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Heist of Hearts
He’s cursed to steal three hearts—or die.
She’s cursed to kill anyone who loves her.
Together, they’ll pull off the heist of a millennium… or destroy each other trying.
Grigg is a black-market swindler with a family curse and a ticking clock. Adelina is a fierce guardian with a death-mark on love and a vengeful mission. When fate throws them together, they must outwit ancient magic, a returning dark mage, and their own cursed hearts.
Because if he loves her, she dies.
If she loves him, he dies.
And time is running out.
She’s cursed to kill anyone who loves her.
Together, they’ll pull off the heist of a millennium… or destroy each other trying.
Grigg is a black-market swindler with a family curse and a ticking clock. Adelina is a fierce guardian with a death-mark on love and a vengeful mission. When fate throws them together, they must outwit ancient magic, a returning dark mage, and their own cursed hearts.
Because if he loves her, she dies.
If she loves him, he dies.
And time is running out.
396 pages, Hardcover
Published June 3, 2025
About the author
E.A. Winters
19 books848 followersAuthor of The Blood and Flame Saga and The Melderblood Chronicles, E.A. Winters writes fast-paced, high stakes fantasy stories that keep you turning pages long into the night. She writes with a chai tea close at hand, and when she's not writing, she enjoys family time with her boys and husband in Virginia. Come along to narrowly escape death, ride dragons, and befriend assassins.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
September 11, 2025
3.5 Stars ✨
YA Fantasy
“Victory is not a brawl, but a dance.”
🏹 Magical Artifacts
🏹 Heist
🏹 Forced alliance
🏹 Curses
🏹 He falls first
🏹 No Spice
He’s cursed to steal three hearts—or die.
She’s cursed to kill anyone who loves her.
Together, they’ll pull off the heist of a millennium… or destroy each other trying.
📚 Book Source 📚
Kindle Unlimited
E.A. Winters is such an amazing author and personality. Who she is, bleeds through each and every one of her books I’ve read so far. They are so descriptive, clean and full of wit! I really enjoyed her series Blood and Flame, and when I heard about this one, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it! I really enjoyed the writing and characters. It did take me a while to get into this world and magic system in the beginning. It wasn’t until I was about 40% in that I saw where this book is a spin off, using a character from another one of her series. I think I would have enjoyed it so much more if I would have read that one first. It is called The Melderblood Series. Heist of Hearts can be read without the other, but in my opinion- I think I personally would have connected more to the world and setting if I would have known beforehand.
I still highly recommend this and think anyone who picks up one of her books will have a great time! This one left me on a cliff- so I most definitely will be checking out the rest of the series in the future!
YA Fantasy
“Victory is not a brawl, but a dance.”
🏹 Magical Artifacts
🏹 Heist
🏹 Forced alliance
🏹 Curses
🏹 He falls first
🏹 No Spice
He’s cursed to steal three hearts—or die.
She’s cursed to kill anyone who loves her.
Together, they’ll pull off the heist of a millennium… or destroy each other trying.
📚 Book Source 📚
Kindle Unlimited
E.A. Winters is such an amazing author and personality. Who she is, bleeds through each and every one of her books I’ve read so far. They are so descriptive, clean and full of wit! I really enjoyed her series Blood and Flame, and when I heard about this one, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it! I really enjoyed the writing and characters. It did take me a while to get into this world and magic system in the beginning. It wasn’t until I was about 40% in that I saw where this book is a spin off, using a character from another one of her series. I think I would have enjoyed it so much more if I would have read that one first. It is called The Melderblood Series. Heist of Hearts can be read without the other, but in my opinion- I think I personally would have connected more to the world and setting if I would have known beforehand.
I still highly recommend this and think anyone who picks up one of her books will have a great time! This one left me on a cliff- so I most definitely will be checking out the rest of the series in the future!
June 23, 2025
“Victory is not a brawl, but a dance.”
This gem by E. A. Winters is going straight onto my shelf of favourite reads of all time. With high stakes, tension, and a love-hate relationship between Grigg and Adelina, I was sucked in to the story right until the end.
And the ending—AH! So feely and so epic. It’s a cliffhanger done SO WELL. Where is book 2??! I need it yesterday.
I gave this book 5/5 stars easily. If you like clean fantasy books that are fast paced, don’t walk, RUN over to E.A. Winters page and see what she’s written. I have three of her books now, and I would easily recommend them all!
This gem by E. A. Winters is going straight onto my shelf of favourite reads of all time. With high stakes, tension, and a love-hate relationship between Grigg and Adelina, I was sucked in to the story right until the end.
And the ending—AH! So feely and so epic. It’s a cliffhanger done SO WELL. Where is book 2??! I need it yesterday.
I gave this book 5/5 stars easily. If you like clean fantasy books that are fast paced, don’t walk, RUN over to E.A. Winters page and see what she’s written. I have three of her books now, and I would easily recommend them all!
August 7, 2026
3.5 stars ⭐️
It kept me interested and I liked the characters. I will say I felt like a lot of parts in the book kinda dragged on, but it definitely picked up more near the climax, which helped me. There were some cliches/stereotypes, which weren’t bad but noticeable. Also, I didn’t love the writing style, but that might just be my taste. lol Other than that it wasn’t bad and it was an easy read!
Thanks again bestie for the book! :D
It kept me interested and I liked the characters. I will say I felt like a lot of parts in the book kinda dragged on, but it definitely picked up more near the climax, which helped me. There were some cliches/stereotypes, which weren’t bad but noticeable. Also, I didn’t love the writing style, but that might just be my taste. lol Other than that it wasn’t bad and it was an easy read!
Thanks again bestie for the book! :D
May 23, 2025
Can I just say I love E.A. Winters style? Each book keeps me up late turning pages for just one more chapter and Heist of Hearts was no exception. Grigg toes the line of anti-hero so well, you can't help but root for him and each little reveal of backstory feels like a treasure hunt. Adelina is the right amount of tough warrior woman with a feminine softness that never makes her seem weak. And the adventure is fast-paced and unexpected. It's a well done blend of the heist with a classic hero's quest. The only trouble I'm having with this book is that now I have to wait for the sequel!!
