I loved the juxtaposition between the lower class marsh lands with the upper class garden society. It adds a gritty tang to the toxic polish. His cronies guffawed. Marlow’s fingers closed around what she deeply hoped was a temporary Blinding hex. I could not stand the characters in this book, for one of two reasons. Either they were super cookie-cutter, to the point it was almost comical, or they were just horrible. Marlow was fine, even though there was nothing that stood out about her. Her whole identity is wrapped up in her mother's, so we didn't get to know her. I could not stand Adrius. He was incredibly self-centered and hurtful to others. He looks down on others of a lower social class and was only friends with Marlow when none of his other friends were around. Even though he treated others poorly, he still expected to be treated the best and was hurt over things he had no right to be upset about. Marlow and Adrius are in a fake relationship, yet he would lead Marlow on, only to say he was kidding, or gaslight her into being embarrassed. Yet, when Marlow played the part, he acted like a petulant child since she told him, upfront, that it was not real to her. Because he was horrible, I liked them as enemies, even when Marlow was growing attracted to him. To be convinced that they could be lovers, I need leaps and bounds of growth in Adrius's character. He was annoying from start to finish.

High-stakes action and bureaucratic intrigue abound, but it’s Marlow and Adrius’s charged relationship that keep tensions elevated. Sumptuous worldbuilding and fully realized, intersectionally diverse characters further enhance this enticing tale." — Publishers Weekly, starred review Bane’s two cronies pushed deeper into the hall, flanking Marlow. She stood her ground, sizing them up. The one with a red beard she vaguely recognized, and the other, a wiry youth with a squid beak nose, looked like he couldn’t be much older than she was. A new recruit. Maybe even Swift’s replacement. So I was a little underwhelmed with the first few chapters, I will admit this. Not that I didn't like it necessarily, I just wasn't invested yet? But! When I did begin to become invested, I was all in. So if you aren't feeling it at the very start, give it a second, because it was very much worth it for me! He says he’s really flattered, but this obsession your boss has with him is starting to get embarrassing.”Swift explains that he's fixing a radio and suddenly audio bursts out from it talking about The Ballad Of The Moon Thief. In this edge-of-your-seat YA fantasy/mystery duology from award-winning author Katy Rose Pool, cursebreaker Marlow Briggs reluctantly pretends to be in love with one of the most powerful nobles in Caraza City to gain entry into an illustrious—and deadly—society that holds clues to her mother’s disappearance. Garden of the Cursed is perfect for fans of Veronica Mars , These Violent Delights, and Chain of Iron .

I lied,” she said, nudging his arm with her boot as he groaned in pain. “I’m not going to ask a second time.” Thus, the fake relationship has a certain degree of tension underlying it, not just because of the unresolved feelings between the two of them but also because with it, Marlow has to return to a world that reminds her of her mother. She can’t help but feel even more out of place now. Everyone also seems suspicious, possibly having a hand either in Adrius’s curse or in her mother’s disappearance.For a moment Marlow’s fear dulled the edges of her mind. She swallowed it down and forced herself to meet Bane’s cruel gray eyes with another smile. I loved the Age of Darkness trilogy and was so hyped for Katy Rose Pool’s next series since the announcement! It just sounded so fun, and the fake dating trope definitely didn’t hurt either. In Garden of the Cursed, a cursebreaker reluctantly agrees to help break the curse of the old friend who snubbed her a year ago, which turns into a fake relationship so she can investigate a lead on her mother’s disappearance. DISCLAIMER: very slight spoilers. Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this does not influence my review. READ IT YOU GUYS!!!!!!! This book was sooo good!! The writing style: phenomenal🤌🏾 the fantasy world-building? PHENOMENAL (I love when the plot actually gets me invested, I finished this book in a day) the ROMANCE??? Simmering, Slow-burn, swoon-worthy filled with angst.