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The Kure

by Jaye Frances (Goodreads Author)

3.36 of 5 stars 3.36 · rating details · 58 ratings · 42 reviews

"In vain thou shall use many medicines, but thou shalt not be kured. And even though you search for a virgin to lay upon her balm, there is no healing for you. You multiply your remedies in vain as your cries fill the earth, and you will stumble, one over the other, and both will fall down together." - The Book of Eternal Regret

John Tyler, a young man in his early twenties...more

Paperback, 318 pages

Published September 16th 2011

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Nov 03, 2011 Ronda Tutt rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal

Mysteriously Intriguing!

This story was a very interesting and intriguing story that holds a mysterious witchery and magical power that will keep you drawn to the end of the story. The story grabbed my attention within the first chapter due to a disease that John was afflicted with and an affliction upon his manhood that if not treated would fall off. It got even more interesting because the practicing doctor only wanted to cure John by using leeches to draw out the poison and the thought of putt...more Mysteriously Intriguing!

This story was a very interesting and intriguing story that holds a mysterious witchery and magical power that will keep you drawn to the end of the story. The story grabbed my attention within the first chapter due to a disease that John was afflicted with and an affliction upon his manhood that if not treated would fall off. It got even more interesting because the practicing doctor only wanted to cure John by using leeches to draw out the poison and the thought of putting leeches on his manhood drew my interest right away.

However, John was desperate to find another way as well and talked the doctor into telling him about the ancient healings. Against the doctor’s better judgment, the doctor pulls out the ancient book called “The Kure”, however what John doesn’t realize is that the cure is a curse that will eventually own him.

In this cure, a 18 year old virgin must take the affliction into her mouth until the burning pain disappears or the one inflicted must run naked in the rain under the shinning moon hand in hand with a female who is no younger than six years from the one to be kured and that doesn’t know about his affliction.

In this book the author takes you through the mental experiences John’s inner mind goes through and his search to find the 18 year old Sarah to complete the ritual for his cure, a cure he refuses to go through with after meeting Sarah. However, Sarah is more than he can believe and she does everything to help him to relieve him from his affliction.

The story really wasn’t a romance story between John and Sarah but the attraction between them is there. The story was a little slow for me in some parts as I was impatiently waiting to get to the climax to the story. There were some gross parts towards the end dealing with the boil infested affliction on John’s manhood because without bloodletting or the ritual being complete John’s manhood would fall off.

Lastly I would like to say this was a very interesting start to a new series and though I gave this a 3.5 star rating, I will definitely be anxiously awaiting for the next book “The Karetakers” to come out because it has intrigued my interest of finding out more about the mysteriously witchery powers of the book “The Kure” along with finding out what becomes of Sarah and John.

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Aug 17, 2012 Kirsty Vizard rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, pararomance, tense, adult

WHOA!!!I feel like I've stepped off a rollercoaster ride and my stomach has tied itself into knots!

Jaye Frances is a magical storyteller who binds her reader into a believable world of mysticism and black magic, whilst keeping their feet firmly planted in the world of 19th Century farming, medicine, duty and romance.
John's story begins with his body being ravaged by a rare infection which the town's doctor wants to cure with a bloodletting by leeches. John, frightened by the idea, pleads with...more

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Dec 05, 2011 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-lll-reviews, ebooks-i-own

Wow! I'm not sure how to review this book - lol
It was very .. Deep, Very disturbing and very heart wrenching all at the same time. I hated it. but I loved it - I was so disgusted by it, and yet I couldn't put it down.

Jaye Frances did an Awesome job with this book -

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Jul 19, 2012 Juls rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: guest-review-aug

First off thank you Jen for recommending this book. I don't think I would have picked it up otherwise. Secondly after reading the blurb I was a bit hesitant to read the book. You see, I'm not a fan of scary books but with some reassurance I found out it wasn't the case.

