Black Heart (Curse Workers Series #3)

( 19 )

Overview

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 ...

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Black Heart (Curse Workers Series #3)

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More About This Book

Overview

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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  • May11_4/TheCurseworkers_URL_1280x720_BB_c722f9955376a631c29584892553dfb3250b8468
    May11_4/TheCurseworkers_URL_1280x720_BB_c722f9955376a631c29584892553dfb3250b8468  

Editorial Reviews

VOYA - Brenna Shanks
Following the adventures and revelations of The White Cat (Simon & Schuster, 2010/Voya April 2010) and The Red Glove (Simon & Schuster, 2011/Voya April 2011), Cassel Sharpe still struggles with his inner guilt over the abuse of his transformation curse powers. As he trains with the feds (along with elder brother Barron), he is once again torn between two worlds. The agency offers a (somewhat) honest job that could assuage his guilt and make him one of the "good" guys. The criminal underworld still has a lure he cannot ignore: Lila, his unrequited love, who believes he used and rejected her, is now an official part of her father's crime syndicate. She wants nothing to do with him, but a jewel theft (originally stolen by Cassel's delinquent mother) leads him back into her sphere and sets the stage for the complex plot that follows. Cassel continues to be a conflicted, thought-provoking character. He lets himself be conned by pretty faces and family ties even as he explains the hows and whys of the cons to the reader. Savvy and smart, it is Cassel's heart and loyalty that get him into trouble. Surrounded by untrustworthy allies and enemies, it is hard for Cassel to find a clear path. His world is realistically gray. No one is quite what they seem, and good and evil, as Cassel knows all too well, can shift with perspective. Fast-paced action, multifaceted characters, and an interesting paranormal world will keep readers hooked. This book is recommended for all public libraries and school libraries where previous books have been popular. Reviewer: Brenna Shanks
Kirkus Reviews
The conclusion to Black's brilliant and unusual Curse Workers trilogy lives up to its predecessors. After everything he's been through, it's hard to believe Cassel has any more tricks up his sleeve: He's figured out the truth about himself and signed on as a Fed-in-training, as has his charming and utterly unreliable older brother. But of course things don't go as planned; there are a lot of long cons Cassel has set in play or disrupted whose ripples are still being felt. And there's Lila, Cassel's best friend and the love of his life, who is also the rising head of a crime family--and who hates Cassel's guts. Black's gotten the world of her novel down perfectly, a fascinating alternate Now in which the debate over curse workers (magic wielders) feels uncomfortably familiar (corrupt government, dispossessed citizens), and Cassel's voice never falters. If this volume has a bit less punch than the previous two it's only because readers know to expect the unexpected, not because the plotting is any less tight and twisty. And the conclusion, which is happier than might have been expected but not ideal and certainly not pat, is 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? (Urban fantasy/thriller. 14 & up)
School Library Journal
Gr 10 Up—Cassel Sharpe is back at work…curse work, that is. The high school senior is barely hanging on at Wallingford Prep, in part because he spends too much time hanging out with his memory-worker brother and his "handler" at the Licensed Minority Division, a federal agency hoping to put Cassel's worker powers to use on their behalf. In his world, certain people are born with special gifts. Perhaps it is an ability to influence luck, or alter memory, or cause death. Cassel's power is the rarest: he can transform anything into something else. His society is an imaginative mix of underworld crime families and governmental restrictions that have made curse work illegal and therefore highly paid, if you know the right people. The concept of blowback is one of the most fascinating-that working magic has a physical price for the worker, be it rotted teeth or lost memories. Magic flows from the hands, and Black's description of gloves, and gloveless interactions, has a tinge of the erotic, rather like the glimpse of a bare ankle in Victorian times. Cassel's mother is missing, the feds want the teen for a dangerous political job, and a friend needs his help with a blackmail situation. His roommate needs help with a romance, and Cassel still carries a torch for Lila, who spent part of White Cat (2010) as a feline, and then was worked to artificially fall in love with Cassel in Red Glove (2011, both S & S). This book doesn't stand alone, but is a welcome addition to the series, with an ending that points a gloved finger toward book four as Lila and Cassel share a passionate kiss and drive off together in Lila's Jaguar.—Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781442403468
  • Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
  • Publication date: 4/3/2012
  • Series: Curse Workers Series , #3
  • Pages: 296
  • Age range: 14 - 17 Years
  • Product dimensions: 5.80 (w) x 8.40 (h) x 1.30 (d)

Meet the Author

Holly Black

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.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 19 )
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(17)

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Sort by: Showing all of 19 Customer Reviews

  • Posted April 4, 2012

    I Also Recommend:

    Dead and Beyond (Ancient Legends)
    Ancient Legends Books 1-3 Discounted Offer
    Voodoo Kiss (Ancient Legends Book 3)

    The cover is awesome. The story had me hooked. Great Read!

    The cover is awesome. The story had me hooked. Great Read!

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted April 1, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    Really compelling books, but hate the covers. The original cover

    Really compelling books, but hate the covers. The original covers were so much better and more true to the story.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted April 9, 2012

    An intriguing close to the always riveting Curse Workers trilogy

    An intriguing close to the always riveting Curse Workers trilogy. Cassel has to choose between following his dubious family legacy, or working with the "good guys." The problem is, the good guys may not be so good. Sometimes, it really is best to stick to your roots. Lila remains a fascinatingly complicated character. Sam and Daneca work through relationship issues. Barron and Cassle's mom continue to provide as much frustration as familial love. Though this is supposedly the last book of the series, there is one big question left purposefully unanswered, so there might a possibility of more adventures for Cassel & Co in the future. I can't recommend this series enough! Keep an eye out for Holly Black in the future.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 27, 2012

    Yolo hannah

    Responddddd

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 26, 2012

    Great story and author

    This is a great start to a wonderful seried.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted July 9, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    *sigh* There are so many things I could say about this book tha

    *sigh* There are so many things I could say about this book that we could be here for a while, so let me keep it as short and simple as possible: The entire Curse Workers series is wonderful, most especially, Black Heart. I loved every single word. Every moment spent with Cassel Sharpe was indescribable. I know, it's just a story, right? But it felt like so much more. I became emotionally invested in both Cassel and Sam! The entire book read like a movie, with such vivid descriptions and very developed characters. The adventure Cassel and co. embark on in Black Heart is a whirlwind of emotion and action. Simply put, I was thrilled. I can't wait to read it again from the beginning!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted June 9, 2012

    The big score

    Black's final book in her Curse Workers series brings the same fast-paced intrigue and dark magic we've come to expect from this mind-bending tale. A fitting finale worth a few reads!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted May 2, 2012

    I Also Recommend:

    Divergent (Divergent Series #1)
    Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices Series #1)
    City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments Series #1)

    Must Read!

    I absolutely love Holly Black and The Curse Workers Series! And this one definitely didn't disappoint! :) I'm really sad this was the last one! :'(

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 14, 2011

    Haha ikr

    Best books ever

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 16, 2011

    CAN'T WAIT!!!

    This is my favorite series! This is gonna be AWESOME!!!

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 31, 2012

    No text was provided for this review.

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    Posted October 23, 2012

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    Posted May 31, 2012

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    Posted May 3, 2012

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    Posted April 14, 2012

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    Posted March 30, 2013

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    Posted April 27, 2012

    No text was provided for this review.

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    Posted February 24, 2013

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    Posted May 7, 2013

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