Customer Reviews

A Turn of Curses

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I read this in one sitting. The book opens with a warning. A strange young man has warned Selina that she must not go to Vastorn to heal the sick king. The question, of course, is why, and it is this question that underlies her journey to Vastorn. Along the way, a group of feyquin (similar to horses) stop her in an effort to prevent her from going to the king.

The best part of this book is that the author kept me guessing as to why she shouldn't go to Vastorn and who doesn't want her to get there. There was another surprise that popped up that I didn't forsee, but I don't want to ruin the surprise. Overall, the book chronicles her journey to Vastorn (because she's determined to get there, no matter what). But the question is really, should she go or not? It was a fun read, especially the parts about the feyquin and the unexpected friendship that she develops with them. I also enjoyed the night mares who proved that not all is what it seems. I recommend reading it if you love horses, fantasy, or suspense.

I ran across this novella just on a whim while browsing around less-prominent fantasy reading in the Kindle store. The premise sounded interesting enough and with the low price I figured "why not?".

I'm glad I did, as it was a good story and a very enjoyable read. As it was a short novella, it didn't have deep character development but the main characters were still intriguing enough, and the world in which the story takes place is impressively fleshed-out for such a short narrative. What I found especially unique was the way in which the author describes the feyquin, a magical sentient race of horse-like beings, from the point of view of someone to whom horses are not a familiar animal, and thus describing them as if the reader also had never encountered horses.

The ending was not at all what I expected. I'm not sure I "liked" the ending itself so much as I liked that it did not go the route tradition would generally lead it.

This is definitely worth the read and I will likely be looking at other Kindle edition stories from this author.

Terrible very short story with unsatisfying end. The characters were weak, plot plodded along as much as the characters did. Which was the whole plotline. Imagery was lacking. Thank god I didn't spend money on this. Whole read boiled down to one word "disapponting".

****spoiler about ending included****

i was ok with the story as it was....being a short story and all...however.....wtf was with that ending?!!! hopefully this isnt located in the romance category. allowing the heroine to die isn't romantic.

A Turn of Curses is an excellent fantasy novella. The characters are well constructed and believable, allowing the reader to identify with the privileged view of a pampered "chosen one" as well as those who must put up with her ignorance. You care about Selina and Faldon; you care that they each fulfill their individual quests. The ending will tug at your heart, but leave you satisfied in the way a fantasy is meant to do. Melanie Nilles is a gifted storyteller! Well done!

This novella had a fairly interesting premise, but the heroine spent too much time acting like a spoiled willful child, which, to be fair, she was. Too often, though, I would have been happy to slap some sense into her. There could have been some redemption for the story at the end, but the author clearly does not believe in happily ever after. It was extremely disappointing and downright depressing to me. Don't bother with this one.

A short story that was interesting to read. I think it could have been made into a longer story, but it worked well the way it is. A story of sacrifice, and finding out how to make the best of what you have. There are enough details to give you a good idea of the world this is set in and the characters are developed decently for a short story, not excellently, but decently.

There is a good concept lurking in the middle of this uneventful piece, but I think the writer couldn't decide whether it was fantasy or a story with morals. Not that one or the other can't coexist. The stage was set with two strong characters of Faldon and Selina, with Faldon bearing a curse, which makes him untrustworthy to his own people. The thing I found most confusing was how they travelled to and from hither and fro, to the extent that I didn't know whether they were coming or going. The end was unexpected that I will grant you, but it deflated the story a little, because it had taken so much time to get there.

I found this story very dull and plodding. Things that didn't need to be explained were explained in great detail. Other things that required more explanation were just left hanging there.

I felt as if I had to force myself to finish reading it - something that rarely happens with me. I just wasn't engaged by the characters or by the story.

This is a cute short story, and worth the read as a freebie. I liked the world-building and the main storyline. But the characters aren't internally consistent. Selina is presented as an intelligent, independent 19 year old - who somehow takes half the story to reach a conclusion that was obvious to the reader much earlier on.

The grammar isn't bad enough that it kept me from enjoying the story, and is better than most self-published stories. But it still could benefit from some cleanup.

I'd read another book by the same author, but I wouldn't necessarily be willing to pay for it.