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The Head, the Heart, and the Heir
Princess Elizabeth wants nothing more than to be reunited with her father, her kingdom, and her people. Instead, she’s spent the last twelve years in the forest, hiding from her grandfather who killed her mother while she looked on.
Then the only heir to the Kingdom of Warren is discovered by her childhood playmate and crush, now the Crown Prince of the allied Kingdom of Datten, and everything changes. Her grandfather has died which means it’s safe for her to return to her kingdom in advance of her seventeenth birthday…when sorcerers like her manifest their powers.
But the girl who now calls herself Alex is nothing like the lost princess the kingdom remembers. She’s headstrong, fearless–and already wields powers beyond their wildest imaginations. She can predict the future, control the weather, make plants magically grow, and manipulate fire, causing unusual things to happen when her emotions are heightened.
As she struggles to gain control of her powers, Alex causes chaos in the castle, where she’s never quite the princess they want her to be. When she uncovers the secret behind the murder of her mother and her own lineage, Alex’s powers threaten to destroy everyone around her including her father who hid the truth from her for so long.
Alex doesn’t want to be feared or controlled. She’s not the type to stand by and let someone else decide her fate–but is she strong enough to turn her back on the only family and friends she has left?
Then the only heir to the Kingdom of Warren is discovered by her childhood playmate and crush, now the Crown Prince of the allied Kingdom of Datten, and everything changes. Her grandfather has died which means it’s safe for her to return to her kingdom in advance of her seventeenth birthday…when sorcerers like her manifest their powers.
But the girl who now calls herself Alex is nothing like the lost princess the kingdom remembers. She’s headstrong, fearless–and already wields powers beyond their wildest imaginations. She can predict the future, control the weather, make plants magically grow, and manipulate fire, causing unusual things to happen when her emotions are heightened.
As she struggles to gain control of her powers, Alex causes chaos in the castle, where she’s never quite the princess they want her to be. When she uncovers the secret behind the murder of her mother and her own lineage, Alex’s powers threaten to destroy everyone around her including her father who hid the truth from her for so long.
Alex doesn’t want to be feared or controlled. She’s not the type to stand by and let someone else decide her fate–but is she strong enough to turn her back on the only family and friends she has left?
474 pages, Paperback
Published August 2, 2022
66 people are currently reading
12777 people want to read
About the author
Alice Hanov
17 books229 followersAlice Hanov is a writer who graduated with a degree in Rhetoric and Professional Writing from the University of Waterloo. She’s been writing and dreaming up stories since she was seven and only now decided to get them on paper after enthralling her children with them.
She's working on the final book in her debut series The Head, The Heart and The Heir, and starting two new series including Torian Tales, a series of stand alone stories or duologies set in the fantasy world of Torian, from her main series. The first story, Heart of the Siren, will be releasing in November, 2025.
When she isn’t writing Alice is raising her three kids with her husband, helping run their software company Hanov Solutions or can be found reading, painting, knitting and chasing after their three super busy, artistic children who aspire to be artists or you tubers themselves.
She's working on the final book in her debut series The Head, The Heart and The Heir, and starting two new series including Torian Tales, a series of stand alone stories or duologies set in the fantasy world of Torian, from her main series. The first story, Heart of the Siren, will be releasing in November, 2025.
When she isn’t writing Alice is raising her three kids with her husband, helping run their software company Hanov Solutions or can be found reading, painting, knitting and chasing after their three super busy, artistic children who aspire to be artists or you tubers themselves.
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February 5, 2023I am the Author. I'm not going to give my own book a rating but I want to count it for my challenge!
January 1, 2023
Big thank you to the author for providing a free e-book in exchange for an honest review!
I am sorry to say that while the book was alright, it felt more like a children's story trying to package it to a slightly more mature audience... and failing.
I am sorry to say that while the book was alright, it felt more like a children's story trying to package it to a slightly more mature audience... and failing.
June 14, 2022
4.5/5 ⭐️ 1/5 🌶
Where do I even start with this amazing book?! It has a FMC who is smart, headstrong, witty, beautiful, powerful, and is always up for a challenge! A character that is determined to learn more about herself and the powers she wields, while also refusing to let anyone use her as a weapon (like I said, she’s amazing). It draws you in, makes you laugh, makes you angry, helps you escape to another world, and it leaves you longing for more!
Alex is an absolutely amazing FMC! She gets off to a rough start in life, and her whole world gets flipped upside down, but she does not let that stop her. She is a down to earth, easy going girl, with a big heart and sharp mind. When she is reunited with the life she is meant to have that doesn’t change. While her environment and the people around her change she continues to be herself as she grows into the role, her powers, and the lady she is meant to be.
I absolutely loved and devoured this book and I cannot wait to read it again once I have the physical copy in my hands (mind you I’ve already read it half a dozen times). I highly recommended this book!
Where do I even start with this amazing book?! It has a FMC who is smart, headstrong, witty, beautiful, powerful, and is always up for a challenge! A character that is determined to learn more about herself and the powers she wields, while also refusing to let anyone use her as a weapon (like I said, she’s amazing). It draws you in, makes you laugh, makes you angry, helps you escape to another world, and it leaves you longing for more!
Alex is an absolutely amazing FMC! She gets off to a rough start in life, and her whole world gets flipped upside down, but she does not let that stop her. She is a down to earth, easy going girl, with a big heart and sharp mind. When she is reunited with the life she is meant to have that doesn’t change. While her environment and the people around her change she continues to be herself as she grows into the role, her powers, and the lady she is meant to be.
I absolutely loved and devoured this book and I cannot wait to read it again once I have the physical copy in my hands (mind you I’ve already read it half a dozen times). I highly recommended this book!
May 18, 2022
Alice Hanov is going to be the next big author. After reading an ARC of The Head The Heart and The Heir, I am officially obsessed with her debut novel, and can’t wait to see where this book series goes. The story was well-written, and the world building is phenomenal. I love the world of Torian, and can’t wait to learn more about all of its kingdoms.
Alex is a strong protagonist, and the way that Alice writes her journey through this first book really gets the reader invested. I HAVE TO KNOW what is going to happen next! What a cliffhanger!
Alex is a strong protagonist, and the way that Alice writes her journey through this first book really gets the reader invested. I HAVE TO KNOW what is going to happen next! What a cliffhanger!
June 8, 2022
2.75/5 ⭐️ 1/5 🌶
** I received an ARC of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest review of this book**
The Head, The Heart, and the Heir is Alice Hanov’s debut YA fantasy novel set to release on June 14th, 2022. The novel is dual-POV following Princess Elizabeth (AKA Alex) of Warren, and Prince Aaron of Datten, and is set primarily in the Kingdom of Warren. This book deals with content such as murder, violence, parental death, and sex, and is recommended for upper YA (15+). For a full list of triggers, see the author’s trigger warnings here.
Seventeen year old Alex has spent the last twelve years in hiding following her mother’s sudden murder. When she is found by her childhood friend, crush, and confident Aaron, she is suddenly thrust back into royal life. As Alex attempts to re-adjust to being a princess, she is faced with the challenge of her quickly-growing powers, hidden family secrets, and the truth behind her mother’s murder.
There are several great things about Alice’s debut novel. It is evident that the magic and lore of the story has been extensively planned and thought out. The system of magic is well-developed and clear. Additionally, the history of each sorcerer’s line, and also the lineage of each prominent kingdom can be readily found both at the conclusion of the book, and on the author's main website. It is always a delight when author’s take the time to fully flush out their system of magic, and the ways of their fantasy world, as it can help mitigate future plot-holes and inconsistencies as the series continues.
The storyline itself was interesting. It was, for the most part, well-paced. There were clear points of conflict and tension that were spaced in a logical manner. I enjoyed the dual-POV as it allowed glimpses into Aaron’s head, which I am sure will continue to be important as the series progresses.
However, the writing lacked maturity which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the book. The main character Alex is strong-willed and wild, however her characterization follows the cliche of being someone who is “not like other girls.” I also found the naming of the monarchy to be a bit of a turn-off. I am all for retellings of King Arthur’s court, but if this is what one is doing, it needs to be apparent from the beginning. Otherwise, seeing names such as Elizabeth, Victoria and Edward can appear lazy even if there is a later purpose. This could be easily mitigated by expressly stating that the storyline is loosely based on the court of King Arthur.
