A Bright Heart was a beautifully written debut novel full of themes of vengeance and redemption. Mingshin is granted a second chance at life to correct her mistakes, avenge her death, save her family and avoid the betrayal from a certain prince.

I was drawn in by the stunning cover and instantly requested the book after reading the blurb. But this book really just blew it out of the park! Sure there are some things that definitely could be improved upon but everything else was just so amazing that I couldn't help but add the book to my favourites shelf!

A Bright Heart is written for a YA audience, and not the upper YA Sarah J Maas kind of YA, but the normal kind. It is perfect for this audience!!

The plot was so interesting and kept me captivated the whole time! I don't see this trope much, or haven't seen it be very popular but I LOVED it! I mean a strong, smart, brilliant woman goes back in time to get revenge on a slimy prince that betrayed her? And then there's the magic! I loved the authors inclusion of magic and the different kinds, also the role it ended up playing in the story, I cannot wait to learn more about the magic in the next book!

But anyway, as well as being very interesting, the plot was really easy to read and the author is a talented writer because the descriptions and imagery were beautiful! I thought that the world building was great and loved the Chinese aspects and tropes weaved into the story.

I actually could not put this book down! I loved Mingshin's attitude and smart thinking, how she was always one step ahead and using her knowledge of the future to her own advantage. I love reading about a strong female MC who is so strategically smart! Also, I loved reading about her friendships with her maid, female guard and the princess. Not to mention the sneaky side romance blossoming between two of those characters!

I love the trope where the FMC was betrayed and doesn't want to open her heart to another man, and this one was done really well. It wasn't that much of a slowburn I will admit, but I still really loved it. Her romance with Jieh was sweet and they just supported each other so much!

I am very excited for the next book and for a debut novel I thought the author did a terrific job! It was entertaining, fast-paced and perfect for a YA audience. If you love books inspired by classic Chinese tropes, revenge plots, second chance at life trope, court intrigue and a sweet romance I highly recommend you pick this one up!


𝐓𝐖: Death, attempted murder, mentions of blood, drowning, violence, loss of limbs


Thank you so much to Netgalley and Union Square & Co for the copy. All thoughts were my own, this did not influence my review.

Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co for the e-arc!
The tagline of this book really drew me in and made me excited to read the story and I'm glad I picked it up. What if you could avenge your own murder? That is exactly what Mingshin gets the opportunity to do. I think that this story did a fantastic job of weaving the tail in a way that wasn't too obvious and I can't be intrigued through the entire story. I love the fast pace of the story, and I have always been a big fan of kingdom stories and seeing people fight for a thrown.
Overall definitely recommend people check this out if they are looking for a really good reincarnation/revenge story and some fantastic political intrigue. Having an absolutely stunning cover is also a huge bonus.

'A Bright Heart' by Kate Chenli starts out with a bang, mid-betrayal. The reader, much like the MC.. Mingshin, gets a couple of minutes to get their bearings, and then the real story begins. Personally, I'm a fan of these types of whirlwind openings, but it's a little on the brief side.

Things I loved:

Prince Jieh -- While at first he's painted as a bit of a snob and he seems dismissive of the trivialities of other people's lives, his character opens up over time through exposure to Mingshin. What we are shown, I felt was always there as with his best friend, Yao.. and they both turn out to be favorites for me.

Yao -- The prince's best friend is warm, loyal, and light-hearted. I felt like the pair kept each other grounded despite social statuses and their comraderie was a lot of fun. He's probably the most relatable character in the book for me.

The magic system -- Nine types of magic, mirroring the use of this number in other areas of Chinese legends/mythology. I won't be too specific, as I don't want to ruin anything and it isn't overly developed, but it is handled in an interesting way. The imagery of the magic through artwork was one of the highlights though.

Things that could have been better:

Mingshin -- Our main character is likeable enough and has good intentions. She's one of those types who is instantly one of the best at everything though and that always feels a bit silly to me. She's perfectly smart and skilled, but "so plain and looked down upon." Not my trope.

Prose -- From both a descriptive and narrative standpoint, the story felt a bit out of sync. And I don't blame the author here, it's something I'm seeing more and more in current releases.. but it feels incomplete? Lackadaisical? Unfulfilling. Whether the author is describing a setting or having a character convey information, it ends up coming across like a checklist.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. I was rooting for Mingshin and rooting specifically against a couple of other characters, which I'll leave you to discover. Though the topics seem heavy in spots, it's actually a pretty light read, in my opinion and it's well-paced.

