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

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.

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.

Romantic / Fantastical / Melancholic / Emotional / Bittersweet

- Heartless by Marissa Meyer was released in November 2016 and is a standalone novel, diverging from Meyer's renowned Lunar Chronicles series, which features multiple books.
- Before becoming a full-time author, Marissa Meyer was a book editor, and her background in the field helped her craft well-structured and engaging narratives like that in Heartless.
- In the acknowledgments of Heartless, Meyer expresses her gratitude to Lewis Carroll for his work, as it was a significant inspiration for her reimagining of the Queen of Hearts' origin story.

**Catherine "Cath" Pinkerton**  
The protagonist, Cath is a passionate and driven young woman from a noble family in Hearts, torn between her own dreams and societal expectations.

**Jest**  
Cath's love interest, Jest is initially introduced as the King's jester but has a more complex background tied to his duty and origins in the land of Chess.

**Hatta**  
A hatmaker and friend of Jest, Hatta is involved in the creation of magical hats and has a backstory tied to the land of Chess and his father's legacy.

**Peter Peter and Lady Peter**  
Peter Peter is the owner of a pumpkin patch with a surly demeanor, while his wife, Lady Peter, suffers mysterious ill health linked to a peculiar incident.

**The Three Sisters (Lacie, Tillie, and Elsie)**  
Resembling archetypal figures of Fate, the Sisters appear as ethereal children with prophetic insights into the story's events.

**Raven**  
Jest's constant companion from Chess, Raven has a foreboding presence linked to his role as an executioner and symbolic associations.

**Mary Ann**  
Cath's best friend and maid who shares Cath’s dream of opening a bakery, providing practical support to Cath’s more idealistic vision.

**The Marquess and Marchioness of Rock Turtle Cove (Cath’s Parents)**  
Cath’s parents represent societal pressure and ambition, with the Marchioness particularly focused on securing a marriage proposal for Cath from the King.

**The King of Hearts and the Nobility**  
The King is characterized by his sweet and simplistic nature, while the nobility of Hearts tends to avoid deeper issues, highlighting the superficiality of the social sphere Cath inhabits.

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