The 13 Curses

Thirteen Treasures #2

by Michelle Harrison

When fairies stole her brother, Red vowed to get him back. Now trapped in the fairy realm, she begs an audience with the fairy court where she strikes a bargain. Her brother will be returned - but only if she can complete a task set by the court. In a world of trickery and deception, Red is about to find that not all is as it seems. For even if she succeeds, will the fairies keep their promise?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Magic, Fairies, Fiction, Adventure

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 7, 2010

About the author

My first children's novel, THE 13 TREASURES, won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize. THE OTHER ALICE won the Calderdale Book of the Year Award. A PINCH OF MAGIC won a Dutch Bronze Pen Award. My books have been translated and sold in 25 territories worldwide.

My latest novel is a sequel to TWICE UPON A TIME, publishing in Spring 2026 in the UK. My second picture book, THERE'S A SHARK IN MY PANTS! publishes in the UK in July 2025 and is illustrated by the incredible David Tazzyman.

Before becoming a full-time writer I worked in publishing as an editor, and before that, as a bookseller. Prior to that, I worked in bars, a bakery, and a second-hand record shop to make ends meet while trying to get my first book deal. I live in Essex and have a son, Jack, and two cats, Widdershins and Lucky.


The best place to get in touch with me is via my website or Instagram (@michelleharrisonauthor).

Reviews

[Gavin Hetherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh, even better than the first one!!

Carrying on in the world of fairies from the first one, the world deepens, the characters get darker, and the plot thickens dramatically! One of the best things about this one is new character Red - who I may love more than Tanya, the main character from the first one.

There are some creepy scenes in this too which is something I absolutely love in my middle grade. The Hedgewitch is a fantastic villain and there are so many magical and intimidating creatures in this, it's fast becoming one of my favourite middle grade series! The lore in this is rich and I cannot wait to read the final book in the series now!

[Prabhjot Kaur · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are back in the Elvesden manor.

Red's brother is stolen by the fairies and she wants to get him back. So she goes to the fairy realm but things aren't easy as she can't just get him back. She is tasked with retrieving the thirteen treasures and in her search for the treasures, she comes across Tanya and Fabian. Together they start to look for the treasures and shocking secrets are revealed one after the other.

This book was even more darker than the first in the series and Red was a great addition as I quite liked her. Tanya and Fabian were their usual adventurous selves. The story was quite interesting and it took more unusual turns than I could have predicted. That ending kinda broke my heart. I mean after all this, Red still didn't exactly get what she wanted. A good sequel that didn't slow down even once.

4 stars

[Prabhjot Kaur · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are back in the Elvesden manor.

Red's brother is stolen by the fairies and she wants to get him back. So she goes to the fairy realm but things aren't easy as she can't just get him back. She is tasked with retrieving the thirteen treasures and in her search for the treasures, she comes across Tanya and Fabian. Together they start to look for the treasures and shocking secrets are revealed one after the other.

This book was even more darker than the first in the series and Red was a great addition as I quite liked her. Tanya and Fabian were their usual adventurous selves. The story was quite interesting and it took more unusual turns than I could have predicted. That ending kinda broke my heart. I mean after all this, Red still didn't exactly get what she wanted. A good sequel that didn't slow down even once.

4 stars

[Katie.dorny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book so much more than the first. I love Red more than Tanya. I hope the final book doesn't disappoint. This would have been a perfect ending in my opinion.

I love when worlds of fairies and humans collide. Especially when it isn't all pretty princesses and lovely realms. This was so interesting as my first changeling plot book as well. I hope Red gets her happy ending in the last book. The girl deserves it.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me just start off by saying that I had no idea that this a second book. (I know, I know, I can be a moron sometimes!) Someone randomly lent it to me and I always being keen for a good fantasy novel just started reading it. I will admit at some points I found myself wondering if I was a missing something but I thought maybe it would be revealed later on in the book. And surprise surprise it was! That was round about when I found out it was a sequel. But I was too far in by then to stop reading it and besides I didn't have access to the first one.

But that enough about my stupidity...lets get to the book!

I really enjoyed this book. It was the first time I had read a book about fairies and I loved the way the author portrays them as evil, or at the very least mischievous. After growing up believing that fairies were good, this was a welcoming change.

I really enjoyed the characters too and thought they were really well written. I got easily picture them in my head and couldn't wait to read what would happen next with them.

My only negative with this book would be that during the hunt I felt like they would either find the treasures to slowly or too fast. But that's just my opinion!

I can't wait to read the third one as I definitely felt there was way more to come when I reached the end of the book! But firstly, I think I should start by reading the first one!

[Bunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Originally posted on www.bunnycates.com**

I received this book for review, and was blown away by it’s gorgeousness!

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I sat down and started to flip through it and was so sad to find out it was a BOOK TWO in a series!  bah!  You guys know me, and how I hate to read a series out of order, so I ended up setting it aside until I could get the first book in the series.  I got 13 Treasures : book one (my review is here) and omgosh LOVED LOVED LOVED it.  Uhm… Did I mention I like it?  So as soon as I finished 13 Treasures, I started 13 Curses (and then life interrupted)!

Once I actually started reading 13 Curses, it only took me a day to whip through.  It’s one of those “just need to see what happens here THEN I will cook dinner” type books.  I loved it!  Michelle Harrison (who is amazing!) did a great job of continuing the story with the second book.  It picks up right where book one ended.  I think the thing I like the most was the different “style” for book two.  I mean, book one was more of a “mystery” type book.  Book two is more of an “adventure/quest” type story.   Book two also more follows Red and my favorite character from book one - Warwick! (Yes, I still see him as dirty Joaquin. See 13 Treasures review for clarification. lol)

Much like 13 Treasures, I absolutely LOVED this book.  I loved that it sucks you in, and even though you KNOW you have “real life” “parenty” type things you need to be doing…you still feel compelled to sit there and just check to see what’s on the next page.

Character wise, all my favorites were back – and there were a few new ones to add to the mix!  Poor Red.  I wasn’t sure where her story would go, I mean she surprised the crap out of me at the end of book one.  I’m glad she was more the focus of book two and we got to get to know her better.  That child sure had a crap life, I tell ya.  I love how strong and independent she is (and I won’t even tell you that I cried over her.  Nope.  I won’t tell you that!)   I totally love Brunswick too.  Like want to just hug him. 

In my opinion, this is one of the best children's series that I have read in a LONG time.  There is enough plot to keep fans of any genre interested.  There is enough character development, so that no matter what types of character you are drawn to – there is someone in these books you will connect with.  There is enough “story” to leave you dying for the next in the series.

I can’t WAIT for book three The Thirteen Secrets .  I have googled my fingers off and can NOT find a USA release date.  I will hate to have to order it from overseas, because our covers are SO much better – but dang it… I WILL!!!

I say “READ IT”.  I promise you will NOT be disappointed.  Great for kids and grownups, too!

 

THANK YOU to LITTLE BROWN for sending me this amazing book to review!!!!  
THANK YOU, Michelle, for adding me on twitter!  You are AMAZING!!

 

For other posts by me on this series, please read:

13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison  (the review)


Am Reading: 13 Curses  (weekend update)


In My Mailbox July 17 2011  (YouTube vlogs)


In My Mailbox July 3 2011 (YouTube vlogs)

[Jenny Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second book in the '13' series very much. In this book some of the characters travel to the faerie realm and I particularly loved the sense being in a familiar landscape but a totally unfamiliar and terrifying alternate version of it. I still think that the author manages her settings better than her characterisation but I don't think that in this case it detracted too much from the overall affect of the book. Sometimes the most compelling part of a story is the setting rather than the characters. That said the character of Red/Rowan is developed well and I enjoyed the flashbacks to her back-story I just felt that Tanya and Fabian were rather neglected.

I'd recommend it to 9+ readers (but not nervous ones- there are scary nightmarish scenes!)

Taking it further...

Red/Rowan goes to an exhibition of fairy pictures in the book and researches fairy stories Grimm's fairy stories (the original, gruesome versions)are great

Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales

or try Hans Christian Anderson's Fairy stories(that's her mother's book in '13 Curses').