If you enjoy Asian fantasy, enemies who might become something more, and stories featuring underdogs.. this is one for you.

A Bright Heart has a familiar reincarnation plot from many Asian web novels, light novels, and mangas. The protagonist dies, but is given a new chance to make things right, or otherwise improve their life, by returning a few years (or decades) with all the knowledge of the first life. They’re usually fun and lighthearted stories where the small changes the protagonist makes on the second round often have large consequences.

Mingshin has helped Prince Ren to become the King, only for him to betray and kill her because he prefers her cousin and has only been using her. As her last dying thought, she wishes another chance, and is returned a couple of years back, right before she met Ren for the first time. She’s not about to waste the opportunity and sets out to destroy not only Ren but her cousin and uncle too.

Changes begin to happen almost immediately. Since Mingshin isn’t fooled by her cousin’s pretty behaviour anymore, she and her father move against Mingshin’s faster than in the original timeline. And Mingshin meets Jieh, another contender for the throne. She tries to keep her distance from him to not repeat the mistake she made with Ren, but decides rather fast that he’s the one who should get the throne. In the end, what took two years in her first life now takes place in a few months, with a lot of action towards the end.

I don’t quite know how to take this book. I went in hoping for a light-hearted, whimsical story in the style of light novels. They tend to be a tad messy, repetitive, and not very logical, not to mention the poor quality of translations, but there’s certain charm to them that keeps me reading them and giving them good reviews even though their literary merits aren’t all that high.

This wasn’t one of those novels. It’s relatively well-written, logical, and doesn’t repeat same things every few pages. But it also lacks the charm and whimsy, and instead turned out to be a bit of a slog to read.

It’s too long, for one. If it had kept to the length of a light novel, it could’ve concentrated on the revenge plot—and maybe the romance, though I didn’t find it necessary either. Now it added the plot with the emissary from the kingdom with magic that derailed the whole story and didn’t add anything worthwhile. Even the attempt to explain the reincarnation was unnecessary.

Mingshin, for all her determination, lacked agency and kept reacting to the changes from the original life. The romance was a typical YA affair where emotions don’t play much of a role, and felt an add-on too. I kind of kept expecting Mingshin’s friendship with the princess to blossom into something more. They had actual conversations, unlike with Jieh.

The setting felt a little off too. It’s Asian (names sound Chinese) but not entirely, or not enough to give a western reader a sense of being set there. It’s as if the author was so fearful to add details that might not be genuine (even though it’s a fantasy world) that the world never comes to life. Everything feels like it happens in a vacuum where nothing tastes, feels or smells like anything.

All in all, a bit of a disappointment. What the book gains in being better written than those it emulates, it loses in charm, heart and emotions. It’s not a bad book as such, and as an YA novel for younger readers it works fairly well. But I was left slightly bored.

While A Bright Heart is not without its flaw, it is a very solid debut book. With great set of characters and interesting political intrigue, easy to read writing and fast paced plot, this is a very entertaining book and I highly recommend it!

I love how A Bright Heart starts, straight into the action. Mingshin is the fiancee of the future king, with her money they managed to win the throne, but prince Ren turns out to be treacherous and orders her executed, she swears revenge and has the opportunity for a second life, goes back in time 2 years, when she meets the prince and the intrigues begin, she will use this opportunity to take revenge. Political intrigue, drama, plot twists, revenge plans, action, and romance are what we have in A Bright Heart, love the combination.

Mingshin is smart, and she wants reprisal but she is not a villain, this isn’t the beginning of her origin as a villain, and in this life, she would ally with Prince Jieh, Ren's older half-brother; their romance is cute. Jieh is arrogant, being the king's favorite son, he thinks he will be the heir and does not believe that his brothers will harm him; He wants to be king, but unlike Ren, he does not plan to murder his brothers to achieve it. My favorite sibling was Yunle, she is a girl, therefore she cannot inherit, but she is intelligent and wants to be more than just the trophy wife of some neighboring kingdom, between the two girls, a strong friendship will be made.

