My main complaint: It was BORING! Nothing happened at all, it was way too long. And this 20 pages of action at the end, did not make up for the non-action in the first 450 pages..

The book started of really promising and I was really interested. But then nothing happened, and it kept repeating itself. If the book was 200 pages shorter, I think I would have liked it way more. Since the writing was really good but they should just have skipped a big part of the story.

I was contemplating to stop reading this book so much, but every time I thought ‘maybe in the next chapter something will happen’, and every time it was not the case.. I should DNF books more easily, since it does not make sense to read books I do not enjoy.

I’m still giving this book 2 stars because the writing was really good, and it did like the authors take on the beauty and the beast story! I would definitely look into other books she would write in the future.

I would only recommend this book to people who like a really really slow romance.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

This is a Beauty and the Beast Retelling and I was so excited to get my hands on this. Doubly so when I saw it was written by Birgid Kemmerer. I’ve heard so many good things about her other books, especially Letters to the Lost.

Although one can definitely see the inspiration from the original tale, the base work of the story, Kemmerer did put her own spin on things and I quite enjoyed myself reading this. In fact, I read 75% of this book in one go because I just couldn’t put it down. So points for Intrigue!
It's more than a love story, or a curse, it's about what you're willing to give and about the politics of leading a country.

In this story, Harper is from DC and gets (somewhat) accidentally dragged into another world; Emberfall. She doesn’t go willingly nor quietly. I really enjoyed her reactions to this. Her struggling with helping or staying out of things was really relatable. And poor Grey having to deal with her (a little irony, but also .. really)

Which brings me to my first big surprise: how well the two worlds blended together. Normally I’m very cautious of a book where a character from our modern world gets whisked away into a fairy type country. It poses a lot of problems. How well and fast does the character adapt to being essentially thrown back in time for about 100-200 years? How do the people from said other world react to the characters language, customs, clothes etc?

But I shouldn’t have worried because it was beautifully done. Grey, who is the loyal (and only) guard of Prince Rhen gets the power to travel to our world to … well … kidnap/convince a girl to come with him to Emberfall. He’s done this quite a lot lately (327 times to be exact) so he is fairly used to our world.

Harper, on the other hand, is first caught up in the danger of being dragged away and focuses on escaping and manages to ignore or explain away some stuff at first. And while she is awed by the castle and everything her priority is getting away (sensible girl right there!)
I loved the fact that she could get around reasonably well because she did horse riding back when she was younger as a form of therapy for her cerebral palsy. (Loved this because one, as far as I can tell, her cerebral palsy is written very well and carefully, but it also makes it way more plausible for her to be able to ride (not that that can’t be a hobby just because but it didn’t feel as convenient this way for me)).
And the things I liked most about her? She was fierce, yes, brave and a little bit reckless, but she also listened when people told her something was dangerous (well most of the time). She strived in Emberfall. She strived and really came into herself and seeing what she is capable of doing if people just let her.

Rhen was enjoyable to read about. I’m not head over heels in love with him, but he was a solid character and the more I learnt about him the more I actually liked him. I did pity him in all the scenes with Lillith (I’ll talk about her in a sec) and I quite liked the way he handled those situations.
He was a little bit lost, poor boy. And quite defeated but didn’t wallow in self pity which I really appreciated.

And now Lilith. This is one of my only complaints about this book. She is the villain and she was quite flat tbh. I love me a good complex villain. She was not.
She is wicked, no doubt. and some scenes are great and maybe it is because she isn’t in the book that often, is not really the focus, but I did miss a well written villain a bit.

But my fav has to be Grey. As I said, he is Rhen’s guard and he is loyal. Like extremely loyal! And though he is a bit standoffish he has a secret charming site that we get to see from time to time.

The worldbuilding is on point. It’s not overwhelming but you do really get a sense of what Emberfall looks like and what the people have been through.

The ending was relatively predictable and I did get to a point were I was like … really?? ("I can see no path to victory"?!) But I did still enjoy it and there were some things I did not necessarily see coming.
What I really appreciated about the ending was how the relationship ended and what was being said. You’ll know what I mean when you’ve read the book.
And the last scene? Although predictable it still did make me excited to read the sequel!

All in all I can really recommend this book if you like retellings. I certainly enjoyed my time reading. I flew through it!
Although I do think this is a very in-the-moment type of book … meaning I enjoyed it immensely while reading, but after finishing it and letting my feelings settle a bit I did notice a few things here and there that weren’t my favourites. (Also, I would’ve liked to know more about Harpers life before Emberfall.)

Huge thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book!

Anyone who knows me, knows that Beauty and the Beast is my favourite fairytale and Disney movie, so I am automatically critical of any kind of retelling/reimaging of the classic but Brigid Kemmerer did an amazing job with this novel! She took the story and twisted it into something dark and juicy and completely different but yet somehow still very much the same. I am in awe of the author and in love with this book.

Full (spoiler-y) review here: http://wmsreads.tumblr.com/post/182317073362

A Curse so Dark and Lonely is one of the most hyped books of this year in the YA fantasy community. When I started reading it, I was expecting the usual Beauty and Beast retelling, the girl falling in love in the end and then all problems are solved... but this was so much more than that.

Harper is a no-nonsense character. I absolutely loved that about her. She's tough, kind-hearted, brave and she is a great rep for cerebral palsy, in my opinion. I don't have cerebral palsy, so I cannot speak from experience, but I never thought she was badass despite that, but rather it was just something else about her, like being short. Rhen is complicated, difficult to love and always scheming. The character development in this book is amazing. I spent a lot of time wondering if I wanted them to fall in love or not, worried about the kingdom, swooning a bit over Grey, and generally being tense waiting for terrible things to happen any time. Which, you know, they do.

This book is so dark and gritty and takes an emotional toll on the reader. I wanted things to be alright but had no idea how they ever would. The storytelling is wonderfully seductive, and the twists and difficult decisions and sacrifices that were made all the time broke my heart. There is so much at stake, and it gets more and more complex as the story goes. I am almost scared to read the next book. I could barely sleep the night I finished this, going through the details and the twists in my head and possible outcomes.

As dark fantasies go, this is one of the best I've read so far!

Honestly, I came into this book with the highest of hopes, Beauty & The Beast is my favourite Disney movie of all time, any retelling, re-imagining, adaption is under the highest of scrutiny by myself. But A Curse So Dark & Lonely delivered every single chapter! I was not disappointed at any point.

I loved this book from beginning to end, the concept is awesome, I was explaining the idea to my mother and she was astounded someone thought this up. A girl from DC is transported to a parallel universe because she needs to fall in love with a prince and break the curse, and she has about 8-12 weeks to do it, it's not your garden variety YA fantasy. But it was written expertly, I was never lost, never confused, I was always too interested in the page I was on I didn't try to work out the plot early. I just let the book take me there. My favourite way to experience a book.

Written in the perspective of Harper and Prince Rhen I was screaming at the pair of them, "Do you not see he loves you" "Are you blind, she's obviously feeling something for you FOOL". As you can tell, I was rather invested in these two. Their relationship was wonderful to watch grow, no instalove, every eye catch, half smile and caught breath was earned by each side. Harper was always on the defensive, Prince Rhen always hitting her with the charm. at least for the first quarter of the book. After a certain altercation with the  sorceress, Lilith, it's obvious Harper isn't as angry at him as she's been making out.

Rhen is broken, from the moment he meets Harper, he's been trying to end the curse on his kingdom for 5 years and with Harpers arrival, the sorceress that cursed him makes this his last chance to break the curse. With nothing to lose accept the worst, Rhen tells Harper everything and she is less than amused. Grey, the kings guard and glue that keeps the kingdom, prince, and Harper in one piece is the sassiest, most honourable character in the book and he is the perfect medium for the pair. His strict, controlled conversations with each character, bring depth and understanding to both Harper and Rhens plights. Harper's cerebal palsy is acknowledged at the right times and respectfully written into the book. In the acknowledgements, Brigid confesses she consulted a friend who has CP for help and further understanding. Harper is SO bad-ass, and strong and emotional and perfect. I loved her. I can't wait for more!

I promise even with the above spoileryness there is SO much more to this book! I loved it, I've pre-ordered it, I need this on my bookshelf for those quotes, the sass and the love story, because deep down, that's what I came for.

