Publisher: Alcove Press
Publication Date: August 26, 2025
Rating:
Goodreads Synopsis:
A Middle Eastern legend get a magically romantic modern makeover perfect for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.A young woman must find a way to end the curse on her heart before it claims her forever in this delightfully witty fantasy romance.Sare Silverbirch has already had her heart broken three times. A fifth heartbreak will stop her heart forever. Such is the nature of the curse she was born under, which forces her to live a life without letting anyone get too close.When her mother dies unexpectedly and her heart breaks for the fourth time, Sare begins to urgently question the curse. Where did it come from? Why her? And rather than accept it, could there be a way to break it?Her questions lead her to Istanbul where she meets Leon, a seer who helps her track down the mysteries of her mother’s past. But Sare’s heart is a fragile thing and their blossoming romance poses a great risk to her survival. Especially when she discovers that her fate is in the hands of celestials beyond this earthly realm.Now the heavens are stirring, for they have a stake in Sare’s destiny—and they don’t like their plans being overturned.The Book of Heartbreak is a dazzling, haunting romantasy sure to break—and mend again—the hearts of readers everywhere.
Review:
Let’s be very clear here - this cover is stunning, and the synopsis holds so much promise. Unfortunately, this book ended up being a struggle for me. I wanted to put it down just a couple of chapters in, but pushed on, thinking maybe I was in a book hangover and not giving it a fair shot. In the end, though, it still fell short. Of course, other readers may have a very different experience.
The premise is intriguing: Sare is cursed to die when she experiences heartbreak, and on her fifth heartbreak, she will die forever. After her fourth heartbreak, she travels to Istanbul to search for her past, where she meets Leon.
Curses, Istanbul, Middle Eastern legends - sign me up, right? It had all of these elements, but somehow it still missed the mark.
I did enjoy that this story brought me to a new setting and introduced new stories and mythology. I appreciated the diversity in my reading, but I felt the author didn’t fully embrace it. I wanted more vivid descriptions of Istanbul and its culture, and more of Sare’s experience of change when she arrived. These elements seemed vital to her journey of self-discovery and learning about her family and past, but they were glossed over.
The book is tagged as adult romantasy, though to me it leaned more toward young adult or new adult fantasy. While there is a romance, it doesn’t feel central to the story, and honestly, the book works without it.
As for the characters: Sare often read as an angsty teen, even though she was nearly 18, and she never really grew out of that persona. I also never felt I had a clear sense of Leon - he came across as clingy from the moment they met, which gave me the ick. He was supposed to be the swoony love interest, but I just didn’t feel it. Munu, the celestial guide, was easily my favorite. She added humor with her dramatics and her sudden appearances to warn Sare.
Overall, I struggled to get through this one. While the ending does pick up and offers an okay resolution, I still came away feeling pretty meh.
With its unique premise, fresh Istanbul setting, and touches of Middle Eastern legend, this romantasy may appeal to readers looking for something different in the genre.
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