There are many characters, not only 5 princes, Mingshin's family will also be involved in the court plots, her uncle and cousins, are also deceiving, and don’t have the best wishes for Mingshin and her mother, as it seemed at first.

It's fast pacing a lot of things happen, contests, and fights between the princes, multiple assassination attempts, there is a lot of action, it keeps you hooked. Mingshin has the advantage of knowing, more or less, what will happen and will change the future.

The ending is a little open, the main plot is resolved but there are a couple of loose ends that leave you wondering if there will be a sequel. Overall is a great debut, I'm definitely going to read more of what the author publishes, I hope it's a sequel.

Read it if you want:
• Fantasy inspired in Chinese folklore
• Royal intrigue
• A revenge story

'A Bright Heart' by Kate Chenil captured my attention immediately. I have never encountered a plot where the protagonist has been given a second chance in life and traveled back in time to seek revenge. This book is not only about revenge; it's about fighting for what you believe to be right.

Mingshin's character growth has been so astonishing. I loved how she molded herself mentally and physically stronger throughout the book. I admire how the author expressed her struggle to trust someone, especially after being betrayed by her loved ones.

Her relationships with other characters were so heartfelt. Yunle has been a great friend to Mingshin, one she never thought she needed. Mingshin and Jieh's gradual development in their relationship is what I love most in the book. I always love a good slow-burn romance. This book executed it very well.

The writing style was so good, and it doesn't feel like a debut novel at all. That's one of the reasons I was hooked to the pages, aside from the thriller plot, of course. There were so many twists and unexpected events that surprised me more than a few times. This book earns a perfect five-star rating due to its captivating mix of mystery, revenge, magic, and love. I really hope there will be a sequel to this book.

First and foremost: look at this cover. I LOVE a pretty cover, and this is a PRETTY. COVER.

So, if you've been around a while (or, like, since February when I last reviewed a book, oops), you'll know I'm a massive sucker for Xianxia/Wuxia stories, and basically anything involving any hint of Chinese mythology in general. Add in one of my favorite tropes ever (time travel), and this was directly up my alley.

On that note, though, while I would consider this a relatively good debut, the story itself still felt like it was lacking something for me. Especially at the start, I struggled to get past the first 10%. It got better, sure, especially once we got a larger cast of characters with the princes thrown in, but I still read along feeling like I was waiting for something that didn't ultimately happen. A more thorough background of the story our main character, Shin'ar, or Mingshin as she's called by non-family members, went through before being punted back in time might have made her second go more enjoyable to read, but any information we're given on that was typically info-dumped on us, and it made it feel messier than it should have been.

The best part of the story, by far, was the trials. And maybe it's because I'm a sucker for trials, but I was so invested as they were going on, and the way they were written was the best in the entire book. The romance aspect hinted at while they were going on was a little left-field (the entire romance was sort of left-field if I'm honest, but that's how it be sometimes I guess), but it worked pretty well for one of the trials, even if I kind of hated the guy. (I don't want to say who, just in case you're going in blind, it might be a surprise idk.) In general, that whole section of the book really showed Mingshin as a character in ways she hadn't been before, and it endeared her to me far more than the start did.

(I only wish I had seen more of Yunle, because their friendship was the best relationship in the book for me. Justice for Yunle.)

By the end, though, I was lost again, and not in the way I enjoy being lost when it comes to books. Everything started happening at once and it became hard to keep up with the twists that, ultimately, didn't impress me at all. We know there's something up with Mingshin, it's literally a time-travel trope where she's thrown back to relive the last two years of her life (which, actually, only ended up being, what, a few months?). Something is flucky with this girl. Unfortunately, it was poorly woven into the other plot points, and I ended up being somewhat confused as to what the actual point was supposed to be. Without spoilers, that probably could have been executed much better. And paced much better, because wow did it all come at you fast. I have whiplash.

I'm assuming there will be a sequel despite it not being mentioned on Goodreads, and I will be reading it. I want more Yunle in my life.

But, to end this all off, I'll absolutely be keeping an eye on the author for more. I love me some Chinese mythology stories, and I'm always looking for more.

Read this YA Fantasy if you like;
• Second Chance at Life
• Sweet Romance
• Court Intrigue
• Revenge
• Banned Magic

I was intrigued upon reading the blurb, Mingshin (FMC) was given a second chance at life to make things right - avenge her death, save her family and avoid the betrayal from a certain prince.

