El bosque de corazones

by M.A. Kuzniar, Lydia Rodríguez Pavón (Translator)

SE HAN ARRANCADO SEIS CORAZONES. SOLO FALTA UNO.

El precio por reclamar mi reinado fueron siete corazones. El precio de la venganza fue desterrar el amor.

Elka vive en el bosque desde que fue exiliada por su propia madre, una bruja que gobierna la ciudad y que somete al pueblo entero a su voluntad. Marcada por una maldición, está condenada a permanecer en el bosque para siempre. a menos que logre arrancar el corazón de siete hombres.

Tiene seis en su poder cuando un cazador herido se cruza en su camino. Aunque el destino de Kaz es convertirse en el séptimo corazón de Elka, él también guarda un gran secreto y se ha adentrado en el bosque con otros planes. Sin embargo, tras conocerse, la pasión se desata entre ellos en un lugar donde la magia sacude cada rincón y fuerzas oscuras amenazan con alcanzarlos. Elka deberá tomar la decisión más difícil de su vida: renunciar a su destino o traicionar a su corazón.

El cazador se convierte en presa en este romantasy oscuro, inspirado en la historia de Blancanieves, con un amor prohibido y la promesa de un beso de amor verdadero.

Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, Romance, Romantasy, Young Adult, Audiobook, Fairy Tale Retellings

416 pages, Tapa blanda con solapas

First published October 23, 2025

About the author

M.A. Kuzniar is also published under the name Maria Kuzniar.

Reviews

[Amy McCaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeously written reimagining of Snow White! I love Mia Kuzniar’s books, and this is a stunning YA debut.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forest of Hearts is a deliciously dark fairytale retelling that takes Snow White and turns it into something more eerie and folkloric.

It quite literally opens with Elka baking a pie filled with a human heart (as one does), so the book takes you straight in, without much introduction.
It's the perfect setup for a story drenched in Slavic-inspired folklore, curses, and danger. The forest setting feels alive and haunting, and the touches of Polish language and folklore made it feel all the more special and atmospheric!

Elka is also such a compelling heroine. She is fierce, conflicted, and caught between love and survival. Her dynamic with Kaz, the huntsman she comes across, is FULL of banter and tension. The insta-attraction was a little much at first, but their endless flirting grew on me.

The pacing jumps around at times as well, but the rich atmosphere and some twists I actually didn't see coming kept me hooked until the end!

Overall, I would rate this 3.5 stars, but will definitely be picking up the next book if there'll be one.

If you're a fan of dark fairytale retellings, endless banter, and stories full of magic and curses, this one might be worth picking up!!

[Rocio.ratoncilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

6,5/10 ✨ Para poder hablar de este libro quiero dividirlo en 3 partes, el inicio me ha gustado mucho, es un retelling de Blancanieves original y oscuro, y la ambientación muy buena, por lo que me engancho mucho esa parte.

La parte intermedia me ha resultado lenta y me ha bajado muchísimo el interés porque considero que utiliza recursos y trama similares a acotar, el príncipe cruel y alas de sangre, todas mezcladas y con poca originalidad.

El final me ha vuelto a generar algo de más interés, pero la resolución ha sido muy precipitada y con pocas explicaciones (y eso que en la parte intermedia se ha recreado en cosas de escaso interés) y además deja una parte muy abierta (imagino que con idea de continuar… en siguientes libros)

En definitiva por eso le doy esta nota, si hubiera mantenido el ritmo de la primera parte y si el final hubiera estado más elaborado, habría sido perfecto.

Aun así es un libro que se lee rápido y creo que tiene muy buena traducción.

[Aylin Niazai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmmmm I don't know about this one. It was marketed as a dark romance? Which it isn't. It 's a regular fantasy.
It was clear from the start it was a retelling of Snowhite.
The only thing that really excited me was the storyline about the dragons, and maybe Kazimir.
Listened to the audiobook!

[Miss Light ✨ headinthecloudsandbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3'5✨

Estamos ante un retelling del cuento de Blancanieves con varios giros argumentales muy típicos de los libros de la temática "Romantasy".

