The "A Curse So Dark and Lonely" series is a captivating young adult fantasy series written by Brigid Kemmerer. It consists of two books: "A Curse So Dark and Lonely" and "A Heart So Fierce and Broken." The series is a unique retelling of the classic fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast. It introduces us to the protagonist, Harper Lacy, who is a teenage girl from present-day Washington, D.C. One fateful night, she is transported to Emberfall, a mystical kingdom cursed by an enchantress.
“Mary Ropes, aged about fifty years, deposed that she had several times been called to her neighbor Thomas Oliver’s, by himself, but mostly by his wife, to hear their complaints one of the other, and they both acknowledged that they had been fighting together. Further she saw Goodwife Oliver’s face at one time bloody and at other times black and blue, and the said Oliver complained that his wife had given him several blows.”
Further she saw Goodwife Oliver s face at one time bloody and at other times black and blue, and the said Oliver complained that his wife had given him several blows. As the first person to be executed in the Salem Witch Trials, Bridget Bishop has received plenty of attention from Salem s historians, amateur and professional.
One fateful night, she is transported to Emberfall, a mystical kingdom cursed by an enchantress. In this cursed land, every season the prince is transformed into a monstrous beast until a girl falls in love with him. In "A Curse So Dark and Lonely," we follow Harper as she navigates Emberfall, trying to find a way back home.
The Witchcraft Trial of Bridget Bishop
Bishop, whose maiden name was Playfer, was born sometime between 1632 and 1635 in England.
In 1660, she married her first husband, Samuel Wasselby, in England and moved to the Massachusetts Bay Colony around the same time.
After Wasselby died in 1664, Bridget married her second husband in 1666, a widower named Thomas Oliver who already had children from his previous marriage. Bridget and Thomas Oliver had one child together, a daughter named Christian who was born in Salem on May 8, 1667.
Bridget and Thomas Oliver had a troubled relationship. The couple quarreled often and were even brought to court for fighting in 1670, during which their neighbor, Mary Ropes, testified that Bridget’s face was bloodied and bruised on a number of occasions, according to the book Salem-Village Witchcraft: A Documentary Record of Local Conflict in Colonial New England:
“Mary Ropes, aged about fifty years, deposed that she had several times been called to her neighbor Thomas Oliver’s, by himself, but mostly by his wife, to hear their complaints one of the other, and they both acknowledged that they had been fighting together. Further she saw Goodwife Oliver’s face at one time bloody and at other times black and blue, and the said Oliver complained that his wife had given him several blows.”
Bridget and Thomas Oliver were fined and ordered to be whipped if they did not pay their fine on time.
In 1678, Bridget was brought to court for using foul language against her husband, as described in the book Salem-Village Witchcraft:
“Bridget, wife of Thomas Oliver, presented for calling her husband many opprobrious names, as old rogue and old devil, on Lord’s day, was ordered to stand with her husband, back to back, on a lecture day in the public market place, both gagged, for about an hour, with a paper fastened to each others foreheads upon which their offense should be fairly written.”
After Oliver died of an illness in 1679, Bridget inherited his estate, which consisted of a house worth £45, ten acres of land worth £25, a variety of household goods and two pigs. Oliver’s two sons and the couple’s daughter only received twenty shillings each.
“Execution of Bridget Bishop at Salem, 1692,” illustration by Joseph Boggs Beale, circa 1885Just three months after receiving her inheritance in November, Bridget’s stepchildren accused her of bewitching Oliver to death. A lack of evidence prevented the case from going to trial and it was speculated that the stepchildren’s accusation was an attempt to get their hands on the property she inherited from their father.
In 1687, Bridget was then accused of stealing brass from a local mill by the mill owner, Thomas Stacy, and arrested. Bridget claimed she didn’t steal the brass, but found it on her property and had no idea how it got there.
She also stated that she sent her daughter into town with the brass to discover what it was, not to sell it, as Thomas Stacy accused her of doing. Unfortunately, there are no surviving records indicating the outcome of this trial.
