I was sorry to finish this novel, having fallen in love with these characters and this richly imagined world. Contrary to what some readers have said, I really enjoyed the descriptions of 18th-Century opulence (it was a great escape), and I completely bought in to the slow-burn romance. Parents don’t fare well in this novel – they’re dictatorial, scheming and worse -- but young and old alike will relate to the “trust-your-own-heart” message. ( )

Yay libraries! I read a kindle copy that had a few spots of font size shifts, but was otherwise well-formatted.

The pragmatic, average-looking, cursed daughter of a Baroness is the Beast. And Beauty is a con man. His sibling and cousin, and her friends and doctor, plus a duplicitous Prince, and a certain cat, were just the right ingredients to charm me all the way to the end. This is the retelling I'd have loved when I was a teen and enjoyed now, many decades later. It's sex scene-free and full of loyalty and wit, with a lot to say about manipulation and parenting, if you care to notice. ( )

Amusing beauty and the beast retelling, with a wonderful cast — conmen family, stubborn heiress, scrappy lesbian cowgirl, a support group of cursed friends and a rampaging ostrich — oh! And a random giant predatory cat just for good measure. Looking forward to hearing that one’s story. Great fun! ( )

A retelling of Beauty and the Beast. If Merit doesn’t want to become a beast permanently, she has to either fall in love or else agree to a marriage arranged by her mother. She enlists a con-artist, whose family owes Merit a debt, to help her vet prospective suitors.

The protagonists’ various friends were very entertaining, but their presence -- and their support -- means that Merit and Tevin’s relationship doesn’t have quite the same intensity some Beauty and the Beast romances have. ( )

Curses is a 2022 Lone Star selection.

Merit refuses to marry the man her mother chooses for her, which leads to a monstrous consequence. A fairy godling says that Merit must marry a man of her mother's choosing or someone must love her by her 18th birthday or she will be cursed as a beast forever. Yes, this plot should sound familiar. It's a Beauty and the Beast retelling unlike any you've read. What surprises Merit and her mother is that she immediately becomes a beast by looks. She can take a tincture to be "human" for short periods of time, but it's not healthy. Therefore, she has horns and a tail. Fast forward and it's about to be her 18th birthday. She needs to marry.

Tevin possesses the gift of charm. His parents raise their kids to be grifters. They are outstanding con artists. When Tevin's mother is caught stealing, she trades her son, Tevin, to the owner of the goods from whom she was stealing. She was stealing from the beast. When Merit meets Tevin, he honestly tells her his gift and offers to meet the men her mother will introduce her to and make sure none of them are conning her for her money. He finds honestly refreshing ,and she finds his knowledge helpful. They mutually respect and trust each other, which is rather new to Tevin.

It sounds so typical and simple and something you will say, "I've read that before." Trust me, you haven't. If it a fairy tale? Yes. Is it exactly like Beauty and the Beast? No. Godlings curse people. Fairies are about. It's not unusual to know someone with a tail or someone who spits out gems when talking. Merit may look like a beast, but she can live in society if she chooses. She quickly learns that Tevin and his family are handy to have around. As the suitors begin courting, Tevin and his family get to work.

Parenting fairs poorly in this book. No one really has an outstanding parent. The characters are interesting and fun; the plot is unique although good vs evil is obviously present; and, the fairy tale is a great escape. I will say Curses isn't perfect. I'd like to have a few more characters taken care of at the end and there were a few times that I thought the characters didn't act "in" character. Also, the plot didn't work sometimes because I think the characters would have handled it differently. I don't care. I loved it. It was a delightful story that brought me much joy as I listened to it while walking, cooking, or doing chores. I highly recommend it, especially if you like the Jane books by Cynthia Hand. ( )