La estructura está dividida en tres partes bien diferenciadas: la cabaña, el bosque y el castillo. La primera empezó sorprendiéndome gratamente ya que mientras que la trama conservaba toques de la historia original, la autora añadía elementos muy atractivos entre los que destaco la ambientación oscura e invernal y un universo habitado por criaturas procedentes del folklore eslavo (como el domowik, la rusalka o el bauk). La acción está muy presente desde el inicio, Elka, nuestra protagonista, no sólo tiene que enfrentarse a su maldición, si no a todos los peligros que se esconden en el bosque mientras traza un plan para derrocar a su madre, la cruel reina bruja. Por el comportamiento de esta chica, diría que tiene más de 18 años porque aunque se nota su juventud a la hora de tomar decisiones, se la ve muy diestra en la lucha y en lo que viene siendo valerse por si misma... Supongo que eso se debe a los dos años que ha pasado en el exilio, pero no me cuadraba que una princesa tan joven que ha pasado gran parte de su vida en palacio, estuviese tan espabilada.

Cuando en el camino de Elka se cruza Kaz, un cazador que podría ser su próxima presa, empieza a desarrollarse una tensión que acabará en algo más, lo que me lleva a hablar de la segunda parte. En ella el ritmo se vuelve un poco más pausado, y es debido a que el romance toma más peso. La relación entre Elka y Kaz no llega a ser instalove pero si que es verdad que desde que se conocen existe una atracción muy fuerte y ambos terminarán sucumbiendo a ella (sin escenas spicy de por medio, mini punto a favor). Cabe añadir que hay un par de plot twists que no me han terminado de convencer a nivel personal porque gracias a ellos se nota que M. A. Kuzniar ha intentado integrar elementos de dos obras muy conocidas: "El príncipe cruel" de Holly Black y "Una corte de rosas y espinas" de Sarah J. Maas. Quizá este sea un aspecto que no importe a aquellas personas que no están acostumbradas a leer fantasía, pero para las que devoran libros y más libros de la temática todo se vuelve más previsible.

Por último, la tercera parte recupera la acción del inicio gracias a la batalla final y a alguna que otra sorpresa que tenía reservada la autora y que confiaba que sacara relucir en algún momento. Sin embargo, lo que viene siendo la resolución queda un poco abierta y deja con muchas preguntas cuyas respuestas espero que se encuentren en la continuación.

En definitiva, "El bosque de corazones" ha sido una lectura que ha empezado muy bien pero que ha experimentado algunos altibajos que me han obligado a bajarle la nota. Si el relato hubiera seguido la estela de la primera parte y la autora no se hubiera dejado guiar por las intrigas políticas y los amoríos de otros Romantasy, estoy segura de que el relato hubiera sido único y mucho más original. Aún así, creo que es una novela muy recomendable para empezar a leer fantasía o para cuando no apetece salir de la zona de confort.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I don't have something special with the original fairytale of Snow White, I do love most of the retellings. When I saw this one I was therefore really curious and requested a digital review copy through Netgalley. Luckily Simon and Schuster granted me one!

After finishing this book I mainly wonder why the author and publisher decided to make this a YA story. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading the story and it was very entertaining, but it feels like this book would have made an even more amazing romantasy. If the fades to black had been open door scenes, if the pacing could have been a little slower so there was a little more time to get emotionally attached, this could have been one of my favourite reads of the year.

Now I liked the story, but also felt like a lot of things happened really fast. Especially the romance between Snow and her Huntsman. It feels like they go from stranger to epic lovers within a blink of an eye. As a reader it was therefore hard to really believe that they were so in love that they were capable of changing the world. It felt like two strangers were taking all kinds of risks for someone they barely really knew.

However, the plot of the story was wonderful! The backbone of the original tale is there, but the author also brings a lot of original elements to the table. There is a lot of casual world building. Even during the finale the author surprises us with some reveals making the story even more interesting and magic, and the twists and turns in the end, were really making me curious about the sequel. It feels like the actual story has only just begun.

[TwistedSerpiente_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster & M.A. Kuzniar for giving me the opportunity to read Forest of Hearts in exchange for an honest review.

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Firstly, this was my first book I have read from this author and I can honestly say, I loved it so much! I never wanted it to end. This is hands down my new favourite retelling and if I could give this book 6 stars, I so would!

The book is focused around a reimagining of the very classic tale of Snow White, however this is so much darker and more beautiful. I felt completely bespelled with the gorgeous world-building and the alluring detailed magical creatures - I loved to learn when reading the acknowledgements that M.A. Kuznair explored her own polish heritage whilst writing this book.

I ate up every moment between our FMC Elka & Kaz our mysterious MMC whose cheeky comments and banter had no bounds and I loved him for it! ( I think I just added a new book boyfriend to my list ) Swoon 😍

The plot itself is full of twists, moments of self-love and taking back what is rightfully yours, it explores emotions of betrayal and not feeling alone any more.