Would recommend to fans of... Beauty And The Beast, hate to love relationships and sassy Royal Guards (be still my beating heart for Grey)

Star Rating: 5

ACTUAL RATING 4.5

A Curse So Dark and Lonely opens on New York. A teenaged girl, Harper, waits as lookout for her brother as he threatens an unknown person who hasn’t paid their debts. While she waits, a woman is being kidnapped, stolen from the streets by a man determined to save his lands by breaking his curse with her love. Next minute, the tables are turned and suddenly he is on the ground while his prey runs for her life and Harper brandishes a tire iron. Fade to black and she wakes to a foreign room, foreign men and her kidnapper awaiting her return to the world of the living. I loved how this opened, it got me excited for a novel which has been hyped to within an inch of its pre-publication life. But let me tell you now, it actually deserves it.

Now, if you aren’t into the cover thing, that’s all good but seriously, my main reason to request this from Bloomsbury was this cover. Its blue (the arcs are shiny, and silver and I covet them but meh, Ill just have to get the normal one) and covered in leaves. It’s all ambience and broody and pretty much tells the reader just what they are getting in for.

Harper has cerebral palsy; she should be limited by life but instead finds ways around it. Throw a villain at her? Instead of fighting fair, she uses her surroundings. Need to escape? Well, she can’t climb but she can sure as hell try. She doesn’t let her altered ability stop her and I absolutely loved it. For the majority of the novel, I actually forgot she had legs that don’t work properly because honestly, except for the few points where she mentions it and the little passage at the end, Harper is a normal teenager who hates being confined to their room but refuses to speak to her elders. Basically, she is genius when it comes to an MC.

The men of the piece, Rhen and Grey, are so damned knightly and proper, I actually rolled my eyes at their introduction. But only for a minute. After around 1/3 of the novel, I wanted to beat Rhen to a bloody pulp because, honestly, you just can’t fix stupid. Grey on the other hand, I wanted to grab a hold of and whole bodily push him in the direction of his lady friend. By the end however, I just wanted everyone to be ok. Like, that ending had me feeling all the feels (not cool Kemmerer).



Now essentially, A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a Beauty and The Beast retelling but reversed so as the prince gradually becomes more Beastly than less. It’s a great twist and one I really enjoyed. At its bare bones this tale would have been good. Under Kimmerer’s guidance, it was amazing. The scenery was magnificent with its changing of seasons after a single step, the castle felt more like it had personality than just being a random building and instead of a wilting rose, this version has scales which slowly creepy onto our prince. I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and story, but the real stars of the show would have to be the secondary characters.

First off Harper’s handmaiden is just auntie goals. She is soft and squishy and full of love but also has a diamond hard exterior where nothing can get to her. Karis Luran, while rarely actually present is so sinister that I cower at the thought of her attacking the unwitting neighbouring lands. She is all spite and venom and ultimatums (A+ girl-villains!). Jamison is just so ridiculously loyal that I can’t fault him. He is knightly and regal but knows what it is to be close to rock bottom.

But the ultimate meanie crown and my favourite character would have to be Lillith. A scorned witch determined on getting revenge, she puts Rhen into an endless loop of torment for his sins. Occasionally popping in for a visit to check on his progress, the Witch Queen (not an official title but what can you do) is all things vindictive. I especially loved her torturing Grey for being protective of Rhen. Note to everyone out there – if you want to write a nasty girl who hates men, check out this novel because this woman is amazing. I feel she is warranted in her actions and you will fil at any attempt to convince me otherwise.

My only peeve with this was the fact that I found it just a tad too predictable. From Rhen and Harper’s narrative arc’s to Grey’s real identity, I was unfortunately able to pick them all.

The clichés aside, I found this novel very enjoyable and accidentally read it straight through, finally going to bed at 3am. It’s a very healthy and almost perfect 4.5/5.

Let me just say I can't wait for the second book! I was immediately in love with Harper's headstrong character, who was able to work with what she got dealt in life and strive to make things better for herself! I also was amazed at how seamlessly the plot of 'Beauty and the Beast' was woven into the story! I was enchanted *snicker* from the first few chapters!

I had a little trouble getting to understand a few of the motives behind plot changes, as I did feel that suspense was built in weird places, and then wandered off a little bit. Secondly is the fact that I was left wanting a little in the love triangle area, because yes, although they can get a bit tedious, what is more annoying is when there is an obvious space for one but this wasn't addressed. I just found that perhaps the dynamic should have been a little bit more intense since there were quite a few implications of "well, why don't you get with her/him?'. These are probably my only issues with this novel. Well, that and the fact that I haven't gotten the second one in my hands yet.

