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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.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 11, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 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.
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.
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 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**
August 15, 2026
[I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley]
These Vile Hearts is one of those books that sucks you in, but you don’t necessarily realize how much you’ve been hooked by it until it’s been 150 pages and you find yourself completely incapable of putting it down, and you look up and realize you’ve been transported to Sylveris as though wandering through an egress hidden in the pages. The world of the book is steeped in magic (and dread) from the jump, and Robinette does a great job of completely immersing the reader into it.
I wasn’t completely sold at the start of this book, and I found both Maddox and Castor to be a bit grating. We meet each of them at their lowest points, and for a chunk of the beginning that’s where they’re both stuck. Maddox is mad at the world (rightfully) and Castor is caught up in “woe is me” (rightfully) and it does feel a little on the repetitive side until the plot really gets going and they begin to cross paths. Once the cat and mouse game of mistaken identity gets underway, the book becomes a lot more fun and a lot harder to put down. Watching these two on a crash course towards each other and seeing some of the big picture coming together unbeknownst to them was even more delicious when they began to develop some real feelings. It was nice to see them come out of their respective personality boxes as the story progressed.
The overall plot is rooted in some familiar territory. Maddox is struggling to balance all the elements of her life and frustrated with the hand she’s been dealt in having to manage her type 1 diabetes in the bleak landscape of the American healthcare system, so naturally she turns to making a dangerous deal with a dryad queen. Guided by the scribbled notes from her father’s notebook, Maddox finds herself in games that are more than she bargained for with a rival king and his cursed brother, Castor. The plot is easy to follow, and for the most part you can see where it’s heading. Much like the proverbial trainwreck, it’s really hard to look away! There’s only one point that I take issue with in the overall picture of the plot, and it’s the timeline of the different pieces in place for Castor and Maddox which leads to some of the emotional development to feel a little bit rushed.
The world is definitely a shining star of this book. I really enjoyed the way the different dryads were described, especially the descriptions of the different types of antlers. Robinette has created some really stellar visuals with the character and world design and it has me wishing I could find my own local treetop city to disappear into for a little while. But only for a little while, because one of the other elements of the world that is conveyed really solidly is just how dangerous these creatures are. I’m a big fan of when a book portrays their fae and other magical creatures as the terrifying otherworldly beings they are, and I think this one does a pretty solid job of that, which also gave the ending a little something extra.
It’s nice to stumble upon a book that you can have such a fun time with, and this was absolutely one of those for me. While it was a bit predictable, the ending still got me pretty good and immediately had me craving book two. I’m looking forward to the next installment!
These Vile Hearts is one of those books that sucks you in, but you don’t necessarily realize how much you’ve been hooked by it until it’s been 150 pages and you find yourself completely incapable of putting it down, and you look up and realize you’ve been transported to Sylveris as though wandering through an egress hidden in the pages. The world of the book is steeped in magic (and dread) from the jump, and Robinette does a great job of completely immersing the reader into it.
I wasn’t completely sold at the start of this book, and I found both Maddox and Castor to be a bit grating. We meet each of them at their lowest points, and for a chunk of the beginning that’s where they’re both stuck. Maddox is mad at the world (rightfully) and Castor is caught up in “woe is me” (rightfully) and it does feel a little on the repetitive side until the plot really gets going and they begin to cross paths. Once the cat and mouse game of mistaken identity gets underway, the book becomes a lot more fun and a lot harder to put down. Watching these two on a crash course towards each other and seeing some of the big picture coming together unbeknownst to them was even more delicious when they began to develop some real feelings. It was nice to see them come out of their respective personality boxes as the story progressed.
The overall plot is rooted in some familiar territory. Maddox is struggling to balance all the elements of her life and frustrated with the hand she’s been dealt in having to manage her type 1 diabetes in the bleak landscape of the American healthcare system, so naturally she turns to making a dangerous deal with a dryad queen. Guided by the scribbled notes from her father’s notebook, Maddox finds herself in games that are more than she bargained for with a rival king and his cursed brother, Castor. The plot is easy to follow, and for the most part you can see where it’s heading. Much like the proverbial trainwreck, it’s really hard to look away! There’s only one point that I take issue with in the overall picture of the plot, and it’s the timeline of the different pieces in place for Castor and Maddox which leads to some of the emotional development to feel a little bit rushed.
The world is definitely a shining star of this book. I really enjoyed the way the different dryads were described, especially the descriptions of the different types of antlers. Robinette has created some really stellar visuals with the character and world design and it has me wishing I could find my own local treetop city to disappear into for a little while. But only for a little while, because one of the other elements of the world that is conveyed really solidly is just how dangerous these creatures are. I’m a big fan of when a book portrays their fae and other magical creatures as the terrifying otherworldly beings they are, and I think this one does a pretty solid job of that, which also gave the ending a little something extra.
It’s nice to stumble upon a book that you can have such a fun time with, and this was absolutely one of those for me. While it was a bit predictable, the ending still got me pretty good and immediately had me craving book two. I’m looking forward to the next installment!
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 :)
August 12, 2026
This was honestly such a fun read.
Maddox is a modern-day woman with Type 1 diabetes who finds herself crossing into a fantasy realm and landing in the Redwood Kingdom, where she meets the cursed Prince Castor.
Maddox makes a deal with the Myrtlewood Queen for a better life and a cure for her T1D, while Castor makes a deal with his brother to break his curse. As the two start developing feelings for each other, they have to decide what matters more: keeping their pacts or seeing what might be brewing between them.
I really enjoyed the mix of enemies-to-lovers, fantasy world-building, and character development. There were some fun twists along the way that kept me wanting to see where the story would go.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I read an uncorrected proof and all opinions are my own.
Maddox is a modern-day woman with Type 1 diabetes who finds herself crossing into a fantasy realm and landing in the Redwood Kingdom, where she meets the cursed Prince Castor.
Maddox makes a deal with the Myrtlewood Queen for a better life and a cure for her T1D, while Castor makes a deal with his brother to break his curse. As the two start developing feelings for each other, they have to decide what matters more: keeping their pacts or seeing what might be brewing between them.
I really enjoyed the mix of enemies-to-lovers, fantasy world-building, and character development. There were some fun twists along the way that kept me wanting to see where the story would go.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I read an uncorrected proof and all opinions are my own.
August 13, 2026
SPOILER ALERT!!!
Oh my God. I LOVED this SO MUCH!!
I started highlighting my Kindle pretty much immediately and then just never stopped. I genuinely don’t think I’ve highlighted a book this much before. Quotes, lore, funny lines, romantic moments, theories, things that made me sad, things that made me laugh out loud — this book!!!
And I think the biggest reason I loved it so much is that it just felt so REFRESHING. I love a good romantasy but the landscape does feel a little bit “samey” at the moment. This, however, did not feel like that at all.
It’s set in modern-day US where our FMC, Maddox, lives in a struggling logging town. She’s been raised in the foster system after witnessing the death of her parents when she was young at the hands of the Dryads. She has Type 1 diabetes and is constantly worried about how much insulin she has left and her blood sugar levels — a real education in how difficult it must be to live with Type 1. She also talks about the American healthcare system and how it fails people.
And alongside all of that… there are HORNED fae people who are literally BORN from TREES.
I’m going to add a caveat here that I am OBSESSED with trees. There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t either say, “I love trees!!” or point at one and say, “Look how amazing that tree is!” So much so that I have a tree tattoo on my arm. SO… a fantasy book which has taken trees and given them a human-equivalent life force? I ATE THAT UP. 🌲
The fantasy doesn’t feel like it’s happening in some vague old-world kingdom where everyone wears gowns and nobody has discovered electricity. Generally when I’m reading romantasy, it feels like Victorian England. This very much feels like contemporary fiction with fantasy woven through it.