I really enjoyed John. He is a great man who had a horrible affliction. His journey to save his future took him to places he didn't think he would ever travel. He thought he could expose innocence to his disease but soon found tha...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Sophia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-pnr-uf-fantasy

Before I get to the story, I'd like to comment on the cover art. I really liked how it set the ambiance for the story that came after it. This is a darker story that has an urban fantasy feel to it though the time period is historic.

The backdrop of the farming community and village have an Old Salem feel to them where practicing witch craft for everyday life needs seems believable.

In this story, John Tyler a simple farmer is faced with a devastating, fast-working disease that leaves him with tw...more Before I get to the story, I'd like to comment on the cover art. I really liked how it set the ambiance for the story that came after it. This is a darker story that has an urban fantasy feel to it though the time period is historic.

The backdrop of the farming community and village have an Old Salem feel to them where practicing witch craft for everyday life needs seems believable.

In this story, John Tyler a simple farmer is faced with a devastating, fast-working disease that leaves him with two horrific choices for treatment. The tale begins when he learns this and progresses through him agonizing both physically and with his conscious over what he will ultimately chose as his cure.

The plot is strong and I truly enjoyed following John as he struggled to make good and sometimes selfless choices in the face of his own agony, future disfigurement and possible death. The addition of Sarah Sheridan and their budding romance was also a good plot thread.

The pace was sometimes slow particularly in the beginning, but picked up just fine once John was 'on the clock' so to speak in figuring out what he was going to do to combat his disease.

A word of caution for the faint of heart (or stomach in this case) with the long details about those icky leeches (still brings a big 'ew' out of me just thinking about them) from the doctor or later when the details regarding the progress of the disease in John's body was described. I readily admit that others might not be bothered about this, but just putting it out there in case it is the sort of thing that's too much for you.

As to the characters, I was heartily impressed with John. I love it when the hero is ordinary, but his situation is what comes along and shows what his character is really made of. The heroine is introduced later in the book and she is more of a secondary character much of the time, but I enjoyed what I saw of her.

The romance between John and Sarah is barely beyond the attraction phase and something happens near the end of the story that will test what has just begun between them.

Though not a typical fantasy, this story will have appeal for those who enjoy the old gothic-style reads that gave one those delicious shivers up and down the spine. (less)

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Dec 15, 2011 Bruce Sarte rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I first started this book, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was getting into, but as I found myself turning the pages, there was no way I could tear myself away from this story. This was one of the most unique and unusual storylines I’ve ever read, and perhaps that is why I was drawn so completely into the dilemma and conflicts faced by the main characters, John Tyler and Sarah Sheridan.

The author does a wonderful job of pacing the action, presenting the reader with surprising twists and unexpe...more

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Dec 16, 2011 Jessica at Book Sake rated it 3 of 5 stars

Wow. I have no idea what to say about this book. It meets all of the technical criteria that I look for in a good novel and I read it all in one shot, but it’s so unbelievably weird – it just left me feeling kind of dirty. I had an issue with John Tyler’s [the main character’s] strange affliction. I’m sorry, but having a necrotic, blood and pus-oozing penis is anything but attractive and the entire premise of the ritual he must perform to cure his infected manhood is disgusting and disturbing. T...more

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Dec 16, 2011 Rea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Kure is a riveting tale that put me into a reading frenzy. I was quickly drawn into John and Sarah’s world, enthusiastically cheering for Sarah while trying to hold back tears for John. The author has crafted some of the most authentic characters I’ve met in a long time. Even the secondary characters are well-defined, adding interest and credibility to the storyline. The novel’s setting and descriptions are solid and even with the constant surprise of new plot developments and situations, th...more

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Oct 07, 2011 Christina rated it 5 of 5 stars

An original, well-researched tale with bits of lore and history that continually piqued my interest. The main character, John Tyler, is caught off-guard when he must deal with a rare physical condition that has infected his body. Unprepared to surrender to the doctor’s brutal remedy, and unwilling to accept his fate, he begins a diligent quest for another solution. He turns out to be a resourceful young man, and when he eventually meets Sarah Sheridan, he is taken by surprise by this intriguing...more

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Dec 11, 2011 Vivian rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

John Tyler is a simple, God-fearing farmer. Sarah Sheridan is a simple, God-fearing woman. Both are caught up in a tale of disease, cures and ancient rituals that will test their faith and notions of respectability in The Kure by Jaye Frances.

