This is easily the best Beauty and the Beast retelling I've ever read. And while it is a retelling it still feels entirely new.

The author has a way with words to hook you in right from the very beginning and keep you engaged up until the very end. It's not everyday I find myself able to not put down a fantasy novel, but I couldn't read this fast enough.

Brigid Kemmerer has always written fantastic characters and continues to do so in A Curse So Dark and Lonely. I absolutely adored Harper. She refuses to let her cerebral palsy slow her down and is so incredibly emotionally strong. She is no damsel in distress and will pave her own way through Emberfall, thank you very much. Rhen, is a tortured soul who deserves all the world and then some, my heart ached for him. And Grey, oh, how much I loved him! A fiercely loyal friend until the very end. I can't wait to see what will happen to all three of them in the next book.

I also loved how Emberfall, a fictional world, and Washington D.C. (Disi), a very real place, clashed together. It definitely led to some laugh out loud moments and made the plot all the more intriguing.

If you are looking for a fantastic retelling with amazing characters, great disability rep, hilarious banter, an evil sorceress, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing the whole way through then do not pass up A Curse So Dark and Lonely!

Hey Readers!


So I am back to review this beautiful book for you. Okay, it's not beautiful at all. It's actually rather dark and grotesque in a way, but absolutely a complete adventure that I loved. A Curse So Dark And Lonely was addictive, dark, enchanting, and one of the BEST retellings of Beauty and the Beast that I have ever read. I fell in love with this book and I was not disappointed in the slightest way.



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



I know I originally gave this 4 stars on GoodReads, but honestly I needed to think about this book before I sat to write the review. I have don't nothing except think about this book. So now I think I am going to bump it up to 5 stars when I update my review. I literally have NOTHING bad to say about this book. (Yes I know there was the role of kidnapping to get the girls to the kingdom...but upon reading..this was all just fictional and made a good story!) ((No I do not support kidnapping but this is used fictionally and wouldn't happen)) This book does also talk a bit about suicide for a brief time so just be aware. Although none of his attempts ever worked I just want to put that out there for you.

I was so intrigued by this book I swear my kids were getting tired of hearing "just one minute hun, just after this chapter I'll go get that snack." hahaha I think I said that too many times while reading this because it was so hard for me to put down.


There is was no unlikeable characters. Each individual was well descripted and each gave life into the book.

The main character Harper had cerebral palsy and comes from DC. She is living a troubled life with her dad borrowing money from the wrong people, her mother dying from cancer, and her brother just trying to pick up the pieces while not dragging his doctor boyfriend into the mess. She is extremely likeable and so fierce! A great model.

Rhen is the Crown Prince of Emberfall, who is also The Beast. Being the Beast means he is the cursed one and therefore needs to have a girl fall in love with him to break said curse which is not an easy task. At the send of each repeating season he transforms into a "beast" and destroys anything in his path.

Grey is the Guard Commander, he is also the only last living being at the castle. He is so loyal and respective to the Prince and Harper. He is strong and unfortunately has the task and power of kidnapping a girl each season to bring back to the castle.

Freya wasn't big in this book but I feel like she needs mentioning because I personally loved her character. She was so sweet and kind. She took in her sister's children after she was slaughtered by the beast. She has so much heart in her it leaps off the pages.

And then there is Lilith. The reason for it all. The only one in this book who I can only slightly not like, but obviously I understand why she is here. She is a dangerous woman who should not be messed with. buuuuttt, she gets her patience tested..so there is that.


"I had almost forgotten what this was like."
"Having someone to order around? I say.
"No," Rhen Looks past his guard commander. "Being part of something bigger."


As I stated before I think this was a remarkable retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It's the final season of the curse and Harper struggles between saving his kingdom or saving her family. There was a lot of traveling and adventures. A lot of decisions and fighting. It's definitely a darker tale but totally enjoyable.


"We are not always presented with the choices we want, but choices exist nonetheless."