I found the overall writing a bit frustrating to read. The sentence structure lacks variation, and the random insertions of internal dialogue are unnecessary. Overall, the writing tells you exactly what is going on, when, and with whom, not allowing for the reader to engage their imagination as they progress. This is something that I think could be easily remedied to strengthen Hanov’s future books.
Overall, I think the ideas are there and the magic is well developed. What the book lacks is maturity in the writing, which is just something that comes with time. I can easily see future books becoming stronger as Hanov continues to practice her craft, however, right now the book for me was just overall lacking.
World-Building: 4/5
Characters: 2.5/5
Romance: 3/5
Writing Style: 2/5
Plot: 3/5
Overall Rating: 2.75/5
** I received an ARC of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest review of this book**
The Head, The Heart, and the Heir is Alice Hanov’s debut YA fantasy novel set to release on June 14th, 2022. The novel is dual-POV following Princess Elizabeth (AKA Alex) of Warren, and Prince Aaron of Datten, and is set primarily in the Kingdom of Warren. This book deals with content such as murder, violence, parental death, and sex, and is recommended for upper YA (15+). For a full list of triggers, see the author’s trigger warnings here.
Seventeen year old Alex has spent the last twelve years in hiding following her mother’s sudden murder. When she is found by her childhood friend, crush, and confident Aaron, she is suddenly thrust back into royal life. As Alex attempts to re-adjust to being a princess, she is faced with the challenge of her quickly-growing powers, hidden family secrets, and the truth behind her mother’s murder.
There are several great things about Alice’s debut novel. It is evident that the magic and lore of the story has been extensively planned and thought out. The system of magic is well-developed and clear. Additionally, the history of each sorcerer’s line, and also the lineage of each prominent kingdom can be readily found both at the conclusion of the book, and on the author's main website. It is always a delight when author’s take the time to fully flush out their system of magic, and the ways of their fantasy world, as it can help mitigate future plot-holes and inconsistencies as the series continues.
The storyline itself was interesting. It was, for the most part, well-paced. There were clear points of conflict and tension that were spaced in a logical manner. I enjoyed the dual-POV as it allowed glimpses into Aaron’s head, which I am sure will continue to be important as the series progresses.
However, the writing lacked maturity which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the book. The main character Alex is strong-willed and wild, however her characterization follows the cliche of being someone who is “not like other girls.” I also found the naming of the monarchy to be a bit of a turn-off. I am all for retellings of King Arthur’s court, but if this is what one is doing, it needs to be apparent from the beginning. Otherwise, seeing names such as Elizabeth, Victoria and Edward can appear lazy even if there is a later purpose. This could be easily mitigated by expressly stating that the storyline is loosely based on the court of King Arthur.
I found the overall writing a bit frustrating to read. The sentence structure lacks variation, and the random insertions of internal dialogue are unnecessary. Overall, the writing tells you exactly what is going on, when, and with whom, not allowing for the reader to engage their imagination as they progress. This is something that I think could be easily remedied to strengthen Hanov’s future books.
Overall, I think the ideas are there and the magic is well developed. What the book lacks is maturity in the writing, which is just something that comes with time. I can easily see future books becoming stronger as Hanov continues to practice her craft, however, right now the book for me was just overall lacking.
World-Building: 4/5
Characters: 2.5/5
Romance: 3/5
Writing Style: 2/5
Plot: 3/5
Overall Rating: 2.75/5
April 18, 2023
What a unique fantasy read! This has been on my TBR since it's release and I am so glad I finally sat down with it! I fell in love with the main character! She is feisty, headstrong and reminds me of myself!!
The world building is unique and vivid. The whole book is fast paced and I had trouble putting it down (altho ultimately I did because kids and holidays!).
I can't wait for more installments in this series!!
Story - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice- 🌶🌶/5
The world building is unique and vivid. The whole book is fast paced and I had trouble putting it down (altho ultimately I did because kids and holidays!).
I can't wait for more installments in this series!!
Story - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice- 🌶🌶/5
May 18, 2022
What a strong start to a new fantasy series. I couldn’t put it down. I was fully immersed in the characters and their stories from page one and couldn’t get enough. Alex is written incredibly well. She’s dynamic and feisty, a young girl set on a heroes journey. The world building is absolutely phenomenal. Honestly, some of the best world building I’ve come across in quite some time. It’s rich with history and layered with complexity.
The plot has a lot of substance to it and really keeps the reader engaged the whole time. The Magic system is fascinating and fresh. You can tell that the author has spent a great deal of time researching and creating a type of magic that is very unique to the story. Fans of ACOTAR will devour this book and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!! Highly recommend.
The plot has a lot of substance to it and really keeps the reader engaged the whole time. The Magic system is fascinating and fresh. You can tell that the author has spent a great deal of time researching and creating a type of magic that is very unique to the story. Fans of ACOTAR will devour this book and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!! Highly recommend.
June 8, 2022
The first book in The Head, The Heart, and The Heir series really hits the ground running. The interesting and well-developed characters were one of my favorite parts of the story. I especially liked the romantic part of the story. It was an interesting side plot that didn’t overtake the main plot. The book was reminiscent of Arthurian Fantasy, but was written in a more approachable, modern English. I highly recommend this book to all fantasy lovers, as it touches on many of the greatest aspects of the genre!
May 25, 2022
The Head, The Heart, and The Heir Review:
I want to start off by saying that this is my own personal opinion and my thoughts alone.
The is a coming of age story where 16-year-old Alex is found by her family and friends after the death of her grandfather to bring her back to her kingdom. When Alex was really young her grandfather murdered her mother and she witnessed that occurrence. Before her mothers death, she made sure that Alex would be taken away from the kingdom to protect her, this is where she grows close with her self made brother Stephen and where she meets Michael who she considers like a brother.
Alex goes through the struggles of finding out who she really is while juggling her love interests.
I really enjoyed where the story was going.
You have a badass female who can fight and is learning to wield her magic. She’s discovering who she is and what she wants.
There were a few things that I didn’t care too much about.
I felt like there were a lot of scenes that we as readers weren’t able to experience because the way it was written it seemed like it was explained to us instead of us experiencing the scenes itself. And also I’ve noticed that there was a lot of parts that we as readers were left out on and we didn’t exactly figure out what happened until the next chapter when it was explained it’s route one of their thoughts.
I would’ve loved to have experienced Aaron and Alex’s First adult kiss even if it was a drunken one but instead it was left to us to experience it as one of their thoughts. There were quite a few of scenes like this where it was explained later. Another example (where she saw her grandfathers ghost for the first time since she was back.) Again this is just my experience and my opinion other readers may enjoy this,. But I personally do feel like to be immersed in the story I want to be involved along the way.
Again, I enjoyed the story line and will for sure continue following along their journey 😊
I am excited to read the next one. The ending was crazy and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Thank you Alice Hanov for supplying a digital arc for exchange of an honest review.
I want to start off by saying that this is my own personal opinion and my thoughts alone.
The is a coming of age story where 16-year-old Alex is found by her family and friends after the death of her grandfather to bring her back to her kingdom. When Alex was really young her grandfather murdered her mother and she witnessed that occurrence. Before her mothers death, she made sure that Alex would be taken away from the kingdom to protect her, this is where she grows close with her self made brother Stephen and where she meets Michael who she considers like a brother.
Alex goes through the struggles of finding out who she really is while juggling her love interests.
I really enjoyed where the story was going.
You have a badass female who can fight and is learning to wield her magic. She’s discovering who she is and what she wants.
There were a few things that I didn’t care too much about.
I felt like there were a lot of scenes that we as readers weren’t able to experience because the way it was written it seemed like it was explained to us instead of us experiencing the scenes itself. And also I’ve noticed that there was a lot of parts that we as readers were left out on and we didn’t exactly figure out what happened until the next chapter when it was explained it’s route one of their thoughts.
I would’ve loved to have experienced Aaron and Alex’s First adult kiss even if it was a drunken one but instead it was left to us to experience it as one of their thoughts. There were quite a few of scenes like this where it was explained later. Another example (where she saw her grandfathers ghost for the first time since she was back.) Again this is just my experience and my opinion other readers may enjoy this,. But I personally do feel like to be immersed in the story I want to be involved along the way.
