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These Vengeful Hearts
Anyone can ask the Red Court for a favor...but every request comes at a cost. And once the deed is done, you're forever in their debt.
Whenever something scandalous happens at Heller High, the Red Court is the name on everyone's lips. Its members--the most elite female students in the school--deal out social ruin and favors in equal measure, their true identities a secret known only to their ruthless leader: the Queen of Hearts.
Sixteen-year-old Ember Williams has seen firsthand the damage the Red Court can do. Two years ago, they caused the accident that left her older sister paralyzed. Now, Ember is determined to hold them accountable...by taking the Red Court down from the inside.
But crossing enemy lines will mean crossing moral boundaries, too--ones Ember may never be able to come back from. She always knew taking on the Red Court would come at a price, but will the cost of revenge be more than she's willing to sacrifice?
Whenever something scandalous happens at Heller High, the Red Court is the name on everyone's lips. Its members--the most elite female students in the school--deal out social ruin and favors in equal measure, their true identities a secret known only to their ruthless leader: the Queen of Hearts.
Sixteen-year-old Ember Williams has seen firsthand the damage the Red Court can do. Two years ago, they caused the accident that left her older sister paralyzed. Now, Ember is determined to hold them accountable...by taking the Red Court down from the inside.
But crossing enemy lines will mean crossing moral boundaries, too--ones Ember may never be able to come back from. She always knew taking on the Red Court would come at a price, but will the cost of revenge be more than she's willing to sacrifice?
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2020
42 people are currently reading
7763 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Laurin
2 books189 followersKatherine Laurin lives in Colorado with her husband and two sons. When she's not writing, Katherine enjoys reading, traveling, hiking, and listening to true crime podcasts. Find her online at katherinelaurin.com or @kl_writer on Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 406 reviews
November 18, 2020
I’m so addictive to the dark, stunning secret society books but every time I start to read one of them: I always get disappointed even though most of them had great premise and intriguing plot line. Unfortunately this one joined my started excitingly ended frustratingly club as well.
Of course a secret society named Red Court and its dedication to Queen of Hearts attracted attention of a person like me who never gets bored to read books inspired by references of Alice in Wonderland. The members are anonymous –the most elite female students- secretly rule the hierarchy of Heller High by keeping the scandalous gossip sources.
And we’re also introduced Ember Williams, 16, who is already damaged by the wrongdoings of the Red Court, thirsty for revenge, finding a way to be accepted by them. She is adamant to pay them back for what they’d done to her sister. (Two years ago a so called accident resulted with her being paralyzed!) As you may see, the plot is really promising and the book’s dark, claustrophobic, gothic atmosphere provides us great premise. But after a few chapters later, I lost my interest because of the repetitive and aimless writing style. Everything was so predictable and obvious from the beginning and the story needed to be saved by a twisted revelation which unfortunately never came and I couldn’t connect with the heroine, too.
It had really promising, dazzling storyline and I always keen on reading revenge stories but the progression of the story bored me and I was always at least five steps ahead from the author. It was still quick paced and ending is not dissatisfying so this is a solid three starred read for me. I may call this another Switzerland reading-I didn’t hate and love it so let’s meet in the middle kind of book. But I have to admit I got mesmerized with the beauty of impressive cover.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard for sharing this arc in exchange my honest review.
Of course a secret society named Red Court and its dedication to Queen of Hearts attracted attention of a person like me who never gets bored to read books inspired by references of Alice in Wonderland. The members are anonymous –the most elite female students- secretly rule the hierarchy of Heller High by keeping the scandalous gossip sources.
And we’re also introduced Ember Williams, 16, who is already damaged by the wrongdoings of the Red Court, thirsty for revenge, finding a way to be accepted by them. She is adamant to pay them back for what they’d done to her sister. (Two years ago a so called accident resulted with her being paralyzed!) As you may see, the plot is really promising and the book’s dark, claustrophobic, gothic atmosphere provides us great premise. But after a few chapters later, I lost my interest because of the repetitive and aimless writing style. Everything was so predictable and obvious from the beginning and the story needed to be saved by a twisted revelation which unfortunately never came and I couldn’t connect with the heroine, too.
It had really promising, dazzling storyline and I always keen on reading revenge stories but the progression of the story bored me and I was always at least five steps ahead from the author. It was still quick paced and ending is not dissatisfying so this is a solid three starred read for me. I may call this another Switzerland reading-I didn’t hate and love it so let’s meet in the middle kind of book. But I have to admit I got mesmerized with the beauty of impressive cover.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard for sharing this arc in exchange my honest review.
September 24, 2022
3.5 "blatant, entertaining, moralizing" stars !!!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Inkyard Press. This was released September 2020. I am providing my honest review.
There was much to like in this teenage tale. Ember is sixteen and plotting revenge on the Hearts who are a bunch of elite girls that cause chaos, grant favors and hurt many under a carefully guarded secret society with rules and guidelines. The writing is straightforward, fun and occasionally even a bit funny. The dialogue feels natural and there is a logical plot arc that is carefully constructed. Emotions and psychological congruency are also strengths in this novel that will get teen readers to reflect on their own moral compass and how their actions can and will impact others.
Minor weaknesses are the twists were not surprises for this adult reader and the ending appeared rushed and convenient.
All in all, a very entertaining and good read. I would recommend this to teenagers between fourteen and sixteen and will appeal particularly to girls and queer boys.
I had a lot of fun with this one !
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Inkyard Press. This was released September 2020. I am providing my honest review.
There was much to like in this teenage tale. Ember is sixteen and plotting revenge on the Hearts who are a bunch of elite girls that cause chaos, grant favors and hurt many under a carefully guarded secret society with rules and guidelines. The writing is straightforward, fun and occasionally even a bit funny. The dialogue feels natural and there is a logical plot arc that is carefully constructed. Emotions and psychological congruency are also strengths in this novel that will get teen readers to reflect on their own moral compass and how their actions can and will impact others.
Minor weaknesses are the twists were not surprises for this adult reader and the ending appeared rushed and convenient.
All in all, a very entertaining and good read. I would recommend this to teenagers between fourteen and sixteen and will appeal particularly to girls and queer boys.
I had a lot of fun with this one !
April 18, 2023
These Vengeful Hearts aspire to be a dark academia type of story, with its twists and power tricks, but never really accomplish its goal.
Ember decides to join the Red Court - a secret school organization that survives by doing favours to whom ask - because they have hurt her sister, to take it down for good.
But power is a strong feeling and when you taste it is difficult to step back. At first, she wants to destroy the organization, but throughout the events, she thinks she could be a better queen and make good with the club. It's pointless to say that she quickly changes her mind and after a couple of chapters she goes back to the original plan.
