Their love for music sparked a curse…Lark Espinoza could get lost in her music–and she’s not so sure anyone in her family would even care to find her. Her trendy, party-loving twin sister and her mother-come-lately Beth, who’s suddenly sworn off men and onto homemaking, don’t understand her love of cassette tapes, her loathing of the pop scene, or her standoffish personality. For outcast Lark, … For outcast Lark, nothing feels as much like a real home as working at Bubble’s Oddities store and trying to attract the attention of the cute guy who works at the Vinyl shop next door–the same one she traded lyrical notes with in class.
Auden Ellis silences the incessant questions in his own head with a steady stream of beats. Despite the unconditional love of his aunt-turned-mother, he can’t quit thinking about the loss of his parents–or the possibility he might end up afflicted with his father’s issues. Despite his connection with lyric-loving Lark, Auden keeps her at arm’s length because letting her in might mean giving her a peek into something dangerous.
When two strangers arrive in town, one carrying a mysterious, dark object and the other playing an eerie flute tune, Lark and Auden find that their painful pasts have enmeshed them in a cursed future. Now, they must come to terms with their budding attraction while helping each other challenge the reflection they see in the mirror. If they fail, they’ll be trapped for eternity in a place beyond reality.
*Set in 1985 and full of nostalgia! Perfect for fans of Stranger Things and Pretty in Pink.
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Lyrics & Curses is the first of the Cursed Hearts duology written by Candace Robinson that falls in the young adult and paranormal genres. I’ve read most of Robinson’s previous books and short stories, which meant I had to get an early release when this one became available. As the cover and title suggest, this book is ripe with drama, music, and the unknown.
Lark and Auden are near the end of high school, thinking about college. They’ve hooked up once or twice before, but they mostly don’t see each other much these days. When they do, it’s been random sharing of lyrics for music, usually from the 1980s followed a bit of hot and heavy dreams. They work next door to one another and often encounter a weird sound and fading image in the nearby street or alley. Is it real? Were they drugged? Have space creatures invaded? It’s not clear for most of the book, at least until a major climax happens… and then, we realize there’s something very wrong in their hometown. Will they solve it before becoming trapped in a strange place before it’s too late?
Lark has two sisters, and a not-so-great mother, which endears her to us. Auden lost his parents but has a loving pseudo-parent and two younger brothers. We immediately feel for both characters, and I’ve come to appreciate how well Robinson writes for the typical teenager. Typical in terms of attitude and passion, definitely not typical in terms of view on life and experiences. Wow! These two kids have had it rough, but when we see them conquer and earn small wins early on, we feel good about their futures. That is… until the strange couple with the object being sold to one of the stores makes the tale even more complex.
Beyond the main mystery / paranormal / romance plot, we have the awesome and amazing 1980s backdrop. Each chapter is about the lyrics for a popular song from the decade, and having grow up as a preteen in the 1980s, and dating in the early 1990s to some of these songs, it was a wonderful trip down memory lane. Clever at namedropping and imagery creation, the author weaves a fun and nostalgic story to truly make us feel like we’re living in the decade.
So… now that we get to the big cliffhanger (of sorts) in the end, we must ask ourselves, what’s planned for part two? We met two very interesting characters, kinda watched some tragic ends to other people’s stories, and had our minds left guessing how much was actually real. Looking forward to seeing where this one goes!
I’m a big fan of Candace Robinson’s writing. If you’ve read any of my other reviews of her work you’ll know that all of her books that I’ve picked up so far is unique, smoothly engaging, and so far out of the box that it probably couldn’t even see said box if it was in an open space with binoculars. When I picked up Lyrics & Curses I expected something strong, but this blew my expectations completely out of the water. I love everything about it. From the snarky comments, to the 80s setting (which she nailed BTW. Took me back to my childhood with the music, clothing, and home phones on a cord lol!).