John wakes one morning to find that he has lesions on and around his genitalia. As the lesions worsen and the pain grows, he goes into town to see the doctor. To his deep regret, the only treatment the doctor prescribes is the use of leeches, huge apparentl...more John Tyler is a simple, God-fearing farmer. Sarah Sheridan is a simple, God-fearing woman. Both are caught up in a tale of disease, cures and ancient rituals that will test their faith and notions of respectability in The Kure by Jaye Frances.

John wakes one morning to find that he has lesions on and around his genitalia. As the lesions worsen and the pain grows, he goes into town to see the doctor. To his deep regret, the only treatment the doctor prescribes is the use of leeches, huge apparently mutant leeches. John is quite reticent to use this treatment and presses the doctor for alternatives, any alternative treatment. After much discussion the doctor pulls out an old book titled KURE and relates a treatment that is morally offensive, as it involves having a virginal girl on her 18th birthday take the offending member into her mouth. As wild as this "kure" seems, John briefly considers it and even postpones his treatment with leeches.

Finding a virginal girl close to her eighteenth birthday is apparently not as hard as one presumes, even in a small town in the mid-1800s. Using local registry records, John finds two girls that are possible candidates, and one is Sarah Sheridan.

Sarah Sheridan lives on a small farm with her father. Not thinking clearly, John heads out to the farm and tries to invent a reason for his visit. He quickly comes to his senses and realizes that he can't ask a respectable woman, especially an innocent, to participate in the kure ritual. Sarah presumes that John has come calling and simply became too flustered to follow through and invents an excuse to go into town together. Will John reveal the true nature of his visit? Will Sarah assist him in his search for a cure?

I had a lot of problems with this story. First, the doctor states that the only people that normally suffer this disease are sailors or people in tropical climates and neither of these descriptions fit John. Second how can a relatively benign ritual involving a form of fellatio cure some type of infectious disease? I can suspend belief with the best of them but I couldn't with the basic premises of this story as it was simply too farfetched to be believable for me. Finally, Sarah is supposed to have lived such a sheltered and protected life but she is quite bold in her thoughts of helping John, who is basically a stranger to her. As I read, all I could think was where in the world was the story going and once it got to the end I could hardly figure out how it got there. The Kure is one story that simply didn't work for me on any level.(less)

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Nov 01, 2011 C.V. Hunt rated it 5 of 5 stars

John Tyler is twenty-three years old. His father died in 1865, and his mother died while giving birth to him. He has inherited the family farm, and the eligible ladies in town are waiting for him to take a wife. John hasn’t given much thought to starting a family, but all of that is about to change.

John is woken by a horrible twisting pain in his gut; a pain that he believes will eventually go away. Upon inspecting himself he finds that the skin below the belt is bruised and spreading. Barely ab...more John Tyler is twenty-three years old. His father died in 1865, and his mother died while giving birth to him. He has inherited the family farm, and the eligible ladies in town are waiting for him to take a wife. John hasn’t given much thought to starting a family, but all of that is about to change.

John is woken by a horrible twisting pain in his gut; a pain that he believes will eventually go away. Upon inspecting himself he finds that the skin below the belt is bruised and spreading. Barely able to take the pain any more, John makes his way into town to see the local doctor.

The doctor’s diagnosis is grim, but he believes that he can help John by performing a bloodletting. Yes ladies and gentlemen, the doctor would like to set leeches on John’s manhood to draw the poison from his body. John’s natural reaction is terror at the thought, and he has heard whisperings among the elders of other cures. Defiant against the thought of a bloodletting, after having witness people die from the procedure, John forces the doctor to reveal to him alternative remedies.

What the doctor shows him is a book of ancient spells, which are so immoral in ingredients, that it has been ban by law and the church. The spell and the requirement are thought to be so immoral that it could destroy the person’s soul that is being cured, and the people involved. But next to the bloodletting, John is willing to take the risk at first.

FROM THE BOOK:
He offered no final muster of resistance, no new wave of strength. He was finished. The cure had become a curse, and it owned him. It was as much a part of him as an arm or leg. In the end, he knew he could only puppet the dark master’s wish.
***

John set out to find the one ingredient that is essentially crucial to the ritual – a virgin on her eighteenth birthday. He struggles with the morality of the situation, for his soul, and the soul of the girl that he seeks.

I’m usually able to calculate how much I like a book by how long it takes me to read it, and in this case it only took me a day because I couldn’t but it down. Jaye Frances wrote a very compelling story that kept me glued to the pages. She laid a great foundation for a series as there will be a sequel call The Karetakers, and I am really looking forward to it.
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Aug 14, 2012 Christina M Condy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-challenge, review-requested

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Okay now this one is a tough one for me to review. I received this book from the Author Jaye Frances for my honest review. So I will do my best to do just that.

This book begins with John who wakes up to find that his member is infected with blisters. He goes into town to the doctor who basically wants to do a leaching to get the poisons out of his penis. John asks for different options and the only other option that the Doctor has is one for the book labelled KURE. Now this book is old and accor...more Okay now this one is a tough one for me to review. I received this book from the Author Jaye Frances for my honest review. So I will do my best to do just that.

This book begins with John who wakes up to find that his member is infected with blisters. He goes into town to the doctor who basically wants to do a leaching to get the poisons out of his penis. John asks for different options and the only other option that the Doctor has is one for the book labelled KURE. Now this book is old and according to the doctor it is evil. We'll leave that for the moment. This book tells John that he must find a virgin who is willing to hold his infected member in her mouth until the infection is gone. So he goes to the town registars and looks at all the births in his small town and finds two options. One is ruled out because she is no longer a virgin. So we meet Sarah, she is the only surviving daughter of a wealthy rancher. She discovers why John has come to her house and demands to see the book and he shows her where she finds a second way to cure John's illness. The story continues as they try to cure John by following this second way by running in the rain naked with someone who doesn't know about his illness. In the end Sarah winds up using her mouth on John to transfer moonlight raindrops to his member.

My problems with this book aren't about the story itself, it was well written and easily understandable. My problems lie in the area where they consider the book and the rituals it contains as something demonic. Based upon the story and the hints of when the time is supposed to have been we can be assured that Paganism was already a hidden thing, and that the rituals that they once lived by were now considered satanic. This we can also see in the Notes from the Author at the end of the book. Where she said that the cure is based on "the virgin cure" a medieval concept of having sexually based contact with a virgin to cure all manners of diseases. She goes on to mention that it was based on demonic possession. The problem I have is that Pagans do not believe in the devil or satan, and that the fact is that the Christians introduced that term and considered any rituals they didn't approve of to be Demonic or Satanic in origin. The Virgin Cure that she refers to was in fact practiced no because of a demonic influence but because a virgin is the closest thing to the gods and leaving something of you behind is the greatest gift you could give the gods, your very life which was what men tried to do by the sexual relations of the virgin cure.

Other than this issue, I believe the book was slow moving and steady. The book kept you in suspense of would the cure work. And the way the book ends leaves you with the very real possibility of future books along the same line. The Author did a successful job of keeping the time period straight with issues of the time. And the characters in the books were strong and successfully written. John is a male who has very strong values but who is willing to go against them in the beginning and then thinks twice when he meets the beautiful Sarah. Sarah is an intelligent and strong female who knows her own mind and isn't afraid to use it. I give this book 3.5 stars because while I found discrepancies most people would not know that any existed and therefore would enjoy the basic story.(less)

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Aug 08, 2012 Adrianne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Paranormal-occult romance. ---WOW. That's one word to describe this book. It was so hard to put down, the story was very intriguing, unique but not as dark or demonic as I expected when I first read the sypnosis. My imagination was running wild as the story progresses. The images of Sarah or any girl for that matter, trying to fulfill the directions of the Kure was just disturbing. How the author Jaye Frances described the condition of John Tyler's condition was gruesome and it's insane how devo...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Dani rated it 4 of 5 stars

Plagued with a horrible, deadly disease John must seek out treatment in hopes of curing this. Unfortunately the town’s doctor is well known for his love of leaching and John, having witnessed this, is not too thrilled about this prospective treatment.

