When I returned from my hiatus in early 2021, I decided to do blog tours. When Algonquin Young Readers approached me to not only be on the blog tour for The Counterclockwise Heart but to read/review it, I almost turned it down. I didn’t (and still don’t) like being tied down to a specific time to have a review done. But, I decided to accept because I wanted to read the book, and if it meant doing a blog tour, I’d do it. I am glad that I accepted because I enjoyed reading this book so much that I went and bought it for my kids.

The Counterclockwise Heart is the story of Alphonsus, the young Prince of the empire of Rheinvelt. He is sent by his mother, Empress Sabine, to the village of Somber End. In Somber End, there is a giant onyx statue named the Onyx Maiden. There is also a young man, Guntram, who has been talking to the Onyx Maiden daily and is bitter about being replaced by Alphonsus. Things change when the Maiden moves when Alphonsus talks to it, and Guntram’s bitterness spirals into hatred and rage. While that is happening, a young Hierophant named Esme has just arrived in Rheinvelt. The Collective of Hierophants has sent her to find the Nachtfrau, who happens to be Esme’s mother. The Collective expects Esme to do is mind-boggling but what she does when she meets the Nachtfrau surprises her more. What will happen when Esme and Alphonsus meet up? Will Guntram get his way?

The Counterclockwise Heart had a fast-paced plotline, even with the 3 (and sometimes 4) different POVs‘. What surprised me more was that the author could keep the book’s flow going and avoid the lag that could happen. That made for a more enjoyable reading experience for me.

I will log a teeny tiny complaint before I go into the rest of my review. Before I get into it, I want to clarify that this had zero effect on my enjoyment of the book, but it did annoy me. The first line of every chapter was abbreviated (see my first line above). I had to guess who it was and what they were doing. As I said, it was annoying but didn’t affect my reading in any way. It seemed more like a formatting issue than an editing mistake.

The Counterclockwise Heart is rated as a middle-grade fantasy. For the most part, I agree, but I would highly recommend that parents read this book if they are planning on letting younger kids (under 10-11) read it. There are several scenes that I feel would scare the little one.

I did feel bad for Alphonsus, but I liked that he rose over all obstacles thrown in his way. I liked that he was written as your typical tween. He was down to earth, a little sheltered, and one of the sweetest characters that I have met. He was able to see through Guntram’s facade, and he did try to warn his mother/guards of what was going on. His connection with the Maiden was sweet, and I laughed when he was trying to teach her to talk. But it was his immediate connection with Esme that I liked. I also liked that he could absorb everything that life threw at him and seemed to come out the other end relatively unscathed. I mean, his whole world was turned upside down, and he processed everything with an understanding that went beyond his years.

I loved Esme, but I felt that she was a little too over the top with her hatred of the Nachtfrau. It did bother me that she refused to listen to her or let the Nachtfrau explain. But, it was meant to be in the grand scheme of things, whether I like it or not. I enjoyed Esme’s gradual awakening to the fact that maybe not everything The Collective had told her. I felt that it fleshed her character out.

I did find her use of magic fascinating. I also found it one of the better explanations of magic in any of the books I have read. Magic was a give-and-take balance. So if Esme were to cast an earth-based spell, she would be thirsty afterward. Using too much magic could kill a user at the worse or the best, making them very sick. It was fascinating, and I enjoyed reading about Esme using it.

I know that Guntram was the villain, but I couldn’t help feel bad for him at first. I understood why he felt betrayed by the Maiden. He spent ten years pouring his heart out to her, and she moved for Alphonsus. I would have been mad too. But to have his betrayal and anger morph into what it became? At that point, I stopped feeling bad for him and thought that he got what he deserved. The Maiden, later on in the book, put it best.

The secondary characters were just as vivid and fleshed out as the main characters. They made the book easier to read and added more depth to the plotline.

The end of The Counterclockwise Heart broke my heart and uplifted me simultaneously. I can’t get into it (spoilers), but every question asked in the book was answered. Nothing was left unanswered (even if it broke my heart). I hope there will be a second book because I would love to read more about Esme and Alphonsus’s adventures.

I would recommend The Counterclockwise Heart to anyone over 11. I would strongly suggest the parents read this book if they have younger kids reading it. There is violence. It is a clean book.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

“Still other villagers asked a far wiser question: “Why did this happen?” These were the people who understood that sometimes whos and hows didn’t amount to nearly as much importance as whys.”

