Thank you to both the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Cursed I'm The Lost city

I think that this was a great follow up to Cursed Under London amd really keeps up with the fun raunchy but also heartfelt storytelling of the series so far. I cant wait to see what comes next in this series

I hate ad lines. "The thrilling second book in the Elizabethan rom-com series": please, spare me. The Cursed books aren't "Elizabethan," they're alt-Elizabethan; since Fang, Nell, Lazare, and Amber are on the run to protect the child Tem, there are suspenseful stretches, but "thrilling" suggests a certain giddy delight, as in a rollercoaster, that's alien to the story's emotional underpinnings. Because, sure, there's a fair amount of hilarity, but the narrative foundations are deadly serious: Tem's mother has been murdered, Fang and Lazare, who are immortal, have both been painfully murdered multiple times, an experience not treated lightly; Nell has been forced from her original home in Wales and, as far as she or we know, also from the life she made for herself in London; and the rulers of Britain, Wales, and the lost city of Llanelli are all interested in capturing Tem, Fang, Lazare, and Nell for cruel and evil purposes.

On top of all that, or more properly underneath it, is a subtext concerned with the mistreatment of the vulnerable by those who hold power and authority over them.

The Cursed series is also evolving as the slowest of slow-burn romances (Fang/Lazare), in the service of which Gabby Hutchinson Crouch is leaning hard on the miscommunication trope. Leaning rather too hard on it, I'd say: each individual miscommunication or interrupted communication makes narrative sense, but after the tenth one they did get wearing. That having been said, GHC leans so hard into the trope that I began to think the resulting "This again?" reflected intentional absurdity. Anyway, Fang and Lazare do finally come to an understanding in this installment ... but watch out for that cliffhanger.

A number of negative reviews of the first in the series, Cursed Under London, complained about anachronisms. About that I'll just repeat what I said in my review of that book: whereas usually anachronisms are mistakes, every so often you read something whose author clearly knows her onions and is messing around on purpose. I'm 100% confident that GHC is messing around on purpose.

Thanks to Farrago and NetGalley for the ARC. I'm on tenterhooks now: when is the next in this series coming out???

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

I had so much fun reading Cursed Under London, I was thrilled to get an eARC for the Cursed in the Lost City!

We pick up soon after where we left off, with our intrepid protagonists in Deep London figuring out what to do about Tem and their undead situation. It was so fun coming back to this quirky, supernatural version of Elizabethan London, and it was even better getting to follow up with this goofy ridiculous found family. These assorted misfits may have numerous issues, but importantly, they have each other. <3 Amber doesn't have issues though, because Amber is the GOAT. Um, I mean dragon.

NGL, while this book is lots of fun, it suffers a little from middle-book-in-a-trilogy syndrome, where the main plot is just getting the characters from point A to B, aka from book 1 to book 3. The plot as a whole doesn't feel like it has any major consequences or lasting impact, other than putting the characters in a new place.

On the plus side, less plot means more time spent on characters! We get to find out more about Nell's past and why she went to London in the first place, and we get some Amber PoV, as she learns more about her species. As for Fang and Lazare, they are just as incapable of communicating as ever. I have never met a character more desperately in need of therapy than Fang (complimentary). This might sound a little hypocritical, but I feel like when they finally get together, it happened too easily? Like, it definitely was not easy, but after all that angst and back and forth, I feel like the getting together itself happened too quickly, you know? Or maybe not, whatever.

Also, this isn't a critique just an observation, a lot of the funny moments read like visual gags, like you can definitely tell that the author worked in TV.

Chaotic shenanigans in the best way.
Great comedic timing, loveable characters and a alternate universe London is a great setting. Enjoyed this.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it has since come out. I enjoyed this even more than part 1. It's pure queer chaos and I was down for another ride along with these characters. Can't wait for part 3.

A great follow up to the first book and also a great book to read for Summerween (and to get into the spooky spirit! Most happens in this book than the first one, but the world-building and characterizations were consistent and well done. I can't wait to see what comes next!

Cursed in the Lost City is the follow-up to the queer comedic historical romantasy Cursed Under London set in an alternate Elizabethan England where magical creatures coexist with humanity. Frenchman actor Lazare, Asian nomad Fang, and apothecary Nell are trapped somewhere between life and death after being made immortal and magical by half-fae child Tem. They are on the run alongside dragon runt Amber from monarchs who want Tem’s power for themselves. In hopes of reversing the curse, they flee to the not-actually-lost Lost City of Llanelli to seek aid from the almighty dragon queen Redthroat the Invinsible while being pursued from all sides.