The plot in this book was amazing. Although the book’s start was a bit slow it was well worth it. You get a lot of the detail in the beginning and a better understanding of the fear that John is holding within himself; in truth you almost share i...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

The KURE is definitely one of the more original books I've read in a while. John is struggling with a disease that could disfigure him for life and even kill him if he doesn't find a treatment or cure quickly. The doctor in town wants to set leeches upon the infected area to bleed him, but John does not want that kind of treatment at all. He pushes the doctor for another avenue and reluctantly the doctor tells him of a ritual found in a forbidden book - The KURE. But will John be able to live wi...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Jen by: Jaye Francis

Shelves: kindle-own

Well, I just finished this book and all I can say is wow!!! I'm a bit shell shocked by the thought of the grotesque,diseased "manhood" in the book, but once I get over that I should be fine!!LOL
Yikes, I don't know where to begin on this one!! I actually really did enjoy this story and I look forward to the next one. The end leaves you hanging so I am going to be sitting here waiting "Impatiently" for the next installment!
For starters I have to say that Jaye Frances writes a very descriptive stor...more Well, I just finished this book and all I can say is wow!!! I'm a bit shell shocked by the thought of the grotesque,diseased "manhood" in the book, but once I get over that I should be fine!!LOL
Yikes, I don't know where to begin on this one!! I actually really did enjoy this story and I look forward to the next one. The end leaves you hanging so I am going to be sitting here waiting "Impatiently" for the next installment!
For starters I have to say that Jaye Frances writes a very descriptive story. I like that when I read a book as I have no problem picturing the scene I am reading about. Her descriptions of her scenes are so accurate and clear that I felt like I was right there in the story. This was great for describing the town and houses; very hard to swallow when it came to the diseased "member" and some of the treatments which was going to included leeches...Blech! I am positive I will never think of leeches without thinking of this book! It is forever etched into my mind; which in my opinion is the sign of a great author. I can honestly say I won't ever forget this book!
I really liked John, the hero of the book and his heroine Sara was a sweetheart too. Even though John was suffering from this ailment that he aquired, he tried so hard to keep with his honor and integrity. He became extremly protective over Sarah even though he had initially seeked her out with dubious intent. His doctor had shown him the Black Magic book and the remedy that was so morally wrong,and during a weak moment of severe pain John thought he would be able to go through with using "a virgin sacrifice" to try and cure his rare disease. ONce he meets Sarah, and sees what kind of girl she is, he just can't in good conscience go through with it.
What amazes me through out this story is when Sarah finally does come into the picture (a bit later in the book) she is so determined to help John that she literally stops at nothing to achieve this. She obviously loves him and so badly wants a future with him.
I would classify this book as a gothic horror story with a little suspence thrown in. It was a little slow at getting started but once it did I couldn't put it down. I had to find out what was going to happen and how far Sarah was willing to go. I wished the ending doesn't leave me hanging; but it is for sure good strategy for the author to use as I will be waiting for the second installment and I will standing in line waiting to get it!
All in all, I thought it was a great book, but not for the faint of heart!
I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review..and I am greatful that I had the opportunity to read it..(less)

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Aug 17, 2012 Sara Shrieves rated it 4 of 5 stars

Let me just start by saying I actually gave this book 3.5 stars, but I wasn't able to actually do a half star. The writing itself I would give a 5. I had no problem with the flow of most of the story or the dialogue of the characters. There were many good things about this book, such as the time period and the descriptions about everything, the surroundings, the people and the clothing, etc. It put me in the frame of mind that I'm sure the author intended her readers to be in. My #1 issue was th...more

