Audiobook: Cursed by Tom Wheeler and Frank Miller
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Story
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Narration
Cursed
Teen & Young Adult Arthurian Myths & Legends
Simon & Schuster Audio
October 01, 2019
Audiobook
11 hours and 15 minutes
Now an original series starring Katherine Langford on Netflix!
The Lady of the Lake is the true hero in this cinematic twist on the tale of King Arthur created by Thomas Wheeler and legendary artist, producer, and director Frank Miller (300, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City).
Featuring eight full-color and 30 black-and-white pieces of original artwork by Frank Miller.
Whosoever wields the Sword of Power shall be the one true King.
But what if the Sword has chosen a queen?
Nimue grew up an outcast. Her connection to dark magic made her something to be feared in her Druid village, and that made her desperate to leave…
That is, until her entire village is slaughtered by Red Paladins, and Nimue’s fate is forever altered. Charged by her dying mother to reunite an ancient sword with a legendary sorcerer, Nimue is now her people’s only hope. Her mission leaves little room for revenge, but the growing power within her can think of little else.
Nimue teams up with a charming mercenary named Arthur and refugee Fey Folk from across England. She wields a sword meant for the one true king, battling paladins and the armies of a corrupt king. She struggles to unite her people, avenge her family, and discover the truth about her destiny.
But perhaps the one thing that can change Destiny itself is found at the edge of a blade.
When I saw this title come through I was SO EXCITED to get to listen and review it!
When the Netflix show first came out I couldn’t wait to give it a watch because it looked right up my alley. I made it through about three episodes before I had to give up because it just wasn’t grabbing me (I have several reasons, if you want to hear them and talk about the show hit me up on instagram and we can chat) I kept having the thought that the book would be better, be able to expand on the things I felt the show glossed over. So naturally when I got the chance to listen to the audiobook I jumped at the chance to dive in and get the answers I was hoping for.
Sadly, that didn’t exactly happen.
Let me be perfectly clear, this story is NOT BAD… it’s just not everything I was hoping it would be. I feel like the story (and subsequently the show) could have used a little bit longer in the creative oven to finish getting fully baked. At every turn, where I was expecting them to take an awesome leap, they took a baby step instead.
I am a total sucker for Arthurian legend and retelling, so I went in wanting to love this story. Cursed is a unique take on the legend of Arthur focusing on a strong-willed girl, Nimue, and her quest to fulfill her mother’s dying request against all odds. Set in post-Roman times in the fledgling British Isles before there was a single English King, this story builds on Celtic oral histories and legendary tales of Druids to build the unique world this story exists in.
I think what really did this story in, is the fact that it was optioned by Netflix before the book was actually written. It feels very much like it doesn’t know what it is trying to be…. is it a novel? is it a graphic novel based on a show? a graphic novel meant to be the basis for a show? and honestly… it ends up feeling like a bit of all of them, and none of them.
I 
WANTED to love this story, I really did, but it just didn’t live up to its potential. That being said, it has some solid action, and Nimue’s story and growth have merit. All in all I just felt like this book was…. fine. As far as the narration goes, Katherine Langford did a commendable job for someone not familiar with the book narration side of things.
