I loved the atmospheric writing and the way the story wove its magic around complex, morally grey characters. The plot kept me hooked with its blend of suspense and unexpected turns, creating a story that’s both unsettling and fascinating. Melissa Albert has a knack for creating worlds that feel alive, full of tension and secrets. While it wasn’t flawless, it left a strong impression, and I’d happily recommend it to anyone who enjoys an eerie, immersive tale. A solid 4 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to read this early. Review has been posted on Waterstones and Amazon.

Slow burn

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I'm not a fan of slow burn but for a story liked this it works. It helps build the creepy atmosphere and really helped lay the foundations of the story. This is a book about Witches and magic but there are also more darker themes that only adds to the creepiness of this book. The characters are complex and secretive. A lot of what happens in the story is down to those secrets which helps with the mystery of the overall book.

I also really enjoyed the dual timeline. I loved seeing how things played out in past and how they have affected the present.

Overall, a creepy, enjoyable read.

Ivy, her summer is starting off very strange with strange and unwelcome rabbit appearances, as well as some spotty memories and the feeling her mum is hiding something from her

In the past, her mum Dana is playing around with Supernatual powers she doesn't understand

The past and the present catch up with each other and will change both mother and daughter, and their relationship as well

I love a dual timeline and I loved seeing this story evolve over both, engaging wee witchy read

I really enjoyed this. The right mix of magic, witches, family drama and mystery with a little bit of feminism. Strong storyline and great structure.

I will be coming back to this book in the later time as for now it was unfortunately a dnf. I was not in the mood for the genre.

I no longer have an interest in reviewing this title but would like to thank the publisher and author for the opportunity, it is now far past the publication and archive date. I have awarded 3 stars to keep this review neutral.

Sadly this ended up being a book I didn't finish. This is the second book by this author I've not finished. I think her writing just isn't for me.
The plot just didn't interest me. I found no reason to really care where the story would go. By halfway I just hadn't retained anything.

There been a clear improvement in the author's style since her first duology

I was taken aback (and also sort of scared) since the first pages of this book, she conveied the amotions greatly and clearly. This book was really good under many aspects, with its intricate and interesting plot, and the characterization of the characters and the portrayal of their emotions throughout the whole story
I highly reccomand it

Our Crooked Hearts is a contemporary fantasy that explores witchcraft and the ties that bind us.
When, on her way home from a party, seventeen year old Ivy encounters a naked girl in the middle of the road she could not begin to realise the significance of the event. Mildly curious, Ivy only starts to think this might have been important when her mother goes missing, dead rabbits start appearing on her doorstep and she can’t shake the feeling she’s being watched. However, it takes her some time to work out what’s happening.
The first part of the book felt a little slow at times. We split between Ivy’s present and the past where we see her mother being tempted to practise witchcraft with increasingly dramatic results. As we move further through this section we start to realise what happened, and how it is now impacting on the present.
Once the link is made, then some of the more unusual events start to make sense. I felt torn between fear for Ivy and anger at her mother for making so many decisions for her without being entirely honest about the reasons for those choices being made. It was good to see Ivy figuring things out and really growing into her role.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy of this, and I’m sorry it got forgotten about until now!

The paranormal and semi-historical elements in the blurb drew me in, but I didn't expect the creepiness. I tend to steer away from horroresque novels, so be aware it is more eerie than you might expect.
Dual in dual time lines from both mother and daughter, with Ivy, the daughter, trying to unravel the twisted mystery of her and her mother's pasts.
As the reader we get a front row insight into the younger Dana's deeds and meddling in witchcraft. We follow as Ivy tries to discover what transpired with her mother and her mother's friends, and how it now impacts her.

An engaging tale of witches and witchcraft with the perfect about of mystery, intrigue and a touch of romance.

I really enjoyed the dual timelines; loved the story, the characters and mesmerising magic. In particular, Dana’s story was absolutely captivating!

The book grabs your attention from the first page and the pace and narrative is perfect.

Highly recommend if you are looking for an easy yet super enjoyable read!