It’s honestly kind of boring, this interior monologue about being good or bad, in or out, but it's also the point of the story: how much can you go further without selling your soul?
I'm probably not a very good person but it's very naive to think to join a secret club, well known for doing bad stuff, and still have your conscious clean when you'll be done.
But the examination of conscience is good for one thing: the ending.
The ending was both expected and unexpected: on one hand, I was rooting for Ember to become the real villain of the story, realizing the world is a bad place with bad people and making the school her private playfield; on the other, I just knew she couldn't do that.
Like myself, Ember loves power. But power implies a bunch of other things not so welcomed: anxiety and fear of failure, anger when things don't go as planned, frustration because you're the only one doing things right, the obsession to control everything, and sleep problems even if you think you've done nothing so unredeemable.
Dark academia is so good because it tells the story of a group of not-so-good people doing not-so-good things, this is the whole point of the genre.
Did I hate it? No.
Did I love it? Not quite.
What I know is that I’d had appreciated the story more with better details: Ember’s sister is one of the main characters and still we had a few pages to figure out her truth, the whole Chase drama was caused by a stupid crush that was even forgotten by the end, and the information about the club is too little and unspecified - we know who's the Queen of Hearts now but it's not possible that it was the same person when April was one of them.
The idea was there, and the ending twist is proof of that, but Dark academia is not an easy genre to write and it’s not for everyone.
↠ 3 stars
Ember decides to join the Red Court - a secret school organization that survives by doing favours to whom ask - because they have hurt her sister, to take it down for good.
But power is a strong feeling and when you taste it is difficult to step back. At first, she wants to destroy the organization, but throughout the events, she thinks she could be a better queen and make good with the club. It's pointless to say that she quickly changes her mind and after a couple of chapters she goes back to the original plan.
It’s honestly kind of boring, this interior monologue about being good or bad, in or out, but it's also the point of the story: how much can you go further without selling your soul?
I'm probably not a very good person but it's very naive to think to join a secret club, well known for doing bad stuff, and still have your conscious clean when you'll be done.
But the examination of conscience is good for one thing: the ending.
The ending was both expected and unexpected: on one hand, I was rooting for Ember to become the real villain of the story, realizing the world is a bad place with bad people and making the school her private playfield; on the other, I just knew she couldn't do that.
Like myself, Ember loves power. But power implies a bunch of other things not so welcomed: anxiety and fear of failure, anger when things don't go as planned, frustration because you're the only one doing things right, the obsession to control everything, and sleep problems even if you think you've done nothing so unredeemable.
Dark academia is so good because it tells the story of a group of not-so-good people doing not-so-good things, this is the whole point of the genre.
Did I hate it? No.
Did I love it? Not quite.
What I know is that I’d had appreciated the story more with better details: Ember’s sister is one of the main characters and still we had a few pages to figure out her truth, the whole Chase drama was caused by a stupid crush that was even forgotten by the end, and the information about the club is too little and unspecified - we know who's the Queen of Hearts now but it's not possible that it was the same person when April was one of them.
The idea was there, and the ending twist is proof of that, but Dark academia is not an easy genre to write and it’s not for everyone.
↠ 3 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf-lost-interest
August 20, 2020Clearly I'm obsessed with suspense featuring secret societies right now, and I'm not mad about it.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
September 15, 2020
These Vengeful Hearts by Katherine Laurin was a page turn that I was pleasantly surprised with. It’s been a while since I read a YA thriller and I’m so glad this is the one I picked up. These Vengeful Hearts reminded me how much I love YA thrillers and has encouraged me to read more.
Thank you NetGalley and Recorded Books/ RB Media for These Vengeful Hearts.
Full Review https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
Thank you NetGalley and Recorded Books/ RB Media for These Vengeful Hearts.
Full Review https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
September 29, 2020
3.5 stars.
In Katherine Laurin's These Vengeful Hearts , secrets are the most powerful currency of all.
Why do I love books about secret societies and mean girls? My high school experience was hard enough without having to worry about some cabal of students who had the power to make lives miserable. (In my day, we just called them jerks. Or worse.)
At Heller High, the Red Court has all the power. Students ask favors of them—some good, some bad—and the Court’s leader, known as the Queen of Hearts, decides whether the favor should be granted. Whether it’s rigging an election, helping you ace an exam or a class, even breaking up a couple, the Red Court wields its power and then will ultimately demand something of those they help.
Ember has dreamed of taking down the Red Court since she was in middle school, when they led to her sister getting hurt. Now a sophomore at Heller, she’s completely thrilled when she’s finally tapped to be a member.
As she starts to take on her “responsibilities” and build her case against the Red Court, she starts to get caught up in the power she suddenly has access to. And when her tasks get increasingly personal, she knows she has to stop at nothing to take the Queen down.
But first she has to figure out who she is. And who will get caught in the crossfire?
Even though I’ve certainly seen this type of story before, I was still pretty hooked on These Vengeful Hearts . It’s crazy how twisted these students can be but most of what they asked for seemed like things you could see people wanting, be willing to do anything for.
Laurin threw lots of twists in here; some I saw coming and others surprised me. I think a second book may be on the horizon so it will be interesting to see what comes next!
I’m grateful to have been part of the blog tour for this book. Inkyard Press provided a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
In Katherine Laurin's These Vengeful Hearts , secrets are the most powerful currency of all.
Why do I love books about secret societies and mean girls? My high school experience was hard enough without having to worry about some cabal of students who had the power to make lives miserable. (In my day, we just called them jerks. Or worse.)
At Heller High, the Red Court has all the power. Students ask favors of them—some good, some bad—and the Court’s leader, known as the Queen of Hearts, decides whether the favor should be granted. Whether it’s rigging an election, helping you ace an exam or a class, even breaking up a couple, the Red Court wields its power and then will ultimately demand something of those they help.
Ember has dreamed of taking down the Red Court since she was in middle school, when they led to her sister getting hurt. Now a sophomore at Heller, she’s completely thrilled when she’s finally tapped to be a member.
As she starts to take on her “responsibilities” and build her case against the Red Court, she starts to get caught up in the power she suddenly has access to. And when her tasks get increasingly personal, she knows she has to stop at nothing to take the Queen down.
But first she has to figure out who she is. And who will get caught in the crossfire?
Even though I’ve certainly seen this type of story before, I was still pretty hooked on These Vengeful Hearts . It’s crazy how twisted these students can be but most of what they asked for seemed like things you could see people wanting, be willing to do anything for.
Laurin threw lots of twists in here; some I saw coming and others surprised me. I think a second book may be on the horizon so it will be interesting to see what comes next!