Ultimately, I would say that if you are into Fairy Tale retellings and the fantasy genre, as well as kick-ass characters, then 'A Curse So Dark and Lonely' is certainly the way to go! This retelling is not quite along the lines of stories like 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' but certainly try it out if a retelling is what you want. Be warned, it is a bit gruesome with a few references to suicide, so please do not feel that we have not sufficiently warned you!

Until I read this book, I thought that I was fed up of Beauty and the Beast retellings. I mean there are some amazing ones out there, but in the last few years, we've had rather a lot quite close together. But A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a Beauty and the Beast retelling like no other. It was a beautifully unique take on the story while also keeping the heart of the story strong and powerful.

Obviously I have to comment on Harper's cerebral palsy. This is the first character I've seen in a fantasy story with a disability like this and I felt it was handled beautifully. I'd love to see a review from some with cerebral palsy myself as I can't say anything about the accuracy of the writing, but Kemmerer made sure that it was a part of who she was and while also making sure not to see her only as her cerebral palsy. Harper was beautiful, strong, capable and determined. She wanted to learn how to do everything and refused to let her disability hold her back, except when it came to dancing (because who isn't going to be put off by passed experiences?) It felt so real and I loved her so much.

The fact that Rhen went through most of the story not as a physical beast was so interesting. I had my doubts about it at first, but it worked so well. Because at the start of the story? Rhen was a bit of a beast personality-wise. It was interesting to see how much the curse had made him close himself off, how the very fact that he was turning into a monster at the end of every season and killing everyone he cared about was shutting him off and making it pretty impossible for him to find the love that would break the curse. Until Harper of course. Watching him and Harper move around each other and slowly open up to each other was also just perfect.

I think this is the retelling of Beauty and the Beast that has felt the most real to me. Because the love was so real that it hurt.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury UK for giving me a chance to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this YA fantasy Beauty and The Beast re-telling.  The synopsis sounded right up my street and I was really excited to get into it.

The story centers on Prince Rhen of Emberfall and Harper who is from our world.  An unfortunate encounter between Harper and Rhen's one and only remaining guard, Grey, leaves Harper reeling and most definitely not in DC anymore. 

It's made very clear from the start that this is Rhen's last 'season' of which there have been hundreds, though time outside of his castles estate is passing much slower than within.  I felt like the story was almost made to seem stagnant at the start to reflect on Rhen's state of mind, he almost goes through the motions of his life, so when Grey appears with a very angry Harper, brandishing an iron bar, I think they both realised pretty sharpish that maybe this season wasn't going to go quite to plan.

I really liked the addition of Freya and Jamison into Ironrose Castle; they added a bit more to the story, as well as Zo.  It was really nice to see how both Rhen and Harper reacted around other people; especially with Harper the driving force behind most of Ironrose's new residents.  Rhen and Grey's relationship is also really well written, and you could tell how fiercely loyal a person Grey is.

The story wove together very well and I actually couldn't put it down when I hit the final 40%, which I read in one go.  Really well done - and that epilogue, wow, I can't wait to read more from this universe and find out all the information after the epilogue!

Age Range

I’d say that this book is marketed at the YA category; so would suit ages 13+

Finally – Would I Recommend It?

Yes definitely – I love a good retelling and this is definitely up there as a favourite.  I can't wait a whole year for the sequel, it's too long! A Heart So Fierce and Broken, which is set for release in January 2020.  Also, the paperback is to die for, so pretty!

4/5 ✰

I picked this up after hearing so many amazing things from other reviewers and friends, and like them, was not disappointed. I don't know what it was about this book that made me love it so much, but I flew through this in a matter of days, and loved every single minute. The characters were sassy, and strong, and the story was so fresh when compared to other re-tellings of the same story. I'm used to seeing the beast portrayed as purely that, and being fully aware of his actions within that state, that seeing it from a different perspective was like a breath of fresh air.
In addition to that, the decision to choose a female protagonist that was not from the same world as the prince, and was also disabled, was unique all in itself.
Everyone knows the story about a prince who needs to find a girl to fall in love with him in order to break the curse. It's a tale as old as time (see what I did there?) but what if the girl is a modern day Belle, who wasn't supposed to be taken into that story? This book answers that with ease.

