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readingwiththeresa's review against another edition
4.0
I gave it a 4 but it's more like 3.5.
I used audible for this book and I absolutely LOVED and obsessed with the narrator. She was absolutely my favorite of everyone that I've listened to so far. If you're still debating whether to listen to this book, I encourage you to do so! Absolutely AMAZING!
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While I enjoyed listening to the narrator, I didn't quite enjoy the story itself. The beginning and middle were great but the ending... I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. I still recommend listening to the book though.
I used audible for this book and I absolutely LOVED and obsessed with the narrator. She was absolutely my favorite of everyone that I've listened to so far. If you're still debating whether to listen to this book, I encourage you to do so! Absolutely AMAZING!
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While I enjoyed listening to the narrator, I didn't quite enjoy the story itself. The beginning and middle were great but the ending... I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. I still recommend listening to the book though.
the_sunken_library's review against another edition
5.0
Another cracking tale inspired by an older fairytale/children's book.
Imaginative, clever, witty and filled with woe, this is a perfectly ingenious explanation of why Wonderland is in such dire straits when Alice finally tumbles into it, and why the Queen of Hearts has no heart of her own.
Imaginative, clever, witty and filled with woe, this is a perfectly ingenious explanation of why Wonderland is in such dire straits when Alice finally tumbles into it, and why the Queen of Hearts has no heart of her own.
lisagriffioen's review against another edition
4.0
Have had this book on my shelves for years, but because I never saw the Alice in Wonderland movie, I did not feel the need to pick it up. But what a good book! I think I’m glad I’ve never known the story of the Queen of Hearts (only that she was evil).
janeyolivia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
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
3.0
I wanted to love this book so much, and I didn't not like it, but it was simply ok. I was so hopeful it would be 5 stars but alas it wasn't. I'm a sucker for villain origin stories and what we got of it was good but it was all in the end. The worldbuilding was cool but didn't feel like Wonderland. The only part that felt like Wonderland was the Cheshire Cat and he was forgotten about in the second half. My main critique is that it dragged on for way to long. I felt like at least 100 pages could've been cut out. Jest, (which btw I find his name funny. He's a joker and he makes jests and his name is Jest lol.) Anway he was simply ok. I just feel like I've read this exact type of character a million times. The Hatter's back must've HURT because he absolutely carried this book. He was my absolute fav. Anyway would recommend.
paigeking's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
itzvi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
blove0312's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I can’t help but think this is what I get for occasionally wishing everyone didn’t end up with their happily ever after. And boy, I don’t like it. That’s not to say I didn’t like the book overall. But I kept waiting for magic reset button to appear; after all, it is a magical world. Several things were left unresolved that I can think of, and I don’t like that. Chess didn’t seem to actually serve any purpose either. Idk man. I really enjoyed the Lunar Chronicles, and I did mostly enjoy this, but some of the fluff could’ve been removed and replaced with more detail or explanations. And too much was vague, including ages of the characters.
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JUSTICE FOR JEST BRO WTF 😭 it could’ve been almost anyone else 😤
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JUSTICE FOR JEST BRO WTF 😭 it could’ve been almost anyone else 😤
h0llygr4ce's review against another edition
5.0
heartless is now one of my favourite books EVER ! i adored it so much. i do love a good origin story & marissa meyer did a great job. anything ‘alice in wonderland’ related interests me so much & this book was an amazing read. love u cath & jest <3
nishaali's review against another edition
5.0
Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of Heartless by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not in any way influence my views on the book.
Review: 4.5 stars! I’d been salivating after Heartless ever since I’d heard of it. I am *the* biggest fan of the Lunar Chronicles because Marissa Meyer just hit the nail on the head with every book. I honestly cannot find fault with any of the books (which is the case even for some of my other favourite series) and would read them again in a heartbeat. Since I was wooed by Meyer’s fairytale retellings, I knew I had to get my hands on Heartless.
So first things first, I loved that this was the Queen of Hearts origin story because it totally throws you off-kilter! I wasn’t expecting to warm to Catherine as much as I did, because obv she’s the villain in Alice in Wonderland, but how can you not?! The poor girl has simple dreams: she just wants to open a bakery with her best friend and not be on the receiving end of the King of Heart’s affection. Alongside Catherine, there were the usual beloved cast of characters in Alice in Wonderland but also some original ones too.
I liked the mix of canon and original material; it made it refreshing rather than feeling like just a rehashing of the Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland which can sometimes be the case with retellings. Marissa did an awesome job in balancing the two – she stayed loyal to the world Lewis Carroll created with nods to things like the wacky croquet, tea parties, and the references that had me squealing, whilst also giving us quirky new characters and a mystery that keeps you turning the pages. She even managed to weave in Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven which is just genius!
