Heartless

September 12, 2016
Before she was the Queen of Hearts in Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, she was Catherine, the spirited daughter of royalty, destined to wed the King of Hearts but determined to set up shop as a baker with her best friend and longtime maid. In this whimsical standalone tale, readers follow Catherine’s simultaneous courtships with the jovial king and his court joker, Jest, whose earnest boyishness makes him far more charming than his royal boss. Caught between her own desires and her mother’s stop-at-nothing goal to make her daughter queen, Catherine must decide how much she will risk for a future with Jest. Meyer’s Wonderland is a fun and more refined version of Carroll’s, and readers will enjoy the obvious parallels. Jest and Catherine have a playfully
clandestine relationship, but it’s a slow build-up to the inevitable clash between what Catherine wants and what reality demands. Meyer’s worldbuilding is extensive and impressive, and the persistent threat of a destructive Jabberwock lends tension, but the story lacks the high-stakes danger that fans of the Lunar Chronicles have come to expect. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management.

Fans of ALICE IN WONDERLAND will love the audio version of HEARTLESS, beautifully narrated by Rebecca Soler. Listeners hear the story of Lady Catherine Pinkerton, known as Cath, before she became the infamous and terrifying Queen of Hearts. Despite being born into the gentry, Cath just wants to open a bakery with her best friend and create delicious treats. Her parents are thrilled when the King of Hearts requests permission to court Cath; however, her interest lies elsewhere--with the mysterious Jest--and she's torn between doing what is expected and following her heart. With appearances by well-known characters like the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, and the Jabberwock, Soler does a remarkable job of bringing to life the fantasy and magic of Wonderland and drawing listeners into the adventure. K.S.M. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

Starred review from March 1, 2017

Gr 8 Up-In this dark imagining of the origin of the Queen of Hearts, Lady Catherine starts out with the dream of owning a bakery with her maid, Mary Ann. Cath's baking skills land her the heart of the King of Hearts, but she is drawn to the mysterious court joker, Jest. As Cath begins to give her heart to Jest and is courted by the King, the kingdom of Hearts is darkened by the appearance of the Jabberwocky. To stop this beast, Cath will have to make costly choices and in the process may lose her heart forever. Meyer has created a bittersweet twist on the tale of the Queen of Hearts, and the story is as enchanting as Lewis Carroll's original. Through her narration, Rebecca Soler brings to life the quirky denizens of Hearts, including the evanescent Cheshire Cat, the giggling King, and the nervous White Rabbit, while also capturing Cath's shift from hopeful baker to heartbroken and heartless queen. Soler's voice has a storytelling quality that entrances listeners and perfectly matches Meyer's vivid writing. VERDICT Give this to fans of Meyer's "Lunar Chronicles," lovers of Alex Flinn's fairy-tale twists, and those who enjoy the classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. ["A must-have title": SLJ 9/16 starred review of the Feiwel & Friends book.]-Sarah Flood, Breckinridge County Public Library, Hardinsburg, KY

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