The second entry in the A Curse So Dark and Lonely series continues the enchanting tale of Harper, Rhen, and Grey as they navigate the treacherous realm of Emberfall. In A Heart So Fierce and Broken, author Brigid Kemmerer delves deeper into the characters' lives, their struggles, and the consequences of their choices. The story picks up shortly after the events of the first book, with Harper no longer in Emberfall. Instead, we are introduced to the perspective of Grey, the commander of Rhen's guard. Grey is burdened by guilt, torn between loyalty to his brother and his growing doubts about Rhen's ability to rule justly. As events unfold, Grey finds himself embarking on a dangerous mission that will test his loyalties and lead him to unexpected connections.
“I purchased my Keys on Sunday and on Monday as I was park hopping back into Disneyland, my account refused to load my information either on the app or on the website in a browser,” they wrote.
And that Disneyland executives were trying to walk a fine line between discouraging Magic Key sales while not further angering loyal pass holders who were already frustrated by having to make sometime-hard-to-get reservations to use their passes. I think DL should instead use a system where Magic Key holders have a set number of visits per year based on the tier they buy, and simple make reservations in advance.
As events unfold, Grey finds himself embarking on a dangerous mission that will test his loyalties and lead him to unexpected connections. Meanwhile, Harper has her own set of challenges. While she yearns to return to Emberfall and be with Rhen, she grapples with the responsibility of her own world and the expectations placed upon her.
Is Disneyland Making Its Attendance Even More 'Unfavorable'?
August 17, 2022, 4:31 PM · Disneyland hasn't fixed its "unfavorable" Magic Key problem. In fact, the resort may have made the relationship with its most loyal fans even worse.
Disneyland created its new Magic Key annual pass program one year ago. That means the passes of the first people who had bought Magic Key passes were about to expire. For weeks, those pass holders have been begging Disneyland for information on how to renew their passes, since Disneyland had stopped selling all tiers of Magic Key months ago.
This week, Disneyland finally shared that information, announcing that Magic Key renewals would start tomorrow morning. and oh, by the way, the prices are going up between 7% and 16%. And Magic Key's top tier is now gone, replaced by a new top tier that is blocked out for the fist time during the week between Christmas and New Year's.
All this follows last week's social media dust-up over Disney mentioning "an unfavorable attendance mix" at the Disneyland Resort, in its most recent quarterly financial report. Many Disneyland fans saw themselves as being labeled "unfavorable" by Disneyland executives, even though what Disney meant was that Disneyland's per capita ticket revenue suffered when the parks' attendance skews toward Magic Key holders instead of daily ticket buyers.
In a TikTok video last week, I shared my suspicions that the company's desire to skew that mix back toward daily ticket sales was one of the reasons why Disneyland took so long to figure out the terms for Magic Key renewals. And that Disneyland executives were trying to walk a fine line between discouraging Magic Key sales while not further angering loyal pass holders who were already frustrated by having to make sometime-hard-to-get reservations to use their passes. (Some pass holders even sued Disneyland over the new Magic Key program.)
The renewal details announced this week by Disneyland portray a company trying to tiptoe on that line. A mild (in this economy) price increase, coupled with a swap of benefits - new blockout dates for some couple with minor parking discounts for others. And everyone gets a modest discount on the new Disney Genie+ upcharge, even though more useful Maxpass was included at no extra charge in the top tier of the old Disneyland annual pass program.
But Disneyland is never going to change the mix of guests at its California theme parks by tiptoeing around the annual pass problem that Disney itself has created. If the company thinks that too much of its Disneyland attendance is going to Magic Key holders, this week's program changes are only going to make that problem worse.
Increases to daily ticket prices might reduce the number of people who buy daily tickets. But price increases on Magic Key (and Disneyland APs before them), actually end up incentivizing pass holders to use those pass more often. Sure, some pass holders drop out of the program, but even among those who drop a tier, everyone who stays wants to visit the parks more to make up for the price increase and get value from their pass. That ultimately leads to more pass holders visits to the parks.
