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A Touch of Gold #2
A Curse of Gold
Curses and queens. Pirates and kings. Gods and magic. The final saga of a cursed queen, a vengeful Greek god, and a dazzling kingdom in the balance.
After barely surviving thieving, bloodthirsty pirates and a harrowing quest at sea to retrieve her stolen treasure, Kora finds readjusting to palace life just as deadly. Kora’s people openly turn against her, threatening to overthrow her as heir to the throne—a cursed queen who has angered Dionysus. When Dionysus puts out a challenge to kill the girl with the golden touch and burn down her kingdom, it’s not just her future on the throne in danger. Kora’s life and entire kingdom are now on contract.
As bold and brave as ever, Kora sets out to find Dionysus, the very person who is trying to kill her, on the mysterious disappearing island of Jipper. Kora has no other choice. If she wants to save her kingdom and have any chance at reversing her father’s curse, she will have to enter into a deadly game with Dionysus, the greatest trickster the world, or the underworld, has ever seen.
After barely surviving thieving, bloodthirsty pirates and a harrowing quest at sea to retrieve her stolen treasure, Kora finds readjusting to palace life just as deadly. Kora’s people openly turn against her, threatening to overthrow her as heir to the throne—a cursed queen who has angered Dionysus. When Dionysus puts out a challenge to kill the girl with the golden touch and burn down her kingdom, it’s not just her future on the throne in danger. Kora’s life and entire kingdom are now on contract.
As bold and brave as ever, Kora sets out to find Dionysus, the very person who is trying to kill her, on the mysterious disappearing island of Jipper. Kora has no other choice. If she wants to save her kingdom and have any chance at reversing her father’s curse, she will have to enter into a deadly game with Dionysus, the greatest trickster the world, or the underworld, has ever seen.
First published September 22, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
May 26, 2020
After receiving this book, I went and read book one. I think that is a huge advantage to enjoying this story more. I only wish I liked this one better. It is completely subjective but I just couldn't get into it. I liked book one just fine. But reading this I was mainly bored and not interested in the plotline.
Again, I would recommend the book to all YA fantasy readers. Especially if you like a retelling.
I was not in the mood for it but I 'm afraid if I waited any longer I would not finish it at all, as I recently read book one.
The cover is absolutely stunning.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion!!
2,5 stars
Again, I would recommend the book to all YA fantasy readers. Especially if you like a retelling.
I was not in the mood for it but I 'm afraid if I waited any longer I would not finish it at all, as I recently read book one.
The cover is absolutely stunning.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion!!
2,5 stars
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September 19, 2020'A Curse of Gold' is the sequel to 'A touch of gold', and they are easy, fun reads, although I have to say I liked the first one best.
This one picks up where the first one left out, presenting Kora ready to take her place on the kingdom and taking care of her ailing father, as it seems like his recovery wasn't as miraculous as we could have expected, and then suddenly they are under attack.
Move forward the action a bit, and it's Dyonisius who is sending the attack because he made a bet with an Oracle that predicted that King Midas would be a great king, while the god said he wouldn't. That's why Midas was cursed and this attack on the palace happened: Dyonisius can't kill King Midas, but he plays dirty and wants to kill his daughter to weaken him and thus win the bet.
So we are going to embark on this new adventure with our all friends (yay for Hettie and Rhat, who are back!) and new faces, like Poseidon, who is gonna be a major player, and whose help our team needs to enlist in order to find Dyonisius and twist his plans!
This kind of book feels like an easy read, and somehow makes me think of an Indiana Jones movie, where you have action, sometimes unbeliable situations, some tetsts (like the ones when looking for the Oracle), and also some sentimentality (Kora relationship with his father), love and friendships.
The book has also some downsides, to be honest, one of them is for me that is somewhat lacking in honest representation. What I mean by "honest rep" is that we are gonna be stepping into Greek mythos once again, and in the retelling of King Midas. But... I honestly think the book was lacking in all this Greek rep might imply: all the characters are pale, there's no greek architecture or housing... there is no greek food, or much of greek anything, honestly. I don't think or feel like the action is properly grounded in Greece, it could be happening anywhere on the world because of all those elements lacking.
Also the greek gods do appear, but I would have liked for them to have more... weight? Currency? More honoring to their origins and/or story? I don't know how to properly ex`plain this. Maybe the author was merely sampling on that mythos, having different creatures like the satyrs at the beginning of the book attacking without much more thought about their "true" nature on the mythos, or maybe she was also re telling the way the gods have been portrayed. I don't know.
This one picks up where the first one left out, presenting Kora ready to take her place on the kingdom and taking care of her ailing father, as it seems like his recovery wasn't as miraculous as we could have expected, and then suddenly they are under attack.
Move forward the action a bit, and it's Dyonisius who is sending the attack because he made a bet with an Oracle that predicted that King Midas would be a great king, while the god said he wouldn't. That's why Midas was cursed and this attack on the palace happened: Dyonisius can't kill King Midas, but he plays dirty and wants to kill his daughter to weaken him and thus win the bet.
So we are going to embark on this new adventure with our all friends (yay for Hettie and Rhat, who are back!) and new faces, like Poseidon, who is gonna be a major player, and whose help our team needs to enlist in order to find Dyonisius and twist his plans!
This kind of book feels like an easy read, and somehow makes me think of an Indiana Jones movie, where you have action, sometimes unbeliable situations, some tetsts (like the ones when looking for the Oracle), and also some sentimentality (Kora relationship with his father), love and friendships.
The book has also some downsides, to be honest, one of them is for me that is somewhat lacking in honest representation. What I mean by "honest rep" is that we are gonna be stepping into Greek mythos once again, and in the retelling of King Midas. But... I honestly think the book was lacking in all this Greek rep might imply: all the characters are pale, there's no greek architecture or housing... there is no greek food, or much of greek anything, honestly. I don't think or feel like the action is properly grounded in Greece, it could be happening anywhere on the world because of all those elements lacking.
