Name: Kayla Smith's review of The Cursed Key by Rebecca Hamilton
Item: The Cursed Key
Rating: 3
Author: Kayla Smith

Rebecca Hamilton

Miranda Brock

Another team beat free-spirited archaeologist Olivia Perez to the dig of a lifetime, and now she's left with the choice to wait for scraps or brave a dangerous, dusty tomb in hopes of finding other priceless artifacts. Her reward? A mysterious key she has no idea is cursed.

The Cursed Key

Mae Gabriel Loke

Kayla Smith

I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

The Cursed Key was a lot of fun. I gave it a solid three-star rating which means the book was pretty middle of the road for me. I truly enjoyed reading about our main character Olivia. She was such a strong female protagonist and to be honest, that’s one of my biggest buzz words. Strong female protagonist? Okay, I don’t care what the rest of the book is about, let me read this.

The plot was a lot of fun too. The journeys Olivia went on with her shape-shifting accomplice Kael kept me turning the pages, wondering what was to come next. It was also fun to read about the faeries and witches that appeared along the way. I love urban fantasies because it’s always a great way to escape for me. You don’t have to worry too much about world-building but you still get the fantastical element thrown in.

Unfortunately, this novel didn’t completely blow it out of the park the way I’d hoped it would. The writing felt a bit basic to me. Not everyone needs to be on Laini Taylor’s level of prose (in fact, I’m glad they’re not) but I did find it hard to put myself in the more fantastical situations. The last fight scene took place in a great setting that could have been so atmospheric, but it was hard to put myself there with the way it was written.

I also didn’t feel any chemistry between Olivia and Kael. Granted, there wasn’t much romance (if any) between them in the first 95% of the book but it is set up in one of the last scenes and I honestly wouldn’t pick up the second novel if there is going to be a romance between those two because I just don’t believe it. I felt there was more chemistry between Olivia and the faerie she met for twenty minutes in the beginning.

Overall, if you’re looking for a fun, quick urban fantasy, I’d recommend this. It’s not the best book I’ve ever read but it was a lot of fun and at only 230 pages, it’s something you could finish in one sitting.

Leelynn Brady

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours and Evershade Publishing for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.



Okay I don’t care what you think about the two Tomb Raider movies with Angelina Jolie in them, they are some of my favorite freaking movies in the world and I loved her in both of them. Now while I was reading The Cursed Key, I couldn’t help but get Lara Croft vibes with her being an archaeologist, but also a bad ass living in this beautiful big house after her father passed away. Plus, hello? She also worked for Yale – I mean I know Croft lives in England, but similarities people!

Plus I also got Evie vibes from The Mummy Returns in the beginning of the novel when she was being pulled towards the ruins as if she had been there before. Even though of course those ruins have been shut away from the modern world for years, right? Riiiiight.



But anyway, Olivia was such a crazy cool character and I was proud of her for getting into this field and not allowing any of the men or whatever to tear her down just because she was a woman and all that crap. She was good at what she does, even when she had to start way behind the starting line, you know? She was already at a disadvantage because of being a woman, and I’m sure that there were a lot of people that didn’t think she could handle it even though her father was her inspiration and was one of the best history teachers at Yale for goodness sake.

And then this is a trilogy too so of course now I need to know how its going to end because that whole story just blew me away. I’m excited. I really liked this one and I’m glad I was a part of the blog tour!

Mae Gabriel Loke &
The Cursed Key by Rebecca Hamilton

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Mae Gabriel Loke &The Cursed Key by Rebecca Hamilton

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Mae Gabriel Loke &
The Cursed Key by Rebecca Hamilton