The plot was interesting with easy to read writing style and beautiful descriptions of the world building throughout the story. It was so easy to get hooked into this revenge story following Mingshin as she started doing things differently in order to avoid some events from happening from her previous life.

I really like the twist in Mingshin's current life with elements of magic. It adds a mystery and magical vibe to the plot. I wish we’ll get to explore the origin of the magic and also come face to face with the real villain in the next book.

I love Mingshin’s smart thinking from solving the quests and her determination to save her family and loved ones. I also like the friendship she form with the princess which is something she didn’t have in her previous life.

As for the romance, after the betrayal she felt from her previous life it was hard for Mingshin to trust another man but I like the sweet romance grows throughout the story as she get to know Jieh (MMC) and learn to trust him that he’s nothing like the other prince.

Overall, for a debut novel this was a well-written book. It’s enjoyable, entertaining and recommended if you’re looking for a fast-paced story inspired by classic Chinese tropes!

I thought this one was a standalone, but judging by the ending things are far from over and I will definitely continue reading this series!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Death, attempted murder, mentions of blood, drowning, violence, loss of limbs

Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tour, Netgalley, author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!

I understood the idea the author was giving. But, I certain the execution was far from good.

The blurb was giving all the things we need to pay attention to.

Time-reverse trope, check
Revenge trope, check
Love to hate trope, check

As a webtoon reader, this was not my first time seeing the structure of the story. And I must say it was boring, I knew what will happen next and it dimmed my curiousity. Nothing new in the plot, no much twist I'd say. This was your usual love story with time reverse lady-lord setting.

The structure was off. I feel like read entire wattpad story.

But, if you love to read chinese light novel style, pick up this book and give it a try.

Thanks Netgalley for the copy in exchange for honest review.

Plot (5/10)

The plot of this book is incredibly predictable. In fact, it was almost boring. I'll preface this by saying the idea of a girl being betrayed and then getting a chance to do things over is not a new one; it's a very popular trope in East Asian books, webnovels, and comics, as any fans of the recent villainess trend know. It's specifically why I requested this book. However, even though I was expecting something that conformed to the genre, I was not expecting a story where the main character overcame every obstacle with seemingly no struggle. I love a competent main character, but Mingshin flawlessly predicted pretty much every one of her enemy's moves. She has special knowledge for almost every situation, and I never really got to see her actually struggle. While its kind of a staple for this kind of story of the FMC to basically have cheats enabled with her knowledge of the future, there wasn't even a semblance of tension. There was certainly some satisfaction in seeing the antagonists get their asses completely handed to them every time, but I wish there had been some moments where Mingshin had doubted herself or made some mistakes. Even considering the time travel, she's only 18.

The world is pretty well established for a shorter book, and I found the magic element interesting. Some of it seemed a little too convenient, but this book does a decent job of justifying why certain things are happening. The politics of Mingshin's country are complex enough for a couple of red herrings, even if I don't think they fooled anyone, but still simple enough that it doesn't get too confusing.

Characters (5/10)

Like I've somewhat touched upon, Mingshin is technically likable but ultimately a very flat, uninteresting character. I think she had a lot of potential, especially as someone who loves characters like Jude Duarte, to be a very politically-focused, scheming type character. However, she's just too good at pretty much everything, and none of her "schemes" were actually that complex. Most of the time she just uses her unnaturally good insight to instantly foil any plans against her. There were hints of more depth to her; I found the moment where she almost falters facing Ren and Aylin, two people who meant a lot to her in her last life, incredibly compelling, but the story fails to follow through and grant them any more characteristics than "evil."

Speaking of the side characters, they were lacking depth as a whole. Probably the most egregious offender is Jieh, another candidate for crown prince, the one Mingshin is backing this time around, and the love interest. If you asked me to list Jieh's personality traits, I would be unable to say anything other than "in love with Mingshin." His attention is captured almost immediately and he doesn't really do anything other than help her and pine after her for the rest of the book. He's initially described as "haughty" but we barely see that other than in one scene, and he just doesn't seem to have any discernable goals of his own. The antagonists, who are Ren and Mingshin's uncle and cousins (+ maybe an evil mage?), are also very flat. They are laughably evil and don't seem to have any redeeming qualities whatsoever. They don't have to be sympathetic, but some actual personality traits would be nice. I did like the princess; her desire to be involved in politics and ruling the country despite living in a patriarchal society was interesting, and her friendship with Mingshin was sweet. Unfortunately, her relationship with Mingshin's female bodyguard (and I rarely say this) did feel like it was included for representation brownie points, as the majority of their development happened off-page and they seem to have virtually no reason to like each other.

