I think this book was more of a 3.5 than a 4 star read but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it. I think I’m used to more action packed fantasy novels but I loved how this was based on Beauty and the Beast, one of my favourite Disney movies. I loved the characters, especially Harper and Rhen, who just seemed to jump off the pages. I rooted for them so much and just wanted everything to end happily. There were a couple things I didn’t expect in the plot and was pleasantly surprised by.

I really enjoyed the writing style and how the world was built. While it wasn’t vast, I could picture everything thanks to the descriptions. As for pacing, it felt a little slow in places, which I think is why it took me so long to read, but I flew through the last 20% of the book. Overall, this was an enjoyable read for me.

I love retelling books and as a guilty pleasure, I've always liked beauty and the beast. I liked this book but didn't love it as I just felt like different parts of the book were missing such as the romance.

First of all, I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I didn't end up reading the e-arc and purchased the book when it came out because I have trouble reading pdf-files.

I was in a huge reading slump when I started read A Curse So Dark and Lonely but I couldn't put this book down! I really enjoyed the atmosphere, the characters and I'm always drawn to retellings and Beauty and the Beast ones are my favourite.

Brigid Kemmerer's writing style is really captivating and got me hooked from the very first chapter. There are two main character Harper and Rhen who get their own point of view. I hope to read more about Grey soon, another interesting character we meet right at the beginning of the story. Harper is a very strong female character and even though her weaknesses are explored it does not diminish her in the least.

The magical elements were amazing. I wouldn't mind living in that enchanted castle, I especially liked the kitchen (food just magically appears!) and Harper's room.

The book has some surprising and interesting twists and an incredible ending!

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a fun and captivating retelling of Beauty and the Beast and I adored it! So excited to read the sequel! I highly recommend this book and I gave it 5 stars! And that in combination with a spectacular cover!

To start this, I should inform you that I absolutely love Brigid Kemmerer‘s books and Beauty and the Beast so I was very excited when I heard that Brigid Kemmerer was writing a retelling. I simply had to get my hands on it and read it – because I was absolutely sure I would love it. Fortunately, once again, Brigid did not disappoint and I can not recommend this book more. It is a light fantasy but it has everything about Brigid‘s writing that I love; most importantly being strong, relatable, and incredible characters that you cannot help but fall in love with with. Coupled with a very strong, moving plot and a brilliant backstory, it is difficult not to thoroughly enjoy this book. It will take you on a true journey and will end with you wanting to return, time and time again – I know I do!

While this is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, it is also very different from the tale that we all know and love – (the Disney version!). In this book, our heroine has been kidnapped against her will, and is aware early on that to break the curse she must fall in love with the Prince. A hard feat considering she has been stolen from the world she knows and loves. On top of that, the curse in this story is also very different. Instead of being banished and becoming a monster for life, Prince Rhen is only a monster during one season. The rest of the time he is a “human”, and it is in this state that he must try and get the females that are brought to his castle, to fall in love with him. When he fails, he turns into a monster and does unfortunate damage on innocent bystanders. Damage that does not reverse when the seasons change – something he found out far too late. The final piece of this plot is simply that this season is set out to be Rhen’s last. If he cannot convince Harper to fall in love with him, he will be doomed to spend eternity as a monster.

It is a wonderful, well-thought out and incredible plot that just works incredibly well. I devoured the story easily and just absolutely loved the journey that the book takes us on. From the integral plot, to the little subplots and details that are thrown in, this book is truly worth the read. I don’t want to say too much as I do not want to spoil the book for those willing to read it but lets just say that I am very much looking forward to the next book and that I am 100% invested in this story and its characters. Which is another reason that I absolutely loved this book. Brigid Kemmerer just has a way to create amazing characters that you cannot help but become engrossed with. She writes their emotions in a way that hits you with your very own emotions. Good or bad, you simply cannot help but invest in her characters.