Lark and Auden are fantastic characters who are developed perfectly. They’re compatible teens with a love of all the same music, and find themselves attracted to one another in every way. They’re teens though, so naturally they’re stuck in an unspoken game of criss-cross when it comes to their not-so-dating, yet seek-one-another-out and connect in random ways. What’s odd tho, is that the book starts out with them each seeing this being of sorts who disappears at will. No one else sees this man with an object, nor do they hear the unmistakable tune of a flute as it plays when he shows up… no one else but Lark and Auden. When they wind up working together after Auden loses his job, things really kick up a notch. You see, this strange being is more than just strange, and there’s more than just him out there.
Lark and Auden wind up cursed. This curse is unique, it’s powerful, and it feels very very real! Imagine waking up one day as a ghost. No one can see you, even your loved ones, and as you navigate the world trying to be seen you find yourself as a double. Someone else is in your body, living your life in evil little ways. Together, Lark and Auden must find a way to break their curse for a short amount of time, before they’re stuck in this alternate existence forever.
If I tell you any more than this it’ll give too much away. I probably already have actually, and I hate spoilers so I’m just going to shut up now. There’s love, there’s immense loss, and so very much more. This is up there with the best few books I’ve read so far this year. A big fat thanks to the author for giving me a free copy of this book before it’s release in exchange for an honest review.
All the 80’s nostalgia and Stranger Things vibes you could want with fantastic characters
** spoiler alert ** I’m a big fan of Candace’s work, and although this one was slow to get started, the final half makes up for it! I think part of it for me was the focus on the romance during the first half. While I don’t mind romance, I tend to prefer it as a side plot rather than the main plot, and I wanted to dive into the fantastic elements earlier. That’s my own preference though.
The concept of getting trapped in a mirror world and having to watch doppelgängers take over your life is fascinating! I loved the whole world-building and mechanics of that and would have loved to see it explored more.
While this was a great read with some fascinating elements, the slow build at the beginning was a little difficult for me. Folks who love sweet romances with some eerie and fantastic elements will definitely love this book! And as usual, Candace does not disappoint with the finale.
I really liked the concept but I’m so confused! It didn’t help that the characters had similar names. It didn’t really kick into gear until toward the end and then it felt like there should’ve have been more explanation to the paranormal aspect. It kind of gave me the whole Stranger Things Upside Down vibes. I did enjoy the blast from the past 80s style.
I did enjoy the narrator overall but sometimes it was hard to distinguish between the characters.
Wow, this was a great read!!
Lyrics & Curses by Candace Robinson is a very unique and well written tale. I absolutely loved all the great 80’s music references!! Lark and Auden made for two great characters and the audio narration was perfect!!
“Lyrics & Curses” is a heartfelt paranormal romance story, set in the 1980s, blends romance, mystery, and supernatural tropes with the nostalgic feeling of four decades ago. The book is the first part in the “Cursed Hearts Duology” by Candace Robinson.
Lark (FMC) is an introvert, who loves to hide into her cassette tapes and flee into the world of the music she loves, something neither her own family can relate. Her real relieve is Bubble’s Oddities, the shop she works and feels at home, and then there is also Auden the guy who works next door at the vinyl store. Linked by their love for music, the trade notes in class and begin an easy friendship. Auden has his own issues and secrets to keep and tries, despite his interest, to keep Lark at arms length. As two strangers come to town, Lark and Auden feel themselves mesmerized by an eerie tune and a dark mirror, facing a challenge that could trapped them forever beyond reality.
Candace Robinson makes an incredible job of capturing the atmosphere of the 1980s, mixing cultural tropes, actual lyrics of that time epoch (each of the chapters relates closely to the lyrics of given song), and an accurate description to anchor the story, and adding supernatural elements and classical tales (The Pied Piper of Hamelin comes to mind) to create an unique dark fantasy tale.
