About the Book:
Title: A Curse So Dark and Lonely
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Release Date: January 29, 2019
Pages: 484
Genre: YA Fantasy, YA retelling
Synopsis:
Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir of Emberfall, thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him. But that was before he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. Before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.
Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, Harper learned to be tough enough to survive. When she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s pulled into a magical world.
Break the curse, save the kingdom.
Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. A prince? A curse? A monster? As she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.
Review:
Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale, so I was definitely excited to read this contemporary retelling! It’s been on my TBR for a long time, and I am glad that I finally did a buddy read. Kemmerer takes the classic elements of the original story and puts her own unique spin on it. It did not disappoint!
Prince Rhen has been cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over again. As the heir of Emberfall, he thought he could easily break the curse by having a girl fall for him. He turns into a vicious beast that is fixed on destruction, and loses hope after the castle and his family are obliterated.
Harper has had a hard life. Her father has disappeared, her mother is dying, and her brother underestimates her abilities due to her having cerebral palsy. She has learned to be tough enough to pull through her circumstances. She tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington D.C. and is transported into a magical world.
Harper finds herself not knowing who or what to believe in this enchanted land. Does she believe the Prince that there’s a curse and a monster involved? As she spends time with Rhen in Emberfall, she begins to see exactly what is at stake. Rhen realizes that Harper is not just another girl to woo and charm, and begins to have some hope again. Mighty forces are standing against Emberfall however, and it will take more than just breaking the curse to save Harper, Rhen and his people from ruination.
If you love retellings, fairytales, a slow burn romance, and a strong heroine, I think that you will enjoy this one. I am excited to read book two to find out what happens next!
About the Author:
Brigid Kemmerer is the New York Times bestselling author of dark and alluring Young Adult novels like A Curse So Dark and Lonely, More Than We Can Tell, and Letters to the Lost (Bloomsbury), as well as paranormal YA stories like
The Elemental Series and Thicker Than Water (Kensington). A full time writer, Brigid lives in the Baltimore area with her husband, her boys, her dog, and her cat. When she’s not writing or being a mommy, you can usually find her with her hands wrapped around a barbell.
ashleighsbookshelf.com 
I’ve been reading Brigid’s books for years and years and years but ACSDAL wasn’t my favorite. I did love the sequel though!
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I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the sequel! 🙂
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I love Beauty and the Beast as well so I’m hoping to check this book out soon!
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Hope you can! 🙂 I really enjoyed it.
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great review! i really need to get into gear and read this series already.
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Thank you so much! I think you will enjoy it. 🙂
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