First - TWELVE DAYS UNTIL HEARTLESS.
This is not a drill. We're almost down to SINGLE DIGITS until Heartless is in everyone's hands. I repeat, this is NOT a drill! Freak out mode begins now!
So, I was supposed to carve or decorate a pumpkin today with an Alice in Wonderland theme or even Lunar Chronicles theme and I attempted it, I did but it was a disaster and let's just say it went straight in the trash. Maybe my problem was the fact I got a small pumpkin so I really didn't have much of a canvas, if you will or maybe it's because the vision I have in my head looks much better there than it does in reality! HA. But, I would LOVE to see any of y'all attempt to carve or even decorate a pumpkin! Make sure it's at least medium size or you may end up like me - frustrated and disappointed in the end.
That being said, I'm still here to celebrate the almost release of this heavily anticipated book by so many fans around the world! It's sooooo different from what you're used to from Marissa Meyer but different isn't always bad.
About Marissa Meyer (taken from her website):
One of my first spoken words was “story” (right along with “bath” and “cookie”), my favorite toy as an infant was a soft, squishable book, and I’ve wanted to be a writer since I first realized such a job existed.
When I was fourteen my best friend introduced me to anime and fanfiction—over the years I would complete over forty Sailor Moon fanfics under the penname Alicia Blade. Those so inclined can still find my first stories at fanfiction.net. Writing fanfic turned out to be awesome fun and brought me in contact with an amazing group of fanfiction readers and writers. As Alicia Blade, I also had a novelette, “The Phantom of Linkshire Manor,” published in the gothic romance anthology Bound in Skin (CatsCurious Press, 2007).
When I was sixteen I worked at The Old Spaghetti Factory in Tacoma, Washington, affectionately termed “The Spag.” (Random factoid: This is also the restaurant where my parents met some 25 years before.) I attended Pacific Lutheran University where I sorted mail that came to the dorm, carted tables and chairs around campus, and took writing classes, eventually earning a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and Children’s Literature. Knowing I wanted a career in books, I would also go on to receive a Master’s degree in Publishing from Pace University (which you can learn more about here). After graduation, I worked as an editor in Seattle for a while before becoming a freelance typesetter and proofreader.
Then, day of days, someone thought it would be a good idea to give me a book deal, so I became a full-time writer. CINDER is my first novel, though I have an adorable collection of unfinished ones lying around too.
I now live with my husband and our three cats (Calexandria Josephine, Stormus Enormous, and Blackland Rockwell III), who go in and out, in and out, about eight hundred times a day. My favorite non-bookish things include Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, re-watching episodes of Firefly, and playing all manners of dress-up.
Release Date: November 8, 2016
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Long before she was the terror of Wonderland — the infamous Queen of Hearts — 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 yet-unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend and supply the Kingdom of Hearts with delectable pastries and confections. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next Queen.
At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the king's marriage proposal, she 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.
I was expecting something vastly different from the Lunar Chronicles but I’m not sure I was expecting it to be this far from her vastly popular (and in my opinion, amazing) series. This review will be vague with some hidden spoilers. Only view the spoilers if you’ve read the book or really don’t care about what you know.
We’ll start with the main character, Lady Catherine Pinkerton. I want to say I like her; I really do but there were times when I just wanted to throw her out the window. She grew on me and then I regretted those thoughts but then later in the book, I didn’t regret them anymore. She is the soon-to-be betrothed to the King of Hearts. It’s not what she wishes but it is all her parents, particularly, her mother, dream of happening. Cath wants to be a baker; she loves baking desserts more than anything in Hearts. It’s her dream, it’s her passion but what Queen would ever be allowed to be a . . . baker?
My favorite part of this book was probably the new court Joker, Jest. He’s witty, charming, entertaining, loyal, and just an overall spectacular character. I have no doubts you’ll get attached. It’s not like Catherine’s other suitor, the King, is appealing in any sense. Honestly, he reminded me a lot of my favorite YA boy, ever. For those who don’t know, I’m talking about Puck from the Iron Fey series. Which may be why I’m so taken with Jest but he’s definitely found a place in my heart.
I also went in to this book knowing I’m not big on the whole Alice in Wonderland so I didn’t even know if I’d like this but I love retellings and I wanted to give this a chance. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a retelling of Alice’s story or anything but it’s absolutely set in that world so I’m calling it a retelling.
I don’t know what else I can say without even hinting at anything that would ruin this book for you so I’m stopping here. To save you and save me (from having to relive it all).
*highlight to view spoilers* I wish I hadn’t grown to like Jest as much as I did because I regret it. I regret how much I begged for a happily ever after but what did I expect with a title of Heartless. And who this character is based off or is or whatever. But dammit, I was pissed when it came to be anyway. This was when I wanted throw that little POS Cath through a window; the second she stepped through that damn door even if she knew of the consequences. Did she NOT think Jest wouldn’t follow her? Did she not stop for one BLOODY SECOND AND THINK?! No. But you know what? She has to live with that regret; that god awful poor decision for the rest of her life. It makes me mad that she’s blaming Mary Ann for this happening when she has no one to blame but herself. UGH UGH UGH. The only good thing to come from this is that she still has Raven. Not sure how much good that is. But not only did she ruin her life and Jest’s but she destroyed Hatta, too. She destroyed herself, as well. She destroyed it all. It was right there, in her grasp and she let it all go. Why didn’t I have my guard up going in to this book? WHY?! *end spoilers*
***EDIT***I should have realized how different this book was going to be before I began it but I was just so overwhelmed and excited to have another story from Marissa, that I just didn’t care. Initially after finishing, I didn’t think I liked it, which is when this review was written but it’s been months since I’ve read it and while I’m not completely sold it was a book for me, it certainly wasn’t a bad book. You just should realize how different it is from the Lunar Chronicles; hell, it’s a lot different from a lot of what you read in YA, I’m sure. The writing is beautiful, as expected; the characters are fantastic and intriguing and the world building is on point.
Don't forget! Macmillan is giving away prizes EVERY DAY during the HEARTLESS challenge! Today you can win amazing prizes, like a copy of HEARTLESS just by decorating a pumpkin! Get those creative juices flowing and it could get you a copy of this book! To find out more about the HEARTLESS countdown, boogey on over here!
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