ONE ENTHRALLING NUMBER
Blazing blizzards boo! Candace hit the ground running with this tantalizing wicked ride, laying out the fluid notes, flowing tunes and banging bass, launching this hot little tidbit to new heights. A raging vortex chocked full of riveting drama, gripping intrigue, underlying currents, callous tactics, escalating danger, electrifying suspense and nailbiting situations that rock this jewel to its core, testing our characters in ways they could have never envisioned, fusing this gem together seamlessly. Satisfaction is an understatement, this bad boy will bring you to your knees one second and fly you high the next, searching for answers and coming up short, reaching deep for every ounce of strength in a fierce surge of preservation, booting this jewel into the eye of the storm, kicking it into a frenzy with mind-blowing results, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. The characters are complex, genuine and realistic with traits and qualities that balance and blend, with amazing depth and diversity and enough spice to add an extra kick to the mix. Throw in 100% on point realism, raising the stakes with such graphic scenarios that are so colorfully descriptive and vividly detailed its like you’re living it with them instead of on the sidelines, feeling everything the characters feel. Remarkable job Candace, thanks for sharing this awesome little gem with us.
This is definitely a positive review, which should be clear:) But, I was a little worried about the premise of the book for two reasons… The time period, and the music theme.
Some books set in the 80s or 90s just hit you over the head repeatedly with jargon and references.
CR keeps you solidly in the 80s without feeling like you’re constantly being reminded. There are cassette tapes and VHS movies that are referenced, but it never felt forced or overdone at all – just consistent.
Music is such a big part of this story and the relationship between Auden and Lark. Bands, songs, and singers are referenced a lot, but they’re mostly names that have stood the test of time or songs that now classics from that time period. We aren’t inundated with lyrics. The songs chosen typically have really self-explanatory titles for a reader who wasn’t familiar with any. She made all of this both nostalgic and accessible.
The curse brought out some creepy things and questioned sanities, while growing the friendship/relationship between Lark and Auden, so this book might come off as an automatic recommendation for fans of Eleanor and Park, but the supernatural/magical piece with the curse and the mystery is going to be able to reach even more readers in addition to the E&P fans.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As I’ve come to expect from Candace Robinson, she has taken something many of us know (it’s the 80s in this case) and weaved it with her amazing talent for words to give us a story that catches your interest immediately and has you unable to stop reading. The start of the story sets the scene and has you wanting to know more. Who is the strange man? Where is the music coming from? You have all of these questions and no idea of what will happen next because this brilliant author never goes in the direction you think she will. And even when you get to the end, you’re still left with some questions and want to get your hands on the second book of this duology as soon as possible in the hope those questions are answered. I’m looking forward to discovering what comes next!
*I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book
I wanted to start off by say that I received ebook arc of this book. In return for my honest thoughts and review. I am 80’s baby and when I tell you I felt like I was lost in the 80’s. Each chapter having a song wanting me to play that song while reading that chapter. I am not saying this because I got early copy but Candace you out did yourself on this book. I enjoyed the characters and love each song you picked for each chapter. Lark is my favorite character I felt her I understand her. Growing up I had a crazy family. And I felt like the only way to block them out was grabbing my Walkman and cassettes and enjoying my music. So I have to say Lark is my favorite. I cant wait for book two come out next year. I will definitely be buying a copy. I highly recommend this book so many times, I even preordered my own copy. For two reasons I love the story and two this cover is amazing.
About Book- Lark is a young girl who has very high love of music carrying around her cassettes and always having her Walkman playing something. Blocking out all the unwanted mess with her sister and her mother. Lark also as a crush on a boy named Auden who works at a music store down from where she works. When Lark starts to notice a weird looking man and hearing a music playing from everywhere. She thinks she is the only experiencing all these things. But what she doesn’t know is Auden is experiencing the same things. Lark and Auden go on this crazy journey together involving curses and trying to figure out what’s going on. Again I highly recommend this book.
