Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

From the very start, The Rebel Heart had gorgeous writing and prose, and great characters. I was instantly sucked into the story from the first page, and I felt for Csilla very much. She is a Jewish girl living in 1950s Hungary, behind the Iron Curtain, trying to decide whether it is worth risking her life to escape. I learned a lot about the Hungarian Revolution, which I really enjoyed because I knew nothing about it before reading.

Another big plus was the polyamory representation with the trio of Azriel, Tamás, and Csilla. I REALLY wish this aspect of the story had been publicized more and been part of the marketing; if it was, I feel that more people would want to read this book! I really appreciate that it went the route of polyamory instead of the overdone love triangle trope too often seen in YA.

The one flaw I felt was the fantastical elements of the colors disappearing from Hungary and the personification of the Danube River. They were interesting, but felt a bit unnecessary to the overall story. I would have preferred if the book was just pure historical fiction without any fantastical elements.

Oh what a fiery heart of a novel Katherine Locke has written. This is a story of hope, of trauma, of love and courage. It's a story of rebellion, and Jewish resiliency. It's a story of a river and a city and all the people who live in a place and dare to dream bigger dreams for it and for themselves. What a stunning, heart-wrenching, beautiful story, drenched in color and sadness all at once.
And what a gift to watch Csilla, the main character of This Rebel Heart, rise. What a gift to watch her dare to fight for a city and a country that has never loved her back, to fight for it as an unapologetic Jew. To exist and survive where she was never supposed to, and for the water and the stones of this city to love her for it. This book honors Csilla's trauma and her survival (and that of her family's) in the same breath - it never demands her to be less Jewish or less Hungarian but it also breaks open that constant struggle that all Jews face, of always waiting for the other shoe to drop in places that were supposed to be home. Of struggling to love a place that will never love you back, and loving it anyway. This book is a love letter to Jewish survival and wow, I've so rarely seen that written like this across the page of a book in such a bold and direct way.
I have so much to say about this book, about the trio of Azriel, Tamás, and Csilla, bound together by chance, by fate, by revolution, by love. About that constant back and forth between the past and present, the way history is like the river, always there yet always shifting. About the way we remember our parents, how their flesh-and-blood existences can never just be boiled down to the people who live in our memories or sprawled out on journal pages. About what hope looks like, color splashed into a scene devoid of it.

What will I say right now though? I loved this book with all my heart, and I look forward to returning to it over and over again. I highly recommend.

The author’s note at the beginning of the book warns that Hungary’s revolution does not end in victory, so I felt like I read this entire book holding my breath, waiting for that shoe to drop. Which wasn’t a negative for me– just added a lot of intensity.

Csilla was my favorite character, but I loved the other characters, too. I loved the way that magic is woven into the story through Csilla’s relationship with the river. The way that color (or a lack of it) is used in the story, too, is really powerful and cool.

The way the story is written completely captivated me. I felt like I couldn’t stop reading, and like so many of the scenes were just aching– achingly beautiful or haunting or tragic. I feel like it struck something in me really deeply, a kind of connection with a book that I haven’t felt since reading THE BOOK THIEF years ago, where it made me want to call people and read them pages of the story.

I’m trying not to buy any new books right now because SHELF SPACE, but I really want a hard copy of this one. THIS REBEL HEART is the first book I’ve read by Katherine Locke, but obviously I need to read all their other books immediately. I absolutely loved it.

I think readers who enjoyed THE GIRL IN THE BLUE COAT by Monica Hesse or books by Ruta Sepetys would love THIS REBEL HEART.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it lived up to the hype. I loved the setting and the characters. It was such an immersive read and riveting as well. I highly recommend this book.

As a Jewish reviewer, I really wanted to read and love this but I got 15% in and it is so slow and I am so bored. I think I might try to read it again because I love me some Zionist book. I am prob just not in the right mood for it at this time and don’t know when I will be

This one was so good! I'll admit, when I started it, I was a bit skeptical. (More than a bit) Right off the bat, we're thrust into a world that seems like ours, but with some differences. It took me a good half of the book to figure out if statements were literal, or just complex symbolism. In reality, it was a bit of both, but that confusion was a little overwhelming. Once I got past that though, I loved this!

My favorite thing was definitely how powerful it is. The symbolism, the characters. The fighting spirit/determination came through so strongly. This had me tearing up at times, it held so much power within it. Even days after finishing it, I can flip back in my brain and relive the most touching moments.

And although I never quite connected with the romance, I loved every character on their own. Csillla was a super loveable character. She was idealistic, and even after all that she'd gone through, she held her hope. Azriel was what The Book Thief tried to do, but 10x better. I loved him as a character. And then we had Tamas. Although he didn't get a perspective, he was a character I really enjoyed. The way all three of them wove together to create this story was amazing, and I would totally read another book just about them.

As for the romance, I wasn't a huge fan, but I feel like it warrants a mention for breaking the "rules" of YA. It didn't give our heroine the choice of 2 love interests and then force her to choose. No, this went the way of Iron Widow and chose every love interest. And I loved it for that. The growing trend/acceptance of polyamorous relationships in YA is amazing, and I hope it continues.

Even though there's more to commend this one on, I think that's enough. It was a super great read, and one I'd definitely recommend!

Thanks to Turn the Page Tours for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book received for free through Netgalley

This book was gripping, heart wrenching, and so hard to put down. The characters grabbed me immediately and it was so hard to put down.

WWII. The Holocaust. The communists. Csilla and her neighbors in Budapest have seen a lot of horrors. The river keeps them safe, and it might be a little magic. Csilla will have to decide if it’s worth risking her life for revolution in her country.

This book was interesting, hopefully, and heartbreaking. There’s queer representation as well as an exploration of lesser-known parts of history, things I am definitely here for. It’s a timely novel of resistance, standing up, and taking risks for what you believe in. There’s a lot of buzz going around about this one, and I’m not sure if it lives up to the hype, but I will say I enjoyed it. It’s out now wherever books are sold.

What worked: Lyrical, heartbreaking historical where magic and reality merge. Based on a true event, readers are transported to 1950s Budapest and meet Csilla. She lives a complacent life with her aunt, a survivor of Auschwitz, counting down the days until they can flee the country. She longs to break away from the crushing power of the Russian control of her country. She also loves the river that speaks to her.

There are metaphors throughout this engaging story. How the color is leached from not only the country but the people. How a beautiful stranger shows himself to be the angel of death. How the secrets of the dead can be revealed at difficult times but also can give someone the hope that is desperately needed. But mostly, it's the story of a young Jewish girl in Communist Hungary who digs deep down within herself to gain the courage to fight for the country she loves.

The lyrical writing gives this story heart and I couldn't help but hope for the best for Csilla and her friends.

Mesmerizing, beautifully written historical that breaks your heart while beaming hope. Totally recommend.

Originally posted at: https://www.yabookscentral.com/this-rebel-heart/

Locke’s atmospheric novel takes place in Hungary during the Revolution of 1956. Csilla’s parents had been murdered by the ruling Communists and now, years later, they are exonerated. But life for Csilla is gray, a world absent of colors. There is no joy, no song, no pleasure. Instead, her world is bleak, cold and harsh.

Csilla has a plan to escape but circumstances change and she is faced with a huge decision. Should she leave the country that killed her parents or join in the student efforts to protest the oppressive regime?

There are a lot of references to the Danube which cuts through the middle of Budapest. It once saved her family and now it is symbolic of the political situation in the country. Like the lack of color, the river is characterized in striking description, conveying the bleakness of Hungary.

