Curse So Dark and Lonely
Brigid Kemmerer
Curse So Dark and Lonely
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Brigid Kemmerer
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Here’s a secret: Prince Rhen is trapped in a never-ending autumn, doomed to relive his eighteenth year again and again. He must find someone to love him before the season ends, or he becomes a fierce monster. But that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult fantasy novel follows Prince Rhen, cursed to repeat the same autumn unless he can find true love to break the spell. The story explores themes of romance, bravery, and disability within a richly reimagined fairy tale setting. Suitable for teens 13 and up, it contains some suspenseful and intense moments appropriate for middle and high school readers.
Why we rated Curse So Dark and Lonely 12ME
Curse So Dark and Lonely is written at a Level 7 reading level across 384 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Curse So Dark and Lonely works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Curse So Dark and Lonely as 12ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Curse So Dark and Lonely explores fantasy world-building, romance, disability representation, young adult fiction, and fairy tales & folklore — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about fantasy world-building, romance, disability representation.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Darklight
Lesley Livingston
Darklight
Lesley Livingston
The cruel prince
Holly Black
The cruel prince
Holly Black
A Curse for True Love
Stephanie Garber
A Curse for True Love
Stephanie Garber
Dark King
C. J. Abedi
Dark King
C. J. Abedi
Curse of the Midnight King
Yakira Goldsberry
Curse of the Midnight King
Yakira Goldsberry
Curses
Lish McBride
Curses
Lish McBride
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781536457339
- Pages
- 384
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing USA
- Published
- 2020
- Type
- Fiction