I REALLY loved this story. I'm not usually one for magical realism, but since it wasn't a huge part of the story (the modern world) it didn't bother me so much. I love Harper and Grey. Rhen is cool too, but Grey is bae. 

I love that Harper isn't the typical "wanna be princess" who is gorgeous and perfect. She has a disability and she is such a deeper and more relatable character because of that.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a solid YA novel, in the sense that if you’re a fan of YA I’m quite sure you’d enjoy this book. Harper is a teenager with cerebral palsy who gets pulled into a fantastical world with a cursed prince named Rhen and his captain of the guard Grey. The best part of this book was their interactions; the three leads had great chemistry and played off of each other really well. Harper has always been underestimated because of her disability and now she finally has a chance to stand up for herself. Consequently Rhen and Grey never view her as weak.

I did think it was funny how hard this book was trying to justify that there was nothing problematic in this retelling. Harper has internal monologues about how it isn’t Stockholm Syndrome and how they couldn’t bring her back home even though they want to. Look this is Beauty and the Beast there is always going to be some moral ambiguity. Best just accept that. 

This story’s biggest flaw is its world-building. I never truly believed that this fantasy world was anything more than a castle, a long road, and an inn. When the characters are exploring the castle it feels real, when the characters leave the castle the world feels thin. I could never believe that there were other kingdoms and villages because it just wasn’t descriptive enough. That made a lot of the climax underwhelming because I just don’t believe it when they were talking about the all the people in the kingdom.

Still I found the story compelling and fun and I would recommend it to anyone who loves YA fantasy.

A fresh take on Beauty and the Beast that isn’t afraid to take some risks and add some changes. Can be a bit overwrought, the ending is slightly rough,  and it definitely takes itself far too seriously... but different and fun. ★★★½

I originally didn't read this when I first got it as an ARC but I am so glad I finally did. I absolutely love it. There is a good pace and the double viewpoint helps keep the reader focused and keeps the attention really well. The pacing is well done. I loved the lore and the insight we get from both characters.

I received an arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. 

I've had this magnificent book basically rotting away on my Kindle since November of 2018 (I looked at the date I downloaded it) but did I read it in 2018? No. 2019? No. 2020? YES, FINALLY ... in flippin' August. The shame I feel in letting this book sit unread on my digital shelf is drowning me because I loved it so much and I should have read it sooner.

"Where did you come from?"
"Your worst nightmare."

This book is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast so you know going into it what to expect and if you're like me who reads retellings like they'll disappear if you don't, then you especially know what to expect. Or that's what you think. Because Brigid Kemmerer turns this fairy tale on it's head. 

"I want to know it's real."

The characters are so layered and complex you'll want to scoop them up and protect them. I'v talked to several people that absolutely love Grey and I love him too but I really feel for Rhen. He's had hundreds of "seasons" where he needs to get the girl to fall in love with him to break the curse but they don't. They don't fall for him or they die or Rhen dies and the season resets. Can you imagine how heartbreaking and discouraging it would be to have hundreds of women not fall in love with you. And then to top it off at the end of each season you turn into a mindless monster killing machine. Oh! and you're often physically tortured by the one that cursed you???? I do love Harper and Grey but I really want Rhen to find some happiness. 

"honeyed biscuits, jam and sliced cheese, a pot of tea and a pitcher of water" 

The quote above is just one of the delicious descriptions of food. I love when authors include scents into their stories and this author definitely delivered!

"I was born this way," she'll snap, "and I'm going to die this way, so teach me to work around it." 

Harper has cerebral palsy but even though it limits her body she doesn't let it limit her spirit or determination. She's such a strong character who I can see myself admiring years from now. 

I 100% recommend this book if you love Beauty and the Beast retellings or ya fantasy books!

I thoroughly enjoyed this retelling of Beauty and the Beast. This was a wonderful romance and I can't wait for the sequel.

I received a copy of this arc from NetGalley for an honest review. This is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast that was okay, but not rivetting and the characters were also just okay.

Beautiful fairy tale retelling that grabbed me by the throat and didn't let go, but at times I struggled a little to fully connect to the characters. I also had to remind myself it was only inspired by Beauty and the Beast when the storyline differed. 
Still a wonderful fantasy read perfect for dark and stormy nights.

