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    Black Heart: The Curse Workers, Book 3
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    Black Heart: The Curse Workers, Book 3
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    Black Heart: The Curse Workers, Book 3
    Audiobook6 hours

    Black Heart: The Curse Workers, Book 3

    Written by Holly Black

    Narrated by Jesse Eisenberg

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    In a world where magic is illegal, Cassel Sharpe has the most deadly ability of all. With one touch, he can transform any object-including a person-into something else entirely. And that makes him a wanted man. The Feds are willing to forgive all his past crimes if he'll only leave his con artist family behind and go straight. But why does going straight feel so crooked?

    For one thing, it means being on the opposite side of the law from Lila, the girl he loves. She's the daughter of a mob boss and though Cassel is pretty sure she can never love him back, he can't stop obsessing over her. Which would be bad enough, even if her father wasn't keeping Cassel's mother prisoner until she returns the priceless diamond she scammed off him years ago. Too bad she can't remember where she put it.

    The Feds say they need Cassel to get rid of a powerful man who is spinning dangerously out of control. But if they want Cassel to use his unique talent to hurt people, what separates the good guys from the bad ones? With no easy answers and no one he can trust, love might be the most dangerous gamble of all.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateApr 10, 2012
    ISBN9780307711908
    Unavailable
    Black Heart: The Curse Workers, Book 3
    Author

    Holly Black

    Holly Black is the #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of speculative and fantasy novels, short stories, and comics. She has been a finalist for an Eisner and a Lodestar Award, and the recipient of the Mythopoeic and Nebula Awards and a Newbery Honor. She has sold over twenty-six million books worldwide, and her work has been translated into over thirty languages and adapted for film. She currently lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret library. Visit her at BlackHolly.com.

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    Reviews for Black Heart

    4/5

    272 ratings32 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Find this review and more at On The Shelf!I thought this was an excellent conclusion to the Curse Worker series! It was the most suspenseful of the three and really showed Cassel’s powers off. Cassel is quite witty and sly and takes a lot of risks. If I was in position, I know it would be very hard to trust anybody and make a huge decision like the one he faces. In the end, I like the way he handles things and takes care of a few issues.I felt so bad for Cassel at several points because of how much he cares about Lila, but he thinks she can’t love him back because of his mother working her. I like Lila, even if she is the daughter of a crime boss. Cassel’s mother on the other hand, I never cared for through any of the books, but I guess you’re not really supposed to. She is so selfish and manipulative and shallow. Sam I also still like and he is still very loyal to Cassel, even though there is some danger for him being Cassel’s friend.I really like the way this one ended, and thought it was a good wrap up for the trilogy. I kind of wish there would be another book for the series, but even if there never is, I would still be satisfied with the way it ended. I own the first book, and I will be buying the 2nd and 3rd books as well since I enjoyed them so much. I love the dotted cover art and hopefully I will be able to get the author to sign them like my first one if she comes to YallFest again this coming November.Good characters, exciting, good descriptions, good ending.
    • 4/5
      Cassel Sharpe was raised in the Curse Workers's world, where everyone is a con artist and every choice is a potential trap. His mother can emotionally control him, his brother can manipulate his memories, his ex-girlfriend is now part of the mob and he himself has a power so rare that its nearly mythical. He wants to get a high class education and win himself free of all the plots, but instead he keeps getting pulled deeper.

      The world building remains awesome. There are workers and non-workers. Workers can enact magic with a touch, but experience blowback if they do. For example, emotion workers can manipulate other people's feelings, but in return their own emotions become unstable. Or there are death workers, who can kill someone with a touch, but in return a part of their body dies--a tooth if they're lucky, their heart if they're not. Even healing has blowback of its own: by healing others, one becomes sick oneself. Working magic is dangerous and not to be done lightly. But for all that, it's so powerful that it's still used. And because all the magic is touch-based, everyone wears gloves constantly, and seeing someone's ungloved hand is both incredibly intimate and a little scary.

      Cassel, and all the supporting characters, are equally well-thought out, well-rounded creations. And the plot is as twisty as ever, though not quite so mind-blowing as the first two books. I really loved this series, but I think Black was smart to end (or at least pause) it here. Cassel quitting school, the FBI, and all pretences of normality in order to have a little time with Lila was an incredibly gutsy plot twist, the equivalent of having Harry Potter quit Hogwarts in, say, the fifth book. It was smart, it was unexpected, and it completely shook up the books' loose formula. In all three books, Cassel has to juggle school, curse working, and the law--after the last chapter, the juggling act is over.
    • 4/5
      Again, I liked it, same as book 1 and 2. I don't have much new to say. Nice fantasy, nice characters. The con aspect well worked out.
    • 4/5
      I started this one ages ago (last year, actually!) and got distracted, mainly because the plot of these series is so intricate I was a little lost on the details. This time I persevered and finished in a day. I still feel like i missed a few things regarding the plot that started on previous books (particularly regarding the romance) but "Black heart" has its own brilliantly executed plot, full of coincidences and blanks that make it REAL. Like Cassel puts it, only lies make perfect sense. Fantastic ending!
    • 5/5
      My wife and I loved the whole series. we listened to the audio books while driving back and forth from collecting our kids from school. Well written Ms Black.
    • 5/5
      re-reading and it was every bit as wonderful as the first time. If you love a smart-assed, slightly broken hero this book is for you.
    • 5/5
      The finale to the White Cat series – phenomenal. What do you do when it’s your nature to be on the grift, but you aspire to a straight and legal life? Cassel struggles to find his way as his transformational talent makes him ever more valuable to the players around him.
    • 3/5
      Didn't like it quite as much as the others in the series, but it's still an engaging story. I enjoy the mystery and family elements in all of the books so very, very much. Definitely worth a read.
    • 4/5
      Sharp, fast-paced magical thriller full of rich characters with complicated relationships. The conclusion to Cassel's story straddles two worlds as he discovers just how blurry the lines between right and wrong are, and how deep he would go for what matters most. ★★★★☆.
    • 4/5
      I’m so happy and excited that I read this book. Really happy. I have to say though, I’m sad to see the series end. I can see it opening door to other stories that I wish I can read. With that said, I really loved this series as a whole.Plot. Through out this series as well as each book, the plot has been consistent in growing and leading the reader to a whole other world. A world full of magic and chaos. I’m really loved how easy it was for me to open the book read the first page and I’m in. Back in Cassal’s shoe ready to play the game he’s been playing he’s whole life. In this story, every chapter is just as exciting as the last. Every moment of Cassal life leads up to final magic trick that can save him or break him,.Characters. The minor characters in the book go father with Cassal. Most have supported him and befriended him. Others just continuously stabbed him in the back. Through out the series and in this story particularly, you can see Cassal’s strength. He is much more sure of himself, finding strength in places he didn’t realize he had. I admired him to make things work out for him. He needs it.Love. Through Cassal’s messed up life he has faced many demons. Cassal has finally taken something for himself. It has been difficult and hard, but the reader see’s Cassal over come all of that. He has lost so much and fights for what he has left. Hope and love.I could name more points but I think if I keep going, I’ll just spill the ending. Which for me, is the best part. Vague and complete, Cassal takes what he wants and runs for it. Good for you kid!No amount of words can describe how much I love this series. Black Heart is exciting yet moves forward with such enticement and thrills you can’t help but be hooked. A compelling piece of work that completes the series, Black Heart is memorable.
    • 4/5
      Holly Black’s Black Heart is lovely, an excellent and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Cassel stops being a character who reacts to life. I do wish we had a way to see into Lila’s head a little more, but that’s the problem with first person, isn’t it? We can only see her as Cassel does. Also, there was a moment where Holly Black cunningly (I am sure) made me mad at Cassel on Barron’s behalf, which prompted me to wonder if we were in opposite world. Nice flip-flop/complication of the characters there. (Came out April 3, bought a copy at Books a Million)
    • 4/5
      A good ending for a well-done YA series about crime families in a world where people can curse and charm each other with a touch.
