These Vengeful Hearts by Katherine Laurin

Hey book lovers! I’m here with a spoiler-free book review for These Vengeful Hearts by Katherine Laurin. I received a complimentary e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

“A thrilling novel about a secret society and the dangers that lie in wait for anyone brave enough to join—perfect for fans of Karen M. McManus, Kara Thomas, and Maureen Johnson.“

About The Book 📚

Publication Date: Sept 8, 2020

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Suggested Reader Age: Teen

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Synopsis

“Whenever something scandalous happens at Heller High, the Red Court is the name on everyone’s lips. Its members deal out social ruin and favors in equal measure, their true identities known only by their leader: the Queen of Hearts.

Ember Williams has seen firsthand the damage the Red Court can do. Now, she’s determined to hold the organization accountable by taking it down from the inside. But will the cost of revenge be more than she’s willing to sacrifice?”

About The Author

“Katherine Laurin lives in Colorado with her husband, two sons, and tiny dog. 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.”
https://katherinelaurin.com/

My Review

› To be honest, I requested an arc for These Vengeful Hearts because the cover is absolutely stunning. It begins in October, and takes place mainly at Heller High.

“A Queen of Hearts was the eponymous calling card of the Red Court’s leader, and its presence could only mean one thing: my invitation had finally come.”

› I use the CAWPILE method to rate books.
0-3 Really bad
4-6 Mediocre
7-9 Really good
10 Outstanding

› Characters: 5
The characters are okay, they didn’t jump off the page, but there is diversity. Ember, the main character, is interesting despite the fact that her behaviours didn’t feel authentic. Her best friend, Gideon, is gay with a Korean background which is cool – BUT he has a crush on a barista at their local coffee spot and that felt stereotypical. Ember’s sister April was a flat character, lacking any personality. Haley, the girl who recruited Ember into the Red Court was probably my favourite character. The girl nicknamed “the fire alarm” had so much potential. With a name like “fire alarm”, you’d think she’s be bad-ass yet when she’s revealed it was anti-climatic.

“I’ve known the Red Court was real for the last two years, ever since April told me that they were the ones who caused her accident. They’re the reason she may never walk again.”
“So you’re doing this for what? Like revenge or something?”
“Or something. I’m not becoming one of them. Not really. I’m joining so I can destroy the Red Court.”

› Atmosphere: 4
Descriptions and world-building are lacking. I didn’t feel anything at all. No smiling, no laughing, no crying, no real suspense. MEH.

› Writing Style: 5
cliché, corny, unrealistic dialogue.

› Plot: 5
Anti-climatic, NOT a page-turner.

› Intrigue: 4
Nope. I didn’t really want to keep reading and had to push myself to finish.

› Logic: 6

› Enjoyment: 6

Average 5

1.1-2.2 = ★
2.3-4.5 = ★★
4.6-6.9 = ★★★
7-8.9 = ★★★★
9-10 = ★★★★★

My Rating ★★★

› Final Thoughts
• These Vengeful Hearts is a teen novel about family, loyalty, deception, betrayal, truth and explores whether the ends justify the means. This was just an okay read for me, I’d recommend it to people who liked One of Us is Lying, or One of Us is Next.