I got this as an ARC through NetGalley. I enjoyed the story. It's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. There is a very strong female lead Character, Harper. I think at times it could be a little too strong in an uncompromising sense. I was frustrated by the evil Enchantress. She was truly evil and any "reasoning" that she had for attacking Rhen and his family, I think, was totally off the scale. I liked that they worked on getting the kingdom back together. I can't wait for the next book. I need to know what happens to Gray. I will be recommending this book on my Library's website. www.lickingcountylibrary.org

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is everything I've ever wanted from a fantasy book. Our MC is a strong, independent woman who finds her willpower and gains even more confidence in herself throughout the book. She does have cerebral palsy and this disability rep is the best I've ever seen. We get to see how condition looks to others, how they judge her, and how she deals with it. It's never a stopping point for her and her willpower, intelligence, or cunning is always the reason people are impressed with her, not the fact that she can overcome her illness. I loved this part of the book and I think it is going to do wonderful things for people who need to see this kind of positive light on disabled rep. Harper is funny, witty, and caring. The journey she goes through in this book is extremely challenging, but the growth we see from her is exquisite. We see how she deals with how people see her and decides how she wants to be seen.

Our other two main characters are exquisite. Rhen is a prince having to live through his worst nightmare for hundreds of years while facing his mistakes and learning from them. We get to see him grow and learn from Harper. They play off each other so well and teach each other hard truths. I also absolutely adored Grey, who I would characterize as the main character although he is not the main POV. He's the guard who feels a responsibility to the Rhen being cursed, but also is loyal to his kingdom and prince. We see the relationship between him and Rhen change, while he forms a good relationship with Harper.

There's a lush world that meets ours, along with an evil sorceress and a terrifying monster. There's terrible abuse and terrible choices to be made. This book will sweep you up into the world of Emberfell and you'll never want to leave. This is the most exquisite fantasy book I've read in a long time, maybe all year. I could not recommend this Beauty and the Beast retelling more.

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

This excellent adventure is told in two voices-Harper, a girl from Washington, DC who has some serious family issues and Rhen, a cursed prince in a magical realm, who also has some serious family issues. Harper has been kidnapped by Rhen's commander to help to try to break the curse. At first, Harper is reluctant to take part, but eventually finds that she likes the magical kingdom better than she ever imagined, but her own family needs her too. One of the things that is really great about this story is that Harper has cerebral palsy and although at first, it seems like it might be an impediment or slow her down in someway, but it turns out it's not really the most important part of the story. This would be a fun book to compare to Beauty and the Beast (and any of the other versions of that story). I think middle and high schools students will like this one a lot.

I received an e-arc of this book from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

This book was not on my radar at all. When I first read the teaser summary, it felt too disconnected. It almost seemed like I was reading a blurb about two different books in two different genres. After hearing all the praise it was getting, and how many people were recommending it on Instagram, I thought I'd give it another try and I'm so glad I did.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer is such an amazing take on the Beauty and the Beast tale we all know and love. With a determined heroine who doesn't let her disability stop her from doing what is right, and a young man who's exhausted from failing time and time again. Though they start out at odds, with one refusing to trust the other, feelings slowly start to develop.

Nothing ever felt slow. Something was always happening, wether it as an action scene, or the characters bickering or strategizing. The romance was a bit of a slow burn, but I've read too many books where the couple fall instantly in love that this felt more realistic. One of my favorite aspects of the novel is the fact that the beast isn't present. The curse has the prince transform into the beast at the end of the season, giving him a chance to woo the lady.

I had a hard time putting this book down. At work I would hope to sneak away for a few minutes to try to sneak a couple of pages in. Always, one more chapter, just one more chapter, then I'll go to bed. Who needs sleep when you're curled up with such an amazing story? I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a fairy tale retelling with a leading lady who doesn't shy away from a fight and expect Prince Charming to save her in the end.