A middle-grade novel with extraordinary literature written by Brian Farrey. Its fast-paced storytelling leaves us wanting more, a true fantasy filled with adventure and heartbreak.

“Its prey lay beyond the symbols. The creature could sense it. There was life to be killed. And then deaths to be erased.”

Young Prince Alphonsus is sent on a journey to save the empire of Rheinvelt. The only things standing between him are Guntram, our antagonist, the maiden, a frightening statue said to bring destruction, an evil sorceress named Nachtfrau, shadowy beasts roaming the Hinterlands and his own fear of acceptance. As Esme, from the lost people of Hierophant, travels to free her people, she struggles with the choice between accepting the truth or killing the person responsible for the disappearance of the Hierophant… The Nachtfrau.

As Alphonsus and Esme worlds collide, will they become enemies or friends?

“He’d forgotten what it was like to live without fear.”

Usually when a novel changes POV at every chapter, I get a lack of interest to continue reading. However, this book was very well written, it brought a new aspect to the story to read the POV of the “bad guy” making you understand why he was acting out.

“Stupid compassion must be contagious.”

The characters’ development throughout this book is done perfectly, not only did they grow has individuals but they were also acting their age (usually a character would act older than what they were). What drove me more into loving this story was the fact that Farrey talked about real-world issues: the acceptance of people being different.

“Now, when dealing with those who’d always treated him with kindness and affection, he peered deeply into their eyes, searching for the secret hatred they might have buried within.”

Overall, I recommend this book to any reader that loves a great adventure filled with mystery and magic.

This imaginative and thought-provoking middle-grade read is so rich and complex that even adults will be enthralled.

On a fateful day, Empress Sabine discovers a small babe hidden away in the palace walls; she raises the boy as her own, Prince Alphonsus. But he is unique - in place of his heart is a ticking clock. On the same day that Alphonsus was found, a huge stone maiden statue appeared in the village square. After an encounter with the maiden, Alphonsus notices his clock has begun to tick backward. Who is he and where did he come from?

Meanwhile, Esme, one of the last Hierophants - possessing magic in the highest order, is searching for the Nachtfrau, the sorceress lurking in the Hexen Woods.

When Esme and Prince Alphonsus meet, they both realize that they each are trying to put together the pieces of their pasts. When the empire falls under attack, Alphonsus and Esme work together to protect what they love.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵…

Set in the fairy-tale-like empire of Rheinvelt, this coming-of-age journey is filled with magic, secrets, quests, and a saving sacrifice. 𝘈𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤, 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭.

Thank you to @algonquinyr and @brianfarreylatz for a spot on tour and a gifted copy.

I would like to thank Algonquin for giving me the chance to read this. I enjoyed the book, and the premise is fascinating. While I may not be the intended audience, I enjoyed the story. There were some words I wasn’t familiar with, which kind of took me out of the story a bit. The story flowed well until there was a word I didn’t know. That’s a “me” problem, not the author’s problem.

It’s based on German folklore and there are moments that are a little dark, but it’s not so dark that it would be inappropriate for a middle-grade student. I thought it was an endearing story. Readers should give this one a chance!

Rating: 3.5

Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Counterclockwise Heart

Author: Brian Farrey

Book Series: Standalone for now

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: middle grade, fantasy, German folktale inspired

Publication Date: February 1, 2022

Genre: MG Fantasy

Recommended Age: 10+ (some dark moments, war, slight violence, slight gore)

Explanation of CWs: There are some dark moments in this book and parents might want to read this book ahead of their child to judge if it’s appropriate for them. The book does discuss war and it’s central to the story. There is also some slight violence and gore.

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers

Pages: 336

Synopsis: Tick . . . tick . . . tick . . .

Time is running out in the empire of Rheinvelt.

The sudden appearance of a strange and frightening statue foretells darkness. The Hierophants—magic users of the highest order—have fled the land. And the shadowy beasts of the nearby Hinterlands are gathering near the borders, preparing for an attack.

Young Prince Alphonsus is sent by his mother, the Empress Sabine, to reassure the people while she works to quell the threat of war. But Alphonsus has other problems on his mind, including a great secret: He has a clock in his chest where his heart should be—and it’s begun to run backwards, counting down to his unknown fate.