Again, I enjoyed the story line and will for sure continue following along their journey 😊
I am excited to read the next one. The ending was crazy and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Thank you Alice Hanov for supplying a digital arc for exchange of an honest review.
May 19, 2022
The Head, The Heart, and The Heir
10/5 ⭐️
Honestly, I am a bit speechless. How in all of Torian is this Alice Hanov’s debut book!? Everything about The Head, The Heart, and The Heir is well written, thought out, and seamless.
The world building in this book is phenomenal! Every little detail has a place or a secret message later to be revealed. It is one of those books that no matter how many times you read it, you will find more sprinkles and “ah ha” moments.”
The characters and relationships in The Head, The Heart, and The Heir are another insanely detailed aspect. I have come to love all of Alice’s characters. The imagination that went into their creation does not compare.
There was also the new twist on boy meets girl, whoops, girl shoots boy with an arrow. 😂 Aaron and Alex have a unique relationship. One brought up as a royal and one brought up in woods for their own safety. When Aaron and Alex finally reconnect it is as if a piece of their essences fuse back together.
My absolute favorite part in the world of Torian is all the magical hyjinx that affect the other non magical humans, such as the male MC, Prince Aaron. The female MC, Alex, is a sorceress who is out of control with her powers. Her Cousin Megesti is 100% my favorite character in book 1. He is just an enigma, he appears young (as most sorcerers do because of how they age) and sometimes he willingly gets caught up in Alex and Aaron’s mischief.
I cannot wait to read book 2 eeeeekkk! Alice Hanov is officially on my auto buy list 😍👑
10/5 ⭐️
Honestly, I am a bit speechless. How in all of Torian is this Alice Hanov’s debut book!? Everything about The Head, The Heart, and The Heir is well written, thought out, and seamless.
The world building in this book is phenomenal! Every little detail has a place or a secret message later to be revealed. It is one of those books that no matter how many times you read it, you will find more sprinkles and “ah ha” moments.”
The characters and relationships in The Head, The Heart, and The Heir are another insanely detailed aspect. I have come to love all of Alice’s characters. The imagination that went into their creation does not compare.
There was also the new twist on boy meets girl, whoops, girl shoots boy with an arrow. 😂 Aaron and Alex have a unique relationship. One brought up as a royal and one brought up in woods for their own safety. When Aaron and Alex finally reconnect it is as if a piece of their essences fuse back together.
My absolute favorite part in the world of Torian is all the magical hyjinx that affect the other non magical humans, such as the male MC, Prince Aaron. The female MC, Alex, is a sorceress who is out of control with her powers. Her Cousin Megesti is 100% my favorite character in book 1. He is just an enigma, he appears young (as most sorcerers do because of how they age) and sometimes he willingly gets caught up in Alex and Aaron’s mischief.
I cannot wait to read book 2 eeeeekkk! Alice Hanov is officially on my auto buy list 😍👑
May 19, 2022
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Honestly one of the best fast paced reads in fantasy I have read recently. The emotions and twists kept me wondering. Lots of magic and the stories of the town. Who can you trust in this book?! I recommend this book it is fast paced and worth the read. Can’t wait for the next book.
June 8, 2022
This is gonna be a long one so... grab some snacks and settle in!
---
Look, this book is not perfect, but I'm still giving it 5 freaking awesome stars because just....Wow.
As I was reading this ARC, I could tell that this book would become one of my guilty pleasures, and seeing the other reviews, it seems I'm in great company!
I 100% highly recommend reading the prequel novella before you start this book. It will help you get to know the characters and provide a lot of setup in a slower pacing than the book does. I plan to leave a review for the novella as well!
So I started this book around 6 pm, and it was me, my ebook, and my couch, munching on popcorn because I couldn't be bothered to take my eyes off the pages long enough to make a real meal. (Please eat healthy, and don't be like me!)
My only regret is how foolish I was for not reading this book 2 months ago when I got the ARC. Started in the evening. Stayed up till 2 am reading and made it to the 50% mark, which is a feat because this book is LONG and I'm a slow reader! 436 pages (according to goodreads) of lovable characters, juicy plot, and enticing drama. Woke up at 8:30, unlocked my phone, and picked up reading before I even made it to the kitchen--literally 5 steps from my bedroom. Then I read all day until I finished at 6 pm. And I didn't even consider once putting my phone down to take a reading break.
That is how much this book wrapped it's little e-book bindings all around my heart. Seriously.
And now that you are aware of my undying love for this book, let's get to the actual review!
This darling book reads like a really satisfying, GOOD fanfiction. I was at 70% and, while I knew where the romance plot was headed, I still wasn't quite sure where the rest of the plot was going. But plot be damned, I tell you. I was so invested in these characters, that I honestly couldn’t care. I felt like I knew these characters in my soul. And I was along for the ride, wherever it went, no matter what.
Now I will admit, this story can get quite confusing. But if you just keep reading, you'll usually get your answers relatively quick. The reason for this is because there are fairly substantial time skips between almost every chapter. And they're not those time skips where everything that happens doesn’t matter. A lot of the time, what happens that you don't see, matters a hell of a lot. I promise, eventually you will find out what happened and things will start to make sense again. And to me, that's where the charm of the writing style shines. I unexpectedly enjoyed this style more than I ever thought I would. It really kept me on my toes and pulled me into the story. It's incredibly genius, in my opinion. I do have 1 little gripe about this though:
You may find the time skips are a little disappointing at times, because you REALLY want to experience what you know happened, and you feel like you've been robbed of a precious moment. But in reality, the skips are quite masterfully chosen, because when that thing that got skipped finally happens again, and you get to read it as its happening, you completely inflate because you're like, "I've been waiting for this my ENTIRE LIFE! THANK YOU, ALICE. FINALLY!" So, I definitely don't see it as a bad writing choice.
The dialog can be a bit choppy, and jump around from topic to topic without warning, but overall I found it kind of grounding once I got used to the style. In a good way, it felt less polished and less specifically targeted as a conversation. Sometimes I'll be reading a book and I can tell that a conversation merely serves to progress to a specific topic, and it can feel unexciting. In this book, the flow of conversation was unique enough that it kept me engaged, and I could really relate to the pacing, but maybe that's just my ADD brain being used to conversation jumps because I do that all the time IRL. Admittedly, for some instances, it would have been helpful to get some non-verbal clues that a topic change was about to happen. Unfortunately, if quick topic changes confuse you, fair warning that those context clues just aren't there most of the time.
There were quite a few typos in my ARC, but I did get it 2 months early, so they may have been fixed in a last minute round of editing. I'm not sure. But if not, maybe that's something Alice and her team might look at closer for book 2. And if they don't get it fixed for book 2... I'm still reading book 2, I don't care. I'm that enamored with this series.
Another thing, there are lots of "telling" moments. These moments often seem to come on kind of sudden and out of nowhere, because they're plopped into the story without the proper setup that would have allowed us to come to that conclusion ourselves. Doing that did reduce the repetition that usually accompanies "telling," but that does mean you are being told what to think rather than forming your own conclusion based on your perception of the scene. However, I hesitate to say that it's bad. I think it's a choice. This book is gigantic, so dramatizing everything would risk skewing up the pacing, which I think Alice already did a great job on. So this was just one of those could-be-better, could-be-worse kind of things.
Last topic before I get into specific moments: I went in blind and never saw this coming, so I feel like I have to mention it. This is not for young readers. If I knew the second part of the book was going to get... hot, I would have been perfectly happy reading it and not making any comments about it. While there are many "fade to black" moments in other parts of the story, it doesn't come in this aspect, so depending on your tastes, be prepared to skip, skim... or charge right through!
Okay in the next section, I talk about some specific topics in the book. I will pull them out of context so they won't be spoilers, but if you'd rather skip, that's fine too. Respect.
One of the Villains: I don't understand why he is an antagonist. Yes, he did a bad thing, and it's obvious the characters don't like him, but not "agreeing" with him goes directly against what one of the other heroes in the book wanted so I don't get it.
