Heartless by Marissa Meyer - Review

// Writing - 5/5 stars // Characters - 4/5 stars // Plot - 4/5 stars // Intensity - 3/5 stars // Engagement - 3/5 stars // Overall - 4/5 stars //

Heartless, by Marissa Meyer, is a wonderful prequel to a story we all know and love, Alice In Wonderland. It follows the Queen of Hearts before she became the admired villain she is in Alice In Wonderland. This book shows us how much the events in our lives can change who we are. This book is truly AMAZING! It has tons of references to Alice In Wonderland that fit perfectly. It is also different enough for it to be its own story. You will see many fan favourites, such as the Cheshire Cat. It is so fun to get inside the Queen of Hearts head and see her transformation from a normal girl to a villain. This book is very engrossing and you should definitely give it a try! It will change your perception of the Queen of Hearts.

Writing

Marissa Meyer's writing style is beautiful! It flows perfectly and her descriptions are flawless. In this book she describes things like a cake with so much detail it had my mouth watering. I wanted that cake! Her perfect descriptions added so much to the book. The way she describes the land of Hearts just fills you with joy.

Characters

I loved the characters in this! Meyer brought together some of our favourite characters from Alice In Wonderland like the Mad Hatter and March Hare, while also adding her own characters to the mix. Every single character added something to the story and together they brought it to life. They were funny and sweet but also cruel and cunning. You could really see each character's growth throughout the book. They all had so much depth. I grew to love every single one of them, especially the Queen of Hearts.

Plot

This novel has a very strong plot. It is exciting, sad, and sweet. The middle is a little bit slower and it felt like nothing happened, but that part of the book is essential for further developing the characters. I thought that the book got more and more exciting and emotional throughout. It was filled with crazy action scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Intensity

I think that overall the intensity of this book was pretty good! It could have used a little bit more emotion, but even without that extra bit it was great. I thought Meyer mixed drama and violence in very well. There is violence, but it is nothing too intense. I would probably consider this a pretty easy read. I think this book had a good level of intensity if you're looking for a somewhat easy read.

Engagement

The engagement was alright, but I did find myself struggling to stay interested around the middle of the book. The beginning and end, however, were wonderfully engrossing. I couldn't stop reading for those two parts. The middle was slow, but I think it needed to be because that is where a lot of character and relationship development happened. It's very easy to get into.

Overall

Overall I definitely recommend this book. It is beautifully written with tons of little references that make you smile. It is perfect for anyone who loves fairy tales and fairy tale retellings. It is bittersweet and a little bit nostalgic for fans of Alice In Wonderland. It will surely leave you stunned.

Content Warning: Violence, Alcohol