Summary:
Dying sucks--and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't? But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not've been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.
My thoughts:
Okay, my book The Monster Within stars a girl who is brought back from the dead, so naturally I had to read Cursed. Also, Ember is a lot like Jodi from Touch of Death because she can kill with a single touch. But Ember's curse is much stronger than Jodi's, so I really felt for her. She has to wear long sleeves, gloves, and pants all the time to avoid killing the people around her. And her own mother thinks Ember is dead and won't acknowledge her presence. In fact, after the accident, Ember's mother became a shell of her former self, which leaves Ember to take care of her little sister on her own. The same little sister who raised her from the dead.
When Hayden shows up to help Ember, she doesn't want to hear of it. But after Cromwell takes her sister and mother, Ember has no choice but to stay with the group of gifted people and find out more about who she really is. But can she find a way to manage her curse and be around others?
Ember is such a likable character. I felt for her. She's broken, yet strong for her sister's sake. I got very wrapped up in the story and flew through it. I definitely recommend it.
Just for fun: If you had Ember's sister's power and could bring anyone back from the dead, who would you choose?
Wow! This sounds really incredible. I LOVE the concept. Thanks for introducing me to it :)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Samantha! Enjoy!
DeleteSounds like another great read. As far as what if I had Ember's little sister's gift? I'm not sure if I would bring someone back from the dead.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I would either. Depends on who it was.
DeleteIf any of my kids or husband ever passed, I'd be very tempted!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm with you there.
DeleteI find JA's books are so easy to fly through :) If I had that power I'm really not sure I would do it. I hope there having a blast in the afterlife. I guess we're more selfish with our pets, so I might be tempted to bring back my dogs...put if they were happier in canine heaven I'd feel awful if they started pining. Lol, I so don't have the ability to deal with a super power.
ReplyDeletethey're rather than there
DeleteThat's a great point. The afterlife is probably better. LOL
DeleteTalk about handy-capping a main character. Whoa...that's awesome, though. Although it is very painful beyond words to lose a loved one, I don't believe in messing with what God has designed.
ReplyDeleteGreat points, Sheri.
DeleteI'm not sure I'd want to come back from the dead if everyone I touched died. The book sounds like a good one., The cover is interesting too. Very nice review.
ReplyDeleteI love the cover.
DeleteJennifer is a great author and I really need to read this one.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I would bring anyone back if I had the gift. Although there are people I would love to see again, it doesn't seem fair to take them.
I agree. It would be selfish to bring them back.
DeleteAwesome choice, Kelly. I like your decision making process and how you decided to read this book based on how it reminded you of your own work. That's pretty cool :-)
ReplyDeleteHee hee. I like finding authors who are similar to me. :)
DeleteI'm still mystified why young adult writers choose such sad morbid subjects like death but it sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteLOL. I think because death is such a mystery, we like to explore it. At least that's the case for me.
DeleteWhat a predicament! Alive but bringing death. Great premise.
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteI've seen a lot of books with the coming-back-from-the-dead premise, and the mc always seems to come back with a new ability or a deal with the Grim Reaper. This one reminds me of "Pushing Up Daisies," a show which I enjoyed very much.
ReplyDeleteI need to see that show.
DeleteI'd feel for her too; quite a sticky problem of killing with a touch. As far as who I'd bring back... my father. He was one of my best friends.
ReplyDeleteAw!
DeleteI'd probably bring back my dead pets. Is that ridiculous or what? People who are dead in my life usually died of illness and it wouldn't do much good to bring them back, but I have so many beloved pets who died too soon.
ReplyDeleteI totally feel for Ember too. Great review. (And I am back from the dead! I'm sorry I haven't been around! Still love you, KH!)
A few people said they'd bring back pets, so that's not ridiculous at all.
DeleteAw, thanks, Kiersi. The feeling is mutual. :) Glad to have you back.
Sounds like a good book! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteInteresting, I haven't heard of this book before. Thanks for reviewing it. The elements to the story (dead girl brought back and now everything she touches dies) sounds familiar, but it sounds like it is different enough.
ReplyDeleteI'd want to bring back my Grandma, but she wouldn't like that -- she wanted to be with Grandpa too much. So then I'd have to bring back Johnny the Bichon, my family dog while I was growing up. He was so sweet! I miss having a dog :(
Great review!
Yes, similar but different. :)
DeleteThat does sound pretty intriguing. I wonder if my library carries it? Thanks for the review, Kelly! :)
ReplyDeleteReminds me of "Pushing Daisies" or Rogue from "X-Men." Certainly would make an interesting story. Makes me want to read it
ReplyDeleteI would bring Adolf Hitler back from the dead so we could kill him instead of letting him commit suicide. That was too good for him.
Yes, I thought of X-Men, too. :)
DeleteInteresting question, but as I've spent a huge majority of my life watching and reading stories that cross the line of not quite real (maybe) I know there are always ramifications for such actions - yes? For giggles, probably Elvis, would ask for a concert in Vegas and a front row seat. It would have cool to see him perform live.
ReplyDeleteElvis! This is why I love you, Brenda. :)
DeleteI don't think I'd bring anyone back from the dead. I'd worry they'd have zombie characteristics, like they're not all there mentally.
ReplyDeleteGreat review. I hope to read this author's work.
Well, we all know how I feel about zombies. ;)
DeleteCan't really pick one because there are a couple of people and pets I'd love to bring back even if for a short while. How sad that Ember's mother didn't acknowledge her presence ...
ReplyDeleteYes, that part really got to me. So emotional.
DeleteThis looks really good!
ReplyDeleteSounds really interesting! Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. :)
DeleteExcellent review!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I would bring someone back from the dead, under the circumstances...
Thanks, William.
Delete