    • 3/5
      As the end of a series it was a bit of a let down. Sure the world of Cassel and curse workers is still interesting and well formed but too many loose ends were tied up and little too easily. Yes, not everything was resolved but enough things were that I felt there was little to no actual cost to the characters. I mean some serious stuff went down, murders, attempted murders, theft, blackmail, all sorts of other dark and mob-y things.
    • 4/5
      The third book in the Curse Workers series and another engrossing story of crime, romance, and the supernatural.
    • 5/5
      The ending of The Curse Workers was interesting. You can't trust the government or the mob. Basically, you can only trust yourself. This book was a little more on the adult side for a few scenes, so I recommend this as a read for an older teen or and adult. It wrapped up nicely. Hoping for Black to make another series as intricate and entertaining as this one.
    • 5/5
      I listened to the audio book, as I've done with the previous two titles because I adore Jessie Eisenberg as Cassel Sharpe. To me, he IS Cassel. I've loved the previous two books, flawed characters, bad decisions and all. And, much to my delight, Black Heart follows up quite strongly. In Black Heart , we get to spend more time with Cassel as he uses his curse (for good and for evil). But we also learn more about his family, his mother and all the drama that's only been hinted at in the two other books. There are also a couple of interesting confrontations (of a sort) with people from the previous books (I really, really don't want to give anything away). And, of course, there's some fantastic Lila and Cassel interaction. I love this series so much and I was really happy with this third (and sadly final) book. But what made me happy was that Black managed to wrap everything up and give me the most satisfying ending possible.
    • 4/5
      I wasn't sure I really liked the characters in this series after the previous books, but I really liked the way this all wrapped, and I was much happier with Cassel Sharpe, the main character, after this wrap-up of the trilogy.

      The curse worker concept is really interesting. I would guess that there are many stories that could be told in this universe.
    • 4/5
      This is more of a review of this series. So this series is a unique, but a growing subset, in the young adult paranormal genre. The uniqueness being female authored with a male protagonist as the hero and a dark dark world. The lead in each of these books is the same teenaged boy - -Cass. I would compare it to Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride, or Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake. There seems to be a desire on the part of the paranormal reading crowd to read about male protagonists, so these books are definitely finding their niche readers. Cass was born into a crime family, not a powerful one but the world in this series is divided into two parts: those with magical abilities and those without. People fear those with magical powers and due to unfair legislation, fear of people without magic, internments and round ups those with magical abilities are segregated in lifestyle from those without powers. Everyone wears gloves. All the time. Why? The abilities people have (just one – the magic workers have just one power each) are not fun and nor are the powers nice but instead, the powers are such that kill, powers to alter memories, powers to make people feel things that they would not feel on their own and the power to transform someone from one object into another. But in order to work their curse, the magic workers need to use their bare fingers and touch bare skin on their target - - thus the gloves that everyone (even non magical workers) wear at all times. I have trouble with stories and series where people with powers can just do whatever they want with no cost. Holly Black created a world where magic exists but it isn’t easy. Everytime a magic worker puts a curse on someone there is a “blow back”. Memory workers lose parts of their own memories. Emotion workers suffer through emotional ups and downs. Death workers have parts of their bodies die off … and on and on …There is an undercurrent of politics driven by fear throughout the series. It is not overwhelming and the politics do not dominate the plot. A question that I kept thinking is – shouldn’t the non magical people be afraid? What is a fair solution to protect the non magical people but not overly limit the ability of the magical people to live their lives? I am not sure there is a solution and Holly Black shows that tension of what it would be like to live with real threats like death workers and memory workers. So Curse Workers has some recycled cliché young adult themes: hero doesn’t know the extent of his powers, family is really out there, boarding school, boy kills off his girlfriend there is lots of blood, painful memories …. screeeeeeech …okay maybe that is not an overused cliché. What I think Holly Black did really well is set up this story in a very familiar setting but then took it somewhere most young adult books do not go. There is sex, there is drinking, there is death and sociopathic behavior and the ending of the series is not storybook at all. So the ending is anti-everything we want for our kids or our parents dream about for us but you know what? It is perfect for this series and I loved that Holly Black ended it the way she did. Now I listened to this series in audio, despite also owning it in ebook. I think I should have read it. The narration was done well, I guess ... but it didn’t grab me. I need to say thought, that the narration does not detract or take away from the story at all. Despite that, I would suggest reading this series. I recommend this book to people who enjoy darker urban fantasy stories and who are okay with a slow build in the beginning of a story.
