Tag: Book Blogger

#TopTenTuesday: Rainy Day Reads

Dini @ dinipandareads21 Comments

Welcome back to another Top Ten Tuesday! This weekly meme is hosted by That Artsy Girl and today’s topic is about Rainy Day Reads. I don’t generally read according to the weather or season but I can imagine what type of books I’d feel like picking up when it’s raining outside. When I think of rainy day reads, I don’t necessarily think of books with dark or gothic themes. On the contrary, I think I’d prefer lighter or more comforting reads that’ll make cozying up in bed, snuggled under my doona, with a cuppa on my bedside table, a more pleasant experience. These are the stories that I wouldn’t want to leave the bed for until absolutely necessary, but they’re also the reads that I wouldn’t mind putting down for five minutes to stare up at the ceiling or out the window just to listen to the rain fall. Off the top of my head, here are some of my top rainy day reads!

1 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. P&P is one of my favorite books of all time and my familiarity with its story and characters makes it one of my go-to comfort reads. People look at me like I’m crazy when I say that, but I love this book.

2 The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Actually, I think any TJR book would do for a rainy day. I’ve only read two of her books so far but I loved them both so much that TJR is now one of my auto-buy authors. Her stories are absorbing, it’s so easy to forget that you’re reading about fictional characters, not to mention that they’re relatable.

3 Persuasion by Jane Austen. I read Persuasion during a rough point in life when I was feeling incredibly lost and alone. This book made me feel hopeful again and it brought me feelings of such contentment, just like Pride & Prejudice, I’ve read it so many times that it has become one of my go-to comfort reads.

  • ★★★★★

4 The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss. This is one of my favorite fantasy reads. Every time I read it, I find myself transported to a cozy fireside reading nook where I’m being read to by Kvothe (the MC). It’s soothing, magical, a little scary and amazing! Why not add a little rain and nice warm cup of cocoa to that scene in my head?

5 Memories (Collection) by Lang Leav. Reading poetry on a rainy day seems a little melancholy but I could definitely picture myself reading Memories, a collection of Lang Leav’s poems from her various books. Most of these ones really make me feel all the feels, especially the ones about love and loss.

6 The Dry – Jane Harper. Ironically, it rained heavily this past Sunday and I cancelled my morning plans to stay in bed getting into The Dry. Jane Harper creates an amazing atmosphere with her vivid descriptions of the Australian Outback and the pervasive heat that has made life in a quiet farm town unlivable. It surprisingly made for a very comforting read while listening to the rain fall.

7 Arc of A Scythe Series by Neal Shusterman. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked this up, but I was so pleasantly surprised by it! With its fantastic dystopian world building and intriguing concept, I absolutely couldn’t put it down. If you’re into YA, fantasy, sci-fi and dystopian books, and you still haven’t read this book, my question to you is: what are you waiting for?!

8 Shades of Magic Series by VE Schwab. I have loved pretty much everything that V.E. Schwab has come out with and the Shades of Magic series is one of my all time favorites. I love the world building, the complex characters and relationships, the magic and adventures. This is definitely a perfect rainy day read when you have all the time in the world to get lost in this one!

9 Saga (Graphic Novel) by Brian K. Vaughan. Saga is just simply the best. I could binge all the volumes in this crazy addicting series in one very cozy rainy day. If you’re looking to try out a graphic novel and love space, sci-fi, fantastic characters and world building, and beautiful artwork, you have to read Saga!

10 Natchez Burning Trilogy by Greg Iles. I don’t even know if I’d have the words to do this trilogy justice. I picked up Natchez Burning without knowing anything about the author or the MC, who was in three books prior to this one, but I fell deep into this consuming story about lies, crimes, and secrets from the past. This series combines two of my favorite genres (thriller/mystery and historical fiction) and were all jaw-dropping page turners.

Now I’m kinda wishing tomorrow as a rainy day so I could stay at home and cozy up under my covers with some of these books!

Would any of these make your list of rainy day reads? Have you done a Top Ten Tuesday too? Leave your link in the comments below!

