I've got to cure an elven king or become his next meal.
Lisa Xu, faerie extraordinaire. Or so they tell me. I survived numerous heartbreaks, getting almost eaten alive by various supernatural beings, and I'm an uber-reluctant member of a superhero team.
I didn't let living in a post-apocalyptic world stop me from reaching my dreams and opening up my own clothing store. However, a girl can't catch a break for long in a supernatural world.
Time is running out on a promise I made to the powerful and very sexy elven king, Joo-won. If I don't find a way to break his curse, he's going to eat me. Seriously.
With the clock running, my search is dire, but of course nothing is simple in a supernatural world. I’ve got to find the “wicked witch” who cursed Joo-won, and fight off nightmarish creatures that could be tied to a murderous ghoul, an ex-lover from Joo-won's criminal past, or something more unknown.
This is seriously getting in the way of me building my fashion empire. Hope I don’t get killed before I make it big.
Fans of Jeaniene Frost novels, True Blood and the Aisling Grey, Guardian series may like this standalone paranormal romance and sequel to the prequel novella, Mystic Realms.
C.C. is a USA Today Bestselling author originally from Baltimore, Maryland. She has actively written fiction since the age of eleven. She is an avid “chick lit” reader and urban fantasy fan. In 2012, she participated as a writer and actress in the 48 hour film project. In her other life, she works in Equal Employment and Civil Rights for the Federal Government. Before becoming a public servant, C.C. briefly practiced law after graduating from the University of Maryland School of Law. In her free time she is obsessed with travel, horror, anime and K-dramas!
I was not expecting to be an emotional mess by the end of this book, but that’s exactly where the author took me. So, take this as my warning that you may need to keep the tissues handy before the story is over. When I started reading this book, I wasn’t entirely sure that this was what I was in the mood for. All my reservations were quickly overcome by the certainty that I NEEDED to know how this was going to turn out. I love that Lisa is the consummate “anti-hero”. For so long she’s certain she doesn’t have the power to affect the changes that need to happen. Yet, slowly but surely, the knowledge that she does takes over and she becomes the hero she needs to be. I have no idea what’s coming next, but I know I want to be along for the ride. I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.
C.C Solomon takes us on a journey into a unique post magical apocalyptic supernatural world with Lightning and Curses, the first book in the Paranormal Lands series. And needless to say it’s truly an emotional roller coaster of a ride! This book is utterly captivating and will draw you in deep as Solomon weaves a masterful tale of a new paranormal reality where a strange sickness changed the world we once knew by wiping out half of the worlds population…and mutating the majority of the rest of the survivors.
Once a world of just humans, we now have a mixed society of humans and supernatural beings such as witches, fae, vampires, weres, angels, demons and other mysterious beings all trying to work together. Lisa, our tough as nails FMC, is one of the fae changed who also happens to be an elite member of the Special Six—a team of supernaturals brought together to protect the world against evil during a time of chaos.
Right from the start we see that Lisa has lost a lot since the paranormal apocalypse and is still trying to heal and recover—even as her world still seems unsure. With a magical debt/promise owed to the elven king Joo-won in hopes of breaking his curse, Lisa and her team of friends embark on a life changing journey against all odds. And even though at times it feels like all hope is lost, perhaps happiness can be found in a post-apocalyptic world after all….
“This world wants to become a beautiful mix of chaos. Why fight it? Live as you please. Gain the riches, the love, the pain, the power that you want.”
Overall this book is a definite must read!!! With phenomenal world building, intriguing well rounded characters, an entertaining plot and an emotional storyline that grabs you right from the start I highly recommend that you grab this series today! And while this is technically the first book, I do suggest that you read the prequel first as it gives some crucial back history that will make your reading of this story so much more enjoyable! I can’t wait for more of this world, these characters and this story! I am officially addicted!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I really enjoyed the prequel novel to this story, so I was excited to read this full-length story. You really should read the prequel before reading this one for the full affect, though. Lisa is a such caring soul, and I do admit I had my doubts about Joo-won. However, I am glad to say that by the end of the book, I was cheering them on in their battle. This was a fun book, and I am a little sad there won’t be more…however, I think that The Six will probably have more adventures, and we can see Lisa and Joo-won again. Oh, and be prepared to cry a little; I was devastated at one point. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
Really interesting superhero/magic realism story that takes place after the establishment of The Six: a magical group tasked with protecting the magical world from itself. With one of The Six, Amina, out of action, the remaining heroes must manage without. This story follows Lisa, one of The Six, as she struggles with her feelings for a mischievous fae, she becomes locked in the crosshairs of his friend and former lover, Martin.
I enjoyed the world this story is set in, which is part dystopia and part magic, and the romance is pretty steamy. This story is fairly slow-paced and focuses more on the romance than the action, but was an entertaining read.
C. C. Solomon has done it once again. I love everything she writes. She has such a knack for stories and her pen drips magical ink. If you haven't discovered her yet you definitely should. I'm extremely curious about what's next for this brilliant and talented writer.
A big thanks to the author for kindly providing me an ARC of Lightning and Curses. My honest review:
Overall rating: 3.2 Stars
What I enjoyed:
The Love Interest:
Joo-Won is an easily likable love interest with an intriguing past and great chemistry with the female lead. He is sexy and swoon worthy every time he is on the page, commanding the reader's attention and creating interest in his development. His morals are a gray area throughout the story, which kept me both guessing what his intentions were and flipping the pages to find out more.
The Set Up:
Although there’s an optional prequel for this novel, it’s easier to understand the story if you do read through it. Regardless, the author does a great job of summarizing the events of the prequel in such a way that you can understand what is going on in Lightning and Curses without having to read through the prequel if you choose not to - like me. I still found it easy to follow along with the main plot without being too confused about previous events, which I appreciate.
A Decent Main Character:
Lisa is an easy female lead to root for. I didn’t really find her remarkable or unique, but she has a solid sense of loyalty and a friendly disposition with those around her that made it hard to dislike her. I liked that she didn’t let Joo Won trample all over her and made her boundaries clear, while also having her own business goals outside of her interactions with the love interest.
Fun Secondary Characters:
There’s a great cast of supporting characters that added additional flavor and humor to the story. Each character in some way encompasses a part of the supernatural world, which makes it easier to see the different magical races through an actual character rather than just info dumping. Characters like Charles, Yuri and Senna were my personal favorites, with their wit and humor making me laugh whenever they were in a scene.
What I didn’t like:
Lisa’s Voice:
Lisa’s voice throughout the story sounded more adolescent than adult to me, which created a disconnect between her actual age and what she read like. She constantly used phrases and figures of speech that made me wonder if I was reading from the perspective of a sixteen year old instead of an adult woman, which continuously broke immersion for me.
Heavy Handed Messages:
At certain points throughout the book, I found the progressive messaging to be a little heavy handed. It's especially noticeable since this is a paranormal post apocalyptic world, and yet very modern ideas still seem to be prevalent in the aftermath of modern America's downfall. Words like 'woke' and 'male patriarchy' are actual words on the page which left me involuntarily cringing. Personally, modern social issues and politics of any kind are the opposite of why I read fantasy and paranormal books. The fantastical nature of these genres usually provide escapism from topics that are talked about to death in an overwhelming amount of real world spaces.
However, I respect the agency a writer has, in that they can have whatever kind of social inclinations in their book they want. That’s their creative right. In this case, I feel a little nuance would have helped in weaving these ideas more seamlessly into the story and world of Lightning and Curses so that these topics didn't seem as jarring and out of place in the book's setting.
Magic System:
The magic system could have used a little more development. It's not vague enough to be a Soft Magic System but not thoroughly explained enough to be a Hard Magic System either, so it sort of meanders in the middle. Magic is extremely present in the world and most characters can use it, but I still have no idea why it works the way it does outside of the event that caused it. The rules and limitations of magic are not deeply explored, which made it seem shallow and convenient whenever it was used.
Conclusion:
If you're a fan of urban fantasy, there's a chance you could really enjoy Lightning and Curses. Despite the issues I had with the book, it has its charm and manages to tell its story in a fun and engaging way.
After reading the prequel to this story, which was actually a novella in another series, I got quite curious about this book. All the ingredients were there. There is an amazing world, with amazing mythology and loads of supernatural creatures. There are some amazing characters, layered and gray and therefore interesting to read about. And there is a great plot, a curse that needs to be broken. I therefore couldn't wait to dive into this arc.
Most of those amazing ingredients were there again. I quite enjoyed how many different supernatural creatures and supernatural species we met in this book. The possibilities in this world are endless and as a reader you never know what's gonna be waiting for you in the next chapter. At times, however, it does feel like a little much. As if the author tried to show too much in this story and therefore the world is a little all over the place.
The same can be said about the plot. The plot is great. There is a curse that needs to be broken and the main characters are quite motivated to break that curse as soon as possible. However, I think that some parts of the plot are solved too soon and then a new plot is introduced. It therefore feels a little like the characters are rushing from one plot and threat into the next one. I personally would have liked a little more connection between all those issues.