I’m grateful to have been part of the blog tour for this book. Inkyard Press provided a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
January 13, 2021
The students of Heller High School are ruled by The Red Court. These are faceless and nameless individuals who can fulfil your wildest desires or enact your harshest revenge plots with only the promise of a future favour in return. Ember longs to be one of them. Not for the power and not for the glory, but to avenge one of the Court's victims - her sister.
This was an interesting story-line that kept me engaged throughout but it felt more angsty contemporary than dark academic, as I was anticipating. The secret society this featured was structured in a way that consistently made me want to learn more but the favours fulfilled were, again, focused on the drama and angst than the intricacies of completing them. This did absolutely nothing wrong but was merely not entirely suited towards my reading tastes, hence the ambivalent rating.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Katherine Laurin, and the publisher, Inkyard Press, for this opportunity.
This was an interesting story-line that kept me engaged throughout but it felt more angsty contemporary than dark academic, as I was anticipating. The secret society this featured was structured in a way that consistently made me want to learn more but the favours fulfilled were, again, focused on the drama and angst than the intricacies of completing them. This did absolutely nothing wrong but was merely not entirely suited towards my reading tastes, hence the ambivalent rating.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Katherine Laurin, and the publisher, Inkyard Press, for this opportunity.
September 10, 2020
I’m going to be completely honest here but the only reason I requested this book was because of the cover and the reviews were so good. I lost interest quickly, in fact, I don’t think there was ever a time where I was ever interested. If this wasn’t an audiobook I probably would’ve quit long ago. I listened to this at top speed because I couldn’t wait for it to end.
These Vengeful Hearts is about a secret society of mean and petty girls in high school. At first, I was reminded of Pretty Little Liars and thought that there would be some quick, fast paced drama. There’s not. Ember’s plan of revenge was weak and whenever she had a rush from doing something “bad” I got second hand embarrassment. Her inner turmoil of bad versus good was just.. predictable. Literally everything was predictable in this. It was SO young adult but not in a good way. I guessed everything that happened and was correct. Even the romance was completely forced, Ember and Chase are enemies and rivals but suddenly Chase has feelings for her? Out of no where? I hate that.
Also, there’s not much background information on the club itself and why Ember wanted revenge in the first place until like 20% into the book. That annoyed me because why would we care when we don’t even know what’s going on? Even when we find out what’s going on, I was a little over it by then. Overall, I found this book quite lacking in every aspect.
Thank you to Netgalley & RB Media for the audiobook.
These Vengeful Hearts is about a secret society of mean and petty girls in high school. At first, I was reminded of Pretty Little Liars and thought that there would be some quick, fast paced drama. There’s not. Ember’s plan of revenge was weak and whenever she had a rush from doing something “bad” I got second hand embarrassment. Her inner turmoil of bad versus good was just.. predictable. Literally everything was predictable in this. It was SO young adult but not in a good way. I guessed everything that happened and was correct. Even the romance was completely forced, Ember and Chase are enemies and rivals but suddenly Chase has feelings for her? Out of no where? I hate that.
Also, there’s not much background information on the club itself and why Ember wanted revenge in the first place until like 20% into the book. That annoyed me because why would we care when we don’t even know what’s going on? Even when we find out what’s going on, I was a little over it by then. Overall, I found this book quite lacking in every aspect.
Thank you to Netgalley & RB Media for the audiobook.
September 8, 2020
When you’re made of fire, do you feel guilty watching other people burn?
These Vengeful Hearts is essentially an alt universe Mean Girls with that same darkness, just take out the humor. The story revolves around a teen girl named Ember, who is seeking out revenge on the elusive Red Court who once upon a time hurt her older sister. The Red Court being a group of girls who do favors for people who request them, but at a steep cost. These favors range from exposing peoples secrets to helping them secure something that they want. Being recruited to the RC means you get safety, and a no cost favor if you do your jobs and keep the RC secret. Ember’s been recruited and her goal is to take them down, but will she be able to resist the feeling of power that she gains from being let into this club? You’ll have to read Vengeful Hearts to find out.
I enjoyed this story. If you like YA level angst, fun cliche filled dialogue, and a character learning that doing the right thing is, well, the right thing, then you will enjoy this story too. I can’t say that it is super duper unique and original or that I’m not a little terrified now when I see a random playing card, but I loved the suspense plot and the sort of spin on the Mean Girls “take them down from the inside” plot. So good and I can’t wait to see what comes next from this author.
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC
These Vengeful Hearts is essentially an alt universe Mean Girls with that same darkness, just take out the humor. The story revolves around a teen girl named Ember, who is seeking out revenge on the elusive Red Court who once upon a time hurt her older sister. The Red Court being a group of girls who do favors for people who request them, but at a steep cost. These favors range from exposing peoples secrets to helping them secure something that they want. Being recruited to the RC means you get safety, and a no cost favor if you do your jobs and keep the RC secret. Ember’s been recruited and her goal is to take them down, but will she be able to resist the feeling of power that she gains from being let into this club? You’ll have to read Vengeful Hearts to find out.
I enjoyed this story. If you like YA level angst, fun cliche filled dialogue, and a character learning that doing the right thing is, well, the right thing, then you will enjoy this story too. I can’t say that it is super duper unique and original or that I’m not a little terrified now when I see a random playing card, but I loved the suspense plot and the sort of spin on the Mean Girls “take them down from the inside” plot. So good and I can’t wait to see what comes next from this author.
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC
September 11, 2020
A fun quick read. An entertaining story with a Mean Girls vibe. Ember is a smart, successful, well rounded, sophomore on a mission. She is determined to become part of the Red Court, A secret society of girls at her high school who pulled the strings and rule the school. Want to insure your girlfriend is going to be homecoming queen? Or that cute boy you have a crush on finally breaks up with his girlfriend? The Red Court can make it happen. BUT be careful once they help you out you owe them. Ember’s hope is to infiltrate the court and bring it down, this is all about revenge. Several years ago when her older sister April was at the school she was involved in an accident caused by the mysterious and powerful RED COURT.
This was an engaging story, however I would not classify it as a thriller. Ember was a very likable character and even though she got a little caught up in the power she never got too crazy. I also really liked her BFF Gideon and her crush Chase. The story was slightly predictable and I wasn’t riveted, but it was an enjoyable read. I think this would be the perfect story for someone in middle school or just about to start high school. The story gives you a lot to think about and it’s pretty rated G. Ember is a good person who gets caught up in a bad situation, and the use of the playing cards in the story was fun.
This book in emojis ♥️ 📸 🗳 🎨 🏃🏻♀️ ☕️
*** Big thank you to Ink Yard Press/Harlequin for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
This was an engaging story, however I would not classify it as a thriller. Ember was a very likable character and even though she got a little caught up in the power she never got too crazy. I also really liked her BFF Gideon and her crush Chase. The story was slightly predictable and I wasn’t riveted, but it was an enjoyable read. I think this would be the perfect story for someone in middle school or just about to start high school. The story gives you a lot to think about and it’s pretty rated G. Ember is a good person who gets caught up in a bad situation, and the use of the playing cards in the story was fun.
