Par for the Curse by Toyi Ward

Par for the Curse is an excellently written novel dealing with the natural development and curiosity of a maturing family that had a generational secret. Its charismatic tone and organization kept you interested in the tantalizing flow of the story. The characters were very distinctive and amply developed with adequately fulfilling roles.
This is one of those novels that can not be fairly judged by its title. At first, I had some reservations in reading this type of novel. Having a strictly fundamental, Pentecostal Christian background, I did not know where I would be led in this reading experience. Understandably, I did not want to mix my faith and Christianity with the occult and evil. And I thought this would be the direction this book would lead. However, after reading a few pages, I began to realize that I was mistaken.
On the contrary, Par for the Curse described how generational secrets can influence a family in all aspects of life and love. It is obvious that having been taught at an early age that you were cursed, as Stormy was, would indeed cause some undue anxiety. She was taught that she was cursed along with other members of her family. In fact, some members of her family seem to substantiate the curse as being real.
It appeared that Stormy even believed it herself, even to the extent that she wanted to get answers. In her efforts to find the truth, she takes her reader through a series of obstacles and intrigues in understanding the family’s curse, some even challenged her own stability. After an interesting assortment of inquiries and challenges, she did get some answers.
All in all, Par for the Curse sufficiently unraveled the mystery of the so-called voodoo influence on Stormy and her family.