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Black Heart (Curse Workers #3)

by Holly Black (Goodreads Author)

4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 · rating details · 4,177 ratings · 754 reviews

Love is dangerous and trust is priceless in Holly Black's "powerful, edgy dark" fantasy series (Publishers Weekly").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...more

Paperback, 296 pages

Published April 19th 2012 by Orion Publishing Group (first published April 3rd 2012)

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Apr 15, 2012 Emily May rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-na, paranormal-uf, 2012

The more I consider it, the more I wonder if I was just having a bad day when I read Red Glove and found myself mostly underwhelmed by it. I still think that White Cat was this series' highest point and the other two installments never quite achieved what the opening book did, I just thought that White Cat had so much going on but Ms Black somehow managed to juggle it superbly so the plot never felt too much or overcrowded. And there was just a touch too much relationship drama going on in Red ...more

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Feb 10, 2012 Tatiana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wishlist, 2012, series-finished-good, urban-fantasy, ya, b, for-ala

As seen on The Readventurer

3.5 stars

If you haven't read White Cat and Red Glove yet and are still contemplating if you should start another series that might take a nosedive half-way through, let me assure you, Curse Workers remains fairly consistent. Just don't read book synopses and spoilers or the rest of this review and enjoy the ride.

As a trilogy conclusion, Black Heart is satisfying, albeit a little weaker in terms of plotting than its predecessors. Hence, 3.5 stars instead of 4.

Cassel's j...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Bern rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone. You. Are you a person? Can you read? Then read this. Now.

Shelves: 2012, coverlust, made-me-cry-didn-t-even-call-back, emotional-rollercoaster-let-me-out, the-glorious-shelf-of-fabulousness, loved-it-to-bits, orgasming-so-hard-i-can-t-even, paranormal-stuff, perfection, the-feeeelings-are-drowning-me, ya

This fucking book.

This fucking book right here.

It can go fuck itself. I'm sorry, I'm sorry if you're reading this and cuss words aren't your thing, but I can't muster the strength to give a damn right now.

Did you hear me, Black Heart? Fuck you.

You were being so nice and perfect, just like the rest of the series was, and I was thinking i'd miss you, but noooo, you had to do it, you had to wait until the last pages and eat my feelings up, chew them like the fucker you are and spit them the fuck ou...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Alyssa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: highly-anticipated, i-cannot-breathe-without-you, really-excited-for, a-guy-of-ya, mystery-suspense, preordered, own, 2012-read, a-favourite-author, actually-funny, great-books, kick-ass, mystery, thriller, ya-loved

After Reading:

WHY IS IT OVERRRRRRRRRRRRRR???????????????????????

4.5 stars

Before Reading:

Publishers need to stop with this cover-changing behavior. It's messing up my bookshelf and littering the world with mix-matching series.

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Apr 20, 2012 Eunice rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: out-2012, male-pov, young-adult, cool-covers, damn-gorgeous-males, favourites, obsessed-with, paranormal, ya-romance

~~Call me bias or whatever but I gotta give my baby a 5-star! lol!~~

Oh boy, I gave this book a 5-star rating but it's like I don't have anything to say! Ha! -- the rating speaks it all! lol! Alright, alright. I'll try to say as much as I can...

First of all, I'd like to say that I found this series really wonderful and unique. The world-building was awesome, the characters were charming and fantastic, the twist and mysteries were impressive and clever - with those all I can say is that I loved every...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Brandi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Oh my word, this book was awesome! I gobbled it up like it was the only piece of chocolate I'd ever be allowed to eat again. This is the conclusion to the trilogy, and my main gripe is just that it's over. I would love to have at least one more book to find out what happened with Barron and the Dean (and of course Lila). Well ok, fine you're right, I would like to know more about everybody.

So why do I love these stories so much? Well, our protagonist is Cassel Sharpe, and he's a mobster's spawn...more

Oh my word, this book was awesome! I gobbled it up like it was the only piece of chocolate I'd ever be allowed to eat again. This is the conclusion to the trilogy, and my main gripe is just that it's over. I would love to have at least one more book to find out what happened with Barron and the Dean (and of course Lila). Well ok, fine you're right, I would like to know more about everybody.

