by Kate Chenli
ASIN/ISBN: 9781454949923
Publication: October 17, 2023

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DESCRIPTiON

What if you could avenge your own murder? A brilliant young woman gets a second chance at life in this debut YA tale of vengeance, court intrigue, and romance, inspired by classic Chinese tropes.

Mingshin outsmarted three princes to help the man she loved become king. But she doesn’t see Ren’s betrayal coming, not until she’s lying in a pool of her own blood on the palace steps.

As she’s dying, Mingshin makes a desperate plea to the gods to turn back time and give her a chance to make things right.

Mingshin wakes up two years earlier, her prayer granted, and swears two things: Ren will never become king, and she will never fall in love again.

But the timeline in this life has changed: a dignitary gifted with dark magic is threatening her kingdom’s peace, and Ren’s thirst for power runs deeper than Mingshin could have imagined. 

She finds herself allying with Jieh, another contender for the throne. Mingshin knows better than anyone not to give her heart to a prince. But in the viper’s nest of the royal court, she and Jieh prove a phenomenal team. Can Mingshin avert the catastrophe of her past by once again learning to trust…and maybe even love? 

Content warnings: Death, attempted murder, mentions of blood, drowning, violence, loss of limbs

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kate Chenli writes adult and young adult fantasy. As a Chinese immigrant, Kate is a proud US citizen who also cherishes her Chinese heritage. She has a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, but has always enjoyed creating elaborate worlds and characters more than designing complex software. Besides reading and writing, her passion is world travel (five continents down and counting.)

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REVIEW

The book begins quickly and continues to move at this same pace. Often, it felt like the goodness of C-dramas without the filler material. Coupled with straightforward writing, this all leads to a quick-moving plot. Before I knew it, the book was nearly over, and I had been unable to put it down.

Mingshin is a smart heroine who sometimes feels older than she is, even after accounting for the original timeline. She has learned from her mistakes and aims to ensure a different prince will secure the throne. Her second chance at life brings her new allies and a chance at love. Although the romance moves quickly, a few scenes, particularly when he falls first, made me gooey inside.

As a fan of fantasy, one of my biggest issues was the lack of world-building. The setting sometimes felt generic, and I had to fill in many of the spaces. Once I set aside my concerns, it turned into an enjoyable read. For those newer to C-dramas, A Bright Heart presents a glimpse into why C-dramas are popular. Individuals who like faster-paced reads and political intrigue will likely enjoy this one. 

**Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours for allowing me to be part of the tour. Remember to check out the schedule and visit more posts. Also, thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with access to the book. I voluntarily read and reviewed it. All opinions are my own.**