A Game Cursed and Deadly by Ella Laurenti -> Starting April 8th, 2024

[Aly]

A box of trinkets. A missing item. Find the lost piece, break the curse.

It should've been a walk in the park for Teizel, Prince of the Beyond. Instead, centuries later and with several innocent people’s lives on his conscience — if monsters even have one of those — he’s not sure there is a way out of the infernal game he’s been forced to play. That is, at least, until he lays eyes on Esmeralda. Beautiful, lonely, and in so much pain it calls to him like a siren’s song. The perfect candidate for his wager.

Moving back to the tiny hometown she escaped at eighteen isn’t the culmination of Esmeralda’s eight-year plan. But when her Àvia passes, she has no other choice. To someone as lost and crushed by grief as her, Teizel's crazy game doesn’t seem so crazy after all. If she wins, she gets her deepest desire fulfilled. If she loses, she forfeits her life.

Teizel really shouldn’t get his hopes up. Except he can’t help the pull toward Esmeralda. With every clue to the game she unravels, she also uncovers a piece of him, bringing them closer together. As the clock ticks, Esmeralda may be onto more than just a missing she may have found the key to Teizel's heart. Now, he must do everything is his power to ensure her success — not only for his freedom, but for her life, too.

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 1-12 (view spoiler)[This whole curse thing is super interesting. I’m intrigued enough that I want to keep reading. I’m not sure how I feel about the nickname he uses yet, so hopefully that either grows on me or he stops using it. It’s interesting how she can see the ghost girl though and I’m wondering what exactly she is that she can. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 13-27 (view spoiler)[Enjoying this one so far. I get why he is hesitant to tell her that she is a witch but at the same time, I think it’s important he is honest. Clearly this is going to come back to haunt him when he falls in love with her. Also the whole horn hornyness thing was strange, but I guess the author needed a reason for them to have more passionate moments. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 28-42 (view spoiler)[ I was NOT expecting that sort of spice. I’m positive that she is a descendent of Isabelle for whatever reason and that the last trinket will involve her somehow. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Finished (view spoiler)[I knew it! Also I’m glad that the ghost crossed over and was able to help get the book. And I’m glad that it worked. I feel like there is so much left unfinished and I kind of want to know what happens with the cousin but I’m glad the curse is broken. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

I'm so excited for this one! I know I'm super late but I'm aiming to read this after my next 3 ARCs!! So, either by tomorrow or Wednesday I will be diving into this!

[Alaina]

Prologue: (view spoiler)[What is the impossible deal? They need a key to lock the lockbox with the items. Also, is it Anna Maria or Annaria? It kept changing during her part. I am very intrigued so far. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 1-10: (view spoiler)[Maye she is his other half and will be the one to break the curse? It's sad that Sara is the only one in town who doesn't give her crap. I also don't like how the lawyer couldn't wait until she received the money to get paid. It's only a few days. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 11-20: (view spoiler)[I feel like Mei is going to say "I told you so" to him saying she's different. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ashlyn wrote: "Chapters 1-12 [spoilers removed]"

Yes, I'm wondering if she will ever learn to hear them talk...

[Alaina]

Ch 21-30: (view spoiler)[Oh good, she's quick to figure out when he's bullshitting her. I'm also happy that she's figuring out more of the clues. I do wonder what the marble means and when she will tell him about it. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ashlyn wrote: "Chapters 13-27 [spoilers removed]"

LOL, yes, that was strange, and I definitely agree he needs to tell her.

[Alaina]

Ch 31-40: (view spoiler)[It was interesting how her cousin knew who he was, and she still didn't care. She knows what she agreed to and is willing to figure it out. I do hope they do. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 41-50: (view spoiler)[I had a feeling she was going to be part of the answer to the puzzle. But she was only using shards from her heart/soul. Maybe she also needs a part of his? MAYBE? I don't know, but I am happy the door is now open for Mei! (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ashlyn wrote: "Chapters 28–42 [spoilers removed]"

YES, the entire time I was like, "Omg, watch this lady be an ancestor."

[Alaina]

Ch 51-Finish: (view spoiler)[OMG HE FOUND HER AND HE'S BACK AND IT ENDS WITH HIM ASKING THAT QUESTION?!?!!? (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ashlyn wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

Yes, so happy!!

[Ashlyn]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 51-Finish: [spoilers removed]"

I feel like there is so much more to this story. Hopefully there will be a book two

[Jessica]

Going to start this one later in the week.

[Jessica]

I bought this for the buddy read so I'm giving myself this one last extension.

[Ashlyn]

Would it make you feel better to know that I sometimes extend buddy reads more than a year 😂

[Jessica]

Ashlyn wrote: "Would it make you feel better to know that I sometimes extend buddy reads more than a year 😂"

Oh man, I could never, my worst is an April 1st start right now. Even though I have a spreadsheet, I always lose at least one a month when I get into extensions. That actually happened this morning 😂

On April 1st I was actually caught up and was so happy about it, but then I like lived at work for a month and half and that quickly fell apart.

[Jessica]

Okay one more 😂 but I actually am going to start it this week. I was going to last night until I realized I have an arc out tomorrow I hadn't started yet.

[Jessica]

Finally started. That prologue was an interesting start, very curious to see where this goes.

[Jessica]

Chapter Twelve
(view spoiler)[ Well clearly she's going to see him again. I'm side eyeing both this needing money for the lawyer and how it was resolved because not how that works but also she barley knows this guy no way would she give him that jewelry to sell for her if she was that desperate.
That minor complaint aside I'm quite enjoying this. I'm very interested to see what happens. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Chapter Twenty-Two
(view spoiler)[ oh yay she can talk to Meilin, I'm excited about this, hopefully she can help her win this game and break the curse and also that she can help Meilin move on. (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Chapter Forty Three
(view spoiler)[ I knew it 😂. Of course it was going to be her ancestor, that's why she will be able to break the curse. I'm kind of surprised neither of them caught on earlier considering all the familiar to him locations they were visiting. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Jessica wrote: "Ashlyn wrote: "Would it make you feel better to know that I sometimes extend buddy reads more than a year 😂"

Oh man, I could never, my worst is an April 1st start right now. Even though I have a s..."

So I try to always keep it on the same day, so every two weeks on Wednesday's I just update all of them so I don't forget.

[Jessica]

Yeah that would be smart I should do that 😂

[Jessica]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ Well that's a fun ending, she'd better say yes and go there with him because I don't think her mother would enjoy returning after all that time into he Beyond and Mei is there too. Plus I just really want to see what it's like. (hide spoiler)]