Hope you enjoyed this review!

A Curse So Dark and Lonely Releases JANUARY 29 so be sure to snag yourself a copy!

Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC copy!

Until Next Time,
DauntlessReading

Tl;dr: A Curse So Dark and Lonely is billed as a standalone retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but with a secondary male chatacter who is more interesting than the male mc, it ends up feeling like the first of a two or three book series. (So if you want a standalone ya fantasy, this isn't it)

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is about Harper, a teenage girl with cerebral palsy who has a difficult life (dying mom, family owes loan sharks, older brother being forced to act as enforcer, etc.) who tries to save a girl from being kidnapped and finds herself kidnapped instead and taken to the Kingdom of Emberfall as an unwilling guest of Prince Rhen.

Emberfall is, (surprise!) an enchanted fantasy kingdom with a (surprise!) problem of a once-a-year marauding and murderous beast. As Harper appears to be the only person to have never have heard of Beauty and the Beast, she's unsure of what her role is in Emberfall even as she grows closer to Prince Rhen and works with him to save what's left of the kingdom and figure out who the beast is.

Harper is very likeable, and reading about her coming into her own was the best part of A Curse So Dark and Lonely.

Well, that and her relationship with Grey.
.
Wait, who?

Yes, even though the book is told from the pov of Harper and Rhen, and even though their relationship is interesting, it's Harper and Grey's tenative friendship, then friendship positively crackling with tension, that steals the show and weakens the whole Harper/Rhen storyline.

Grey is Rhen's Commander of the Guard, and for a long time (It's over 300+ tries to break the curse) his only Guard.

Grey is the one tasked with "finding" girls for Rhen, and has been using "our" world to do so for a while. He's not happy about Harper being there (she doesn't go willingly) and despite the enchanted castle, handsome prince, etc. neither is she.

Grey and Harper connect as people when Rhen is still busy seeing Harper as a means to end the curse, and it is Grey who shows Rhen that the way to approach her is by treating her as a person rather than an object. As Rhen and Harper grow closer, she's still aware of Grey, who serves Rhen with absolute loyalty but who ends up understanding Harper and her big, kind heart while Rhen is still trying to think three steps ahead re: politics, war, and blowing warm and cold with Harper.

I'm not saying that Harper and Rhen don't work--I did find the lack of insta love for them refreshing--it's just that Grey is so much more interesting than Rhen. And maybe there isn't supposed to be a love triangle here--but for me, the ending made me want more of Grey and Harper and I so want her to be a huge part of Grey's journey in the next book.

Which leads me to my biggest problem with A Curse so Dark and Lonely--it doesn't work as a standalone. If it was just the Rhen and Harper stuff, and even the kitchen sink of a "plot twist" re::Harper's family, then it would be-'well, let's just say there's some room for more. But for me, there's the whole matter of the only partially explored Harper/Grey connection, and oh yeah, the last (and new pov) chapter, which makes the whole book one journey to scream "Sequel!!" in your face.

Three and a half stars (the extra half is for Grey) rounded down because I didn't like the blatant sequel bait at the end.

This was probably the most interesting take on the beauty and the beast story that I have read yet. Our Main character Harper has cerbel palsey but she doesn't let that define her. She saves a girl who was obviously drugged from being taken by some guy by hitting him with a crow bar. (Yes she really is that b*tch) She ends up being taken instead to the Kingdom of Emberfall where she learns there is a curse done by a enchantress scorned. Harper is desperate to get back home to her brother who she was lookout for when she was taken, their mom is dying of cancer and Harper just really wants to get back to her. Our Prince Rhen is charming, amusing, and a little abrasive at times, he has one loyal guardsmen left Commander Grey who I really came to love throughout the book. His unwavering loyalty in all things is beautiful and inspiring.



Verdict: I adored this book, it had a lot of diversity and it was very beautifully written. It is beauty and the beast but feminist and darker. It is definitely worth checking out. I gave it a 4.5/5 stars.

This dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast gets an urban twist as protagonist Harper finds herself snatched from present-day Washington, DC to the otherworldly kingdom of Emberfell, where she is Prince Rhen's last chance to fall in love with him and break the curse that has loomed over his kingdom for centuries. The basic roots of the Beauty and the Beast story are present: the cursed prince, the maiden imprisoned against her will, the dependency on true love to save the day. The story also contains more welcome twists than a modern setting: Harper meets Rhen in his princely form and must fall in love with him before he becomes the monstrous beast who is not simply hideous to look at, but mindlessly destroys anything and anyone he encounters. Also, the book branches out of the fairy tale narrative to weave a broader tale of a kingdom under siege by a foreign monarch with a need to rally its people to arms.

The story, which alternates between Harper's and Rhen's perspectives, is well-written, fast-pace, and not only creates a convincing, fleshed-out picture of the kingdom of Emberfell, but also contains realistic reactions and mannerisms in the characters of each world. Harper and Rhen, as well as most other supporting characters, are treated sympathetically and should win readers' approval. Harper in particular defies Belle's "damsel in distress" trope and takes an active role in breaking the curse and saving the kingdom. Her gradual acceptance of being trapped in a magical land, along with the slow-growing, ambiguous romance between Harper and Rhen, are believable.

The book is not flawless: the ending is sudden and ambiguous (Is the author leaving the door open for a sequel or not?) and the narrative is largely predictable and doesn't much break from the typical YA fantasy novel. Still, a plot twist at the end elevates the story beyond just another fairy tale retelling. Overall, an enjoyable fantasy that will be especially appreciated by readers who prefer strong character development. The co-existing modern and fantasy worlds will appeal to fans of Holly Black's Cruel Prince series and The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert. Four stars.

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

First of all, you might want to know that this is the beginning of a series, NOT a standalone. I say that because it definitely affected my feelings on the book.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is Beauty and the Beast retelling that takes quite a novel approach to the story. It is a portal fantasy where a girl from modern Washington D.C. is brought to Emberfall where the prince is cursed to turn into a murderous beast every year if he can't get a girl to fall in love with him. When he fails, the cycle resets with a new girl, and he has failed more than 300 times. Harper is a scrappy girl from the streets who is kind of a badass despite having cerebral palsy, and she is unlike any of the previous girls.

I LOVED the setup and thought the beginning of this book was really strong. Having a character with a disability that doesn't define her was amazing too. However, this is a VERY long book, clocking in at over 500 pages. Assuming it was a standalone, I was hoping that pushing through the slow middle would lead to a satisfying payoff at the end. And while the ending was done well for a book in a series, many loose ends were not wrapped up the way I had been expecting. The middle of this book really drags and I think the book should have been about 100 pages shorter.

I had thought that perhaps the author was putting in extra material to make a romance at the end seem reasonable, but that clearly was not it given the way the book actually wrapped up. And in terms of the romance, I was really confused about the quasi-love triangle that occurs because I thought I should be rooting for Harper and Princes Rhen even though their relationship was just okay. But since it's apparently a series I guess that was intentional?

I apologize if this review seems more meandering than most, but the book was meandering and I'm still not sure how to feel about it. Overall, I love that she found a new, compelling approach to a story that has been retold many times. The beginning is very strong, the end is good, but the middle is much too long and I felt disappointed at the lack of payoff for sticking it through. I received an advance copy of this book for review via Netgalley

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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

I'm usually torn between loving or hating fairytale retellings and this is no exception -- I love this book!! Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favorite fairytales and Brigid Kemmerer's novel is so great.

The heroine, Harper, is a strong lead who is dealing with family issues because of her father owes money to some bad guys. While being a lookout for her brother who is working to pay off their father's debuts she attempts to save another girl who she thinks is being kidnapped. She ends up saving that girl but is taken in her place to the world of Emberfall where the crown prince, Rhen, is stuck living a cursed life until he finds true love. This book has great representation and the world building is pretty solid, I think my biggest problem with the book is that the ending felt a little rushed but I am excited for the next book in the series!

