This is a four-chapter excerpt for A Vow So Bold and Deadly, the third book in the Cursebreakers series, and it is fantastic! Brigid Kemmerer pulled me right back into this amazing world with two kingdoms on the brink of war and four dynamically developed characters in the middle of it.

Each chapter is from the point of view of one of the four main characters – Grey, Lia Mara, Rhen, and Harper and introduces the problems that each will face in the story. I love that the story is told from multiple perspectives and that each character’s voice is unique and distinct from the others. Grey, Lia Mara, Rhen, and Harper are all struggling in different ways and facing such impossible obstacles. I can’t wait to see where their journeys, both physical and emotional, take them.

I loved the first two books in the series, so getting a sneak peek of this one was an absolute treat! Thanks to Netgalley, Bloomsbury, and Brigid Kemmerer for a copy of this sampler in exchange for my honest review.

Four chapters is simply not enough! I am so utterly engrossed in this story and i can't handle the anticipation. Grey will forever and always be my favorite gloomy guard, and i just cannot wait to see him tear apart the battle field. I am interested how the balance of 4 separate povs will go, yet i am very confident in the conclusion of this trilogy.

I feel like I have been waiting forever to read A Vow So Bold and Deadly. When in all reality it's only been a couple of months. I love that this book is going to be from all 4 main perspectives. I absolutely need the finished copy now, this little exceprt/ extended preview thing just made me want the book even more! I love Lia Mira, and Grey so much. Rhen is kind of a brat and Harper is great! I think that Brigid Kemmerer's writing is awesome, plus for a retelling that has been done so many times I think that she has put a unique spin on it! I can't wait for the rest of the book!

Thanks for the preview @Bloomsbury and @Netgalley!

I'll be honest, I kind of despise shock value plot twists that make little to no sense. Shock value plot twists are bad enough with the support to back it up, let alone some half-handed, dramatic nonsense. And somehow, Kemmerer has done this <em>twice</em> with the series to which <em>A Vow so Bold and Deadly</em> belongs. As such, I'm kind of incredibly grateful that an excerpt was offered for what I hope is the final novel as it's allowed me to feel more sure than ever that I really shouldn't waste my time with the whole thing.

<b>Those Inane Cliffhangers</b>

Point blank, I have been <em>vastly</em> disappointed and annoyed with the endings of both <em>A Curse so Dark and Lonely </em>and <em>A Heart so Fierce and Broken</em>. I pretty much only read the second book because I received an ARC before I'd even finished the first and Grey was pretty much the only character that I liked. The second book was better, though still nothing amazing.

In the end, there are a lot of issues with these books and series as a whole. There are a number of good things, too, which at least gives these books credit from me. That said, I cannot stand the idiotic plot twists causing this series to literally drag on with little to no purpose. The first moronic and <em>painfully</em> obvious plot "twist" featured Grey in book one. I hated it from the moment I realized it was going to happen and hated it even more when my prediction was correct.

The second came at the end of book two. It completely negated a genuinely profound and excellent development--that of the PTSD--surrounding the behavior and suffering of Prince Rhen. The shock-value "twist" featuring the return of a certain character basically ruined the minor good things that this series had going for it as far as the plot goes.

<b>And I'd Almost Forgotten About It</b>

Fortunately, this excerpt reminded me of all the things I, quite frankly, couldn't stand. The entire premise of this series is built upon a plot point that I continue to find absolutely ridiculous. It's not really about Rhen's traumatic fear of magic. It's not about the war brewing between the two neighboring nations. And it's not about the representation. The premise is entrenched in this tired old trope of "surprise royalty" and I just can't stand it. Not only was it over the top and unnecessary, but it made the series so dull and frustrating.

Despite having some of the most potential for an amazing storyline, Kemmerer repeatedly makes painfully poor choices with her characters. And <em>A Vow so Bold and Deadly </em>is basically the culmination of all those poor choices. After reading the excerpt, I just realized that I really don't care how the mess all ends.

<em>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</em>

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this chapter sampler!

A Vow So Bold and Deadly is the third installment in the Cursebreaker series by Brigid Kemmerer. It picks up the tale of the kingdoms of Emberfall and Syhl Shallow as they are on the brink of war with each other. This chapter sampler consists of four chapters, one each from the perspective of our four main characters: Grey, Prince Rhen, Harper, and Lia Mara.

It was refreshing and heartwarming to finally revisit the perspectives of all four of these characters! After spending the bulk of book 2 with Grey and Lia Mara, I found myself missing Harper and Rhen, so I loved being able to step back into their perspectives.

