Ever since she started high school, September aka Ember Williams has had one goal. To join the secret society known as The Red Court and take it down. The Red Court is known for taking down and humiliating people who have hurt others or if they are paid the right price, they can ruin somebody simply because you don't like them. Nobody knows her The Red Queen and the members are and they tap you by leaving a note in your locker and a playing card. For Ember, her life has been all about being the perfect candidate for the Red Court - everything she has done in high school is to make them notice her as it is rumored they aim for high achievers and all-rounders. When Ember's older sister April was in high school, she ended up in an accident which she told Ember was the result of The Red Court and Ember wants revenge and brings down The Red Queen and dismantles the Red Court. What happens though when Ember starts playing her part in the Red Court and learns that she is good at it and soon the lines will blur between what is right and what is wrong and Ember will start to turn into a different person - someone that her best friend and the boy she likes doesn't like? Will Ember's priorities change when she joins the group or will she be even more determined to bring the group down? Find out in this fun novel which reminded me of a mix between the secret chain of Gossip Girl and PLL - These Vengeful Hearts by Katherine Laurin.

Whenever something scandalous happens at Heller High, the Red Court is the name on everyone's lips. Its members--the most elite female students in the school--deal out social ruin and favors in equal measure, their true identities a secret known only to their ruthless leader: the Queen of Hearts.

Sixteen-year-old Ember Williams has seen firsthand the damage the Red Court can do. Two years ago, they caused the accident that left her older sister paralyzed. Now, Ember is determined to hold them accountable...by taking the Red Court down from the inside.

But crossing enemy lines will mean crossing moral boundaries, too--ones Ember may never be able to come back from. She always knew taking on the Red Court would come at a price, but will the cost of revenge be more than she's willing to sacrifice?- Goodreads

There is no way in the world this book should have been this long and ended the way it did. I needed to say that first before anything.

I liked this book. I loved the concept that Ember is going in to take down the woman that destroyed her sister's life. Its that will they become the evil they hate quest that gets me every time and the fact that it is set in high school makes it a mix of creepy and thrilling at the same. Creepy because it reminds me of politics.

The pace of novel was going really well until about 30% of the book. It was a lot of "I'm going to get the Queen" speeches she was giving herself and it was happening so often it was becoming redundant.

Ember did a lot of complaining and less trying to find information which was another thing that was getting tiring. How you going to do all those "this is what I am fighting for" speeches but then actually don't do anything. Waiting for information to fall on your lap is boring especially with access to things that Ember had accessed to.

In regards to Ember herself. She was okay. Her focus was the court and protecting her family and that was all she did. Did I like her? My feelings for her are indifferent. She played her role of a teenager out for revenge very well and that was enough for me.

However, this book was too damn long. There was a lot of build up for an ending that was not good. Which is a shame because what I thought was going to happen didn't. It went real left and I liked that.

But because the author decided to focus on building the tension and the thrill it took a lot a way from the book.

I liked this book but I could have liked it way more. 

Overall, 

2.5 Pickles

When I read the premise of this book, I thought I was going to get a dark, twisty novel about a secret society. Instead, what I got was a secret society that functioned more along the lines of the Burn Book in Mean Girls. This novel never got as dark as I hoped it would, and without many characters revealed to be in the elusive Red Court, it was pretty obvious who the Queen of Hearts really was all along. The book was fast paced but overall it wasn’t the kind of thrilling ride I was hoping for.

The moments that I did enjoy were when Ember struggled between doing the right thing and loving the feeling of power she got over accomplishing her assignments.

The romance in the novel between Ember and Chase wasn’t that interesting either. The whole time we’re told that they’re rivals and hate each other, although we’re never shown this rivalry at all. In fact, Chase seems very courteous with Ember from the very beginning so perhaps the rivalry was more on Ember’s side than a shared one.

Ultimately, Ember never suffers any consequences for all the pain she causes and terrible decisions, which made pages of agonizing and teen angst worthless if everything was going to get wrapped up so nicely. And if you’ve seen Mean Girls, then you can easily guess how this book will end. In the end, it seems like all of Ember’s sweat and tears put into trying to dismantle the Red Court didn’t pay off. I recommend this book if you’re into the movie Mean Girls (but without the amazing quotes) or if you simply like the premise of a dark YA but in the end, isn’t really dark at all, but very PG vanilla.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Inkyard and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC to read and review!

I really enjoyed this book. Really! Contemporary is generally something I pick up for a palate cleanser between all the heavy sci-fi and fantasy books that I love to read. But this wasn't my typical 'rom-com' read, and that was awesome! It was a bit of a thriller, just enough to satisfy without being too scary or over the top. It had a bit of a shroud of mystery in it, and though there were several twists that I anticipated, there were others that I did not see coming! The romance was cute, and I really liked that there was enough to satisfy, but it didn't take over to be the entirety of the plot. Highly recommend, for sure!

