This cover is gorgeous and I love a good revenge book. Sadly, this one was disappointing.

This is less a revenge book than just a "mean girls" book. Ember says she's infiltrating a secret club at her school in order to avenge her sister's accident, but we aren't told many details about the accident and her sister seems indifferent to the whole plan. Furthermore, the club is more just mean girls doing dirty deeds for people and then calling in favors from them later to do someone else's dirty deeds. An multi-level marketing scheme or pyramid scheme for mean girls if you will.

I was hoping that the romance or the ending would redeem this, but no. I'm really sad. I had high hopes for this one but it didn't live up to them.

The Quick Cut: A teen girl dedicates herself to infiltrating her high school's secret society and taking them down from the inside. Things get chaotic when it has unanticipated effects on her personally. 

A Real Review:Thank you to Inkyard Press for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.   

The road to hell is paved with the best of intentions. Sometimes we do things for all the right reasons, but they end in us changed and questioning who we are. If someone close to you was hurt, how far would you go to right the wrong? For Ember, the answer is that she'll do what it takes to end the Red Court. 
 At Heller High, the Red Court is infamous for the tangled web they weave. You want to win a school election? They can make that happen. Need someone to get taken down more than a couple notches? They can do that too. There's very few actions they can take within the walls of the school. This is a truth that Ember knows all too well as her older sister was left paralyzed after one of the Red Court's movements. All she's wanted to do since was find out who the Queen of Hearts is and take down the entire organization. So when her achievements in school lead to their attention, she accepts the invite in order to learn more about them. Will she find that not all is how it seems? Or will she instead learn that she isn't very different from the people she's dedicated to take down? 
 This book has that sort of high school vibe that is very reminiscent of Pretty Little Liars and One of Us is Lying. Although the plot itself is absolutely insane and would probably never happen in real life, there is a sense of reality in the way that Ember reacts to them. She's dedicated herself to the cause to protect her family and keep anyone else from getting hurt. That's something that I think many of us can relate to and for that reason, the story is compelling. A few twists near the end to keep you guessing adds to the suspense of it all as well. 
 That being said, a good amount of the story does feel like it meanders a bit with Ember making no progress on her mission. If some of that bulk was taken out, this could've been a shorter book with a stronger bang for your buck so to say. 
 A thrilling high school story that speaks of the ills that secret societies can bring. 
My rating: 4 out of 5

had no clue what to expect going into this one. Little did I know that I was about to be HOOKED!

For one thing, I was in complete shock to find this book has Queen of Hearts vibes (which if you don’t already know is one of my favorite retellings), and the author did a fantastic job incorporating it into the perfect, secret society story.

If you are fans of YA thrillers with tons of suspense and mystery, bits of retelling vibes, engaging characters, a high school vengeance, AND a plot that immediately sucks you in, this book is perfect for you! Especially during the fall season!!

I absolutely LOVED every inch of this book, and the cut-throat twists are just the beginning. This is a story that I would recommend readers go into completely blind because I think it really impacted my enjoyment of uncovering just what was going on??

I gave this fast-paced read a solid 5 out of 5 stars!

Welcome to the Red Court
These Vengeful Hearts is the second release for author Katherine Lauren and she means business. This was a fun and twisty high school drama about a secret society that barters in favors and secrets.

After her sister suffers a paralyzing accident at the hands of the mysterious Red Court our leading Lady Ember has vowed to join their ranks and destroy them from within. She has worked her entire High School career to make herself the perfect candidate and it pays off when she receives a Queen of Hearts card in her locker, her invitation to the Red Court. Once in she quickly realizes that to gain their trust and the information she needs to move forward with her plan she will have to do things that make her question herself and where her loyalties lie.

This definitely gave me “Pretty Little Liar” vibes, but from the POV of “A.” What if the hero of the story is the bad guy in everyone else’s? I wasn’t sure how much I would be able to connect with the characters as it centered around High School drama (break-ups and Prom Queens oh my!) but I was quickly proven wrong. It goes beyond what the Red Court’s tasks are and delves deep into morality and decency. Ember is put to the test multiple times when her assignments get personal and she must decide if her revenge mission is worth harming those she cares about.

I was impressed with Katherine Laurin’s ability to create a realistic world where a secret society that consists of High Schoolers not only seems plausible but inevitable. In today’s world of information overload it is not unreasonable to think that our youth will eventually access and weaponize the secrets of their peers. She was able to develop enviable relationships between her characters, with a ride-or-die in Ember’s best friend Gideon, and a blossoming crush on a seemingly unattainable popular boy who is more than meets the eye.

