#acsdal

[good-books-to-read]

Beauty & the Beast

A curse so dark and Lonely (ACSDAL) by Briged Kemmerer

Of beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay

Of curses and kisses by Sandhya Menon

A Court Of Thorns And Roses (ACOTAR) by Sarah J. Maas

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

#beauty and the beast #booklover #booklr #books #booksbooksbooks #booknerd #book recommendation #bookish #theme #acotar #a court of thorns and roses #sarah j maas #sjmaas #brigid kemmerer #a curse so dark and lonely #acsdal #of beast and beauty #stacey jay #rosamund hodge #cruel beauty #of curses and kisses #sandhya menon

[oblivion-books]

“Failure isn't absolute, just because you couldn't save everyone doesn't mean you didn't save anyone.”

ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ― Brigid Kemmerer, A Curse So Dark and Lonely

#brigid kemmerer #a curse so dark and lonely #book #quote #ya book #book quote #edit #brigidkemmereredit #bkemmereredit #acsdaledit #acsdal

[maricanread]

(A curse so dark and lonely - chapter 53)

Harper's finally got it

#a curse so dark and lonely #Harper #Rhen #Grey #ACSDAL #books #ya #ya books #quotes #book quotes #a curse so dark and lonely quotes #cursebreakers #curse so dark and lonely

[skumreads]

Dreaming about color coded bookshelves

#SJM #sarah j maas #crescent city #hosab #brigid kemmerer #acsdal #audrey grey #oathtaker #tog #throne of glass #elise kova #a deal with the elf king #married to magic series #danielle jensen #the bridge kingdom #acosaf #acotar #jane austen #bookblr #booklr #reading #bookish

[neverlearnedtoread]

A Curse So Dark and Lonely

⭐⭐⭐⭐; it is a truth solely acknowledged by me that the more cringefail a love interest is, the better the romance

Oh?? 👌😉😏

fairytale retelling! i love retellings of well-known stories. something something telling the same stories as our ancestors and our descendants binds humanity together something something

it takes a while to come to light, but the love interest is one of those 'head before heart' idiots. he's genuinely shrewd, politically savvy, and calculating, i.e. exactly the sort of person who doesnt fall in love easily. which makes him being the 'beast' in this beauty and the beast retelling so compelling! he's trying SO hard to engineer feelings and its just not working 😭

following off the above point: the love interest thinks he is inherently unlovable. nothing is juicier than someone who thinks they're too hard to love being proven wrong!

No.. ❌🤢🤮

isekai story, which as a trope teeters on the edge of losing me completely on principle; Kemmerer did manage to add enough details to keep me from totally losing my suspension of belief

just enough 'not like other girls' energy in the main character to make the first 50-100 pages hard to get through. i know its crazy, but consider: sometimes when a girl is kidnapped it's okay for her to have some level of caution / fear??

love triangle attempted(?) - wild choice from the author to make the guardsman hotter than the prince. i mean i get it, but if you're going to do that, can we not have the reason she doesn't choose him be so obviously and singularly because it wouldn't break the curse?

Summary: Harper, an 18-year-old girl with cerebral palsy, has a lot of problems - her mum has cancer, her father's a deadbeat who left them indebted to loan sharks, and her brother Jake is now working for said loan sharks to pay off those debts. Harper's always felt like a liability - too weak to help, let alone protect anyone - but when she sees a dodgy guy knock a girl unconscious in an alleyway, she has to try. Of course, no good deed goes unpunished - in the tussle, Harper finds herself magically transported to a parallel world with a whole new set of problems, including a cursed prince, an evil enchantress, and no way home.

Concept: 💭💭💭 Honestly, I didn't think too highly of this one! I had heard various criticisms about the prince being too broody and the sense of 'not like other girls' throwing others off, and it was selling itself as an unapologetic YA Beauty and the Beast retelling, so I wasn't thinking that this book would do anything crazy for me because Beauty and the Beast as a fairytale isn't my favourite.

Some spoilers under the cut!

