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Black Heart (Curse Workers) [Hardcover]

Holly Black
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)

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Book Description

April 3, 2012 Curse Workers (Book 3)
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 though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.

But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.


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Black Heart (Curse Workers) + Red Glove (Curse Workers) + White Cat (Curse Workers)
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Editorial Reviews

Review

* "The conclusion to Black’s brilliant and unusual Curse Workers trilogy lives up to its predecessors. . . . The perfect end to this gem of a trilogy. If you haven’t discovered this series yet, get going; if you’re already a fan, why are you even reading this review?" --Kirkus Reviews, *STAR

"This latest installment from best-selling author Black is sure to be on readers’ radars."--Booklist

"This book doesn’t stand alone, but is a welcome addition to the series."--School Library Journal

"The smashing ending to Holly Black's Curse Workers trilogy will keep readers guessing to the final page."--Shelf Awareness

"Fast-paced action, multifaceted characters, and an interesting paranormal world will keep readers hooked."—VOYA

"To be sure, knowledge of the first two books is absolutely crucial to the enjoyment of this one but fans of the series will be thrilled by this richly developed tale. . . ."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Black Heart, the most accomplished in an incredibly accomplished series, continues to raise the stakes even higher. . . . As in the previous novels, Black toys with the reader, but to complain would be a sin. The truth is, Black Heart is essentially a perfect book."--Locus (Gwenda Bond)

About the Author

Holly Black is the author of The Curse Workers series: White Cat, Red Glove, and Black Heart; The Poison Eaters: And Other Stories; and the Modern Faerie Tales: Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside. She is an editor of Zombies vs. Unicorns, and she collaborated with Tony DiTerlizzi on the bestselling Spiderwick series. Holly lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, and you can visit her at BlackHolly.com.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books; First Edition edition (April 3, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1442403462
  • ISBN-13: 978-1442403468
  • Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #259,567 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi! I'm Holly Black, and I write contemporary fantasy of all different sorts. Some of my titles include TITHE, VALIANT (winner of the Andre Norton Award), IRONSIDE, the Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), the graphic novel series The Good Neighbors (with Ted Naifeh), and the new mobster fantasy series The Curse Workers, which includes WHITE CAT and the forthcoming RED GLOVE. I have also co-edited three anthologies, GEEKTASTIC, ZOMBIES VS. UNICORNS and WELCOME TO BORDERTOWN. I live in western Massachusetts with my husband, artist Theo Black, and several odd cats in a house with a secret library.



Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
(37)
4.6 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Ending to This Series April 3, 2012
Format:Hardcover
The FINAL book in The Curse Worker's Series! What will happen to Cassel? What will happen to Lila? I NEEDED TO KNOW. And I found out.

Black Heart was a great ending to the story of Cassel, Lila, and the crew. Loose ends were tied up and people, essentially, got what was coming to them. Did I like it as much as the first two? No, but that's because it felt like not enough stuff was going on. It wasn't as thrilling as the first two and I guess that usually happens in the final book of a series. I wanted more from Black Heart but let me be clear that I still loved this book.

Cassel really comes into his own in this book. I don't know quite how to describe it but he goes from being "baby bird brother" to a REAL MAN. And I've enjoyed watching him learn and grown over this series.

I recommend this series to all readers, especially if you're looking for something VERY unique and yet, can be paralleled with our world today.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars She was my sin and my salvation (slight spoilers) April 5, 2012
Format:Hardcover
Cassel Sharpe's world is a place of light and dark -- he was raised in a world of mobs and con-men, but he wishes he could live among the law-abiding people.

But he finds that those places are not as different as some people think in "Black Heart," which throws even more snarls into the teen transformation worker's life. Holly Black wraps up her Curse Workers trilogy with gritty, witty writing and intertwining subplots -- but the real draw here is the tumultuous relationship between Cassel and Lila, and what will happen to them.

Cass has never been further from Lila Zacharov -- not only is she furious at him, but he's working for the FBI and she for her father's mob. But he finds himself being drawn back in when he learns that his mom is in trouble -- she stole the legendary Resurrection Diamond from Zacharov years ago, and if Cass wants to ensure his mother's safety, he'll have to get it back.

He also gets sucked into a bizarre scheme at his upper-crust school, where a student claims she's being blackmailed. But it turns out to be something very different, pulling Cass and Sam into a clash with the faculty.

Finally, Agent Yulikova enlists Cass for a special mission to transform the bigoted Governor Patton. Suddenly he realizes that he's doing the same thing for the government that he would be doing for a mob family -- and the government's motives become increasingly suspect as the day approaches. The only way out of this situation is to make his own solution..

The Curse Workers trilogy is one of the most original urban fantasies in years, and "Black Heart" is a thoroughly satisfying end -- we've got moral greyness, impossible choices, corrupt government agents and even shadier mobsters. And Holly Black manages to wrap things up in a plausible way, without making anything (whether it's proposition two or Cass/Lila) seem too pat and tidy.

Her writing here is like a dirty obsidian blade -- dark, gritty and sharp enough to cut ("Lucifer Morningstar himself could learn a thing or two from the conviction with which Barron lies"), and she slowly builds up the tension until something has to explode. And somehow, Holly Black manages to still insert some very non-cliche teen romance angst (especially when Daneca starts dating someone... unsuitable).

The only problem is that the whole subplot about Mina Lange feels... well, interesting, but not connected to anything else in the story. It's like a short story was inserted into the novel.

But hey, Cass seems to have finally reconciled himself to the life he's destined for -- being a transformation worker means he will always have people trying to use him, and that neither the mobs nor the government can be depended on. And his tempestuous relationship with Lila finally reaches the point where both of them realize what they want, and how they feel.

The ending isn't tidy, but neither is Cass's life. Instead, "Black Heart" is a strong, intense finale for a beautifully dark little trilogy -- and it confirms Holly Black as a truly brilliant writer.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars I wish I could give it 5 stars *sigh* April 14, 2012
By LitLove
Format:Hardcover
I was absolutely thrilled to receive this book. I had been waiting anxiously and excitedly for weeks for the moment I would be able to stroke the new, unopened cover and read those first words, and almost screamed like a stereotypical obsessed fan girl when it arrived at my doorstep.

However, I must say, I was rather disappointed with the book. Perhaps it was partially because I had such high expectations, but even if I had kept them down, I still think I would have been disappointed.

I felt that in comparison to the thrilling, action-packed predecessors, it was rather slow and...to be honest, quite boring at times. There wasn't enough going on, the pacing lacking, and some of the sub-plots rather...contrived, to be honest (I'm referring to, if you read the book, the whole deal with the Dean and that whole con, which just felt wholly unrealistic). In addition, the best part of the book (the ending), however excellent, felt rushed and the writing felt as if Black was running close to her deadline and just had to complete it.

In conclusion, I found Black Heart to be an extremely unsatisfying conclusion to an otherwise excellent series. Mainly, it didn't feel like a conclusion at all. Maybe its because I went into reading it without knowing it was the last one of the series...however, I was thoroughly convinced (until I actually happened to read reviews) that there was at LEAST another book due after this one. *Sigh*

In truth, I would give Black Heart a rating of 3 1/2 stars (I rounded down).

I wish with all my heart I had been able to write a raving review, but I simply can't.

***SIDE NOTE***

To any new readers: Even though the third one turned out to be a disappointment, please know its because I loved the first two (particularly the second) so much. So PLEASE pick up the series. (:. You won't regret it!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars A Solid Sequel
Holly Black is a strong writer and develops characters who are easy to fall in love with. Flaws and all. Read more
Published 14 days ago by T. Jakson
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book.
I was enthralled the entire time. I just couldn't put it down. When it ended I was sad that I had to leave Cassel's world. But it was soooooo so good.
Published 26 days ago by Vee
5.0 out of 5 stars So good
One of my favorite books. Holly Black creates characters and a universe that just sucks you in and keep you reading all night.
Published 1 month ago by Denise and Trevor
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
This is a 3 part book series and wonderfully written!
I have never been dissapointed by any of Holly Black books!
Published 2 months ago by Janet D. Mcdonald
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Enjoyable
This series is GREAT! I have truly enjoyed the last installment.

Why in the world didn't the hero turn a boulder into gold on the first book, I would never understand. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jesse
5.0 out of 5 stars Quick shipment
The book was for a Christmas gift for my daughter. It arrived very quick and in excellent condition. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jones1992
5.0 out of 5 stars Wanting more
This can't be the end there needs to be more. I'm engrossed in this world. Here's to hopping it continues.
Published 4 months ago by Heather Glidewell
4.0 out of 5 stars wovenmyst.com Review
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. Read more
Published 5 months ago by WovenMyst
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Series!
I am so sad that Cassel's adventures have come to an end. I have loved the Curse Workers from the beginning of the series to the end. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Julie
4.0 out of 5 stars Solid finale that picked up the pace after RED GLOVE's Slump
I really debated between 4 and 5 stars for this one - it's a great book. But in the end, I decided I couldn't give it 5 stars when I didn't love it as much as White Cat. Read more
Published 6 months ago by onepagereviews
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