A Curse So Dark and Lonely

By Brigid Kemmerer

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The first book in the New York Times bestselling Cursebreakers series: a lush, contemporary fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
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'Everything you'd want in a retelling of a classic fairy tale' - Jodi Picoult
'Absolutely spellbinding' - Stephanie Garber
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Fall in love, break the curse.
Break the curse, save the kingdom.

Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall, is cursed. Forced to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he can only be freed by love. But at the end of each autumn he is transformed into a beast hell-bent on destruction, and after so many failed attempts, his kingdom and its people are barely holding on.

Harper's life has never been easy, but she's learned to be tough enough to survive. She won't let anything hold her back, not her cerebral palsy or her mother's deteriorating health. But when she is sucked into Rhen's world, nothing is as it seems. Powerful forces are standing against Emberfalll ... and it will take more than a broken curse to save it from utter ruin.

The thrilling Cursebreakers series continues in A Heart So Fierce and Broken and A Vow So Bold and Deadly.
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For more fantasy romance, don't miss Brigid Kemmerer's heart-stopping Defy the Night series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Release date: Jan 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9781408884607

Brigid Kemmerer

Brigid Kemmerer is the author of the New York Times bestseller Defy the Night, the New York Times bestselling Cursebreaker series, which includes A Curse So Dark and Lonely, A Heart So Fierce and Broken, and A Vow So Bold and Deadly, and Forging Silver into Stars. She has also written the contemporary young adult romances Call It What You Want, More Than We Can Tell, and Letters to the Lost, as well as paranormal young adult stories, including the Elemental series and Thicker Than Water. A full-time writer, Brigid lives in the Baltimore area with her family. www.brigidkemmerer.com @BrigidKemmerer

Reviews for A Curse So Dark and Lonely

[lacy_007 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A Curse so Dark and Lonely is a fun twist on the classic Beauty and the Beast story. I loved the main character Harper, who was strong, independent, and compassionate. I appreciated that the romance was not an instant thing, but took time, especially since Harper was kidnapped and forced to come to terms with her new world. My only complaint was that I started to get bored around 60% of the way through but soon enough, the story picked up again and I was engrossed.

[Elize Odendaal · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Exceptionally good read! Could not put the book down and the series was genuinely well written and a pleasure to read!

[Carli met n C · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this book so much I loved it with all my heart.

[thinktink93 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

“I’m not going to fall in love with you,” she says.Her words are not a surprise. I sigh.“You won’t be the first.”There's just something about the 'Beauty and the Beast' stories and retellings that captivates my soul on an emotional level.This book really did it for me: 1. Curse that needs to be broken? Check.2. Reluctant main character who kicks ass? Check.3. Extremely cute scenes of intimidating men being soft and sweet? CHECK!Everything else this book offered was icing.IDK. I loved it. That's all.

[pascale1812 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lots of mixed feelings on this one. The first half was on the slow side, but the story diverged from the traditional Beauty-and-the-Beast-retelling elements to explore a refreshingly wide cast of characters and kingdom-shaping events. Harper and Rhen's adventure is not set in isolation. Their actions are directly implicated with the wider world. Some scenes were lackluster, but they were offset by several moments which really shone, be they quiet confessions or dramatic fights.

It was hard to get fully behind Harper as a protagonist, although it is hard to say why. The relationships built between characters were enjoyable though.

The last chapter made me want to yell, lead up for a sequel I suppose...

[debbiemccauley-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Harper was born with cerebral palsy. Her world has never been easy, but now with her mother dying of cancer and her brother paying off the family debt left behind by their father by acting as an 'enforcer' for a ruthless boss, she is on edge most of the time. Surely things can't get worse - and then they do. She sees a girl being kidnapped and goes to help, but becomes kidnapped herself. And it's no ordinary kidnapping. She is transported to the world of Emberfall, where Prince Rhen in held in a powerful enchantment, doomed to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year again and again unless he finds true love. That's not to mention the starvation and suffering of Rhen's people, the loyal Commander Grey, and the beast that roams the land viciously killing at random. Well developed characters, and a fantastic take on the traditional fairy tale. Really enjoyed, will read the next in the series.

[n.w.moors-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love Beauty and the Beast retellings and this is one of the best IMHO. It's dark, very violent, but so good. Harper is a great heroine, a young woman kidnapped from Washington DC to break Prince Rhen's curse. Rhen is despondent, hating himself for invoking the curse which in this retelling has the beast killing his family and a lot of other people. Harper just wants to get home but also doesn't want to put up with Rhen's attitude. I especially like that she is portrayed as having CP, but tries to accommodate to the disease which is an incentive to Rhen to start taking care of his remaining people. Every character is nuanced. Grey, Rhen's only friend and his bodyguard, is caught between the Harper and Rhen as the deadline for stopping the curse approaches. The book is stand-alone though there's a bit of a reveal that could lead to more books (I already grabbed the next book). This isn't a Disney version of the fairytale but I really liked this grimmer style of the story.

[jenniferelizabeth2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

awesome character growth and goes back to some of the darkness of the original fairytales. Really wish the final chapter wasn’t there.

[redhareads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

THIS IS SOMETHING I WANT IN A RETELLING! IT IS DIFFERENT IT IS NEW IT IS UNIQUE!!!!!!!!! Love how the author wrote about Harper. It is rare to see such a strong bold resilient female protagonist who IS NOT weak, who DOES NOT need a prince charming to save her.....Even with what she has, a disability (something that could be seen as a weakness), Harper did not make it as her weakness. She fought along with it and let it not interfere with her daily activities. Heck, she even fought a monster.

[whatsmacksaid · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5/4 stars. I really liked all the characters and the original spin on the retelling—frankly, it’s probably one of the best retellings I’ve read since Robin McKinley’s books. The action was great, and I was pleasantly surprised by the humor as well.

[angiestahl-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really liked this retelling of Beauty and Beast. I'd been hearing about it for awhile, but I was tired of the wave of modernized fairy tale overload.Loved Harper, the strong female main character whose cerebral palsy advances the plot without feeling like a crutch. She had depth and was interesting - and so was her backstory. Ditto for Rhen and Gray.One of the best things about this book/author is that the author conveys the potential for relationships to bring out the best in both parties. That's true of the book's romantic pairings as well as friendships, family relationships, etc. A lot of other authors with strong female characters build the woman up while tearing down the man--this one doesn't. Both men and women are treated with respect and as complements to each other--each has their own source of power, but not at the expense of the other.Refreshing and highly recommended.

[annawaffles · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I wasn't sure what to expect out of this book, but I was pleasantly surprised! Once I got started, I tore through it in just 2 sittings. Dual narration is always tricky, but I loved the distinct characters and I totally bought everyone's motives. I'm a little disappointed with where the story ended, because now that the curse is broken, I'm afraid it's going to become just a regular fantasy adventure and abandon any hint of fairy tales. That said, I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel.

[reader1009-863136 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

diverse teen fantasy fiction (beauty and the beast in an alternate universe, heroine has cerebral palsy)

I kind of want to give this seven stars; did not expect to like this quite so much, but Harper kicks so much butt here! She's brave, totally badass, and also incidentally has cerebral palsy (symptoms are different for each person, but Harper is able to be a total superhero in her own way). Everyone always underestimates her because of her small stature.

Looking forward to the next one.

!!!!!!!!

[fredamans · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Having little knowledge of Beauty and the Beast, I really didn't know what to expect.I love this story though!!Rhen, oh my gosh, I'm so glad that Harper figured everything out that she needed to. They are going to be an amazing couple.I did think Harper had some sparks with Grey too though, and a small part of me is sad they didn't hook up instead.I got sucked into this world of Emberfall just like Harper did, and now I pine for the next book in the series.Fantasy fans, get this now!!!

[darcia_10 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I rarely read YA or anything labeled as romance, and yet this book's premise intrigued me enough to take a chance. I fully admit to stepping in with trepidation.And then...The author reached out and slapped me in the face for being so dumb. Well, figuratively speaking, anyway. I didn't care how old the main characters were or whether we were dabbling in romance. This story swept me up and held me captive.Fantasy and historical fiction are woven together in a way that feels believable. The mood is dark but hopeful. The romance is subtle; an underlying possibility, not a promise, and definitely not an instant love connection.While aspects of the plot are resolved, we are left with a cliffhanger. Now I have to get book 2, and await book 3, which I'll do because I'm hooked and have lost my ability to resist.