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Dec 11, 2011 Lore Lush Books rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews

First, let me say, I loved the characters that Jaye Frances created. The story is definitely unusual and unique. The details and descriptions were spot on. Though, while the saying: The cure is worse than disease, It is very difficult to think of much worse than what the main character John Tyler was ailing with except maybe from the point of view of the person who...Oh never mind. That would be a spoiler and I don't do those :). I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and am excited to read the...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Denise rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Kure
by Jaye Frances (Goodreads Author)
Synopsis from Goodreads

"In vain thou shall use many medicines, but thou shalt not be kured. And even though you search for a virgin to lay upon her balm, there is no healing for you. You multiply your remedies in vain as your cries fill the earth, and you will stumble, one over the other, and both will fall down together." - The Book of Eternal Regret
John Tyler, a young man in his early twenties, awakens to find a ghastly affliction taking over his b...more The Kure
by Jaye Frances (Goodreads Author)
Synopsis from Goodreads

"In vain thou shall use many medicines, but thou shalt not be kured. And even though you search for a virgin to lay upon her balm, there is no healing for you. You multiply your remedies in vain as your cries fill the earth, and you will stumble, one over the other, and both will fall down together." - The Book of Eternal Regret
John Tyler, a young man in his early twenties, awakens to find a ghastly affliction taking over his body. When the village doctor offers the conventional, and potentially disfiguring, treatment as the only cure, John tenaciously convinces the doctor to reveal an alternative remedy—a forbidden ritual contained within an ancient manuscript called the Kure.
Although initially rejecting the vile and sinister rite, John realizes, too late, that the ritual is more than a faded promise scrawled on a page of crumbling paper. And as cure quickly becomes curse, the demonic text unleashes a dark power that drives him to consider the unthinkable—a depraved and wicked act requiring the corruption of an innocent soul.
Ultimately, John must choose between his desperate need to arrest the plague that is destroying his body, and the virtue of the woman he loves, knowing the wrong decision could cost him his life. "
This book is best suited for a Mature YA/New-Adult or Adult reader.

I was very intrigued by the synopsis of this book, which is a very good description of the storyline, and when it was offered for read to review, I jumped at the opportunity to read it. Now this is not a read for the squeamish or someone looking for the lighter side of magic lore. There were parts of the story that were very graphic and disturbing for me, as well as times when I wanted slap John and tell him to man-up and grow some backbone (I had thought to use a different cliché here, but humor is not appropriate for this book). As I was reading The Kure my mind was in overdrive on how to review this story. I even discussed it with others and used an analogy of driving by a car wreck and not being able to not look with my need to finish the book. Interestingly, there is an afterward from the author and in it she uses a similar analogy, which completely vindicated my feelings and let me know I was on the right track in experiencing what the author had in mind for the reader. That being said, The Kure was beautifully written. It was one of those books that even though I was uncomfortable with the subject matter of the story I wanted to keep reading for the marvelous writing. I also feel the afterward from the author is as much a part of the story as the tale itself. It was also beautifully written and clarified so much of what I had read and why it was written and should definitely not be passed over in reading this book. Any writing that makes you think and feel such strong emotions, as well as prompts discussion, is definitely worth looking into. I really dislike the star system for rating a book; I am having a hard time deciding what I would rate The Kure and with that being said there parts I just did not like (personal comfort zone here) and other parts that sent me over the moon, which is going to balance this out to a four start book for me, me being the magic word. I look forward to reading further work by this author and would definitely recommend reading her work, although I personally do not agree with a YA rating, the new adult or mature reader rating is more appropriate in my view.
I requested this book from the author to read and review and it was provided to me with a request for my honest opinion without any compensation whatsoever, other than the joy of reading a new book.(less)

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Nov 02, 2012 Tim rated it 3 of 5 stars

Good story with an interesting plot and likable characters. John and Sarah have a good chemistry together, so I think other novels in the series should be good.

