BOOK REVIEW: Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert

A Dark and Twisted Fantasy Full of Secrets and Revenge.

I was so excited to read this book. Dark fantasy? Bad magic? Mysteries and secrets? Yes! Yes! And Yes!! I love fantasy, it is my go-to, comfort genre. And, I will say that I really did enjoy this one. As I’m getting started on writing this about 2 hours after I finished reading it, I am a little concerned that my thoughts and opinions are going to end up coming across as a hot mess. There are aspects I really, really loved, and aspects that have me scratching my head.

I loved that the book starts off jumping right into the action by immediately creating questions about who people are and what is happening and how do people know who other people are. Great creepy-horror-ish beginning. We are introduced to Ivy, our main character. Even though the book alternates between Ivy in the present and her mother, Dana, in the past, it is clear that the attention remains focused on the present; how choices and actions of Dana’s teenage years are threatening their lives in present day

Basically, there are some weird things going on. Ivy and her now ex-boyfriend almost hit a naked woman in the middle of the street at night, there is a dead, clearly killed, rabbit in her driveway, her mom is acting weirder than normal and then stops responding to texts, and her dad is acting very concerned. The past and the present collide when the consequences of messing with magic and the occult in the past seek revenge in the present.

I enjoyed the characters, for the most part. I think Ivy was very well developed even if some of her reactions are not as emotional or reactive as the event would probably call for from a teenager. But she is inquisitive and stubborn. Like any teenager with those traits who finds themselves grounded, she begins digging around trying to figure out the series of weird events that are occurring. As a result she opens Pandora’s box. Literally. Ok, it’s a gold box…but it results in the same thing.

Marion, Dana’s teenage friend, is really the other really important character. Dana obviously serves her purpose, but I truly feel that Marion is developed so well. Being able to watch her obsession with magic and the occult grow and how it changes her highlights the impact that great character development can have on the progression of the plot and conflict.

I love how the alternating timelines and POVs pace themselves together to allow just enough insight on the past to make more sense of the present, but I still always felt that I was l missing answers to questions and just developing more. My biggest issue is that I didn’t understand why things ended the way they did. Why did Marion wait so long in Elsewhere? If it was that easy, come sooner!! While some motives behind actions were clear, there was a lot that just felt rushed through and were just meant to be taken at face value. I need more!!!!

When all is said and done, this is ultimately a story of revenge. A bitterness that had decades to grow and fester. A desire to destroy and hurt. However, over those decades continual little moments and decisions changed the ebb and flow of the final moments. Speaking magic into a baby at child-birth, can complicate things as the years go on if you know what I mean.

There is something to be taken from Ivy and Dana’s relationship. Ivy is on the receiving end of several selfish decisions that Dana makes. These decisions create secrets and lies and distrust and misunderstandings that lead to the events at the end of the book. I’m not going to say that I hated the conclusion, but I feel that it was too easy. With only a handful of chapters left, I was really concerned on how much was going to get answered in that space. Just be aware, in my opinion there is no pretty bow on this ending.

The secrets are revealed and the truth about Dana’s past and Ivy’s childhood come to light, but what about Marion? This is the question that I just can’t get past.

And, why a rabbit? Why not a rat or squirrel? It is a rabbit that is used and associated with the occult in this book. I did a little research on what rabbits may symbolize. Most of what I found portrayed rabbits as nice and innocent, but I did find the following connection to the book: “Because of its nocturnal lifestyle, the rabbit was linked to the Moon and the idea of rebirth as well as being a mythical creature with magical powers,” (Worldbirds). Hmmmm… I can see it.

I am really excited to discuss this book on our Podcast which drops on August 8. We will be hosting our first ever Speaking LITerally Book Club episode. You won’t want to miss it! 

Where does this book land on my bookshelf?

I’d place it on the middle shelf. I enjoyed it, adn found myself wanting to keep reading it. Not just because I was buddy reading it with the amazing Liz (lizzieslittlebooknook) and she reads faster than me, but because I wanted to know what came next. I appreciated the slow deliberate release of information as the POVs showed how the past and the present came together. The secondary characters were ok. There were a few that really served no purpose, but Fee and Billy served their roles well. Dana’s past was the crux of the book as it set everything in the present into motion in a dark and disturbing way. I may never look at a rabbit the same way again. 

While I started writing this 2 hours after I finished reading it, it took me 2 weeks to finish writing it! What can I say? I’m a busy person!

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If you are really bored you can read about some of my personal adventures in life raising two teenagers and loving a husband who is fighting Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and all the lesson I learn along the way. Educate This.