Reviews with content warning for Cancer - A Curse So Dark and Lonely

Overall Thoughts:
⁕ I wouldn't say there is anything special about the plot or character development in comparison to other YA retellings. But goodness was it an addicting comfort read. The fast-paced chapters and familiar tropes had me devouring this in a day. It's like brain junk food.

⁕ This tries and fails so hard to be a feminist story. Harper is a kick-butt heroine, but it doesn't negate the "pick me"/"not like other girls" energy, strong enforcement of traditional gender roles, and lack of consent that is prevalent throughout the text.

⁕ The ending has a wacky, cobbled-together feel to it. A solution to one of the major conflicts appears out of seemingly no where and it didn't feel as satisfying as I would have hoped.

⁕ The characters in this book are more diverse than other Beauty and the Beast retellings. I especially appreciate the disability rep.

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Content Warnings

thecourtofreading's review against another edition

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adventurous dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

REVIEW IN 2022 BECAUSE I TRIED TO REREAD THIS BOOK THIS YEAR:
god, i can't think of anything worse than this book. reading it really feels like reading a first draft, it was a slog, and this is probably one of the most boring character driven books ever; it just felt like travel, try to escape, talk to the prince, repeat. it was so boring and for what? NOTHING. HAPPENED.
i bought the second book in hopes that it would get better but this just honestly fell so flat and it feels more like fanfiction of a court of thorns and roses than anything else, with the characters more or less being a direct mirror to each other. absolutely terrible. i was incredibly disappointed

Content Warnings

cgreenstein's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I loved this! What a creative Beauty and the Beast retelling. I enjoyed the political strategizing and the implementation of some clever plans, as well as the gradual romance, the fast pace, and the strong main characters. It also does a good job handling the terminal illness of the main character's mother and how the main character feels about that.

Content Warnings

queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

5 🌟 CW: violence, cancer mention, suicide, torture, descriptions of blood and corpses, death of a parent

A Curse So Dark and Lonely is my first Brigid Kemmerer book, and OMG I loved it! Do you ever read it a book and it feels like home right away? This was this book for me. We have a badass heroine with cerebral palsy, slow burn enemies to lovers, a bit of magic and a beast of course. Did I mention that it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling? (Sadly, there is no library in this version).

We follow Harper who is being the look out for her brother while he shakes some guy down for money, because he's stuck working for the loan shark their dad got caught up in. Out of nowhere she sees a man try to abduct a girl, so Harper attacks him and ends up in Emberfall.

Enter the cursed, and frankly broody, Prince Rhen. Not to mention his trusty and ever loyal commander of the guard, Grey. Grey has to be my favorite character, though we don't get chapters from his pov, only Rhen and Harper's.

I just loved adventure Harper was having and how much growth it gave her. I loved her friendship with Grey and her unfailing kindness for everyone she met in that strange Kingdom. Except for Lilith. She can rot in Hell.

We also get Harper's brother who just proves a point (with of Game of Throne reference) that readers are more equipped to find themselves suddenly in royal court situation and can pretend accordingly 😂.

This is definitely going to be a comfort read for me, and I can not wait to read the next one, but I'm on a book ban so 🤷🏾‍♂️ it will have to wait.

Content Warnings