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Black Heart by Holly Black
May. 24th, 2012 10:43 pmThe Blurb On The Back:
Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.
But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s the truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet – this time on love.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
Holly Black’s bestselling Curse Worker Trilogy concludes with a peculiar mix of con tricks and obsessive love but despite some great world building it didn’t quite gel together for me. Ultimately my problems with the book boil down to the fact that it simply isn’t long enough to satisfactorily deal with all of the fabulous ideas and plot points that it contains. As a result too many plot lines are underdeveloped and I was disappointed that what seemed to be the main story arc relating to civil rights for Workers is shunted aside by the romance between Lila and Cass (although if you’re a romance fan then you will probably enjoy it). I do enjoy Black’s way with words and the way she turns a phrase, but despite an excellent beginning in WHITE CAT, this trilogy didn’t live up to my hopes.
Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.
But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s the truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet – this time on love.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )The Verdict:
Holly Black’s bestselling Curse Worker Trilogy concludes with a peculiar mix of con tricks and obsessive love but despite some great world building it didn’t quite gel together for me. Ultimately my problems with the book boil down to the fact that it simply isn’t long enough to satisfactorily deal with all of the fabulous ideas and plot points that it contains. As a result too many plot lines are underdeveloped and I was disappointed that what seemed to be the main story arc relating to civil rights for Workers is shunted aside by the romance between Lila and Cass (although if you’re a romance fan then you will probably enjoy it). I do enjoy Black’s way with words and the way she turns a phrase, but despite an excellent beginning in WHITE CAT, this trilogy didn’t live up to my hopes.