Book Review: The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley

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Goodreads: The Hunting Party
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Rating: ★★★★☆

EVERYONE’S INVITED. 
EVERYONE’S A SUSPECT.
In a remote hunting lodge, deep in the Scottish wilderness, old friends gather for New Year.
The beautiful one
The golden couple
The volatile one
The new parents
The quiet one
The city boy
The outsider

The victim.
Not an accident – a murder among friends.

I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish this book because once I picked it up and the ball got rolling, I didn’t want to put it down. It didn’t take long for me to warm up to the story and I was quickly intrigued by the dynamics within this group of friends who’ve known each other since uni. The more I learned about them, the more I wanted to find out what went down. From the beginning it wasn’t difficult to sense that something wasn’t right within the group and that there was a lot of awkward tension between a few of them. This tension was only heightened as the group arrived at their holiday destination: an isolated area in the Scottish Highlands located hours away from the closest train station. The setting was painted beautifully by Lucy Foley; it was eerie and haunting, and really set the tone for a juicy thriller! Surrounded by endless snow and the wilderness, and far removed from the closest hints of civilization, you could feel how the environment added to the idea that something sinister was waiting just around the corner.

The story was told in alternating narratives between three of the friends and the two outsiders who managed the luxurious lodge. I didn’t particularly gravitate towards any of the characters because many of them had pretty nasty personalities, maybe except for Nick and Bo, as they seemed the most harmless and least nasty of the group. While not liking any of the characters would normally put me off a book, it didn’t take away any enjoyment from my reading this one. There’s something horrifying and fascinating to read about how friendships can become so bitter and competitive over time, and without any party willing to acknowledge it, it only got worse and worse.

The writing was compelling and although this wasn’t as fast-paced a thriller as I expected it to be, it was definitely a page turner. After a certain point it wasn’t difficult to tell who the victim was, especially with all the tension and animosity this person created within the group. On the other hand, it wasn’t as obvious to me who the killer was, although many readers said that it was clear from the start. I guess I just didn’t read into all the signs enough but I was happy with trying to figure it out throughout the novel. It kept the pace going at a good speed, which otherwise might have been slightly tedious because there was a lot of backstory. While I usually like backstory to support character development, a lot of flashbacks to their uni days and much of the internal dialogue was very bitter and full of envy and made me feel squirmy. But that was probably the point!

There were some flaws with how the story concluded that left me feeling baffled, but I obviously won’t go into detail about those. I will say that those scenes were unbelievable and it was irritating to think of the book ending on such a weak note. Overall though, I think the author did a great job of bringing the storylines and the narratives together. This book really made me think about how well you really know “your people” especially when you believe you’re the one who knows them best.

Essentially I think this quote sums the story up quite well:

“But that’s the thing about old friends, isn’t it? Sometimes they don’t even realise that they no longer have anything in common. That maybe they don’t even like each other any more.”


On Friday I wrote a First Impressions post where I predicted whether I’d like this book and what I’d rate it, and I’m happy to say that I was spot on!

Have you read The Hunting Party? Did you love it or was it a let down?
Let me know in the comments below and let’s chat books 🙂

My Weekly Wrap Up!

Dini @ dinipandareads1 Comment

We have officially come to the middle of yet another month — where does the time go, people?! I’ve been meaning to write weekly wrap up posts since I started blogging, but by the time Sunday rolls around I’m usually too lazy and make up some excuse to not get on my laptop. Heh 😬 BUT HERE WE ARE TODAY!

Yes, I’m patting my own back right now…

I’ve been participating in more weekly memes this month, and that along with writing book reviews has really helped me structure my blogging schedule. I know it’s probably a bit on the boring side right now and I’d like to try spicing up my blog a bit more with other tags and book related thoughts, but I’d like to form a steady habit of regularly writing every day, before trying to write more than one! I tend to want to do all the things when I start something new and exciting, then end up slowing down until I completely stop over time because that energy is just not my speed. I believe I’ll get there eventually with this blog though! 🤞🏽

Work has been getting progressively busier too and I know the pace is only going to increase towards the end of April, but I’ve tried to keep the effect on my daily reading mood/habit to a minimum. April has been a slower month than March though, but I guess anything compared to reading 15 books would be slow?