However, I quite enjoyed reading about these characters again. That's mostly because these characters are not perfect. Sometimes they make mistakes, sometimes they do the wrong things, sometimes they go too far, sometimes they lose themselves a little. It makes them interesting and it also makes their romance interesting. It's quite clear that when they choose the other they will not choose for just good and happy. They will also take the bad with it. And I like that!
Lightning and Curses is the first book in C.C. Solomon's Paranormal Lands series, and before you jump into this book, if you haven't read the prequel novella then I highly recommend you read it otherwise you are going to be super lost and it's going to take you a minute to get into the storyline. Lightning and Curses is a good story overall. The beginning is a bit slow for my taste and it takes me a bit to get into the story, but once I do I really enjoy it overall. I have to say that I had mixed feelings about Lisa. I appreciate that the author doesn't write her as a typical "sassy" character who decides that now is the perfect time to push buttons, get under someone's skin and just be plain downright irritating. Lisa is sensible and knows when to put a question on pause for a later time and not to push when surrounded by mixed (friends and enemies) company. The back and forth mental gymnastics she has though are a bit tiring when it comes to her interest in Joo-won. I just want her to own it and be done with it. LOL! There are some aspects of the story that I didn't fully enjoy, but I think that as the series progresses I'll like it more. I really do feel that even with the prequel I need to read the other series that this series is connected to in a way. This series is supposed to be a "stand-alone" but I feel that they are still connected and that reading the other series will help a lot. All in all, I'm rating this book 4 out of 5 stars. If you enjoy paranormal romance novels then this book is a good pick.
Soulmates that can turn evil, supernatural world full of dynamic changes, different types of fae in the spotlight, and lots of manipulation going around. So is the story of Lisa, a faerie that is waiting for her wings (hoping to get them), owns a fashion store, clashes with a certain fae king who is convinces Lisa will be his, and has too many heartbreaks in her past to nurture her insecurities and trust issues. Now that her already complicated relationship with Joo-Won has a new player with shady agenda, the dark fae from Joo-Won's past, Lisa can expect that some of her own ghosts come hunt her - even if only for the sake to finally open her heart to love. I really enjoy the world in this book, as well as the going back and forth between Lisa and Joo-Won. Martin is also a very interesting character, who shows around so many different faces one can hardly say which one is his true self. There are also challenges and obstacles piling up in Lisa's way, and she would also need a bit of luck to just survive being around her enemies. Nice and relatively fast read.
Lisa, a fae and member of the six, has lost a lot since the paranormal apocalypse and is trying to get some of it back. As the story progresses a debt owed is close to coming due, other avenues to help are sought, and letting her walls drop has never been her strong suit. Lightning and Curses by C.C. Solomon draws the reader into a new sort of reality. Poor Lisa is so conflicted that it feels like she will never get her happy future. That doesn’t include all the outside factors at play in her life, giving the reader something to look forward to.
I read this book with my Kindle Unlimited subscription and I received a free copy of the book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
This is one of those books we're you appreciate just how rare and unique the storytelling is. I really enjoyed being swallowed up by this book for Meer hours. It manged to capture me just from the description alone and when I started reading it... I was not disappointed. Always great to have a strong female lead. Even better when she is a woman of color taking front and center. Representation matters! This was a great story, filled with amazing, well rounded characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. A must read!!!
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
This is quite the intriguing world the author has created here. We follow Lisa a fae living in a world after the paranormal apocalypse. She lost quite a bit and is just trying to get some of it back if she can. There is a group of six elite supernaturals charged with keeping the peace and she just happens to be one of them. The story just takes off from there dragging into an incredible world that you will not want to leave making for a fabulous read. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
She spent a year trying to get the elven king, Joo-Won to realize he was still a good man and fight on behalf of the new souls mates and the Six. In the aftermath of the last battle, Joo-Won has not let his attentions to Lisa wither. Even though distracted by all the things this new world needs and her responsibilities as a business owner and member of the Six, Lisa finds her attraction to Joo-Won growing. Can she let her heart free and still be the kicking awesome fairy she needs to be? This is another good story from the Paranormal World.
I read the prequel first and I am happy that I did. It was very helpful to my total understanding of this story. I enjoyed this story and Lisa and Jon-woo had me cheering for them to make it and for them as a couple. I feel that this is a great fantasy and I just want more from this amazing world!!! I Loved It! I received an ARC from the Author and I am Leaving this Totally Honest Review because I Choose to and I this that this is a Great Read!
