A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY BOOK REVIEW | WITH AND WITHOUT SPOILERS 

Grey: "Don't think, that this means I will allow you to attack me again." Harper: "Don't worry, I'm sure I'll get another chance." Rhen: "She attacked you? Grey. She is half your size." That scene made me fall in love with the three of them. Hard. 😂 There's just so much character in how that scenario go that kinda tell who they are: Grey; gives a lot of shit about H attacking him. Harper; doesn't give a shit about attacking him. Rhen; is too tired to give a shit about anything. Spoiler: I'm actually one of those people who thought there's going to be a love triangle going on, I thought it would build up tension between who Harper is going to choose in the end, but when the romance between Rhen and Harper started the whole love triangle is like "screw it" Rhen and Harper are cuter together. 😆

I have cerebral palsy, and I was so happy to see representation in a YA fantasy. I thought that part of the story was so well done.

Spoilers. I didn’t feel like there was a love triangle either. Or at least the typical tropey kind. And I liked that. I also think Harper was too independent to be in a love triangle. Lol. But you are right, the fans love Grey, I love Grey and I can’t wait to read the second book which has more Grey.🥰

(Spoilers) Yeah I didn't see the love triangle that other people were seeing either. I was actually pretty confused when people complained about that in reviews.

Well, to be honest ... It's not my favourite beauty and the beast retelling... still i was hooked till end.... Spoiler: and the only thing that bothered me was when Rhen asks “I do not know if you broke the curse-or if Grey did when he killed Lilith.” and then Harper replies " I don't know " and harper had some internal thoughts.... well I think ... these dialogue does not suit the situation they were in .... i mean the girl actually saved you and this is some what a big gesture to show someone how they feel towards the other person .... I mean ... i think this was done to somehow showcase the love triangle ... but to me it doesn't suit .... i mean both of the characters could have been more open towards there feelings in the end .... 😭😭😭... I think I just wanted a whole hearted confession.... from both of them

I also never saw the relationship between Harper and Grey as a romantic one either. I never really got a love triangle vibe and here's why: SPOILER! Okay so when she first began to trust Grey, she described his mannerisms as things her brother would do. To me, this is a huge indication the author didn't want to take that path. Also, I feel like the way she treated Grey was different than how she treated Rhen.

Spoilers (posted as requested) I never saw Grey as a love interest. I was confused when reviewers referenced a love triangle. I got a definite friendship vibe from the two of them, but maybe since Rhen was jealous? I guess that’s where it came from. Personally, I preferred Grey as a character and even though I never felt the romance, I can see how some people would want that relationship to blossom. I didn’t like Grey’s love interest in the following books, but that is another story.

“I think the FANDOM likes Grey.” Why must you call me out like this?

Spoilers****** I think that it wasn’t a love triangle. I think it was more to give Rhen’s character the view of being insecure. When youre with Grey and Harper they just seem to be friends or creating a friendship... at least to me. I felt like the only time the book hinted at a Harper and Grey being more than friends it was just in Rhen’s thoughts and words.

I totally agree about everything you said about the "love triangle." I feel like I am in the minority and really like Rhen haha I like Grey too, but I didnt hate Rhen at all. This was also my first read of 2020! I loved it a lot 😁 I cannot wait for book 2!!

Spoilers: I think it was gray who broke the curse. Cause in the end he offered his loyalty to lilith to save Harper and rhen without bounded by any oath. So maybe it was his love toward both Harper and rhen that broke the curse. I mean maybe, just maybe 😬

*spoilers* First off, I’m so late RIP. Secondly, The “Love Triangle” exists because of the stereotype that male-female friendships don’t exist. There was minor tension/attraction BUT definitely not enough to deem it a love triangle. And yes I do believe the fandom loves Grey more than Harper does

I think the antagonist was very well-written, because she is not giving me any reason to like her, and she doesn't play victim. she knows that what she does is evil, and that she has reason for doing this other than wanting control. i like that she isn't the type of antagonist that says "you took everything from me" because thats the truth, but because she is guilt tripping them.

Can I just say that I got your book in a recent haul and it’s literally my favorite book cover ever

going into this video, I didn't expect to be as intrigued by a Beauty and the Beast retelling, as I ended up being with this one. I'm not the biggest fan of portal fantasies, because they tend to be an easy way out of either building a wholly believable new world or integrating magic into our one in an organic matter. That said, it is always a pleasure to see them done well!

