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syntax_of_angels's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I don't like the romance genre and I really liked this book. I read it for my disability literature class in college and I really enjoyed it. I'm getting the sequel, that's for sure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism and Alcohol
Most content warnings come from scenes with Lilith (which are not too many) and scenes primarily at the endaksmith92's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was an entertaining Beauty and the Beast retelling with a bit of a twist that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The Setup: A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer is a contemporary retelling of Beauty and the Beast, blending fantasy, romance, and action. The story follows Harper, a modern-day teenager with cerebral palsy, who is unexpectedly transported from Washington, D.C., to the magical land of Emberfall. This modern twist adds a relatable element to the classic tale. Harper, with her unique qualities and determination, is a protagonist that will surely intrigue and captivate readers. There, she meets Prince Rhen, who is cursed to relive the same season over and over, transforming into a monstrous beast at the end of each cycle unless he can make a woman fall in love with him.
On top of the transformation into a scary beast, Rhen's kingdom is also on the brink of collapse, ravaged by his monstrous form and the curse placed on him by a vengeful enchantress. Despite her initial struggles and vulnerability in a new, dangerous world, Harper shows resilience and refuses to be the passive beauty Rhen expects. She quickly becomes involved in the plight of the people in Emberfall and is determined to help them, even if breaking the curse seems impossible.
As Harper and Rhen form a reluctant alliance, their growing connection is complicated by Rhen's self-loathing and the threat of the enchantress's curse. Harper's strong will and determination to protect those she cares about make her a unique protagonist, and the novel touches on themes of courage, strength in the face of adversity, and the transformative power of empathy.
What I Liked: This is likely my favorite Beauty and Beast retelling because Harper is a unique and determined protagonist. Despite her age (see below), I think Harper was relatable, and there weren't many times when you rolled your eyes because of something she did. She was intelligent and cunning and also quite thoughtful. I loved all the characters, who all seemed to have their own voice and personalities, and I enjoyed the world-building in Emberfall. Was it perfect world-building? No. Did it make a ton of sense? Also no. But it was a unique world with an interesting magic system that I truly enjoyed. Lastly, and very importantly, I enjoyed the romance and found it realistic. The slow and steady development of the romance, devoid of instant love, made it more emotionally engaging and relatable. It was as if friendship and respect were building in the process, and it oozed on the page to make the romance more enjoyable. Although I felt Rhen made some "eh" choices, particularly for Harper (and maybe vice versa), I felt for both of these characters and thoroughly loved their stories and experiences.
What Could Have Been Better: I'll get the obvious over with: the two main characters were supposed to be 17/18, and the side character, Grey, Rhen's commander, 20. Nope, nada, no thanks. That was the dumbest decision ever. These characters did not act their age, nor did I want them to. Making these characters older simply would have made more sense! The age-related inconsistencies were a disappointment, and I believe more realistic character development would have enhanced the story.
Additionally, there was a bit of toxic positivity throughout this - always fighting even when you're hurting, not giving up even though you should in this one instance. It wasn't horrible, but I noticed it at times. I can appreciate the author trying to make someone's illness or disability not define them, but this oozed on the page even outside of Harper's character. It was a little bit annoying at times.
Overall, this book had well-drawn characters, a very action-focused plot, and diverse representation. The stakes were high and had a satisfying blend of romance, adventure, and magic. I'll continue reading the series, even though I heard it falters a little.
The Setup: A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer is a contemporary retelling of Beauty and the Beast, blending fantasy, romance, and action. The story follows Harper, a modern-day teenager with cerebral palsy, who is unexpectedly transported from Washington, D.C., to the magical land of Emberfall. This modern twist adds a relatable element to the classic tale. Harper, with her unique qualities and determination, is a protagonist that will surely intrigue and captivate readers. There, she meets Prince Rhen, who is cursed to relive the same season over and over, transforming into a monstrous beast at the end of each cycle unless he can make a woman fall in love with him.
On top of the transformation into a scary beast, Rhen's kingdom is also on the brink of collapse, ravaged by his monstrous form and the curse placed on him by a vengeful enchantress. Despite her initial struggles and vulnerability in a new, dangerous world, Harper shows resilience and refuses to be the passive beauty Rhen expects. She quickly becomes involved in the plight of the people in Emberfall and is determined to help them, even if breaking the curse seems impossible.
