I fell in love with this book from the start. I have read it twice now and happily can say I fought hard to have it on the best books list for 2023.

TW: abuse, blood, classism, death, death of a loved one, grief, infidelity, injury/injury detail, murder, sexism, suicide, torture, violence.

I hate negatively reviewing ARCs, particularly when its a book with such an original concept as this. The idea of a MC getting a second chance at life, to re-walk the path that led to her murder and hope to change the outcome sounded incredible. I would be remiss to ignore how unique this author's story was or how grateful I am that I had a chance to read it.

But I would also be dishonest if I rated this book any higher.

Both subjectively and objectively, this book just did not work. The MC handled everything in the worst, most foolish way possible; to the point that some of the betrayals would have been earned, from how impolite and suspicious she was acting. Due to the lack of flashbacks in the story, we are simply told about the betrayals again and again, whilst watching Mingshin make the worst decisions imaginable.

The romance was... absolutely unpleasant to read about. I hated the comparisons of taming in their relationship, especially considering the fact this is a YA and therefore marketed towards a young audience that may not realize how messed up the dynamic is. I hated that her lips were described as throbbing after he kissed her, which becomes more concerning with the context of his controlling and misogynistic behavior. I hate the fact that she only gains confidence in her looks once his love has changed her.

I also struggled with the writing, as it seemed to jerk between attempting an extremely poetic prose and sentences like, "Is this guy for real?" which pulled me out of the story. Pairing the simplistic, almost... insultingly explanatory writing style with Mingshin's immaturity made this book feel extremely juvenile in all the wrong ways.

As I said at the beginning of the review, I hate leaving negative reviews on ARCs. This was such an incredible concept and I could tell that this story meant a lot to the author, whom I wishing nothing but the best for moving forward. This story just didn't work for my preferences or on a technical level, but I am grateful that I was given the chance to read it.

This book gave me MAJOR c-drama vibes and I loved it.

There's action, romance and magic, and we're thrown into the action right from the first scene. This is basically a sequel to all the stories where the main couple get together, but then he betrays her, and she is out for REVENGE. Filled to the prim with backstabbing and court intrigue, this made for a super fun read and that cover alone makes me want to display it on my shelves!

Overall, magical writing and I loved Mingshin. I need the next book NOW!

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the e-arc!

The moment I read the description for A Bright Heart, I knew that I would end up reading it sooner or later.

The transmigration/past-life regression/reincarnation + revenge plotline is one of my favorite tropes. I've read too many of these stories to count. Both as manhwa/manhuas and as novels.

"Why do you hate me so much?"
"They say without your riches and strategies, I'd never have become King."

The story starts at the end of Mingshin's first life, betrayed by her then lover -- Prince Ren. She gets a chance at revenge when she wakes up a few years into the past. Mingshin moves very quickly to alter the direction of her current life.

I like Mingshin's character. She an independent and revenge driven person, but not to the point where she loses herself. I also also enjoyed Prince Jieh's character. He's a overconfident individual, as you would expect from a spoiled favorite-prince. But I like that he has a soft, devoted, and loyal side that he shows to Mingshin.

The story does have the YA novel elements to it for sure. There's the happily-ever-after-one-and-only love that YA often include. Mingshin get's the Emperor's blessing to be Prince Jieh's official wife despite not holding a noble title. And Prince Jieh is willing to dedicate his entire life and love to her. I don't mind this ending so much, but I do think that Prince Jieh's and Mingshin's relationship should develop more before reaching that point.

Sometimes Mingshin wins a little to easily and predictably, which makes the story less exciting. But maybe that's just because I read this type of novel often. Overall I loved reading the novel and I would recommend this for someone who enjoys:
• second chance lifetime
• revenge
• happily-ever-after love

Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the opportunity to read this ARC !

https://www.instagram.com/p/CyUmx6-LExi/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

“To win, you must know both yourself and your enemy well.”

What if you could avenge your own murder?

What an exceptional debut novel by @katechenli.author ! I was floored by how amazing and brilliantly done this story was! I’m a firm believer in second chances and this tale was the perfect way to expand on this concept by blending it with the rich, lush vibrancy of Asian culture and imagery, this was hard to put down so I didn’t 😂.

Perfect for YA fans who thrive on revenge plots and tons of thrilling action and drama scenes.

“If I can’t protect the woman I love, what good does becoming King do for me?”

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for this honest review.

This book was such a fun, refreshing read. I loved the concept, I loved the characters, I loved the plot. It did lose me a few times, hence the 4 star rating, but it did quickly remedy that each time that happened.

DNF 20% in. I tried my best to like the book but the writing style felt too flat in my opinion. I was interested in the first two pages but got bored pretty soon. The book just seemed amateurish and the book also progressed a bit too fast in my opinion, and I could sense there would not be that much development in the romance. I tried my best to keep going and there were a few odd bits that I enjoyed but overall I could not find that continuing this book would be worth it. If the book was targeted at middle-grade readers, and if I was a bit younger, I could see myself enjoying it. But unfortunately for a YA Fantasy, it just didn't hit the mark.

