A course of dark and lovely describes a journey or path that is characterized by both darkness and beauty. It implies that one's journey through life is not always smooth but is a mixture of ups and downs, challenges and triumphs. The phrase "dark and lovely" suggests that even in the midst of the darkness, there is still beauty to be found. It recognizes that life is not always easy, and there can be times of hardship, sadness, and struggle. However, there are also moments of beauty, joy, and love that can be experienced along the way. This concept can be applied to various aspects of life, such as personal relationships, career paths, or even the broader scope of society.
The spell can only be broken when Rhen and a woman mutually fall in love. Initially, Rhen, who was quite a player, thinks this will be easy to accomplish but as years go by and he isolates himself from his kingdom more and more, it seems increasingly impossible. Rhen’s single remaining guard, Grey, goes to Harper’s world hoping to find someone who might fall in love with the prince and ends up with Harper.
Her mom is in the last stages of cancer, her dad is out of the picture, and her brother has been involved in increasingly criminal activities, hoping to get money to support the family and pay for their mother s treatment. I wished there had been more discussion of her recovery time after she pushes those limits, but I also enjoyed the fact that she s not defined by her disability.
This concept can be applied to various aspects of life, such as personal relationships, career paths, or even the broader scope of society. At times, we may go through difficult periods filled with darkness, uncertainty, and adversity. Yet, there are also moments of love, kindness, and beauty that can shine through even in the darkest of times.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
One of our keen readers suggested that I might enjoy A Curse So Dark and Lonely which is a romance-centric YA Beauty and the Beast retelling in which the heroine, a modern day teen with cerebral palsy, is transported to an alternate fairytale world and meets a Prince who periodically turns into a monster and eats everyone in sight. This keen reader thought I might like the book and the reader was not wrong. I liked it A LOT.
Harper, a seventeen-year-old young woman in modern-day Washington, D.C., is in a tough spot. Her mom is in the last stages of cancer, her dad is out of the picture, and her brother has been involved in increasingly criminal activities, hoping to get money to support the family and pay for their mother’s treatment. Harper has cerebral palsy which, following several surgeries and other treatments in childhood, causes her to limp. Harper is waiting for her brother to close a deal when she suddenly finds herself in the woods of Emberfall, a fairytale land ruled by Prince Rhen.
Prince Rhen has been cursed to live a season of his life over and over again. At the conclusion to that season (autumn) he turns into a mindless monster and devours everyone he encounters. Then the season begins again, with Rhen and his kingdom continuing to remember and experience the consequences of each consecutive autumn. Rhen can neither grow older, nor kill the enchantress who cursed him, nor kill himself (the season just reboots).
The spell can only be broken when Rhen and a woman mutually fall in love. Initially, Rhen, who was quite a player, thinks this will be easy to accomplish but as years go by and he isolates himself from his kingdom more and more, it seems increasingly impossible. Rhen’s single remaining guard, Grey, goes to Harper’s world hoping to find someone who might fall in love with the prince and ends up with Harper.
This leads to a great clash of personalities. After so many years almost completely alone, wracked with guilt for the actions he takes as a monster, Rhen has sunk into a feeling of self-pity and helplessness. Luckily for him, Harper cares about the people in his kingdom even though she initially dislikes Rhen. Also, Harper has never wallowed in self-pity in her life. So she shakes Rhen up and tries to at least improve life in his kingdom.
She also throws a knife at the Enchantress who cast the spell and says, after being wounded by said Enchantress, “Oh I’m not mad about that, I’m mad that I missed!”
So yeah, Harper’s the bomb.
I mention Harper’s cerebral palsy because it’s unusual and important (and thrilling!) representation, but it’s not a focus of the story. Part of her therapy was horseback riding, which comes in very handy in Emberfall. She’s of the opinion that she can’t dance, but Prince Rhen disagrees. Her leg gets sore and achy, and she has to push herself to her limits to do the things she needs to do. I wished there had been more discussion of her recovery time after she pushes those limits, but I also enjoyed the fact that she’s not defined by her disability. She is determined and stubborn, and I suspect that going through so much therapy and other painful treatments played a big role in developing those parts of her personality. She also has a wry sense of humor. I sure do love a snarker, and Harper give some high-quality snark.