This book in emojis ♥️ 📸 🗳 🎨 🏃🏻♀️ ☕️
*** Big thank you to Ink Yard Press/Harlequin for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
September 30, 2020
WOW! I was honestly shocked by how much I enjoyed this book! I don't typically read YA but both the synopsis and the cover drew me in from the very beginning.
These Vengeful Hearts is a gripping thriller about a secret society of modern day mean girls and one girls mission to dismantle them. The plot and characters were both developed phenomenally. There was the perfect amount of tension and twists to keep me interested. Overall, this was a fabulous audiobook!
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
These Vengeful Hearts is a gripping thriller about a secret society of modern day mean girls and one girls mission to dismantle them. The plot and characters were both developed phenomenally. There was the perfect amount of tension and twists to keep me interested. Overall, this was a fabulous audiobook!
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2020
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Kibby Robinson
These Vengeful Hearts by Katherine Laurin is an enthralling thriller, filled with riveting revenge, tantalising tension, and enough intrigue to keep readers turning pages long into the night.
At Heller High School, if you have secrets, the enigmatic Queen of Hearts and the Red Court knows them and will leverage their knowledge to execute social status take downs or grant favours. Ember Williams is determined to bring down the Red Court and extract revenge for what they did to her sister. But as Ember falls in deeper with the Red Court, she begins to lose sight of her revenge and starts to enjoy the job. When the pressures of the court start to take a toll, Ember will need to choose whether to stay true to her course or become the most vicious member the Red Court has ever had.
Sometimes a book comes along and smacks you in the face with how good of a read it is. These Vengeful Hearts is that kind of book. There is something so addicting about fictional high school drama and this novel perfectly toes the line of realistic and over the top. Every step Ember takes down her path of revenge pulls the reader in deeper and Laurin expertly draws out the tension through the story.
Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily
These Vengeful Hearts by Katherine Laurin is an enthralling thriller, filled with riveting revenge, tantalising tension, and enough intrigue to keep readers turning pages long into the night.
At Heller High School, if you have secrets, the enigmatic Queen of Hearts and the Red Court knows them and will leverage their knowledge to execute social status take downs or grant favours. Ember Williams is determined to bring down the Red Court and extract revenge for what they did to her sister. But as Ember falls in deeper with the Red Court, she begins to lose sight of her revenge and starts to enjoy the job. When the pressures of the court start to take a toll, Ember will need to choose whether to stay true to her course or become the most vicious member the Red Court has ever had.
Sometimes a book comes along and smacks you in the face with how good of a read it is. These Vengeful Hearts is that kind of book. There is something so addicting about fictional high school drama and this novel perfectly toes the line of realistic and over the top. Every step Ember takes down her path of revenge pulls the reader in deeper and Laurin expertly draws out the tension through the story.
Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily
September 26, 2020
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
These Vengeful Hearts was a book that I have been dying to dive into. Eventually I found the time to do so and I'm not sure how I exactly feel about it. In it, you will meet Ember who has the dreams of taking down a secret cult/society/club/whatever. Eh, it was okay for me. She was also okay for me but frustrating as well to read about. I just couldn't get invested in her.
Other than the story line being predictable to me, I did enjoy some of the darkness in this book. Maybe I was expecting more because secret clubs and stuff aren't really new to me. It seems to be trend lately and I was expecting something a bit more. I, also, just wish I got more revenge or maybe better revenge than I got.
In the end, this book was pretty repetitive. Which could end up being annoying at times and I almost wanted to skim through this book. Luckily for me, I had the audio version and just had to listen/pay attention.
These Vengeful Hearts was a book that I have been dying to dive into. Eventually I found the time to do so and I'm not sure how I exactly feel about it. In it, you will meet Ember who has the dreams of taking down a secret cult/society/club/whatever. Eh, it was okay for me. She was also okay for me but frustrating as well to read about. I just couldn't get invested in her.
Other than the story line being predictable to me, I did enjoy some of the darkness in this book. Maybe I was expecting more because secret clubs and stuff aren't really new to me. It seems to be trend lately and I was expecting something a bit more. I, also, just wish I got more revenge or maybe better revenge than I got.
In the end, this book was pretty repetitive. Which could end up being annoying at times and I almost wanted to skim through this book. Luckily for me, I had the audio version and just had to listen/pay attention.
March 18, 2021
A high school drama...and make no mistake...there is a LOT of drama.
I loved the secrets and dodgy schemes this book held.
I wish the characters had been more fascinating, but the story is still engaging enough for me to recommend it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for my DRC.
I loved the secrets and dodgy schemes this book held.
I wish the characters had been more fascinating, but the story is still engaging enough for me to recommend it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for my DRC.
September 21, 2020
Secret society tropes bore me more and more. I don't know if it's because of the books I pick or because that specific theme just doesn't interest me all that much but it doesn't change the result. These Vengeful Hearts seemed like it could have been interesting with a revenge plot so I requested an arc when it was on Netgalley but unfortunately, I just didn't like it. Worse, I was bored to tears. And when it ended, I was happy to be done with this book. The author ended this book in a way where she could write a sequel if she wanted to but honestly, I feel like it would be pointless and I wish it didn't have an open ending (that made me roll my eyes, btw). Overall, I just don't really care. If a sequel ever comes out however, it will go in my "no-thanks" pile.
I'm sad to say this book wasn't for me. Maybe it will be for you, who knows!
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
I'm sad to say this book wasn't for me. Maybe it will be for you, who knows!
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
September 14, 2020
Before going into the book, I expected something dark and cult-like. But this was the opposite of that. I did enjoy some parts but overall it was a huge disappointment.
These Vengeful Hearts follows Ember Williams on her quest for revenge against a secret society, known as the Red Court. The premise was so interesting and had so much potential but it fell flat.
The plot was predictable and I predicted many things way before it was revealed. This decreased my enjoyment as everything I predicted came true, which made the plot progression so boring. I was also so confused at the beginning of the novel because we were not given any background information regarding the Red Court or any of the characters until about a quarter within the novel. It made Ember’s revenge plan a lot less believable and I did not care for it either.
Ember was an okay character, albeit generic. There was no nuance to her characterization. It’s either black or white with her. She had the, and I quote, “holier-than-thou” personality trait which I did not relate to. Additionally, some of her actions and inner monologues made me inwardly cringe.
I honestly liked Gideon (her best friend) more than her, the star is for him because he’s the real MVP in the whole book. He puts up with so much of Ember’s problems and yet he still stood by her side.