Prince Rhen has been cursed by an enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year. The only way to break the curse is to get a girl to fall in love with him. But that's harder then it seems since he turns into a beast at the end of each season. Over 300 seasons in and it looking as if the curse will never break an unlikely girl brings hope to the castle. Harper was just trying to save someone but ends up in a strange new world. Told she's the last hope of saving the prince and the kingdom of Emberfall. Will they be able to break this curse before time runs out?
This new twist on the beauty and the beast story might just be my new favorite of all the retellings of that story. I loved how badass Harper is even though she has Cerebral Palsy. The author shows how people with medical conditions still have the ability to kick some major ass. Harper and Rhen's connection through the book touched my heart as well as the friendships built between many of the characters. It was refreshing that the author didn't have Harper fall instantly in fairy tale love with the prince but rather had it build over time like real love would. Also that at the end of the book the reader is left wondering if it was Harper or Greys actions that caused the change. Either way I'm looking forward to the sequel A Heart So Fierce And Broken. Since we were left with that huge cliffhanger I didn't see coming about commander Grey. Also can't wait to read more about Harper and Rhen and everyone else in the kingdom.
I received an early electronic book version of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review. This book will be released on January 29th, 2019 (this Tuesday!) and I highly recommend that you pick it up if you love a good fantasy read!

I enjoyed getting a different twist on the classic beauty & the beast trope -- what if there's not just one beauty? What if the beast is trapped in a nightmarish groundhog day where he tries to woo a different beauty every season and keeps failing over & over again? And what if the latest beauty is brought into this fantasy world from our world? So full kudos on the premise being an interesting take on a classic trope. I also really enjoyed the characters. That being said, something about the way the narration works in conjunction with the start/stop pacing is just off for me. So much happens, but it's always told in a sort of reportage/throw away style. So somehow this book moves way too fast and way too slow at the same time- that really took away from my enjoyment. I also firmly do not think this should be a series. I am taking what wrap up there is at the end and letting that be my ending. All in all, I'd call this decent but not overly memorable YA fantasy playing with my favorite fairytale trope

From everything I've heard this is a lovely book representing illness in its many forms. It's definitely something I want to read as I'm going through a similar time with my own mother struggling with cancer.

Holy Cliffhanger, Batman...

In two very different worlds, two very different teens are living through hell. In the kingdom of Emberfall, Prince Rhen and his guard, Grey, are cursed to repeat Rhen's 18th autumn until Rhen can find true love. If he doesn't, he'll turn into a horrible monster at the end of the season. Meanwhile, in our world, in Washington D.C., Harper's life has fallen apart. Her mother is dying, her father has abandoned them, the loan sharks are coming to collect, and now her brother is forced to repay their father's debts. One night, everything changes when a single act of heroism ends with Harper in Emberfall....

I love retellings, and this is one of the best Beauty and the Beast retellings I have ever read. I love Harper and how strong she is as a character and as a person. Harper has cerebral palsy, and while she walks with a limp it doesn't stop her. Some of her physical therapy sessions from childhood were spent on horseback, which comes in handy in Emberfall. (Also, something really cool to see in literature; my sister volunteers at a therapeutic riding center, and a lot of people are surprised to find that such things exist.)

Rhen is a wonderful if complicated character. He's not perfect. He is the beast, after all. But he tries. He tries to be better, tries to be a good ruler, tries to learn from his mistakes and Harper calling him out on his behavior. He regrets his words often with a lot of humility and grace.

Then there is Grey. This boy will sleep when he's dead and maybe even then not for another twenty-four hours. The Hufflepuffiest Hufflepuff. So loyal. So strong. I love him and I want to see him happy. (Which makes my heart pound in anticipation of Book 2 because, again, Holy Cliffhanger Batman!)

This is an amazing story, with a fantastic world and characters. Will most definitely be excited to see what comes next.

Harper is supposed to be the lookout for her brother. When she witnesses an almost-kidnapping, she cannot just stand there and watch it happen. When Grey, a Royal Guard, drags Harper to His Highness’ feet, there seems to be something different about this girl. Rhen needs to break the curse—which is harder than it looks—to free his kingdom, his guard, and himself. In this magical retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Brigid Kemmerer captures the hearts of readers.

