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These Vile Hearts
A delightfully wicked, fizzy debut romantasy--an enemies to lovers tale about a desperate mortal woman and a cursed fae prince
Maddox Sinclair has run out of options. No job means no health insurance —a death sentence for a type one diabetic like herself. She flees to the forest to make a desperate deal with a dryad kill the Redwood King and be cured of the illness that threatens her life.
In the redwood treetops, Prince Castor, is cursed-- anyone who loves him is doomed to die. Like Maddox, he has made an equally unwise pact with his brother, the Redwood get a mortal to fall in love with him by solstice and be free of his curse forever.
When Maddox mistakes Castor for the king, sparks fly and troubles ensue. Each must decide what is more important—survival and freedom, or the love they (kind of, almost) feel in their traitorous, vile hearts.
Darkly funny and brimming with magic, These Vile Hearts by Melody Robinette manages to be both wicked and warm, beguiling and moving—a richly woven story of survival and fate.
Maddox Sinclair has run out of options. No job means no health insurance —a death sentence for a type one diabetic like herself. She flees to the forest to make a desperate deal with a dryad kill the Redwood King and be cured of the illness that threatens her life.
In the redwood treetops, Prince Castor, is cursed-- anyone who loves him is doomed to die. Like Maddox, he has made an equally unwise pact with his brother, the Redwood get a mortal to fall in love with him by solstice and be free of his curse forever.
When Maddox mistakes Castor for the king, sparks fly and troubles ensue. Each must decide what is more important—survival and freedom, or the love they (kind of, almost) feel in their traitorous, vile hearts.
Darkly funny and brimming with magic, These Vile Hearts by Melody Robinette manages to be both wicked and warm, beguiling and moving—a richly woven story of survival and fate.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
February 1, 2026
Thank you so much to Netgalley for this eARC. Overall I rate the book 3.5 stars. This story was unique, something I haven't read before. It has forests, dyrads, sirens, magic, kings and queens, a forest brothel. I liked this book and want to read the sequel but I wanted to love it. I struggled with the pacing of the book, it was very slow at the beginning and seemed to drag on. Then it picked up at about 75% and felt rushed at the back end of the book. There is a lot of world building, getting to know characters, and little spice. I am interested in reading the 2nd book to see how everything turns out.
February 19, 2026
Thank you to Putnam Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. A romantasy of fatal love and dangerous bargains.
Maddox has always been different—gifted with “the sight.” But her childhood shatters when her parents are brutally murdered by dryads in the woods. Raised in the foster care system, she struggles to navigate adulthood after aging out, burdened by Type 1 diabetes and the weight of survival without a steady job. When her best friend moves to San Francisco, Maddox feels more isolated than ever. Clinging to her late father’s journal, she uncovers a dangerous path: seek out the Dryad Queen and strike a bargain to cure her illness. In exchange, she must kill the Redwood’s Golden King.
“It has been said that only fools make pacts with dryad royals. It has also been said that I am the most foolish of fools. “
Armed with determination and a dagger, Maddox enters the dryads’ realm—only to make a fatal mistake. She targets the wrong man: Castor, the Cursed Prince. Handsome yet doomed, Castor is bound by his own desperate pact—make a mortal fall in love with him by solstice or remain cursed forever.
“Most fear me, but a fair few thrill seekers flock to me. After all, to love me is to court Death. Melodrama is another symptom of my curse…”
Castor decides to make Maddox fall in love with him as revenge for her assignation attempt. Maddox and Castor soon discover that neither is the villain they imagined. What begins as vengeance and survival spirals into a tangled web of betrayal, desire, and fate.
Castro helps set up Maddox as a bookkeeper at the Mageste, his favorite hang out spot is a dazzling brothel and entertainment hub. He visits her often bringing her human morning coffee daily so win over her favor and gain his trusts. The more they talk the more she seems through his masks and vulnerable emotions of just someone who wants to be loved and love in return. Eventually all truths come to light including the real villain, the Golden King. Maddox completes her bargain with the dryad queen, who turns Maddox into a dryad- curing her of all human afflictions but now must follow all of the Queen’s demands. The ending leaves readers with an enticing teaser, opening the door for a potential sequel—a prospect that feels exciting, as we’re eager to see what Maddow and Castor will face in their new circumstances. The supporting characters shine just as brightly as the leads; the deep affection Tam and Fern show for the MCs is heartfelt and endearing.
Notable quotes:
Never trust a dryad was a phrase that came up more than once in the pages of his journal, tucked between anecdotes of tree faeries who ripped men’s bones from their bodies to decorate their walls.
“Soft hearts beg for blades.”
When did all my chaos turn to crisis?
I hold up the nepenthe. “Care to partake?” “Not tonight, Your Highness.” “You always say that. What is it you fear about drugs? The loss-of-control part or the having-fun part?” Tamarind’s jaw clenches, chin tilting forward. His normally shoulder-length black locs are pulled high atop his head like the crest of a gray-crowned crane. “I am afraid of the forgetting part.” “Forgetting is the most desirable part.”
Stroking my thumbs across his cheekbones, I say, “Now it’s your turn to take off your mask.” His throat bobs. “I believe you just did that for me.” “I mean your other mask. The invisible one. The one you always wear unless no one is watching.” The king’s mouth parts, the crease between his brow softening as his guard drops like a drawbridge. Exposed and defenseless. Right where I need him. “There you are,” I whisper
His hand moves up to cup the back of my neck. Gentle. Delicate. Monsters aren’t supposed to be delicate.
“Such a soft boy you are, when you stop pretending to be cold and indifferent.” I really should ask that mortal how she manages to craft her emotionless masks. Evidently, mine is made of glass. My eyes cast down to my lap. “Careful what you say to me. My curse might mistake your pity for love and Magesté will be left without a madam.”
Her forehead smooths. “I wasn’t finished with him, you know.” “You never should have begun with him.”
No one warned me how hard homicide could be.
I need her to be worthy of the wrath of my curse. Otherwise I might let myself pull away like I have the past two dozen attempts. The fact that the Sovereign Tree gave me a wicked curse but left my conscience intact is the worst part.
“Why would a king be jealous of a cursed prince who kills everyone who loves him?” “Because people do love him. They love him so much they’re willing to die for him. Can you say the same?”
Murder is hard. Murdering someone you enjoy kissing is much harder.
I press my lips to her forehead, whispering, “Only a monster would find someone like me lovable.”
He feels things, and when he does, they move across his face for everyone to see. The opposite of me. It’s one of the most beautiful things about him.
“Listen, Tam . . .” I don’t trust my voice to remain steady if I speak louder than a murmur. “I know you like to see the good in people because you’re a good person. But I need you to not look for the good in me. The harder you try, the more danger you put yourself in.” “I don’t have to try, Cas,” he says fervently. “It’s just there, shining like a million nightshade flowers. And you try to mask it with cruel words and harsh remarks, but that only accentuates your goodness.”
His hands that can push darkness into living things if he wants them to—the hands people fear. The hands that have only ever touched me with the utmost gentleness.
Never trust a fucking dryad. Here I was thinking that I was the bitch, the liar, the con man. All the while, Castor and I were playing a game of cards. Forget the king or queen; I am the joker.
My heart is a boat on a violent sea, taking on water. It starts to sink.
“Why would I be jealous of an adopted abomination everyone despises?” “Because people don’t despise him, do they? They love him. In fact, even after you invented your little curse, they kept loving him. How many people did you have to kill to convince Castor he was cursed? Over and over and over. All those people willing to die for the cursed prince. But no one is willing to die for you, the golden king.”
“Then which of us is the kettle and which is the pot?” “Neither. I am the dagger, and you are the disease,” Maddox says hotly. “I am the axe, and you are the poison. We were a doomed combination from the start.”
Maddox has always been different—gifted with “the sight.” But her childhood shatters when her parents are brutally murdered by dryads in the woods. Raised in the foster care system, she struggles to navigate adulthood after aging out, burdened by Type 1 diabetes and the weight of survival without a steady job. When her best friend moves to San Francisco, Maddox feels more isolated than ever. Clinging to her late father’s journal, she uncovers a dangerous path: seek out the Dryad Queen and strike a bargain to cure her illness. In exchange, she must kill the Redwood’s Golden King.
“It has been said that only fools make pacts with dryad royals. It has also been said that I am the most foolish of fools. “
Armed with determination and a dagger, Maddox enters the dryads’ realm—only to make a fatal mistake. She targets the wrong man: Castor, the Cursed Prince. Handsome yet doomed, Castor is bound by his own desperate pact—make a mortal fall in love with him by solstice or remain cursed forever.
