Welcome to the blog tour for Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf, which recently published on June 5th! This debut novel is one of the most unique stories I've come across this year. If you're looking for high fantasy, and particularly a new author, give this book a chance! Today I'll be sharing a short review, and more information about the book.
About the Book:
Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf
Book One of the Bring Me Their Hearts series
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: June 5, 2018
Official Summary:
Zera is a Heartless—the immortal, unaging soldier of a witch. Bound to the witch Nightsinger ever since she saved her from the bandits who murdered her family, Zera longs for freedom from the woods they hide in. With her heart in a jar under Nightsinger’s control, she serves the witch unquestioningly.
Until Nightsinger asks Zera for a prince’s heart in exchange for her own, with one addendum: if she’s discovered infiltrating the court, Nightsinger will destroy Zera’s heart rather than see her tortured by the witch-hating nobles.
Crown Prince Lucien d’Malvane hates the royal court as much as it loves him—every tutor too afraid to correct him and every girl jockeying for a place at his darkly handsome side. No one can challenge him—until the arrival of Lady Zera. She’s inelegant, smart-mouthed, carefree, and out for his blood. The prince’s honor has him quickly aiming for her throat.
So begins a game of cat and mouse between a girl with nothing to lose and a boy who has it all.
Winner takes the loser’s heart.
Literally.
About the Author:
Sara Wolf is a twenty-something author who adores baking, screaming at her cats, and screaming at herself while she types hilarious things. When she was a kid, she was too busy eating dirt to write her first terrible book. Twenty years later, she picked up a keyboard and started mashing her fists on it and created the monster known as Lovely Vicious. She lives in San Diego with two cats, a crippling-yet-refreshing sense of self-doubt, and not enough fruit tarts ever.
My Thoughts:
This is going to be somewhat short, and not my usual style of reviews. I'll write a more expanded review for Amazon/B&N, but for now, this is going to be short. I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
First, can we talk about that amazing illustrated cover? It is AMAZING. I love illustrated covers, like that of An Enchantment of Ravens, or this one. The artist of this particular cover did an excellent job.
This book was so kickbutt! I found it exciting from start to finish. I love fairy tales and fairy tale retellings, and this one is somewhat of a loose fairy tale retelling. Zera is tasked with bringing the witch Nightsinger the heart of a prince. Zera herself is a Heartless - an immortal soldier - so this should be easy, right? The prince's heart in exchange for her own heart back from the witch. But as you'll see, the task is not so easy. Infiltrating court is not so easy. Discovering hard truths about herself and her upbringing is not so easy. Not falling for the prince is not so easy.
I really liked Zera. I like sassy, fierce heroines, especially the sarcastic ones that have amazing wit. I felt a connection Zera - she and I share similar personality traits. She was somewhat of a villain (trying to steal someone's heart), but definitely the heroine of her own story.
Lucien is the illustrious prince and a worthy hero of the story. I love the name Lucien and I loved the character himself. He has a strong sense of justice which is not always common among nobility. I love reading about princes, and Lucien was a swoony one.
There is romance, as you would expect, and so it's predictable but in a comfortable way. I liked the romance. I always find that Entangled Teen's books have great romances that I can fall into as the story goes on.
The ending is sooooooo cruel. I honestly thought this book was a standalone, and when I got to the ending, I was like EXCUSE ME?! Thank goodness for a sequel, but also a part of me wishes this was a standalone novel (with a more wrapped-up ending, of course). But I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book. Hopefully sooner rather than later!
What are your thoughts on this book? Are you interested in the story? What are your favorite assassin types of stories?
Oh yes, that was one of the worst endings when it comes to cruel cliffhangers! But I guess I won't grumble too much, not when it's got me craving the next book :)
ReplyDelete~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum
Yay for sassy and fierce heroines!
ReplyDeleteThat ending killed me! I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book. Adored this book so much. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know this was a series - or it has a sequel at least. Good to know now, as I do have this one to read soon. I'm glad you liked it though!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
This sounds amazing, Alyssa! I'm totally kicking myself for not snagging a copy when it first came out. Zera sounds like my kind of gal, and I really like Entangled's romances too. Throw in that illustrated cover -- so gorgeous -- and I am sold! Thanks for the heads up about the cliffhanger, by the way.
ReplyDeleteI loved this book too!! It was such a pleasant surprise. I'd heard it'd be a series (duology?) but I wasn't prepared for the cliffhanger ending either. Where's the next book?!!
ReplyDeleteGreat review Alyssa :D Yay for enjoying this book a lot. <3 I'm not sure I would, lol. But I do mostly love that cover :D But ahh! Rude cliffhanger ending? THE WORST. Hope book two will be good :)
ReplyDelete