Fairy Tales Of Hans Christian Andersen

I wonder whether Michelle Harrison was thinking of Arthur Rackham when she wrote about the pictures of faires in the exhibition that Red/Rowan visits? I've always found his fairies beautiful but sinister too- especially the ones in his illustrations of Peter Pan- there are some here:- http://rackham.artsycraftsy.com/

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Thirteen Curses is a story of what happens when our world and fairy land come together. But this isn't the Fairyland of gossamer winged beings granting human wishes, rather one where the fairies are more like pixies or even goblins, teasing and tricking people, stealing human children and replacing them with their own. Rowan's brother has been taken by the fairies, to free him she must find the 13 missing charms of an enchanted bracelet, which were once treasures but have now become curses - the Dagger, which opens old wounds, the Key which opens the world of the dead, the Goblet of eternal life which can now trap someone forever in childhood, the ever-refilling Platter from which you could now eat yourself to death- and the longer they remain seperated from the bracelet, the stronger their powers become.As Rowan and her friends search for these charms, she also finds herself discovering the truth about her life, her parents and why her brother has been taken.
This is the sequel to the Thirteen Treasures and the beginning of the book is slightly hampered by trying to make sure that new readers are filled in on the plot so far but soon the reader is caught up in the story as unsuspecting people are caught up in the fairies dance and dragged away to their realm. It's a compelling, page-turning read of fairies meddling in humans' lives, a sister's desperate quest to be re-united with her brother and the discovery that things are not always as they seem. As it neared the end, I found I couldn't put the book down!

[Nikoleta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Η Τάνια, ο Φάμπιαν και η Ρεντ έρχονται αντιμέτωποι με μία δύσκολη αποστολή, πρέπει να αντιμετωπίσουν 13 καταραμένα αντικείμενα, προκειμένου να σώσουν από το κόσμο τον ξωτικών δύο αγαπημένα τους πρόσωπα.
Περισσότερη δράση και περιπέτεια στο δεύτερο μέρος της τριλογίας. Μια ιστορία αναζήτησης που διαβάζεται πολύ ευχάριστα και γρήγορα. Λιγότερο σκοτεινό και μυστηριώδες, εξίσου καλό όμως με το πρώτο.

[Verónica Fleitas Solich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pure magic.
Heartwarming like the rest of her books.

[Brandy Painter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originally posted here.

What worked for me: The Faerie lore continues to follow traditional tales while expanding them. Red and Warwick actually get to attend the feast where the switch between the rule of the Seelie and the Unseelie Courts occur and I thought both courts were portrayed well. There is just enough darkness in the Unseelie to remain true to the myth without making it too dark for children. The Seelie, while not as dark, are shown to be just as heartless and unthinking of using humans in their games as their Unseelie counterparts.

What didn't work for me: This book focuses more on Red who was not a character explored a lot in the first book. I wouldn't have minded this so much except I felt like this focus did a disservice to both Tanya and Fabian. Part of my enjoyment of the first book was Tanya and Fabian and their interaction with each other. From the beginning I felt like they just were not the same characters, like something was off. Some of that might be attributed to the books format which jumps between Red in the Faerie realm to what is happening at the Manor in the human realm. There are also flashbacks to Red's past that are spotted throughout her account. There is a lot of jumping around and as a result the story has no fluidity. Warwick also gets a chance to add his own tale of tragedy and woe regarding the faeries that we did not get in the first book. All this back story contributed to a book that was way too long. It is 496 pages and they don't even get to the part where the quest begins until 300 pages into the book.

I can see how children who are fantasy fans and enjoy trilogies and series wanting to pick this up. It left me wanting and feeling a little deflated though. I'm not sure I will bother with the third book when it is released in the US. It is called 13 Secrets and is currently out in the UK and is expected in the US in 2012.

[Emma (of South Woobeewoo) · Rating 5 out of 5]

yeahhh i forgot part of the ending of this one and it made me cry, which is sort of funny because i'm pretty sure i didn't cry any of the times i read these as a kid. some things hit differently when you're an adult, and this contains a great lesson on the true meaning of the 'if you love something, let it go' adage without the stipulation of the thing coming back to you as a reward for your good grace. also, it's ridiculously good fun.

[Milou · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thirteen Curses is the second book in Harrison's wonderful series, in which we mainly follow Red as she tries to get her stolen brother back from the fairies. This is such a good book!! Even though a middle grade, Harrison doesn't make things easy or dumb things down. It is dark and atmospheric, creepy and things don't happen the way we want them to. And all the Fey are just Amazing and just like they are supposed to be. We get to go on a treasure hunt and some really surprising secrets are revealed. And that ending just broke my heart. I cannot wait to pick up the third book, as I have no idea where the story will go next! But the lore and world building is so fascinating I know it will be just as amazing as this book.

[Amytiger · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I wanted to be short, I could easily tell you that this book was not worth the read. To most of you all's horror, I am elaborating (get over it, this is a READING website).
I started the book, instantly confused. But, it could easily be my fault for not reading the first book first. What it said was going over my head and made the experience even longer, nevertheless. When I was able to get myself through the first chapters, I am still not obsessed with it like I am with most books. The idea of fairies being a big part of the book was at first, in my opinion, cheesy. When the author put that these were kidnapping fairies and not cute, little Tinkerbells... Still not obsessed. The idea was out of the blue and left me desiring for more explanation. The book is in Third Person (not first) so it's not like the characters could tell me. Rather, I never got a good feel of the characters personality. I could tell they were kind but not all the time and this and that. Those are the same things I'd be able to tell of I were watching a Scooby-Doo cartoon, not a middle grade novel. Wait, less than Scooby-Doo. Way less. But as most stories go, there were a few parts where I longed not to put the book down. It wasn't hard to do put the book down though, as I previously updated. I kept expecting it to magically get better but at the very end, when the task was successfully completed and whatnot, I feel like it was just for nothing. No goal was accomplished or anything. And the thing that saves her is her NAME. Not brains, beauty, nor brawn. I am silently booing through the book. To finish up the review, this book is random, unexplanotary (but once again, it could easily be my fault for not reading the first book first), and a disappointment.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had so much detail and suspense! It was incredibly interesting and kept the reader on the edge of their seat throughout the whole book practically. I loved that this book was a super creative take on fairies from the perspectives of the main characters Red, Tanya, and Fabian. I thought that the conflict of completing the task she was given to get her brother back was a super fascinating thing to read about, keeping the reader in suspense and wonderment throughout the whole story. I thought that the settings, Elvesden Manor and the fairy world were very well described. I loved that this book did a great job at sharing the personalities of the individuals described to make you realize just how brave Red and Tanya were, how much perseverance the characters had on their journey, and admiration when they used their intelligence to find what they were looking for. Another thing that was great about this book was that everything was so well described that it almost made you forget where you really were because you became so immersed in Red's world. I think that that really shows some pretty remarkable writing skills from the author! And last but not least, one of the final things I enjoyed was that the theme of the story was a lesson that the reader could understand and apply to real life as well. The best books out there are not only a great book but contain the best life lessons as well, which made this book even better.

[Brianna Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The cover is the only interesting part of this book. That main character was obnoxious, flat and totally self centered. She ABANDONS her cousin because he wasn't her brother, as she had previously believed, even though she barely has to make an effort to win. She's willing to leave him in a unknown environment BECAUSE HE ISN'T HER BROTHER? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? After all the time she spent looking for him, after her guardian sacrificed himself to save him, she's willing to give up because he's her cousin??? Did she have any real attachment to him at all??? And leave Warwick trapped too?? And then when she decides to leave him in the court after finishing her quest anyway?? He's a child, who has been raised by a completely different race after being kidnapped, there is NOTHING for him in court when he grows up. He doesn't belong there, even if he thinks he does. And Rowan doesn't work for ANYTHING! Everything conveniently falls into her lap. The actual quest doesn't even start until like 300 pages in, and the quest itself is a boring scavenger hunt. Of all the places they could have sent her, she just looked around her house and occasionally had brief flashes of inspiration to find things??? Like, that's such lazy writing I can't even take it. I'm going to read the other book just to see if it's this pathetic. It's a bad ripoff of Poison and can't match it on any level.

