Veena’s review of The Cursed (League of the Black Swan, Book 1) by Alyssa Day
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 07 May 13
In a little hidden fold of land that butts up to Highline Park in Manhattan, with a fountain of a black swan in the town square, live an enormous cast of supernatural characters. Witches, Wizards, Faery, Demons, Goblins, you name it and they exist, along with a whole host of new ones that you never imagined before. Alyssa Day has blended facts and myth with her own imagination to present an exciting start to what appears to me an adult version of the famous Harry Potter series.
Central to the plot is resident PI and powerful wizard Luke Oliver, son of the original Lucrezia Borgia, cursed to live an immortal life for the sins of his mother. He is like a beacon of light in the midst of the wild west character of Border Town, as he resists taking the reins into his hands but yet stands for truth and justice in his own version of redemption for the sins of his mother and the darkness of his soul. His own beacon of light is Rio Jones, whose attraction he resists in order to keep her safe from his curse.
Rio is an orphan who knows nothing of her origins. Working as a bicycle messenger, she makes friends with all the varied people she comes into contact with. She is suddenly plunged right into Luke’s life, when she witnesses a kidnapping that has far reaching effects to the safety and security of Border Town and, ultimately, to her life.
What is the great secret behind her approaching birthday, which has made her of great interest to the faery, demons, and the league of the black swan? Will Luke be able to keep her safe and win her love forever? As the story unfolds and the secrets emerge, I was enthralled and did not want to stop until, alas, all the pages were done.
What a wonderful world and such beautiful multi-dimensioned characters the author has created. I truly enjoyed my time in Border Town and can’t wait for my next visit back.
Grade: B
Summary:
Bordertown private investigator Luke Oliver’s beat is the dimensional fold in Manhattan between the human and supernatural realms. But now a secret from his past—the League of the Black Swan—has surfaced. Because Luke isn’t any ordinary P.I. He’s the Dark Wizard of Bordertown, and he never backs down from a fight.
But this time the fight threatens his life and his heart. Rio Jones, the only woman he loved, needs his help against a deadly menace. Luke pushed her away once before, so she’d never fall prey to the curse that threatens to destroy him. He swore he’d never let her go again.
Luke and Rio, with the help of the newly reformed League, must keep evil forces from taking over Bordertown—all the while battling a passion on the razor’s edge between danger and desire. And going to take everything they have just to stay alive.
Read an excerpt.