July 13, 2025
I loved how at first I really didn't like Grigg, but as the story went on I began to like him a lot more. This book seemed to remind me of a lot of other good series but it also set itself apart. It kept me captivated and as much as i tried to make it last longer than two days, i couldn't. I love the books winters writes sooo much, but i wish my library carried them so i wouln't have to buy them every time:)))). This could be a stand alone book but also if you really enjoyed it, you could continue in the series. One other thing I liked was that Winters didn't seperate the main characters for that long. It frustrates me a lot when books take forever for the main characters to meet. If they dont, the plot has to be really captivating like the melderblood series. (110% recommend reading as well)
October 31, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. I mean, I devoured it in 3 days! That did leave me with 2 reading hangovers from late nights I had to struggle bus through with my 9 month old, but totally worth it!
My favorite genres to read are historical fiction and fantasy. But, especially with modern day fantasy, it's really hard to find something that is clean and doesn't contain explicit language and scenes. E. A. Winters advertises and prides herself as being a clean author, and as a consumer, I am incredibly grateful to have a space where I can continue to love reading in my favorite genre, but don't have to deal with many of the elements I deem unnecessary to my reading enjoyment.
So, what is this story about? The story centers on two main characters: Grigg, a swindler and cheat who is trying to outsmart a powerful mage that has cursed the males in his bloodline, of which Grigg is the current victim. And, Adelina: a warrior chieftess who happens to have magical abilities but is struggling to preserve her homeland and people from the outside world that presses in with war threats constantly. Not to mention she is also dealing with her own burden (read curse) that affects her and her only as the chieftess of her warrior tribe.
Grigg causes quite a mess, leading to his kidnapping and blackmailing Adelina into partnering with him in his venture to steal from a political leader to help Grigg accomplish his end goal of breaking his own curse. In the process, the two fall in love. And, the rest is up to you to read and find out.
So, why did I give this book 4 stars instead of 5?
While I appreciate the slow burn romance, it still came off as too fast. My understanding of the timeline these two spend together is like 3 days?! Now, Winters does keep mentioning it is the "beginnings of love" that are developing, but it still came together too fast for my personal preference. Also, it did feel more like Stockhold syndrome than love - but maybe we explore that more in the rest of the series? (Which, yes I did buy. And, yes, I do plan on reading).
My other issue came with the world building. Now, this world building is very different from other fantasties I have read. The clothing mentioned, the use of horses for transportation, the use of lanterns for light - all of it screams older than our modern technology. However, the language that is used within the book is more modern than what the scenery would paint is going on. Sometimes, it felt rather jarring and would make it difficult for me to stay within the world of the story.
Overall, I seriously loved this book. Would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a page turning thriller with magic and romance. Just know, some late night reading sessions and early morning reading hangovers might be in your future.
My favorite genres to read are historical fiction and fantasy. But, especially with modern day fantasy, it's really hard to find something that is clean and doesn't contain explicit language and scenes. E. A. Winters advertises and prides herself as being a clean author, and as a consumer, I am incredibly grateful to have a space where I can continue to love reading in my favorite genre, but don't have to deal with many of the elements I deem unnecessary to my reading enjoyment.
So, what is this story about? The story centers on two main characters: Grigg, a swindler and cheat who is trying to outsmart a powerful mage that has cursed the males in his bloodline, of which Grigg is the current victim. And, Adelina: a warrior chieftess who happens to have magical abilities but is struggling to preserve her homeland and people from the outside world that presses in with war threats constantly. Not to mention she is also dealing with her own burden (read curse) that affects her and her only as the chieftess of her warrior tribe.
Grigg causes quite a mess, leading to his kidnapping and blackmailing Adelina into partnering with him in his venture to steal from a political leader to help Grigg accomplish his end goal of breaking his own curse. In the process, the two fall in love. And, the rest is up to you to read and find out.
So, why did I give this book 4 stars instead of 5?
While I appreciate the slow burn romance, it still came off as too fast. My understanding of the timeline these two spend together is like 3 days?! Now, Winters does keep mentioning it is the "beginnings of love" that are developing, but it still came together too fast for my personal preference. Also, it did feel more like Stockhold syndrome than love - but maybe we explore that more in the rest of the series? (Which, yes I did buy. And, yes, I do plan on reading).
My other issue came with the world building. Now, this world building is very different from other fantasties I have read. The clothing mentioned, the use of horses for transportation, the use of lanterns for light - all of it screams older than our modern technology. However, the language that is used within the book is more modern than what the scenery would paint is going on. Sometimes, it felt rather jarring and would make it difficult for me to stay within the world of the story.
Overall, I seriously loved this book. Would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a page turning thriller with magic and romance. Just know, some late night reading sessions and early morning reading hangovers might be in your future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2026
This book just... didn't work for me. The plot is very zoomed in (like, the first half of the book stretches over just a few days), and it felt like it took FOREVER to get moving. I liked the characters, but not enough to feel like their lives were worth the insane amount of hassle and torment they went through to preserve them. And the ending wasn't super satisfying... but I'm not committed enough to continue with the series. The prose felt repetitive at times (with repeated detailed descriptions of clothes, or a literal repeat of a previous paragraph or backstory detail we already heard), and the romance didn't work for me either. I wasn't engaged with it.
Grigg's whole web of deceit and heists did draw me in, but I don't feel like we ever got enough detail and worldbuilding. I wanted to understand the significance of the Hearts, to dive deep into the religious systems and history and the lore of the rival political groups... and there was a lot that was unexplored. (Mind you, the last fantasy I read was Brandon Sanderson, and the worldbuilding was impeccable, so that might be my problem). I had a difficult time gauging the setting she was creating, too, because we have an Amazonian-esque tribe, a sort of Victorian-ish vibe in the town... but also a lot of modern phrases and clothes at times? Also, I feel like the back-cover copy was somewhat deceptive, because I assumed Grigg would be stealing human hearts somehow, not three significant objects.
