MoodReads - Romance Book Discovery
The Stacks
DiscoverMy ShelvesReading Stats
Sign upLog in
MoodReads - Romantasy Book Discovery

because goodreads doesn't
have a spice filter

Discover

  • Discover Page
  • Reading Stacks
  • Tropes
  • Moods
  • Creatures
  • Spicy Books

Get MoodReads

  • so what is it.
  • iOS App
  • Browser Extension
  • MoodReads Premium
  • Gift a Subscription
  • For Creators
  • Share MoodReads

Go Deeper

  • FAQ
  • Roadmap
  • Request a Feature
  • vs Goodreads
  • vs StoryGraph
  • Who Built This?

The Serious Stuff

  • Values
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Support

get emails when something big happens. no spam, just news.

© 2026 MoodReads. Built by a romantasy reader for romantasy readers.

rattle the stars, bitches.

Cover of A Cursed Kiss

A Cursed Kiss

by Jenny Hickman

🌶️🌶️mild·Myths of Airren #1
3.9 on Goodreads (7,780)

Rate this book

sign in to add to shelves, track reading status, and see your stats

Available on Kindle Unlimited
find similar →
ReportSpoiler settings

Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

Irish mythology meets romantasy as a woman hunting the fae creature who killed her sister teams up with a roguish half-fae on a cross-country curse-breaking quest.

Synopsis

Living on an island plagued by magic and mythical monsters isn’t a fairy tale... it’s a nightmare. After Keelynn witnesses her sister's murder at the hands of the legendary Gancanagh, an immortal creature who seduces women and kills them with a cursed kiss, she realizes there’s nothing she wouldn't do to get her back. With the help of a vengeful witch, she’s given everything she needs to resurrect the person she loves most. But first, she must slay the Gancanagh. Tadhg, a devilishly handsome half-fae who has no patience for high society—or propriety—would rather spend his time in the company of loose women and dark creatures than help a human kill one of his own. That is until Keelynn makes him an offer he can’t refuse. Together, they embark on a cross-country curse-breaking mission that promises life but ends in death. Perfect for fans of Holly Black's Folk of the Air series and The Falconer, A Cursed Kiss is the first book in a series of interconnected novels and novellas set on the mythical island of Airren. (This book rates a 6 on the Romantic Content Rating System (RCRS))

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Jenny Hickman draws on Irish folklore in a way that feels fresh rather than derivative—the Gancanagh (a creature who kills with a kiss) is a genuinely creepy premise that raises the romantic stakes beautifully. Keelynn and Tadhgs banter carries the book, and the dual POV lets you watch them fall from both sides. The spice is mild but the emotional payoff is satisfying with an HEA. Great entry point for readers who love Holly Blacks Folk of the Air vibes but want something standalone-friendly.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

3.92 ★ (7.8k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

411 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2021

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Fantasy Romance

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Dual POV

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Slow Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Dual Narration (unspecified)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Zura Johnson, Zachary Johnson

Narrator Count

Dual

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
enemies to loversfated matescursed love interestforced allianceadventure romanceforbidden loveforced proximityonly one bed
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

adventurousromanticmysteriousmagicalbittersweetwitty

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

wittybanter-heavyatmosphericwarmengaging

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

medium

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

moderate

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

medium

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

forbidden desirepage turner

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

vengeful / revenge-drivensnarky/sarcasticsurvivor

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

rogue/scoundrelmorally gray MMCsecretly softfae princecursed MMC

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

enemies to loversbanterreluctant allies to loversgrumpy sunshinehe falls firstslow burn

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
Spice Level 2

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

Multiple on-page scenes but with tame, non-explicit descriptions. The romance simmers through banter and curse-breaking proximity rather than graphic detail.

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

tensionplayful banteranticipationlonging glances

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

None
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (5)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
sexual assaultdeath of loved oneviolencedeathgrief
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

mythologicalfae realm / faerie courts

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

coastal / island / beachforest / wilderness

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

faemonsters

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

romantic fulfillmentthe swoonearned hope

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

anytime

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

cozy eveningrainy weekendvacation

this page is just the start

  • import your Goodreads or StoryGraph TBR. we tag every book with spice, tropes, CWs, mood, all of it
  • tell us a vibe (“enemies to lovers fae, high spice”) and BookMatch finds the book
  • 4,000+ romantasy books searchable by 45 fields
  • book clubs, reading challenges, and a community of readers who get it
free account

Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️mild
PagesHow long the commitment is.411
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2021
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.3.92 ★ (7.8k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

Myths of Airren #1
Similar picks →

My Notes

Loading...

Short Takes

quick 280-character reactions for this book. drop a thought, rate the vibe, keep scrolling.

Sign in to share your take.

Loading...

Book Chat

live reactions, hot takes, screaming into the void about A Cursed Kiss

Similar Books

Cover of The Stolen Heir

The Stolen Heir

The Stolen Heir Duology, #1

Holly Black

🌶️🌶️·first person
enemies to loversarranged marriageforced proximity
Cover of Curse of Shadows and ThornsKU

Curse of Shadows and Thorns

The Broken Kingdoms, #1

L.J. Andrews

🌶️🌶️·dual POV·✓
hidden identityenemies to loversforbidden love
Cover of Blood & SteelKU

Blood & Steel

The Legends of Thezmarr, #1

Helen Scheuerer

🌶️🌶️·dual POV·✓
forbidden loveenemies to loverstraining partners to lovers
Cover of Sky in the Deep

Sky in the Deep

Sky and Sea, #1

Adrienne Young

🌶️🌶️·first person
enemies to loverscaptive romanceforced proximity
Cover of Daughter of the Pirate King

Daughter of the Pirate King

Daughter of the Pirate King, #1

Tricia Levenseller

🌶️🌶️·first person·✓
captive romanceforced proximityenemies to lovers
Cover of The Witch Collector (Witch Walker, #1)

The Witch Collector (Witch Walker, #1)

Witch Walker, #1

Charissa Weaks

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
forced proximitycaptive romanceonly one bed
Cover of These Hollow Vows

These Hollow Vows

These Hollow Vows, #1

Lexi Ryan

🌶️🌶️·first person·✓
love triangleforbidden loveenemies to lovers
Cover of A Curse So Dark and LonelyKU

A Curse So Dark and Lonely

Cursebreakers, #1

Brigid Kemmerer

🌶️🌶️·dual POV·✓
beauty and the beastcaptive romancefairytale retelling