Searching for answers about the clock, Alphonsus meets Esme, a Hierophant girl who has returned to the empire in search of a sorceress known as the Nachtfrau. When riddles from their shared past threaten the future of the empire, Alphonsus and Esme must learn to trust each other and work together to save it—or see the destruction of everything they both love.

Review: I absolutely loved this book! It was so vivid and detailed, but not overbearing with the details. The book did well to convey the story and had me speeding to the end to find out what would happen. The character development was equally as well done and for a darker middle grade fantasy I think the author did well to keep it age appropriate.

The only issues I had with the book are that the German words used might be a bit harder for the younger readers and I felt like the book was too fast paced for me, but it would be excellent for younger readers.

Verdict: It was excellent! Highly recommend!

Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for the eARC! I thought this was such a fun MG fantasy story and I definitely want to read other books by Brian Farrey now. The chapters in this book ended with big reveals or cliffhangers and kept me wanting to read way past my bedtime 🤣 I really liked how all the characters were somehow connected and I didn't expect some of those connections at all 😮 The worldbuilding was so well done and I thought the concept of magic usage was fantastic. Also yay girl power with the rulers of the country and high-ranking officials being female! This book also has some great messages about compassion and overall, I think it's a great book for kids and adults to read!

4.5/5 Stars

My review, which follows, will appear at the link on 1/31/22 at 10 AM: http://www.lizziewrites.com/2022/01/31/the-counterclockwise-heart-by-brian-farrey/

It’s been such a long time where I’ve been able to sit down with a middle grade novel, and not only that, but just sit down and enjoy myself. So much of my reading lately has been just . . . not fun and that’s entirely my fault, but to say this book was a breath of fresh air after starting and stopping so many other books over the past few months would be an understatement.

I kind of knew from the opening chapter that I was going to love it; it reminded so much of the books that made me fall in love with reading when I was younger. The mystery, the centering of a story on anything involving a clock always drew me in and still does. The setting was vast and varied, exploring numerous parts of the kingdom that Alphonus’ mother ruled over; I hate to call it a fun adventure, given the reasons the characters were doing it, but the exploration really did make it more fun.

Perhaps my favorite part though was the heavy German influence woven throughout the story. As a descendent of someone who was a burgermeister in the old country, I was ECSTATIC when I first saw the word pop up in the book. Then to notice details, big and small, throughout that hinted at said German influence . . . it was so cool to see. I can’t say I’ve read other books like that so an MG novel having it was exciting!

I wish I would’ve had this book when I was ten. I think that’s the age when I would’ve really loved and enjoyed it most, but I’m so glad I was able to read it now. Brian Farrey is an incredible storyteller and that shines brightly in The Counterclockwise Heart.

The Counterclockwise Heart is a middle-grade fantasy by Brian Farrey, published by Algonquin Young Readers on 01 February 2022.

The ARC for this book was offered to me, with the words:
"Perfect for fans of Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly and The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, THE COUNTERCLOCKWISE HEART demonstrates that, in the words of Esme, “stupid compassion must be contagious.” "

Perfect might be overstretching it, but I enjoyed my time with the book, once I sat down and read it. (My fault, I kept pushing the book back onto the virtual #MountARC.) It’s definitely perfect for the kind of middle-grade reader who likes to read more mature books and can handle darker topics of death, grief, violence; those are done gracefully not gory and too dark.

Although I am a native of German, I actually struggled with the German words within the story. They pulled me out of the flow of the story more often than I liked. This might be a problem for younger readers, too. Even more so, since most of the words are not explained or translated. Young readers might not bother about the hidden meaning of those words, but I was wondering what Germanic folklore exactly Farrey was hinting at. So I checked the word “Nachtfrau” (night woman), for example. It’s been out of use for a long time, and I was only vaguely familiar with the term. It used to refer to a female ghost-like creature that was supposed to drain the blood from children’s bodies; a bo(o)geyman story told to children to make them behave well. The Nachtfrau in The Counterclockwise Heart isn’t a ghost, nor does she drink children’s blood, nevertheless she is a figure people are afraid of.

My favourite character is Esme. She’s strong. She was brought up in a small community of Hierophants in the North who blames the Nachtfrau for their problems. Despite having been told to loathe the sorceress, Esme is strong enough to trust her own instincts. She weighs what she learned growing up against what she learned during her travels. She uses her brain and heart to determine whether what she had been told is actually true, and makes an informed decision based on facts, rather than ‘fiction’.

The magic system Farrey came up with is wonderful. It’s a system of balance: if you use energy for your spell that means you have to give back something. Some sort of energy conservation. This way magic actually added to the story, since it couldn’t be used as a panacea for all sorts of problems; using magic carelessly might cause more trouble.

A good middle-grade novel that, since that’s the one I read and liked, fans of Barnhill’s The Girl Who Drank the Moon will certainly enjoy.

When nights pass as hours the same
The end of time will start
A sacrifice is all that saves
The counterclockwise heart

--------------------------

The Counterclockwise Heart is an epically beautiful, magic-filled adventure story in the vein of classic Aesop's fables. It has characters you want to root for, an atmospheric setting and a historic magic feud complete with a mythic villain (or two).

Prince Alphonsus was an orphaned baby adopted by the Empress and her wife as their own. They keep secret from the empire his mysterious origin and the clock embedded where his heart should be. In his bassinet was the poem above and the same day he is found, a massive onyx statue descends on a small village. The villagers believe the statue is an ill-omen until a young boy, Guntram begins to speak to her and the crops begin to flourish. As the years pass, the Empress replaces Guntram with Alphonsus and leaves Guntram with a bitter grudge. Enter Esme, the last of a dying breed of magical people who have been exiled from the empire. She wants nothing more than to free her people and she must steal the heart of the statue to do so. The paths of these three are destined for an epic showdown and not everything is quite what it seems.

I adored these rich characters and the world building was fabulous. I would not have believed that this is aimed at middle grade readers; anyone who enjoys fantasy, especially with some great ethical quandaries. I absolutely loved being transported into this world!

Thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.

A young baby, Alphonsus, is found in the walls of a castle. Upon closer examination by his “mother,” the empress, it’s discovered that he has a clock where his heart should be. That same day a frightening statue appears in a nearby small town. Years later, a young witch, a Hierophant, sets out on a journey to save her people. These stories entwine to lead the reader on a fantastic journey filled with magic, darkness, and knowledge and truths to be discovered in Brian Farrey’s The Counterclockwise Heart.

I have to say that when I got beyond my initial, ugh, it’s a fantasy novel, that I was gripped by this book. It may be written for middle graders, but nonetheless it captured me and held on. I was mesmerized by the story of young Prince Alphonsus. Why did he have a clock as a heart? Why had it begun to go backwards? Would he survive? And, what of young Esme who seems far too young to be traversing the landscape that the community of Hierophants has asked her to travel through with its monsters and dangers.

As I turned pages, I was also very aware that Farrey was also presenting another story, about people who are different and being tolerant, that the stories we are fed may not always be stories that are true. That there comes a time when we must determine what our purpose is while realizing that it is not necessarily the one that others would choose for us. And, the obvious one: seeking power for power’s sake alone can and does corrupt.

I don’t know why but I never thought as I was reading: this is a middle grade book. It was just an engrossing read with tweens as characters, which is why I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good adventure story filled with magic and monsters and true-hearted characters as well as concrete lessons that we may all need reaffirming every once in a while.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found the Counterclockwise Heart to me mildly entertaining. I enjoyed all of the characters, the magic system, the steampunkness of the clockwork heart, but the story just seemed a little slow. It took more than 50% of the book to finally all start coming together and some of the explanations of things came at the very end (which seemed a tad thrown on). Overall, it was fine but it didn't really keep me wanting to come back and read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've never heard anything about this author, nor have I seen anyone talking about this book, and that's a shame, because there is so much to love about this world and the storytelling on the whole.

Overall, I love the mystery surrounding the Nachtfrau and the Maiden, the tension when Alphonsus' clock starts ticking backwards, losing numbers one by one, the sweet maternal relationships that are present. The pacing does leave a little to be desired as it takes a while before anything happens and then it slows again until it nears the end when things get hectic, but it didn't lessen my enjoyment of the story at all.

This book was out of my comfort zone but I’m a fan of middle grade and interested in trying more fantasy so I thought I’d take a chance on it. I enjoyed it but wasn’t blown away. I think this could be a perfect introduction to high fantasy for middle grade readers. It’s an adventure with a compelling quest and mystery at its heart. I enjoyed seeing the heroes’ stories intersect and learning the truth alongside them. There were also a couple of great surprises throughout.

I wish we learned more (and earlier) about what Nachtfrau did that was evil. It would have helped understand why Esme and everyone supposedly wanted her dead. I also feel like the balance of spells could have been better explained… the balancing effects felt random and somewhat purposeless.

Nevertheless, this is one I would easily recommend to a middle grader interested in fantasy, or the adult reader wanting to dip their toe into either middle grade or high fantasy books.

The Counterclockwise Heart by Brian Farrey, 352 pages. Algonquin Young Readers, 2022. $18. LGBTQIA
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Guntram (21yo) leaves his little town for an offered position at the palace, Alphonsus (10yo) is given his first real princely duty, and Esme (12yo) has returned to the place her people, the magic wielders, fled, in order to complete a task. Their lives will soon intertwine, a fate set in motion by the inexplicable appearance of the Onyx Maiden ten years ago.
Everything starts a little discombobulated with the switching of points of view and skipping through time, and I doubted that it was all going to fit together. And then connections started to form. Once the jumbled parts started making sense, I couldn’t put down the book until I finished. Farrey is a brilliant craftsman of words, and I loved journeying with his characters.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Book: The Counter Clockwise Heart
Author: Brian Farrey
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Algonquin Young Readers, for providing me with an ARC.

Okay, so let me start out by saying that I have been reading a lot of adult titles this year. It did take me some time to get into the middle grade mindset. However, once I did so, I did have a such a great time with this one. At its heart, it’s an adventure and fantasy story. The is more to it than that; it is about finding yourself and having the courage to do so. There are some dark undertones to this book, but the author doesn’t go too dark-so younger readers will still be okay. It honestly reminded me a lot of JK Rowling’s Ickobog. If you are looking for a book with similar tones and feelings, then this may be the book for you.

Overall, this is just one of those stories that will put you in a good mood. While the characters can be rather difficult for older readers to connect with, you will quickly be able to see that these are the perfect characters for the middle grade audience. We follow Prince Alphonsus, who has a clock in his chest and it has started to run backwards. He has no idea what this means. There is also a statue that just appeared in the village and is needs someone to sit by it and talk to it. This is our set up. If it seems really strange, don’t worry, it is. Again, this whole set up works with both the characters and the middle grade audience. We see the characters thrown into these situations and we get to see them grow and change in the ways that these situations make them. We see a prince who really hasn’t had any experience with the real world and lives pretty much in a bubble. When he starts to talk to the Maiden and is forced out of his comfort zone, we see him change into this character with a lot of courage and drive to do whatever it takes to save both his mother and empire.

We also see curiosity at the forefront as well. For the most part, this curiosity is presented to us in a childlike and innocent way. We start out by given this world that seems, for the most part, pretty innocent. However, as our characters start to grow more curious about it, we start to see just how dark and unforgiven it can actually be. We see the characters discover that not everything out there is actually good and sometimes there can actually be great evil lurking right in front of you. Again, the author doesn’t go too dark on this idea. There is also the idea of being curious about the world around you. No one knows where the Maiden came from or really why it is here. They all fear it and dread the day that it will wake up. This sense of fear drives everyone away from the Maiden and makes them not to want know more about it. Alphonsus is really one of the few people in this world who does express in the Maiden and this allows him to form a special bond with her.

While we do have the themes of sadness, death, grief, and war in this book, I thought the author handled them very well. These are very dark and difficult themes, but they are presented in a way that is not too much for younger readers. I guess that what I’m getting at is they are presented in a way that children will understand. These themes are handled with the dignity, grace, and respect that they deserve. The use of these themes would also be great talking points with children.

Anyway, I did have a great time with this one. Overall, I thought this was a really solid middle grade read.

This book comes out on February 1, 2022.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/BN1kihwpg30

This was a great book. A very cool read for middle grade folks and something to think about for all of us about the value of everyone.

What I loved:
The story revolves around Germanic folk tales, which gives you a clue to the dark undertone of the story. The author's magical system is unique because balance is the key to ensuring magic is not the cure-all for every problem encountered in the story. Magic at times made things more complicated instead of more straightforward, which adds to the tension of the story. The steampunk elements, Alphonse's character, and the statue having clockwork hearts made the story stand out.
Final Verdict
The Counterclockwise heart was unique and enjoyed most by those familiar with German folklore. The darkness at times can make it difficult for some readers but never goes too far for the age group it is intended for. A tale of magic lies and sacrifice makes it stand out read for the middle-grade genre.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to pre-read this book and share my opinions on it.

This book is an enchanting example of modern writing inspired by Germanic folk tales, and if you know anything about Germanic folk tales, you know this story is probably gonna be dark. Which, it was, but Farrey also had a deft restraint that kept it from getting too close to "Wow-I-don't-want-my-kid-reading-this" territory. This will be a great title for any middle grade readers who are ready to tackle more mature books without delving too far into grown-up territory. Just know, if you are a parent trying to decide on a book for your child, there is some measure of violence, death, and sadness, and it is all handled with grace and respect.

As a reader of fantasy, I have to tip my hat to the magic system Farrey created for this book. I loved the idea of balance - a common principle in my beloved Celtic folklore - to prevent magic from simply becoming a cure-all. If anything, magic made things more complicated, which was a fantastic way to add tension to the plot.

I did, however, find the characters a little hard to connect with. I never felt drawn back to the book after I set it down and walked away for a bit. While the tonality was a bit more distant, as is typical of books that read like folklore or fairy tales, the characters were certainly developed enough as to not be simple plot vehicles. So I don't know what my problem was. Maybe it's The Times We Live In that is making it hard for me to form connections, but I don't know, I just felt a little distant for some reason.

I will say, however, that Guntram, our antagonist, is one of those bad guys that I generally find somewhat... adorable? If that's the right word? I don't know, I just love ineffectual bad guys who surprise you by eventually becoming genuinely scary. His backstory came a little too late in the pages of the book, I think, because it's hard not to feel for him once you know it.

Maybe that was my issue. Obviously Guntram was supposed to be the bad guy, but for most of the book, I felt kind of like, "Oh look, he's having a tantrum again. Aw, bless him." So, he didn't really feel dangerous to me. At least, not when Alphonsus had a giant stone woman there to flail anyone who got close to him to death.

At any rate, this was an enjoyable read, but I'm not sure I'll ever be in any great rush to read it again.

I am still very excited that I got to be a part of the blog tour for this one! I had been wanting to read it since I had seen the cover and read the blurb. It also had been awhile since I lasted picked up a Middle Grade Fantasy. It was just the perfect timing for this one!

The book is told from multiple point-of-views. This was definitely necessary since there are a lot of moving parts to the plot that involve the characters in the book. I liked that I got to experience what was happening through each of their eyes, especially the Margrave. He was a very interesting guy and didn’t always make the best decisions but his point-of-view helped us understand those decisions.

I guess you could say that the character who has the most page time would be Alphonsus. He doesn’t understand why he has a clock for a heart and didn’t know until he was a bit older. Once he finds out, he wants to know more and this is really where the story begins. Crazy things happen and it stayed very engaging throughout, especially because of the plot twists!

The book is not only entertaining but the plot also has great messages for young kids. Each character has their own problem and each one has a message to share through that problem.

Overall, I enjoyed this one and would share it with my child when she gets older.

I received an electronic ARC from Algonquin Young Readers through NetGalley.
Farrey spins a fantasy world where several storylines weave together as the characters interact and react to each other. Prince Alphonsus' story begins when he is found as a baby with an unusual item in place of his heart. His mother, the Empress, adopts him and raises him to be a kind and compassionate ruler. The two hide his unique heart to protect him. As his story unfolds, readers also meet Guntram, a young boy from one of the empire's villages. His life is rather different from the Prince's and he yearns for power and recognition. His time is spent talking to an Onyx Maiden statue that appeared in his village years before. While both young boys are growing, a third story unfolds. Readers meet Esme, a Hierophant sent on a mission by her people. She wields tremendous magic but has no real ways to connect with other humans. Each of these characters is on a collision course as all three's heart desires come to be in ways they did not predict.
The story reads quickly and lightly addresses the darker parts of the war they set off. Middle grade readers will appreciate how the three interact with each other and other characters. All carry a darker part of themselves that they struggle to overcome. The scenery unfolds around them and feels a bit flat at times. However, the character strength makes up for the weaker descriptive text.