“Most fear me, but a fair few thrill seekers flock to me. After all, to love me is to court Death. Melodrama is another symptom of my curse…”
Castor decides to make Maddox fall in love with him as revenge for her assignation attempt. Maddox and Castor soon discover that neither is the villain they imagined. What begins as vengeance and survival spirals into a tangled web of betrayal, desire, and fate.
Castro helps set up Maddox as a bookkeeper at the Mageste, his favorite hang out spot is a dazzling brothel and entertainment hub. He visits her often bringing her human morning coffee daily so win over her favor and gain his trusts. The more they talk the more she seems through his masks and vulnerable emotions of just someone who wants to be loved and love in return. Eventually all truths come to light including the real villain, the Golden King. Maddox completes her bargain with the dryad queen, who turns Maddox into a dryad- curing her of all human afflictions but now must follow all of the Queen’s demands. The ending leaves readers with an enticing teaser, opening the door for a potential sequel—a prospect that feels exciting, as we’re eager to see what Maddow and Castor will face in their new circumstances. The supporting characters shine just as brightly as the leads; the deep affection Tam and Fern show for the MCs is heartfelt and endearing.
Notable quotes:
Never trust a dryad was a phrase that came up more than once in the pages of his journal, tucked between anecdotes of tree faeries who ripped men’s bones from their bodies to decorate their walls.
“Soft hearts beg for blades.”
When did all my chaos turn to crisis?
I hold up the nepenthe. “Care to partake?” “Not tonight, Your Highness.” “You always say that. What is it you fear about drugs? The loss-of-control part or the having-fun part?” Tamarind’s jaw clenches, chin tilting forward. His normally shoulder-length black locs are pulled high atop his head like the crest of a gray-crowned crane. “I am afraid of the forgetting part.” “Forgetting is the most desirable part.”
Stroking my thumbs across his cheekbones, I say, “Now it’s your turn to take off your mask.” His throat bobs. “I believe you just did that for me.” “I mean your other mask. The invisible one. The one you always wear unless no one is watching.” The king’s mouth parts, the crease between his brow softening as his guard drops like a drawbridge. Exposed and defenseless. Right where I need him. “There you are,” I whisper
His hand moves up to cup the back of my neck. Gentle. Delicate. Monsters aren’t supposed to be delicate.
“Such a soft boy you are, when you stop pretending to be cold and indifferent.” I really should ask that mortal how she manages to craft her emotionless masks. Evidently, mine is made of glass. My eyes cast down to my lap. “Careful what you say to me. My curse might mistake your pity for love and Magesté will be left without a madam.”
Her forehead smooths. “I wasn’t finished with him, you know.” “You never should have begun with him.”
No one warned me how hard homicide could be.
I need her to be worthy of the wrath of my curse. Otherwise I might let myself pull away like I have the past two dozen attempts. The fact that the Sovereign Tree gave me a wicked curse but left my conscience intact is the worst part.
“Why would a king be jealous of a cursed prince who kills everyone who loves him?” “Because people do love him. They love him so much they’re willing to die for him. Can you say the same?”
Murder is hard. Murdering someone you enjoy kissing is much harder.
I press my lips to her forehead, whispering, “Only a monster would find someone like me lovable.”
He feels things, and when he does, they move across his face for everyone to see. The opposite of me. It’s one of the most beautiful things about him.
“Listen, Tam . . .” I don’t trust my voice to remain steady if I speak louder than a murmur. “I know you like to see the good in people because you’re a good person. But I need you to not look for the good in me. The harder you try, the more danger you put yourself in.” “I don’t have to try, Cas,” he says fervently. “It’s just there, shining like a million nightshade flowers. And you try to mask it with cruel words and harsh remarks, but that only accentuates your goodness.”
His hands that can push darkness into living things if he wants them to—the hands people fear. The hands that have only ever touched me with the utmost gentleness.
Never trust a fucking dryad. Here I was thinking that I was the bitch, the liar, the con man. All the while, Castor and I were playing a game of cards. Forget the king or queen; I am the joker.
My heart is a boat on a violent sea, taking on water. It starts to sink.
“Why would I be jealous of an adopted abomination everyone despises?” “Because people don’t despise him, do they? They love him. In fact, even after you invented your little curse, they kept loving him. How many people did you have to kill to convince Castor he was cursed? Over and over and over. All those people willing to die for the cursed prince. But no one is willing to die for you, the golden king.”
“Then which of us is the kettle and which is the pot?” “Neither. I am the dagger, and you are the disease,” Maddox says hotly. “I am the axe, and you are the poison. We were a doomed combination from the start.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2026
These Vile Hearts is a fantastic new romantasy novel about a 26-year-old type one diabetic, Maddox, who has no choice but to make a deal with a dryad in order to survive. The terms of the deal? She must kill the Redwood King. The issue is that she mistakes the King’s cursed brother, Prince Castor, for the king and sets out to kill him instead. Conveniently, Prince Castor (whose powers remind me of Slade from The Plated Prisoner) is looking for a mortal to break his curse. I won’t spoil anything that you couldn’t get from the book description, but the way that it plays out is INCREDIBLE!!
Not only did this book have a fascinating world (I mean hey… they are literally in the trees), but the whole magic system was so cool !!! I’ve never read a book with dryads, but I can definitely say that Melody Robinette knows how to write a good one! The main character was also very different from your typical romantasy FMC which was refreshing to read. It really put into perspective the life of someone with type one diabetes as well.
The book ends in a way where the story is complete, but there was also certain aspects that I could see being turned into a follow-up book. Personally, I hope to see more 🤩 5/5 stars. I would definitely recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam Books, and Melody Robinette for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
Not only did this book have a fascinating world (I mean hey… they are literally in the trees), but the whole magic system was so cool !!! I’ve never read a book with dryads, but I can definitely say that Melody Robinette knows how to write a good one! The main character was also very different from your typical romantasy FMC which was refreshing to read. It really put into perspective the life of someone with type one diabetes as well.
The book ends in a way where the story is complete, but there was also certain aspects that I could see being turned into a follow-up book. Personally, I hope to see more 🤩 5/5 stars. I would definitely recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam Books, and Melody Robinette for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
January 23, 2026
i enjoyed this! i think the pacing could use some work as the beginning dragged and the ending felt rushed. i liked the main characters, but felt like castor needed to be fleshed out a bit more. i don’t think his motivations made a lot of sense.
**ARC provided by netgalley**
**ARC provided by netgalley**
December 19, 2025
A unique story about dryads who live in trees deep within the forest. The human FMC is diabetic and struggles to cope with her health after losing her job and, with it, her medical insurance. Desperate, she makes a deal with a queen: assassinate the king in exchange for a cure. As layers of deceit unfold, the most important truth to uncover is the fate of the FMC’s own heart.
I loved this story because it kept me engaged with every turn of the page. This story was like no other I have read before.
I loved this story because it kept me engaged with every turn of the page. This story was like no other I have read before.
December 9, 2025
I didn’t know what to expect going into this one, and I’m very surprised by how much I liked it.
We have modern, real life concepts mixed into a fantasy world where things are and aren’t always what they seem. I really liked the dynamic this created in the book. It makes the world feel very lived in and real rather than this abstract idea that’s hard to grasp. Even if you’ve never come across dryad’s before (I’m sorry if I spelled it wrong), you can still easily follow the book and story because it feels so approachable.
I must say, I also love the concept of this book. Take a regular, desperate woman and see what happens when you turn her into the opposite of what she normally is. Basically, will desperation lead her to come a killer, going against everything she has ever believed in. This idea is really at the heart of this story that’s overall very whimsical yet gritty. The message we have underneath is not overbearing but it certainly causes you to think and question what you would do in her situation.
Oh, and there’s an incredible romance storyline as well that had me eating out of its hand.
Thank you so much to Putnam and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
We have modern, real life concepts mixed into a fantasy world where things are and aren’t always what they seem. I really liked the dynamic this created in the book. It makes the world feel very lived in and real rather than this abstract idea that’s hard to grasp. Even if you’ve never come across dryad’s before (I’m sorry if I spelled it wrong), you can still easily follow the book and story because it feels so approachable.
I must say, I also love the concept of this book. Take a regular, desperate woman and see what happens when you turn her into the opposite of what she normally is. Basically, will desperation lead her to come a killer, going against everything she has ever believed in. This idea is really at the heart of this story that’s overall very whimsical yet gritty. The message we have underneath is not overbearing but it certainly causes you to think and question what you would do in her situation.
Oh, and there’s an incredible romance storyline as well that had me eating out of its hand.
