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What did you think of it? Favorite or least favorite characters? Favorite or least favorite part?

I really did not expect much from this book. I am not a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland (pretend I figured out how to italicize book titles). I loved Catherine and Jest. I really felt for them and their romance. I did not like her family. It was wrongful of them to put so much pressure on her throughout the book. What really made me annoyed was at the end her father asked something along the lines of "Is this what you want to marry the king"? I was so dumbfounded. But that's probably what made the story. How about you? :)

Meagan wrote: "I really did not expect much from this book. I am not a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland (pretend I figured out how to italicize book titles). I loved Catherine and Jest. I really felt for them and ..."

It is what made the story;)

Finally a place to gush about it=)
Let me just declare myself president of the Heartless fanclub. It was absolutely awful and beautifully perfect. The writing, the world building, the characters... In this story everything came together to build one brilliant story.
The best part probably was the anticipation. When would it go downwards? When would Catherine turn dark? What would trigger the change? I felt like being in constant, agonizing expectation of the worst.

I agree so much with your response. Had to delete previous comment because I don't know how to spell. It was unexpected. I agree and I am glad someone else feels this way!

I love Alice in Wonderland so this was right up my alley. I think the author did a great job establishing the world.

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I didn't realize this was a retelling at first. I skimmed the summary and thought it was going to be about some random girl in the Wonderland universe. I figured it out about halfway through though, so small victories.

I didn't find any character particularly compelling to be honest. Cath was weak of mind and character. Jest was lacking in development. Everyone else was of no significance. Though, the Mad Hatter was decent enough. That being said, the story was pretty good, if not a little slow.

I enjoyed the book, don't get me wrong, but I was hoping for more.

Mariah wrote: "I love Alice in Wonderland so this was right up my alley. I think the author did a great job establishing the world.

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I didn't realize this was a retelling at f..."

I would not feel bad! I did not either. I thought it was it's own story. I had no idea honestly it was going to be a lead up to the main character being the "Queen of Hearts".

Mariah wrote: "I love Alice in Wonderland so this was right up my alley. I think the author did a great job establishing the world.

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I didn't realize this was a retelling at f..."

Catherine´s "weak" character, her kindness and naive hopes and dreams are exactly what makes the story interesting for me. I mean, the Queen of Hearts is the polar opposite of the Catherine we get to know, so it is quite intriguing how one can change that much.

Meagan wrote: "I agree so much with your response. Had to delete previous comment because I don't know how to spell. It was unexpected. I agree and I am glad someone else feels this way!"

Haha glad you´re glad;)

Nika wrote: "Mariah wrote: "I love Alice in Wonderland so this was right up my alley. I think the author did a great job establishing the world.

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I didn't realize this was a..."

To me, it felt like it could have been more extreme. Cath's inner Queen of Hearts was always there. Throughout the book there were plenty of examples of her quick temper and how judgmental she could be. I don't know if that was on purpose, but in retrospect it made sense that Catherine would end up as someone so, well, heartless. The only thing that needed to be eroded was her indecisiveness. So I didn't feel as if it was such a large change for her.

I liked those aspects of her character, but they were small blips. Generally, she was 'sweet' and almost nothing else. I found myself wishing she'd actually *do* something. She took very few steps to get the bakery. (Though, this is more of an author issue, I suppose. Not much really happens in the book in general.) In the end she would have failed, regardless, because that is the way the story goes, but at least she could have tried. That's what bothered me about her most. She didn't try until it really was too late. Tragic, all things considered, but it meant she was sitting around worrying for long stretches of time rather than being an active participant in the story. Things happened *to* her. She rarely got anything going on her own.

The end was where things started to truly pick up. I don't think it was a mistake to make this a standalone book. However, I was really looking forward to 'travelling through Chess'. The whole White vs Red Queen War was super interesting. I would have liked to have expanded more on that or had that be a focal point of the story.

I love this book. I think not all stories will have happy endings. I would have liked if at least she had gotten her bakery or Jest lived but needed to go back to Chess. I feel like it was a big slap in the face in the end. Maybe the book would not have been as good then. It's just how I would personally liked for it to end.

I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would.
Being a big fan of The Lunar Chronicles I was so excited when Meyer's new book came out, but actually I'm disappointed.

I couldn't get into the story. I wasn't interesting to me and I couldn't bond with Catherine. This book just wasn't something for me, I guess.

I won't give up on Marissa Meyer, though. I believe she still has lots of interesting stories to tell.

Okay so I love fairy tale retellings so it's really hard for me to dislike them at all. I knew the minute they went to Peter's pumpkin patch that his wife was the Jabberwock. The last line "Off with his head" actually gave me shivers. It was so cool to pick up on all the small Alice in Wonderland quotes. LIke that one at the beginning when Cath said that she dreamed of 6 impossible things before breakfast or something along those lines. Also Mary Ann was a character in this story not just a name the rabbit calls Alice in the Disney movie (not sure if it's in the actual book.) The only part that really annoyed me was how people acted after Jest died. I mean, I knew Cath would end up a villain but I was still kind of hoping she wasn't since I really liked her for most of the book. Also did anyone else get hungry reading about all those sweets?

