A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers #1) by Brigid Kemmerer
Published by Bloomsbury, NY., (2019).
ISBN: 9781681195087
Age Level: Teen Fiction,12 to 18, HL580L
Literary Awards: Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2019)
Summary: Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall, was cursed to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year; he could only be saved if a girl fell for him. But at the end of each autumn he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction... and destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope. Washington, D.C. native Harper Lacy's father is long gone, her mother is dying, and her brother constantly underestimates her because of her cerebral palsy. When she is sucked into Rhen's cursed world, Harper doesn't know where she is or what to believe. As Rhen regains hope, they learn it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin. -- adapted from jacket.https://indypl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1012981165
Personal Comments: This is a fascinating retelling of the fairytale Beauty and the Beast. There is added magic with the heroine Harper from the real-world (current time) who is transported to another time and world where knights and shining armor still exist. Even though she is taken against her will, she is the only hope to break the curse. Harper is a great example of a strong resourceful character. I love how each chapter is told by a different main character from his/her perspective. The story is resolved enough, but I cannot wait to read the next in the series.
Reviews and Resources:
Gr 9 Up—Kemmerer's "Beauty and the Beast" retelling introduces a unique world filled with fantasy and menace. Rhen is an accomplished if pessimistic strategist while Harper is impulsive to the point of recklessness. Despite their obvious tension and occasional chemistry, Rhen's evolving friendship with his guard commander Grey is often more compelling than Harper's interactions with either man. While Harper and Rhen accomplish much over the course of the novel, this installment has little in the way of closure. VERDICT Rich world-building, hints of a love triangle, and unresolved questions will leave readers anxious to see what happens next. A strong choice. —Emma Carbone, Brooklyn Public Library. https://www.slj.com/?reviewDetail=a-curse-so-dark-and-lonely
A cursed prince and a high school dropout become unlikely allies in this ambitious “Beauty and the Beast” adaptation. The book follows a white default for main characters, although Jake’s boyfriend is black and Harper’s best friend in Emberfall has brown skin. Refreshingly, Harper is the undisputed hero and also not the only significant character with a disability. Avoiding disability inspiration tropes, she is a fallible, well-rounded character who fights for the vulnerable and resists being labeled as such herself despite how others perceive her. A fast-paced, richly detailed feminist epic. (author's note) (Fantasy. 12-18) https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/brigid-kemmerer/a-curse-so-dark-and-lonely/
Action, tension, and tragedy fuel this retelling of “Beauty and the Beast” by YA author Kemmerer (More Than We Can Tell)... Harper and Rhen share the narration, building an alliance while fighting their burgeoning romance, and artfully rendered, emotionally complex secondary characters add depth and raise stakes. This enthralling modern fable champions altruism while illustrating intimacy’s relationship with honesty, respect, trust, and consent. Ages 13–up. Agent: Mandy Hubbard, Emerald City Literary. (Jan.) https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-68119-508-7
Q & A with Brigid Kemmerer by Sara Grochowski. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/81943-q-a-with-brigid-kemmerer.html
Parents need to know that A Curse So Dark and Lonely, the first book in the Cursebreaker series by bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer, is an imaginative variation on the "Beauty and the Beast" theme -- in this case, featuring a high-school senior with a bad leg from cerebral palsy and also a raft of family troubles, who finds herself snatched to the kingdom of Emberfall.. There's a lot of dark stuff here, from the hacking, stabbing, and devouring to a sadistic villainess who makes her victim spit blood just for the fun of it. But in this murky world, young Harper's snarky ways, kind heart, and considerable courage open up new possibilities and unexpected hope.https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/a-curse-so-dark-and-lonely-cursebreaker-book-1
Book Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0iun964v48
ISBN: 978198483017
Age Level: Teen Fiction, 14-19,820L Literary Awards: Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction (2019).
Summary: In an alternate America, princesses Beatrice and Samantha Washington and the two girls wooing their brother,Prince Jefferson, become embroiled in high drama in the most glorious court in the world.
Personal Comments: This is a really great storyline and different perspective of ‘What If” Washington had accepted being a monarch rather than the first president of the United States. What a different world we would be living in now. After current King’s reign, Beatrice will assume the title. Her grandfather changed the line of succession to be the oldest heir rather than the oldest male child. It is hard for the king’s children to be normal and they have to consider their duties to their family and country rather than to just be kids. The female characters are strong women and they are faithful to each other and accept the responsibilities of their stations in life. This is the first book in the series, which has a stopping point, but a surprise ending. I cannot wait to read the next in the series.
