Review: A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
“I am always surprised to discover that when the world seems darkest, there exists the greatest opportunity for light.”
The Basics
Title: A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers #1)
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Published: 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA — Bloomsbury
Pages: 477
Format: Paperback
Genres: Fiction — Fantasy, Romance, Urban fantasy, High fantasy, Fantasy romance, Young adult, Young adult fantasy
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Book Synopsis
In this modern-day retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Harper finds herself unwillingly whisked away to a fantastical parallel universe. There, she is brought to Ironrose Castle, the lavish residence of the prince of Emberfell, the kingdom in which she now finds herself. Behind the opulence, however, lurks a dark secret: the prince has been cursed to relive the autumn of his eighteenth year and become a monster at the end of the season. The only way to end his curse is to have someone fall in love with him, but after countless failed attempts to find love, the prince has all but given up hope of ever breaking the curse. And Harper, who is keen to return home to her brother and dying mother, is not interested in sticking around to see if she will fall in love with him…but love has a way of surprising us all.
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: A fairly entertaining but nothing-to-write-home-about retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely is an entertaining enough read, but it falls far short of enthralling. My primary issue with this book is the romance between Harper and Rhen — it feels forced. I felt a stronger connection between Harper and Grey, and I would have preferred to have seen those two end up together. Harper is such a strong, resilient character; Rhen, by comparison, is weak and defeatist. Grey, on the other hand, matches her in strength and courage.
Another shortcoming of this book is its world building. Although a map of Emberfall is provided at the beginning of the book, the kingdom is not described in that much detail in the actual story. The extent of the world beyond Emberfall is also left unclear. Syhl Shallow is revealed to be a neighboring kingdom, but are there additional kingdoms?
The book also has a rather slow start. It was not until nearly 100 pages in that that story began to hold my attention. And then there is the matter of the ending. I will not spoil anything, but suffice it to say that I am not a fan.
The good
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its disability representation and person-centered language. The heroine, Harper, has a disability, but she is not defined by it. Her disability is but one facet of her identity — she is a force of nature, who in addition to fearlessness, courage, and a multitude of other traits, has cerebral palsy. This person-centered approach is so important, for far too often, books and movies will emphasize an individual’s disability over all else (i.e., their disability becomes their defining characteristic).
Another bright spot of this book is Grey. He is a layered, reserved character, who gradually opens up over the course of the book. I enjoyed the scenes featuring him and Harper, as they seemed to genuinely delight in one another’s company.
Moving on from characters to writing style, the alternation between Harper and Rhen’s point of view allows us to gain an in-depth understanding of both characters. By the book’s end, I felt as though I knew both characters quite well. The dual points of view also help to move the story along and maintain a sense of suspense, for just as a scene is playing out for one character, it will cut to the other’s storyline. This, of course, has the effect of goading you to read another chapter so that you might return to the other character’s point of view and see what happens next.
Besides the shifting point of view, another laudable aspect of the writing is its use of the first person and present tense. This narrative style creates an immersive reading experience. With the book’s events playing out in real time from the protagonists’ perspectives, it is easy to imagine that we are experiencing everything right alongside them.
Overall
A Curse So Dark and Lonely is not anything to write home about, but it is interesting enough to read through to the end. Although the romance might be lackluster, the book has several laudable qualities, including its disability representation and immersive feel. I would not necessarily recommend buying a copy, but it is worth borrowing from your local library.
Have you read A Curse So Dark and Lonely? If so, let me know what you thought of it in the comments section below!
