A Thousand Heartbeats

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BOOK REVIEW :A Thousand Heartbeats by @partylikeawordstarThe following is a book review containing minor spoilers. Firstly, I must say that I absolutely adore the cover of this standalone fantasy novel, which is why I preordered it. However, as the saying goes, one should not judge a book by its cover.The book, titled A Thousand Heartbeats, spans about 500 pages, but I believe it could have been shorter by around 200 pages. Although there was some world-building, I found it lacking and wished for more. While there was a significant amount of character development, the lack of world-building made certain parts of the book tedious. The story seemed to lack significant events.One notable event was when Lennox severed the head of Annika's mother. The disturbing act was unforgivable in my opinion, yet Annika forgave Lennox and eventually fell in love with him. Although the book was an enemies-to-lovers story, the idea of forgiving someone who killed a loved one and then falling in love with them did not sit well with me. I cannot imagine forgiving someone who killed my mother, let alone falling in love with them. At the end of the book, Annika and Lennox discuss telling their children about their history, including the beheading, which I found amusing.Overall, the medieval setting was enjoyable, and the plot was action-packed and full of adventure. Princess Annika, the protagonist, is a strong character who is willing to marry for the sake of her kingdom, even though she dreams of finding love. Lennox, the complex character, is a skilled fighter who willingly takes on difficult tasks, yet he is plagued by guilt over his killings. His found family storyline was one of my favorite parts of the book.The romance in this novel was pleasingly typical of young adult literature. Annika and Lennox share an immediate connection, but their stations in life force them to remain enemies. As they navigate their growing feelings, they are thrust into situations that force them to confront their past, present, and future. As a more mature young adult reader, I appreciated how Annika and Lennox handled their impossible situation with maturity and deep love.