Like many people, Beauty and the Beast was one of my favourite films as a child, and I love seeing it be retold time and time again, but I'm growing bored of the same old story. Kemmerer twists this brilliantly into something new, and somewhat unexpected. Harper is strong-willed, and relies solely on herself. She comes from a less than savoury background, and had learnt to deal with the tough hands life throws her way, and this clearly comes across in the book. She stands up to Rhen and Grey, and earns their respect, just as they earn hers. And the fact she's disabled definitely made this better for me.
It's something we rarely see in literature, especially YA fantasy. There's a lack of disabled characters, with very few examples springing to mind for me (honestly, the only one I can think of right this very moment is Kaz Brekker from the Six of Crows duology), and this allowed more diversity to be included. Harper's CP doesn't hinder her that badly, and it's made very clear that it affects different people differently, and after reading the acknowledgements, it was nice to see that Kemmerer had consulted people who suffered with CP, and made amendments based on their thoughts and opinions.
Harper's disability only made her stronger in other ways, and her development throughout the book was done fantastically.

Rhen's character development was also ridiculously amazing. The part he plays, tortured, spoiled, and roguish, were typical of what we expect, but seeing things from his perspective put a nice twist on things. Sure, he's the stuck up prince we're all accustomed to, but his feelings were incorporated in a more accessible way. You can see his persona change throughout the book, with each new thing that happens, and that's nice.

Of course, there's not a lot about this book that really surprised me. We all know the basic plot line. But I was left captivated, glued to the page, and sucked into the world of Emberfall. I found myself wanting to stay and find out what happened to these two characters, and felt upset when things went awry. The writing kept me wanting more, and I was sorry to let go of it all at the end (but yay for sequels right?), wishing I could stay in that world forever.
It's quickly become one of my favourite reads of all time, and I know it'll be one I'll be thinking about for a long time.
If you pick up any retelling this year, make it this one!

I loved this. It was dark, moody, twisty and overall wonderful. I loved the characters, the setting and the premise. Just a stalker retelling and example of how to do it right.

Cannot wait for more.

Where do I even begin with A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY?

I'm a huge fan of "Beauty and the Beast" and when I got approved to receive an ARC of this novel, I simply felt so very lucky.

This contemporary retelling of the all-time-favourite fairy tale is simply UNPUTDOWNABLE! It's fast-paced, exceptionally well-written, with much darker themes than the original, well-known story, and unique, unforgettable characters.
The narration is beautiful and for a reader like me, who adores descriptions, this novel is such a wonderful treat!

I absolutely adored the multiple points of view, as they allowed me to get a general perspective and get to know the characters in depth.
The love story felt so very realistic and I truly enjoyed the unique take in the original tale. Also, I recently found out there's going to be a sequel, so I do look forward to seeing how Harper and Rhen are going to evolve as characters.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to everyone who loved the ACOTAR series, by Sarah J. Maas, as well as THE CRUEL PRINCE, by Holly Black.

CONTENT WARNINGS: Abduction, death, murder, gore, torture, abuse, attempted sexual assault, talks of suicide, cancer, and ableist comments.

In this retelling of the well-known Beauty and Beast story, Harper, a troubled teen, is pulled from her hometown of modern-day Washington DC and thrust into the land of Emberfall. The land is ruled by Rhen, a prince who has been cursed to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over until his finds love. At the end of each ‘season’, a monster terrorises Rhen’s country, killing his own people. Rhen and his only companion, loyal Commander Grey, are losing hope that the curse will ever be broken. At first, the sullen and wilful Harper seems unlikely to be the land’s salvation, but as it becomes apparent that Emberfall is threatened by more than just the monster, Harper can’t help but care for the fate of her new home. However, her feelings for Rhen are not so simple.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the three main characters and the chemistry between them. There’s plenty of tension, angst and hints of deeper feelings. Rhen at first doesn’t seem a very complex character, but gradually, the layers of his character are unfolded. Harper is an admirable, strong character. She is affected by her cerebral palsy during some of the action of the story but the condition does not define her. It was refreshing to see a strong main character affected by a physical disability and I thought it was sensitively portrayed. My favourite character is the enigmatic and stoic Grey and I enjoyed his interactions with both Harper and Rhen.

This story contains an interesting mix of a traditional fantasy land with brief glimpses of Harper’s modern urban hometown. I was enchanted by the world of Emberfall and the mystery and magic of the curse. I would definitely like to read more about these characters and their world.