So why do I love these stories so much? Well, our protagonist is Cassel Sharpe, and he's a mobster's spawn. He is also totally awesome. Cassel happens to find out that he is a very rare curse worker and we follow along in the wake of what that means for him. He is a very hot commodity, and everybody--seriously everybody--wants a piece of him. As the feds bring ever more pressure to him to join them and save his mom, the mob does the very same thing, and then on top of that there is the pressure to survive his senior year of high school without being expelled or failing.

The journey from non-worker to hot commodity was one of the most original, and entertaining, stories that I have read in some time. I was hooked from the very beginning, and I already recognize that this will be a set of books that I revisit again (and probably again still).

I would really like to know more about what happened with Barron though. He, and his mom, are characters that I love to hate, but I actually started to feel bad for him at the end there. I was shocked about it too. He is a bad man, and he did so many horrible things to Lila and Cassel, and still I felt bad for him. I wouldn't have expected the love interest that made me feel these things, but in the end I felt pretty conflicted about who ended up where, and then of course, what it meant for him to have that picture with that reminder written on it. (view spoiler)

In closing I would have to stress that these books are absolutely on par with other fabulous series, and have the benefit of being unlike any others. Do yourself a favor and pick up White Cat and Red Glove, and then enjoy the genius that is Holly Black.(less)

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Jan 20, 2012 Kristin marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Gah! I can't believe I'm going to have to wait so long for this to be published!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1/20/12 Beep, beep. Back. Up. So there used to be an awesome cover of Cassel and Lila similar to the first two covers posted here and now they're showing the new and, in my opinion, not improved cover?!

If you can't tell, I hate it. It has touches of Art Deco but waaayyyy too much 70s in it for me. Not cool. I hope somewhere that other cover will be available 'cause that's the one I want.

9 likes · like · see review

May 13, 2012 Vi Vi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: peeing-self-in-anticipation

Okay, so I love Holly Black's writing. This is the first of her series I've ever read. I had my fill of faeries with Melissa Marr's series (which I actually liked within reason) so I didn't read Tithe. Plus, I don't really read middle grade so I didn't read that other series she had out that got turned into a film...Spiderwick. Oh yeah.

But this series...there was something about the world she created that was super creative and really appealing to me. Despite the series' shortcomings, Cassel has...more

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Jun 30, 2011 Vivienne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

April. Of 2012. You're kidding me right? Can't believe we have to wait so loooong...

Edit:
Loved it

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May 07, 2012 Wealhtheow rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: battle-of-wits, fantasy, ya

Cassel Sharpe was raised in the Curse Workers's world, where everyone is a con artist and every choice is a potential trap. His mother can emotionally control him, his brother can manipulate his memories, his ex-girlfriend is now part of the mob and he himself has (view spoiler) He wants to get a high class education and win himself free of all the plots, but instead he keeps getting pulled deeper.

The world building remains awesome. Ther...more Cassel Sharpe was raised in the Curse Workers's world, where everyone is a con artist and every choice is a potential trap. His mother can emotionally control him, his brother can manipulate his memories, his ex-girlfriend is now part of the mob and he himself has (view spoiler) He wants to get a high class education and win himself free of all the plots, but instead he keeps getting pulled deeper.

The world building remains awesome. There are workers and non-workers. Workers can enact magic with a touch, but experience blowback if they do. For example, emotion workers can manipulate other people's feelings, but in return their own emotions become unstable. Or there are death workers, who can kill someone with a touch, but in return a part of their body dies--a tooth if they're lucky, their heart if they're not. Even healing has blowback of its own: by healing others, one becomes sick oneself. Working magic is dangerous and not to be done lightly. But for all that, it's so powerful that it's still used. And because all the magic is touch-based, everyone wears gloves constantly, and seeing someone's ungloved hand is both incredibly intimate and a little scary.

Cassel, and all the supporting characters, are equally well-thought out, well-rounded creations. And the plot is as twisty as ever, though not quite so mind-blowing as the first two books. I really loved this series, but I think Black was smart to end (or at least pause) it here. (view spoiler)(less)

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Apr 13, 2013 Katrina Welsh rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Find more reviews at I Have Lived a Thousand Lives

Black Heart is the stunning end to Holly Black's Curse Workers trilogy. This is one of the most unique worlds I've read and Black further develops it and makes it better with this last installment.