Without further ado, here’s a recap of this week’s posts:

Favorite Read This Week: I think it’s a tie between The Dreamers and The Hunting Party. I’ll be posting my review for The Hunting Party soon, but you can read my review of The Dreamers via the link above 😉

Did you have a good reading week?
How are you going with your April reads so far?

Sundays In Bed With… [01]

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The Sundays In Bed With… meme dares to ask you what book has been in your bed this morning! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl. Come share what book you’ve been you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed with, or which book you wish you had time to read today!

This Sunday I’ve been reading The Dry by Jane Harper. This book is really making me nostalgic for all things Aussie! I’m reading this with one of my besties and even though I just started, I’m hooked in!

In the grip of the worst drought in a century, the farming community of Kiewarra is facing life and death choices daily when three members of a local family are found brutally slain. Federal Police investigator Aaron Falk reluctantly returns to his hometown for the funeral of his childhood friend, loath to face the townsfolk who turned their backs on him twenty years earlier. But as questions mount, Falk is forced to probe deeper into the deaths of the Hadler family. Because Falk and Luke Hadler shared a secret. A secret Falk thought was long buried. A secret Luke’s death now threatens to bring to the surface in this small Australian town, as old wounds in bleed into new ones.

What book are you in bed with today? Come let me know in the comments and let’s chat books 🙂

First Impression Friday: The Hunting Party

Dini @ dinipandareads2 Comments

There’s a brand new meme hosted by JW Martin called First Impression Friday! It sounded like a fun way to reflect on a new book, so I thought I’d play along! Here’s what it’s about:

First Impression Friday will be a meme where you talk about a book that you JUST STARTED! Maybe you’re only a chapter or two in, maybe a little farther.Based on this sampling of your current read, give a few impressions and predict what you’ll think by the end. Did you think you’d love and ended up hating it? Or did you think you’d hate it and wound up loving it? Or were you exactly right?

I started reading The Hunting Party this morning and I’m about 20% of the way through (okay, it’s a little bit more than the first two chapters but still…). My first impression?

The descriptions of the secluded, snowy Scottish Highlands is eerie and lends the perfect atmosphere for a good murder-mystery. There are multiple narratives that gives a lot of insight into the various players. Although the main characters are all supposed to be childhood friends, you can feel there’s a certain kind of tension in the group that’s somewhat competitive. So far, all of this packaged together is setting up the story quite well for a high-intensity thriller.

The chapters have been very descriptive, so I think if this keeps on, it won’t be a very fast-paced thriller. But I can already feel the tension and unease pulling me in! I’m so curious to know whose died and of course, whodunit! I think this’ll be a ★★★★☆ read for me, and I can’t wait to find out if it lives up to the hype it’s been receiving on bookstagram. I really hope it does!

Have you read The Hunting Party? Do my first impressions sound similar to yours? If you’ve written an FIF, I’d love to know what you’re reading & what your first impressions are! Drop your link in the comments and let’s talk books 🙂

Book Review: The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker

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Goodreads: The Dreamers
Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction
Rating: ★★★★☆

One night in an isolated college town in the hills of Southern California, a first-year student stumbles into her dorm room, falls asleep–and doesn’t wake up. She sleeps through the morning, into the evening. Her roommate, Mei, cannot rouse her. Neither can the paramedics who carry the girl away, nor the perplexed doctors at the hospital. Then a second girl falls asleep, and then a third, and panic takes hold of the college and spreads to the town. As the number of cases multiplies, classes are canceled. A quarantine is established. Mei, an outsider in the hierarchy of dorm life, finds herself thrown together with an eccentric, idealistic classmate. A psychiatrist summoned from Los Angeles attempts to make sense of the phenomenon as it spreads. Those infected, she discovers, are displaying unusual levels of brain activity, higher than has ever been recorded before. They are dreaming heightened dreams–but of what?

