Trust is a fundamental aspect of human relationships and societal harmony. It is the cornerstone of friendships, partnerships, and communities. However, in today's world, trust seems to be a commodity in short supply. The curse of swayed trust has permeated our lives, leading to increased skepticism, suspicion, and cynicism. The curse of swayed trust refers to the phenomenon where trust is easily manipulated and undermined. It is the result of various factors such as misinformation, deception, and betrayal.
The man is Yuri Iljavanovich. Yuri speaks with a thick accent, clearly not from any of the Kingdoms of Khorvaire. He will ask the characters questions about their lives, what do they do for work, if they are looking for jobs, where they grew up. If a player is a Cyran refugee, he will pay particular attention to them. If the players turn his questions on to him, he will respond with the below.
And though she and van Richten argue 90 of the time they re together, she still holds her mentor in the highest regard and yearns for his recognition. The thick fog wraps around them, masking their journey, and they cannot even see if they are on a road, and it appears they are simply walking within dark clouds.
It is the result of various factors such as misinformation, deception, and betrayal. In an era dominated by social media and 24/7 news cycles, it has become increasingly difficult to determine what is true and what is fabricated. Misinformation and fake news play a significant role in swaying trust.
Curse of swayed trust
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.
Synopsis from Goodreads PERSONAL REVIEWI have seen A Curse So Dark and Lonely all over Instragram and it seemed like people were really loving it. That usually makes me nervous about a book, but because this is a rendition of Beauty and the Beast, I couldn't stop myself from getting a copy. I was really happy that I didn't let the hype stop me because I found this to be a great story based on a class fairytale!
Harper is Such a Strong Protagonist
I need to start this by stating just how much I adored Harper. She is such a strong character throughout the story, both physically and emotionally. She doesn't simply get swayed by Rhen because he is a prince and forces him to actually engage with her as a human, not just go through the motions as he has with every other girl. Harper also doesn't allow CP to define her. One of the best moments is when she says "I was born this way. and I'm going to die this way, so teach me to work around it". I also think it was really well done that Harper doesn't simply fall in love with Rhen; she wants trust and respect before she can even think about love, and it leads to a stronger bond between them.
Great Reimagining
Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favourite fairytales because I've always seen Belle as one of the strongest female protagonists. In A Curse So Dark and Lonely, this remains true, but Kemmerer takes it a step further and develops all of her characters to create a strong story. The additions of Lillith as an active antagonist in the story instead of simply placing the curse and leaving, and of Grey as a guard/friend to both Rhen and Harper are important ones because it gives us deeper insight into both major characters. I love how Kimmer stays true to the original fairytale (the magic castle, the heroine leaving to find her sick parent, the fight between good and evil) while also adjusting or changing elements of it to enhance the story.
Excited for the Sequel
The book does not end with everything wrapped up neatly and I think that's a great thing. It gives us so many possibilities about what is going to happen in the sequel, including how Rhen and Harper's relationship will grow. My only concern is that a love triangle will occur and I'm really hoping that won't happen -- I hate them and I think it would ruin the series for me. Instead, I'm interested to see how the Harper/Grey and Rhen/Grey relationships develop independently and am hoping that we get a Grey POV this time. He's such an interesting character and the end of A Curse definitely leaves his story wide open!
I really enjoyed this book and think that people who like retellings of classic stories will have a fun time reading this story. The characters are well developed and Kemmerer does a great job enhancing a very popular fairytale. While there were some elements I didn't love (the hint of a love triangle really turned me off), I'm really excited to find out what happens in the next book and how this story will ultimately end!
A little back story as to why I have an issue with this spell, at times.
With the advent of technology, anyone can create and spread false narratives, leading to confusion and doubt. People are bombarded with conflicting information, leaving them unsure of whom and what to trust. As a result, trust in institutions, media, and even fellow individuals begins to erode. Deception is another contributing factor to the curse of swayed trust. Whether it is politicians making false promises, corporations hiding unethical practices, or individuals lying for personal gain, deception erodes trust at all levels. The constant exposure to such deceitful behavior leads people to question the authenticity of others, making it challenging to establish genuine relationships built on trust. Betrayal is perhaps the most damaging element of the curse of swayed trust. When someone we trust betrays us – be it a friend, partner, or authority figure – it leaves a profound impact on our ability to trust again. In the aftermath of betrayal, we become guarded, skeptical, and hesitant to place our trust in others. The fear of being betrayed again lingers, casting a shadow over our relationships and hindering our personal growth. The consequences of the curse of swayed trust are far-reaching. Social cohesion breaks down, and division and polarization become the norm. Skepticism and cynicism thrive in a society where trust is scarce. People become isolated, forming echo chambers of like-minded individuals, further deepening the divide. To break the curse of swayed trust, proactive steps need to be taken. Education on critical thinking, media literacy, and fact-checking can help individuals navigate the sea of misinformation. Holding those in power accountable for their actions and promoting transparency can restore trust in institutions. Lastly, fostering a culture of honesty, empathy, and integrity can rebuild trust on a personal level. In conclusion, the curse of swayed trust has cast a shadow over our relationships and society as a whole. Overcoming this curse requires individuals to be vigilant in seeking the truth, institutions to be transparent, and communities to foster trust and empathy. Only then can we break free from the chains of mistrust and rebuild a society built on trust and mutual respect..
Reviews for "Educational interventions to combat the curse of swayed trust: Teaching media literacy skills"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Curse of Swayed Trust" based on the intriguing synopsis, but I was left sorely disappointed. The plot was convoluted and poorly executed, making it difficult to follow along. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to invest in their fates. The writing style was also not to my liking, with clunky descriptions and excessive use of cliches. Overall, this book fell short of my expectations and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. David - 1 star - "Curse of Swayed Trust" was a tedious and monotonous read. The pacing was incredibly slow, with very little actually happening until the final few chapters. The author seemed more focused on creating unnecessary subplots than advancing the main story, which left me frustrated and disinterested. Additionally, the dialogue was stilted and unconvincing, making it hard to connect with the characters. I found myself skimming through pages hoping for some excitement, but it never came. I regret wasting my time on this book.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - Unfortunately, "Curse of Swayed Trust" didn't live up to my expectations. The writing was overly descriptive to the point of being tedious, slowing down the overall pace of the story. The author's attempts at building suspense fell flat, as the plot twists were predictable and lacked surprise. The characters were also poorly developed, making it hard to care about their fates. Overall, I found this book to be forgettable and would not recommend it to others looking for a gripping read.