Review of The Curse Keepers by Denise Grover Swank

[Barbara Ann RS]

This was my first time reading Denise Grover Swank’s work and The Curse Keepers, the first novel in her new urban fantasy series is fan-freaking-tastic!  After reading the book’s description and discovering the setting was in my native state of NC, I just knew it was going to be one I liked, and it turned out to be even better than I expected. 

 This book appealed to me on so many different levels:

 The Setting/History/Native American Myths

The Outer Banks of North Carolina holds a special place in my heart and is one of my favorite places to vacation,  and Swank sets the story on the small tourist island of Roanoke, NC.  Growing up in N.C., I was very familiar with the history and mysterious disappearance of Roanoke’s lost colony, and even after all these years, there is still much speculation about what really happened to the remaining colonists after John White returned from England three years later to find the settlement had been abandoned.

 Swank provides her own unusual theory about the lost colony by weaving its history into a very creative fictitious plot involving Native American mythology, magic, and the supernatural.  She has created a complex plot centered around two descendants, Ellie and Collin, connected to the colony and their secret responsibility to guard the gate separating the earthly and spiritual worlds. The storyline is engaging and kept me enthralled during the entire book, which I figuratively devoured in one day.

 The Plot

When Ellie and Collin meet in the first chapter of the book, the tension between them is palpable and Ellie’s visceral reaction to Collin is what hooked me.  Ellie has no idea their encounter has set in motion events that will endanger her life and threaten the future of humanity. Now the clock is ticking, and time is running out for Ellie who must accept the responsibilities given to her as a Curse Keeper and take the necessary measures to close the gate to keep angry, vengeful gods and spirits from entering the earthly realm. The problem? Ellie has no clue what she's supposed to do and is forced to rely upon, Collin, the second Curse Keeper whom she finds both infuriating and desirable to help her survive the next seven days. 

The Characters

Ellie Lancaster is the protagonist, and the entire story is told from her POV, which is effective in building suspense since readers only get her limited viewpoint, and when secrets and revelations come to light, I was just as shocked as she as her world spins out of control right up to the very end.

I couldn’t help but like Ellie; she’s down-to-earth, funny, and witty even though she frustrated the heck out of me at first because she kept denying the truth…that all those stories her father told her about being a Curse Keeper are true, and now she needs to step up and become the protector she is destined to be.  However, when Ellie does finally get in the game and accept her magical gifts, she is a woman to be reckoned with, and she really steps up to earn my admiration and respect.

Ellie is a gutsy young woman who has the gumption to stand up to the arrogant, drop-dead gorgeous Collin, who tries to intimidate her at every turn throughout the first half of the book. She has the attitude and the snark to put him in his place when he deserves it.  Their witty banter and bickering are engaging and at times downright hilarious. Even in the midst of danger and despair, Ellie finds ways to lighten the somberness of the situation and ease the tension.

Collin is a complicated character and what you see is not always what you get with him. On the surface, he’s cocky, aloof, and most definitely a heartbreaker.  He’s a man with his own agenda and will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. He even tells Ellie not to trust him, even though he seems to always have her best interests at heart.  Ellie wavers back and forth over just how much she can trust Collin and early on is so suspicious of his motives, she doesn’t want to let him out of her sight. Collin is a mysterious man with many secrets, only some of which are revealed in this first book.

 The Romance

The chemistry between Ellie and Collin is potent, especially when they link their magic together. Swank gradually builds the sexual tension between them until it becomes clear that it isn't if they will get together, but when: 

“Are you an angel or enchantress, Ellie Lancaster?”

I kissed him long and slow, nipping his lower lip and licking behind it. “I’m whichever you want me to be.”

***

“You must be an enchantress. You have me under your spell.”

He kissed me this time, making my pulse rise.

“And what does that make you?” I teased.

“Yours.”

The end of the book is intense, shocking, and left me greedy for the next installment! This is a series I will most certainly continue to follow.  

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher to review for an honest opinion. The quotes used are taken from a pre-published copy and may be changed or omitted in the published version.

Full Review & Giveaway:

http://sunmountainreviews.wordpress.com/2013/11/24/blog-tour-review...