I found this book in the fantasy section of the library, and picked it up because of the title and the cover art (I skimmed the back of the book blurb, too, and that piqued my interest).

I enjoyed the story, but the telling of it seemed very simple. The style left me in mind of a young adult, or middle grade novel. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't what I expected.

I was a little disappointed with the lack of character development/ depth - especially with the secondary characters. Una, the princess who is the main character of the story, is tended to by Nurse. I couldn't help but wonder what mother would name her poor child that - I could understand the princess not bothering to learn her name, but everyone refers to her by her profession, rather than name, and I felt that pull me out of the story a bit.

Despite this lack of depth, the unexpected simplicity of the writing and relationship interactions, I found the story engaging enough that I wanted to see how it got to the inevitable end. The path the characters took was unique enough to make it a fun, light read for me. ( )

I just could not get into this book. I appreciate the idea of combining Christian allegory and fantasy, but I think the result here was too contrived for my taste. I skimmed the next couple of books in the series and found that to be the case as well. It seems many enjoy the series, but I think I'll pass for now.

I tried, I really tried but at a third of the book, I give up. I can't gather any sympathy for the heroin, who is as vain, no vainer, than an 18 year olod should be. and worse, I grew bored. So I decided to stop reading it and try another series. ( )

A main character should act, not be acted upon. Princess Una is the most pathetic, passive main character I've read in quite a while. But she's not the only passive one here. The only characters who really act are Aethelbald and the Dragon.

The plot is bizarrely strange too. For some reason, dragon's breath--while poisonous to the point of killing people--can turn someone into a dragon. Oh, and all dragons are evil, just because. The language used to describe them is over-the-top, beating you on the head that they are evil. And ugly too. Because everybody knows that dragons can't be beautiful right?

I wanted to like this book; I really did. But I just couldn't. ( )

I loved the simple complexity of "Heartless." At times it was too allegorical for my tastes, but I quickly fell in love with the characters, especially after the perfect princess is forced to face the consequences for her choices. This novel is much more than a simple coming of age tale, or even a Christian allegory. It is a story of second chances, of the bounds and limits of true love. And the last quarter of the book snatches hold of your heart and doesn't let go until you're finished. While slow going in the beginning, it unveiled its colors beautifully in the end. ( )