A Curse So Dark & Lonely || Beauty & The Beast Re-imagined

Posted on by acouplereads

 

 

Title: A Curse So Dark & Lonely
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Page Count: 496 pages
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★.5
Genre: Young Adult // YA Fantasy
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: January 29, 2019
Buy It: Chapters Indigo

 

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

Fall in love, break the curse. 

It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper Lacy. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s instead somehow sucked into Rhen’s cursed world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom. 

A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. But as she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.

 

 

MY THOUGHTS

2018 was such a struggle for me in terms of YA fantasy. There were a couple that stood out but overall I found myself pushing them away and having zero motivation to try any new fantasy titles in the YA world. But 2019 is a fresh new year which means a frensh new start which means FRESH NEW TITLES.
 
A Curse So Dark & Lonely completely pulled me in and the start of 2019 for YA fantasy is looking fantastic with A Curse So Dark & Lonely releasing towards the end of January. This book was so well written I loved the blend of modern day and medieval. Usually when switching from modern times to a different time I find the transition between the two choppy but with this story it truly felt believable. 
 
Representation in this book was excellently pulled of. The main character was unique and her disability did not define her but instead was just a part of her. I liked how the author showed her struggles but also made it clear that Harper was strong and held her own. No damsels in distress here!
 
I really liked the development in terms of love, there was no insta love (my biggest pet peeve) but instead the love interest developed over time. 
I was flipping pages like a mad woman! I highly recommend this book, it’s a fresh new take on the classic Beauty & The Beast fable.
 
 
**Thank you so much Raincoast Books for sending me a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review, I need need a finished copy now.**

Comments (6)

6 Replies to “A Curse So Dark & Lonely || Beauty & The Beast Re-imagined”

  1. SamMaybeReading says: Reply
    November 28, 2018 at 11:43 pm

    I really wish I had enjoyed this one more. The love interest felt so insta lovey to me and I just couldn’t do it xD

    1. acouplereads says: Reply
      December 24, 2018 at 2:43 pm

      Awe! I actually didn’t feel like that at all. It took half way to the book for the insta love to happen lol!

      1. SamMaybeReading says: Reply
        December 24, 2018 at 4:54 pm

        Wait, that’s weird I didn’t read this one yet xD I remember making this comment on another book hahaha.

  2. Flavia says: Reply
    December 21, 2018 at 6:39 pm

    I was totally going to skip over this one because the synopsis didn’t call to me. But I’m adding it to my TBR now after reading your review! I find that transitions from modern to medieval are choppy for me too, so I feel that since it was ok for you in this book, it should be ok for me too. I’m also glad about there being no insta love, but that there IS still a romance plot! Great review, Milana! 😀

    1. acouplereads says: Reply
      December 24, 2018 at 2:43 pm

      Yes it didn’t feel awkward to me! It felt …as if it would happen that way in current time. I hope you like it!

      1. Flavia says: Reply
        December 25, 2018 at 4:21 am

        Okay! And you! 💜

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