I had a lot of expectations when I started this book after seeing glowing reviews from all my friends but unfortunately it didn’t live upto it. The characters remained bland and the plot wasn’t exciting enough to keep me glued to the pages. There have been sooo many Beauty and the beast retellings over the years that everything that can be done with this trope has been tried and nothing truly unique is left to make it more interesting I guess.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to let me read this book in exchange for an honest review!

I have to be honest in that I was widely skeptical in picking this one up. Once I heard that it had elements of yet ANOTHER Beauty and the Beast retelling, my guards went up and I left this galley ignored for the better part of 6-months. The book had actually already been released before I picked it up, and it was because of a friend who had just gotten a galley of the sequel (A Heart so Fierce and Broken) and said it was even better than the first book. So I let me guard down, found the galley and dove in.

When I think of Beauty and the Beast retelling, my mind and my heart immediately go back towards A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas which I loved IMMENSELY- so this was one of the issues I had in picking the title up in the first place. In the end, I'm really glad that I gave this book a shot because the series has now become one of my favorites and the third book's release is definitely highly anticipated!

Once I actually read the book, I realized that there really wasn't a whole lot of parallels between Beauty and the Beast and this book aside from the fact that Prince Rhen is a beast, they live in a castle mostly alone, and that he was cursed by an enchantress. Every other riveting detail from the story stands firmly on its own and I was absolutely sucked into the story and invested in every single character.

About halfway through my read through, I found that I wasn't able to dedicate as much time to reading as I would have liked due to teaching and testing season, I purchased a copy of the audio book via Audible that I would read on my commute to and from work. One thing that I absolutely loved about the audio book production in particular was a chapter much later in the book that is from the point of view as Rhen as the beast and the chapter is just empty in the book format. In the audio production, this chapter is replaced by the freakiest monster-like heavy breathing I've ever heard in my life- the sound literally gave me chills. Really lent itself to the telling of the story.

The chemistry between Rhen and Grey was adorable, and the chemistry between Rhen and Harper was downright swoon-worthy, and the chemistry between Grey and Harper was so comical- every single character was so well-rounded and thought out. In terms of character design and character development, Kemmerer has it DOWN. World building was outstanding (how could it not be with a name like Emberfall!?). I loved just about everything about this story and can't wait to finish the series with A VOW SO BOLD AND DEADLY when it releases in January 2021. I am so ready!!

I don’t have much to say about this book other than it was a breath of fresh air. The turn of events at the end wasn’t all that shocking however, i can’t wait to read the next book to see how everything progresses. This book is worth reading.

Surprise ending!
A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer is one of the best fairy tale retellings that I have read.
The writing demanded my attention from the first chapter and each chapter ends in a bit of a cliffhanger! I had to force myself to stop reading to go to bed. Harper is kidnapped but for reasons that are different from what she ever expected. She’s been kidnapped from Washington D.C. to help break a prince’s curse. Prince Rhen and his top guard, Grey, are the only two that know about the curse and the secret that Rhen is horrified about. Lilith cursed Rhen years ago and he’s turned into a violent monster every season since. Once he changes, he has no memory or control, and because of that he’s ending up killing the royal family, his family. Harper doesn’t like Rhen at first but she understands him better the more she gets to know him. Grey is an intimidating guard but a kind and caring soul. Each season, Rhen becomes a different creature but he’s always violent and ruthless. Harper helps Rhen and his kingdom by pretending to be a princess. A cruel ruler threatens to take over the kingdom and Harper and Rhen tell her that the princess’s father is sending reinforcements to stop her. Rhen, Harper and Grey continue to work together and become closer. This story is full of action, loyalty and bravery and ends in an intense surprise, 5 stars!

“When my sister died,” Freya says quietly, “it was very sudden. I had no time to say goodbye. But she knew I loved her. I knew she loved me. It is not the moment of passing that is most important. It is all the moments that come before.”

I love all things Beauty and the Beast and Brigid Kemmerer so I was super excited to read this book. And it completely lived up to my super high expectations! This was full of danger and romance, slow wooing and battles, training and magic- and some pretty intense court intrigue. It was easy for me to get lost in this story right from the beginning and I was not even a little bit ready to let it go at the end. The story was dual narrated by the two main characters, Prince Rhen and modern girl Harper, who was so far out of her element. I loved both of them and the heated banter between them- even while my heart was shipping another love interest for Harper... Overall this was one of my favorite reads from 2019 and I can't wait to read the next book and get more Grey.