I’ve been itching to read The Dreamers ever since I saw the book (cover) on IG earlier this year, and then I read the blurb and honestly, how could I resist?! I can’t really pinpoint why I love this cover so much; maybe it’s the combination of text and bright colors over a dark background? Whatever it is, it works for me. So, to say that I was excited to finally find this book a few weeks ago is probably an understatement. At the same time though, The Dreamers has been so incredibly hyped on IG that I also felt a little hesitant about reading it because there’s always a chance (however slim) that I will find the book disappointing. But when Brenda over at The Traveling Sisters told me they were doing a group read, I didn’t hesitate to join in, and I’m so glad I did because this book definitely needed talking about afterwards!

The first night I fell asleep after finishing this, I had the strangest dreams courtesy of the book’s ending. Clearly, the story had gotten into my head, but truth be told, I wasn’t really sure how I felt about it. This was unlike any science fiction that I’ve ever read. When I think of sci-fi, I generally think Michael Crichton–which is great storytelling, but also very heavy on facts, terms that I can’t pronounce and other physic/chemistry related details that oftentimes leave my head spinning. The Dreamers was basically the opposite of that. It’s written in a slow, slightly melancholic and detached way, with alluring dreamlike quality prose. It’s entirely fitting for the title and what the book is about, but it also means that the pace moves at a fairly sleepy pace. Honestly, if the story was any less interesting, I probably would’ve fallen asleep multiple times or really dreaded getting through it. As this is my first KTW book, I didn’t know what her writing would be like, but this was the first “oh” moment when I realized that the book would be quite different to what I expected. It took me quite a while to really get into the story, but after a certain point when the epidemic started getting more intense, I was unable to put it down. While this dreamy-sleepy-storytelling is not normally my style, I found KTW’s prose compelling and too beautiful to leave unfinished.

The story was not so much about the what, how and why of the virus, but about the characters, their reactions, and the impact of the ensuing events on their lives. Told through multiple perspectives, there wasn’t much character development and as a result, you don’t become very invested in any of them; but it was interesting to experience the epidemic through the various viewpoints. KTW highlights the human capacity to endure, and how high-intensity crisis situations can bring people together or pull them apart. I thought this was a pretty unique angle to take in approaching a sci-fi. During the discussion someone asked how we’d react in such a situation and I realized I would probably end up being that anxious, hot mess that everyone wishes would fall asleep–I’d be all panic and absolutely no disco 😂

As we follow the story, we learn that the sleepers experience unprecedented levels of brain activity, higher even than a person experiences in an awake state, but how is this possible and what does it mean? While the question is never really answered, the exploration of memories, dreams, and time, while sometimes abstract and philosophical, was thought-provoking. I enjoyed mulling over why certain people experienced events very differently and trying to decipher what was real and what wasn’t.

In the end though, there were many questions left unanswered and I think that was my biggest frustration with the book. It felt incomplete, like there was no resolution to the story, even knowing that answering the why and how wasn’t necessarily the point. I’m still curious about the message KTW was trying to send or make us understand with this book. With a few days to process the story, I realize I enjoyed The Dreamers a lot more than I initially thought, and I think it’s a story I will continue to think about long after I’ve finished the last page.

Have you read The Dreamers yet or is it on your TBR? I’m curious to know your thoughts! Leave a comment down below and let’s chat 🙂

#WWWWednesday: 10 April 2019

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It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a meme hosted by Taking On A World of Words. I can’t believe how quickly the week is going. Hope everyone is having a great week so far?

The three questions are:
1. What did you read last?
2. What are you currently reading?
3. What will you read next?

What did you read last?

I finished a few books this past week: Midnight Radio (Graphic Novel ARC), Nocturnal (ARC Poetry), The Stillwater Girls (read my review here), and The Dreamers. I read The Dreamers with some lovely ladies in the Traveling Friends Instagram Reading Group organized by The Traveling Sisters. I’m glad that I read this with others because I definitely wanted to discuss my thoughts on it. Plus, these ladies were so friendly and fun to talk to, I’m so happy that I joined! I’ll be posting my review tomorrow, so stay tuned 😉

What are you currently reading?