Thank you so much to Putnam and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
December 13, 2025
As a fellow type 1 diabetic, I adore this novel, and as a romantasy reader, its a solid read!
Castor isn't your average morally grey hottie. He's emotional and wounded, and the chapters from his perspective show how he struggles to balance his curse and the rest of his life.
Maddox's humor shines through her struggles, and the understanding and found-family they find in each other will warm your heart...before another twist will break it.
Thank you to Melody Robinette, Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Castor isn't your average morally grey hottie. He's emotional and wounded, and the chapters from his perspective show how he struggles to balance his curse and the rest of his life.
Maddox's humor shines through her struggles, and the understanding and found-family they find in each other will warm your heart...before another twist will break it.
Thank you to Melody Robinette, Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!
January 1, 2026
I tagged this for spoilers, but I don't really think I gave spoilers, but I didn't mention some events but without trying to spoiler.
Thank you to author Melody Robinette, GP Putnam's Sons publishing for allowing me to read this book.
Excellence.
I will say right now that this opening chapter is one of the best opening chapters I've ever read. And, one of the best bits of writing I've ever read.
Fantasy done right. The author seems to prefer the category of speculative fiction.
What works for me? Almost everything. This is extremely well written, extremely well plotted.
My biggest criticism in structure wise was the plot device to get the best friend out of the picture. If they were the ride and die, best friends as described, I don't understand why he would leave her to basically die because she didn't have any resources to survive at that point. But again there had to be a catalyst for her behavior. I suppose we could say that she didn't tell him how dire things were, but they have been best friends much of their life. I can't imagine that he couldn't figure it out.
Absolutely ready for publishing. If it had any typos, errors, or continuity issues I did not see them.
Now for my personal likes or dislikes and then a conclusion.
Love the FMC. She's fabulously flawed, strong, weak, indecisive, assertive.
The MMC is not for me. He's very much a beta male in many ways. That does not mean he is not a great character.
I see very much the flipped script here with the gender roles. The MMC very much carries the naïve and innocent baggage that you sometimes see in FMCs and the FMC is very much the stoic but smart mouth morally gray hero.
I figured out immediately was going on with the curse.
I also figured out immediately why the murderers at the beginning of the story told the FMC you're welcome.
I don't necessarily think that was weak writing, but it was easy to figure out. There were no surprises. But I don't always like plot twists for the sake of plot twists. I'd rather enjoy the story knowing what was happening than get slapped with a plot twist that leaves me angry because it was added for shock value.
I did not like the resolution for the FMC pact and how she was granted her request. Of course, we knew that there was going to be a it's not going happen like the FMC thinks it's going to happen to that because the Myrtle queen was not trustworthy and this was very much a "don't trust the Fae" type story.
Based on the ending, I'm assuming this is going to be the first book in a series, but I didn't see any mention of this being book one or anything. All that said I'm not really interested in a series of this, because it's just going to be a case of romantic fantasy further adventures. I'll not be continuing reading a series of this even though this book is extremely good. It could've been wrapped up nicely here in this book and it wasn't.
,
Thank you to author Melody Robinette, GP Putnam's Sons publishing for allowing me to read this book.
Excellence.
I will say right now that this opening chapter is one of the best opening chapters I've ever read. And, one of the best bits of writing I've ever read.
Fantasy done right. The author seems to prefer the category of speculative fiction.
What works for me? Almost everything. This is extremely well written, extremely well plotted.
My biggest criticism in structure wise was the plot device to get the best friend out of the picture. If they were the ride and die, best friends as described, I don't understand why he would leave her to basically die because she didn't have any resources to survive at that point. But again there had to be a catalyst for her behavior. I suppose we could say that she didn't tell him how dire things were, but they have been best friends much of their life. I can't imagine that he couldn't figure it out.
Absolutely ready for publishing. If it had any typos, errors, or continuity issues I did not see them.
Now for my personal likes or dislikes and then a conclusion.
Love the FMC. She's fabulously flawed, strong, weak, indecisive, assertive.
The MMC is not for me. He's very much a beta male in many ways. That does not mean he is not a great character.
I see very much the flipped script here with the gender roles. The MMC very much carries the naïve and innocent baggage that you sometimes see in FMCs and the FMC is very much the stoic but smart mouth morally gray hero.
I figured out immediately was going on with the curse.
I also figured out immediately why the murderers at the beginning of the story told the FMC you're welcome.
I don't necessarily think that was weak writing, but it was easy to figure out. There were no surprises. But I don't always like plot twists for the sake of plot twists. I'd rather enjoy the story knowing what was happening than get slapped with a plot twist that leaves me angry because it was added for shock value.
I did not like the resolution for the FMC pact and how she was granted her request. Of course, we knew that there was going to be a it's not going happen like the FMC thinks it's going to happen to that because the Myrtle queen was not trustworthy and this was very much a "don't trust the Fae" type story.
Based on the ending, I'm assuming this is going to be the first book in a series, but I didn't see any mention of this being book one or anything. All that said I'm not really interested in a series of this, because it's just going to be a case of romantic fantasy further adventures. I'll not be continuing reading a series of this even though this book is extremely good. It could've been wrapped up nicely here in this book and it wasn't.
,
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2025
“No one warned me how hard homicide could be.”
😅😅😅😅😅😅
First of all, this book was hilarious. The banter and just general attitudes of our main characters…chef’s kiss 😚 I want to quote about twenty lines from this story, but I’ll leave it at only a few.
My summary:
FMC: “If anyone looked closely, they would see the hollows of the girl’s cheeks, the thinness of her arms. As if the strength of her body had been stolen by her eyes.”
Maddox, our spicy, moody, twenty-something female lead is desperate to acquire some kind of stability with her diabetes. She has no family, no job, no insurance, and severe blood sugar issues. So, rationally, she decides to step into the world of dryads (a new world for me) and make a fae deal that she believes is air tight and will cure her lifelong, life-dependent, disease.
The only catch? Murder is required and though she has become pretty emotionally stunted and cold, she’s not 100% sure she can commit cold-blooded murder, even if she does despise the dryads as a whole - they left her in her current state of desperation after all.
MMC: “That’s because wine is the love of my life.”
Meet Castor, our dark, emotional, dryad who prince who cares too much and too little at the same time. Leading a cursed life has left him without any real expectation for happiness in life, so he flits around the redwood forest leaving rot, smoke, and broken hearts in his wake. But when a certain red-head shows up in his palace and could break his curse once and for all, does he risk entertaining real feelings to finally find himself free?
🖤
These two are perfectly vile, yet search for the good in each other and their tragedies and traumas lead them into an absolute mess of a romance. Immediately I was drawn in by all of the secrets, bargains, and high-fantasy world building. I got vibes from Moulin Rouge, Caraval, Phantom of the Opera, Romeo and Juliet, and Beauty and the Beast (make that lots of beasts).
And did I mention how often I laughed? There is probably nothing I love more than good humor and believable chemistry in a novel, and These Vile Hearts had both in spades!!
♠️
I have been so lucky lately with the ARCs I have chosen on NetGalley. So a big thank you to NetGalley, Kindle, and Melody for this exquisite preview! I loved this book and already feel a desperate need for a sequel!! The ending might have gutted me, but in a way that left me satisfied that another great story is on the horizon. Plus, it’s never REALLY the end with Fae, right?! 😉
😅😅😅😅😅😅
First of all, this book was hilarious. The banter and just general attitudes of our main characters…chef’s kiss 😚 I want to quote about twenty lines from this story, but I’ll leave it at only a few.
My summary:
FMC: “If anyone looked closely, they would see the hollows of the girl’s cheeks, the thinness of her arms. As if the strength of her body had been stolen by her eyes.”
Maddox, our spicy, moody, twenty-something female lead is desperate to acquire some kind of stability with her diabetes. She has no family, no job, no insurance, and severe blood sugar issues. So, rationally, she decides to step into the world of dryads (a new world for me) and make a fae deal that she believes is air tight and will cure her lifelong, life-dependent, disease.
The only catch? Murder is required and though she has become pretty emotionally stunted and cold, she’s not 100% sure she can commit cold-blooded murder, even if she does despise the dryads as a whole - they left her in her current state of desperation after all.
MMC: “That’s because wine is the love of my life.”
Meet Castor, our dark, emotional, dryad who prince who cares too much and too little at the same time. Leading a cursed life has left him without any real expectation for happiness in life, so he flits around the redwood forest leaving rot, smoke, and broken hearts in his wake. But when a certain red-head shows up in his palace and could break his curse once and for all, does he risk entertaining real feelings to finally find himself free?