Reviews and Resources:
Parents need to know that American Royals is a romance that imagines what an American royal family would be like. It's about a group of older teens in the highest, most glamorous levels of society. For a romance, the sexy stuff is pretty mild: mostly a lot of swooning kisses, with a couple of instances of implied sex. No body parts are described. Alcohol consumption at parties is glamorized, although excess is rare. A few teens who are months short of legal age drink at parties. One character plans to sedate another in order to take compromising pictures for blackmail, with severe consequences. There's minor violence (a character remembers a teacher smacking her on the hands with a ruler in the past; splattered blood from an illness is described), and strong language ("sluts," "bitch") is rare. There are mostly positive messages about responsible leadership, trying to make things better, and not letting obligation or tradition stand in the way of personal happiness but instead working to change things for the better. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/american-royals
Grab a cup of mead and gather round for a story of kings, queens, princes, princesses, lords, and ladies: the modern ruling families of America. With the ease of a curtsy, McGee has established a monarchy made up of the direct descendants of George Washington. There’s enough palace intrigue, royal shenanigans, and even a smidgen of sex to satisfy anyone who loves a bit of gossip. Set in the contemporary United States, there are characters we love to love, love to hate, and those we want to send to timeout. Critical questions tantalize readers through the foibles and flaws of characters who are frustratingly human. Crown jewels aside, the events of the story are as familiar as college parties or family dinners. Not all questions are answered, and readers will eagerly await the next installment to find out whether true love will win, or stodgy tradition will triumph. (Fiction.14+ https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/katharine-mcgee/american-royals/
Gr 7 Up–Imagine if, after the Revolutionary War, George Washington became the king of America instead of its president. Fast forward to the present, when America's beloved Princess Beatrice will one day be the country's first queen. Readers will be hooked as the three siblings navigate royalty and the struggles of being a teenager, including the inevitable romantic complications and friend squabbles. With so many dynamic characters and enticing story lines, the multi-narrative arrangement works well to put readers into the heads of more characters. VERDICT A fun twist on history as we know it, and the ending will have readers hoping for a sequel. Jessica Perovich. Copyright 2019, SLJ.https://www.slj.com/?reviewDetail=american-royals
In this drama's reimagined United States of America, George Washington was crowned king rather than becoming the country's first elected president. His descendent, Princess Beatrice Georgina Fredericka Louise of the House of Washington, the first female heir to the crown, is 21 and expected to find a husband. Written from multiple perspectives, McGee crafts a deliciously soapy American royal family. Though much of the doomed-relationships story arc feels familiar, McGee's characters are well-crafted and flawed, giving the narrative emotional texture that elevates it above the dramatic formula. Ages 14–up. (Sept.) Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly.https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-9848-3017-3
Book Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9rMGAm4Z54
Interview:
The Midnight Dance by Nikki Katz
Published by New York:Swoon Reads, (2017).
ISBN: 978125012718.
Age Level: TEEN FICTION, 14+, 710L.
Summary: In 1879, seventeen-year-old Penny yearns to escape the confines of Italy's mysterious and elite Grande Teatro and explore the flashes of memory that suggest she once lived a very different life.https://indypl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/950559165
Personal Comments: I really like this story. It is a bit of a fairytale with a cruel character (Master) who runs a dance school. There is mystery and a lot of unresolved issues, until the heroine Penny (one of the girls in the dance school) with the help of Cricket (thought to be a servant, but not) realizes things are just not right or what they seem to be. I had a hard time finding reviews that liked the book, but I think it is suspenseful enough to want to find out who Master is, why he controls the girls and the people at his school. It really kept my interest to want to finish reading it. Again, the female character is a strong and resourceful girl.
Reviews and Resources:
Gr 9 Up—Mixing elements of gothic horror, science fiction, and romance, Katz's debut novel provides a satisfyingly dark and frightening plot, but its sci-fi elements are dubious at best, and its romance feels gratuitous. Considering its intended audience, the pervasive Stockholm Syndrome sensuality and implications are not explored thoroughly. VERDICT Despite its intriguing story line, notable shortcomings should be considered before purchasing. —Cary Frostick, formerly at Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Falls Church, VA Copyright 2017 School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/?reviewDetail=the-midnight-dance
If you like historical fiction novels with romance and some slightly creepy sci-fi elements, check out this book! It has an air of mystery to it, and it’s a fast read. The ending is really good, and it is perfect as the ending of a standalone. And the romance was definitely swoony! Swoon Reads is living up to the name. 4 stars.