I'll read ACSDAL this year so... I'll return later to watch the spoilers of your review. For now I'm so excited! I can't wait to start the reading!!!

I was happy to see this review...I have Cerebral Palsy, and I did a review on the disability representation in this book, and what I enjoyed about it. :) Edit: sent the comment too quick. Anywho, thanks for the review and your insights! . . . #TeamGrey 🖤💜🖤

My twin and husband both have different mild forms of CP, and I loved the representation! CP affects people so differently, it's cool to see another perspective. Also, my sister did do some horse riding therapy, so that's cool.

I love grey!!!!!

I loved this book so much! I agree with you that the fandom probably loves grey more than Harper did.

So excited for when my hold goes thru at the library and I can start this series! Glad you had such a good time :)

I loved this one too! I can't wait to get to the second.

I understand why people get annoyed by the "not like other girls trope", but I agree with you, about how it wasnt

Spoilers I just finished the second book so I might mention it, but I didn't feel like there was a love triangle either. I think it was more ambiguous in the first book before it was somewhat confirmed in the second that Grey, at least, felt _something_ for Harper--and there was also that very small bit where Lia Mara, an outside party, assumes that maaaaaybe Harper might've felt something too, even if it wasn't as heavy as Grey felt; especially since she's already with Rhen. But even then, that isn't enough for me to call the relationship dynamic between the three a full on love triangle. Grey doesn't really lament on Harper for paragraphs, expressing a deep longing or something, but just small bits spread out implying what he felt. And when he started falling for Lia Mara, Harper wasn't mentioned in the context of, say, emphasizing that Grey moved on from Harper. It just happened. Basically, even if there was maybe maybe something there, it still was ultimately too underdeveloped before it even ended with Grey and Lia Mara getting together.

Your review reminded me that the second book just came out. Excited for it never expected a book with a character with cp like I have that's not like a John green vibe.

I knew not that there was another retelling of this tale. And the fact that it's a portal story? Intriguing.

Spoiler Honestly where was the love triangle?! Grey was just a friend

I think the reason the author dwelled on harpers cheek so much but then getting shot with arrows not so much was to show how much she had gotten stronger throughout the book. the fact that she couldn't handle Rhen being tortured and her getting cut at the beginning then at the end she can handle more signifies how much her character has grown in my opinion. that and the fact that there was so much going on at the end.

Spoilers I didn't see a triangle at all but in answer to your question, it was a very deep face cut that required stitches and has left a permanent disfigurement and Harper passed out from the pain. A brilliant book.

Spoilers: I kind of like Lilith....at the start at least. I thought she was this hurt character that's getting revenge but still loves Rhen. I think she was done dirty going after his father and trying to-I dunno-tame his monster?! I hoped they wouldn't make her this all evil character that's not humanised but oh well. I didn't see a love triangle. There was hints of it, in the start. After a while, it turned out to be that they just get along well, nothing big. The focus was really on Rhen and Harper. Am I the only one who thought that it wasn't loyal to talk about their love life instead of searching for Grey? Rhen knew about there being another witch in the kingdom besides lilith and he could've at least tried to search for her. I know she's a witch, pun intended, but he'd be doing something at the very least. I didn't like Harper, really. I like Grey a lot. Rhen, despite being a prince and all that, is very relatable. His emotions, want to be like his father...maybe admiring him?, always planning ahead. Harper was just a pain...an understandable pain but I enjoyed the story from her point of view. I think the monster should've been a bit more aware with his internal dialog. It was kinda rushed in the end....I just didn't like it as much as the start. 3/5 is my rating. I don't regret reading it though

Glad you enjoyed this book. This Beauty and the Beast Retelling was just Ok for me, but not enough to pick the next book up. I even don't like Harper for the choices she made. She knew how to break the curse, but she looks for another solution- sure it is nice of her, but she could ruin everyone lifes forever. And then the idea, that the same type of 'overearthly beautiful' women were abducted for hundreds of years and no one can understand, why no woman was interested in the Beast is just beyond me. And then comes Harper, the ordinary girl and she is the right one. Yeah, why exactly? What does she have, what hundreds of other women did not have, her appearance? I do not like this kind of talk in books so it was more of a sour topic for me 🙃

Sounds awesome, and the book cover looks good too. Just $3.69 on kindle in Oz!! Bought!!

