<i>I received this ARC thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.</i>

<b><i>"Grant me another chance and I'll do anything to make it right."</i></b>
I have to give my sincerest apologies for this book, as I've dropped it for almost two months after just digging into it -- I just got into huge reading slump after beginning my full time job. But hear me out, once I came back to it last night I couldn't put it down, and it officially proudly joins my top-reads-of-the-year squad <3
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<b>"When a kind heart is directed at the right people, it's strength, not weakness."</b>
Hi there, in case you didn't know I'm a huge historical-xianxia-wuxia Cdrama lover, and this book made me feel as if I'm home <3 To be precise, take the original novel that inspired "Rebirth for You" (which drama version was executed pretty poorly, but that's why I'm pointing out the original written version!) but give it vibes of "The Blooms at Ruyi Pavilion" or "Legend of Yun Xi" -- Yes, I'm totaly bias on the idea Mingshin being played by Ju Jing Yi for any kind of film adaptation for <i>A Bright Heart</i>. If you've liked the idea behind "Rebirth for You", or all the heart fluttering feelings other Cdramas mentioned, do be aware you'll devour this book at instance!
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<b>"You have the fiery spirit of the sun and the bright heart of the moon. Remember that."</b>
Mingshin lived once already -- helped her handsome prince gain the throne of his father among other brothers competing for it, and she's heavily rewarder with a m*rder by hers truly. Wishing with her whole heart for a chance for revenge, she's granted another attempt by reliving her life teleported two years back. Now that she knows the fate awaiting her if she'll remain naive and lighthearted, she's ready to use her smartass brain to repay for everything her dear Ren gave her previous time. As her bright heart was the reason behind her doom last time, she'll do everything she can not to let it beat once more for any man approaching her on her way. Or will she?
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<b>"I promised I would control my own fate. This is only the first step in a long journey, but I will get to my destination."</b>
Her foolish heart locked away, nothing shall stand on her way headed for grand revenge. But if she plans to destroy the possibility of prince Rhen ascending the throne, she'd choose other champion to support. And what a wearisome task it is, with a heart ready for love and so many princes to choose from. Having few strange encounters with prince Jieh, Mingshin chooses he'd be most fitted to the role of rulying their realm, so all that's left is to ensure cruel Ren wouldn't stand in his way, right? Definitely no danger of falling in love with yet another royal? Oh boi Mingshin can't get a break from her heart's doing.
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<b>"Love may not last forever, but it's worth taking the risk. Because it is the light, the most promising hope."</b>
The fact that this whole story begins with so much trauma from Mingshin previous life makes you appreciate her smart-assness at its fullest even more - despite being mortally betrayed last time, she doesn't give up and chooses to go full revenge mode, which makes it wholesome revenge book. But it's also wholesome overally, as I was giggling, screaming, kicking my legs from excitement and cursing the characters every. Few. Pages. Once again I'm really sorry it took me so long to get back to this amazing book, but after all it truly amazed me and I've loved every singe page of it <3 I really hope we'll get some sequel for Mingshin's adventures, as one can't get enough of a story of this particular <i>Bright Heart</i>. 5 stars from me, and I call this 4th book to join my top favourites of 2023 <3

What if you could go back in time and prevent your loved one’s deaths as well as your own? Prevent your own heartache and the injustices done to you?

Would you be able to keep it together in order to succeed or would your emotions and fear of the future you’ve already lived once get the better of you?

Mingshin is given the ability to do just that when she is about to be put to death but instead wakes up two years earlier with all the knowledge of the past and a plan for revenge.

Some thoughts….
- The exposition of how Mingshin ended up where she did didn’t occur. The first chapter is very short (actually they all are) and very quickly describes how she is in prison for treason, about to be executed, etc and then she is thrown back in time. Granted, as the story goes on, the before plot is filled in but the opening chapter still felt rushed.
- The plot turned a corner around the twenty-five percent mark. The story felt like it was taking place now and the readers weren’t stuck in a before-Mingshin-died and after-Mingshin-died gray area.
- The dialogue felt forced at times and especially in the beginning. It could use more editing.
- I feel that maybe I’m a little too old to enjoy the story fully. It would be enchanting to true young adults.
- Sometimes the author used modern phrases that pulled me out of the fantastical Imperial China setting such as “man child” or “beet red.”

