A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY follows Prince Rhen and teenage Harper, whose worlds collide when Harper is transported into his world in order to break the curse ruining his kingdom of Emberfall. Harper, who lives in present-day Washington, D.C., is not thrilled about being wrenched out of her life while her mother is dying, her father is absent and her brother is desperately trying to keep the family afloat. Meanwhile, Rhen has almost given up on saving his kingdom, but falling in love with Harper is his last chance to break the curse and be rid of the monster devastating his kingdom.While the entire plot is based on the need for Harper and Rhen to fall in love, that is not what they spend most of their time focused on. A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY is powerful because it is not entirely focused on the romance but the implications of the romance. Along the way, Harper helps Rhen repair his kingdom, which was probably my favorite element of this book. Even though she is new to his world and customs, Harper steps up when Rhen has almost wholly given up. Almost immediately after I started reading this book, I knew I would soon fall in love with these characters, their humor and their opposing worlds. The novel is always enjoyable, and I could not keep myself from laughing when Rhen started calling Harper “my lady” because it goes against what someone from today’s society, like Harper, would ever be called.

One of the first characters that Harper meets is Grey, Rhen’s commander of the Royal Guard. He brings her to Emberfall to break the curse. The castle is inhabited with only Rhen and Grey at the start of the book, but readers soon meet several other characters. However, the cast of characters is relatively small, which means that the main characters develop and their relationships are first and foremost in the story. While Grey starts the story closed-off, he quickly became the most interesting character for me, and the one I am most interested in learning more about in the sequel.

I don't care what y'all say, you can pull Beauty & the Beast retellings out of my cold, dead hands.

This book was as enchanting and angsty as I was hoping it would be. I read well over 200 pages of it in one sitting the night I picked it up, which at my current mental state should be considered an Olympic feat. I was glued onto the story from the main character's strong will to the love interest's angst-ridden curse. The writing, though not entirely glowing, did sweep me away.

The first issue I had with the book is the parallel universes between our real world and their fantasy world. It was entirely personal preference, but I found that bringing elements of our modern world into a fantasy world made the story cheesy and almost took away from the magic of it. Moments that aimed to be funny just ended up falling flat for me because in my head, the two worlds are quite non-transferable and I guess the author didn't blend them seamlessly enough for my taste.

Next, although I love the idea of this enemies to lovers story where it's driven by a curse, I think the slight romance that did develop felt somewhat forced in the sense that I didn't really feel any chemistry between these two characters. They were great partners in war and there was certainly tension between them, but they were never thrust into any circumstances that tested their romantic compatibility; it was all war-driven. The romantic scenes in this book were brief and chaste, and I felt it was missing just a bit of development and emotion.

I had more minor problems with this like the storyline being slightly tinged with unrealistic plot points and the characters' emotional reactions to major events feeling stunted, but overall, I really enjoyed my time reading this. I think it was a refreshing take on Beauty & the Beast, even if a bit heteronormative. I loved the side characters and this was such a fast read, not to mention the main character has cerebral palsy and it was integrated as a character trait rather than a plot point. I'm not fiending to pick up the sequel, but I definitely will give it a go when it comes out because I'm definitely interested in seeing where the characters' journeys, physically and emotionally, go from here.

This is among one of my favourite Beauty and the Beast retellings, if not my all-time favourite! I loved the small amount of Celtic folklore that was added to the book, The love interest and his friend in particular were really intriguing characters. After that plot twist in the end I'm having trouble waiting for the second book!

This is one of the best Beauty and the Beast retellings I have read in a while. I enjoyed Kemmerer's twist on both members of this romance. She questions the idea of beauty in a very well put together way and you are drawn to her main heroine in particular.

I give the book four stars. It’s one of my favorites fairy tales retelling. I enjoyed the pacing of the story and the characters in the story. I would definitely recommend the book.

I have always enjoyed Brigid’s novels and her return to the fantasy genre is nothing short of amazing. Her world building was spot on and her characters were well flushed out. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

I was so excited to read this book and I was not disappointed. I was hooked from the very first chapter and couldn't put the book down until I was finished.
This book follows Harper as she is pulled into a different world with Rhen, the prince of Emberfell, by Grey, is head guard. I loved all three of the main characters and despised the villainous enchantress.
I was torn, just as Harper was, as she was trying help Rhen save his kingdom, but longing to go home to her mom and brother.
I can't wait for the next book!

"I’ve never fallen in love with anyone, much less someone who snatched me right off the street."

I’m very happy to convey my thoughts about this YA masterpiece. Compared to other retellings of Beauty and the Beast, such as Hunted and A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Curse So Dark and Lonely is probably the most gripping, especially in terms of character development. Harper, Rhen, and Grey are indeed fictional, but their respective struggles and interactions will make you wish that they were real.

