Review: A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Hi all!

My name is Chiara and I am a Bookworm.

I hope you are doing all okay.

Last week the final book in the Cursebreakers trilogy came out so I thought it was about time that I shared my review of the first book which I read at the end of last year.

Disclaimer: The Waterstones links below are affiliate links meaning that, at no extra cost to you, I earn a small commission on any purchases made.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Blurb

Fall in love, break the curse.

Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir of Emberfall, thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him. But that was before he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. Before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, Harper learned to be tough enough to survive. When she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s pulled into a magical world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

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

My Thoughts

I had never read a Brigid Kemmerer book before this one but I have heard so much about it that I had to order it and try it out. I started reading this on Christmas Eve and I had finished this before Boxing day had even rolled around. I was hooked from page one and I could barely put it down. I must admit to being quiet antisocial on Christmas day, all my attention absorbed by this book.

Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favourite Disney films (I don’t know what that says about me) so I am always expecting the best from my retelling of this classic. And I have to say that Brigid Kemmerer really did it justice.

I love the otherworld that she created and her characters are so complex and deep. There has very clearly been a lot of thought into our characters and they all made a lot development in the book, but I get the feeling that it is a fraction of what they are capable of.

I can’t decided between Rhen and Grey for my favourite male character. Both so compelling and willing to stand up for what they want. I could see this causing problems in later books. Harper, on the other hand, clearly beats the two of them. Her power, her control, her compassion. She is one of the most natural leaders that I have ever read. Other characters just seem to flock to her and constantly want to protect her.

I could see this book ending differently and it being an entirely stand alone novel, but seems as there are already two other books, I can’t wait to see what adventure Kemmerer has created for them.

I recommend this to everyone. I’ve even got my dad excited to read it.

Until next time …

HAPPY READING!