I was given this book by the publisher via netgalley in return for an honest review. While the plot had promise it just didn't land for me.

The sisters constant bickering through the whole book got old pretty quickly. Their growth was also pretty smart nonexistent.

There was no grey area for them it was either trust or don't but for individuals constantly being betrayed they often made questionable choices. I mean you know, you can change your image but don't consider that others could too?

I feel even the supporting characters are very black and white.

I thought the constant repetition of certain points was also unneeded.

The other had some questionable verbage as well often simplistic but throwing in SAT words for funsies.

Ultimately this duology fell flat for me. I finished it but it's not memorable in any way.

Picking up right where the previous book left off, Aissa and Zandria must find a way to bridge the widening rift between the Magi and Technocrats as tensions rise and rebellion brews.

A satisfying conclusion to this adventure packed duology. This second book explores more of the magic and history between the two peoples, as well the relationship between Aissa and her sister. It was also fun meeting new characters that added depth to their world.

It took awhile for me to get into this book, but that is mostly my fault for going years between books. Though it felt that most of the story was spent plotting and preparing, while gathering information.

Overall, an engaging read with likable heroines, I liked how this book explores more of the magic system and the secrets behind the heartless. A romantic fantasy adventure and solid conclusion.


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Great magical system and wonderful characters. This 2nd installment to the Twin Daggers series was perfect. It picked up where the other left off and I could not put it down. The characters and action was great and I can not wait for more.

HEARTLESS HEIRS marks the conclusion of a really great and underrated duology that mixes elements of the fantasy and science-fiction genres. Everything for the Magi is on the line as Aissa, Remy and Zandria as they flee Palinor after they discover Darian's horrible betrayal. As she seeks to understand the mysteries of her bloodline and how she can prevent an all-out war between Technos and Magi, every relationship Aissa has is tested as she tries to bridge a gap between two peoples who hate each other. Connolly's strongest point would have to be the pacing in this book, which is fantastic. I really never felt that the plot lagged at all. I also was on board with the romance between Aissa and Aro just as I was in the first book. The bond and chemistry between them is really great, and I loved how it impacted Aissa's relationships with other Magi, including Zandria. The conflict between the two sisters and how it is tested was also really worthwhile. I enjoyed learning more about the Alchemist Alliance and the truth behind how Aissa and Zandria were able to do what they could do, and the truth behind the mystery of the Heartless. Overall, HEARTLESS HEIRS left me satisfied with where Connolly left this story, and I am really glad to have read it.

Didn't realise this was a sequel but that's me being a big dumb dumb.
Follows Alissa, Zandria and Remy's adventure and attempts to get the Magi to pay attention to the chaos going on which will destroy their world.

It's a solid book but didn't quite grab my attention. It's very heavy on character development when it comes to learning, finding new allies and, you know, starting a wee war/revolution which is great but nothing really seemed to happen.

Not my cuppa but could see this being a solid fave for a lot of people :)

I really enjoyed reading books from MarcyKate Connolly, this was a really well done story and I enjoyed the previous book and I enjoyed this book a little more.

Oh wow, what a wonderful adventure and brilliant sequel to Twin Daggers. Heartless Heirs picks up right where Twin Daggers finished, literally moments after with Aissa, Zandria and Remy attempting to escape the city of Palinor. After managing to get out they head towards the Chambers to warn the other Magi of what they’ve learned, but will the Magi believe what they have witnessed? And with Zandria’s recent imprisonment driving a divide between the twins, Aissa feels torn between her loyalty to her sister and the Technocrat she fell in love with.

I just loved reading Twin Daggers at the start of this year. It was such an amazing fantasy story, with so much happening and the interesting divide between the Magi, people who can use magic, and the Technocrats, those without magic who use and love their machines instead. I loved immersing myself in the story and it was one that really pulled me in and ended in such a dramatic way, especially with what happens with Aro in the end, that I was eager and excited to see what would happen in this sequel. I have to say that I wasn’t disappointed and despite some of the more neutral reviews I’ve read of this book, I’m glad I read it as for me it was sooo good!

