A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

A Curse So Dark and Lonely (The Cursebreaker, #1)

by Brigid Kemmerer

A New York Times bestseller!
"Has everything you'd want in a retelling of a classic fairy tale." - Jodi Picoult

In a lush, contemporary fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Brigid Kemmerer gives readers another compulsively readable romance perfect for fans of Marissa Meyer.

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. 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.

Reviewed by vagasker on

5 of 5 stars

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And did I love this book!! Sometimes I am wondering if I am getting too old to read YA novels but then I read one like this one and I am thinking "hell no I will never be too old to be swooning over a good romance in a fantasy setting". Harper the main character was absolutely great. No Mary-Sue or anything, she felt like a real character with her own problems and weaknesses but still managed to be a bad-ass. I didn't care much for Rhen (the other main character), but boy.. Grey made up for that double. Grey made me feel like a giggly teenager again and I loved the feeling. I can't wait for the next book (and even though I am married I will be waiting for my own Grey to sweep me off of my feet hahaha).

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  • Started reading
  • 16 February, 2020: Finished reading
  • 16 February, 2020: Reviewed
  • Started reading
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  • 16 February, 2020: Reviewed