In terms of the romance, I was not feeling it. It was so forced and unnecessary. Chase and Ember went from rivals to sweethearts. This was so random because it came out of the blue without any development. They also did not have any chemistry whatsoever and we are suddenly expected to believe that they like each other without any further interactions other than random banter and one deep conversation.
Overall, it was a disappointing read. It had so much potential but the execution fell flat. However, take this review with a grain of salt. I’ve seen good reviews so maybe it’ll one for you. It wasn’t for me personally.
Thank you to RB Media and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
These Vengeful Hearts follows Ember Williams on her quest for revenge against a secret society, known as the Red Court. The premise was so interesting and had so much potential but it fell flat.
The plot was predictable and I predicted many things way before it was revealed. This decreased my enjoyment as everything I predicted came true, which made the plot progression so boring. I was also so confused at the beginning of the novel because we were not given any background information regarding the Red Court or any of the characters until about a quarter within the novel. It made Ember’s revenge plan a lot less believable and I did not care for it either.
Ember was an okay character, albeit generic. There was no nuance to her characterization. It’s either black or white with her. She had the, and I quote, “holier-than-thou” personality trait which I did not relate to. Additionally, some of her actions and inner monologues made me inwardly cringe.
I honestly liked Gideon (her best friend) more than her, the star is for him because he’s the real MVP in the whole book. He puts up with so much of Ember’s problems and yet he still stood by her side.
In terms of the romance, I was not feeling it. It was so forced and unnecessary. Chase and Ember went from rivals to sweethearts. This was so random because it came out of the blue without any development. They also did not have any chemistry whatsoever and we are suddenly expected to believe that they like each other without any further interactions other than random banter and one deep conversation.
Overall, it was a disappointing read. It had so much potential but the execution fell flat. However, take this review with a grain of salt. I’ve seen good reviews so maybe it’ll one for you. It wasn’t for me personally.
Thank you to RB Media and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2020
I feel like this book had a lot of potential but instead fell back on what I can only imagine is the source material making what could have been a great story it’s own tragic queen of spades.
“These Vengeful Hearts” follows Ember as she finally joins the elusive Red Court, an organization of young women at school who trade favors for jobs giving you anything from the title of homecoming queen or breaking up the new it couple so you have a chance at your crush, in order to bring down the Queen but her plans go sideways when she finds that the hierarchy is a bit more tricky than she imagined especially when she finds that she enjoys the power that comes with the title.
This is literally a book version of mean girls.
I feel like the structuring of this secret society is wasted on a plot that is so similar to the film that it was spoiled before I even turned the first page to the point that I can’t understand why one would go through the trouble of orchestrating a dynamic that could have been a high school version of Ocean’s 8 but instead of making that its own piece it decided to superimpose it onto Regina George and the plastics.
This one actually stings a little bit because I feel like it could have been such a fun read if it tried to be it’s own thing but instead the entire house of cards fell apart and nothing of substance or at least entertainment was left in its wake.
This was a huge disappointment.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
“These Vengeful Hearts” follows Ember as she finally joins the elusive Red Court, an organization of young women at school who trade favors for jobs giving you anything from the title of homecoming queen or breaking up the new it couple so you have a chance at your crush, in order to bring down the Queen but her plans go sideways when she finds that the hierarchy is a bit more tricky than she imagined especially when she finds that she enjoys the power that comes with the title.
This is literally a book version of mean girls.
I feel like the structuring of this secret society is wasted on a plot that is so similar to the film that it was spoiled before I even turned the first page to the point that I can’t understand why one would go through the trouble of orchestrating a dynamic that could have been a high school version of Ocean’s 8 but instead of making that its own piece it decided to superimpose it onto Regina George and the plastics.
This one actually stings a little bit because I feel like it could have been such a fun read if it tried to be it’s own thing but instead the entire house of cards fell apart and nothing of substance or at least entertainment was left in its wake.
This was a huge disappointment.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
September 20, 2020
These Vengeful Hearts is an addictive, high stakes revenge story that trades in secrets, lies, and deception. Determined to avenge her older sister who was seriously injured by the favor-granting illustrious Red Court, Ember Williams becomes the perfect recruit to take down the club from the inside. But as she becomes more involved and starts granting favors on her own, she realizes she may be in too deep.
Ember is a motivated character which made it very easy to follow in her journey of dismantling the Red Court. But i dont feel like the story did anything special as a revenge story. The plot was fairly easy to predict and many of the characters were not given the page time to have any depth. This was not a bad story at all, but i do think it was unfortunately a bit too average to become a new favorite.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Ember is a motivated character which made it very easy to follow in her journey of dismantling the Red Court. But i dont feel like the story did anything special as a revenge story. The plot was fairly easy to predict and many of the characters were not given the page time to have any depth. This was not a bad story at all, but i do think it was unfortunately a bit too average to become a new favorite.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2020
These Vengeful Hearts is the story of Ember, a loyal sister obsessed with getting revenge for her older sister. April was injured in a tragic accident and the culprit is a shadowy organization at school called The Red Court. The Red Court will help you with whatever you need, though everything comes with a price. Ember decides that she must go undercover and take down The Red Court from the inside. But once there, Ember starts to like the feeling of power and control that she’s gained. She will have to decide what matters most to her when her friends come into The Red Court’s crosshairs. And no one leaves The Red Court...
This was a fast-paced book that was hard to pause! I listened to the audiobook version and the time flew by. The narrator does an excellent job of voicing all the characters and it was pleasant to listen to. I found the most compelling part of this story was Ember grappling with her desire for power and control. Watching Ember navigate between trip wires as she ruthlessly worked toward her goals was very satisfying. I did not feel overly invested in the love interest, who felt somewhat dull.
I really liked the concept of The Red Court, a sinister and shadowy organization that is both legendary and feared. The secrecy, rules, and Ember attempting to learn the identity of the mysterious Red Queen was captivating to watch. To me, the story stumbled slightly in the conclusion, but I still found it enjoyable. If you are a fan of Gossip Girl or Riverdale, I think you will love These Vengeful Hearts. I can’t help wondering if there will be a sequel after that ending! These Vengeful Hearts is available now. Thank you to Katherine Laurin, RB Media, Inkyard Press, and Netgalley for a free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fast-paced book that was hard to pause! I listened to the audiobook version and the time flew by. The narrator does an excellent job of voicing all the characters and it was pleasant to listen to. I found the most compelling part of this story was Ember grappling with her desire for power and control. Watching Ember navigate between trip wires as she ruthlessly worked toward her goals was very satisfying. I did not feel overly invested in the love interest, who felt somewhat dull.
