{"product_id":"heartless-marissa-meyer-9781250044655","title":"Heartless | Marissa Meyer","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family: inherit; color: #333; line-height: 1.6;\"\u003e\n  \u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"font-size: 1.1em; font-weight: 500; margin-bottom: 20px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2c3e50;\"\u003eIn this prequel to \u003cem\u003eAlice in Wonderland\u003c\/em\u003e, Cath would rather open a bakery and marry for love than accept a proposal from the King of Hearts, especially after meeting the handsome and mysterious court jester. From #1 New York Times–bestselling author \u003cstrong\u003eMarissa Meyer\u003c\/strong\u003e, this captivating novel reveals the tragic origin story of Wonderland's most notorious villain: the Queen of Hearts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \n    \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.5em; border-bottom: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 20px;\"\u003eBook Overview \u0026amp; Core Themes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003eLong before she was the terror of Wonderland, Catherine was a talented young baker striving to define her own destiny. Caught between royal expectations and her secret courtship with Jest the court joker, Cath's world collides with magic, madness, and tragedy, ultimately transforming a hopeful girl into a ruthless tyrant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003eKey areas examined within this work include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cul style=\"padding-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\n      \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 6px;\"\u003eA masterful villain origin story exploring dramatic irony and tragic inevitability.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 6px;\"\u003eRichly reimagined classic Wonderland mythology (Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Jabberwock).\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 6px;\"\u003eThe destructive conflict between personal ambition, true love, and societal obligation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 6px;\"\u003eThe psychological impact of parental pressure, grief, and the loss of personal agency.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n  \u003c\/section\u003e\n\n  \u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.5em; border-bottom: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMarissa Meyer\u003c\/strong\u003e received a bachelor's degree in creative writing from Pacific Lutheran University and a master's degree in publishing from Pace University. Internationally acclaimed as a #1 New York Times bestselling author, Meyer is celebrated for her inventive ability to blend fairytale folklore with complex character arcs and immersive world-building, most notably in \u003cem\u003eThe Lunar Chronicles\u003c\/em\u003e series (\u003cem\u003eCinder\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eScarlet\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eCress\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eWinter\u003c\/em\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003c\/section\u003e\n\n  \u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.5em; border-bottom: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eCore Audience \u0026amp; Intended Use\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003cul style=\"padding-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px;\"\u003e\n      \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYoung Adult Fantasy Readers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Essential reading for fans of dark fairy tale retellings, tragic romances, and immersive fantasy world-building.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClassic Retelling Enthusiasts:\u003c\/strong\u003e An ingenious companion piece for admirers of Lewis Carroll’s original work and villain-centric perspectives like Gregory Maguire's \u003cem\u003eWicked\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMarissa Meyer Fans:\u003c\/strong\u003e A must-have stand-alone addition for readers following the celebrated author's speculative fiction catalogue.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n  \u003c\/section\u003e\n\n  \u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 25px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.5em; border-bottom: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eProduct Specifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-top: 15px; font-size: 0.95em;\"\u003e\n      \u003ctbody\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left; width: 35%;\"\u003eFull Title\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eHeartless\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eAuthor(s)\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eMarissa Meyer\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003ePublisher \u0026amp; Imprint\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eFeiwel \u0026amp; Friends (Macmillan Publishing Group)\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003ePublication Date\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eNovember 8, 2016\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eBinding Format\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eHardcover (HC)\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003ePrint Length\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003e453 Pages\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eLanguage\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eEnglish\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eISBN-13 \/ ISBN-10\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003e9781250044655 \/ 1250044650\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003ePrimary Genre (BISAC)\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eYAN012000 \/ YOUNG ADULT FICTION \/ Fantasy \/ General\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eSub-Genres (BISAC)\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003eYAN012020 \/ DARK FANTASY; YAN018000 \/ FAIRY TALES; YAN050000 \/ YA ROMANCE\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eItem Condition\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003ePre-Owned \/ Very Good\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n        \u003ctr\u003e\n          \u003cth style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; background-color: #f9f9f9; text-align: left;\"\u003eDimensions \u0026amp; Weight\u003c\/th\u003e\n          \u003ctd style=\"border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px;\"\u003e6.15 x 1.45 x 9.25 inches | 21.6 oz (approx. 1.35 lbs)\u003c\/td\u003e\n        \u003c\/tr\u003e\n      \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n    \u003c\/table\u003e\n  \u003c\/section\u003e\n\n  \u003csection style=\"margin-bottom: 30px;\"\u003e\n    \u003ch2 style=\"color: #2c3e50; font-size: 1.5em; border-bottom: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding-bottom: 5px;\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions About Heartless\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #fcfcfc;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eWhat is the primary narrative premise and character arc in Heartless by Marissa Meyer?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eServing as a standalone prequel to Lewis Carroll's Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Heartless origin-story follows Catherine Pinkerton, a talented young baker in the Kingdom of Hearts who dreams of opening a bakery with her best friend. Desired by the King of Hearts as a prospective bride, Cath's life takes a drastic turn when she meets Jest, the enigmatic court joker. The novel traces Cath’s tragic transformation from a passionate, hopeful young girl into the ruthless, tyrannical Queen of Hearts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #fcfcfc;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eHow does Marissa Meyer reimagine the classical mythology and world-building of Lewis Carroll's Wonderland?