I neither loved or hated this book. I wanted to find out what happened, but in the end I wasn’t too bothered. I liked the traditional feeling magic system in this book, and loved the twist and turns. However, I just felt a bit bored, and thought it just could have been better.

Our Crooked Hearts is a very creepy read. It's full of mystery and delves in to discovering witchcraft in a completely new and interesting way that hasn't been seen in YA books.

A dark and atmospheric novel about witchcraft and family.

Our Crooked Hearts is a dual timeline fantasy with high tension throughout.

Our Crooked Hearts walks us through the discovery of magic for both Dana and Fee – the beauty and joy juxtaposed with obsession, betrayal and darkness.

Ivy’s narration is the culmination of those previous years.

And because Ivy’s narration leads us, there are scenes that at first don’t make much sense with intimations of what could be happening. Of course it all falls into place as Dana’s story unfolds.

I thought this story was well paced. I felt a sense of urgency to find out what happened in the past to work out the impact on Ivy and her mum … which meant this was a page turner for me!

I loved how dark it was. Some scenes are graphic and some zing with power. I could feel that energy vibrating. One of my favourite scenes has to be the out of body experience. It felt like it was happening to me rather than words on a page. Boom!

I was intrigued by Dana and Fee’s gifts. Especially Dana’s. How would that feel? Fee’s is, I think, more common.

Underlying all the magic is the sweetness of life and love. With the over-riding need to protect those you love.

The recommended reading age for Our Crooked Hearts is 12 – 17. If you’re an adult who enjoys the fantasy genre, this is for you too 🙂

I loved Melissa Albert's dark, atmospheric 'The Hazel Wood' books, and this was no different. The prose is vivid, the story unsettling and original - a really good book to curl up with in autumn/winter. Will definitely be recommending this one and looking out for more from the author! Perfect for fans of VE Schwab or Christina Henry.

I really like Albert as a writer and this was the first book of hers I have read that is set in the 'real' world, and in a modern timeline. I think comparisons with The Craft are always going to be inevitable with any book that involves teen witches and I definitely got that kind of vibe with the quintessential group 'leader' who gets a tad unhinged...

The book has two different points of view and timelines, one follows Ivy, in the current day and the other, Ivy's mother Dana as a teenager in the 1990s. Ivy's pov follows her journey to find out more about her emotionally distant and mysterious mother.

I've never been super into witchy characters, not modern ones at least, but I really enjoyed this story. It's mysterious and spooky enough without being hokey and deals with the dynamics between mother and daughter that will be familiar to many. Dana's storyline is probably the stronger of the two and although I probably preferred Ivy as a character, Dana's plotline was more interesting and compelling to read.

I felt things started to taper off a bit towards the end and I wasn't super invested in Ivy's romance plotline but overall, an enjoyable read that showcases Albert's skill as a writer.

A great YA witchy read which delved past the usual metaphor – teen girl feels disempowered so takes matters into her own hands with witchcraft – and looks at actions and consequences in a far more nuanced way. Creepy and delicious. Highly recommend.

Our Crooked Hearts follows two timelines of mother and daughter Ivy and Dana. For Ivy, her summer starts with a series of disturbing events. She is haunted by half-formed memories from her childhood and weird offerings such as dead rabbits begin to appear on her doorstep. Even worse, her mother is acting even more oddly, and might know more than she seems…

20 years in the past, Dana realises too late the dangers that meddling with the supernatural can bring, and how one night can change the course of your entire life. Although she felt like she was in control at the time, the vengeful powers she comes into contact with on that fateful day end up having power over her.

What follows is a tale of magic, control, greed, love and the dangers of not only the supernatural world but of keeping secrets. Although Dana can be quite a cold mother and it was a difficult to warm to her as a reader to begin with, i thought the plot was cleverly woven together snd loved seeing Ivy gain more knowledge and understanding of her past, as well as watching her relationship with Billy grow.

Our Crooked Hearts is a thrilling YA full of twists and witchcraft that had me gripped from the start. A perfect book for this upcoming spooky season! Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an E-arc!