A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a young adult fantasy novel written by Brigid Kemmerer. It is a retelling of the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, incorporating elements of romance, adventure, and magic. The book received generally positive reviews, with a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. The story follows the protagonist, Harper, a young girl with cerebral palsy from modern-day Washington D.C.
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C. who is transported to the magical kingdom of Emberfall. In Emberfall, she comes face to face with Prince Rhen, who has been cursed to repeat the same season over and over again until a girl falls in love with him.
5 Heat Protectant Sprays For Avoiding Damage, Alongside Tips From a Professional Colorist
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Whether you use hot tools daily or just a couple times a week, applying a heat protectant before styling is an absolute must. Think of it like insurance: the product adds a protective layer across the hair to help minimize the damaging effects high heat can bring, such as dryness and even color fading. Yep, that costly dye job you just got at the salon could slowly diminish without the aid of a well-formulated heat protectant.
“Excessive heat styling can cause your color to fade because it breaks down the pigments of the hair. The high heat causes the hair cuticle to open, allowing color molecules to escape, which will cause the color to fade or look uneven,” Lamont Gonzales, a professional colorist at the Rita Hazan Salon in New York City, tells StyleCaster. “A product you can use to solve this problem to put pigments back into the hair post heat styling would be Rita Hazan’s shine gloss. There are three shades to choose from, and when used in the shower, will put the shine and luster back into your hair.”
Those with finer hair types especially shouldn’t skip using a heat protectant, but if worried about said product weighing down your strands, Gonzales advises opting for a spray formula. “For finer hair, I would recommend using a product that sprays, because sprays are easy to run through fine hair without weighing it down.” For coarse or curly hair, he recommends an oil or cream heat protectant, which are “a little heavier but necessary to keep the hair healthy, seeing as it takes longer to heat style this type of hair.” All in all, anything is better than nothing.
While a professional stylist will be able to style your hair with minimal damage the best—as Gonzales says, “Hairdressers know how to style all different types of hair while not over drying, which can result in heat damage”—that doesn’t mean you can’t continue your blowouts and curling seshes at home. Just make sure to choose the right heat protectant for your specific hair type to avoid the unwanted risk of over-styling.
See our top picks down below.
As Harper tries to find a way back home, she becomes entangled in the curse and begins to understand the complexities of love, loyalty, and sacrifice. What sets A Curse So Dark and Lonely apart from other retellings is its modern twist and diverse characters. Harper, being a person with a disability, provides a fresh perspective on the classic tale. Her strength, resilience, and determination are inspiring, and readers can easily connect with her. The author does an excellent job of presenting disability in a sensitive and realistic manner, breaking stereotypes and showcasing the importance of inclusion and understanding. The romance between Harper and Rhen is captivating and emotional, with plenty of tender moments and obstacles to overcome. Their relationship develops gradually, and the chemistry between them is palpable. Kemmerer also introduces another main character, Grey, who is Rhen's loyal guard and acts as a source of conflict and tension in the love triangle. The pacing of the novel is well-balanced, with enough action and suspense to keep readers hooked. The world-building is intricate and vivid, bringing Emberfall to life with its enchanting magic and political intrigue. Kemmerer's writing style is engaging and accessible, making it easy for readers of all ages to immerse themselves in the story. Overall, A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a compelling and enchanting retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Its diverse characters, unique twist, and thought-provoking themes make it a standout in the genre. Whether you are a fan of fairy tale retellings or simply looking for a captivating and magical read, this book is definitely worth picking up..
Reviews for "A Curse So Dark and Lonely: A Page-Turning Fantasy Read"
1. Emma - 2 stars
"A Curse So Dark and Lonely was a disappointing read for me. The premise sounded promising, but the execution fell flat. The characters lacked depth and I couldn't connect with any of them. The romance felt forced and unrealistic, with no genuine chemistry between the two main characters. Additionally, the world-building was weak and left me with many unanswered questions. Overall, I found the story to be predictable and struggled to stay engaged. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating fantasy read."
2. Mark - 1 star
"I really tried to like A Curse So Dark and Lonely, but unfortunately, it just wasn't for me. The writing style was overly descriptive, which made the pacing slow and tedious. The plot was predictable, following the typical clichés of a fairytale retelling. The main character, Harper, was constantly making irrational decisions that made it hard to root for her. The lack of originality and the underdeveloped supporting characters didn't help either. I found myself losing interest quickly and couldn't find any redeeming qualities in this book."
3. Sarah - 2 stars
"I had high hopes for A Curse So Dark and Lonely as a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but it ultimately left me disappointed. While the concept was intriguing, the execution left much to be desired. The story felt slow-paced and lacked the depth and complexity I was expecting. The romance between Harper and Prince Rhen felt forced and lacked chemistry. The magic system was underdeveloped and felt inconsistent throughout the book. Overall, I found it difficult to immerse myself in the story and couldn't connect with the characters. I wouldn't recommend this book to fans of fairytale retellings."