The second book in the A Curse So Dark and Lonely series continues the captivating story of Prince Rhen, Grey, and Harper. Titled A Heart So Fierce and Broken, the novel delves deeper into the complex world of Emberfall and the challenges faced by its inhabitants. In this sequel, the focus shifts to Grey, Rhen's loyal guard, who finds himself torn between his duty to his prince and his desire for a different life. As Grey's path intertwines with a new protagonist, Lia Mara, a princess from a rival kingdom, both characters embark on a journey of self-discovery and resistance against the oppressive rule of Emberfall. Brigid Kemmerer once again showcases her talent for crafting deeply flawed and compelling characters. Grey's internal struggles and doubts are explored in great detail, allowing readers to understand his motivations and empathize with his predicament.
The session went how sessions go — some good waves, some bad waves, always clinging to the hope that something bigger or better was looming out the back. Nearly three hours into my surf, about the time you’d start looking for a wave in, I found the lump I’d spent all day searching for.
The tales told within the rock icons first new set of songs since 2005 speak to age and rage in a fashion that keeps them away from post-millennial blather or elder laments. A nice, sorrowful atmosphere is brewed in Opera, and trailing guitar notes lead the track through a very classic and familiar sort of feeling to it, which makes it sound like it could open for an 80s TV show but also doesn t make it stand out too much on the album.
Grey's internal struggles and doubts are explored in great detail, allowing readers to understand his motivations and empathize with his predicament. Likewise, Lia Mara is a strong and determined heroine who challenges traditional notions of power and loyalty. The book seamlessly weaves together elements of fantasy, romance, and political intrigue, creating a thrilling and immersive reading experience.
Supernatural: The BeachGrit curse!
(Ed. note: In my rusty memory Rory Parker was always hurting himself and having surgery. Our Michael Kocher was killed by policemen. Now poor Michael Ciaramella is laid low. Do you believe in the supernatural? Could there possibly be a BeachGrit curse? And if yes, who conjured this dark force?)
The goal was to arrive at Marbella, a surf break forty-five minutes from our Playa Negra domicile, by first light. That meant a 4:45 wake-up and 5:15 departure.
A night of Cacique (a sugar cane liquor) and Snappa (a terrible drinking game) put us slightly behind schedule. Costa Rica will do that to you.
After an hour of waking up, then re-waking up my debilitated pals, the truck was packed and we were off.
To cut time, we took a local shortcut — one that involved weaving through cattle, romping over potholes and crossing a small river. The only obstacle we hadn’t accounted for was a fallen tree blocking our path.
By the time we’d encountered the natural roadblock, we were too far into the shortcut to head back. Fifteen minutes to Marbella through the tree, an hour if we were to turn around.
Our Nissan Navara fit just under the main trunk, but one of the core branches — a solid two feet in diameter and thirty in length — was directly in our path.
After short deliberation, a decision was made. We would move the thousand-pound piece of lumber in order to clear a path for our vehicle.
We got low, counted down from three and, PUUUUUSH!
A new idea; Two of us would lift while the others would drive the trunk forward with all of their body weight.
It worked, if slightly.
Each countdown resulted in an inch, maybe two inches of progress. A couple times when we lifted, the tree would swing back and we’d lose six inches all at once. Twenty minutes later, muddied and scraped from neck to heel, we’d moved the tree just enough to slip our 4×4 through the gap.
We laughed. We cried. We mocked the petty piece of lumber and were swiftly on our way.
As far as I was concerned, the day was already a success. A surf session would be great to wash off the dirt and sweat, but this tree endeavor had already achieved my daily entertainment quota.
With the morning commute behind us, we arrived at Playa Marbella to find clean, chest-high wedges breaking up and down the beach. Mesmerized by the sight, we pointed and squawked like amateur birdwatchers. Within minutes our feet were clean of mud and coated instead with Mr. Zog’s white goo.
The session went how sessions go — some good waves, some bad waves, always clinging to the hope that something bigger or better was looming out the back. Nearly three hours into my surf, about the time you’d start looking for a wave in, I found the lump I’d spent all day searching for.
