Book Title: A Curse So Dark and Lonely
Book Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Series Name: The Cursebreaker Series
Series No.: Book #1
Genre: YA Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling
First Published: January 2019
I’ve read books like Hooked and Wretched by Emily McIntyre which is her own take on traditional fairy tales. They’re not so much a retelling but a modern take on it. I always liked her series so I went in search of other series like it. That’s when I came across Bridget Kemmerer’s books.
I had already read one of her books before which is Defy the Night. I fell in love with that book so I had a look at similar books to it. That’s how I found A Curse So Dark and Lonely. As I had found Defy the Night very gripping, I knew she was a good one . I read the short synopsis of A Curse So Dark and Lonely and it drew my attention. It was her own take on the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale.
It is told from two different perspectives, both Ren, the Prince, and then Harper. So it’s very clear of which perspective is which and how they work together to stop their kingdom, stop Wren’s kingdom from going into ruins. And it’s a new take on the fairy tale that doesn’t necessarily result in love, but still has many of the components from the original fairy tale.
It’s also got an element of mystery in it, which keeps readers guessing until the end.
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. 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.
Setting and World Building
It’s immediately set in a past historical kingdom. Grey, the main king’s guard, takes one female per season back to his kingdom of Emberfall to try and break the curse on the prince.
The distinguished amount of world-building is shown from the difference between Washington DC and being transported into a medieval setting. Harper is taken through a portal into a season that has been lived several times. You can also get a feel for the season due to the added details. Things like horses and carriages as well as the several torches and guardsmen.
The story also shows an inn which doesn’t take many visitors. I’m pleased that rhe story is not just based in the palace. Also, you can tell that it’s gone into medieval times because Harper’s phone doesn’t work in that setting; she only has a percentage of charge to keep looking at the photos of her family and you draw your own conclusions as to how the palace looks and the setting they are in.
The plot is okay in terms of pace but I do think it’s a bit slow. And it sometimes takes me one or two reads of a certain passage to understand everything.
I think I’ve given it this rating because of the slow pace of it. And though the character of Harper is done very very well I don’t necessarily think I root for the Curse to be broken
Using character to blend the two worlds
Harper is a character from Washington DC who stops Gray from taking a woman and ultimately gets caught herself and is taken back.
Despite her troubles back home with her mom’s illness and their family being in deep debt with some loan sharks and she learns to become accustomed to this life and showing the prince there is much more to him and his kingdom than first thought.
But I like the regular appearances of Lilith and I also like how Harper brings the two worlds of Emberfall and Palace Life together as she introduces a wider set of characters into Palace life as guards and swordsmen.
She also poses as the princess not necessarily to break the curse but to bring unity to a kingdom that’s plagued by a monster, lack of coins and a queen of a far enough, a far off land.
Protagonists’ Development in A Curse So Dark and Lonely
You get a feel for Harper’s character as she’s determined to help the people within Emberfall whose lives are being plagued by the creature but also from Harper’s point of view you just hear reference to a monster as opposed to any insight into who or what the monster can be until the end. I enjoyed Harpers character arc as she came into her own and posed as the princess to help the people Emberfall, I also liked how she came into her own as she was underestimated and under appreciated within Washington DC. She has Cerebral Palsy and also has to struggle with her mother’s cancer and I do feel this is too much to balance in the narrative alongside the Beauty and the beast storyline.
The author also humanises the prince by feeling his inner torture and the regular appearances of the Enchantress Lilith, which brings in the medieval settings again. I like how the Prince is tortured by his situation and wants it broken but doesn’t pressure the girls. He can be still be a jerk of a Prince and can be an idiot but doesn’t let Lilith craw her way in. I’m not necessarily sure about his arc because of so many things to his character but I like how he was an arrogant Prince in some areas but wasn’t pressuring the girls. I also like his vulnerability of the curse and not wanting to hurt anyone but wanting to stop it at all costs.
I enjoyed the scene where the Prince has humanity, not in the way of not being the creature but his vulnerability and also connection to Harper in the time they are shooting arrows together or him teaching her to dance.
Handling disability and illness
It might be just me being sensitive but I don’t like how the mother’s character had cancer while Harper had cerebral palsy. I think it was too much to manage and also both areas are very sensitive to me. However, I did like how the cerebral palsy wasn’t shown as a weakness just a part of who she was.
I appreciate in adds to Harper’s characters and stakes to return home. As I said, it might be my sensitivity. I just found the aspect of cancer uncomfortable to read. Cancer has been done many times in stories and I felt sick. Though I felt for the mother, I routed for the family more as they were in debt.
The cerebral palsy character trait was done very well. I liked how it was written and how they made her into a strong soldier. I also liked how the author didn’t shy away from it despite a few patronising parts. To be honest, I wish more stories would show it in this light.
Final Thoughts
I recommend A Curse So Dark and Lonely. It’s not necessarily a romance compared to the traditional fairy tales. It is more of an alliance with a strong female role. However, bare in mind that it does have a slow pace. So if you prefer books with fast pacing narratives, this may be a struggle for you. I will read the other two books but not desperate, rather curious about what happens next. I plan to read more from this author, particularly Defy the Night series.
~ Sophie
If you want to read more book reviews, check out the rest of the site. Sophie has also guest blogged for The Hunger Games and After, as well as others. I personally also recommend reading The Seven Sorcerers, Blame and The Programme.