Blessed with a Curse

Title: Blessed with a Curse

Author: N.J. Nielsen

Publisher: MLR Press

Publishers URL: http://www.mlrbooks.com

ISBN/BIN: MLR 0102130189

Genre: {M/M}, Paranormal, Series

Rating: 5 Nymphs

Literary Nymph Reviewer: Critter Nymph

In the world of the Fey, being different could be deadly.  Storm, Heath and Heath’s siblings have banded together in order to stay safe.  While Storm cares for his ‘little family’, he loves Heath, whom Storm knows is his mate.  Just when he is getting ready to tell the other man, however, Storm is set up, separating Storm and Heath forever.

Blessed with a Curse is the first book in N.J. Nielsen’s new series The Experimentals.  This is a great read and fans of this sub-genre are sure to love it.  Sometimes one character will grab you more than another.  In this book it is easy to assume, because of what he is going through, that character would be Heath.  However, for me it was Storm. 

Storm is so in love with Heath that, even after a thirty year separation, he will do whatever is necessary to keep the other man alive.  He has gone on with his life as much as possible, always feeling the loss of his mate.  It is easy to understand the anger he feels at Heath and the others, just as it is easy to understand his feelings of being used once the group asks for a meeting.  In the beginning, Heath and his siblings made me want to smack them.  It was only as the story progressed and we learn more about what is going on that Heath’s actions become, at least, understandable if not always acceptable. 

I do like the way the author finally brings these two together, allowing the lingering feelings of anger and distrust to pepper the beginning of their new relationship.  The two men are hot together however, so expect some burning pages. 

There are a variety of interesting secondary characters in this story, some of whom it would be great to see in follow up stories.  There are some interesting twists in Blessed with a Curse, not all of which are cleared up, as this story sets up the ground work for the series.  

I am curious to see how the rest of this series will play out and can’t wait for the next book to show up.  If you love this sub-genre, you should really give this book a try.