That said, the book did have a few elements I enjoyed: I loved the drama of Adelina's tribe dynamics, and the drama between the Guerrori and Morturi groups. The action scenes were very descriptive and well-written, and I could definitely envision what was going on, but they weren't *terribly* graphic. And Grigg's jokes and puns, although sometimes oddly placed, brought much-needed levity to the story.
Content note: no swearing, some violence (including deaths of a few insignificant side characters), elemental magic system, and numerous references to sleeping with others and cheating.
All that said... I think other readers may find this romantasy fun and entertaining. Personally, I just wasn't invested enough to care deeply about the characters, which made it very difficult for me to enjoy the story as a whole.
Grigg's whole web of deceit and heists did draw me in, but I don't feel like we ever got enough detail and worldbuilding. I wanted to understand the significance of the Hearts, to dive deep into the religious systems and history and the lore of the rival political groups... and there was a lot that was unexplored. (Mind you, the last fantasy I read was Brandon Sanderson, and the worldbuilding was impeccable, so that might be my problem). I had a difficult time gauging the setting she was creating, too, because we have an Amazonian-esque tribe, a sort of Victorian-ish vibe in the town... but also a lot of modern phrases and clothes at times? Also, I feel like the back-cover copy was somewhat deceptive, because I assumed Grigg would be stealing human hearts somehow, not three significant objects.
That said, the book did have a few elements I enjoyed: I loved the drama of Adelina's tribe dynamics, and the drama between the Guerrori and Morturi groups. The action scenes were very descriptive and well-written, and I could definitely envision what was going on, but they weren't *terribly* graphic. And Grigg's jokes and puns, although sometimes oddly placed, brought much-needed levity to the story.
Content note: no swearing, some violence (including deaths of a few insignificant side characters), elemental magic system, and numerous references to sleeping with others and cheating.
All that said... I think other readers may find this romantasy fun and entertaining. Personally, I just wasn't invested enough to care deeply about the characters, which made it very difficult for me to enjoy the story as a whole.
September 28, 2025
E.A. Winters has a command of language rarely seen in modern writers. It makes her books a delight to read. She has said she loves a fast start to a book, and this book started so fast that I had a hard time getting into it at first. So much was happening with little backstory in the beginning that my brain was hard put to keep up. But that is a fault of my own brain, not a fault of the story.
The worldbuilding did come, and gave me Once Upon a Time (the tv show) vibes. The end had a wee bit of Caraval vibes.
I do wish there had been a bit more foreshadowing throughout the book, so that some of the history/lore at the end wouldn't have felt so sudden.
If you like heists, well-written action, and wily characters, you'll like this book. It's kind of like Mission Impossible in a fantasy setting. I don't know if this would be considered slow-burn romance, but there is quite a bit of angst. No spice.
Also, the blurb on the back has the curse backward from how it's described in the book? Or maybe I'm the dull one? Idk. I don't care! I love this book and immediately pre-ordered a signed copy of the second book upon finishing it.
The worldbuilding did come, and gave me Once Upon a Time (the tv show) vibes. The end had a wee bit of Caraval vibes.
I do wish there had been a bit more foreshadowing throughout the book, so that some of the history/lore at the end wouldn't have felt so sudden.
If you like heists, well-written action, and wily characters, you'll like this book. It's kind of like Mission Impossible in a fantasy setting. I don't know if this would be considered slow-burn romance, but there is quite a bit of angst. No spice.
Also, the blurb on the back has the curse backward from how it's described in the book? Or maybe I'm the dull one? Idk. I don't care! I love this book and immediately pre-ordered a signed copy of the second book upon finishing it.
June 1, 2025
This book is action packed and full of danger, adventure, mystery, curses, and people with questionable morals. This was my first time reading E.A. Winters writing, but it won’t be my last. It’s a no-spice dark fantasy that covers some heavier topics. This dual POV storyline will keep you hooked till the end.
The characters were layered, flawed, and jumped off the page. Grigg is a swindler and master of playing the part with more aliases than one can count. Adelina is a strong determined warrior chieftess. Both cursed. Both stubborn and unpredictable. Thrown together out of Grigg’s necessity, their dangerous situations bring out the best and the worst in themselves. Forced into a seemingly no-win game of life or death with their enemy as their ally.
This story is fast paced and full of action. There’s plenty of deception, betrayal, forcing of the hand, danger, death, and twists. Be prepared to loose sleep due to not being able to stop. “Just one more chapter.”
Overall, thrilling read. Does have some darker content/references so definitely would suggest this for adults not teens or younger. No spice, but there are references to people using others to have children, a woman using seduction to get information (again no open door intimacy just describing the way she moves towards a target/ what she was wearing/mussed makeup.)
Read if you enjoy:
🫀epic quests
🫀enemies to reluctant allies to more
🫀 jungles
🫀 warrior queen FMC
🫀 charming, morally grey conman MMC
🫀 deception
🫀 curses
🫀 he falls first
🫀 touch her and exist no more
🫀 magical heists
Spice: none, just a little kissing
Strong language: none
Violence: fighting, abduction to force into alliance, poisoning, burns, d e a t h, s t a b b i n g
The characters were layered, flawed, and jumped off the page. Grigg is a swindler and master of playing the part with more aliases than one can count. Adelina is a strong determined warrior chieftess. Both cursed. Both stubborn and unpredictable. Thrown together out of Grigg’s necessity, their dangerous situations bring out the best and the worst in themselves. Forced into a seemingly no-win game of life or death with their enemy as their ally.
This story is fast paced and full of action. There’s plenty of deception, betrayal, forcing of the hand, danger, death, and twists. Be prepared to loose sleep due to not being able to stop. “Just one more chapter.”
Overall, thrilling read. Does have some darker content/references so definitely would suggest this for adults not teens or younger. No spice, but there are references to people using others to have children, a woman using seduction to get information (again no open door intimacy just describing the way she moves towards a target/ what she was wearing/mussed makeup.)
Read if you enjoy:
🫀epic quests
🫀enemies to reluctant allies to more
🫀 jungles
🫀 warrior queen FMC
🫀 charming, morally grey conman MMC
🫀 deception
🫀 curses
🫀 he falls first
🫀 touch her and exist no more
🫀 magical heists
Spice: none, just a little kissing
Strong language: none
Violence: fighting, abduction to force into alliance, poisoning, burns, d e a t h, s t a b b i n g
September 18, 2026
This was good. At times, it was great. The storyline, the characters, the settings, the twists, and the pace should have made this at least 4.5 ⭐️s, if not 5. But sometimes, it just didn’t hold my interest. I’d put it down, and later push through until another great part. I recommend it, and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series, even though it was only 4 ⭐️s.
May 28, 2025
-Dual POVs
-MMC: a swindler with a purpose (he was also a side character from the Melderblood Chronicles)
-FMC: a jungle chieftess
-Enemies to more
-Curses, explosions, elemental magic
-A creepy villain
She's done it again with this amazing story! I cannot wait for book 2 after that ending!!
*I received an ARC, opinions are my own.
-MMC: a swindler with a purpose (he was also a side character from the Melderblood Chronicles)
-FMC: a jungle chieftess
-Enemies to more
-Curses, explosions, elemental magic
-A creepy villain
She's done it again with this amazing story! I cannot wait for book 2 after that ending!!
*I received an ARC, opinions are my own.
November 14, 2025
Edit to add: I just looked at her publishing schedule, and I think she's using AI to write as well as generate the covers. Either she's a modern Shakespeare or Alexander Hamilton (definitely not), or she's using AI. Her books are coming out way too fast. The only other reasonable explanation is that she already had these series almost completely written before publishing the first book of each series, because they are just coming out way too fast. She published HOH and its sequel this year (2025) alone, and the third book is scheduled to come out in January.
I am currently not far into HOH, but I have thoughts. My husband bought it for me for my birthday (at my recommendation) because I heard about E.A. Winters and wanted to read some fast-paced, clean fantasy. As I said, I'm not far in (Chapter 7 currently), but I'm already cringing hard and not sure if I want to finish the book. There are constant similes and general over-description. I find it distracting and boring. I frankly don't care about the main characters (Grigg and Adelina), especially after Grigg's description of Adelina on page 46. It was dehumanizing of both of them. For all her similes and overdone descriptions, E.A. Winters still has a hard time provoking a clear mental image at times. In the very first paragraph of the novel, she references a "green paper siren." I had no idea what that was until it was described as a folded paper mermaid a little later on. There are some simple factual errors, too. On page 4 she refers to flower blossoms as flower bulbs. (Bulbs are the root part of the plant, not the flower, and wouldn't be visible above ground.) She also refers later on to striking molten glass with a hammer, which is not any glasswork technique I know of. There are certain techniques that involve gently hitting cooled, solid glass with a hammer to make cracks, but not hot liquid glass like she describes. I can only imagine she was thinking of a blacksmith hammering glowing hot metal. There are other logical improbabilities, like the Guerrori wearing animal skins in the jungle, where it's always hot and wet. That would be miserable. These are the sorts of things that a halfway-decent editor would pick up on and ask her to clear up, so it's clear she doesn't have a good content editor. I also took a good look through the book for information on the cover art and didn't find any. That, combined with the general oddness of the design, leads me to believe that it is AI generated. I am a firm believer that artists should support other artists, not give their jobs to AI. If the cover is human-made, then the artist should be credited, even if she did it herself.
My two bits of praise are that I haven't noticed a single typo or grammatical error yet, and I am at least vaguely interested in this mysterious temple and what's inside it, but I don't know if that's enough for me to overlook all of the issues I have described. If I do finish the book, I will try to remember to update my review with my later impressions. For now, two stars.
I am currently not far into HOH, but I have thoughts. My husband bought it for me for my birthday (at my recommendation) because I heard about E.A. Winters and wanted to read some fast-paced, clean fantasy. As I said, I'm not far in (Chapter 7 currently), but I'm already cringing hard and not sure if I want to finish the book. There are constant similes and general over-description. I find it distracting and boring. I frankly don't care about the main characters (Grigg and Adelina), especially after Grigg's description of Adelina on page 46. It was dehumanizing of both of them. For all her similes and overdone descriptions, E.A. Winters still has a hard time provoking a clear mental image at times. In the very first paragraph of the novel, she references a "green paper siren." I had no idea what that was until it was described as a folded paper mermaid a little later on. There are some simple factual errors, too. On page 4 she refers to flower blossoms as flower bulbs. (Bulbs are the root part of the plant, not the flower, and wouldn't be visible above ground.) She also refers later on to striking molten glass with a hammer, which is not any glasswork technique I know of. There are certain techniques that involve gently hitting cooled, solid glass with a hammer to make cracks, but not hot liquid glass like she describes. I can only imagine she was thinking of a blacksmith hammering glowing hot metal. There are other logical improbabilities, like the Guerrori wearing animal skins in the jungle, where it's always hot and wet. That would be miserable. These are the sorts of things that a halfway-decent editor would pick up on and ask her to clear up, so it's clear she doesn't have a good content editor. I also took a good look through the book for information on the cover art and didn't find any. That, combined with the general oddness of the design, leads me to believe that it is AI generated. I am a firm believer that artists should support other artists, not give their jobs to AI. If the cover is human-made, then the artist should be credited, even if she did it herself.
My two bits of praise are that I haven't noticed a single typo or grammatical error yet, and I am at least vaguely interested in this mysterious temple and what's inside it, but I don't know if that's enough for me to overlook all of the issues I have described. If I do finish the book, I will try to remember to update my review with my later impressions. For now, two stars.
May 24, 2026
4.5 stars
This review is for the trilogy.
So, E.A. had so much hype around this trilogy upon the release of book 3, it was not misplaced! I had no idea what these books were about upon entering. Just so you know, this vaguely ties into the Melderblood magical system.
I was absolutely immediately captured into a swirling vortex of adventure! My favorite reads!
Grigg is a conman. Outside of that, he really doesn't know who he is, or what his life's potential is.
Adelina is a chieftess who has known her role and purpose her entire life. Throw in a random conman, and now neither know where life is plummeting. Because it is plummeting!
Both suffer from a curse brought on by Giovanna, the Black Swan mage. The only way to break free, is to steal all 3 hearts from different regions. Hearts of power (Mountain, Sea, Wind). But stealing them only exchanges on monster manipulator for another.
The Queen of the Sea wants secrets. She'll have them at the cost of Grigg & Adelina without pause.
Their journey takes them from the Queen of the Sea, armed with new abilities, to the Jester of Fates & the King of the Wind. Can they get secrets from the most powerful beings to exist or will their own hearts be crushed by failure?
Help comes in very unusual forms for Grigg & Adelina. They make friends, enemies, and unlikely partnerships along the way! Their banter and wit is a great reprieve to some of the very heavy undertones of the books. While not especially a dark read, there are a lot of dark instances.
Disclaimer: If you're sensitive to torture, be careful; magic, good vs evil, corruption, satyrs, magically made creatures, fun side characters, loyalty, moths (beautiful!), and a very quirky, yet talkative plant that eats curses!
This is a trilogy you won't want to miss!
However, I'm sad. I only just realized, I've now finished all of EA's books. *sigh
Waiting for her to release more!
This review is for the trilogy.
So, E.A. had so much hype around this trilogy upon the release of book 3, it was not misplaced! I had no idea what these books were about upon entering. Just so you know, this vaguely ties into the Melderblood magical system.
I was absolutely immediately captured into a swirling vortex of adventure! My favorite reads!
Grigg is a conman. Outside of that, he really doesn't know who he is, or what his life's potential is.
Adelina is a chieftess who has known her role and purpose her entire life. Throw in a random conman, and now neither know where life is plummeting. Because it is plummeting!
Both suffer from a curse brought on by Giovanna, the Black Swan mage. The only way to break free, is to steal all 3 hearts from different regions. Hearts of power (Mountain, Sea, Wind). But stealing them only exchanges on monster manipulator for another.
The Queen of the Sea wants secrets. She'll have them at the cost of Grigg & Adelina without pause.
Their journey takes them from the Queen of the Sea, armed with new abilities, to the Jester of Fates & the King of the Wind. Can they get secrets from the most powerful beings to exist or will their own hearts be crushed by failure?
Help comes in very unusual forms for Grigg & Adelina. They make friends, enemies, and unlikely partnerships along the way! Their banter and wit is a great reprieve to some of the very heavy undertones of the books. While not especially a dark read, there are a lot of dark instances.
Disclaimer: If you're sensitive to torture, be careful; magic, good vs evil, corruption, satyrs, magically made creatures, fun side characters, loyalty, moths (beautiful!), and a very quirky, yet talkative plant that eats curses!
This is a trilogy you won't want to miss!
However, I'm sad. I only just realized, I've now finished all of EA's books. *sigh
Waiting for her to release more!
June 7, 2026
I found this book well-written. Most of my issues with it were personal.
I feel like it got a little boring after a while, I mainly continued reading through so I could write a decent review. Fantasy isn't really my favorite, but this book caught my eye so I gave it a shot.
I liked the explanations of the melders using their powers. It was actually easy for me to picture most of that (picturing detailed images is a struggle for me). I really liked Adelina, she was a good character to root for.
Below will have some specific details, so continue at your own risk!
The biggest thing that gave me an ick, was how Grigg basically told another character to sleep with someone other than his wife--he had just explained to the side character that he knew about the trysts, and so Grigg decided to use it to his advantage. I don't care to read about a character talking about that, let alone encouraging someone to do it, no matter the reason (Grigg's reason was to set up a situation that helped aid him in getting one of the items he was trying to steal). I know he's morally gray, but it really just didn't sit well with me, personally. Other adults may not have any issues with this, but I definitely don't encourage it for young teens.
The plot and writing was good enough for me to skim through and see how it ended, and the ending was satisfying. For adults who enjoy fantasy and are okay with just a handful of references to things such as trysts, or a man cutting a woman's clothing off (again, morally gray character doing it to force the woman to do what he needed for his end goal by having her change her clothing, but he saw nothing--though he probably would have had she not insisted on him turning away...), then this is a decent read.
(Sorry E.A., if you read this! I know you're shocked by people being angry that you don't have MORE spice in your books, so maybe I'm just too sensitive to this!)
I feel like it got a little boring after a while, I mainly continued reading through so I could write a decent review. Fantasy isn't really my favorite, but this book caught my eye so I gave it a shot.
I liked the explanations of the melders using their powers. It was actually easy for me to picture most of that (picturing detailed images is a struggle for me). I really liked Adelina, she was a good character to root for.
Below will have some specific details, so continue at your own risk!
The biggest thing that gave me an ick, was how Grigg basically told another character to sleep with someone other than his wife--he had just explained to the side character that he knew about the trysts, and so Grigg decided to use it to his advantage. I don't care to read about a character talking about that, let alone encouraging someone to do it, no matter the reason (Grigg's reason was to set up a situation that helped aid him in getting one of the items he was trying to steal). I know he's morally gray, but it really just didn't sit well with me, personally. Other adults may not have any issues with this, but I definitely don't encourage it for young teens.
The plot and writing was good enough for me to skim through and see how it ended, and the ending was satisfying. For adults who enjoy fantasy and are okay with just a handful of references to things such as trysts, or a man cutting a woman's clothing off (again, morally gray character doing it to force the woman to do what he needed for his end goal by having her change her clothing, but he saw nothing--though he probably would have had she not insisted on him turning away...), then this is a decent read.
(Sorry E.A., if you read this! I know you're shocked by people being angry that you don't have MORE spice in your books, so maybe I'm just too sensitive to this!)
June 3, 2025
For transparency’s sake: I am an ARC reader and I have immensely enjoyed reading EA Winters’ books in general.
First off: Yes, I highly recommend Heist of Hearts! If you want a high-stakes fantasy adventure with magic, swindling, and black-mail, this is the book for you!
Winters is a clean author and not shy at all about it. but, just because there’s no spice or language does NOT mean that the characters are perfectly moral goody-two-shoes, especially Grigg. Adelina is more upright, but as we see, she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty.