Tropes Include
🍎 Fantasy Retelling
🫀 Unique World-Building
🍎 He Falls First
🫀 Strong FMC
🍎 Cute Animal Companion
🫀 Magic & Curses

Favourite Quotes -

"No. You're supposed to take it and prove that you're worthy of it. I don't want your gratitude; I want your fury. I want the darkest parts of you that you've hidden away from everyone else because you think they make you unlovable and I want to worship them. ❤️‍🔥

"He looked at me like a storm, fierce and beautiful and territorial all at once, and I wanted to hold onto him, to keep him by side a little longer." 💞

"Don't worry, 'he said, his voice deep and gravelly, 'I swore an oath not to lay a finger on you ... I didn't say anything about my mouth.' 😳

Overall - I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark YA Fantasy with a beautiful, exciting and twisty plot filled with unique characters and magical creatures. A sizzling romantic tension between our two main characters, but nothing too spicy. Magic and curses and an ending that will lead to many questions. I can't wait for book 2! and I also need to get my hands on a physical copy of this book 😍

[Ana (Aeternam Dea) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Se trata de un retelling de Blancanieves, desde una perspectiva oscura del clásico, con un argumento ofrece cierta dosis de originalidad, con personajes claroscuros y un paisaje gótico que da lugar a una sucesión de escenas que pretenden llamar la atención.

El bosque de corazones, es una historia que exuda una agilidad que, propicia que su lectura se solvente en un suspiro, uno de sus puntos más positivos. Su trama sencilla, está desprovista de artificios que cansen y de descripciones sutiles. Su división en tres partes, pretende estructurar su trama como si se tratara de un puzle, con misterios y secretos que han de ser resueltos.

Aunque en un primer momento, se tratara de un libro con capacidad de prometer un gran entretenimiento, lo cierto es que me ha sido casi imposible conectar con su desarrollo, debido a que, en muchas ocasiones, me ha parecido su trama vacía, sin profundidad y cuya evolución argumental tenía serias dificultades para atrapar. Su final o más bien sus últimos capítulos, por otro lado, me han dejado por completo fría, con una conclusión sin las suficientes explicaciones, como si en verdad a este libro le faltaran páginas o estuviera planeado la publicación de un segundo libro, haciendo sentir al lector, cierto nivel de orfandad respecto al entretenimiento prometido en su sinopsis.

Sus protagonistas no son del todo carismáticos, sus personalidades apenas ofrecen una transformación definida, más allá de representar bien los elementos típicos del retelling. La falta de complejidad y que estos se enredan en una trama en ocasiones, demasiada plana, hace que no se adquiera gran conexión con ambos, lo que condena su romance. Los sentimientos entre ambos, apenas cuentan con la suficiente atención, aunque en verdad respeta bien los tiempos del enamoramiento, pero este no emociona del todo.

Aunque hay matices particulares en la pluma de M.A. Kuzniar que son destacables, como su prosa y su originalidad, lo cierto es que su estilo de escritura no ha sido para mí.

Reseña completa en el blog: https://aeternamdea.blogspot.com/2026...

[Cyd’s Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.0 stars.

This is a very unique and fresh retelling of snow white. The story is twisted and dark incomparison to what we know of snow white and I enjoyed it. The plot unfolds quickly and it’s dangerous, filled with mythical creatures, curses and scheming. Our FMC is in hiding due to a curse inflicted by her mother, she is in survival mode until an unexpected guest in the forest. We see our FMC go through so much, but there’s growth and so much hope for something better.

I really hope there’s a book 2 because there are still questions I need answering!

[Joyce Van noten · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was amazing! definitely want more. took me a chapter or two to fully get into the character build but they do grip your attention either way!

[Cat✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaz <333

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This will appeal to fans of YA, plot driven, enemies to lovers romances. I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

There’s a couple of things this book does well. Firstly is the dark fairy tale. This is a Snow White inspired story and it takes recognisable elements of that tale and weaves them in to create its own unique approach. I did like how it used things like a cottage in the woods, hearts, apples and poisons in the story to create something familiar but still new. Secondly is the folkloric elements. This was nice to see how these were built in and they created some of the memorable personality for the book. Thirdly, the dragons. I very much liked the dragons in this and would have been glad to see more of them as they were really interesting. If the books had stayed focused on these things I think it could have been really strong. The first part of the book was pretty engaging seeing Elka in the forest, on a mission to break her curse. The small scale, location focus was compelling. However the book expanded in scale dramatically bringing in rebellion, rival courts and an enemies to lovers romance that felt quite hard to root for. This had the bones of something really good but just felt like it was trying to be too many different things too fast. I do think readers who like YA enemies to lovers and teenagers rebelling against established leaders will enjoy this book though.

