“Harper has freed Prince Rhen from the curse that almost destroyed his kingdom. But all is not well in Emberfall: rumours are rife that there is a rival heir with a stronger claim to the throne and that ‘Princess’ Harper of Disi is nothing but a fraud. Grey has fled the castle carrying a terrible secret. When he is discovered by soldiers and returned to Ironrose by force, Grey’s allegiances begin to shift. As he grows closer to an enemy princess, he is forced to decide whether he will stand against Rhen for the crown he never wanted…”
What is the book about?
Harper’s love for Rhen has freed him and his kingdom from the curse that almost destroyed them all. But, even with the curse now broken, Emberfall is still not fully safe: rumours are spreading about a rival heir with a stronger claim to the throne than Rhen and that ‘Princess’ Harper of Disi and the alliance is nothing but a lie. Grey has fled the castle carrying a terrible secret, which he must hide to keep himself and all of Emberfall safe. Hidden in a small village with a new identity, he is discovered by soldiers and forcefully returned to Ironrose. Grey’s alliances begin to shift as he realises that maybe Rhen isn’t the prince he thought him to be and that his thoughts had been blinded by loyalty to the crown. As he grows closer to an enemy princess, he must decide whether he will stand against Rhen for the crown he never wanted or let himself and all of Emberfall be destroyed…
What were your initial thoughts on the book?
Initially, I obviously knew this was going to be an incredible book because I had already read the first book in the series – A Curse So Dark and Lonely – and absolutely loved it. I had been left on a perfect and shocking cliff-hanger, which had just enough suspense to leave me desperate and curious to discover what happens next, but not too much that I become frustrated due to my shocking lack of patience. As soon as I had turned the last page of the previous book, I was already reaching over to read A Heart So Fierce and Broken, ready to dive back into Emberfall and uncover the new plot that I was sure to love. After admiring the gorgeous cover and reading the enticing blurb, I already had endless questions and was anxious to finally flip to the front page and begin another adventure, and as soon as I did I was already in love with the story. Once I started to read, I felt like I had never stopped reading and was back with Harper and Rhen in their world, trying to help them in their adventures. After reading the first chapter in Harper’s familiar perspective, I felt at home in the fantasy world of Emberfall, but, as I began to read more chapters, those feelings slowly began to fade when I realised that I was no longer going to have Harpers point of view. Although I was a bit surprised to begin with, I gradually began to get used to the new narrators and start to enjoy the story again. Within what felt like minutes, I was already reaching the end of the book and was literally on the edge of my seat once again.
Who was your favourite character and why?
My favourite character was definitely Lia Mara, mostly because she is what I think the best version of me would be. Unlike other times, choosing my favourite character was a very easy decision and I was already decided only a few chapters after meeting Lia Mara. Even though she was always surrounded by brutality, she grew up believing in peace over conflict and that there were other ways to solve problems than with a sword. I really liked how she was very self-conscious about herself, like most teenage girls are, and that she didn’t believe that she was anyone worth knowing. Lia Mara had always been a nobody, completely ignored by most people, and so that’s what she believed was true, even after all her friends told her that she wasn’t worthless. The best thing about Lia Mara was that she was completely selfless and loyal to everyone she cared about. This might have been because of how she didn’t believe she was of any importance and that no one would miss her, but I also think that it all came down to her bravery and strength to choose what is right, even if it means choosing everyone else over your own self. One last thing that made me sure she was the best character was that she enjoyed reading almost as much as I do and I think that that made her an even better character, with all the knowledge she had gathered from reading. The reason I knew I liked her from the first few chapters is because she understood the appeal of fictional characters and how much better they are from real human beings. I just understood Lia Mara really well and she really showed me that you don’t need magic or any important role to still do something to help the world.
What was your favourite part of the book and why?
My favourite part of the book was most likely the ending for quite a few reasons. One reason why I liked the ending was because it was full of plot twists and, when I thought the surprises were over, more kept on coming. I had started the book with high hopes, and lost faith in it as I started to notice that the main characters were different, but the ending restored my trust to the story completely and I was so excited to read the next book to find out the solution to the endless problems that appeared in the last chapter. Another reason why I chose the ending as my favourite part was because it made me hopeful for a better future. For the whole book, Emberfall was in shatters and the problems the country had didn’t look like they were ever going to be resolved, but the ending gave me the confidence to believe in a resolution. I am hopeful that in the third and final book, this new path the story is on will help Emberfall and everyone have a better, more prosperous future and that the characters will be able to resolve their differences and join together to help reach that goal. One last reason why I really enjoyed the ending of A Heart So Fierce and Broken was because of the romance at the end. I like seeing a couple finally together with (almost) nothing in their way and, luckily, that is what I got. For some reason, I preferred the romance in this book to the previous one, and I really enjoyed seeing the love flourish after so much suffering.