I read The Midnight Dance in one day, stopping and starting whenever I could find a chance. It’s fast paced and compelling. My only gripe is with the secondary characters, who could have been better developed for a more fleshed out story.
Set against the fascinating and moody backdrop of a mysterious boarding school, this intricately crafted novel is filled with magical realism, gothic settings, and the perfect hint of romance.
Debut author Nikki Katz delivers a unique and haunting twist on a classic fairy tale with The Midnight Dance, chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads.
Praise for The Midnight Dance: "Deliciously dark and twisty, taking you on a luscious ride."—Suzanne Lazear, author of the Aether Chronicles series
“Well-written and charming.” —Jennifer McKenzie, reader on SwoonReads.com
“A beautifully written story.” —Chen Yan Chang, reader on SwoonReads.com
Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum
Published by New York: Delacorte Press, (2016).
ISBN: 9780553535648
Age Level:Teen Fiction, 700L
Summary: Sixteen-year old Jessie, still grieving over her mother's death, must move from Chicago to 'The Valley,' with a new stepfamily but no new friends until an anonymous fellow student emails and offers to help her navigate the school's treacherous social waters. https://indypl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/838314
Personal Comments: I love this book. It is very intriguing. I did not want to put it down. I feel so sorry for the main character Jessie. Her mother died, her father remarried, and she moved across the country, away from familiar surrounds and friends to a new school with rich catty kids. Her unknown ‘email friend’ is her only lifeline. I always want a happy ending and this book certainly does not disappoint. The storyline is hopeful like a Hallmark movie. It is a ‘feel good’ book with hope and it really delivers.
Reviews and Resources:
The dialogue—both spoken and typed (emails)—is consistently funny, and adult author Buxbaum (After You) makes everyone, even subsidiary characters, believable. She maintains suspense until the very end, and even if readers think they know who "Somebody Nobody" is, the desire to find out whether Jessie's real-life and virtual crushes are one and the same will keep them turning the pages as quickly as possible. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jennifer Joel, ICM. (Apr.) [Page]. Copyright 2016 PWxyz LLC https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-553-53564-8
Gr 10 Up—A contemporary YA novel about grieving, growing up, and learning how to have confidence in yourself. Readers will find themselves growing with Jessie as she tries to deal with the passing of her mother and become comfortable in her own skin miles away from everything she thought of as home. Buxbaum's debut is hard to put down because of its smooth and captivating text. The addition of virtual conversations through email and chatting adds an exciting plot twist. Casual talk of drinking, drugs, and sex makes this novel more appealing to mature teens. VERDICT A definite purchase for collections where readers enjoy character-driven fiction. —DeHanza Kwong, Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, NC[Page 98]. School Library Journal https://indypl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/838314165?active_tab=bib_info
After her widower father marries "a stranger he met on the Internet," Jessie finds herself at a Los Angeles prep school for junior year. Alienated at home, intimidated at school, she doesn't know where to turn until she's contacted via email by someone known only as "Somebody/Nobody." The mystery of SN's identity, as well as glimpses of their correspondence, propel this character-driven romance. Copyright 2016 Horn Book Guide Reviews.https://indypl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/838314165?active_tab=bib_info
This storyline is overfamiliar territory: a protagonist unaware she’s gorgeous, oblivious to male admiration; a jealous, mean-girl antagonist; a secret admirer, easily identified. It’s the authentic depiction of grief—how Jessie and other characters respond to loss, get stuck, struggle to break through—devoid of cliché, that will keep readers engaged. Though one of Jessie’s friends has a Spanish surname, rich, beautiful, mostly white people are the order of the day. Within the standard-issue teen romance is a heartfelt, wryly perceptive account of coming to terms with irrevocable loss when life itself means inevitable change. (Fiction. 12-16)
Book Trailer
A Heart So Fierce and Broken (Cursebreakers #2)by Brigid Kemmerer
Published by Bloomsbury, NY. (2020).
