Review: A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Title:  A Curse So Dark and Lonely 

Author: Brigid Kemmerer 
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Publishing Date:  January 29th 2019

Pages: 496
Genre: YA Retelling

Series:  A Curse So Dark and Lonely #1
Source:  ARC

 

Fall in love, break the curse.

It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper Lacy. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s instead somehow sucked into Rhen’s cursed world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. But as she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.

I was so excited to get my hands on this book, but I wanted to wait as close to the release date as I could for this book for the simple fact I had so many others to read. It was had to wait on this one but I did and it was worth the wait. I am a huge Beauty and the Beast fan. Any retelling... I must read. I love finding those that are loosely based and that have something special and different in the retelling. This book was that for me. The story was a retelling but it felt and read like it's own. It was well done and action packed and oh the characters. I just loved them all. 

Rhen is a cursed prince. He mingled with the wrong enchantress and now his kingdom and his life is in dire straights. Not only is he cursed to be a beast but this beast hunts and  kills. His family is gone, his kingdom is starving and now there are rumors that they are under attack. He has tried many years, many times, with many girls. Nothing seems to break the curse. He is tortured, his guard is tortured, his kingdom is tortured. 

Harper lives in the Washington DC. Her mother is sick. Her brother is stuck cleaning up their fathers mess. Life is hard...and now she has been kidnapped to an alternate world called Emberfall. Kingdoms are real, monsters are real, the prince is cursed, the guard is mean, and she is stuck. 

Harper and Rhen both know she can't break the curse, no girl can break this curse. Rhen is insufferable. The kingdom is harsh and no longer enchanting or beautiful. She spends her first days plotting her escape... but they longer they are together... they start to see each other differently and they come together to not just break a curse... not to save themselves... but to save a kingdom. 

I adored this book. I was worried at first. I mean first off its a big book to read. Second... there are so many Beauty and the Beast retellings out there... not all of them are good. I am always a little afraid when one comes out and it's got the hype, its sounds awesome... I want it to be awesome. This book was awesome. I really did adore it. The characters are well developed, unique, and so complex. The story had it's own element and stood on its own. It was a retelling but really it was all it's own. The structure was there but everything else was different and beautiful. 

I really think the characters are what made this story come to life. They were all so strong and lovable and different from each other. The only thing these characters shared was the strength and loyalty they have in their character. 

Harper was a strong girl with a voice. She was dealt a harder hand at the beginning of her life but she makes it work for her not against her. She has a hard life but she doesn't let it get her down. She loves her family fiercely, but most of all she is a selfless and giving person.  When she first reaches Emeberfall she only wants to get back home... but whens he realizes she can't and the people of Emberfall are in trouble... she gives herself the mission of doing what she can to make their lives easier, forgetting her own trouble. 

Rhen is stubborn but he is caring. It doesn't show much and even though in his past he was reckless with matters of the heart, his kingdom was important to him... especially after the curse when he is the only one of his family left. Unfortunately he is in no shape to fix the thing that are wrong so yes he does give up on everything but breaking the curse. He figures break the curse help the kingdom. It is Harper that helps him see differently. 

There is romance in this book... of course what would this retelling be without romance. And of course being a retelling of  Beauty and the Beast... we all know the end....one way or another things happen to break the curse. So yes the romance was there and it was just right. From hatred, to helping each other, to friendship to selfless love. 


The entire book is just good. Yes it's a little long and the beginning was a tad bit slow for me and so that is why the rating isn't as high as it could be. But let me tell you that is the only thing that made me not rave fanatically about this book... which I still kind of am. I can't wait for the next book.

Loved this book. I will await the next installment not so patiently. If you like fantasy, Beauty and the Beast, strong female characters, and a great romance... read this book. Like now!

Brigid Kemmerer is the author of dark, contemporary Young Adult romances like MORE THAN WE CAN TELL and LETTERS TO THE LOST (Bloomsbury), as well as paranormal YA novels like THE ELEMENTAL SERIES and THICKER THAN WATER (Kensington). Her next book will be her first foray into YA Fantasy, with A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY, available January 2019 wherever books are sold. Brigid lives in the Baltimore area with her husband and four sons.