After Oliver’s death, Bridget Bishop married Edward Bishop, a well-respected sawyer (woodcutter). Bridget Bishop’s life at this time is sometimes difficult to trace because many historians, including Charles Upham in his 1867 book Salem Witchcraft, have confused her with Sarah Bishop, who was also accused of witchcraft and was married to Bridget Bishop’s step-son, who was also named Edward Bishop, according to the book Salem Story:
“As the first person to be executed in the Salem Witch Trials, Bridget Bishop has received plenty of attention from Salem’s historians, amateur and professional. She has served as a paradigm of the executed person as social deviant, the outsider who falls prey to a community devouring the eccentric on its margin. This is a version of Salem’s story codified in 1867 by Charles Upham, who in his Salem Witchcraft told the story of Bridget Bishop as a singular character, not easily described. ‘She kept a house of refreshment for travellers, and a shovel-board for the entertainment of her guests, and generally seems to have countenanced amusements and gayeties to an extent that exposed her to some scandal. She is described as wearing ‘a black cap and black hat, and a red paragon bodice,’ bordered and looped with different colors. This would appear to have been a rather showy costume for the times. Her freedom from the austerity of Puritan manners, and disregard of conventional decorum in her conversation and conduct, brought her into disrepute; and the tongue of gossip was generally loosened against her.’ Upham had made a mistake. Although he correctly identified Bridget Bishop as a woman who previously been charged with witchcraft, he conflated two people into one, inaccurately identifying her as living just outside of Salem Village, rather than in Salem [town] where she did live, and of being a rather colorful tavern keeper, which she was not. Upham’s mistake was understandable, since the confusion as to her identity actually goes back to 1692, and only some brilliant detective work by David L. Greene in 1981 brought clarity to the matter; still, some scholars have continued to make the misidentification.”
The mistake originates from Reverend John Hale‘s testimony against Sarah Bishop on May 22, which many historians have misidentified as testimony against Bridget Bishop because during the testimony Hale merely refers to the accused as “Goodwife Bishop…wife of Edward Bishop Jun’r.”
Since Bridget and Sarah Bishop were both accused of witchcraft and were both married to men named Edward Bishop, it’s easy to see how the two became mixed up over time.
Bridget Bishop’s Memorial Marker, Salem Witch Trials Memorial, Salem Mass, November 2015. Photo Credit: Rebecca Brooks
She quickly becomes entangled in the prince's life and the kingdom's politics. With her strength and determination, she becomes an unlikely heroine and brings hope to the cursed land. In the sequel, "A Heart So Fierce and Broken," we shift our focus to Commander Grey, a secondary character from the first book, and a new protagonist, Lia Mara. This book expands the world of Emberfall and introduces us to a neighboring kingdom, Syhl Shallow, and its own set of challenges. It delves deeper into the complexities of the curse and the struggles of the characters. The series explores themes of love, sacrifice, redemption, and the power of choice. It is filled with intriguing plot twists, political intrigue, and well-developed characters. Kemmerer's brilliant storytelling keeps readers engaged from beginning to end. Overall, the "A Curse So Dark and Lonely" series is a must-read for fans of fantasy, fairy tales, and strong character development. It offers a unique twist on a beloved tale and leaves readers eagerly awaiting the next installment..
Reviews for "An Examination of Fantasy Elements in A Curse So Dark and Lonely"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "A Curse So Dark and Lonely" series. The first book started off promising, with an interesting take on the Beauty and the Beast story. However, as the story progressed, I found myself losing interest in the characters and the plot. The world-building felt shallow and the romance was forced. I struggled to connect with the main characters and found their actions and decisions frustrating. Overall, I was hoping for a captivating fantasy series, but this one fell short for me.
2. Mark - 2 stars - I have to say, I was not a fan of the "A Curse So Dark and Lonely" series. The concept of a retelling of Beauty and the Beast intrigued me, but the execution was lackluster. The writing style was average at best, and the pacing felt off. The characters lacked depth, and I couldn't bring myself to care about their struggles. The love triangle felt unnecessary and only added to my frustration. Unfortunately, this series didn't live up to the hype for me.
3. Sarah - 3 stars - While I didn't hate the "A Curse So Dark and Lonely" series, I also didn't love it. The first book started off well, with an intriguing premise, but the plot became predictable and the twists lacked surprise. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to fully invest in their stories. The romantic aspect felt forced and lacked chemistry. Overall, it was an average fantasy series that didn't stand out from others in the genre.