A clear YA novel that takes place in a high school that has a not so secret, secret society that rules the school. Ember Williams has been working hard to create a resume that would be appealing for her to be asked to join the Red Court in her high school. With a vendetta to take them down due to a life altering injury that happened to her sister, Ember is thankful when she is asked to join and is ready to take them down in anyway.

I can appreciate a good YA book, even though they aren't my typical read anymore. I love that this book had a great plot with great characters that I liked following through the ups and downs. I was glad that the teenage drama was kept to a minimum, so I wasn't rolling my eyes at unnecessary drama.

Ember was great. She wasn't a goodie two shoes, but definitely not the mean girl. I liked that she was a middle of the road girl, but had a moral code where she could see the faults of some of the things she was surrounded by. I appreciated that she had some learning moments and made some faults, but definitely grew from the beginning to the end of the book.

All in all, I would recommend this book, especially to readers who are a fan of the young adult genre.

Title: These Vengeful Hearts
Author: Katherine Laurin
Genre: YA
Rating: 4 out of 5

Whenever something scandalous happens at Heller High, the Red Court is the name on everyone's lips. Its members--the most elite female students in the school--deal out social ruin and favors in equal measure, their true identities a secret known only to their ruthless leader: the Queen of Hearts.
Sixteen-year-old Ember Williams has seen firsthand the damage the Red Court can do. Two years ago, they caused the accident that left her older sister paralyzed. Now, Ember is determined to hold them accountable...by taking the Red Court down from the inside.
But crossing enemy lines will mean crossing moral boundaries, too--ones Ember may never be able to come back from. She always knew taking on the Red Court would come at a price, but will the cost of revenge be more than she's willing to sacrifice?
This asks the question “Does doing the wrong/bad thing for a right/good reason make it okay?” Because Ember does some pretty horrible stuff to people as a member of the Red Court—and she keeps telling herself it’s okay because she’s trying to take the Red Court down.
I actually enjoyed reading Ember’s moral quandary. I thought her struggles were very realistic—and there are a lot of crappy people at her school! Her friendship with Gideon was fantastic and totally believable (everyone needs a best friend like that), and her crush was a nice counter to the darkness of the whole Red Court, even if it was bit predictable.
Katherine Laurin lives in Colorado. These Vengeful Hearts is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of Inkyard Press in exchange for an honest review.)

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.


At Heller High, when something scandalous happens everyone knows the Red Court is involved. This secret society deals favours and ruins, their identities secrets and their leader, the Queen of hearts, surrounded by more mystery. Ember Williams is determined to be part of this organization and ruin it from the inside, but will her revenge cost her more that she was ready to sacrifice?

I really liked reading These vengeful hearts! The MC, Ember, is stubborn, strong-willed and I loved her determination and her relationship with her best friend, Gideon. I found very interesting the worldbuilding, the characterization and the whole secret society, their secrets and identities and this book was really captivating and thrilling.

While this seemed to be an interesting concept, I felt this missed the mark. The characters did not act, speak, or feel like any teenager I have come across. Also, the glaringly lack of security at this high school really bothered me. There really aren't any security cameras? High school kids have power of the admin?
Not for me and I don't feel this would be a fit for my collection.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: These Vengeful Hearts

Author: Katherine Laurin

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 3/5

Recommended For...: revenge novel, mystery, thriller

Publication Date: September 8, 2020

Genre: YA Thriller

Recommended Age: 16+ (revenge, language, violence and gore)

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Pages: 336

Synopsis: Whenever something scandalous happens at Heller High, the Red Court is the name on everyone's lips. Its members--the most elite female students in the school--deal out social ruin and favors in equal measure, their true identities a secret known only to their ruthless leader: the Queen of Hearts.

Sixteen-year-old Ember Williams has seen firsthand the damage the Red Court can do. Two years ago, they caused the accident that left her older sister paralyzed. Now, Ember is determined to hold them accountable...by taking the Red Court down from the inside.

But crossing enemy lines will mean crossing moral boundaries, too--ones Ember may never be able to come back from. She always knew taking on the Red Court would come at a price, but will the cost of revenge be more than she's willing to sacrifice?

Review: For the most part the book was pretty good! I liked the world building and the characters. The pacing was on key and I loved how it was a vengeful tale on Alice in Wonderland.

However, like most revenge books for me, the story got stale after awhile. Revenge stories are really hard to write and I've not found that perfect one for me, but this was pretty good.

Verdict: It was good!

Was super intrigued and keen on this in the beginning but the romantic interest and then well everything sort of went downhill. I couldn’t care less for all. It was also predictable which is not such a bad thing but I think the need for having a romantic interest or the romantic aspect was off putting for me and it made the whole thing go down. Yeh idea is quite great though. But sadly wasn’t my cup of tea due to the unbelievable plot lines.

