The Hearts We Sold

Dee Moreno attends a boarding school on scholarship and encounters a demon who offers to grant wishes in exchange for human hearts. When financial pressures threaten her education, she makes a deal with the demon - her heart for the money she needs to stay in school. After making the trade, Dee joins a group of "heartless" teenagers who have also given up their hearts to demons. The group works together on mysterious tasks assigned by their demon while navigating their new existence without hearts. Magic, romance, and danger intensify as Dee and her fellow heartless teens uncover the true purpose behind the demons' bargains. Their investigation leads them through dark corners of their city as they race to protect both themselves and others. The novel explores themes of sacrifice, identity, and the price of desire through a supernatural lens. At its core, it questions what humans will trade away of themselves to achieve their goals.

Readers appreciate the fresh take on demon bargains and the blend of paranormal elements with contemporary issues. Many note the book tackles mental health, abusive relationships, and self-worth while maintaining supernatural intrigue. The romance develops naturally without overshadowing the main plot. Readers highlight the strong character development, particularly protagonist Dee's growth. Multiple reviews praise the authentic portrayal of anxiety and depression. Common criticisms include a slow start and predictable plot twists. Some readers found the worldbuilding unclear, questioning why demons openly exist in society. A portion of reviews mention the ending feels rushed. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.94/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (300+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.4/5 (50+ ratings) "A dark fairy tale that doesn't sugarcoat trauma but offers hope" - Goodreads reviewer "The demon bargain concept isn't new but the execution is unique" - Amazon reviewer "Characters feel real despite the supernatural setting" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

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The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon A clairvoyant makes a contract with a powerful otherworldly being to protect her fellow psychics in a dystopian London.

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab A human girl and a monster who feeds on souls form an alliance in a city where violent acts breed real monsters.

🖤 Author Emily Lloyd-Jones worked as a bookseller before becoming a full-time writer, which helped shape her understanding of young adult literature and market trends. 🖤 The book's premise draws inspiration from classic Faustian bargains but puts a modern, feminist twist on the "deal with the devil" trope. 🖤 The demon characters in the novel emit a distinct smell of smoke and sulfur, which the author incorporated after researching historical accounts of alleged demon encounters. 🖤 The protagonist Dee's struggle with anxiety and depression was intentionally written to reflect real mental health challenges faced by teenagers, based on the author's research and personal experiences. 🖤 The novel was partially inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's cosmic horror stories, particularly in its portrayal of otherworldly beings and the concept of tears in reality.