Book Review: A Curse so Dark and Lonely

Title: A Curse so Dark and Lonely

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Pub. Date: January 29, 2019

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

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.

This will be a spoiler free review.

Brigid was kind enough to give me an advance copy of her next book – A Curse so Dark and Lonely – a Beauty and the Beast retelling.

I’ve been a fan of Brigid’s for quite a few years now, and I’m so lucky to call her a friend. When I found out that ACSDAL was a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I got really excited. Then there was the cover reveal, and I died. I cannot wait to own a finished copy for my shelves. This book didn’t disappoint – not that I expected it to. Brigid is a phenomenal writer and it’s so easy to get completely immersed and lost in her books. I will forever be a fan, and will forever buy copies of her books.

I loved this book, completely. Which wasn’t a surprise. I knew I would love it, because Brigid has this way of making the characters feel so utterly real that it’s hard for me not to get sucked into their lives, their troubles. I loved that Harper didn’t let her Cerebral Palsy define her, that it didn’t make her any different than anyone else she passed on the street. Sure, dealing with it had made her toughen up to survive, but she didn’t let it stop her. She is fierce, confident and caring, From the moment she enters Emberfall – Rhen’s kingdom, she starts pushing boundaries, breaking down walls like a badass.

I totally would want to be Harper’s friend. She’s loyal and takes no shit from anyone, and calls people out on their own bullshit. She was like a breath of fresh air and she was such a badass.

Prince Rhen – he’s spent too long battling this curse, and he’s ready to give up, until something changes, and this is his last season to break it. Rhen – he needs someone to hug him – for a long time, and I volunteer. He had all but given up, resigned himself to this life he’d been cursed to live, and it weighed on him heavily. I felt for Rhen, for everything he had been going through. His distance made sense, but I loved the side of him that Harper brought out. For so long he only had Grey, and Grey rarely truly challenged him, but Harper did that constantly, and soon his point of view started changing, he had hope again when he thought there was none. It was nice to see this change in him, to see him grow as a character.

As for Grey, I l o v e d him. His character was great, and I also volunteer to give him all the hugs. He and Rhen have been together by themselves for so long that when Harper is brought to Emberfall, Grey gravitated towards her. I loved that they quickly became friends, while Rhen stayed in the corner content on being moody.

Their whole dynamic left me wanting more and more.

I also loved how the romance in the book played out. It didn’t revolve around Harper and Rhen falling in love in the typical Beauty and the Beast fashion. How their relationship builds felt so natural. Brigid has the ability to put to characters together and have them grow closer in a way that doesn’t feel forced or untrue to who they are. They learn and grow together, learning to understand one another, and it’s one of my favorite things about her writing.

Another thing I loved about this book was that all the main characters – the main players, their motivations were explained, they weren’t just good or bad for the sake of being good or bad. Even the “villain” character, her motivations are explained…even if they are a little bit ridiculous (in my opinion) but even that adds to the story.

I cannot wait to see what happens in the second book to A Curse so Dark and Lonely. The ending to book 1 will leave you in desperate need for more! I loved this book so much and have already passed it on to my friend – I need her to read it and give it back, so I can read it again.

If you’re looking for a slow burn Beauty and the Beast romance, with kick ass characters, a curse, the threat of war and blooming friendships – then you’ll want to check this book out when it comes out January 29, 2019! You won’t regret it.

If you’re interested, here are some of my reactions while reading the book –

https://twitter.com/lexacourtney/status/1049461700611768320

https://twitter.com/lexacourtney/status/1049484710441824257

https://twitter.com/lexacourtney/status/1049505257125007360

https://twitter.com/lexacourtney/status/1049522010366324736

If you’ve read A Curse so Dark and Lonely – what did you think?

Also, let me know what your favorite kind of fairytale retelling is!

Let me know in the comments!