If you have read Alice in Wonderland before, the Queen of Hearts is most likely your least favorite character. She is temperamental—“Off with your head!”—and does several perplexing things, such as forcing her subjects to paint white roses red. But have you ever wondered how the Queen of Hearts’ foul personality came to be? In Heartless, author Marissa Meyer suggests that the queen was once a bright and lively girl named Catherine Pinkerton. In Meyer’s story, Catherine is the wealthy daughter of a marquess, and the King of Hearts wants to marry her—but, Catherine dreams of other things. She dreams of opening a bakery with her maid Mary Ann; she dreams of the support of her strict parents; she dreams of being able to make money without a husband. But, it’s the cold, hard truth that it’s nearly impossible for Catherine to open a bakery with financial or emotional support. No one would ever approve of her dreams, especially her parents. But everything changes when Jest, the court joker, makes his way into Catherine’s life. As she falls for the charming and witty commoner, Catherine begins to doubt the lavish life her parents have planned out for her even more. Is she really to marry the silly, bumbling King of Hearts, or can she find a way to open her bakery and end up with Jest? Can Catherine have her cake and eat it too? This book gave me all the giggles, thrills, and fever dreams of Lewis Carroll’s original novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and I feel that Marissa Meyer has truly done the 1865 novel justice! Everything is described beautifully and accurately. If Heartless were an official prequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, I would not doubt it. Meyer develops the story so that Catherine is sweet and hopeful in the beginning, yet eventually ends up as the cruel Queen of Hearts because of a series of significant events. Far from hating Catherine, I felt that her motives were absolutely understandable and sympathized with her. The book offers an entirely new perspective concerning the queen’s temperament. Not to mention, this book is a food lover’s paradise—from luscious lemon tarts to macarons that are “sweet and delicate and smooth, with just a tiny crunch from the meringue, and a subtle floral moment from the distilled rose water,” you won’t be disappointed by the descriptions of dessert! The only thing I would note is the unnatural start of Catherine and Jest’s relationship. After just one encounter with Jest, Catherine begins to fall in love, which seems very rushed. Aside from that, though, the chemistry and dialogue between the two characters are just right. (Oops, wrong fairy tale!) The secondary characters are irresistible as well. The Cheshire Cat is hands down my favorite; while Catherine thinks him to be gossipy and unpredictable, the magical cat proves he is loyal, companionable, and surprisingly wise in multiple instances. Additionally, Hatta, who is the Mad Hatter in the original story, is interesting because he seems very confident and mysterious, yet there is anxiety and fear beneath his words. These secondary characters are written well enough to be brilliant on their own, but not so idiosyncratic that they take away from the main characters, Catherine and Jest. All in all, Heartless contains everything its readers wish for: romance, enigma, sass, suspense, and magic. This book will fill you up just as much as one of Catherine’s delicious treats. Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Feiwel and Friends, 2016. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
book review
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, Reviewed by Ismini, 12
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a masterpiece. It is one of the most striking and memorable novels I have ever read, and the book has an ethereal quality that captures every bit of your attention. V. E. Schwab’s novel tells the story of Adeline (Addie) LaRue, a young French girl born in the late 1600s who made a deal with a manifestation of the god of darkness to escape a life of marriage and captivity. Addie is given freedom and immortality and in return must one day choose to surrender her soul to the dark god, Luc. This novel is a “be careful what you wish for” story, and Addie’s freedom comes at a terrible price. No one can remember her beyond their current conversation, she cannot speak her name, and she cannot leave a mark on the world. Anything she creates disappears. She can take things but never make them. And she is always forgotten by people, no matter what, until the year 2014 when she meets a boy who remembers her name. The concept of this book is so stunning and unique; this story always seemed to have something new to say. Never was there a dull moment or a slow-moving place, and I managed to speed through it in only a day. The writing itself was also exquisite. The use of metaphor and the English language was captivating and masterful. By the end of the book, I found myself believing that Addie LaRue really exists. I especially love how V. E. Schwab