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konvineo's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at page 316
Reading this is dragging on so long, and it's super not enjoyable. I'm not going to force myself to finish even though I'm almost there.
The book had it's brief moment where I kind of got pulled in, but it doesn't cancelled out all the things I dislike. Above all I'm bored. I know things are happening because that's what I'm reading, however it doesn't feel like anything happens. I really, really don't like both Rhen and Grey. I usually like characters like Grey, but he's just so boring. Rhen... I don't get. I know he's traumatized by the curse, but can he not just act nicely towards the people he kidnaps? Harper has her moments of semi greatness and I actually kind of like her character. I can't speak for the rep in the book in regards to Harper's disability, since I don't have cerebral palsy, but I will say that it seem like it means less and less the longer you get into the story. Like at first it was mentioned how a long day made it harder to get around, but then by the point I stopped... that wasn't happening anymore? I find it a little weird to be honest? Like I have a disability myself, and sure I have good days, but if I'm stressed out it's going to have a larger impact. So it's hard for me to understand how Harper isn't more effected. This might just be me not understanding this particular disability.
Ultimately, I got bored and I want to read something fun. Maybe I'll finish this some day, but that day is not now.
Reading this is dragging on so long, and it's super not enjoyable. I'm not going to force myself to finish even though I'm almost there.
The book had it's brief moment where I kind of got pulled in, but it doesn't cancelled out all the things I dislike. Above all I'm bored. I know things are happening because that's what I'm reading, however it doesn't feel like anything happens. I really, really don't like both Rhen and Grey. I usually like characters like Grey, but he's just so boring. Rhen... I don't get. I know he's traumatized by the curse, but can he not just act nicely towards the people he kidnaps? Harper has her moments of semi greatness and I actually kind of like her character. I can't speak for the rep in the book in regards to Harper's disability, since I don't have cerebral palsy, but I will say that it seem like it means less and less the longer you get into the story. Like at first it was mentioned how a long day made it harder to get around, but then by the point I stopped... that wasn't happening anymore? I find it a little weird to be honest? Like I have a disability myself, and sure I have good days, but if I'm stressed out it's going to have a larger impact. So it's hard for me to understand how Harper isn't more effected. This might just be me not understanding this particular disability.
Ultimately, I got bored and I want to read something fun. Maybe I'll finish this some day, but that day is not now.
literaturefaerie's review against another edition
5.0
Wowwwww. This book. This book. THIS BOOK. ❤️ my heart is full, and I need the sequel in my hands right this instant.
sydneythebookdragon's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book so much!!! I can’t tell you how much it meant to me as someone who has cerebral palsy to see a BADASS female protagonist that I can actually see myself in I mean I’ve connected with other FMCs in other books I have read but I didn’t fully see myself in them as I did with Harper. In fact when I first came across this book MONTHS ago I cried because there’s not a lot of books with representation of disabilities ESPECIALLY cerebral palsy specifically. I wish there were more out there. I couldn’t put this book down it was so good I felt like Belle during the bookshop scene.
alos3478's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
secty'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
4.25
This was, overall, a great read. Took me longer than expected to get through it due to life getting in the way but when I could sit down to devour it, in true Kemmerer style, I read her book in very few, long sittings. Wonderful and easy to read.
The plot is what we expect - a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a few twists and added excitement along the way. That’s all well and good and what brought me to read the book in the first place.
But it was the characters who made me stay. Harper has cerebral palsy, which is a condition with multiple presentations and this shouldn’t be taken as gospel. I have some experience working with individuals with CP and I can’t say I’ve met someone like Harper, but what I was reading felt fairly reliable and I believe Kemmerer did her research.
Harper was, also, a force to be reckoned with. And Rhen? An unstoppable energy. And Grey? An immovable object. All three of them carried the plot of this book and I love them all for their utter determination and resilience in the face of the darkness they must deal with.
I’m looking forward to continuing this series. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
The plot is what we expect - a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a few twists and added excitement along the way. That’s all well and good and what brought me to read the book in the first place.
But it was the characters who made me stay. Harper has cerebral palsy, which is a condition with multiple presentations and this shouldn’t be taken as gospel. I have some experience working with individuals with CP and I can’t say I’ve met someone like Harper, but what I was reading felt fairly reliable and I believe Kemmerer did her research.
Harper was, also, a force to be reckoned with. And Rhen? An unstoppable energy. And Grey? An immovable object. All three of them carried the plot of this book and I love them all for their utter determination and resilience in the face of the darkness they must deal with.
I’m looking forward to continuing this series. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
faeforfaerie's review against another edition
4.0
Reading this because its retelling of beauty and the beast, and turns out i really like it!!!
megsbookishtwins's review against another edition
3.0
Disclaimer: I received this free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
When Harper tries to save someone on the streets of Washington DC she finds herself transported into another world plagued by a vicious monster and a powerful enchantress. Prince Rhen is heir to Emberfall, he has been cursed by an enchantress and in order to break this curse, a girl needs to fall in love with him. Harper has been taken to be that girl. As the two spend more time together, Rhen discovers that Harper is not just another girl to be charmed, and Harper learns that there is a lot more at stake than she realised.
Before I started A Curse So Dark and Lonely I saw so much hype, unfortunately, it sort of missed the mark for me. That isn’t to say that it is a bad read – far from it, it definitely had some entertaining aspects. A charming prince, a moody knight, a powerful enchantress, and a badass protagonist. The character dynamics and interactions were actually the best part of this for me. I really enjoyed the friendships and I thought the romance was decent and I am, and always will be, a fan of the enemies to lovers trope.
What didn’t really do it for me was that the plot itself was a little… stagnant. It focused heavily on characters, which is fine but just isn’t what I’m usually looking for in a fantasy. The world-building was next to none and was just so generic and really not my cup of tea.
Also, sidenote, the main character Harper has Cerebral Palsy.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a charming story with a great cast of characters and if you are a fan of Beauty of the Beast retellings and don’t necessarily want an expansive world, then this is probably a book that I would definitely recommend to check out.
When Harper tries to save someone on the streets of Washington DC she finds herself transported into another world plagued by a vicious monster and a powerful enchantress. Prince Rhen is heir to Emberfall, he has been cursed by an enchantress and in order to break this curse, a girl needs to fall in love with him. Harper has been taken to be that girl. As the two spend more time together, Rhen discovers that Harper is not just another girl to be charmed, and Harper learns that there is a lot more at stake than she realised.
Before I started A Curse So Dark and Lonely I saw so much hype, unfortunately, it sort of missed the mark for me. That isn’t to say that it is a bad read – far from it, it definitely had some entertaining aspects. A charming prince, a moody knight, a powerful enchantress, and a badass protagonist. The character dynamics and interactions were actually the best part of this for me. I really enjoyed the friendships and I thought the romance was decent and I am, and always will be, a fan of the enemies to lovers trope.
What didn’t really do it for me was that the plot itself was a little… stagnant. It focused heavily on characters, which is fine but just isn’t what I’m usually looking for in a fantasy. The world-building was next to none and was just so generic and really not my cup of tea.
Also, sidenote, the main character Harper has Cerebral Palsy.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a charming story with a great cast of characters and if you are a fan of Beauty of the Beast retellings and don’t necessarily want an expansive world, then this is probably a book that I would definitely recommend to check out.