Unfortunately, I did not like this book all that much. I think these absurd comedies may just not be for me because I just found so many of what was supposed to be humorous as incredulous and annoying. The characters are supposed to be fleeing, but there was no sense of urgency at all. There was just so much shenanigans that took away from any momentum or realism. They wasted so much time with personal drama and annoying asides that were supposed to be funny but fell completely flat with me.

While this second book had more focus on the romance between Lazare and Fang than Cursed Under London, I still hesitate to call this book a romantasy as it just does not read like a romance at all. It does have two things I don’t really like in my romances—unnecessary conflict and miscommunication. The conflict between Lazare and Fang was so needless that I even question why this was in the story. Lazare needed to get over himself because none of his concerns even happened to him so it is a non-issue and the way it was resolved made it even worse. Then the miscommunication between them was just so annoying. And when they finally clarified, they just slipped into another effing miscommunication. I was just not into it.

Because of several hyper-specific issues that may be down to personal taste, I could not appreciate Cursed in the Lost City.

*Thank you to Duckwood Books for the eARC via NetGalley

Content warnings: death, physical violence, mind altering substances used without consent, sexual harassment

Fair warning, that CURSED IN THE LOST CITY ends on one hell of a cliffhanger in both the plot of our main characters, and in the reveal of a new character. With that being said, I enjoyed how the plot has progressed from CURSED UNDER LONDON, but overall, I felt like some of the camp that was witty in the first book, feels overused in this sequel.

Overall it's a good second book in a series, but for me it wasn't as great a reading experience as the first book.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Duckworth Books, and Farrago in exchange for an honest review.

The adventures of Fang and Lazare continue in this sequel to 'Cursed Under London'. After narrowly escaping an evil alchemist, the newly immortal boys make their way to Wales with their new found family of Nell, Amber and the half-fae child Tem. They hope to ask Redthroat, rule of the dragons, for help with breaking the curse that makes them immortal. However, Elizabeth 1 and the Welsh king attempt to intercept the group in order to achieve immortality for themselves. Will the little family ever find a safe spot to rest?

I feel that this book does have a case of 'middle book syndrome' in that it seems to only exist in order to set up the next book's conflict. However, I honestly don't care because it was still fantastic and I had a damn good time reading it.

Hutchinson Crouch has mastered the ability of making a reader laugh and cry without even trying. Her prose is endlessly funny but she continues putting her characters in such heartbreaking situations! Its rare for me to adore every single character in a book but damn does Hutchinson Crouch get me to love every single one in this book.

The romance between Fang and Lazare brought the angst in a way that didn't hinge on miscommunication. Both men have dealt with some very traumatic events and work to figure out what that means for their relationship. I like when books show a couple growing and changing together and 'Cursed in the Lost City' does this very well.

That being said, there were some plot developments towards the end that definitely seemed to be there to set up the next book. I do feel like a whole lot of nothing plot wise happened in this book due to prepping for the next book but honestly I'd read endless adventures about this found family. It's funny, it's heartwarming and it'll make you cry. The vibes are immaculate!! (Plus zombie Anne Boleyn FTW).

reviews going live on Fable, Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon on 7/26 and Tiktok on 7/27

thank you netgalley for the opportunity to review this book!!!

the dialogue is so funny and easy to read. i loved the way the author wrote the action scenes—very easy to follow but also just entertaining. this book seemed very plot driven! i believe that all dialogue should be written like this, it’s just so fun to read.

i love found family dynamics and this executed the accidental parent trope well. i loved the characters and the book immediately sucked me in.

Cursed in the Lost City is the second story in Gabby Hutchinson Crouch’s Cursed series. As the blurb states, it’s a “queer rom-com set in a fantasy version of Elizabethan England.” Readers who have omitted the first book in the series may well wander through the first few chapters in a rather bewildered state, so I recommend reading that book first.

A collection (by the end of the book, “family”) of misfits has banded together. Fang, Lazaire and Nell are/were human but can no longer die; Amber is a small dragon; and Tem is a young fae child with significant magical powers that she is too young to understand. Following the events of the first book, they have decided to journey to the Lost City of Llanelli and petition the dragon queen, Redbreast, to use her great magic to help them.

