“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 if a girl truly falls for him, and after so many failures his kingdom and its people are barely holding on. Harper’s life has never been easy, but she’s learning to be tough enough to survive the streets of Washington, D.C. When she is sucked into Rhen’s world, nothing is as it seems. Powerful forces are standing against Emberfall…and it will take more than a broken curse to save it from utter ruin.”
What is the book about?
Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall, is cursed. He is forced to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, and until he can get a girl to truly fall in love with him, he will never be freed. Rhen has failed so many times and is losing hope, but he has to continue trying because his kingdom and its people are falling further into poverty and are barely holding together; the only thing his people know is true is the deep fear of the monster that roams Emberfall. Harper may look like an ordinary girl, but her life has never been easy. Somehow she has found a way to survive her harsh life in Washington D.C. and to work with her brother to keep their mother safe and alive for as long as they can. When she is sucked into Rhen’s world for another attempt to break the curse, her entire world is turned upside down and nothing is as it seems. The only thing Harper wants to find an escape so she can help her family survive, but powerful forces are standing against Emberfall and it will take more than a broken curse to save it. Harper must decide between her family and the fate of Emberfall or the whole kingdom will end in utter ruin…
What were your initial thoughts on the book?
As soon as my friend mentioned that these books were on her book wish list, I immediately looked them up and spent hours re-reading the blurb of the first book longing to be able to read them. Luckily, I quickly got to buy them and, once I got my hands on them, I wanted to start reading right away. Finally, I got to pick up A Curse So Dark and Lonely and dive into the world of Emberfall. After reading the blurb for what must have been the 100th time, I was made even more curious and exited to read the book. I was ecstatic at the chance to read a fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast because I really love those types of books, and especially because it is one of my favourite fairy tales. Once I opened the book and started to read the first chapter, I was already nearing the middle of the book, completely lost at the amount of time I had spent in Emberfall reading about Harper and Rhen. From the first page I was already absolutely captivated and I knew that I was going to adore this series. I knew the book was incredible from the very first well-written page and even before that, when all I had read was the blurb 100 times over.
Who was your favourite character and why?
My favourite character was, undoubtedly, Harper. There was a lot to like about Harper, but the one thing that stood out to me and made me immediately choose her was her strength and determination, despite her cerebral palsy. She really showed how her condition did not define her and that it was a part of her and her daily life. In addition to having some physical challenges, she was strong and resilient and capable of anything. She knew that some people would treat her differently and that some would see her as weaker, but she didn’t let that bring her down and she did her best to show the world that she wasn’t going to be defined by her condition; she was her own person. I really liked how she was determined to do everything she could to help everyone she could, she didn’t just think of her family but also all the people of Emberfall. Despite being in a completely different world, Harper wasn’t broken, she was made stronger. No matter how many times she was hurt or attacked or shocked, she continued to do her best and try her hardest to help everyone and make her way back home. Another thing that I really liked about Harper was that she never forgot her family and her real aim when she was in Emberfall. She could have easily tried to ignore the fact that she had a family waiting and worrying for her, but she didn’t. Instead she did everything in her power to get home showing, once again, her determination and also her loyalty. She didn’t give up on those she cared about and didn’t forget the place she came from, no matter how tempting the delicacies and luxuries of Emberfall were.
What was your favourite part of the book and why?
My favourite part was one that is far too difficult to explain and if I try I will most likely completely ruin the plot, so I will explain it without saying what part it was. I loved this part because of how well it connected with my emotions and made me really feel something for the character. I liked how it showed that what he had said earlier in his thoughts was true and I felt really sad because of how it must have affected him. I felt even worse because no one knew how he felt or what it was like for him because he lost all means of communication. I thought it was so sweet that he remembered and I couldn’t help but cry when I knew that there was still hope and all was not lost. It was one word that triggered all of these feelings, but I think that one word was enough to show the truth about everything. It was the sweetest thing ever and I am really glad that I got the opportunity to feel all that from just one word.
What was your overall impression of the book?
Overall, A Curse So Dark and Lonely was an incredible book and I absolutely loved every word. There is nothing at all that I would change about the book and I thought that it was just perfect. One reason why I loved the book was because I got to read from both Harper’s and Rhen’s points of view and without both the story would have not been complete. I would have missed so many important details with only one of the characters narrating and I would have felt completely robbed of the opportunity of seeing both characters reactions to certain things. Furthermore, I got to read a perspective I never thought would be possible and I thought it was pure genius by the author because of how much it affected me as a reader and connected to my emotions. Without it, I don’t know if I would feel as inclined to read the next book in the series, but now I just can’t wait for more of this magical writing. Another thing that I liked about the book was how one of the main characters, Harper, had a condition that many people have all over the world. I thought that it was very smart of the writer to include this because I thought it was a really effective method of making the character more inspirational and giving the book a stronger meaning. It furthered my awareness of some conditions and made me understand more about the world we live in, and I thought that it was a really great incorporation into the book. One last reason why I really loved reading A Curse So Dark and Lonely was because of how the romance developed. Many romance books I read go too quickly for my liking and it doesn’t seem very realistic that a couple could fall that in love so quickly. However, A Curse So Dark and Lonely was unlike any of those books and introduced the feeling of romance much later and slower. I thought it was much more realistic and thought that it made the book that much better. This was also good because it meant that the book could end the way it did and a quicker romance wouldn’t have ended in the perfect way that A Curse So Dark and Lonely ended (not including the epilogue). I thought that A Curse So Dark and Lonely was unmistakably a remarkable book and I am so excited to read the next book in the Cursebreakers series.
Would you recommend this book?
I 100% recommend that you read A Curse So Dark and Lonely, especially if you are a fan of fairy tale retellings like I am. I think that it is best for readers 14 and over, but I am sure anyone who picks it up will love it. It is full of romance, adventure and action and will leave you eager for more.
Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)
A magical, fantasy novel, full of action, adventure and romance, all about a girl, a prince and a curse.
Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego
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