Execution: 💥💥💥 On the whole, this book met my expectations exactly where I held them, which was a typical YA fantasy romance. I hold nothing against books that give me exactly what I expected - if I didn't think a book would suit my reading tastes, I wouldn't pick it up in the first place! I did have a hard time at the start - I'm pretty sensitive to 'not like other girls' vibes, so harper really grated on me, but once she and rhen understood each other better I was having a lot more fun. I kept pinballing between enjoying it (rhen being bad at romance) and rolling my eyes at it (harper being too Strong Women Feminist) through the middle but by the time we hit the 'i have to go home to see my family before its too late' story beat, the book was clawing its way to a solid 4 stars.

Personal Enjoyment: ❤❤❤❤ Despite being a predictable YA fantasy romance, Prince Rhen was a pleasant surprise. It is my personal (and therefore, correct) taste that male love interests are best when they are, at heart, cringefail. Rhen fits this criteria perfectly - he can wine and dine and politick with the best of them, but what he wants to do is save his people, and for that he needs someone to fall in love with him for realsies. He is wholly unable to accomplish both (on account of him being very shit at love) until Harper jostles him forcibly out of his holding pattern - he tells her he's doomed to fail, and she still convinces him to wholeheartedly try. It makes Harper not only the heroine of the story, but specifically Rhen's saviour - that's true romance, babey!! Their chemistry was the cornerstone of me rating the book 4 stars - with special shoutout to Lilith being shamelessly used as a plot device to make the romance go. We love an evil enchantress who is petty and bitchy.

Favourite Moment: The sweetest moment of the book was definitely Harper inviting Rhen into her room after learning Lilith tortures him every night. It was such a genuinely heartfelt moment that brought them together! But I love mess, so my actual favourite moment is when they kiss right before Harper leaves for DC, only for Harper to recoil from the sharp scales growing over Rhen's skin. The horror!! The drama!! The 'if you haven't fallen in love with me at this point, you certainly won't now'!!! and then Harper just going home without any resolution at all. NO ONE ELSE was having fun in that scene but me! and THAT'S BEAUTIFUL 😝

Favourite Character: Prince Vincent Aldrhen of Emberfall, cringefail king. Yes I understand he's horrible for any number of reasons, and no, I will not be retracting my statement. There's nothing more fun to me than a character who is convinced they are unlovable and has the evidence (and track record!!!) to prove it. This dude was like 'kissing this girl i like is more emotionally devastating than being magically tortured by a crazy evil enchantress every night because I will only be able to do it the once'. I can't NOT root for him to be dicked down!!

#a curse so dark and lonely #acsdal #brigid kemmerer #books #book review #booklover #bookblr #reading

[lifeishell005]

#Lia mara #Grey #Prince grey #acsdal #a curse so dark and lonely #Lia mara x grey #brigid kemmerer

[kiwichaeng]

hi hello Rhen is deserving of love and forgiveness

#Prince Rhen #acsdal

[booksandbumblebees]

"the most dangerous person at the party is always the girl sitting alone with a book "

- Brigid Kemmerer

#acsdal #ahsfab #cursebreaker series #lia mara #books #reading

[jessread-s]

✩🏰🥀 Review:

“A Curse So Dark and Lonely” is the “Beauty and the Beast” retelling of my dreams! Kemmerer tells the story from Rhen and Harper’s points-of-view, giving us both Belle and the Beast’s perspectives, which I enjoyed. While Rhen share’s the Beast’s arrogance, Harper is no Belle. She’s much better! When she is kidnapped from Washington DC and taken to the land of Emberfall, she is no longer able to benefit from her brother’s protection. She learns how to handle an assortment of weapons in order to defend herself in her new environment, transforming into a badass warrior princess. Her cerebral palsy does not get in the way of her becoming this version of herself and she proves to the people around her that she can do anything able-bodied people can do. I truly love the dis/ability representation in this novel! Rhen also undergoes many changes as a character. He initially isolated himself from his kingdom to protect his people from the beast. Harper helps him come to the realization that his absence was more harmful than helpful. His arrogance slowly gives way to selflessness, showing that deep down inside he has always cared for his people and would give his life for them. Kemmerer writes slow burn well! Rhen falls first. He grows fiercely protective of Harper and does everything he can to get her home, acknowledging that her departure would leave him prey to the curse. The longer Harper stays in Emberfall, however, the more she falls in love with the kingdom and the prince she thought was her enemy. There is just so much to love about this book, which is why it instantly made my favorites list! If you have not read “A Curse So Dark and Lonely” already, do yourself a favor and pick it up!

