A Curse So Dark and Lonely
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4.3 • 33 Ratings
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- £6.99
Publisher Description
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The first book in the New York Times bestselling Cursebreakers series: a lush, contemporary fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
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'Everything you'd want in a retelling of a classic fairy tale' - Jodi Picoult
'Absolutely spellbinding' - Stephanie Garber
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Fall in love, break the curse.
Break the curse, save the kingdom.
Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall, is cursed. Forced to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he can only be freed by love. But at the end of each autumn he is transformed into a beast hell-bent on destruction, and after so many failed attempts, his kingdom and its people are barely holding on.
Harper's life has never been easy, but she's learned to be tough enough to survive. She won't let anything hold her back, not her cerebral palsy or her mother's deteriorating health. But when she is sucked into Rhen's world, nothing is as it seems. Powerful forces are standing against Emberfalll ... and it will take more than a broken curse to save it from utter ruin.
The thrilling Cursebreakers series continues in A Heart So Fierce and Broken and A Vow So Bold and Deadly.
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For more fantasy romance, don't miss Brigid Kemmerer's heart-stopping Defy the Night series.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Action, tension, and tragedy fuel this retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" by YA author Kemmerer (More Than We Can Tell). Harper, a high school senior with cerebral palsy, gets abducted while trying to thwart a kidnapping in Washington, D.C. She awakes at Ironrose Castle in Emberfall, where a vengeful enchantress, Lilith, has cursed Prince Rhen and his guard, Commander Grey, to continually relive the autumn of Rhen's 18th year. Every three months, unless he finds love, Rhen becomes a monster who kills indiscriminately. Afterward, the castle grounds reset, and Grey secures Rhen another potential mate. Harper has no intention of being wooed and plans to negotiate with Lilith for passage home, but after she discovers that a ruthless queen plans to invade Emberfall, she begins to reconsider. Harper and Rhen share the narration, building an alliance while fighting their burgeoning romance, and artfully rendered, emotionally complex secondary characters add depth and raise stakes. This enthralling modern fable champions altruism while illustrating intimacy's relationship with honesty, respect, trust, and consent. Ages 13 up.
Customer Reviews
Representation matters!
This story is a beautiful retelling of beauty and the beast and has me thoroughly hooked. It’s darker as well which appeals. My favourite part of this book though? The representation of disability in the main character. All the past books I’ve read have never represented a disability in anyway. The main characters are always healthy, vibrant and strong who are independent until they fall into the arms of the love interest and then can’t continue without them. This one goes through her physical difficulties and how she works twice as hard to conquer them. The toll it takes to do so. She is twice as strong and vibrant with a fiery heart and it’s wonderful to see. If you’re scrolling to find a new book that captures your attention, then I wholeheartedly recommend that you purchase this one and get stuck in. You won’t regret it.