So, obviously, I absolutely adore this book and think it is one of my absolute favourites. Though I may always have a soft spot for the Storm series! If you’re looking for a heart-breaking, gut-wrenching, intense and emotional rollarcoaster of a fantasy read then I highly recommend giving this book a read! It will take you on a true journey and will give you new characters to love and cherish. I cannot speak more highly of this book and everything in it. There are just so many things about it that I could talk about – but I don’t want this review to be too long – so instead I am just going to repeat that you really should give this book a read if you haven’t already. Especially if you love Beauty and the Beast but want something that is just that little bit more.

(Sorry for the late review and thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC)

4,75/5 Simply awesome.

I have read many retellings of The beauty and the beast, but I have to say that I've loved this story from the beginning till the end.

Both the story and its characters have kept me hooked. So much so that I had read the book in just two days.

Briggid has given a touch of originality to the story and has created some very complete, strong and courageous characters, who do not let themselves be overcome by obstacles, but with a fragility that makes them very human.

I really want to read the next book, because that ending has left me speechless.

THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD I CAN'T EVEN.

For the good of Emberfall. For the good of all.

I'll be honest, when I first heard about A Curse So Dark and Lonely I thought, no, not another Beauty & the Beast retelling, but given how everyone was losing their shit over it I thought I should give it ago. Boy, did I enjoy the ride!

A Curse So Dark and Lonely started strong out of the gate and while I admittedly got a little confused initially about what was happening in the world of Emberfall, I quickly found my stride and was 100% committed to going on this journey with Harper, Rhen and Grey (I think I'm crushin' on the Commander).

The book is told from duel perspectives and follows Harper, a girl from DC living with Cystic Fibrosis whose family is caught up in a world of violence and desperation and Rhen, the Crowned Prince of Emberfall who has been cursed to relive the season of his eighteenth birthday over-and-over again until he finds a girl to break the curse. The crux of that curse? At the end of each season, he becomes a monster who terrorises Emberfall with disastrous personal consequences.

I really enjoyed what felt like a new take on the Beauty and the Beast world. Harper isn’t your nice and polite lead, she is a firecracker full of stubbornness, heart and tenacity that gives Rhen and Grey a run for their money. I loved that she was a strong lead and while it may have be spawned out of a need to survive, I felt like by the end of the book her character had developed and inner strength she’d been feigning in the beginning.

In the same vein, Rhen comes across as a bit of a bastard in the beginning however he begins to lean into the more tender parts of his personality as the story progresses and what you’re left with is a true leader, someone I’m excited to explore more in the sequel.

GREY IS THE BEST AND I LOVE HIM SO. THE END.

Kemmerer has done an incredible job of crafting a complex and vivid world that even with all its magical realism, still feels very established in a real world setting. I could easily see the changing landscape, picture the intricate details of the Castle and place myself right in the middle of all the fierce drama. I loved it all.

The only bad thing about reading this book is that the sequel isn’t out so I can’t binge read it and I NEED TO. I JUST DO. Hey Brigid Kemmerer, can you give me that sequel now? I’ll be your best friend. Please and thank you.

4.5 stars

Prince Rhen of Emberfall has been living under a curse from an enchantress for several years.
His attempts to get a girl to fall in love with him fail again and again, each failure leading to Rhen transforming into a hideous creature. His family dead by his own hand, Rhen lives in the castle with only his guard for company.
Harper's life in Washington, DC isn't easy - her mother is dying from cancer, her father disappeared after getting into trouble with loan sharks, and her brother is doing bad things to get them in the clear. Despite her cerebral palsy, Harper is tough. When she sees a young woman in trouble, she ends up in a strange land with a cursed prince.
Can Harper break the curse?
Will Rhen be able to save his land from invasion?