➤ 4.5 stars

Cross-posted to: Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph

@brigidkemmererwrites​

#cursebreakers #a curse so dark and lonely #acsdal #emberfall #princess harper of disi #prince rhen #vincent aldrhen #scary grey #commander grey #brigid kemmerer #enemies to lovers #slow burn #ya romance #ya fantasy #ya retelling #YA Books #YA literature #book review #booklr #book blog #book blogger #booklover #book rec #Book Recommendations #bookaholic #book reader #bookish #bookworm #ya reads

[crowreys-wormstache]

Goodreads recs are bullshit, I keep getting various fantasy romances recommended, apparently because I'm reading ACSDAL, like no I don't care about any of that I'm reading the Cursebreakers trilogy because the main character has CP thank you very much

#a curse so dark and lonely #acsdal #cursebreakers #brigid kemmerer #cerebral palsy #actuallydisabled #representation #goodreads #jess talks

[jeansyvesmoreau]

Guess who saw a curse so dark and lonely in the library

#okay fine I've already bought acsdal and have read it BUT I didn't expect to see it there #they said speak now*

[theinquisitxor]

Best and Worst Series of 2022 Book Tag

I saw a booktuber do a video of these questions and I really liked them, so thought that I could answer them here! Credit goes to bookslikewhoa on youtube. Feel free repost and add your own answers!

In total I read 21 series in some shape or form:

I read and completed 7 series this year (meaning I read books 1-- end)

I finished/wrapped up 2 series this year

I started 4 series

I caught up with 3 series

I continued with 1 series

I DNF'ed 5 series

1.What is the best series that you caught up with this year that is still a work in progress? I caught up with the Atlas Six series by Olivie Blake this year as I read books 1 and 2. Book 2 is my favorite, and it's proven to be a fun read.

2.What is the best work-in-progress series that you are still catching up with? OR What is the best completed series that you are still catching up with? Probably the Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire. I've only read the first two books, but need to prioritize getting to the rest. In fact, I didn't read one of these this year.

3.What was your favorite first book in a series this year? I have to go with Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman. I adore that book, and I reread it this year in anticipation for the sequel (the sequel was interesting to say the least-- it was quite different from the first book, and I'm still not sure if I liked it?)

4.What is a first book in a series you read this year that you think should have been a standalone, not a series? This one is tough, but I'll have to go with Book of Night by Holly Black. I found this overall very lackluster, and the story could have been wrapped up in one book.

5.What is your most over-hyped series of the year? Definitely Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. I read books 1-3 this year, and while enjoyed the original trilogy for sure, they're not the best thing I've ever read. (I think Sanderson is a little over-hyped in general)

6.What is a series that you DNFed this year? I just finished One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig a couple of days ago, and I'm probably not going to read the sequel when it comes out next fall. Same goes with Book of Night by Holly Black and A Spindle Splintered by Alix E Harrow. I also attempted to read The Magicians by Lev Grossman, but ended up dnf'ing the book, so I'm def not reading the rest.

7.What was your favorite series finale of the year? OR What was your least favorite series finale of the year? My favorite series finale was Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee. That was such a satisfying ending to one of my favorite series and I was very happy with that book. It lived up to all my expectations.

8.What was the biggest cliffhanger you had in a series this year? The ending of House of Sky and Breath. How can you leave me like that SJM?! I have to wait potentially years for the next one, ughhhh!

I also reread The Other Side of the Sky by Amy Kaufman and Meghan Spooner (which ends with quite the cliffhanger!) and then the sequel, Beyond the End of the World.

9.What is your favorite spin-off series you read this year? Perfect question, as I read Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer this month and loved it. It's a spinoff of her ACSDAL series.

10.What is your most anticipated next book in a series that you read this year that will come out next year? I don't think I have any? Unless The Atlas Complex releases late next year, but I don't see a date yet for it.