There are a couple of ARCs that I’m trying to get through this month but I also want to balance these out with other reads. Just yesterday, I picked up these books: Don’t Even Breathe (ARC, coming out 18 April), The Hunting Party, and Pride. I started Don’t Even Breathe yesterday and it basically had my head turning in the second chapter! I’m only 40% through, but it’s fairly fast paced, so I hope it continues to deliver!

What will you read next?

I’m planning to start a bestie buddy read for The Dry by Jane Harper. I’m really excited to read this as I’ve heard lots of good things about it, but thankfully it’s not as hyped as her more recent book, The Lost Man (*phew*). I’d also like to start on The Silent Patient, but I think I’m going to have to break up this slew of thrillers with a lighthearted YA, The Goodbye Summer by Sara van Name, another ARC coming out 01 May 2019!

Wooh, if I actually end up reading all of these books, my April just might end up being almost as good as March!

So, what are your three W’s? Have you posted a WWW Wednesday? Leave your link in the comments below and let’s chat books 🙂

#TopTenTuesday: Crazy Things I Do For Books!

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We’re back for another Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s prompt asks us to list the Outrageous/Crazy/Uncharacteristic Things I’ve Done for the Love of Books. I don’t know if anything on my list is really particularly outrageous or crazy but it’s definitely uncharacteristic. Sometimes my love of books definitely makes me do things I wouldn’t normally do, and I’m sure (I hope?) a lot of you book lovers will get me when I say that! In no particular order…

1 Did a Marie Kondo on the rest of my apartment (clothes, knick knacks, kitchen items) so there’d be more space for books. Really, it wasn’t just about more space for books, it’s so that I could feel better about having so many book piled around my teeny tiny flat. I’m definitely not getting rid of all (or any!) of the books (yet!) but the rest can go!

2 Spent a full day reading a book at the office because I couldn’t (read as: didn’t want to) stop. In my defense, this doesn’t happen a lot… But there’s been a time or two where I’ve secretly opened my Kindle App on another desktop to surreptitiously read rather than do actual work.

3 Pretended that I was sick from work because I had to keep reading. Yes, I had to. No, this also doesn’t happen a lot. Also, I swear that I normally have a very good work ethic. The need to keep reading just makes me do these crazy things!

4 Planning my visits around which bookstore I want to go to. This applies to when I go on visit friends/family on a break or when I have to travel for work. I usually like to arrive a day or two earlier or stay a day later so that I can visit a specific bookstore and stock up on books that I can’t find in Bali. Even if it costs me more, at least I get books? 🤷🏻‍♀️

5 Similar to the above, I’ve adjusted my “countries to visit list” based on bookstores that I want to see. For example, even though I went to the States last year, I’d love to visit again this year for a couple of weeks, just so I can go back to The Strand and to finally check out Powell’s Books! Ugh, look at all that money flying out my bank account–it hurts, but it’s so worth it?

6 Spending copious amounts on books. Retail therapy has always been my thing so maybe this isn’t so uncharacteristic, but I don’t think it’s ever gotten so out of hand. Like, I just can’t control myself. It’s a little scary sometimes.

7 Setting alarms for ridiculous times to buy special edition book boxes. I’ve actually done this once (ok, twice). It’s hard enough for me to get up every morning when my alarm clock goes off at a normal time, but I have absolutely no issue waking up at 3:30AM to jump online for these boxes! Welp.

8 Had very public and uncontrollable reactions while reading a book. I’m very introverted/shy so I normally do everything in my power to go unnoticed. However, there have been several times I’ve read a book in public and I’ve ended up having reactions (i.e. crying, groaning in frustration or laughing really loudly) that garner so much unwanted attention. Tell me you’ve done this as well?!

