I would like to thank Lydia from Titan for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review

Publisher - Titan

Published - Out Now

Price - £9.99 paperback £6.19 Kindle eBook

From the fun of the fair to the depths of hell, experience sixteen more curses in this sequel to the bestselling Cursed: An Anthology. A blend of traditional and reimagined curses from fairy-tales to Snow White, from some of the best names in fantasy.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

Take a trip to a terrifying carnival and uncover the secrets within, solve a mysterious puzzle box and await your reward, join a travelling circus and witness the strangest ventriloquist act you’ve ever seen.

In this follow-up to the bestselling Cursed: An Anthology, you’ll unearth curses old and new. From a very different take on Snow White, to a new interpretation of The Red Shoes, the best in fantasy spin straw into gold, and invite you into the labyrinth.

Just don’t forget to leave your trail of breadcrumbs…

The power of a Curse has stayed with us in our fairy tales; our folk tales and all sorts of later media. Bad luck can happen to you if you are unwary and we still avoid ladders; spilt salt and getting on the wrong side of a cat (for good reason). In the very entertaining anthology Twice Cursed the editors Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane have compiled a very interesting assortment of story around this theme that should definitely keep a reader on the lookout for warning signs in the future.

Amongst the many stories I enjoyed were

The Bell by Joanne Harris - a fine opening tale that earns us that what we think will bring about joy may often be an object that brings about our own destruction.

Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman - a very famous story in other media now appears here in prose form and this revision of Snow White and the Evil Stepmother is beautifully chilling and plays with the myths in ways you will never forget if you’re reading it for the first time. But for others it’s just a wonderful story to curl up into and shiver.

The Tissot Family Circus by Angela Slatter - one of my favourites in the collection tells of a creepy travelling circus that appears by our narrator’s dropped blood. Here Slatter though notes true horror is not supernatural and some curses may help those in the most desperate of needs. A wonderfully melancholy tale telling you our main character’s life in only a few pages.

Mr Thirteen by MR Carey - another great tale that starts off with a self help group for the cursed that has many interesting attendees then veers into a cat and mouse horror tale as a new entrant to the group sets his sights on a young woman. There is though a satisfying reversal of fortune in waiting as a curse’s mystery is finally explained!

The Confessor’s Tale by Sarah Pinborough - don’t look at where this story originated from. Just enjoy this tale of a mute boy with a strange jigsaw that makes people tell him his darkest secrets. Very good; very atmospheric and then surprises you where the story goes in the final pages! A fitting tribute to another great author.

Awake by Laura Purcell - this tale also plays with a famous fairytale but the happy ending is not coming. It gets bloody and vicious but the most horrifying thing still awaits your discovery.

The Angels of London by Adam G Nevil - a tale that plays with the joy of finding cheap accommodation in London makes it actually into a supernatural evil landlord and here the cursed one you’ll have to decide. Ends surprisingly not where I expected and was also a lot of fun.

A Curse Is A Curse by Helen Grant - a standard tale of a cursed walled village is played with cleverly in terms of time and setting. A reminder curses are never likely to go away.

Dark Carousel by Joe Hill - this tale of a creepy circus definitely tips it’s hat to Mr Bradbury but also adds in youthful rebellion and love all ready for dark forces to tear apart. I liked the way this tale morphs into a nightmare.

Shoes As Red As Blood by AC Wise - is a story of curse stories. A young pressured ballet dancer finds new shoes but this tale links to all the other similar tales in the canon. It’s about ploughing through and out the other side. Though dark and bloody it’s also very hopeful.

St Diablo’s Travelling Music Hall by AK Benedict - a very different tale of a strange travelling cabaret and this time one of the performers is under the fist of an abusive husband. A satisfying tale of just punishment as our unusual witty mistress of ceremonies plans a way to stop him. Another favourite in the collection.

Throw in tales of strange ruins; dolls, music boxes and more and there is a host of entertaining tales all awaiting you to enjoy. This book is very much a dark treat rather than a curse and highly recommended!