It took me mere pages to know that I was going to love this book. The writing is what truly gripped me from the start. Kemmerer reimagines a contemporary Beauty and the Beast like you've never seen it before. Despite its modernity, the whimsy of the fairytale is still strong.

I was hesitant at first because of the length, totaling around almost 500 pages. However, every single page sweeps you away into this gorgeous tale. The pacing is so fast, and if it wasn’t for my need to sleep, I would’ve finished the book in one sitting. Kemmerer builds an enchanting story that grips you in at every scene.

Harper was born with cerebral palsy. I’m not very knowledgeable in the disorder but I’m glad Kemmerer includes a brief Author’s Note for those who wish to seek out more information. Harper’s courage to fight was extremely relatable. As much as we only glimpse into her life, it’s filled with memories that create such a detailed character. Sure, I would have enjoyed some flashbacks of her life before meeting Rhen, instead of a description of a short memory or even photos on a cellphone. However, I expect that her development—and, hopefully, her back story will continue to grow in the sequel.

In all Beauty and the Beast retellings, you can’t very well retell the story without the beast and A Curse So Dark and Lonely is no exception. However, Kemmerer takes the notion of the beast and turns it upside down. Rhen is free to be his human self in the lovely days of summer but when the season changes, so does the man. The beast is revealed and seemingly has very little human tendencies. It truly is a new way to see the tale.

Rhen is broody, mysterious, and strives to be better. He plays the perfect Beast in the retelling. Something I adored about this retelling is that the stakes are much higher. Rhen has been trying to break the curse for years and the enchantress decides that this will be the last season he gets the chance to. There may not have been rose petals falling in the West Wing but readers can feel Rhen’s desperation and hope to be free.

The story is told in two perspectives: Rhen's and Harper's. Both voices were entirely different. Since they both came from very different backgrounds and time periods, their voices reflect their experiences. Harper is brave, cautious and a bit rough around the edges. Rhen is stately, shameful and almost exhausted.

Side note: I've been seeing a lot of reviews compare this to Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Even before reading, it was giving me major ACOTAR vibes especially with the cover. With both being Beauty and the Beast retellings, the comparison is rather inevitable. However, they are extremely different. First off, A Curse So Dark and Lonely has zero faeries. And whereas Maas' version of Beauty and the Beast follows a little more closely to the classic by Gabrielle-Suzanne Bardot de Villeneuve; the version in A Curse So Dark and Lonely has many elements from Disney's version. Also, ACOTAR is meant for an older audience with its sexual content. This book is meant for the YA audience, and has no graphic sexual content whatsoever. The two characters share some kisses but do not go beyond that.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is, in fact, book one to a new series. And if the first book is any indicator, this series is one to watch out for. I'm already counting down the days for the sequel to release.

Kemmerer ties up a lot of loose ends, especially within the Beauty and the Beast story arc. Based on the reveal at the end, the sequel is sure to go deeper into the world Kemmerer has created. And the ending does leave some major questions unanswered. This book made quick work of putting me in a book hangover that—it’s been days—I’m still not over.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer is a magnificent retelling of the Beauty and the Beast with its superb writing, fast pace and its relatable characters. This is a fantastic start to a new series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

There is much to love in A Curse So Dark and Lonely. While it is recognizable as a Beauty and the Beast rebelling, it is also unique. When Harper finds herself kidnapped and brought to the castle of Prince Rhen, she displays every ounce of spunk and attempts a daring escape, despite her physical impairment.

While there were a few spots I didn't enjoy in the story, I really enjoyed the interaction between Harper, Rhen, and Grey, and hope to see more from this author in the future.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely was a breath of fresh air. The introduction of a protagonist with cerebral palsy felt special and will hopefully set an example for future YA authors to broaden their horizons in character development. I am not generally a fan of realistic fiction or urban fantasy but this splendid book combined them in a way that was spell-binding. This book may be a loosely-based Beauty and the Beast re-telling, but there were so many twists and turns that I couldn't put this book down. Highly recommend for lovers of fairy tales and strong female protagonists.