The story picks up just after the last book finishes and I love how interesting and dramatic the action is as Aissa, Zandria and Remy try to get out of Palinor and warn the other magi about Darian. As the story unfolds there are details from the last book explained, in case you forgot, and although things are explained well I would still advise that anyone wanting to read this series should start with the first book Twin Daggers, before reading Heartless Heirs as there are some things that you might not understand like the heartless and it just won’t have such a dramatic impact on you if you don’t know the back story first.

I do love how this book sucked me in from the first pages and how I instantly felt for Aissa and the other characters, and the struggles she has with her sister especially. As the tale moves on we get to learn more about the Alchemist Alliance, with some interesting things revealed, before the story moves back to Palinor getting ever more exciting and dramatic as the tension builds. I loved the adventure of the story. There’s a lot that happens and I love how some characters like Leon from the previous book make an appearance again. I couldn’t help but enjoy Darian’s character, especially with how dark things get, and I just loved how many twists there were in this story that I just didn’t see coming. This story is so compelling throughout, and I love how engrossed I got in everything that was happening. There are some tense and darker moments too with the occasional scene that really shocked me, like a particular cabinet and what’s inside it.. I won’t say what happened but wow, I didn’t expect that!

The story has a good and dramatic build up towards the ending and the ending itself is a very satisfying one. I just love how the very end of the story put a smile on my face, it was such a great ending to the whole duology! It felt like the perfect ending despite everything dark that happens and even though I loved getting to the end of this book, a part of me is sad that the story is finished as I just didn’t want that to be the last I see of these characters or the city of Palinor. I do like howve how everything wraps up and what happens to everyone in the end. Although the book has a few shocking moments there’s nothing too graphic in the story, just a few moments that shock and might feel a bit eerie when you read them, but there’s nothing else I’d consider too upsetting.

This story is so good and is the perfect sequel to Twin Daggers and I’d definitely recommend the entire duology for anyone looking for a good ya fantasy that will really suck you into its world if you give it the time to. I have really loved this book, the whole series being a favourite of mine now, and I can’t wait to read more books in the future from this author. It’s definitely one of my favourite fantasy books ever, especially with the way things end for Aissa, and it’s a story that’s going to be stuck in my head a very long time!

This book picks up right where book one left off. I loved all the new characters that we were introduced to and diving deeper into the relationships of our main characters. I loved the depth of the characters and how invested you become in these characters as the book goes on.

Heartless Heirs, by author MarcyKate Connolly, is the second and final installment in the authors Twin Daggers duology. The story begins right where Twin Daggers left off. No, I am not kidding. In fact, the story continues from where the first installment ended as Aissa, Zandria, and Remy are trying to escape being captured again by the Technocrats. The sisters and Remy are hunted by Technocrats and their machines. When Aissa saved the boy she was supposed to kill, Aro, she created a rift between herself and her sister.

This is going to be a long journey for Aissa who finds herself at odds with both Zandria and Remy for her actions. After being betrayed, tortured, and trapped in the steel helmet, Zandria is having a hard time understanding how Aissa could fall in love with Aro, a Techno prince when they are the very enemy they are trying to take down. She has reason to feel betrayed by her own flesh and blood since they've been doing things together since they could walk. To make matters worse, the sisters and Remy are cast out by the Armory Council who refuses to believe that one of their members is a traitor working on his own grand plans.

Soon thereafter, the group stumbles across a place called The Sanctum which is home to the Alchemist Alliance. The sisters also learned that they are unique because of a group known as Alchemist Alliance which their own parents belonged to. Yes, kind readers, we do get a new character who belongs to the Alchemist Alliance and some interesting twists as well. The group even travels to a far off secretive island where they find Owen, a Magus, who has been stranded by himself since his parents disappeared, and never returned.

Their mission is now to find the key to healing the divide between the Technocrats and the Magi after centuries at war as well as seeing if they can stop the traitor from continuing his diabolical plans of taking over and killing everyone who stands in his way. The bond between Aro and Aissa grows with each day, and if they don’t find the answers, they could literally both die. I think what's is most interesting about this story is learning more about the reason for the Heartless and why there are so many more now than before.

I liked the addition of both Owen, who can do a variety spells out of reach of the sisters, as well as Catoria who belongs to the Alchemist Alliance and provides an even deeper understanding of why the sisters are so different from everyone else. I thought the ending made a whole lot of sense and have no complaints. I am happy that the author didn't wash over the angst between Aissa and Zandria, but instead allowed them to have their own space before realizing that they are better together than parted and angry.

