Readers invested in the epic political and romantic entanglements of A Curse So Dark and Lonely and A Heart So Fierce and Broken will not be disappointed by this conclusion to the Cursebreaker fantasy series. What began as an inventive feminist-fuelled riff on Beauty and the Beast has grown its own wings and soared to exhilarating heights. This grand finale undulates with thrills and tension of every kind - political, emotional and romantic - which means its appeal transcends genre boundaries.
With Prince Rhen’s former commander Grey now recognised as prince of Emberfall, two kingdoms teeter in troubled times. In Emberfall, Rhen is now free of his curse and has Harper at his side. But loyalties are divided between him and Grey and Lilith’s lethal magic is omnipresent, able to wreak violent havoc in an instant. The kingdom is crumbling. Meanwhile, over in Syhl Shallow newly-crowned Lia Maria is happily close (very close) to Grey, but struggling to gain the respect of her court and subjects. Then, when Lilith inflicts unthinkable horrors in Rhen’s court, Harper steps up and does the unthinkable herself - she takes a huge risk for the love of her life, and the future of two kingdoms.
Enormously entertaining, and packed with passion and opulent fashion (gowns, boots and buckles galore) alongside potent themes of bravery, loyalty and love, this is a richly satisfying romp.
Grey has been revealed as the rightful prince of Emberfall. But the kingdom is crumbling fast, torn between his claim and that of the reigning Prince Rhen and Princess Harper. Newly crowned as Queen of the enemy kingdom Syhl Shallow, Lia Mara struggles to rule with a gentler hand than her mother.
But as Grey moves closer to claiming the crown of Emberfall, both Harper and Lia Mara are forced to question where they stand - and how far they can follow the dictates of their hearts. Brigid Kemmerer's heart-pounding saga comes to a thrilling climax, as two kingdoms come closer and closer to conflict - and an old enemy resurfaces who could destroy them all.
‘Everything you’d want in a retelling of a classic fairy tale: a finely drawn fantasy world, a heroine rarely seen in fiction and a tortured hero with a secret. I have only one complaint: I wish the sequel were already available!’ Jodi Picoult, Sunday Times bestselling author of My Sister’s Keeper
‘Intensely original . . . Full of fierce new characters, wicked magic and wondrous amounts of heart, Brigid Kemmerer doesn’t just tell a story, she builds an entire world that you will never want to leave’ Stephanie Garber, Sunday Times bestselling author of Caraval
‘I couldn’t get this creative, suspenseful take on Beauty and the Beast out of my head’ Sara Holland, New York Times bestselling author of Everless
‘The Beauty and the Beast retelling I’ve been waiting for. The world Brigid has crafted is so beautifully dark, filled with wild adventure and a modern-day heroine every reader will find a bit of themselves in’ Alexandra Christo, author of To Kill a Kingdom
‘A fast-paced, richly detailed feminist epic’ Kirkus, starred review
‘A fresh twist on an old story . . . Fans of Sarah J. Maas will be eager for this one’ Booklist
‘This enthralling modern fable champions altruism while illustrating intimacy’s relationship with honesty, respect, trust and consent’ Publishers Weekly, starred review
‘A unique world filled with fantasy and menace’ School Library Journal
Author
About Brigid Kemmerer
Brigid Kemmerer is the author of Letters to the Lost, More Than We Can Tell, and the YALSA-nominated Elementals series and the paranormal mystery, Thicker Than Water. She was born in Omaha, Nebraska, though her parents quickly moved her all over the United States, from the desert in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to the lakeside in Cleveland, Ohio, with several stops in between. Brigid is now settled near Annapolis, Maryland, with her husband and children.