As Harper and Rhen form a reluctant alliance, their growing connection is complicated by Rhen's self-loathing and the threat of the enchantress's curse. Harper's strong will and determination to protect those she cares about make her a unique protagonist, and the novel touches on themes of courage, strength in the face of adversity, and the transformative power of empathy.
What I Liked: This is likely my favorite Beauty and Beast retelling because Harper is a unique and determined protagonist. Despite her age (see below), I think Harper was relatable, and there weren't many times when you rolled your eyes because of something she did. She was intelligent and cunning and also quite thoughtful. I loved all the characters, who all seemed to have their own voice and personalities, and I enjoyed the world-building in Emberfall. Was it perfect world-building? No. Did it make a ton of sense? Also no. But it was a unique world with an interesting magic system that I truly enjoyed. Lastly, and very importantly, I enjoyed the romance and found it realistic. The slow and steady development of the romance, devoid of instant love, made it more emotionally engaging and relatable. It was as if friendship and respect were building in the process, and it oozed on the page to make the romance more enjoyable. Although I felt Rhen made some "eh" choices, particularly for Harper (and maybe vice versa), I felt for both of these characters and thoroughly loved their stories and experiences.
What Could Have Been Better: I'll get the obvious over with: the two main characters were supposed to be 17/18, and the side character, Grey, Rhen's commander, 20. Nope, nada, no thanks. That was the dumbest decision ever. These characters did not act their age, nor did I want them to. Making these characters older simply would have made more sense! The age-related inconsistencies were a disappointment, and I believe more realistic character development would have enhanced the story.
Additionally, there was a bit of toxic positivity throughout this - always fighting even when you're hurting, not giving up even though you should in this one instance. It wasn't horrible, but I noticed it at times. I can appreciate the author trying to make someone's illness or disability not define them, but this oozed on the page even outside of Harper's character. It was a little bit annoying at times.
Overall, this book had well-drawn characters, a very action-focused plot, and diverse representation. The stakes were high and had a satisfying blend of romance, adventure, and magic. I'll continue reading the series, even though I heard it falters a little.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Medical content, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness
mrs_gale's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Wow! Stayed up into the early hours of the morning reading this as I just didn't want to put it down!
I have a soft spot for Beauty and the Beast retellings but this was incredible.
I loved the story but especially the characters. Harper, Rhen and Grey are amazing. Cannot wait to read the next book!
I have a soft spot for Beauty and the Beast retellings but this was incredible.
I loved the story but especially the characters. Harper, Rhen and Grey are amazing. Cannot wait to read the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Violence, Murder, and War
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
paperbacksandsnacks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a book that had been on my tbr forever. I don’t know why, but I just never gravitated towards it once I owned it. But I do wish I’d read it sooner.
I asked my husband to pick my next book for me and this is what he chose and I’m actually super glad he did. I really enjoyed it.
This beauty and the beast fairytale retelling was just different enough to be engaging whilst still holding true to the classic. The modern day parallel universe vibe was fun for sure! I loved the characters and felt attached to all of them, but I think I was rooting for the wrong love interest (sorry not sorry).
It had a nice level of representation for disabled people, and the LGBTQ community without being super obvious about it. It didn’t feel like a plot point or that is was there for the sake of meeting a diversity request. Just added to the story in a great and subtle way.
I am super intrigued to see where this series goes next. I have a lot of questions and I am invested so that’s a positive sign. I would say maybe slightly longer than it needed to be. Perhaps a bit of a frustrating ending too, but I do see the point of it as it’s building up to the next book. But maybe something to note. I also felt like this was mostly YA but then some moments felt a bit unnecessary for this particular series. Maybe that’s just me being super fussy.
Overall, an enjoyable fairytale retelling and I am looking forward to the next.
I asked my husband to pick my next book for me and this is what he chose and I’m actually super glad he did. I really enjoyed it.
This beauty and the beast fairytale retelling was just different enough to be engaging whilst still holding true to the classic. The modern day parallel universe vibe was fun for sure! I loved the characters and felt attached to all of them, but I think I was rooting for the wrong love interest (sorry not sorry).