[doyoudogear · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product. A Curse so Dark and Lonely completely consumed me once I started reading it! I kept telling myself it was late, and that I needed to go to sleep, but I just could not put this book down. Rhen and Harper were both trapped in tragic circumstances, and I felt compelled to continue reading until I knew how their story ended. It was devastating and beautiful, but also entirely believable. I loved Kemmerer's spin on Beauty and the Best, and thought Harper was fierce and wonderful. She's stubborn and strong, and she's willing to risk her life to save others. I don't think she ever thought of herself, because she was constantly trying to find a way back to her sick mother and troubled brother. Even after spending time with Rhen, Grey, and the people of Emberfall, she was unwilling to leave them if there was a possibility she could help save their lives. Her struggles were realistic, and she didn't accept her new surroundings without a fight.I don't typically like love triangles, and I'm not saying this has one, but there's an opportunity for one to occur. Honestly, I wanted Harper to end up loving both guys and spending her life living with both. I know that sounds really weird, but they both had qualities I admire, and I think they would have been happy in a three-person relationship. I also like that Harper has cerebral palsy. Honestly, if it hadn't been for the author's reminders, I would have completely forgotten about it. Her condition doesn't define her or affect what she's capable of. She's willing and determined to try new things, and she accepts herself exactly the way she is. Lilith called her broken, but I never saw her that way. She rides horses, runs from potential kidnappers, tries to save a women she doesn't know, and risks her life for a world that she's not a part of. I think Harper is a character that will inspire readers to be better versions of themselves."They believe her limp is the result of a war injury, but Harper is quick to correct them. 'I was born this way,' she'll snap, 'and I'm going to die this way, so teach me to work around it.' They love her for it."Rhen mentions being a douchebag prior to the curse (and even a little at the start), but we also see how he's changed over the many seasons he's had to live through it. He's learned to care about his people, and he worries about their safety and whether or not they trust him to be in a leadership position. He's been physically and mentally tortured, and still tries to protect those around him. I didn't love everything about Rhen, but I understood him and his actions. Grey was mysterious and unintentionally charming. His words and movements are very calculated, and he manages to say a lot with very few words. He's loyal to a fault, and his loyalty has cost him a lot over the years. I was unsure about him at first (when he retrieves Harper), but he quickly gained my trust and respect. I'm curious what his role will be in the next book! A Curse so Dark and Lonely may be a retelling, but Kemmerer easily made it her own. I loved her twists on the original story, and I'm happy she chose to include the surrounding kingdom and not just the cursed castle. It added an interesting and unique perspective! Harper and Rhen couldn't sit around and worry about themselves, because they had to work together to save his kingdom from an invasion. Truthfully, it was probably better for their relationship. I really, really loved this one! This book wrapped up nicely, but definitely left room for more.Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on January 28, 2019.

[jrlibrary · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It’s lovely to escape into a fantasy that allows you to forget everything. That was the case for me while devouring “A curse so dark and lonely”; I actually forgot to eat and completely lost track of time. It has been quite a while since I’ve read a YA book that I was reluctant to put down. I loved Harper from the minute she battled Grey in the castle and ran down the hallway. I love her resilience, her independence, her generosity and her ferocity. I love the loyalty of Grey and the evil cruelty of Lilith. I love the frustrating hopelessness of Rhen’s curse and his gentlemanly fairness. In case you can’t tell I loved this fantasy and I know whichever class I give this book to will love it as well. I’ve already purchased the sequel because I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

[MellDiandini · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Surprisingly enjoying! I can't wait to have the next book already!