9 Overpacking books. I used to travel with one or two (physical) books when I have to take short trips, but these days, I’m traveling with a minimum of at least five books, plus my Kindle. It doesn’t matter if I’m only gone for 3-7 days or that I always find a bookstore and end up buying another small stack of books. Truth is also that I never get through half the books that I bring with me.

10 Setting unreal expectations for my love life because of all the romance I read. I’ve always been a hopeless romantic, but all these romance novels full of rough, rugged, caring, intellectual men only serve to ruin my love life because I know I will never find a man like that IRL. But hey, at least I have these book boyfriends and all the book cuddles to keep me company, right?

As I’m reading through my list, I’m really getting the impression that I’ve officially lost the plot, and all because of books–hah! I swear that despite what I’ve written on this post, I’m really not crazy. Please tell me some of you out there do some of these things too? 😂

What are some outrageous/crazy/uncharacteristic things you’ve done for the love of books? If you’ve made a Top Ten Tuesday post this week, leave a link in the comments below and let’s chat all things books 🙂

ARC Review: The Stillwater Girls by Minka Kent

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Goodreads: The Stillwater Girls
Publish Date: 09 April 2019
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Rating: ★★★☆☆

Ignorant of civilization and cautioned against its evils, nineteen-year-old Wren and her two sisters, Sage and Evie, were raised in off-the-grid isolation in a primitive cabin in upstate New York. When the youngest grows gravely ill, their mother leaves with the child to get help from a nearby town. And they never return.

As months pass, hope vanishes. Supplies are low. Livestock are dying. A brutal winter is bearing down. Then comes the stranger. He claims to be looking for the girls’ mother, and he’s not leaving without them. To escape, Wren and her sister must break the rule they’ve grown up with: never go beyond the forest. Past the thicket of dread, they come upon a house on the other side of the pines. This is where Wren and Sage must confront something more chilling than the unknowable. They’ll discover what’s been hidden from them, what they’re running from, and the secrets that have left them in the dark their entire lives.

I actually hadn’t heard of Minka Kent before I picked up this book, but the Stillwater Girls had an interesting premise (that sounded similar to another book (The Water Cure) that I’ve been wanting to read but haven’t picked up yet), so I was very excited when I got approved to read the ARC!

The pace of the writing was great, the pace was fast and I enjoyed reading from the multiple perspectives of Wren (and Sage) and (mostly) Nicolette. Minka Kent’s characters were interesting and complex. What I really liked was how the experiences shaped the intense emotions that the characters and that feeling was palpable as I read. Nicolette’s worries and desperation for something she couldn’t have were so strong that I felt myself becoming anxious, and although that anxiety was terrible, I knew that it wasn’t coming from me but from her character and the story. I admire an author’s ability to evoke such an intense reaction from their readers.

The pages were filled with mystery and intrigue and I was hooked after reading the first two perspectives, wondering how on earth these seemingly very different storylines would come together. I was properly invested in the story up until the lead up to big reveal, which in all honesty left me shouting out: “Um, What?!” It was shocking but also left me feeling a little stumped because it was just a little unbelievable. That is not to say that the story was not at times predictable, from the moment that things started unraveling for the sisters, my hunch about what happened to them was absolutely correct. However, that reveal kind of left me feeling like I had just reached the top of what I thought was a very steep roller coaster ride, only to find out that it was just a wee drop in the end. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for happy endings, but after the twist, everything “fell apart” and came together way too quickly and so perfectly, that it seemed implausible; and not only the reveal itself but the reasoning behind it. I have to say though that I’ve never read a book with a character who has experienced what Nicolette has/does, so while intriguing, I don’t know if it was really handled well. I honestly don’t think I can say more without spoilers so I will leave it there. That said, I can commend Kent for the fact that I really didn’t see that kind of twist coming, but I think I was more disappointed with the whole unraveling of the story following the reveal. If life could really be so clean and happy after something like this has happened, then I’m definitely not living that life!

Overall though, I did enjoy Minka Kent’s writing style. I liked how her writing grabbed my attention from the start and kept me sucked in all the way until the almost end with the fast pace and the intense mystery/suspense. Unfortunately though, the reveal and ending really didn’t do it for me, and while it wasn’t my worst read this year, I don’t think I’d buy it for friends or family.