It had a nice level of representation for disabled people, and the LGBTQ community without being super obvious about it. It didn’t feel like a plot point or that is was there for the sake of meeting a diversity request. Just added to the story in a great and subtle way.
I am super intrigued to see where this series goes next. I have a lot of questions and I am invested so that’s a positive sign. I would say maybe slightly longer than it needed to be. Perhaps a bit of a frustrating ending too, but I do see the point of it as it’s building up to the next book. But maybe something to note. I also felt like this was mostly YA but then some moments felt a bit unnecessary for this particular series. Maybe that’s just me being super fussy.
Overall, an enjoyable fairytale retelling and I am looking forward to the next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
stardisciple_08's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is my first review so apologies if it’s formatted weirdly or a little unorganized😭 Anyways, here goes!
Plot: I thought the story premise was very unique, which made it quite enjoyable. There were some slow paced moments, though those moments were spent further developing the plot. I personally enjoy a lot of angst, so the healthy relationship development—while cute—didn’t suit my fancy. HOWEVER, the book still DELIVERS the angst, it just takes a little waiting.
Characters: I found the characters to be very realistic. Their actions—frustrating at times—made sense almost the entire time. I also loved how the characters relationships developed over a practical period of time. Nothing was instantaneous (meaning no “love at first sight despite everything he/she/they did” nonsense) and it accurately depicted the complexity of a relationship in those circumstances.
Writing: I love Love LOVED the writing🤭This story had me thoroughly immersed, I dare say to a fault! The vocabulary was nice as well, I was able to learn a few words and apply them.
Plot: I thought the story premise was very unique, which made it quite enjoyable. There were some slow paced moments, though those moments were spent further developing the plot. I personally enjoy a lot of angst, so the healthy relationship development—while cute—didn’t suit my fancy. HOWEVER, the book still DELIVERS the angst, it just takes a little waiting.
Characters: I found the characters to be very realistic. Their actions—frustrating at times—made sense almost the entire time. I also loved how the characters relationships developed over a practical period of time. Nothing was instantaneous (meaning no “love at first sight despite everything he/she/they did” nonsense) and it accurately depicted the complexity of a relationship in those circumstances.
Writing: I love Love LOVED the writing🤭This story had me thoroughly immersed, I dare say to a fault! The vocabulary was nice as well, I was able to learn a few words and apply them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
Moderate: Ableism, Torture, and Kidnapping
Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War
aureolyn's review against another edition
dark
sad
4.0
I really enjoyed this one. A darker retelling of Beauty and the Beast which is my favorite Disney Princess movie. Back then, I didn’t really know how to explain to others why it was my favorite or why I liked it so much but now that I’m older, I understand it wasn’t Belle but the Beast that I was connecting and relating to. Growing up was rough and I didn’t really think anyone could learn to love me cause I don’t even love me. It’s been a long journey. Slowly I’m learning to love and to be loved. But I digress, some things I liked in this retelling were how it fills in some plot holes on the Beast’s background and family. I think it’s also an interesting concept of how he doesn’t immediately turn into a beast and when he does, he loses himself—only to wake up to the cruel reality of what he has done as the beast. It’s so dark and so lonely! I didn’t really like the reveal at the end though and I’m not sure if I want to start the next book. I also didn’t realize until the end that the mc was a literal child and I’m a little uncomfortable about it:/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Kidnapping, and War
Minor: Gun violence, Grief, and Abandonment
jillie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I’m going to write about the negatives first & then gush about the rest.
The last few chapters were unsatisfying for me & the epilogue flipped things in a way I did not like. I won’t be continuing the series (I had decided that before even reading this, based on what others have said about the next 2), and I wish I hadn’t read the epilogue. I really dislike where it appears the story goes next.
Now that that’s out of the way, the good!
Character Work:
I could gush about these characters for so long! Harper and Rhen were very good leads. Kemmerer did so much with their storylines and their growth throughout this story. The side characters were rich & added depth to the world. I genuinely don’t think I will forget these two mains anytime soon. We got to know them very well & I just loved them.
World Building:
I really felt like I was in this kingdom. While the world isn’t large, I did feel it was detailed well enough to have a great grasp of it without being too bogged down with super intricate world building. We also got a good feel for how the kingdom was before our story starts.
