Review: The Curse Girl by Kate Ellison

The Curse Girl
By: Kate Ellison
Publisher: EllisonBooks
Published: May 14, 2011
Genre: YA
Rating:

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When her father tries to steal a magic cure for his sick wife from the beastly master of the mysterious mansion outside her home town, seventeen-year-old Bee is the one forced to go live with him. But Will isn’t anything like she expected. He’s the same age as she is, for one thing. He’s also really handsome, contrary to local legend. Well, maybe the whole “beast” thing is meant to be metaphorical, because he’s a total jerk.

Between the house’s weird magic and Will’s snobby attitude, the situation is nearly unbearable, and Bee only wants to escape. But the house is sealed by magic, and they can only leave if they break the curse. The witch who cursed Will left him a way to break it, and the answer lies in a riddle. Although Bee would rather eat dirt than be nice to Will, they’re going to have to learn to work together if they want to solve it and break the curse.

Because time is running out.

 

 

This is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It is actually pretty similar but with a couple of twists. Bee grew up knowing that something wasn’t right with the Curse House and heard a lot of stories about the house. Bee is terrified when she is sent to live in the Curse House by her father to help break the curse.

At first Bee’s only concern is to escape the house and get back to her old life but once finding out that the house refuses to let her go, she decides to help break the curse. Will is not overly receptive to Bee and the feeling is mutual. However, they decide a truce is in order and they throw themselves into solving the riddle and breaking the curse… the curse that was intended for his brother which his sister-in-law casted. She had found him unfaithful and decided to put a curse on him but the curse went awry and cursed the house instead with everyone inside it, which now includes Bee.

I thought the story was a fun new take on Beauty and the Beast with the Fey Lands and all the magic involved. This is a great read for any YA reader. The story flows really well and follows Bee and Will as they try to break the curse before time runs out and they are stuck in the house forever.

Shortly after Bee is sent to the Curse house she is talking to Will and his sister Rose. She asks his what he likes to do and I thought his response was pretty funny considering everyone thinks that he is this evil, human eating beast.
“I prey on innocent villagers and terrify their children, and sometimes when I’m feeling really evil, I read books or paint.”