Heartstone by Elle Katharine White

You’ve heard of Pride and Prejudice with zombies, prepare to meet Pride and Prejudice with dragons!

Aliza Bentaine is still reeling from the loss of her sister, who was killed by a gryphon, and is relieved that the elite riders are coming to Merybourne Manor to eradicate the murderous monsters from the vicinity. However, her first encounter with Alastair Dairead, dragonrider, is far from ideal, and so begins a relationship that is rifle with misunderstandings, and a clash of wills between two stubborn yet good hearted people.

Based loosely on Jane Austen’s novel, Heartstone is best where it deals with its own fantasy world. The world building of the different factions of creatures is fascinating, the creatures themselves well drawn characters, and the heartstones of the title – where each creature has a beautiful jewel buried in their heart that is harvested by their hunter – are appealingly original.

I loved the world of Heartstone and longed to explore it fully. Several plot points are set up in this book that are continued in the second book of the trilogy. With the third, and final installment, released tomorrow, I can’t wait to see how those threads are resolved.

My favourite character was Aliza’s sister, Mari, and I will riot if she doesn’t get a spin off series, or at least a novella.

Where Heartstone falls down for me is the constraints imposed by trying to keep to the format of Austen’s novel. I love Jane Austen’s work, but there is an epic fantasy story in Heartstone desperate to spread its wings, which I’m glad to say happens in the sequel.

I award Heartstone…

Click here to buy Heartstone on Amazon.