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.
Find the heir, win the crown.
The curse is finally broken, but Prince Rhen of Emberfall faces darker troubles still. Rumors circulate that he is not the true heir and that forbidden magic has been unleashed in Emberfall. Although Rhen has Harper by his side, his guardsman Grey is missing, leaving more questions than answers.
The curse is finally broken, but Prince Rhen of Emberfall faces darker troubles still. Rumors circulate that he is not the true heir and that forbidden magic has been unleashed in Emberfall. Although Rhen has Harper by his side, his guardsman Grey is missing, leaving more questions than answers.
Win the crown, save the kingdom.
Grey may be the heir, but he doesn't want anyone to know his secret. On the run since he destroyed Lilith, he has no desire to challenge Rhen--until Karis Luran once again threatens to take Emberfall by force. Her own daughter Lia Mara sees the flaws in her mother's violent plan, but can she convince Grey to stand against Rhen, even for the good of Emberfall?
Grey may be the heir, but he doesn't want anyone to know his secret. On the run since he destroyed Lilith, he has no desire to challenge Rhen--until Karis Luran once again threatens to take Emberfall by force. Her own daughter Lia Mara sees the flaws in her mother's violent plan, but can she convince Grey to stand against Rhen, even for the good of Emberfall?
The heart-pounding, compulsively readable saga continues as loyalties are tested and new love blooms in a kingdom on the brink of war.
- Series: The Cursebreaker Series
- Hardcover: 464 pages
- Publisher: Bloomsbury YA (January 7, 2020)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1681195119
- ISBN-13: 978-1681195117
My Thoughts:
The first book in this series left us with a rather startling revelation, and we pick up just a few months later, leaving the original Beauty and the Beast inspiration behind. Rhen and Harper only narrate a couple of chapters, with the focus this time being on Grey and a new character, Lia Mara.
Despite the (Book 1 spoiler here) end of Rhen's curse, Grey is still doing the best he can to protect the kingdom--which, this time, means disappearing and working incognito as a groom and general helper at a gladiator-style attraction. We get to know much more about him as a person.
Lia Mara--what can I say, I love her. I identify with her more than any other character in this series. Her self-doubts resonate. She wants to do the best she can for her country, even if it means not complaining when her younger sister is chosen over her as heir to the throne.
Of course, she and Grey meet and have to work together.
Peripheral characters are all well-drawn.
When we do see Harper, she is still her fierce self, convinced she can help everyone, loving Rhen even when he's a jerk.
And believe me, he's a jerk in this book. I did NOT like Rhen in this story at all, and I frankly got annoyed with Harper for continuing to support him. Hence my 4-star review.
We do get to see things through Rhen's eyes in the last chapter, and it's a bombshell. Kemmerer better write fast--the second book is not even released yet, and I'm dying for the next one.
Speaking of Kemmerer, I want to give her a shoutout here--she is so responsive to fans on Twitter!
I received an ARC of this from the publisher, via NetGalley, for my honest review.
Who might like this book: Those who like loyal, strong, but flawed characters. Those who like modern "real world" characters displaced into a fantasy world. Those who like adventure and romance. Probably ages 13 and up. This book is equally for boys or girls
Possible objectionable material: fighting, killing, lots of blood. Same-sex relationships. Magic.