🖤
These two are perfectly vile, yet search for the good in each other and their tragedies and traumas lead them into an absolute mess of a romance. Immediately I was drawn in by all of the secrets, bargains, and high-fantasy world building. I got vibes from Moulin Rouge, Caraval, Phantom of the Opera, Romeo and Juliet, and Beauty and the Beast (make that lots of beasts).
And did I mention how often I laughed? There is probably nothing I love more than good humor and believable chemistry in a novel, and These Vile Hearts had both in spades!!
♠️
I have been so lucky lately with the ARCs I have chosen on NetGalley. So a big thank you to NetGalley, Kindle, and Melody for this exquisite preview! I loved this book and already feel a desperate need for a sequel!! The ending might have gutted me, but in a way that left me satisfied that another great story is on the horizon. Plus, it’s never REALLY the end with Fae, right?! 😉
November 19, 2025
I was completely captivated by These Vile Hearts. This book is a fresh and exciting take on the human in a fae world trope, blending familiar elements with inventive details that make it stand out. From the start, the author crafts a world that feels both unique and accessible. The world-building is rich, thoughtful, and immersive, without ever feeling overwhelming.
What really struck me was the character of Maddox. She’s both powerful and vulnerable, a perfect balance that makes her incredibly compelling. Her emotional depth adds layers to the story, making her journey all the more engaging.
While the story follows some well-known fantasy beats, the intricate details and unique twists kept me hooked until the very end. This isn’t just another fae novel. These Vile Hearts is a beautiful blend of romance, fantasy, and self-discovery that feels both timeless and fresh. With a clear message of be careful what you wish for.
Highly recommend this to any fan of romantasy! I can’t wait for the rest of the world to experience it.
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
What really struck me was the character of Maddox. She’s both powerful and vulnerable, a perfect balance that makes her incredibly compelling. Her emotional depth adds layers to the story, making her journey all the more engaging.
While the story follows some well-known fantasy beats, the intricate details and unique twists kept me hooked until the very end. This isn’t just another fae novel. These Vile Hearts is a beautiful blend of romance, fantasy, and self-discovery that feels both timeless and fresh. With a clear message of be careful what you wish for.
Highly recommend this to any fan of romantasy! I can’t wait for the rest of the world to experience it.
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2025
First off I loved the plot. The twist and turns. FMC struggling because she didn’t know what to do to save herself. The quest the buildup. The adventure of searching. The prince so good! Can’t wait to know more! -Kerin Ray
March 19, 2026
ᨒ↟ 𖠰𖥧˚
⭐️⭐️/ 5. Where to start with this book?
Well, of course, first a huge thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, this book put me in the biggest reading slump of my life. It took me over a month to force myself to finish this (I very, very rarely DNF because I am not a quitter) and I won’t lie i really did want to DNF.
Maddox Sinclair is a mortal woman raise in foster care, who lost her job, health insurance and home. These things may suck to the average human, but Maddox is a type one diabetic so these take a much greater toll on her. Having grown up with a father who told her stories of dryads and fae, she decides since she has no other option she may as well attempt to make a bargain with the Myrtle Queen (a dryad she learned of from her late father and his notebook) to be cured of the illness that threatens her life.
“It has been said that only fools make pacts with dryad royals. It has also been said that I am the most foolish of fools. “
She is tasked by the queen with killing the Redwood King, but soon learns it will be no easy feat.
Enter the adopted cursed prince, Castor. Maddox mistakes him for the king and targets him. In response to her failed assassination attempt Castor pretend that he is the king and decides to make Maddox fall in love with him as revenge (in order to break his own curse).
Something about this book just dragged and did not work for me. The writing in the beginning of the story was rather clunky, and it took a second for the diabetes plot to flow naturally. I don’t want to be a hater on the diabetes, but it was definitely part of the plot rather than a character trait and it just really took me out of the story. (Please don’t cancel me for saying that, I love the representation and do think it’s incredibly important, but it just… wasn’t done well…)
Another problem I had was the character names. For example, Tamarind and Durian? Umbellularia? I couldn’t take it seriously. I can’t explain why I thought these were poor choices in names, other than they just sucked. And I’m sorry, I really feel like the world’s biggest hater right now but it just sucked.
A lot of the writing made humanity feel like a total cliche. “What is it with mortals and their coffee?” was just so millennial core. There was just so many parts of the book that took you out of the story and made it like nails on a chalk board to read through.
I’ve chosen to give it 2 stars rather than one because again, I do think the representation is important, and the plot did have a lot going for it, it just didn’t work for me. Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope by far, but I just didn’t get anything from this book. It does end on an interesting cliffhanger, but I do not think I will be returning for book two.
⭐️⭐️/ 5. Where to start with this book?
Well, of course, first a huge thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, this book put me in the biggest reading slump of my life. It took me over a month to force myself to finish this (I very, very rarely DNF because I am not a quitter) and I won’t lie i really did want to DNF.
Maddox Sinclair is a mortal woman raise in foster care, who lost her job, health insurance and home. These things may suck to the average human, but Maddox is a type one diabetic so these take a much greater toll on her. Having grown up with a father who told her stories of dryads and fae, she decides since she has no other option she may as well attempt to make a bargain with the Myrtle Queen (a dryad she learned of from her late father and his notebook) to be cured of the illness that threatens her life.
“It has been said that only fools make pacts with dryad royals. It has also been said that I am the most foolish of fools. “
She is tasked by the queen with killing the Redwood King, but soon learns it will be no easy feat.
Enter the adopted cursed prince, Castor. Maddox mistakes him for the king and targets him. In response to her failed assassination attempt Castor pretend that he is the king and decides to make Maddox fall in love with him as revenge (in order to break his own curse).
Something about this book just dragged and did not work for me. The writing in the beginning of the story was rather clunky, and it took a second for the diabetes plot to flow naturally. I don’t want to be a hater on the diabetes, but it was definitely part of the plot rather than a character trait and it just really took me out of the story. (Please don’t cancel me for saying that, I love the representation and do think it’s incredibly important, but it just… wasn’t done well…)
Another problem I had was the character names. For example, Tamarind and Durian? Umbellularia? I couldn’t take it seriously. I can’t explain why I thought these were poor choices in names, other than they just sucked. And I’m sorry, I really feel like the world’s biggest hater right now but it just sucked.
A lot of the writing made humanity feel like a total cliche. “What is it with mortals and their coffee?” was just so millennial core. There was just so many parts of the book that took you out of the story and made it like nails on a chalk board to read through.
I’ve chosen to give it 2 stars rather than one because again, I do think the representation is important, and the plot did have a lot going for it, it just didn’t work for me. Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope by far, but I just didn’t get anything from this book. It does end on an interesting cliffhanger, but I do not think I will be returning for book two.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
okay listen — These Vile Hearts did something i did not see coming, which is make me genuinely emotional about HEALTHCARE in my fae romantasy?? like i was fully bracing for another standard "mortal girl makes deal with fae" setup and instead melody robinette opens with maddox needing to kill the redwood king because she's a type one diabetic without insurance. EXCUSE ME. that is such a brutal, specific, materially grounded reason for a fantasy heroine to make a desperate bargain and i was hooked instantly.
we talk so much in this community about wanting fantasy that engages with real-world stakes without sacrificing the escapism, and this is genuinely one of the more elegant attempts i've seen at threading that needle. maddox's diabetes isn't a gimmick or a checkbox — it's the engine of the entire plot. her mortality is literally on a clock in a way most romantasy heroines' aren't, and it gives every choice she makes this underlying urgency that the genre usually has to manufacture through external threats. chef's kiss frankly.
the worldbuilding more broadly is genuinely fresh. redwood-forest fae is such a specific aesthetic choice and robinette commits to it. it doesn't feel like the fifteenth iteration of celtic-inflected fae court politics we've all read this year (no shade, i love them, but the genre is saturated). the magic system has its own internal logic and visual identity, and i was constantly clocking little worldbuilding details that felt thought-through rather than borrowed.
castor as the cursed-prince love interest is doing what he needs to do. the dual desperate-bargain structure (she needs to kill the king, he needs someone to love him) is a really fun symmetrical setup for an enemies-to-lovers arc and the mistaken-identity beat early on is delicious. the banter lands. the tension lands. it's wicked in the way the marketing promises and warmer than i expected, which i think is the book's real superpower.
the one thing keeping this from a five for me is pacing. there are stretches in the middle where the momentum dips and i found myself wanting the emotional escalation to move faster than it does. BUT — and i mean this — it's a debut, and the kind of pacing issues this book has are the most fixable kind. they're symptoms of an author still finding their rhythm, not symptoms of a story that doesn't know what it's doing. i fully expect robinette's next book to have this dialed in.
genuinely such a strong debut. for anyone tired of fae romantasy that all blurs together, this one has its own identity and i'd pick up book two in a heartbeat.