Disneyland has seen this with almost every price increase over the past two decades. Yet the company seems to behave as if it believes that the next price increase will somehow turn out differently. Yes, reservation requirements allow Disneyland to control the number and mix of visitors coming into the parks on any given day. But the harder it becomes for Magic Key holders to get the reservations they want, the more (justifiably) angry they become. So unless daily ticket buyers show up to sell out available inventory, Disneyland relents and opens spots for more Magic Key holders, pushing the mix back to what Disneyland was trying to avoid.
The only solutions I see to this "unfavorable" problem are these:
1) Give up and admit that Disneyland is not Walt Disney World. Admit that Disneyland is a locals' park and go all in on adjusting the business model for the park to accommodate the majority of visits will be coming from pass holders.
2) Drop Magic Key and stop trying to offer any form of traditional annual pass program. Honor loyal visitors with a bulk discount or rewards program. (Remember when you could buy a 10-day ticket where the days never expired?) Make everyone buy date-specific tickets or open-ended ticket packages with required reservations to use the tickets.
Pick one of these two extremes, then deal with it. Maybe the new total blockout on Magic Key during the busy Christmas week is Disneyland's first step toward option 2. We'll see.
But trying to play to both sides of a dilemma - like Disneyland otherwise seems to be doing now - is only making everyone frustrated with this whole process. And Disneyland should be the place where we can go to escape frustration - not to have to wallow in it.
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As she encounters new allies and enemies, Harper must embrace her strengths and confront her fears. A Heart So Fierce and Broken adds new layers to the fantasy world of Emberfall, introducing new characters and new dangers. It explores themes of identity, loyalty, and the complexity of relationships. Kemmerer expertly weaves together multiple perspectives, giving readers a richer understanding of the story and its characters. One of the main strengths of this second entry is the development of Grey's character. From being a secondary character in the first book, Grey takes center stage in this installment. Readers witness his growth as he grapples with his own insecurities and tries to find his place in the world. His experiences shed light on the inner workings of Emberfall's politics and the challenges faced by those in power. The central theme of the series, the curse that plagues Emberfall, continues to loom over the characters' lives. As they search for a way to break the curse, they must confront their own demons and make difficult choices. The consequences of their actions affect not only themselves but also the fate of the kingdom. Overall, A Heart So Fierce and Broken builds upon the foundations established in A Curse So Dark and Lonely, taking readers on an emotional journey filled with twists and turns. Kemmerer's writing style draws readers in, making it difficult to put the book down. With its engaging characters, intricate plot, and thought-provoking themes, this second entry in the series is a must-read for fans and newcomers alike..
Reviews for "Exploring the Romantic Elements in the Second Novel of A Curse So Dark and Lonely"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I was really excited for the second entry in the "A Curse So Dark and Lonely" series, but I found it to be extremely disappointing. The plot felt disjointed, with random subplots thrown in that didn't add much to the overall story. The pacing was also off, with the action sequences feeling rushed and the character development lacking depth. Additionally, I found the writing style to be lackluster and repetitive. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and uninterested in continuing with the series.
2. John - 2.5 stars - I had high expectations for the second book in the "A Curse So Dark and Lonely" series, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The characters, who I loved in the first book, seemed flat and one-dimensional in this installment. The romance that was so captivating in the first book felt forced and melodramatic here. The plot tried to pack in too much, resulting in a lack of focus and a cluttered storyline. While there were moments of excitement, they were overshadowed by the overall disappointment I felt while reading this book.
3. Sarah - 3 stars - Although I enjoyed the first book in the series, the second entry failed to hold my attention. The pacing was slow, and the plot lacked the intensity and urgency I was expecting. The characters, while familiar, didn't seem to experience much growth or development. Additionally, I found the writing to be overly descriptive, leading to a lack of action and suspense. While the book had its moments, overall, it didn't live up to the expectations set by its predecessor.