Curse Workers was always driven by its fully fleshed out characters but Black blew me away by adding new layers to Cassel's character. I always loved him. His character has such real depth, such raw emotions that I couldn't help but relate to his chara...more Find more reviews at I Have Lived a Thousand Lives

Black Heart is the stunning end to Holly Black's Curse Workers trilogy. This is one of the most unique worlds I've read and Black further develops it and makes it better with this last installment.

Curse Workers was always driven by its fully fleshed out characters but Black blew me away by adding new layers to Cassel's character. I always loved him. His character has such real depth, such raw emotions that I couldn't help but relate to his character. In Black Heart, Cassel struggles to find his place in good or bad. He tries so very hard to ignore his 'evil' tendencies but cons and magic always have and always will be a part of his life. How can he deny himself of what is truly part of him? This inner conflict is one of the most memorable and admirable aspects of the story.

"I can walk into someone's house, kiss their wife, sit down at their table, and eat their dinner. I can lift a passport at an airport, and in twenty minutes it will seem like it's mine. I can be a blackbird staring in the window. I can be a cat creeping along a ledge. I can go anywhere I want and do the worst things I can imagine, with nothing to ever connect me to those crimes. Today I look like me, but tomorrow I could look like you. I could be you."

I had forgotten how much I didn't like most of the characters. Barron is a real jerk of a big brother. His mother cares for Cassel but she's got a pretty screwed up sense of morality. She insists she does things for the well being of her family, and maybe she does, but it doesn't come before her own personal gain. Barron is a real jerk of a big brother. He can be loving and caring towards Cassel but only when he feels like it. He will seriously mess with his little brother's life and have fun doing it, cause hey! That's what big brothers do. But he'll pound your ass if anyone else even thinks of hurting Cassel. Cassel's grandfather is one of the very few characters in this whole trilogy whom I don't want to strangle. He really does loves and cares for Cassel because he's his grandson and family stick together. Well... Until Granddad finds out that Cassel turned his back on his family and workers by helping the government. Then he's dead to him. Is it bad that I think Cassel's family is one of the most realistic portrayals of familial relationships in YA? Minus, the extreme government conspiracies, of course.

That’s family for you. Can’t live with them, can’t murder them.

Daneca is a horrible friend. I don't even understand why they're wasting their time trying to win her back. She's annoying, haughty, thinks she's better than everyone and one of the biggest hypocrites ever. I never liked Lila. I'll admit, she's a lot less annoying in this book than in the previous ones. I never thought she was good enough for Cassel but if she makes him happy, then... I suppose, they can go be together. *sigh* Black crafted a unique romance with Cassel and Lila. They do make quite a pair. Their romance wasn't as stifling as I thought it was in the previous books, especially Red Glove. It's not to say Cassel didn't do his fair share of whining and obsessing over Lila but I love him, so I can excuse it.

It sounds like I hated this book, doesn't it? What with all the character hate, but I loved it despite of that, or maybe because of it. Black's characters are so developed and fleshed out. They all feel so human.

Let's not forget about the mystery, suspense and clever reveals this trilogy is known for. Black has a real gift for secrets and ploys whose punches you'll feel completely because you'd never see it coming. Oh, and she's funny! Her wit shows through Cassel- dark and twisted yet hilarious all the same.

There were some loose ends, well one, that I'm really not happy about. But maybe it's better not knowing. Maybe the end will be one I won't agree with and it's better I that I just imagine what I want to happen...

No. It's not. I want to know.(less)

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Apr 08, 2012 Isamlq rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: aaw-yeah

*picks up self after swooning... then swoons again*

Yay! Something I actually lovelovelove. Never mind the long cringe inducing jag of sucky book after sucky book because the good ones always make up for all the face/palm, head/desk body floor moments. Black Heart is definitely one of the goods one. It is, I dare say, an awesome conclusion to a series quite different from its peers.

I enjoyed the darker feel to it, how "not good" any of them were. I also got a kick out of the humor it’s laced wit...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Kereesa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, witches-wizards-powers, young-adult, paranormal-romance, paranormal, grrl-power, cuddle-plus, own, 2012, fangirling, own-hardcovers

Finished it this weekend. Don't know how to feel about it really. Read it too fast? Just wasn't as crazy about it as I was with White Cat and Red Glove. I think I expected more angsty fun times with Cas and Lila before they got together. Though Dan and Sam's relationship was crazy enough.