4 stars, will be putting this on a "fae romantasy that's actually doing something different" shelf immediately.
we talk so much in this community about wanting fantasy that engages with real-world stakes without sacrificing the escapism, and this is genuinely one of the more elegant attempts i've seen at threading that needle. maddox's diabetes isn't a gimmick or a checkbox — it's the engine of the entire plot. her mortality is literally on a clock in a way most romantasy heroines' aren't, and it gives every choice she makes this underlying urgency that the genre usually has to manufacture through external threats. chef's kiss frankly.
the worldbuilding more broadly is genuinely fresh. redwood-forest fae is such a specific aesthetic choice and robinette commits to it. it doesn't feel like the fifteenth iteration of celtic-inflected fae court politics we've all read this year (no shade, i love them, but the genre is saturated). the magic system has its own internal logic and visual identity, and i was constantly clocking little worldbuilding details that felt thought-through rather than borrowed.
castor as the cursed-prince love interest is doing what he needs to do. the dual desperate-bargain structure (she needs to kill the king, he needs someone to love him) is a really fun symmetrical setup for an enemies-to-lovers arc and the mistaken-identity beat early on is delicious. the banter lands. the tension lands. it's wicked in the way the marketing promises and warmer than i expected, which i think is the book's real superpower.
the one thing keeping this from a five for me is pacing. there are stretches in the middle where the momentum dips and i found myself wanting the emotional escalation to move faster than it does. BUT — and i mean this — it's a debut, and the kind of pacing issues this book has are the most fixable kind. they're symptoms of an author still finding their rhythm, not symptoms of a story that doesn't know what it's doing. i fully expect robinette's next book to have this dialed in.
genuinely such a strong debut. for anyone tired of fae romantasy that all blurs together, this one has its own identity and i'd pick up book two in a heartbeat.
4 stars, will be putting this on a "fae romantasy that's actually doing something different" shelf immediately.
January 29, 2026
3.5⭐️
I liked but didn’t love this book. It does have a lot going for it though and I’ll definitely check out the sequel.
First thank you to GP Putnam’s Sons, NetGalley, and Melody Robinette for the eARC, all opinions are my own.
Maddox is type 1 diabetic whose only found family is leaving her for the big city. With no job, no money, and no family she makes a deal with the dryad queen, kill the Redwood dryad king and be free of worrying about T1D. Castor is cursed Redwood prince, who is doomed to watch those who say they love him die. I’ll leave it at that for now.
I will say I enjoyed Maddox for most part though her lack of foresight or ability to stop and think at times was frustrating (who could have seen her bargain going sideways…except she really should have). I have seen some other reviews criticize who they felt Maddox’s constant mentions of T1D or need for insulin/sugar as too much, but I thought it was great representation (disclosure I don’t have T1D but the author does and I trust her lived experiences). Maddox is living in healthcare nightmare, without access to best tools, her inner thoughts reflect that and given the author has T1D she would know how much brain energy would need to be dedicated to managing it.
Despite dual POV I feel like we never really got to know Castor as well as I would have liked. I want to know more about his backstory etc.
I have two critique issues. First is world building needs a bit more to it. A number of things are mentioned offhand but never really explained enough for me. Do all dryad’s have magic or just royals? What kinds of powers do they have? We get vague references to Unseelie vs Seelie but not enough to really define what makes Unseelie bad in this world. Nor do we get any real info on “the sight”. There are more examples too but I feel like adding little more to these areas would really flesh out the world that Maddox is thrown into and make it seem more alive.
The other issue is the ending. I think the last 15% is far too rushed (as is the part of it that sets up a sequel). Honestly, I think this could be excellent standalone with bit more world building and bit more time to let ending land (and minus the obvious Dryad Queen betrayal; it’s so obvious from the start it’s not even a spoiler).
That said I did enjoy it and it’s quick read and I’ll definitely read sequel.
I liked but didn’t love this book. It does have a lot going for it though and I’ll definitely check out the sequel.
First thank you to GP Putnam’s Sons, NetGalley, and Melody Robinette for the eARC, all opinions are my own.
Maddox is type 1 diabetic whose only found family is leaving her for the big city. With no job, no money, and no family she makes a deal with the dryad queen, kill the Redwood dryad king and be free of worrying about T1D. Castor is cursed Redwood prince, who is doomed to watch those who say they love him die. I’ll leave it at that for now.
I will say I enjoyed Maddox for most part though her lack of foresight or ability to stop and think at times was frustrating (who could have seen her bargain going sideways…except she really should have). I have seen some other reviews criticize who they felt Maddox’s constant mentions of T1D or need for insulin/sugar as too much, but I thought it was great representation (disclosure I don’t have T1D but the author does and I trust her lived experiences). Maddox is living in healthcare nightmare, without access to best tools, her inner thoughts reflect that and given the author has T1D she would know how much brain energy would need to be dedicated to managing it.
Despite dual POV I feel like we never really got to know Castor as well as I would have liked. I want to know more about his backstory etc.
I have two critique issues. First is world building needs a bit more to it. A number of things are mentioned offhand but never really explained enough for me. Do all dryad’s have magic or just royals? What kinds of powers do they have? We get vague references to Unseelie vs Seelie but not enough to really define what makes Unseelie bad in this world. Nor do we get any real info on “the sight”. There are more examples too but I feel like adding little more to these areas would really flesh out the world that Maddox is thrown into and make it seem more alive.
The other issue is the ending. I think the last 15% is far too rushed (as is the part of it that sets up a sequel). Honestly, I think this could be excellent standalone with bit more world building and bit more time to let ending land (and minus the obvious Dryad Queen betrayal; it’s so obvious from the start it’s not even a spoiler).
That said I did enjoy it and it’s quick read and I’ll definitely read sequel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m not even going to pretend I didn’t pick this up because of the title. These Vile Hearts just sounds like something I would love. It has that dark, romantic, slightly unhinged energy that always pulls me in. And for once, judging a book by its title actually worked out pretty well for me.
Romantasy can be hit or miss for me. I like the idea of it more than the execution sometimes, especially because I don’t always connect easily with fantasy characters. There’s usually a barrier there for me where everything feels a little too distant or too built up. But that wasn’t the case here. I fell into Maddox and Castor’s story pretty quickly, which honestly surprised me.
Maddox felt grounded in a way that made the whole world easier to step into. Her motivation is so real and immediate. She’s not chasing power or destiny, she’s trying to survive. That added a layer of urgency that kept me invested. And Castor… he’s exactly the kind of cursed, complicated fae prince you expect, but there’s something softer underneath all of that that made him easy to root for.
The enemies to lovers dynamic is where this really shines. It’s messy, a little chaotic, and full of tension in a way that feels fun instead of forced. You know from the start that neither of them is being fully honest, so there’s this constant undercurrent of “this is going to blow up eventually,” and I kind of loved sitting in that anticipation.
The setting and magic also have that lush, slightly eerie vibe that fits the story really well. The redwood forest, the fae politics, the deals and curses, it all felt immersive without being overwhelming. It gave just enough detail to pull me in without making me feel like I needed a glossary to keep up.
For me, this lands at three stars because while I enjoyed it and stayed engaged, I didn’t feel completely consumed by it. I liked the characters, I liked the story, but I didn’t walk away feeling wrecked or obsessed the way I sometimes do with this genre.
Still, this was a really solid romantasy read. It’s witty, a little dark, and surprisingly warm underneath it all. And if you’re like me and sometimes struggle to connect with fantasy worlds, this one might be an easier entry point than most.
Romantasy can be hit or miss for me. I like the idea of it more than the execution sometimes, especially because I don’t always connect easily with fantasy characters. There’s usually a barrier there for me where everything feels a little too distant or too built up. But that wasn’t the case here. I fell into Maddox and Castor’s story pretty quickly, which honestly surprised me.
Maddox felt grounded in a way that made the whole world easier to step into. Her motivation is so real and immediate. She’s not chasing power or destiny, she’s trying to survive. That added a layer of urgency that kept me invested. And Castor… he’s exactly the kind of cursed, complicated fae prince you expect, but there’s something softer underneath all of that that made him easy to root for.
The enemies to lovers dynamic is where this really shines. It’s messy, a little chaotic, and full of tension in a way that feels fun instead of forced. You know from the start that neither of them is being fully honest, so there’s this constant undercurrent of “this is going to blow up eventually,” and I kind of loved sitting in that anticipation.