Since A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a reimagining of a beloved classic, you might already have assumptions about the plot. However, this book evokes originality by using both real and fantastical settings. Harper, the heroine, initially lives in Washington, D.C. However, Grey, a guardsman who can “cross the veil between worlds,” eventually brings her to a magical kingdom called Emberfall. Gleaning from how Harper quickly adjusts to her new life and all its peculiarities, this novel is also a work of magical realism. The narrators don’t explain how their worlds coexist, so you have no choice but to suspend your disbelief. If you see this as a lack of world-building, I understand.

As far as retellings are concerned, ACSDAL has a refreshing Belle archetype, one who is aware of Stockholm Syndrome. I took the quote above from one of Harper’s internal monologues. I was amazed by how she immediately deduced the reason for her abduction despite Rhen’s penchant for keeping secrets. Empowered by such knowledge, Harper protected her agency and resolved not to fall in love with him under any circumstance.

A few days ago, the author went live on Instagram, so I asked her about the delicate romance in ACSDAL. Brigid basically said that she explicitly mentioned Stockholm Syndrome in her work because she did not want Harper to be a character who frustrated readers with her ignorance. With that in mind, if you expect Harper to besotted with the Beast like the typical Belle, think again. Regardless of her cerebral palsy, she’s not to be underestimated. Rhen and Grey weren’t aware of this at the beginning, and it resulted in a few minor problems (injuries). Hahaha.

Unlike Harper, Rhen was a little predictable. He wasn’t overrated exactly, but he fell into most of the Beast-related stereotypes. For instance, as I expected, Rhen was a spoiled brat before the curse. And when Harper came into his life, he changed for the better. To compensate for this familiar character milestone, the author gave him multiple “evolutions” (like a Pokémon) as well as a shocking tormentor. This isn’t necessarily a positive thing (some feminists might say otherwise), but it was my first time to read about a man being sexually abused by a woman. Oh well, at least the descriptions weren’t unadulterated.

The most unique protagonist in the book was Grey. Dear Grey. Contrary to his tough and stoic appearance, he was the softest cinnamon roll in Emberfall. Something about him was so appealing to me as a reader. Perhaps it was his unquestionable loyalty to Rhen? Or the way he was good with children? Hmm…it must be how he always made Harper feel less alone. Only fans of Sarah J. Maas will get this reference, but Grey was a much better version of Lucien from ACOTAR. I’m comfortable making such comparisons since the books have the same publisher. Whatever novel you choose to read, Bloomsbury will make a profit. But I digress. The ending of ACSDAL had something to do with Grey, and it nearly made me have a book hangover. I’ll be one of the first people to request an ARC of the sequel once it becomes available. Wahaha.

Ultimately, A Curse So Dark and Lonely is the best book I’ve read this year. It deserves 5 stars not because it’s perfect but because it can give you so much joy and inspiration. This heartwarming story of love, courage, and sacrifice will stay in my memory for a long time.

I really love beauty and the beast retellings and this one was amazing. The writing was well done and the story was fresh all while giving us the hints of the classic story.

Not my favorite retelling, though it was beautifully written. I think the story was so hyped and due to previous reading experiences of Kemmerer’s work, I had high expectations. And while I enjoyed the story, it wasn’t as phenomenal as I’d hoped.

I had a lot of trouble getting into the story. Learning the world, the curse, etc. I did love the idea of a heroine with a disability of some sort. That was a definite positive spin on the old tale.

I’m still a huge fan of Brigid’s work and am sad this didn’t quite work for me.

Loved it! One of the best retellings of Beauty and the Beast that I've read. I loved the modern twist and the fact that the beast doesn't show himself until almost the end of the book. Can't wait for the sequel!

I stayed up far past my bedtime to finish this book. I was so, so good.
I love the new take on the classic Beauty and the Beast tale.
Harper is a fantastic main character who does not back down, no matter what she is faced with. I love that she holds true to her love of her family regardless of the feelings she may be developing for Rhen.
This is one of those books that is compulsively readable. You will not want to put it down until you turn the last page, so carve out some time and enjoy every word.

Thank you so much to the publisher for allowing me to review this true beauty!

This is a modern re-telling of the classic Beauty and the Beast tale, but with a twist-the ladies are taken from modern-day USA and taken to a fantasy, magic-laden land where a man is cursed to relive his 18th birthday over and over again. The "Beauty" of this story has a physical impairment which is a nice twist, and she is very smart and resourceful. The Enchantress is not my favorite character but she is meant to be disliked. The ending was interesting but satisfactory. Overall, I enjoyed this book and wish there was more of an explanation of how the magic worked.

