The first part in the trilogy of Cursebreakers, ‘A Curse So Dark and Lonely’ by Brigit Kremmer, is among the best Beauty and The Beast Retellings I’ve read! Brigit Kremmer is known for her YA Books, whether Fantasy or Contemporary and this first part in the universe of Emberfall doesn’t fall short!
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Premise
The female lead, Harper, plays the character of Belle. Her life is not going smoothly now, but things change when she accidentally goes to a magical place. There, she meets Rhen (our Beast) and Grey, and she has to navigate how to survive and make crucial decisions.
There, we get to explore this magical land of Emberfall through the eyes of our Washington Native Harper. But they only have a little time since his kingdom is doomed if Rhen finds love in three months.
Characters
The book has three important characters: Harper, Rhen, and Grey (Rhen’s only royal guard). Apart from these, we also get backdrops from Harper’s family as they reside in Washington.
All three main characters are amazingly written in their way. But when they come together and have a conversation, they come as one! If we compare the story to the original Beauty and the Beast, Rhen would be the most similar to his character- Beast.
Special Mention goes to Grey: He is not what you expect from a Beauty and The Beast retelling, but there’s a reason why readers adore him, and he is their favorite character in the novel. His personality has a spark unlike any other!
Pros
Perfect Combination Of The Classic And New Features
It is a retelling, but it stands on its own as well! I love how we get elements from the classic children’s story, like the orchestra keeps playing daily, and the food is always stored in the kitchen. But, there was so much more depth than that, one of the important being that the lead has Cerebral Palsy, a darker curse, and more that makes this a perfect YA.
Writing
The book is so true to the classic but with enough changes that it doesn’t bore today’s readers. It is written so beautifully that it gives you the feeling of being in a fantasy world without being dramatic.
The Twist Ending
Fans who like to get surprises will like the ending. It ends on a cliffhanger and instantly encourages the reader to pick up the sequel since the twist is big!
Cons
Even after some 400 pages, the ending is slightly sudden. As I said, the twist is a nice touch, but just some last notes for the main couple would’ve added the cherry on top.
Conclusion
Read it as a standalone, or think of it as a retelling. A Curse So Dark and Lonely works both ways! I think that’s the sign of a good read. The second part of the series A Heart So Fierce And Broken will focus more on the journey of Harper, Rhen, and Grey as things get more.