I really liked the concept of The Red Court, a sinister and shadowy organization that is both legendary and feared. The secrecy, rules, and Ember attempting to learn the identity of the mysterious Red Queen was captivating to watch. To me, the story stumbled slightly in the conclusion, but I still found it enjoyable. If you are a fan of Gossip Girl or Riverdale, I think you will love These Vengeful Hearts. I can’t help wondering if there will be a sequel after that ending! These Vengeful Hearts is available now. Thank you to Katherine Laurin, RB Media, Inkyard Press, and Netgalley for a free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced listening!
The setting is Heller High. At Hell(er) High, the rules are a little different. Your secrets are traded for favors and used by The Red Court, a secret & elite group who makes dreams come true for some and nightmares for others. The Queen of Hearts, their ruler, knows the game, but does not expect someone to be playing for her downfall. Ember Williams is determined to bring down both The Queen of Hearts and The Red Court to extract her revenge for what they did to her sister. Little did she know that with the power of The Red Court, comes a high off power and great responsibility. Ember will need to make a choice to either go through her a plan she has worked on for years or to become the best, and maybe the most vicious, member of the Red Court has ever seen.
I absolutely loved this book. It kind of gave me Gossip Girl vibes mixed in with a sorority, mainly because sororities and fraternities are known for having secret societies and messing with the hierarchy for their own social climbs and Gossip Girl is all about taking down people with secrets. Ember's struggle with sticking to her plan to take down the Red Court while also enjoying the power is so something that would happen too.
The characters were relatable, the story line was believable (as much as a secret society within a high school can be) and I literally finished the book within 24 hours. And believe me when I say, that is a feat when I am rereading three of my favorite books at the same time (2020 is hard, okay? I need comfort reads too lol). There is a lite hate-to-love romance, the best kind of side-kick/best friend (the kind that has your back and has their own story going on as well) and there is sisterly bonds involved. All three are checks for me!
The audiobook is absolutely fantastic, and you should totally listen to this book when you pick it up! Also, have you ever seen a prettier cover? *drools*
The setting is Heller High. At Hell(er) High, the rules are a little different. Your secrets are traded for favors and used by The Red Court, a secret & elite group who makes dreams come true for some and nightmares for others. The Queen of Hearts, their ruler, knows the game, but does not expect someone to be playing for her downfall. Ember Williams is determined to bring down both The Queen of Hearts and The Red Court to extract her revenge for what they did to her sister. Little did she know that with the power of The Red Court, comes a high off power and great responsibility. Ember will need to make a choice to either go through her a plan she has worked on for years or to become the best, and maybe the most vicious, member of the Red Court has ever seen.
I absolutely loved this book. It kind of gave me Gossip Girl vibes mixed in with a sorority, mainly because sororities and fraternities are known for having secret societies and messing with the hierarchy for their own social climbs and Gossip Girl is all about taking down people with secrets. Ember's struggle with sticking to her plan to take down the Red Court while also enjoying the power is so something that would happen too.
The characters were relatable, the story line was believable (as much as a secret society within a high school can be) and I literally finished the book within 24 hours. And believe me when I say, that is a feat when I am rereading three of my favorite books at the same time (2020 is hard, okay? I need comfort reads too lol). There is a lite hate-to-love romance, the best kind of side-kick/best friend (the kind that has your back and has their own story going on as well) and there is sisterly bonds involved. All three are checks for me!
The audiobook is absolutely fantastic, and you should totally listen to this book when you pick it up! Also, have you ever seen a prettier cover? *drools*
September 7, 2020
Thank you to the publisher, Inkyard Press, for providing me with an ARC of These Vengeful Hearts in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Gist
I was obsessed with the Pretty Little Liars TV show for its entire run. High school thriller, with lots of intrigue and conspiracy. Sign me up!
I welcomed the possibility of high school being the exact opposite of what it was like for me. So, it’s a sort of nostalgic feeling I get when reading high school thrillers that offer me an alternative option for experiencing the good old adolescent years, even if it’s just in books.
That’s what grabbed my attention in the first place. I mean it’s in the name: vengeful plans and secret agendas.
I have to say, though, the title itself kept misleading me a little. I think I may have read of a book with a similar name that belonged to the fantasy genre, which made this a little confusing at the beginning.
The Details
As hard as this might be for me, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in These Vengeful Hearts. The idea was good and the premise very promising, but the execution fell flat.
Ember, a determined, smart and ambitious high school student, out for revenge seemed like the perfect protagonist to get this story off the ground. Alas, she didn’t have much of a personality.
The story is narrated from Ember’s perspective. It’s a good opportunity to give the reader good insight into her emotions, the struggles she might be facing and a deeper understanding of her character. Instead, all the reader gets is a play-by-play narrative of what she is doing.
It’s too factual and it lacks any sort of personality traits that would let Ember stand out in a crowd.
A reason for the reader to continue, because of something that makes Ember unique.
Just like with the protagonist, there really wasn’t anything wrong with the plot. It had a lot of potential. It just never really got there. Nothing stood out and nothing made this story unique.
The writing was good. It was clear and concise. I could picture everything described and nothing felt too abstract.
The Verdict
Overall, I’m going to sound like a broken record here, but I could see the potential in These Vengeful Hearts. it was right there and yet never really made it.
I was hoping for a clench-the-book-with-white-knuckles kind of read. Unfortunately, it couldn’t quite capture that atmosphere.
I might suggest it as a lighter read.
ElliotScribbles
The Gist
I was obsessed with the Pretty Little Liars TV show for its entire run. High school thriller, with lots of intrigue and conspiracy. Sign me up!
I welcomed the possibility of high school being the exact opposite of what it was like for me. So, it’s a sort of nostalgic feeling I get when reading high school thrillers that offer me an alternative option for experiencing the good old adolescent years, even if it’s just in books.
That’s what grabbed my attention in the first place. I mean it’s in the name: vengeful plans and secret agendas.
I have to say, though, the title itself kept misleading me a little. I think I may have read of a book with a similar name that belonged to the fantasy genre, which made this a little confusing at the beginning.
The Details
As hard as this might be for me, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in These Vengeful Hearts. The idea was good and the premise very promising, but the execution fell flat.
Ember, a determined, smart and ambitious high school student, out for revenge seemed like the perfect protagonist to get this story off the ground. Alas, she didn’t have much of a personality.
The story is narrated from Ember’s perspective. It’s a good opportunity to give the reader good insight into her emotions, the struggles she might be facing and a deeper understanding of her character. Instead, all the reader gets is a play-by-play narrative of what she is doing.
It’s too factual and it lacks any sort of personality traits that would let Ember stand out in a crowd.
A reason for the reader to continue, because of something that makes Ember unique.
Just like with the protagonist, there really wasn’t anything wrong with the plot. It had a lot of potential. It just never really got there. Nothing stood out and nothing made this story unique.
The writing was good. It was clear and concise. I could picture everything described and nothing felt too abstract.