I like it that this romance gets plenty of time to develop. It’s also lovely that Prince Rhen is, all things considered, a polite and decent person. The “Beast” refers to the literal monster he periodically becomes, and is not an allusion to his inability in human form to keep his temper. There’s a lot of honesty in the book, with both Grey and Rhen giving Harper all the answers they can within the limits of magic. Harper learns the conditions of the spell very early in the book:
“I’m not going to fall in love with you,” she says.
Her words are not a surprise. I sigh.
“You won’t be the first.”
Rhen and Harper have good chemistry, but the spell is not about lust. They slowly grow to trust each other, but that’s not enough either. It takes a long time for chemistry to transform into a partnership and then into a more easy friendship and from there into love. There’s a hint of a love triangle with Grey and Harper becoming friends much more quickly than Harper and Rhen do. Count me among many readers who prefer the Grey/Harper pairing to the Rhen/Harper pairing. Luckily the love triangle remains undeveloped and doesn’t take over the book.
I enjoyed the way this book both used and subverted Beauty and the Beast tropes. I enjoyed the plot and all the ways Rhen and Harper bluff their way out of trouble. The characters were all fun to spend time with, and Harper’s brother’s boyfriend nearly stole the book with his awesome medical school skills (I have a thing for medics!). There’s a good blend of angst and humor and worldbuilding.
I have this an A- instead of an A because it’s pretty melodramatic (to be fair, that’s a common element in fairy tale retellings) and because I just couldn’t shake the feeling that Harper belonged with Grey from the first moment he taught her how to properly hold a dagger. Fans of Grey will be pleased to hear that he gets his own book, A Heart So Fierce and Broken, coming some time in 2020. The author has promised that Grey will have his own love interest as opposed to being in a love triangle. I look forward to it!
A course of dark and lovely reminds us that life is a journey with twists and turns, highs and lows. It teaches us to embrace the darkness and challenges, knowing that they are an inherent part of our growth and development. Simultaneously, we learn to appreciate and cherish the moments of beauty and love that come our way, recognizing them as gifts amidst the darkness. In this course, we may stumble and fall, face setbacks and disappointments, but it is also where we uncover our resilience, strength, and ability to overcome. It is through these experiences that we learn and grow, becoming better equipped to navigate the intricate path of life. Ultimately, a course of dark and lovely is a reminder to embrace the complexity of life. It is a call to find the beauty in the darkness, to appreciate the journey for all its challenges and joys. With each step, we move forward, guided by the knowledge that even in the darkest moments, there is still potential for love, growth, and transformation..
Reviews for "The Dark and Lovely Symphony: Exploring its Haunting Melodies"
1. Jane - 2 out of 5 stars
I was really disappointed with "A Curse So Dark and Lovely". I found the characters to be one-dimensional and the plot predictable. Harper, the main protagonist, lacked any real depth and her actions felt forced. The supposed romance between Harper and Prince Rhen was also lackluster and lacked chemistry. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and don't understand the hype surrounding it.
2. Mark - 1 out of 5 stars
I couldn't even finish "A Curse So Dark and Lovely". The pacing was incredibly slow, and I felt bored throughout. The world-building was also lacking, making it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story. Additionally, I found the writing style to be shallow and unengaging. I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it just didn't deliver for me.
3. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars
I had high expectations for "A Curse So Dark and Lovely", but it ultimately fell flat for me. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, leaving many loose ends unresolved. The development of the magical elements in the story was also lacking, making it hard for me to fully understand and connect with the world. Furthermore, I found the dialogue to be cliché and the characters poorly developed. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book.