While Csilla and the other main characters are intriguing, this is not a character driven book. It seems the author’s focus was on recreating the mood, the climate of unrest. Many who are unfamiliar with Hungary’s brutal post-war years, will welcome this portrayal but be prepared for a story steeped in imagery and tone. These are the aspects of the novel that will leave a lasting impression.
3.5*

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

Book: This Rebel Heart

Author: Katherine Locke

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Diversity: Jewish MC and characters, Gay characters, Queer characters, Poly romance

Recommended For...: young adult readers, historical fiction, fantasy, LGBT, magical realism

Publication Date: April 5, 2022

Genre: YA Historical Fiction Fantasy

Age Relevance: 15+ (Parental Death, War, The Holocaust, Death, Violence, Gore, Grief, PTSD, Romance, Genocide, Nazism, Sexual harassment, Antisemitism, Suicide, Homophobia, Murder)

Explanation of Above: The book deals with the aftermath of WW2 and mentions it, Nazism, and the Holocaust a lot. There is also death, murder, violence, and gore shown in this book as Hungary is being controlled by Soviet police. Parental death and grief are also mentioned a lot throughout the book, as well as PTSD and genocide. There is a lot of antisemitism and homophobia in the book as well. The book also has a mention of sexual harassment and suicide. There is also some romance in this book.

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Pages: 304

Synopsis: In the middle of Budapest, there is a river. Csilla knows the river is magic. During WWII, the river kept her family safe when they needed it most--safe from the Holocaust. But that was before the Communists seized power. Before her parents were murdered by the Soviet police. Before Csilla knew things about her father's legacy that she wishes she could forget.

Now Csilla keeps her head down, planning her escape from this country that has never loved her the way she loves it. But her carefully laid plans fall to pieces when her parents are unexpectedly, publicly exonerated. As the protests in other countries spur talk of a larger revolution in Hungary, Csilla must decide if she believes in the promise and magic of her deeply flawed country enough to risk her life to help save it, or if she should let it burn to the ground.

Review: For the most part I loved this book. The book was beautifully written and details a lot of history that is mostly not discussed. The book had a great premise and an interesting twist. There is great poly representation and I enjoyed seeing LGBT characters in a historical fiction fantasy novel, which is not seen in most books like this. The characters are well developed and the world building was gorgeous. The book also had a moment in it where the intensity of The Holocaust just hit me like a ton of bricks. There is a list of names shared in the book of lost family members to this one character and it spans a page and a half. It was absolutely heartbreaking and it’s a good reminder that those people lost weren’t just data points, they were people. There’s also a quote that sums it up well: “The air I breathe is made from the ashes of my people that you burned.”

However, there were a few issues I had with the book. The book uses a lot of flowery language which was hard on me to follow at some points. The book was an unexpected fantasy for me, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I also think that the book would have been a bit better if some of the historical terms were better explained, but I’m speaking from an ignorant POV as I’ve not studied this point in history.

Verdict: It was so good!

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

Rating: 4
Author: @bibliogato

This is one of those books that as soon as you see the cover you will be instantly intrigued. The cover is absolutely beautiful and looks even better in person. I really enjoyed this YA historical fiction that had some fantasy elements mixed in. If you plan on reading this one be prepared. This one definitely deals with a heavy topic that will make you emotional and might even make you cry. I think the author took inspiration from “The Book Thief” because the story along with the writing felt very similar. So if you liked that book then I would definitely recommend this book!

One thing that really stood out to me about this book was the writing. It was so beautifully written and had such a nice flow to it. The reader can literally feel the emotion. Don’t even get me started on the characters. They were so well written and they all became so important to me. Each character grew and showed their strength in their own way. I didn’t agree with certain actions/events that occurred in the book but that's just me looking for something. I also loved how diverse this book was! I had no idea it was LGBTQ until I read it and was pleasantly surprised. I definitely think they should market that more.

Overall, I would really recommend this book especially to teens. I think they could definitely benefit from reading this one.

Thank you so much @getunderlined & @penguinrandomhouse for the #gifted copy, #partner , #GetUnderlinedPartner

In 1965 Budapest becomes a Community Country. A woman who survived the Nazi's in WW did so with the help of a magic lake. The magic was not enough to keep her parents from being murdered by the Soviet police. Csilla, our protaganist, becomes surrounded by revolutionary fervor and the uncovering of the innocence of the crimes that her parents were murdered for.

Locke caught me up from the beginning of this novel. I immediately became involved with these characters and empathy for the hardships that they endure.

It is always wonderful to read about a strong female protagonist. It is nice to have proof that resiliency and a little bit of magic can lead a way out of danger.

This book deals with a lesser known , yet impactful revolution which took place in 1956 post WWII Hungary. The main character is a jewish girl who has nothing left except for her aunt and a horrid past. The author has brilliantly infused a tale of courage with magical realism and jewish folklore and is a sheer pleasure to read. The plight of a war stricken nation, the everyday life of a targeted population and their emotions are well portrayed. The author has told a tale which teaches us that every action of ours may not be rewarded , but they might create an impact one fine day. The number of times anti-semitism is mentioned in the book irked the reader in me at times, but I realized that it's too hard to live in a nation you are targeted just because of your religion. It's sad that we have to deal with anti-semitism , islamophobia and other kinds of hatred even in this century and I totally appreciate the author for calling out the same . Polyamory and LGBTQ relationships are also hinted at. What I loved the most about this book was the prose- I must say that was chef's kiss. I would read the author' s works just for her writing style

Do pick up this book if you are a fan of historical fiction , magical realism and swoonworthy prose.

As a lover of true historical fiction I had a difficult time finishing this book. The first half was very slow and once I hit about an angel of death I knew it was going to be more metaphorical and lyrical. Rereading the synopsis, I saw it had fabulist elements which I read is a newer genre. The Danube river is humanized and the "heroine" of the story, Csilla, builds a Golem out of Jewish history to save the city of Budapest from the Russians during the revolution. I like learning about history in a novel but this was truly all feelings and philosophy. Though well written and the characters well developed it lacked realism.

There are numerous literary fictions about World War II and the Holocaust. Books that talk about the horrors. But there are very few about the aftermath. And a young adult book on the theme is equally rare. When the concentration camps were liberated. When the countries and their people were left to pick up the pieces and rebuild their life. All the while dealing with the trauma of losing their families.

This Rebel Heart by Katherine Locke is set in Hungary at the time 1956 revolution. Just after the Holocaust where Hungarians fought to attain freedom from the Russians just as the Polish had. It is the story of human resilience. Of the youth stepping up to take back what is rightfully theirs.

The brilliant cover is the first that catches your attention. The writing is easy and immersive. Although the pacing is slow, it is one you want to take slow and absorb all in. The author weaves in the historical events into the narrative seamlessly. The queer rep is also well-woven without it seeming to be mere tokenism. We rarely get such representation in historical novels.

I loved how the author used imagery. The play of colors. The metaphors. The grays give way to colors as the revolution progresses. There is a hint of magical realism combined with Jewish folklore. The golems, the river Danube’s magic. And some mysterious characters that you need to read the book to find out more about. The river Danube is as much a character in the book. The peppering of journal entries from Csilla’s father adds another layer to the narrative.

There couldn’t be a better ending to the book. The kind of ending that prompts you to dig deeper and look up the history very few know about. And that is exactly what I did, spending the better part of the day reading up about Hungarian history.

I loved the book and cannot recommend it enough. It is one of my favorite reads of the year.

5 STARS

Set during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, This Rebel Heart is at once historical fiction and historical fantasy.

Csilla's world is one void of color. It exists in shades of gray, ghosts of a vibrancy harder and harder still to remember. She too, exists in shades of gray, working hard to evade notice of the state that executed her parents, the same state her father tried so hard to build into something better. Every step is dangerous for her under Communist occupation by the Soviet Union, especially since Csilla is Jewish.

But when revolution arrives, and the river's magic calls to Csilla clearer than ever, it is time to make a decision. Can she still flee this country, the one that has never shared her love, or can she learn to love it anew, and see what it might become if she stays? It is more than her life at risk. It is her entire country, everything is has been, everything it could still be.