[Jessica Pérez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha gustado bastante 💕
La idea es muy buena y a cualquier fan de Blancanieves le va a gustar mucho, el toque de oscuridad para mí lo mejor del libro.
El desarrollo de la protagonista es muy bueno y me encanta que se hayan incorporado dragones a la historia.
Me ha fallado un pelín el prota masculino, que no he conectado mucho con él

[Lemurkat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A darkly romantic fairy tale with Snow White leanings, Forest of Hearts definitely takes a more macabre approach to the traditional tale. Our heroine, Elka, is cursed and alone, living in a forest filled with nightmares: where trees move and predate, and humans become prey. To break her curse? She needs to take the hearts of seven people. No metaphor here, she's literally removing hearts and baking them into pies to render them more palatable. She's one heart off breaking her curse, when an injured huntsman stumbles into her life. Instead of killing him, she helps him, and in turn implores him to help her. Now, it seems the path is obvious: the final heart she takes will be his, but it will be metaphorical instead of literal. And that's the way things seem to be headed, as the two experience insta-attraction and indulge in flirty banter.

But nothing is as it seems, and everything starts to escalate.

"Forest of Hearts" is beautifully written, but the plot tends on the chaotic side. It feels almost as though the author opened a grab-bag of story ideas/plot points/tropes, and flung them all into the story. It shouldn't work, but it does, for all that it feels a bit messy. There's a lot to unpack here... the heart-eating feels like its going to be a major plot point: how is her new beau going to react when it turns out she's murdered half a dozen people and indulged in cannibalism? Later revelations make you query why certain early events happened. Why was the poisonous bite of the bauk really such a dire threat to the huntsman? If Elka had been living in the forest so long by herself, how was she still so beautiful? If she had no hairbrush, why wasn't her hair a goddawful tangle or hacked roughly short? (Her enduring beauty is at least someone explained). Some Snow White plot points feel thrown in for the sake of inclusion. And... then there are dragons? And court politics. And war. And a twist at the end that explained nothing, but added a bunch more questions and made it abundantly obvious that a sequel is intended.

Overall, this feels like an extremely polished and beautifully written debut romantasy/dark fairy tale in which the author had tried to throw in everything they love. And, surprisingly, although it can be somewhat disorientating at times, M.A.Kuzniar actually made it work (probably because it is not, in fact, a debut novel, although it is her first YA book). I enjoyed it. Probably more as a "guilty pleasure" than an enduring classic, but either way, worth a read. If you like that kind of thing.

There's implied intimacy, but no smut. Which startled me, as it wasn't until I got to the end and read the author's note that I realized it was a YA novel, despite the cannibalism and murder.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

M.A. Kuzniar twists Snow White folklore into a dark and lavish story, filled with adventure, forbidden love, and political intrigue.

You'll get immediately thrown into the story, with Elka on the brink of devouring her last heart to break her curse, bestowed upon her by her mother. In gruelsome detail, she describes the horrific taste and process of this messy event, setting the tone for the rest of the story. Elka gets interrupted by a wounded huntsman knocking on her door. She's not a monster, not yet, so she helps this rather handsome-looking man recover and protect him from the dangerous forest. After living years in solitude, she can't help but feel some connection with this mysterious intruder. Sparks fly and chemistry runs hot. It's clear that Kaz has no god-blessed soul either. He carries secrets on his own, but in the tender moments with Elka, they seem to be just being. Together, alone, and away from their past and present duties. Though their chemistry felt rather rushed, they make a strong dynamic, and their witty banter has a sexy edge.

I'd say that the story is more plot-driven than character-driven. It focuses on the main quest to overthrow the queen (Elka's mother), who has been purging magic throughout the kingdom. What used to be a land filled with dragons and magic it is now a land of fear and darkness. The only thing the Queen is afraid of is the Forest Demon. So Elka's only choice is to work together with this Forest Demon in order to restore peace and balance. Later in the story, we are introduced to a few side characters who help elevate the dark, sensuous tone. While they're not much written in-depth, their position within the story is clear.

There are some twists and turns, deaths and betrayals. This makes you want to keep reading, and with the multiple layers, you'll keep pondering what's to come, who to believe and how it will end. It was thrilling, a tad emotional, heated, and filled with female rage! What's not to like about a strong and fierce heroine trying to accept all of herself, even her monstrous side?