Where to start?!
I'm a fan of Brigid Kemmerer's contemporary books, so when I saw that she had a Beauty and the Beast (my favourite fairy tale) retelling coming out I was super excited.
I'm so glad that I liked this so much!
Harper was a fantastic protagonist - she was tough, kind and caring. This was the first book I've read with a character that had cerebral palsy and I thought it was handled well.
Rhen was likeable and I felt sorry for him. Grey was another character that I really liked.
I loved Harper and Rhen's relationship, Harper and Grey's relationship and Rhen and Grey's relationship. All their interactions pretty much had me grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
The romance wasn't over the top, which I appreciated. I thought it was sweet.
The plot was interesting and had some good action scenes. There were some twists I didn't see coming. The scenes with Lilith, the Enchantress, were tense and she was so messed up that I had no idea what she was going to do next.
The writing gripped me straight away and I didn't want to put this down.
The only thing that bothered me was how much Harper blushed, but hopefully some of these were removed for the finished book.
I can't wait for the sequel!

Overall this was a fantastic read that I would definitely recommend.

I liked the idea of a different kind of Beauty and The Beast retelling but unfortunately this one fell a little flat for me. It wasn't really fantastical enough to be fantasy for me (I need more magic!) but it wasn't contemporary enough to be a pure contemporary, so it sat in this sort of weird in between space where it wasn't doing either well. I also found the romance a bit lacking, though it did improve towards the end. I did love the main characters though, I thought Harper was amazing, seeing a disabled protagonist kicking butt in a fantasy book was brilliant and she was such a fun, feisty, fiery character. I also enjoyed Angry Grey, I loved that he was really a softie on the inside. Rhen fell a little flat for me though, his character didn't feel quite fleshed out enough for me, nor did the main villain Lilith.

When Harper tries to save someone on the streets of Washington DC she finds herself transported into another world plagued by a vicious monster and a powerful enchantress. Prince Rhen is heir to Emberfall, he has been cursed by an enchantress and in order to break this curse, a girl needs to fall in love with him. Harper has been taken to be that girl. As the two spend more time together, Rhen discovers that Harper is not just another girl to be charmed, and Harper learns that there is a lot more at stake than she realised.

Before I started A Curse So Dark and Lonely I saw so much hype, unfortunately, it sort of missed the mark for me. That isn’t to say that it is a bad read – far from it, it definitely had some entertaining aspects. A charming prince, a moody knight, a powerful enchantress, and a badass protagonist. The character dynamics and interactions were actually the best part of this for me. I really enjoyed the friendships and I thought the romance was decent and I am, and always will be, a fan of the enemies to lovers trope.

What didn’t really do it for me was that the plot itself was a little… stagnant. It focused heavily on characters, which is fine but just isn’t what I’m usually looking for in a fantasy. The world-building was next to none and was just so generic and really not my cup of tea.

Also, sidenote, the main character Harper has Cerebral Palsy.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a charming story with a great cast of characters and if you are a fan of Beauty of the Beast retellings and don’t necessarily want an expansive world, then this is probably a book that I would definitely recommend to check out.

I was so excited for this book, and very unfortunately got to the stage that I accidentally over hyped it all on my own. The first time I attempted reading it something wasn’t clicking, I was a bit disappointed but I know that I am a mood reader, so I put it aside and waited a bit longer. Thankfully this was just a case of not being in the right mood because on my second attempt I was so immersed I felt like I had fallen into Emberfell just like Harper.

I love a retelling and even though Beauty and the Beast is a story that has been retold many times, this book felt fresh and exciting. It has many of the classic elements but weaved together with enough difference to make it stand on its own.

The writing style was easy and infectious I honestly had a hard time putting it down, it is quite a long story but it really didn’t feel like it, especially in the last half of the book when the action really kicks in. The world-building was also great, there was enough information there to paint a full picture, and I always feel like if I can be that absorbed in a book and not have too many questions about the world at the end then the writer has done a good job.

