Review: Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf

Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Jjbquk
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2DFGoKd

Zera is a Heartless – the immortal, unageing soldier of a witch. Bound to the witch Nightsinger ever since she saved her from the bandits who murdered her family, Zera longs for freedom from the woods they hide in. With her heart in a jar under Nightsinger’s control, she serves the witch unquestioningly.

Until Nightsinger asks Zera for a Prince’s heart in exchange for her own, with one addendum; if she’s discovered infiltrating the court, Nightsinger will destroy her heart rather than see her tortured by the witch-hating nobles.

Crown Prince Lucien d’Malvane hates the royal court as much as it loves him – every tutor too afraid to correct him and every girl jockeying for a place at his darkly handsome side. No one can challenge him – until the arrival of Lady Zera. She’s inelegant, smart-mouthed, carefree, and out for his blood. The Prince’s honor has him quickly aiming for her throat.

So begins a game of cat and mouse between a girl with nothing to lose and a boy who has it all.

Winner takes the loser’s heart.

Literally.

*5 STARS*

I was given a copy of this for my honest review. Thank you Net Galley. 

 I am no flower to be ravaged at your whim, angry wolf - I am your hunter, bow cocked and ready.

This book. THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK!!!!  

Bring Me Their Hearts is at the top of my Favorite Reads of 2018. I freaking loved this book. I will definitely be re-reading it and purchasing the hardback version of it very soon.

 

Let me preface this by saying that I loved just about everything to do with this book. I loved the cover. I loved the writing style. I loved Zera's voice. I loved Zera. I **adored** Lucien. I just loved this book with my whole heart (which is still in my chest, thankfully). Zera was fantastic. She was flawed, oh so flawed, and tormented by her Hunger. Oh, and really quick, the concept of the Heartless turning into ravaging cannibals if they give in to the voice of Hunger in their minds? Bloody brilliant, literally.

 

I briefly debate telling him humans don't taste all that good, until I remember that normal girls don't eat people.

Zera wasn't afraid to speak her mind. She was unapologetically herself and was full of snark and wit. I lost count how many times she made me snicker, and I had quite a few moments of bursting out in laughter in public. I got some looks, but I didn't care. 

Lots of people stab me, and half of them I end up being great friends with! 

Another thing I loved was that there was no insta-love. Such a breath of fresh air. In fact, Zera and Lucien bickered incessantly in the beginning. 

"This girl is a..." He narrows his eyes further at me. "Special case. And an especially annoying one."

"Don't try to change the subject by flattering me," I singsong. "Do you know how hard it is for me to keep my mouth shut? Spectacular compensation is the minimal requirement." 

"I hope you are aware you're blackmailing the prince of Cavanos." I sigh greatly. "And here I was, thinking of calling this the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

...the more names someone has, the less he actually does. I haven't seen more than the prince's booted toes and I already know he's useless. 

I'm sure the only one he doesn't think ungainly is the mirror in his room. 

He's handsome, I think to myself - handsome enough when he's not being a hateful dog turd.

 

And Lucien...oh Lucien. He was tormented, felt caged by his station, & haunted by the loss and memory of his sister. He stole my heart from the very beginning.

   

 The ending absolutely gutted me but was also very satisfying.

   

 I am a monster, and he's a human. I want his heart, and I want his other heart. His affection, his blood. I want it all. 

But I want the whole of my humanity, and the cost is his.

 

 Almosts, I'm starting to learn, are fuller of regret than absolutes - much sadder than certain yeses and nos. Yes and no mark ends and beginnings. But almosts cling, hovering on the boundary, never quite realized yet still there. 

 

Bring Me Their Hearts had everything I need in a book. I've read a couple other reviews that reference this story having a reversed Snow White spin on it, and I can see it, but it's a little bit of a stretch. I almost wish that I waited until the sequel was released before I read this book because I need to know what happens next.