And THE TREES. Sorry not sorry. 🌲
Let me explain… the Dryads aren’t just fae who happen to live in a forest. Their ENTIRE existence is tied to trees. They have heartwoods — trees that house their souls (I want one in my garden please!). Their families are connected through root systems. They can be ORPHANED when loggers cut down the rest of their family trees. Royal heirs grow from the Sovereign Tree. ADOPTION involves grafting a Dryad’s heartwood into a FAMILY TREE. THEY CALL THEIR CHILDREN SEEDLINGS!!!
I hear how whimsical it sounds, but it works.
To put this into some form of coherence so you don’t think I’ve lost the plot… there’s a moment where Maddox is horrified by human bones being used as decoration and the Dryad’s response is essentially: “Imagine how we feel when we see a log cabin.” And that completely reframed the whole human/dryad conflict for me. Humans see trees as buildings, furniture, resources. The Dryads see THEIR FAMILY.
I’m going to have to start tying myself to trees to protect them from deforestation at this point.
The bit about logging leaving a Dryad orphaned genuinely broke my heart. The book keeps asking (without ever becoming preachy) what makes something worthy of care? Does it need to look human? Does it need to communicate like a pet? What even is sentience?
I loved that. Although it does make eating complicated because even a plant-based diet at this point feels like murder 😜
And then there’s Maddox and Castor. Their entire setup is ridiculous in the BEST way.
Maddox thinks Castor is the Redwood King and is trying to get close enough to murder him.
Castor needs a mortal to fall in love with him to escape what he believes is a curse — despite the fact that anyone who loves him will supposedly die.
So BOTH of them approach the relationship with terrible intentions.
And BOTH OF THEM ARE TOO NICE TO ACTUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH.
I called this quite early on: their moral codes were going to ruin both of their plans.
Castor has already spent months finding excuses not to condemn innocent mortals. “She has younger siblings. She’s too kind. She has a dog called Bingo.” He literally admits that he underestimated his own morality.
And Maddox spends the book trying to convince herself she can kill Castor while becoming increasingly incapable of seeing him as the monster she originally thought he was.
There’s a line later on which I love:
“Murder is hard. Murdering someone you enjoy kissing is much harder.”
Which is basically their entire relationship in one sentence.
What I particularly loved was how their relationship developed through conversation and their mutual dry sense of humour. They didn’t just suddenly become obsessed with each other because they were both hot — which feels like the norm in romantasy.
Maddox teaches Castor how she deals with difficult emotions by imagining herself as a house and locking everything inside where nobody can see it. The conversation is HILARIOUS because Castor starts commenting that the imaginary furniture doesn’t match. The furniture that HE imagined.
And then during the only real spicy scene, Melody brings that back in:
“Castor pushes inside and turns the walls of my house to glass. Then he shatters them. And I shatter and shatter and shatter until there’s nothing left to break.”
YES.
The spice isn’t just there because the book needs a sex scene. The physical relationship is tied into the emotional relationship. Their intimacy actually means something because it uses language and ideas that have already been built between them. And the spice is genuinely very good.
This:
“His mouth holds my name like I’m his idol to worship on sinful knees.”
HELLO 😜
And their banter. Maddox has very modern, irreverent sarcasm. She turns serious conversations into dick jokes (this bit made me lol). She describes herself as driving a disaster train down the femme fatale track. She casually remarks on macabre décor while people are trying to threaten her. She uses humour to cope with fear — very relatable.
Castor’s humour is drier and more internally panicked. His thoughts are sarcastic and slightly theatrical. He’s actually a total emotional mess… with a hint of dark, murdery magic. An emotional shadow-daddy type, if you will.
And then Melody throws in a tonne of emotional moments which are SO beautiful. One of my favourites was Maddox reframing Castor’s curse. Someone asks why a king would ever be jealous of a cursed prince who kills everyone who loves him, and Maddox basically says: “People DO love him. They love him so much that they’re willing to die for him.” That broke me a little because Castor has spent his entire life seeing these deaths as evidence that he is dangerous. Maddox sees them as evidence that he is loved. The queen of the silver lining.
Anyhoo… that idea becomes even more devastating later when we discover THE CURSE ISN’T REAL. I actually clocked this before the reveal and was very pleased with myself.
Castor talks about all these people who got close to him and mysteriously died: tutors, servants, friends, Cyperus. And suddenly I thought — wait. This isn’t a curse. This is DURIAN. And of course it was Durian.
Durian had been systematically killing anyone who became close to Castor so that Castor would believe he was cursed. He has spent years believing HE was responsible for their deaths. He has been taught that love itself is dangerous because of him. And the line when Castor finally realises the truth was one of my favourites:
“It’s as if I’ve been reading the same book all my life, and suddenly someone has handed me a pile of missing pages that change the whole story.”
And speaking of beautiful (albeit no context) lines:
“Guilt slides out of the bed, but Grief stays.”
WHAT A LINE.
I loved the writing in this book. It isn’t overly flowery. It’s often really simple. But then it lands one sentence like that and absolutely punches you.
The found-family element was lovely too. Fern finding ways to look after Maddox. Tamarind loving Castor. All these people who don’t necessarily have a straightforward family structure finding people to care for anyway.
Then THE ENDING. I genuinely didn’t predict all of it.
The reveal about Maddox’s mother being killed as part of the deal her father made was a clever play on how the queen delivered her end of the bargain. The fact that Maddox kills the king and then discovers that doing so means she is transformed into a DRYAD and permanently bound to the Myrtle Queen?! WTAF!!!!!
And I kind of loved that the ending did not give us a neat romantic resolution. But neither did it leave us with a horrible lovers-to-enemies situation where you feel bereft hoping it will be fixed in the next book.
Maddox and Castor have gone from enemies-to-lovers into… something. I loved this quote:
“I am the dagger, and you are the disease. I am the axe, and you are the poison. We were a doomed combination from the start.”
At least book 2 won’t start with them wondering how they feel about each other. That part is done. They love each other. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
And then that FINAL LINE.
“Hasn’t anyone ever told you to never trust a dryad?”
WAS BRILLIANT.
There are also clearly still huge pieces of Maddox’s family history that we don’t know. The Myrtle Queen mentions that Maddox’s father originally came to her wanting something completely different, and I am already suspicious that Atlas may somehow be connected to that. I have theories.
One final thing: the audiobook narration is excellent.
The female narrator, Natalie Naudus, is brilliant. Maddox’s voice and humour come across so well. And Castor’s narrator (Dan Bittner) is also FANTASTIC. The two POVs feel distinct and both performances really add to the characterisation.
I actually started listening while reading along, then ended up at 2x speed because I wanted the story faster, and then eventually abandoned the audiobook because I needed the story quicker. This is always a good sign.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Funny, weird, sexy, emotional, original, beautifully written, and genuinely refreshing.
I absolutely loved living in this strange little world of modern healthcare, cursed princes, tree souls, dryad brothels, sarcastic mortals, and murderous forest politics.
And I need Book 2 immediately please. Amazing first book Melody! 👏🏻
Oh my God. I LOVED this SO MUCH!!
I started highlighting my Kindle pretty much immediately and then just never stopped. I genuinely don’t think I’ve highlighted a book this much before. Quotes, lore, funny lines, romantic moments, theories, things that made me sad, things that made me laugh out loud — this book!!!
And I think the biggest reason I loved it so much is that it just felt so REFRESHING. I love a good romantasy but the landscape does feel a little bit “samey” at the moment. This, however, did not feel like that at all.
It’s set in modern-day US where our FMC, Maddox, lives in a struggling logging town. She’s been raised in the foster system after witnessing the death of her parents when she was young at the hands of the Dryads. She has Type 1 diabetes and is constantly worried about how much insulin she has left and her blood sugar levels — a real education in how difficult it must be to live with Type 1. She also talks about the American healthcare system and how it fails people.
And alongside all of that… there are HORNED fae people who are literally BORN from TREES.