I was so curious to see how this Beauty and the Beas retelling will go. It was for sure one of my top anticipated books of 2019 and it didn't disappoint. I loved all of the elements used in the book, writing is as great in her other books. i was curious how it will go, now that this was something completelly new, compared to her other works, but a good author can write about anything and everything. I would highly recommend this book as the other ones

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley months ago, but I was kinda scared to read it because I know that there's going to be a sequel and I really didn't want to wait well over a year for the next book! I also read some reviews before reading this book and a few of them say that this book is similar to A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass! I haven't read that book, which I think made me enjoy this book more! I'm also not a fan of retellings and this book is a Beauty and the Beast retelling! I tried to keep an open mind, and after reading, I can say that I enjoyed this book! It did take me a few chapters to get into the plot, but I then became very invested to find out what was going to happen next and how the plot was going to end! The plot also had some action scenes in it, which added a lot, and some romance too! The romance was slow to develop, which made me really happy because there was no way it could have been instant love lol! The characters were also amazing and made this book even better! Rhen was the main male character, and in this book, Rhen was the beast and had had a curse put upon him! I did feel for Rhen because he was the prince of a kingdom and he didn't have a lot of people surrounding him! His curse was also hard for him to deal with and he carried a lot of guilt because of it! Rhen also cared a lot about his love interest and his feelings for her developed as the plot did! He was protective of her too! Harper was the main female character and love interest of Rhen! She was sort of portrayed as Belle in this book! I loved Harper in this book! She was a strong character and she grew a lot! Harper also had a disability, but she didn't let this hold her back and she still kicked some ass when she had to! Harper also cared a lot about her mother and her brother and she just wanted them to be happy and together! This made it difficult for her in this book because she was in a brand new place and she had to adjust quickly! I loved that this book was written from both Rhen and Harper's point of views! I was hoping that it was going to be written from dual point of view after I read the synopsis, so I'm really glad that it was! It helped me connect and understand Rhen and Harper more and it allowed for more things to happen in the plot, especially as they were both going through their own situations and didn't spend every minute of the plot together! I now can't wait to read the next book in this series! I will now have to wait a year for it to release lol, which I tried to avoid, but judging by the title, it's going to be worth the long wait! I'll definitely be reading it and this author has another release this year too! The cover for this book is absolutely perfect for it! I loved it as soon as I saw it and I'm really happy that the UK covers looks the same as the US one! It matches the feel and what happens in the book too! Big thank you to Brigid, Bloomsbury, and Netgalley for an ARC of A Curse So Dark and Lonely!

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast which weaves together modern day life and life from a different world. I love all of the fairytale retellings around lately, it adds a piece of homely nostalgia to a new story.

Harper, our main character, is a strong-willed individual with a tumultuous home life and a passion for fighting injustice. It was really nice reading about a MC with a visible and prominent disability (cerebral palsy), who refused to let herself or anyone think of her as any less competent in any task, because of this. I enjoyed reading Harper's transition into a fearless, commanding young woman. Harper is granted an agency which females in these types of stories often aren't, she is told about the curse up front (although not the part where Rhen is the actual monster) and is allowed to figure out how she feels about that and is encouraged to pursue where she felt she needed to go.

Rhen, the "beast" with the curse, was not as fully fleshed out as I would have hoped, but I did like the fact that he developed into a person that he thought deserved not only Harper, but his kingdom.

Grey is the Commander of the Royal Guard and Rhen's loyal subject. His friendship with Harper is probably one of my favourite parts of the story. It's rare for a story like this, with characters like these, to not turn into a love triangle - but I am so glad that it didn't. Platonic opposite-sex relationships are something that are sorely missing from popular books.

I found this story to be quite engaging and the ending was left on enough of a cliffhanger to justify a second book, which I am interested in seeing how it develops and what the end result will be.

*thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Highlights

the world

the romance

the beast 

Overall

I got totally engrossed into this book pretty quickly. I loved Harper as the main character and I really loved Rhen as the prince. 

This book is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Normally I don't like to read retellings because since I know the original story I should know what happens in the retelling too. Assuming the author stays true to the original story. Which in theory you don't know before you've read the retelling 

The Story

In this retelling of The Beauty And The Beast, we follow Harper and Rhen. It's a dual perspective and we start off with Harper. She lived in DC with her brother and her sick mother. 

One night as Harper is helping her brother out on "a job" she gets whisked away (#kidnapped) to "the other side" where she meets Rhen the Prince of Emberfall. The beginning is very typical beauty and the beast storyline but as the relationship between Harper and Rhen develop the book forms its own domain away from the original. 