Thank you, NetGalley and Blink, for the chance to read and review this book in exchange of an honest review.

After her time in the Technocrats' dungeon, Zandria is changed and more cold and Aissa has never felt so alone. Remy is still siding with his father, a Magi leader who doesn't want to believe the spymaster is a traitor and her feeling for Aro, the Technocrats' prince are complicating everything, mostly after she bound their hearts together. Trying to understand their own magic and to unite Magi and Technocrats against the common enemies, Aissa and Zandria are forced to battle against more and more dangers, intrigues, magic, in an intriguing sequel, that, as the first, combine fantasy with social issues, sisterhood and friendships and love, spells and secrets.

Heartless Heir is the brilliant and intriguing sequel of Twin Daggers and I loved everything. The romance, the magic, the fantasy elements, everything was perfect and well written, full of plot twists, intriguing characters, complex antagonist and a story that was a rollercoaster of emotions and actions. Aissa, Zandria, Remy and Aro are wonderfully complex characters, I loved their characterization and the tensions between them, making the story even more interesting and captivating. The relationships between Aissa and Zandria was and is one of my favourite, their bond strong, but tested by what happened and happens. The love betwen Aissa and Aro is incredibly sweet, well written and their interactions are really intense and cute.
The story is filled with twists, dangers, spells and tensions, while Aissa and Zandria try to save...well, everyone, trying to stop a war, trying to understand their own unique abilities and everything is thrilling!

I definitely recommend this book to those who are looking for a windwhirl of actions and feelings, fantastic characters and a beautiful writing style, able to capture the reader's attention right away.

I didn’t realize this was a sequel before I began reading it, which is totally my own error. I’ve tried to be more careful about this, but I think I was specifically looking for Blink books when I stumbled onto this one, so I probably downloaded it without looking carefully enough.

No worries, though. I was confused at the very beginning because a LOT is happening in that first scene. Aissa and her sister are on the run, reeling from a serious betrayal, grieving over their parents’ deaths, and Aissa is missing the boy she loves and to whom she is now magically bonded. Once I got that sorted out and figured out who everyone was, I followed the story without much trouble.

I have kind of mixed feelings about the story. There were things I liked, like the fact that it’s a book about sisters. I love those. It’s also got some interesting exploration of two peoples with grievances against each other going back generations. It shows leaders who want to try to bring them together despite those past wounds and traumas. I liked that there were two distinct people. Magi have the ability to perform magic as defense or offense. Technocrats have no magic but create powerful machines to protect themselves or battle the Magi.

On the other hand, some things about the book didn’t resonate with me. Aissa and Aro are pretty gooey with each other. A couple times, they’re literally in the middle of a battle or intense situation and they just drop what they’re doing for a minute and get all smoochy. I felt like that interrupted the tension in the scene. It didn’t feel to me like something that would realistically happen in a situation where adrenaline would be that high and for trained fighters.

I also had some issues with the way Aissa treated Aro. There were times she was really patronizing, treating him like he was this fragile flower who had to stay locked away to protect her because of their magic bond, which meant that if he got injured or killed, the same would happen to her. I at least wanted him to confront her about the way she was treating him. I didn’t feel like there was a satisfying resolution to that issue.

On the whole it was an interesting book, and I enjoyed some things about it. It reminded me a tiny bit of the Safe Lands series by Jill Williamson because of its dystopian-type setting.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A fantastic follow up to one of my favorite books from last year. So much action, drama, tension, and character connection to love.

After rescuing her sister from the dungeons and technocrats, Aissa and her friend Remy flee to the woods for safety. At one time, Aissa and her twin, Zandria were closer than two sisters could hope to be. After being trapped in the steel helmet and tortured, Zandria is having a hard time understanding how Aissa could fall in love with Aro, a Techno prince when they are the very enemy they are trying to take down. Remy still sides with his father, a Magi leader who refuses to believe his spymaster is a traitor. Their mission is now to find the secrets of the Alchemist Alliance and the key to healing the divide between the Technos and the Magi after centuries at war. The bond between Aro and Aissa grows with each day, and if they don’t find the answers, all they hold dear will be threatened.