Romance:
Ugh, the yearning! I loved reading these two open up to each other & learn to trust. I wanted a little bit more from their relationship in the end, but their growth to friends and more was really sweet to read.
Writing:
Not much to say here except that I greatly enjoyed it. It was emotional & I was impressed with how Kemmerer was able to convey things without pages of explanation. She puts you into the world and minds of the characters so well! I felt like I was experiencing it.
The Villain:
What I was most impressed with here was that the villain was truly terrifying. That can be hard to accomplish when you know the main character isn’t going to die. But this “big bad” was scary enough even without that threat & had plenty of torture to go around.
Overall- It’s the best Beauty & the Beast retelling I’ve read so far. loved the first 95% of it or so way more than I expected. I do wish it had stuck the landing for me (& I also wish I didn’t know certain things about where the story goes). However, I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy.
January 2024
The last few chapters were unsatisfying for me & the epilogue flipped things in a way I did not like. I won’t be continuing the series (I had decided that before even reading this, based on what others have said about the next 2), and I wish I hadn’t read the epilogue. I really dislike where it appears the story goes next.
Now that that’s out of the way, the good!
Character Work:
I could gush about these characters for so long! Harper and Rhen were very good leads. Kemmerer did so much with their storylines and their growth throughout this story. The side characters were rich & added depth to the world. I genuinely don’t think I will forget these two mains anytime soon. We got to know them very well & I just loved them.
World Building:
I really felt like I was in this kingdom. While the world isn’t large, I did feel it was detailed well enough to have a great grasp of it without being too bogged down with super intricate world building. We also got a good feel for how the kingdom was before our story starts.
Romance:
Ugh, the yearning! I loved reading these two open up to each other & learn to trust. I wanted a little bit more from their relationship in the end, but their growth to friends and more was really sweet to read.
Writing:
Not much to say here except that I greatly enjoyed it. It was emotional & I was impressed with how Kemmerer was able to convey things without pages of explanation. She puts you into the world and minds of the characters so well! I felt like I was experiencing it.
The Villain:
What I was most impressed with here was that the villain was truly terrifying. That can be hard to accomplish when you know the main character isn’t going to die. But this “big bad” was scary enough even without that threat & had plenty of torture to go around.
Overall- It’s the best Beauty & the Beast retelling I’ve read so far. loved the first 95% of it or so way more than I expected. I do wish it had stuck the landing for me (& I also wish I didn’t know certain things about where the story goes). However, I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy.
January 2024
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Vomit, Kidnapping, and War
divsssi's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
it was meh in the beginning, but the character development kept me there :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
ameydireads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
“I am always surprised to discover that when the world seems darkest, there exists the greatest opportunity for light.”
A retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but in this story the prince is cursed to find his love before the end of the season and turns into a beast. If he doesn’t, the season starts again. An endless loop. The female main character is a girl from D.C. who tries to save a woman from getting kidnapped and gets kidnapped herself in the process. She’s described to have cerebral palsy and at first I didn’t know what to expect. I don’t know much about cerebral palsy but I was surprised to find out more about it. I didn’t realise that people with this condition still can do a lot.
I have a lot of thoughts on Harper, but it was funny when she explains to the people of Emberfall that she’s from D.C. and the kingdom of Disi is born, lol. Other than that, Harper was exhausting and annoying, mainly because of her short-sightedness and impulsiveness.
“I don't know what's happening to my mother or my brother, but the unknown can't compete with what she's doing right in front of me.”
AND she doesn’t trust Rhen’s judgement on his OWN kingdom. Harper who had been there for one day already knows Emberfall and its people better than Rhen. And when he says that, he’s patronising her. Great. And the moment she slaps Rhen… not cool.
“She has been here one day and I am already exhausted.”
Same…. But I guess her impulsiveness, even though it was annoying, was what Emberfall needed.
My favourite character was definitely Rhen, surprise surprise! The curse has made him hopeless, but it also did a lot for his personal development. He became a better version of himself–merciful, understanding, and patient. He’s great!
“True love is not about romance. True love requires sacrifice. A willingness to place another's life above your own.”
AND GREY IS THE ACTUAL HEIR TO THE THRONE?! I hope this doesn’t turn into a tiresome love triangle, but it probably will.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Cancer, Death, Gore, Self harm, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
cdoubet's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Sexual harassment