We as readers first meet Grigg in the third book of the Melderblood Chronicles “Wraithweaver”, and I have to confess, I did not like him. He felt slimy, and willing to go with the highest bidder on any of his services. I was skeptical of a series based on him as, shocker, I didn’t want to read about a character who felt like a parade of red flags. Potential reader, I’m glad I was proven wrong.
I started the book struggling to like Grigg, even if he has a curse on the men in his family for 600 years. My guard dropped when he first lays eyes on Adelina. Wow, the yearning!! Turns out, Grigg is morally gray due to life circumstances and with perfectly acceptable reasons.
The chieftess Adelina is strong warrior woman with fire magic living in the jungle where Grigg’s next heist takes place. As a leader of an all-female tribe that guards a precious secret, Adelina takes her duties seriously. However, she has started to question some of the basic beliefs of her people. She longs for a peaceful family life, but will not be derelict in her duty as chieftain of an all woman tribe in jungle.
Winters’ stories are full of action, and she also handles the emotions and inner thoughts of her characters with exceptional insight. Bonus: she’s funny! I love a book that can make me laugh out loud, and “Heist” is no exception.
First off: Yes, I highly recommend Heist of Hearts! If you want a high-stakes fantasy adventure with magic, swindling, and black-mail, this is the book for you!
Winters is a clean author and not shy at all about it. but, just because there’s no spice or language does NOT mean that the characters are perfectly moral goody-two-shoes, especially Grigg. Adelina is more upright, but as we see, she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty.
We as readers first meet Grigg in the third book of the Melderblood Chronicles “Wraithweaver”, and I have to confess, I did not like him. He felt slimy, and willing to go with the highest bidder on any of his services. I was skeptical of a series based on him as, shocker, I didn’t want to read about a character who felt like a parade of red flags. Potential reader, I’m glad I was proven wrong.
I started the book struggling to like Grigg, even if he has a curse on the men in his family for 600 years. My guard dropped when he first lays eyes on Adelina. Wow, the yearning!! Turns out, Grigg is morally gray due to life circumstances and with perfectly acceptable reasons.
The chieftess Adelina is strong warrior woman with fire magic living in the jungle where Grigg’s next heist takes place. As a leader of an all-female tribe that guards a precious secret, Adelina takes her duties seriously. However, she has started to question some of the basic beliefs of her people. She longs for a peaceful family life, but will not be derelict in her duty as chieftain of an all woman tribe in jungle.
Winters’ stories are full of action, and she also handles the emotions and inner thoughts of her characters with exceptional insight. Bonus: she’s funny! I love a book that can make me laugh out loud, and “Heist” is no exception.
June 3, 2025
Heist of Hearts is another book by E.A Winters that will leave you breathless with all its twists and turns, and leave you immediately wanting the sequel!! Since I found E.A. Winters' The Blood and Flame Saga, I have literally devoured everything she has written, and I still want more!!
Let's start with Griggs. He's a bit rough around the edges. He's anti-hero than hero, and he's written perfectly. His backstory is 🤌🏻! Not too much, but just enough revealed to keep the pages turning! It was so much fun to have a side character from the Melderblood Chronicles become the MMC.
Adelina is a fierce warrior but she's also incredibly feminine and complements Grigg wonderfully. The way she fits into the story is incredibly well done, and so engaging!
This story is fast paced and action packed! I can't wait for book #2 👀
What to expect:
👩❤️💋👨 Clean fantasy romance, with enemies to lovers vibes, as well as touch her and die
🪄 Curses, elemental magic
⚔️ Explosions, action adventure, some mention of death
IMO: You can absolutely just start with Heist of Hearts...however, you will understand the story/world building better if you start with A Dragon's Kiss! (The Blood & Flame Saga #1!!
Thank you, Erin, for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
Let's start with Griggs. He's a bit rough around the edges. He's anti-hero than hero, and he's written perfectly. His backstory is 🤌🏻! Not too much, but just enough revealed to keep the pages turning! It was so much fun to have a side character from the Melderblood Chronicles become the MMC.
Adelina is a fierce warrior but she's also incredibly feminine and complements Grigg wonderfully. The way she fits into the story is incredibly well done, and so engaging!
This story is fast paced and action packed! I can't wait for book #2 👀
What to expect:
👩❤️💋👨 Clean fantasy romance, with enemies to lovers vibes, as well as touch her and die
🪄 Curses, elemental magic
⚔️ Explosions, action adventure, some mention of death
IMO: You can absolutely just start with Heist of Hearts...however, you will understand the story/world building better if you start with A Dragon's Kiss! (The Blood & Flame Saga #1!!
Thank you, Erin, for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
September 13, 2025
Question: WHERE has this been all my life? Or, at least, the last several years of it? The dual POV made this a captivating read. Two viewpoints of the same journey in the same book, there's one word that comes to mind: WOW!
Grigg was irritatingly loveable right from the start. The thorn in my side. I wanted to hate him for his brash arrogance, but I couldn't. Adelina quickly became a favorite, the strong woman who would do anything for her people. But they both have a curse. They both have secrets. And they share a mutual enemy.
This book was riveting from the first few chapters, and the trade of one debt to another made the ending nearly unbearable to read, in the very best of ways. I will remain on the edge of my seat, this story rooted deep in my soul like the fingers of the curse itself, as I eagerly await the continuation of Grigg and Adelina's shared story. Solid five glimmering golden stars.
Ravenheart Rating: 10/10
Spice Factor: Probably closest to Level 0 with room for more later in the series!
Grigg was irritatingly loveable right from the start. The thorn in my side. I wanted to hate him for his brash arrogance, but I couldn't. Adelina quickly became a favorite, the strong woman who would do anything for her people. But they both have a curse. They both have secrets. And they share a mutual enemy.
This book was riveting from the first few chapters, and the trade of one debt to another made the ending nearly unbearable to read, in the very best of ways. I will remain on the edge of my seat, this story rooted deep in my soul like the fingers of the curse itself, as I eagerly await the continuation of Grigg and Adelina's shared story. Solid five glimmering golden stars.
Ravenheart Rating: 10/10
Spice Factor: Probably closest to Level 0 with room for more later in the series!