[acargile-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This Lone Star 2020 novel will be misinterpreted as a retelling of The Beauty of the Beast, but it is its own story.The novel takes place in two settings: Washington D. C. and Emberfall. In Washington D. C., Harper's mother will die any day; she's already lived beyond what the doctors expected. Her father left when he got the family in trouble for borrowing money and not repaying it. Jake, Harper's brother, now works for the loan shark putting pressure (whatever that may entail physically or mentally) on people who also owe money. Harper always waits to make sure he's okay and then they go home to take care of mom. At any moment, they can be severely injured, even killed, over the money their father owes. It's in the very early morning while Harper is waiting on her brother when she sees a woman being abducted. Even though she has cerebral palsy affecting her leg, Harper rushes to help. When the abductor knocks her out, Harper awakes in Emberfall.Rhen's curse makes him become a monster on a regular schedule. In last few years, he has killed his family and his soldiers. He has one soldier left, Grey. The borders have been closed and the people have not seen the royal family in all this time. You guessed it--the curse is broken if a woman falls in love with him. Harper finds herself in this position. She learns about the monster although she doesn't know Rhen is the monster. She figures out, however, that she has to fall in love with Rhen to break the curse. She tells him that this is NOT going to happen. She tries to escape multiple times. In these escapes, she meets some of the people of Emberfall. She makes Rhen "see" them and fight for them. As Harper learns more about Rhen, the people, and the sorceress who cursed Rhen, Harper expects Rhen to fight and she wants to help even though she needs to go home and check on her family.I could not put this book down. I loved it. Book two will be ordered immediately!

[katereads13-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I gobbled this one. I have no idea why this book is so underrated and not talked about more. This book had everything I love; a strong female character and two level headed side characters. I liked the politics and the interactions between the main characters. It was action packed and never boring. I'm a sucker for Beauty and the Beast retellings and this one didn't let me down. I'm definitely going to read book 2 when it's available.

[jennynau10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was sooo long. But, I'm all about Beauty and the beast so I loved it.

[xhollishx · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book! It's one of the best Beauty and the Beast retellings. I loved our main heroine. She's not helpless, she's strong and opinionated and I love it! Our two main male players are great, as well. I loved Rhen and all his issues. He's a hard egg to crack, but he's still an amazing characters. This is one of those books that you read and feel connected to the story and characters. It was a pretty long book, but I didn't mind at all and once I was close to the end I was sad! Great story!

[headinherbooks_27 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow! I was completely engrossed with this book. It's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast but includes a parallel world and a curse that affect not just the prince but the entire kingdom. In my opinion it has more depth to it compared to Beauty and the Beast. I enjoyed this story a lot!

[heatherlinc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thoroughly enjoyed Kemmerer's "Letters to the Lost" and I was keen to read this re-telling of "Beauty and the Beast." Thankfully, the author didn't let me down. The story was unique but stayed true to the original fairytale. Harper was unstoppable and a fabulous female protagonist. Even though she made mistakes, she showed compassion, resourcefulness and bravery, and refused to give in or allow her cerebral palsy define her. Her humorous outlook on life made the book for me.However, Grey, the Commander of the Royal Guard, was my favourite character. he was more complex, moody, interesting and dangerous than Rhen, the cursed prince. I was hoping that he and Harper would develop feelings for each other. That doesn't mean I didn't like Rhen, because I did. He was definitely charming was was often depressed and was struggling to save his kingdom.Despite the fact that "A Curse so Dark and Lonely" was long with some slow parts, overall, it was a light, entertaining read, and the last third of the book was action-packed. The epilogue was terrific and a real cliffhanger, and I look forward to the sequel.

[susangeiss · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A wonderfully creative retelling of Beauty and the Beast! I couldn't put it down. Every library collection should have this. Spellbinding from start to finish, with a twist that may lead to a sequel....please!!!! I highly recommend this book!

[authorjanebnight · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Synopsis:This is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Harper is kidnapped from Washington DC and taken to a fantasy land where there is a prince under a spell. She is the only hope of breaking that spell and Harper has no interest in doing so. She just wants to return home to her sick mother and troubled brother. My rating: 5/5This book might end up being one of my favorite reads of the year. We will see what happens.I really loved that this book focused more on the world than the romance. It was a very unique retelling because of that and I totally enjoyed it. Instead of Harper and the prince sitting around the castle they spend time amongst his people in the fantasy world where Harper tries to make the difficult lives of the people better. The prince's curse has had terrible consequences for his kingdom and not just those who live with him in the palace. I think because there was so much focus on being out in the world the character development was amazing. We get to see much more depth to them than we do when a beauty and beast are just chilling in the castle together. Harper was an amazing character. She is a strong female protagonist but she also has physical limitations which I loved. She has cerebral palsy and I thought that was well done in the book. It is there and makes a difference to the story but she never becomes a character who is defined by her disability.The world of the story was complex enough to intrigue me but not so complex that I struggled to understand what was happening around me. Also, the book is written in dual first person point of view which allowed so much depth both to place and character.Despite loving the book I do have a few things that didn't work for me.Harper and the prince both had moments where they are over the top. Extreme. Exaggerated. Annoying. It wasn't often but it was enough to be noticeable. Particularly, Harper had a habit of being impulsive and I would have liked her to think more before taking action. The prince tended to be overly dramatic about things. Also, the book was fairly graphic violence wise. I didn't find it gratuitous but if violence will bother you then this may not be the book for you. The person who cursed the prince likes to torture people and some of those scenes were a bit rough to read.This is book one in a series and the ending wasn't neat with every plot point tied up. I hadn't realized it was part of a series at first and was so annoyed at how vague the end was. However, after learning it was book one in a series I can forgive that it wasn't neatly wrapped in a bow. Just be aware of that going in.Overall, this was an amazing read and I very much recommend it if you like fantasy or fairy tale retellings.

[krau0098 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I will say right off the bat that I am always a sucker for fairy tale retellings, especially fairy tale retellings of Beauty and the Beast. As such, I really loved this epic fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The characters were well done, as was the world. I thoroughly enjoyed pretty much everything about this book! It looks like this is going to be the first book in a series.This book alternates POV between Prince Rhen and Harper. Prince Rhen has been cursed to turn into a horrible beast once a season until a woman falls in love with him. Harper is in our world and our time barely eking out a living with her terminally ill mother and her older brother. Harper’s brother is being forced into gang work and Harper has cerebral palsy which makes it difficult for her to function at times. When Harper tries to help a girl who is getting kidnapped, she ends up being the one pulled into Prince Rhen’s world and having to deal with his curse.The world-building here is very well done. Kemmerer creates an amazingly in depth world in Emberfall and does an excellent job of making it believable. This series does have a darker tone to it but it never gets too dark.The characters are also all very well done, even the minor ones. They are believable, likable, and engaging. The story does a very nice job of putting the traditional Beauty and the Beast story into an epic fantasy format. I thought it was incredibly well done. I also really liked watching how both Prince Rhen and Harper grow and change throughout the story and really play on each others strengths.Overall this was a very well done retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I was impressed with the complex world-building, the characters, and how this turned Beauty and the Beast into an engaging and believable epic fantasy story. I can’t wait to see what the second book in the series, “A Heart So Fierce and Broken”, is like. I would recommend to those who enjoy epic fantasy and fairy tale retellings with some romance.

[kerilynned · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was hoping this on would really sweep me off my feet. I did really enjoy the book and the writing is really great but I think it was more of a pace thing that was the problem. While I was interested in the story and to learn what happened it wasn't to the point where I couldn't put it down. So it took me a lot longer to read. It is definitely a unique retelling of Beauty and the Beast and I like more than others I have read. I look forward to seeing what happens in the next book!

[cherylk_44 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have read many retellings of beauty and the beast. Some good and some not so good. I don't put my standards high anymore. However, with this book, readers will be pleasantly delighted with this new retelling of a classic from author Brigid Kemmerer. Rhen is the "beast". Harper is "Belle". Grey is Rhen's protector. Each one of these characters brought something different to this book. Rhen is not the big, scary "beast". Yeah, the opening scene of the book starts with Rhen covered in blood wondering who he killed. However, he does have a kind side to him as well. Harper is not a wallflower. She may have started out that way but part of this could be due to that she found herself in a new world and her cerebral palsy. Yet, she did not let the fact that she has cp stop her from taking a lead. Actually, I forget that she had cp as it did not hinder her. Grey was actually my favorite. He is loyal and a bit of a mystery man. This intrigued me. Plus, every time that he made an appearance in the story, I liked him even more. I recommend this book to anyone who loves reading new twists on favorite classic fairy tales. Author, Brigid Kemmerer makes a name for herself in the young adult genre with A Curse So Dark and Lonely. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book and read it.

[jmoncton_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have a soft spot for fairy tale retellings. Face it, many of our classic fairy tales are pretty dark or filled with mindless heroines who are sweet, and beautiful, and really not much else. There is so much room for improvement that I often find the retellings very satisfying -- today's heroines are actually heroic and sometimes play the role of rescuer instead of damsel in distress. And this story is definitely one of my favorites. It's a Beauty and the Beast retelling with magic and some dark and creepy twists. I couldn't put it down!