That being said, I do believe the premise of the book was good but there were issues with the execution. The cover of the book is absolutely gorgeous and it will 100% attract many readers. I can definitely see the author improving her writing and I wish her all the best with future books.

So this was amazing. I love that it read like the Manhwas that I keep devouring. The cold "evil" prince, the actual bad guy, and the girl who has been given a second chance to fix things that went wrong.

I love the relationship between Mingshin and Jieh, and how it started out rocky, but grew so much and how they respected each other.

I also really enjoyed the relationships that Mingshin built with Yunle, Fei, Mai, and everyone else.

That twist and cliffhanger ending kind of threw me for a loop, but only because I thought this was a standalone.

I cannot WAIT to see what happens next!

Thank you to Netgalley and Union Square & Co.for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

*Am waiting for my Amazon review to be approved, I've attached the link to my reviewer profile

Mingshin thought Ren loved her and helped him beat out the other princes to become King, only for him to betray her and declare her a traitor. Just as she's about to die, she gets a second chance and goes back in time to two years earlier and decides to do things differently. Now forewarned with the knowledge of her duplicitous uncle and cousin, she's determined to look out for herself, her mom and her father's business. Instead she ends up backing a different prince, Jieh, who she previously found standoffish. Together they do their best to thwart Ren and Mingshin has to navigate the intricacies of the political court and find her place in this new timeline. Overall, a fast-paced Chinese based fantasy novel with the political intrigue of the imperial court. Although the magic aspect was not as developed as it could have been, readers who like cdramas will still enjoy this one,

4.5 Stars!

This was so great! I had so much fun reading this and I will for sure read the next installment

We start off with a bang. Mingshin gets murdered by her romantic interest in the first chapter after having been instrumental in making him king. As she's dying she prays to the gods to turn back time and wakes up two years in the past with a second chance at life.

This story is filled with court politics, intrigue, betrayals, and smart, angry vengeful women. It has very common themes, plot structure, and execution of romance to most manhua graphic novels that are geared towards younger audiences.

This feels like a very middle YA book, mixing darker themes with simple, easy to understand writing. Honestly, it was an extremely bingeable and enjoyable read. Nothing was subtle about this fast paced revenge novel and I thought it was perfect just the way that executed and for the target audience it's trying to reach. I was cheering and rooting for Mingshin the whole way through. I loved how strong and smart she was yet there still was much growth in her character throughout the novel. The romance was pretty darn cute too!

Highly recommend!

Thank you to Union Square & Co. and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Revenge stories intrigue me when done right, and Kate Chenli didn't disappoint with her debut novel.

Second chances and reversing past mistakes may seem a bit tacky or clumsy if plot points are not structured enough to compel, but A Bright Heart hits it just right with its themes, world-building, and prose.

With a focus on character growth, romance, and Chinese court intrigue, Kate delivers an engaging, immersive and satisfying debut novel.

I absolutely loved this book, and I ended up buying myself an edition once it was released. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes mythology, mystery, and thrillers. The pacing was perfect (at least for me) and the writing style was both accessible and engaging. So good, I’m very excited to see what is next by this author!

Frankly, I love this book.

Now this book might not be for everyone. But it was most certainly for me.

If you're a fan of the reincarnation/rebirth plotlines that are highly prevalent in manga/manhwa/manhua then this, my dear, is for you.

The story opens with our female lead abandoned, betrayed, and ultimately killed. The timeline is reset when she is able to go back in time to two years before her ultimate downfall.

Fast-paced and easy to read, this book centers on Mingshin, and her plans to take control of her family's future and enact her revenge on all those who have wronged her.

She is smart, determined, loyal, and fiercely protective of those she cares about. She is most certainly a force to be reckoned with. I also enjoyed the romance between her and Jieh. Jieh isn't perfect, but he's reliable in his affection for Mingshin and always puts his ultimate trust in her.

While the book is built around the battle for the throne, Mingshin still manages to remain the focus. Her character growth is commendable. But I will say the whole True Love Conquers All bit was highly predictable and a bit cheesy for my taste. However, since this is YA I'll allow it.

Overall, a worthwhile read that I finished in under twenty-four hours. Perfect for fans of Chinese xuanxia dramas.

5 Reasons to Read

Betrayal

The opening of this book kicks off with a betrayal of grand proportions! Mingshin is literally murdered in the first chapter and by none other than those she loves.

Second Chances

With her dying breath she requests the chance to change her fate. I thought this was a great way to start off this fantasy read. When Mingshin wakes up two years prior to her death she is determined to change her fate and if that beginning doesn’t capture your attention I don’t know what will!

Revenge

Second chances mean Revenge opportunities! From the beginning of of this book Mingshin decides to use what she knows of the events leading up to her death to get back at those who took her life. She makes alliances where she never thought she’d have made them previously and puts her trust in more important individuals. She also recruits her bodygaurds to train her in combat so she won’t find herself in danger again!