And maybe, just maybe, it might be worth it.


Every page of this book is a wonder, a gift.

From the very beginning of This Rebel Heart, I fell in love with Katherine Locke's prose. Every word is chosen so carefully, used so artfully, and the resulting atmosphere is outstanding. Even though the story is set in Communist Hungary in 1956, in a fantastical version where the world no longer has any color but shades of gray, you never once feel that the city of Budapest is dull. The prose takes the mundane and elevates it into something fantastic, at once weaving things plain with things utterly magical. What appears to be metaphor is magic, is truth, and there's never an end to the sense of wonder and awe you get drifting through Csilla's flawed city.

Truly, This Rebel Heart is a fine example of how to make your setting a character in its own right. The river and city alike stand tall throughout the story, more active players than mere landscape or set dressing. It's probably not enough to say that I'm enamored with the technique at work here, but I'm at a loss for words beyond that. 


"Everywhere we walk in this city, we walk on ghosts."

As enchanting as the setting is, it's also haunting, because these events are directly related to WWII and the political climate thereafter. Csilla is Jewish, and it affects every moment of her life. From the time the river saved her family from Nazis, cradling them in its heart, providing for them for months, to every day now, when she and her aunt keep their train tickets out of the country a secret, aching to go somewhere where Jews might belong, if only for a little while. The violence inflicted on Csilla and her community is no small thing, and her faith touches her choices in every way, from what she believes in, to the acts of magic she draws on when she sets her heart on a future that might still be.

Not to mention that one of the characters is the literal angel of death, come to Hungary in advance of great violence. Azrael is no reaper, but instead an angel who brings comfort to those about to die. His presence, while soft, even tender, is at once a warning; he is not sent without cause.

For every happy moment, for every bit of triumph in This Rebel Heart, there is no forgetting the violence and tragedy that lie before it, or the heartache yet to come. The somber atmosphere touches everything, making moments of wonder and love soar higher, making moments of fear and sorrow cut deeper.


This could be my 2022 book of the year.

On the one hand, it's a little early to make the call. On the other, this is one of the best-written books I've read in a long time, and it has refused to let me rest for long. It's powerful and aching and brilliant, and it's also one of the few books to make me cry. It's a story that captures heart and mind alike, and it seems impossible to that it fits so much into a single book. The enormity of it feels beyond comprehension sometimes, and yet here it is.

This Rebel Heart is far and away the best historical fiction book I've read, fantasy elements or not. I recommend it without question, though perhaps with a touch of heartache.


CW: loss of a loved one, Nazism, antisemitism, child death, genocide, smoking, suicide mention, homophobia, sexual harassment, violence (including gun violence), nudity

[This review will go live on Hail & Well Read at 12pm EST on 4/11/22.]

First of all, thank you to Random House and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. I really tired with this one guys, but I had such trouble connecting to the story and the characters, it felt like it was trying to be too many things at once, and it became confusing. There are some concepts that I found interesting, but because of their being what felt like so many things going on, I couldn’t get into it. Unfortunately, I have to give this 2.5 ⭐️.

Wow. I have always loved historical fiction. It’s a genre that is most dear to my heart. In the past few years, historical fantasy has become popular, and it’s probably my most favorite genre now. Locke has taken a period in time that isn’t often written about, has made it beautiful, queer, and added fantastical elements for an absolutely delightful and captivating read.

Locke tells the story in alternating timelines between Azriel and Csilla. The voices come from two entirely different perspectives, and each brings a unique take to the turmoil in Hungary. The story was further enhanced with letters, newspaper snippets, and the like, telling of the time Hungary broke free.

The way Locke wrote about the colors disappearing for people broke my heart. There is a bit of magic at play here, but the true magic lies in Csilla’s strength and resilience, which resonates with so many people. This is a beautiful read, and I cannot recommend it enough. Thank you, Random House Children’s and TBR and Beyond Tours, for sending this along!