Second Hand Curses

By: Drew Hayes

Narrated by: Scott Aiello, Marc Vietor, Tavia Gilbert

When your fairy godmother threatens to enslave you with a curse - when a malevolent piper solves your rat problem but steals your children - when you seek revenge on the prince who turned you into a frog - who can you turn to in your hour of need? The band of scoundrels known far and wide as the Bastard Champions - the swashbuckling trio who travel a world of legend, seeking adventure and righting wrongs - as long as there's enough gold to be earned. They are Jack, the seemingly unkillable leader whose ever-present grin belies a dark past; Marie, who fights with fury but battles more fiercely to control the beast within; and Frank, the master of logistics, whose cloak hides horrific scars that are far more than skin-deep. As they slash and scheme through kingdom and village alike, the Bastard Champions uncover tantalizing clues to their ultimate quarry: the powerful Blue Fairy, who has made each of their lives a living hell.

Second Hand Curses adds a dash of sly wit and a heaping portion of action to the fairy tales you thought you knew.

©2017 Andrew Hayes (P)2017 Audible Originals, LLC.

A wonderful surprise

I did not know anything about this author or this book when I purchased it from Audible. I am so glad that I chose it. Listening was a wonderful surprise. It was immensely entertaining from the very beginning. The author spins new stories from some of my favorite fairy tales. The spinoffs are much more imaginative than the originals and are funny and somewhat twisted, which makes them more fun. The three main characters, Jack, Frank and Marie, are magnificent. Drew Hayes creates captivating personalities for the three. Each is very different and are quite unique.

The book reveals the story through chapters that are fairly self contained, yet the chapters are connected and move us toward the three main characters search for the Blue Fairy. Jack is a lovable, carefree constantly smiling scoundrel. He is inordinately pleased to be a scoundrel. Jack is immortal, as long as he has money. Frank is animated, but he is not alive. Think of Frankenstein. He is measured, thoughtful, intelligent and adores children. He will do what it takes to protect children. There is a reason for that trait. Marie is a lovely Princess, but is cursed to turn into a huge killing monster when she gets angry. She is searching for a cure for the curse. The Blue Fairy, who is exceedingly powerful, can cure her and can help the two men with their issues, but they cannot find her. In the final chapter things come to a head at a proposed wedding. The book does not leave the listener hanging, but does leave room for a sequel.

Now for the best part - the narration by Scott Aiello, Marc Vietor and Tavia Gilbert. They are all three perfect for this story. What a marvelous treat!!! These three talents take a wonderfully written story and bring it to life. Fantastic choices. I hope there is a sequel and I hope that these three narrators are chosen to perform. I will certainly purchase that sequel as soon as it becomes available.

The Narrative

I thought this book would be corny, but Audible Only books usually are some of the best, so I took a chance. I loved this book. It was funny, the characters were engaging and layered, the story and flashbacks were perfectly timed and layed out. The concept of the "narrative" along with the other philosophical concepts and questions raised in this book was done seamlessly. the full cast of narrators enhanced the book adding to its enjoyment tremendously. If you want a light hearted but thoughtful book full of suprises, fun, and a good old fashioned quest - then get this book.

A Shining Example For Fantasy & Audio Books

I cannot remember how this book came to my attention. The genre is too hit-or-miss for me, and the Publisher’s Summary did little to distinguish itself. It was the audio sample that sold me, and I am very glad for its enchanting qualities. This book is great! Drew Hayes crafts a marvelous tale and world, with just the right degree of mystery. However, the narrators and production quality REALLY make this an amazing listen. Audiobooks like this are examples of how this format can be unique and delightful in ways traditional books cannot. I look forward to the sequel and this team working together again soon. Also, I really liked that it was only 9 hours long, as it allows for a tighter and richer story without the verboseness that stifles most fantasy novels.

A tail as old as time

The plot line has some cool moments but lacks the usually originality and interesting characters as other drew Hayes books

Charming book, and a new favorite!

I am so grateful that I stumbled across Drew Hayes in a previous sale on Audible. I had a great experience with his book called NPCs and Second Hand Curses is a new favorite for sure! The narrators did a fantastic job bringing this tale to life and it felt like it went by so quick, I was enjoying myself so much! The characters are fascinating takes on some fairy tales or stories we have already heard and the way their origins and the larger plot is woven through the episodic nature of the jobs in the early book is masterful. I honestly wish I could give this more than five stars, I was so pleased! Cannot recommend enough if you like any sort of twists on fairy tales or just want to smile at some new takes on old stories!

Twistedly Wonderful!

I love a good twisted fairy tale, so when I get an entire book of them with a common theme and set of characters that unifies it, I'm more than happy. And in true Drew Hayes fashion, the story does not disappoint. Bravo! I look forward to another book from Drew soon!

Really really GOOD!!!!

A amazing telling and weaving together of fairytales. I hope and can’t wait for a sequel.

Unique twist on classic tales

Second Hand Curses is an excellently written book that is perfect for anyone who is fond of classic fairy tales with dark twists

absolutely wonderful in plot and narration.

Exceeds my expectations.Hayes Fred series was OK but this is seriously excellent. great character development. highly original plot compelling narration. can't wait for more.

Pretty Good!

Again Drew Hayes has created an interesting, fun story that is easy to pick up.