.

I REALLY liked this one folks! I mean, did I have issues with figuring out what perspective it was meant to be from… yes… but if you put that to one side (i managed to do this about 33% of the way through) I adored the story, characters and humour of Cursed Under London.

It’s been a while but entering a world of vampires, dragons, zombies, ghouls and alchemists was exactly what I needed. There was a cleaverness and whit to the writing style with quipy nods to Shakespeare and Marlowe that has me laughing out loud. The characters had layers to them that made you want to keep reading and, of course, there’s even a little bit of romance tucked in there to!

Cursed Under London created a whole second world where the rules of our society no longer existed and what was right for the undead rang true. The woven LGBT+ undertones of Shakespearean London was pushed to the surface in a way that made me wish that societal norms of the time had been different. And the writing style dealt with this perfectly.

But that’s all I’m saying… I don’t want to risk a spoiler and if I get into the details of our 3 protagonists and how they well and truely have a place in my heart now I can’t promise I’ll keep this spoiler free. Cursed Under London has my stamp of approval, in this world and the world below our feet.

This was a fun read populated by characters you have heard of, but perhaps they are not quite as you would have imagined. Laugh out loud at times but always interesting. I look forward to more in this series........please.

I thought Gabby Hutchinson Crouch’s Darkwood was the best debut book in the last fifty years and I devoured the sequels. Her next series, about the Rook family, didn’t resonate with me and I stopped after the first book. Cursed Under London is her first book of a new series, Cursed, and I wondered how I would feel about it…

It’s set in 1599, with Kit Marlow as one of the minor characters. There’s also another playwright, Bill, who’s the “Romeo and Juliet guy” and insists that Warwickshire isn’t “the sticks”. It’s a fantasy, with a dragon appearing on page one. Fang and Lazare are humans who find themselves immortal. However, immortal is not the same as fit and healthy. Fang looked, in Lazare’s eyes, “how a hangover felt”. “Didn’t we already kill you?” a puzzled criminal asked Fang. Fang, Lazare, the dragon (whose name is Amber) and a couple of other characters join together on a quest that takes them into the Deepside. The Deepside is below London and reached by the Tubes. It’s where the non-humans such as vampires, zombies and the fae live. Queen Elizabeth I does not reign there and the laws don’t protect humans, which is why there’s roast human on sale in the market.

As always in Crouch’s books, there are some wonderful one-liners that make the reader snigger in an unbecoming manner. I enjoyed the book and I shall look out for the next in the series with mild interest, but I felt the book dragged in places. There was perhaps too much insistence upon Lazare really fancying Fang but Fang not wanting to be loved or even desired. The quest in Deepside goes on too long for my liking. Perhaps Crouch is concentrating too much on the witty one-liners and has lost focus upon the overall tight narrative arc.

#CursedUnderLondon #NetGalley

In an alternate timeline filled with magical species and undead humans, where "Deepsiders" live in a subterranean London populated by dragons, vampires, zombies, and all manner of dangerous creature, two "Uppersiders", Fang and Lazare, wake from ther violent deaths to find something has changed, and they are now somewhere between human and undead. Their adventure to learn more about and eventually lift this curse will take them through danger and mystery to the heart of Deepside and bring them closer to each other...

Delightfully funny, yet gruesome and horrifying, Cursed Under London succeeds with great world building and character development. Amber and Fang were real standouts for me, and this book also gets bonus points for a character name... Captain Dame Isobel Honkensby... I mean, that's just incredible...

Cursed Under London is a great story, with a fantastical world, lovable protagonists, a horrific and unsettling enemy, and so much humour! I really look forward to more in this series!

Thank you Farrago Books and NetGalley for giving me this ARC to review.

From the writer of Horrible Histories, Gabby Hutchinson Crouch brings you Cursed Under London, a cosy, hilarious, mysterious, LGBTQ+ romantasy read!

In an alternative Elizabethan London filled with dragons, vampires, zombies and werewolves, Cursed Under London, follows two Upper London residents Fang and Lazare who face the wraith of death... only to survive? Thrown together by their curse, Fang and Lazare set out with the help from Nell and Amber to try to discover and reverse the spell they are under. But as they go on their journey of discovery, the gang find out that their mystery unearths a deeper and more dangerous plot that they're right in the middle of.

Cursed Under London is a fresh take on a historical romantasy that will have you laughing out loud. It is a quick and easy read that helps you escape from the real world for a little while, and grow to love the many characters you meet along the way. If you're looking for a cosy, historical romantasy mystery, look no further!

This a cute, queer, alt-history romance, wrapped around a mystery, with a heavy dose of humour woven in. Absolutely adorable on so many levels (pun unintended), the characters are well written and wholly believable - not an easy feat when they include a werewolf, several vampires, assorted dragons, and a police officer who is… well, I’ll let you find out about the Captain for yourself. Our trio (or possibly quad) of main characters are all lovingly rendered, and their stories are told with passion and joy. It definitely feels like Hutchison Crouch was having fun when she was writing this book.

The will-they won’t-they romance is played out wonderfully, and the sort-of cliffhanger ending absolutely has me wanting the sequel - to a book that doesn’t officially come out until 4th July!

This book was so different from anything I'd ever read before in the best way possible. It felt like a cozy fantasy while still somehow being an urban slightly dark fantasy. It was overall a fun easy read that had me laughing out loud at times. I also thought that the found family within the book was so wholesome and cute. I also absolutely loved our little sidekick dragon Amber.
Will most definitely be continuing this series, can't wait.