Head high on take off, with a valley in the center and another hump forming down the line — the wave implored me to soar. If not implored me, then taunted me, in a ‘you won’t hit this, you pussy’ kind of way.
My friends were watching from out the back. I had no choice.
Launching off the lip, I felt my feet disconnect from the board momentarily, before regaining traction a foot closer to the nose. The air wasn’t exceptionally high, but I covered a decent amount ground and was set to land at the point of impact.
The initial landing was soft enough, but with the weight of the explosion from the crashing swell, I figured I’d be engulfed by whitewater and bucked from my board.
Turns out I was half right.
Rather than being overtaken by fluffy clouds and kindly deposited into the abyss, the explosion sent the nose of my board skyward, taking my front foot along with it. This pushed my front knee inward, toward the deck of my surfboard — a maneuver well outside my range of motion. I felt the sensations of a pop, then pain, then despair, in that order.
Still underwater, I knew something bad had happened. I remember thinking that I didn’t want to come up — not in a suicidal way, it’s just that breaching the surface meant facing the reality of a blown surf trip, if not something much worse.
I was able to hobble back to the car, but by the time we’d arrived home, I couldn’t put an ounce of my weight on my left foot. I couldn’t even straighten my leg.
My initial plan was to wait it out, to see if my knee would improve on its own. I spent the next 36 hours laid up in bed, occasionally hopping around the house to piss or get an ice pack. It didn’t help one bit, and I feared my knee could get worse without proper treatment.
The next day I saw an orthopedic surgeon (travel insurance FTW) who put me through X-rays and and MRI. Results showed a bone bruise, a sprained MCL and a nearly-severed ACL.
Might need surgery, he told me, might not. Said I should rehab it for a week then see a specialist in the States.
I’ve learned that surgery would put me out of the water for four months, but I wouldn’t be at 100% for at least seven.
If no surgery, it’s anyone’s guess how long the recovery will take, but it’ll be at least a few months until my knee is strong enough to withstand legitimate athletic activity.
So, that’s my current reality. No more surfing, no more traveling, no more bees, and definitely no Namibia for the foreseeable future.
Oh, and to top it all off, I have to move all my shit into a new house by the end of this month.
And to think a tree was once my biggest problem.
Zach Weisberg is that you? Morgan Williamson you too?
To cut time, we took a local shortcut — one that involved weaving through cattle, romping over potholes and crossing a small river. The only obstacle we hadn’t accounted for was a fallen tree blocking our path.
The richly developed world of Emberfall is further expanded upon, revealing hidden secrets and introducing new and dangerous threats. A Heart So Fierce and Broken is a heart-pounding and emotional rollercoaster that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The masterful storytelling and impeccable pacing captivate from beginning to end, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next installment..
Reviews for "Hopes, Sacrifices, and Second Chances: Book Two of A Curse So Dark and Lonely"
- Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
I found the second book in the "A Curse so Dark and Lonely" series to be quite disappointing. While I enjoyed the first book and was looking forward to continuing the story, this installment fell flat for me. The plot felt aimless and dragged on, and the characters' actions and motivations felt forced and unrealistic. Additionally, the romance felt rushed and lacked depth, which was a letdown since it was a central aspect of the first book. Overall, I was left underwhelmed and unsatisfied with this book.
- John - ★☆☆☆☆
I cannot express how disappointed I am with the second book in the "A Curse so Dark and Lonely" series. The pacing was all over the place, and I found it hard to stay engaged throughout the story. The storyline became convoluted and confusing, with unnecessary subplots that didn't contribute much to the overall plot. The characters also felt one-dimensional and lacked development, making it challenging to connect with them. Overall, this book was a major letdown, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the first book.
- Emily - ★★☆☆☆
As a fan of the first book, I had high expectations for the second installment in the "A Curse so Dark and Lonely" series. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to them. The pacing was slow, and the plot felt scattered and lacked focus. I also found the writing to be repetitive and overly descriptive, which made it difficult to stay engaged. While there were some redeeming moments, such as the continuation of the characters' journey, it wasn't enough to make up for the overall disappointing reading experience. I hope the next book in the series brings back the magic that was present in the first one.