Also the greek gods do appear, but I would have liked for them to have more... weight? Currency? More honoring to their origins and/or story? I don't know how to properly ex`plain this. Maybe the author was merely sampling on that mythos, having different creatures like the satyrs at the beginning of the book attacking without much more thought about their "true" nature on the mythos, or maybe she was also re telling the way the gods have been portrayed. I don't know.
July 2, 2020
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A Curse of Gold started off pretty slowly for me. About half-way through, though, it did get a bit better. Which made me pretty happy since I really enjoyed the first book and was super excited to dive into this one.
Now you still meet the same people you met in the first book, they just have a new mission. Kora is out to get God Dionysus. Of course she can't just show up on his doorstep and smack him or anything. No, she has to go on this adventure with her crew/friends and try to defeat him any way possible.
Like I said, the first part of this book is pretty boring. Nothing really happens.. except like one little fight which did nothing for me. Then there's some tension among the crew but it was to be expected. I still do love Kora and Royce together and I obviously want more from them... but for some reason I didn't get that? Yes, they love one another but I just wanted to see them being together you know.. whether it's killing someone, talking, or I don't know - ANYTHING!
Other than that, we do end up meeting Triton and Dionysus. Triton was a nice addition/surprise for me and I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending. Like, maybe.. it's just a trick? Also, it just kind of seemed a bit to easy for it to all go that way? Eh, it was still good though.
In the end, it was pretty good for a sequel and I'm not sure if there's going to be another book or not. If there is, I will gladly read it just to see what else can be thrown my way.
A Curse of Gold started off pretty slowly for me. About half-way through, though, it did get a bit better. Which made me pretty happy since I really enjoyed the first book and was super excited to dive into this one.
Now you still meet the same people you met in the first book, they just have a new mission. Kora is out to get God Dionysus. Of course she can't just show up on his doorstep and smack him or anything. No, she has to go on this adventure with her crew/friends and try to defeat him any way possible.
Like I said, the first part of this book is pretty boring. Nothing really happens.. except like one little fight which did nothing for me. Then there's some tension among the crew but it was to be expected. I still do love Kora and Royce together and I obviously want more from them... but for some reason I didn't get that? Yes, they love one another but I just wanted to see them being together you know.. whether it's killing someone, talking, or I don't know - ANYTHING!
Other than that, we do end up meeting Triton and Dionysus. Triton was a nice addition/surprise for me and I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending. Like, maybe.. it's just a trick? Also, it just kind of seemed a bit to easy for it to all go that way? Eh, it was still good though.
In the end, it was pretty good for a sequel and I'm not sure if there's going to be another book or not. If there is, I will gladly read it just to see what else can be thrown my way.
July 21, 2020
Three and a half
So this book (which is a sequel) has Kora the daughter of Midas still fighting to save her father from his curse. His health and indeed his position at Court are declining when Kora is viciously attacked by one of Dionysus creatures. Kora and Royce set sail to find the fabled Oracle in the hopes that she can tell them where Dionysus hides and that they can finally get him to remove the curse of gold that is slowly draining the life of Midas away !
Hands up confession time because I haven't read the previous story A Touch of Gold but I quickly caught up to the fact that Kora had retrieved her father's stolen gold and also faced off with his treacherous advisor. Now she's on a quest traveling not only to face the Oracle but in order to get to Dionysus she needs the help of none other than Triton ! I honestly hadn't expected that and whilst the Gods are not known for their kindness I did like the way Kora never gave up on Triton. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the author wove mythical creatures into this book and Kora was an absolute delight. I also loved that the couple seemed so in tune and right together. However I was not convinced that Royce felt mature or indeed old enough to be this swashbuckling sea Captain because even his crew felt extremely young. I know I'm a little older than the intended age group that this is aimed at so do take that on board. I think if I'm blunt I definitely preferred the second half because the pace definitely picked up but that ending ! Oh why did it have to end like that ? Perhaps this will become a trilogy because I'd certainly like to read more.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
So this book (which is a sequel) has Kora the daughter of Midas still fighting to save her father from his curse. His health and indeed his position at Court are declining when Kora is viciously attacked by one of Dionysus creatures. Kora and Royce set sail to find the fabled Oracle in the hopes that she can tell them where Dionysus hides and that they can finally get him to remove the curse of gold that is slowly draining the life of Midas away !
Hands up confession time because I haven't read the previous story A Touch of Gold but I quickly caught up to the fact that Kora had retrieved her father's stolen gold and also faced off with his treacherous advisor. Now she's on a quest traveling not only to face the Oracle but in order to get to Dionysus she needs the help of none other than Triton ! I honestly hadn't expected that and whilst the Gods are not known for their kindness I did like the way Kora never gave up on Triton. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the author wove mythical creatures into this book and Kora was an absolute delight. I also loved that the couple seemed so in tune and right together. However I was not convinced that Royce felt mature or indeed old enough to be this swashbuckling sea Captain because even his crew felt extremely young. I know I'm a little older than the intended age group that this is aimed at so do take that on board. I think if I'm blunt I definitely preferred the second half because the pace definitely picked up but that ending ! Oh why did it have to end like that ? Perhaps this will become a trilogy because I'd certainly like to read more.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
April 16, 2020
what a solid conclusion to a fun duology! the highlight of this story is definitely the much needed world-building that was lacking in the first book.
similar to its predecessor, this sequel features fast-paced daring adventures, sailing the seas, scuffles with sea gods, a touch a romance, and lots of gold, but it just feels much more developed.
i appreciate the look into the gods various roles in the plot, since it wasnt really explained in the first book. i like how we get to know dionysus’ motivation and reasoning for being the opposition, and i was entertained by the time the reader gets to spend with triton.
this is a quick and fun read - perfect for those who are fans of the legend of midas and ancient greek mythology.
thank you blink for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
similar to its predecessor, this sequel features fast-paced daring adventures, sailing the seas, scuffles with sea gods, a touch a romance, and lots of gold, but it just feels much more developed.
i appreciate the look into the gods various roles in the plot, since it wasnt really explained in the first book. i like how we get to know dionysus’ motivation and reasoning for being the opposition, and i was entertained by the time the reader gets to spend with triton.
this is a quick and fun read - perfect for those who are fans of the legend of midas and ancient greek mythology.
thank you blink for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
Want to read
September 15, 2019ffs. I have no idea how the not-even-greek first book was published, but NO ONE should be green-lighting a second hot mess.
