A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass

The quick cut: A guy and girl on opposing sides of a war find themselves pulled together when everything else pulls them apart. 

A real review:

 Love is something that pretty much everybody wants, but the process of finding it can be arduous. Even if you find someone that loves you for who you are, sometimes logistics get in the way. For Lennox and Annika, those logistics are almost difficult with each of them trying to take control of the same kingdom. 

 Annika's life is one of privilege and comfort, especially as a princess. However, her life isn't truly her own as she gets engaged to a man who doesn't truly know her. Lennox has long imagined a day when his people would be recognized again and take back control of the land that they rightfully had control over. Can these two find love together? Or end up miserably alone on opposing sides? 

 I know this book has been categorized as romance, but that doesn't feel like the right subgenre for this story. Is a romance between Annika & Lennox and essential component of the plot? Totally. However, a majority of the story is fantasy adventure focused with the romance a secondary item. If you go into it expecting typical romance, you'll be disappointed. 

 Annika is a rebellious princess who fulfills her role, but secretly does what she wants behind closed doors. She knows how to pick locks and sword fight without her father's knowledge! She's someone I quickly enjoyed and wanted to see succeed. 

 Lennox from the start is setup to be hated, but the more you get to know him the more you like him. He's in a terrible position and setup to fail by their narcissistic leader, Kawan. He learns in the process of the book how to take his rightful spot and lead his people. 

 The dual narrative here is smart and makes the most sense. Each one has unique elements to share with the reader. It also made for a better reading experience. 

 The romance element of this story may be the most prominent from the summary, but truthfully it's the least refined element. The adventure and war components are the best written, with the romance feeling very thrown together. The moments with Lennox and Annika don't feel like a romantic chemistry. Their romance needed far more time to develop and grow. 

 A fun adventure with a lacking finesse on the romance. 

My rating: 4 out of 5