The plot twist at about the third plot point/80% mark... ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. And maybe it's been done before but I haven't come across it so bravo. 👏👏👏
My very least favorite part of the book:
“I can’t control myself with you."
Why?? Someone tell me WHY does THIS line have to be considered so romantic and end up in all the romance books? I'm sorry but who likes a guy who can't control himself? It's lowkey abusive and borderline rapey.
Literally every other aspect of any romance whatsoever in this book was absolutely perfect. So much light being shed onto healthy, non-toxic relationships, and then there was this? I just wish this line would banish itself from the face of the earth.
But to end on a high note:
THAT TWIST AT THE END, OH MY GOD. I should have seen it coming but I'm so glad I didn't! :D
TL/DR: fast pacing, great characters, mature scenes, lots of time skips, masterful plot twists. 9/10 definitely recommend!!
---
Look, this book is not perfect, but I'm still giving it 5 freaking awesome stars because just....Wow.
As I was reading this ARC, I could tell that this book would become one of my guilty pleasures, and seeing the other reviews, it seems I'm in great company!
I 100% highly recommend reading the prequel novella before you start this book. It will help you get to know the characters and provide a lot of setup in a slower pacing than the book does. I plan to leave a review for the novella as well!
So I started this book around 6 pm, and it was me, my ebook, and my couch, munching on popcorn because I couldn't be bothered to take my eyes off the pages long enough to make a real meal. (Please eat healthy, and don't be like me!)
My only regret is how foolish I was for not reading this book 2 months ago when I got the ARC. Started in the evening. Stayed up till 2 am reading and made it to the 50% mark, which is a feat because this book is LONG and I'm a slow reader! 436 pages (according to goodreads) of lovable characters, juicy plot, and enticing drama. Woke up at 8:30, unlocked my phone, and picked up reading before I even made it to the kitchen--literally 5 steps from my bedroom. Then I read all day until I finished at 6 pm. And I didn't even consider once putting my phone down to take a reading break.
That is how much this book wrapped it's little e-book bindings all around my heart. Seriously.
And now that you are aware of my undying love for this book, let's get to the actual review!
This darling book reads like a really satisfying, GOOD fanfiction. I was at 70% and, while I knew where the romance plot was headed, I still wasn't quite sure where the rest of the plot was going. But plot be damned, I tell you. I was so invested in these characters, that I honestly couldn’t care. I felt like I knew these characters in my soul. And I was along for the ride, wherever it went, no matter what.
Now I will admit, this story can get quite confusing. But if you just keep reading, you'll usually get your answers relatively quick. The reason for this is because there are fairly substantial time skips between almost every chapter. And they're not those time skips where everything that happens doesn’t matter. A lot of the time, what happens that you don't see, matters a hell of a lot. I promise, eventually you will find out what happened and things will start to make sense again. And to me, that's where the charm of the writing style shines. I unexpectedly enjoyed this style more than I ever thought I would. It really kept me on my toes and pulled me into the story. It's incredibly genius, in my opinion. I do have 1 little gripe about this though:
You may find the time skips are a little disappointing at times, because you REALLY want to experience what you know happened, and you feel like you've been robbed of a precious moment. But in reality, the skips are quite masterfully chosen, because when that thing that got skipped finally happens again, and you get to read it as its happening, you completely inflate because you're like, "I've been waiting for this my ENTIRE LIFE! THANK YOU, ALICE. FINALLY!" So, I definitely don't see it as a bad writing choice.
The dialog can be a bit choppy, and jump around from topic to topic without warning, but overall I found it kind of grounding once I got used to the style. In a good way, it felt less polished and less specifically targeted as a conversation. Sometimes I'll be reading a book and I can tell that a conversation merely serves to progress to a specific topic, and it can feel unexciting. In this book, the flow of conversation was unique enough that it kept me engaged, and I could really relate to the pacing, but maybe that's just my ADD brain being used to conversation jumps because I do that all the time IRL. Admittedly, for some instances, it would have been helpful to get some non-verbal clues that a topic change was about to happen. Unfortunately, if quick topic changes confuse you, fair warning that those context clues just aren't there most of the time.
There were quite a few typos in my ARC, but I did get it 2 months early, so they may have been fixed in a last minute round of editing. I'm not sure. But if not, maybe that's something Alice and her team might look at closer for book 2. And if they don't get it fixed for book 2... I'm still reading book 2, I don't care. I'm that enamored with this series.
Another thing, there are lots of "telling" moments. These moments often seem to come on kind of sudden and out of nowhere, because they're plopped into the story without the proper setup that would have allowed us to come to that conclusion ourselves. Doing that did reduce the repetition that usually accompanies "telling," but that does mean you are being told what to think rather than forming your own conclusion based on your perception of the scene. However, I hesitate to say that it's bad. I think it's a choice. This book is gigantic, so dramatizing everything would risk skewing up the pacing, which I think Alice already did a great job on. So this was just one of those could-be-better, could-be-worse kind of things.
Last topic before I get into specific moments: I went in blind and never saw this coming, so I feel like I have to mention it. This is not for young readers. If I knew the second part of the book was going to get... hot, I would have been perfectly happy reading it and not making any comments about it. While there are many "fade to black" moments in other parts of the story, it doesn't come in this aspect, so depending on your tastes, be prepared to skip, skim... or charge right through!
Okay in the next section, I talk about some specific topics in the book. I will pull them out of context so they won't be spoilers, but if you'd rather skip, that's fine too. Respect.
One of the Villains: I don't understand why he is an antagonist. Yes, he did a bad thing, and it's obvious the characters don't like him, but not "agreeing" with him goes directly against what one of the other heroes in the book wanted so I don't get it.
The plot twist at about the third plot point/80% mark... ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. And maybe it's been done before but I haven't come across it so bravo. 👏👏👏
My very least favorite part of the book:
“I can’t control myself with you."
Why?? Someone tell me WHY does THIS line have to be considered so romantic and end up in all the romance books? I'm sorry but who likes a guy who can't control himself? It's lowkey abusive and borderline rapey.
Literally every other aspect of any romance whatsoever in this book was absolutely perfect. So much light being shed onto healthy, non-toxic relationships, and then there was this? I just wish this line would banish itself from the face of the earth.
But to end on a high note:
THAT TWIST AT THE END, OH MY GOD. I should have seen it coming but I'm so glad I didn't! :D
TL/DR: fast pacing, great characters, mature scenes, lots of time skips, masterful plot twists. 9/10 definitely recommend!!
June 24, 2022
Review of The Head, The Heart and the Heir
3 stars
*I received an arc of this book from the author and I have decided to give my honest review*
For the list of tropes and trigger warnings, find it here. This review is for the most part spoiler free, but does contain a few minor ones in the romance section so read at your own risk
The Head, The Heart and The Heir is author Alice Hanov’s debut novel. The story follows Princess Elizabeth Alexandria of Warren (Or Alex as she prefers to be called) as she is brough back to home after 12 years. 12 years before, her mother was murdered and the person to kill her was her own grandfather, in an attempt to save Alex’s life, she was smuggled from the castle and kept away. Now that her grandfather has passed she is free to come back to take her rightful place in court. The story also follows Prince Aaron of Datten, who was Alex’s first love and is one of the people sent to find and retrieve her.
Overall, the plot of this story was great, the lost princess, found family, chosen one-ness of this story made me fall in love with it. The magic system and world building were great, you could tell the author has put much time and effort into them. However, that’s kinda where my love stopped.
I really truely wanted to love this book. The author herself is so sweet, and being on her street team I got to see behind the scenes and have one on one conversations, so it truely breaks my heart to not be able to rate this book a 5. Anyway, I’ll try go into why I didn’t fully enjoy this book but am still happy to recommend it.
The Writing
- I actually think this was the aspect of the book I disliked the most and caused me to struggle through especially the first half of this story. I do think the writing does indeed fit with the young adult, age 15 group it is targeted at. It feels youthful and chaotic and probably something I may have loved at that age when I read books just to consume stories. However, as a currently 22 year old, I felt the writing rather lacking and a bit too immature and childish. Scenes were cut but referenced at length later on (why not just add in the scene instead instead of confusing the reader with random cuts), there was waaaay too much telling and not not a lot of showing (and it wasn’t until I read this book that I realised how much I disliked this), and just the way scenes were structured made everything seem very rushed and sudden. Now this is all stuff that is easily worked on as I think it comes with experience, but again, this choice of writing may have been purposeful at aiming this story towards younger readers (despite some sexual references and scenes). Anyone who loves fast paced novels will probably really love this as the whole book is written very much in that style.