Cursed Under London by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch is a fun and quirky start to an Elizabethan romantasy series. Set in an alternate version of Elizabethan London, the story follows Fang and Lazare, who wake up from death only to find themselves cursed and not quite human. As they navigate the shadowy world of Deep London to break the spell, they uncover a larger plot that threatens their existence.

The book is filled with humor and charming characters, but the frequent narrative shifts can make it hard to follow. While the premise is intriguing, the plot feels underdeveloped and the historical setting could have been more pronounced. Despite these issues, the witty dialogue and unique setting make it an enjoyable read for fans of urban fantasy and lighthearted adventure.

This book was so much fun. It was excellently paced and made this alternate world of a magical Elizabethan London feel so real. (A+++ use of real historical figures BTW. Kit Marlowe coming back as a zombie is freaking hysterical!).

Despite the book taking place over a short period of time, I quickly fell in love with all of the characters and adored that the cast was so diverse. I appreciate that Fang and Lazare didn't end up together in the end as that was unrealistic with the amount of baggage that Fang was carrying.

Crouch also made a good decision to tone down the comedic portions of the book as the conflict became more serious. It was to the book's benefit that there weren't clashing tones.

My only criticism is the vast number of anachronisms that threw me out of the story despite this being a magical setting. (Like discussions of gluten in 16th century England?)

All in all, I had a great time reading this book and feel it is a unique story that I can't wait to continue.

"Cursed Under London" by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch is a delightful start to a historical romantasy series set in an alternate Elizabethan London. Fang and Lazare wake from death to find themselves not fully human, teaming up with apothecary Nell and tiny dragon Amber to break their curse. There is lots of humour, witty dialogue and engaging characters. Though the stakes might feel low and the historical setting could be more pronounced, the story is fast-paced and heartwarming. A must-read for urban fantasy fans who love humour and adventure.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

I will preface this by saying this novel is not for just anybody. You need to have a particular brand of absurd humor (or liking books like that) to enjoy this one. You have to be able to detach from any rational thinking to just kind of...accept the book and what it tells you. Elizabethan England for really no reason as an urban fantasy? Okay! Dragons casually eating people, but only in Deep London where it's legal? Okay! People suddenly unable to die leading a ragtag band of 3 people and a tiny dragon on a quest? Okay! Gangs? Okay! Giant magical swan/geese police? Okay!

Anyways, yeah, were there plot holes? Yes. Did it really need to be set in Elizabethan England? Not as far as I can tell, but Marlowe being a zombie was interesting. I also think this does build more to other novels per the ending, so I think it could come -- the setting -- into play more...especially with the Dragon Queen of Wales and other locations also mentioned.

anyways, this was a delight.

enjoyed this one and i liked most the characters in i was curious about the world building and how it would play out and it had a lot of aspects i enjoy it a fantasy and there are parts which are very funny and the plot is engaging i had read it all within a few days

This was an interesting read! I was really grabbed by the amazing cover and within the first couple chapters, I knew I was hooked. The characters are incredibly sweet, and the world building/two sides to London was really interesting when done with the mythological twist. I couldn't help but get attached to the stories of Fang and Lazare. I can't wait to see what the author does next!

Cursed Under London was dark, imaginative, gripping and stunning. This book paints a beautifully dark and romantic setting of London and all of it's mysteries. The main character was so fun to read and follow along as she navigated this story and it was one I was sad to end.

You’re going to love this book if you’ve read Neverwhere and wished it was funnier.
I mostly enjoyed it: the characters were immensely likeable and the worldbuilding is fantastic. I enjoyed the many breaking-of-the-fourth-wall moments and I’m always down for any meta use of the Tube. It’s also great to see urban fantasy not set in contemporary or Victorian London, so the Elizabethan era was a refreshing change.
There were times where I felt the book tried too hard to be funny and slid into cringe territory, that’s my only reproach.
I will be curious about further adventures of this motley group of losers (affectionate).

A historical fantasy with humour, queer romance, zombies, vampires, dragons, fae, and a separate underground London for all of said magical creatures? Sign me up!

This is a light, fun romp with a lot of heart. The vibes are cozy, but I think the stakes and violence are a bit much for it to truly sit in the "cozy fantasy" category. Fang and Lazare find themselves pulled together and into the wacky world of London's magical side when they're both cursed after near-death experiences - but what, really, are they? Aided by apothecary Nell and "small urban dragon" Amber, they set off to find out, and end up interfering in a dastardly kidnapping along the way. It's a will-they-won't-they love story set in the midst of a magical caper and journey of self-discovery.

I laughed out loud with this book multiple times. It was a wonderful surprise - I'm not sure I realized it was a comedy when I signed up for it. This is the first book in a series and I can't wait to dive into more of them as they're released.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

This is an urban fantasy set in an alternative Elizabethan London where supernatural creatures live amougst humans (Upper London). But don't be looking for the tudor dialogue as you'll not find it here.
Fang and Lezare awaken from their deaths and are not human anymore. Thrown together by the curse they share, the two strangers set out with a Welsh woman and a dragon to find a way to reverse the curse.
I loved this. This is the first time I had read anything by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch - one of the Horrible Histories writers.
There's a lot of dark humour, which I love, especially the scene where Fang and Lazare are fighting vampires, and it's hilarious. I was laughing out loud at this.
Oh yeah, and Christopher Marlowe is a zombie. 😄
I'll definitely be reading the next one.
Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for the ARC

🫀🩷🫀🩷🫀🩷🫀🩷

The hilarious first novel in a cosy and inclusive historical romantasy series by the writer of Horrible Histories.

In an alternate Elizabethan London, Fang and Lazare, residents of Upper London, awaken from death to a startling revelation: they are no longer entirely human.

