How to Break an Evil Curse

Title: How to Break an Evil Curse
Author: Laura Morrison

Princess Julianna may be cursed to dwell in darkness, but she’s no damsel in distress.

The King of the Land of Fritillary has incurred the wrath of his ex-bestie, the evil wizard Farland Phelps. Farland curses the King’s firstborn to die if touched by sunlight, and just like that, Julianna must spend her life in the depths of a castle dungeon (emptied of prisoners and redecorated in the latest fashion, of course). 

Warren Kensington is a member of a seafaring theater troupe. When the pirate ship he’s sailing on is damaged in stormy seas, he goes ashore and bumps into Julianna on the streets of the capitol. The pair accidentally uncover Farland’s plans to take over the throne. Julianna and Warren  are the only ones who can save the kingdom.

But the farther they travel, the more Julianna wonders whether her dad’s throne is worth saving. From an evil and greedy wizard? Well, sure. But from the people of Fritillary who are trying to spark a revolution? The people suffering in poverty, malnutrition, and other forms of medieval-esque peasant hardship? It doesn’t take Julianna long to find that the real world is far more complicated than a black-and-white fairytale.

ISBN: 978-1-951393-36-6
Price: $15.49 (paperback) $3.99 (Kindle ebook)
Release date: 5/30/24

Praise for How to Break an Evil Curse:

“Forget celebrity book club selections, boobs and booze beach reads, and whatever the heck those pretentious upmarket novels are supposed to be: your next entirely guilty indulgence needs to be Laura Morrison’s How To Break An Evil Curse. Unapologetically whimsical, this madcap fantasy adventure tale will have you laughing out loud and arguing loudly with ghosts no-one but you can see. Best read where you don’t have an audience, then, this fast-paced fairytale is a gift you give yourself, complete with pirates, wizards, doltish queens and irresistible revolutionaries. Best of all, there’s more to the story than makes it to the page, which means as soon as you finish, you’ll be ready for the next installment in the series. Treat yourself to this delightful magical romp, but brace yourself for a few surprises along the way.”
— Cassondra Windwalker, award-winning author of Hold My Place and Idle Hands

“This fractured fairytale may start with a cursed princess, but Morrison’s heroine is no damsel in distress.”
— Lindy Ryan, author of Bless Your Heart and Cold Snap

“If you have a sense of humor, this is the book for you, but if you have a great sense of humor, this is definitely the book for you. These pages are crammed full of personality, from the madcap characters to the narrator, who’s practically a character herself. Laura Morrison is one of my favorite authors, and the world of Fritillary is one I love to keep coming back to.”
— Jennifer Flath, author of The Black Pearl series

“How to Break an Evil Curse is an absolute delight! Silly yet funny, serious yet heartfelt, Laura Morrison is unmatched when it comes to developing wholesome, wondrous worlds still rife with enough conflict to keep readers turning pages. This riff on “classic” fairytales feels fresh and new, a feat on its own considering the source content. Morrison is a bright light among such dark times, and her writing always manages to make me smile with genuine affection. This book will certainly buoy even the sourest mood. I loved it.” 
— Tiffany Meuret, author of Cataclysm 

“Bright and with plenty of dimension, this novel will serve as a solid addition to any young adult fantasy collection.” 
— School Library Journal

“Sarcastic and snarky… How to Break an Evil Curse is a fun fantasy that packs a lot of action into its young feminist princess’s quest for sunlight and freedom.” 
— Foreword Reviews

“Irony, satire, and fun permeate this story — unusual devices in a tale many teens will pick up for its fantasy elements and promise of supernatural confrontations. YA readers in grades 7 and up will appreciate the complexity of this tale as well as its introduction to a special blend of humor. The female protagonist’s self-determination and feisty approach to her heritage, her life, and possibilities lead her beyond anything she’s been raised to believe in. Laura Morrison’s writing captures ribald circumstances and zany encounters that also turn the notion of good and evil upside down, as when Julianna and Warren encounter a thug who harbors his own different dreams. The result is at once hilarious and thought-provoking… While this story is created for teen readers, many an adult interested in re-envisioned fairytales will find How to Break an Evil Curse original, action-packed, and worthy of the read.” 
— Midwest Book Review