Crouch’s strengths as a writer are her ability to take familiar tropes and subvert them, e.g. the Emfor tunnel connecting Wales and England; and her one-liners such as “it was fishier than a mermaid eating bouillabaisse in a fish market.” However, in this novel, the wit is buried beneath long and repetitive chunks of narrative where Fang or Lazaire is agonizing about Lazaire or Fang. One or the other often thinks about kissing the other with hands on/under thighs. There is a growing realisation that lust is not the same as love; and that one can love many friends quite deeply; and want to be with them all, while just wanting to be in bed with one of them.

The narrative, sans the many expositions of emotion, is fun. Although this is a fantasy novel and many of the cast are not fully human, the dialogue and behaviours are 100% human, with petty jealousies; jobsworths and bureaucracy that are recognisable throughout the whole world. One wonders, though, why the author has allowed Honkensby, who was a sinister figure of authority in the first book, to elide into almost a slapstick character. Still, no doubt all will be revealed in the third book of the series.

If I could award half-stars, I'd give it three and a half. The passages of thwarted yearning occupied too great a proportion of the narrative for me.

#CursedintheLostCity #NetGalley

Cursed in the Lost City wastes no time throwing us back into the thick of things. Gabby Hutchinson Crouch brings back her eccentric crew of misfits and magic, this time trekking through the supernatural chaos of Wales, and while the momentum rarely slows, it’s in the rare quiet moments that the book shines brightest.

The narrative is stuffed to the brim with action—curses, creatures, catastrophes—and while that makes for a high-energy sequel, I found myself craving more stillness. More time to sit in those vulnerable pockets with the characters who’ve grown on me like stubborn moss. There’s one scene—let’s just say it involves a dragon and a very ill-timed love confession—that sums this up perfectly. Hectic, hilarious, heartfelt… but also, maybe, a bit rushed.

What grounds the story amidst all the chaos, though, is the emotional core. The found family dynamic continues to be the heart of this series, and it’s never felt more endearing. Fang slowly but surely stepping into the role of Tem’s father figure is hands-down one of the most wholesome arcs I’ve read in a while. Their bond isn’t flashy, but it’s deeply felt—tempered by tenderness and quiet trust.

There’s more emotional weight here than in book one, too—particularly in the way the story handles trauma and healing. The relationship between Fang and Lazare blossoms beautifully into something solid and emotionally grounded. Gone is the surface-level flirtation; what remains is real connection, mutual care, and the kind of support that’s quietly life-saving. Their scenes together are some of the most affecting in the book, especially as they allow themselves to be fully seen by each other, flaws and all.

Gabby Hutchinson Crouch continues to strike a careful balance between humor, heartache, and high fantasy. The jokes still land, the world continues to expand in rich and interesting ways, and the emotional depth has only intensified. If this sequel is a bit more chaotic in structure, it makes up for it with some truly meaningful character growth and themes that resonate beyond the page.

For readers who like:
-Fantasy adventures
-Found family dynamics
-Queer stories with depth, charm, and great banters

Final Verdict
Cursed in the Lost City might move at breakneck speed, but its emotional heart never misses a beat. With lovable characters, heartfelt relationships, and an ever-deepening magical world, this sequel delivers on the promise of the first—and then some. A chaotic, funny, unexpectedly tender journey through grief, healing, and what it means to choose each other.

Grateful to NetGalley, Duckworth Books and Gabby Hutchinson Crouch for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to netGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3.5/5 stars.

This is the sequel to one I read last year. I had to go look at my review of #1 to remind me what this series was about, and I'm so glad that my review reminded me how utterly absurd this series is. Is it great writing and plot? No. Am I here for the dragons and geese police and zombie Christopher Marlowe and all of the other weird chaos? Yes.

Even better than book one!

This sequel took everything I loved about the first book and cranked it up to eleven. More danger, more magic, more feelings. Fang and Lazare are officially my favorite disaster duo on the run.

Set in 1599, the stakes are sky-high now that half-fae child Tem’s powers are making waves all the way to Queen Elizabeth’s court. The worldbuilding expands beautifully—we get dragons, harpies, cursed cities, and a very intense dragon queen named Redthroat (yes, she lives up to the name).