Thank you, NetGalley and M.A. Kuzniar, for an e-copy of Forest of Hearts.

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.

FOREST OF HEARTS is a Snow White retelling with teeth.

The book starts with Elka eating a heart, setting the tone for how much darker this book is than Disney (and also that she is not to be messed with.) There are monsters in the forest and an evil queen to fight - as well as plenty of betrayals.

I really liked the portion of the book in the forest realm with shifting alliances. I would not call this a political fantasy by any stretch, but there are schemers and threats beyond just brute force and magic. Those sorts of plotlines always interest me most in the book, so I was very excited by that section.

The book draws on Slavic mythology, which I liked. So much of romantasy is Western European in flavour (particularly French!) so this felt different. I really liked the creatures, particularly the domowik (I don't know how a featureless creature of shadows is cute, but it is!)

I appreciated that the tension in the relationship over potential betrayals was dealt with well before the final act. It can often feel a little too convenient for the big relationship drama occurring close to the plot finale. Having them have to reveal their secrets much earlier felt more natural to their environments and pressures, and I also liked that Elka was so reasonable and listened (thus avoiding miscommunication issues).

There is a single, very brief (half a page) sex scene that did feel older than other parts of the book. It wasn't graphic (though it was clear through allusion exactly what they were doing) but it was more the tone and the acts that felt older. These are not teens fumbling in bed for the first time. It felt a little bit out of line with the rest of the book because it didn't read like YA for that half page.

I'm pretty sure this is the first book in a duology. While Elka's primary goals are met in this book, doing so opens up a lot more questions - questions I want answers to!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Desde que su madre, la reina la expulsase de su propio palacio, Elka vive exiliada en el bosque. Allí intenta sobrevivir a los peligros que allí se esconden e intenta romper la maldición que su madre le lanzó. Para poner fin a la maldición Elka tiene que matar a 7 hombres y comer sus corazones. Cuando la joven lleva ya conseguidos 6 corazones, un cazador herido aparece en su puerta. ¿Estará dispuesta Elka a matar a este apuesto joven y romper al fin su maldición? 


Esta historia es un retelling más oscuro de la historia tradicional que conocemos de Blancanieves. Lo que más me ha gustado es que en esta historia no estamos ante la joven incauta e ingenua Blancanieves que espera que alguien la salve de la malvada madrastra si no que Elka es una joven valiente y decidida que está dispuesta a todo para salvarse a sí misma de la maldición que la asola. También me gustó mucho todas las referencias al folclore polaco y del este que están presentes en la historia ya que todos estos aspectos contribuyen a darle a la trama ese aire tétrico y oscuro que caracterizan a esta historia. Otra cosa que me gustó fue la importancia que tiene en la historia todo el tema de la magia y las maldiciones. La ambientación también está bastante bien, la mayoría de la historia transcurre en el bosque, un lugar oscuro y lleno de peligros y oscuros secretos que la autora describe de forma sublime y hace que te sumerjas en la historia desde el principio. En cuanto a los personajes decir que todos están bastante bien, por destacar a alguno mencionaría a Elka porque es la protagonista y a Kaz, el cazador, porque es un personaje misterioso y con muchos secretos que es el típico personaje que me suele gustar que aparezca en todas las historias.  El romance también está bastante bien llevado y me gustó la forma en que la autora lo desarrolló. En definitiva un libro que os recomiendo mucho leer ya que es autoconclusivo y pienso que disfrutarán un montón todos los amantes de las historias de fantasía un poco oscuras. 

[Kate Downey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not usually read this genre so Forest of Hearts was a revelation - and that's putting it mildly. As I read YA in other genres, I was prepared for a plot-centric, tightly paced novel and Kuzniar delivered on both counts. I understand she usually writes into the adult fantasy market so it was interesting to see what she would do with the Snow White retelling and, holy camellia, hold onto your hats!

I had such fun with this. The writing is tight, the pacing is faultless and the twists are unexpected, satisfying and suitably wild. I snorted at the sass, raised my woolly eyebrows at the spicy exchanges, and muttered mild (very) swearwords whenever Kuzniar sent things in a direction I had not foreseen.

