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    Heartless
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    Heartless
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    Heartless
    Audiobook14 hours

    Heartless

    Written by Marissa Meyer

    Narrated by Rebecca Soler

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

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    About this audiobook

    Rebecca Soler, narrator of Marissa Meyer's The Lunar Chronicles, returns to narrate this program.

    “Narrator Rebecca Soler delivers a take-no-prisoners performance for the third title in The Lunar Chronicles. Her instinctive delivery of Meyer's humor makes the story an addictive listen. Series fans and new listeners will be equally entranced.” —AudioFile Magazine on Cress

    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.

    In Heartless, Marissa Meyer's stand-alone novel, the New York Times-bestselling author dazzles us with a prequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateNov 8, 2016
    ISBN9781427267955
    Author

    Marissa Meyer

    Marissa Meyer is the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of the Renegades Trilogy, The Lunar Chronicles series, the Wires and Nerve graphic novels, and The Lunar Chronicles Coloring Book. Her first standalone novel, Heartless, was also a #1 New York Times bestseller. Marissa created and hosts a podcast called The Happy Writer. She lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and their two daughters.

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    Reviews for Heartless

    4/5

    478 ratings43 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I read this for my Young @ Heart book club (adults who love to read YA) and didn’t expect to like it. I wanted to read Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles series, but for some reason couldn’t get into the first. I might have to try again, because I really loved Heartless. It started off slow but I really liked the world Meyer built and how she wrote, overall. The part about Hatter being in love with Jest was a bit random, and seriously just a line thrown in, and I disliked it because it seemed thrown in to be accepting or get attention. But I really loved that it was an origin story - I didn’t realize that until the end!
    • 1/5
      I could just hear the romantic stuff coming. Probably for those people who are fond of such concepts, that is fine; however, I am not into that.
    • 2/5
      2 1/2 stars

      This book started off beautifully. I loved the food, and the characters, and the strangeness of the world. It went downhill from the time of the mockturtle. I found that I couldn't understand how Cath, sweet, irritating and indecisive as she was, could turn so far as to become the nasty Queen of Hearts. Not without the man she loved--Jest--betraying her, which he did not. While at the end she certainly did act like the Queen of Hearts, there was far too much of a gap between the two personalities, without seeing her character growth (shrinking) into that role. I still am a fan of Marissa Meyer, but this wasn't as good as I was hoping it would be.
    • 4/5
      It is very sad to watch the inevitable happen. Because we all know the story of how heartless and cruel the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland is, we know how this story ends. No matter how much we wish it were different, the story follows the script. I love that Meyer had me fall in love with Catherine. It put me on her side. It reminds me that every villain has a story and a history. This was a great story, one that makes me want to go write my own.
    • 4/5
      Wonderfully mad book if I do say so myself! I do enjoy reading Marissa Meyer's books, and this one was absolutely splendid! I loved the story line and the characters and the ending fit perfectly with the original story. I never read stand alone books and yet this one was enticing and satisfactory. Praise to Marissa Meyer for yet another wonderful story!
    • 3/5
      I got really into the story and even didn't loathe the main character but it's a slight butchering of my favourite book of all time. I really enjoyed the hatter and jester characters and would love a prequel about them more than this story tbh.
    • 4/5
      Still recovering from that ending

      Devastating
    • 4/5
      I liked this a lot more as the book progressed. I like Meyer’s writing but at first I thought it was a bit stiff and stilted. I loved the raven from the beginning with his rhyming poetry. I alternated listening and reading and I enjoyed listening better than reading; the narrator was very good with different voices for all of the characters. This makes me want to read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland again. The Author’s Note at the end is what made me want to reread Alice again.
    • 3/5
      I loved the Lunar Chronicles. I did not love Heartless. I did not hate it, but it took way too long for me to care about Catherine and Jest. I wanted Cath to grow a spine way sooner than she did. The ending is quite dark.

      If you like back stories you will like this one. Several of my students have enjoyed this one much more than I did.
    • 4/5
      First off - MARISSA MEYER! I don't know that she can go wrong. Definitely a great new read for her fans, and a new take on a new tale. The magic of Alice is found in this book, but it takes form in its own way, shaping the characters and the storyline as it goes.Meyer is a master at creating in-depth characters and settings that bring her stories to life. It was so easy to see the different scenes, including the magical tea party Cath attends. Cath is such a strong heroine, complete in her own right, and her relationship with her friends shows what she values. I loved the glimpses into the world of Alice, while still maintaining a unique tale full of intrigue and danger.This seems to be a standalone title, though I'm sure we would all be willing to read more of Cath's story. Recommended for fans of Meyer's other works and other retold tales.
    • 4/5
      Ok question, how did the Quren live when her heart was taken? That I dont understand. It was not explained and does not make sense to me. Over all, I did like the story. I was so hoping that Jest and Cath would get together but I get why they didn't and how that turned Cath to the hated Queen of Hearts. I just dont get the ending.
    • 4/5
      Fantastic twist on Alice in Wonderland, Miss Meyer introduces us to a baker named Catherine. At least, that's all she wants to be. Desired by the King of Hearts and at the mercy of her mother, Catherine's future seems to be planned out for her. Except she has her own dreams and desires. When the new court jester makes an appearance she realizes that her future is not set in stone. There are choices she still has to make...given she has the strength to make them.