October 7, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I first discovered this book when I was searching for clean fantasy books. I didn't realize this was an indie author, so I was a bit skeptical of it once I got it. I was pleasantly pleased.
The first few chapters took me a bit to get into. I was confused with what all was going on. I felt thrust into this world and all these names of the characters and groups of people with treaties, secret plots, and alliances going on that I was clueless about. But I finally got the hang of it, and the writing (the switching back between pov of the two main characters) became smoother. The descriptions were great, sometimes a little too much, but they gave me a good visual of the action and the setting. I also really enjoyed the banter and building chemistry between Grigg and Adelina. Bonus points for the protagonists being adults and not in their teens.
This was action-packed, had great creativity, and had a clean-slow burn. I loved the twists of their curses, I honestly didn't know what was going to happen at the end. I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series.
I first discovered this book when I was searching for clean fantasy books. I didn't realize this was an indie author, so I was a bit skeptical of it once I got it. I was pleasantly pleased.
The first few chapters took me a bit to get into. I was confused with what all was going on. I felt thrust into this world and all these names of the characters and groups of people with treaties, secret plots, and alliances going on that I was clueless about. But I finally got the hang of it, and the writing (the switching back between pov of the two main characters) became smoother. The descriptions were great, sometimes a little too much, but they gave me a good visual of the action and the setting. I also really enjoyed the banter and building chemistry between Grigg and Adelina. Bonus points for the protagonists being adults and not in their teens.
This was action-packed, had great creativity, and had a clean-slow burn. I loved the twists of their curses, I honestly didn't know what was going to happen at the end. I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series.
January 10, 2026
Wanted to Love but it Lacked
The opening chapters took some time for me to settle into. I felt dropped straight into a very complex world with lots of names, factions, treaties, and secret alliances, and it was hard to keep track of everything at first. As the story went on, though, it became easier to follow and more engaging.
The worldbuilding is vivid and detailed—sometimes a little too detailed—but it did help me clearly picture the settings and action. One of my favorite parts was the banter and slow-building chemistry between Grigg and Adelina. I really enjoyed the “love me or die” trope and thought the author put a unique spin on it for both characters.
The story is fast-paced and creative, but there are details missing to connect everything and to help the reader connect with the main characters. The twists surrounding their curses were unique, and I genuinely wasn’t sure how things would end. That said, despite all the strong elements, I struggled to stay fully invested the entire time, which kept this from being a higher rating for me.
The opening chapters took some time for me to settle into. I felt dropped straight into a very complex world with lots of names, factions, treaties, and secret alliances, and it was hard to keep track of everything at first. As the story went on, though, it became easier to follow and more engaging.
The worldbuilding is vivid and detailed—sometimes a little too detailed—but it did help me clearly picture the settings and action. One of my favorite parts was the banter and slow-building chemistry between Grigg and Adelina. I really enjoyed the “love me or die” trope and thought the author put a unique spin on it for both characters.
The story is fast-paced and creative, but there are details missing to connect everything and to help the reader connect with the main characters. The twists surrounding their curses were unique, and I genuinely wasn’t sure how things would end. That said, despite all the strong elements, I struggled to stay fully invested the entire time, which kept this from being a higher rating for me.
Read
June 4, 2025Wow, Heist of Hearts is my third book by E. A. Winters, and it has certainly lived up to expectations. If you love fast paced action, character development which is measured and intriguing and fantasy world descriptors which enable you to visualize each and every scene, then this book is for you. Even though they begin their relationship as enemies, Grigg and Adelina attempt to solve their individual missions with a certain level of cooperation. This leads to them finding themselves more and more invested in the well-being of one other. With all the fast-paced action going on around them, they slowly realize that they are seeing and feeling things which they had not expected. The cliff hanger in the final pages will keep you wanting more. Book two of this series can't come fast enough!
October 2, 2025
Heist of Hearts by E A Winters
If she loves him, he dies...
Okay so at first I wasn't sure I would like this one. It's a jungle setting which is pretty unusual for a fantasy book and when I met the MMC in the first chapter I was imagining him as a guy in his fifties and assumed he was the villain.😅 But things only got better from there and by the end I was really enjoying it. This is I believe a spin off series of the author's Melderblood books which I have not read but I had no problem following along other then my Grigg mix up at the beginning (possibly a side character in those books so you would already know him?) Anyway lots of good things here, enemies to lovers, an important heist, fierce characters with vulnerable sides and so on. I know book 2 just came out and I'd certainly like to get my hands on it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fantasy romance (no spice)
If she loves him, he dies...
Okay so at first I wasn't sure I would like this one. It's a jungle setting which is pretty unusual for a fantasy book and when I met the MMC in the first chapter I was imagining him as a guy in his fifties and assumed he was the villain.😅 But things only got better from there and by the end I was really enjoying it. This is I believe a spin off series of the author's Melderblood books which I have not read but I had no problem following along other then my Grigg mix up at the beginning (possibly a side character in those books so you would already know him?) Anyway lots of good things here, enemies to lovers, an important heist, fierce characters with vulnerable sides and so on. I know book 2 just came out and I'd certainly like to get my hands on it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fantasy romance (no spice)
May 26, 2025
4.75⭐️
If I had locked in and actually dedicated a day to read this when I first got it, I would’ve read it in one sitting.
As it is I read most of it in one sitting 😅
This book is immaculate, beautifully written, and so engaging. I probably would have appreciated it more if I had read the other books from E. A. Winters, but I still really liked it as is!!
It had a few of my favorite tropes (done so well) and reminded me of once upon a time, daughter of the pirate king, and six of crows. I loved this book and I can’t wait to see more from Grigg and Adelina! (And the rest of the books that are already published lol)
Favorite tropes: enemies to lovers (kinda), ONE BED TROPE (my favorite), and touch her and die
If I had locked in and actually dedicated a day to read this when I first got it, I would’ve read it in one sitting.
As it is I read most of it in one sitting 😅
This book is immaculate, beautifully written, and so engaging. I probably would have appreciated it more if I had read the other books from E. A. Winters, but I still really liked it as is!!
