Could not put it down! I love a FMC who starts weak and grows into a powerhouse. And a villain you love to hate. Some fun and unique elements that keep the action happening and your mind turning to figure out solutions. Even though it's a slow burn with hardly any steam, it was still a pleasure to read and I am immediately starting the next in the series because I'm just as invested in the supporting characters. ( )

A Curse So Dark and Lonely was pretty good. The writing flowed well and the story was fairly interesting. I wasn't sure where the story was going around the middle of the book, but it got much more absorbing towards the end.

Grey is my favorite character in the book and I wish that his character was explored a little more. It looks like Grey has a bigger part in the next book, hopefully he is still as awesome. Harper and Rhen were alright, maybe a little flat. There wasn't much chemistry between the characters, but there were a few sparks here and there.

Some of this book was annoying. Like how Rhen thinks that Harper is so super special and "not like other girls". (Harper doesn't like to dance? So special. Harper actually fights back? Even more special.) And if Rhen just shows normal human decency, Harper thinks that he is super special, too. I'd excuse it as puppy love, but it doesn't really feel like that in the book.

I'll probably read the sequel, just to see where this story is going. ( )

This is one of my favorite books, of course I am a sucker for retellings, no matter I always recommend this book when anyone asks for recommendation that has to do with retellings, beauty and the beast trop, Fantasy and a damsel in distress that is not your typical weak damsel in distress. I have all 3 books in the series and I enjoyed them all. ( )

I picked up the audiobook just for the sake of a book title challenge, but it was better than I expected.

It is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast and while not very deep, it was done well enough. The story itself just wasn't the strongest part, more just a background for some ideas and characters to shine through. For example, there was supposed to be a time difference between the castle and the rest of the world, but besides the difference in seasons, it was completely forgotten to be addressed when it would have caused some problems to the plot.

One of the biggest hooks for me was the main character, Harper. She might have started off as a not-like-the-other-girls character, but she definitely had more to her personality. She has cerebral palsy and it was actually something that was well incorporated and treated rather than just a hook. She is the kind of strong that doesn't require learning to fight and kicking some ass. While she does learn some fighting, it was used more for character/relationship-building rather than turning her into a warrior overnight. Instead, she grew stronger in other ways.

I also enjoyed the character of Grey, the prince's guard. He was this supportive and loyal guy and I am pretty sure without him the romance storyline would end before it even started.

That's because the prince, Rhen, is definitely a prince, even if already a bit humbled by his countless failures to lift the curse. He wasn't my favorite romantic interest, but he did grow through the book quite a bit.

I even liked the side characters. They had some spark to them. Especially Freya.

Now the romance wasn't that convincing. For a while, Harper had more chemistry with Grey rather than Rhen, which I think was on purpose. Still, I didn't find them that great together even later. I did like that they visibly grew to respect each other, though.

The book had some YA dumbness, but mostly at the beginning and it was easy to overlook. All in all, it was quite an enjoyable read but for some reason, I couldn't really care that much about the story, hence the 3*.


Bonus points for this quote:

“When my sister died,” (she) says quietly, “it was very sudden. I had no time to say goodbye. But she knew I loved her. I knew she loved me. It is not the moment of passing that is most important. It is all the moments that come before.”

( )

See the full review and more at mybookjoy.com!

Recommended: I'm not the first to say YES!
For fantastic rep of a character with a disability who is not defined solely by it, for a story that breaks from tropes early on, for situations that are morally grey and grapple with right and wrong

Thoughts:
I was thinking recently about how hard it is to find books with characters who have a disability where the book isn't focused all about how they have a disability. You know, books where they're still just people, rather than "that guy with Autism." And then I picked this up, and lo and behold, here's my answer to that gripe. This isn't even a main part of the story, but I absolutely loved the way Harper's cerebral palsy was worked into the story as an aspect of her rather than as defining her entirely.

It was hard not to hear about this book, because so many people were talking about it for so long. And to be honest, that made me steer clear of it, because I don't trust the hype and it will often make the book feel disappointing if my expectations are inflated. I also avoided it because it was largely branded as a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Having now read it, I can't believe that's how anyone would describe it, because while there are obvious parallels, there is SO much more to this world and story. Calling it a retelling is misleading, and does it no justice.

The plot takes a sharp left early on, and I was delighted to see that happen. Harper's boldness is a delight, as is the subtle way it's addressed that she's accustomed to being viewed -- by herself as well as the rest of the world -- as someone who can't take care of herself. Watching her take control of things so brilliantly made me feel so proud you would think I was her own mother.

I also appreciate that while love is, in a way, at the center of the story, it is far more than a story of "boy and girl fall in love." It felt more real, in that whispers of love swirl around as the characters live their lives near each other and work towards common goals, as they learn about each other.

So, yes, I was far behind the times on reading this book. But ultimately I feel like I am far luckier than all those who read this early on, because I didn't have to wait to start reading [b:A Heart So Fierce and Broken|42952728|A Heart So Fierce and Broken (Cursebreakers, #2)|Brigid Kemmerer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1559126810l/42952728._SY75_.jpg|66757917]. ( )