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A Curse So Dark and Lonely
A Curse So Dark and Lonely
Cursebreakers Series, Book 1
A New York Times bestseller!"Has everything you'd want in a retelling of a classic fairy tale." - Jodi PicoultIn a lush, contemporary fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Brigid Kemmerer gives...
A New York Times bestseller!"Has everything you'd want in a retelling of a classic fairy tale." - Jodi PicoultIn a lush, contemporary fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Brigid Kemmerer gives...
Reviews-
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November 1, 2018
Gr 9 Up-Prince Rhen, heir to Emberfall, is cursed to repeat the autumn of his 18th birthday until he can find a woman to fall in love with him even as he transforms each season into a monstrous beast. The season resets after every failure-all 327 of them. When Harper intervenes in what looks like an abduction on the streets of Washington, DC, she is transported into another world. Instead of worrying about her dying mother or the risks her brother is taking to pay off their absent father's debts to a loan shark, Harper is trapped in Emberfall at the center of the curse. Harper, who has cerebral palsy, is shocked to learn that she is Rhen's last chance to break the curse. But Harper isn't sure if the fate of a kingdom can be enough to make her fall in love. Kemmerer's "Beauty and the Beast" retelling introduces a unique world filled with fantasy and menace. Rhen is an accomplished if pessimistic strategist while Harper is impulsive to the point of recklessness. Despite their obvious tension and occasional chemistry, Rhen's evolving friendship with his guard commander Grey is often more compelling than Harper's interactions with either man. While Harper and Rhen accomplish much over the course of the novel, this installment has little in the way of closure. VERDICT Rich world-building, hints of a love triangle, and unresolved questions will leave readers anxious to see what happens next. A strong choice.-Emma Carbone, Brooklyn Public Library
Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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Starred review from November 15, 2018
A cursed prince and a high school dropout become unlikely allies in this ambitious "Beauty and the Beast" adaptation.Harper's life in Washington, D.C., hasn't been easy: Her mother is dying of cancer, and her father's only legacy is the loan sharks her brother Jake works for to pay off his debts. Harper, who has cerebral palsy, is standing lookout for Jake when she sees a man carrying an unconscious woman. Harper intervenes--and is magically transported to Emberfall, a kingdom abandoned by its rulers and beset by both a mysterious beast and attacks from a neighboring country. She meets blond Prince Rhen, who reveals that the beast killed his family. He believes falling in love is the only way to save his kingdom, and his guard commander travels to Harper's universe to find matches for him. Harper doesn't buy it. Rather than acquiesce to fate, she calls Rhen's attention to more immediate, practical actions they can take to protect his kingdom. The book follows a white default for main characters, although Jake's boyfriend is black and Harper's best friend in Emberfall has brown skin. Refreshingly, Harper is the undisputed hero and also not the only significant character with a disability. Avoiding disability inspiration tropes, she is a fallible, well-rounded character who fights for the vulnerable and resists being labeled as such herself despite how others perceive her. A fast-paced, richly detailed feminist epic. (author's note) (Fantasy. 12-18)COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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mustbeaweasley - I really liked this book (as you can tell by my 5 stars). Although it takes a little bit to get the action started, it is a good read. I'm not a big fan of romance, but the romance wasn't too bad in the story. My personal favorite character was Grey. I liked the ending, which leaves you waiting for the sequel that's coming out on Jan 7, 2020. It did have a few words that aren't curse words but aren't exactly the greatest words to say and a few mentions of mature things. There were some parts that younger kids wouldn't get, so I'd recommend it for ages 12+. All in all, it was a great book and a very original reimagining of Beauty and the Beast.
- Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of A SPARK OF LIGHT and SMALL GREAT THINGS Has everything you'd want in a retelling of a classic fairy tale: a finely-drawn fantasy world, a heroine rarely seen in fiction, and a tortured hero with a secret. I have only one complaint: I wish the sequel were already available!
- Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of CARAVAL and LEGENDARY Absolutely spellbinding. A Curse So Dark and Lonely expands on all the beloved themes of 'Beauty and the Beast' to create an intensely original retelling: one full of fierce new characters, wicked magic, and wondrous amounts of heart. Brigid Kemmerer doesn't just tell a story, she builds an entire world that you will never want to leave.
- Sara Holland, New York Times bestselling author of EVERLESS I couldn't get this creative, suspenseful take on 'Beauty and the Beast' out of my head.
- New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins Slow burning, big hearted, magical fun! I loved every minute.
- Jodi Meadows, New York Times bestselling co-author of MY LADY JANE and MY PLAIN JANE Heartwarming, thoughtful, and romantic: Brigid Kemmerer took me on a magical journey with this dark fairy tale about growing up, falling in love, and making impossible choices. I can't wait to see where these characters go next.
- Alexandra Christo, author of TO KILL A KINGDOM Beautifully dark, filled with wild adventure and a modern-day heroine every reader will find a bit of themselves in.
- Kirkus Reviews, starred review Harper is the undisputed hero . . . Avoiding disability inspiration tropes, she is a fallible, well-rounded character who fights for the vulnerable and resists being labeled as such herself despite how others perceive her. A fast-paced, richly detailed feminist epic.
- Publishers Weekly, starred review This enthralling modern fable champions altruism while illustrating intimacy's relationship with honesty, respect, trust, and consent.
- VOYA, starred review Fans of Cassandra Clare, Marissa Meyer, or Alex Flinn, as well as any reader looking to sink into a top-notch story with great characters, will want to read this book.
- School Library Connection, highly recommended A complex, creative, and compelling reimagining of Beauty and the Beast.
- School Library Journal A unique world filled with fantasy and menace . . . will leave readers anxious to see what happens next.
- Shelf Awareness Kemmerer merges modern sensibilities with an epic love story in this Beauty and the Beast retelling.
- Starred review, Booklist on MORE THAN WE CAN TELL Readers looking for a different sort of coming-of-age story or teen protagonists grappling with complex situations will fall in love with this romance-tinged novel.
- Starred review, School Library Journal on MORE THAN WE CAN TELL A must-have for any YA collection. Give to teens who enjoyed A Boy Called It by Dave Pelzer or The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.
- VOYA on LETTERS TO THE LOST This book is going to fly off the shelves to all teens, but it will hold special interest for those looking for a tear-jerking romance and serious readers of realistic fiction.
- Booklist on LETTERS TO THE LOST A great concept, delivered in a compulsively readable package . . . romance readers will stay up late to finish this very satisfying and heartfelt read.
- BCCB on LETTERS TO THE LOST Explores the ideas of carving identity out of pain and the way perception colors expectations.
- School Library Journal on LETTERS TO THE LOST Readers will find themselves rooting for the real Declan to win Juliet's heart the same way his online persona did. Consider this tale of modern star-crossed love as a first purchase for YA collections.
