Jessica PingApril Book of the Month Review: The Cursebreaker Series
*Disclosure: There are affiliate links in the following article, meaning that, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links, I will receive a small commission.
With a special emphasis on the latest release
A Vow So Bold and Deadly (The Cursebreaker Series)
Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Twilight – What do all of these infamous tales have in common?
They are all generation-defining books that have shaped people’s understanding of the fantasy genre.
Each of these stories includes adventure, romance, supernatural creatures, and a white, male lead.
Fantasy novels are cherished around the world and have been for decades. People love taking a break from their reality to consider what it would be like to live in a universe that is filled with magic and whimsy.
But, not everyone who picks up a fantasy book has been able to see themselves in the story.
Historically speaking, diversity is severely lacking in most fantasy series.
Inclusive representation is a new trend. Ensuring that the media we consume reflects the world in which we live accurately has only really been on people’s minds for the last ten or so years. And, while improvements are being made, there are many places where representation is still severely lacking.
Read Books 1 of The Cursebreaker Series!
Disability Representation in Literature
I got my Bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Notre Dame in 2019. Over my 4 years of undergrad, I probably read close to 100 books. Out of all the books, however, I cannot remember a single story that included a disabled character.
Not one.
And I know what you’re thinking: “most of the books you read were probably over 100 years old, you can’t hold authors accountable for that!”
You’re halfway correct, I did read a lot of books that were written over 100 years ago. But, I also read quite a few that were written in the late 20th century.
Still, not one had a disabled character; particularly not a physically disabled character.
Growing up, the first book series I can remember reading that included a physically disabled character was actually The Hunger Games series. Beetee, a tribute from District 3 that is introduced in the second installment, has an accident that puts him in a wheelchair for the final book.
Later on, I read The Fault In Our Stars, a teen romance novel that focuses on two teenagers with cancer. It’s horrifically sad, but it once again featured, not one, not even two, but THREE disabled main characters.
But, that’s it.
Those are the only fictional disabled characters I have come across in literature.
And in both cases, disability was acquired later in life. There was some traumatic event or diagnosis that declared a previously able-bodied character disabled. No one was ever born with their condition.
Until, I came across The Cursebreaker Series.
Read Books 2 of The Cursebreaker Series!
The Cursebreaker Series and Disability Representation
The Cursebreaker Series is a fantasy series that presumedly takes place in the present day. Harper, the main character of the first book, A Curse So Dark And Lonely, is taken from her home city of Washington, D.C. to Emberfall, a kingdom in an alternate universe. Here, she is tasked with helping Rhen, the King of Emberfall, defeat a curse and save his Kingdom. No pressure!
Harper has Cerebral Palsy. Generally speaking, Cerebral Palsy refers to a group of disorders that can affect one’s motor skills and balance. More specifically, Harper has trouble with one of her legs. She walks with a limp and struggles to cover long distances on foot.
This disorder is discussed multiple times throughout the series, but it is not the focus. It is simply part of Harper’s identity. If Harper didn’t have CP, the plot would have largely stayed the same.
But, the author, Brigid Kemmerer, decided that she didn’t need disability to be a major part of the story to include it in the narrative.
Why Was This Decision Important?
Brigid Kemmerer made a statement when she decided to make her main character disabled.
She told the world that disabled people are capable of greatness. That the disability community is strong, desirable, and, most importantly, that we have stories worth listening to.
Fantasy books are so often put on this grand pedestal because they showcase people doing amazing, out-of-this-world things; things that people with disabilities are often never thought capable of achieving.
But, disability is a spectrum, and not nearly as debilitating or horrible as society makes it out to be.
Growing up with a visible disability was hard, but it was made ten times more confusing by the lack of role models I had in my life. That’s not to say I wasn’t surrounded by some incredible family members, friends, and educators, but I had no one in my life who was like me that could show me the ropes. There were no actors, models, or characters that looked like me, and I felt alone because of it.
If The Cursebreaker Series existed when I was younger, then maybe I wouldn’t have felt so insignificant, so worthless.
I so badly wanted to go to Hogwarts, but could never picture myself climbing the endless amounts of stairs within the school. Dating a vampire seemed like the best thing in the world, but there was no way my electric wheelchair could have kept up. Saving the world or a realm always seemed like the best thing on Earth, but no one like me had ever done it before.
This book gives disabled teens the ability to see themselves as the hero. It provides non-disabled teens an opportunity to consider disability in a positive context.
The Cursebreaker Series is breaking MASSIVE boundaries, and I am HERE FOR IT!
A Vow So Bold And Deadly – Part 3 of The Cursebreaker Series
*Spoilers for books 1 and 2 in The Cursebreaker Series may be included in this section
A very good friend of mine recommended that I read A Curse So Dark And Lonely in the fall of 2020. I devoured it and its sequel, A Heart So Fierce And Broken, within 2 weeks. Unfortunately, we both had to wait until February for the third book’s release.
I was so excited to dive into the third installment to the series, A Vow So Bold And Deadly, that when it released, I actually waited an extra 2-3 weeks to read it. That might sound counter-intuitive, but I was trying to prolong the series. If I didn’t read it, then I could make up whatever ending I wanted.
Well, eventually my curiosity won out (as did the pestering from my friend to finish it already) and I finally picked it up. It took me about 10 days to complete, and this delay wasn’t just due to a busy schedule. I struggled more than I’d like to admit to get into this book. The first 100 pages or so tried to make up for the lack of story-building between Harper and Rhen in the second book. Because of this, their narrative felt rushed and ingenuine.
That said, the middle section of the book was FANTASTIC and had me flipping pages as quickly as possible. In my opinion, this is the part where this book really shined brightest. Especially considering that the ending fell flat.
The ending of this book, like the beginning, felt rushed. I’m not sure if Kemmerer needed another 100 pages or if she just needed a different ending, but either way, as a fan of the series, I felt let down.
Overall Review of The Cursebreaker Series
I fell deeply in love with the characters in the first book. So much so that I kept reading even when it became more and more challenging to do so.
Each of the books is written very well. Kemmerer doesn’t disappoint in that department. But, there are some serious flaws to the series.
Leaving out Harper and Rhen’s POV during the second book was a poor choice. While it did help me to appreciate Grey more, it didn’t accurately prepare the reader for the finale.
But, if you like fantasy, romance, representation, and clever writing, then this series is for you.
The problems in no way outweigh the beauty of this story. I love this story and will definitely reread it in the future.
Buy The Cursebreaker Series!
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