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Heartless
695 pages
A whimsical, sugar-dusted romance that slowly curdles into an inevitable, heartbreaking tragedy.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like biting into a perfectly sweet, beautifully decorated pastry, only to find a sharp, bitter center. It begins with a sunlit, whimsical energy, wrapping you in the vibrant, nonsensical magic of Wonderland and a swoon-worthy, forbidden romance. The prose is lush and sensory, filled with the scents of baking lemon tarts and the colorful absurdity of court life. Yet, beneath the playful banter and hopeful dreams of its protagonist, a creeping sense of dread anchors the narrative. You know the tragic destination, but the steady, enchanting journey makes you desperately hope for a different outcome. It is a bittersweet, atmospheric read perfect for those who love villain origin stories and romances destined for heartbreak.
- Mood
- enchanting
- foreboding
- heartbreaking
- lush
- absurdist
- Tone
- whimsical
- romantic
- earnest
- bittersweet
- tragic
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- inevitability of fate · loss of innocence · forbidden love · descent into villainy · duty versus desire
- The writing
- Lush, sensory, and playful, leaning heavily into the absurd aesthetics of Wonderland while grounding the emotional stakes.
- The arc
- Begins with hopeful, sweet romance and whimsical ambition, slowly descending into inevitable heartbreak and cold resolve.
- Who it's for
- Fans of villain origin stories and fairy tale retellings who love a mix of whimsical world-building and inevitable heartbreak.
Content notes
- death of a loved one
- execution and beheading
- emotional manipulation
- mild violence
About the book
Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.
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.
Description from Open Library.
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