November 19, 2020
I really liked reading about all the incredible adventures of Kora and her friends to find Dionysus. She is amazingly brave and courageous, and has her kingdom at heart.
However, all the adventures and the strong bonds that formed between herself and her friends would have been more believable if the second book would have been more than a couple of weeks after the ending of the first book.
But if you thought that fighting temptresses and pirates was awesome, wait until you see all the creatures created by Dionysus that the crew will have to fight against.... I loved how imaginative that was!!
Many thanks to Blink for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
However, all the adventures and the strong bonds that formed between herself and her friends would have been more believable if the second book would have been more than a couple of weeks after the ending of the first book.
But if you thought that fighting temptresses and pirates was awesome, wait until you see all the creatures created by Dionysus that the crew will have to fight against.... I loved how imaginative that was!!
Many thanks to Blink for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 24, 2020
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"I know what I’m doing this for. For Lagonia. For my father. For us. For moments like this."
I was extremely excited to not only be approved for this ARC but to also be selected to participate in the TBRandbeyond instagram tour. I instantly ran to read the first book which I enjoyed! So I was more than ready to dive into book 2!
The world building in these books are so well written and I love Greek Mythology, and A Curse of Gold definitely stepped it up with more of it!
I’m a sucker for romance so I was a little disappointed that this didn’t deliver the heaping dose that I was looking for. The romance that started in book one was so cute to me and I felt it had the potential to thrive in book two. I do understand that the main theme in the book isn’t romance, though.
I felt like some of the best and most action packed parts of the book seemed to fly by a little too fast. The writing didn’t seem “rushed” per se but I did think we could’ve had a couple more pages with more detail to give us that intense “OMG” feeling.
Overall I enjoyed this book and I totally didn’t know it was only a duology haha, but it ended perfectly. I highly recommend you read this book if you’re looking for an easy read, or if you’re a Greek Mythology fan!
3.5/5 🌟’s
"I know what I’m doing this for. For Lagonia. For my father. For us. For moments like this."
I was extremely excited to not only be approved for this ARC but to also be selected to participate in the TBRandbeyond instagram tour. I instantly ran to read the first book which I enjoyed! So I was more than ready to dive into book 2!
The world building in these books are so well written and I love Greek Mythology, and A Curse of Gold definitely stepped it up with more of it!
I’m a sucker for romance so I was a little disappointed that this didn’t deliver the heaping dose that I was looking for. The romance that started in book one was so cute to me and I felt it had the potential to thrive in book two. I do understand that the main theme in the book isn’t romance, though.
I felt like some of the best and most action packed parts of the book seemed to fly by a little too fast. The writing didn’t seem “rushed” per se but I did think we could’ve had a couple more pages with more detail to give us that intense “OMG” feeling.
Overall I enjoyed this book and I totally didn’t know it was only a duology haha, but it ended perfectly. I highly recommend you read this book if you’re looking for an easy read, or if you’re a Greek Mythology fan!
3.5/5 🌟’s
April 10, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for a free eArc in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed Annie Sullivan’s first book of this series A Touch of Gold when I read it last year and I enjoyed this sequel just as much. I love that she added a lot more mythology to this one, which I felt lacked in the first one! She has a very unique writing style and her characters are enjoyable.
The issue I had with this one was that the action felt very rushed over the 5 days it takes place. It made it so the world building and the romance fell flat throughout the story, but I do think overall it’s a very cute series and wrapped up nicely.
I enjoyed Annie Sullivan’s first book of this series A Touch of Gold when I read it last year and I enjoyed this sequel just as much. I love that she added a lot more mythology to this one, which I felt lacked in the first one! She has a very unique writing style and her characters are enjoyable.
The issue I had with this one was that the action felt very rushed over the 5 days it takes place. It made it so the world building and the romance fell flat throughout the story, but I do think overall it’s a very cute series and wrapped up nicely.
June 1, 2020
ARC kindly provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Where did that come from!
A Touch of Gold was one thing but boy wait until you read its sequel! This was everything I wanted from a book intertwined with greek mythology. I found that the characters were more well-rounded and that the mythological aspects were much richer than that in the first book. I was obsessed with Triton, Dionysus and Poseidon which provided a really fun and interesting tale I simply couldn't resist.
A Curse of Gold picks up from where A Touch of Gold left off whereby Princess Kora has just returned back to her kingdom and saved her father from illness. What they don't realise is while one journey is ending, another is just beginning. They will need to battle sea monsters, Gods and make a few new friends along the way to beat the new threat set on destroying Lagonia.
I found that I liked the characters a whole lot more than in the first book. Royce proved himself a worthier love interest for Kora than what was seen before in book 1. I enjoyed reading about their dynamic more and felt like Annie Sullivan, the author sold their relationship a whole lot more to the point that I was convinced they really cared for one another instead of what was hinted at earlier.
I also appreciated how much better the action scenes were in comparison to A Touch of Gold. I was underwhelmed in the previous novel with the action scenes and the reasons behind some of the choices the characters made whereas in this one I was engrossed in the action and felt like the characters definitely developed and matured in how they handled situations.
My only negative... THAT ENDING. If you've read it you know exactly what I'm talking about. That one character deserved so much better. I would 100% petition for a third novel to be written just to see that character again. He instantly won my heart over and I wanted the absolute best for him. I was just so heartbroken by the ending I wanted to burst into tears.
All in all, so much better than A Touch of Gold I would be happy to die for these characters I loved them so much and wanted to hug each and every one of them.
ACTUAL RATING: 4.2 STARS
Where did that come from!
A Touch of Gold was one thing but boy wait until you read its sequel! This was everything I wanted from a book intertwined with greek mythology. I found that the characters were more well-rounded and that the mythological aspects were much richer than that in the first book. I was obsessed with Triton, Dionysus and Poseidon which provided a really fun and interesting tale I simply couldn't resist.