What I liked about this retelling was, in the beginning, it informs us of how this curse is not what the originals story's curse is. Already we as readers know this will not entirely be the same. This curse is a constant repetition of a season and off an event. The original curse was permanent and ongoing without any resets. I like this new version because it made more sense to me. If I were cursed like that I would definitely try an jump off a bridge. 

Some plotlines may have been a bit easy, but at the same time, I was connected to Harper and bought into everything she did and said. It made perfect sense to me.

World Building

We get the most of the world building through Harper as she like us are new to Emberfall. We get thrown into the setting in the first chapter and it starts off small. Firstly its just a few areas but as Harper starts to explore so increased the world building. 

I found the building not too steep and that it had a natural progression which felt to be the right pace. Yes, considering we all get thrown into Emberfall straight away there is a lot to take in, but I felt it was done it a nice and easy manner. 

Magic System

The only magic in this place is from the enchantress Lilith who has laid a curse on the land and heir of Emberfall. I'm not sure how it works but there was mention of a blanket and feeling others along the blanket. It made me think of Poison Study and who the magic of the world wrapped itself around the world like a blanket. You could feel the thug of someone taking too much and you would know if you were the only one there. However, in A Curse So Dark And Lonely I felt that the magic came from essentially bad or angry people searching for revenge. I would have liked to see good people with magic too but maybe it doesn't exist in this world. 

The Characters

Harper is the main character in the book and she is born with cerebral palsy but won't let that hold her back. She is strong-willed and kind. I recognised her from myself and I could relate to everything she did. That is probably how I got so engrossed with this book and how I now still can't think about it. Because I was there, I was Harper. All in all, I liked how she wasn't a dolled up, beauty queen type character. I really enjoyed her being a non-perfect empowered woman who tried to save people.

Rhen is the prince/beast of the story. I felt he was the perfect choice for Harper and I liked to see his side of the Beauty and the Beast storyline. He was a prince sick of the repetition of the curse and can come across as arrogant. But deep down he is kind and lovable and I totally love him!

I'm all for this ship!

Grey is the Commander and Rhen's personal guard, the only remaining guard. Its just him and Rhen in the castle these days and Grey is the one to find the girls for Rhen. I like Grey and found to have a lot of questions about him in the end. 

LGBT+?

Yeah, there is something on the sideline, and it's very cute. 

Writing

I had an ARC from NetGalley and the number of formatting issues was insane and so were the spelling mistakes. At some point it got distracting, but I still enjoyed the content and the book so I managed to look away from the issues. The ARC was said to be a Draft so the final version could be different but I definitely hope the formatting and spelling issues are fixed in the final version.

Apart from that, I enjoyed the writing and felt the pacing was just right. 

Summary

I loved it! 

I totally ship Harper and Rhen 🥰

I have so many questions about how it ends that I can't even mention here because of spoilers. A lot of them involves Grey.

I can't wait for book two!

I don't read fantasy that often. It has to really speak to me for me to pick it up. And that's exactly what happened when I saw the blurb for this on Netgalley. It sounded intriguing, and thankfully, it didn't disappoint. There were two main things that drew me in - the curse, and the fact that the MC has cerebral palsy. I am a sucker for a good curse. Probably because I'm trying to write a book involving a curse myself, so I pass it off as research, but it's turned into a bit of an obsession if I'm honest. And the cerebral palsy - I will always champion books with disabled MCs, as long as they do it well. Kemmerer did it extremely well. Harper's disability is a part of her, but it doesn't define her. It certainly doesn't hold her back. I thought this aspect was a refreshing change from the usual MCs, and was treated with great sensitivity and insight. Well researched, and well-written.

Phew, all that fangirling and I've not even covered the plot. So, it's a new take on Beauty and the Beast. I'm not usually a big fan of fairytale reboots to be honest, but this one was done in a rather marvellous way. The magic is dark and terrible, which is my favourite kind, and the bones of the old story were used rather than the flesh, which makes it original and appealing.

I'm pretty sure there's going to be another book to be had from this story, maybe more, and I bloomin' can't wait for it!

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is Brigid Kemmerer’s latest release and is a unique and delightfully told take on the classic Beauty and the Beast tale, drawing readers into a bewitching world where danger, magic and romance mingle and two very different individuals find themselves drawn together to prevent a war and cure a curse.