[Alyssa Wallner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red vowed to get her brother back from the fairies, and uses the opportunity to get into the fairy realm as soon as it appears. However, when she reaches the fairy court, she is given a task to earn her brother back. All she has to do is find 13 charms from a bracelet. But the charms could be anywhere, and they are cursed in a way relating to how they look, and the longer they are gone, the more dangerous they become. This action packed sequel ends with an unexpected twist.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. (Sorry, it's just that I read an article -or something- a few days ago about how Goodreads was damaging for books and how there were seemingly too many reviews saying "meh" around here. I can't seem to be able to find that again though, as I don't remember where I read it...)

So, first, I made the mistake (again) to pick the second book in a series, not having read the first one. 😕 In fact, I didn't even know it was part of a series until I started it and went to add it to my Goodreads, only to see "Thirteen Treasures, #2", but it was too late for me to wait until I buy the first book someday (I've been picking it up and down again and again for a few months already), so I went ahead. Aside from some things mentioned that I'm guessing are events from the first book, it reads... okay-ish-ly. I mean, I got confused a bit about the characters... My main problem was that I kept thinking Red/Rowan and Tanya and Fabian were the same age although they're not -apparently- and also that I had no idea what age they were supposed to be so I felt like they were 10-ish and it took me until almost the end of the book to finally register that Red was a teen --so yeah, lots of confusion for me. But aside from that, not having read the first book wasn't too much of a problem to understand the story. (I mean, all the details about how to protect yourself from fairies and all are explained (again?), albeit usually very briefly.)


Anyway, confusion issues aside, it was easy enough to read and I quite enjoyed the story and this little world of fairies (and other little creatures) and how it's constructed. (Like I mentioned above, the protection possibilities, but also how the fairy realm and the real world are linked, not to forget the charms' powers...) The quest most notably was truly enjoyable with the kids looking for clues and all... and while the rest was also interesting (Red's story, but also whatever happened in the Elvesden Manor, and also Warwick's backstory), the pace of the storytelling was a bit odd for me. The way it grew exponentially. At the beginning of the book, I had a hard time getting into the story because it was slow with very little happening and switching from Red in the fairy realm to the rest at Elvesden Manor. About halfway through the book though, the pace finally picks up a bit and it becomes more eventful. (The quest basically.) And then again, towards the end, it felt somehow rushed and abrupt compared to the rest of the book.

Also, Red's backstory in the first half seemed to me to be dropped and cut off randomly, with cliffhangers totally unnecessary (it annoyed me more than it made me crave for what happens next).

"She really believed she wouldn't tell."

And this sentence at the end of one of these chapters in particular bothered me a lot. Like, I didn't see the point of it? For me, it only sounded like "hahahahaha, no you're gonna have to wait a couple more chapters to know what happens when she actually told someone".

As for the characters, I found the Elvesden Manor inhabitants to be quite endearing and easy to get attached to. Well, the two kids Tanya and Fabian especially (because Florence didn't get much of a chance to shine (what with them doing the best they could to not tell her about all the trouble they got into), and Nell wasn't noticeably likeable for the most part but she kinda presented some comic relief I guess?) On the other hand, I was constantly annoyed by Red and her reactions and how she acted around everyone else. I get that she didn't have an easily life, I get it, but she was pushing it a bit too much sometimes... 🙄

Also, the way they handled the end of their quests with the last couple of charms made no sense to me. (Not too sure if this is a plot-wise problem, or a character problem.) So towards the end, I kinda spent a couple of chapters being like "WHYYYYYYY THE HELL?" and wanting to shake them to act smarter.


I will (very) probably pick up the rest of the series (or at least the first one to put some context onto this one) in the future, but there's a good chance that it won't be before a few months. (Unless I try to grab them before the ones from the same edition as mine run out of print as I've seen that they released new editions with covers that are way too different in atmosphere. And I, for one, kinda like my books of a series to match, and also, I don't really like the new covers. With that being said, they'd probably still sit on my shelves for a few months though...)

