Early Review--Cursed by S.J. Harper

Meet FBI Agents Emma Monroe and Zack Armstrong.
She's cursed. He's damned. Together, they make one hell of a team.

Emma Monroe is a Siren, cursed by the gods and bound to earth to atone for an ancient failure. She’s had many names and many lives, but only one mission: redemption. Now that she works missing persons cases for the FBI, it could be just a rescue away. Unless her new partner leads her astray.

Special Agent Zack Armstrong just transferred into the San Diego Field Office. He’s a werewolf, doing his best to beat back the demons from his dark and dangerous past. As a former Black Ops sniper, he’s taken enough lives. Now he’s doing penance by saving them.

Emma and Zack’s very first case draws them deep into the realm of the paranormal, and forces them to use their own supernatural abilities. But that leaves each of them vulnerable, and there are lines partners should not cross. As secrets are revealed and more women go missing, one thing becomes clear: as they race to save the victims, Emma and Zack risk losing themselves.

I received this early copy in pdf format from the author in exchange for an honest review, I was in no way compensated for this review.


S.J. Harper's Cursed was phenomenal! Authors Samantha Sommersby and Jeanne C. Stein team up to create this totally fantabuously amazing read! I am always blown away when authors team up and write a book together. For the most part, the book reads like it's told by one voice! At times I like to think I might know when Jeanne was writing, having never read Samantha before, but it's hard to tell as a reader. All I can say is that S.J. Harper is now a favorite author of mine!

One of the most amazing things about this read is how it combines Greek mythology and modern day supernatural creatures! There's not a lot of Greek mythology going on, but Emma is definitely at the center of it. She's a Siren, one of three who failed to save Persephone from Hades and Demeter has punished all three of them. As to what her sisters are up to, we don't know...yet, maybe S.J. will let us know in future reads! Emma has been spending centuries on earth trying to right the wrongs she committed and save other young women from terrible fates. Working in the missing persons department at the FBI definitely fits the bill in that area. Life is simple for her.

Until Zack Armstrong walks back into her life. Zack is a werewolf, she knows this due to her Siren nature. She knows a lot of things like that regarding the supernatural world and can recognize when someone is other than human. But Zack doesn't know she knows. A year ago the two worked a case in Charleston, SC together and things got intimate. But since Emma was leaving, she thought that would be the end of it since they agreed to let things go and not contact one another, but when Zack comes into her San Diego office and she is told he's her new partner...well, things aren't exactly looking sunny.

For Emma has learned that if she indulges in having happiness with a man...find someone she ends up caring for and loves...Demeter kills them. It's always best to keep people away and not form loving relationships. As Demeter puts it, Emma is not meant for happiness until she is forgiven and she won't be forgiven until Demeter feels like it.

Trying to avoid any romantic thoughts or feelings is hard, because there was something about Zack that Emma just couldn't shake off. It only makes it worse when it's clear that Zack feels the same way. But there is work to be done and that involves finding a missing person. Which then leads to two missing people and then three! Most shocking of all is that these three people all have something in common.

I really, really enjoyed this read! It was like the perfect Urban Fantasy read for the Urban Fantasy reader! There's a good dose of action, a mix of supernaturals, action, a feisty heroine and smoldering, sexy hero! There are definitely go to be some challenges for Emma and Zack and that doesn't even include the main threat of Demeter. Zack's ex-girlfriend happens to be in town, who's also a werewolf. And then Emma ends up catching the eye of an unlikely fellow. Trouble is what's going to happen! 

I am most eager to see where this series goes! I love a good mystery and S.J. definitely delivers that in this read! Trying to find the missing persons seemed like a clear-cut case, but then so many other issues came up in the case that it made it not so easy to deal with anymore. I shudder to think how Emma and Zack will have to handle the legalities of other cases that they will deal with in the future, for in this world, the supernatural peeps are still in hiding, they live among us yes, but we feeble humans do not know of their existence.

The Fallen Siren series promises to be one helluva Urban Fantasy read and I so look forwarded to seeing what adventures there are to be had! And of course the fate of our starcrossed lovers!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars