A Thousand Heartbeats Hardcover – November 29, 2022

Kiera Cass's "A Thousand Heartbeats" beautifully intertwines the lives of Princess Annika and Lennox, crafting a poignant tale of love, sacrifice, and the struggle for autonomy. I was immediately drawn into Annika's world of privilege that feels increasingly suffocating as she faces the prospect of a political marriage devoid of love. Her longing for autonomy is palpable, making her story resonate with anyone who has felt trapped by circumstance. On the other side, Lennox embodies dedication to his cause, pushing aside personal desires in his quest to reclaim his people’s throne. The chemistry between Annika and Lennox is electric, and the tension of their star-crossed romance kept me turning pages, eager to see how their paths might converge despite the odds stacked against them. Cass’s signature writing style shines through, blending lush descriptions with heartfelt emotions, creating an immersive experience that pulls you into a world filled with longing and desperation. "A Thousand Heartbeats" is a captivating read that highlights the resilience of the human spirit, making it a must-have for fans of romantic fantasy!

This YA, enemies to lovers fantasy novel was delightful. I really enjoyed the medieval setting. The plot was fun, full of action and adventure.Princess Annika is a strong character. She’s loved by her people. Even though she dreams of finding love, she’s willing to marry a man she doesn’t love for the future of her kingdom.Lennox is a complex character. He’s a fierce fighter, willing to dish out the hard punishments that no one else wants to do. Yet he feels great sorrow over his killings. He feels so alone in the beginning. His “found family” arc was one of my favorite parts of the book.“Love has a sound. It sounds like a thousand heartbeats happening at the same time.”I really enjoyed the romance in this novel. It was perfectly YA. When these two were together, it was fantastic! I do wish we would have gotten a little more “on page” time in the beginning. Annika and Lennox have an instant connection, yet because of their stations in life, they must remain enemies. As they fight against their growing feelings, they are thrown together and forced to confront the past, present and future. As an “older” YA reader, I appreciated how maturely Annika and Lennox handled their impossible situation. They really listen to each other and share a deep love.“But every time Lennox smiled or touched me or even looked at me a certain way, I would hear it again. The sound of a thousand heartbeats.”Thanks to @netgalley and the publishers for my eARC. All opinions are my own.

Loved this book so much! A few typos but It is such a lovely story & I love the full circle ending. So satisfying!

I wasn’t sure I’d like this when I started it but it drew me right now. Very clean which I appreciate. It’s a joy to be able to relax with a book not worrying about when the next swear word is coming. Definitely a great read!

Content: no sex, no profanityThe enemies of two kingdoms find that love heals all.I’m not sure why, but this book fell flat for me. I had a hard time getting invested. It got better in the last third, because there were some tender scenes that got my eyes wet.Decent writing. Pacing was okay but not fast. Character arcs were good. Though, Lennox’s decision to go to the other kingdom seemed out of character.Spoilers. Things I didn’t like… I got annoyed toward the end that the obvious solution wasn’t reached until the last minute. The main characters weren’t stupid, surely they knew that was the practical solution? I would have liked to have more resolution with Lennox’s father.I don’t know, I guess the whole story just felt hollow for me. But there are a few beautiful quotes worth mentioning…I understand now what love can do to you. And I understand what grief can do. Because grief is simply love with no one to receive it.

Warning: Spoilers!After a few disappointing reads from Kiera Cass, “A Thousand Heartbeats” finally brings a fresh, new story that readers will love like The Selection. Although the title is cheesy, the contents are thrilling. Annika and Lennox’s love story is beautifully written. The only critique I have is that this story could’ve been a trilogy (similar to that of The Selection) allowing for better character and story development. Having Annika and Lennox go from complete enemies with each other’s parents’ blood on their hands to being in love (in a matter of a few hours) is a bit unbelievable. If the two had bonded over the course of three novels, their love would’ve been better suited. That’s my only critique. Otherwise, this novel is beautifully written and ends well. I hope to see more adventures from Annika and Lennox. Perhaps even a novella about Escalus and Noemi? I’d love to learn about how they first fell in love.

It was beautiful. I everything I ever could have asked for in a princess fairy tale story. I kept thinking about the Princess Bride as I read it. It brought me such joy! I loved how the author would hint at things and then go more in depth about them later in the story. I loved the character development - how both Lennox and Annika were haunted by their pasts and wanting to find peace. A lot of things in the story were quite predictable, but I didn’t mind because I enjoyed the story so much! I loved the relationship between Annika and her brother too! It was lovely how much they cared for one another. Annika is everything you would want in a princess - kind, thoughtful, wise, and caring! She just wanted what was best for her people, and she was willing to do whatever she could to help them. This books was an enemies to lovers story filled with love, forgiveness, and willingness to sacrifice everything. I’ll definitely be reading it again.

I have really enjoyed reading this book. I to ok with with me over spring break and couldn't put it down! The plot and character development is phenomenal. I am 14 and would recommend it to my friends and adults!