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Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon: Book Review
Synopsis
What lengths would you be willing to go to for your family?
Following a scandal in the tabloids, Jaya Rao, an Indian princess set to take the throne, is forced to go to St. Rosetta’s Academy, a secretive boarding school nestled in the majestic mountains of Aspen, alongside her sister Isha.
Jaya strongly suspects that one of the members of the Emerson family, who have been archenemies of the Raos for a considerable period, is the one responsible for the incident that caused her own family to face consequences. When she discovers that Grey Emerson, also known as Lord Northcliffe, is a student at St. Rosetta’s, she comes up with a clever scheme for seeking revenge.
Grey Emerson, is damaged. He knows his fate is sealed when he reaches the age of eighteen, due to an ancient curse placed upon him by the Raos. However, everything changes when Jaya enters his life. Her positive attitude brightens up his world, making him crave for something more than his solitary existence.
Still, is it all as it seems? And can two people who’ve been dictated by society to behave a certain way, really write their own ending?
Genres/Categories
YA Contemporary Romance
Trigger warnings
Emotional Abuse, Death Mention, Political Viewpoints, Bullying, Blackmail, Colonialism, Cyberharassment.
Tropes
Boarding School, Opposites Attract, Revenge, Emotional Scars, Fairytale Retelling, Gentleman in Distress.
My Thoughts on of Curses and Kisses
Beauty and the Beast – the classic – is amongst my favorite fairy tales. There’s just something about libraries and grumpy but soft beasts, isn’t there?
Of Curses and Kisses stays close to its origin. Still, the way it’s spun to match modern societal expectations doesn’t fail to shock me.
I had countless reasons to adore this retelling, but perhaps the most crucial one lies in its exploration of British colonization in India and the oppressive societal expectations imposed on Indian women.
Haven’t you ever lied for someone you loved? Even if it meant hurting someone else.
Our female lead Jaya seems a tad overprotective of her sister at first but the pressure she constantly faces to be perfect makes it easy to understand her. She is incredibly determined and stubborn when plotting her revenge, but unexpectedly develops feelings for her enemy.
It’s in the darkest corners that things seem the scariest.
Grey – as the synopsis says – is damaged. He’s the epitome of how the words you hear can impact you and do more harm than good.
Ahh, yes the Opposites Attract trope plays well into the plot. But if our protagonists really are attracted to each other, then they must have something in common, right?
She’d shown him he was capable of more, that he had so much uncovered promise within him. And, weirdly enough, he’d begun to believe her.
They do realize that they have more in common than they previously thought. And they begin to change each other for the better – this is what I loved about the romance in this novel. It wasn’t just fluff, but it reflected upon heavy situations that are so prevalent these days.
The other characters in this novel were exquisitely crafted, and naturally, a boarding school nestled in the mountains only adds to the intrigue.
The atmosphere in this novel is what I would call a chef’s kiss. The novel was filled with captivating imagery, and it couldn’t have been more fitting to read during the rainy season in my hometown, especially while enjoying a warm cup of cocoa.
Overall, Of Curses and Kisses, is a stunning novel, and it won’t fail to make you love it and its characters.
Of Curses and Kisses by sandhya Menon in a Nutshell
Pros
Beautiful cover, stunning imagery, interracial couples, Indian royalty, a book in a series (the other books are about different characters).
Cons
Although it may seem a bit slow at first, later on, the pages simply breeze by.
Recommended for
Lovers of fairytales, snowball fights, hot cocoa, and fancy events.
Of Curses and Kisses by sandhya Menon Aesthetic