A Curse of Gold picks up from where A Touch of Gold left off whereby Princess Kora has just returned back to her kingdom and saved her father from illness. What they don't realise is while one journey is ending, another is just beginning. They will need to battle sea monsters, Gods and make a few new friends along the way to beat the new threat set on destroying Lagonia.
I found that I liked the characters a whole lot more than in the first book. Royce proved himself a worthier love interest for Kora than what was seen before in book 1. I enjoyed reading about their dynamic more and felt like Annie Sullivan, the author sold their relationship a whole lot more to the point that I was convinced they really cared for one another instead of what was hinted at earlier.
I also appreciated how much better the action scenes were in comparison to A Touch of Gold. I was underwhelmed in the previous novel with the action scenes and the reasons behind some of the choices the characters made whereas in this one I was engrossed in the action and felt like the characters definitely developed and matured in how they handled situations.
My only negative... THAT ENDING. If you've read it you know exactly what I'm talking about. That one character deserved so much better. I would 100% petition for a third novel to be written just to see that character again. He instantly won my heart over and I wanted the absolute best for him. I was just so heartbroken by the ending I wanted to burst into tears.
All in all, so much better than A Touch of Gold I would be happy to die for these characters I loved them so much and wanted to hug each and every one of them.
ACTUAL RATING: 4.2 STARS
September 20, 2020
"A Curse of Gold" by Annie Sullivan is the second book in the “A Touch of Gold” duology. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the first in the series to fully enjoy this entry. “A Touch of Gold,” the first book in the series, is a “King Midas” retelling. Kora, our heroine, is King Midas’s daughter. She has been touched by King Midas and cursed. Her skin is gold and she has secret powers.
In “A Curse of Gold” Kora seeks to break the curse once and for all. Her people do not trust her to become their ruler and Dionysus (the one who cursed her father) is now trying to kill her and overthrow the kingdom.
This book is full of adventure as the characters embark on this dangerous quest to stop Dionysus and break the curse once and for all. I enjoyed seeing the old gang from the first book back together. Ms. Sullivan does an amazing job building her characters. The side characters are well done, and they are some of my favorites. I love the friendship theme running throughout. Although this is a quest story, there is still a lot of focus on characterization and character growth.
There is also so much adventure and action! There are oracles, quests, sea monsters, gods, and a myriad of other creatures from Greek mythology. Through it all, Kora learns what it takes to be a good ruler and leader, she protects and fights for her people and puts her people above herself. The conclusion is nonstop adventure and action! If you pick up “A Curse of Gold,” buckle your seatbelts for a wild ride!
Content: This is a clean read. The only content is a reference to a man being drunk and a woman is naked after being released from a curse.
Rating: I give this book 4 stars.
I want to thank Annie Sullivan, Blink and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.
In “A Curse of Gold” Kora seeks to break the curse once and for all. Her people do not trust her to become their ruler and Dionysus (the one who cursed her father) is now trying to kill her and overthrow the kingdom.
This book is full of adventure as the characters embark on this dangerous quest to stop Dionysus and break the curse once and for all. I enjoyed seeing the old gang from the first book back together. Ms. Sullivan does an amazing job building her characters. The side characters are well done, and they are some of my favorites. I love the friendship theme running throughout. Although this is a quest story, there is still a lot of focus on characterization and character growth.
There is also so much adventure and action! There are oracles, quests, sea monsters, gods, and a myriad of other creatures from Greek mythology. Through it all, Kora learns what it takes to be a good ruler and leader, she protects and fights for her people and puts her people above herself. The conclusion is nonstop adventure and action! If you pick up “A Curse of Gold,” buckle your seatbelts for a wild ride!
Content: This is a clean read. The only content is a reference to a man being drunk and a woman is naked after being released from a curse.
Rating: I give this book 4 stars.
I want to thank Annie Sullivan, Blink and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.
September 22, 2020
I was looking forward to the second book in the duology because I adore the characters from A Touch of Gold. It was nice to step back into the world of King Midas and Kora.
I enjoyed A Curse of Gold and seeing the return of my favorite characters from the first book and getting new characters like Triton, son of Poseidon (he became one of my favorites).
I thought Kora grew a lot in the first book but she definitely shows more growth in this book. She goes from being a Princess who is hidden away to becoming a strong leader who doesn’t shy away from accomplishing her mission to save her people and kingdom.
If you love adventure, pirates, monsters and romance then I recommend you pickup both A Touch of Gold and A Curse of Gold.
I enjoyed A Curse of Gold and seeing the return of my favorite characters from the first book and getting new characters like Triton, son of Poseidon (he became one of my favorites).
I thought Kora grew a lot in the first book but she definitely shows more growth in this book. She goes from being a Princess who is hidden away to becoming a strong leader who doesn’t shy away from accomplishing her mission to save her people and kingdom.
If you love adventure, pirates, monsters and romance then I recommend you pickup both A Touch of Gold and A Curse of Gold.
September 21, 2020
This is the second book of a duology based on King Midas’ daughter, I read and loved ATpuch of Gold so was eager to dive back into this world, I didn’t regret it at all. I love the mythology in this story and it felt like even more was covered, included in this one too. I love the action, questing, adventure m it’s just a action packed read, the writing is fabulous, it’s just draws you into the authors word and doesn’t let you go. Kora is a fantastic character, but I loved some of the supporting cast just as much, the humour of some of these characters is just amazing. Overall a great read, it says it’s a duology but I’m kinda hoping for more.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
April 11, 2022
A fun sequel that I enjoyed even more than the first installment. King Midas' daughter, Kora, must find a way to defeat Dionysus (the god who cursed her father and as a result forever changed her) before he comes to their kingdom and attacks them again. Her father is weak and a myriad of beasts have started attacking the kingdom trying to attack Kora. She sets out with her lover, Royce the admiral of her father's fleet, in order to find Triton, a god who can lead them to Dionysus' hidden island. Along the way they encounter gods, monsters, and other horrible creatures and must stay alive using their wits and a half formed plan. Lovers of mythology will delight in this young adult adventure novel. Readers will want to know, are there more books in this series forthcoming?!