I feel like nobody talks about Rhen much. What’re your thoughts on him? I’d love to know.

I personally prefered Grey over any other character. The way his personality was shaped, so loyal, so fierce, so "scary grey". And then at the same time we saw how his past life wasn't easy. SPOILER: we saw how when he came up to harpers door in dc at the end he was just there giving up on the scary grey but and just being normal,like harper described him. I really liked rhen and harper they both had a lot going on, many struggles and still fought for ember fall until the end. I AGREE ABOUT THE CHEEK THINGYY. it was a bit too much, as if she was dying when it was all just a cut. Also, there was no love triangle in my opinion even though we saw a spark between harper and grey at times. I always knew that rhen and harper were just right,but I wished for a teeensyyy bit of a love triangle it would have made it interesting to see what grey would have done. I loved grey and rhens relationship too. Just a really really really good book, the way it was written: 10/10!

I read this thanks to your recommendation and loved it!

It definitely sounds intriguing. I might use this as a response to a readathon prompt or something this year.

I love the characters and this was what helped my reader slump.

Nice review. I recommend you checking readwithcindy's review of this book also; she's funny and has an alternative route to this story which I would have enjoyed pretty much

Gotta start reading after your awesome review

This might sound horrible, but is there a reason they didn’t put the beast down prior to these shenanigans? He’s killed multiple people, and how many women have they kidnapped? Are they returned? If so, are they missing for three months and then reappear, or is this magic cursed place in a pocket dimension where time doesn’t work the same way, like Narnia? Do the girls remember? Do they get counseling? In short, is there a reason they allow the cycle of murder and abuse to perpetuate, instead of putting it to a violent but swift end?

In my opinion, the writing style should fit the story. If the characters are very practical and do a lot of mundane things, the author shouldn't go for a very poetical style. If there is a lot of magic and the theme of the book is somewhat philosophical, a more literary style is quite adequate. One can also try to maintain some fine balance, such as in the books of... Patrick Rothfuss, Laini Taylor... I really like those. I don't consider them to be full of stylistic devices. Beautifully written, without exaggerating. Quite appropriate for setting the atmosphere. I think Erin Morgenstern is a writer who goes a little too far. She uses the same artistic devices over and over again and that can become boring or tiresome. I know a lot of people admire her books and I agree she shows her great knowledge of Semiotics and literature, but she should try reading her own books aloud and she'd notice a couple of recurrent devices.

I was dreading the triangle that was implied in some instances but I knew it won't go anywhere 😃

Spoilers . . . . I agree that there's no triangle, but I am team Grey

Late to the game but, Fandom likes Grey here. Didn't really see a strong 2nd love interest there, the few hints felt forced at the end. Good fun read, but pacing dragged in the middle.

The sequel is so much better btw! Pls do a review on that.

I really loved rhen but I hate what the author did to his character in book 2 . 😭😭😭

Idk but in old days, a scar on the face meant many things. In South Korea, if you were the next in line and have cut on your face....you will be stripped off your title

I wished we get to know more about Lilith and the magic she wields. I always have a hard time connecting with a fantasy book if it only showcases soft magic and world-building. I wished this book was rewritten as an epic fantasy. Maybe I expected too much and I was looking for an epic fantasy that has portal fantasy and parallel worlds elements set in everywhen. And this was not it. So my dissatisfaction was on me and not on the clearly skillful writer.

Read the book in 3 days. Very nice book.

Like watching ur review videos!!

Hi, I am about to start reading it on an ebook version but the chapters are only 3-10 pages long. Is that right? I am reading it with a group as well so I don't want to have the wrong book.

Riyria - Avempartha request 😃

Does the book have spicy scenes

Sounds like a job for a Witcher

I know Harper and Rhen go together. But is it wrong to ship Harper and Grey?? 🥺🥺

Spoilers So she falls in love with her kidnapper? I get that it’s a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but that icks me out.

If there's no Lasik on your to do list, then you're wasting your beautiful eyes because they're reduced to tiny dots behind those glasses