Despite gaining immortality, they find themselves distinct from vampires, zombies, or werewolves that populate Deep London, the underground city. Bound by a shared curse, these strangers embark on a quest to undo its effects while grappling with an undeniable bond burgeoning between them.

Amidst their journey through the mysterious depths of Deep London, they uncover a perilous conspiracy in which they are inexplicably entangled.

After defying death but without transforming into typical denizens of Under London, Fang and Lazare are caught in a puzzling state between mortality and immortality. Their quest to decipher this anomaly and lift the curse leads them into myriad adventures, accompanied by newfound allies like Amber, a dragon, and Nell, an apothecary.

The novel shines not only through its compelling protagonists but also through its richly drawn secondary characters. Lazare and Fang's journey is interwoven with humour that feels organic and effortless, ensuring an engaging and brisk-paced read.

This book is for you if you like...

🧡Romance
💛Queer/LGTBQI storylines
💚Supernatural
🩵Play-on history

Such an enjoyable read, I love fantasy already and when I saw this book was available for review I jumped at the chance.
I’ve also already read every else by this author so it’s an automatic please yes!
This is London during the Kit Marlowe, Shakespeare era with fantasy elements added that there are all creatures here.
We start with Fang being attacked and hoping to finally die but instead something strange happens he finds himself waking up instead which is most upsetting to him.
We meet Lazare leaving current employment and finding out there is another like him who should be dead but isn’t. Amber the small and helpful dragon brings Fang and Lazare together then while being attacked by the same people that killed them initially we then meet Nell who’s Fang’s friend.
Upon finding out fae weapons have been stolen then intend to return them and hope it lifts this curse they are under.
This is full of fun and hijinks which is typical of Gabby’s books. I’m happy to see this appears to be a new series she’s developing so bring on book 2!
I was provided an ARC for an honest review and I’m so happy I did.

Fang is dying when a little urban dragon from Deep London, Amber, comes up to him in the alley and calls baggsie (or dibs) on his corpse. Lazare is struggling after being dismissed from his tutoring gig for being turned into an undead creature. Neither man can die, but neither is a normal undead. Lazare has vampiric wings but doesn’t need to eat like a vampire; neither has been bitten by a zombie or any other creature, so now they’re stuck.

Set in an alternate universe of 1599 London, ‘Cursed Under London’ is the first book in the Cursed series that focuses on Fang, Lazare, and their companions as they discover the curse that keeps them alive and maybe find love along the way.

The foreshadowing in this book is, at times, laid a bit thick, and the use and discussion of sexual slavery and rape come out of nowhere towards the end. Additionally, the author’s origin in fan fiction can be seen through her style, which may not be enjoyable for some readers.

Overall, ‘Cursed Under London’ is a promising first book in the forthcoming fantasy rom-com series, which features a richly developed world and magic system. I’d recommend this book to fans of Cassandra Clare, particularly her Infernal Devices series, and anyone who enjoys societies of magical beings/creatures.

In short, it’s an easy to read urban fantasy, with likeable main characters, a vividly realised world, offbeat humour, and a sweet heart.

The book’s set in an alternative version of Elizabethan London. Where the undead and mythological creatures inhabit a lower level of the city, and humans live in the above-ground world we know. We soon meet Lazarre, an actor who’s found himself down on his luck, and not quite human. He soon meets Fang, who’s similarly in limbo between human and not. The pair form an unlikely team with Fang’s self-titled best friend Nell, and the dragon Amber, and try to solve the mystery of their affliction.

The setting by is familiar to anyone who knows London, Shakespeare, or Elizabethan England. There’s alleys, noise, and gangs, with a vividly realised world that touches all the senses. Including smell. (Thank god this is a book!) The supporting characters are also well realised, from Wulfric the tavern owner, to Honkensby the copper. Fans of this period will also get a kick from finding familiar figures from the era!

The main characters shine in this world, with clear personalities and motives. They’re all distinct from one another, with internal monologue and dialogue to match. The prose skips between each’s internal dialogue, as well as the descriptive narrative, which made the narrative style feel a little inconsistent.

The style is conversational and easy to read. Although a few rare word choices in the narration were jarringly infantile. But given this is an advance copy, those rare blips may well be solved. 🤞

I really enjoyed this read, and will keep an eye out for the next instalment.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for this review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for this review.

Cursed Under London is a fantastic read. Witty and heart-warming with fully realised characters. Many funny texts have cardboard characters or clunky plots, but in this book Crouch shows a real mastery of story-telling. We are drawn into the world with clever descriptions that are not burdensome, and connected to the characters through a series of believable encounters and dilemmas.

The characters were the highlight of this book, with complete personas, recognisable internal dialogue, and understandable drives. Including historical personas like Christopher Marlowe (as a lascivious rake) and Shakespeare (as a morose loser) were wittily included.

A great read that contains more heart than one expects.

This was a fun cute nice fantasy read :)
Great characters, great writing and a great start to a series.

This is a fun comic romantasy set in an alternate universe London during the reign of Elizabeth I. History has played out a little differently here; Wales is independent thanks to help from a dragon monarch and London is divided into Upper London, inhabited mostly by humans, and Deep London, inhabited by magical creatures who mostly see humans as prey.

I loved this book; the setting, the characters, the plot, the humour, were all massively enjoyable. The stakes are both huge and really personal and there’s no infodumping, which makes the way the story unfolds all the more entertaining. I really recommend this book!

This was a wonderfully fun book! It's cosy fantasy, with deeply interesting world building, and a very Discworld-esque writing style. It's funny and enjoyable and you can't help but love the characters. At times the romance subplot feels like a bit of an afterthought, but it's not necessarily a bad thing, the book would have just been as wonderful without it. I can't wait to continue the series!