The first review of the year! Writing this one always feels fresh and hopeful to me and like it may set the tone of my reading year in a way. This was a very good one to start with. And the moral of this story appears to be: I will never tire of Beauty and the Beast retellings. A fact I was not unaware of, but that I am happy to have confirmed once more, this time after reading Brigid Kemmerer's A Curse So Dark and Lonely. My favorites tend to run the Robin McKinley way, with the most recent favorite retelling being Meagan Spooner's wonderful Hunted. But this is the first retelling of my favorite fairy tale that I've read that includes both traditional fantasy and modern contemporary settings. I didn't think it could work. Or, at least, I was skeptical that the one would interfere with the other or that the different dialogues might clash. How happy I was to find that the whole thing played out seamlessly. How happy I am to have discovered Brigid Kemmerer's writing full stop. I have one of her contemporaries sitting on my nightstand now, and I'm looking forward to diving in.

***

I can remember my own arrogance.

I want to walk out of the castle and fling myself off a cliff. That doesn't work. I've tried. More than once.

I always wake up here, in this room, waiting in the sunlight. The fire always burns low, just as it is now, the flames crackling in a familiar pattern. The stone floor appears freshly swept, wine and goblets sitting ready on a side table. Grey's weapons hang on the opposite chair, waiting for his return.

Everything is always the same.

Except for the dead. They never come back.

***

Prince Rhen longs for death. He has lived the same tragedy over and over again, too many times to count, too many lives lost at his own hands. But the curse prevents him from staying dead, no matter how many times he tries. He always comes back. His loyal guard Grey at his side awaiting orders. The castle as beautiful and enchanted as ever, the season ready to start anew. And another poor woman's life is at risk as she is abducted and brought to his dark home to be a pawn in the endless game to break the curse. But this time, Grey returns with someone unexpected. A young woman who spotted him attempting to abduct another woman and who stepped in to stop him. Rather violently so. And Grey was forced to bring the wrong girl back. Both he and Rhen are uncertain what to do with her. For her part, Harper is spitting mad and on extremely uneven ground. Not only does she find herself magically transported to a foreign land, but she is expected to play a part in the mysterious attempt to save a strange man's life as well as his kingdom. Meanwhile, she is desperate to return home where her mother is dying and her brother is forced into a life of crime to pay back their wastrel father's debts. Somehow, she will get to the bottom of the ominous curse and make a deal with her captors to return home before it's too late.

I loved Harper from the first swing of her tire iron at Grey's head. Because with that instinctive, intentional swing she changes the story. She becomes an active agent in a would-be abduction. And with that protective action, she hurls herself into her new story. Harper is scrappy and determined and has fought her entire life to be independent, despite her struggle with cerebral palsy and her father abandoning them to pay for all of his mistakes. And so, if she doesn't exactly hit the ground running as a stranger in a strange land, she manages to find her footing remarkably well. She will be no one's pawn. And she consistently defies the prince's orders to stay in her room and not stray from the castle grounds. She demands Grey teach her to throw knives, and she rides out beyond the grounds to take food to his starving people and find safe havens for stranded children. It is no wonder Grey forgoes his normally stoic manner to teach her to fight. It is no wonder Rhen finds himself entertaining, one last time, the possibility of an end other than his own. I became so enamored of this unlikely trio—the prince, the guard, and the girl who could save them all.

Brigid Kemmerer takes all the time she needs to let them unfold the story at their own pace. There is no instalove here. There is no inexplicable, immediate falling together. Harper and Rhen aren't drawn to each other at first or even twelfth glance. They are two unwieldy and unwilling partners in an impossible bind. And ever so slowly they find a way to move forward side by side rather than entwined. Harper discovers the extent of Rhen's curse bit by bit, hidden chamber by hidden chamber. Rhen is loath to reveal the truth behind his transformations into a beast, and his repeated failures loom heavy in the specters of all the women whose lives he ruined. And linking them together is Grey, the only one who stayed when the curse was cast over his prince and his land.

***

Grey's expression has no give to it now. This isn't the man who charmed smiles out of children in the snow. This isn't even the man who spoke passionately of honor and duty in the hallway. This is the lethal swordsman who kidnapped me. This is the scariest Grey of all.