September 29, 2020
A Touch of Gold was a lot of fun and left me excited to see how Kora's story would continue. Now that she has found her father's gold, the next obstacle comes to stand in her way. Dionysus is threatening a war on her kingdom and she can't let that happen. So she decides to try and stop him before he can attack everything she loves.
Greek mythology is always something I love reading about, so it was a lot of fun seeing all of those elements in this story. It was definitely an element I really enjoyed in this book. Our cast of characters that we got to know and love during the first book are back to go on that adventure in this sequel. It was great reading about everyone again. A new character, Triton, was by far my favorite and he really made this book so much fun. I'd say he's my favorite of them all.
A Curse of Gold is action packed. It doesn't take long for the adventure to stop and it just doesn't seem to stop. This makes it a fast read, but it's also something that made me love this book left. I mean of course doing what this cast of characters wants to do will cause a lot to happen, but it felt like one thing after another kept on happening. For me it felt like the characters never had a chance to reflect or to really grow. The only one who really developed in my eyes was Triton. I just wish I had seen that more of the characters we have already grown to love.
If you're looking for a book packed with action and humor, I would definitely suggest you pick up this duology!
Greek mythology is always something I love reading about, so it was a lot of fun seeing all of those elements in this story. It was definitely an element I really enjoyed in this book. Our cast of characters that we got to know and love during the first book are back to go on that adventure in this sequel. It was great reading about everyone again. A new character, Triton, was by far my favorite and he really made this book so much fun. I'd say he's my favorite of them all.
A Curse of Gold is action packed. It doesn't take long for the adventure to stop and it just doesn't seem to stop. This makes it a fast read, but it's also something that made me love this book left. I mean of course doing what this cast of characters wants to do will cause a lot to happen, but it felt like one thing after another kept on happening. For me it felt like the characters never had a chance to reflect or to really grow. The only one who really developed in my eyes was Triton. I just wish I had seen that more of the characters we have already grown to love.
If you're looking for a book packed with action and humor, I would definitely suggest you pick up this duology!
January 17, 2021
A Touch of Gold ★★★★
A Curse of Gold ★★★
As with A Touch of Gold I listened to the audiobook. A Curse of Gold starts pretty soon after the events of A Touch of Gold. Kora saved her father in the last book and in this story she has to save her whole kingdom. Dionysus is threatening her kingdom and Kora wants to do whatever she needs to save everything and everyone she loves.
This second book has a lot of action. The first book was pretty action packed but this one even more so. While it’s good to have action in an adventure story, there’s also something as too much action. And for this book I felt like it was a bit too much. Or there were too little other things.
Because of all this action there isn’t that much development for most of the characters. And that is a shame because it made be story less interesting for me. Every now and then I felt myself drift off because I wasn’t as invested as I was in the first book. This story comes right after and I felt like the relationships, both platonic and romantic, were too ‘well-developed’ for relationships that are only a couple of days, maybe some weeks old. I also have to say Hettie annoyed me a lot haha.
We are introduced to a new character in A Curse of Gold. And that is Triton. He = my new favorite character is this world. Honestly, he felt like the only character with a character arc this time around. And I really liked his story. I think the whole story could’ve benefited from more characters with a plot separated to the main adventure. Triton really brought something extra to the story and made this book enjoyable for me. Unfortunately it just wasn’t as good as the first one.
Annie created an interesting world with likeable characters. I would still recommend this duology to YA fantasy lovers! It just won’t make its way unto my favorites list.
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September 3, 2020
Though unsteady in the beginning, A Curse of Gold is definitely an improvement over its predecessor. The strength is in the cast of characters, those newly introduced overpowering the original cast; Triton and Lenny are great additions, with a strong presence (and Triton and Kora unintentionally have better chemistry than Kora and her actual love interest; I was actually kind of disappointed that they didn't end up together). I would've liked a little more description throughout, something that just makes it feel a little brighter, rather than every sentence being a statement, some sections of the plot dragging along, suffering from monotonous sentence structure that feels a little lifeless, but the climax is a burst of energy in the narrative - even though it lacks a sense of urgency because of its predictability, there's a glimpse of Sullivan's potential there.
It's a little more Greek than the series' first installment, too, but in a way that feels... messy. Gods are namedropped and mythological creatures are interspersed throughout the narrative, but it feels very surface-level, thrown in haphazardly to make up for the lack-of in A Touch of Gold; none of it just comes across as very believable. I don't mind revisions to mythology, but I definitely think it needs to somewhat echo the original work, to honor it; these are real cultures and religions, and to an extent, it seems like Sullivan just tossed some names in for flavor instead of genuinely working to correct the errors from the first book. Maybe I'd like it better with a little more diversity (there seems to only be one character implied to be a character of color; everyone else is described as pale and blue-eyed), and would be more willing to forget the issues I have with the book, but it just continues to feel too much like an English-based fantasy world for my enjoyment.
*arc received via netgalley in exchange for an honest review!*
It's a little more Greek than the series' first installment, too, but in a way that feels... messy. Gods are namedropped and mythological creatures are interspersed throughout the narrative, but it feels very surface-level, thrown in haphazardly to make up for the lack-of in A Touch of Gold; none of it just comes across as very believable. I don't mind revisions to mythology, but I definitely think it needs to somewhat echo the original work, to honor it; these are real cultures and religions, and to an extent, it seems like Sullivan just tossed some names in for flavor instead of genuinely working to correct the errors from the first book. Maybe I'd like it better with a little more diversity (there seems to only be one character implied to be a character of color; everyone else is described as pale and blue-eyed), and would be more willing to forget the issues I have with the book, but it just continues to feel too much like an English-based fantasy world for my enjoyment.
*arc received via netgalley in exchange for an honest review!*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2022
I can't decide between two stars or three stars. Sometimes events happened too fast - it always bothers me when books take place during just a few days. In all honesty, Triton carried the whole book on his back. He was my favorite character without a hint of doubt. Kora was decent, but man, Hettie annoyed the shit out of me in this book.
