REVIEW: "Truth Cursed" by Angie Dickinson

 

About the Book:

✦ Title: Truth Cursed

✦ Author: Angie Dickinson

✦ Genre: Young adult fantasy (marketed as Christian, but little to no actual Christian content)

✦ Series: Currently a standalone novel

✦ Recommend for: ages 15+

My Personal Rating

⭐⭐⭐.5 

📖 Synopsis

Cressida Hoth is alone in the world. Orphaned and unwanted, she is inflicted with a peculiar curse by her mischievous aunts and banished to a finishing school in the secluded kingdom of Dernmont. Students train in every accomplishment suitable for young ladies: music, dancing, etiquette…and strangely, poison-making, fencing, and lock-picking.

The school is a front for a rebel spy ring, and when her training is complete, Cressida is selected to join a mission to infiltrate the kingdom’s royal court. She has been thrown unceremoniously into a world of ball gowns and espionage, but she is still under a curse, and it threatens to expose them all.

Defending her teammates and her secret, Cressida discovers that the kingdom’s buried history and the truth behind her curse run far deeper than she imagined.

💭 My thoughts

I hadn’t even planned on reading this book, but when I saw the hardcover on Amazon for just $2.38, I couldn’t resist. ;)

Overall, it was interesting and entertaining, though not one I absolutely loved. The concept was intriguing, but I’ll admit I got a bit disinterested during parts of the story. It picked up towards the middle and got very exciting and intense, but then towards the end I wasn't all that invested. Still, for a debut, the writing was pretty solid. I will say that I didn’t really feel the romance- I never fully understood why they fell for each other, and I had some serious qualms about Emric as the love interest until a few things were revealed. On another note, I can't say I followed along and understood the ending and how everything wrapped up, but that could have just been me being tired and not paying enough attention. I did really like the little twist at the very end regarding Cressida, though, and it makes me wonder if there will be a sequel!

If you are a big fan of young adult fantasy, I can *totally* see why you might love this one! For me, it was a fun, different read, not completely my cup of tea, but I am curious to see what this author writes next.

⚠️ Content

Minor language including "what the blazes" and fictional phrases like "bloody stones of Vindeca"; Some violence including remembered murders, stabbing, being attacked, being held at knife-point, killing someone in self defense (plus guilt over doing so), drugging people, pain, injuries, blood, passing out; grief over loss of loved ones; drinking wine; a mild romance and some lightly detailed kissing; a mention of a king's mistress.

Note: Considered nonmagical fantasy, because while Cressida was forced at a young age to drink a drug (almost like a potion) that makes her unable to lie/forced to answer any question truthfully, and considers herself "cursed", there is no actual magic because these powders are from mines (and considered an illegal substance).

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Bookishly yours, 

Lottie M