I am a fan of this author and have read her previous books. The humour is off-beat and the world-building is excellent. If you are in the mood for something darkly funny and surprisingly sweet, you will enjoy this book.

I loved the two main characters and the way they work with each other. The story moves pretty quickly but the writing is detailed and I didn't want to miss a word, so it took me a little longer to read.

Thoroughly enjoyable.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This one surprised me, with how much I actually liked it.

I love anything fantasy and this was Elizabethan fantasy which took me a second to grasp the time frame.
Zombies/Vampires/Fairies/Magic oh my!

The adventure of trying to figure out how or why 2 people (the MCs) were cursed to not die but to be half human and half something else.

All while creating a bond and a found family within each other 🖤

2SLGBTQIA+ Historical Fantasy Romance set in London 1599 about three humans who find themselves struck with an immortality curse set out to reverse the spell with a dragon and fae child's help.

4/5 stars: Hutchinson Crouch's 2SLGBTQIA+ Historical Fantasy Romance that's set in London 1599 and features three humans, Fang – who hails from the the Ming Empire, Lazare – a French actor and Nell – a Welsh apothecary owner, who find themselves struck with an immortality curse as they set out to reverse the spell with the help of Amber – an urban dragon and Tem – a fae child. Hutchinson Crouch's writing and character work are excellent; the characters are well-rounded, complex and yet remain incredibly likable. Fang, Lazare, Nell, Amber and Tem are great. Each of them hold their own and have distinct voices. Additionally, the world building is interesting and well-done. Oh and this is a slow burn (72%) off page romance but still had plenty of tension, banter and swoony romance. Hutchinson Crouch touches on some serious subjects; so take care and check the CWs. I look forward to reading the next in this series.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Duckworth Books & Farrago Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book with no obligation to review.

I really like this, a great read with brilliant characters all of whom I loved straightaway., especially of course Lazare and Fang., It's generally quite light hearted and very funny in places - particularly the scene in Chicory's guest house when the vampires break in - who hasn't had that reaction when someone bends over lol..

The plot is good ( I did wonder if the fae child might be a baddy) and it cracks along at a good pace. There is some tension in the book in the underwater river scenes and the end of that episode is most vividly described

The book is set in an alternative London which, for some reason is dated as if it is happening in the times of Elizabeth I. We do meet famous characters from that time and maybe we will see (or perhaps even have seen already), the magician John Dee.

I am only sorry that the other books in the series are not out yet.

A light, funny and very enjoyable read.

This book is super addictive. Set in a magical Elizabethan (I) London, where the busy underground is definitely not the same as the one we know. Okay, maybe not too different - it is as hot as hell down there.

Humanity and the supernatural sit at an uneasy peace in London. Whilst immortals do roam the streets of human upper London, there are laws that they must abide. Humans on the other hand don't tend to last long in lower London - there are still laws its just always open season.

With this tenuous balance, immortality is not the blessing that mysterious Fang wants to wake up from death to. Lazare is more just inconvenienced. With the help of Fangs savant alchemist contact, chased by a dark past, a few London gangs, and an angry goose - Fang and Lazare race figure out what's going on and who is trying to take them out.

Oh and I haven't had the chance to mention the star of the show, Amber. A dragon who is mighty of heart and stomach. A dragon who is completely adorable. A dragon who despite failing courage manages to save their asses now and then.

This was such a fun fantasy with excellent representation. The mystery elements were gripping and the characters absolutely made this book. I can't wait to read what comes next.

I loved this! I love the setting of Elizabethan England and the Upperside and Deep London. a really well written story full of lovely, relatable characters and I absolutely love the found family trope which this book is filled with! ! really enjoyed the way each character brings something different. definitely looking forward to the next book!

Thank you to Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, Farrago Books, and NetGalley for a galley of this in exchange for an honest review.

Cursed Under London is a wild romp of a book, filled with humour and affection.

In an alternative Elizabethan London magicals and non-magicals live in tenuous harmony, divided into two Queendoms: Upper London, the domain of Queen Elizabeth and living, non-magical subjects; and Lower London, the domain of the fearsome Queen Redthroat, populated by zombies, vampires, werewolves, dragons and assorted magicals. Strict rules separate the London's, and allow the citizens of both to co-exist in relative peace, but things are changing in Upper London. First Lazare, and then Fang fall victim to an unusual curse, gangs become more brazen, strange happenings abound, and soon all of London becomes a powder-keg waiting to light.

This was a delightful read. I loved the humour, and the way our characters interacted. There was a strong sense of found family, and and intriguing through line that propelled the story forward even in the lulls. Lazare and Fang were fully realised, and deeply lovable characters. London itself, both above and below, managed to become a lovable character all of its own. I thoroughly enjoyed all the Renaissance references, and particularly the appearance of two Renaissance drama superstars!

I think this is going to be an amazing series, and I am really looking forward to reading more about Fang and Lazare and their adventures! 3.5 stars.

Fun and cozy queer Romantasy that lives off the endearing characters, interesting world building and overall mystery of what the hell happened to our protagonists and why on earth they aren't dead.

In a world that seems outright cruel with blatant racism against magical races (division of Upper and Under London), the blossoming romance between Lazare and Fang is tender, soft and heart-warming, while also being gut-wrenching and heart-breaking. Their interactions and especially Lazare’s swooning will make you kick your feet in giddiness, while Fang’s rebuttal and overall grumpiness will make you roll your eyes and want to scream at him!