ISBN: 9781681195117
Age Level: Teen Fiction, 13-18, HL580L
Summary: "The curse is finally broken, but Prince Rhen of Emberfall faces drier troubles still. Rumors circulate that he is not the true heir and that forbidden magic has been unleashed in Emberfall. Loyalties are tested and new love blooms in a kingdom on the brink of war--Provided by the publisher. https://indypl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1064931165
Summary: "The curse is finally broken, but Prince Rhen of Emberfall faces drier troubles still. Rumors circulate that he is not the true heir and that forbidden magic has been unleashed in Emberfall. Loyalties are tested and new love blooms in a kingdom on the brink of war--Provided by the publisher. https://indypl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1064931165
Personal Comments: This is the second book of three. It is even better than the first one. Again, each chapter is written from the viewpoint of the main characters. But, this time the main players Rhen and Harper from the first book are only mentioned, but the real story is about Grey coming to terms with himself (heir to the throne and his magic powers) and a new character Lia Mara (the daughter of a rival nation Syhl Shallow). Lia Mara is a strong good compassionate female character. The story is resolved nicely, but again the end finds a cliffhanger with an unforeseen outcome. Unfortunately, the third book is not due out until Fall 2021!
Reviews and Resources:
In the sequel to New York Times bestselling A Curse So Dark and Lonely, Brigid Kemmerer returns to the world of Emberfall in a lush fantasy where friends become foes and love blooms in the darkest of places. The heart-pounding, compulsively readable saga continues as loyalties are tested and new love blooms in a kingdom on the brink of war.https://brigidkemmerer.com/books/a-heart-so-fierce-and-broken/
A group of young people forge unexpected bonds that are tested when they must choose between love and duty. Lia Mara and Grey told through alternating first-person perspectives, provides prompting thoughtful consideration of their distinct social and cultural traditions—and just enough time for romance to blossom. Lia Mara proves herself the undisputed hero right up to the stunning conclusion. This sweeping, romantic epic repeatedly turns the tables on the fantasy tropes that readers might be expecting. This nuanced sequel offers new perspectives and emphasizes the value and complexity of both sibling and romantic relationships. (map) (Fantasy. 13-18)https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/brigid-kemmerer/a-heart-so-fierce-and-broken/
Continuing her inventive reimagining of Beauty and the Beast, Brigid Kemmerer blends magic, romance, and the growing specter of war in A Heart So Fierce and Broken. Best read as the sequel it is, the novel adds to the intricate world building of the first volume. Magical elements are expanded upon, as are returning characters, and many questions are put to rest, while intriguing jumping-off points are raised for the series finale. The focus shifting to Grey offers an opportunity to examine the double-edged sword of loyalty and love, and Lia Mara is a refreshing introduction, a headstrong heroine who refuses to sacrifice compassion for strength. Tension builds naturally, both within relationships and the political climate. Diplomatic maneuvering and royal intrigue abound as Grey and his allies walk a tightrope over the viper’s nest of Syhl Shallow, leading to a climactic choice for Lia Mara that opens up enticing possibilities. A white-knuckle fantasy begging to be read in one sitting, A Heart So Fierce and Broken has a satisfying end and promises excitement to come. Reviewed by Danielle Ballantyne. https://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/a-heart-so-fierce-and-broken/
Brigid Kemmerer has been publishing novels for teen and adult readers for years, but her most recent series, a “Beauty and the Beast” retelling featuring a girl from modern day Washington, D.C., who finds herself in the cursed kingdom of Emberfall, landed her on the New York Times bestseller list this year. The sequel, A Heart So Fierce and Broken, hits shelves in January and has already garnered plenty of prepublication buzz. Kemmerer spoke with PW about writing within multiple genres, exploring and rewriting a favorite childhood fairy tale, and the advice that led to the publication of her breakout novel. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/81943-q-a-with-brigid-kemmerer.html
One of my most common complaints with young adult books set in historical times or fantasy worlds is that when the “good guys” vanquish the evil that plagues them, that’s often the end of the story. You’re left wondering, “Great … what happens now?”
What’s interesting about this book is that the point of view changes from Rhen and Harper to Grey (you might remember him as Scary Grey), along with a new character called Lia Mara. She’s the daughter of the Queen of Syhl Shallow, who tried to invade Ironside in the first book, and she is given such wonderful depth here as she deals with the fact that she is the least preferred of her sisters by her mother.
At first, I was concerned that I wouldn’t enjoy the perspective shift between characters, since Harper was a great character with such a unique voice in the first book. Happily, this shift in perspective stopped A Heart So Fierce and Broken from falling into the classic second-in-a-trilogy trap: filling time until the third book wraps everything up in a neat little bow. Like the first book, A Heart So Fierce and Broken has a complete story within, as well as a sweet new romance, but the ending is the thing that will knock you for six. I definitely want the next book now!