On the down side, I thought the ending was a huge let down. The book just seemed to end. It was like the author wrote the story and then either didn't have a way to finish it and just closed out the story as efficiently as possible, or they got tired of writing this particular story and wanted to end it. There was a nice build up to the e...more

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Sep 11, 2012 K. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Kure is different. It is about a young farmer/rancher who contracts a disease which cannot be cured in Kentucky in 1865. It can be treated by using leeches, but often the outcome of bleeding is death. He pressures his doctor who produces a hidden, forbidden book, ancient and mysterious, in which a "kure" is described, a medieval method: a virgin must engage in a sexual practice on her 18th birthday. Some readers might find the graphic descriptions offensive; however, occult fiction is so of...more

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Mar 08, 2013 J. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Although this book isn't spooky or even really about witchcraft, I still enjoyed its tongue-in-cheek subject matter as well as the humor of some of the situations the characters find themselves in. The Kure is based on a medieval practice called The Virgin Cure and, admittedly, detailed descriptions of the leading male character's affliction are enough to make any woman run screaming the other way. However, being a romantic comedy more than anything else, I guess that's the point; it's supposed...more

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Oct 07, 2012 Kathleen Valentine added it

Shelves: gave-up

I'd heard good things about this but I gave up on it at about 30%. If the author had spent as much time developing the characters as she did his affliction, it might have been more interesting. I found her detailed descriptions of the rash he was suffering from gratuitous, especially since all we know about "John" is that he is 23, "over six feet tall," and "ruggedly handsome."

The first third of the book consists of John obsessing about his "pox" (which is vividly described) and should he or sho...more

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Oct 16, 2012 Jackson Burnett rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While lawyers were drafting the U.S. Constitution, physicians were trying to heal people by blood letting. When John Tyler, the protagonist of The Kure, develops a gruesome infection of his midsection and groin, Tyler has a choice between treatment by blood sucking leeches or by ancient pagan ritual. Set in Kentucky in 1865, The Kure is about Tyler's struggle to choose and the risks he faces with either choice. This novel is not for the queasy or for those offended by sexual or religious deviati...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Krysta rated it 3 of 5 stars

I had a hard time rating this book. I enjoyed reading it, but the storyline was a bit silly and well...gross. I do enjoy the way the author writes, and read a couple excerpts of two of her other books at the end. Know what you're getting into before you read The Kure, it's not for weak stomachs. I averaged it out between the storyline and the writing and came up with three stars. I will definitely try another book by this author, but probably one of a different genre (although I normally like t...more

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Oct 02, 2012 David Brown rated it 4 of 5 stars

For all the strength of mankind there are many things we fear and amongst the worst are diseases. I remember my history from school, college and university, especially the Black Death which terrorised Europe in the mid-14th century and reduced the population of England from 6 to less than 2 million. In Jaye Frances’ The Kure we have a nasty disease but not an epidemic here, more a solitary case for one unfortunate individual.

John Tyler is not having a good day when he wakes to find he has been i...more For all the strength of mankind there are many things we fear and amongst the worst are diseases. I remember my history from school, college and university, especially the Black Death which terrorised Europe in the mid-14th century and reduced the population of England from 6 to less than 2 million. In Jaye Frances’ The Kure we have a nasty disease but not an epidemic here, more a solitary case for one unfortunate individual.

John Tyler is not having a good day when he wakes to find he has been infected by some kind of plague. Worse for poor John is the disease is visible around his private parts and is proceeding to spread and deform its victim. John seeks out the local doctor who suggests the very risky treatment of bleeding with the aid of leeches. However, there is an alternative treatment known as the Kure which is derived from a demonic text and it involves the use of an innocent. Becoming desperate John must choose between the conventional cure or the dark, alternative Kure.