    • 4/5
      This was a brilliant end to the Curse Workers series. I love the characters and will miss them.
    • 4/5
      Cassel Sharpe is back in this third book of the "Curse Workers" series. Now Cassel knows he is a transformation worker, and finds his loyalties divided between Lila & his family on the one hand and the federal agents who promise him a life on the right side of the law on the other. Meanwhile, a schoolmate asks for his help when someone blackmails her. As a con artist from a family of workers, Cassel knows she's not telling him the whole truth, and he's not sure who to trust.I've enjoyed this series because Cassel is such an interesting character, someone who is genuinely conflicted between the life he's always known, loyalty to family, and a desire to do the right thing. The pace is fast, keeping me up late turning pages and, even though Cassel is the narrator, surprising me with what he holds back. The end was such that I wasn't sure whether to expect more or not, but either way it's a satisfying read.
    • 5/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: The perfect ending to a wonderful series with a very surprising twist. Opening Sentence: My brother Barron sits next to me, sucking the last dregs of milk tea slush noisily through a wide yellow straw. The Review: Holly Black is one of my favorite authors. She knows how to write stories really, really well. Take for example the Curse Workers series. It’s a series of stories that has action, parnormal elements, and a romantic love story that has me clutching my heart. Black Heart was filled with heart-warming moments, unexpected twists, endless teenage angst, and just plain awesome. This was really the perfect ending to a wonderful trilogy. Cassel Sharpe has discovered many things about himself, his family, and his past in the last few books, but nothing as much as he has in Black Heart. Cassel is now involved with the Feds, helping them to get out of his own troubles, and he has dragged his brother along with him. Well, blackmailed is a better word. Aside from that, Cassel has his heart to deal with, working through the ups and downs with Lila. Cassel’s life is a collection of momentous events, all of which do not play in his favor. Many different people in the Curse Workers storyline view Cassel’s ability as a transformation worker in different ways. Everyone wants to use him for their own gain, and unfortunately Cassel is stuck in the middle. Cassel has grown throughout the three books. He struggles to between what are the right things to do; not only for him, for his family, but also for his friends. He has to think of others before he even thinks about himself. With all of the powerful enemies that Cassel has collected, it is fun to watch him outsmart them all. What I love about Black Heart is that the supporting characters play important roles. Sam has always been and always be Sam’s best friend, wingman, co-conspirator. Daneca is newer to the group, but has done her fair share to earn a trustworthy friendship. She is a little mysterious, and there are things that Cassel doesn’t approve of, but in the end, she is a great friend. Barron and Cassel have a lot of history together. Yes, they are brothers, but there’s this dark cloud that glooms over their relationship. He manipulated Cassel, Cassel blackmailed Barron. You know, that type of stuff. And then there’s Lila. Lila, to me, has represented the natural progression of life. Her life began as something innocent, and has turned into something corrupt. But Lila keeps moving and has made the best of every situation. Black Heart’s plot picks up quickly, and doesn’t slow down. Black created this unique world with a fantastic culture that I can’t get enough of. I know that the Curse Workers series is a trilogy, but I only wish there was more. I loved how Black resolved all of the threads, and I really enjoyed the surprise at the end. I felt that Black Heart was a great conclusion to the series. A must read for everyone. Notable Scene: She’s gone. The door swings