      I really loved the depth of the characters and the constant action of this story. The pace never dulled and I was truly left stunned by the ending. Would recommend to all Alice in Wonderland fans!
    • 4/5
      Great mash up of magical world, (Alice in Wonderland world), romance, and the "origin story" for the Queen of Hearts - oh my gosh, Meyer knows how to weave a complex, layered plot with great character development, sophisticated precise prose and an emerging heroine in Lady Catherine Pinkerton... very quickly drew me in once the atmosphere-setting building was established. This is one normal/weird medieval style place called "Hearts".... as the story builds more and more of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland strange genius emerges. At this, Meyer is a master- loved it- but she's totally capable of building multi-faceted minor characters who are alternately worthy of readers' sympathies and fear! She knows how to write a slow burning romance too - oh my!! Hope lots of my YA readers will give it a try - she's definitely going to be a hit for Cavalcade of Authors!
    • 4/5
      This story is set in the Alice and Wonderland world, and tells the tale of The Queen of Hearts, before she became the Queen. Her name is Catherine, and all she wants to do is bake, and open her own bakery. Unfortunately, the King of Hearts sets his sights on her for his bride. Her parents are thrilled and push her towards accepting his proposal. But on the night of the Kings Ball, Catherine meets Jest, the new court joker, and begins to fall in love. With Jest, she can see the future she wants, not the future she is expected to have.

      I loved all the Wonderland references in this book. We meet many of the characters from the original books. The Mad Hatter plays a large part in the story, and we get to attend one of his famous tea parties.

      This is a bittersweet book, as Catherine and Jest's love is doomed from the start. But it does provide background on why the Queen of Hearts is so mean. The story has it's sad moments, but also some action, as we encounter the Jabberwocky. Fans of the original Alice stories should enjoy this addition to the world.
    • 5/5
      Heartbreakingly devastating, a magnificent combination of unique storytelling and sprinkles of Wonderland world pieces.
    • 5/5
      A fun journey down the rabbit hole! So much about the Queen of Hearts makes sense now. Brava Ms Meyer! The audio was fantastic. The narrator transports the listener to the Land of Hearts with whimsical voices. Just the dose of wonderland this reader needed!
    • 4/5
      My husband made a comment that it sounded like the author is the love child of Edgar Allan Poe and Lewis Carroll. I thought that was a very good comparison. It was an excellent representation of a story set in a wonderland type setting. No happy endings here. Set back and be taken to the Land of Hearts!
    • 4/5
      Marissa Meyer has written a story that is a prequel to Alice in Wonderland that is the story of the Queen of Hearts before she became the heartless woman we see in the Alice stories.

      Lady Catherine (Cath) is a gifted baker who wants to open a bakery with her best friend/maid. She is being pursued by the King of Hearts and her parents are pressuring her to marry him. When she arrives at the black and white ball (dressed in a red dress) she realizes that the king plans to propose. She sneaks our of the ball and meets up with the mysterious court jester, Jest. She is attracted to him and it turns out that he is also attracted to her. In this story we meet Hatta (the mad hatter), the March Hair, the Mock turtle, Cheshire Cat, Peter Peter, the Jabberwock and others from the Alice stories and other tales. Cath changes from a loving, caring young woman at the beginning of the book into the ruthless Queen of Hearts by the end. Her story is tragic and heartbreaking.

      Cath was a very well developed character with a quick wit, intelligence and compassion. Jest, as the court jester was the bad boy she falls in love with. He is dark, mysterious but has a loving, caring side to him that he shows to Cath and his good friends. The story twists and turns and pulled me in even though I did not think it would. A good story if you enjoy the fairytale twists.
    • 3/5
      Meh. Maybe I didn't love it as much because The Lunar Chronicle completed something in me. Maybe I love Alice too much?

