Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Stellar conclusion to fantasy tale of magic, gore, love.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
There's nothing but trouble as A VOW SO BOLD AND DEADLY opens: Rhen, heir apparent to the Emberfall throne, has been freed from a curse by "Princess" Harper, late of Washington, D.C., who loves him. But there's tension between them following the events of Book 2, where she helped their friend and Rhen's half-brother, Grey, escape his murderous wrath. Now ensconced in the neighboring kingdom of Syhl Shallow, Grey reluctantly prepares to lead the armies of queen Lia Mara against Rhen -- Grey being the actual heir to the throne. Amid the resulting unrest, Harper is trying to mend things with Rhen, who, unbeknownst to her, is still in the power of the enchantress Lilith, who threatens to kill Harper or send her away forever if Rhen doesn't do Lilith's bidding. As the story unfolds, told in chapters narrated by each of the four protagonists, each of them wants nothing but the best for their loved ones and for their people -- but it's complicated.
Is It Any Good?
Political, ethical, and romantic conflicts abound in Brigid Kemmerer's thrilling tour de force that brings her trilogy of love, magic, hard-won wisdom, and plentiful gore to a satisfying conclusion. As Harper struggles to free Rhen once and for all from the enchantress's clutches, Grey falls in love with the queen of Syhl Shallow, and war looms between the two kingdoms; there's more than enough misunderstanding and long-held grievances for mutually assured destruction. Trying to avert this are four strong protagonists/narrators, each bringing a fundamentally different viewpoint and experience and struggling to do the right thing in impossibly difficult situations. They've come a long way in the course of the Cursebreaker series, making A Vow So Bold and Deadly a compelling, thought-provoking read.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the Cursebreaker series started out as a Beauty and the Beast update and, by A Vow So Bold and Deadly, developed into something else entirely. If you were going to adapt a fairy tale, which one would you choose? Where might you have the story go?
Why are stories of battling brothers so popular? What others have you read? Which are your favorites? What about that dynamic makes it rich for storytelling?
Solving problems and mediating disputes is difficult -- especially when there's right and wrong on all sides. Do you know anyone who's really good at dealing with these situations before they get worse? What do they do?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Bloomsbury YA
- Publication date : January 26, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 17
- Number of pages : 416
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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