A Heart So Fierce and Broken: Even Better!

A Heart So Fierce and Broken (Cursebreakers, #2) by Brigid Kemmerer
Genres: Fantasy (YA), Fairy Tale Retelling
Pages: 445
Goodreads

Harper has freed Pronce Rhen from the curse that almost destroyed his kingdom. Bit all is not well in Emberfall: rumours are rife thatthete is a rival heir with a stronger claim to the throne and that 'Princess' Harper of Disi is nothing but fraud.
Grey has fled the castle carrying a terrible secret. When he is discovered by soldiers and returned to Ironrose by force, Grey's allegiances begin to shift. And as he grows closer to an enemy princess, he is forced to decide whether he will stand against Rhen for the crown he never wanted.

I thought I loved A Curse So Dark and Lonely and then this book just had to waltz into my life changing everything! Alright, fine, they’re both really good books but with this sequel, it makes the first book not as great to me. 

First of all, IT IS ABOUT GREY. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is not told from Harper or Rhen’s POV but from Grey and Lia Mara. Y’ALL. GREY. I loved getting more of his background and his thoughts. He’s a fantastic character who is just as complex in this one as he was in ACSDAL.

There is another great female lead. Lia Mara is the daughter of the queen of Syhl Shallow but she isn’t the heir. She makes an attempt to prove herself and avoid a war altogether, which backfires and adventure ensues. I liked her motivations and how she was genuinely good. However, I did feel like she was a copy of Harper at times. Their voices weren’t different enough.

You also get more about Noah and Jake and the addition of a new character named Tycho who is just the sweetest friend. I also really enjoyed the plot of this one. It’s more about the politics and less about the romance. What hooked me was the fact that by the end of book 1 I hated Syhl Shallow, but by the end of this book, my allegiance was torn.

But what makes the first one not as great to me? It actually made me really uncomfortable with the relationship between Harper and Rhen, also with Rhen as a character. At first I thought he “checked all the boxes” of a YA romantic interest…but with AHSFAB he came across as more abusive, controlling, and cruel. The author attempted to write off his behavior as “caused by stress” (basically) and the more I read the more that just didn’t fly with me. 

So, for book 3, I will be team Grey – whatever he decides to do (as of now, lol).

Rating Report
Plot
Characters
Writing
Romance
Overall:	5 / 5