Hmm. Maybe I need to re-read this series again.

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Apr 26, 2012 Keertana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I like Holly Black and admire her immensely for creating the original and unique world of the Curse Workers, but I LOVE her for writing this series with wit, sarcasm, romance, and most importantly, for ending this book perfectly. Black Heart lived up to every one my ridiculously high expectations. Needless to say, very few books truly manage to do that - especially when it is the last book in a series. I finished Black Heart in a matter of hours and am left with a euphoric high, satisfied sigh,...more I like Holly Black and admire her immensely for creating the original and unique world of the Curse Workers, but I LOVE her for writing this series with wit, sarcasm, romance, and most importantly, for ending this book perfectly. Black Heart lived up to every one my ridiculously high expectations. Needless to say, very few books truly manage to do that - especially when it is the last book in a series. I finished Black Heart in a matter of hours and am left with a euphoric high, satisfied sigh, and unrelenting grin on my face.

Cassel Sharpe is in deeper trouble than he ever was before. Not only is he now working for the Federal Government, he is also working against Lila, the girl he loves. Furthermore, his mother is missing, his best friend is suffering from heartache, his principal is threatening to expel him, and his brother is unreliable as usual. Now, the Feds want Cassel to use his powers as a transformation worker to help them on a case, but Cassel is conflicted. He wants to be good, he wants to help the Feds, but at the same time, he doesn't. Black Heart is un-put-down-able, fast-paced, action-filled, and will leave you breathless. Through its multiple plot shifts, intriguing characters, and hidden secrets, it is essentially Cassel's tale of coming to terms with who he is, what he wants, and what it means to truly be free.

Holly Black's Curse Worker Series have always been primarily character driven, which is an aspect I have come to respect and love about her work. However, Black Heart completely blew me away. Cassel has always been an incredibly tangible and deep character to me, but he truly came alive in Black Heart. The type of tragedies and difficulties that Cassel has been through are horrible - I'm sure we can all agree on that - but they have not been easy to relate to. In Black Heart, Cassel is dealing with his inner emotions and conflicts over light and dark and what it truly means to be good or bad. That, I think, is a struggle we can almost all deal with and his relate-ability in this last novel really made me appreciate him more as a character and love him all the more as a person.

"But now I wonder - what if everyone is pretty much the same and it's just a thousand small choices that add up to the person you are? No good or evil, no black and white, no inner demons or angels whispering the right answers in our ears like it's some cosmic SAT test. Just us, hour by hour, minute by minute, day by day, making the best choices we can." (Black, 242)

Black's heart-felt characters are the primary reason why I love this series so much. Every single one of them - even the small side characters who appear for a few chapters and disappear - are so well fleshed-out and alive that it is impossible not to admire her talent. That being said, I should warn you now that Black also has the talent of writing a beautiful, believable, and heart-wrenching romance. I think we can all agree that the romance in the Curse Workers Series has been unique and one-of-a-kind. One of my biggest worries going into Black Heart was that it would be resolved in some horribly cliched manner, but thankfully, it wasn't. The resolution to Cassel and Lila's romance was perfect. It fit in with their characters, personalities, and the circumstances they had been through. I loved it and did my own happy dance quite a few times I can assure you. ;)

Overall, Black Heart was a phenomenal ending to an amazing series. It had everything in it - action, romance, well-written characters, family feuds, crime, and moving relationships. Personally, I want Black to start a sequel Curse Workers Series told from Barron's POV. I found his character to be perhaps the most mysterious and intriguing and I'd love to really get inside his mind and discover the inner workings of his dark personality. Yet, at the same time, I recognize that it is time for me to say good-bye to this world and patiently await the new novels that Holly has planned for the future. If you haven't already got your hands on Black Heart, rest assured that when you do, you will enjoy this read immensely and will have no qualms at all with this conclusion. However, if you haven't started the Curse Worker Series yet, I urge you to run to your nearest library or bookstore and check it out. I can assure you that you won't be disappointed - especially not by this terrific ending! (less)

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May 13, 2012 Mimi Valentine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: best-of-2012, boys-i-wish-were-real, pure-awesomeness, possible-review

I'm so sad that this is the end of the series! Yet I'm so happy that it ended the way it did at the exact same time :') Gosh, I love Cassel & Lila & all of Holly Black's curse working magic! <3

Review to come :)

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Apr 02, 2012 Sam rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Finished it a while ago. Would have updated but I went to a concert. Only comment:
Fuuuuuuuuck. I love this series.