started each part of her novel by introducing a piece of real art and then wove that piece of art into Addie’s life story. V. E. Schwab’s characters aren’t two-dimensional or shallow. Every character has faults and hobbies and feelings and does more than simply exist to drive the plot forward. Adeline felt like a real human being. She was timeless and relatable while being totally individualistic. I could go on and on about all the incredible parts of this novel and drone on for hours about all the thoughtful and insightful surprises hidden within its pages. I know this book will linger in my thoughts for months. My teachers will surely catch me daydreaming about it. I greatly admire V. E. Schwab for her ability to write a young adult book and make it accessible to younger children as well. Anyone and everyone should read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. It is thought-provoking, elegant, and astute, and it really made me think deeply about life and the world while still being light, fun, and easy to read. I have been changed because of this book in the most positive way possible. Five stars are certainly in order. The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab. Tor Books, 2020. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
Rea and the Blood of the Nectar, Reviewed by Aditi, 12
Twins are always known to be together even when apart, but have you ever read a book where the relationship between a pair of twins is slightly uneven? Hidden under the sleeve of every argument or ignorant glance, siblings will always have affection for one another; that’s the true beauty of having someone related to you by birth, let alone grow to the same heartbeat! Rea and the Blood of the Nectar by Payal Doshi is a book that encompasses magical wonders, presents foreign worlds in a new way, and represents sibling love! With seemingly unsolvable riddles, nightmares with hidden clues, and a new friend, the main protagonist, Rea, trudges her way to find her kidnapped twin brother, Rohan. The story is set in Darjeeling, India, where Rea lives with her mother, grandmother, and Rohan. Rea was never born with a silver spoon. Her mother has to work long hours by cleaning houses or by picking tea leaves at a tea plantation, just to make a living. Having to live under her brother’s shadow, who excels at everything compared to her, Rea feels pressure and sibling rivalry. For as long as they can remember, Rea and Rohan have always celebrated their birthday together. However, this time around, things were different. When the clock strikes midnight, Rohan slips out of bed to play cricket with his friends on their twelfth birthday. Rea secretly follows him. Longing to partake in the sport, she joins the opposing team and emerges victorious. Following Rea’s victory, Rohan walks away– puddled in a cloud of embarrassment – and mysteriously goes missing! Rohan’s disappearance and the strange reaction by her family to this untimely event left Rea suspicious. Holding herself responsible, she sets a new goal for herself: finding Rohan! As Rea sets out on her quest, she meets a fortune-teller and picks up clues on Rohan’s whereabouts. The story gains momentum as Rea discovers a mysterious portal in Darjeeling! With the help of her new friend, Rea embarks on a life-changing adventure, gripping onto the hope of finding her lost brother. Books that involve the evolution of the main character as a person are inspiring and entertaining. Rea and the Blood of the Nectar is one such book that perfectly portrays character development. At the start of the book, Rea’s selfish and demanding nature left her lonely and self-contained. However, once she portals into the kingdom of Astranthia, she uncovers new secrets about her family. While entering the world, Rea only had one goal– saving Rohan. An encounter with the evil queen, Razya, leads to a change in plans; Rea has to protect the kingdom of Astranthia and save her twin! Astranthia thrives on the sacred petals of the Som, and its nectar is used by the royal family and some common folk as powerful beams. The only way to unlock the powers of the blood nectar is to go on a personal trial. After saving a mob of people who were hurt by the queen’s guard, Rea slowly starts uncovering all of the secrets about herself, including her family. Rea and the Blood of the Nectar is a family-centered, magical tale. With the neatly woven theme of personal growth and perseverance, Payal Doshi can warm any reader’s heart with her well-organized plot twists. The captivating storyline ends with the celebration of Diwali in their village in Darjeeling. This Indian holiday celebrates the triumph of good over evil, resonating with Rea’s victory over the reign of Astranthia’s evil queen. Rea and the Blood of the Nectar explicitly reflects Payal Doshi’s culture-bound allusions and vivid imagery that revolves around show-stopping characters and a compelling self-growth theme! Rea and the Blood of the Nectar by Payal Doshi. Mango & Marigold Press, 2021. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
