The book A Curse so Dark and Lonely, by Brigid Kemmerer was a wonderful adaptation of the classic Beauty and the Beast fairytale. A teenage girl is dragged by mistake into a fantasy world, where she must save the kingdom. A mysterious monster destroyed the kingdom years ago leaving it defenseless to attack, so it is up to her to protect the kingdom. This book is full of plot twists and amazing character development that truly elevates the story. Although it may seem like a typical fairytale, hidden secrets and dark magic create an emanate sense of danger that adds to the atmosphere of the story. While this book is not the best I have read, I was baffled by the amount of care put into the storyline and backstories of each character. The world building, and connection to the modern world was tied into the storyline with the care of an expert. I was truly not able to put the book down because each chapter drew me in with promises of dangerous adventures and mythical beasts. I have read a lot of remade fairy tales, but the way Kemmerer made it seem completely new was awe inspiring and refreshing to experience. I especially loved how diverse and unique each character is. Most YA books don’t have the representation that the world needs, but I was very satisfied with the varied personalities and looks of each character. The characters are multi sided and grow from their mistakes which is nice to see in a book. I cannot wait to read the next books in the series, and I hope they are just as well written as A Curse so Dark and Lonely. I think that this book has the potential to go far and become a fan favorite for many people. I really liked the points the author made throughout the book about bravery and courage. It really showed me how courage isn’t just fighting back or making a huge change, it can be small acts of defiance, and that shift of perspective really changed the way I look at the world. Overall, this was a great book for any lovers of fantasy or fairy tales who love a dark twisted version of classic tales. For any future readers, if you are looking for a book with feminism, diversity, and dark curses this is the book for you. It is a wonderful read that can be read over and over again and enjoyed with the same amount of pleasure as the first time.
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