I loved Harper, she’s so resilient, violently pulled into new surroundings, having to deal with an enchanted castle, and with the loss of her brother and mother at a critical point in their lives. She’s the kind of character that you can’t help but fall in love with because even when she is outmatched against an opponent she strives to improve so that she has the edge the next time. She also makes plenty of mistakes that she learns from, she starts to see that having the best of intentions doesn’t always mean that you can act on a whim.

I also loved getting to see the comparison between how she was in her real life compared to Emberfall, you realise how much she has grown as a person, although I was glad that we didn’t spend too much time in DC because I was loving the adventure of Emberfall too much. Another thing to mention is that Harper has cerebral palsy, I cannot say whether her representation is accurate but I thought it was handled brilliantly, she knows her limitations and will set the record straight when she needs to, which for me is realistic.

Harper also has an amazing affect on Rhen, she forces him to see things in another light, you could tell that this attempt to break the curse was so different than the others. This really highlighted the difference in Rhen we see him on full charm offensive the tactic he has used countless times before and then eventually we get to see when he is vulnerable and has nothing left to lose. He really comes into his own when he is pushed out of his fugue by Harper and starts doing his best to help his people.

As much as I loved Rhen, Grey, I have to say was dazzling. He had that silent brooding thing going on and exuded strength and loyalty. There is a bit of a spark between Grey and Harper and that just makes the tension in the story even better because there is obviously so much riding on her falling for Rhen.

There was only one thing that I felt was slightly lacking, the enchantress wasn’t as well developed as she could be, she was vicious but I wasn’t 100% sure about her motivations, but it didn’t stop my enjoyment of the book in anyway.

I also can’t believe the ending!! I’m not sure how I’ll manage to wait to find out what happens to them all, I’m so excited already. I highly recommend A Curse So Dark and Lonely but beware you will definitely be left wanting more.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is set in two different worlds: one, the real world, and the other the cursed land of Emberfall. We don’t spend a lot of time in our world as most of the action takes place in Emberfall, but I liked the way that the two worlds interacted and the fact that we got a bit of an insight into Harper’s world helped her development as a character.

I fell in love with Harper, the central female character who finds herself pulled from her own world and lands in Emberfall, brought to try and break the curse that stalks the kingdom. She is very feisty and challenges Rhen throughout the book which is great to see. In a lot of fairytale retellings I have read, the women can fall into the trap of appearing passive and only really noticeable because they are pretty. Harper also has cerebral palsy, but this is definitely not a thing that she lets define her or stop her from getting straight into the middle of the action. This is a fantastic role model to prove that you don’t have to let anything hold you back, which we always need more of!

Rhen and Grey are almost opposites of each other, as you would probably expect, but they avoid falling into the stereotypical roles that they could easily end up becoming. Both have their flaws and are fleshed out into well-rounded characters that develop and evolve throughout the story. I think that is definitely one of the things that I like about this book is the way that you can see how each character and their different experiences change the characters around them, and none of them end the book the same as when it begins.

I think that the way the main plot was balances with other stories, which made it feel really fleshed out with lots to find interesting. It also really helped with the world building side to this story, as it made this new world we were being introduced to feel very big and well thought out.

I am definitely hoping for an amazing sequel to this book as I finished it and immediately felt the need for more! When this comes out I will be buying an actual copy as this NEEDS to be on my shelf!

A rather dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast, A Curse So Dark and Lonely focuses on Harper, a girl from Washington, DC who is taken to the fantasy land of Emberfall in order to break the curse on the prince and the kingdom there.

The characters were a bit typical in terms of their basic fantasy roles, but I found it quite refreshing to have a main character with cerebral palsy. I found it interesting to see the parallels between the original tale and the retelling, with a much darker spin on the curse and the villain. However, I also did feel that the book dragged on a little, and would probably have rated it higher if there wasn't as much bulk to the plot.

The ending seemed a bit incomplete, but the author says the sequel is more of a companion novel, so I'm not quite sure where the series is going to go to be honest! But I'm definitely going to be getting the next book to find out.

