Brigid Kemmerer

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.

A Heart So Fierce and Broken

We eat hearty food and spun to live music and kiss under the stars when the nights grow long and quiet.

I take the book from her hands. I do not know the word on the cover, but I flip through the pages.

The room is so still and quiet, and his patience seems eternal, because he holds me there until the tension slips out of my body and I nod.

I was trained to be a weapon at the hand of another. I can do that again, for you.

Do you long for escape? Or shall I continue along this path?

I keep thinking back to those brief moments on the veranda and wondering if I should never have offered you my jacket. My thoughts keep reminding me that you were cold, however, and the idea of leaving your shivering is not a thought I can bear.

Especially when my thoughts also remind me of the brief moments after, when I hope you were not cold at all.

"Ah, yes, the most dangerous person at the party is always the girl sitting alone with a book."

I want to trace the scars on his back and tell him how he did not deserve one single mark.

Aimee :)

Behind her, in a wave, every guard, every general, and every soldier does the same.

"Queen Lia Mara," says Grey, and he offers me a bow.

He smiles that terrifying smile, then tosses the length of silver chain in my lap. "You have me."

Suze

You said that not every problem can be solved by the end of a sword. I have carried those words with me for days... Since you made me realize that I am no longer a weapon to be wielded by another.

Choices are never easy. There are good and bad options, but the most dangerous is to not make any choice at all.

Ah yes, the most dangerous person at the party is always the girl sitting alone with a book.

Maggie Hotmer

“Ah, yes, the most dangerous person at the party is always the girl sitting alone with a book.”

And underneath it all, so tiny I almost don't acknowledge it, a kernel of pride that instead of magic bringing fear and torment, the way Lilith did, or pain and death, the way my sword would, my magic brought healing and trust, and that is no small thing at all. 

camila santaella

All of a sudden, I want to lock my doors and hide in my room with my books and my pillows and my privacy. 

Sophie

Sarah

Allyssa Fritz

Brigid Kemmerer returns to the world of Emberfall in her lush fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast, perfect for fans of Marissa Meyer.

Carina 🧡

It was pretty good but not as good as the first book. Rhen was not a good person as he tried to almost kill Tycho even if he was afraid but everything else was pretty good and I would recommend this book to people.

Ashley Lively

What a novel. I'm so glad I decided to pick it up, because I was thinking I'd rather not. But, It was great. Everytime I put it down, I decided I was going to read just one more chapter, one more page, one more word until the book ended up being over. 

My issues with the first book lied with everything. The characters were so two dimensional, the main characters weren't even likeable, the book didn't have a pacing issue but the pacing felt odd and I wanted a greater focus on Grey. 

This book seems to have cleared up basically all of my issue. The introduction of Lia Mara from the Shyll Shadows was a literal game changer. She has so much character and personality and background she's very much three dimensional. We even see her mother and sister, and her guards and everyone, although I would say the dialogue of the characters definately improved from the first book too. The characters are all definately likeable and bring out that empathetic side of the reader, and I'm quite glad that there seems to be a change in the authors writting, although I could potetinally change my mind with a reread... I'm so happy that this book focused on Grey. He's such an adorable brooding character and I love the idea of him being the hero, and Rhen being the anti hero? Or maybe it's the other way round. If you didn't enjoy the first book, Ithink you'd love this book. if you loved the first book or loved Rhen, I think you'd enjoy the first book more, but still like this book too. 

surtified™

What a novel. I'm so glad I decided to pick it up, because I was thinking I'd rather not. But, It was great. Everytime I put it down, I decided I was going to read just one more chapter, one more page, one more word until the book ended up being over. 
My issues with the first book lied with everything. The characters were so two dimensional, the main characters weren't even likeable, the book didn't have a pacing issue but the pacing felt odd and I wanted a greater focus on Grey. 
This book seems to have cleared up basically all of my issue. The introduction of Lia Mara from the Shyll Shadows was a literal game changer. She has so much character and personality and background she's very much three dimensional. We even see her mother and sister, and her guards and everyone, although I would say the dialogue of the characters definately improved from the first book too. The characters are all definately likeable and bring out that empathetic side of the reader, and I'm quite glad that there seems to be a change in the authors writting, although I could potetinally change my mind with a reread... I'm so happy that this book focused on Grey. He's such an adorable brooding character and I love the idea of him being the hero, and Rhen being the anti hero? Or maybe it's the other way round. If you didn't enjoy the first book, Ithink you'd love this book. if you loved the first book or loved Rhen, I think you'd enjoy the first book more, but still like this book too. 