shut behind me as I cross the empty room. Everything feels like it has slowed down, the edges a little dim. The awfulness of it, the loss of her, hits me in the gut. Gone. Gone and there’s nothing I can do about it. My eyes are drawn to the window, where light’s streaming in, casting an odd shadow. There on the sill, resting against one of the panes of glass, is a single envelope. My name is written on it in her handwriting. I wonder how long it’s been sitting there. I imagine her loading all her stuff into boxes and carrying it down the stairs, Zacharov himself helping her, like all the other dads did. With two goons, guns tucked into their waistbands, helping him. The thought should make me smile, but it doesn’t. I sink to the floor, the paper clutched to my chest. I rest my head on the bare wood. Somewhere in the distance I hear a bell ring. I’ve got no reason to get up, so I don’t.FTC Advisory: Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Black Heart. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 5/5
      Holly Black is a Curse Worker!There is absolutely nothing that I dislike about Black Heart or the rest of the Curse Workers series! Holly Black is one of my favorite authors. She hooked me with the Tithe series and gave me no room to wiggle off the line with her current film-noir-mixed-with-some-paranormal crime drama.****Alert: Since this a review for book three of a series, it contains spoilers for anyone who hasn't read White Cat and Red Glove. If you find yourself in that unenviable position, you need to immediately step away from your computer, use the fastest means of transportation available to you, and get yourself to a bookstore so you can begin reading what is sure to become one of your favorite series. (If you're new to Holly Black, then you've got even more catching up to do. Don't miss out on Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside!) Now back to the review. Cassel Sharpe is an eminently sympathetic character. He's a loyal friend/brother/son. He has a surprisingly strong sense of right and wrong, considering he was raised in a family of supernatural thieves and con artists. A family which lied to him and made him believe he was the black sheep without the power to alter people's memories, make them fall in love, or kill them with a single touch. He was the outcast since he wasn't a "Curse Worker". Just one problem: He is a curse worker. And not just any curse worker, but a transformation worker. He has the ability to turn you into anyone or anything he wants. So they used him to commit murders and to transform his best friend and only girl he ever loved into a cat, then erased his memory of it (White Cat). In attempt to set things straight his mom, the emotion worker, curses the girl to fall in love with him. So now he can't be with her because he knows it's not real and refuses to take advantage of the situation (Red Glove). It's amazing that he doesn't go on a psychopathic rampage transforming everyone into beanbag chairs! In Black Heart he's got the Feds hounding him to join their Licensed Minority Division so they can have the rarest and most feared type of curse worker as their own weapon. Then there's the crime boss (and father of the girl of his dreams) who's holding his mother hostage until he can retrieve a diamond she once stole from him. And just for fun, let's throw in a terrified girl from school who begs him to help her deal with a blackmailer, while clearly holding back some vital information. There's just so much being thrown at this kid from every angle. But he just takes it all in stride and stays one step ahead while everyone thinks they're playing him.Black Heart is a fast paced, fun, and extremely well written novel. The characters and situations are completely believable. The setting is beautifully constructed. The plot is well thought out and perfectly executed. Exactly what I've come to expect from Holly Black, who clearly works her magic by touching her fingers to a keyboard. For writing this solid, the blowback must be crazy!