I hardly know where to begin with my praise of this book. Whenever I read one of these galleys, I'm hopeful that I'll find the story a reasonable diversion, but, my goodness! This book knocked me off my feet! I fell in love with the author's tale, her style of writing, word choices, how she breathed life into all of her characters. And it had a lovely, cohesive plot with enough twists and turns and grittiness (is that a word?) to keep me reading late into the night.

A fantasy heroine with cerebral palsy? How on earth did the author make that work? Brilliantly!!! The cursed prince, his faithful servant/guardian, a castle, a witch, a monster -- all the elements were there that could have made this a yawnable, been-there read-that story, but somehow Ms. Kemmerer brought it all to life in a fresh, genuine and exciting way. Must be some magic going on there.

Thanks so much for sharing this galley with me! And please, give this author another book contract, please!

Fabulous! I haven't read a book that drew me in this much and this quickly in a long time. I started reading it about 3am when I couldn't sleep and I didn't stop reading it until I was done (so much for sleep!).

The characters are interesting and it is a really unique take on the tale of Beauty and the Beast.

I love “retellings” and this one does not disappoint! A beauty and the beast retelling that certainly has its own unique twist to it! The supporting characters are as great as the main characters and the pace of the story keeps you hooked to the end! I can’t wait to see what happens in the next!

At the end of the day, I will never not love a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Lovely, eerie title, beautiful cover, disability rep and more! I would recommend this book and will definitely be handing it to some teen patrons, but I personally was not wowed. The romance lacked authentic chemistry and the book was just so dang long, I was never tearing through pages or staying up late to read. But I liked it, overall!

Well hello there beautiful cover...

Guys! Put this one on your TBR because it was *kisses fingers* magnifico! It's a dark Beauty and the Beast Retelling following a girl named Harper who is taken to the Kingdom of Emberfall to hopefully break the curse of Rhen, the heir prince who is cursed to relive the fall season until he falls in love.

This is a wonderfully written fairytale story shining with delightful, strong characters and beautiful relationships. Harper herself was like a beacon of light and her adventure was such a treat to observe. The authors writing style is like butter. Beautifully composed with vivid metaphors that kept my attention all the way through.

Is this a totally original story? No. But it's different enough to stand out amongst the crowd.

*3.5 stars rounded to 4

I think the hype from this book did get me a little. I did really enjoy it, and got through it fast, but it wasn’t everything I expected it to be. I was completely pulled in for the first few chapters, and it’s comforting “knowing” (since it’s a re-tell) what’s going to happen and reading the take the author spun on it.

I’ve read a good handful of B&TB (Beauty and the Beast) re-tellings. Everywhere from a loose interpretation (like ACOTAR) to much closer lines (such as Hunted by Meagan Spooner). This falls in the latter category of a very parallel story line.

Some awesome points are the disability representation in the main character, Harper. She has high-functioning cerebral palsy. Harper is capable and strong-minded. Her disability does not define her and she takes it with grace and resilience to still do whatever she wants too. Double points for her love interest, Rhen, never talking down about her either.

I’m not sure that the contemporary aspect (Harper is kidnapped from D.C.) is truly necessary. There wasn’t enough back story to her family, lifestyle, etc. We only know that’s where Grey takes the girls from. I think it could’ve all been done in Emberfall and would’ve still been a unique take on B&TB and would have dampened the “kidnapper vibe.”

I was totally crushing on the castle, y’all it made food every day. Always having food prepared and music to listen too, yeah I could’ve stayed there. Beast or no beast.