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Feb 23, 2013 anneski rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One more year....aaaargh!!!!!

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Apr 09, 2012 Jennifer is currently reading it · review of another edition

Shelves: publish-in-2011

IT HAS A COVER!!!! Love it.

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Sep 19, 2012 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, love-story, ya-fiction

Why I picked it up: Last in a trilogy.

This picks up not long after Red Glove ends. Cassel is in the agent-in-training program for worker kids. Lila is proving herself in her father's mob business. Sam & Danica are still fighting. Cassel's mom is on the run after working a politician. I do not recommend reading this if you have not read the first two. This is a layered story and while it could be enjoyed a la carte, it's better as a part of a whole.

I liked it. A lot. I wasn't sure I was going...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Sophie Riggsby rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chemistry-101, dont-tell-others-youre-my-fave, instant-classic, on-the-edge-of-my-seat

*Review posted on Page Turners Blog on 4/3/2012*

Am I the only one who gets a little anxious at the thought of a series ending? And this series in particular had me at the very edge of my seat pretty much from the end of book one. This was book three, how was I going to survive this rollercoaster of a plot?

I shouldn't have worried because there are only a handful of authors who can hit that end note and hit it well. Holly Black is definitely one of those authors. Boy, do I love her world. Think a...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-release, ala-12, arcs-i-own, mundie-moms-reviews, 2012-100-book-challenge, books-i-own, signed-books-arcs

Oh Curse Workers, why does this series have to end!?! I was honestly hesitant about reading Black Heart, because I didn't want this series to end. Okay and maybe I was a bit scared about reading what might happen to Cassel and the rest of the characters from this series. We all know that Holly's not scared to torture her characters. One of the things I have enjoyed about this series, and I might be demented to admit this, is the idea of people have an ability and being able to do something with...more Oh Curse Workers, why does this series have to end!?! I was honestly hesitant about reading Black Heart, because I didn't want this series to end. Okay and maybe I was a bit scared about reading what might happen to Cassel and the rest of the characters from this series. We all know that Holly's not scared to torture her characters. One of the things I have enjoyed about this series, and I might be demented to admit this, is the idea of people have an ability and being able to do something with just one touch of their hand. Holly has a talent for creating something that comes to life, and for me while reading this series, this ability felt realistic. Getting to see the "mob" side of things with the Curse Workers series has been extremely interesting to say the least and, surprisingly it wasn't hard for me fall in love with so many of the series's flawed characters.

Holly Black has created a series with lively characters who all surprisingly found a place in my heart over the course of this series. I love that they're all flawed in more ways than one, but my favorite character from this series has always been Cassel Sharpe. Through out the entire series we've seen the heartbreak, the torment, the turmoil and the inner battle to rise above the mob life Cassel's dwelt with. This poor guy can't seem to catch a break. If you're met his mother, his brothers, grandfather and the rest of the characters in this story you'll know what I'm talking about. Though each of these characters also adds so much richness to already enticing plot line. No matter how far he tries to stay clear of his family's path of crime, their ties to the Curse Workers mob, or how good Cassel tries to be, he always finds himself back on the "other side" of the law. For me, that's one of the things that made me love him even more.

Cassel is one of those characters who's incredibly smart, he's charming, has this snarkiness about him that I love. He's a character who made me root for him from the beginning, and kept me cheering for him through out the series. He's a character who's grown a lot over the course of the series. I admire the fact he's someone who's showed courage and gained a tremendous amount of confidence with the end of Black Heart. While there were times I might have cringed over some of his decision making, I did have some proud "Mundie Mama" moments for him while reading Black Heart. This story wrapped up the series in the most fitting Curse Worker way possible. That's all I'm going to say about the story so that I don't spoil it for anyone. If you enjoyed the first two books in this series, wait till you read Black Heart.