This sampler also set up some beautiful conflicts. We have Grey, grappling with his magic and his threat of war with Emberfall, Rhen who is dealing with Lilith all by himself, Harper who feels like she can no longer navigate her relationship with Rhen in a productive manner, and Lia Mara who is struggling to rebuild a kingdom of hope and kindness on the ashes of her mother's violence. I am, beyond a doubt, absolutely hooked. The conflicts presented thus far are neither too simple nor too complicated, but rather enough to get the reader's interest and keep it. I am beyond excited to pick this book up in January!

Why did I agree to read the excerpt when i have to wait MORE for the rest of the book? UGH I cannot wait to finish this trilogy but also I know I will be so sad when its over. I love the multiple POVs as usual and seeing all the different characters.

Title: A Vow So Bold and Deadly
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Pub. Date: January 12, 2021
Rating: TBD (but probs 5 stars)

This will be a mini spoiler free review. Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Do you know how excited I was to see VOW up on NetGalley? Do you know how sad I was to see it was only an excerpt? I’m so damn excited for this book, that I had to request in anyways. I’m starved for Emberfall and for a Brigid book, so I’ll take what I can get.

Though, I totally wouldn’t say no to a full ARC (lol).
I’ve been dying to find out what happens next to Harper and Co. since last June when I read HEART.
Dying.

These first four chapters promise so much, and I didn’t think I could be any more excited, but I guess I was wrong. I really need it to be January so I can finally know what happens next and what’s going to go down. I’m so impatient when it comes to any book Brigid writes and this series has been an instant fave since I read CURSE.
I can’t even tell you whose chapter I enjoyed more, because oh my god, so much is happening with these characters, in this world and I’m just too anxious, curious and excited to choose. I want more Grey, because duh. And I love Lia Mara and her strengths. Rhen needs a hug and stern talking too because that boy is so lost. And Harper – I cannot wait for her to undoubtably tear Rhen a new one and save his ass…again.

I know Brigid will not disappoint with this book. I know I’ll end up loving it and probably having my heart ripped from my chest. I’m okay with that and here for it. I’m just struggling with being patient.

If these four chapters are anything to go by, then this book is going to be phenomenal.
If you haven’t read A Curse So Dark and Lonely or A Heart So Fierce and Broken yet, what the hell are you waiting for? Get on it, you have time before A Vow So Bold and Deadly comes out and there’s no excuse.

Unfortunately as another reviewer noted, I couldn't open to protected PDF. Still giving 5 stars for the description and because I truly enjoyed the first two books of the series, and highly recommend them to lovers of fairy tale retellings.

I was unable to open this protected pdf so a review could not be provided. I would love to review the full kindle version when it's available!

I loved the first two books and I’m dying to finish the trilogy. It was great to get a few chapters early but I want more! I cannot wait to see how Kemmerer is going to finish the story. The cover is gorgeous just like the other two books.

So excited for this book! Love all the POVs and can’t wait to see how the rest of the story will go!

This really has me excited for book 3 however I'm not sure how I feel about the story jumping between four different points of view. But the writing is fantastic as always

EEK I am so excited for this! I was nervous with Heart but have high hopes for this conclusion blowing us all out of the water. First few chapters look good!

I cannot wait for this to come out, I loved entering the world with Harper in the first book and then exploring everything with Grey in the second.

I’m totally rooting for Grey that might be an unpopular opinion but if there is a way both Grey and Harper can have happily ever after I’m in... although knowing the author who has ripped my heart to shreds in her previous two contemporary book no one of safe!

I can’t wait to jump back in to this world and be absorbed by the writing and excited about being reunited with the characters.

January’s not that far away right?

I can't wait to read this book! :) I can already tell it'll be completely amazing. I love this world and the characters and I can't even imagine what's ahead.

I simply can't wait to dive into this world again. I missed all the characters and couldn't wait to read what is going to happen!

The cover is simply so beautiful and excerpt made even more excited for book and hoping that Grey and Harper are endgame.

This book was received as an ARC from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books - Bloomsbury YA in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was waiting patiently for the arrival of this book because I have read the last two and could not get enough of them. I was sad at first that this trilogy was at some point going to come to an end but whenever the last book of the series is released, I always hope that it is the best for last and Brigid Kemmerer delivered and beyond. My heart could not stop racing and there were some parts where I actually screamed a little in shock. A lot of parts in the book were so unexpected but in the most fantastic way possible. I know our YA community at our library will have lots to say about this book and I can't wait for the discussions at our teen book club.

We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

This is one of my most anticipated book! The cover is just stunning.
I know this was just an excerpt of only 4 chapters, but I neeeeed more lol
Can't wait for the full book

VOW is one of my most anticipated 2021 releases - I love this trilogy and am nervous/excited to see how it ends. This sampler contains the first chapters from each POV - and yes, we get all four POVs in this book. If you missed Rhen and Harper, they're in this as they are set on a collision course for war. Beyond the two sides (Lia Mara/Grey vs Harper/Rhen), there are hints of internal conflict that might strain the teams and make this war a whole lot messier...