The Curse Keepers by Denise Grover Swank
Paperback, 312 pages
Published November 19th 2013 by 47north
Age Group: New Adult 
Source: eARC from NetGalley
Summary:
The wall between our world and that of vengeful spirits has protected humanity for more than 400 years. It’s about to come crashing down.
Ellie Lancaster has lived her whole life by the site of the mysterious Lost Colony of Roanoke, the Virginia settlement that vanished without a trace around 1590. Only the descendants of the two men who banished the spirits of an enemy tribe from the material realm know what really happened to the colony. Ellie is one of those descendants—a Curse Keeper. Her father took pains to teach her what he knew of the curse and the responsibilities of its guardians. He taught her that if the two Curse Keepers ever meet, the curse will be lifted, the gate will open, and the raging Native American spirits will be unleashed to seek their revenge.
Despite her father’s seriousness, Ellie has always taken the legend for a harmless fairy tale. Until she meets the darkly handsome, but downright infuriating, Collin Dailey and realizes everything she was told is true. For when they meet, it’s like the air is sucked from the room. Collin’s presence is electrifying… and it’s not just attraction Ellie feels, but the inexorable pull toward her destiny. The prophecy is real, and now Ellie and Collin must battle supernatural forces and their loathing—and passion—for each other to set things right.
The Curse Keepers are all that stand between the world and its destruction.
This is my second book by Denise Grover Swank and I have to say, I am a big fan. Both books got very high ratings by me, and I was really impressed with each of them. Denise just has a way with words. The Curse Keepers was so well written and so well thought out that everything had a purpose in the story, everything was incorporated into the big picture at the end of the book. I love it when that happens. Plus the idea behind the book is just so cool. I have always been fascinated with the Lost Colony of Roanoke, and that is what The Curse Keepers centers around. A curse was placed on the colony all that time ago and it went wrong, sending all of the people and the colony to the spirit realm and since then, the ancestors of the two people that cast the curse are called the curse keepers. Their ability lays dormant in their family line until the two keepers meet and touch, then the legend says they have one week to “close the gate” or all hell breaks loose. Literally. Don’t worry, I didn’t spoil anything, you find out all of this in the first two chapters. The real story is what happens between Ellie and Collin on their quest to end the curse.
Ellie is skeptical of all this curse business, and frankly, I don’t blame her. It is something that is kind of hard to believe. But Collin shows up and he eventually makes a believer out of her. But Ellie doesn’t make it easy on Collin. She is kicking and screaming and being stubborn the whole way. I have to say, I loved that about her. Almost as much as I loved watching the progression between her and Collin. If you hate insta-love, this is the book for you. The romance is slow and develops so naturally. It was great to watch it unfold. And both Ellie and Collin were so hesitant even though you could see the chemistry between the two of them jumping off the page. And then Collin kept warning her away from him. But you could tell that they were both going to eventually give in, and I was cheering them on. Rooting for it to happen sooner.
I had inklings of what the ending might be, but I was still surprised when it finally happened. I didn’t quite guess what it was going to be, but I was sad about it nonetheless. I am so happy that this is a series because while it wasn’t necessarily a cliff-hanger ending, there is still so much that can happen. I loved that the story centers around the mystery of Roanoke. Denise Grover Swank just made my must read author list. The Curse Keepers is a great first book to what looks like is going to be an AWESOME series.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period. Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in own her mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.) Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks. She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.You can find out more about Denise and her other books at: www.denisegroverswank.com.
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Christina Fiorelli
LOVE it when it’s both New Adult and paranormal:)
You’re so right about Denise’s writing. It’s always perfect in terms of characters and in terms of the legends:)
Lovely review:)
kimbacaffeinate
I am excited that you enjoyed this Michelle, the fact that it is New Adult and a paranormal has had me intrigued, this one is going on my list!
Red Iza
Great review, I’ll check this one out, thanks !
Tabitha (Not Yet Read)
I really haven’t tested the waters much at all as far as new adult goes so this one sounds like something i could totally enjoy. reminiscent of adult urban fantasy but much younger in age but not YA. I’m going to have to likely scooop this one up.
Jaime Lynn
Yeehaw! I am so excited to finally get my hands on this book. I just heard about it a couple of months ago, so I haven’t read too many reviews for it. Including yours, I think 3 now. But that is enough for me to know that I would love to read this book, ASAP. It sounds so good and unique, and both are good qualities for a book to have. Yeah, that is sorta obvious, I know! Thanks for the review!
Kara
Just got this. I’m gald you enjoyed. I haven’t had the chance to dig in, but I’m sure I’ll in enjoy now!