Sealed With a Curse
by Cecy Robson
Published by Berkley
Book #1 in The Weird Girls series
Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls—
with one tiny exception: they're products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them, well, weird… The Wird sisters are content to avoid the local vampires, werebeasts, and witches of the Lake Tahoe region—until one of them blows up a vampire in self-defense. Everyone knows vampires aren't aggressive, and killing one is punishable by death. But soon more bloodlust-fueled attacks occur, and the community wonders: are the vampires of Tahoe cursed with a plague? Celia reluctantly agrees to help Misha, the handsome leader of an infected vampire family. But Aric, the head of the werewolf pack determined to destroy Misha's family to keep the region safe, warns Celia to stay out of the fight. Caught between two hot alphas, Celia must find a way to please everyone, save everyone, and oh yeah, not lose her heart to the wrong guy—or die a miserable death. Because now that the evil behind the plague knows who Celia is, it’s coming for her and her sisters. This Wird girl has never had it so tough.
Genre
Triggers
Violence, Death
Remember fellow book nerds ... my reviews are full of spoilers. Proceed if you don't care or have read the book already.
Sealed With A Curse by Cecy Robson is the first book in the Weird Girls Series and is in the point of view of the oldest sister Celia.
At first I kinda felt like this had a "Charmed" feel to it, but the more I read, that went away. Pretty sure every supernatural book that involves sisters is going to remind me of that show. Sealed With A Curse is unique in the fact that these women's powers are not inherited, and are unique to them alone. The story automatically draws you in, starting when the sisters are summoned to vampire court, accused of murdering a vampire. The mystery involving the infected vampires is interesting, and the romance is fun to read. Celia, who until now, has barely any experience with men due to men sensing her "tigress" and feeling intimated, now has two men enamored with her. Misha, a master vampire, who is quickly enthralled by her, much to her chagrin, and Aric, a leader in the local werewolf pack, in which both Celia and him feel an instant connection with one another. Her sisters quickly pair up with Aric's "warriors", essentially his protectors. I found the story flow a little interrupted sometimes, and while noticeable, it didn't stop me from purchasing the next book.
The Wird girls are really fun to read, and all have different personalities. There is our main heroine Celia, who is the protector. She has the power to change into a tigress, and to "shift", which the best I can explain, is teleportation. She is able to "shift" other people as well, making it handy when she wants to make an enemy immobile by sticking them in the ground. She is lonely, and wants love, but everyone is too intimidated of her. She is the tomboy of the sisters. Its hinted that she has done some dark things in the past to protect her sisters, particularly when they were in the foster system. The downside to her powers, is when she is unprepared, if another animal touches her, she goes into a major seizure, and turns into that animal temporarily. Taren is very spirited. She has no problem running her mouth, which makes for some funny moments. She deeply cares about her looks. She can harness light. In fights, she can create lightning bolts, fire, and in desperate times, sunlight that will kill vampires. She also has hinted to helping Celia with whatever they did to protect their younger sisters. Shayna is the laid back one. She has a bit of a beach vibe, and says dude a lot. She has the ability to create and manipulate metal, and she is very talented with fighting. All she needs to do is watch a fight in a movie, and she masters the moves. Then there is Emme, the youngest. She is very timid and shy, but incredibly sweet and kind. She has the ability to heal herself and others physically, as well as emotionally, and telekinesis. The bond between the sisters is unbreakable.
The werewolves are interesting reads. They are your definition to manly men. In this world, werewolves are considered protectors of the earth, and therefore they have duties to ensure the earth is safe. Aric is a teacher at The Den, a private school for werewolves, where they learn your typical academics, as well as supernatural learning and fighting. He is a leader in his pack, and his warriors are his protectors and best friends. He has an instant connection with Celia after one look, which I find interesting. There is this thing that weres all have one mate in the world, that is there true soulmate. While Celia isn't a were, I have to wonder if Aric and her are "mates". The instant connection, the attraction, and possessiveness between them is intense, and I can't imagine a simple attraction to one another would become so intense, so fast. Gemini is Aric's beta, and has the ability to split into two wolves, or stay human in one form, and wolf in the other. He has taken a liking to Taren. Koda is described as huge and intimidating, and when Shayna approaches him, he is surprised, as women are typically afraid of him. Then there is Liam, who becomes rather enamored with Emme, and right away, feels a need to protect her. In fact, it seems to be a trait of all the wolves to protect their love interests with everything they have, and their feelings become strong, fast.
The vampires are interesting too. The way Misha is described totally reminds me of Eric from the Sookie Stackhouse series. He meets the Wird sisters after accusing them of murdering one of his family members (a vampire he turned), and is drawn to Celia, I suspect due to her strength and fierceness. After the charges are cleared, he asks Celia for her help in finding the cause of the vampires in his family becoming infected with "Bloodlust", an infection that turns vampires into bloodthirsty beasts. After encountering a couple of women who were tortured, and murdered by infected vampires, she decides to help him, and in turn, gets to know him. In the end she saves his life, and learned she has a different ability ... the ability to take take and give vampires their souls back.
So, final thoughts ... this book isn't for everyone. And not because it's not good. It actually is good. The writing makes it good. I tried describing it to a friend, and she said it sounded cheesy and awful ... but I promise it's not. The reason I don't think its for everyone, is that not everyone loves a supernatural based story. It's a fun read though, and the mystery is interesting. It totally reminds me of the Sookie Stackhouse series, and the different mystery in each book. The romance is interesting. I feel like there is a lot to learn about the sisters, especially in regards to the curse that gave them their powers, and I am excited to continue on with the series.