Thanks to Netgalley, Minka Kent and publisher Thomas & Mercer for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: A Curse So Dark And Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

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Goodreads: A Curse So Dark And Lonely
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Retelling
Rating: ★★★★☆

Fall in love, break the curse. 
It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper Lacy. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s instead somehow sucked into Rhen’s cursed world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom. 
A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. But as she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.

First of all, if I had realized this was the first book in a series and we wouldn’t be getting the second book until 2020, I would not have jumped into it as quickly as I did. But once I started, I honestly could not stop. Despite being scared half-to-death of the Beast and his roar when I watched this movie as a kid, Beauty and the Beast quickly became one of my all time favorite fairy tales. That library scene was one of the most magical things I’ve ever seen and seriously, goals much? I don’t know how I even thought this would be a standalone because as much as I wish that we had the full story now, I also think that I want this series to last. Forever.

“I am always surprised to discover that when the world seems darkest, there exists the greatest opportunity for light.” 

This was a dark and magical retelling. I was hooked from the first few pages and I couldn’t wait to get back to it when I was basically forced to put it down so I could fulfill my social obligations. I’ve never read anything by Brigid Kemmerer before so I don’t know if all her books are like this, but I thought the writing flowed nicely and successfully gave the story an eerie fairytale feel. I thought the world building was done well. There was a thick eerie-ness to the setting. This was especially for the castle scenes where everything regenerates day after day. It was hauntingly creepy but beautiful and so easy to picture!

I loved all the characters, and thought they had intriguing backstories that gave them more depth. Harper was fantastic; she’s independent, sassy/sarcastic, fierce, and doesn’t let the fact that she has Cerebral Palsy stop her from fighting for herself and the kingdom. She isn’t defined by her limitations, rather she’s empowered because of them. When we’re first introduced to her she’s described as ‘scrappy and walking with a limp’, far from the beautiful, shy Belle that we know, but I think that’s what made it more refreshing. Basically, Harper is relatable and I really liked that! I liked Rhen and Grey as well, but I didn’t find their arcs especially interesting or special. Rhen’s storyline was fairly typical of a remorseful prince and Grey was the stoic and handsome guardsman with a heart of gold. Honestly though, I was more taken with Grey’s character, and even though we learn a bit about him, I kept wanting more of his backstory. When it came to the romance, I wasn’t very convinced with the chemistry between Harper and Rhen, and I know I’m in the minority with that opinion. They had a connection but I thought it was lacking and felt a little forced. I thought Harper was developing a stronger and more genuine bond with Grey, and if there were teams, I’d definitely be Team Grey (don’t hate).

**SMOL SPOILER**

I’m feeling an impending love triangle and if there’s one trope I really dislike, it’s the love triangle. Like, why? I mean, I get that there was some kind of “love triangle” thing going on in the original Beauty & the Beast, but let’s be real, none of us thought Gaston really had any shot with Belle. I know I’m just assuming there’ll be one in the next book, I could be very wrong and I kinda hope I am.

**END SPOILER**

At the end, I still have a lot of questions that went unanswered though, mostly relating to the curse. Lillith was an intriguing villain, and I wish we got more of her backstory and learned more about her motives because it was still a little vague to me. Was it truly just an act of a spurned lover? We learn about the long history of magic in the kingdom, how Rhen was an awfully cruel and entitled prince, and we get glimpses into how the curse affected him and the kingdom, but I couldn’t help feeling that there was more to it than what we were shown, especially with how the book ended.

Speaking of the ending… I was gutted by it! THAT TWIST is everything that we love and hate in a book, especially when we have to live a year with this cliffhanger! So cruel. I’m dying to know what happens next–I think there’s going to be more political intrigue, deceptions, romance and action in general–and I hope that we get some answers to the questions that were raised in this book.

Have you read A Curse So Dark And Lonely? What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments below and let’s talk books!