Title: Heartless
Author: Marissa Meyer
Publication: November 8, 2016
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Genre: YA Fiction, Teen, Scifi & Fantasy
Pages: 464
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
Long before she was the terror of Wonderland, she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love. 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.
In her first stand-alone teen novel, the New York Times-bestselling author dazzles us with a prequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
REVIEW:
I purchased this book at BookCon. I had heard good things about the author and wanted a stand-alone book instead of jumping into a series first thing. The blurb drew me in. While Alice in Wonderland is probably one of my least favorite of the classic fairy tales, the story seemed to offer an interesting twist and backstory on the Queen of Hearts.
Catherine (Cath) is a dreamer. She wants to open her own bakery in town. She loves to bake and is known throughout the Kingdom of Hearts as an amazing baker. She and her baking has even caught the eye of the King. The King is expected to ask for her hand in marriage at the Black and White ball. Her mother dresses her in a tight red dress that Cath hates. During the ball, the court joker performs. Cath finds herself drawn to him. There is something about his eyes. She has seen them someplace else, in her dreams. Just as the King is about to propose Cath races out of the ball heading for garden. Her corset is so tight that she passes out. She is helped by the joker whose name is Jest. One night she finds a white rose on her window sill. Later that night Jest shows up in the tree outside her window and takes her to the Mad Hatter’s hat shop for a tea party. The party comes to an abrupt end when the Jabberwok attacks the hat shop. They all race to the woods for cover. They all make it to safety except for the turtle. Cath races back to save him. She is about to be eaten by the Jabberwok when the Lion throws himself between her and the Jabberwok. He gets carried away and eaten. Will the Cath fall in love with Jest? Will the King ask her for her hand in marriage and will Cath accept?
I am seriously in love with this author!! So much so that I bought her boxed set of the Lunar Chronicles. I loved the mixture of animals and humans in the story. Like the frogs as carriage drivers and the white rabbit as the Kings right-hand man. The story is a perfect backstory to the Queen of Hearts. I think it would make an amazing prequel to the movie Alice in Wonderland. The story made me look at Alice in Wonderland in a whole new light, especially the Queen of Hearts. Especially since it almost explains her crappy attitude. It makes me feel sorry for her. I know that this story is not actually part of Alice in Wonderland but it was written so well that I could see as such. I can’t wait until the Lunar Chronicles come so I can read more by this author.
STAR RATING: 5/5
Heartless is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and a bookstore near you. Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished. You can also check out more books from Marissa Meyer on her website here!