Holly's writing, her characters and her richly detailed plot line, along with each character's back story added so much to the over all series. She hooked me from the get go. I wanted to know more about Cassel, his mother, his father, his other family members and his friends. I love that when an author has the ability to make her supporting characters just as intriguing and strong as their main character. This series is a fabulous one! There's romance, family dynamics, plenty of suspense, a touch of magic, danger and a whole lot more. Though I'm sad to see this series come to an end, Holly Black has created a series that will remain at the top of my favorites list. I highly recommend picking this one up TODAY!(less)

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Mar 21, 2012 Nafiza rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, books-for-review, 2012, favourites

This, to my dismay (utter and complete), is the last (noooo!!!!) book in the Curse Workers trilogy. I don't want it to be over. I really don't. But if it does have to be over, I am so glad that it's over with this book. You know how sometimes the trilogy is fantastic until you reach the last book and several layers of frigid effery later, you step out of the story utterly horrified, devastated (and if you are me, angry, very very angry)? No? Well maybe I have crappy taste but this has frequently...more This, to my dismay (utter and complete), is the last (noooo!!!!) book in the Curse Workers trilogy. I don't want it to be over. I really don't. But if it does have to be over, I am so glad that it's over with this book. You know how sometimes the trilogy is fantastic until you reach the last book and several layers of frigid effery later, you step out of the story utterly horrified, devastated (and if you are me, angry, very very angry)? No? Well maybe I have crappy taste but this has frequently happened to me. Anyway, this is not the case with Black Heart.

Black Heart is an amazing conclusion to one of the slickest, sexiest and bad-ass-iest (in honor of it's awesomesauciness I made up a word to describe it) trilogy I have had the fortune of reading. Now usually, I am not a great fan of male protagonists. Oh I am sure they're cool and all but honestly? I'm a girl. I can empathize with girls and Harry Potter aside, boys are like aliens I can't fathom. (I don't even want to fathom them, they have cooties.) However, Cassel differentiates himself from the rest in a variety of different ways. But I do not want to rehash what I have already discussed in the reviews of the last two books.

Let's discuss Black Heart. This was, perhaps, the most, I do not want to say sentimental because it wasn't, but rather, the most passion driven of the three. I like how Black made it possible to talk about love and feel about love without reverting to melodrama and sappiness. Oh and dude, cookies for her since there wasn't even a whisper of the word "soulmate."

One of the biggest strengths of the Curse Workers trilogy is the realistic nature of its portrayal of supernatural events and activities. Does that make sense? We all know that the trilogy is fantasy but its execution is edgy and situated firmly in contemporary society with issues and concerns that have gone through a metamorphoses to better fit the world of the curse workers but nonetheless remain pertinent in a way that makes it extremely easy to relate to. And wow, yes, I know, convoluted sentence is convoluted. To elaborate, think about the whole deal with the Senator trying to pass laws against curseworkers. This smacks of discrimination and raises a whole lots of questions on what it means to be human and the nature of humanity. The novel asks, more successfully than others in the genre, about how far people can go before they can no longer be called people and if they can't be called people, do they still retain the same rights and freedoms that people take for granted. This is interesting stuff, you guys!

It also talks about the nature of evil. Is it an inherited gene? Can you ever escape or run away from what history and your parents have condemned you to? Or is evil a reaction to society and its overbearing norms? I love books that entertain you and manage to ask questions that move beyond the momentary enjoyment and linger in your mind.

The world building is ace but what cinches Black's success in this conclusion are her characterizations. She manages to keep her characters real. Flawed but redeemable. Bad but good. A whole host of contradictions doing the dance around each other. The book may be called Black Heart but all you'll see are shades of gray. The pace is fast, the plotting spot on and the ending made me jump up and down and squeal. Thank God I was hidden from the public's judging eyes. Ha.

Also, I love the fact that Black does not tie up all ends neatly. She leaves the book with some questions scenting the air with possibilities and perhaps this is what has me hoping for a spin off but even if it is intentionally meant to give the book a sort of asymmetrical end (you'll know what I mean once you read it), Holly Black's Curse Workers has ensured its spot on my list of favourites.

Girls like her, my grandfather once warned me, girls like her turn into women with eyes like bullet holes and mouths made of knives. They are always restless. They are always hungry. They are bad news. They will drink you down like a shot of whiskey. Falling in love with them is like falling down a flight of stairs.