I loved this book. From the moment that I started reading there was no stopping and I had to finish it in one sitting. It moves along at a pace which is perfect for the flow of the story which made for an easy read. You will love these characters and you want to know more about them. The story will keep you interested and reading till the end and then you are needing more. This book is a must read, you will not be sorry that you did.
I am really glad that I read the prequel before starting this as it gives a good background to the story of how Lisa and Joo-won met and what their relationship is. A bit of time has passed between the prequel and this story but Lisa is still fighting her feelings. And now we have an evil jealous ex in the mix too! As the story went on I got more and more engrossed in it and was nearly in tears by the end. Really loved it and will read more from this author in future
This was a book that captured my attention right away and kept me intrigued all the way through. The attention to detail, the character depth and world building was fantastic and very enjoyable. There was a lot happening within this book and it all flowed really well, it was easy to follow and moved at a comfortable pace. I really enjoyed this read! It had all the ingredients that hooked me ! I look forward to reading more from this authour!
An emotionally wrecking book.😅😭 It was a journey to say the least. This is a post magical apocalyptic world. The main character Lisa has lost so much and honestly I wasn't sure I was going to see her get a happy ended. A debt thats due but at what cost.
Although this is the 1st in the series I recommend the prequel. The story is great. The characters are well rounded. The world building is phenomenal. Can't wait to see whats next.
Before reading this one, I highly recommend reading the Prequel novella "Mystic Realms" or there will be a bit confusion. It took a little for me to get into this but the writing style, world building and character development is absolutely fantastic. Lisa is such a fun character to follow. I love that this is a new approach to the apocalypse. There's action, mythology, complex characters. If that's up your alley, than this is the perfect series for you.
Lisa is part of the Six who helped defeat an evil bad but is still trying to figure out her new life. Joo is trying to win over Lisa and help her adjust to her new life. The world building was great and the story flowed nicely. I'm curious to read more about the next issue they have to deal with and if the Six can make it.
An interesting idea to have a supernatural as a reluctant superhero - Part of The Six. Reading the prequel is probably advisable as, although this book touches on the past, you’re really dropped in what feels like the middle of a story - Not that this detracts from the book. Be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster!
I loved this story! From the moment I started reading I got sucked into the story and couldn’t put it down. I adored both Lisa and Jon-woo, and I found myself rooting for them throughout the story. This is an emotional story, with complex and likable characters, great world building, and an entertaining and enjoyable storyline. It’s one I thoroughly enjoyed reading and highly recommend.
This story peaked my curiosity. I read the blurb and just had to read it. I also read the prequel which I’m so happy I did. Storyline was so good I got sucked in right away. One of those had to read and can’t put down kind of books. Fantastic story. I definitely would recommend this one. I absolutely loved it.
CC Solomon has given us an absolutely Amazing standalone story! beautifully written with complex characters and plot twists that keep you turning pages throughout!! The story of Lisa and Joo-won and everything they and their friends go through is sure to make this a favourite!! Don't miss out on this book!
Lightning and Curses is an absolutely amazing read! Truly one of my top favorites in 2021! The characters were unique, the storyline was interesting and entertaining, and I am very excited for more from this world! The emotional rollercoaster book 1 of the Paranormal Lands series will put its readers through with Lisa and Jon-woo is one for the books. I can't wait for book 2!
This book will have you on an emotional roller coaster. I loved the characters and the storyline the author did a fantastic job drawing the readers in and making you want to get to know Lisa more and learn everything about her and cheer for her. I look forward to reading more about her and the other characters especially Jon-woo.
This new series is off to a fantastic start! The world building is incredible and draws you in immediately, the storyline is exciting and fun and the characters are likeable and entertaining. It’s a great adventure with witches and curses, a sexy eleven king and a kick ass female mc what more do u need?? Oh tissues, you will need tissues!
This book has all my favorite parts of a new adult romance. There is tons of steam and wonderful characters. There is super good romance. I loved the main heroine. She is super relatable and awesome. Her life is a roller coaster and she handles the punches super well. I loved a lot of aspects of her character. I highly recommend this book.
This was a really enjoyable story with some amazing world building and character development. Though there was one part that made me want to cry a lot so if you’re emotional be ready and probably have some tissues. The story had me anxious to know what would happen next so many times. I can’t wait to see what else is in store with how amazing this world and characters are.
I really enjoyed getting to read more about Lisa in her life after the Sickness.
This time around she is on a mission to help Jon-woo, the Elf king. If she can't help him he will eat her literally. I love the world that C.C. Solomon has created here.
Lisa's quest and struggles make me cheer for her even more.