Grey should’ve had his own POV. It appears that this is a series (did not know that originally) and he’ll get one in the next book, but a lot of ACSDAL was focused on him, he needed a bigger spotlight. I might have liked him more than Rhen most of the time. He seemed to have a more interesting history that I wanted to know more, more, more of. The twist for him was thrown in so randomly I was thrown off, then realized that must be the set-up for the next book. So I get it, and I love Grey enough to read the next book.

Jake and Noah are a cute addition that I think would be fun to explore their relationship more. Jake was in my face a lot and annoyed me. I think Noah was the real takeaway winner for me. I do think it was a bit convenient that Noah was a doctor *shrugs,* but it worked out fine.

The evil enchantress, Lilith, is cheesy and typical. Her reasons for cursing Rhen were a bit dramatic and petty. Lilith tried too hard and I love to hate corrupt characters which made it disappointing to deal with her.

I requested A Curse so Dark and Lonely from Bloomsbury to review on Netgalley. I was honestly a little hesitant about this one, I put off requesting it for a while, but Milana really loved it so I went for it! It’s definitely heavy on the romance, and there a teeny bit of a love triangle. After that fizzles, I really started to dig into the story and the characters.

Like some other popular books out there in the YA world, A Curse so Dark and Lonely follows a girl split between our world, and a fantasy world. Magic does exist, but it’s mostly a background element. After the MC, Harper, is taken into her real life Medieval Times, she starts to learn about Rhen & Grey. A bit of a love triangle develops between these 3, but it doesn’t really last. The primary romantic tension captivated me for one simple reason.

Prince Rhen is basically Loki.

You may not know this about me, but I am a bit of a fan of Marvel Studios films. I am especially a fan of Loki Laufeyson. My dog’s name is Laufey. When my brain made this connection between the Asgardian prince burdened with glorious purpose, and the prince of Emberfall, I couldn’t unsee it. His snark and brooding manner are so reminiscent of Loki to me, and it was simply wonderful. I was rooting for him to find a way to love and be loved from that point on.

There are a lot of other excellent elements of this book aside from the romance though! Harper has cerebral palsy, which was incorporated into her character development to great effect. She learns to thrive in Emberfall no matter what challenges she faces due to her limp. She is stronger because of her desire to do everything she needs to. She never backs down from learning a new skill, but is still able to acknowledge when she needs additional time to learn it correctly.

The characters in this book are smart. They piece things together as soon as I did, most of the time. Usually I find myself yelling at characters (especially in YA) to put together the mystery of a story sooner, and I didn’t feel that here. The characters are also very communicative. For the most part they don’t keep secrets from each other (with some exceptions) and I found that really refreshing.

Not only is there a lot of romance in this book, but the bromance begs to be mentioned. Grey is Rhen’s Guard, and his closest confidant throughout the book. They have such a great friendship, and play to each other’s strengths and weaknesses so well. I loved watching them interact and try to help each other along throughout the book. The titular curse is not an easy thing for Rhen to deal with, and Grey really takes it all in stride. I think a lot of readers will love Grey.

So, even though this isn’t a book I would normally reach for I am so glad I did! I highly recommend this to anyone who likes their fantasy with a dash of magical realism, and some romance. It will be on shelves later this month, January 29th.

I was able to read A curse so Dark and Lonely early thanks to Netgalley.com. When I heard this was a Beauty and the Beast fantasy retelling I knew I needed to read it. Obviously, as a reader girl, I loved Beauty and the Beast growing up. I also loved the story of finding love in an aberrant way. Throw in a fantasy twist and I was sold.

I gave this book 5 stars! It delivered on every aspect I was expecting. It had characters I fell in love with right away, plot twists that made my jaw drop, and fantasy elements that were unique and engaging. I found myself not wanting to put it down.

The characters in this book had me from the beginning. Harper is a young girl with cerebral palsy who completely blows away any stereotypes that go with having a disability. Her character was relatable and endearing. Rhen, the prince, was a perfect representation of "the beast". He starts off cynical and grows into a character you love. One of my favorite characters was actually a side character named Grey. He was rigid and stoic as a soldier but his transformation was my favorite. By the end I found myself completely invested in his storyline.

I was really pleased with the way this story developed. I went into it expecting it to be more like the original Beauty and the Beast, but was pleasantly surprised with the modern twist it had. With Harper being from the modern world thrust into another dimension we got a good mix of reality and fantasy. I liked how the witch in this story was much more present than in the original. She was a villain you could root against along with the characters. The twists and turns of this story kept it engaging and the ending leaves me wanting more.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a bit of fantasy and a sweet love story. The true essence of the original story are present without it feeling repetitive. I'm hopeful there will be a book 2 in this series and can't wait to see where this story leads.

This is my first time reading this author but I am sure it won't be the last as I really enjoyed this one. Retellings are kind of hit or miss with me but I still like to try them, especially when they are Beauty and the Beast ones.

I felt that this one was different but at the same time it had a Beauty and the Beast feel to it that made you really feel as if it was a retelling but unique enough to be its own story.

In this tale we have a prince Rhen who isn't a beast all the time, but just at the end of the season. He is cursed to repeat the season over and over till he finds someone to love him. He is also killing off his kingdom being the beast and it is weighing on his soul. He has tried to protect them but it hasn't worked out so well.

Grey is his only guardsman and he is allowed to go to a different world find a woman to bring back to the prince so he can try and get her to love him, but it never works. This time when Grey is taking a lady another young woman sees him and thinks he is kidnapping her so she intervenes. She ends up being the one taken instead.

Harper has cerebral palsy which has made her leg where she has a very defined limp, but she doesn't let her condition define her. She is very spunky and not afraid to try and fight her way out. Grey always tries to take those without family but Harper has a mother who is ill and a brother who is in trouble so it's hard for Harper to be in this foreign land.

War is coming to Emberfalls because a neighboring country believes them to be weak because of how the prince has cut his country off from everything. The Enchantress doesn't help things as she is very evil. Rhen needs Harper to fall in love with him but things are never going to be that easy.

I don't read a lot of fantasy so I think when I do I find most of them refreshing and enjoyable. I really liked the feel of this one and it had me hooked from the very beginning and when a 496 page book only takes me about two days to read then I know it's a good book.

I really enjoyed the characters and thought it was cool that the main character had a medical condition that didn't define who she was that she was still a very spunky and upbeat girl. I liked that Rhen was kind of arrogant and rude in the beginning but then turns out to be man who really just wants to help his people and has to live with the fact he has slaughtered many of them as the beast. The story is told in duel POV's which I think works really well with this story to give you a good perspective of both characters. I also liked Grey and a lot of the other characters. I sort of guessed where the story was going towards the end and I am really curious to see where things go, so I need book two now! :)

If you enjoy retellings and fantasies then I would recommend this one! I really thought for once it was worth the hype!

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a reimagining of the Beauty and the Beast tale featuring a dark curse placed upon a prince which forces him to relive his eighteenth year over and over again. The curse turns him into a vicious beast at the year's end while dooming him to repeat acts of violence and destruction until the curse is broken by true love.

What sets A Curse So Dark and Lonely apart from other retellings is the deeper insight into the far-reaching effects the curse has not only the prince but his kingdom and its people as well.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely builds a vivid picture of life beyond its castle walls. There's a world out there that feels real and tangible. Waring kingdoms are threatening while Emberfall's own townspeople are suffering the consequences of the curse with an absent king and crumbling kingdom.

A story can only be told through its characters and Kemmerer writes her's with passionate, compelling, and unique voices. I felt that Rhen, Harper and Grey's characters were equally enjoyable and thought they each brought something special to the story.

Rhen is the tortured, dark hero. The prince who is made to pay over-and-over again for a mistake he made. Kemmerer places a terrible curse upon him where it not only forces him to relive his eighteenth year over and over until he breaks the curse, but he changes into a horrible beast which differs each time. The sadness and regret are palpable as the terrible deeds pile up—literally. The question of how do you make someone fall in love with a beast is heartrendingly and thoughtfully explored.

