Dark Heart Forever by Lee Monroe
Reading this synopsis over 10 years after reading the book feels like a fever dream. This book is so of its time. I feel like you don’t get books like this anymore, or if you do, they’re not on my radar. These types of ‘definitely too mature for me’ books were everything to me as a young teen. I’ve always read way above my ‘reading age’ so I’d be picking up these types of books while still in primary school (so like 10 years old).
I remember absolutely nothing about this story. Like not a single thing. The title and cover are pretty iconic for me as this book sat on my shelves for a very long time, but I’ve read at least 700 books since then so there’s no way I’d remember this.
I’m not quite sure why this book made it all the way to university with me back in 2017, but in 2023 I finally took it off my shelves as I packed to move into my current home.
Synopsis: Jane Jonas is nearing her 16th birthday and troubled by unsettling recurring dreams where the same mysterious boy her age comes to her, telling Jane that they are each other’s destiny. Her mother is increasingly anxious about Jane’s disruptive sleepwalking episodes, but for Jane her dream world and reality are about to collide …When she develops a friendship with an enigmatic stranger in town, the blond, uber-cool Evan, it’s exciting, it’s new, and Jane wants him more than she’s ever wanted anybody – until her mystery dream boy gets in the way. Now Jane is caught between two one familiar, but tinged with romance and excitement; the other dark and dangerous, where angels, werewolves, and an irresistible stranger are trying to seduce her …
Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes
I read this book back in 2017 and I honestly don’t remember anything about it. Hence why it hasn’t popped up in a best retellings post. I’m pretty sure I enjoyed it but that was back when I didn’t review books so reading was just purely for entertainment. Part of me does miss that time just a little but I read a lot more these days as I have a reason for spending the majority of my free time reading. So it’s a win-win really.
This book in particular was read on an afternoon after finishing my university classes for the day. I have a weirdly strong memory of the mundane things I got up to while I was at university. I suppose it was an important part of my life so that’s why I remember it so vividly. Don’t remember a lot about the books I read back then though. Which is kinda funny.
Synopsis: Only queens with hearts can bleed.
This is not the story of the Wonderland we know. Alice has not fallen down a rabbit hole. There is no all-knowing cat with a taunting smile. This is a Wonderland where beneath each smile lies a secret, each tart comes with a demand, and only prisoners tell the truth.
Dinah is the princess who will one day reign over Wonderland. She has not yet seen the dark depths of her kingdom; she longs only for her father’s approval and a future with the boy she loves. But when a betrayal breaks her heart and threatens her throne, she is launched into Wonderland’s dangerous political game. Dinah must stay one step ahead of her cunning enemies or she’ll lose not just the crown but her head.
Evil is brewing in Wonderland and maybe, most frighteningly, in Dinah herself.
This is not a story of happily ever after.
This is the story of the Queen of Hearts.
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