The setting and magic also have that lush, slightly eerie vibe that fits the story really well. The redwood forest, the fae politics, the deals and curses, it all felt immersive without being overwhelming. It gave just enough detail to pull me in without making me feel like I needed a glossary to keep up.
For me, this lands at three stars because while I enjoyed it and stayed engaged, I didn’t feel completely consumed by it. I liked the characters, I liked the story, but I didn’t walk away feeling wrecked or obsessed the way I sometimes do with this genre.
Still, this was a really solid romantasy read. It’s witty, a little dark, and surprisingly warm underneath it all. And if you’re like me and sometimes struggle to connect with fantasy worlds, this one might be an easier entry point than most.
January 29, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own
“I have roots in so many places, it’s been impossible for me to grow.”
I enjoyed this book very much even though it was heavier than I was led to believe from the book summary. The main characters are nuanced and interesting, and the relationships that they strike have more depth than they give themselves credit for, given that they both are pretty wrapped up in their own misery (understandably). The pacing of the plot is realistic, and the author’s writing is so beautiful, reaching into prose at times. While I don’t ever highlight my books, I found myself taking screen caps and highlighting left and right.
“… he’s wearing the same expression a guilty dog makes when they’ve been caught routing through the garbage. Tail between legs. Upturned eyebrows. Avoidant eyes. Trash everywhere. I’m the trash.”
Through Maddox, we see the additional layers of struggle that being chronically ill and medically dependent bring to isolated poverty. Her desperation drives her to make an equally desperate deal with the infamous dryad queen. She must kill the Redwood king in order to be cured of her Type 1 diabetes. This task hangs over her throughout most of the book and furthers her sense of isolation despite finally finding kinship with Castor. As Castor is keeping his own desperate deal a secret, he and Maddox unknowingly have much in common.
Castor and Maddox both use dark humor and deflection to cope with their difficult circumstances, adding some levity to an otherwise heavy story. Additionally, the detailed and whimsical settings that the author describes encourages the reader to envision themselves exploring the space on their own in lighter circumstances.
Add this book to your tbr! I recommend you read it when you are in the mood to visit with despair, just for a bit, with the promise that things will get better in the end.
“I have roots in so many places, it’s been impossible for me to grow.”
I enjoyed this book very much even though it was heavier than I was led to believe from the book summary. The main characters are nuanced and interesting, and the relationships that they strike have more depth than they give themselves credit for, given that they both are pretty wrapped up in their own misery (understandably). The pacing of the plot is realistic, and the author’s writing is so beautiful, reaching into prose at times. While I don’t ever highlight my books, I found myself taking screen caps and highlighting left and right.
“… he’s wearing the same expression a guilty dog makes when they’ve been caught routing through the garbage. Tail between legs. Upturned eyebrows. Avoidant eyes. Trash everywhere. I’m the trash.”
Through Maddox, we see the additional layers of struggle that being chronically ill and medically dependent bring to isolated poverty. Her desperation drives her to make an equally desperate deal with the infamous dryad queen. She must kill the Redwood king in order to be cured of her Type 1 diabetes. This task hangs over her throughout most of the book and furthers her sense of isolation despite finally finding kinship with Castor. As Castor is keeping his own desperate deal a secret, he and Maddox unknowingly have much in common.
Castor and Maddox both use dark humor and deflection to cope with their difficult circumstances, adding some levity to an otherwise heavy story. Additionally, the detailed and whimsical settings that the author describes encourages the reader to envision themselves exploring the space on their own in lighter circumstances.
Add this book to your tbr! I recommend you read it when you are in the mood to visit with despair, just for a bit, with the promise that things will get better in the end.
November 22, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ for me.
I feel like I’ve read more than my fair share of romantasy in recent years. I liked the original aspect of this story- dryads were totally new to me. I liked learning about a new magic system and the structure of their society, as well as all the different types of creatures that lived there.
However, I felt like there was too much emphasis on Maddox’s disease. I understand that that was perhaps the point, the all-consuming effort it takes to manage type 1 diabetes, but it distracted me from the story at points. I do feel like some of the diabetes “lingo” the author uses might be confusing to someone non-medical or not familiar with T1D, something to consider in edits. While seeking a cure was obviously Maddox’s main motivation for the choices she made, sometimes it overpowered the other parts of the plot.
I also wish that Maddox had learned the truth about the true king earlier in the story. It just felt like Castor’s ruse dragged on and on, which led to a lot of action packed into the last 20% of the book. At points, the pacing felt off. We spent the first 1.5 weeks drinking coffee and working at Magesté, but crammed all of the important events to really move the story along at the end.
This was a really unique romantasy, which I really appreciated. I feel like it can be challenging to find a totally unique idea now, but the author really surprised me with her world building and the magic system in her world. Despite some pacing problems, it was a fairly quick read. I liked how Castor and Maddox took their time to slowly get to know each other, and I look forward to their next story! I loved their banter and watching their dynamic change over the course of the story.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
I feel like I’ve read more than my fair share of romantasy in recent years. I liked the original aspect of this story- dryads were totally new to me. I liked learning about a new magic system and the structure of their society, as well as all the different types of creatures that lived there.
However, I felt like there was too much emphasis on Maddox’s disease. I understand that that was perhaps the point, the all-consuming effort it takes to manage type 1 diabetes, but it distracted me from the story at points. I do feel like some of the diabetes “lingo” the author uses might be confusing to someone non-medical or not familiar with T1D, something to consider in edits. While seeking a cure was obviously Maddox’s main motivation for the choices she made, sometimes it overpowered the other parts of the plot.
I also wish that Maddox had learned the truth about the true king earlier in the story. It just felt like Castor’s ruse dragged on and on, which led to a lot of action packed into the last 20% of the book. At points, the pacing felt off. We spent the first 1.5 weeks drinking coffee and working at Magesté, but crammed all of the important events to really move the story along at the end.
This was a really unique romantasy, which I really appreciated. I feel like it can be challenging to find a totally unique idea now, but the author really surprised me with her world building and the magic system in her world. Despite some pacing problems, it was a fairly quick read. I liked how Castor and Maddox took their time to slowly get to know each other, and I look forward to their next story! I loved their banter and watching their dynamic change over the course of the story.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
December 8, 2025
Things I really liked:
1. The FMC is dealing with an actual life-or-death issue. She is legitimately desperate, and that makes the bargain she seeks with the Myrtle Queen much more believable.
2. Dryads!
3. Neither the FMC nor the MMC is necessarily a "good" being, but neither are they bad, and they each seek out and amplify the good in the other. (Honestly, just about everyone in this book is vile in some way or another.)
Maddox's diabetes is PERVASIVE throughout the entire book, which seems overwhelming and redundant but also purposeful (it's not like a person with type 1 diabetes ever gets to stop being reminded of it, right?). She is constantly making adjustments with food or insulin and worrying about how much insulin she has left. She's increasingly desperate, which drives her to make a pact with the Myrtle Queen that requires her to murder the Redwood King. Enter Castor, the cursed prince, who Maddox mistakenly believes to be the king. Castor has made his own pact, and to meet his end of the bargain, he has to get a human to fall in love with him (and subsequently die). Who better than the woman who tried to stab him with a golden dagger during their first meeting?
I really enjoyed this book, but felt like the conclusion was rushed and less than satisfying. This is billed as romantasy, but it does not meet the HEA or HFN requirements of the romance part of that equation, so beware. The things left unresolved at the end basically shout that there will be at least a sequel, if not a series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
1. The FMC is dealing with an actual life-or-death issue. She is legitimately desperate, and that makes the bargain she seeks with the Myrtle Queen much more believable.
2. Dryads!
3. Neither the FMC nor the MMC is necessarily a "good" being, but neither are they bad, and they each seek out and amplify the good in the other. (Honestly, just about everyone in this book is vile in some way or another.)
Maddox's diabetes is PERVASIVE throughout the entire book, which seems overwhelming and redundant but also purposeful (it's not like a person with type 1 diabetes ever gets to stop being reminded of it, right?). She is constantly making adjustments with food or insulin and worrying about how much insulin she has left. She's increasingly desperate, which drives her to make a pact with the Myrtle Queen that requires her to murder the Redwood King. Enter Castor, the cursed prince, who Maddox mistakenly believes to be the king. Castor has made his own pact, and to meet his end of the bargain, he has to get a human to fall in love with him (and subsequently die). Who better than the woman who tried to stab him with a golden dagger during their first meeting?