      I'm not sure but this wasn't my favorite or the best thing I've read. It's enjoyable and if you like retellings or Meyer's writing read it.
    • 4/5
      Enjoyable read although the reader knows it will end "badly".
    • 4/5
      I read this entire book with a sense of impending doom-- desperately hoping for a magical ending while simultaneously worried that there would be one. It kept me turning the pages at a break neck clip. Great characters with such great respect for details from both Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass. I loved it immensely and hated it a little. Not many books can do that. Better in my opinion than the Lunar Chronicles.
    • 4/5
      Marissa Meyer tackles Wonderland in this novel and manages to craft a story of the Queen of Hearts which is both refreshing and hard to put down. The heroine Catherine does not want to be the Queen of Hearts, she wants to open a bakery with her best friend and delight the kingdom of Hearts with her sweet treats. She most certainly does not want to marry the King of Hearts, especially after she meets the charismatic Jest, who she feels a strong attraction to. While I didn't really like how the story ended, I will admit that this is the best Alice in Wonderland retelling I've ever come across.
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed reading this back story of the Queen of Hearts. It was fun to read about the other characters from Alice in Wonderland as well. Even though I obviously knew it wouldn't be able to have a happy ending it still made me sad. At the beginning of the story Catherine is so happy, free spirited and optimistic and by the end she is just so defeated. Even though Alice in Wonderland has never been a favorite of mine I enjoyed this immensely!
    • 3/5
      Narrated by Rebecca Soler. I finally figured out this is an origin story of the Queen of Hearts of "Alice in Wonderland." Which probably explains why I did not find Catherine (the Queen-to-be) at all sympathetic and her romance with Jest very self-absorbed. The story also felt quite prolonged in spots. Ehhh, yaaaaawwwn...
    • 4/5
      This is a pretty depressing prequel to Alice in Wonderland, chronicling the origins of the Red Queen. I'm sad that this isn't continued. I'd like to see Cath get a redemption story.
    • 4/5
      Wow!!! It was a thick book. But the ending is definitely amazing. It's definitely different from the Queen of Hearts in a Disney movie. Love it!
    • 5/5
       I've never read the original Alice in Wonderland story. I did watch one live action adaption and enjoyed it a lot as a kid, but that was as far as my interest went. I decided to try this out, because I've enjoyed Meyer's work before, and I love these prequels about villians.I was not disappointed by this book at all. I absolutely loved it. I loved the characters, the romance... the way that I obviously knew the outcome but kept hoping and hoping things wouldn't go that way. I kept thinking, ''What if she isn't the one to become the Queen after all?''. Of course, I was crushed, but... it was the best route.
    • 4/5
      I listened to this on audio book and I thought that this book was amazing! I definitely recommend listening to it on audio book. I probably would of given it 5 stars if someone didn't ruin the ending for me. Other than that, I loved the characters, the setting, and the plot. I would definitely read this again.
    • 4/5
      Heartless am a sucker for a good "making of a villain" story. I normally copy over the back cover information from Amazon into a review, but this one can be well summed up by knowing that this is the making of the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. The full back cover was a little overkill when I looked at it.
      I've been anticipating this novel since the first chapter preview in Stars Above. Yep, this is written by the same woman who gave us a science fiction reimagining of Cinderella set in a dystopian future. There was a chance that I would have too high expectations for this book to possibly live up to, but that did not turn out to be the case. It was just as wonderful and enchanting as I had hoped.
      It also made me feel like a have to go back and watch Alice in Wonderland again. It had actually been long enough that I couldn't remember if some of the characters made it through to the other story, though others are certain and hallmarks of the movie/book, such as Cheshire, Mr. Caterpillar, and the Mad Hatter. I really enjoyed the Mad Hatter, or Hatta is he is called here.
      Despite the fact that this is a prequel that lets you know up front which character it is developing, there were still some moments that made me question how we were going to get there. There was something about the way the odd things in Wonderland are normalized when seen through the eyes of a resident.
      I enjoyed the story development and writing of this book almost as much as in the Lunar Chronicles but this is a set of characters that I was not nearly as attached to at the outset. Catherine was endearing and I felt for her along her journey and I daresay that I have felt the way that she has at different points of her story in my own life but didn't have quite the follow through available to me. It was probably for the best for me that I didn't.
      Anywho, I fell in love with Jest a little. Their story moves a little fast but I get how good dreams can propel things. I even have a real life friend who dreamed about a man she met the next day and it definitely sped things up for them. She greeted him as if they knew each other because of the dream, which he found adorable, which is apparently a good conversation starter. Nevertheless, Jest is adorable. He would have to be right?
      But the best part was that this is not a cut and dry love story that propels the protagonist into blah, blah, predictable predictable. Even though we know where one aspect of the story is headed, it doesn't distract from the fun of how it gets there nor that there is another plot going on that propels the story forward. Still, the romance isn't treated as an afterthought. This might sound a little confusing and I might be talking myself in circles, but Meyer is quite good at giving us some great romantic interests and love scenes while having an action plot going on at the same time and with equal pacing.
      Anyone who loved the Lunar Chronicles is likely to enjoy this story as well, but they are certainly not the only audience that will enjoy it. I
    • 4/5
      “What a Queen you will make Lady Pinkerton, cake maker and happiness maker.”I have attempted to read this so many times. I have tried reading the book and also listening to the audiobook. I was only able to get through a chapter or two and I would put it down. I guess I just was not in the mood for it, until now. I decided to give the audiobook another chance.I liked how the narrator used different voices for the characters, and I recommend the audiobook as it brought the characters to life. I really enjoyed it. It was fun hearing about some of your favorite characters from Alice in Wonderland.This started off a little slow, but once it picked up, you will not want to put it down. We all know “Off with your head” but it was fun learning more about how the Queen becomes the Queen. Overall, this was a fun read and I am glad I finally gave it a chance.