If you liked Legends & Lattes be sure to give Cursed Under London a try but be prepared for an extra ounce of quirky flourish, quick-fire banter and a solve-the-mystery plot line, that will keep you up and guessing.

Continuing on my journey of fantasy based romance, can’t use that single word to describe it it just feels wrong!

‘Cursed Under London’ find us in an alternative Elizabethan era (Elizabeth the First that is), and the world is inhabited by various types of the undead, dragons, and fae as well as your usual run of the mill humans. Then a new type of undead show up and smell ‘off’ and it is the story of these two, Fang and Lazare that we follow through gangland fights, befriending a dragon, and other escapades.

Fang and Lazare get ‘turned’ into whatever they are and have to find out what caused this and this leads them through Upper and Deep London getting into lots of different scrapes and developing a ragtag found family.

The ending is really well played and turned the hero/villain narrative a little bit, but the very last chapter set the Cursed series up for more high jinx of a royal nature.

This was a fun and light romp, liberally sprinkled with humour that was a nice addition to the story line, especially zombie Kit Marlowe!

In all the light humour one of the bits I did like was the inclusion of intelligent and human sized Swans and Ravens as the Royal constabulary and guard to the Tower.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Set in an alternative universe London.
I loved this a lot!

You have adventure, mystery and romance in a hilarious way.
I really loved the styled of the written and will def check out her other books

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-ARC of Cursed Under London.

We follow Lazare, Fang-changed humans who live in the Deepside of London. Now changed, they have the gift of immortality, however this does end up causing some problems, especiallg once they venture to the Uppserisde of the city. Along with their friends, Nell (a pharmacist) and a dragon named Amber, they find a half elf child named Tem, hidden in a box, and so their adventure begins to try and take her back home.

I do have to admit, I did find the first 5 or so chapters to be extremely slow and I found that there was an overwhelm of plot and characters to start with- POV shifts from Upperside (mainly human residents) to Deepside (vampires, zombies, dragons etc.). However, by the end of the story, the found family trope and theme of love and belonging made my heart feel so happy and full. So although it had a slow start, I did end up really enjoying this story, and will definitely be looking into the next book in the series!

"The hilarious first novel in a cosy and inclusive historical romantasy series by the writer of Horrible Histories.

Two strangers.

Two Londons.

Two hearts that won't stop beating...

In an alternative Elizabethan London, Fang awakes from his death to discover he is not quite human anymore. In fact, despite having somehow acquired the power of immortality, he's also not quite vampire, zombie, werewolf or any of the other supernatural beings who roam the twin cities of Upper London and its underground counterpart, Deep London.

A jaded traveller from the Ming Empire, Fang is desperate to find a way to reverse the spell and get on with being dead when he stumbles upon Lazare de Quitte-Beuf, a theatrical Frenchman who is afflicted with the same mysterious condition. Thrown together by the curse they share, the two men set out to undo the strange magic that binds them. As they are drawn further into the shadowy world of Deep London, they unearth a dangerous plot which they appear to be right in the middle of...

And, surely, when in grave danger, the worst thing they could do would be to fall in love, wouldn't it?"

Just to clarify, Horrible Histories writer yes, Ghosts writer no.

I received a copy of this book for a free unbiased opinion.
This historical urban fantasy features an underground London below normal Elizabethan London. A dangerous version of London filled with magical creatures and normal human laws don’t apply- including the one about not eating people. In my view, Deep London makes this book stand out from others.
Fang and Lazare are the two men who find themselves becoming immortal and having to deal with the fallout. Their lives collide when they find themselves rescuing a half-fae child and having to deliver back to her fae family while trying to evade evil alchemists and Queen Elizabeth’s police.
I would have liked to have more Nell- Fang’s friend- a well-drawn and fascinating character and worthy of her own book. Nell, Fang and Lazare are outsiders in their own individual way but they way they come together towards the end will please fans of the found family genre.
There is plenty of action, magic and plot moves smoothly except for the parts where Fang and Lazarre dissect their blossoming relationship- this is a real slow burning romance.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC! 🐉🐈‍⬛🧛

I have to be brutally honest; this book could use a lot of editing.

There are PoV changes in the middle of paragraphs, sometimes it is not clear who is being referred to, and the dialogue could flow better. Also, the writing is very anachronistic. Like, "hot" and "hotties" are used multiple times throughout this book. I'm not a historian, so maybe they did say that in Elizabethan England, but at one point "re" was used, and I am fairly certain that emails had not been invented yet.

I also have to address the blurb and the fact that it is wrong! The blurb describes this book as a "cozy rom-com", which it is not! These guys die so many times, they are constantly adventuring and hauling ass. I think they chill out for like ONE (1) scene, then they immediately go back to being in danger! This is the opposite of the meaning of cozy!!

That being said! I freaking loved this. These characters are so fun to read and they were so endearing to me I fell in love with their dumbasses. These three adults share one brain cell and Nell has it 90% of the time. The other 10% is when Lazare is being emotionally intelligent, and Fang breaks the smart Asian stereotype by having the brain cell never. Also Amber the dragon is the sweetest little baby I want to adopt her and feed her all the meats she desires.

The world-building is rather interesting and fleshed out. The author does such a good job at showing how the supernatural creatures live alongside the humans, as well as how they are integrated into this society. It was really interesting getting to explore this alternate version of London (and also Deep London).

I appreciate that our main characters are PoC; with the way people get mad/debate about the existence of PoC in historical fiction, having characters that are not white + having their race be intrinsically tied to their backstories was much appreciated.

This book is also hilarious. Your mileage may vary; my bestie thought the humour was a bit much, and I personally found some of it to be ridiculous but I could still find it funny.

