Review: Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Published November 8th 2016

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.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with Heartless. I loved the Lunar Chronicles but I didn’t want to get my hopes up and have sky high expectations for Heartless. So I started this book with an open mind and no expectations.

I really loved the concept of this book. I love Wonderland and to have the back story of the Queen of Hearts was so cool. I loved how whimsical and true to the original Wonderland this book was. It felt very Disney.
I did find it to be a little slow though. The beginning and end wasn’t that bad but the middle was, in my opinion, really slow. The last 70-80 pages were my favorite. The ending was so great and I almost wish this was a series.
I loved the writing. Marissa is such a talented writer and she creates such a cool magic in her books.
I didn’t feel very invested in the characters. I would have liked to be more emotionally invested in them like I was with the characters in the Lunar Chronicles, but I didn’t think they were annoying or anything like that.
Overall, despite the very slow middle, I enjoyed this book. I loved the writing and the concept a lot and I thought the last 70 pages were amazing. If you love retellings, Wonderland, or you just really want to read this book, I’d say grab a copy. If you’re not a fan of slow books, I’d say skip this book.