In 1894, Leonarda Cianciulla was born into an abusive household. As a young girl, she attempted suicide twice to rid herself of the misery. After decades of abuse, Leonarda sought stability and married Raffaele Pansardi. Her mother did not approve and conveyed her anger in the strongest possible sense. She cursed the marriage. Leonarda believed that her mother’s words had power and they haunted … they haunted her for the rest of her life. Following the curse, Leonarda experienced fits and seizures, was imprisoned for fraud, lost her home to an earthquake, had three miscarriages and lost ten children due to ill health in their youth. Her fears were exacerbated when she visited a Romani fortune teller who informed her, ‘In one hand I can see prison. In the other, a mental asylum.’
In 1939, Leonarda’s eldest son, Giuseppe, informed her that he was going to join the Army. As one of only four remaining children, she needed to protect him at all costs. She decided that the only way to do that was through the most extreme means – human sacrifice.
The Curse is a chilling account of one of the most brutal and bizarre true crime stories in history. Ryan Green’s riveting narrative draws the reader into the real-live horror experienced by the victims and has all the elements of a classic thriller.
CAUTION: This book contains descriptive accounts of abuse and violence. If you are especially sensitive to this material, it might be advisable not to read any further.
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I took a chance on this book after seeing it come up in my recommendations, and I am very glad that I did.
Green has a great talent for weaving a truth into a narrative. I was hooked on the story and felt strongly about many of the tragic events that both Leonarda, and even her mother, had been through. The spiraling that she experienced throughout the story was well-written and done in such a way that I was often rendered speechless with shock.
This was an incredible story with an abundance of twists, turns, and craziness, and to think that it was based on a true story made it all the more entertaining. Wow. I will definitely be looking into Green’s other books.
Dark. Demented. Maniacal. Sick. Twisted. I loved every single page!!!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
Wow! It’s difficult to believe that these crimes occurred in the 20th century. They seemed to fit a much earlier time. It was very interesting fo me to learn about superstitions and how they influenced one young girl’s life. She was tortured by them throughout her life, and they were her eventual downfall. Great read!
The Curse: A Shocking True Story of Superstition, Human Sacrifice and Cannibalism was another good true crime read by Ryan Green. Leonarda was born into an abusive household in 1894. She attempted suicide twice to get rid of the pain. She married Raffaele in a way to find stability. Her mother didn’t approve of the marriage and decided to curse the marriage. Throughout their marriage there were many difficulties and disasters. This was a good true crime telling by Ryan Green.
Leonarda Cianciulla was a different kind of killer. She lived her life terrified by superstitions. That fear eventually drove her to murder.
Like most serial killers, Leonarda had an awful childhood. To me though, she wasn’t like other serial killers. She didn’t kill for joy, but rather to placate the belief that if she killed someone, she would be able to keep her children safe. It’s too bad her story occurred before mental illness aware was a thing because I think it would’ve been interesting to study her mind and see everything she had going on.
Narration by Steve White is perfect as always.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
Another riveting exposé…
In the true crime genre, no one can take a subject and write a personalized memoir of that killer the way Ryan Green can. His research is meticulous and his psychological insights into the inner workings of the criminal mind border on unsettling. In The Curse we are treated to a highly detailed and totally absorbing depiction of the life of the infamous Italian serial killer Leonarda Ciancuilli, often referred to as the “Soap-Maker of Correggio”. She is most famous for murdering three women between 1939 and 1940 and using their blood to bake teacakes which she served to her unsuspecting family and friends. She would also use their bodies to make soap. Her actions were the result of numerous factors including horrendous abuse she endured as a child, injuries which likely caused permanent brain damage, and a belief in superstitions which were not all that uncommon in her time. Factual details, keen psychological analysis, and reasonable speculation are adroitly combined to generate this riveting and profoundly sad composite of one life filled with disappointment, tragedy, and a cornucopia of misfortune. Her actions were, of course, inexcusable but reading this account of her life sheds light on how a person could be driven so very far off the rails of reason and sanity. Buy it, borrow it, read it – it is well worth an evening of your time.
I was provided with an advance copy of this book by the author but I also chose to purchase a copy and I am voluntarily offering this honest and unbiased review.
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If you like boring reading this book is it. It went on & on and went nowhere, I finally quit half way through. I would not recommend this book.
Did not enjoy this book