Heartless: Melissa Meyer

 

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland, 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 unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.

Then Cath 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.
(Goodreads)

From the moment I began this book, I knew it would be sad. Right from the get-go, you get a sense of foreboding. Something isn't okay, something isn't right, and you don't know what it is. except... You do; you know exactly how this story is going to end. We all know that the Queen of Hearts doesn't have a happy ending. And this story thrives on that energy. It thrives on the dread you feel that Something bad will happen, and you don't know when it'll happen. The book also carried this amazing energy of childlike wonder; it felt like being in Wonderland. It had this bittersweet melancholy, as though to some extent, you've also felt this at some point as well. 

Can you believe I felt all of this from one book? One book. That had me feeling so many different things that when the end came, it was a relief, and yet I still cried because it was so sad, and my heart hurt for Cath side note that was kind of an ugly nickname like come on Cath? 
Anyway, I highly recommend this book for the sole purpose that you will feel so much while reading this book. I at least hope you do.

Until next time readers <3
Love Kat

Post script from Maddie~

I also knew it was going to be sad but I did end up kindly chucking it across the room and declaring I would never read it again because of the heartbreaking ending. Destroyed me. Granted whenever anyone reads I say it’s a great book that I absolutely hate. 🤷🏻‍♀️