This Indian inspired fantasy has been a really enjoyable book to read and not one I would usually read myself so a pleasant suprise!

A very moving love story which takes us on an adventure through the kingdom of Agraal as our MC Thiya tries to rescue Amira against forces trying to harm her.

I loved both of the females in this story and love them both together. (We need more lesbian stories!)

4 star read for me.

The world of Agraal is haunted by shadow monsters called ‘Daayan’. They come out at night to posses and feed on the living. Thiya is the royal family’s only daughter, they are cursed to never have magic again after her aunt created the daayan. But after one of the monsters attacks her father at a ball, Thiya discovers she might have magic after all. In order to force her hand at make her fight the daayan, an earth mage called Isaac kidnappes her girlfriend Amara. Thiya and her brother Lochan join forces with fire mage Kayan to bring Amara home but the forces behind her disappearance might be darker than it seems.

First off, thank you to NetGalley and Firefly Press for the eARC. This was such a fantastic debut. The pacing might have been my favourite thing, you know a book is well paced when you can tell when the story beats are hitting and this is exactly how I felt reading this. I also really enjoyed the fast pace of it.

The characters are well written and well developed. Thiya does make a few stupid decisions but she’s 17 so I don’t expect anything else from her. I think Ravi was my favourite though, I would read a whole book just about him, I love a good sarcastic annoyance. My only negative feedback was that the climax could’ve been more dramatic, I felt there was some untapped potential there.

Although the book is marketed as romantasy it doesn’t feel like it, I say this in a good way, there was actually plot, not just romance, which I love. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun Y/A romantasy quick read.

Thanks to Firefly and NetGalley for providing the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not paid for this review.

Very gay, very dramatic. Loved it. Lots and lots of drama in a really cool fantastical setting. I really enjoyed this book and Thiya is a bad ass. I’m really glad that people are talking about this one as it’s a good book and I am really happy I got to read this early.

This was great, unique, addicting, well paced and a book I would recommend. I liked the characters the plot and the ending, great book! Thanks

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'This Dark Heart' by Zeena Gosrani.

This is definitely a YA book that should be on people's radars for 2025. Not only did it have a gripping plot for me but I enjoyed Gosrani's writing style. Certain areas ran slow for me but it didn't take away from the overall atmosphere.

A desi YA romantasy with lesbians?? Gimme it!! The release of This Dark Heart is more than a year away but somehow I got the chance to read it early, and you know that? I am really glad that I did. The first chapter serves as the perfect introduction to this world, give just the right amount of explanations of the magic and the monsters (the daayans) without being too exposition-y (lol). I enjoyed meeting Thiya and seeing her pine after Amara, and be so intensely in love, was just amazing.

The story takes you on a sweeping adventure across the kingdom of Agraal as Thiya races against time to rescue Amara against forces who only want to harm her. While this book falls more into the younger YA category and may not seem to be a read for people who are more used to the intensity of adult romantasy, I’d say This Dark Heart is a pretty worthwhile read and I am going to be reading it again once it releases!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-Arc.

This was a great quick read for a sick day in bed, hooking me enough that I forgot to feel like death for a few hours. Plus, there were lesbians so it's always going to be a good time.

The main character, Thiya, is the princess of Agraal. A bit of a tomboy, she faces the criticism of her mother for not wanting to wear lehengas and the suffocating traditions of court. By this, I mean that she has to watch her girlfriend being courted by just about every man in the kingdom.

None of that lasts long, though, as the pair are discovered in bed together, and Amara is quickly shipped away with literally the first man to propose to her. As with all rushed marriages, there are some serious issues here. And so begins Thiya's journey to rescue her beloved featuring newfound magical abilities, one brother you like, another you don't, and a long dead aunt's hoarde of demons.

I liked this one a lot, and it's definitely right up the YA/fantasy genre. It even has a good message (if painful for teens). Definitely recommend.

I read This Dark Heart as an ebook (sent by Natgalley and the publishers firefly press) and rated it 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed and loved this book, I loved the characters especially the two female main characters, Amara and Thiya who have such a beautiful relationship and friendship and you can really see this through their love for each other throughout the book. I also loved how we got to see other relationships and friendships evolve throughout the book. Another favourite thing in this book for me is how strong willed and confident Thiya (one of the FMCs) is. The plot and all the twists and turns was so interesting and I had such an amazing time reading This Dark Heart. I was a little surprised when there were mentions/descriptions of more mature and explicit scenes in the book, which I personally didn't mind and am not fussed about, however I would look into that if that's something you are uncomfortable with, although it doesn't take away from the story at all and throughout the book only happens a couple a times briefly. I also wished the book was a little longer at end after everything had been resolved but overall I loved reading this book and will definitely be reading more from this author in the future and would definitely recommend. Thank you to Netgalley and Firefly Press for giving me an ebook of This Dark Heart and allowing me to read this amazing book.

Super fast-paced fantasy tale that explores a royal families secrets and is filled with magic, sapphic love and family ties.

With a fierce, witty heroine who's not afraid to stand up for herself, a love she's willing to fight for, a unique magic system and a family secret that risks all that she knows and cares about. Despite its fast pace you'll quickly come to love the characters and honestly I could read more about this royal family and the world created.

Debut author, Zeena Gosrani creates a fearsome world with a fiery heroine who would go to any extent to keep her girlfriend save, even if that means breaking the rules and risking her life.

I loved This Dark Heart for its complex world building, magic system, family secrets and especially love that survives them all!

Thanks to the publisher and the author for the eARC.

Very cute quick YA romantasy with some queer PG-13 spice. Grosani does a lovely job world building and exploring a non-white space with authenticity whilst balancing explaining an element based magic system.

Not my favourite read and nothing that gripped me but definitely a lovely book.

3,5 stars rounded up.
3 stars for me.
4 stars for a YA audience.
This Dark Heart is the story of Princess Thiya.
Thiya and Amara’s bond, the daayan, the story having been inspired by Indian folklore, the mage and all the fantasy were the strengths of This Dark Heart.
The plot and the prose were 3.5 stars for me, at times better than some other parts.
I appreciate the author’s declaring that she is dyslexic. As someone who teaches, works with and lives with people with dyslexia, I found the author’s openness and the fact that she is an author extremely poignant, encouraging and sweet.
I particularly enjoyed the solidarity between the characters, their fight together and the scenes set outside of the palace.