Okay, there is darkness in that the spells cast and the means to break curses are definitely on the macabre side. The forest is pretty hellish and many of the beasts and terrors that plague Snow White are gruesome. Kuzniar doesn't dwell. Horrors occur and are despatched by our super-feisty, weapons trained, wary heroine whose armour is protection against everything save the mysterious, wounded huntsman whom she has to save. We know early on they are made for each other; the pages smoulder. Kuzniar keeps the explicit stuff behind closed doors but younger readers will be under no illusions about what happens when the levels of attraction are stratospheric.

The plot—and concomitant complications—ramp up even more in the final third of the novel, bringing in political machinations, thwarted plans, false friends, unexpected allies and, yes, dragons. Happy sigh!

Although Kuzniar does bring things to a satisfactory conclusion, everything seems to be set up for a sequel and I, for one, am here for it!

[ThianeJansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forest of Hearts takes Snow White and throws her straight into a nightmare. The book opens with Elka baking six human hearts into a pie (yes, really🥧) and that one scene tells you exactly what kind of story you’re in for.

Cursed by her own mother, the Queen, Elka lives in a kingdom where magic has been purged and monsters linger in the woods. When a wounded huntsman named Kaz shows up on her doorstep, everything unravels fast. Their uneasy alliance pulls them into a dark, fast-moving story full of curses, demons, and old folklore.

🖤 Tropes & vibes
🍎 Dark fairytale retelling
🔪Cursed heroine x brooding huntsman
🩸 Morally grey characters
🌲 Folklore & forest magic
😘 Banter + shameless flirting 😆
🗝️Fast pacing, gothic tone


This one moves fast ,sometimes a bit too fast ,but it’s constantly engaging. The atmosphere is eerie and textured, with Slavic inspired folklore and bits of Polish language that make it feel distinct and grounded.

Elka is fierce and stubborn, Kaz is equal parts secretive and charming, and their dynamic balances the story’s darker moments. I really liked how it didn’t rely too much on the romance to carry it ,the tension and stakes do that just fine.

If you’re into dark fairytales that feel creepy, fast paced, and a little bit unhinged, this is for you! I’d also highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed books like For The Wolf, Season of Fear or Hemlock and Silver

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

M.A Kuzniar really is one of the most underrated appreciated and underhyped writers creating stories today. I had utterly adored all of her adult releases so far, and in this new addition to her catalogue, she continues to reach the highest of heights for me.

In Forest of Hearts, we have a very different take on Snow White. It's everything you love about the classic but so much more. Yes, the main setting is a forest. Yes we have a "lost princess", a curse and a brief appearance of a glass coffin. Yes, we have an Evil Queen and a magic mirror. And yes, we have a dark and brooding Huntsman for an MMC. But that is where the similarities end. In fact one of the things I especially adored about this story was thinking I knew what was going to happen, and having that completely flipped on its head.

Elka (our FMC) and Kaz (our brooding Huntsman MMC) are a brilliant lead duo whose relationship I was completely invested in from the first page that they met. They do not gave a smooth ride through the story but their ending will bring joy to your heart, but not necessarily a smile to your face. We also have a sensational cast of side characters to help grow and develop the story - my honourable mentions must go for Zar, Szafir, and Domowik #IYKYK 😉😉😉

I am already excited for M. A Kuzniar's 2026 release but I will leave you on this note - surely there has to be a Forest of Hearts sequel in the horizon - PRETTY PLEASE???

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forest of Hearts is a dark and enchanting retelling of Snow White, that leans more into the old Grimm atmosphere than the lighter versions many of us grew up with. From the very first pages, I felt myself pulled into the shadows of this world, the kind that feels alive, ancient, and quietly watching.

When Elka crosses paths with Kaz, the story finds a steady rhythm that held my attention right through. Learning about each character and the world they inhabit felt immersive and layered. The forest feels like both a sanctuary and a danger, and every time a new character appeared, I found myself surprised in ways I genuinely didn’t expect.

Each layer of the story felt compelling, and I found it really hard to put the book down. I enjoyed it so much that I picked up the audio edition as well, narrated by Charlie Sanderson. Charlie’s narration added another dimension to the experience, especially with the care taken around pronunciation and tone. Listening while reading made the atmosphere even richer.

If you enjoy fairy tales retold with a darker, more mythical edge, where romance grows naturally without taking over the entire story, this one is a beautiful match. I loved my time in this world from beginning to end.

I received a digital ARC through NetGalley, and because I connected with it so much, I purchased the audiobook as well. However, my thoughts and feelings are honest and shared voluntarily.