Harper steals the show as a vibrant and fierce heroine who doesn't let her cerebral palsy label her nor stop her from achieving what she sets her mind to. I liked the fact she is an American teen with real issues. Her mom is suffering from cancer and her brother is trying to keep their family together even if it means being on the wrong side of the law. She is captured by Rhen’s commander guard Grey from the streets Washington, DC and whisked away to a world enchanted and a prince cursed.

Through Harper’s eyes, we see the beauty and horror of the Kingdom of Emberfall and the curse placed on it. The longer she stays in the enchanted kingdom and with its people, the harder it is for her to remain unsympathetic to their plight. The torn feelings she experiences over wanting to return to her family versus staying and helping to break the curse is easily felt.

I fell completely over Grey’s character, maybe even more so than Prince Rhen. Grey is not only tasked with keeping the people of Emberfall safe from Rhen’s beastly transformations and rampages, but he is also the only human able to bring back girls from across the boundaries of the enchantment in order to break the curse which makes him so appealing in his vulnerability and stark loyalty. His relationship with Rhen and growing friendship with Harper are some of my favorite parts of the story.

In the End

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer would be a great addition to any YA fantasy enthusiast’s library, especially for fans of Beauty and the Beast retellings. The unique look into the repercussions of the curse on the kingdom Emberfall and its people, along with our main characters make it a compelling read. I’m definitely excited for more from the author and hope for a possible companion novel featuring Grey.

Normally I am not a fan of retellings, they tend to be boring, unimaginative, and predictable. A Curse So Dark and Lonely was none of those things. This story and its characters catch the readers interest from the start to the very last page. The plot was well thought out and has you guessing what's going to happen right up to the end.

This is a must read!

I've been closely following Brigid Kemmerer's books since her debut series. She's one of those authors that I will stop drop everything to read from despite my waning interest in YA lately. With every book, she only seems to improve. With A Curse So Dark and Lonely, she takes a stab at one of my favorite fairytales, Beauty & The Beast, and I'm happy to say, she nailed it.

What sets this book apart from other retellings is that the heroine, Harper, is actually from the modern-day United States. She is captured and taken to the kingdom of Emberfall in the hopes that she will fall in love with the Beast and free everyone from the curse that has been plaguing this kingdom. What also sets Harper apart from other Belles is her cerebral palsy. I loved that the author was gutsy enough to have a heroine with a disability at the center of a fantasy novel. Her condition was very much a part of her, but Harper still managed to conquer whatever she faced. She was strong, brave and an absolute firecracker of a heroine. We also get to see how she struggled with the conflict of wanting to go back to DC to save her mother who is suffering from cancer and to save Emberfall. This conflict only became tenser as she began to know the people of Emberfall better. Her inner battle was realistic and had me considering what I would have done had I been in her place. I love it when a book can force me to put myself in a character's shoes.

Prince Rhen, the aforementioned Beast, was also an interesting and complex personality. It was heartbreaking just how much the curse had shattered this guy and I was rooting for him and his happiness very early on. While his Beast form was undeniably intriguing to me as a reader, especially with the different and unexpected forms it appeared to take, it was the emotional toll that it had on Rhen that had me glued to the pages. Rhen was a sweet and honorable guy despite his grueling circumstances and the more we learned about him, the more I liked him. His guard commander, Grey, was also a well-written addition in A Curse So Dark and Lonely. His friendship with Rhen and his growing bond with Harper added an interesting dynamic to the story. I am looking forward to the sequel to find out more about him. A Curse So Dark and Lonely stuck to its roots, but it still managed to come across as a fresh story as the author put her own spin on the tale. The backdrop of the fantasy world, the luscious writing, and the physical (and emotional) adventures the characters went on only served to heighten my enjoyment of the story.