You have to sympathise with poor John Tyler. The infection around his groin is described in gruesome fashion and not only is it both hideous it is extremely painful. John doesn’t know what to do to cure himself. He is concerned about the treatment the doctor is offering with leeches to drain him of the poison. The methods in the Kure are equally concerning. John must not only find an 18 year old virgin but she must be willing to take John’s manhood in her mouth until the affliction is gone! Not the kind of proposition you want to approach someone with! The only other alternative is for John to find a virgin six years younger than him, have her not know about his poisoning and to run naked with him beneath the rain on a moonlit night. With three options before him and John facing the prospecting of his body being deformed and ultimately poisoned he has a decision to make.

John’s struggle is well conveyed in the novel and you really do feel his pain. Men reading this may be inclined to cross their legs on occasion, such is the emphasis on John’s struggle. He delays treatment with the doctor and seeks out Sarah Sheridan, an eighteen year old virgin, and he plans to ask if she will perform the ritual to help cure him. However, John finds himself falling for Sarah and, unwilling to reveal his intentions, he ends up confessing his predicament. Surprisingly, Sarah, who believed John had come to court her, is eager to help him and looks into the solutions that the Kure has to offer. The question is can Sarah or the Doctor save John before it’s too late.

I enjoyed The Kure. I found John’s dilemma very intriguing and given the society he is in, the methods behind the Kure are tantamount to scandalous and causing severe outrage. Sarah is a great character, resourceful, independent and strong, determined to help John any way she can. Whether she succeeds is not for me to say of course.

The Kure is a good tale with the central character in the midst of the most awful predicament. The primitive methods of medicine conveyed here will make you grateful for the advances of today. It’s shocking to think what little options people once had.(less)

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Aug 22, 2012 Rachel at theJeepDiva rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, august-challenge

Out of the three books of Jaye’s that I have read so far this is more the type of book that I mainly read. It is an adult story with dark overtones. I would not recommend this book for anyone who is squeamish due to some descriptions contained within. I give the book 4 stars.

The story was interesting. I can't wait to hear more on this dark tale. I admit the details of the main characters affliction’s description was gross but you also needed to know about it to know how desperate of a situation...more

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Feb 16, 2012 Michelle (Reading Lark) (Reading Lark) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Suspenseful and mysterious, The Kure has one of my favorite qualities in a book - anticipation. It isn't dumbed down and you're so busy being lost in the story you don't have everything figured out by the midway point. The premise is unique and different and I will definitely be picking it up again, to revisit the prose and a well written story, as well as to see if I missed anything, because I have a feeling Ms. Frances is a sneaky one. ;)

The two main characters, John and Sarah, also fall into...more

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Feb 10, 2012 Jackie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, book-from-author-for-review

Book Synopsis

Forbidden by law and denounced as an abomination by the church, the Kure has been hidden for centuries...

John Tyler has never met Sarah Sheridan, but he knows he must find her, and somehow convince her that she is the key to unlocking the power of an ancient ritual that will rid his body of a rare and ravaging disease.

But as cure quickly becomes curse, John realizes the ritual is more than a faded promise scrawled on a page of crumbling paper, and he discovers, too late, that the...more

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Sep 14, 2012 Tracy Hipp rated it 1 of 5 stars

I got this book as a freebie on Amazon and am glad it was free. I think I just got punked reading this. The premise, I kid you not, is about a man with lesions on his groin. His choices to save his member and his life are either have leeches suck out the poison or find an 18 year old virgin to hold puss infected member in her mouth. Had this been the book description I read I would have saved myself my time and not have read this. This is the entirety of the book. Puss penis needs 18 year old vi...more

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About Jaye Frances

Jaye Frances is the author of the paranormal-occult romance "The Kure", the first novel in "The Kure" series, "The Possibilities of Amy," a coming-of-age novella about high school dating and relationships, "The Cruise - All That Glitters," a twisting, edgy satire about love on the high seas, "The Beach," a sci-fi fantasy about a man who has the opportunity to change his life, and "Love Travels For...more

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“All cats are gray in the dark. And besides, her actions have less to do with her, and everything to do with you.” — 2 people liked it

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