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roannasylver's review against another edition
5.0
But the idea of Cecily being placed on the earth in such a damned confusion, just like him, and finding her way to be as extraordinary as she is—and him finding his way to her table, getting to sit across from her, quietly adoring her—the wonder of it all fills him with a swell of emotion that’s the closest thing to holy he’s ever felt.
* * *
I've been a huge Austin Chant fan since reading Peter Darling early last year, and had high hopes coming into this - and I was definitely not disappointed. Reading this was an experience. Uniquely immersive in that rare and wonderful way that sucks you in and makes you think every clock in the house has to be wrong by the time you look up. The world felt real, richly, atmospheric, eerily evocative, and bittersweet.
Others have gone over the plot and themes a lot better than I could - check out Shira's review here in particular - so I will just say... that the emotional core/'heart' is incredibly raw, and hit home for me in... ways that are driving the words right out of my head, honestly. It happens when I'm emotionally overwhelmed. The more important/wonderful/devastating a thing, the harder I find it to word. (In a strange way, this is very high praise. If I can't talk about it, it's Real.)
But reviews require words, so I don't have the 'luxury' of going nonverbal for an afternoon, so.
I've been where Cecily was. I've felt what she felt.
I might have done the same.
And I'm glad it ended the way it did, even if my own foolish heart kept hoping for everything to somehow... work out differently. But it wouldn't have been right for the story, as it isn't in real life.
Ultimately this is a story about letting go of a clenched fist so your hand can be open for whatever goodness next comes to you. The same is true of hearts.
* * *
I've been a huge Austin Chant fan since reading Peter Darling early last year, and had high hopes coming into this - and I was definitely not disappointed. Reading this was an experience. Uniquely immersive in that rare and wonderful way that sucks you in and makes you think every clock in the house has to be wrong by the time you look up. The world felt real, richly, atmospheric, eerily evocative, and bittersweet.
Others have gone over the plot and themes a lot better than I could - check out Shira's review here in particular - so I will just say... that the emotional core/'heart' is incredibly raw, and hit home for me in... ways that are driving the words right out of my head, honestly. It happens when I'm emotionally overwhelmed. The more important/wonderful/devastating a thing, the harder I find it to word. (In a strange way, this is very high praise. If I can't talk about it, it's Real.)
But reviews require words, so I don't have the 'luxury' of going nonverbal for an afternoon, so.
I've been where Cecily was. I've felt what she felt.
I might have done the same.
And I'm glad it ended the way it did, even if my own foolish heart kept hoping for everything to somehow... work out differently. But it wouldn't have been right for the story, as it isn't in real life.
Ultimately this is a story about letting go of a clenched fist so your hand can be open for whatever goodness next comes to you. The same is true of hearts.
misskrose's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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
3.5
elloello's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
robirb's review against another edition
3.0
The embarrassing amount of time it took me to finish this very short novella goes to show nothing except the fact that western fiction (in any possible variation) and I don't jell well at all.
I started this last year, put it down for months, picked it up and put it down again, and finally got myself to get it over with in just a couple of days.
This was not for me, but the plot is lovely and the writing style pleasant. Quite simply, this story has, pun absolutely intended, just so much heart in it that it's impossible for me to rate it anything less than three stars.
I started this last year, put it down for months, picked it up and put it down again, and finally got myself to get it over with in just a couple of days.
This was not for me, but the plot is lovely and the writing style pleasant. Quite simply, this story has, pun absolutely intended, just so much heart in it that it's impossible for me to rate it anything less than three stars.
endemictoearth's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
venturebyname's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
booksthatburn's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
CAROLINE'S HEART is a story of grief, love, and connection between a witch and a cowboy. Cecily has been trying to magically call her deceased lover's soul to bring her back to life. Roy is a cowboy who figured out too late that he dislikes his job. He meets Cecily when she comes to the ranch, and he’s fascinated by her and her magic. When Roy gets injured while protecting Cecily, she saves his life and he recuperates at her home. As they spend time together, the bond between them grows until, eventually, Cecily is faced with a choice between the ghost in her past and a chance at the future.
The story has such an intimate focus, only lightly involving anyone besides Roy and Cecily. Even though half of the story is from Cecily’s perspective, she’s so focused on trying to bring back Caroline, her deceased lover, that most details of her thoughts and history only are shown when she opens up to Roy.
The world building is consistent without trying to be particularly dense, which works very well for such a brief story. It takes advantage of a well-trod setting in the historical American west to do a lot of the heavy lifting, focusing more on the relationships between the characters and how Cecily uses her magic. Roy and Cecily have been navigating different kinds of prejudices, but their bond is more about how they connect to each other than whatever difficulties they have in relating to other people.
Things I love, in no particular order: The relationship between Roy and Cecily, the way Roy takes it on himself to make Cecily's life better even though she's capable of surviving, how much space there is for Cecily's grief and healing.
The story has such an intimate focus, only lightly involving anyone besides Roy and Cecily. Even though half of the story is from Cecily’s perspective, she’s so focused on trying to bring back Caroline, her deceased lover, that most details of her thoughts and history only are shown when she opens up to Roy.
The world building is consistent without trying to be particularly dense, which works very well for such a brief story. It takes advantage of a well-trod setting in the historical American west to do a lot of the heavy lifting, focusing more on the relationships between the characters and how Cecily uses her magic. Roy and Cecily have been navigating different kinds of prejudices, but their bond is more about how they connect to each other than whatever difficulties they have in relating to other people.
Things I love, in no particular order: The relationship between Roy and Cecily, the way Roy takes it on himself to make Cecily's life better even though she's capable of surviving, how much space there is for Cecily's grief and healing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Alcohol, Homophobia, Bullying, Blood, Cursing, Sexual content, Death, Xenophobia, Violence, Gun violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pregnancy, Racism, Excrement, and Miscarriage
lunarchfey's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5 stars
I thought this was lovely; a short and sweet and well-woven fantasy-romance. Gothic and a bit eerie, dealing with love and loss. I find Chant's prose incredibly easy to read - never something that jars me out of the story, and often as enchanting as the characters and the romance being created. The worldbuilding was surprisingly strong for how few words were used to do it - there was never a struggle to suspend my disbelief. I would definitely recommend!
I thought this was lovely; a short and sweet and well-woven fantasy-romance. Gothic and a bit eerie, dealing with love and loss. I find Chant's prose incredibly easy to read - never something that jars me out of the story, and often as enchanting as the characters and the romance being created. The worldbuilding was surprisingly strong for how few words were used to do it - there was never a struggle to suspend my disbelief. I would definitely recommend!
liketheriver's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0