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HeartlessMarissa Meyer

Young Adult Fantasy

Heartless

by Marissa Meyer

480 pages · First published 2022

Catherine Pinkerton dreams of opening a bakery in the whimsical kingdom of Hearts, but her parents have grander ambitions: they want her to marry the King. When she meets Jest, the mysterious and charming court joker, Catherine finds herself falling in love with someone who offers everything her carefully planned future cannot. Torn between duty and desire, she must navigate royal expectations, dangerous secrets, and a kingdom where impossible creatures and unsettling prophecies are part of everyday life. As her choices lead her toward an increasingly tragic fate, the kindhearted young woman who once dreamed of baking pastries begins a transformation that will make her infamous throughout Wonderland. Whimsical, romantic, and ultimately heartbreaking, this Queen of Hearts origin story suits readers who enjoy forbidden love, imaginative fairy-tale worlds, morally complicated choices, and villain backstories that reveal how heartbreak can turn sweetness into cruelty.

Paired for this story

Cherry Hot Chocolate + Australian Shiraz

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At a glance

Know what you're getting into

Spice2 of 5
Suspense4 of 5
Creepy4 of 5
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No surprises at chapter twelve

Content notes

Fantasy violence and murder, including a significant character death and a graphic beheading; references to executions and decapitation; frightening monsters, attacks, and threats to human life; grief, bereavement, betrayal, and intense emotional distress; parental pressure to enter an unwanted royal marriage; manipulation, deception, and controlling behavior; romantic kissing, physical attraction, and some suggestive moments; themes of revenge, obsession, and moral deterioration.

Alcohol-Free Pour

Cherry Hot Chocolate

Sweet cherry and rich chocolate celebrate Catherine's baking dreams while hinting at the bittersweet fate awaiting the Queen of Hearts.

What you'll need

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How to mix it

  1. Whisk the cocoa and sweetener into the hot liquid until smooth. Add remaining flavorings, heat until steaming, and pour into a mug. Add any listed topping.
  2. Garnish: As listed.
  3. Glassware: Mug.
21+

Cocktail Pour · 21+

Australian Shiraz

For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.

A bold, dark-red wine mirrors the passion, royal ambition, and heartbreak behind the Queen of Hearts.

What you'll need

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Alcohol-shopping links are not shown on children's or young-adult book pages.

How to mix it

  1. Pour shiraz into an appropriate wine glass and serve at the recommended temperature.
  2. Garnish: None.
  3. Glassware: Wine glass.

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