Cursed Ever After by Andy C. Naranjo:

4 stars

Risa is the “Bad Thing.” Born on the wrong day, she’s reminded of it daily by her village. Now seventeen, the witch who helped bring her into the world arrives for her repayment, assigning Risa to accompany a prince through the forest to his wedding — because she is a “Lucky Magical Girl.” Risa doesn’t feel lucky, but slowly, she begins to prove it…even to herself.

The message in Cursed Ever After is universal; at one time or another, we all feel cursed…and we often sabotage ourselves. Ms. Naranjo does something in the narrative that I deeply admire: she doesn’t address the bullies in the story. They weren’t taught a lesson; the heroes didn’t get to parade by once the tables had turned. This fairytale allowed the win to be mostly internal. Once Risa conquers her insecurities, the bullies don’t matter.

The cast moves systematically toward this goal, imperfect and occasionally annoying, yet loyal and ready to sacrifice for each other. Risa is deeply relatable, Javi is unexpectedly charming, Amina wise beyond her years, and Brunie…well, she’s the delight of my soul. I fully intend to be Brunie when I grow up. Even the king has his curmudgeonly charm.

The plot was a touch predictable, but the worldbuilding added texture, the prose is engaging, and the pacing kept it lively. The style is gold; choosing to call Risa the “Bad Thing” is so deeply, depressingly human. We don’t know how she’s bad, but she’s bad! Superstition meets authentic magic; so clever!

This light, action-packed fantasy has real emotional impact. Every new obstacle hurt, the characters endured so much, and gratitude was imperfectly balanced — making it feel authentic. Cursed Ever After strikes a rich balance between traditional fairytale and real-world struggle, suitable for pre-teens, teens, and adults. We all need a reminder that curses are often manufactured in our heads.

Thank you, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, for the opportunity to read Cursed Ever After. I received a complimentary copy through NetGalley, and I am writing this review voluntarily.