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The Heart is a Universe
On the remote planet of Pax Cara lies the greatest secret of the universe. Once every generation, the inhabitants must offer up an exceptional young person--the Chosen One--who sacrifices his or her own life for the sake of that secret, and the planet itself.
But Vitalis, the current Chosen One, is desperate to break free of the yoke of destiny. An unexpected invitation to an aristocratic courtship summit seems to be the perfect opportunity for her escape. As soon as she arrives, however, she receives a proposal of marriage from the most eligible prince in existence.
Eleian of Terra Illustrata can have any woman he wants. Why has he set his sight on Vitalis, who, unless she manages to flee, will die in sixteen standard days? Is it as simple as he declares, "To know you as I've always wanted to, but never had the chance?" Or is he hiding an ulterior motive, one that could put her plans, her life, and her heart in jeopardy?
And can Vitalis truly say no to the man she has secretly loved all her life?
But Vitalis, the current Chosen One, is desperate to break free of the yoke of destiny. An unexpected invitation to an aristocratic courtship summit seems to be the perfect opportunity for her escape. As soon as she arrives, however, she receives a proposal of marriage from the most eligible prince in existence.
Eleian of Terra Illustrata can have any woman he wants. Why has he set his sight on Vitalis, who, unless she manages to flee, will die in sixteen standard days? Is it as simple as he declares, "To know you as I've always wanted to, but never had the chance?" Or is he hiding an ulterior motive, one that could put her plans, her life, and her heart in jeopardy?
And can Vitalis truly say no to the man she has secretly loved all her life?
133 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2017
45 people are currently reading
361 people want to read
About the author
Sherry Thomas
38 books7,463 followersUSA Today-bestselling author Sherry Thomas decided years ago that her goal in life is to write every kind of book she enjoys reading. Thus far she has published romance, fantasy, mystery, young adult, and three books inspired by the martial arts epics she grew up devouring. Her books regularly receive starred reviews and best-of-the-year honors from trade publications, including such outlets as the New York Times and National Public Radio.
A Study in Scarlet Women, A Conspiracy in Belgravia, and The Hollow of Fear, the first three entries in her gender-bending Lady Sherlock historical mystery series, are all NPR best books of the year. The Magnolia Sword, her 2019 release, is the first young adult retelling of the original Ballad of Mulan in the English language.
Sherry emigrated from China at age 13 and English is her second language.
“Sherry Thomas has done the impossible and crafted a fresh, exciting new version of Sherlock Holmes. From the carefully plotted twists to the elegant turns of phrase, A Study in Scarlet Women is a splendid addition to Holmes’s world. This book is everything I hoped it would be, and the next adventure cannot come too soon!” —Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author
“Thomas weaves a lush, intricate fantasy world around a gorgeous romance that kept me riveted until the very last page. What a breathtaking journey!” (Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of the Legend series )
"Sherry Thomas is the most powerfully original historical romance author writing today."—Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author
Visit Sherry at her website
Follow Sherry on twitter
Find Sherry on Facebook
A Study in Scarlet Women, A Conspiracy in Belgravia, and The Hollow of Fear, the first three entries in her gender-bending Lady Sherlock historical mystery series, are all NPR best books of the year. The Magnolia Sword, her 2019 release, is the first young adult retelling of the original Ballad of Mulan in the English language.
Sherry emigrated from China at age 13 and English is her second language.
“Sherry Thomas has done the impossible and crafted a fresh, exciting new version of Sherlock Holmes. From the carefully plotted twists to the elegant turns of phrase, A Study in Scarlet Women is a splendid addition to Holmes’s world. This book is everything I hoped it would be, and the next adventure cannot come too soon!” —Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author
“Thomas weaves a lush, intricate fantasy world around a gorgeous romance that kept me riveted until the very last page. What a breathtaking journey!” (Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of the Legend series )
"Sherry Thomas is the most powerfully original historical romance author writing today."—Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author
Visit Sherry at her website
Follow Sherry on twitter
Find Sherry on Facebook
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 6, 2019
A lovely and haunting science fiction novella. I hope Sherry Thomas does more SF in the future.
June 4, 2020
So I was very dubious of a book described like this one was in the blurb. But Thomas is as ever a wonderful writer and I love to support authors who let their creativity have free reign and explore new genres.
If they aren’t bored of writing the same thing it stands to reason we readers won’t be.
The best word for this book is sweet. It gives off a warmth missing from a lot of tales even as it’s vaguely meditative and philosophical.
It’s short, so I would have liked to spend more time with the characters but as they appreciated the little time they had, so did I have to.
If they aren’t bored of writing the same thing it stands to reason we readers won’t be.
The best word for this book is sweet. It gives off a warmth missing from a lot of tales even as it’s vaguely meditative and philosophical.
It’s short, so I would have liked to spend more time with the characters but as they appreciated the little time they had, so did I have to.
August 17, 2020
3.5
A bit challenging to review/grade this story primarily because I am not a sci fi reader and this book is immersed in speculative, metaphysical world-building. I can well imagine though that sci fi readers would find this story much more to their liking. I do also love that Sherry Thomas is a writer who always branches out and explores a range of genres, and I will continue to keep reading them all as long as she's writing. In this story, there are long passages where my mind was glazing over and I struggled to stay interested in inter-galactic rules. However, the romance, though often too submerged, is lovely and among Thomas's sweeter stories.
The hero Eleian has his heart set on Vitalis, a young woman he knows only through media as he's watched her story as The Chosen One capture public attention since she was a child. Initially he buys into the public narrative that she's heroically prepared to sacrifice herself in a routine ritual to save her planet. Once Eleian manages to find a way to meet Vitalis, he realizes she's a tragic figure and all too human in her fears and anxieties about dying young. Despite Eleian's frail, poor health, Vitalis falls in love with him and the two wistfully imagine a future together. Intermittent attempts to enjoy a romance and sexual life together are constantly thwarted by relapses in Eleian's health and the impending doom that will send Vitalis to an early death. All of this creates a sense of melancholy that hovers over the entire story.
The resolution though is satisfying and a little surprising. Themes of what it means to be a hero are well developed throughout, and having grown up watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I'm reminded that being chosen is glorious and tragic, often at the same time.
A bit challenging to review/grade this story primarily because I am not a sci fi reader and this book is immersed in speculative, metaphysical world-building. I can well imagine though that sci fi readers would find this story much more to their liking. I do also love that Sherry Thomas is a writer who always branches out and explores a range of genres, and I will continue to keep reading them all as long as she's writing. In this story, there are long passages where my mind was glazing over and I struggled to stay interested in inter-galactic rules. However, the romance, though often too submerged, is lovely and among Thomas's sweeter stories.
The hero Eleian has his heart set on Vitalis, a young woman he knows only through media as he's watched her story as The Chosen One capture public attention since she was a child. Initially he buys into the public narrative that she's heroically prepared to sacrifice herself in a routine ritual to save her planet. Once Eleian manages to find a way to meet Vitalis, he realizes she's a tragic figure and all too human in her fears and anxieties about dying young. Despite Eleian's frail, poor health, Vitalis falls in love with him and the two wistfully imagine a future together. Intermittent attempts to enjoy a romance and sexual life together are constantly thwarted by relapses in Eleian's health and the impending doom that will send Vitalis to an early death. All of this creates a sense of melancholy that hovers over the entire story.
The resolution though is satisfying and a little surprising. Themes of what it means to be a hero are well developed throughout, and having grown up watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I'm reminded that being chosen is glorious and tragic, often at the same time.
December 29, 2020
For a short novella this was rich story. Rich in world building and in evolving elements of the plot. Eleian our hero was just absolute angel and he was described that way as well.
My only wish is that I wanted to learn more about their future and also about him. Vitalis (love her name) we have learned quiet a lot and was definitely great character. She was refreshing break from sweet, overly eager enthusiastic female leads I have been reading about. I love how she described herself at the beginning:
“She was not a tender blossom. She thought of herself as one of those twisted trees that grew on sheer cliff faces, a stubborn, lonely thing, not beautiful but splendid, because her entire existence hung on the edge of a precipice.”
Amazing book.
My only wish is that I wanted to learn more about their future and also about him. Vitalis (love her name) we have learned quiet a lot and was definitely great character. She was refreshing break from sweet, overly eager enthusiastic female leads I have been reading about. I love how she described herself at the beginning:
“She was not a tender blossom. She thought of herself as one of those twisted trees that grew on sheer cliff faces, a stubborn, lonely thing, not beautiful but splendid, because her entire existence hung on the edge of a precipice.”
Amazing book.
December 31, 2019
I loved this novella! She packed a whole lot of awesome into a shorter read. <3
November 5, 2017
Sherry Thomas has the ability to write in many different worlds. This time it is a Science Fiction Romance with interesting characters and a surprise ending. Vitals is the current Chosen One to be sacrificed on her home world of Pax Cara. Eleian of Terra Illustrate has been fascinated with Vitals for years. How they meet, who they are and how they decide what to do drives the story. A interesting read with a unexpected ending. The story highlights Thomas's skill and ability to write.
June 10, 2025
Happily ever ever ever after, with a love that can rescue a whole universe. The combo of science fiction and romance works very well for me in this novella.
January 17, 2023
Incandescence in Infinity
4.5 ⭐️
Originally part of a “guess the writer” anthology, The Heart Is A Universe was an uncharacteristic offering from a woman renowned for her historical romances. Set futuristically in some far away time and place, the essential Sherry Thomas elements were there; the trappings, markedly different.
Vitalis carries the weight of the lives of her people on her slender shoulders. Chosen as sacrifice, she has one desire at the start of this adventure - to escape into anonymity. Elian (sp?) is an intergalactic prince, famed for bringing his people out of the deep schism of civil war.
They meet for the first time, at a dance, where he proposes to her. He offers a temporary marriage in answer to her question of his sexual prowess; unproven, since he is still a virgin. She has until the end of the dance to decide, and surprises them both by accepting.