(I forgot something) Was anyone else confused by that part when Haigha was introduced? They said something about how to pronounce his name but it just confused me even more. It said "mayor but with a g." I just pronounced it liked "hey-ga" though.

I had preordered this book about a year ago & was so happy to finally get it on my nook! I was so excited for it that I read it in 2 days :) I thought the story was great & I loved seeing many of the original Alice in Wonderland characters. Obviously as the reader you know kind of how it's going to end but then BOOM! Marissa Meyer dropped that big bomb on us which was sad but necessary to the overall story. All in all I was very happy with the book & I love her as an author! If you haven't read her Lunar Chronicles series you should because it is amazing as well.

I liked this book; I did not love it the way I loved the lunar chronicles. The first 250 pages are really slow. The ending was good and that moved at a relatively quick pace, but I had a hard time getting there because of the beginning.

I loved Jest and his playfulness, but I found Catherine a little less likeable. She was just so eager to please it became annoying some. I wanted her to have a little bit more of a backbone considering the way she was willing to stand up to Peter and Jest in the beginning, but wasn't willing to stand up for herself with others around.

I loved the mad hatter. I thought Meyer did such a good job with developing his story. I really loved that character. In the Lunar Chronicles I thought she was better at developing her female characters, in heartless I felt the exact opposite.

I gave the book four stars and I did enjoy it, I'm just hoping whatever Marissa Meyer puts out next will blow me out of the water.

The ending is what made this book. In the beginning her parents and the king drove me up the dang wall. It was so annoying and oppressive. Her parents didn't care one bit about her happiness. Only about appearances and her being the queen. My favorite quote from the book is this one, at the end.

"How different everything could have been" she said, "if you had asked me that before."

Jest's first appearance was amazing imo. I loved it. I was hooked on him right from the start. I loved all the moments with him in it. I loved Cheshire, Raven and Hatta.

I went into this book not realizing that it was about the Queen of Hearts. I thought Alice was going to show up at some point. There was even a small mention of some girl showing up somewhere. I can't remember exactly where right now. I may try and search the book for it.

(view spoiler)[I hated that Jest had to go out like that. I kept hoping that it wouldn't happen. But Catherine did have a part in it, she went through the door even after being warned. Of course he would follow her when she was in danger. (hide spoiler)]

I have been disappointed by every retelling I've read, especially Alice books (Splintered is one of the worst books I've ever suffered through) and I wish I could say this one was different. I did still rate it three stars, so it was somewhat enjoyable, but the reviews led me to believe it was going to be the perfect book.

I listened to the audiobook and I would recommend it for people who like VERY theatrical performances. She used many different voices, but the problem was that they were almost all extremely high pitched. It was hard to enjoy when it was hurting my ears so much.

The pacing was also painfully show. She could have cut out 200 pages. Some conversations amongst characters had to have lasted more than 30 pages and it was putting me to sleep. I saw the ending coming, because I figured Jest had to die to get Katherine to that place, but I almost wish it had happened sooner so her character would become interesting faster. She was too weak-willed throughout the book and I'm just like damn, move to Chess and quit doing what your parents tell you!

I couldn't even finish Splintered. That book was awful.

Shay wrote: "I couldn't even finish Splintered. That book was awful."

I was reading it for a challenge so I pushed through but it made no sense and everything was so incredibly stupid. I hate to bash on people's reading preferences, but I just can't figure out why everyone loved it so much! A.G. Howard's newest release sounded alright until I realized it was her book, so I'm like fool me once girl, no thanks.

Farren wrote: "I have been disappointed by every retelling I've read, especially Alice books (Splintered is one of the worst books I've ever suffered through) and I wish I could say this one was different. I did ..."

That's exactly the right word for her; weak-willed. The entire book up until the last couple chapters was very slow going. I don't mind dialogue or introspection, but Cath was so bland that I found myself so bored with her. She had no personality. She was supposedly sweet (I didn't really agree) but other than that she was a shell. I wanted her to do *something*. It became less about the oppressive society and more about Cath's inability to give up her cushy lifestyle or risk anything.

It was ok but the ending dissapointed

For me this was the expected plot, but there were parts that woke up something in me and it is very important to me for one book. As for the characters, everyone had their destiny and nothing could change. In the end, Heartless was a very good book for me. (sorry for any mistakes, English is not my first language)

I loved the backstory of the Queen of Hearts. However, I didn't like how Catherine wanted to marry the king after Jest died.

It took me so long to finish Heartless.. The only thing I like about it is just the ending, she married the king and became 'Heartless' because the dead of her lover

this is my fav book, absolutely heartbreaking. if anyone has recs of books like this pls let me know!!

please this book was so so good, it’s a little slow at the beginning BUT holy moly it gets so good!!!

I loved this book! Cath was the best, as was Jest, and it was so action packed, and that ending KILLED me.

Avery wrote: "I loved this book! Cath was the best, as was Jest, and it was so action packed, and that ending KILLED me."

I completely agree! I loved this book but that ending was so unexpected and killed me too.