Lana Harper's From Bad to Cursed, the sequel to Payback's a Witch, is another enchanting paranormal rom-com set in the charming, witchy small town of Thistle Grove. Until one family took over, Thistle Grove's four founding families lived mostly in harmony, each focused on a different branch of magic and building their businesses accordingly. The family of Isidora (Issa) Avramov works with death magic--necromancy, speaking to spirits and summoning demons--so when a witch from another family is hexed in public, the town immediately suspects them. Veterinarian Rowan Thorn and Issa have been at odds ever since he fired her from her volunteer gig at the local animal shelter but, now that someone has tried to kill his cousin, they must work together to bring the culprit to justice.
In pairing a Thorn and an Avramov, Harper (Poison Priestess, writing as Lana Popović) plays with the enemies-to-lovers and opposites-attract dynamic: Rowan's magic is that of life, growth and nature, while Issa's is of death. The strongest scenes are those in which the main characters experience each other's gifts and learn to appreciate both the magic and the person wielding it. The romance itself develops gradually and, once again, Harper dedicates much of the novel to relationships among women and family. Still, Rowan and Issa face the dramatic climactic battle together, their respective skills necessary for peace and community.
Harper cuts the sweetness with just the right amount of spookiness, resulting in a paranormal-lite romance that can be enjoyed any time of year.--Suzanne Krohn, librarian and freelance reviewer