***

These three distinct individuals, they aren't the bendable kind. I loved their burgeoning friendships. I loved the long loyalty that ties Rhen to Grey and how I couldn't tell where it would go or how it would end. It wasn't until the final pages that I realized how tangled those ties actually were, and it's going to take at least one more book to follow the three of them down the dark path that opens up at the end of this one. But no matter how long it takes, I am for them.

"I really just brought you here to protect you."

My pride flinches. "It is I who should be protecting you."

"You've been doing that for a while. Maybe it's my turn."

I love the way some of the elements of Beauty and the Beast were reimagined in A Curse So Dark and Lonely. Instead of appearing as a monster 24/7, Prince Rhen relives the same season over and over knowing that at the end of the season, he’ll turn into a bloodthirsty monster and have no memory of himself. The monster will kill anyone in his path, so even while Rhen is human, he’s tortured by the guilt of what he’s done as a monster in the past and filled with dread at what will happen the next time.

Rhen’s only surviving companion is Grey, the last surviving member of the Royal Guard. I loved Grey. He’s sharp, focused, and loyal. The only thing that worried me about him was how much I liked him—I worried he’d steal the show. (Looks like he’ll get his own chance to tell a story, though. I wasn’t expecting a sequel to this book, but the ending definitely sets up for one.)

Let’s talk about Harper. She’s spunky. She’s brave. She loves her family with her whole heart. She’s so moved by the suffering of the villagers in Emberfall that she begins to find ways to fight for them. And her compassion wakes Rhen’s passion for his people. I loved that.

One of the cool things to me about >em>A Curse So Dark and Lonely was the way the genres collided. The contemporary parts set in present-day DC really read like contemporary YA. The fantasy parts had a really distinct fantasy feel to them as well. I thought that was really well done and maintained perfectly through the whole book.

The end threw me a little bit, though. I don’t want to give away details. But it’s unclear which actions change things—even the characters seem unsure. I’m hoping that the second book makes all of this clearer.

All in all, A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a must-read for fairy tale lovers. It’s a rich, beautiful re-imagining of the story packed with great characters. Great for fans of Robin McKinley or Wendy Spinale.

Modern day teen Harper stands lookout for her brother Jake, who is trying to buy time in paying back their father’s loans, when she sees a woman being abducted. She foils the abductor’s plan, but gets kidnapped herself.

She finds herself in a foreign land, Emberfall, with the crown prince Rhen and his loyal commander Grey. Rhen has been cursed by the evil Lilith, and only Harper has the power to break the curse. It’s a modern day and fantasy world Beauty and the Beast collision, as Rhen, Harper, and Grey form an uneasy alliance to save the kingdom from the curse and from outside armies. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader.

The major strength of A Curse So Dark and Lonely is its protagonist Harper. She is a strong and spunky female lead who has cerebral palsy. When villains in the story or just less aware figures use ableist language, she shuts them right down. Despite being in a magical world with luxuries, Harper never loses sight of the struggles her family faces. In turn, this makes her incredibly empathetic when meeting suffering people in Emberfall.
The titular curse describes the primary love interest Rhen's existence. Harper first views this prince as arrogant and selfish, but he actually keeps to himself to protect his people. Misunderstandings ensue but once the characters figure out how to communicate, romantic interest ensues.
Sometimes the book felt slow and repetitive. The plot closely follows Beauty and the Beast with some expansion of the enchantress's role and the welcome addition of geopolitics. The boundary between the world of Emberfall and Harper's modern-day DC (complete with cellphones, Game of Thrones, and Risk) is never explained, and the magic that enables movement between the two is a bit farfetched. The book read as a standalone until the last pages. It will be interesting to see where the sequel goes. Definitely recommend for its inclusivity (a protagonist with a disability, queer characters), less so for its fantasy elements.

I only read a few chapters. I review for the Maine Student Book award which is for grades 4 -8. I often look for edgier books to satisfy the 8th graders without having too much sex, violence, and language for the younger readers. Just 4 chapters in I felt this was really too YA for my purposes. If I was just reading for me I would have kept going though.

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 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.