Chenli’s play on hindsight was interesting. The idea that experiences or people change with hindsight played a large role in Mingshin’s plan. She was able to detect threats and gain the upper hand in schemes she was once completely blind to. Things are almost too easy for her this time around.

The romance is loath-to-love but not a slow burn like promised yet I enjoyed it. Jieh is a gorgeous and fit prince who Mingshin automatically dislikes and mistrusts due to her limited knowledge of him in her “first life.” He turns out to be extremely loyal and respectful towards Mingshin and even takes her advice without question. However, their love isn’t simple and is a bittersweet rollercoaster throughout the book. I appreciate this though because it adds depth to their relationship. Jieh has a metamorphosis of sorts going from an arrogant prince to a caring man (he could still use some work though).

After outsmarting the princes and helping her beloved Ren take the throne, the very man she trusted betrayed her, sentencing her to death. Desperate for revenge, Mingshin is given a second chance at life, returning two years prior to her death. Now she must use her wits to make sure Ren pays, while also guarding her heart from love once more and from Prince Jieh who seems uniquely interested in her.

The premise of this book was one that instantly captured me. As an avid reader of manhwas, this was right up my alley. Exactly the type of stories I have been loving to read lately, so I knew this wouldn't disappoint. With a very clear, crisp, and clean writing, the story was easy to follow and easy to enjoy. The world building was fantastically described, keeping the information relevant and also progressive which gave us a full understanding of the world and its conflicts while not being overwhelming, dull to read or overshadowing the focus of the story which is Mingshin's struggles and her own growth as a character.

It was delightful to see that Mingshin never wavered in her resolve to right her mistakes and accomplish her goal. She was clear from the start and she knew what she had to do. Despite her age, she demonstrated a very peculiar level of maturity while handling certain situations thrown at her. Something relatively uncommon in some of these heroines where we see them often be impulsive. Her witty self was very refreshing to read.

The romance was supposed to be a slow burn, but I didn't feel it that way. At first the tension was palpable having Jieh acting arrogant-like and Mingshin wanting to keep him at arms lengths. But suddenly we see them getting closer which left me wondering where the tension and slow burn had disappeared to. It was cute to read and I did like it, but I would've like to seen something much more complex.

My critique for the book is particularly some of the writing and dialogues. In all honesty, they were amusingly cringy. As in, its the type of stereotypical interactions and phrases you would imagine hearing in a Chinese drama or a manhwa. As someone who constantly read them, this wasn't a bother. On the contrary, it was amusing as it made me vividly imagine the scenes as if I were reading it illustrated. I probably would've liked something a bit less childish-sounding in some areas, but again, seeing as how I was able to visualize this as a manhwa or even a drama, it allowed me to still enjoy it. Perhaps the intent of its writing as to give us a more visual approach to reading.

In general, A Bright Heart was a lovely, fun, and captivating read that had me entertained from start to finish. If you love Asian dramas and manhwas, you might want to pick this book up. It has everything you would enjoy: romance, court intrigue, lovable characters, an easy world to visualize, and the second-chance-at-life trope we love so much. I am very eager to read what happens next and to see how this author continues to improve.

3.5/5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A very well done Chinese historical fantasy debut by Kate Chenli filled with court drama, revenge and competition.
What originally drew me into A Bright Heart was the intriguing synopsis, and how the main character was able to turn back time and be given a second chance to right her mistakes as well as seek revenge upon those who took advantage of her in her first life.
We see the protagonist, Mingshin, retain her guards and shields, endure an internal battle with trust, and conspire against those who had previously wronged her. Due to this, Mingshin grows stronger and smarter as an individual and branches to form new relationships.

There were however a few flaws that I noticed and things that confused me when reading this. First of all, when Mingshin is given a second chance at life we find that she has travelled back in time by 2 years, however, her confusion at the appearance of Hanxin means that he did not appear in her previous life - with no direct explanation as to why he has suddenly appeared.
Another thing I thought may need improvements are Mingshin’s outspoken accusations. Though it is understandable for her to be suspicious of those who once betrayed her, it seems quite unrealistic for all or most of her accusations to be true.

Kate Chenli’s A Bright Heart is a definitively captivating debut filled with revenge, court intrigue and magic. I cannot wait to continue on this wonderful journey into Mingshin’s story.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eArc.

This is a good entry-point for people looking to get into the Chinese court intrigue genre, but doesn't really break any new ground within the genre.

After Mingshin puts her betrothed on the throne, he betrays her and has her condemned to death, planning to marry her beautiful, high-born cousin instead. In her final moments, she begs the universe for a second chance and wakes up two years before her death, when she had just moved to the capital. She's determined to get revenge and to stay far away from the royal family, but life might have other plans for her.

The biggest strength of this book is undoubtedly how smart the characters - both protagonists and antagonists - are. This makes the book extremely gripping, as its full of clever plots, manipulations and twists.

However, the prose is simple and straight-forward to the point of being flat, and while the two main characters were well-drawn, the same can't be said for the secondary characters.

Overall, though, this was a fast, engaging read, and I really appreciated that the author acknowledged the tropes she was drawing from in her author's note.

A genuine revenge plot with a strong cast of characters

A Bright Heart was just the authentic revenge plot that I've been looking for. Mingshin's intentions are clear from the very beginning, and she doesn't lose sight of who she is and what she has to do. HOWEVER! This isn't just a book about rage and retribution. Mingshin's also surrounded by a cast of characters who range from entitled princes to loyal handmaidens, vengeful family members to powerful politicians. There's a lot of depth to the story in terms of both plot and characters that made this an enjoyable read.

Not the best world-building, and not the best pacing, either

There might be times where you'll feel like you've missed something, and I think the writing style has a lot to do with this. The writing style is very straightforward, which does give this story more of a fairytale-like vibe (which is great). BUT this also makes it hard for the reader to absorb information about the world-building (which has a lot more telling than showing), and also makes the book seem a lot more fast-paced than it really is.

Incredibly cheesy, but an enjoyable read overall

A lot of the scenes in the book are reminiscent of many other YA books. It was very much a "love will conquer all" type of read, but I was surprisingly okay with it. The heart of the characters really made the book worth reading. If you're looking for a REAL revenge story with a headstrong and clever heroine, I'd recommend this one.


Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
Other key points not mentioned (i.e., they had no impact on my rating): Decent romance (not slow-burn, but not that cringe-worthy, either), slightly predictable (though I wouldn't call this a mystery novel, so that's okay), kind of annoyed that I went into this thinking it was a standalone but it will have a sequel

Thank you so much to the publisher for the review copy!

Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc!

Wow. This book had a fantastic premise to it that got me hooked right away. Starts at such a high emotional moment too. I love our main girl, she's now calculated, cunning, takes-no-shit, and such a badass in her new go at life. I love how she undermines every good moment of her Ex's and her cousin's life. (they totally deserve it).
My only criticism in this is that it is a little too fast paced. There is a lot of "I explained everything to them up until now" moments that make me feel like we are missing the persons real time reactions to the news/events. We also don't stew in Minshings high's and low's for very long it doesn't make the low's feel like "this is it, they're screwed", but more like "oh well, this will be solved in 5 mins anyway."
But other than that, the plot, the characters (omg the friendships they make along the way are amazing), the settings, all fantastic! As much as the pacing threw me off, I was still hooked on every. Single. Word.
All the way through, I was sucked into the story and it almost hurt to have to put it down to go back to the real world.

I would absolutely recommend this to anyone! Its a fun read all together.

The cover caught my attention as I love Asian based fantasy.

I waver between a 3 and a 4 star on this one, but by the end, I really loved this book.

Mingshin wasn’t that likable in the beginning. Yes, she’d been wronged. And she had good character growth. By the end, she was both likeable and admirable. (And I really really want to read the next book.) And I was rooting for Jeih from their first meeting.

Things to be aware of:

First is the minor foul language. (The a and b words.) There was only a few usages, thankfully. Does not really support the setting or feel of the story, but you understand why.

Secondly, too many lines went into what could have been epic kisses. Less is more.

This story does hint at a lesbian romance between Yunle and Fei, but it is both respectfully and tastefully handled.

Now, I think the next book will be an epic conclusion. If it’s anything like current C-dramas, and with the talent this author has for storytelling, I expect it even. (Don’t let me down!)


I received an ARC via Netgalley.

What a gorgeous cover and a fantastic premise! A Bright Heart throws you straight into the story, despite having very little world building it was not confusing to follow along. The writing and story was easy to read and keeps you hooked. I loved the revenge plot and how our main character stays true to her end goal. I especially loved some of the side characters we met, Fei and Yunle are such brave and loyal friends! I will say the ending felt a bit rushed for me. I was expecting all the answers to be gradually revealed rather than dumped on us in the last few pages. Overall a good book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. Like as I was reading, I was just figuratively fist pumping, thinking "FINALLY A GOOD YA!" (I had a drought of YA). The trope of second chance at life has been popular recently in East Asian media so I was so excited to receive this one. Chenli has done such a brilliant job of utilizing a pretty overused trope and rejuvenating it so that the story feels new and exciting. Mingshin is such a freaking queen and I loved reading her get ahead of Ren. It was a one and done sort of thing either; we see Mingshin take the initiative to learn things in order to protect her and her loved ones. And lemme tell you, the way I was kicking my feet, blushing, and twirling my hair at the romance in this...embarrassing. But my god was it so good.

I cannot wait for the second book and will definitely be purchasing this one once it is out. Chenli has, again, done a brilliant job and I'm so excited to see how they will continue things. Also, one last note, the political stuff in this was actually well done too. Other books like the "Cruel Prince" series gets defended as being a political intrigue story but it's genuinely badly done whereas this story actually does a great job of taking us into the politics of the world without convoluting everything.

The second I got approved for this arc I dropped everything and read it within two days. In this story of revenge and second chances, we follow Mingshin who was killed by the man she loves and helped become king. In her final moments, she pleads to be granted a chance to make things right. Mingshin wakes up two years earlier and swears she will never let Re become king and she would never fall in love again.

Let me first say I love a good revenge story. Watching Mingshin be one step ahead of Ren was a delight to read about and the romances in this book had me kicking my feet in the air. I was entirely captivated by this story from start to finish. I originally thought this book was a stand-alone, but it will be at least a duology, maybe even a trilogy. The author Kate Chenli did an amazing job at fleshing out the characters especially Jieh, I found myself wanting to smack his arrogant face at the beginning of the story to wanting to put him in my pocket and keep him safe by the end.

If you like…
-Revenge Stories
-Learning to love again
-Magically twists
-Political maneuvering

You should 100% pick up this book!

This is honestly my favorite read so far of 2023. It knocked some really fantastic ones right out of the line up and shoved to the front. I was immediately sold when I read in the blurb that it was her second life, but how it unfolded was absolute perfection.

If you enjoy court drama, having multiple mysteries to solve as a reader all wrapped up with a romance between a he falls first prince vying to become king and a rich merchant's daughter whose heart was broken when her last fiance and her extended family murdered her this book is absolutely for you. The revenge is finger-licking good and just keeps getting better.

Rarely do I buy a physical copy of a book but I absolutely need one for this!

A good read but not my favorite. Perhaps I’m not the target audience.the characters were just not relatable to me. I’m sure other readers could enjoy the world building and plot but it just wasn’t for me.

Themes of revenge and redemption draw the focus of A Bright Heart, Kate Chenli’s sensational debut that soars beyond the highest of expectations.

The book begins with protagonist Mingshin being thrown back in time, in what she realizes is a magic-fueled second chance at life; where she can right — and even prevent — some colossal wrongs from being done to her and her loved ones by a whole host of deceptive characters. As Mingshin juggles with thwarting malevolent forces, she finds herself moving forward in a brand-new timeline, facing down unforeseen challenges and pivotal changes that alter the very fabric of the world as she once knew it. It leads to an uncharted path for our MC; one where an unexpected romance could upend everything Mingshin is fighting to fix.

By the time I was halfway through this book, A Bright Heart had already cemented itself as one of my absolute favorite reads of 2023. It has everything I look for in a YA novel; the least of which is a strong, compassionate and relentless protagonist, one who embraces her second chance with a fierce determination to protect those who can’t protect themselves. Embedded within the thrilling twists and turns of a plot orbiting around what happens when a young woman is given the impossible opportunity for a redo, this is a tale that celebrates the enduring magic of family, the timeless power of love and the unrivaled beauty of ancient Chinese mythology.

Masterfully written, A Bright Heart will catapult you away into a world of wonder; one quite unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.*

A beautiful mix of history, mythology, fantasy, magic, secrets and royalty.It is a story of second chances, love, hate, revenge, cut throat competitions and much more.
The story will keep you glued to the book till the end.I fell in love with the smart, intelligent and calculative strong female lead Mingshin and arrogant, brave and handsome Jieh.Their chemistry is so good.The characters are well developed and explored to the t.The detailed description breathed life into the story.One can feel the amazement of entering the majestic royal hall, the excitement of competition between the royals and lots more.The climax showed that the story is far from over.
I am eagerly waiting for the next book.

Thank you @netgalley for sending me an ARC of A Bright Heart in exchange for an honest review!

This is a very interesting story! Mingshin is killed by Ren, a prince she loved who betrayed her. She's granted a chance to return to 2 years prior to that and change her fate/ get revenge.If it all goes well she might even be able to saver her mother and the kingdom.
Mingshin is a great character! She suffered a lot with Ren and her cousin's betrayal. The way she tries to change things in this life is so clever, she grows a lot, even learning how to fight and how to manipulate people at court.
Jieh has such an interesting relationship with her. He'd do anything for her, even if he can't exactly understand what happened. I love that he never pressures her to tell her about her traumas with Ren, being patient and just letting her now he's on her side.
The plot with the magic wielders and the Dragon is so interesting. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

TW:death, murder, drowning, poison, violence, loss of limbs.

Thank you Net Galley and Union Square and co. for providing me with a copy of this book for a honest review.

What if you could avenge your own death? This is the premise behind “A bright heart” where we follow Mingshin as she comes back to life and has a second chance to get it right. The first time around she was fooled by Ren, but what if there is someone else claiming her heart this time?

I’m always a big fan of Asian retelling or inspired or based stories as I studied Chinese for many years now and this one did not disappoint. The premise already had me hooked, and the plot was super engaging as well.

Mingshin was such a badass main character, I loved her sass and determination into getting through life the right way round. She’s super clever and I loved every second of it, it also felt like she was taking revenge for me too. Jieh owns my heart, he’s so confident and sassy and determined in everything he does. I liked the other characters as well but Fei, Hui, Yao and Yunle deserve their own praise for being the best side characters.

The magic system was complex, but not too confusing which I enjoyed; and I found the writing style super easy to read through and super engaging as well.

After that ending I’m definitely excited for the sequel, I need to know that all the characters I care for are okay.

I recommend this if you’re into found family, royal intrigue and grumpy x grumpy

This was definitely a premise that drew me in at first read because this reminded me so much of otome isekai webtoons that I read, and I was excited to. see a YA novel inspired by such a trope. My only concerns for this book was that the romance felt a bit insta-lovey in the story, and I felt that Mingshin was a bit too repetitive in saying that she wanted revenge on Ren and exactly how horrible he was (which is true, I will admit). I wish the relationships were developed in a more natural fashion instead of everybody around Mingshin being drawn to her at first sight (Jieh's continuous staring at Mingshin, most significantly). Besides these critiques, I enjoyed the trajectory of the overall story, and I was excited to see Mingshin exercise more agency over her second life.

here are a few of my positives and negatives:

(?) we jumped RIGHT in. on one hand, i felt it was too quickly done and that the exposition was missing for the most part. on another hand, i understand the reasoning and it wasn’t a deal breaker.

(-) descriptions were skipped for plot though. is this a (?) or a (-)? i had to think on it. i typically don’t have a problem with it, but i know most people do. it did make the writing a bit more simplistic and a bit more tell and not show. the further into the book, the more everything was just handed to the reader, so i decided to make it a negative. (again, i usually don’t have a problem with tell-not-show books, mainly because i’m a bit stupid and don’t even notice it anyway! this time, however, it was just a litttleeee too much for me).

(+) i love a revenge plot. no, not a “i started my journey wanting revenge but then i learned revenge is bad” plot. a revenge plot.

(-) i do, however, hate a “love is more powerful than anything” plot. mainly because it’s corny. and because this book was all tell and no show, we were told that “our love was more powerful than xyz” multiple times. i struggled.
———
i honestly didn’t find the book bad. (+) it wasn’t horrendously paced, and (+) i was immersed in the story. based on entertainment, i wouldn’t say i regret the read.

This book stood out for me because of my own love of Chinese mythology and story tropes. Especially the rebirth/transmigration trope! I loved Mingshin. She is vengeful and full of anger but is so controlled and intelligent. She is careful with her every action and really thinks things through and I thought it was awesome. Jieh is arrogant but so whipped for Mingshin. I found his character to be smart, charming and cunning but also funny and a little awkward. The characters in this book felt realistic in that their personalities, motives, and actions always aligned which is important in a book with so many political twists and turns. I found myself really sucked into the plot of this book. Much like the chinese historical dramas I love to watch, the political games were fun to watch unfold. I also liked the fantasy/magical elements of the world and how that was integrated into the plot. This book also had great pacing! The plot was always moving forward and always interesting!