I’m going to add a caveat here that I am OBSESSED with trees. There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t either say, “I love trees!!” or point at one and say, “Look how amazing that tree is!” So much so that I have a tree tattoo on my arm. SO… a fantasy book which has taken trees and given them a human-equivalent life force? I ATE THAT UP. 🌲
The fantasy doesn’t feel like it’s happening in some vague old-world kingdom where everyone wears gowns and nobody has discovered electricity. Generally when I’m reading romantasy, it feels like Victorian England. This very much feels like contemporary fiction with fantasy woven through it.
And THE TREES. Sorry not sorry. 🌲
Let me explain… the Dryads aren’t just fae who happen to live in a forest. Their ENTIRE existence is tied to trees. They have heartwoods — trees that house their souls (I want one in my garden please!). Their families are connected through root systems. They can be ORPHANED when loggers cut down the rest of their family trees. Royal heirs grow from the Sovereign Tree. ADOPTION involves grafting a Dryad’s heartwood into a FAMILY TREE. THEY CALL THEIR CHILDREN SEEDLINGS!!!
I hear how whimsical it sounds, but it works.
To put this into some form of coherence so you don’t think I’ve lost the plot… there’s a moment where Maddox is horrified by human bones being used as decoration and the Dryad’s response is essentially: “Imagine how we feel when we see a log cabin.” And that completely reframed the whole human/dryad conflict for me. Humans see trees as buildings, furniture, resources. The Dryads see THEIR FAMILY.
I’m going to have to start tying myself to trees to protect them from deforestation at this point.
The bit about logging leaving a Dryad orphaned genuinely broke my heart. The book keeps asking (without ever becoming preachy) what makes something worthy of care? Does it need to look human? Does it need to communicate like a pet? What even is sentience?
I loved that. Although it does make eating complicated because even a plant-based diet at this point feels like murder 😜
And then there’s Maddox and Castor. Their entire setup is ridiculous in the BEST way.
Maddox thinks Castor is the Redwood King and is trying to get close enough to murder him.
Castor needs a mortal to fall in love with him to escape what he believes is a curse — despite the fact that anyone who loves him will supposedly die.
So BOTH of them approach the relationship with terrible intentions.
And BOTH OF THEM ARE TOO NICE TO ACTUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH.
I called this quite early on: their moral codes were going to ruin both of their plans.
Castor has already spent months finding excuses not to condemn innocent mortals. “She has younger siblings. She’s too kind. She has a dog called Bingo.” He literally admits that he underestimated his own morality.
And Maddox spends the book trying to convince herself she can kill Castor while becoming increasingly incapable of seeing him as the monster she originally thought he was.
There’s a line later on which I love:
“Murder is hard. Murdering someone you enjoy kissing is much harder.”
Which is basically their entire relationship in one sentence.
What I particularly loved was how their relationship developed through conversation and their mutual dry sense of humour. They didn’t just suddenly become obsessed with each other because they were both hot — which feels like the norm in romantasy.
Maddox teaches Castor how she deals with difficult emotions by imagining herself as a house and locking everything inside where nobody can see it. The conversation is HILARIOUS because Castor starts commenting that the imaginary furniture doesn’t match. The furniture that HE imagined.
And then during the only real spicy scene, Melody brings that back in:
“Castor pushes inside and turns the walls of my house to glass. Then he shatters them. And I shatter and shatter and shatter until there’s nothing left to break.”
YES.
The spice isn’t just there because the book needs a sex scene. The physical relationship is tied into the emotional relationship. Their intimacy actually means something because it uses language and ideas that have already been built between them. And the spice is genuinely very good.
This:
“His mouth holds my name like I’m his idol to worship on sinful knees.”
HELLO 😜
And their banter. Maddox has very modern, irreverent sarcasm. She turns serious conversations into dick jokes (this bit made me lol). She describes herself as driving a disaster train down the femme fatale track. She casually remarks on macabre décor while people are trying to threaten her. She uses humour to cope with fear — very relatable.
Castor’s humour is drier and more internally panicked. His thoughts are sarcastic and slightly theatrical. He’s actually a total emotional mess… with a hint of dark, murdery magic. An emotional shadow-daddy type, if you will.
And then Melody throws in a tonne of emotional moments which are SO beautiful. One of my favourites was Maddox reframing Castor’s curse. Someone asks why a king would ever be jealous of a cursed prince who kills everyone who loves him, and Maddox basically says: “People DO love him. They love him so much that they’re willing to die for him.” That broke me a little because Castor has spent his entire life seeing these deaths as evidence that he is dangerous. Maddox sees them as evidence that he is loved. The queen of the silver lining.
Anyhoo… that idea becomes even more devastating later when we discover THE CURSE ISN’T REAL. I actually clocked this before the reveal and was very pleased with myself.
Castor talks about all these people who got close to him and mysteriously died: tutors, servants, friends, Cyperus. And suddenly I thought — wait. This isn’t a curse. This is DURIAN. And of course it was Durian.
Durian had been systematically killing anyone who became close to Castor so that Castor would believe he was cursed. He has spent years believing HE was responsible for their deaths. He has been taught that love itself is dangerous because of him. And the line when Castor finally realises the truth was one of my favourites:
“It’s as if I’ve been reading the same book all my life, and suddenly someone has handed me a pile of missing pages that change the whole story.”
And speaking of beautiful (albeit no context) lines:
“Guilt slides out of the bed, but Grief stays.”
WHAT A LINE.
I loved the writing in this book. It isn’t overly flowery. It’s often really simple. But then it lands one sentence like that and absolutely punches you.
The found-family element was lovely too. Fern finding ways to look after Maddox. Tamarind loving Castor. All these people who don’t necessarily have a straightforward family structure finding people to care for anyway.
Then THE ENDING. I genuinely didn’t predict all of it.
The reveal about Maddox’s mother being killed as part of the deal her father made was a clever play on how the queen delivered her end of the bargain. The fact that Maddox kills the king and then discovers that doing so means she is transformed into a DRYAD and permanently bound to the Myrtle Queen?! WTAF!!!!!
And I kind of loved that the ending did not give us a neat romantic resolution. But neither did it leave us with a horrible lovers-to-enemies situation where you feel bereft hoping it will be fixed in the next book.
Maddox and Castor have gone from enemies-to-lovers into… something. I loved this quote:
“I am the dagger, and you are the disease. I am the axe, and you are the poison. We were a doomed combination from the start.”
At least book 2 won’t start with them wondering how they feel about each other. That part is done. They love each other. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
And then that FINAL LINE.
“Hasn’t anyone ever told you to never trust a dryad?”
WAS BRILLIANT.
There are also clearly still huge pieces of Maddox’s family history that we don’t know. The Myrtle Queen mentions that Maddox’s father originally came to her wanting something completely different, and I am already suspicious that Atlas may somehow be connected to that. I have theories.
One final thing: the audiobook narration is excellent.
The female narrator, Natalie Naudus, is brilliant. Maddox’s voice and humour come across so well. And Castor’s narrator (Dan Bittner) is also FANTASTIC. The two POVs feel distinct and both performances really add to the characterisation.
I actually started listening while reading along, then ended up at 2x speed because I wanted the story faster, and then eventually abandoned the audiobook because I needed the story quicker. This is always a good sign.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Funny, weird, sexy, emotional, original, beautifully written, and genuinely refreshing.
I absolutely loved living in this strange little world of modern healthcare, cursed princes, tree souls, dryad brothels, sarcastic mortals, and murderous forest politics.
And I need Book 2 immediately please. Amazing first book Melody! 👏🏻
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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!
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?! 😉
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.
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.
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 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.
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
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
OK Melody Robinette! I see you! This was delightful. This is book 1 in a duet, according to the author’s Instagram page.
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★.5 out of 5
▹Format: 📱 eReader
My honest review is given thanks to an advanced copy provided by Putnam and Netgalley. This book publishes August 11, 2026.
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– FMC: Maddox Sinclair. Former foster child trying to find a way to pay for her Type 1 diabetes medications, 26-year-old Maddox recalls tales her father told her of a queen in the woodlands who will trade services for a wish.