I also loved the stupid-ass romance. Lazare and Fang are so dysfunctional and stupid (endearing) (and moreso Fang). Their dynamic was so frustrating to read but in a good way, I promise! Also, this is pitched as a romance, but (IMO) one of the central tenets of the romance genre is that the couple ends up together by the end, which is NOT the case here.

Since this is book 1 of a series, they will probably get it together in the sequel. Which, BTW, I am beyond excited for I need it so bad.

(@ the author or publisher or whoever is in charge of this, I would love an ARC for the sequel hmu)

This world the author created was enormously fun. Was it completely historically accurate? No, it's not meant to be. Was it extremely fun with little nods to famous faces in history? Absolutely. The characters were great, especially Nell. It had a strong found family vibe. I would definitely read more in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ferrago Books for the e-arc.

A cozy and adorable urban fantasy that I'm grateful I had the chance to read! I enjoyed the writing and the characters, some of the pacing of the plot events and development between the main characters was a little off for me. I think this will be a good read for those who are fans of T Kingfisher's fantasy series.

I really enjoyed Cursed under London. It was an easy read. The characters were all enjoyable and I liked how they are 'a little family'
Will look out for more from this author. 5 stars

This was an amazingly unique kooky paranormal story of mystery and found family set in the depths of both upper and lower london.
In a world where humans live above ground and there is a below ground equivalent of london for the paranormal so they can survive side by side in peace, we have a collective of characters who dont quite fit the norm of paranormal but also dont seem to be human fully anymore.

With gangs as our villains, we see our squad of main characters go against them to save Tem, a child who is half fae and half human and being used as a weapon. I loved how Tem and Fang one of our MC's bonded in this book and how our main gang ultimately became a close found family dynamic. This tale was unique and unlike any other id read and a great shelf filler at only 220 ish pages as an ebook. Overall, I would definitely reccomend it to fans of the paranormal and found family who want a bit of a mystery set in old england. From paranormal counterparts of Kit Marlowe and Shakespeare, to all our characters being a bit fruity, theres nothing more you could desire from such a tale.

3.5/5 stars

Cursed Under London is a cosy queer historical romantasy set in an alternative Elizabethan London where magical creatures coexist with humanity. Frenchman actor Lazare and handsome Asian man Fang are both attacked and killed, only to wake up as sort-of supernatural creatures with inexplicable immortality. Despite being strangers, they must work together to figure out this curse alongside a loyal apothecary and a small in stature dragon as they dodge rival gangs, avoid the deputized aviary royal police, and venture into Deep London, the underground dwelling of supernatural beings.

I actually wouldn’t consider this book a romantasy as the romance was very secondary to the main plot of the curse with very little actually developing in the romance department. Lazare is what you would call a debonair man who wouldn’t mind tumbling either a man or woman and prides himself as being a great lover. Meanwhile, Fang is an attractive man who has been traumatized by a past lover and seeks some instant gratification and subsequently quick rejection. While both men are attracted to each other, their competing philosophies don’t mesh initially and their shared curse certainly isn’t helping. Their relationship honestly never felt all that romantic—it felt more friendly with a heavy dose of lust.

The book itself is quite funny and very unserious. The cast get themselves into some pretty hilarious situations along with some fun banter and even funnier awkwardness. It’s pretty fast-paced and always progressing forward with delightful interactions and action.

I wouldn’t say the book felt cosy to me, but its low stakes and found family dynamic does go hand in hand with most cosy fantasies. The writing is accessible, if not particularly Elizabethan, but the author does switch perspectives unexpectedly between paragraphs so it’s sometimes confusing to tell who the PoV character is at any time. Mostly though, I think it’s just important to note that this book feels like a set-up novel for a series (which its actually is).

Cursed Under London lays the foundation for a cosy queer romantasy while actually being more of a low stakes fantasy comedy.

This was a fascinating and intriguing fantasy novel. The book did start off a bit slow but the pace picked up as the story went on. The characters were well developed and lovable enough to make me really enjoy and appreciate the storyline.

There’s also great lgbtq+ representation which I loved! The romance was great, I loved every bit of it! Truly a book worth reading.

Elizabethan London? CHECK! Fantasy rom-com. CHECK!

This was such a fun read! I laughed out loud so many times and the characters were so well-written and the romance was so sweet that I found it hard to put my Kindle down. It totally gave me cosy-fantasy vibes, which i'm such a fan of right now!

This is the first book i've by this author by it 100% won't be the last!

This was such a refreshing read to me. The characters were so lovable. It's whimsy, it's witty and delightfully charming with a sprinkling of chaos all the way through. I absolutely adored it. The way Crouch builds historical fantasy and intertwines it with entertaining humour is truly a delight to behold. As many others have also mentioned, this book is filled with laughs and it's been a while since a book had me laughing so much.

This book is set in an 'alternate' Elizabethan England (and let me stress the 'alternative' Elizabethan England because there's been some mention about how the English sounded a 'bit' modern - this is fantasy everyone! and an Historical one at that, it's not meant to be the same). Having two different types of London was fascinating to me, the whole Upper London (where the regular and humans reside) and Deep London (where all the undead creatures and beings reside) and the worlds never really meet, they essentially just exist as two sides of the same coin. The supernatural elements, the plot, the characters and the whole Underworld of the Undead I found absolutely fascinating. I really loved how well the fantasy world was fleshed out, I felt that I could really understand the differences between the two different societies. We got to learn a good amount of both which was great, and I'm excited to see where the next book goes with the world building.