But what really got me was the slow-burn romance between Fang and Lazare. Amid all the chaos (and wow, there’s a lot of it), their relationship blossoms in this incredibly tender, believable way. You’re rooting for them, hard.

Funny, fast-paced, and surprisingly emotional, this book balances sharp dialogue and action with real heart. If you're into queer historical fantasy with found family, curses, and just a bit of chaos, you’ll love this.

Can’t wait for book three. Seriously. Someone please protect Tem at all costs.

As with the previous book, we're treated to Gabby Hutchinson Crouch's incredibly strong authorial voice and a very likeable cast of characters. Cursed in the Lost City also shares more of the setting's world building. We get a chance to see a range of how magical citizenry are treated by their mortal neighbours and governments, and by each other; themes of colonialism, classism, fetishization, and xenophobia are explored between and within both populations. In my opinion (and from my limited viewpoint) the book's satirical lean touches on these realistic aspects of our Elizabethan fantasy setting in a way that neither feels dismissive nor at odds with the overall lighter tone.

The book's humour is a strength, but it doesn't come at the cost of allowing some poignant moments. Darker aspects of the plot are always given the weight they deserve and leave a lingering impact on our leads. I always felt like these conflicting tones were well balanced, though I would have liked even more time to celebrate and grieve with these characters. It's easy to get invested and hard not to be left wanting more than the tight 276 pages we're given with them. That said, neither the friendships nor the romance suffer from the story's brisk pace. The cast goes through so much together and have such charming chemistry that it never strains my belief that they've already come to care for one another so deeply. It's hard not to fall in love with the little found family the main cast has become.

I didn't find this book to be quite as strong as the first, but still found it a deeply enjoyable addition to the series. It resolves just enough that I don't feel cheated and sets up the next book in a way that makes me all the more impatient for it.

A slightly expanded version of this review can be found on Goodreads.

This was just as fun as the first book was. I love the humor even if it is a little much sometimes. The found family aspect might be my favorite thing honestly. All the different creatures made me ready for Halloween and spooky reads. I can't wait for the next book!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for giving me an ARC.

This was a fantastic follow up to the first book. It had the same balance of humour, tenderness, and great world-building as the previous one, and developed the characters from the first book further.

I really liked the progression of Lazare and Fang's relationship - it felt like they moved beyond just physical attraction/minor crush into being in love, and it was so organic and well-written. I love that the characters are allowed to be silly and light-hearted, yet there are definite moments of seriousness and real emotion. Fang being a father to Tem is absolutely adorable and I love their progression of Fang finally giving into Tem calling him dad and allowing himself to be her father figure. It was so adorably wholesome.

It was really nice to see Nell return to her homeland. I like that she acknowledged that no one from her home supported her in her venture to start a business in London and recognised that she had already found her home with Tem, Lazare, Fang, and Amber. I love a good found family trope.

This had some genuine laugh out loud moments, as well as emotional moments that made me tear up, and an incredible twist at the end that was hinted at but I did NOT see coming.

This series is so incredible.

The world building and fight scenes are so well described that it draws the reader in. This book was a fun action packed adventure full of entertaining characters. This was my first experience with both the author and the series I was able to pick up this book with very little plot or character related mix-ups on my end. The romance was cute.

This is such an amazing book! The plot walks a tightrope between comedy and drama. The characters are endearing to a point. The twist at the end that was brilliantly foreshadowed but was never once spoiled. I found myself laughing out loud more than once during the whole read. If you’re looking for something a bit different in your fantasy reading pick up this book.

This series is so fun, so as soon as I saw this was read now on ng I requested it straight away, especially since I had just finished rereading the first book in preparation.

This book picks up directly where the first one finished, with our strange little family still trying to find a way to break the curse and travelling to Wales (Obviously the magical capital of the uk). I think this one suffered a little in comparison to the first book because there was so much going on. It was action packed, and whilst it kept the pace moving, I would have liked a little time to really sit with the characters. (Even the love confessions are done on the back of a fast moving dragon.)

I will say I loved the found family elements, and Tem being Fang's daughter is just the cutest thing in the world. This one was a little more angsty than the first book but I really liked the discussions around PTSD and trauma. Fang opening up to Lazare and them supporting each other was just lovely.

I am still going to continue the series to see how it all ends, these guys deserve to be a family and get their happy ending!