    • 5/5
      Cassel Sharpe is trying to turn over a new leaf. He comes from a family of curse workers involved in organized crime; he was previously used as an assassin unbeknownst to him; and he's in love with a girl who has decided to involve herself further in the illicit dealings of the mob. Determined to stay on the straight and narrow, he forces himself to work with the Feds, even though it has been hammered into his brain that they are the enemy. When they ask him to do the only thing he promised himself he would ever repeat, he doesn't know what is right or wrong anymore. Pulled between the mob (who hold his mother hostage) and the feds, Cassel walks a tightrope between them, trying to appease both while not truly joining either. Now he has to sift out the truth amongst all the lies and hope that he can live with the choice he makes.Cassel is back! He is one of my favorite protagonists in YA fiction. Using his cunning and intelligence, he deftly navigates working for the feds, helping the mob, and protecting his family and himself. He doesn't always make the right decisions and definitely isn't perfect, but he works with everything he has and tries to make the best of it with some humor and sarcasm to top it off. I sincerely wish that all YA heroes and heroines were imbued with a little bit of Cassel. Many of them would be a lot more interesting and less frustrating to read. Anyway, he is caught up in a number of plot lines that cause him to have run-ins with everyone from the feds to the school faculty. He has grown so much in the course of the series and truly seeks to do good in the world. His romance with Lila is as heartbreaking as ever as they are both torn apart by opposing factions and circumstances on top of all the other emotional baggage from their past.Black Heart is a formidable book with skilled writing from Holly Black. However, I felt something was missing. Red Glove was so awesome and this book just came up a little short for me. The story line at his school felt like it didn't quite mesh with the rest of the novel. There was ample action and intrigue and I was satisfied with the ending. However, the world surrounding Cassel has gotten so big and interesting that I was left wondering what went on outside of his story and the ramifications of his actions on the world. I really hope Holly Black revisits the world either to continue Cassel's story (which I would love!) or simply create new characters.I love the Curse Worker series, but the ending left me with mixed feelings and a little lost. I still enjoyed this book and would definitely highly recommend the entire series to fans of urban fantasy.
    • 4/5
      Black Heart by Holly Black is the conclusion of the Curse Workers trilogy, and I'm finding it hard to explain the series. First of all, if you're at all interested -- if, for instance, you like urban fantasy, or reading about original, well-developed magic systems, you should start with White Cat, where you can meet teenage con man Cassel Sharpe and his mob family and preppy boarding school friends. You can immerse yourself in a world where some individuals have the ability to work curses by touch, so everyone in society wears gloves to prevent being worked. And you can avoid the spoilers that will be included in the rest of this review.In Black Heart, Cassel is working for the Feds -- or is he? After all, Cassel will always look out for Cassel first, and he hasn't made a definite commitment to the Feds yet. Still, they need his unique talents for a big job. If he plays his cards right, he may be able to make everyone happy: the Feds, his family, the crime boss, his friends, the mob, and Lila -- the girl he loves, who was cursed to love him back and . . . well, it's complicated. Then again, if Cassel messes up, the consequences could be deadly. Will Cassel be able to pull off "the Big One?"I liked this book just as much as the first two in the series. Cassel has a strong, smart (and smart-alecky) voice, and he was a lot of fun to read about, as always. The plot came together nicely, though it seemed just a little bit more straightforward than the other two books. That may be because this book has a definite ending, wrapping up loose ends nicely. A satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.
    • 4/5
      Third book in Black’s curse workers series (possibly a trilogy; there is an ending to this book). Cassel Sharpe, now secretly working with the feds, has to deal with ongoing problems at school and with the love of his young life, formerly cursed to love him and now virulently angry at him. If that’s not enough, she’s part of a powerful crime family and her father will kill him if the truth comes out. Also, the feds want him to assassinate a governor who’s looking to intern curse workers in detention camps. So, you know, he has a busy schedule. It’s a quick, fun read with a dash of con artistry, and maybe his personal problems are solved with relative ease, but these are teenagers and I’m willing to believe they can turn on a dime in this way, curses or not.