Enemies to Lovers

Mingshin fell for a prince once before; she has vowed to never do it again. But will that change when she starts to get to know Jieh, the prince in competition with the one person she’s vowed to destroy!

Political Intrigue

I loved all the political intrigue this book offers. It makes it difficult for you to know who to trust and adds another layer to this already complex storyline.

Mingshin went back to the past, two years before she died, to avenge her death. Set in a Chinese-inspired fantasy world with court intrigue, a little magic, and darker themes, it kept me spellbound. The premise of A Bright Heart is one I usually read on Manhwa or Webtoon, so I was really excited about it, and it didn’t disappoint!

Mingshin is strong-willed. She has always been smart, but she was unknowingly betrayed by the prince she helped and loved in her first life. In her second life, she vows to take revenge. I always enjoy a strong female character, and she was just perfect!

It was an intense page-turner. One I couldn’t put down. I was immediately enraptured with the story because of the amazing details and characterization. Overall, A Bright Heart has so much potential in the YA fantasy scene.

Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours & to the author, Kate for the e-ARC copy!

I really struggled to get into this book. I liked the first chapter, but then once she jumped back in time nothing really held my attention.

I love reading stories like these where the protagonist goes back in time or gets a second chance at life!❣️✨ Who doesn't have regrets lol. And bonus points if the book involves a revenge plot😆 It's kind of a common theme in manhwas and chinese novels and I think my obsession with reading these started with Shen Miao's story from Rebirth of the Malicious Empress. This made me very excited to read A Bright Heart by Kate Chenli which has an MC who gets a second chance at life and wishes to get revenge while changing things(also how pretty is that cover?😍)

In her last life, Mingshin worked hard to put her fiance on the throne but was rewarded with betrayal and death. When she gets a second chance to do it all over again, she's determined to be smarter this time and to prevent Ren from becoming the king while she protects her mother from her scheming uncle and cousins. Though some things have stayed the same, there seem to be many changes too and Mingshin is pulled back into the vortex of the royal court and political intrigue, with the addition of magic - something that she hadn't known about in her previous life.

This was an interesting debut novel with a protagonist that I grew to love! Mingshin's rebirth gives her more experience, but she still has a lot to learn and I loved watching her character grow! She tries her best to correct things while still holding on to her bottomline. The plot was also intriguing with the inclusion of magic - and that surprised me in a good way! I was waiting to see what would happen next and it was really good! I hope it gets even better in the next book!

This one comes out on 10/17 so make sure to check it out if you're interested in a YA fantasy with a revenge plot and political intrigue(or if you're a fan of c-dramas😆)!❣️✨

A Bright Heart is an easy breezy YA read inspired by Chinese historical fantasy dramas, particularly one specific trope in which the protagonist gets to go back in time with knowledge of the future to use to their advantage.

This set up was a lot of fun, and started the book off with a bang. Our main character Mingshin is a merchant's daughter who fell in love with a prince, helped politic that prince into power, and subsequently gets betrayed and murdered by said prince. Oh, and he's always been planning to marry her hot cousin instead of her.

So obviously, she's furious.

In her dying moments, she beseeches the universe to give her a second chance, and by some crazy stroke of luck and magic - it does.

Now Mingshin is transported two years into the past, with all of the knowledge of that betrayal still alive and burning in her mind. She swears to herself and the universe that she'll use this opportunity to bring down the prince and set her family up for success.

If only the pesky prince's brother would stop being all grumpy and hot and distracting.

Perhaps because of the target audience age range, there is very little nuance to the court intrigue in this story. Everyone who betrayed her in her past life is still duplicitous, everyone she decides to trust in this playthrough is straightforward and genuine. Our main character states that she won't just let anyone in this time around, but almost immediately embraces not just one BUT TWO members of the royal family. I kept expecting this to blow up in her face in some capacity because that would have at least been interesting, but unfortunately pretty much falls perfectly in line for our heroine. Which is like, great for her and all, but it just doesn't lead to the most captivating story.

Overall though, this was fun and fast, if perhaps a little too straightforward at times. I think this concept is a lot of fun, I'd love to see something like it with a bit more edge for an older audience.

Thank you to Netgalley and Union Square & Co. for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mingshin gets a second chance after she is betrayed and murdered by her fiancé. Intent on learning from her mistakes, she aims to ensure a different prince will secure the throne.

I had concerns at the beginning, but was able to set them aside. After doing so, I found myself enjoying the story and the lore. The straightforward writing and the fast moving plot made this one into a page turner. Often, it felt like the goodness of C-dramas without the filler material, which I appreciated. Readers who like faster-paced reads and political intrigue may enjoy this one.

Mingshin has been used and betrayed by the man she loves. But as she lies dying, she begs the universe for another chance ... And her prayers are answered. Now two years in the past, she can work to fix her mistakes and give her assistance to those who actually deserve it ...

This book was gripping right from the start. I loved the world building and adored the romance - in fact, I adored Mingshin and all the characters around her. An excellent read!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review