Ratings
Overall: 8/10
Plot: 4/5
Romance: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
World Building: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Cover: 4/5

Gorgeous retelling of Beauty and the Beast, dark and fantastical. Very much enjoyed and would recommend.

For some reason this book has been sitting in my shelf to read for a while why did I waste so much time.

Reading a Curse so Dark and Lonely has taken me on a huge action packed adventure (I love that reading a good book can literally whisk you away to another world). I loved every minute of this book.

Although it's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast (a favourite of mine anyway) it's done so with a modern twist. Not only does the protagonist come from our modern world, she has a disability (albeit it one that clearly does not stop her in any way) and Kemmerer also manages to keep the fairy tale, olden day setting.

I loved pretty much the characters in this book even Lilith who I loved to hate, Grey is my favourite and I'm desperate to know more about, Rhen is Rhen and Harper is amazing.

This is a book I will definatley be re-reading and sharing with my daughter when she's a bit older.

WOW! Such an amazing and new take on the much loved Beauty and Beast fairytale. I loved the characters, the diversity and of course romance.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury for providing me with a copy for review last year.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast that tells the story of Harper, a girl who ends up trapped in the kingdom of Emberfall where Prince Rhen is cursed to repeat the same period over and over again before turning into a beast then starting again. Harper arrives as Prince Rhen enters his final repetition of the curse as he is losing all hope of ever breaking it.

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favourite Disney movies and this is the first retelling of it that I've read and it has definitely got me excited to read some more. It was a really magical story and I felt so engrossed in the world and it's characters each time I picked it up. I especially liked the character of Grey and I'm excited that the author has said his POV will be heavily featured in the sequel.

One of my favourite things about it was also the fact that the protagonist has cerebral palsy. Characters with disabilities are not often present in novels, especially those in the fantasy genre, so it was very refreshing and important to have inclusion in this way.

Overall, I love how it combined the contemporary and fantasy elements, almost similar to the set up of The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. It was so elegant and well-written and definitely reminiscent of the fairy-tale aspects of the story.

When I heard that A Curse so Dark and Lonely is a dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast, I knew I would fall in love with it. Despite of my high expectations I wasn’t let down even the slightest bit; the story stays true to Beauty and the Beast without turning predictable or cheezy. It was dark, twisted and unputdownable.

I am usually cold as a snow-heaped mountain when it comes characters, but something about a Curse so Dark and Lonely warmed up my heart made of stone. The pacing wasn’t too slow but the perfect amount of careful and patient for me to warm up to the characters and their relationships. Harper is a badass who loves her family above all else. Her disability is in no way an obstacle and she has a witty remark for everyone who dares to step out of line. But, most importantly to me, she didn’t leave her vulnerability behind. Way too often in books we are told about heroines who fight with confidence and run towards dangers without hesitation, but often these characters lack depth and human-stuff. Like stress, anxiety and exhaustion. Harper was a fresh breath of air because she was relatable. She was angry when she was whisked away to Rhen’s world, and her anger doesn’t dissipate within a couple pages and a few sweet words from the ah-so-handsome prince.

Rhen is the handsome prince, but he is also a big ball of depression. He tries his best to hold up his defenses but underneath it all is both tragedy and angst. I honestly don’t know if a Curse so Dark and Lonely had magnificient character development on Rhen’s part, or, if the book changed me in the course of reading it. At first I had an intense dislike of Rhen but over time he grew on me and turned out to be one of the most memorable characters even when he was matched with the pretty awesome Harper.

I don’t usually give such detailed character descriptions but I reaallly have to mention Grey as well. He is Rhen’s commander and got mixed up in the mess of the curse at the very beginning. Since then he has served Rhen as he best can as his only servant/soldier. Grey is not a simple forgettable side character though. He is kind but stern, somewhat grumpy and 100% lovable for being such an honest person.