– MMC: Prince Castor. Dryad prince whose blood curse kills any soul who feels any love for him.
– Location: The woods of Oregon
– POV: Dual first-person
– Spice: 1-2 open-door semi-explicit spicy scenes
– Tropes: enemies/hate to lovers, hidden identity, arborfae MMC x human FMC (with the Sight), they try to kill each other
– Representation: both MCs are bisexual, FMC has Type 1 diabetes
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
This immersive world that the author built was truly unlike anything I've read before. Dryads with their heartwoods, arborfae, sprites, and a strong, brave woman with Type 1 Diabetes and the Sight.
Set in "present day," this was a tale of two main characters that have had to learn what it's like for someone in power to make decisions for you, and the lengths they will go to in order to "tip the scales", so to speak. Castor, a cursed prince who is doomed to have anyone who loves him die, and Maddox, a woman who grew up without her parents or much money and now has to find a way—any way—to make it in the world while also affording to pay for her medications.
I loved Maddox's tenacity. She was bound and determined to do what was needed in order to survive. And Castor had such as quiet, but strong, disposition given the pain of never getting too close to people for fear of them dying. Of course, there are several side characters that landed on the side of either helping or hindering, some with hidden agendas!
I do wish there was either some sort of glossary or hierarchy given at the beginning of the book (and maybe there will be in the final published version), because I was lost a lot. It wasn't until nearly the end that I fully felt like I understood the details around the curse. The other thing that some readers may struggle with is the repetitive middle. It just felt like not much happened for a decent chunk of the middle, aside from hiding secrets and attempted regicide.
**I do want to say, I don’t have Type 1 diabetes, so I am not sure how accurate the portrayal is (the author herself has it, though) but I did see in other reviews people saying that some of the FMCs actions surrounding her healthcare were questionable. HOWEVER, there is a note from the author at the end that I found very eye opening about the treatment of citizens that have to deal with the cost and other needs surrounding this and am so hopeful that this book makes readers that can relate feel seen.
Would I Recommend?: yes! I think readers that love a good mix of fantasy and romance will love this (at times, I got Throne of Glass vibes).
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven————✧———————Plot Driven
Fast Burn————————✧———Slow Burn
Sweet————✧———————Spicy
Light/Fluffy———————✧————Heavy/Emotional
•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★.5 out of 5
▹Format: 📱 eReader
My honest review is given thanks to an advanced copy provided by Putnam and Netgalley. This book publishes August 11, 2026.
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– FMC: Maddox Sinclair. Former foster child trying to find a way to pay for her Type 1 diabetes medications, 26-year-old Maddox recalls tales her father told her of a queen in the woodlands who will trade services for a wish.
– MMC: Prince Castor. Dryad prince whose blood curse kills any soul who feels any love for him.
– Location: The woods of Oregon
– POV: Dual first-person
– Spice: 1-2 open-door semi-explicit spicy scenes
– Tropes: enemies/hate to lovers, hidden identity, arborfae MMC x human FMC (with the Sight), they try to kill each other
– Representation: both MCs are bisexual, FMC has Type 1 diabetes
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
This immersive world that the author built was truly unlike anything I've read before. Dryads with their heartwoods, arborfae, sprites, and a strong, brave woman with Type 1 Diabetes and the Sight.
Set in "present day," this was a tale of two main characters that have had to learn what it's like for someone in power to make decisions for you, and the lengths they will go to in order to "tip the scales", so to speak. Castor, a cursed prince who is doomed to have anyone who loves him die, and Maddox, a woman who grew up without her parents or much money and now has to find a way—any way—to make it in the world while also affording to pay for her medications.
I loved Maddox's tenacity. She was bound and determined to do what was needed in order to survive. And Castor had such as quiet, but strong, disposition given the pain of never getting too close to people for fear of them dying. Of course, there are several side characters that landed on the side of either helping or hindering, some with hidden agendas!
I do wish there was either some sort of glossary or hierarchy given at the beginning of the book (and maybe there will be in the final published version), because I was lost a lot. It wasn't until nearly the end that I fully felt like I understood the details around the curse. The other thing that some readers may struggle with is the repetitive middle. It just felt like not much happened for a decent chunk of the middle, aside from hiding secrets and attempted regicide.
**I do want to say, I don’t have Type 1 diabetes, so I am not sure how accurate the portrayal is (the author herself has it, though) but I did see in other reviews people saying that some of the FMCs actions surrounding her healthcare were questionable. HOWEVER, there is a note from the author at the end that I found very eye opening about the treatment of citizens that have to deal with the cost and other needs surrounding this and am so hopeful that this book makes readers that can relate feel seen.
Would I Recommend?: yes! I think readers that love a good mix of fantasy and romance will love this (at times, I got Throne of Glass vibes).
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven————✧———————Plot Driven
Fast Burn————————✧———Slow Burn
Sweet————✧———————Spicy
Light/Fluffy———————✧————Heavy/Emotional
•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
These Vile Hearts was such a unique little romantasy, and I really appreciated how different the premise felt with there being dryads, fae bargains, cursed princes, and an FMC whose Type 1 diabetes is a central component to the story. I was definitely interested from the beginning.
Maddox was probably my favorite part of the book. Her desperation felt very real, especially knowing that losing her job and health insurance meant potentially losing access to the medication she needs to survive. I thought the diabetes representation was one of the strongest elements of the story, and I really liked that it wasn’t treated as a minor character detail that could be forgotten whenever the fantasy plot took over. Her circumstances actually shaped her decisions and gave her bargain with the Myrtle Queen a lot more weight.
I also really enjoyed the fae world and the incorporation of dryad mythology. The Oregon redwood setting gave everything an eerie, fairytale-like atmosphere, and I loved learning more about the different factions and the complicated relationships between the fae. There were plenty of secrets, bargains, betrayals, and questionable decisions to keep things interesting.
And Maddox and Castor definitely had chemistry. Their banter and tension were some of my favorite parts, especially as their competing agendas slowly became tangled together. I loved watching their feelings become increasingly inconvenient when they were both actively trying to use each other for their own survival. But while the tension and banter really worked for me, the rest of the romance didn’t. The book is marketed as enemies-to-lovers, but I never fully felt the enemies portion of that dynamic, so the eventual romance didn’t have quite the payoff I was hoping for. There was plenty of attraction and tension, but I wanted more genuine conflict between them before they started falling for each other. The amount of miscommunication also occasionally frustrated me, even though I understood why it was important to the plot… I just typically HATE the miscommunication trope. The takeaway is that just because your two MCs argue… that doesn’t make it enemies-to-lovers, ya know?
I also found the pacing a little uneven. There were moments where I was completely invested and wanted to know what would happen next, followed by stretches where the story felt like it was moving much more slowly than I wanted. I think the book had a really strong concept, but some of that momentum got lost along the way.
Still, I had a good time with this one. It’s atmospheric, strange, darkly whimsical, and filled with characters making terrible decisions for understandable reasons. The ending definitely left me wanting to know what happens next, and I’m curious to see where the story goes from here. This was a really promising debut with a refreshingly different premise, a fascinating fae world, and some great character chemistry… just not quite the enemies-to-lovers romance or consistently paced story I was hoping for. There were lots of things to love but also a few things I didn’t, so that’s why this comes out to be about 3-3.5 stars for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for this eARC!
Maddox was probably my favorite part of the book. Her desperation felt very real, especially knowing that losing her job and health insurance meant potentially losing access to the medication she needs to survive. I thought the diabetes representation was one of the strongest elements of the story, and I really liked that it wasn’t treated as a minor character detail that could be forgotten whenever the fantasy plot took over. Her circumstances actually shaped her decisions and gave her bargain with the Myrtle Queen a lot more weight.
I also really enjoyed the fae world and the incorporation of dryad mythology. The Oregon redwood setting gave everything an eerie, fairytale-like atmosphere, and I loved learning more about the different factions and the complicated relationships between the fae. There were plenty of secrets, bargains, betrayals, and questionable decisions to keep things interesting.