The Romance
- I am a huge fan of the Friends to Lovers trope but I wasn’t a huge fan of Aaron and Alex’s relationship. It felt rushed and immature which, in terms of the characters ages and the audience its aimed at, makes sense. Alex, who I liked most of the time as she is largely independent, became a brainless whiner whenever it came to Aaron. It was like her immaturity switch got flicked to 100 whenever he was around. Like she goes around literally making out with other suitors but gets mad at Aaron when he says he isn’t a suitor. Like girl c’mon! If you like the guy stop making out with other guys and then whining about how he isn’t interested! Just stop!
- Aaron was equally annoying however, pining after her but pretty much not giving her any sign that he was in fact interested. Their romance just screamed immaturity and youth and while at times it was endearing (especially in their bumbling sexual encounters and sneaking into each others bedrooms at night), for the most part it was hair tearingly frustrating.
The World Building and Magic System
- I absolutely adored this section of the story. It felt as if the author had spent a lot of time and effort working on the ins and outs of the magic and the world the characters lived in. I really, really wish we’d seen more of this as it was honestly the saving grace of this book. Every time the magic was mentioned I clung to it, fascinated and interested in the ins and outs of each magic line and how it worked and ugh! I loved it! I will probably read the next book purely cause I feel we will be getting a lot more after that cliffhanger we got at the end of book one.
The Characters
- Honestly, the characters were hit or miss for me. I loved certain characters like Michael, Jessica and Megesti and had a love-hate relationship with characters like Alex, Aaron, Stefan and Edith.
- I felt like many of the relationships were rushed and not well fleshed out. I loved the relationships between Alex and Stefan (despite him being an ass at one point, iykyk) and Alex and Michael. However, I really, really wished we’d seen more scenes of Alex bonding with Jessica and Edith. Had them had some deep girly chats in Alex’s rooms. Bonding while they helped Alex get ready etc, just more girl time please! With a book dominated by men, it would have been nice to see the girls sticking together a bit.
Overall, I would recommend this book to younger readers, perhaps those just wanting to dip their toes into fantasy. However, I probably wouldn’t recommend this much to those who are looking for more NA fantasy as as mentioned the writing just doesn’t have that maturity to it. I also probably wouldn’t read this again but will most definitely read the second as I still was a fan of the actual plot and characters (for the most part) despite the writing style. In future books, I would love to see the author add in the scenes she mentions, not just tell us later on, like a few key moments like Alex and Aarons first drunken kiss, Alex seeing her grandfathers ghost for the first time, and many of the conversations referenced but not actually had ‘on screen’. Them being missing really dragged one out of the immersive nature of what makes a good story. Anyway, I can’t wait to see what Alice comes out with next because I will definitely be there to witness!
World Building: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5 stars
Writing style: 1.5 stars
Characters: 3 stars
Overall: 3 stars
3 stars
*I received an arc of this book from the author and I have decided to give my honest review*
For the list of tropes and trigger warnings, find it here. This review is for the most part spoiler free, but does contain a few minor ones in the romance section so read at your own risk
The Head, The Heart and The Heir is author Alice Hanov’s debut novel. The story follows Princess Elizabeth Alexandria of Warren (Or Alex as she prefers to be called) as she is brough back to home after 12 years. 12 years before, her mother was murdered and the person to kill her was her own grandfather, in an attempt to save Alex’s life, she was smuggled from the castle and kept away. Now that her grandfather has passed she is free to come back to take her rightful place in court. The story also follows Prince Aaron of Datten, who was Alex’s first love and is one of the people sent to find and retrieve her.
Overall, the plot of this story was great, the lost princess, found family, chosen one-ness of this story made me fall in love with it. The magic system and world building were great, you could tell the author has put much time and effort into them. However, that’s kinda where my love stopped.
I really truely wanted to love this book. The author herself is so sweet, and being on her street team I got to see behind the scenes and have one on one conversations, so it truely breaks my heart to not be able to rate this book a 5. Anyway, I’ll try go into why I didn’t fully enjoy this book but am still happy to recommend it.
The Writing
- I actually think this was the aspect of the book I disliked the most and caused me to struggle through especially the first half of this story. I do think the writing does indeed fit with the young adult, age 15 group it is targeted at. It feels youthful and chaotic and probably something I may have loved at that age when I read books just to consume stories. However, as a currently 22 year old, I felt the writing rather lacking and a bit too immature and childish. Scenes were cut but referenced at length later on (why not just add in the scene instead instead of confusing the reader with random cuts), there was waaaay too much telling and not not a lot of showing (and it wasn’t until I read this book that I realised how much I disliked this), and just the way scenes were structured made everything seem very rushed and sudden. Now this is all stuff that is easily worked on as I think it comes with experience, but again, this choice of writing may have been purposeful at aiming this story towards younger readers (despite some sexual references and scenes). Anyone who loves fast paced novels will probably really love this as the whole book is written very much in that style.
The Romance
- I am a huge fan of the Friends to Lovers trope but I wasn’t a huge fan of Aaron and Alex’s relationship. It felt rushed and immature which, in terms of the characters ages and the audience its aimed at, makes sense. Alex, who I liked most of the time as she is largely independent, became a brainless whiner whenever it came to Aaron. It was like her immaturity switch got flicked to 100 whenever he was around. Like she goes around literally making out with other suitors but gets mad at Aaron when he says he isn’t a suitor. Like girl c’mon! If you like the guy stop making out with other guys and then whining about how he isn’t interested! Just stop!
- Aaron was equally annoying however, pining after her but pretty much not giving her any sign that he was in fact interested. Their romance just screamed immaturity and youth and while at times it was endearing (especially in their bumbling sexual encounters and sneaking into each others bedrooms at night), for the most part it was hair tearingly frustrating.
The World Building and Magic System
- I absolutely adored this section of the story. It felt as if the author had spent a lot of time and effort working on the ins and outs of the magic and the world the characters lived in. I really, really wish we’d seen more of this as it was honestly the saving grace of this book. Every time the magic was mentioned I clung to it, fascinated and interested in the ins and outs of each magic line and how it worked and ugh! I loved it! I will probably read the next book purely cause I feel we will be getting a lot more after that cliffhanger we got at the end of book one.
The Characters
- Honestly, the characters were hit or miss for me. I loved certain characters like Michael, Jessica and Megesti and had a love-hate relationship with characters like Alex, Aaron, Stefan and Edith.
- I felt like many of the relationships were rushed and not well fleshed out. I loved the relationships between Alex and Stefan (despite him being an ass at one point, iykyk) and Alex and Michael. However, I really, really wished we’d seen more scenes of Alex bonding with Jessica and Edith. Had them had some deep girly chats in Alex’s rooms. Bonding while they helped Alex get ready etc, just more girl time please! With a book dominated by men, it would have been nice to see the girls sticking together a bit.
Overall, I would recommend this book to younger readers, perhaps those just wanting to dip their toes into fantasy. However, I probably wouldn’t recommend this much to those who are looking for more NA fantasy as as mentioned the writing just doesn’t have that maturity to it. I also probably wouldn’t read this again but will most definitely read the second as I still was a fan of the actual plot and characters (for the most part) despite the writing style. In future books, I would love to see the author add in the scenes she mentions, not just tell us later on, like a few key moments like Alex and Aarons first drunken kiss, Alex seeing her grandfathers ghost for the first time, and many of the conversations referenced but not actually had ‘on screen’. Them being missing really dragged one out of the immersive nature of what makes a good story. Anyway, I can’t wait to see what Alice comes out with next because I will definitely be there to witness!
World Building: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5 stars
Writing style: 1.5 stars
Characters: 3 stars
Overall: 3 stars
January 1, 2023
I only just realised I forgot to write a review on this sorry.
I received an arc of this book in exchange for a honest review.
This book makes you fall in love with all the characters, it is from two pov which is different from what I normally read but I really enjoyed it knowing what each other was thinking this made them both feel real.