Writing Style (5/10)

This book reads as more the younger side of YA, which was honestly kind of a breath of fresh air. As someone who tends to read more gritty, dark stuff, a book with a lighter tone while still technically being an epic fantasy is kind of hard to find these days. It is something to keep in mind in terms of personal preference.

Unfortunately, this book suffers from a symptom that pops up a lot in YA fantasy. When writing a book that is specifically high fantasy, you have to make a choice. Are your characters going to talk in a way suitable for their setting, creating a higher level of immersion, or are they going to talk in a modern manner, making it easier for the average person to read? You cannot have it both ways because then you have characters like Mingshin who switches from poetic, setting-appropriate speech to very modern slang, and nothing takes me out of a book faster.

Overall (5/10)

If you enjoy the premise of this book, it's likely you'll get some enjoyment out of this one. However, unless you like the genre, this book is pretty mediocre. The plot is very simple and easy to predict, and the main character is pretty bland and perfect; she knows how to solve every problem. As such there’s not really that much tension since there are few challenges she doesn’t immediately overcome. The love interest and honestly most of the side characters are pretty one-note, and the writing fluctuates between the flowery words you’d expect from the setting and jarringly modern phrases. Overall, I was really looking forward to this book, but I don’t think I’d like it at all if it wasn’t a plot I know I enjoy.

A second chance to get revenge against the prince who broke her heart and murdered her? Mingshin will save her family, herself, and take down the man who broke her heart while discovering a love she never expected. Mingshin outsmarted three princes to help the man she loved become king... only Ren's betrayal was something she never saw coming. Ren throws her in prison, lets her die from her wounds, and tells her he never loved her and was using her to become king and was in love with her beautiful cousin the entire time. With her dying breath she makes a prayer to the gods to turn back time and give her a second chance to make things right. Suddenly she wakes up two years earlier with her prayer being granted. With vengeance in her heart, Mingshin vows to right all the wrongs and save her family while destroying all those who betrayed her and making sure that Ren never gets near the throne. Ren hides behind a thousand masks but Mingshin has seen his true face and she'll do anything to thwart him. The first thing she must do is protect her mother and those she holds close from her treacherous uncle and his children, in her first life they murdered them and now Mingshin will have to find a way to avoid death. Then there is the case of Ren, her ex-lover who keeps coming around, but to her surprise she finds herself allying with Jieh, another prince contender for the throne, someone she disliked when she met him in her first life as he was snoby... but now she finds herself running into him constantly and Jieh seems very interested in her. To make matters more complicated there is a mysterious newcomer to the court with magic... which is forbidden and he has set his eyes on Mingshin as well. From thwarting assassins, complicated court drama, dealing with an evil ex and a potential new romance interest, and her own complicated heart that is healing, Mingshin has her work cut out for her. This was such a fun read!! If you've ever read any of the manhua/manwha or korean comics with revenge/second chance tropes, then this is absolutely for you (I'm obsessed with them so this was right up my ally). The book wraps up in a way that could lead to more books (WHICH I AM ABSOLUTELY BEGGING FOR) but if it ends on just this one, it was a fun ride. Seriously I loved Mingshen so much and Jieh is such a great love interest for her. The story was interesting and had me hooked from the start and the pacing was great. The plot kept moving and the twists and turns were interesting. I seriously do hope this book gets a sequel to see where the rest of the story goes and the potential growth of the characters, but otherwise I absolutely adored this one!! Definitely add it to your TBR!

*Thanks Netgalley and Union Square & Co. - A subsidiary of Sterling Publishing, Union Square & Co. for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I really liked this one.

Three princes, one throne, and one dying king.
Mingshin used her cunning & sharp wits to help Ren, the underdog prince she loved, become king. But after he ascended the throne, Ren showed his true colors, revealed he'd never loved her, that he'd only used her for her wits and money, and then he killed her. By some magic or stroke of lucky fate, Mingshin wakes up two years earlier, before her mother died by family betrayal. Before she fell for the prince's pretty words and empty promises. Now, Mingshin has a chance to change her future, to take revenge on the prince and all others who've betrayed her.

I like second chance plots, where the protagonist has an opportunity to go back and redo their life while retaining all their knowledge from their first time. Mingshin only has one second chance, but she also has a lot of enemies, in her own family, as well as outside of it.

This book is based on a historical alt Chinese culture, and I enjoyed the setting and other Asian cultural aspects. Mingshin was a bit more passive than I'm happy with, but she was a product of her culture, and she did end up defending herself often enough that it balanced out. While she ends up considering a relationship with another prince, I really liked how the emotional impact of the first prince's betrayal was portrayed. It felt real. No one walks away from a broken heart unscathed.

The prose was good, and I fell easily into the book. I would've finished it in a single sitting if I had the time. I don't see any indication that this is a first in a series, but it definitely has room for a continuation, and I'm looking forward to seeing the remaining strings tied up. There were a lot of good characters, loyal friends, and nice plot ideas and magic to enjoy.

Going back in time to two years before she was betrayed & killed, Mingshin will do anything to prevent the prince she once loved from becoming king. With the help of her bodyguards, a new friend, and another prince, Mingshin enacts her vengeance. But even though this timeline seems similar to the one she's lived through before, something has changed, and the magic Mingshin unknowingly used to go back in time brings newer and more powerful enemies to her door.

“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙣”.

WOW such an amazing story!

This follows Mingshin who was accused of treason and the attempt on King Ren’s life. As she’s lying in a pool of her own blood and learning of the treachery he and her cousin have done, she prays to the gods for a chance to do this over again and make it right. A bright light appears and suddenly Mingshin wakes up two years before that fateful night and vows to make sure Ren NEVER becomes king.

Reading that first chapter gave me chills. I will admit that I am not one for plots that involve revenge. However, I was intrigued by the premise of this particular story, and so I wanted to give it a shot. And I am so glad I did!

The plot of revenge and vengeance in this book is so different from what I’ve read in other books that involve revenge. This was not some sort of petty revenge scheme that Mingshin started. She was truly betrayed, and it was horrible! She had every right to do whatever she could within her power and ability to stop Ren from becoming king and show everyone who he truly is.

This story was about redemption too with Mingshin becoming a completely different person from her past life. She became so vicious! Her thought process was different. Now that she knew what everyone was truly like, she was able to see little nuances of these people who acted like they had pure golden hearts when they’re actually vipers. She could expose these people and make sure the king would be a better person than if Ren became king. And yet, she still had a kindness to her that she had to snuff out at times because she didn’t trust anyone but her own immediate family.

I LOVE the found family in here too! Mingshin not only was able to become a stronger and more confident person, but gained true friends, true family and even true love. She’s truly a kind person, and you can see that when she befriends some and is very loyal and protective of them.

Mingshin also had another chance at love. She had to first to learn how to trust and oh my heart hurt for her because she just didn’t know who to truly trust and so the romance is heartbreaking and beautiful. One of the best I’ve ever read!

So many amazing quotes! Mingshin was truly an amazing character, like a literal phoenix rising from the ashes. Such an amazing story! And that ending left me with questions and so I’m hoping for another book to find out what happens next!

I received a free gifted copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Absolutely devoured this YA novel from author Kate Chenli!

This is a second chance revenge novel with action, political intrigue, romance, and an intelligent and highly driven main character.

I love Mingshin, and her growth as she takes advantage of her second chance at life. She is devoted to her mother and friends, and uses her intelligence to battle sexism and shady characters.

I also really loved the sapphic romance between two side characters!!!

Overall I adored this book and I'm so excited for the next book in the series!!

Trigger warning: it starts off with the main character being in prisoned, tortured, and murdered. But it doesn't go into graphic detail and the book is focused on her second life.

A tale of vengeance? Yes please. A touch of romance? Absolutely. Chinese representation? Love to see it! This book was super immersive and I am glad I picked it up. I will recommend it to all my fantasy reader friends.

I did not get to read this book before it expired on my NetGalley app, but the premise sounds really fun.

DNF

The cover is what grabbed my attention with this one at first but after reading the blurb I was so ready to get into this one! Unfortunately, the writing style wasn't for me and it made it hard to get into the book. The beginning is very rough when it comes to that and I just couldn't push myself to continue. Maybe one day I will come back to it but right now I have decided to put it down and potentially try it again when my mood sees fit.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a complimentary earc to review! All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much TBR and Beyond Tour, Netgalley, and Union & Square Co. Publishing for sending me an ARC of this to read and review!

"I listen to those who bring the best out of me, not to those who find fault with me."

I went into this book not knowing exactly what to expect. Sure, I knew the FMC would be somehow thrown back in time to prevent her and her family's deaths and save the kingdom from her ex (who killed her).

I did NOT know how that would all come to pass, or how it would end. This part of the book was probably the best part of it: the plot. While I do wish the scenes were a little more drawn out and detailed (I really thought we needed a longer book for the sheer complexity of the story), the plot kept me reading for hours until I finished this book.

That being said, there were several misses for me that made me give this 3 stars. First, the dialogue didn't always flow well. At times, it was just too formal for the middle-grade level maturity of the rest of the book (this book definitely should be marketed as middle-grade, not YA). Secondly, the characters weren't kept straight (for example: the FMC, Mingshin, would be clever at one point and then naive the next; it was a little annoying). Also, near the end, the romance became a little too cheesy, even for me.

My biggest issue was the worldbuilding. Most Chinese-based fantasy stories I've read have had some of the best worldbuilding I've ever read. This book is one of the few exceptions. There was no real magic system, except that a certain group had it and that others banned it, there was no international politics, except for one dignitary who visited, there were nearly no descriptions of architecture or culture, except for some moments of patriarchy and tea. There was a lot of telling, not showing.

All in all, this book had so much potential, but it just wasn't executed.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book via TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review!

A Bright Heart is a story about Mingshin, who gets a second chance at life when she wakes up two years in the past after being murdered by the man, she thought loved her back.

"When a kind heart is directed at the right people, it’s strength, not weakness.”

I was blown away by how pretty this cover looked, yes, the cover drew me in… After being bewitched by the beauty of this cover I read the synopsis and was immediately sold haha and couldn’t wait to dive into this book! Let’s just say I enjoyed every minute I spent reading the words written!

The story starts off with a bang and I was immediately drawn in! I felt for Mingshin and wanted her to get her revenge right away! I love the way the book opens with such a banger, since I immediately wanted to keep on reading to find out what would happen next!

The writing is lush and imaginative and made it so easy for me to picture all that was happening on the pages. The pacing as well really helped me get lost into the story.

The politics and bits of magic were very intriguing. The magic system isn’t really known since magic isn’t a part of the country the characters live in, but that makes the little bits that I did get so interesting to me! I wanted to learn a bit more about the magic, but I feel like the bits I know now are a perfect setup for a sequel.

The politics and court intrigue really made this book, I believe! It really felt like watching a historical K-Drama with everything that was happening and all the double faces these characters could have! It made the plot very engaging to me!

The characters were so good! I loved Mingshin and how strong and determined she is. she got that second chance and will do anything to make the best of it. Her loyalty and how smart she is really spoke to me. I also loved seeing her learn to trust again after the betrayal she went through. I was also the biggest fan of Jieh from the start! He is just that kind of man that made me swoon whenever he appeared on the pages hahaha. I also loved Yunle and how smart she is and how much she noticed.

The bonds created were gorgeous during this book. I loved how fiercely loyal Mingshin was towards Fei for example, her love for her mother and adopted family! The family bonds were really a backbone to this book, from Mingshin and her cousins to Jieh and his siblings! I also really loved how the romance progressed throughout. Mingshin being really guarded at the beginning was so understandable, but his charm breaking down her walls and seeing that progression was beautiful!

I really loved the twists! They really took me by surprise so much! While I did know who was behind some of the events, the extent and the how were mind blowing to me! I also loved the final battle and how it was all resolved in the end.

At the same time, I strongly want a sequel! I feel like a lot of little eggs were lain for a sequel and it truly felt as if the last isn’t told yet in this world with these characters! I can’t find anything online about a possible sequel yet but I NEED IT SOOOOOOOOO BAD!!!!!!!!!!!

Overall, I just loved everything about A Bright Heart, from the scheming, ambitious characters, swooning romance and magic!