Title: A Curse So Dark and Lonely
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Publication Date: January 29, 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s
Prince Rhen has been cursed to relive the same season over and over, turning into a different monster every time and destroying everything he loved. The only thing that can end this cycle? Falling in love. But Rhen has had little success, until his Commander Grey accidentally captures Harper Lacy and brings her back to Emberfall.
Harper has had her share of difficulties as well; a sick mother, an absent father, er brother barely holding her family together, underestimating Harper’s ability to help because of her cerebral palsy. When she’s transported to Emberfall, all she wants to do is get back to her family. However, things are worse in Emberfall than anyone thought. Will Harper be able to help break the curse before it’s too late?
I am so glad that I won this book in an Instagram giveaway because it was absolutely enchanting. Once I started it, I was drawn into Rhen’s fight to break the curse and the dark magic surrounding Emberfall. Emberfall itself is written in so much detail that it’s easy to immerse yourself into the story. There’s a sense of foreboding that you can feel throughout the entire novel, and that’s what will carry you into the next book (since there will be a sequel!). Since Beauty and the Beast is probably one of my favorite Disney princess movies, I loved seeing what Kemmerer did with this original story.
Harper might have been my favorite part of the entire book. She was fierce and strong, and you can really see her grow and learn that as she works to help Rhen break the curse. And there’s disability rep! I don’t think I’ve read a YA fantasy book with a narrator that has cerebral palsy, and I liked how Kemmerer showed that cerebral palsy effects everyone differently. It shows a different side that often isn’t portrayed in young adult literature, and she effectively makes the reader see how Harper isn’t strong in spite of her disability but in addition to (as she mentions in her author’s note).
Rhen’s story is just as compelling as Harper’s, and I thoroughly enjoyed that we got to hear from both characters in the book. This will be a perfect wintry read when it comes out this January! You’ll want to curl up with a cozy blanket, a cup of coffee, and a candle and just read until you reach the end. And when you reach the end, you’ll definitely want the sequel immediately.
Dark, enchanting, and magical, this is a book you won’t want to miss this January!
5/5 stars