‘Cursed Ever After’ by Andy C. Naranjo Melds Deep Themes With Romantasy

By Erika Naulu

Risa Porto is cursed. Born on a bad day, she has always been the “bad thing” in her town, responsible for every misfortune (real or not). So, when a witch shows up on Risa’s seventeenth birthday seeking repayment for a favor, Risa is more than willing to leave the town of Barrow in hopes of breaking her curse. 

The witch, however, has other plans for Risa and sets her on an adventure that will change not only her life but the lives of those she meets along the way. 

Javi, the irresistibly handsome and least significant youngest prince in the kingdom, is betrothed to a woman he has never met, in a kingdom he’s never been to. If that weren’t enough, the witch employed by his family has assigned a stranger to escort him to his wedding: a seventeen-year-old girl from Barrow who, somehow, is supposed to keep him safe. 

Through a series of unexpected events, the pair will learn the true power of curses and that things aren’t always what they seem. 

Cursed Ever After by debut author Andy C. Naranjo puts a spin on traditional fairy tales and does so in a humorous way. From the very beginning, this YA romantasy novel is fast-paced, and as more things happen, you are left guessing what will happen next. The twists in the plot are fun to read and keep the story moving. Even with some foreshadowing, Naranjo delivers surprise scenes that make the story less predictable.  

The main characters are complex and realistic, each with their own internal conflicts. Risa struggles to carry the burden of bad luck and the fear of putting people she cares for in danger. Javi appears to be this unbothered spoiled prince, but as the story progresses, you start to discover that he is dealing with his own struggles as well. Then there are the side characters who may appear one way at first, but you learn that they are more than just the stories people tell about them. It is kind of a running theme throughout the story, with people turning out to be different from what others believe them to be. 

The plot moves along at a good pace, and there is romance entwined in it without being the main focus of the story. The witty banter between Javi and Risa is enough to leave romance fans giddy and rooting for them from the beginning. And the book’s action and twists will keep fantasy fans entertained. There is also LGBTQ representation with Javi being open to dating anyone, and side characters being in same-gender relationships. It was nice to see these relationships normalized on the page. 

Another thing that was nice to see normalized was the use of Spanish throughout the book. It was in the names of places and things, but also in the dialogue. Having a fantasy with Hispanic characters as the norm without having to discuss trauma or explain their culture was refreshing to read. The characters’ race and heritage were never the main topic of the story; the Spanish elements were so embedded throughout that nothing needed to be discussed more than describing the characters’ physical features. It also added an extra element to the story since many of the Spanish words did not come with translations, which made the story feel more authentic. 

As the trials and events continue in the story, the line between good luck and bad luck becomes blurred, leaving the characters to question their own beliefs and realities. As a reader, you start to question what is real and what is simply a belief someone has created on their own. By the end of the book, I was left contemplating my own beliefs. The profound message I took away from this story was that our realities can often be controlled by the beliefs we give the most power to. 

Cursed Ever After is entertaining, but also carries deeper themes that anyone can relate to. I hope more readers find this book because it is one worth reading! 

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About the Author: Andy C. Naranjo is a YA Fantasy writer creating stories featuring Latinx protagonists. Born and raised in Washington Heights, New York City, she now lives in Austin, Texas with some guy she met at work and their two dogs. She speaks several languages, all of them badly. When she’s not writing, she can be found re-watching her favorite TV shows. Cursed Ever After is her debut.

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Erika Naulu is a first-generation Dominican American living in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a high school librarian with a bachelor's in English and a master’s in Library and Information Science. Her hobbies include reading, exploring new places, and spending time with her husband and their four children. 

You can follow her on Instagram and TikTok @booknerderika.