    • 5/5
      Through events in Red Glove, Cassel is now 'sort of' working for the federal government, helping his older brother, Barron, practice his skills, all while worrying about Lila, the girl he loves who is working do her mob boss father. Cassel, Barron and Lila are all curse workers, people who can affect changes in anyone they touch fingertips to skin. As curseworking is outlawed, working for crime families or clandestinely for the government are the few jobs open to those who aren't hiding their abilities,along the world a hostile place. Cassel is a rare transformation worker, with a criminal miter on the run, so when the Feds request his aid in targeting a senator hell-bent on sibling out workers, he must finally decide where his loyalty lies.Cassel is funny, smart and a clever con artist, which hes been raised to be by his family of con artists. His plots are sneaky and twisty, and Black does a wonderful job in keeping the reader guessing to the end. Her world of curse workers is detailed yet seemingly effortlessly done, and I've simply adored the time spent in this world.Do not miss out on this series!!! Start with White Cat and be prepared to enjoy!Highly recommended for older teens (there is a sexy scene that fades to black as the characters undress, and there is some violence).
    • 4/5
      This is the third, and final, book in the Curse Workers series by Black. I think readers who really love this series will enjoy how the series is tied up. Things are tied up in a hopeful, yet realistic way, which I really enjoyed. I personally haven’t been a huge fan of this series, I am not bit on organized crime fantasy, but that being said I think this was the best book in the series.I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was very well done. The narrator sounds exactly like I imagined Cassel would.Cassel is trying to turn his life around and do the right thing. Sure his ex-girlfriend is forever tied to a life of crime, but Cassel is trying hard to not follow where she is going. Cassel is thinking about working for the Feds because at least they are on the good side right? But when the Feds ask him to do something with his Transformation that he swore never to do, Cassel is forced to question everything. Who is being conned and who is doing the conning? The future of his mother, his brother, and the love of his life, Lila, all depend on him sorting out what’s true and what’s a con.Cassel just breaks your heart in this book. He is just trying so hard to do what’s right but at points what is right is incredibly hard to figure out. That’s not to say he ever gets stupid; he knows a con when he sees one and is all about conning the person pulling a con.Lila isn’t in the beginning of the book a ton, but she does feature later on. A lot happens between her and Cassel in this book, and that is all I am going to say about that. Lila is an interesting character; her path to a life of crime doesn’t seem to bother her a ton...it’s just her life and she makes the best of it.Cassel’s brother Barron and his mother are also in the story quite a bit. Barron is, well, he’s Barron. He’s working for the Feds but still loosing memories. Cassel’s mother is the same; she loves her sons but never seems to struggle with her morals over the decisions she makes.This whole book is really about the struggle between being good and being bad and how there are no clear answers...everything is just too complicated.The books ends absolutely perfectly. There are some things left unresolved, just like real life. I love how things are left between Cassel and Lila; the ending just fits the tone of the story perfectly.Overall a great conclusion to this series. This was my favorite book of the trilogy. It ties things up nicely, has a great tangle of mysteries to engage the reader, and is just absolutely realistic in the way it ends. Fans of the series should be pleased.
    • 5/5
      Holly Black has done it again! I swear, this woman is incapable of writing a bad book. Black Heart is just as darkly humorous and exciting as the last two books in the Curse Worker trilogy! I would argue that the stakes are even higher this time around—there are three major issues that Cassel needs to deal with, all involving different groups of people: his family, his friends, and the Feds. Holly Black does a great job of balancing all three storylines and ending the book with all problems resolved. The manner of resolution, however, isn’t easy—each of the conflicts Cassel is facing have their own twists, and you’ll find yourself surprised at every single one. But Holly Black proved that she’s stellar at plot twists in the first two Curse Worker books; I shouldn’t be surprised by her skill, but I always am.Aside from the complexity of the story and cons, Black Heart continues to excel in terms of characters. Cassel has slowly grown over the course of the series, and in Black Heart he evolves the most. His signature snark is still intact, but he’s not so much of a self-loathing moper anymore. I can’t get enough of Cassel’s narration—he’s just a funny, quirky guy. The side characters are just as wonderful as always—I love Sam, Cassel’s roommate, Lila, and even Zacharov has his moments.As a finale, Black Heart is perfect. We get answers to some questions that have followed Cassel through all three books, we’re given time with each of the characters (we’ll remember them fondly!), and we get to read through a really good con. What more could a reader ask for?If you’ve read the previous two Curse Worker books, you absolutely must pick up Black Heart. It doesn’t disappoint! But whatever your expectations are, prepare to be completely surprised—the ending to this fabulous series is unpredictable!