[Theirlives · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chyba zaczynam przekonywac sie do fantastyki. Ta ksiazka wyciagnela mnie z dlugiego zastoju i orzez to sama jestem w szoku jak bardzo sie wciagnelam. Duzo akcji, nieoczekiwane zwroty i spoko bohaterowie. Mam nadzieje ze nasteona czesc podtrzyma pozioom!
5/5⭐ bo nie mam sie do czego przyczepic

[Vilma Heinonen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The storyline is very beautiful, does not leave you cold. Even though the first volume of this series raised kind of high expectations, the second volume does seem to live up to this level. The author has come up with a great way to extend the reader’s knowledge on fairies and their world. It also seems that the narrative has aged a little bit, which seems only logical considering the target reader group of this book.

[astri ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

aaaaand thats a wrap! :,)

[samahbinladen · Rating 5 out of 5]

DID ANYOME READ TJIS OMG???? i got it in primary school IM GONNA REREAD IT IT FEELS LIKE IT WAS A FEVER dreaM OMG

[Rianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Dinnu Reads Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book was as dark and bittersweet as the first one. The characters were still flawed, sometimes some of them were even cruel. The fairies and creatures still reminded me of Spiderwick saga and weren’t harmless and cute (not at all)…😃
Funny thing is that the events described in the summary of the book started only in a about 300 pages, so it left smaller part of the story to cover the quest and treasure hunt. Although it was still almost 200 pages it could have been longer because I found it to be the most interesting part. Also I enjoy the friendship aspect of the book and our trio weren’t even together for a big part of the book…🤨
Overall a great and detailed and well-written middle grade adventure story that is also very suitable and enjoyable for grown-ups.😉

[Chiara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a bit crude

[Cecilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this second book in the series. I particularly liked the new additions of the Fey characters and that they aren't typical fairy tale creatures. The story and characters had a bit more meat on them and I feel like it's a good development of the series.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

After Red sacrificed herself to save Tanya at the end of The 13 Treasures she is now trapped in the fairy realm. She is determined to use the opportunity to continue the search for her missing brother so she can finally bring him home. When Warwick ends up caught in a fairy ring and taken to the fairy realm himself they both find themselves trapped by the Hedgewitch. Working together to escape they eventually make it to the court where Red agrees to accept a task in order to have her brother returned to her. She must find the 13 charms from Tanya's bracelet and Warwick will be held captive by the fairies until she returns. After enlisting the help of Tanya and Fabian Red begins her search but can they track down the charms before they cause damage in the human realm thanks to the curses the fairies have put on them?

I have to admit that I'm not usually a big fan of books about fairies, they tend to be my least favourite paranormal creature so I'm wary about picking up books about them. Having said that I really enjoyed the first book in Michelle Harrison's Thirteen Treasures series so I was looking forward to finding out what happened next. I don't read a lot of children's literature but this is a fun series and one that I think will be extremely popular with younger children.

I enjoyed the chance to find out more about Warwick's past and what happened to Fabian's mother and it was great to get to see a bit of the Seelie and Unseelie courts when Red goes to them to make her appeal. The fairies in this series are devious and darker than you find in some other books and I actually prefer them that way. You definitely wouldn't want to cross paths with these fairies! It is interesting to see the ways that Tanya, Red and the others have of avoiding notice from the fairies - for example by wearing their clothes inside out or dressing in red to name a couple of them.

I hate to say it but I found that this story dragged a little which is something that surprised me compared to the first book. Although there is some action in the first half of the book as they are captured by the Hedgewitch I felt it was quite slow moving. The main part of the quest doesn't start until around page 300 and then I felt they were able to track down the charms a little too easily, I thought it would have been a much harder task. In spite of those minor problems this was still an enjoyable read and the ending has left me very curious to see how the trilogy ends in The 13 Secrets. I would recommend this series to younger readers who enjoy fantasy and fairy stories.

[Nat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book really disappointed me. I remember really loving this but now it’s just a bit meh.

Firstly, the book doesn’t do what it says it’s going to do. ‘A deadly quest’ it said, ‘perilous’ it said. The book doesn’t even begin to quest until over halfway through and can someone please tell me what’s so dangerous about a scavenger hunt? This task is made out to be the most awful thing, and oh wow so difficult, and yet charms are being found left right and centre. They're barely even looking, they just go places and happen to find the thing they need. Ooh, scary.