Hands down the best retelling of “Beauty and the Beast” ever. Not on is the story new and creative, but the heroine is nicely flawed making her humanly relatable. The best thing about this book was the potential for a sequel hinted at in the epilogue. Can’t wait!

In October, I reviewed Beast, a retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Lisa Jensen. It was intriguing but very dark. Fast forward a few months and Brigid Kemmerer is tackling the same source material with a decidedly different outcome with A Curse So Dark and Lonely.

While the two main female characters in Beast and A Curse So Dark and Lonely are the “Belle” character from the classical tale, they approach their circumstances in decidedly different ways. One is fueled by hate, the other with the love of her family. I have to say I preferred the latter in all aspects of the book.

Harper isn’t looking for a prince or anyone — for that matter — to save her. She’s learned to be strong and rarely lets her cerebral palsy hold her back. When she first arrives in Emberfall, Harper does everything she can to escape. She didn’t directly make the choice to join Rhen, and when she learns how many girls came before her, she is furious.

Harper is a complex character, but she’s not the only one. In a genre where the “princess” is the star, it’s nice to come across a tale where the prince is just as well fleshed out. Rhen is flawed and is better for those imperfections.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is the third novel I’ve read from author Brigid Kemmerer, and it’s a departure from those contemporary books. The one thing that runs throughout all, though, is Brigid’s attention to plot and smooth prose. A Curse So Dark and Lonely is one of the stronger fairytale reimaginings I’ve come across lately.

WHAT'S NOT TO FREAKING LOVE?!?!?!?!?!?!

I was just beginning to think I was sick of retellings of classic fairytales, but A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY changed my mind. It has an amazing modern day protagonist HARPER who is RHEN (the beast's) last hope at breaking the curse place on him.

I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN.

I am so happy I got an ARC of this book!!! It was a book that had flown under my radar because I was so convinced that I didn't need yet ANOTHER retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but boy was I wrong.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a refreshing retelling of Beauty and the Beast. In my opinion a successful retelling uses the main plot points of the classic fairy tale or novel while also constructing a new story to stand on its own. Kemmerer's latest succeeds.

Prince Rhen, the sole heir to Emberfall, is cursed to repeat the autumn of his 18th birthday until he can find a woman to fall in love with him despite his seasonal transformation to a monstrous beast. The season resets after every failure-all 327 of them. When Harper intervenes in what looks like an abduction on the streets of Washington, DC, she is transported into Emberfall. She is desperately looking for a way back to D.C. so she can tend to her dying mom and help be the lookout for her brother as he tries to pay off their absent father's debts to a loan shark. The last thing Harper needed is to be at the center of the curse. Harper is shocked to learn that she is Rhen's last chance to break the curse, but Harper isn't sure if she can fall in love with Rhen.

The story is told from dual points of view. Harper is written in modern voice and is absolutely the true hero of our story. She has cerebral palsy, but does not let her disability define her. Kemmerer does a fabulous job in dodging the disability inspiration tropes we often see in fiction stories where characters have a disability. Harper is also fallible. She is impulsive to the point of recklessness, but also incredibly generous, strong, and persistent. She stands toe to toe with Prince Rhen and challenges him to think of helping his kingdom who has suffered greatly while he has been sequestered and aloof.

Rhen's chapters are written with a historical, refined voice. He is also a complex character. Interestingly, Kemmerer does not make him a full time Beast. The threat of monstrosity is always in the back of Rhen's mind. He bears the burden of the fate of his family as well as the dire circumstances of his kingdom. His interactions with Harper has given him inspiration to fight for something even if his curse can not be broken. I would have loved to get a clearer understanding of the curse and why it happened. We do get some backstory, but I wished it was fleshed out a bit.

The romance between Harper and Rhen is delightfully of the slow burn kind. Harper demands trust and friendship first from Rhen, before romance is suggested. Even though the story is problematic when it comes to consent given Harper's abduction which is talked about, consent is taken seriously. Rhen and Harper do not touch unless Harper gives her explicit consent.

There are other secondary characters that are equally captivating as our main characters. I loved Grey and want to know more of his story. His interactions and friendship with Rhen is compelling. Freya and Zo are both examples of strong female friendships that Harper has in the story. Though we find out what happens to Rhen, there is a still a lot unknown as we discover more secrets in Grey's past. I'm really looking forward to reading more about him in the future.

This book was absolutely perfect. The representation, the relationships, the characters, the story, the magic, the retelling aspect...EVERYTHING! I'm definitely a new ride or die fan of Brigid. Her writing style is so phenomenal. I need book 2 RIGHT NOW! UGH, 5 STARS!

I will have a full review for this on my blog soon!