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terranaught's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It felt like a love letter to Alice in Wonderland. If you're looking for a complex read, this isn't it. It's INCREDIBLY predictable. But it's set in Wonderland and therefore had the fairytale vibes I haven't really had since OUABH, and end up being both cozy and tragic at the same time
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Sexism
niki258devil_angel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? N/A
5.0
One of the best works I have ever read. The author did an amazing job with the characters and the plot. I have laught, fallen in love and cried. It's a book than shows you that villains aren't born, they're made... And when you think you have figured out the rest of the story, the next chapter will proof you wrong. I hope that everybody has as great time reading it as I did.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, Mental illness, Grief, and Blood
berta_vagner's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Death, and Emotional abuse
chelle22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Confinement, Toxic relationship, War, Infidelity, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Classism, and Violence
snowwhitehatesapples's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Also on Snow White Hates Apples.
Before she was the ruthless Queen of Hearts, Catherine was a sheltered, young noblewoman who dreamed of opening her own bakery with her best friend, a maid who has always been by her side. She dreamed of marrying for love, not for duty.
But, reality is never as dreamed.
As the daughter of the Marquess and Marchioness of Rock Turtle Cove, Catherine can never open her bakery without her father’s support or unless she removes herself from her family. She can never marry for love either, because the greatest match for her is none other than the King of Hearts, a simple-minded but happy little old man. Nevertheless, Catherine is determined to turn her dreams into reality. She finds ways to open her bakery, lets her heart love a man she shouldn’t and goodness, the forbidden romance is so sweet, so swoon-worthy — even I, who can’t read YA romance without cringing, found myself being swept along with Catherine.
Jest is one of the better (if not the best) fictional love interests out there. His many strong pros include being dashing, brave, kind, attentive, understanding and fun. The only con I can think of? Loving Catherine through a fool’s rose-tinted glasses.
As much as I understand Catherine’s characterisation and actions, I can’t help being frustrated by her naivety, her spinelessness and her stubbornness too. She’s the epitome of the fine line between heroic and foolish. She’s constantly saved by others (mostly Jest) and can’t really stand up for herself. She’s so, so exasperating to read because, at the same time, I can’t fault her as she’s merely the result of her upbringing and surroundings.
Hence why I find it a shame that everyone has to suffer the consequences of Catherine’s many choices, be it as the sweet young noblewoman or as the ruthless Queen of Hearts. (Though, the path she chose is arguably, preordained by fate.)
Characters aside, I adore the way Meyer brought Wonderland to life. The imagery is gorgeous, plus the overall execution had just the right amount of Alice in Wonderland-ness to it. It’s not as zany as the original tale but that’s fine. It’s a story inspired by the classic, after all.
Everything considered, Heartless>/i> has the right balance of whimsical, historical fantasy, forbidden romance and prophecy . Whether you’re a fan of the original Alice in Wonderland or not, as long as those three aspects tickle your fancy, this is a book you’ll want to read!
Before she was the ruthless Queen of Hearts, Catherine was a sheltered, young noblewoman who dreamed of opening her own bakery with her best friend, a maid who has always been by her side. She dreamed of marrying for love, not for duty.
But, reality is never as dreamed.
As the daughter of the Marquess and Marchioness of Rock Turtle Cove, Catherine can never open her bakery without her father’s support or unless she removes herself from her family. She can never marry for love either, because the greatest match for her is none other than the King of Hearts, a simple-minded but happy little old man. Nevertheless, Catherine is determined to turn her dreams into reality. She finds ways to open her bakery, lets her heart love a man she shouldn’t and goodness, the forbidden romance is so sweet, so swoon-worthy — even I, who can’t read YA romance without cringing, found myself being swept along with Catherine.
Jest is one of the better (if not the best) fictional love interests out there. His many strong pros include being dashing, brave, kind, attentive, understanding and fun. The only con I can think of? Loving Catherine through a fool’s rose-tinted glasses.
As much as I understand Catherine’s characterisation and actions, I can’t help being frustrated by her naivety, her spinelessness and her stubbornness too. She’s the epitome of the fine line between heroic and foolish. She’s constantly saved by others (mostly Jest) and can’t really stand up for herself. She’s so, so exasperating to read because, at the same time, I can’t fault her as she’s merely the result of her upbringing and surroundings.
Hence why I find it a shame that everyone has to suffer the consequences of Catherine’s many choices, be it as the sweet young noblewoman or as the ruthless Queen of Hearts. (Though, the path she chose is arguably, preordained by fate.)
Characters aside, I adore the way Meyer brought Wonderland to life. The imagery is gorgeous, plus the overall execution had just the right amount of Alice in Wonderland-ness to it. It’s not as zany as the original tale but that’s fine. It’s a story inspired by the classic, after all.
Everything considered, Heartless>/i> has the right balance of whimsical, historical fantasy, forbidden romance and prophecy . Whether you’re a fan of the original Alice in Wonderland or not, as long as those three aspects tickle your fancy, this is a book you’ll want to read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Murder, and Body shaming
Minor: Misogyny, Death, and Animal death
h4wk1nz's review
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: Blood, Grief, War, Eating disorder, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
protagonist’s mother shames her for eating too much and encourages disordered eating in order to have a slim figuremadalina0_0's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual content and Suicide
lawbooks600'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 attackindianarock's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Suicide, Grief, Death, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder
guck1st's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Death, and Murder