Cursed by Darkness and Prickles Darkness has a way of swallowing us whole, enveloping us in its suffocating embrace. It conceals the truth and distorts our perception, leaving us feeling lost and disoriented. It is a curse that weighs heavily upon our souls, casting a shadow over our every step. But perhaps, just perhaps, there is something even more sinister than darkness itself – the prickles. These sharp, painful protrusions seem to grow from the darkness, piercing our flesh and tormenting our very existence. They are a manifestation of our own fears and insecurities, a reminder of the pain and suffering we endure.
They are a manifestation of our own fears and insecurities, a reminder of the pain and suffering we endure. The curse of darkness and prickles is a relentless force, trapping us in a never-ending cycle of despair and anguish. It is an affliction that gnaws at our spirit, consuming our joy and replacing it with an overwhelming sense of hopelessness.
A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer | Book Review
A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
Series: Cursebreakers #1
Published by Bloomsbury YA on January 29, 2019
Genres: Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 484
Source: Publisher (Netgalley)
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Fall in love, break the curse.
Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir of Emberfall, thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him. But that was before he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. 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 constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, Harper learned to be tough enough to survive. When she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, DC, she's pulled into a magical world.
Break the curse, save the kingdom.
Harper doesn't know where she is or what to believe. A prince? A curse? A monster? 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.
You thought I’d quit YA, huh? Me too. lol. I’ve struggled to identify with YA characters as I’ve gotten older and have kind of made the shift to adult romance, but then a group of friends pushed this on me and we read the series together and OH MY GOSH. I had always loved YA fantasy, but hadn’t found one in a very long time that held my attention long enough to even finish it, much less binge a series back to back to back. I’m about a third of the way through the second book, A Heart So Fierce and Broken, right now and it’s amazing. I’m #89 in line for A Vow so Bold and Deadly at my library so hopefully things hurry along. Anyway, I loved the world and the characters and the writing, and I’m so excited to continue my journey reading through these books! As always, my main points are bolded.
1. Harper had me worried at first. Well, the whole book did because it started off very sassy teen and I wasn’t sure I was in the mood for it, but then I grew to really love her! And I loved the disability rep. Harper has Cerebral Palsy and walks with a limp. The people in the magical alternate dimension don’t understand this kind of disability and find her to be weak or injured, but she has no problems sticking up for herself and proving that she can do anything. She’s sweet, caring, empathetic, and really turns the castle upside down. This girl definitely isn’t like all the other girls who have been kidnapped by the prince’s guard commander to try and break the curse.
2. Grey is my favorite character in this book. He’s the guard commander, and I LOVE him. He’s honorable and protective and such a great guy. He’s the romantic of the two male main characters, and he coaches the prince on how to not be a cold, unfeeling jerk. If we’re likening the characters to Beauty and the Beast, which this book is a retelling of, then Harper is Belle, Rhen is the Beast, and Grey is Lumiere. Also, was he named after the grey stuff? As in “try the grey stuff, it’s delicious!” I’m convinced of this. I need to write to the author. Ok, I just did. Anyway, he’s also pretty swoony sounding.
3. Prince Rhen? He’s fine. I actually really liked him, but he was a bit broody and intense and… pouty? for my liking. He’s the typical royal personality you find in fantasy, and I guess he’s a really good Beast because he’s got that “I hate everyone, now love me so I can be human again” attitude down. I hope I get to see more of his personality in the second book, because right now he’s pretty flat.
4. The supporting characters are great. Harper, Grey, and Rhen end up at a little inn and I love the characters they meet. And as they find people to join their army against a rival queen, they encounter some really interesting people with stories that I loved.
5. The romance is pretty minimal, but I didn’t even care.
6. Oh my gosh, this is a very overwhelming book to try and review.
7. I love the world! And I loved the spin Brigid put on Beauty and the Beast. Curse has the bones of Beauty and the Beast, but Brigid has added so many interesting and amazing details that make it so different. The enchantress is a recurring character in the story, there’s another kingdom threatening invasion, there’s… traveling between dimensions, the beast (or monster, as they refer to it in the book) surfaces every season and Rhen can’t control it (think of a werewolf and a full moon). It’s all so good and fresh and unique.
8. The writing! I love Brigid’s use of words and descriptions of scenery and feelings.
9. I finished and immediately needed more. This doesn’t happen to me often. Usually I need a break, but I am plowing on through and can’t read fast enough.
I’ve read a LOT of Beauty and the Beast retellings, and I thought for sure nothing would ever satisfy me to the point that Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses did. I still love ACOTAR more than anything, but I also really, really loved Curse. Like, I can’t pick just one and that makes me really happy. Maybe there is room in my life for more B&B retellings and maybe I do still love YA fantasy (it was heartbreaking to decide I didn’t anymore). Anyway, I’m not sure I’m making sense. Bottom line, A Curse so Dark and Lonely has made me realize that perhaps I gave up on a genre I once loved too soon because I thought there was nothing left for me there. So, now I’ll venture back and see what else there is for me. I highly recommend this book, and cannot wait to see what happens next!
Review:
Yet, within this curse lies a glimmer of hope. In the darkest of times, when the prickles seem to be at their sharpest, we have the opportunity to find our inner strength and resilience. It is through facing our fears head-on, embracing the darkness and the prickles, that we can ultimately overcome the curse that binds us. While the curse of darkness and prickles may be a constant presence in our lives, it does not define us. We have the power to rise above it, to transcend its grasp and emerge stronger and more resilient than ever before. We are not victims of this curse, but rather warriors fighting against it. In the face of darkness, let us choose to be a beacon of light, illuminating the path for others who may be lost. Let us embrace the prickles as a reminder of the strength we possess within ourselves. And let us never forget that even in the depths of despair, hope can still be found. So, let us rise above the curse of darkness and prickles. Let us find solace in the knowledge that we are not alone in our struggles. And let us remember that even in our darkest moments, there is always a glimmer of light, waiting to guide us back to the path of healing and renewal..
Reviews for "Unveiling the Curse: Delving into the Origins of Darkness and Prickles"
1. Lisa - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really looking forward to reading "Cursed by Darkness and Prickles" as I enjoy fantasy novels. However, I found the storyline to be confusing and poorly developed. The characters lacked depth, and their actions felt unrealistic. Additionally, the writing style was difficult to follow, with long, convoluted sentences that made it hard to stay engaged. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it.
2. Mark - 1 out of 5 stars - I couldn't even finish "Cursed by Darkness and Prickles". The plot was incredibly slow-moving, and nothing of interest seemed to happen throughout the entire book. The writing was boring and lacked any sort of excitement or tension. I found myself constantly losing interest and having to force myself to continue reading. It's rare for me to give a book such a low rating, but unfortunately, this one just didn't do it for me. Don't waste your time with it.
3. Sarah - 3 out of 5 stars - While "Cursed by Darkness and Prickles" had an intriguing concept, I felt that it fell short in execution. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on without much happening, while others felt rushed and underdeveloped. The dialogue also felt quite forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters. However, the book did have some moments of suspense and mystery that kept me somewhat engaged. Overall, it wasn't terrible, but it definitely didn't live up to my expectations.
4. John - 2 out of 5 stars - "Cursed by Darkness and Prickles" had an interesting premise, but the execution was lacking. The writing style felt amateurish, with repetitive phrasing and cliché descriptions. The characters were one-dimensional, and their motivations were unclear. The plot seemed disjointed and often veered off on tangents that didn't contribute much to the overall story. I struggled to stay engaged and ultimately felt let down by this book.