What was your overall impression of the book?
Overall, I really enjoyed reading A Heart So Fierce and Broken and thought it was an amazing book. When I started reading, I was confident that the book was going to be just as incredible as the previous book in the series, but after reading a few chapters I began to realise that the main characters were different, and that I would be hearing different points of view. I had lost hope in the book because I had really enjoyed the perspectives in A Curse So Dark and Lonely and I wanted to keep hearing from them, however I kept reading and – once I got used to the new narrators – I found that I enjoyed these characters just as much as the first ones. One of the reasons why I enjoyed the book was because of the new main character. It is rather ironic that the reason I thought I wasn’t going to enjoy the book is actually one of the reasons I loved the book, but it’s true that the new main character (Lia Mara) made the book so much better. She was kind, brave and loyal and was a complete inspiration. She showed me that, even if I’m just one person with no special abilities, there is still a chance that I can do something that will change the world and that, if I try my best, anything is possible. Another thing that I really loved about the book was the romance, which I somehow preferred to the romance in A Curse So Dark and Lonely. I think the main reason I loved the romance in A Heart So Fierce and Broken more was because I didn’t know it was going to happen and it didn’t seem like it was forced. Before even starting A Curse So Dark and Lonely, I already knew that there was going to be romance between two characters because it is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. However, when I started to read A Heart So Fierce and Broken, I didn’t know that there was going to be romance until I started to notice the emotions begin between the characters. I also think I liked it more because I got to really see the characters begin to fall for each other and I got to see and feel it through both characters eyes. I knew everything they felt for each other and why they felt that way, and I really loved watching it all begin from day 1. One last reason why A Heart So Fierce and Broken is such an incredible book is because of the ending. I was so shocked after reading the many twists coming right after the other that I barely had time to register what had happened. At the end it was chapter after chapter filled with new information, new shocks and more twists, and I absolutely loved them all. The ending made me so curious and gave me so much hope for a wonderful third and final book that I almost immediately turned to grab the next book and start to read. A Heart So Fierce and Broken really was an extraordinary book and I’m really glad that I gave it a chance.
Which book did you like better, the first or the second?
Although both A Curse So Dark and Lonely and A Heart So Fierce and Broken were amazing books in their own way, I think that my favourite book is A Curse So Dark and Lonely, mainly because I liked the plot better. I found that A Heart So Fierce and Broken had a bit of sequel syndrome and for a small section of the book I was unaware at what the plot was, which made the story a bit slower paced and, frankly, quite boring. In contrast, A Curse So Dark and Lonely had a wonderful plot and I didn’t lose interest once in the whole book, therefore, in my opinion, it was a much more enjoyable and exciting book. Another reason why I think that I enjoyed A Curse So Dark and Lonely better was because it was the original fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast and I always adore reading different versions of some of my favourite princess fairy tales. Even though A Heart So Fierce and Broken was a continuation of the story, it lost its element of fairy tale retelling and I didn’t enjoy the story as much because it lost a bit of its element of magic (which is a bit ironic because magic is present in a lot more of A Heart So Fierce and Broken). One last thing that made me choose A Curse So Dark and Lonely over its sequel was because the romance made me so sad, especially when he remembered her when he wasn’t even in his true form. Despite preferring the romantic couple in A Heart So Fierce and Broken, I found that A Curse So Dark and Lonely made my heart break and nothing can beat a book that tears you apart and then slowly puts you back together. Both books were really good and I enjoyed reading them both, and I cannot wait to finish the trilogy with A Vow So Bold and Deadly.
Would you recommend this book?
I definitely recommend reading A Heart So Fierce and Broken, especially for readers over 14 and anyone who enjoys fantasy, adventure and romance. Before reading this book, however, I suggest you to read A Curse So Dark and Lonely, the first book in the series, or you will find yourself in a confusing situation. Once you have read the first book, I urge you to give this book a chance, even if you are bored at first, because you will find that the further you go in the story, the more incredible it gets.
Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)
A fairy tale, fantasy adventure with shocking twists and turns full of murder, betrayal and love.
Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego
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