The world building was spot on you would never of guessed that this was her first book.
I can’t wait for book 2 to be released.
I received an arc of this book in exchange for a honest review.
This book makes you fall in love with all the characters, it is from two pov which is different from what I normally read but I really enjoyed it knowing what each other was thinking this made them both feel real.
The world building was spot on you would never of guessed that this was her first book.
I can’t wait for book 2 to be released.
July 24, 2023
This is a 5 star read for me!!
Amazing beginning in this fantasy series. Well written and well developed characters. Fast paced story. I just loved Princess Elizabeth (aka Alex). Strong and independent!! Such a vivid and dynamic magical world. I didn't want to put it down!
Can't wait for more!
Amazing beginning in this fantasy series. Well written and well developed characters. Fast paced story. I just loved Princess Elizabeth (aka Alex). Strong and independent!! Such a vivid and dynamic magical world. I didn't want to put it down!
Can't wait for more!
January 5, 2023
I love Alex- she is an awesome main character…. Full of power, love and a bit sneaky for the right reasons. This entire book was excellent and I can not wait to read the next one!
January 10, 2023
This was a great read for me. I definitely loved how the writer was able to captivate my imagination with words that were simple and clear. How the story was told which was straight forward without all the flamboyant verbiage was a added plus. I appreciate that the writer didn’t try to create words that were difficult to read. The writer wanted connection from readers to the book and this is what the writer received from me. I thought the characters were absolutely great. Alex or Elizabeth was terrific. Her powers that she holds seems a lot for one little person, but the book explains well. Having Steffon and Michael by her side she was able to accomplish a lot. Aaron his character was great too, but the idea of him and Alex I’m on the fence about.
January 25, 2023
good lord this was awful. None of the characters has any personality or anything, and the FMC was just a silly girl with too much power but nothing in her head.
June 12, 2022
tw: violence, trauma of witnessing the death of a loved one, a little bit of smut (well, more than a little bit, as in they can't keep their hands off of each other, but mostly kissing with one explicit scene).
this is book 1 in a series of 8/7 books, and i received an e-arc for being a part of the street team + arc team. (first of all, she, the author, is such a sweet person, and i could easily rant to her about her book and she listened coolly. she also encouraged me to post an honest review despite being a part of the street team. thankyou, alice.)
the first many chapters were so good, i loved the bonding moments between the mc and her found family, and even though sister-brother scenes always make me emotional, teary even, this one only made me happy.
a lot of times i was jealous of alex's (mc) life, and really just wanted to swap lives with her. (you know that feeling, don't you?)
then came our hero, and despite being the hero, i couldn't help but just struggle with liking him. i didn't even know why i didn't like him and was annoyed by him. there was no logical reason, i can promise you that.
okay, maybe there was a reason. well, not logical, but reason nonetheless. i felt like alex was too precious, and so i wanted the best for her. that was exactly what i was thinking.
then she started to annoy me so bad. why? explained ahead.
oh and don't get me started on the romance.
i didn't like the romance. it was my least favorite kind. one i don't like. i felt like it was kinda dragged as well. i was so annoyed when both of them were struggling with accepting and confessing their love while simultaneously giving each other obvious signals and wouldn't be able to resist touching each other. i felt like the plot was on-hold for so long until they figured out what the heck they wanted. i was also annoyed by their sexually desperate tendencies, but there was a reason for that, which the author shared with me and i understood a little better, and which you'll get to know in the next book or so.
then when the plot started to unfold again, i was enjoying it except when, again, they couldn't keep their hands off of each other even in the midst of chaos and war and whatnot. (that gave me divergent vibes.)
oh and then the very last chapter and the epilogue--turned the tables for me. they were, respectively, such a plot twist and such a cliffhanger.
i cannot wait to read the next book. i'm so excited because i'm expecting less romance and more action and drama so i'm definitely looking forward to it!
this is book 1 in a series of 8/7 books, and i received an e-arc for being a part of the street team + arc team. (first of all, she, the author, is such a sweet person, and i could easily rant to her about her book and she listened coolly. she also encouraged me to post an honest review despite being a part of the street team. thankyou, alice.)
the first many chapters were so good, i loved the bonding moments between the mc and her found family, and even though sister-brother scenes always make me emotional, teary even, this one only made me happy.
a lot of times i was jealous of alex's (mc) life, and really just wanted to swap lives with her. (you know that feeling, don't you?)
then came our hero, and despite being the hero, i couldn't help but just struggle with liking him. i didn't even know why i didn't like him and was annoyed by him. there was no logical reason, i can promise you that.
okay, maybe there was a reason. well, not logical, but reason nonetheless. i felt like alex was too precious, and so i wanted the best for her. that was exactly what i was thinking.
then she started to annoy me so bad. why? explained ahead.
oh and don't get me started on the romance.
i didn't like the romance. it was my least favorite kind. one i don't like. i felt like it was kinda dragged as well. i was so annoyed when both of them were struggling with accepting and confessing their love while simultaneously giving each other obvious signals and wouldn't be able to resist touching each other. i felt like the plot was on-hold for so long until they figured out what the heck they wanted. i was also annoyed by their sexually desperate tendencies, but there was a reason for that, which the author shared with me and i understood a little better, and which you'll get to know in the next book or so.
then when the plot started to unfold again, i was enjoying it except when, again, they couldn't keep their hands off of each other even in the midst of chaos and war and whatnot. (that gave me divergent vibes.)
oh and then the very last chapter and the epilogue--turned the tables for me. they were, respectively, such a plot twist and such a cliffhanger.
i cannot wait to read the next book. i'm so excited because i'm expecting less romance and more action and drama so i'm definitely looking forward to it!
September 26, 2024
I don't know where to start with this book! All I know is that I read The Head, the Heart, and the Heir in record time, and only (reluctantly) put it down to sleep and eat.
Welcome to the world of Torian. Crown Princess Elizabeth of Warren (now called Alex), has been in hiding from her grandfather since the tender age of four. The envoy who comes to collect her twelve years later, after the death of her grandfather, doesn't find a little princess, they find a headstrong, tough-as-nails, burgeoning sorceress. Alex has to navigate the world of nobility, come to terms with her past, figure out all these suitors, and start learning to control her powers.
This was such a strong start to what I think will be a great fantasy series. I can't wait for the next book and more information on the magic system.
Rating: 4 stars
Spice: 1.5 (mostly kissing with one sexy scene)
What I loved about this book:
• Alex is an amazing main character. I connected with her on page one and loved reading about her adventures.
• The world-building and magic systems are top-notch. You learn about the magic system as Alex learns about it, so I'm excited to learn more in the next book.
• I loved all the characters. They are very relatable and human.
• I want Stefan in my life. He is the big brother I always wanted and I love that he doesn't hold his opinion back from Alex.
• I was not sure about Aaron, but he grew on me. This is probably because I LOVE Stefan and trusted his judgment before learning more about Aaron.
• The ghosts!!! Some of them are friendly and some are not! It's going to be interesting to see how Alex uses her power of Hades moving forward.
What I didn't like:
• At about the 25% mark there were a couple of parts that confused me. A conversation between Megesti and Alex about how to read Aaron is mentioned and for the life of me, I can't remember that conversation and couldn't find it for reference.
• Some key moments were faded to black. I would have LOVED to read not just given second-hand information about it. i.e. Aaron and Alex's trip to Datten and Edward walking in on Aaron and Alex.
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Welcome to the world of Torian. Crown Princess Elizabeth of Warren (now called Alex), has been in hiding from her grandfather since the tender age of four. The envoy who comes to collect her twelve years later, after the death of her grandfather, doesn't find a little princess, they find a headstrong, tough-as-nails, burgeoning sorceress. Alex has to navigate the world of nobility, come to terms with her past, figure out all these suitors, and start learning to control her powers.
This was such a strong start to what I think will be a great fantasy series. I can't wait for the next book and more information on the magic system.
Rating: 4 stars
Spice: 1.5 (mostly kissing with one sexy scene)
What I loved about this book:
• Alex is an amazing main character. I connected with her on page one and loved reading about her adventures.
• The world-building and magic systems are top-notch. You learn about the magic system as Alex learns about it, so I'm excited to learn more in the next book.