And Maddox and Castor definitely had chemistry. Their banter and tension were some of my favorite parts, especially as their competing agendas slowly became tangled together. I loved watching their feelings become increasingly inconvenient when they were both actively trying to use each other for their own survival. But while the tension and banter really worked for me, the rest of the romance didn’t. The book is marketed as enemies-to-lovers, but I never fully felt the enemies portion of that dynamic, so the eventual romance didn’t have quite the payoff I was hoping for. There was plenty of attraction and tension, but I wanted more genuine conflict between them before they started falling for each other. The amount of miscommunication also occasionally frustrated me, even though I understood why it was important to the plot… I just typically HATE the miscommunication trope. The takeaway is that just because your two MCs argue… that doesn’t make it enemies-to-lovers, ya know?
I also found the pacing a little uneven. There were moments where I was completely invested and wanted to know what would happen next, followed by stretches where the story felt like it was moving much more slowly than I wanted. I think the book had a really strong concept, but some of that momentum got lost along the way.
Still, I had a good time with this one. It’s atmospheric, strange, darkly whimsical, and filled with characters making terrible decisions for understandable reasons. The ending definitely left me wanting to know what happens next, and I’m curious to see where the story goes from here. This was a really promising debut with a refreshingly different premise, a fascinating fae world, and some great character chemistry… just not quite the enemies-to-lovers romance or consistently paced story I was hoping for. There were lots of things to love but also a few things I didn’t, so that’s why this comes out to be about 3-3.5 stars for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for this eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.2/5
These Vile Hearts is a delightful tale of deception with addicting characters and a world I desperately need more of.
It follows Maddox, a Type-1 Diabetic who has run out of options - no job, no home, no family. So she decides to (obviously) make a deal with a Dryad queen to kill the Redwood dryad king in return for good health. Meanwhile, the dryad prince, Castor is dealing with his own problems - anyone who loves him is cursed to die. When Maddox mistakes Castor for his brother, the king, and there MAY be some spark between the two, things get complicated...
I absolutely loved Maddox as a main character. Getting an insight into life with diabetes makes the character so much more dynamic as well as introduces a slew of problems into the story that, unfortunately, are just par for the course when you have the illness. However, Maddox is not defined by her disease. She is strong and determined and smart, all of which make me love her even more. She hides her true emotions and easily deceives others, but only because she's scared to open up due to her life in foster care. She's such a complicated character and I definitely didn't always agree with her, but I think that's what absolutely brought her to life and made her so appealing.
Castor is another fantastic character who is the opposite of Maddox in some ways. He doesn't hide behind a facade of stoicism and is actually quite emotional, which is nice to see in a male main character. His curse makes loving him dangerous (I would be SO dead, sorry to say) and makes him feel lonely and unwanted, chasing flickers of love in the arms of one-night-stands. I love the troubled relationship he has with his brother, Durian, who I have SO much to say about, but have to refrain from spouting spoilers.
I think my favorite part of this book is the games they are both playing and failing at lol. Maddox is trying so desperately hard to kill the "king" who is trying so hard to keep up his ruse of BEING the king, while the actual king is watching from a distance and ultimately just being a turd. Meanwhile, their connection is undeniable, even though I didn't immediately see the sparks. Despite the way they met, I felt like the actual love and connection took a little bit longer to reach the reader than it did them. Either way, they are a great pair and I NEED more of them.
The ending left me feeling a little conflicted because I want more of the story so much. It leaves off at a part where I'm like, "wait what???" and don't know how I'm going to wait for answers and the continuation of this love story that I'm way more invested in than I expected.
Overall, while the story appealed to me immediately, it took a little time for me to fall in love with the characters, but by the time I was about halfway through, I was hopelessly addicted.
These Vile Hearts is a delightful tale of deception with addicting characters and a world I desperately need more of.
It follows Maddox, a Type-1 Diabetic who has run out of options - no job, no home, no family. So she decides to (obviously) make a deal with a Dryad queen to kill the Redwood dryad king in return for good health. Meanwhile, the dryad prince, Castor is dealing with his own problems - anyone who loves him is cursed to die. When Maddox mistakes Castor for his brother, the king, and there MAY be some spark between the two, things get complicated...
I absolutely loved Maddox as a main character. Getting an insight into life with diabetes makes the character so much more dynamic as well as introduces a slew of problems into the story that, unfortunately, are just par for the course when you have the illness. However, Maddox is not defined by her disease. She is strong and determined and smart, all of which make me love her even more. She hides her true emotions and easily deceives others, but only because she's scared to open up due to her life in foster care. She's such a complicated character and I definitely didn't always agree with her, but I think that's what absolutely brought her to life and made her so appealing.
Castor is another fantastic character who is the opposite of Maddox in some ways. He doesn't hide behind a facade of stoicism and is actually quite emotional, which is nice to see in a male main character. His curse makes loving him dangerous (I would be SO dead, sorry to say) and makes him feel lonely and unwanted, chasing flickers of love in the arms of one-night-stands. I love the troubled relationship he has with his brother, Durian, who I have SO much to say about, but have to refrain from spouting spoilers.
I think my favorite part of this book is the games they are both playing and failing at lol. Maddox is trying so desperately hard to kill the "king" who is trying so hard to keep up his ruse of BEING the king, while the actual king is watching from a distance and ultimately just being a turd. Meanwhile, their connection is undeniable, even though I didn't immediately see the sparks. Despite the way they met, I felt like the actual love and connection took a little bit longer to reach the reader than it did them. Either way, they are a great pair and I NEED more of them.
The ending left me feeling a little conflicted because I want more of the story so much. It leaves off at a part where I'm like, "wait what???" and don't know how I'm going to wait for answers and the continuation of this love story that I'm way more invested in than I expected.
Overall, while the story appealed to me immediately, it took a little time for me to fall in love with the characters, but by the time I was about halfway through, I was hopelessly addicted.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dark, delicious, and fascinating—Maddox and Castor had me hooked and wanting to know where their fates were headed from the very first page🫀🗡️🥀🕯️🍷
⭑𓂃 What it's about
Maddox Sinclair has no other options left. Having lost her job means no health insurance and no health insurance is essentially a death sentence for someone whose life depends on it—because of her type one diabetes. She decides that making a deal with a dryad to be cured of her illness is her last chance. The deal? She must kill the Redwood King. In the very redwood treetops where Maddox will soon begin her pact resides Prince Castor, who is cursed—anyone who falls in love with him is doomed for death. Castor also makes a pact but with his brother, the king. Castor must get a mortal to fall in love with him by the solstice in order for him to be free of his curse. Funny thing—Maddox mistakes Castor for the king so even though sparks start flying the closer they get to each other, trouble also ensues. Who will come out unscathed and victorious, with both striving for one thing, Maddox for survival and Castor for freedom. Or will their hearts fall before then?
⁀➴ Thoughts
This was dark, fun, and witty. With deeper more serious topics of grief, trying to understand who a loved one truly was after their passing, loneliness, and the realities of diseases and the medical system. I loved how easy the plot flowed—with magic systems, dryad mythology, and unique characters. I had such a good time reading this and I just kept wanting to know more. There is something about Maddox and her complexities as a character that compelled me to keep reading. She is incredibly determined, has nothing to lose, and her dark humor was the perfect cherry on top. Same with Castor, he has this air about him, and he was slightly pathetic, in like a very very hot way. But beneath it all, they were two characters who just wanted to love and be loved. Even though they held and showed their emotions very differently, you could tell that they just wanted the trust, love, and happiness they were both too scared to even wish for. With plenty substance, world building, and intrigue—These Vile Hearts had me hooked and very much interested as I flipped from page to page⋆˚𖤓˖°
Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, and Melody Robinette for this ARC of These Vile Hearts in exchange for an honest review!