Myriam Boulanger Lapointe

Third read: not as quick a read as the first book, but still enjoyable.

I think grey is my new favorite book boyfriend 🫶

It was so fun seeing where the author took this book. There were so many twists I truly had no idea how it was going to play out

Manda

I think grey is my new favorite book boyfriend 🫶

It was so fun seeing where the author took this book. There were so many twists I truly had no idea how it was going to play out

AHNA

Hannah DCamp

So Grey is still my favorite. Everything is fine.

I still don't get why he ran away so aggressively at the end of the last book but THAT'S FINE it remains largely unresolved in this one. It's explained away by him (and others) saying that Rhen would have to kill him, but I still don't get why.

Rhen and Harper don't entirely make sense. They react to things in ways that don't make sense for their characters as established in the last book - Harper seems weak and inexperienced, and clings to Rhen the whole time; Rhen seems overbearing, calculating, and cruel. Luckily they're not really present here, so it doesn't matter? 

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Even Grey is not entirely consistent, which was my favorite thing about him in the last book (he was so consistent before guys, that was like the most painful/great thing about him!). He has these weird reckless moments that I didn't particularly like. Also the fact that (view spoiler)[he suddenly has magic powers that he can immediately control (hide spoiler)] doesn't really make sense. The man has been alive for how long? And he's been injured how many times before? And he never noticed this one super convenient thing about himself??


The scraver is the coolest part about this book. I have no real idea what his powers are (aside from *wintery*), but he's super interesting. (view spoiler)[I want to know more about his son, and why he the king came to search for him, and more about why the treaty is so important to him. I don't anticipate answers to any of my questions. (hide spoiler)]

I trudge on to the final book. I started this because I wanted to read Forging Silver into Stars, but I'm already hesitant to return to this book world because of how inexplicably different it's become. Big sad.

alya adlina

go check out my review on my bookstagram @leyabrary! 

(this is what happened when you forgot copy and paste)

Tatiana

This was overall a great sequel to A Curse So Dark And Lonely. I think the switch to Gray and Lia Mara was amazing. By the end, the reader really finds themselves attached to the characters, even more so attached to the minor characters.

One thing to mention about this story if you're about to read it is that it is entirely different from Cursebreakers #1. Although the stories are tied, very loosely I might add, it is better if you go in knowing that it is barely a continuation from Rhen and Harper's story. Keep an open mind :)

Some issues I have with the book was that for the first half I really found myself disliking most of the main characters including Harper, Rhen, Gray, and Lia Mara. When Gray accepted his fate (FINALLY) it was when I actually started liking him again. 

I think the third book coming out in January is going to prove to be an extremely interesting book regarding Rhen's character arc, whom I kinda hate by the end of this book but I do think this is the point of this sequel.

The last half of the book though was really interesting and I truly could not foresee what was going to happen which made it that much more exciting. I will definitely be picking up A Vow So Bold And Deadly (especially after that cliffhanger!)

adriana safia

To be honest, i feel like 2 stars is giving it a kindness. I cannot express to you how this was such a let down compared to the first book. 

And just to let you know from this point onwards, to explain why i personally didn’t like this book, it will contain spoilers.

 I didn’t think it would be from two completely different characters POV, making me feel like this was an entirely different book. After this, though i did like Grey and Lia Mara’s storyline and their romance, made me dislike them. In the first book yes, i really liked Grey but after this i really don’t. And that is because of putting two loved characters against each other when i feel it wasn’t needed or done correctly. Instead, Rhen who i absolutely adore, has turned into the villain? which then forces me to align with this complicated view of him after the author completely changes his character. Because of this, and the fact there were literally no chapters from Harper or Rhen, which were my only favourite characters really and i wanted to spend time with them- not Grey and Lia Mara, has caused me to feel disconnected to them both. Making it harder for me to reconnect with them in the next book. Also, i feel as if i have missed so much due to that epilogue. The idea was alright, i think i would’ve enjoyed it if it was done better.

To be honest, i feel like 2 stars is giving it a kindness. I cannot express to you how this was such a let down compared to the first book. 

And just to let you know from this point onwards, to explain why i personally didn’t like this book, it will contain spoilers.

 I didn’t think it would be from two completely different characters POV, making me feel like this was an entirely different book. After this, though i did like Grey and Lia Mara’s storyline and their romance, made me dislike them. In the first book yes, i really liked Grey but after this i really don’t. And that is because of putting two loved characters against each other when i feel it wasn’t needed or done correctly. Instead, Rhen who i absolutely adore, has turned into the villain? which then forces me to align with this complicated view of him after the author completely changes his character. Because of this, and the fact there were literally no chapters from Harper or Rhen, which were my only favourite characters really and i wanted to spend time with them- not Grey and Lia Mara, has caused me to feel disconnected to them both. Making it harder for me to reconnect with them in the next book. Also, i feel as if i have missed so much due to that epilogue. The idea was alright, i think i would’ve enjoyed it if it was done better.

Melissa Palmer

Book #2 of a YA fantasy trilogy. Great series.

I actually really enjoyed this book. The first one was super boring for me, and Grey really sold this one. 

Sarah Campbell

Katherine

Susan 

Even after months of not touching this book, I remember everything I have read and couldn't put it down!

Kimberly Burgess 

** spoiler alert **
           This one felt like a bait and switch. The characters felt as though they were completely changed, as opposed to having 'growth'. Harper was almost non-existent, when she was the main character of book 1. Jake and Noah were kicked out of the story instead of developed. We see the 'other side' of our prince, and while it isn't shocking, it also isn't interesting. The only savior was that I like Grey so I liked the parts with his story, but I didn't care for our new female protagonist. I'm looking forward to seeing how this all wraps up in the 3rd book, as the worldbuilding is a lot of fun.

menna

This book is p a i n omfgggg. I enjoyed every single second of it but my god was it pain (in a good way but I’m dead).

I don’t know what I was expecting was going to happen in this book but this?? Was not it!! I loved every second, even though it was in a way a filler book to move events along to the final book, it really kept me engaged in the story and lord the characters!! I love these characters so much so this book really made my heart ache...the original 3...my heart, I’m so sad!!

This whole book just filled me with happiness to see the characters again and sadness to see what they were going through. Scary Grey is still my best boy and I really loved reading through his eyes. AND LIA MARA MY BABY I LOVE HER SO MUCHHHH (I really think her and Harper would make such good friends and I just pray it happens at the end of the series pleaseeee).

I’m so worried how this series is gonna end! I had the same feeling through the later half of the book, so much worry for my favs ahh!!

Addie 🌻

** upon finishing this series I have decided to lower my rating (from four stars) to three stars. I feel like this book was far too long would have been better suited to be a novella rather than a 400 page novel

Im so so so shocked by the ending like whatttt when I finished it I was just freezing I didn’t move I just froze- 

Okay so the book made me mad bc I didn’t know there will be changes for the pov and i hated the way grey and harper were close and it felt like betrayal to rhen like when all of them were protecting grey and making sure he could escape safely- but also rhen did a mistake I cannot blame any of them and the book was moving slow like really I feel so fine that I finished it now i can read rhen and harper pov !

Thiea

Im so so so shocked by the ending like whatttt when I finished it I was just freezing I didn’t move I just froze- 

Okay so the book made me mad bc I didn’t know there will be changes for the pov and i hated the way grey and harper were close and it felt like betrayal to rhen like when all of them were protecting grey and making sure he could escape safely- but also rhen did a mistake I cannot blame any of them and the book was moving slow like really I feel so fine that I finished it now i can read rhen and harper pov !

lisa roeling 

That epilogue... Nobody can catch a break this book.
I liked this sequel a lot better than the first book. It may be because in this book Grey is one of the main characters and I really really liked him in book one. So I enjoyed reading from his point of view.
Oh and one thing, I WILL rain down hell if something were to happen to Tycho. Please let my precious bean live, thank you very much.

fizzy

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. 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? The heart-pounding, compulsively readable saga continues as loyalties are tested and new love blooms in a kingdom on the brink of war.

I absolutely loved reading from Grey’s point of view. I’m really enjoying the story and I’m excited to see where the next book will take it. Lia Mara is such a great character and I love how fierce she is. The last chapter was really shocking from Rhen’s pov. I’m really excited to see where this is going to go.

A Heart So Fierce and Broken

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