Although a Curse so Dark and Lonely is clearly recognisable as a Beauty and the Beast retelling, it still managed to pull the rug from under my feet. I made a bunch of theories about what was going to happen next, but either I am very poor at guessing (I am) or the plot had pretty clever twists throughout (it did). That also made the book unputdownable and I spent quite a few mornings bleary-eyed because I couldn’t put the book down to get a decent amount of sleep.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a unique twist. The curse is enacted much differently with the beast not being a ‘beast’ all the time – but with much higher stakes when he is the beast. The beauty ‘Harper’ also finds her way free of the ‘damsel in distress’ trope and is a strong character that whilst having cerebral palsy does not let her situation get the better of her.

Speaking of Harper – I know this is a retelling so there is a bit of a set format, but she’s from our world?? With technology and phones and proper medicine… and she seems to accept this new land and magic a little bit too easily. I mean, If this was me, I would be freaking out as I find instruments playing themselves. And I’d want to see more and more magic, but I would also probably have a meltdown without technology. I don’t know, I think this is an issue with many books that transport you to a different world, that the characters accept it easily.

We also get a different POV with Rhyn, which is how we explore the curse and exactly how the curse has affected him. We see ups and downs, and that Rhyn feels like giving up because of how the curse affects him and those around him. I found that this gave a bit of depth that you don’t get in the Disney version. The ‘beast’ isn’t just angry and sulking because of the curse, he’s actively tried to break it over and over again, which is slowly breaking him. Another unique-ness that I could get on board with.

The world is great though. In the original, we’re trapped in a castle, but the unique twist of the curse means Harper and co are able to leave the castle. This means we get to explore Emberfall and meet different characters. Seeing the people and the political tensions as this country is straining under the Prince’s curse, without fully knowing what is going on was interesting. It was a bit of added information which you forget about in the original tale! Because of course the ruling family being cursed would affect their country.

Whilst we do see more characters in A Curse So Dark and Lonely, there’s some which I think we could have had seen more of. I think the Enchantress could have been a larger part of the story, and she captured attention in every scene she was in. I also found that Harper’s brother could have been a bigger part of the book (but I don’t know if that’s just me?). I loved the addition of Grey and his dynamic with both our POVs. He’s also a great way to introduce how this curse has affected not just the beast, but his subjects too.

Overall I enjoyed the book, and found that there were a few twists and turns that are different to the original. I also found out that there will be a second book which continues this tale! There’s a slight cliffhanger, but not one that’s too frustrating.

POSITIVES
Original Retelling
Interesting world
NEGATIVES
Some characters could have been used more?

I received an e-arc of A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer from Bloomsbury Australia via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book. 

I've been really excited about A Curse So Dark and Lonely for quite some time now. I've really enjoyed reading Brigid Kemmerer books in the past and this one was calling out to me. And then I found out it featured a protagonist with a disability, I knew I needed to read it. And I am so glad that I did. This has to be one of my favourite YA fantasy novels. It's got everything that I love and I literally could not put it down. 

A Curse So Dark and Lonely follows Rhen who has been cursed to repeat autumn the year he turned eighteen over and over again. He thought that if he only had to repeat those months it was fine, but what he didn't expect was to turn into a monster - a monster that kills anything and anyone in its path. And the only way to break the curse - is to fall in love.

Then Harper arrives. She has no idea where she is or how she even got there. All she wants to do is get back home, to her sick mother and her brother that's in trouble. But the more time that she spends with Rhen, the more she realises everything isn't what meets the eye. Harper isn't like other girls, but Rhen isn't like anyone else Harper has met. Just as Rhen sees a little hope, powerful forces not only stand against Rhen but the hope of Harper and his people. 

If you haven't thought about picking this one up yet - do! This story influenced by the beauty and the beast is heartbreaking, to say the least. But it is also captivating, enchanting and I just couldn't put it down. Both Harper and Rhen are both fascinating and tantalising characters. The plot captured me from the very first chapter and just kept me going and going. 