The characters as a whole are all pretty flat. Red’s supposed to have killer survival instinct but gets freaked out by the dark. Please explain how you are not scared of a corpse reaching up to grab you but you do lose it when it gets dark? Be consistent. Tanya and Fabian ate side-lined and are fairly 2D. The rest of the side characters are dull, other than Warwick, he's great- apart from the bit where he puts a near stranger's needs over his son's.

It’s also way too long. Part of me thinks this is because it recaps the entire first book. Every time a character from 13 Treasures makes an appearance, the book has to remind you they exist and what they did last summer and so on. I don’t want to reread the first book, I came for the sequel. Another reason it’s long is because the first half is very slow. If Red was gallivanting about the faerie realm, fine, but she's not. She's in a basement. It’s not that interesting.

There’s no payoff at the end. Red wins because her mother is smart, not her. She could have done nothing and she would have been fine. It annoys so much that she didn’t have to work to beat the fairies. It’s not because of her smarts or strength or bravery, no, it’s her name. It infuriates me.

One thing I thought was really interesting was the faerie realm. Give me a story about that instead, because it sounds really cool. The lore is super interesting, but it’s dragged down by boring characters and stupid tasks. Another thing I wanted more of was Gredin and Raven. I think their relationship with Tanya is very interesting and how it changes now she's more versed in their ways. Also, Tanya’s relationship with Florence is really nice and it’s cool to see how it’s changed.

So, honestly, I’d skip this one.

[Jenny / Wondrous Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fairies! Goblins! Witches! Welcome to The Thirteen Curses.

After reading Michelle Harrison's fantastic debut novel The Thirteen Treasures, I was so excited to get stuck into The Thirteen Curses. Having now read both books, I'd go so far as to say that Harrison is up there with my favourite UK authors, and is now in the good company of Marcus Sedgwick, Sarra Manning and Lucy Christopher. Seriously, she's that good.

The Thirteen Curses is so hard to put down it's almost impossible, and aside from some convenient plotting and the occasional clunky chapter, I have no qualms with it at all. I could never fault the brilliant writing, imagination or magic of the fey characters, and it's quite clear why these books are held in such high regard.

Without spoiling anything about the previous book, The Thirteen Curses picks up almost exactly where it left off, and takes you on an enchanting adventure through fairie realms, scary forests and history itself. All your favourite characters, both human and fairie, come back for more, and there are even a few new creatures for you to meet. Red and Tanya share MC duties, with Warwick and Fabian having more to do and less of a sidekick role.

When I'd finished the first book in the series, Brunswick the goblin was my favourite character. Now, the little tea caddy brownie is my number one dude. He can brandish his walking stick like it's a required skill among the little people, and he just sounds so cute and grumpy. I want one!

I don't know what else to say other than that you need to read these books. They're the most enjoyment I've had in a long time, and are just a great escape from everything going on around you. Hats off to you, Michelle Harrison. You rock.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thirteen Curses continues from The Thirteen Treasures, where Red is now trapped in the fairy realm. She manages to gain an audience with the fairy court where she bargains for her stolen brother. In exchange for him, she must retrieve thirteen different charms. But in a world of trickery and deception, Red is about to find that not all is as it seems.

What an adventure! I love the world Michelle Harrison has created. It well and truly feels fae every time I read this book and the way she writes adventure is just amazing! Even though the language is simple and the method of writing is easily understandable to middle graders, I think everyone will have a great time reading The Thirteen Curses.

This novel is very much Red's story. We get to learn about how she came to be the Red she is now, how she lost her brother and how she has been trying to get him back ever since. She's a very loyal and independent character and I admire her greatly. It was also very interesting to see the friendship between Tanya, Fabian and Red progress and develop.

The Thirteen Curses also features other secondary characters, who NOW become main characters, which is very entertaining, because it gives them a chance to really show off their back stories and let me tell you, their back stories are really good. Faerie lore plays a big part in The Thirteen Curses too, and the "curses" of the thirteen different charms are so well integrated with the story that it really sends a thrill up your charm every time you read about how the characters go about finding them.

All in all, The Thirteen Curses is a perfect book to just curl up in bed with. Definitely recommend it to all! :)