It had a few of my favorite tropes (done so well) and reminded me of once upon a time, daughter of the pirate king, and six of crows. I loved this book and I can’t wait to see more from Grigg and Adelina! (And the rest of the books that are already published lol)
Favorite tropes: enemies to lovers (kinda), ONE BED TROPE (my favorite), and touch her and die
May 27, 2025
E.A. Winters has done it again where she leaves you on the edge of your seat while you watch the story unfold in unexpected ways. It was so fun to learn more of Grigg's story, after meeting him in the Melderblood Chronicles and Adelina is a fiery character whose story keeps you wondering how she ties into all of this and who she is. This story is clean fantasy with an enemies to lovers vibe. Kidnapping, blackmail, and secrets. Can't wait to read the next book in the series! If you're looking for a fast paced story, then I highly recommend this book!
TW: some violence/death and drinking alcohol
TW: some violence/death and drinking alcohol
June 6, 2025
I was skeptical of a story about a character from her latest series, simply cause he wasn’t my favorite. EA Winters is still an auto buy author for me and I’ve read all her books. I won’t ever doubt again. This book started where I wondered where it was going…but then I started liking the characters, then unsure, then rooting for one or more. The arc of the MMC from the previous series to the end of this one is spectacular. And the FMC I loved from the beginning! When you don’t trust an entire group of people and they don’t trust you. When one is dedicated to truth and loyalty and one uses thievery, deception and dishonesty as their life’s goals… what could go wrong?
September 11, 2025
This book was so good! I’ll be honest, it took me a couple of chapters to really get into it, but once I did, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. The characters are so well done—Grigg and Adeline are total opposites, stuck working together on a heist (not always willingly 😅), and watching the slow burn between them kept me turning pages.
The curses added such an interesting twist too—if anyone falls in love with either Grigg or Adeline, that person will die. Talk about high stakes!
If you like fantasy, adventure, and slow-burn romance, definitely give this one a try. It’s worth the read!
The curses added such an interesting twist too—if anyone falls in love with either Grigg or Adeline, that person will die. Talk about high stakes!
If you like fantasy, adventure, and slow-burn romance, definitely give this one a try. It’s worth the read!
May 29, 2025
I got to ARC this and am ECSTATIC to get to talk about it! Winters knows how to get the banter going, she knows how to turn a trope on it's head. This book slaps so hard and I am already hyped for the next installment. There is humor, there is sarcasm and wit. There is action, betrayal, curses and magic. In a dual POV tale of forbidden love where everything is on the line what will you choose when you have been set up to lose it all. What is truth and what is a lie? Hold on for a tale of the ages and a story that will warm your heart.
June 1, 2025
Heist of Hearts by E.A.Winters
Is about a guy named Grigg who has to steal 3 Hearts in order to break a curse on his life or die trying. He meets up with Adelina, a chieftess, who he convinces to help him by holding one of her tribe members hostage.
I chose this book because the main character, Grigg, in this book he was in her Melderblood series and his character was so much fun and made you wonder what he was about.
I enjoyed the funny parts, the romance and the action spread through out the book. The ending was unexpected and leads you into the sequel wanting more.
Is about a guy named Grigg who has to steal 3 Hearts in order to break a curse on his life or die trying. He meets up with Adelina, a chieftess, who he convinces to help him by holding one of her tribe members hostage.
I chose this book because the main character, Grigg, in this book he was in her Melderblood series and his character was so much fun and made you wonder what he was about.
I enjoyed the funny parts, the romance and the action spread through out the book. The ending was unexpected and leads you into the sequel wanting more.
April 23, 2026
This was such a good book! The world was unique, but not so foreign that it was unbelievable or hard to imagine. I also appreciated the author’s story building techniques. She didn’t have long explanatory sections about the details of the world, like so many authors these days. Her writing might be a bit heavy on simile usage at times, but overall it was very well written. Best of all, I didn’t catch ANY spelling or grammatical errors!! That feels so rare nowadays so I really appreciated that.
May 26, 2025
3.5⭐️ Heist of Hearts is the first E.A. Winters book I have read, but it won’t be the last. This was a fantastic read of two lives intertwined in a secret, a manipulative MMC, a FMC who is beginning to question all she has been told, and a will they/won’t they slow burn romance (spice-free).
Adelina, along with her Guerrori warriors, has worked hard to protect the forest and maintain the peace with the outside world specifically the Morturi. Grigg is on a mission to break a family curse that has been in place for over 600 years and will pit the Guerrori and the Morturi against each other to obtain what he needs.
Overall, I found the pacing to to very good. The action scenes were well done and read as if you were part of the action. The world was beautifully writing and easy to visualize. The elemental magic system is easy to follow, but there is not a lot of detail about the origins of the magic. While this is a stand alone series, I believe other E.A. Winters books may delve more into the background of this magic system in some of her other books. In general, it doesn’t really take away from the book, but sometimes you are left wanting a little more detail.
And in the cliffhanger when Grigg (redacted) and then Adelina (redacted). You will be chomping at the bit for book 2.
Adelina, along with her Guerrori warriors, has worked hard to protect the forest and maintain the peace with the outside world specifically the Morturi. Grigg is on a mission to break a family curse that has been in place for over 600 years and will pit the Guerrori and the Morturi against each other to obtain what he needs.
Overall, I found the pacing to to very good. The action scenes were well done and read as if you were part of the action. The world was beautifully writing and easy to visualize. The elemental magic system is easy to follow, but there is not a lot of detail about the origins of the magic. While this is a stand alone series, I believe other E.A. Winters books may delve more into the background of this magic system in some of her other books. In general, it doesn’t really take away from the book, but sometimes you are left wanting a little more detail.
And in the cliffhanger when Grigg (redacted) and then Adelina (redacted). You will be chomping at the bit for book 2.
June 3, 2025
I enjoyed this as an Arc . couldn’t get enough ! Fast paced , kept you going . I’m invested in these two characters …..i love how these two go back and forth , Grigg so fast with the remarks …as I was reading the last chapter and turned the last page , I was like nooooo I need more !haha. Need second book please and soon , like yesterday.! Also I could see this as a movie in my head . It was great ! Great job E.A. Winters.
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