August 26, 2020
A Curse of Gold starts off just a few weeks after book 1, and I was happy to see my favorite characters again. The action starts in the first chapters, and keeps ramping up the entire book!
If book 1 was about Kora maturing as a person, A Curse of Gold is about Kora maturing as a queen. The theme of defining what a leader means is woven through the whole book, and again I enjoyed Kora's journey of discovery while on a journey to deal with the big villain (Dionysus himself this time).
I enjoyed seeing Hettie and Phipps again, as well as new characters to fall for, including Lenny and Titan. I like that Hettie showed how grief can truly change a person, though it was hard to see her behave so negatively for most of the book, since she was my favorite from book 1. Annie Sullivan weaves even more mythology through this book, having Kora actually meeting gods, the Oracle, Gorgons, and a herd of Pegasus! I definitely enjoyed the Pegasus the most, and felt a thrill of nostalgia as that had been my most wanted pet as a young child.
This was another solid fantasy, and a strong ending to Kora's story which thankfully provides the closure that was missing from book 1. I recommend this for fans of fairytale retellings and adventure stories!
Thank you TBRToursandBeyond and Netgalley for providing this free ebook arc in exchange for an honest review.
If book 1 was about Kora maturing as a person, A Curse of Gold is about Kora maturing as a queen. The theme of defining what a leader means is woven through the whole book, and again I enjoyed Kora's journey of discovery while on a journey to deal with the big villain (Dionysus himself this time).
I enjoyed seeing Hettie and Phipps again, as well as new characters to fall for, including Lenny and Titan. I like that Hettie showed how grief can truly change a person, though it was hard to see her behave so negatively for most of the book, since she was my favorite from book 1. Annie Sullivan weaves even more mythology through this book, having Kora actually meeting gods, the Oracle, Gorgons, and a herd of Pegasus! I definitely enjoyed the Pegasus the most, and felt a thrill of nostalgia as that had been my most wanted pet as a young child.
This was another solid fantasy, and a strong ending to Kora's story which thankfully provides the closure that was missing from book 1. I recommend this for fans of fairytale retellings and adventure stories!
Thank you TBRToursandBeyond and Netgalley for providing this free ebook arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
So, I enjoyed the first book. I love seeing different takes on mythology, and this one was definitely interesting! I hadn’t seen it done that way before, and I was intrigued. Of course, I picked up the sequel (this one) before I’d read the first, so I had to read that first. This is the sequel to A Touch of Gold and I think it is a good sequel.
The Writing
I like Sullivan’s writing. I liked it in the first one, and I liked it in this one. There is something easy about it, and it isn’t harsh to read. Partially I think that’s because the writing flows very nicely. Do I wish that some of it read differently? Maybe, but overall I liked it.
The Pacing
The pacing in this book felt a bit weird to me. I’m not sure why, but it didn’t stick with me, and I wasn’t enjoying the pacing as much as I did in the first one. I feel that there may have been too much going on in this one? Too much ground trying to be covered and therefore the pacing was off? There was also the push to each plot point rather quickly. I wasn’t as enamored with it.
The Plot
The plot certainly was interesting. I didn’t like it as much as the first, although I enjoyed Kora in her position as feeling she was rightfully a princess. I liked those portions, and I liked seeing her developing relationships. Those were all positive plot points for me. I liked the take on the gods, especially the Oracle and Dionysus. There is a lot happening in this plot even though it is driving towards one end, and there isn’t too much “side quest” action going on.
The Characters
I still like Kora and Royce as characters. I think there is something to be said for enemies to lovers, and they feel like they had that rapport and good communication. I just love how Royce stands by her side and is always encouraging. Although sometimes I felt it was a bit not well written in terms of romance, overall, I really enjoyed the character development in this book for these characters. Another thing I enjoyed about this book is the relationship was strong, and we don’t get many divisive moments between the two of them.
Triton is an interesting character that was added, and he has a strong personality. I enjoyed the other returning characters as well. I felt overall there wasn’t as strong a rapport between all the characters as there was in the first book.
The Worldbuilding
Of course, this doesn’t feel like a historical Greek world. This feels more like something out of a myth, which this is based on. I like the take on the gods, and I think it is well done. There doesn’t need to be a lot of worldbuilding for it to work well, and it does.
Overall
It was an enjoyable book. A solid three stars from me, and mostly because I love interesting takes on myths, and this gave me that!
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So, I enjoyed the first book. I love seeing different takes on mythology, and this one was definitely interesting! I hadn’t seen it done that way before, and I was intrigued. Of course, I picked up the sequel (this one) before I’d read the first, so I had to read that first. This is the sequel to A Touch of Gold and I think it is a good sequel.
The Writing
I like Sullivan’s writing. I liked it in the first one, and I liked it in this one. There is something easy about it, and it isn’t harsh to read. Partially I think that’s because the writing flows very nicely. Do I wish that some of it read differently? Maybe, but overall I liked it.
The Pacing
The pacing in this book felt a bit weird to me. I’m not sure why, but it didn’t stick with me, and I wasn’t enjoying the pacing as much as I did in the first one. I feel that there may have been too much going on in this one? Too much ground trying to be covered and therefore the pacing was off? There was also the push to each plot point rather quickly. I wasn’t as enamored with it.
The Plot
The plot certainly was interesting. I didn’t like it as much as the first, although I enjoyed Kora in her position as feeling she was rightfully a princess. I liked those portions, and I liked seeing her developing relationships. Those were all positive plot points for me. I liked the take on the gods, especially the Oracle and Dionysus. There is a lot happening in this plot even though it is driving towards one end, and there isn’t too much “side quest” action going on.
The Characters
I still like Kora and Royce as characters. I think there is something to be said for enemies to lovers, and they feel like they had that rapport and good communication. I just love how Royce stands by her side and is always encouraging. Although sometimes I felt it was a bit not well written in terms of romance, overall, I really enjoyed the character development in this book for these characters. Another thing I enjoyed about this book is the relationship was strong, and we don’t get many divisive moments between the two of them.