[Dayna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Dark, Beautiful Tale Full of Emotion and Magic

Forest of Hearts is the kind of book that wraps around you slowly — mysterious, lyrical, and just a little bit dangerous. M.A. Kuzniar has a real gift for atmosphere. The world she’s created is lush and eerie, like stepping into a haunted fairy tale where the forest watches and nothing is ever quite what it seems.

The emotional depth in this story caught me off guard in the best way. The characters are dealing with grief, loss, love, and anger — and it all feels very raw and real. The protagonist’s journey is about more than survival or magic; it’s about identity and learning to trust herself again after being hurt.

I especially loved how the forest itself felt alive — beautiful but unpredictable, full of both wonder and danger. It added so much tension and atmosphere, keeping me on edge in the best way.

The only reason this isn’t a full five stars for me is that there were moments where the pacing dipped or a scene felt slightly repetitive. But honestly, the writing is so poetic and the emotional beats so strong that those moments were easy to forgive.

This is a perfect read for fans of dark fairy tales, morally complex characters, and stories where magic feels like both a blessing and a curse. Forest of Hearts is haunting, heartfelt, and absolutely worth the journey.

[Ebony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of Forest of Hearts by M.A. Kuzniar in exchange for an honest review.

This was a beautifully dark and imaginative reimagining of Snow White. The premise instantly caught my attention — a cursed heroine trapped in a living, dangerous forest and a wounded huntsman who changes the course of her fate. The atmosphere was rich and eerie, and I loved the sense of magic threaded through the world.

I really enjoyed the setup and the tension between Elka and Kaz, especially early on. There’s a strong fairytale tone throughout, mixed with a more modern romantasy style, which gave it a unique feel. That said, the pacing didn’t always work for me. At times the story felt like it was juggling too many ideas, and I would have liked more focus on the emotional and relational aspects rather than the broader world events.

Still, there’s something captivating about the writing — lyrical, haunting, and full of potential. I appreciated how it explored themes of freedom, trust, and how love can be both a weakness and a strength. While this one didn’t completely pull me in, I can see it being a hit with readers who enjoy dark fairytale retellings, lush settings, and slow-burn romance.

A creative and atmospheric story that just didn’t fully click for me, but I’m curious to see what comes next in this world.

[Amandine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Directement dans ce livre on entre dans le vif du sujet : la malédiction d’Elka. On ne tourne pas autour du pot, ce que j’aime. Donc dans le vif du sujet de suite, porté par une plume assez poétique, j’ai plongé dans la forêt en même temps que notre prota, bien curieuse de connaître son histoire.

Elka et Kaz, que l’on rencontre également très vite, sont deux personnages intéressant et rapidement attachant je l’avoue. Leurs passé, leurs secrets, leurs vies m’ont plu. De les voir se révéler tout en se révélant à nous. D’en apprendre plus sur Migot et sur le cœur d’Elka, cœur sur Z ❤️‍🩹

Une réécriture de blanche-neige (oh ba encore elle 🤭) qui est plus sombre, vraiment plus intéressante et surtout avec une Elka qui porte très bien le livre. Une belle romance également se pose ici, bien qu’assez rapide. L’univers est ni peu ni trop exploité. Il se suffit et nous suffit à comprendre l’histoire, l’important ici est l’intrigue. Et quel intrigue, pleine de magie et d’inquiétude…


𝐄𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐟 : J’ai adoré ! Petit coup de cœur même. Bien que la romance soit rapide j’ai beaucoup aimé nos personnages et l’action tout autour. Gros cœur sur Zar et sur l’intrigue qui avance bien. On ne s’ennuie pas du tout et la plume est superbe. J’assume qu’il y a un tome 2 car j’ai besoins de réponses supplémentaires là!

[Nicole Caratas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have come to the conclusion that Kuzniar can do no wrong. Every book I read of hers is atmospheric and gripping, with fantastic characters and rich plots.

Forest of Hearts is a dark Snow White retelling where Elka is a badass powerful princess who has been cursed. The setting is so well done, from her cottage, to the forest, to the castle, it really jumps off the page.

Kaz is my new book boyfriend. He’s too hot for his own good, flirty and delicious, and he pulls out some swoony quotes that I just can’t help but adore. But what I love more than him is the love story, and the way Elka gives into her feelings but maintains her own power and strength, knowing that while she might be in love, she’s still her own person.

The plot has so many twists and turns, and I didn’t guess quite a lot of them. Just when you think it can’t get any crazier, it does!

There’s also one scene that’s so gruesome but badass and amazing at the same time (one of the hearts…you’ll know it when you get to it).

I simply cannot wait to get my hands on book 2.