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eMeyer honors Carroll's original whimsy while layering it with rich, dark fantasy dynamics and emotional weight. She integrates iconic Wonderland elements—such as the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter (Hatta), the Jabberwock, and tea parties—recontextualizing them through a tragic lens that explores how political expectations, unfulfilled dreams, loss, and fate push a good person toward villainy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #fcfcfc;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eHow is Heartless received in young adult literary circles, creative writing analysis, and fairytale retellings?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eThe novel was an instant #1 New York Times Bestseller and earned widespread acclaim across the YA fantasy community. It is frequently studied as an exemplary villain origin story, cited alongside works like Gregory Maguire's Wicked for its masterful execution of dramatic irony, tragic inevitability, and character motivation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #fcfcfc;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eWhat core thematic elements regarding agency, societal pressure, and destiny does the novel examine?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eHeartless explores the conflict between personal ambition and societal obligation, the destructive nature of grief, and the loss of personal agency. Meyer demonstrates how parental and aristocratic pressure, coupled with personal tragedy, can strip away empathy, illustrating that bitterness and cruelty are often born from broken dreams and unbearable loss.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #fcfcfc;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eWhat authorial authority and literary achievements distinguish Marissa Meyer in speculative fiction?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eMarissa Meyer is a #1 New York Times bestselling author who gained international acclaim for The Lunar Chronicles series (Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, Winter). Celebrated for her inventive ability to blend fairytale folklore with complex character arcs and immersive world-building, Meyer is widely recognized as one of the premier authors in modern young adult speculative fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n\n    \u003c!-- Bust-Down Condition Disclaimer --\u003e\n    \u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #eaeaea; padding: 10px; border-radius: 4px; background-color: #f4f6f8; border-left: 3px solid #2c3e50;\"\u003e\n      \u003csummary style=\"font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; color: #2c3e50; outline: none;\"\u003eCondition Notice: Pre-Owned \/ Second-Hand Product\u003c\/summary\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAll books, box sets, and multi-volume collections\u003c\/strong\u003e offered by Bust-Down Books are sold in pre-owned, used, and second-hand condition, unless explicitly designated as new in the individual product listing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition Details \u0026amp; Grading:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cul style=\"padding-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\n        \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 6px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrevious Ownership:\u003c\/strong\u003e These items have been previously owned, handled, and read. As such, copies may exhibit typical signs of shelf wear, including but not limited to minor creasing, scuffing, edge wear, bent page corners, remainder marks, or spine softening. Hardcover editions may show minor dust jacket wear, edge chipping, or board rubbing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 6px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMarkings \u0026amp; Personalization:\u003c\/strong\u003e Items may occasionally contain inscriptions, library stamps, owner names, marginalia, or highlighting. Individual item descriptions reflect significant deviations from standard acceptable condition.\u003c\/li\u003e\n        \u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 6px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSupplemental Materials:\u003c\/strong\u003e Secondary and digital components—such as publisher access codes, CD-ROMs, bonus inserts, registration keys, or workbook activity pages—are not guaranteed to be included, active, or unredeemed unless specifically stated in the product description.\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirst Sale Doctrine \u0026amp; Non-Affiliation Statement:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAll items sold on this platform are original, lawfully acquired copies being resold under the protection of the First Sale Doctrine (codified under U.S. copyright law, 17 U.S.C. § 109, and applicable international equivalents permitting the secondary resale of lawfully manufactured goods).\u003c\/p\u003e\n      \u003cp style=\"margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eBust-Down Books, LTD. is an independent, secondary-market bookseller. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, authorized by, or sponsored by the original authors, copyright holders, publishers, or trademark owners of the titles offered for sale. All registered trademarks, author names, book titles, and publisher imprints remain the sole property of their respective owners and are used strictly for nominative identification and descriptive purposes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003c\/details\u003e\n  \u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@graph\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": [\"Product\", \"Book\"],\n      \"name\": \"Heartless\",\n      \"author\": [\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Person\",\n          \"name\": \"Marissa Meyer\"\n        }\n      ],\n      \"isbn\": \"9781250044655\",\n      \"sameAs\": \"1250044650\",\n      \"bookFormat\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/Hardcover\",\n      \"numberOfPages\": 453,\n      \"publisher\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n        \"name\": \"Feiwel \u0026 Friends\"\n      },\n      \"datePublished\": \"2016-11-08\",\n      \"inLanguage\": \"en\",\n      \"image\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0855\/2077\/7531\/files\/9781250044655.jpg?v=1793311575\",\n      \"url\": \"https:\/\/bustdownbooks.com\/products\/heartless-marissa-meyer-9781250044655\",\n      \"offers\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Offer\",\n        \"priceCurrency\": \"USD\",\n        \"price\": \"1.99\",\n        \"availability\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/InStock\",\n        \"itemCondition\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/UsedCondition\"\n      },\n      \"about\": [\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n          \"name\": \"YAN012000 \/ YOUNG ADULT FICTION \/ Fantasy \/ General\"\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n          \"name\": \"YAN012020 \/ YOUNG ADULT FICTION \/ Fantasy \/ Dark Fantasy\"\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n          \"name\": \"YAN018000 \/ YOUNG ADULT FICTION \/ Fairy Tales \u0026 Folklore \/ General\"\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n          \"name\": \"YAN050000 \/ YOUNG ADULT FICTION \/ Romance \/ General\"\n        }\n      ]\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n      \"mainEntity\": [\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"What is the primary narrative premise and character arc in Heartless by Marissa Meyer?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n            \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n            \"text\": \"Serving as a standalone prequel to Lewis Carroll's Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Heartless origin-story follows Catherine Pinkerton, a talented young baker in the Kingdom of Hearts who dreams of opening a bakery with her best friend. 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