“I am always surprised to discover that when the world seems darkest, there exists the greatest opportunity for light.”

I had a very difficult time getting into this book (which makes me sad, because I know so many people loved it!!)

In the end, I enjoyed it, but I did not love it. I think people who are Beauty and the Beast purists (like myself) aren't the target audience for this. But if you're a fan of the story, and don't mind slight changes, then you'll likely love this one!

I really enjoyed this retelling of Beauty and the Beast. This was just one of those books for me that was very readable and hard to put down.
Can't wait to read the second one!

I LOVED this book.

It's brilliant. It's incredibly well-written. The characters are brilliant (Rhen and Grey are swoon-worthy, Jake is the sarcastic sibling I never knew I needed, and Harper is just... AH, so powerful and incredible). The stakes are high, the detail is immense... it's just fantastic.

Plus, Harper's cerebral palsy was SO well-done! 5 stars, Ms. Kemmerer, for including this as a major aspect of Harper's character - I love how her CP is written realistically, yet doesn't diminish Harper's phenomenal strength one bit. LOVE. IT.

The only warning I would give is that it gets DARK. It's not dark all the time, but when it is, it's gory, it's detailed and it's explained in incredible detail. This is great, because it increases the captivation of the writing and the immersion of the reader - but if you're faint of heart, beware, because ACSDAL doesn't hold any detail back.

SUCH a great read, though - and that reveal at the end!! Can't WAIT for book 2!!

I read and loved Brigid Kemmerer’s Letters to the Lost. Since I also enjoy a good fairytale retelling, I was looking forward to this read. However, it didn’t quite end up being for me.

The characters fell flat. I never built a connection to the MCs or their plight. Harper in particular. She’s reckless and rewarded for her recklessness. For example, she steps in to save some villagers (courageous, if foolhardy in her lack of ability to actually defend them), but then she has no idea how to help them long term. In fact, she plans to return home as soon as possible; she’s not going to be there to see things through to the end. Rhen has to intervene on her behalf on both counts.

The world building is minimal. I never felt like I got to see the full scope of the world. Some plot points involving other countries are introduced but never resolved. I would have liked to see the effects of Rhen’s curse more fully explored and that more time was spent on his kingdom instead of introducing additional plot points that won’t be fully developed until book 2. As it is, I never fully felt urgency for Rhen and Harper’s respective situations.

After the first quarter or so of the novel, I ended up skimming the rest of the novel. That said, I did finish it because I was curious where Kemmerer would take us with this novel. I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy fairytale retellings with an independent, strong-minded female lead.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rhen, Crowned Prince of Emberfall, has been cursed to live the same year over and over until he is able to find true love.  Harper is living in present-day D.C. and just trying to make it despite having cerebral palsy, a terminally ill mother, and a brother mixed up in crime.  One night, Rhen and Harper's worlds collide when she is brought to Rhen to try and break the curse.  Harper is like nothing Rhen has ever seen before; scrappy, strong willed, and frustrating beyond belief.  Will Harper be the one to break the curse, or will the creature returns and all will be lost? 

I could not put this Beauty and the Beast retelling down!  I've read many fairy tale retellings, but this one really is fantastic!  Harper is one bad ass princess and I think that was one of the main reasons I was so hooked from the very start.  I also found it refreshing that Rhen wasn't your typical crowned Prince (whiny and self absorbed).  I love where Kemmerer ended the story, and I immediately looked on NetGalley to see if I could get my hands on the next book.  This is one of my all-time favorite reads EVER.  I recommend this to everyone and in all libraries.  Get your hands on this book if you can!

An incredible read. I was hooked from page one; dying to see how it all would end. 
A curse So Dark is a great reminder that no matter how well hidden, we all have secrets & burdens to carry. Our secrets however; don't define who we are, it's how we respond to them that matters. 

Can't wait for book 2!

Kemmerer brought some unique twists to a classic tale. Rhen makes your heartbreak as the cursed prince and Harper is a 21st century badass. You will love your time in Emberfell and will wait with baited breath for the second book before you even finish the last page.