• I loved all the characters. They are very relatable and human.
• I want Stefan in my life. He is the big brother I always wanted and I love that he doesn't hold his opinion back from Alex.
• I was not sure about Aaron, but he grew on me. This is probably because I LOVE Stefan and trusted his judgment before learning more about Aaron.
• The ghosts!!! Some of them are friendly and some are not! It's going to be interesting to see how Alex uses her power of Hades moving forward.
What I didn't like:
• At about the 25% mark there were a couple of parts that confused me. A conversation between Megesti and Alex about how to read Aaron is mentioned and for the life of me, I can't remember that conversation and couldn't find it for reference.
• Some key moments were faded to black. I would have LOVED to read not just given second-hand information about it. i.e. Aaron and Alex's trip to Datten and Edward walking in on Aaron and Alex.
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2022
Alice Hanov has created a world like no other with The Head, The Heart, and The Heir.
After reading the ARC of this book I fell in love with everything from the world, the magic, the characters… everything.
With characters who have varying backgrounds and stories to tell this book easily appeals to a vast audience. From the first few pages through to the end these characters draw you in. They make you smile and cry in equal measure.As a lover of all things fantasy the world of magic Alice had created is unlike anything I would have expected. There is familiarity in the methods but a raw new vision of the rules of magic in this world. When I started reading I knew instantly I’d read to the very end without stopping! that’s exactly what I did, this story flows with a thrilling pace of love, drama, and mystery that captures your mind and even now weeks after reading I often am taken back the world created in The Head, The Heart, and The Air. Not only does this book containing thrilling plot, lovable(and despicable) characters, but it’s written in a way that shows the beauty and the bad in life. This is a must read that I highly recommend ti anyone looking for a new favourite author and favourite series! since this is the debut novel and the start to a whole new world you’ll be able to say you where a part of it all before the rest of the world is let in on the amazing secret that is Alice Hanov’s work.
I cannot wait to see what comes next for the characters of The Head, The Heart, and The Heir as well as for the amazing author!!
An absolute fantastic read!
After reading the ARC of this book I fell in love with everything from the world, the magic, the characters… everything.
With characters who have varying backgrounds and stories to tell this book easily appeals to a vast audience. From the first few pages through to the end these characters draw you in. They make you smile and cry in equal measure.As a lover of all things fantasy the world of magic Alice had created is unlike anything I would have expected. There is familiarity in the methods but a raw new vision of the rules of magic in this world. When I started reading I knew instantly I’d read to the very end without stopping! that’s exactly what I did, this story flows with a thrilling pace of love, drama, and mystery that captures your mind and even now weeks after reading I often am taken back the world created in The Head, The Heart, and The Air. Not only does this book containing thrilling plot, lovable(and despicable) characters, but it’s written in a way that shows the beauty and the bad in life. This is a must read that I highly recommend ti anyone looking for a new favourite author and favourite series! since this is the debut novel and the start to a whole new world you’ll be able to say you where a part of it all before the rest of the world is let in on the amazing secret that is Alice Hanov’s work.
I cannot wait to see what comes next for the characters of The Head, The Heart, and The Heir as well as for the amazing author!!
An absolute fantastic read!
June 30, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
“Friendship and connection leads to wanting to be around someone. And wanting to be around someone, even when they aren’t at their best, is an important part of love.”
What an incredible debut novel! It has been a while since I read fantasy and I was so happy to be back in the genre. I can’t wait to read the prequel (also available now, FYI) and the next books in the series.
This book has it all. Adventure, heartbreak, angst, handsome princes, royals, tournaments, magic, enemies, lovers (with a bit of steam).
What I loved most about this book is the theme of love. Romantic love, brotherly love, fatherly love, love from beyond the grave. At times I wanted to slap Alex (aka Princess Elizabeth) and Aaron, who are so obviously in love with each other but are stubborn and proud in their own ways. But they are complex characters and so is their love for one another.
Side characters rarely stick with me after reading a novel, but there are many awesome characters in this book. Jessica, a lady’s maid for the princess, is the best friend you want in your life. She isn’t afraid to stuff the truth down your throat, even if it hurts.
Some things I didn’t like? There were times when scenes cut too abruptly. I felt like I was missing out on something. And Cameron. Ugh. I hate him.
Overall, this was an amazing adventure I would re-read in an instant. The characters are lovable, the plot is intriguing even though it’s a tad predictable, and the slow burn was very satisfying. Well done, Alice, on writing one hell of a debut novel!
“Friendship and connection leads to wanting to be around someone. And wanting to be around someone, even when they aren’t at their best, is an important part of love.”
What an incredible debut novel! It has been a while since I read fantasy and I was so happy to be back in the genre. I can’t wait to read the prequel (also available now, FYI) and the next books in the series.
This book has it all. Adventure, heartbreak, angst, handsome princes, royals, tournaments, magic, enemies, lovers (with a bit of steam).
What I loved most about this book is the theme of love. Romantic love, brotherly love, fatherly love, love from beyond the grave. At times I wanted to slap Alex (aka Princess Elizabeth) and Aaron, who are so obviously in love with each other but are stubborn and proud in their own ways. But they are complex characters and so is their love for one another.
Side characters rarely stick with me after reading a novel, but there are many awesome characters in this book. Jessica, a lady’s maid for the princess, is the best friend you want in your life. She isn’t afraid to stuff the truth down your throat, even if it hurts.
Some things I didn’t like? There were times when scenes cut too abruptly. I felt like I was missing out on something. And Cameron. Ugh. I hate him.
Overall, this was an amazing adventure I would re-read in an instant. The characters are lovable, the plot is intriguing even though it’s a tad predictable, and the slow burn was very satisfying. Well done, Alice, on writing one hell of a debut novel!
June 7, 2022
I received this book as an ARC in exchange of an honest review. My review may contain spoilers.
When I first started this book I won't lie I was a little worried. The beginning felt very rushed and I felt like it went from big thing to big thing to big thing. I understand wanting to set up the story but I just felt like it rushed so much that I was missing information. I also felt like that went on for a while. There were times when I felt like the author would set up a scene but then instead of showing it all the way through she just skipped to what happened after. Some of these were romance scenes where I felt like I missed the chance to really get a feel for the characters relationships. Especially since she was doing multiple POVs. However later in the book it improved I felt like I could truly see all side and understand people perspectives better. That being said though that would probably be my only complaint. The concept of the story was really amazing I fell in love with all of the characters I loved the back and forth banter. The found family was amazing. I really felt like I could see the opportunity of the character growth in further novels however many there may be. I was quite surprised that it ended up being a little spicy near the end of the book but I wasn't upset about more just it was unexpected. All in all I enjoyed the story and am excited to see what continues on.
When I first started this book I won't lie I was a little worried. The beginning felt very rushed and I felt like it went from big thing to big thing to big thing. I understand wanting to set up the story but I just felt like it rushed so much that I was missing information. I also felt like that went on for a while. There were times when I felt like the author would set up a scene but then instead of showing it all the way through she just skipped to what happened after. Some of these were romance scenes where I felt like I missed the chance to really get a feel for the characters relationships. Especially since she was doing multiple POVs. However later in the book it improved I felt like I could truly see all side and understand people perspectives better. That being said though that would probably be my only complaint. The concept of the story was really amazing I fell in love with all of the characters I loved the back and forth banter. The found family was amazing. I really felt like I could see the opportunity of the character growth in further novels however many there may be. I was quite surprised that it ended up being a little spicy near the end of the book but I wasn't upset about more just it was unexpected. All in all I enjoyed the story and am excited to see what continues on.
May 19, 2022
This is by far my favorite book of the year, and it’s becoming my favorite fantasy book.
I was lucky enough to be part of the author ARC group and I was hooked since the novella, believe me when I tell you “I spend almost three months texting Alice to know when will this book be available cause I needed more of the Darten and Warren royals to be” and OMG I wasn’t ready (kevin heart voice) for this.
So what is this book about:
The head, the heart and the heir follows Alex (Elizabeth) who is the lost princes of the kingdom of Warren (who happened to also be a sorcerer cause of her mother inheritance) through the moment in which she is found, through the moment in which she is “lost” again.