The Verdict
Overall, I’m going to sound like a broken record here, but I could see the potential in These Vengeful Hearts. it was right there and yet never really made it.
I was hoping for a clench-the-book-with-white-knuckles kind of read. Unfortunately, it couldn’t quite capture that atmosphere.
I might suggest it as a lighter read.
ElliotScribbles
September 23, 2020
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September Williams, known as "Ember", has always been a model student at her high school. Straight A's, captain of the debate team, and many other achievements line her transcript. All of this has been to catch the eye of The Red Court, a secret sisterhood at the school. The Red Court has been responsible for ruining many lives, including Ember's older sister April. After an accident caused by the Red Court leaves April paralyzed, Ember has sworn to take apart this group from the inside. Will she be able to complete her plan, or will she lose herself to the powerful allure of the Red Court?
This was a great quick read. It was a great take on a secret society from a high school level and it really worked for me. Ember definitely had to put in some hard work with the Red Court and while most of the twists were reasonably predictable, this is a quick read you won't want to miss. There is mystery, romance, action; something for every reader with characters and a plot to back it up.
I recommend this story for anyone 13+ who like a good mystery or even a descent plot of revenge. It took me back to the first time I watched the show Revenge and how Emily Thorne had to roll with the punches when her plans didn't always work out. 4 glowing stars for this stand-alone treat.
September Williams, known as "Ember", has always been a model student at her high school. Straight A's, captain of the debate team, and many other achievements line her transcript. All of this has been to catch the eye of The Red Court, a secret sisterhood at the school. The Red Court has been responsible for ruining many lives, including Ember's older sister April. After an accident caused by the Red Court leaves April paralyzed, Ember has sworn to take apart this group from the inside. Will she be able to complete her plan, or will she lose herself to the powerful allure of the Red Court?
This was a great quick read. It was a great take on a secret society from a high school level and it really worked for me. Ember definitely had to put in some hard work with the Red Court and while most of the twists were reasonably predictable, this is a quick read you won't want to miss. There is mystery, romance, action; something for every reader with characters and a plot to back it up.
I recommend this story for anyone 13+ who like a good mystery or even a descent plot of revenge. It took me back to the first time I watched the show Revenge and how Emily Thorne had to roll with the punches when her plans didn't always work out. 4 glowing stars for this stand-alone treat.
December 30, 2020
Trigger warnings:
Diversity: gay MC, POC side characters.
I found These Vengeful Hearts really entertaining! I liked the plot, the characters and especially their relationships (the friendship was wonderful and the sister love, too) and the Red Court and, if I found some elements a bit predictable, some others surprised me. Overall, a fun read!
Full review coming soon :)
Thank you to Harper360UK for sending me an ARC of this book. This did not, in any way, influence my thoughts and rating.
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bookstagram - Bloglovin'
Diversity: gay MC, POC side characters.
I found These Vengeful Hearts really entertaining! I liked the plot, the characters and especially their relationships (the friendship was wonderful and the sister love, too) and the Red Court and, if I found some elements a bit predictable, some others surprised me. Overall, a fun read!
Full review coming soon :)
Thank you to Harper360UK for sending me an ARC of this book. This did not, in any way, influence my thoughts and rating.
My Blog - Drizzle & Hurricane Books - Twitter - Bookstagram - Bloglovin'
November 19, 2020
You can also read my review here: https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....
Review: 3 Stars
I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately and These Vengeful Hearts looked like it would be fast paced and entertaining. For the most part it kept me captivated, but there was a part in the middle where I found myself bored. Once I found myself sucked back in I wound up finishing the book pretty quickly, These Vengeful Hearts was entertaining and it was exactly what I needed to get out of my reading slump.
These Vengeful Hearts is a plot driven novel about one girl’s quest for revenge against a secret society that does favors for people and exposes secrets. I loved the idea of the Red Court and I found the take-downs entertaining to read. The pacing was pretty fast, but towards the middle of the book it got a little slow and boring. When the book picked back up I couldn’t read it fast enough. The tension ramped up and I was anxious to know what would happen next.
The characters are all pretty one dimensional, but I expect that in this type of story. The Red Court is full of girls who either enjoy deception or are out for their own personal gain. These girls all cross moral lines in the Red Court and it would have been more interesting if we got to read about their motives. When Ember joins the Red Court and starts enjoying the take-downs she realizes that there is darkness within her. Ember’s struggles with doing things that go against her morals are part of what make this book a more interesting read. I wish that the characters felt a bit more real and that the book explored morality a bit more. It ended a bit too neatly to feel believable.
Overall I think this book was entertaining, but it didn’t feel completely believable. I really liked the concept of a high school secret society that pulled the strings behind the scenes. I feel like the characters could have used more depth and that the ending wrapped up too neatly. If you;re looking for a fast paced read I recommend checking this one out, but if you’re looking for a deeper story These Vengeful Hearts isn’t for you.
Review: 3 Stars
I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately and These Vengeful Hearts looked like it would be fast paced and entertaining. For the most part it kept me captivated, but there was a part in the middle where I found myself bored. Once I found myself sucked back in I wound up finishing the book pretty quickly, These Vengeful Hearts was entertaining and it was exactly what I needed to get out of my reading slump.
These Vengeful Hearts is a plot driven novel about one girl’s quest for revenge against a secret society that does favors for people and exposes secrets. I loved the idea of the Red Court and I found the take-downs entertaining to read. The pacing was pretty fast, but towards the middle of the book it got a little slow and boring. When the book picked back up I couldn’t read it fast enough. The tension ramped up and I was anxious to know what would happen next.
The characters are all pretty one dimensional, but I expect that in this type of story. The Red Court is full of girls who either enjoy deception or are out for their own personal gain. These girls all cross moral lines in the Red Court and it would have been more interesting if we got to read about their motives. When Ember joins the Red Court and starts enjoying the take-downs she realizes that there is darkness within her. Ember’s struggles with doing things that go against her morals are part of what make this book a more interesting read. I wish that the characters felt a bit more real and that the book explored morality a bit more. It ended a bit too neatly to feel believable.
Overall I think this book was entertaining, but it didn’t feel completely believable. I really liked the concept of a high school secret society that pulled the strings behind the scenes. I feel like the characters could have used more depth and that the ending wrapped up too neatly. If you;re looking for a fast paced read I recommend checking this one out, but if you’re looking for a deeper story These Vengeful Hearts isn’t for you.
July 29, 2020
"These Vengeful Hearts" by Katherine Laurin was an enjoyable YA read!
First of all, I want to thank Goodreads and Inkyard Press for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I don't know what I expected before reading this book but I liked it! I enjoyed the main character Ember, her BFF Gideon and cheered her on with the unexpected relationship of her new boyfriend Chase! Way-to-go, Ember!
This is a story of a "mean-girl" secret club called the Red Hearts. It runs Heller High School granting requests from students to take-out or take-down someone or to simply assist with a favor the student doesn't feel can be accomplished on his or her own. The catch: The student who is making the request is in debt to the Red Hearts once the favor is accomplished. No expiration date and the debt is collected by the Red Hearts when least expected and on their terms! Failure to comply results in a high price in the form of revenge!
Ember is accepted into the Red Hearts with a focused goal in mind but she quickly loses sight of this and gets caught up in the power of the control and fear the Red Hearts hold over the other students. She begins to enjoy her projects. However, her inner voice begins to speaks to her about "doing the right thing" and it helps to guide and refocus her.....what one might refer to as a "conscience"!
My biggest issue with this book wasn't the darkness of the secret club and its members but the unrealistic maturity level of the high school students, especially at 16 and 17 years old. There were words that Ember used that I never used in my teenage vocabulary and might not even use today!
I do want to give kudos to the author for keeping this book free of teenage sex and truly focused on the topic of what Ember was going for with the Red Hearts. I'll also note, very few cuss words used and only one "f-bomb" in this book is quite remarkable, if I do say so myself!
All in all, I liked what the author put together for this YA genre! I think she should definitely be proud of her product!
First of all, I want to thank Goodreads and Inkyard Press for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I don't know what I expected before reading this book but I liked it! I enjoyed the main character Ember, her BFF Gideon and cheered her on with the unexpected relationship of her new boyfriend Chase! Way-to-go, Ember!
This is a story of a "mean-girl" secret club called the Red Hearts. It runs Heller High School granting requests from students to take-out or take-down someone or to simply assist with a favor the student doesn't feel can be accomplished on his or her own. The catch: The student who is making the request is in debt to the Red Hearts once the favor is accomplished. No expiration date and the debt is collected by the Red Hearts when least expected and on their terms! Failure to comply results in a high price in the form of revenge!
Ember is accepted into the Red Hearts with a focused goal in mind but she quickly loses sight of this and gets caught up in the power of the control and fear the Red Hearts hold over the other students. She begins to enjoy her projects. However, her inner voice begins to speaks to her about "doing the right thing" and it helps to guide and refocus her.....what one might refer to as a "conscience"!
My biggest issue with this book wasn't the darkness of the secret club and its members but the unrealistic maturity level of the high school students, especially at 16 and 17 years old. There were words that Ember used that I never used in my teenage vocabulary and might not even use today!
I do want to give kudos to the author for keeping this book free of teenage sex and truly focused on the topic of what Ember was going for with the Red Hearts. I'll also note, very few cuss words used and only one "f-bomb" in this book is quite remarkable, if I do say so myself!
All in all, I liked what the author put together for this YA genre! I think she should definitely be proud of her product!
March 17, 2020
These Vengeful Hearts by Katherine Laurin isn’t quite what I was expecting. I was looking forward to secret societies meeting in the dark of night, plotting to exploit the secrets of all whilst finally getting their own comeuppance. Instead, I got a bit bored. It’s not that it’s a bad book, per se, it was just a bit predictable and again, a bit boring. I felt that initially the story had a fantastic premise but it just fell flat in its execution. I was entertained for the most part but if there was a second book, I probably wouldn’t read it. What I did like was that it was a quick read, there wasn’t a lot of fluff/filler, and I liked the main character, Ember, she was relatable and well-developed.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 21, 2022
3.5 Stars
I fell - hard - for the cover. But afterwards stayed for the story featuring a secret society by the name of the Red Court, keeping court at a local high school. If anything, knowledge is power here. One needs a certain amount of suspension of disbelief to accept the kind of power these students have over the school. Also, was the big reveal super-unexpected, maybe not. But it kept me more than entertained during my chores.
This was another of the few audiobooks I read a year. I really liked the narration.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
I fell - hard - for the cover. But afterwards stayed for the story featuring a secret society by the name of the Red Court, keeping court at a local high school. If anything, knowledge is power here. One needs a certain amount of suspension of disbelief to accept the kind of power these students have over the school. Also, was the big reveal super-unexpected, maybe not. But it kept me more than entertained during my chores.
This was another of the few audiobooks I read a year. I really liked the narration.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
September 5, 2020
Ever since she started high school, September aka Ember Williams has had one goal. To join the secret society known as The Red Court and take it down. The Red Court is known for taking down and humiliating people who have hurt others or if they are paid the right price, they can ruin somebody simply because you don't like them. Nobody knows her The Red Queen and the members are and they tap you by leaving a note in your locker and a playing card. For Ember, her life has been all about being the perfect candidate for the Red Court - everything she has done in high school is to make them notice her as it is rumored they aim for high achievers and all-rounders. When Ember's older sister April was in high school, she ended up in an accident which she told Ember was the result of The Red Court and Ember wants revenge and brings down The Red Queen and dismantles the Red Court. What happens though when Ember starts playing her part in the Red Court and learns that she is good at it and soon the lines will blur between what is right and what is wrong and Ember will start to turn into a different person - someone that her best friend and the boy she likes doesn't like? Will Ember's priorities change when she joins the group or will she be even more determined to bring the group down? Find out in this fun novel which reminded me of a mix between the secret chain of Gossip Girl and PLL - These Vengeful Hearts by Katherine Laurin.
September 23, 2020
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult / Thriller / Suspense
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Katherine Laurin's These Vengeful Hearts is a combination of Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, and Riverdale. Looking for a favor? The Red Court at Heller H.S. can make it happen, but for a price. Whether it be winning prom queen, breaking up a couple, or even destroying someone's social life, the Red Queen has people that can do the necessary dirty work. 16-year old Ember Williams' sister April was injured in a tragic accident several years ago and the culprit is the shadowy organization called The Red Court. Ember is hoping to infiltrate the Court and take them down.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult / Thriller / Suspense
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Katherine Laurin's These Vengeful Hearts is a combination of Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, and Riverdale. Looking for a favor? The Red Court at Heller H.S. can make it happen, but for a price. Whether it be winning prom queen, breaking up a couple, or even destroying someone's social life, the Red Queen has people that can do the necessary dirty work. 16-year old Ember Williams' sister April was injured in a tragic accident several years ago and the culprit is the shadowy organization called The Red Court. Ember is hoping to infiltrate the Court and take them down.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
June 29, 2021
i actually really enjoyed this!! i think i like the concept of the red court so much that it made me like the book more than i should have. this wasn’t anything spectacular, but if there was i sequel i wouldn’t hesitate to read it. the characters were fun, although none of them really made a lasting impact. it was rather predictable, unfortunately. i didn’t mind knowing what was going to happen, but it would’ve been nice if i was completely surprised.
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