Title: Awful Curse (Celestial Bodies #1)
Author: Elena Monroe
Genre: Romance
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Being a douche is an Awful Curse, and Bolton Cadoc is the King of the affliction, crowned royalty of the Douchedom. There are anti-heroes, and then there are just dudes you can’t like. I can’t like him. Thankfully the other characters make up for it, and his best friend, Nyx, is the kind of jerkface I would date. There is no accounting for my youthful choices in guys, though. 

What happens when you keep burning bridges? Your dad keeps shipping you into more desperate places. The latest location Arianna’s father has sent her is Arcadia Prep. A place where she is surrounded by all the people she would never rub elbows with. Her roommate Luna is more motherly that she’s encountered in all her previous homes. And the guy she’s obsessed with loves to hate her–bad choices in guys is something she does have some experience with but this is a new low. 

Elena Monroe has a unique writing style. She’s quite poetic and prosy in her narrative. I did have some issues because she overused the terms crown, king, queen, royal, and throne. I felt browbeaten by the usage halfway in, and she doesn’t let up. I did enjoy the imagery of many of the author’s analogies, though, and she had some fantastic silver tongue phrasings. 

Overall, the pacing is aces. This a page-turner–if you aren’t stuck on the repetitive terms. And the tension at the end of the book is a killer. You will want to hang in there for the last forty percent and read it all in one-fell-swoop. It’s impossible to put down, don’t expect to be able to do that ‘one more chapter’ thing before bed. Bolton is going to have you hating him all night long.

The second book is out, I’ve already one-clicked it. 

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary advance copy of this book.

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Title: Awful Curse (Celestial Bodies #1)
Author: Elena Monroe
Genre: Romance
Release Date: 24 February 2020

Summary:

He was King of Arcadia Prep until she came for his throne…

ARIANNA
We moved around a lot, too much.
The shine of my highly respected and decorated military dad’s badge wore off after I became heavy baggage.
I was the new girl thirteen times in two years and every time I had to tape up another box I grew more resentful. Forced to forget everyone I fell in love with, laughed with and bonded with.
For a certain price you could unburden yourself from your hormonal teen at Arcadia Prep too.
I’m reckless.
I’m impatient.
Purple hair, a don’t care attitude and my Doc Martins all screamed leave me alone, fending off any new relationships.
I vowed to keep my heart safe this time, locking it away right under my anger but he knew exactly where I hid the spare key – in his mysterious eyes the minute ours locked.

BOLTON
I was stuck – the essence of a God in some kind of limbo of high school.
I was meant for more than this.
Being king here meant nothing.
Arcadia Prep wasn’t for the weak. The expectations, the pressure, the standards, the success and privilege smug on everyone’s face wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
I thrived in chaos.
I’m fearless.
I’m ruthless.
The new girl was not my cup of tea.
She stomped her doc martins all over my tradition, rules and my reign.
We all have secrets. Mine were paper weighted down by my heavy crown.
Her violet eyes and her abrupt attitude spewed sass all over my black on black. She didn’t faze me until I realized she was after my crown…

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