Neither of them is all that they seem, and it’s the exploration that forms the heart of this story.
I’m glad I read this. Hope you will be as well.
4.5 ⭐️
Originally part of a “guess the writer” anthology, The Heart Is A Universe was an uncharacteristic offering from a woman renowned for her historical romances. Set futuristically in some far away time and place, the essential Sherry Thomas elements were there; the trappings, markedly different.
Vitalis carries the weight of the lives of her people on her slender shoulders. Chosen as sacrifice, she has one desire at the start of this adventure - to escape into anonymity. Elian (sp?) is an intergalactic prince, famed for bringing his people out of the deep schism of civil war.
They meet for the first time, at a dance, where he proposes to her. He offers a temporary marriage in answer to her question of his sexual prowess; unproven, since he is still a virgin. She has until the end of the dance to decide, and surprises them both by accepting.
Neither of them is all that they seem, and it’s the exploration that forms the heart of this story.
I’m glad I read this. Hope you will be as well.
March 20, 2020
Really difficult to rate this. Sherry Thomas is a favorite author (or was, since I could not get into the fantasy books and the Sherlock Holmes spin off does not sound appealing to me) and a sf romance novella should be up my alley but this novella is just weird and kind of fails at everything - the sf setting is unconvincing, the romance is perfunctory, no real mystery. No real character development either.
Just very very meh.
Just very very meh.
December 5, 2018
3.5. Reminded me of the suspense in 2001 space Odyssey, I had no idea what to expect
March 25, 2021
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Yes, this is my official review.
Yes, this is my official review.
May 7, 2020
Wow, wow, wow! What starts as a lovely fated love story turns into something epic and fantastical. Amazing.
June 14, 2024
Don’t be fooled by the bad cover. Sherry Thomas can write write and in this one it feels like she’s just showing off.
March 23, 2022
An intriguing premise, but this reads like a book written early in Sherry Thomas's career. Her skill doesn't seem quite developed enough to handle either the nuances or the scale of this narrative. It wants to be a tale of mythic proportions - powerful and strange and maybe even awe-inspiring - but it ends up coming across as cute.
Should she have attempted this undertaking? Absolutely. Does she succeed? No, I would argue she does not.
Should she have attempted this undertaking? Absolutely. Does she succeed? No, I would argue she does not.
June 25, 2022
4.5 stars
This story bears a vague resemblance to The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas - a mortal sacrifice to protect the rest of the population.
The addition of a handsome prince and a moral dilemma, make it more of a fable than a philosophical argument.
Either way, while it may be a love story, I'm not sure it's a romance. What I am sure of is that it's lovely, well written, and much too short.
This story bears a vague resemblance to The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas - a mortal sacrifice to protect the rest of the population.
The addition of a handsome prince and a moral dilemma, make it more of a fable than a philosophical argument.
Either way, while it may be a love story, I'm not sure it's a romance. What I am sure of is that it's lovely, well written, and much too short.
July 21, 2019
I wish this was longer, just so the whole story could have been built and developed and breathed more, but still, this was really just kind of lovely? is really the only word for it. I also just really like explorations of Chosen Ones who are not one-dimensional—I think, otherwise, it really falls flat for me, and it was very thoughtfully done here.
December 27, 2019
Cool premise and two very interesting characters carried me through this quite quickly. It's one of those stories that feels like it missed being awesome by about an inch, maybe because of its the length. (I often find novellas too short so take this with a grain of salt.) I liked the ending, but it felt a little rushed... I didn't get all the answers I wanted.
September 20, 2018
This book is well written. I would have liked to have seen this as a full length novel since the ending felt incomplete, and I would have liked additional information about the main characters and the mysterious gods.
May 23, 2023
Sherry Thomas can write in every genre, using only a few pages, and still bring me to tears, multiple times. Hail to the queen. This novella reminded me of the Kinsmen universe stories of Ilona Andrews, in a good way. I enjoyed the story.
December 6, 2017
This as not at all what I was expecting. Felt more like a Sharon Shinn sci fi book where things are so unhappy
March 26, 2018
This was a lovely short story by Sherry Thomas. A nice surprise to find!
April 3, 2020
Beautiful writing as usual but i would prefer a longer book to do justice to world building and the ending.
Read
May 21, 2020Short, but sweet, original, and satisfying. I think I might be a Sherry Thomas fangirl. <3
January 23, 2021
So the woman who can write modern and regency romance, mystery, and fantasy, can also write sci-fi. Only a novella, but as always so effortless to fall into her lovely prose. 🥰
April 11, 2021
Good read, but the ending left me with mixed feelings.
April 23, 2021
3.5 out of 5
December 4, 2021
Interesting world-building. I hope Thomas writes more SFF.
December 18, 2022
If this were a full-length novel, it would have been a 4 or 5. Really intriguing concept but I constantly felt like I was having to figure things out rather than getting lost in the story.
October 1, 2023
This was good, but I think it could have been better as a full length novel.
January 23, 2025
I didn't really get this story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews