HEARTLESS HETTE reads like an old favorite, a fairytale both familiar and unknown. M. L. Farb spins out stories within stories and cleverly ties them all together by the end. Her vivid imagery and well-drawn characters are sure to capture even a clockwork heart.
- Joanna Ruth Meyer, author of Into the Heartless Wood
It can be difficult to find a story that can boast exciting adventure, true love, clever riddles, exceptional and believable character arc, as well as a complete lack of rudeness or depravity. Heartless Hette is one such tale.
- Melanie (Goodreads)
This was my favorite of the three books so far. I really enjoyed our heroes and their journey… It’s a must-read. 5 stars for sure.
- Carole Rae, http://www.caroleraesrandomramblings.com/
The supporting characters are fully present and add so much depth to the story; the setting is so realistic, you can feel the grit and mud and cold and unbearable heat; and the tension becomes unbearable in places, it’s so well-plotted.
- Katy Huth Jones (Goodreads)
How do you keep Marie from shipping a princess with the sorcerer who stole her heart? Throw in a (ginger!) trickster bard for good measure.
It’s a classic magical object quest in the best way. There are riddles, prohibitions, love-curses (and death-curses), and the cutest darn frog prince you’ve ever seen.
- Marie Lewis
A princess, a fool, and a stolen heart. A sorcerer has stolen Hette’s heart, and she has no choice but to use the aid of a fool, a healer, and a toad to retrieve it. This is a beautiful story full of wit and wisdom, that carries the reader along as smoothly as the gears turn in Hette’s clockwork heart. This amazing story proves that immutable truths are necessary, magic is often illogical, and friends are vital.
- Rachel Deibler
Heartless Hette is a reimagining of a classic fairy tale, and immerses the reader in a beautiful, dangerous world of magic and lore. The characters come to life in a way that made me love (and hate some) them at the same time. Either way, each evoked strong emotions and made me want to binge my way through the story to see how they fare.
Hette, the main character, undergoes an amazing personal journey, and becomes so real I felt as though she were a friend, not just a character. The Fool was my favorite character from the moment he was introduced. He’s funny, quirky, and somehow wise, all at the same time.
- J.D. Ruffin
This book was well, so full of story– tightly written and chock full of adventure with no skip-through pages.
- Amazon Customer
Lush in details, rich in characterization, and written with (forgive me) heart, Heartless Hette is far more than just another rewritten fairytale. This is many fairytales woven into an epic quest, one that will test Farb’s characters and delight readers for generations to come.
- Jennifer deBie (https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/)
Each time I begin a new story by M.L. Farb, I am delighted by her wit and style. This particular story is reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland or Jim Henson’s Labyrinth; an ever-changing path, peculiar magic, and clever riddles abound!
Our heroine, Princess Hette, appears upon first impression to be a cold, unfeeling individual. Her staunch, serious nature paired with the cheerful humour of Konrad, the Court Fool, is the beginning of a perfect recipe. Simply add a dash of sharp-tongued candour in the form of Demuth, our “Lady’s Maid”, with a pinch of a generous and kind-natured toad named Peter, and there we have it!
Heartless Hette will immerse you in a world which feels alive with magic and spirit – following the growth of Hette’s character is an absolute pleasure! Find among the pages a winding, weaving, wonderful story of the search for a missing heart, which leads to a friendship forged, a villain defeated, and a love found.
- Stephanie (Australia Goodreads)
Hette is a favourite of mine, perhaps because we have much in common. No, I’m not a princess, and no, I don’t have a long queue of men knocking at my door, but her love of knowledge, her no-nonsense attitude, her determination to lead her own life, despite conventions, and her decision not to marry (precisely because she wants to be in charge of her future and her kingdom) spoke to me.
- Olga Miret