The origins of a queen

I was truly impressed with Marissa Meyer's unique take on the life of a girl that was once just Lady Catherine Pinkerton rather than the infamous and feared Queen of Hearts. I have not read Meyer's acclaimed Lunar Chronicles (or any of her other books for that matter), but I find her ability to story tell and world build with such ease and natural talent to explain at least in part why she has so many fans! Overall, I have always been drawn to books that play with fairytale adaptations, so this tale set in the whimsical world of Wonderland was right up my alley. Characters like the White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter even make contributions to the (plot. The romance orchestrated between Catherine and Jest, the kingdom of Heart's new court joker, is one of the most swoon-worthy YA romances I have read in quite some time. I loved how the story seemed rather simple in the beginning, especially in regards to this romance -- girl catches king's eye, doesn't wish to marry him, and meets someone else who she could never wish to actually marry. But it is revealed in an expertly tedious way that the world of Wonderland is not a landscape suitable for simple stories; fate, destiny, and magic are all twisted into this tale, perfectly explaining why the raving Queen of Hearts in the cartoon we all grew up watching thirsts for heads, hates white roses, and is positively mad. I greatly enjoyed this piece of fantasy fiction, mostly for its connection to the timeless character but also for its lyrical language and depth. I will definitely be taking notes on how to craft believable dialogue and balanced descriptions from this novel. I recommend this book to avid fantasy readers, but also to those trying to break into the genre. This is a great place to start!



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Some of my favorite quotes from Heartless (the title makes heartbreakingly perfect sense on the last few pages):

"A laugh like that is richer than gold to a man of my position."

"The look had been just long enough to fan the flames of her curiosity, and short enough to put none of them out."

"She knew, in that moment, that she would go to him, if only he asked. She would be his, if he wanted her."

​"You've had me mesmerized from the first moment I saw you in that red dress, and I don't know what to do about it, other than to use every skill at my disposal to try and mesmerize you back."

"Catherine, I don't want your heart to belong to anyone but me."

"You have my heart, Jest. I don't know if you deserve it or not. I can't tell if you're a hero or a villain, but it doesn't seem to matter. Either way, my heart is yours."

"'I choose you,' she repeated. The words tasted like sugar."

"I am not empty. I am full to the brim with murder and revenge. I am overflowing and I do not think you wish for me to overflow onto you."

"But hoping... is how the impossible can be possible after all."

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