Interesting and unique story! Robinson’s books are like no other! Awesome 80’s setting, so fun! Loved all the references! Cool spooky mystery going on too! We get POV from both main characters Lark and Auden; it’s great to know what each character is actually thinking. Lark has a crush on Auden and he has a crush on her, but both haven’t had the best upbringing, so they both don’t really know how to handle deep emotion. They both put off a bit of a depressed vibe; they are around 17/18 years old, so they both are still unsure of themselves and what they want in life. There’s some awkwardness between them, but they bond over their love of music; there are some sweet moments between these two! On top of the growing pains of becoming an adult, there’s something odd going on; Lark and Auden are both seeing a weird man and hearing an eerie version of David Bowie’s Space Oddity in the air. My favorite Bowie song!! Lots of weird things start happening to Lark and Auden! Such a cool premise! Loved the ideas behind the mystery! It looks like there will be a second book in this series, but this one is a full story on its own. There is more to be known about the mystery aspect in this book though, so I’m anticipating getting to delve deeper into what is going on with all the strange and odd happenings in this book. Excited to see what the next book will be! Overall, a satisfying, entertaining read!
Definitely a favorite book of mine! I’ve read it at least 4 “full” times, and I am NOT sick of it!!! I could read it four more times!!! I love this book!!!
First of all, the 80s theme was so cool!!! Being an 80s girl myself I was taken back in time. It was written extremely detailed as far as the 80s setting. Second, the lyrics!!!! All 80s, of course, but I especially love how she wove the lyrics throughout the story and Lark & Auden’s relationship. The paranormal mystery aspects built up as the story went. But as it goes along we are given some background into the characters and where they come from, and how that has shaped who they become. As the paranormal mystery builds up we see Lark and Auden growing closer, through lyrics and through solving the mystery, and they come to find exactly how much they mean to each other. I love it, because this story is the beginning and the foundation of the series. Bring on the next book!!
**ARC RECEIVED
Lyrics & Curses is the perfect balance of romance and mystery set in the 80’s that will keep you guessing until the end. I fell in love with the characters and the premise and read it all in a single day (I just HAD to know what was going to happen!). If you love the 80’s and music and love stories and curses, this book is for you.
This book was just so much fun to read. I was born in the 80’s and absolutely loved the fashion and music, and this had it all. A lot of thought was put into matching songs with each chapter, and now I really want to watch The Wedding Singer. And it was such a unique story that I really did not know what would happen next. I really liked Lark and definitely would be friends with her. Auden had his walls up, but I enjoyed getting to know him more as the story progressed. Also, I really want to work where they did. That place sounds awesome. Can’t wait to see where this story goes next!
***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC of this book.***
Lyrics & Curses is a trip back to the 80’s, the music, the clothing, the hair styles. I fell in love with Auden and Lark. They have both been through traumatic experiences and have built walls to protect themselves. While remaining uniquely themselves you see them learn to trust each other and be open to love. But, in the middle of all this they become cursed. Do you believe in other dimensions? What would you do if you no longer had any control over your life? Candace Robinson brought all these elements together beautifully. Now I feel the need to listen to an 80’s playlist. If you’re a fan of the 80’s don’t miss out on Lyrics & Curses.
The first thing that comes to mind: unique.
The story is set in the 80s & it’s executed perfectly. When I read it, I felt like I was transported back in time. 🙂
It’s the start of summer. Lark works at a Bubble’s Oddities with her best friend. Across the story, in music shop works Auden. When the school was still in, they connected with exchanging the lyrics of the songs (that reminds me so much of high school, I and my best friends use to do that all the time :)) just a few decades after :D) and hooked a few times after. But they are both kin on keeping each other on arm’s length.
It all spices up when two strangers arrive in town, bring with them a whole lot of weird. 🙂 Lark and Auden don’t realize that they are being cursed until it is too late and they trapped in the place in between. With only two weeks to break the curse or they lose their lives forever.
The first half is a bit slower, with a lot of world-building and setting the story, the second part is faster, with unique paranormal & high stakes.
Also, I loved the ending. It just opens up the possibilities, & I look forward to what will happen next! 🙂
Lark and Auden are both moody and a bit lost and both very much into the music. 🙂 (I’m all for that :))Lark grew up with an absent mother, who recently came back and tries to play the role of mother. She has a twin sister, who couldn’t be more different and an older sister who escaped to college and never looked back. Auden lost both of his parents when he was 2 and lived with his aunt. After finding out what happened with his birth parents, he is afraid to get to close, to let anyone in.
When they are cursed, they only have each other. It’s just the sweetest romance. 🙂
received an ARC