I really enjoyed this book, but felt like the conclusion was rushed and less than satisfying. This is billed as romantasy, but it does not meet the HEA or HFN requirements of the romance part of that equation, so beware. The things left unresolved at the end basically shout that there will be at least a sequel, if not a series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an addictive read it was such a page turner I’m glad I read this book I don’t normally read adult, and I was looking into reading one this book surprised me it exceeded my expectations the narrative was fast pace and there’s was a lot of tension the protagonist drove the story, and the dual pov felt like they each had their own story, but they connected back to the center plot their story was so engaging you couldn’t stop reading the worldbuilding and the fae were a plus. I liked every moment of this story the romance was nice it added well to the story there moments together, the banter, it was all good Castor’s character was very charming I really liked his pov, and how it added to the story it showed things you wouldn’t see, or experience with Maddox pov I like how distinct they were the other characters rounded everything up and made the story better both pov were good and had their own conflicts and characters that were unique and were linked with them. The worldbuilding added so much the character fern was a nice character I liked reading her, and how different she was from Maddox. The story had tiny details that you noticed throughout the book you see it in the worldbuilding and in the magic it added to the story and made it seemed wholesome and integral.
This was a lovely read I enjoyed it so much the characters, the world and how the author linked all that with her prose it felt realistic her writing brought life to the world the antagonist was good, not a one dimensional character everything pulled you into the story and didn’t disappoint you.
Thanks NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc.
This was a lovely read I enjoyed it so much the characters, the world and how the author linked all that with her prose it felt realistic her writing brought life to the world the antagonist was good, not a one dimensional character everything pulled you into the story and didn’t disappoint you.
Thanks NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc.
December 14, 2025
3.5/5
Thank you Putnam Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Overall, I enjoyed getting to know Maddox and Castor. I loved Tamarind as a secondary character. I’m not sure if this counts as an urban fantasy because very little time is spent in the modern human world but type 1 diabetes is absolutely a human disease and it is most definitely talked about continuously throughout the story because Maddox is a type 1 diabetic that is struggling to care for herself due to losing her job. In some ways, the talk of her illness does overshadow the other major plot points. I do like that the reader can feel her desperation and desire to be cured through the writing.
The world building in terms of how the dryads live, what family trees are and how the lineages work was quite confusing in the beginning. I feel like a better explanation of the world and how the fae and humans live together in the same world but separately should’ve happened earlier in the book.
The chemistry between Maddox and Castor felt forced, which makes sense for most of the book, but there didn’t really feel like there was clear timing for when the enemies would become lovers. I would not consider this book a Romantasy because there was not a lot of actual romance.
I struggled getting into the book and wanting to read it because of the pace. However, I enjoyed it overall and would absolutely read a second book so that I can follow Castor and Maddox on their journey.
Thank you Putnam Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Overall, I enjoyed getting to know Maddox and Castor. I loved Tamarind as a secondary character. I’m not sure if this counts as an urban fantasy because very little time is spent in the modern human world but type 1 diabetes is absolutely a human disease and it is most definitely talked about continuously throughout the story because Maddox is a type 1 diabetic that is struggling to care for herself due to losing her job. In some ways, the talk of her illness does overshadow the other major plot points. I do like that the reader can feel her desperation and desire to be cured through the writing.
The world building in terms of how the dryads live, what family trees are and how the lineages work was quite confusing in the beginning. I feel like a better explanation of the world and how the fae and humans live together in the same world but separately should’ve happened earlier in the book.
The chemistry between Maddox and Castor felt forced, which makes sense for most of the book, but there didn’t really feel like there was clear timing for when the enemies would become lovers. I would not consider this book a Romantasy because there was not a lot of actual romance.
I struggled getting into the book and wanting to read it because of the pace. However, I enjoyed it overall and would absolutely read a second book so that I can follow Castor and Maddox on their journey.
January 10, 2026
These Vile Hearts by Melody Robinette
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished: 01/09
Let’s dive right into this unique romantasy.
Maddox is barely surviving life with Type 1 diabetes. When she loses her job—and with it, her insurance—she’s suddenly faced with an impossible reality: how does she afford the insulin and supplies that keep her alive?
When her best friend follows through on their plan to move to California, leaving Maddox behind, desperation pushes her toward an unthinkable solution. Maddox seeks out a dryad queen, willing to make a dangerous pact in the hope of being freed from her disease.
Castor is a dryad prince bound by a curse he never asked for. Anyone who loves him meets an untimely end. Longing for release, his brother strikes a bargain meant to finally rid Castor of this fate. But is it really that easy?
But as the saying goes—you should never trust a dryad.
When Maddox and Castor cross paths, readers are pulled into a story woven with lies, longing, love, and rich folklore. The world-building is beautifully done, blending magic seamlessly into our own reality. The characters stirred a wide range of emotions for me—some instantly lovable, others undeniably frustrating in the best way.
This was a compelling, thoughtfully written romantasy that left me invested from start to finish.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished: 01/09
Let’s dive right into this unique romantasy.
Maddox is barely surviving life with Type 1 diabetes. When she loses her job—and with it, her insurance—she’s suddenly faced with an impossible reality: how does she afford the insulin and supplies that keep her alive?
When her best friend follows through on their plan to move to California, leaving Maddox behind, desperation pushes her toward an unthinkable solution. Maddox seeks out a dryad queen, willing to make a dangerous pact in the hope of being freed from her disease.
Castor is a dryad prince bound by a curse he never asked for. Anyone who loves him meets an untimely end. Longing for release, his brother strikes a bargain meant to finally rid Castor of this fate. But is it really that easy?
But as the saying goes—you should never trust a dryad.
When Maddox and Castor cross paths, readers are pulled into a story woven with lies, longing, love, and rich folklore. The world-building is beautifully done, blending magic seamlessly into our own reality. The characters stirred a wide range of emotions for me—some instantly lovable, others undeniably frustrating in the best way.
This was a compelling, thoughtfully written romantasy that left me invested from start to finish.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons Publishing/Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions in this review are my own.
Let me get this out of the way…King Durien Sempervirens and Queen Amanita Umbellularia are, in my opinion, terrible names even in light of the fact that they are completely made up. I snickered every time I saw them on the page. It made it extremely difficult for me to take seriously.
This book had an original premise which I enjoyed, however it seems like the author is fantastic at “showing” us the people and situations, but sometimes I felt they were just throwing nice words together that didn’t always make sense.
The timeline gets a bit off at places which was confusing, if not irksome, occasionally. However, the pacing of the story itself was done well. And this is the way to write slow-burn romance! At the risk of sounding old-fashioned the story required them to woo each other. It will all make sense when you read it, I just don’t want to give too much away, but it gave depth that could have been lacking.
The found family aspect was superb, and the illness/curse of the main characters was fully explored and drove the story well, as did the rest of their arcs.
This was not a bad outing for the author, and I was entertained, but if there were a sequel I don’t think I would wait around for it.
Let me get this out of the way…King Durien Sempervirens and Queen Amanita Umbellularia are, in my opinion, terrible names even in light of the fact that they are completely made up. I snickered every time I saw them on the page. It made it extremely difficult for me to take seriously.
This book had an original premise which I enjoyed, however it seems like the author is fantastic at “showing” us the people and situations, but sometimes I felt they were just throwing nice words together that didn’t always make sense.
The timeline gets a bit off at places which was confusing, if not irksome, occasionally. However, the pacing of the story itself was done well. And this is the way to write slow-burn romance! At the risk of sounding old-fashioned the story required them to woo each other. It will all make sense when you read it, I just don’t want to give too much away, but it gave depth that could have been lacking.
The found family aspect was superb, and the illness/curse of the main characters was fully explored and drove the story well, as did the rest of their arcs.
This was not a bad outing for the author, and I was entertained, but if there were a sequel I don’t think I would wait around for it.
November 22, 2025
These Vile Hearts was such a fantastic romantasy debut, honestly way better than I even expected. It’s darkly funny, a little chaotic, and packed with some of the best banter I’ve read in a while. Maddox is a total badass! She is fierce, determined, and dealing with real stakes as a mortal with type one diabetes. I loved how her strength wasn’t just physical or magical; she’s sharp and smart and refuses to back down. And Castor is the cursed fae prince with charm, vulnerability, and just the right amount of mischief. Together, Maddox and Castor have this electric, shouldn’t want each other but do kind of energy that makes every scene between them so fun.
I think what makes this book stand out the most is how unique it feels. The world building is lush without ever being confusing, and the plot balances humor, magic, and emotion perfectly. It’s a little wicked, a little sweet, and honestly just a blast to read from beginning to end. I think it is enemies to lovers with major tension perfection, features super strong characters, and a fresh twist on fae romance. It is a real standout in this genre.
Thank you to NetGalley, Melody Robinette, and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the eARC of this book.
I think what makes this book stand out the most is how unique it feels. The world building is lush without ever being confusing, and the plot balances humor, magic, and emotion perfectly. It’s a little wicked, a little sweet, and honestly just a blast to read from beginning to end. I think it is enemies to lovers with major tension perfection, features super strong characters, and a fresh twist on fae romance. It is a real standout in this genre.
Thank you to NetGalley, Melody Robinette, and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this work thank you to the publisher and also the author as well. my goodness I absolutely loved the way This book opens, and I was just captivated by the narrative style, by the writing style, etc. but then, as I continued to read, I struggled a bit with the pacing and that’s why this is a 3.25 stars for me
Another that thing was that well I understand that this is a disability rep. I also feel it. It’s important not to do a character the service by making everything about them to be about the disease that they have all the illness that they’re dealing with I feel it to some can take away from the death of their characterization because there are more than their illness.
But outside of these things, I have to give it to the author. I enjoyed the way the book opens like it’s one of my favorites opening lines. Silence is the loudest in the forest and I find it interesting that this theme is reverberated throughout the story.
but this was a really interesting and also has a creative storyline. It is different from what I usually read so I did enjoy it.
Another that thing was that well I understand that this is a disability rep. I also feel it. It’s important not to do a character the service by making everything about them to be about the disease that they have all the illness that they’re dealing with I feel it to some can take away from the death of their characterization because there are more than their illness.
But outside of these things, I have to give it to the author. I enjoyed the way the book opens like it’s one of my favorites opening lines. Silence is the loudest in the forest and I find it interesting that this theme is reverberated throughout the story.
but this was a really interesting and also has a creative storyline. It is different from what I usually read so I did enjoy it.
November 22, 2025
“Murder is hard. Murdering someone you enjoy kissing is much harder.”
I like the overall vibe of the story. It’s well written. I was disappointed to call the deal behind the curse much, much sooner than I would have liked. I enjoyed the dynamic between Maddox and Castor.
One thing that almost killed it for me…. The diabetes. Not because the MFC was dealing with this. I understand how awful diabetes can be and how dangerous trying to to manage insulin can turn out if you are struggling to pay for it (I’ve seen this first hand sadly) what drove me nuts was how many times it’s thrown at us. We are reminded of her diabetes, in one way or another, every single chapter, multiple times in a chapter, constantly. I fear when I would get my hands on a copy of the second book the only thing I’ll remember about this was, “oh the one diabetic girl”
I won’t say what for spoiler reasons, but I would read the second book and believe I would likely rate it higher than this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. Opinions are my own.
I like the overall vibe of the story. It’s well written. I was disappointed to call the deal behind the curse much, much sooner than I would have liked. I enjoyed the dynamic between Maddox and Castor.
One thing that almost killed it for me…. The diabetes. Not because the MFC was dealing with this. I understand how awful diabetes can be and how dangerous trying to to manage insulin can turn out if you are struggling to pay for it (I’ve seen this first hand sadly) what drove me nuts was how many times it’s thrown at us. We are reminded of her diabetes, in one way or another, every single chapter, multiple times in a chapter, constantly. I fear when I would get my hands on a copy of the second book the only thing I’ll remember about this was, “oh the one diabetic girl”
I won’t say what for spoiler reasons, but I would read the second book and believe I would likely rate it higher than this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. Opinions are my own.
March 7, 2026
This interesting romantic fantasy novel revolves around the love story between mortal Maddox and the cursed dryad Prince Castor. Maddox is at rock bottom and makes a deal with a queen to be cured of her diabetes if she can kill the king. However, a case of mistaken identity leads her to believe that Castor is the king. Castor is cursed, and anyone who loves him dies. But he has his own pact: if he can find a mortal who loves him, his curse will disappear. The story is captivating as each pact conflicts with the others. It’s not a five-star book yet because the pacing was off. There’s a lot of world-building going on while trying to move the plot forward, which was a bit distracting. But the tree fae world is truly fascinating. While there’s a forest brothel, there aren’t any explicitly detailed scenes. There’s one closed-door scene that’s not very descriptive. Despite these minor flaws, this book is definitely worth reading.
Thank you, Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Thank you, Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Overall, this one was okay for me. The concept is unique, but it took me a while to get through and it didn’t quite pull me in the way I hoped it would.
I’ve read several romantasy series, but this was my first time reading one centered around tree fae. Because of all these new types of characters it took me a while to settle into the story. So the beginning felt a little slow.
There is a big focus on type 1 diabetes. The author shares that this is a condition she lives with, and I appreciate the personal perspective and representation. At the same time, a lot of the conflict and tension in the story revolves around diabetes management. It pulled focus away from the larger plot and the fantasy elements.
The romance also didn’t fully work for me. I didn’t feel a lot of buildup or tension between them. And the ending was also pretty abrupt and clearly sets up the next book in the series. I would have liked a bit more closure in this installment instead of feeling like everything stopped right as it was getting somewhere.
I’ve read several romantasy series, but this was my first time reading one centered around tree fae. Because of all these new types of characters it took me a while to settle into the story. So the beginning felt a little slow.
There is a big focus on type 1 diabetes. The author shares that this is a condition she lives with, and I appreciate the personal perspective and representation. At the same time, a lot of the conflict and tension in the story revolves around diabetes management. It pulled focus away from the larger plot and the fantasy elements.
The romance also didn’t fully work for me. I didn’t feel a lot of buildup or tension between them. And the ending was also pretty abrupt and clearly sets up the next book in the series. I would have liked a bit more closure in this installment instead of feeling like everything stopped right as it was getting somewhere.
November 16, 2025
Curses abound in this speculative fantasy by Melody Robinette. The FMC suffers from type 1 diabetes, which she reminds the reader in every single chapter. The MMC suffers from a curse which kills everyone he loves. The MMC's best friend, bodyguard, and (luckily enough for the FMC) a healer knowledgeable in human medicine suffers from being shut out by the MMC. While the banter between the MMC and FMC is fun and flirty, the plot suffers from being a bit too predictable. The FMC's pact with the Myrtle Queen seems too easy and the "mistaken" identity of the MMC could be cleared up with *gasp* communication. To be clear, the story is enjoyable and a good read for a crisp fall day. It just doesn't stand out from other fae-based books. The story could have been wrapped up in one book, but the author throws in a twist at the end that sets up a sequel.
This was an ARC provided by NetGalley. All views are my own.
This was an ARC provided by NetGalley. All views are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
These Vile Hearts is about a human woman, Maddox, that is barely surviving type 1 diabetes. She lost her job, her home, her best friend is moving away, and she cannot afford to pay for her insulin. She resorts to making a deal with the Mrytle Queen to be cured and live a long, healthy life in exchange for killing the Redwood King. Unfortunately for her, the Cursed Prince, Castor, pretends to be the Redwood King in order to get Maddox to fall in love with him, ridding him of his curse.
The characters were well written and had me hoping for their HEA. Maddox has trust issues after witnessing her parents' deaths and moving from foster home to foster home. Castor is lonely and made more lonely by his curse that if someone loves him, they die. He pushes everyone away to keep them safe.
I hope there is a sequel - I will definitely read it!
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The characters were well written and had me hoping for their HEA. Maddox has trust issues after witnessing her parents' deaths and moving from foster home to foster home. Castor is lonely and made more lonely by his curse that if someone loves him, they die. He pushes everyone away to keep them safe.
I hope there is a sequel - I will definitely read it!
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2025
Desde niña, Maddox ha visto a las criaturas del bosque y vio cómo los dryads asesinaron a sus padres. Años después, su vida vuelve a desmoronarse: sin dinero, sin hogar y sin acceso a la medicina que necesita para sobrevivir, regresa al bosque donde empezó su tragedia. Desesperada, busca a la temida Myrtle Queen para hacer un pacto… incluso si eso significa enfrentar a los mismos monstruos que le arrebataron todo.
Lo que no espera es cruzarse con Castor, un príncipe dryad maldito cuya sola cercanía puede matar. Él necesita amor para romper su condena. Ella necesita poder para sobrevivir. Lo único que ambos descubrirán es que amar puede ser el acto más peligroso de todos.
__
Necesito el siguiente libro.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Lo que no espera es cruzarse con Castor, un príncipe dryad maldito cuya sola cercanía puede matar. Él necesita amor para romper su condena. Ella necesita poder para sobrevivir. Lo único que ambos descubrirán es que amar puede ser el acto más peligroso de todos.
__
Necesito el siguiente libro.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
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