Okay so I honestly wasn't sure going into this book what to expect, but it turned out amazing. Kaysar and Cookie are the perfect combo of grumpy-sunshine. I loved all the side characters as well and honestly there were a lot of unexpected moments. I cannot wait to read Ruthless!!! ( )

Kaysar the unhinged one, who lives in a world of fae, goblins, trolls, centaurs and etc…. Has met his match in Chantel Bardot “cookie” to her friends in the gaming community . Chantel has lead a pretty quiet life working at home for a gaming software company and dealing with a life long heart issue. When one phone call changes her entire life. Now her life feels like the video game she plays. Kaysar has been on the search for the princess he was going to use to exact vengeance on those who did horrid things to him as a child and made him separate and lose contact with his sister . Little did he know he was searching for Chantel the little firecracker was not what he was expecting nor the feelings he had for her. Heartless has fighting , love, humor, fighting, fantasy oh did I say fighting . Great introduction into the fantasy of the Dusklands and beyond . ( )

What an apt title!

Kaysar really was heartless and singularly focused on revenge. I would have felt sorry for Cookie but she handled him like a pro.

This was an excellent story. Now, I have to wait for the next one. ( )

When I saw a book by Gena Showalter on NetGalley, I immediately requested it. Unfortunately, it was the second book in a series (really wish they'd listed that somewhere in the description), and after doing a little research realized it would be better if I read them in order. Luckily, my library had a physical copy of Heartless that I was able to snag. Sadly, this book was a major flop, and not at all what I expected from Showalter.

For starters, both of the main characters were fucking psychopaths that needed therapy and possibly a padded room somewhere. Chantel "Cookie" said she was "murder curious" before ever leaving the human realm, and didn't really balk when she inevitably killed others. Kaysar's vengeance was understandable, if a little over-the-top. Although, I wasn't sure why the need to destroy his enemies overpowered his desire to search for his sister. Sure, one was more easily accessible than the other, but he seemed like a pretty motivated dude.

Also, Cookie??? Do you have any idea how distracting it is to be reading about blood and gore only to have the character referred to as a snack? Every time I read the word "Cookie" it lessened the severity of the story. I think it was a poor choice in character names, and the one Kaysar eventually gives her isn't much better. Briar Rose? Seriously? It was unoriginal and unimaginative. I also have no idea if I'm pronouncing his name correctly, and stopped trying to sound out his last name entirely.

The worldbuilding was lacking, the characters were dull and simple, and the story was repetitive and unnecessarily long. Additionally, the mental whiplash from the main characters was exhausting and exasperating in equal measure. Basically, it went like this:

Chantel: "You lied to me! I'll never forgive you!"
Kaysar: "I promise to do better."
Chantel: "Okay! One more chance."
Kaysar: *allows another truth to surface*
Chantel: "You lied to me! I'm leaving!"
Kaysar: "I will give you jewels! Also, I will do better."
Chantel: "Of course! You're sexy! One more chance, okay?"
Kaysar: "VENGEANCE SHALL BE MINE!"
Chantel: *gleefully murders everyone*
Kaysar: "You are perfection."
Chantel: "I think I want to go home now."
Kaysar: "MINE."
Chantel: "You're so hot when you're angry."

It was basically this for 200+ pages. There was no character growth, no exploration of the world, and just mind-numbing dialogue between two unhinged people. Chantel assumes she can navigate Kaysar's world because - get this - she played a VIDEO GAME that was similar. Killing in the game and killing in real life? Why would that be different? It was obnoxious. Her understanding of the world was limited, yet she thought she could just survive without too many problems. I got about halfway before calling it quits. (★★⋆☆☆)

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Gena Showalter starts a new series with Heartless, a paranormal romance that gave me the Immortals After Dark vibes I've been missing.

Kaysar is a rather terrifying warlord type with a magical voice that can command people to do what he wants. Kidnapped and abused for years as a child, he's sworn revenge on the fae royalty who hurt him and his sister. When the book starts, he's watching from the shadows as the son of his abuser and the son's mate get it on. Naturally, he interrupts them and attempts to kidnap the princess so he can seduce her and put his own son on the throne. She has the ability to make portals, however, and flees to the human world. Before she can, Kaysar commands her (with his fancy voice) to return to him.

Cut to Cookie, a professional gamer streaming on the equivalent of Twitch as she defeats her crappy ex. Cookie has been disabled since childhood and her failing heart has her worried for her future. Suddenly, she gets the call: there's a heart for her! And of course it's the fae princess's heart. Cookie starts transforming--not just healing but physically changing. Her hair, eyes, etc. And then one day she *oops* makes a portal and falls into Kaysar's world. Remember that command? Apparently the heart does.

There are so many things I loved about this book, but in the interest of brevity, here are a few:

- Cookie loves shiny things and doesn't apologize for it. Kaysar gives her all sorts of jewelry and she takes it and makes it clear it's not winning him any points.

- Cookie knows her way around this world because it's the world from the game! Can you even imagine popping through a portal into your favorite video game and snagging yourself the hottest homicidal fae king around? I mean seriously.

- Kaysar is an absolute jackass, but he's incredibly insistent on consent because of the abuse he suffered as a child. Yes, he does the murder stuff, but he's not an alphahole in other ways. And whew, Cookie knocks him down like 8 pegs.

- Cookie's own power is really cool. I'm not sure I should spoil it for everyone, but it's something I hadn't read before and I was thoroughly entertained.

- Adam Gold did the audio narration for this and though the book is dual POV, I didn't mind at all that he did the whole thing. He's got a delicious voice, with a deep timbre that really works for Kaysar (and apparently me). I'm hoping he does the rest of the series as well.

In all, this was the paranormal romance I wanted it to be. The chemistry and banter between the two MCs is perfection and I loved that Cookie is not quite the typical bratty heroine who tames the beast hero - she's also kind of bloodthirsty! Her best friend is a retiree and they live with an evil cat and I just loved her so much. Even when she was murder-y.

Sign me up for more in this series.

***

I received a copy of this audiobook from the publisher for review.

Content Warnings: past ableism and misogyny, references to past repeated and extensive sexual and physical abuse of a child (not detailed), murder, threat of sexual assault, possibly genocide? Kaysar has done shitty things but they're sort of "he conquered the X region" so whatever that entailed
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