Release date: August 11, 2026🥀
⭑𓂃 What it's about
Maddox Sinclair has no other options left. Having lost her job means no health insurance and no health insurance is essentially a death sentence for someone whose life depends on it—because of her type one diabetes. She decides that making a deal with a dryad to be cured of her illness is her last chance. The deal? She must kill the Redwood King. In the very redwood treetops where Maddox will soon begin her pact resides Prince Castor, who is cursed—anyone who falls in love with him is doomed for death. Castor also makes a pact but with his brother, the king. Castor must get a mortal to fall in love with him by the solstice in order for him to be free of his curse. Funny thing—Maddox mistakes Castor for the king so even though sparks start flying the closer they get to each other, trouble also ensues. Who will come out unscathed and victorious, with both striving for one thing, Maddox for survival and Castor for freedom. Or will their hearts fall before then?
⁀➴ Thoughts
This was dark, fun, and witty. With deeper more serious topics of grief, trying to understand who a loved one truly was after their passing, loneliness, and the realities of diseases and the medical system. I loved how easy the plot flowed—with magic systems, dryad mythology, and unique characters. I had such a good time reading this and I just kept wanting to know more. There is something about Maddox and her complexities as a character that compelled me to keep reading. She is incredibly determined, has nothing to lose, and her dark humor was the perfect cherry on top. Same with Castor, he has this air about him, and he was slightly pathetic, in like a very very hot way. But beneath it all, they were two characters who just wanted to love and be loved. Even though they held and showed their emotions very differently, you could tell that they just wanted the trust, love, and happiness they were both too scared to even wish for. With plenty substance, world building, and intrigue—These Vile Hearts had me hooked and very much interested as I flipped from page to page⋆˚𖤓˖°
Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons, and Melody Robinette for this ARC of These Vile Hearts in exchange for an honest review!
Release date: August 11, 2026🥀
August 12, 2026
Review of advance copy received from the Publisher
🎧📖𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌📖🎧
𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓈𝑒 𝒱𝒾𝓁𝑒 𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 ʙʏ ᴍᴇʟᴏᴅʏ ʀᴏʙɪɴᴇᴛᴛᴇ
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🌶🌶 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨
ᴀ ᴅᴇsᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴛᴀʟ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ᴍᴀᴋᴇs ᴀ ᴅᴇᴀʟ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴄᴜʀsᴇᴅ ғᴀᴇ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ—ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟʟʏ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ɢᴏᴇs ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʟʟ.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀʜᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!
𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓈𝑒 𝒱𝒾𝓁𝑒 𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 ʜᴀᴅ ᴍᴇ ʜᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɪᴛs ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀɪᴏᴜs, sʟɪɢʜᴛʟʏ ᴜɴʜɪɴɢᴇᴅ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ’s sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪɴᴄʀᴇᴅɪʙʟʏ ᴀᴅᴅɪᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ sᴛᴏʀʏ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴡʜᴇʀᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɴᴏ ɪᴅᴇᴀ ᴡʜᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴛʀᴜsᴛ.
ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴇʀɪᴇ ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ sʟᴏᴡʟʏ ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟs ɪᴛs ᴅᴀʀᴋᴇʀ sɪᴅᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ᴍᴇ ɪɴᴠᴇsᴛᴇᴅ, ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴍᴏᴛɪᴠᴀᴛɪᴏɴs ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘs ʙᴇᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴅᴇғɪɴɪᴛᴇʟʏ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʏᴇʟʟ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs ᴛᴏ ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴅᴇᴄɪsɪᴏɴs, ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛʟʏ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴜɴ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍʙɪɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ, ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ, ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘs ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴇɴᴛᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴɪɴɢ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴ. ɪᴛ ʜᴀs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛ “ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ” ǫᴜᴀʟɪᴛʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ᴍᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴘʜᴏɴᴇs ᴡʜᴇɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ.
🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃:
ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡᴀs ғᴀɴᴛᴀsᴛɪᴄ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ sᴜɪᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀɪᴄ ᴛᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ. ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴏʀ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs ᴅɪsᴛɪɴᴄᴛ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟɪᴛɪᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀʏ ғᴇᴇʟ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴅᴏɴᴇ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪᴀʟᴏɢᴜᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴇᴀsʏ ᴛᴏ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ. ɪ ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ʜᴀɴᴅʟᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ sᴜsᴘᴇɴsᴇғᴜʟ sᴄᴇɴᴇs—ɪᴛ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴜɴsᴇᴛᴛʟɪɴɢ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ʟᴜʀᴋɪɴɢ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʙᴇɴᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ sᴜʀғᴀᴄᴇ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀᴄɪɴɢ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇʀғᴏʀᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴇɴɢᴀɢᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴏʀ ᴅɪᴅ ᴀ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴊᴏʙ ʙᴀʟᴀɴᴄɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ǫᴜɪᴇᴛᴇʀ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇɴsᴇ sᴄᴇɴᴇs. ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀs ᴅᴇғɪɴɪᴛᴇʟʏ ᴀ sᴛᴏʀʏ ɪ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ᴇxᴘᴇʀɪᴇɴᴄɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀᴅᴅᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʟᴀʏᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴇʀɪᴇ, ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀɪᴏᴜs ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈:
🖤 ᴅᴀʀᴋ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ
🔮 ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴏᴜs ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ
🤫 sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs & ʟɪᴇs
👀 ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs
⚔️ ʜɪɢʜ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs
🌙 ᴇᴇʀɪᴇ ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ
✨ sᴜᴘᴇʀɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ
🩸 ᴅᴀʀᴋᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇs
🔥 ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘs
🎧 ɪᴍᴍᴇʀsɪᴠᴇ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓈𝑒 𝒱𝒾𝓁𝑒 𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 ɪs ᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀɪᴄ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ʏᴏᴜ ᴘʀᴇssɪɴɢ ᴘʟᴀʏ. ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ᴅᴇғɪɴɪᴛᴇ ʜɪɢʜʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ’s ᴇᴇʀɪᴇ ᴠɪʙᴇ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟʟʏ. ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀɪᴏᴜs, ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ᴍᴇssʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙɪᴛ sɪɴɪsᴛᴇʀ, ᴀᴅᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴɪɴɢ ʟɪsᴛ.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
🎧📖𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌📖🎧
𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓈𝑒 𝒱𝒾𝓁𝑒 𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 ʙʏ ᴍᴇʟᴏᴅʏ ʀᴏʙɪɴᴇᴛᴛᴇ
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🌶🌶 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨
ᴀ ᴅᴇsᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴛᴀʟ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ᴍᴀᴋᴇs ᴀ ᴅᴇᴀʟ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴄᴜʀsᴇᴅ ғᴀᴇ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ—ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟʟʏ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ɢᴏᴇs ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʟʟ.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀʜᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!
𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓈𝑒 𝒱𝒾𝓁𝑒 𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 ʜᴀᴅ ᴍᴇ ʜᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɪᴛs ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀɪᴏᴜs, sʟɪɢʜᴛʟʏ ᴜɴʜɪɴɢᴇᴅ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ’s sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪɴᴄʀᴇᴅɪʙʟʏ ᴀᴅᴅɪᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ sᴛᴏʀʏ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴡʜᴇʀᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɴᴏ ɪᴅᴇᴀ ᴡʜᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴛʀᴜsᴛ.
ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴇʀɪᴇ ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ sʟᴏᴡʟʏ ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟs ɪᴛs ᴅᴀʀᴋᴇʀ sɪᴅᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ᴍᴇ ɪɴᴠᴇsᴛᴇᴅ, ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴍᴏᴛɪᴠᴀᴛɪᴏɴs ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘs ʙᴇᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴅᴇғɪɴɪᴛᴇʟʏ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʏᴇʟʟ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs ᴛᴏ ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴅᴇᴄɪsɪᴏɴs, ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛʟʏ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴜɴ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍʙɪɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ, ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ, ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘs ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴇɴᴛᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴɪɴɢ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴ. ɪᴛ ʜᴀs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛ “ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ” ǫᴜᴀʟɪᴛʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ᴍᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴘʜᴏɴᴇs ᴡʜᴇɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ.
🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃:
ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡᴀs ғᴀɴᴛᴀsᴛɪᴄ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ sᴜɪᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀɪᴄ ᴛᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ. ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴏʀ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs ᴅɪsᴛɪɴᴄᴛ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟɪᴛɪᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀʏ ғᴇᴇʟ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴅᴏɴᴇ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪᴀʟᴏɢᴜᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴇᴀsʏ ᴛᴏ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ. ɪ ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ʜᴀɴᴅʟᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ sᴜsᴘᴇɴsᴇғᴜʟ sᴄᴇɴᴇs—ɪᴛ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴜɴsᴇᴛᴛʟɪɴɢ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ʟᴜʀᴋɪɴɢ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʙᴇɴᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ sᴜʀғᴀᴄᴇ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀᴄɪɴɢ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇʀғᴏʀᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴇɴɢᴀɢᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴏʀ ᴅɪᴅ ᴀ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴊᴏʙ ʙᴀʟᴀɴᴄɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ǫᴜɪᴇᴛᴇʀ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇɴsᴇ sᴄᴇɴᴇs. ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀs ᴅᴇғɪɴɪᴛᴇʟʏ ᴀ sᴛᴏʀʏ ɪ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ᴇxᴘᴇʀɪᴇɴᴄɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀᴅᴅᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʟᴀʏᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴇʀɪᴇ, ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀɪᴏᴜs ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈:
🖤 ᴅᴀʀᴋ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ
🔮 ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴏᴜs ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ
🤫 sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs & ʟɪᴇs
👀 ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs
⚔️ ʜɪɢʜ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs
🌙 ᴇᴇʀɪᴇ ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ
✨ sᴜᴘᴇʀɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ
🩸 ᴅᴀʀᴋᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇs
🔥 ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘs
🎧 ɪᴍᴍᴇʀsɪᴠᴇ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓈𝑒 𝒱𝒾𝓁𝑒 𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 ɪs ᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀɪᴄ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ʏᴏᴜ ᴘʀᴇssɪɴɢ ᴘʟᴀʏ. ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ᴅᴇғɪɴɪᴛᴇ ʜɪɢʜʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ’s ᴇᴇʀɪᴇ ᴠɪʙᴇ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟʟʏ. ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀɪᴏᴜs, ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ᴍᴇssʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙɪᴛ sɪɴɪsᴛᴇʀ, ᴀᴅᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴɪɴɢ ʟɪsᴛ.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
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.
July 7, 2026
These Vile Hearts || Melody Robinette
”Hasn’t anyone ever told you to never trust a dryad?”
“I’m not going to fall in love with you, Castor,” I whisper into the space between us. “Right?””
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. Out 8/11/2026.
Quick Summary: Maddox, a mortal, has just turned 26. She is jobless, her best friend, and only family, is moving away, and she’s on her last bit of insulin, which as a type 1 diabetic, is a death sentence. Desperate to live, she goes to make a deal with a dryad, the Myrtle Queen. Castor is a dryad who is the prince of the Redwood Kingdom. However, he is too afraid to get close to anyone because anytime anyone falls in love with him, they find themselves dead soon after. Castor strikes a deal with his brother to cure his curse. Maddox’s deal involves killing the Redwood King, and Castor, has to find a mortal to verbally say they are in love with him. The two become entwined when Maddox travels to the Redwood Kingdom and mistakes Castor as the king, and Castor keeps up the ruse in hopes she will be the one to free him from his curse, even if it costs her her life.
Thoughts: This may have been the first story I’ve read with dryads as the main characters, which felt similar to fae, but had the uniqueness of them being tree spirits. I also appreciated the addition of Maddox’s diagnosis and struggles with Type 1 Diabetes. As someone with loved ones who deal with the frustrations of this disease 24 hours a day, and as someone who helps treat patients with this disease, I found Maddox’s strife so accurate to what people go through every day. From dealing with high blood sugars, low blood sugars, and wondering if you’ll be able to afford your life saving medication is something that people battle with daily. I enjoyed the push and pull between her and Castor and I loved how Castor had every reason to be as evil as his brother, but he wasn’t. I also loved the friendship between Maddox and Fern. With the way the story ended, there will definitely be another book, which I would be interested in reading in the future.
-romantasy
-enemies to lovers
-dryads
-star-crossed
-found family
-cliff hanger
-book 1/?
-dual POV
Spice 3/5
”Hasn’t anyone ever told you to never trust a dryad?”
“I’m not going to fall in love with you, Castor,” I whisper into the space between us. “Right?””
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. Out 8/11/2026.
Quick Summary: Maddox, a mortal, has just turned 26. She is jobless, her best friend, and only family, is moving away, and she’s on her last bit of insulin, which as a type 1 diabetic, is a death sentence. Desperate to live, she goes to make a deal with a dryad, the Myrtle Queen. Castor is a dryad who is the prince of the Redwood Kingdom. However, he is too afraid to get close to anyone because anytime anyone falls in love with him, they find themselves dead soon after. Castor strikes a deal with his brother to cure his curse. Maddox’s deal involves killing the Redwood King, and Castor, has to find a mortal to verbally say they are in love with him. The two become entwined when Maddox travels to the Redwood Kingdom and mistakes Castor as the king, and Castor keeps up the ruse in hopes she will be the one to free him from his curse, even if it costs her her life.
Thoughts: This may have been the first story I’ve read with dryads as the main characters, which felt similar to fae, but had the uniqueness of them being tree spirits. I also appreciated the addition of Maddox’s diagnosis and struggles with Type 1 Diabetes. As someone with loved ones who deal with the frustrations of this disease 24 hours a day, and as someone who helps treat patients with this disease, I found Maddox’s strife so accurate to what people go through every day. From dealing with high blood sugars, low blood sugars, and wondering if you’ll be able to afford your life saving medication is something that people battle with daily. I enjoyed the push and pull between her and Castor and I loved how Castor had every reason to be as evil as his brother, but he wasn’t. I also loved the friendship between Maddox and Fern. With the way the story ended, there will definitely be another book, which I would be interested in reading in the future.
-romantasy
-enemies to lovers
-dryads
-star-crossed
-found family
-cliff hanger
-book 1/?
-dual POV
Spice 3/5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 4.8/5
e-ARC review - These Vile Hearts by Melody Robinette
Maddox is unemployed, with nowhere to live, gravely in need of insulin and with no healthcare aid. You can say that she was a bit desperate. So much so that she thought that making a deal with the Myrtle Queen was a good idea. Kill the Redwood king and be cured of her diabetes type 1.
Castor is the cursed prince. Everyone that loves him mysteriously dies. You can say that he was a bit desperate. The loneliness was so deep that he thought that making a deal with his adoptive brother, the Redwood king, was a good idea. Get a mortal to fall in love with him and be rid of his curse.
Maddox then enters the redwood forest with lethal purposes, but, unfortunately for her, she mistakes Castor for the king. And Castor decides to use this opportunity to make the deadly mortal fall in love with him.
Anyone who loves The Cruel Prince will certainly devour this book (just do not expect a lot of political drama).
I’m not usually a fan of misunderstandings, but this one was done in such a satisfying way, I was hooked. I kept thinking how they are going to fix this, how they are going to fulfill their pacts without hurting eachother. Because I loved both MC’s so much.
Castor is an extremely lovable crybaby. The miserable and lonely prince, adopted at an young age, desperately to be loved, but cursed and afraid for the people that could love him. Maddox was also an orphan, but she just went from temporary home to temporary home, all the while dealing with the cruel threat of her disease looming above her head. She is stubborn, rude, crude, and kind of a bitch. And I love her for that. She is also strong as hell. I loved reading about their interactions.
I could’ve not predicted that ending. That was when I realized this was not a standalone, and that I now would have to wait another yeaaar for the next book. That’s cruel, why would you do this to me, Melody?!
I want to read more about Castor and Maddox, I just miss them already.
Many thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for providing this digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
e-ARC review - These Vile Hearts by Melody Robinette
Maddox is unemployed, with nowhere to live, gravely in need of insulin and with no healthcare aid. You can say that she was a bit desperate. So much so that she thought that making a deal with the Myrtle Queen was a good idea. Kill the Redwood king and be cured of her diabetes type 1.
Castor is the cursed prince. Everyone that loves him mysteriously dies. You can say that he was a bit desperate. The loneliness was so deep that he thought that making a deal with his adoptive brother, the Redwood king, was a good idea. Get a mortal to fall in love with him and be rid of his curse.
Maddox then enters the redwood forest with lethal purposes, but, unfortunately for her, she mistakes Castor for the king. And Castor decides to use this opportunity to make the deadly mortal fall in love with him.
Anyone who loves The Cruel Prince will certainly devour this book (just do not expect a lot of political drama).
I’m not usually a fan of misunderstandings, but this one was done in such a satisfying way, I was hooked. I kept thinking how they are going to fix this, how they are going to fulfill their pacts without hurting eachother. Because I loved both MC’s so much.
Castor is an extremely lovable crybaby. The miserable and lonely prince, adopted at an young age, desperately to be loved, but cursed and afraid for the people that could love him. Maddox was also an orphan, but she just went from temporary home to temporary home, all the while dealing with the cruel threat of her disease looming above her head. She is stubborn, rude, crude, and kind of a bitch. And I love her for that. She is also strong as hell. I loved reading about their interactions.
I could’ve not predicted that ending. That was when I realized this was not a standalone, and that I now would have to wait another yeaaar for the next book. That’s cruel, why would you do this to me, Melody?!
I want to read more about Castor and Maddox, I just miss them already.
Many thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for providing this digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Title: These Vile Hearts
✍🏾 Author: Melody Robinette-new to me author
📅 Publication date:8-11-26 | Read: 8-8-26
📃 Format: e-Book 432 pgs.
Genre:
*Romantasy
Tropes:
*enemies to lovers
* magic, Fae
* h chronic illness
*a curse on H
👆🏾POV: 1st person dual
⚠️TW: diabetes, death of parents-h, grief, murder, toxic parent, foster care
🌎 Setting: Oregon
Summary: Maddox has lost her job, home, and can't afford her diabetes medicine. She goes into the forest and meets the Myrtle Queen. She imprisons Maddox, but bargains that if she kills the Redwood King and brings his horns she will get money and a cure for her debilitating illness. She mistakes prince Castor for the king who has been cursed that anyone who loves him will die. As they both go on their missions, sparks fly between. Maddox has been warned to never trust a dryad, so will Castor betray her or be loyal to her?
👩🏾 Heroine: Maddox Sinclair-26, has the Sight( can see past glamours) worked for a tech company and lived w/ her BFF Javen until he moved to San Francisco.
👨🏾 Hero: Prince Castor-the blood-cursed Fae prince, makes a heartwood pact w/ his brother to get a mortal to fall in love w/ him by solstice and he will be free of his curse forever. If he fails, he will be exiled for 1 year.
🎭 Other Characters
* The new Redwood King-King Durian Sempervirens, Castor's adopted brother
* Cyperus Sempervirens-Castor's adopted brother(the deceased Redwood King)
* Tamarind-Castor's guard and childhood friend
* Deacon Sinclair-Maddox's father also had the Sight (murdered w/ Maddox's mother, had a journal about the Fae)
*The Myrtle Queen-Amanita
🤔 My Thoughts/Likes:
-Javen and Maddox's friendship
-Deacon's sacrifice for his family while Maddox's mother locked her away w/o meds as punishment
-The different Fae-dryads, unseelie/seelie
-Maddox and Castor's relationship
-Lies/betrayal/revenge
-Ends on a cliffhanger, no HEA
Rating: 4/5 ✨
Spice level:3/5 🌶️
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Putnam| G.P. Putnam Sons, and Melody Robinette for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
✍🏾 Author: Melody Robinette-new to me author
📅 Publication date:8-11-26 | Read: 8-8-26
📃 Format: e-Book 432 pgs.
Genre:
*Romantasy
Tropes:
*enemies to lovers
* magic, Fae
* h chronic illness
*a curse on H
👆🏾POV: 1st person dual
⚠️TW: diabetes, death of parents-h, grief, murder, toxic parent, foster care
🌎 Setting: Oregon
Summary: Maddox has lost her job, home, and can't afford her diabetes medicine. She goes into the forest and meets the Myrtle Queen. She imprisons Maddox, but bargains that if she kills the Redwood King and brings his horns she will get money and a cure for her debilitating illness. She mistakes prince Castor for the king who has been cursed that anyone who loves him will die. As they both go on their missions, sparks fly between. Maddox has been warned to never trust a dryad, so will Castor betray her or be loyal to her?
👩🏾 Heroine: Maddox Sinclair-26, has the Sight( can see past glamours) worked for a tech company and lived w/ her BFF Javen until he moved to San Francisco.
👨🏾 Hero: Prince Castor-the blood-cursed Fae prince, makes a heartwood pact w/ his brother to get a mortal to fall in love w/ him by solstice and he will be free of his curse forever. If he fails, he will be exiled for 1 year.
🎭 Other Characters
* The new Redwood King-King Durian Sempervirens, Castor's adopted brother
* Cyperus Sempervirens-Castor's adopted brother(the deceased Redwood King)
* Tamarind-Castor's guard and childhood friend
* Deacon Sinclair-Maddox's father also had the Sight (murdered w/ Maddox's mother, had a journal about the Fae)
*The Myrtle Queen-Amanita
🤔 My Thoughts/Likes:
-Javen and Maddox's friendship
-Deacon's sacrifice for his family while Maddox's mother locked her away w/o meds as punishment
-The different Fae-dryads, unseelie/seelie
-Maddox and Castor's relationship
-Lies/betrayal/revenge
-Ends on a cliffhanger, no HEA
Rating: 4/5 ✨
Spice level:3/5 🌶️
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Putnam| G.P. Putnam Sons, and Melody Robinette for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
August 12, 2026
I have mixed feelings about this book. The story was pretty predictable, so for me it lost a lot of its appeal because I knew how everything would happen. With the dual POVs you lose a lot of the mystery and magical aspect of this story. Almost from the start you know how the whole book will end. There were a few times that I considered DNFing but decided that I was too far along to give up at that point. There is some nice banter, which i enjoyed. One of the things that I wasnt a fan of was both main characters being bisexual. With Castor you got to read a little bit about his past relationships and how that affected him on a personal level. With Maddox it just gets mentioned a handful of times that she had 'a bisexual awakening' and that she was a proud bisexual, but thats all that you get. It very much felt like the author was just trying to check a box off of a list so that she could market this book with a LGBTQ label or something. It was honestly a little annoying, because Maddox is a pretty messed up and complicated character and a small glimpse into one of her past relationships would've elevated her character a lot in my opinion. I appreciated the diabetes aspect of the story and I think it helped shine a light on how hard it can be to have to deal with it on a daily basis. I thought that was a cool touch to the story. The author even put statistics about diabetes in the very back of the book. My last critique is that I wasnt a fan of how big of a double standard there was when it came to Maddox at the end. Both characters planned on tricking the other and k*lling the other. That's told to you at the very beginning of the book. But when they both found out about the others plan Maddox was a complete perk and blew up at Castor for planning to do the exact same thing that she herself was doing. She wouldn't even look or talk to him like it was this ultimate betrayal that could never be forgiven. That just really bothered me and has honestly made me question if ill continue this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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.
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