Harper has to be one of my favouriote female protagonists ever. Her voice seized me from the very start. I was able to connect with not only Harper's voice but also the worries that she has throughout A Curse So Dark and Lonely. Harper has no idea what is going on when she falls into Emberfall but makes the most of it. She stands up not only for herself but what she believes in. While at first, the idea of Emberfall flabagasts her, she slowly falls into the world like a pro. I adored that she was quick on her feet and didn't let anyone stop her. Harper just took everything and went with it. One of the things that I loved about Harper, was that she didn't like her disability define her. It wasn't brushed aside and it didn't let it stop her.

Rhen, oh my gosh, my heart could not handle him. I could feel all his pain and gosh it was a lot. I am not going to lie, I cried a bit throughout the book. And a lot of it was because of all the pain that Rhen felt. It just broke me. I wanted to just hug him. Rhen feels so guilty about everything that happened, that it tore him apart. He didn't believe that he deserved to be happy, let alone a life. And that is what really got to me. He tries to be this Prince, a King. But deep down he is in so much pain. He tries to hide behind a persona, but throughout A Curse So Dark and Lonely it's broken down and the reader is able to see how much Rhen is hurting. 

The romance - holy - I think Rhen and Harper are climbing up my favourite OTP list. These two together, just yes, please. This has to be one of my favourite slow burn romances - ever. Rhen and Harper don't particularly like each other at the start of A Curse So Dark and Lonely. But as the novel goes on, they start to confide in each and really understand who the other is. One thing I have noticed about Bridge Kemmerer knows how to write a beautiful and perfect slow burn romance. And it shows again in this novel. At first, Rhen doesn't know what to think of Harper, but like Harper herself, as the novel goes on, he gets to really know her. Nevertheless, I cannot wait to see what more happens between these two and gosh I need it. 

One of the main pulls for me towards A Curse So Dark and Lonely was the fact that there was a protagonist with a disability. I don't have cerebral palsy, so I am not going to comment on if the representation was perfect. But from what I know and understand about it, I think it was a great start. Like I said before, I really enjoyed that while Harper did have cerebral palsy, it didn't stop her. It might slow her down, but she found ways to do things. It just made me happy to have this badass female disabled protagonist, that didn't really need a male to save her. 

Another thing I loved about A Curse So Dark and Lonely was the relationship between Rhen and Grey. These two warmed my heart. The reader knows that Rhen doesn't want to get close to anyone. He has hurt people and that has really played with his mind. But Grey has started the whole time. Grey has been with Rhen through thick and thin and it really came across on how much he did care. He wasn't just there because it was required to.

I also liked the budding relationship between Grey and Harper. It could go one way - and while I hope it doesn't. I liked that Grey helped Harper get through all the changes that happened, as well as showing her how to live in this world.  Grey was also really well written and seeing him grow throughout the novel was something I loved. And I know there is going to be way more install for him in the next book. 

Taking about the next book, umm how about that ending. While A Curse So Dark and Lonely was quite intense, the last 50 pages or so blew my mind. Everything was just taken to another level and it just worked. There were some things that were resolved, but then more things came about and I am so not ready for it. Something else that Brigid Kemmerer did with  A Curse So Dark and Lonely was really stick with the roots and base of the Beauty and the Beast story, but it such a way that it was fresh, new and was able to draw the reader in. 

Overall, I adored A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer. I was captivated by the characters, world, and the plot from the very first chapter. Rhen and Harper are fantastic characters on their own, with brilliant character arcs. But together they are like fire and it's one that I want to keep on spreading. I loved that Harper's disability wasn't shoved aside, the reader is also able to see Rhen come to terms with the things that he has done when the monster. If you are looking for a new fantasy book, then pick this one up. With fantastic world-building, character arcs and a plot that just keeps giving, then this is for you.

