They Said... #1

Book reviews are important because...

Book reviews are invaluable to readers and authors. Readers benefit from concise, informative reviews that don't give away plot details, while authors are able to learn from how the community is reacting and embracing their work.
We will share excerpts from great book reviews in this upcoming weekly blog post series.

Alternate history paranormal suspense

About the story:
A powerful curse cast sixteen hundred years ago destroyed the lives of their ancestors for centuries. If it remains unbroken, the curse will ruin the lives of future generations as well. Jayden’s life is in danger.
​When he finds a crude leather book in his grandmother's secret room that was written in 426 by a Shaman, his sister, Sofia, deciphers the ancient runes. They learn about their family curse and dark memories of their childhood start to surface.
EBOOK PRINT

The readers said

Reviewed by Keith Mbuya for Readers’ Favorite
“Erika M Szabo whisked me away from reality and into a wonderland. She forged her engrossing plot with simple sentences, which she loads with a sophisticated vocabulary. Her choice of words gives an edge of mystery, suspense, adventure, and romance in her narration. There are secrets, agony, old history, premonitions, dark powers, a story within a story, and much more. She gives vivid depictions of her scenes and characters. This served to add color to her narration. The characters are exciting and fully developed. I found it easy to connect with their thoughts and emotions, which gave me insight into their actions during the next scenes. It also made me empathize with the characters, and love as well as loathe some of them. Sofia is portrayed as a young girl whose inquisitive nature is capped with a sharp mind and an ability to learn quickly. Some of the conversations were witty and this spiced up the reading experience. A young adult audience with a yearning for fantasy novels laced with a supernatural tale will love Unbroken Curse.”

Reviewed by Dorothy Angel
“The relationship between the characters was comforting and felt real. The conversation with Sophia and her aunt, her aunt with that rolling pin was hysterical. Growing up in Queens, NY I could totally relate.
I enjoyed how you really get two stories in one. You begin with Jayden and Sophia but once they start to translate the book Jayden finds – not where you think, you’re in a whole other world.
More and more information comes to light as Sophia begins to remember some traumatic events from their childhood. Events take some crazy, but really interesting turns and I found myself turning page after page to find out the next piece and I was never disappointed.”
 
Reviewed by Fayeray85
“Unique and exciting! I really enjoyed this story! It was a very unique plot with great characters and some twists along the way! It was refreshing to read a book that didn’t give away the ending on the pages and kept me guessing until fully revealed.”
 
Reviewed by Sandy C
“I was grumbling to myself after some less than satisfying experiences this week - not another 2.5-hour 'bonanza' that leaves you with just a brief beginning where nothing much happens except a 'hot mess' of confusion and then you are left hanging for months for the next installment - I thought, why did I get this? Well, my momentary negativity was TOTALLY unwarranted. This story is complete (though room left for further adventures). And the pace is very fast and the story beautifully articulated - a lot happens from minute one and the adventure continues to the last minutes of the story.”

Reviewed by Fred Jones
"An interesting well told story of an families curse. The discovery of an ancient book brings a curse into the light of day. I liked the way the story is told in two different time periods and switches back and forth between them but is essentially the same story."

the author's website

Erika writes ​epic fantasy, romantic suspense, cozy mystery novels, YA and children’s books.