Triton is an interesting character that was added, and he has a strong personality. I enjoyed the other returning characters as well. I felt overall there wasn’t as strong a rapport between all the characters as there was in the first book.
The Worldbuilding
Of course, this doesn’t feel like a historical Greek world. This feels more like something out of a myth, which this is based on. I like the take on the gods, and I think it is well done. There doesn’t need to be a lot of worldbuilding for it to work well, and it does.
Overall
It was an enjoyable book. A solid three stars from me, and mostly because I love interesting takes on myths, and this gave me that!
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August 27, 2020
I was hoping I'd like this one - I read the first and thought it was ok. Same with Tiger Queen. But I figured authors improve with each book, right?
Well, the joke's on me. The prose is so monotonous and boring it saps all tension from the scenes. I just feel nothing about the characters (which were pretty flat before but I kinda hoped she'd round them out) or the plot or anything really.
Here are some examples of why I realized early on that this book was not for me:
"He tosses Royce and me swords. I turn to check on my father. He's still on his throne. Several guards surround him now and Tilner. He's safe for now."
See? Flat. Sentence after sentence. The same length. Monotone.
and then:
"I move to follow Royce and Rhat but a sound makes me pause. It starts out like hissing. My eyes search for the source of the noise as it grows louder, turning into an odd plopping sound. Suddenly, gold melts off the intruder and pools on the floor. I stare, open-mouthed. How is this posible?"
And that is how you write an action-y scene with absolutely no tension at all. At least the sentences aren't all the same length in this passage, but it's a small relief.
Also this book and the one it follows are set in Greece. Yet there's absolutely nothing about Greece. No food, no descriptions of place, no different skin tones... We just get white people. And the Midas curse. The same as Tiger Queen really - it's set in the desert, and populated by, as far as I could tell, tanned white people.
Speaking of diversity (or the lack thereof) Her books contain mostly white men. I haven't read all of this one, but her two previous books are populated with 95% straight white men and 5% straight white women.
I think I can safely say that her books are *not* for me and I'll avoid them in future.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Blink for providing an e-arc to review
Well, the joke's on me. The prose is so monotonous and boring it saps all tension from the scenes. I just feel nothing about the characters (which were pretty flat before but I kinda hoped she'd round them out) or the plot or anything really.
Here are some examples of why I realized early on that this book was not for me:
"He tosses Royce and me swords. I turn to check on my father. He's still on his throne. Several guards surround him now and Tilner. He's safe for now."
See? Flat. Sentence after sentence. The same length. Monotone.
and then:
"I move to follow Royce and Rhat but a sound makes me pause. It starts out like hissing. My eyes search for the source of the noise as it grows louder, turning into an odd plopping sound. Suddenly, gold melts off the intruder and pools on the floor. I stare, open-mouthed. How is this posible?"
And that is how you write an action-y scene with absolutely no tension at all. At least the sentences aren't all the same length in this passage, but it's a small relief.
Also this book and the one it follows are set in Greece. Yet there's absolutely nothing about Greece. No food, no descriptions of place, no different skin tones... We just get white people. And the Midas curse. The same as Tiger Queen really - it's set in the desert, and populated by, as far as I could tell, tanned white people.
Speaking of diversity (or the lack thereof) Her books contain mostly white men. I haven't read all of this one, but her two previous books are populated with 95% straight white men and 5% straight white women.
I think I can safely say that her books are *not* for me and I'll avoid them in future.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Blink for providing an e-arc to review
November 3, 2020
Initial Thoughts
I was excited to read this book. I had purchased a copy of A Touch of Gold by Annie Sullivan but hadn’t read it yet and receiving an ARC in NetGalley was a perfect reason to start this series. I actually bought the first book because I thought it was a standalone and was pleasantly surprised to find out it was a duology.
Some Things I Liked
PJO vibes. I loved the Percy Jackson / Greek gods themes in this series. I am a big fan of mythology and I really enjoyed the way the gods and goddesses were woven into the world building here.
Triton. He was definitely my favorite side character. I really was hoping for more from him and I would absolutely love a spin-off all about his adventures.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
Slow build. The plot had a very slow build in the beginning and I found that I was a bit bored. I put the book down for several weeks before picking it back up and that’s usually a bad sign for me. I think the story could have been told more succinctly and that would have kept my interest more.
Series Value
I can see more stories set in this world. I’d love to see the same crew go on a Hercules-esque adventure to the Underworld to save a certain character.
I’d definitely keep reading if Annie Sullivan were to continue this series.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this book. I loved all of the nods to Greek mythology as well as the romance plot. I thought it was a unique retelling.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
Tiger Queen by Annie Sullivan – if you liked the writing style here, definitely try Annie Sullivan’s 2019 release. Tiger Queen is a retelling of a short story with a really unique spin.
All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace – if you liked the magic and pirates themes seen in A Curse of Gold, give this February 2020 release a try.
The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano – if you liked the idea of a curse that turns people and things to gold, check out the magic that the main character in this series possesses. There is also a similar pirate / ship motif going on.
I was excited to read this book. I had purchased a copy of A Touch of Gold by Annie Sullivan but hadn’t read it yet and receiving an ARC in NetGalley was a perfect reason to start this series. I actually bought the first book because I thought it was a standalone and was pleasantly surprised to find out it was a duology.
Some Things I Liked
PJO vibes. I loved the Percy Jackson / Greek gods themes in this series. I am a big fan of mythology and I really enjoyed the way the gods and goddesses were woven into the world building here.
Triton. He was definitely my favorite side character. I really was hoping for more from him and I would absolutely love a spin-off all about his adventures.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
Slow build. The plot had a very slow build in the beginning and I found that I was a bit bored. I put the book down for several weeks before picking it back up and that’s usually a bad sign for me. I think the story could have been told more succinctly and that would have kept my interest more.
Series Value
I can see more stories set in this world. I’d love to see the same crew go on a Hercules-esque adventure to the Underworld to save a certain character.
I’d definitely keep reading if Annie Sullivan were to continue this series.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this book. I loved all of the nods to Greek mythology as well as the romance plot. I thought it was a unique retelling.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
Tiger Queen by Annie Sullivan – if you liked the writing style here, definitely try Annie Sullivan’s 2019 release. Tiger Queen is a retelling of a short story with a really unique spin.
All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace – if you liked the magic and pirates themes seen in A Curse of Gold, give this February 2020 release a try.
The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano – if you liked the idea of a curse that turns people and things to gold, check out the magic that the main character in this series possesses. There is also a similar pirate / ship motif going on.
April 17, 2020
Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC.
The book was as much fun as the first one but the characters were a bit better.
The book was as much fun as the first one but the characters were a bit better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2020
If you loved book one, you will love this one, and you will cross your fingers for a book three! This book is full of twists and turns, incredible characters (Triton, Poseidon, the Oracle, etc), and I loved Kora! I completely loved this, I flew through it in one day and I didn't find that it was slow in parts at all. I mean, go in knowing this is written for the young adult audience for sure, this isn't an adult fantasy. You also HAVE to read book one for this one to really make sense and to really understand the dynamic of the characters. I highly recommend this if you love retellings of classic stories, this is King Midas.. part two. :)
Thank you to TLC Book Tours and BlinkYA for having me on this tour!
Thank you to TLC Book Tours and BlinkYA for having me on this tour!
October 14, 2020
**Thank you to Netgalley and Blink Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my rating**
A Curse of Gold is the sequel to 2018's A Touch of Gold. The book sees Kora and Royce on another adventure to save Lagonia, this time from Dionysus instead of a coup from within the city.
I really enjoyed this book. Maybe even more than the original. I read A Touch of Gold when it was released, but I think you would be able to read this without having read the first one. There's enough of the plot explained to jog your memory if you have read it and to fill you in if you haven't.
This book was much more heavily influenced by mythology. Book one saw fights with Triton's temptresses, but was more focused on pirates and human antagonists. This book has Dionysus and his creations, harpies, Poseidon and Triton, gorgons, etc. Fans of mythology are going to get a lot out of this book and seeing creatures and characters they're familiar with.
I also really enjoyed Kora and Royce's relationship with each other. I think often times, especially in sequels, the established couple has to go through some forced fight and break up just to realize later that they're better together than apart, so they get back together for the happy ending. This did not happen and I hope that means there is going to be a step in this direction for other YA books in the future. Kora and Royce are so genuinely uplifting to each other. They're supportive and loving. When Kora makes a decision that will put her in danger but potentially save her kingdom, Royce doesn't get mad and waste time fighting with her. He comforts and supports her. Similarly, when he's uncomfortable in a situation or afraid, Kora takes time to comfort him and check in with him. It's a wonderful look at what a relationship SHOULD look like and I hope more authors do this. I think it's important to see relationships in books where the characters are so loving with one another.
The side characters were delightful. I was especially a fan of how Triton was developed as kind of a rough around the edges, misunderstood character with hidden vulnerabilities. I wasn't expecting that from a demigod character, so it was an interesting take.
There's also a lot of action in this book. There isn't really much time where the characters stop to take a breather. It keeps the plot moving and keeps the book from dragging.
Overall, I really enjoyed A Curse of Gold. It was a good entry/ending to the story and I would recommend reading it, especially if you liked book one or are into mythology.
A Curse of Gold is the sequel to 2018's A Touch of Gold. The book sees Kora and Royce on another adventure to save Lagonia, this time from Dionysus instead of a coup from within the city.
I really enjoyed this book. Maybe even more than the original. I read A Touch of Gold when it was released, but I think you would be able to read this without having read the first one. There's enough of the plot explained to jog your memory if you have read it and to fill you in if you haven't.
This book was much more heavily influenced by mythology. Book one saw fights with Triton's temptresses, but was more focused on pirates and human antagonists. This book has Dionysus and his creations, harpies, Poseidon and Triton, gorgons, etc. Fans of mythology are going to get a lot out of this book and seeing creatures and characters they're familiar with.
I also really enjoyed Kora and Royce's relationship with each other. I think often times, especially in sequels, the established couple has to go through some forced fight and break up just to realize later that they're better together than apart, so they get back together for the happy ending. This did not happen and I hope that means there is going to be a step in this direction for other YA books in the future. Kora and Royce are so genuinely uplifting to each other. They're supportive and loving. When Kora makes a decision that will put her in danger but potentially save her kingdom, Royce doesn't get mad and waste time fighting with her. He comforts and supports her. Similarly, when he's uncomfortable in a situation or afraid, Kora takes time to comfort him and check in with him. It's a wonderful look at what a relationship SHOULD look like and I hope more authors do this. I think it's important to see relationships in books where the characters are so loving with one another.
The side characters were delightful. I was especially a fan of how Triton was developed as kind of a rough around the edges, misunderstood character with hidden vulnerabilities. I wasn't expecting that from a demigod character, so it was an interesting take.
There's also a lot of action in this book. There isn't really much time where the characters stop to take a breather. It keeps the plot moving and keeps the book from dragging.
Overall, I really enjoyed A Curse of Gold. It was a good entry/ending to the story and I would recommend reading it, especially if you liked book one or are into mythology.
September 10, 2020
Anyone else totally reeling after finishing this one? A Touch of Gold was good but A Curse of Gold was fantastic. My heart was in my throat for the last half of the book and i shed quite a few tears at the end to. The first half of the book had me rolling and laughing as Kora trades barbs with Triton. Triton had some of the best lines he totally made this book so enjoyable. The fear I had for these characters as they battle it out with the Gods was so on point. This is a must read.
May 14, 2021
Um, I loved it. This was somehow better even than the first novel, with so much impossible action that it didn’t seem likely the heroes would ever make it back home. The bittersweet ending was perfect, and the excitement and adventure of the story kept me invested all the way through. Definitely recommend.
February 18, 2021
This was a fun and great sequel. ! I enjoyed the audiobook as well. I love Annie’s books and she’s just a great person as well as a writer! Great books!
September 1, 2020
RTC for blog tour. Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for my review copy.
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