Prince Rhen is the heir to the throne of Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress, Rhen is doomed to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year until over and over again until he can find a woman to fall in love with him. Once a charming and charismatic young man, Rhen believed that the curse would be easy to break, but with each failed year where he turns into a brutal monster at the end, Rhen has all but lost hope. With his family long killed by the monster he can’t control, Rhen has watched helplessly as the kingdom fell into disrepair and his monster ravaged his people. Life has never been easy for Harper Lacy. Her father left long ago, her mother is dying from cancer and her brother works for a mobster in order to keep their family afloat. Despite her cerebral palsy, Harper has always been tough which is why when she sees a woman being attacked in the streets, she steps in to help. Before she knows it, Harper is waking up in a land so very far away from her native Washington DC. Dragged into Rehn’s cursed world, Harper doesn’t know what to think of everything she sees, but as she and Rhen attempt to find common ground, will Harper be just the thing to break Rhen’s curse. Or will forces outside their control see the kingdom doomed forever?

Brigid Kemmerer is one of those authors whose novels I always enjoy. Whether she’s writing contemporary or supernatural YA or now fairy-tale retellings, Kemmerer manages to create vivid and compelling stories. A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a prime example of this; darkly vibrant and alluring with likable characters, magic and authentic storyline development. Unfolding through the back and forth perspectives of both main characters, A Curse So Dark and Lonely was a forward moving story that captured my attention from the beginning and didn’t let go until the final page.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely introduces readers to two strong and likable voices in Rhen and Harper. I appreciated the growth both characters undertook throughout the story and felt they were genuine developments that fit the story well without seeming forced. Easy to follow and care about, Rhen and Harper had a compelling relationship that developed steadily over time. Brigid Kemmerer won me over with the lack of insta-love, instead choosing to build on Rhen and Harper’s initial distrust of one another and create a friendship with perfect hints of romantic tension and possibilities.

Rhen himself is a far cry from your ordinary prince; tormented and hopeless who had already come a long way from the spoilt, conceited prince be was pre-curse when the novel kicks off. Rhen is controlling of situations and determined, a by-product of his upbringing and princehood. This is something that sees him clash with female protagonist Harper, but his desire to do the right thing for his people shines throughout the novel as Rhen has his eyes opened to the suffering of his kingdom as the novel progressed.

Harper on the other hand is a naturally tough in effortless way. Harper is a modern teenage girl thrust into a fairytale and I felt that her reactions were authentic and genuine. Brigid Kemmerer gives Harper some substance as a sufferer of cerebral palsy and showcases that disabilities in no way mitigate what a person can do. Harper grows in her time in Emberfall and truly begins to come into her own as she faces different circumstances.

The other important character within A Curse So Dark and Lonely is Commander Grey with Kemmerer writing Grey in a manner that you can’t help but like him straight away. I won’t give away spoilers but Grey plays an ongoing role in the novel and is someone I can’t wait to see more of!

With A Curse So Dark and Lonely ending this chapter of Rhen and Harper’s story beautifully, I for one can’t wait to see a sequel and/or companion novel released to expand on the revelations Brigid Kemmerer made at the end of A Curse So Dark and Lonely as I definitely wouldn’t mind getting lost in this entrancing world once more.

I love Beauty and the Beast, it is one of my favourite fairy tales and I have made it my mission to read as many retellings as I can and this one did not disappoint.

In this retelling Rhen a.k.a the Beast, has been cursed to repeat the same season over and over again with the result of him turning into a beast at the end of each season if he can’t find a girl to fall in love with him. This is where Harper comes into the equation as Grey Rhen’s commander of the guard travels from his world into ours and kidnaps her with the hope that she will break the curse. However, in our world Harper’s family is in danger and she will do anything to get home again.

I was a little apprehensive at first with the whole parallel worlds aspect of the story but it actually works really well and didn’t feel to complicated. I overall, plot was also really interesting and I enjoyed this new take on the original fairy tale. It took me a little to get into the story but once I was I really enjoyed it.

I really liked the characters in this. First we have Harper, I really liked her strength and resilience throughout this as well as her love for her family. Harper also has Cerebral Palsy. Our other POV character was Rhen, I really loved watching Rhen’s growth throughout this book and his fight with whether he deserves to be saved or not. And then we have Grey, who is Rhen’s guard commander and the only person left at the castle that Rhen’s beast has not yet killed. He is completely loyal to Rhen and will do anything in his power to protect him and the Kingdom.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and gave it 4 out of 5 stars.