{"id":38587,"date":"2021-07-01T22:11:16","date_gmt":"2021-07-02T02:11:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=38587"},"modified":"2021-07-01T22:11:16","modified_gmt":"2021-07-02T02:11:16","slug":"review-of-a-heart-so-fierce-and-broken-by-brigid-kemmerer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=38587","title":{"rendered":"Review of A Heart So Fierce and Broken, by Brigid Kemmerer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>A Heart So Fierce and Broken<\/em><\/p>\n

by Brigid Kemmerer<\/p>\n

Bloomsbury, 2020. 445 pages.
\nReview written October 31, 2020, from a library book
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

A Heart So Fierce and Broken<\/em> is the second book in the series begun with A Curse So Dark and Lonely<\/a><\/em>. And no, the series is not finished yet. The first book finished with a dramatic breaking of expectations with big implications for what would happen next \u2013 and so does this book. Both books seem to resolve most conflict brought up in the book \u2013 and then our tidy sense of completion is totally disrupted.<\/p>\n

The first book is a retelling of \u201cBeauty and the Beast.\u201d Harper is brought from DC in an attempt to break the curse. Meanwhile, the kingdom isn\u2019t getting much governing, but she helps the prince get through that crisis and an attack from a neighboring kingdom. At the end of the book, though, without giving details, we learn there\u2019s a secret older brother who should be the rightful heir to the throne. And he is the child of a magesmith and has magic in his blood.<\/p>\n

This book is about that heir, who doesn\u2019t want to claim the throne but also doesn\u2019t want to be killed. We also follow the fate of a princess of the neighboring kingdom who was not chosen to be her kingdom\u2019s heir but wants to see if she can bring peace.<\/p>\n

I like the way the author puts realistic political problems (needing a harbor for trade) into the fantasy kingdom. There\u2019s some horrific cruelty in both books which I didn\u2019t like, though it does make the people working for peace shine more brightly.<\/p>\n

I enjoyed this second volume greatly. It now doesn\u2019t have much to do with the \u201cBeauty and the Beast\u201d story, but is an excellent tale of a group of travelers trying to navigate dangers on every side and figure out what course of action is best.<\/p>\n

Yes, I\u2019m going to want to read the next book. Amazon says it\u2019s called A Vow So Bold and Deadly<\/em> and will come out on January 26, 2021. And yes, Amazon says it\u2019s the conclusion to the series. It\u2019s been set up well.<\/p>\n

brigidkemmerer.com<\/a>
\nbloomsbury.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Teens\/heart_so_fierce_and_broken.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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