    • 5/5
      The Good Stuff Fabulous ending to the trilogy (at least I think its a trilogy) as it leaves things open if she wants to write more, but will satisfy you if she doesn't Cassel is a very intriguing and likeable character and actually very life like Fantastic secondary characters - though would have liked more of Cassel's grandfather and Sam Very fast paced and plenty of twists and turns that keep you wondering who is conning who Actually my favorite of the series Wonderful humour and snappy dialogue Black is a excellent storyteller who has created an unusual world with a bit of an X men vibe thrown in Interesting observations on human nature, prejudice, forgiveness, nature of evil, right and wrong, etc Male protagonist that is written by a women but not so over the top emo like most YA males, -- really liked Cassel and would be proud to have him as a son. sex is handled tastefully One thing that really impressed me is that she has worked some character development into Cassel's family. In the first book they were pretty much a caricature - now they have been fleshed out and you can understand them a lot better Can we please have a book about the grandpa -- I love him -- oooh how about a prequel The Not So Good Stuff the cover on my arc is blah -- hopefully the cover on the final product is nicer A wee bit confusing at times as she jumps around a little Favorite Quotes/Passages " Barron's a sociopath. They're very convincing. Especially if you're one of those girls who thinks she can fix a boy." "Over the last few months I got every last thing I ever wanted - and then I threw it all away. Everything I thought I could never have was offered up on a silver platter- the girl, the power, a job at the right hand of, Zacharov, the most formidable man I know. It wouldn't have been that hard to work for him. It probably would have been fun. And if I didn't care who I hurt, it would still be all mine." "That's family for you. Can't live with them; can't murder them. Unless Barron rats me out to Yulikova. Then I really might."Who Should/Shouldn't Read If you haven't read the rest of the series I wouldn't recommend you read this without reading them Adults and YA will both enjoy (although most of the adults are douche bags)4.25 Dewey'sI received from Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review
    • 5/5
      I was so happy to dive into this series again to see what the Sharpe brothers were up to. As we learned at the end of Red Glove, the Feds made an offer to Barron and Cassel, and they accepted, although Barron likes to think he's playing both sides (no surprise there). As Cassel navigates the very treacherous path of political intrigue, tortures himself over his love for Lila and tries to find his mom, he continues to deal with school. I loved some of the story lines that blended school life and personal life. His school friends and mobster family are the crazy and dysfunctional pieces that make up his life. In fact, I was drawn into the story so much that I actually felt sorry for Barron in one situation. Can you believe it? Cassel is as heartbreakingly vulnerable as always, dredging up all kinds of confusing feelings. The beauty of Cassel is that you don't know whether you want to make out with him or make him a hot meal because his mom is such a disaster. Maybe both. (I'm sure a therapist would have a heyday with that little statement.) However you categorize your feelings, he is the ultimate anti-hero with a desire to perhaps do some good, but mostly avoid trouble.There is a lot of fast paced action in this book, but it's the characters that make it amazing. With Cassel, there is a deep sense, although he tried so hard to live a "normal" life, that he doesn't feel he deserves to be treated as anything more than a worthless criminal. These feelings are confronted in a wonderful scene with Lila, but even before that, his actions tell you that somewhere in there is a kid who really wants things to work, who still has hope that maybe things really will work out for him. That contrast between what Cassel wants and the reality of his world is what makes this series so appealing. He can literally transform himself into anything, but he can't ever really change who he is and where he comes from. Fans of these books will love this final installment. The character development is seamless from one book to the next and up until the last scene there are surprises waiting to be discovered.I am so sad that this series is over, but I loved the ending. These books were perfect from beginning to end and this series will forever be on my all time favorites list. Thank you, Holly Black.