The story was absolutely NOT what I was expecting in the best way possible and I think that's why I enjoyed the read so much. We met two polar opposite people - Fang and Lazare, both of which have become not-quite-undead-not-completely. As it turns out, they seem to be the only two people with a curse that has given them some form of 'backwards' magic. Together (well, reluctantly on Fangs part) they end up working together to find out more about how this mysterious curse afflicts them.

The plot and storyline is dynamic, you'll mostly be constantly on the go - but don't let that put you off, all that happens within this book is well explained which given the speedy pacing really has to be commended.

Fang and Lazare together are the absolute description of the grumpy x sunshine dynamic. The way they interact, the banter they have for each other but also this deep unspoken care and love they have for one another that neither of them truly understand just yet is really quite heartwarming. You'll be rooting for them, mainly because all you'll want is for them both to experience happiness. I also loved the whole found family elements, the side characters we meet - Nel and Amber do NOT feel like side characters at all and I personally felt they were crucial to the story telling as well!

I can't wait to see where the rest of this story goes, and I'll definitely be picking up the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and to Gabby Hutchinson Crouch for the ARC of Cursed Under London. It was truly a pleasure to read.

To start off, this book is going to be one people either love or hate. It takes place in Elizabethan London, but anachronistic language is used. I know some readers find that incredibly off-putting to the point they will not read fantasy books with modern dialogue. If that is the case, this book isn't for you.

To me, this book was not "high fantasy," so it did not bother me. To me, the dialogue and the way the characters spoke to one another worked. Cursed Under London, in my opinion, does well what Assistant to the Villain failed at. It manages to be somewhat whimsical, comical, and slightly romantic without the clunky plot or dialogue that the aforementioned book has.

The villain that is introduced near the end feels as though he comes from nowhere, until you reflect on previous events in the book. I somewhat predicted what would happen to said villain, but still found the end of the novel satisfying. It set up what I hope ends up being a fantastic series.

This queer, semi-historical, rom-com fantasy stands as my favorite ARC of the year thus far.

Comparable titles would include the Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger, Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer, and The Immortal Empire by Kate Locke.

I originally picked up this book because I recognised the author from BBC Radio 4 shows the News Quiz and The Now Show. I liked those, so I figured I’d like the book.

Set in an Alternative Elizabethan England, there is and Upper London where the non magical live, and a Deep London, where the Magical live. United by a curse that leaves them not quite living, but not quite dead, Lazare and Fang end up working together to try and figure out what has happened to them and what, if anything, they can do about it. Add in some street gangs, a Welsh Apothecary who keeps having to sew Lazare and Fang back together, a mysterious child, and a tiny dragon, and this band of misfits is ready for action. Maybe. But probably not.

While billed as a “rom-com” that aspect didn’t come through particularly strongly for me, but that was a strength in the story telling, and any more romance would have felt out of place. For me, the charm of this story lies in its blend of historical fantasy and world building. I really found the vibe very similar to Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. The world-building is intricate, creative, and occasionally downright ludicrous, reminiscent of Pratchett’s whimsical touch. But the romance is the least significant of the relationships built over the course of the story. The balance of tension is just right. It keeps you engaged without causing anxiety overload.

If you are looking for a cozy, inclusive, and humorous romp through a fantastical version of Elizabethan London, this is well worth a read.

What an odd, but interesting book!

It was very fast and easy read, I basically finished it in 2 days, and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Story follows a group of strange and unusual friends that have been thrown in a centre of conspiracy that they had no wish to be part of. We have Fang, who is just miserable and loves self-sabotage. Lazare is a tad delusional, but have a kind heart. Nell is horny, yet loyal to the core. And Amber is... well, a dragon with great manners (she won't eat you without you dying first)! Together, they embarked on a mission to undo this mysterious curse that brought Fang and Lazare from death. Yet, not everyone in the story seeks the same outcome, and someone is having a blast watching all this chaos being unleashed.

There are more characters that we meet and have important roles, but I don't want to spoil anything for you. But I do have to say that the beginning of chapter 13 made my day. I just couldn't stop laughing! Prude vampires, that was a new one for me, and I absolutely loved it.

What I loved the most was how inclusive the story is. There is no such thing as straight or gay or any other label. It's just creatures attracted to creatures or not. I can't even say humans, as the story has so many types of different creatures that mingle together.

However, I felt like the story lacked some depth. It was interesting and the world building was unique, but all the descriptions felt just glanced over. I do understand that going into deep explanations wasn't the focus of the story, but I would have loved to understand this historical fantasy world better.

But like I said, it was a fast and easy read. It doesn't make you question everything and anything, and there were a few plot twists that left me surprised. If you want fantasy but want light and not overly complicated plotline - this is the book for you 🖤

Cosy, romantic and funny. And one hell of an adventure.

First of all, I would like to thank Farrago for providing me with an ARC for Cursed Under London by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch.

There are more novels depicting an Upper and a Deep London, and some of them are a hard act to follow. Cosy, and with a diverse cast, Cursed Under London does not disappoint. The balance between dark, light-heartedness and pulling heartstrings is just right.
Fang and Lazare, the two main characters, carry the plot perfectly. Together with apothecary Nell, tiny dragon Amber and young Tem, they take on gangs of living and undead thugs in Upper and Deep London. And then there is a surprising villain, who you can’t help but despise.

So yes, cosy, romantic, funny, one hell of an adventure, it’s all there. I’d have no hesitation buying Cursed Under London 2, if and when it is published.

Dark, witty, funny and adventurous, anything you could want in a dark fantasy with a pinch of romance!

Follow weirdly immortals, ghoul but not ghoul, vampire but not vampire, Fang and lazare, with the help of Nell the apothecary and Amber, the little fiery but sassy dragon, on a quest to find out why Fang and Lazare died but didn’t die.

