These Vengeful Hearts by Katherine Laurin - HIGH

These Vengeful Hearts by Katherine Laurin, 336 pages. Inkyard Press, 2020. $19.

Language: R (54 swears, 3 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Ember is a sophomore with a mission: become part of the Red Court. Once she’s part of the feared group that rules Heller High from the shadows, Ember will do everything she can to take them down from the inside. But what is she willing to lose in exchange for success?

Ember might be taking all the risks, but readers are not exempt from the fear of watching her best laid plans fail. My anxiety constantly spiked over when and where the twist would come -- and I knew it was coming. I enjoyed the entertainment of reading Ember’s story as much as I loved how Laurin explores the ugliest emotions possible in a lesson of morality and ethics. Like Ember, you can pinpoint the actions that are incongruent with who you want to be and channel your efforts into something more positive. While it might be embarrassing or bring about consequences you don’t want to face, you will be happier for letting go of the parts of yourself that make you miserable. Mature content rating for underage drinking and alcohol abuse.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen