Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

11 reviews

acourtoffantasyreads's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

5.0

Where to begin! 
I absolutely adore this book. I love the characters, and the story. It is so unique, in so many ways. 
This book had me enthralled from start to finish! The writing was beautifully done, and the story had me on the edge of my seat. 
If you need me, I will be working on the rest of the series until further notice. 

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cdoubet's review against another edition

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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


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onefineelephant's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.5

9/10. I really enjoyed this book. Not gonna lie, the beginning was pretty confusing and I was worried that it was gonna stay that way. However, after only like 3 (short) chapters, it got really good. I love the alternating POV. My only slight critique of this book was that there was A LOT going on. There were multiple complicated plot points and a lot of side characters but overall, I think the author did a nice job of having a lot going on but only enough that it advanced the story in an organic way. Also, the romance was nice, though I wish the characters were aged up just a couple years (not in a weird way, 16/17/18 just seems really young to be for the maturity levels of these characters). I am always a sucker for the "he fell first" and "he fell harder" tropes. Also, as a disabled person, I appreciated how the fmc's disability was incorporated and acknowledged. Definitely recommend.

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foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25


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qrschulte's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Enjoyable book, but I didn’t love it as a whole. And I CALLED IT!

Things I loved: 
- a protagonist with a disability who is affected by their disability but not defined by it. So refreshing that she was a fully realized person
- the Rhen narrator. Honestly, the book might have been better with just him narrating the whole thing. 
- believable reasoning for why someone from our world could ride a fucking horse

Things I did not love: 
- How whiny the Harper narrator made her sound sometimes. It made it a lot less believable it was the same character between the narrators. 
- The monster narration (so fucking creepy/scary). Could have done without that. 
- The parts where it was said Harper was “not like other girls” *cue vomiting*

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a_wren_that_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.5


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hiddeninfantasy's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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sirkeili's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny hopeful mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This book is a good retelling of Beauty and the Beast, especially with the monster being something brief and yet uncontrollable for the male lead. I have not seen the retellings depicted this way, and it was heartbreaking to watch him slowly lose hope after knowing what comes next.

I found Harper to be both intriguing, but also sometimes frustrating when she takes things too literally.  She grows a lot during book, but I still found most of her troubles could be solved by trusting Rhen and Grey a lot more than she initially did (even when they proved they meant no ill will).

I think Grey was my favourite, as he seemed the most well rounded and intruguing character.  His abilities, attitude and mysterious past seem to all line up in a way that I wanted to follow along with him and see his side of the story.  He has so much to tell, and yet so much to unravel about himself as well.  Despite the rough and scatter hand of cards he's been given, Grey still shows an innate softness and care for those he holds close. 

Harper has all the aspects of a great heroine, but I feel the author hinges everything on her disability, and yet its rarely addressed in the novel.  It's almost as though it's just for the ✨ d r a m a ✨ and the "I'm not like other girls" trope (ugh), and not to really showcase how exceptional Harper is despite - and because- of it. I think if there was substance and heart going into developing her character more, Harper could really shine as bright as I know she can.  She has a spark big enough to even set Emberfall ablaze, truly.

If you need a softer, yet still slightly gritty retelling, this is a solid one. Very spunky, goofy and generally easy-going-ish book. 

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rensreading's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

*clenches fist* 

i have no idea where to begin with my love for this story. it was heartbreaking, tragic, funny, and full of so much promise.

though to be fair, i think that plot twist at the end was completely unnecessary and this could’ve just been a standalone. but that’s just my opinion and it might change after i read the sequel. i suppose we’ll see in time.

i adore absolutely everything about harper. she’s so badass. i hope if i ever end up in her position i too can do what she has. wishful thinking though heh

rhen, oh that man. and scary gray!!!! gods they were the best thing to come from this book. zo too! i just loved their dynamic so much. gray’s undying loyalty was just the absolute best. i love him so much. and rhen was so tortured but so unwilling to let anyone else shoulder his hurts. that’s the kind of love interest i would give up everything for.

100% a 5 star read for me!

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blewballoon's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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? Yes

3.5

I got this from a "Blind Date with a Book" at a local bookstore. I liked the slightly unconventional main character, but I didn't love her. I didn't really love anything about this book, and I don't plan to read the rest of the series. The world building and magic are fine but don't always make sense. The characters are fine or unlikable. I think Grey was probably the most interesting character,
and I'm gonna assume he stayed a good and loyal person and lived happily ever after rather than reading whatever might happen with him in the following books.
I have read plenty of Beauty and the Beast retellings; this one isn't the worst and it isn't the best. 

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