I absolutely adore retellings, reading pretty much every one I can get my hands on, but even I have to admit my first thought on seeing this was not another Beauty and the Beast retelling. I must have read at least a dozen of them so it was difficult to see how Kemmerer was ever going to make this one stand out. Somehow however she does and I can say, hand on heart, that this is one of the best versions of this classic tale I’ve come across.

It may be based on a story we all know and love but the author has put her stamp on it and turned it into something a little bit different. There’s no beautiful but misunderstood young girl held captive by a hideous monster who turns out to be nice on the inside and they fall in love. Instead we have a contemporary heroine who accidentally manages to get herself kidnapped and transported to a new and magical world. There’s no beast either as the prince she meets is handsome and charming and maybe just a little too smooth. There is a curse placed upon him (it’s in the title) but this curse is that he’s doomed to repeat the same season over and over again until he manages to find someone to fall in love with him. At the end of the season, if he hasn’t found true love he is transformed into a terrifying beast who will kill everyone and everything in sight before time resets and he begins the season anew.

It really is a wonderful take on the story and I absolutely loved this notion of time repeating for Prince Rhen and also the sense of urgency his impending transformation brings to the story. I loved that the enchantment caused everything within the palace to repeat despite Rhen and captain of the Guard Grey being the only ones there. Food magically appears at certain times, rooms tidy themselves and musical instruments play the same music they did for Rhen’s first season (even without the musicians). There’s something wonderfully magical about it but it’s also a little bit sinister too.

What truly made this book for me however was main character Harper. I think she may possibly be one of my all time favourite characters. From the very start she has incredible strength and resilience and over the course of the book she develops into something even more, finding confidence and self assurance. Physically she’s not perfect, she has cerebral palsy which limits what she can do and means she struggles with a lot of things, but while it does slow her down at times it doesn’t curb her determination.

I truly admired how she coped with everything thrown at her. She’s magically transported to a new and more primitive world, is held captive in a cursed palace, becomes entangled with local politics and has the incredible pressure of being told she can save a kingdom on the brink of war. She has the odd wobble (fair enough I would too) but she doesn’t wait around for someone else to rescue her or fix things but instead steps up and does it for herself. Yes she does do some incredibly stupid things and doesn’t always listen but she acts which in my opinion makes her awesome.

Her relationship with Prince Rhen is also very well done. For a Beauty and the Beast inspired story it’s pretty light on the romance, there’s no insta love here or even an instant attraction. Harper isn’t naive and knowing about the curse pretty early on she never buys into his charm (and actually calls him on it). They bicker and they fight as neither wholly trusts the other and I have to admit I was never fully sure their relationship would turn romantic (and I wasn’t sure I wanted it to).

Rhen is an intriguing character but his guarded and thoughtful nature make it difficult to really become invested in him. He doesn’t show much of what he feels and to be honest he’s so dispirited and defeated at the start of the story that it’s not clear he feels much at all anyway. He does develop over the course of the book and by the end I did come to really care about him but I’m still not sure I ever really felt like he and Harper made the best match.

Captain of the Guards Grey however I almost instantly loved. From when he first accidentally kidnapped Harper for Rhen there was just something about him that made me happy. He’s incredibly loyal, brave and stoic but there’s a really soft and fun side to him that I thought made him a better match for Harper. Some of my favourite moments in this book were in fact between him and Harper which is probably not the way it should have been.

The writing is great and I thought the pace of the story was pretty much spot on. It’s a fast and easy read and there’s just enough intrigue and action to keep you hooked throughout. I loved the world building and while some of the secondary characters were a little stereotyped there was enough depth and complexity in the leads to make up for it. I will say I wasn’t wholly convinced by Harper’s back story and family and it felt a little bit forced to fit what the story needed but given how much I loved Harper I can let it slide.

Overall therefore, this is one of the best retellings I’ve come across and one I’d recommend all lovers of the genre pick up. The ending left things a little bit open so I can’t wait to find out what’s next for these characters.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. As always all views are very much my own.