The thing that really got me with Heartless was the knowledge of how this story plays out. I mean we all know the Queen of Hearts becomes a beheading-happy monarch so it’s pretty bleak trying not to get your hopes up or sail that ship into the sunset. Although I did figure out the mystery pretty early on, it was still a joy/painful to see it unfold. You actually want to cheer Catherine on as we follow her transformation into the Queen of Hearts – kind of like Disney’s Maleficent and a would-be heroine wronged into villainy.
The only thing that niggled a bit was the pacing hence the teeny .5 star deduction. The first ¾ of the book concentrated mostly on Catherine’s romantic and entrepreneurial troubles and her indecisiveness on how to deal with both of these issues. Having said that though, it is understandable considering Catherine is massively stifled by societal and parental expectations (ugh her mother!) But because of this, much of the action and revelations happen in the last quarter and felt a little rushed to me. I would’ve loved more details on the back stories of the various characters, old and new, as well as the wider ‘verse which is hinted throughout!
Overall though Heartless was an immersing read, it was recognisably Wonderland but not stiflingly overdone, more an homage to Carroll’s genius with references sprinkled throughout the book… Which brings me on to the fact that this book should come with a warning on the cover – beware: serious cravings for delicious sweet treats will be aroused in reading this book. The descriptions of lovely desserts had me drooling!
SO in case it wasn’t already clear, Marissa Meyer has done it again with Heartless! Fans of The Lunar Chronicles you are in for a treat! Whilst those just after a solid classic or fairy tale retelling, in the vein of Renee Ahdieh or Rosamund Hodge’s books, should be shifting Heartless to the top of your TBR list.
Review: 4.5 stars! I’d been salivating after Heartless ever since I’d heard of it. I am *the* biggest fan of the Lunar Chronicles because Marissa Meyer just hit the nail on the head with every book. I honestly cannot find fault with any of the books (which is the case even for some of my other favourite series) and would read them again in a heartbeat. Since I was wooed by Meyer’s fairytale retellings, I knew I had to get my hands on Heartless.
So first things first, I loved that this was the Queen of Hearts origin story because it totally throws you off-kilter! I wasn’t expecting to warm to Catherine as much as I did, because obv she’s the villain in Alice in Wonderland, but how can you not?! The poor girl has simple dreams: she just wants to open a bakery with her best friend and not be on the receiving end of the King of Heart’s affection. Alongside Catherine, there were the usual beloved cast of characters in Alice in Wonderland but also some original ones too.
I liked the mix of canon and original material; it made it refreshing rather than feeling like just a rehashing of the Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland which can sometimes be the case with retellings. Marissa did an awesome job in balancing the two – she stayed loyal to the world Lewis Carroll created with nods to things like the wacky croquet, tea parties, and the references that had me squealing, whilst also giving us quirky new characters and a mystery that keeps you turning the pages. She even managed to weave in Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven which is just genius!
The thing that really got me with Heartless was the knowledge of how this story plays out. I mean we all know the Queen of Hearts becomes a beheading-happy monarch so it’s pretty bleak trying not to get your hopes up or sail that ship into the sunset. Although I did figure out the mystery pretty early on, it was still a joy/painful to see it unfold. You actually want to cheer Catherine on as we follow her transformation into the Queen of Hearts – kind of like Disney’s Maleficent and a would-be heroine wronged into villainy.
The only thing that niggled a bit was the pacing hence the teeny .5 star deduction. The first ¾ of the book concentrated mostly on Catherine’s romantic and entrepreneurial troubles and her indecisiveness on how to deal with both of these issues. Having said that though, it is understandable considering Catherine is massively stifled by societal and parental expectations (ugh her mother!) But because of this, much of the action and revelations happen in the last quarter and felt a little rushed to me. I would’ve loved more details on the back stories of the various characters, old and new, as well as the wider ‘verse which is hinted throughout!
Overall though Heartless was an immersing read, it was recognisably Wonderland but not stiflingly overdone, more an homage to Carroll’s genius with references sprinkled throughout the book… Which brings me on to the fact that this book should come with a warning on the cover – beware: serious cravings for delicious sweet treats will be aroused in reading this book. The descriptions of lovely desserts had me drooling!
SO in case it wasn’t already clear, Marissa Meyer has done it again with Heartless! Fans of The Lunar Chronicles you are in for a treat! Whilst those just after a solid classic or fairy tale retelling, in the vein of Renee Ahdieh or Rosamund Hodge’s books, should be shifting Heartless to the top of your TBR list.