Heartsong, S.E. Wendel (Review by Abigail Blake)
Rating: 3.0/5 Stars
At first glance, S.E. Wendel’s Heartsong may come across as a typical romantasy, but its story is full of genuinely touching vulnerability.
Anna battles the everyday struggles of a woman trying to make ends meet in overpriced San Francisco while also desperately trying to manage her chronic illness. When Frey, a muscular gargoyle come-to-life, declares her his mate, her life and everything she’s fought so hard to build is entirely upended. Their relationship blossoms under the confines of a curse and a small one-bedroom apartment. It also chafes at the confines of the same curse and the ideologies each partner has built up about themselves.
To properly love Anna, Frey must learn to curb his overbearing urges and his impatience. To allow herself to fall in love with Frey, Anna must wrestle with the protective, yet limiting, beliefs she’s created about herself and what she deserves. Heartsong tackles the deep trust needed to truly open up to someone with all the fun of a story made with magic and several chapters of tantalizing spice.
What really makes this book stand out from other magical love stories is its depiction of Anna’s chronic migraines. Her illness has dominated the better part of her adult life. That along with her upbringing severely impact the major plot points of the story. Romance, job security, being able to get out of bed and have hobbies have all taken a backseat to her pain. Magic does not solve this problem, but happens alongside it, adding a layer of complexity not usually found in similar stories.
Sometimes all a love story needs is weeks of one on one time with a sexy new roommate and a dash of the supernatural. Yet Heartsong goes deeper with well developed, imperfect characters who change and grow throughout the story. While completely fantastical, the touches of reality and real human struggles make the story entirely believable and enjoyable. Have fun with the magic, romance, and spice!