Audiobook review: Cursed Claws by Danielle Garrett
Picking up a couple weeks after the conclusion of the previous story, Cursed Claws opens with Cora dealing with employee issues. Her candle shop is doing well, but the staff she’s hired isn’t working out. So when she gets a large order from Winterspell Chalet millionaire August Nell, she knows she needs more help. But when those candles put their users into an unwakeable coma, Cora needs to find out what happened to her candles before her shop has to close for good… or worse.
Cursed Claws is the third offering in the Nine Lives Magic series. I enjoy that there is a substantial plotline that continues from book to book, and that we witness character growth and development over the course of the series. The book’s standalone mystery is very personal to Cora: she is accused of hexing people with her candles. Since the police don’t believe she’s innocent, Cora must investigate solo (with the help of her familiar, Selene, of course). While it is a good mystery, and I enjoyed the plotline, I didn’t love that Cora’s wares are used in the crime for a second book.
As for the ongoing missing Aunt Lavender storyline, Cora and Selene make some decent headway. They also enlist the potential help of another female witch treasure hunter. Additionally, I enjoyed the continuing romance between Cora and Clint. Overall, I enjoyed the balance between the mystery, Lavender’s disappearance, and Cora’s personal life. And while Selene still annoying at times, she is growing on me.
Narration: Ms. Ronconi continues to provide the voice of Cora and her friends. Shared in the first person POV of Cora, Ms. Ronconi provides an upbeat voice for Cora, matching emotion fitting to the story. Ms. Ronconi alters each character’s voice based on age, gender, background, and species. And Selene’s voice is still awesome- a perfect fit for the annoying cat.
Cursed Claws is another fun entry in this paranormal cozy mystery series. I enjoyed the story, but really like that we see progression in both Cora’s personal life and the missing Aunt Lavender story.
My Ratings
Story: B
Narration: B+
Jen
About the Book:
Tracking down Aunt Lavender’s kidnapper is proving to be more difficult than running through a swimming pool filled with peanut butter. Every lead we uncover ends with more questions than answers.
We’re running out of ideas—and time, too. The mysterious Golden Lotus seems to hold the key to the investigation, but no one can tell us what it does or why Aunt Lavender might have been looking for it.
And if that wasn’t enough to keep both my cranky feline familiar and me completely occupied, we find ourselves thrust into the center of another criminal investigation—this time as the lead suspects.
We have to work together to clear our names and get the Winterspell PD off our tails so we can continue our hunt for Aunt Lavender and the mysterious Golden Lotus.
Time is burning faster than the wick on one of my enchanted candles, and I fear it’s about to sputter out.
Author: Danielle Garrett
Narrator: Amanda Ronconi
Series: Nine Lives Magic #3
Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Audiobook Release Date: December 14, 2021
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Length: 5 hrs 32 min
Source: Tantor Audio
Audio Speed: 1.25x
Purchase Info:
Audible/Amazon (affiliate link)
Reviews in the Series:
Witchy Whiskers by Danielle Garrett (Nine Lives Magic #1) – Audiobook Review
Hexed Hiss-tory by Danielle Garrett (Nine Lives Magic #2) – Audiobook Review