A Curse So Dark and Lonely

Harper is one of the protagonists and point-of-view characters of A Curse So Dark and Lonely. At the beginning of the book, Harper is hardened and distrusting after years of protecting her family from the creditors her father left them to pay. Unlike the other young women who Grey has brought to Emberfall in the past, Harper is not distracted by the palace and its splendor. Rhen takes immediate notice of her lack of interest in the finery of the palace, noting, “If I put a crystal goblet in this one's hand, she'd likely smash it and use the shards to cut me” (25). This description gets to the heart of Harper’s character as a fighter. She is angry about being brought to Emberfall because she was taken against her will and has people relying on her back home. Her first impression of Rhen is as a spoiled prince who takes what he wants regardless of who it hurts, and this impression represents how she is also quick to judge, something she works on as the story progresses. Harper is attuned to injustice and suffering, having been victim to both at home for a long time.