At this stage, I can say with utter confidence that Brigid Kemmerer is one of my favorite authors. She writes such spell-binding stories and A Curse So Dark and Lonely is no different. Make sure this one is on your TBRs.

"There is blood under my fingernails. i wonder how many of my people I've killed this time."

We all know the story. A selfish prince gets cursed to a life as a beast, until he can prove he's learned the meaning of true love - and gotten her to love him back. Girl meets beast, girl is beast's prisoner, danger ensues, and girl falls in love with beast. The day is saved.

Except...what if that isn't quite how it happens? What if the man who kidnaps you doesn't look like a beast at all? At least on the outside. And what if the girl is more interested in finding a way back to her family than in falling in love with a prince?

This take on Beauty and the Beast was so fun to read. I really enjoyed a lot of the characters, as well as the little twists and turns deviating from the story we all know and love. If you're picturing Disney princess, stop right there - this book casts a darker light, both on the beast and the "princess". In this retelling, the Beast is forced to relive each season, trying again and again to win a girl's heart. At the end of each season, he turns into a different beast and kills more and more people. But after over 300 seasons, he's reached the end of the road and the last of his chances: this season will be the last girl, and his last shot at saving his people and himself.

Prince Rhen: The Beast. Throughout much of the book, I didn't feel like he'd learned very much from his curse - he still seemed pretty arrogant and self-centered to me. But he did grow on my towards the end. Each season, he tries to get a different girl to fall in love with him, before he turns into a different beast. When he fails, the season starts over again. But this is his last chance.

Grey: The Beast's guard commander. Grey is loyal to a fault, and honestly one of my favorite characters in this book. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't shipping him with Rhen, but unfortunately, that didn't come to pass. Each time Rhen turns into a beast, Grey does his best to lead him away from his kingdom so he can't harm any more of his people. He also goes out into the "real world" to kidnap each girl.

Harper: Our "Belle" character. Except this princess comes from the city, and has been living with CP her whole life. She's not won over by the pretty palace, and she's tough as nails. I really enjoyed Harper as a main character, and I loved the CP rep. I think it's so important that this book never took the course of "curing" her CP with magic. Her disability was a central topic in the book, but it was never taken away.

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

One of my biggest complaints in this story is that Harper's home life was more of a side story. As much as she fought to get back to them, I wanted more glimpses into her old world. These characters and their storylines weren't developed enough for me. Before Harper was kidnapped, she lived in DC with her mother, who's dying of cancer, and her brother Jake. Throughout the story, we get to meet Jake (who I really strongly dislike) and discover that he's gay and dating a black boy named Noah (who I want MORE OF because I loved him).

My other big complaint in this book was the villain. Enter Lilith: the woman who cast the spell on Rhen and his kingdom. Her reasoning for the curse is revealed partway through the book, and honestly it was pretty weak. I felt like she was basically evil without a good cause, and was mainly used a plot device. A world so dark deserved a better villain.

"This was never a curse to be broken. This is a death sentence. The true curse has been the thought that we might find escape."

Unfortunately, I never really shipped the romance in this book. I couldn't really get past the whole kidnapping thing, and I was really shipping two completely separate relationships other than the one I was SUPPOSED to be rooting for. Harper seemed too smart for Stockholm Syndrome, so I couldn't buy into it either.

HOWEVER. I did have a blast reading this book. I am such a sucker for all things Beauty and the Beast, and this was no exception. Even though the end twist was predictable, I still was living for it, and I will definitely be reading the next installment. This book had a ton of rep, and I loved Harper and Grey - I can't wait to see more of them.

Ultimately, this book is about choices, and fighting for what you want, no matter what cards you get dealt in life. It's about not giving up, and learning from your mistakes. If you love fairytale retellings with a darker spin, this book is for you. I hope you love it as much as I did.

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

A Curse So Dark and Lonely releases on January 29, 2019.

*All quotes are taken from an ARC and are subject to change prior to publication.