Heartless

Heartless is an origin story that reimagines the Queen of Hearts from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. In the kingdom of Hearts, Catherine Pinkerton dreams of opening a bakery with her best friend rather than pursuing her expected path as the king's potential bride. Jest, the mysterious new court joker, catches Catherine's attention despite her looming courtship with the King of Hearts. As Catherine pursues her passion for baking and navigates matters of the heart, she faces mounting pressure from her family and society to follow tradition. The story unfolds in a whimsical version of Wonderland filled with familiar characters and new additions. From the Cheshire Cat to talking doorknobs, the setting maintains the spirit of Carroll's world while creating its own distinct narrative. This retelling explores themes of duty versus desire, and how the choices we make - or those made for us - can shape who we become. The novel presents a fresh perspective on a classic villain by examining the forces that can transform an ambitious young woman into a feared queen.

Readers appreciate the dark, twisted take on the Queen of Hearts' origin story and Meyer's ability to make them empathize with a villain. Many note the rich world-building and creative incorporation of familiar Alice in Wonderland elements. The romance subplot and character development receive frequent mentions in positive reviews. Common criticisms include the slow pacing of the first half, predictable plot progression, and frustration with the main character Catherine's choices. Some readers found the ending too abrupt or felt the protagonist's transformation wasn't convincing enough. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (177,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (2,300+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.5/5 (900+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Beautiful prose but takes too long to get going" - Goodreads reviewer "The dessert descriptions made me hungry" - Amazon reviewer "Catherine's naivety becomes grating" - BookTok review "Perfect balance of whimsy and darkness" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

Caraval by Stephanie Garber This fantasy romance follows a woman's journey through a magical competition while questioning what is real and what is performance.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black A mortal girl navigates political intrigue in a dark faerie court while developing feelings for a dangerous fae prince.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden Russian folklore comes to life as a young woman with magical abilities defies societal expectations to protect her family and village.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo A crew of outcasts plans an impossible heist in a world where magic and romance intertwine with criminal schemes.

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson A human portrait painter becomes entangled in faerie politics when her artwork reveals too much truth about the immortal folk.

🖤 "Heartless" was written as a prequel to Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," specifically focusing on the origin story of the Queen of Hearts before she became the infamous villain. 🎂 One of the central themes involves baking and pastries, with the main character Catherine dreaming of opening her own bakery. Author Marissa Meyer extensively researched Victorian-era recipes to make the culinary details authentic. 🎭 The book was partially inspired by Meyer's experience performing in a high school production of "Alice in Wonderland," where she played the role of the Queen of Hearts. 🌟 Like Meyer's successful "Lunar Chronicles" series, "Heartless" reimagines a classic story but stands alone as a single novel rather than part of a series. 🎨 Many of the characters' names in "Heartless" are clever plays on words from the original "Alice in Wonderland," such as Jest (the court joker) and Raven (a reference to the famous "why is a raven like a writing desk?" riddle).