I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this since I turned the last page on Twin Daggers. I quickly fell in love Aissa, Aro, Zandria and the rest of the characters. The connection between Aissa and her twin and then Aissa and Aro was the driving force to the page turning story. With the bond between the twins strained, the story took a different yet interesting turn, would they be able to regain their trust in one another or would the torture they both endured turn them against one another? Being able to establish the connection between the characters the way Connolly did kept me engaged with the story and what would happen to the characters. That relationship is more important to me than a strong plot. When I find characters, I love, I enjoy the story even more which is what happened with these books. Every conversation, fight and tense look was enough to make me nervous for what would happen and keep me envisioning myself in the room with the characters. This was a perfect two book series with just the right amount of character development, world building and magic. I recommend this book to those that love a good YA fantasy with characters that are easy to cheer for to succeed.

Alissa’s and Zandria’s adventure continues in this fast-paced sequel. I was so excited to learn more about the history of their world, and see the twins grapple with their differing beliefs.

This was a thrilling adventure, and I can’t wait to read more by this author!

I found this to be okay, kept me interested to the end but not something I will be thinking about weeks from now.

Heartless Heirs by MarcyKate Connolly

Release date: August 10th

---------------

The second book in the Twin Daggers duology is here at last. The fates of Aissa, Zandria, Aro and the entire Magi and Technocrat populace was left hanging since the first book a year ago. But the wait was worth it.

Machines will be torn apart, innocents will bleed, lies uncovered and plots will crumble and rise in this nail-biting finale. There is some great character development and the relationships they maintain are realistically frustrating at times. For the most part those interactions are what made the book so enjoyable but some minor characters did have their development a bit rushed. Poor Remy, though vital in the first book, was practically forgotten about by the end. But let’s face it, mostly we cared about Aissa and Aro, and we got a wonderfully satisfying portion of that.

All in all I would give this a 3.5 / 5. Yes it has its problems but I was still gripped and fully satisfied by the end.

**Thank you to Netgalley and Blink YA Books for the eArc in exchange for this review. This in no way changed my rating or opinions**

I read Twin Daggers by MarcyKate Connolly last year and really enjoyed it. I thought it had a very robust and well explained magic system, great interpersonal relationships and romance, and a nice thriller aspect you don't typically find in Fantasy books. I was hoping there would be a sequel, which was hinted at at the end. I'm so glad we got one, as this provides a very satisfying conclusion to the duology.

Heartless Heirs finds us where we left off in Twin Daggers with Aissa, Zandria, and Remy seeking to get the Magi to listen about the dangers going on in Palinor and to find the Magi Sanctuary so that they can stop their world from being destroyed. The tension of this main problem was very well maintained and well paced. It could have easily gone south at points, but I felt like Connolly knew just how long to keep us in one place before it got tedious and we moved on. I was gripped throughout the book.

I liked the added tension between Aissa and Zandria. While it's still clear they love each other, watching them work toward different goals and trying to balance love for each other while wanting very different outcomes struck a nice balance. Sibling relationships are another aspect of books that can go very wrong for me very quickly, but their relationship always felt real and like it was a real struggle, not manufactured or malicious.

The new characters we get or the additional time to meet side characters from book one were great additions. I especially liked Owen. I found him very fun and charming. He's a great stand-in for people who may have accidentally picked up book two without reading the first one to help get them up to speed (I wouldn't recommend that, though, as you will be missing a great first story and some additional details by skipping book one). I also really liked Vivienne and getting a deeper understanding of her other than "the Techno classmate who loved a Magi by mistake." It was good to see what happened after that encounter and how it's shaped the worldview of someone who wasn't Magi.

Of course, the romance between Aissa and Aro was also great. There is some tension there as they try to keep each other (and by extension, themselves) safe. Again, normal struggles faced in a relationship but always with that undercurrent of love. Connolly's interpersonal relationships are a real strong point here.

Overall, I ended up liking Heartless Heirs more than Twin Daggers. It felt like it leaned more into the Fantasy elements and gave Aissa a chance to shine in new ways she didn't get to explore in the first book. I think this is a satisfying conclusion to the story and it's a series I would recommend.

4/5 stars

I received an ARC of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Spoilers for book 1 ahead!

After escaping the Technocrat prison, Aissa, Zandria, and Remy are on the run. Zandria is a completely different person after having suffered at the hands of Technocrats. Remy’s allegiance may or may not be to his father, a leader of the Magi who doesn’t believe their story. Aissa isn’t sure who she can trust or rely on. Meanwhile, her life is in danger since her heart is bound to Aro’s, the Technocrat prince. Her only hope is to learn more about the Alchemist Alliance, her and Zandria’s powers, and fulfill the Alliance’s goal of reuniting the Magi and the Technocrats. War is coming, and it might destroy them all.

Having enjoyed Twin Daggers, I was excited to read this duology’s conclusion! I absolutely adored Aissa and Aro’s romance in the first book, and I was also intrigued by the cliffhanger book one ended on. This sequel was a solid follow-up to Twin Daggers, though I think I enjoyed the plot of book one more!

A lot of this book consists of the characters learning more about their origins while trying to prevent Darian Azul from creating his own army of Heartless. I really enjoyed learning more about the magic in this story! However, at times, the story could drag a little.

The romance was sweet; there were even some new potential ships that I enjoyed! I was satisfied with the ending, but I wouldn’t have minded if it was a bit longer! Overall, I think this sequel was good even if I had a few problems with it here and there!

If you enjoyed book one, I would recommend finishing this duology! If you haven’t read book one, it’s an action/adventure/spy take on Romeo and Juliet! If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, give it a read!

Magi sisters Aissa and Zandria have escaped the Technocrats; but have to work with their natural enemy to save everyone. Lost Magi knowledge will help them find a new future.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This picks up immediately after the end of Twin Daggers. Aro (the Technocrat prince) helped them escape; and now Aissa and Zandria are running to warn the rest of the Magi that they are in grave danger.
Unfortunately, none of the other Magi believe that their spymaster Darian has betrayed them, and assume his behaviour is part of keeping up his pretense.
Along with their friend Remy, the girls are banished for breaking Magi rules, and disobeying their elders.
They now have to follow instructions written by their murdered parents, to find an old Sanctuary, and hunt for new allies of their own.

I thought this series had so much potential, with the magic and the science that make up the two opposing factions. The mechanical hearts that poison the user, but are the only way to keep Heartless children alive; so it's like the families have been cursed twice over.
The Magi that have been persecuted by Technocrats, but are far from golden heroes. They've had to resort to spying and assassinations, to try and destabilise their enemies...

All of that is still in this second part of the duology, but it didn't feel as fresh and interesting as the first book.
I couldn't connect with this sequel, as I found everything lacking the passion and intrigue that made the first book so fun. It wasn't just the change in Aissa's career as a spy, or the loss of the will-they-won't-they aspect of the relationship. It was everything. I missed Aissa's passion for her work with technology, how she (mostly) enjoyed working for the master mechanic.
I miss the passion her and Zandria had for uncovering the Magi library in the first book.

Instead, I found the second book flat. They talk about a lot of stuff, but there's no emotion to it.
They talk about learning. They talk about gaining allies, and starting a revolution. They talk about magic, and break everything down for a scientific analysis.
They talk about Owen joining them, and Owen joins them and talks.
It felt like nothing was happening, because all the potentially-exciting stuff was talked to death.

Oh, and when they went to rescue Aro from the palace... I just lost a lot of patience.
(view spoiler)

I quite liked the romance level in the first book. It wasn't the main focus, but it was still quite sweet to see it developing.
The good news is that the second book has a similar level of romance - yes, Aissa and Aro are together, but it's not pushed to the front of the story.
The bad news, along with several other aspects, I felt this too was lacking emotion and was just flat.

Overall, I found it a fairly predictable and dull finish to a very creative story.

Unfortunately this book just did not do it for me. I liked booked one, it’s not of one of my top reads this year, but I did enjoy parts of it. This sequel however, I just found to be kind of a drag at times, and the characters just were never on a level where I could truly connect with them, which I thought would he fixed in this book, but really wasn’t. However, I did like the ending of this book, and the characters although not my favorite did become decently developed throughout it.

I really liked the concept, but found myself really indifferent and bored during the chapters. Almost DNF this one, but just pushed through.