My Thoughts On… A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Hi All!
I am here today with a review of this brilliant book, A Curse So Dark and Lonely!

**A copy of this book was provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review – I also bought a copy**

Title: A Curse So Dark and Lonely
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Published: 29th January 2019
Pages: 496
Format: Paperback
Source:: Review Copy from Publisher
Add It: Amazon UK Goodreads.
Summary: 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.

My Thoughts

To start this, I should inform you that I absolutely love Brigid Kemmerer‘s books and Beauty and the Beast so I was very excited when I heard that Brigid Kemmerer was writing a retelling. I simply had to get my hands on it and read it – because I was absolutely sure I would love it. Fortunately, once again, Brigid did not disappoint and I can not recommend this book more. It is a light fantasy but it has everything about Brigid‘s writing that I love; most importantly being strong, relatable, and incredible characters that you cannot help but fall in love with with. Coupled with a very strong, moving plot and a brilliant backstory, it is difficult not to thoroughly enjoy this book. It will take you on a true journey and will end with you wanting to return, time and time again – I know I do!

While this is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, it is also very different from the tale that we all know and love – (the Disney version!). In this book, our heroine has been kidnapped against her will, and is aware early on that to break the curse she must fall in love with the Prince. A hard feat considering she has been stolen from the world she knows and loves. On top of that, the curse in this story is also very different. Instead of being banished and becoming a monster for life, Prince Rhen is only a monster during one season. The rest of the time he is a “human”, and it is in this state that he must try and get the females that are brought to his castle, to fall in love with him. When he fails, he turns into a monster and does unfortunate damage on innocent bystanders. Damage that does not reverse when the seasons change – something he found out far too late. The final piece of this plot is simply that this season is set out to be Rhen’s last. If he cannot convince Harper to fall in love with him, he will be doomed to spend eternity as a monster.

It is a wonderful, well-thought out and incredible plot that just works incredibly well. I devoured the story easily and just absolutely loved the journey that the book takes us on. From the integral plot, to the little subplots and details that are thrown in, this book is truly worth the read. I don’t want to say too much as I do not want to spoil the book for those willing to read it but lets just say that I am very much looking forward to the next book and that I am 100% invested in this story and its characters. Which is another reason that I absolutely loved this book. Brigid Kemmerer just has a way to create amazing characters that you cannot help but become engrossed with. She writes their emotions in a way that hits you with your very own emotions. Good or bad, you simply cannot help but invest in her characters.

So, obviously, I absolutely adore this book and think it is one of my absolute favourites. Though I may always have a soft spot for the Storm series! If you’re looking for a heart-breaking, gut-wrenching, intense and emotional rollarcoaster of a fantasy read then I highly recommend giving this book a read! It will take you on a true journey and will give you new characters to love and cherish. I cannot speak more highly of this book and everything in it. There are just so many things about it that I could talk about – but I don’t want this review to be too long – so instead I am just going to repeat that you really should give this book a read if you haven’t already. Especially if you love Beauty and the Beast but want something that is just that little bit more.