WOW! I really really loved this book. A story of revenge born from a sisterly bond with a sole focus: take down the Red Court. The Red Court is a mysterious group within Heller High that controls the school. Sometimes relationships are ended, sometimes people win elections, sometimes people secure themselves a spot on a team maybe even the captain position. And behind them all is the Red Court. I loved Ember and how flawed and imperfect she is. I love her determination and guilt and love for something she knows is wrong. I love that she is multifaceted and isn't just a Good Girl, she's a real girl. This story was exciting and suspenseful and had so many great twists and turns and while some were predictable, I have to admit that one really surprised me and I LOVE THAT! So happy I got the chance to read this and I can't wait to read another book by Katherine Laurin.

I enjoy books about secret societies - was a HUGE fan of Diana Peterfreund's Secret Society Girl series. So when I heard about Katheriene Laurin's debut YA, These Vengeful Hearts, I was intrigued.

There's a lot to like in this book. The premise of a secret society in high school willing to do dirty jobs in exchange for favors to be culled later seemed interesting. And Ember's desire to get tapped to become part of the Red Court was tied into her desire to get vengeance for an act the Red Court took against her sister, April, who ended up in a wheelchair, seemed almost noble. Ember really only has one friend, Gideon, and spends most of her time with him.

Ember does get tapped by the Queen of Hearts to become part of the Court, but that's when things get murky. Ember's conscience has difficulty doing the things her partner, Haley, assigns to her - because it seems like all her Court tasks involve people very close to Ember's life.

The plot keeps you guessing as to who's really pulling the Court strings, and the ending was only partly satisfying. I can't say more without spoilers, and I don't do spoilers! I just really wish there had been more depth to the characters and their relationships in the book.

This was a DNF @ 35% for me. I really tried to push through and give it more of a chance, but its just not for me. It reads as a weird Pretty Little Liars-esque type drama written by someone who has not met an actual teenager. Maybe it got better, but what I read wasn't enough to keep me engaged or interested in the story or its characters.

Blackmail. Revenge. Questionable morality. If these topics seem interesting to you, chances are you’ll like These Vengeful Hearts. The gorgeous cover is also an added bonus!
First and foremost, These Vengeful Hearts is a quick read, yet still entertaining. There were some parts where the pacing felt a little slow, but I still managed to finish it in three days. The plot was intriguing, the characters were well written, although at times certain revelations were a bit predictable.
Regardless, I really enjoyed These Vengeful Hearts. This book is perfect for readers who enjoyed Pretty Little Liars and One of Us is Lying. This contemporary thriller is a promising start to what I believe (and hope!) will be a series.

I love mysteries and I love books about secret societies this book contains both. I you enjoyed this book immensely.

I just finished this arc of These Vengeful Hearts and it was SO GOOD! The suspense was amazing, I loved the storyline. And Gideon - what is there not to love about Gideon??

Ember is a sophomore in high school. A high school that has a secret society that everyone is aware of, but does not know who the members are. Ember makes a plan to infiltrate the group and avenge her sisters accident. But things are most definitely not what they always seem to be.

Ever have a book that you can’t stop reading so you sneak little bits at every opportunity? That was this book for me. In line at Starbucks at work - read. Walking out of work - read. In line at the grocery - read more.

2.5 stars
I love secret society stories so I was immediately drawn to this, especially with the great cover. I quickly was disappointed. I found myself skimming through a big chunk in the middle just to speed up the read.

The good: This had a great premise and a really interest concept of the Red Court secret society and how they pass their messages and the setup of the court itself. Several of the characters were well fleshed out and felt real, I enjoyed the interactions between Haley and Ember especially. I also really liked the twist towards the end (no spoilers), it was set up well and yet I still didn't see it coming - the hallmarks of a great twist for me.

The bad: several characters felt very flat and one dimensional to me, including Gideon Ember's BFF. Some of the jobs they were assigned to do seemed far-fetched to me and not something even a secret society would be involved in.

TLDR: Really cool premise, plot moves quickly enough that it's a good binge read and is entertaining enough to keep me reading instead of ending in my DNF pile. Nothing really sets this apart as a great read, but not terrible either.

Unfortunately, I just couldn't push past the 50% mark in this book. The writing was all over the place, the plot twists were predictable, and the main character was impossible for me to connect with. :(

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was great if not the teensiest bit abrupt at the end. I really enjoyed Embers character and her struggles between justice and revenge.

A quick read. Suspenseful, twisty teen book similar to Mean Girls, but on steroids. This feels like the beginning of a series; Book 1, introduce the evil group, Book 2 - replace group with another?