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58 pages 1 hour read

Marissa Meyer

Heartless

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2016

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Heartless by Marissa Meyer follows Catherine Pinkerton, a young noblewoman in the kingdom of Hearts, who dreams of opening a bakery despite her parents' expectations for her to marry the insipid King of Hearts. At a ball, she meets Jest, the court joker, and falls in love with him. They uncover dark secrets, including the Jabberwock’s terror, and adventure towards a tragic fate. The book mentions mental illness and suicide, and uses the term "mad" to describe mental illness.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Marissa Meyer's Heartless is praised for its imaginative retelling of the Queen of Hearts' origin, complete with vivid prose and engaging world-building. Readers enjoyed its whimsical yet dark atmosphere. However, some criticized its predictable plot and felt the character development was lacking. Overall, it's a compelling read for fairy tale aficionados. MLA

Who should read this

Who Should Read Heartless?

Readers who relish reimagined fairy tales and strong, complex female protagonists will enjoy Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Fans of Gregory Maguire’s Wicked or Meyer's own Lunar Chronicles will appreciate this lush, prequel-like exploration of Wonderland’s infamous Queen of Hearts. Ideal for YA fantasy enthusiasts seeking a dark, romantic twist.

Book Details
Pages

480

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Hearts • Fantasy world

Theme
Publication Year

2016

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

Lexile Level

780L

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