Heartless

Heartless is the new book by Marissa Meyer.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King’s marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. 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 a secret courtship.

Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

The Breakdown:
1.  If you read this blog, you know I love Marissa Meyer, and re-imagined fairy tales.  This book lived up to my high expectations of Meyer and I enjoyed the back story of the Queen of Hearts. I enjoyed that the villain does not start as the villain, but rather events lead to them becoming that way.

2.  Cath was such a wonderful character. She has dreams of being the best baker in Hearts, but her parents have other plans. She is a sweet and funny girl.  Plus, as someone who loves to bake, I love her passion for baking.  I like that Jest makes her really want to live her dreams and not just be who her parents want her to be.

3.  Jest is an interesting and complex character. He is the new court jester, and there is more to him that what he seems.  I love getting to know more aspects and secrets from him as the book progresses.

4.  I loved how well Meyer made Hearts her own, while still holding true to the ideas and characters from Carroll's original work. I enjoyed picking out characters that are seen in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Slight Spoiler Alert:

This being the back story for the Queen of Hearts, the characters do not get their happy ending.  But the ending really explains so well why the Queen is the way she is when Alice meets her.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read