We also follow Aaron, who is the spare from the kingdom of Datten, and his journey to proof to his father that he deserves to be the next king, stepping outside of the shadow of his death brother.
We also get to know a bunch of more interesting characters who help entangled Aaron and Alex lives, and we get to know a ton of the blood line for sorceress.
Don’t know how much to explain without spoilers, cause this is a book you need to discover by yourself. And experience it first hand.
To my this is the next Harry Potter of fantasy!
I was lucky enough to be part of the author ARC group and I was hooked since the novella, believe me when I tell you “I spend almost three months texting Alice to know when will this book be available cause I needed more of the Darten and Warren royals to be” and OMG I wasn’t ready (kevin heart voice) for this.
So what is this book about:
The head, the heart and the heir follows Alex (Elizabeth) who is the lost princes of the kingdom of Warren (who happened to also be a sorcerer cause of her mother inheritance) through the moment in which she is found, through the moment in which she is “lost” again.
We also follow Aaron, who is the spare from the kingdom of Datten, and his journey to proof to his father that he deserves to be the next king, stepping outside of the shadow of his death brother.
We also get to know a bunch of more interesting characters who help entangled Aaron and Alex lives, and we get to know a ton of the blood line for sorceress.
Don’t know how much to explain without spoilers, cause this is a book you need to discover by yourself. And experience it first hand.
To my this is the next Harry Potter of fantasy!
November 15, 2022
An auto-buy of a fantasy series, The Head, The Heart, and The Heir is a fantastic introduction into the world of Torian.
The characters in this story are phenomenal. First, you have Alex, a strong female MC who hides her true self when in public. On the other end of the spectrum, you have Crown Prince Aaron who tries, but fails, to impress his father, the King. I am purposefully keeping it brief here, because the less you know, the more exciting it is!
This story is chock full of political intrigue, a unique magic system, romance, and so many twists & turns that it is hard to put this book down.
I highly recommend this book (and series!) to fantasy readers looking for a fast-paced story with strong world-building. Please do yourself a favor and read The Head, The Heart, and The Heir!
Kudos to the Alice Hanov on this amazing debut. I’m looking forward to the next installment in this series!
Special thanks to the author for a free ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The characters in this story are phenomenal. First, you have Alex, a strong female MC who hides her true self when in public. On the other end of the spectrum, you have Crown Prince Aaron who tries, but fails, to impress his father, the King. I am purposefully keeping it brief here, because the less you know, the more exciting it is!
This story is chock full of political intrigue, a unique magic system, romance, and so many twists & turns that it is hard to put this book down.
I highly recommend this book (and series!) to fantasy readers looking for a fast-paced story with strong world-building. Please do yourself a favor and read The Head, The Heart, and The Heir!
Kudos to the Alice Hanov on this amazing debut. I’m looking forward to the next installment in this series!
Special thanks to the author for a free ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
June 14, 2022
After spending the last twelve years away from her kingdom after her grandfather murdered her mother, Princess Elizabeth, now known as Alex, is back when her grandfather dies. But she's not what the kingdom expected, having full blown powers now and a none-princessly attitude. She's already having a hard time controlling her powers, but when the truth comes out about her mother's murder, her powers threaten to decimate everyone around her.
For a debut novel, Alice Hanov has exceeded my expectations for this book. The plot was well thought-out and exciting, giving us enough action that we never get bored. Alex is the perfect FMC and her headstrong stubbornness is exactly what I wanted to see in this story. She's powerful and fearless, but doesn't want to be feared by anyone around her. Her character is what made the book so good.
I took off a star for dialogue. It could've used a little work since it felt stiff and robotic. I didn't feel emotions behind what the characters were saying and it made it didnt immerse me in the story as much as it could have.
For a debut novel, Alice Hanov has exceeded my expectations for this book. The plot was well thought-out and exciting, giving us enough action that we never get bored. Alex is the perfect FMC and her headstrong stubbornness is exactly what I wanted to see in this story. She's powerful and fearless, but doesn't want to be feared by anyone around her. Her character is what made the book so good.
I took off a star for dialogue. It could've used a little work since it felt stiff and robotic. I didn't feel emotions behind what the characters were saying and it made it didnt immerse me in the story as much as it could have.
May 22, 2022
ARC read for an honest review.
Wow! Where to start. I cannot recomend this book enough. This is a fantastic debut by Alice Hano. This is the first part in the series, with a prequel also available to further emerse yourself in her delightful new world of Torian.
In this book we meet Alex (Elizabeth) who is struggling to control her powers on the cusp of her seventeeth birthday, her powers are also linked to her emotions often to hilarious outcomes. Alex had a rough start to life but it doesn't stop her being an amazing, strong young woman, determined to do all she can for those she loves.
The first book ended on quite the cliffhanger, which made me gasp and I can't wait to read the next installment.
If you love fantasy, magic, headstong loyal women with gorgeous suitors in a fantastical new world, this is certainly the book for you.
Wow! Where to start. I cannot recomend this book enough. This is a fantastic debut by Alice Hano. This is the first part in the series, with a prequel also available to further emerse yourself in her delightful new world of Torian.
In this book we meet Alex (Elizabeth) who is struggling to control her powers on the cusp of her seventeeth birthday, her powers are also linked to her emotions often to hilarious outcomes. Alex had a rough start to life but it doesn't stop her being an amazing, strong young woman, determined to do all she can for those she loves.
The first book ended on quite the cliffhanger, which made me gasp and I can't wait to read the next installment.
If you love fantasy, magic, headstong loyal women with gorgeous suitors in a fantastical new world, this is certainly the book for you.
July 18, 2022
I love books with strong female main characters and this didn't disappoint.
Alex has a very rough start to life at such a young age but this didn't get her down instead she has turned into a strong young women who is head strong and powerful.
She encounters a lot of change when she trusted back into the life she lost but she goes into it head first and even though everyone is trying to mould her into the lady they think she should be she stays headstrong and true to herself.
I loved the growth of this character throughout the book, yes she is a teen and that sometimes shows in her choices (sometimes maybe a little questionable) but there is still obvious growth.
For such a young person she goes through a lot both normal teen stuff and what comes with her family.
I want to thank Alice Hanov for giving an ARC copy of this book for my honest opinion, I can't wait for book 2.
Alex has a very rough start to life at such a young age but this didn't get her down instead she has turned into a strong young women who is head strong and powerful.
She encounters a lot of change when she trusted back into the life she lost but she goes into it head first and even though everyone is trying to mould her into the lady they think she should be she stays headstrong and true to herself.
I loved the growth of this character throughout the book, yes she is a teen and that sometimes shows in her choices (sometimes maybe a little questionable) but there is still obvious growth.
For such a young person she goes through a lot both normal teen stuff and what comes with her family.
I want to thank Alice Hanov for giving an ARC copy of this book for my honest opinion, I can't wait for book 2.
June 7, 2022
I received an ARC of this amazing book and I have to admit that I am obsessed! The world building and lore that form so much of a part of the story and the character's lives are exquisitely crafted and integrated seamlessly into what I am sure will be a highly successful debut novel (and following series) for the wonderful Alice Hanov.
A strong-willed heroine leads the cast of well written and likable characters (though some more than others!). I have, personally, become very invested in the stories they have to tell and cannot wait for the next installment.
Some of the themes in this book could be distressing to some, so please check the trigger warnings if you have any doubts.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone and eveyone!
A strong-willed heroine leads the cast of well written and likable characters (though some more than others!). I have, personally, become very invested in the stories they have to tell and cannot wait for the next installment.
Some of the themes in this book could be distressing to some, so please check the trigger warnings if you have any doubts.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone and eveyone!
June 19, 2022
For me this book was a 5 star read! I loved how different it was from anything else I’ve read lately. My favorite character was the main character Alex. I loved her ability to take whatever life threw her way and come out the other side stronger for it. This book had everything I love in a book; mystery, magic,love, adventure, a strong female lead, sarcastic characters, and a strong family bond. As a debut novel for this author it was amazing! Her writing sucks you in and the book goes so fast and leaves you wanting more. The book is ya and there is a little bit of sexual elements in the book but it is tastefully done and not the forefront of the story. I’d say this book is for more mature ya readers probably 15 and up. I will definitely be reading the sequel the moment it comes out!
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