Misha: "I came to see you."
Celia: "Why? Did you run out of virgins or something?"
Misha: "if I had, should I expect to find one here?"
Celia: "Nope. We're all out, too."
Celia: "She's a prostitute, Emme."
Emme: "She can't be. She dresses nicely and lives in Tahoe."
Taren: "That's because the skank charges more than we make in a week, Emme. Her biggest problems are sore knees and her growing immunity to penicillin."
Celia: "Is Danny coming?"
Bren: "No. He's in Santa Barbara at some stick-up-your-ass science convention, trying to get laid."
Celia: "You can get laid at a science convention?"
Bren: "I could. I don't think Dan can. HE's trying to bring some biochemist working in the research lab next to his. For his sake, I Hope she's as hot as he claims. His last lay could scare Christ off the cross."
Celia: "Do you have a problem?"
Woman runs off and Bren groans.
Bren: Are you trying to ruin my chances of getting laid?"
Celia: "Sorry. It just sucks to always be the one without a date."
Bren: "Ceel, you have a killer body and are smarter than hell. You're also beautiful. And you don't even fucking know it. But you know what your problem is?"
Celia: "i scare people?"
Bren: "Yes. Shitless. But that's not what I meant. You haven't found anyone who can compete with the strength of your beast. You need to find your equal, babe."
Aric: "Mmm. It's good. Real good. I like it."
I stared at his mouth, wondering how soft his lips were and how good they would taste. A slow, sexy grin inched its way along his strong, stubbled jaw. His eyes sparkled as they met mine. I couldn't remember how to breathe.
Aric: "I really like it."
Say something. Anything. Tell him you love him and want to have his puppies.
Celia: "Haven't you ever had tea before?"
Shit.
I opened my robe and stared at the girls, mortified and convinced the universe hated me. If he had to see my breasts, why couldn't it have been the perkier of the two? - Celia
Celia: "Just so you know, I don't belong to you."
Misha: "I never claimed you to be mine, my darling."
Celia: "Good. So long as we're clear."
Misha: "Unless, of course, you desire to be."
Celia: "Don't get any funny ideas."
Misha: "I would never dream of it, my darling."
Celia: "Uh-huh."
Mrs. Mancuso: "Celia Ward, have you no shame? Standing out there half-naked, flashing those young boys like some kind of streetwalker!"
Aric: "What the fu-"
Taren: "Mind your own business, you goddamn raisin with legs!"
Mrs. Mancuso flips Celia off.
Bren: "It's okay, Mrs. M. I'll be sure to take Celia to confession later so Father O'Callaghan can slap the sin out of her."
Mrs. Mancuso: "Be sure that you do."
Koda: "I don't scare you?"
Shayna: "A sweet little puppy like you? No, of course not."
Aric: "I don't care what you are. I like what I see. You're beautiful, Celia..."
Liam: "I've got an idea."
Liam hurried downstairs to the kitchen. When he came back, he stuck his head under the bed and poked me in the nose with a carrot.
Take that carrot and ram it up your ass, Liam.
Aric: "Liam, get the damn carrot out of her face."
Liam: "It's okay, Aric. I got this one. Come on, little bunny. No one's going to eat - Ouch!"
He dropped the carrot when I bit him.
Taren: "She may look like a rabbit, but she's still Celia. Don't freaking patronize her."
Ana Clara: "If you wish to go inside and change first, the master prefers thongs or crotchless panties."
Celia: "Ah, thanks, Ana Clara. But I'm not changing."
Ana Clara: "Last chance. If you want, I'll lend you my panties."
Celia: "I can honestly say the answer will always be no to that one."
Misha: "Good night, my sweet kitten."
Misha looks at Aric.
Misha: "May mange leave you bald and infertile, mongrel."
Aric: "Run along, blood licker, the master calls."
Misha: "A word of caution, canine. She bites."
My face burned under Aric's scrutiny. Of course, Misha wouldn't be Misha without one more dig. He motioned as if lifting a phone receiver. Call me, he mouthed before stepping into his limo.
Celia: "Go upstairs, Liam. And don't come back down until you ut on some damn pants!"
Liam: "But what about Emme? She's probably hungry, too. We've been making ove all night and-"
I threw more food on a plate and pointed up the stairs. Liam kissed the top of my head.
Liam: "Thanks, Celia. You're a good egg."
Celia: "Do you like ordering me around?"
Aric: "Yes. Despite that it does nothing by piss you off."
Bren: "Why are you going after that asshole? You should have called me, goddamn it. How the hell am I supposed to track you now?"
Emme: "I'm sorry we didn't call, Bren. But Celia felt an urgency to help-"
Bren: "An asshole! Just say it, Emme. Celia felt the urge to help some master vampire asshole! Son of a bitch, you couldn't have waited fifteen freaking minutes for me to get there?"
Emme: "We're off Highway Eighty-nine in South Tahoe. Take a right at the white fir sapling and the first left onto a gravel road."
Bren: "Take a right at the white fir sapling! Are you crazy? There's a million fu0"
Emme disconnected her call.
Emme: "Bren says he's disappointed we didn't call him sooner. He'll try to track us now and will hopefully join us momentarily."
Taran: "Do you think it's all the swearing? Son of a bitch, is that it? I swear too goddamn much?"
Check out the prequel novellas, and the rest of the Weird Girls series below!
(If picture has no link, it's because the review hasn't been posted yet. Stay tuned!)