(less)

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Apr 04, 2012 Stephanie Doig rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Big fan of this series and this book didn't disappoint. Am going to reread and may be able to bump this up to five stars. (Read it so fast first time that I'm sure I missed some things.) :)
Full review here: http://stephaniedoig.wordpress.com/20...

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Apr 19, 2012 Haiku Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, romance

Cassel a fed
His love lives a life of crime
He's twisted in knots

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May 04, 2013 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rating: 4.25 stars

There's something about this series, it's nothing like I've ever read before, certainly not in YA anyway. I feel for cassel, I want him to be the good guy that he wants to be, but I love the slight bad boy appeal. Black is AMAZING at creating the curse worker society, I literally felt that this could be happening somewhere in another timeline.

The characters were great, I love the unpredictable twists, I love the questions of a persons morality, I love how everyone has a distin...more

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Mar 28, 2013 Natasha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, awesome-narrators, ebook, fantasy, lovable-side-characters, mysterious-characters, paranormal, romance, ya

Review Warning: I'm still not really calm.

Cassel has promised to help out the Feds and to be good -- only problem is, everything that he holds dear to him is associated with the bad stuff: con artists, cheating, crime. When his mother's life is put into danger and the Feds ask him to do a job that he's been trying to avoid, Cassel must decide what is right and wrong for himself. And on top of that, he has to deal with the fact Lila is ready to take her place in the Mob, and pretty much hates him...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Fran rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is book 3 in The Curse Workers and readers should definitely start with book 1. In this installment, Cassel is trying to decide if he should follow through on his plans to join the federal government in exchange for immunity for past crimes. He wants to make the right choice, but it is difficult to determine who the good guys really are. Cassel is a transformation worker, able to transform others with just a touch and knows that this power will always make him vulnerable to being manipulate...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Oreotalpa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

May write a more detailed review later, but...

1) Still love the worldbuilding and concept.
2) Felt like the main characters I was supposed to root for were horrible people who ended up horrible; by the end I was only sympathetic to the people they screwed over. Arguably the main characters were supposed to read as morally bankrupt, but since I ended up not caring what happened to them, I didn't have any emotional stakes in the book, or find the ending at all satisfying.
3) I felt like there were s...more

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Oct 31, 2012 WovenMyst rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Holly Black is an excellent writer, which shows in the amount of work she has published. Her attempt in writing young adult fiction, Black Heart in particular, was lacking. It just didn't live up to our expectations.

The most successful book in this series, like most, was book one: White Cat. Character development was strong and suspense was evident which made the first book a success.

There were many classical novel writing elements apparent in this book, which made this novel a little predictabl...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Ferdy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Spoilers

Cassel struggles with his loyalties towards his family, Curse Workers, the Feds and Lila. With his rare transformation power Cassel finds himself pulled in different directions, and has to balance everyones needs or else risk losing his life or the lives of those he loves.

-The storyline was pretty much the same as the last 2 books - Cassel investigating something or other and trying to save some person or other. It was pretty dull.
-Cassel was still boring, he has no charm or charisma. Hi...more

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About Holly Black

Holly Black is a best-selling author of contemporary fantasy novels for kids, teens, and adults. She is the author of the Modern Faerie Tale series (Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside), The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), and The Good Neighbors graphic novels (with Ted Naifeh) The Poison Eaters and Other Stories, a collection of short fiction, and The Curse Worker series (White Cat, Red Gl...more

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Books by Holly Black

The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, #1)

The Wrath of Mulgarath (The Spiderwick Chronicles, #5)

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Quotes from Black Heart

“Girls like her, my grandfather once warned me, girls like her turn into women with eyes like bullet holes and mouths made of knives. They are always restless. They are always hungry. They are bad news. They will drink you down like a shot of whisky. Falling in love with them is like falling down a flight of stairs. What no one told me, with all those warnings, is that even after you’ve fallen, even after you know how painful it is, you’d still get in line to do it again.” — 83 people liked it

“She wears trouble like a crown. If she ever falls in love, she’ll fall like a comet, burning the sky as she goes.” — 70 people liked it

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Black Heart (Curse Workers #3)

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