11.What is your most anticipated series to catch up on with next year based on what you read in that series this year? Possibly The Expanse by James SA Corey, but primarily because that is the only series that fits this prompt. I read two more Expanse books this year, and I just want to push through and finish the series up next year. I feel like I've lost my motivation and interest in that series, but maybe starting to re-watch the show might rekindle that.

12.What was your favorite series that you finished this year? I started and finished The Queen's Thief series this year, and that has been by far a favorite.

13.What is your favorite episodic series of this year? I am currently reading The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, the first book of the Kingsbridge series. Each book takes place at a different point in the middle ages and don't have to be read in order.

14.What is a series you finally bailed on after holding onto it for a long time? I don't have quite the accurate answer for this, but I had been meaning to try reading An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir for years, but I read the first book and didn't like it. So you could say I bailed that series

15.What is the series you were most surprised you liked this year? I have to answer with A Deadly Education (The Scholomance) by Naomi Novik. I had heard mixed things about the first book, but I ultimately enjoyed it, and I went on to really like books 2 & 3. I was also a little hesitant about the premise of the series, but I also ultimately had a lot of fun with it.

16.What is the series you meant to catch up with or finish this year that you didn't? The Expanse again, I only read two books, and I wanted to finish it this coming year.

17.What is a series you finished or caught up with this year that you think is greater than the sum of its parts? Probably the Throne of Glass series by SJM. I reread this series in the beginning of the year, and while I enjoy it overall, some books are weaker than others.

If you're still here and reading, here are all the series I read this year. This is obviously more for my record keeping than anything else!

House of Earth and Blood (reread) + House of Sky and Breath

The Other Side of the Sky (reread) + Beyond the End of the World (sequel) (completed)

Throne of Glass series (reread all 7)

Expanse 5 & 6

A Spindle Splintered (series DNF)

Tess of the Road (reread) + In the Serpents Wake (sequel) (completed)

Jade Legacy (complete)

Parable of the Talents (complete)

An Ember in the Ashes (series DNF)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (reread all 5 on audio)

Book of Night (series DNF)

The Atlas Six + The Atlas Paradox

The Scholomance (read all 3, completed)

Mistborn (read all 3, completed, partial audio)

The Queen's Thief (read all 6, completed)

Seasparrow

Moon Witch, Spider King

Forging Silver into Stars

The Magicians (DNF)

One Dark Window (series DNF?)

The Pillars of the Earth

#haha that's a lot #best and worst series book tag #book tag #book series #reading stats #bookblr #series #book tag game #feel free to copy/paste your own answers in #I'm a little insane I know #and I plan to start more series next year lmaoo

[maricanread]

"I wish she had. Not because of the curse, or because of Karis Luran, or because of Emberfall. Because I have fallen in love with her"

(A curse so dark and lonely - chapter 38)

Yet another quote from Rhen's PoV and I'm not even ashamed.

#a curse so dark and lonely #cursebreakers #Harper #Rhen #Harper and Rhen #ACSDAL #books #ya #reading #book quotes #curse so dark and lonely #a curse so dark and lonely quotes

[ri-days]

hi ri!! how have ya been?

hi maya! i've been okay 🤠

i'm just working on my last year's syllabus and also taking calc classes

i've ordered a few books (daisy jones, acsdal, and an enchantment of raves so i'm excited for that! (reading a curse so dark and lonely atm!)

how're you doing?

#i'm so sorry for answering this so late :( #i've been feeling drained atm #and so interaction is hard :< #&.ri's letters #&.haru my sun

[caitsbooks]

"When the world seems darkest, there exists the greatest opportunity for light.”

BookTok || Goodreads || Bookstagram || Twitter  || Reviews

#A curse so dark and lonely #justonemorepage #acsdal #bookshelf #booklr #book aesthetic #bookworm #jompbpc #bookstagram

[allisoinreynolds]

BOOKS READ IN 2022: A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY (& CURSEBREAKERS SERIES), BY BY BRIGID KEMMERER. Failure isn't absolute, just because you couldn't save everyone doesn't mean you didn't save anyone.

#a curse so dark and lonely #acsdal #acsdaledit #litedit #*mine #*mine: aesthetics #*books2022 #i added the series name because i did read all three i just ah #let's say i just want to edit the first book; but i did read all three already