Review: Heartless

Author: Marissa Meyer
Started reading: February 1st 2020
Finished the book: February 19th 2020
Pages: 453
Genres: Fantasy, YA, Retelling
Published: November 8th 2016
Source: Bought the book
Goodreads score: 4.05
My score:

Synopsis

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.


Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

My thoughts

I want to thank Sophie for doing this buddyread with me. FINALLY! I got to reading this book. I saw on Goodreads that I shelved it in 2016 already. This book is worth every minute of reading. It's so cleverly done and I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves Fantasy and likes a good retelling. I just love Marissa Meyer, her writing style is impeccable, the world building is strong and the characters never lack depth.

Pros

• Main character: The main character was a lover of baking and food and I could relate so much. I love baking myself and all the smells and textures and yummy food that was in this book were a great addition to the story. It added a layer to the character that I'm very fond of.
• Alice in Wonderland: The link with Alice in Wonderland is cleverly done and so well adapted that you'd even think Meyer wrote Alice in Wonderland herself. She just fit the story immaculately. For everyone who knows the story/books/movies, this book will be a treat to read.
• Heartbreaking: Even though this is a heartbreaking story, I loved every page of it. I could not always understand Cath and her choices and she made me sigh at some point, but she was so fierce and passionate. She stole my HEART in this book. The final 50 pages belong to the best endings of books I've ever read.
• Author note: I love it when an author note adds something to the story. I felt like I recognized something from Edgar Allan Poe, and to read how Marissa Meyer fit that in her story was fun to read. In this author note you can just feel the passion she has for this book and she really speaks from the heart. She tells you more about the book, writing process and it also shows a bit more about her as a person. Loved it.

Cons

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Overall

I totally understand the hype and positive reviews for this book. It's such a clever, passionate and heartbreaking story. The adaption to Alice in Wonderland was flawless and after devouring The Lunar Chronicles and now this book, I'm sure: I'm a Meyer-fan!

Other opinions on this book

"In Heartless, the nonsense that is Wonderland gets a reverential makeover, full of heart and its own idiosyncratic character."

- Gregory Maguire

"The author's best fantasy yet. Meyer has woven all the elements of darkness and light, fate and free will, and love and hatred into an unforgettable story of the evolution of the Red Queen from a young girl who dreamed of true love and freedom to a madwoman best remembered for the phrase 'Off with his head.' If you only read one fractured fairy tale this year, make it Heartless. A must-have title."

- School Library Journal

Memorable quotes from this book

"When pleased, I beat like a drum. When sad, I break like glass. Once stolen, I can never be taken back. What am I?"

"Fascinating, isn't it, how often heroic and foolish turn out to be one and the same."

"Why is a raven like a writing-desk?"

Thanks for reading!

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