I will anxiously wait to see if Heller High has any more secrets for us and will definitely be reading more from Katherine Laurin. If you are looking for a fast-paced story with twists and turns I highly recommend These Vengeful Hearts!

If I were to categorize this book, it would be Mean Girls meets Pretty Little Liars with a touch of Carrie. I had high hopes going into this one but it was just ok for me. I liked the characters of Ember, Gideon and Chase well enough but I found the plot a little too predictable for me. Nothing stood out or gave me that "wow, that's messed up" feeling I was hoping for when I go into a thriller. It wasn't a bad read and the pacing was fine but I don't think I ever felt like it was a true thriller.

A fun quick read. An entertaining story with a Mean Girls vibe. Ember is a smart, successful, well rounded, sophomore on a mission. She is determined to become part of the Red Court, A secret society of girls at her high school who pulled the strings and rule the school. Want to insure your girlfriend is going to be homecoming queen? Or that cute boy you have a crush on finally breaks up with his girlfriend? The Red Court can make it happen. BUT be careful once they help you out you owe them. Ember’s hope is to infiltrate the court and bring it down, this is all about revenge. Several years ago when her older sister April was at the school she was involved in an accident caused by the mysterious and powerful RED COURT.

This was an engaging story, however I would not classify it as a thriller. Ember was a very likable character and even though she got a little caught up in the power she never got too crazy. I also really liked her BFF Gideon and her crush Chase. The story was slightly predictable and I wasn’t riveted, but it was an enjoyable read. I think this would be the perfect story for someone in middle school or just about to start high school. The story gives you a lot to think about and it’s pretty rated G. Ember is a good person who gets caught up in a bad situation, and the use of the playing cards in the story was fun.

This book in emojis ♥️ 📸 🗳 🎨 🏃🏻‍♀️ ☕️

*** Big thank you to Ink Yard Press/Harlequin for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

This is a really fun, perfectly paced, YA thriller that is centered around the taking down of a secret society. Ember is the typical straight A, perfectionist, student except for the fact that she has a vendetta against the Red Court and has infiltrated them to take the Red Queen out. I really appreciated the agony and inner conflict that Ember dealt with has she carried out her Red Court orders. The favors and jobs that the Red Court takes on all felt devious but also very realistic to a high school experience so Laurin did an incredible job toeing that fine line. Of course, being a YA, there is some romance involved but it was the competing for the top spot at school trope and we have feelings for each other trope so it was everything my angsty loving heart enjoys. The Red Court was such a well thought out organization and I loved slowly understanding all the moving parts and how it all worked. I really liked how the story unfolded and I wouldn't mind reading more from this world in the future.

The Vengeful Hearts was a very nice surprise. I went almost blind on this one because I liked the cover and the title… I know! Lol I’ll be honest I expected a fantasy novel and had to read the synopsis after the first few lines. I’m very happy I stumbled onto this one. This is a bit different from what I usually read, and a great read.

This story is about Ember Williams who is on a mission to avenge her sister after a terrible accident caused by The Red Court—a secret society in her school. Ember’s sister tells her about the Red Court and she comes up with a plan to stop this secret society from hurting more innocents once and for all.

Ember is a smart girl, determined to avenge her sister. As the story progresses, we learn what happened to her sister and why this is so important to her. I very much enjoy the plot, the intrigue, and the mystery behind who the Red Queen is. Secrets are the currency in this society and it’s a particularly interesting power play. I like how each plan is executed (good and bad).

The cast of characters is entertaining. Gideon is a true friend from end to finish and exactly what Ember needs. As for Chase, I love the banter between the two characters. The romance doesn’t take too much space in the story, but it feels right. Her plan to take down the Red Court and the friendship she creates as she goes are the main focal point in this story. I very much enjoy that part. Ember is very relatable because she is often in a gray area and she knows it. She questions herself many times.

Overall, this is a great story where the plot keeps you going. It’s well-paced and with the right amount of drama. If you enjoy reading YA mystery, suspense/thriller, I would definitely recommend it. You won’t regret it.

Thank you to the publisher, Inkyard Press, for providing me with an ARC of These Vengeful Hearts in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Gist
I was obsessed with the Pretty Little Liars TV show for its entire run. High school thriller, with lots of intrigue and conspiracy. Sign me up!

I welcomed the possibility of high school being the exact opposite of what it was like for me. So, it’s a sort of nostalgic feeling I get when reading high school thrillers that offer me an alternative option for experiencing the good old adolescent years, even if it’s just in books.

That’s what grabbed my attention in the first place. I mean it’s in the name: vengeful plans and secret agendas.

I have to say, though, the title itself kept misleading me a little. There is the possibility that I may have read of a book with a similar name that belonged to the fantasy genre, which made this a little confusing at the beginning.

The Details
As hard as this might be for me, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in These Vengeful Hearts. The idea was good and the premise very promising, but the execution fell flat.

Ember, a determined, smart and ambitious high school student, out for revenge seemed like the perfect protagonist to get this story off the ground. Alas, she didn’t have much of a personality.

The story is narrated from Ember’s perspective. It’s a good opportunity to give the reader good insight into her emotions, the struggles she might be facing and a deeper understanding of her character. Instead, all the reader gets is a play-by-play narrative of what she is doing.

It’s too factual and it lacks any sort of personality traits that would let Ember stand out in a crowd.
A reason for the reader to continue, because of something that makes Ember unique.

Just like with the protagonist, there really wasn’t anything wrong with the plot. It had a lot of potential. These Vengeful Hearts sadly just never really got there. Nothing stood out and nothing made this story unique.

The writing was good. It was clear and concise. I could picture everything described and nothing felt too abstract.

The Verdict
Overall, I’m going to sound like a broken record here, but I could see the potential in These Vengeful Hearts. it was right there and yet never really made it.

I was hoping for a clench-the-book-with-white-knuckles kind of read. Unfortunately, it couldn’t quite capture that atmosphere.

I might suggest it as a lighter read.

A secret organization at Heller High School can grant favors or deal out punishments. Only no-one knows who they are or why they do what they do. But Ember Williams is hell-bent on finding out and getting in.

"Half of the school treated them like the Boogeyman..."

Why was Ember so obsessed with getting into this organization. For revenge, to take down the Queen of Hearts - the leader - down, for what they did to her sister. But it's more than just that... She might also secretly...

Well, you'll just have to read the book to find out what happens. Ember is an interesting character who keeps a few people close and there are some lines she won't cross. Being someone with a moral compass pointed to good, wanting to get into this type of secret club took all her determination...

I liked how Katherine wrote an open ending, while answering the biggest of your questions. Now the only question is what will happen next? Quite a nice page turner mystery for young readers to sink their teeth into.

Thanks to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for the advance Kindle copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this dark thriller. The Red Court rules Heller High. If you want something done, make a request. But if your request is granted, you owe them. The Court seriously injured Ember’s sister years back, leaving her in a wheelchair. Ember vows to join and infiltrate the group, flushing out the Red Queen and ending the group once and for all. What she doesn’t know, however, is how dark her ambitions will take her. This one is out tomorrow (9.8.20), and is recommended for grades 7+.

I am a fan of secret society plots like in The Skulls, and the focus on school as well as the writing style plus the mention of Phoenix reminded me of the Twilight Saga, although having liked those books I found that choice of city a little predictable.

Ember wants revenge on the secret society for their actions that left her sister paralysed. How far is she prepared to go?

She is not the most popular person at school but she does have Gideon.

The Red Court and its leader the Queen of Hearts are what Ember must expose herself to if she is to get revenge for what happened to her sister.

The ways she, and the reader, are subtly exposed to the Red Court at the beginning of the story lured me in and kept me there.

These Vengeful Hearts is a different, but refreshing novel that combines friendship, a high school secret society and begs the question of what people really do for those that matter most to them.

4 stars

Short and Sweet
Ember is ready to take down the Red Court. Whenever something scandalous happens at Heller High there’s one name that comes up and its the Red Court. Ember has been ready to get revenge on them ever since the accident that left her sister paralyzed. Now that Ember has been invited into the club she has the chance to dismantle it. The Red Court is more than Ember bargained for, especially when the jobs will effect those closest to her.
I did like the mystery of who the Red Queen was and who the other members of the court might be. Ember did get a little caught up into the world of the Red Court she liked the power and control she felt. It was interesting, she got a partner, Haley who was kind of like a mentor in all things Red Court and they had jobs that they had to accomplish. Most of the jobs were kind of heartless. All of the jobs that the Red Court received were from students of the school and once that job is completed the student ends up owing the Red Court.
Ember did have a little romance with Chase. I honestly thought their interactions were really cute. I love how competitive they were with each other. It was hard for Ember to keep her secret from Chase about being involved in with the Red Court. I also liked Ember’s relationship with her best friend Gideon although I did think he was a bit much sometimes, but he did try to keep Ember in check during her involvement with the Red Court.
I really liked this book! The mystery was great and I didn’t suspect who was the Queen of Hearts. This was a quick read and it held my attention the whole time. Definitely pick this book up if you’re interested in revenge and mystery books!

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.