[Helen Freire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book caught my attention since I knew that it was a retelling of Snow White and some other folklore stories in this. I would like to say it was a dark version mixed with mythical tales in it.

We all know the traditional Snow White story, the fairest of them all, a jealous queen, and the huntsman sent to kill her. In Forest of Hearts, those familiar elements are given a new light. Our FMC and the villain (who also happens to be her mother) both wield magic. Cursed to consume seven hearts in order to be free, the story begins with our heroine already having taken six. When she encounters a wounded stranger in the forest, their meeting sparks the chain of events that drives the rest of the book.
One aspect I really appreciated is how the story wastes no time. Instead of lengthy backstory or slow build-up, the action begins immediately, which kept me engaged from the first chapters. The pacing overall is quick and easy to follow, but there were moments where it jumped a little too fast or chapters ended so abruptly that I found myself still processing what had just happened.
The biggest drawback for me was the romance. While I liked the setup and the tension, the “insta-love” felt unconvincing. Given the heroine’s isolated upbringing and her only prior interactions with men being tied to the curse, I expected more development before their connection deepened so quickly.
That said, the atmosphere of the forest, the magical creatures, and the darker take on a classic tale make this a memorable and enjoyable read.
If you love fairy-tale retellings with a twist, especially those that blend romance with danger and magic; Forest of Hearts is worth picking up.

[bookgirlieri X · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Forest of Hearts felt like stepping into a cursed fairytale with a sprinkle of emotional damage… and honestly? I loved every second.

This book is Snow White if she had a villain era, lived alone in a haunted forest, and collected hearts the way the rest of us collect red flags. Elka is messy, morally grey, chronically feral, and somehow still the moment. She’s a girl whose mother cursed her and whose life said “survival mode or nothing,” and she said “Fine, watch me slay anyway.”

The vibes are immaculate: a darkish, enchanted forest, deadly magic, morally questionable men, glitter sprinkled Slavic folklore, and a romance that feels like “I might kill you, but I also might kiss you.” When Kaz enters… bleeding, brooding, and inconveniently adorable - he brings peak huntsman boyfriend energy. Their chemistry is intense, their trauma even more so, and watching them clash and soften is a whole aesthetic.

The plot sometimes felt like a chaotic girl’s purse - everything is in there, maybe too much, but it still works and looks gorgeous when you spill it all out. I personally wouldn’t class this as dark but I definitely loved the fact that there were dragons in this book!

This book is for those who romanticise their villain arc, adore high tension slow burn romances, and crave fantasy with big emotions and bigger vibes. It’s for anyone who wants their fairytales with magic, blood, and curses. Not perfect, but perfectly vibey - 4/5. I would absolutely wander into a cursed forest again.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting take on the tale of Snow White but with a macabre plot in the vein of the Brothers Grimm- the story was dark in terms of plot with the MC needing to sustain her life on hearts although I did feel that the overall writing could have been executed better and needed a bit of a polish to smooth out the overall storyline.
In terms of the atmosphere, I found this to be well developed on page and made for an immersive and suspenseful feeling throughout the story- whilst I liked the main character as well as all the side characters I found the addition of cannibalism to be a bit "too gory" for my liking and this did make the rest of the story a challenge to finish.
If you like your romantasy dark and disturbing then this book would be for you- all dark horror lovers included.
Thankyou to Net galley and the publisher for an arc of this book.

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous dark fantasy retelling of Snow White. It’s nothing like the light fairytale but a dark and twisted version melting a gothic folklore feel together to create something entirely different yet recognisable.

I liked the plot twists and nods to the original Grimms fairytale (such as the poised apple) and I loved the dragons and the other magical creatures. The romance felt a little rushed as did the ending but I enjoyed it all the same.

I prefer her retellings of the Ballets (nutcracker - Midnight in Everwood and Swan lake (Forest of hearts) however I certainly don’t regret reading this and can’t wait for her next. The author really does have a fantastic way of retelling a storey as old as time.

[Gracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

NetGalley Review-

First I would like to say a massive thank you to the lady herself for writing such a fantastic story.

This is a Snow White story with a twist, bring the darkness, bring the *slight* horror, bring the dragons?

This was a retelling that made itself its own about strength in oneself, about finding the light in a dark forest. Elka gave Snow White a reason to be strong, brave, kind and true, that even though one may want vengeance you can do it with the right things in mind. The found family elements were so heartfelt that you just want to hug them all.

Also, the magical creatures were just too cute. But will this lead to a second book? Let’s only hope.