On their journey they encounter many many otherworldly beings, and maybe find some answers to their many questions.


This was easily a five star read for me, the witty responses, the fight or flight behavior (so relatable), the little romance snippets, the tension and obviously AMBER!! I love her to bits!
I can’t wait for everyone else to fall in love with these characters as I did!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5/5
This was a really fun fantasy, set in a uniquely imagined version of Elizabethan London. It was funny at times and also sweet. The characters are somewhat odd at times but it all adds to the unusual tone of this queer romcom fantasy mish mash.

The pacing was good and held my interest, I enjoyed the plot and while I would have like to see a little more character development and depth I did really enjoy the characters. I particularly enjoyed the back and forth banter between the main characters, written in a way that was easy to follow it was a quirky fun quick read.

Really really enjoyed this. It had a fun and interesting plot, some fantastic characters and a brilliant sense of humour throughout. I loved Fang, and can’t wait to learn more, especially about the budding friendship with Lazare and their unusual affliction. Nell and Amber were equally as fun, and I’m already eager for the second instalment.

Cursed Under London is a funny and endearing tale of the adventures and misfortunes of two characters with very opposite personalities. Perfect for fans of Good Omens (both the show and the novel) and The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy.

Gabby Hutchinson’s style is incredibly fluid, combining both humor and action effortlessly. The pace doesn’t lag at any point and still the novel is fairly easy to put down and pick up again. The world she has built is rich and colorful, filled with creatures and the perfect amount of description to let the reader understand without being to overwhelming. It was fairly easy to fall into the politics and what-nots of both London without missing a beat.

The characters are a little underdeveloped and one dimensional, but it works for the tone of the book. My only complaint is that I felt the romance got a little bit lost among the action and was too rushed and at times hard to believe. I would have preferred if it went slower and we actually got to see the the attraction develop over time. That being said, I did enjoyed very much, especially their banter.

The secondary characters were mostly used as comedic support, but I found them adorable and hilarious in equal parts.

Overall it was a relaxing and enjoyable read. I would recommend if you love fantasy and are looking for an easy and laugh-out kind of book.

Fun and witty historical romantasy series with a range of unique features. Cannot wait to see what the rest of the series has to offer. Charming and cosy all the way through. Will definitely recommend to my friends.

Cursed Under London was everything I wanted and more, after reading the synopsis I knew this book was for me. Fang and Lazare were just everything, you want the world for the, you want them to be happy, they deserve it. I loved the two of them so much, the banter between them, the humour but also other deep love and affection for each other. It’s just so heartwarming.

Set in Elizabethan England, I could picture the whole setting perfectly in my head, Gabby is such a talented and creative writer, the world building is just perfection , I love how atmospheric Gabby manages to make every page feel and how the dark and mysterious is balanced with humour is brilliantly done.

Gabby Hutchinson Crouch has written yet another book full of characters I love and care for, that I’m glued to the pages, that I need to know what happens next, that my babies are ok and will get their deserved happiness, will they ? Well I guess you’ll just have to read to find out.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

So unputdownable. I haven't enjoyed a book so much in a long time! I love the LGBTQIA+ representation the most, it's not like the characters are named as 'gay' but they just go with the flow, accepting and loving anyone for who they are. It's like a giant warm hug in a book.
The fantasy aspect is so well described I could really picture it! Like some steampunk version of London with recognisable landmarks, but with added dragons. I would love to see this as a movie, it would be epic!

Oh I really enjoyed this one!

The fact that it was fantasy set in Elizabethan London had already piqued my interest because it’s such a good period, it’s also one I haven’t read too much of in fantasy, but this was so much more- it’s historical but urban, funny, cozy, romantic and it made me smile a lot!

We follow Fang & Lazare who have found themselves with new unique powers after coming back to life (sort of) from being unalived and they must work together to break a curse that means they can never truly die!

The action takes place in London (sort of) it’s a version of London and not necessarily one I’d choose to visit but there are lots of recognisable place names, landmarks and some things that you’ll recognise even though they are totally unrecognisable.

it’s funny, proper laugh out loud funny with some fantastic comedic moments and great banter as Fang & Lazare deal with some pretty strong emotions and feelings in a world of vampires, dragons, werewolves, fae and I’m sure I remember ogres in the mix too!

This maybe shouldn’t work but it really did work for me- it’s a noisy book but it also feels like the biggest hug!

I am intrigued where this is going and I will definitely be picking up the next book!

Loved the alternate Elizabethan worldbuilding of a human Upper London residing on top of a Deep London full of vampires, werewolves, dragons etc and obviously you get the tube between them. Loved the characters, and the dynamics between the main four - extremely funny back and forths, full of tension and friendship and love and questionable magic potions and powers.

Really happy this is the start of a series, can't wait to read more of this 'found family in the middle of BIG, funny and possibly deadly shenanigans' narrative.

This was hilarious. I rarely laugh at books but this one got me. It's set in an alternative London called "Deep London". Fang and Lazare awake from their deaths to discover they are not quite human anymore and they are thrown into chaos.

The relationship between the main characters is full of banter and they have a grumpy/sunshine dynamic however I do feel like the romance was rushed and felt a bit 'insta love' as they were kissing and sharing a bed really early on. But I instantly loved them as separate characters. I loved the supernatural beings they encountered and I rarely read a book where it contains multiple different types as usually it's just one supernatural creature.

The storyline was exciting and I loved that it never got boring.

If you love a cozy fantasy with queer romance with supernatural creatures this one might be for you!

#ad thank you to the publisher for sending me this proof copy for an honest review!