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h4wk1nz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
this book actually ripped my heart out, threw it against a wall, and stomped on it repeatedly. i love it. marissa meyer will never not be my favourite author, i would die for that woman.
catherine’s character arc
the way jest loved her
everything about hatta.
the five starrest five star i’ve ever given.
catherine’s character arc
the way jest loved her
everything about hatta.
the five starrest five star i’ve ever given.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Eating disorder, Violence, Blood, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
protagonist’s mother shames her for eating too much and encourages disordered eating in order to have a slim figurelawbooks600's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Representation: N/A?
Score: Six points out of ten.
A friend in real life recommended this to me which came from a familiar author since I've read many of her books like Cinder, Scarlet, Renegades, Archenemies, Gilded, Cursed so I picked it up and finally read it. When I finished it, I thought it was only okay and not at the same level as Scarlet but I've seen worse. It starts with the main character Catherine whose last name I don't know living in Wonderland (that sounds familiar but it is an Alice in Wonderland retelling after all.) The first few pages start the narrative slowly and that pace continues throughout most of it. Here's where the flaws surface, the worldbuilding isn't one of the strongest as it felt more like a world set in the 19th century with the Wonderland label slapped on than an actual setting. I couldn't fully connect to the characters either and unfortunately it's a common issue among Marissa Meyer's works but there are some that I could connect to (not in this novel though.) What frustrated me the most is that the author decided to name the villain the Jabberwocky but it isn't real. It's a poem. Not a creature. So why is it in here? She could've come up with any another name and instead she chose this one.
Catherine is forced to marry the king so she becomes queen but she secretly starts a relationship with another significant protagonist, Jest (as I said earlier, I couldn't relate to any of them.) In the midst of that Catherine must go to a realm called Chess but I thought chess was a board game and not another kingdom interconnected with Wonderland. The ending was terrifying as Catherine thought she killed the Jabberwocky but instead she killed Jest due to an illusion from a person added in the for the sake of the story to move forward. Then after some bereavement Catherine turns into the well known Queen of Hearts concluding the book where Alice in Wonderland would pick up afterwards (there is also an afterword where the author gives an answer to the question of why is a raven like a writing desk.)
Score: Six points out of ten.
A friend in real life recommended this to me which came from a familiar author since I've read many of her books like Cinder, Scarlet, Renegades, Archenemies, Gilded, Cursed so I picked it up and finally read it. When I finished it, I thought it was only okay and not at the same level as Scarlet but I've seen worse. It starts with the main character Catherine whose last name I don't know living in Wonderland (that sounds familiar but it is an Alice in Wonderland retelling after all.) The first few pages start the narrative slowly and that pace continues throughout most of it. Here's where the flaws surface, the worldbuilding isn't one of the strongest as it felt more like a world set in the 19th century with the Wonderland label slapped on than an actual setting. I couldn't fully connect to the characters either and unfortunately it's a common issue among Marissa Meyer's works but there are some that I could connect to (not in this novel though.) What frustrated me the most is that the author decided to name the villain the Jabberwocky but it isn't real. It's a poem. Not a creature. So why is it in here? She could've come up with any another name and instead she chose this one.
Catherine is forced to marry the king so she becomes queen but she secretly starts a relationship with another significant protagonist, Jest (as I said earlier, I couldn't relate to any of them.) In the midst of that Catherine must go to a realm called Chess but I thought chess was a board game and not another kingdom interconnected with Wonderland. The ending was terrifying as Catherine thought she killed the Jabberwocky but instead she killed Jest due to an illusion from a person added in the for the sake of the story to move forward. Then after some bereavement Catherine turns into the well known Queen of Hearts concluding the book where Alice in Wonderland would pick up afterwards (there is also an afterword where the author gives an answer to the question of why is a raven like a writing desk.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, and War
Full trigger warnings: Blood, grief and loss depiction, sword violence, death of a boyfriend, forced marriage, war themes, animal attackval_theburrowofstories's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
nxpe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Wow...
I knew going into this book that Jest dies, and for that reason I didn't let myself get attached to the characters to save myself the pain. Nonetheless, it was still very hard to get through that ending.
I feel so bad for Catherine. All she wanted was to own a bakery with her best friend, and be with Jest. And she truly deserved that happy ending. She didn't deserve her emotionally abusive mother or the guilt-trip to marry the King. And it was so sad when her parents finally asked her what would make her happy, and it was simply too late.
I did get a little angry when I found out Catherine was the one who turned around and went back to hearts. All though Mary Ann didn't deserve to die, I really wanted Catherine to go through the looking glass and have her happy ending.
This book made me so sad! I don't ever want to read another book where the love interest dies- my poor hopeless-romantic heart can't take it.
I feel so bad for Catherine. All she wanted was to own a bakery with her best friend, and be with Jest. And she truly deserved that happy ending. She didn't deserve her emotionally abusive mother or the guilt-trip to marry the King. And it was so sad when her parents finally asked her what would make her happy, and it was simply too late.
I did get a little angry when I found out Catherine was the one who turned around and went back to hearts. All though Mary Ann didn't deserve to die, I really wanted Catherine to go through the looking glass and have her happy ending.
This book made me so sad! I don't ever want to read another book where the love interest dies- my poor hopeless-romantic heart can't take it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Blood
Minor: War
cosmicwillow's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
hollyheartless's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I can’t explain how much I love this book. This is the first book I read for a second time because I loved it so much but I still haven’t emotionally recovered. The plot is so engaging throughout and the characters are impossible not to get attached to. I can’t recommend this book enough to anyone who loves a fantasy retelling/reimagining or just anyone who loves a fantasy book. Warning though: once you read this book, it will be on your mind constantly and I don’t know if anyone has set up a ‘just read Heartless’ emotional support line but they should
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
kim_lommaert's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Blood and Kidnapping
good_names_dont_exist's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Blood
Minor: Suicide and War
holiday7's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Most of this book made me either really shocked or really sad. Fuck Margaret, Peter, the King, and Catherine's parents. Also, justice for the Duke, Jest, and Mary Ann. I loved them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Blood
Minor: Suicide and War
dezzykins's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
I just finished reading 'Heartless' by Marissa Meyer, and I'm still reeling from the experience. This book is a masterpiece - a beautifully written, cleverly plotted, and utterly captivating tale that will appeal to fans of fantasy, romance, and classic literature alike.
Meyer's writing is superb, with a level of detail and world-building that's impressive. The characters are complex and multidimensional, with motivations that are both understandable and relatable. The story is a clever retelling of the classic Alice in Wonderland tale, with a unique twist that makes it feel fresh and exciting.
The only reason I'm not giving it a full 5 stars is that the pacing can be a bit slow in places, and some of the supporting characters feel slightly underdeveloped. However, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise fantastic book.
Overall, I highly recommend 'Heartless' to anyone who loves a good story well-told. It's a must-read for fans of fantasy, romance, and adventure, and a great choice for anyone looking for a book that will transport them to another world.
Meyer's writing is superb, with a level of detail and world-building that's impressive. The characters are complex and multidimensional, with motivations that are both understandable and relatable. The story is a clever retelling of the classic Alice in Wonderland tale, with a unique twist that makes it feel fresh and exciting.
The only reason I'm not giving it a full 5 stars is that the pacing can be a bit slow in places, and some of the supporting characters feel slightly underdeveloped. However, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise fantastic book.
Overall, I highly recommend 'Heartless' to anyone who loves a good story well-told. It's a must-read for fans of fantasy, romance, and adventure, and a great choice for anyone looking for a book that will transport them to another world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Fatphobia