HEARTSMITH: An Upper MG/YA Book Review by Kate Lundeen

Check out an older teen thriller from Monarch Books: Heartsmith by Stephanie Cotta. Be prepared to lose track of time with this mystery which is the first in a series.

Review

Aaren Lockett is a 16-year-old in search of a new start after life in an orphanage. He travels to the city of Rexanberg and plans to set up shop as a tinker. As he is about to establish his business, he gets caught in the crosshairs of some of the city’s upper crust. Aaren puts his life on the line for a woman named Aida during the fight. Afterwards, Aaren and Aida develop a magical bond. 

Aaren’s new ability allows him to repair a subject’s physical injuries or restart someone’s heart just as easily as he can fix a broken watch or a broken mechanical spring. Aaren becomes a Heartsmith. The Heartsmith craft stems from a rare, coveted magical tie which contains the power to heal or harm patients under its care. 

When local children go missing, Aaren and his pretty sidekick Sasha use their sleuthing skills to solve the mystery. Aaren and Sasha discover a gruesome solution involving illicit swiping of dead bodies and mistreatment of minors. To their horror, the teens discover that the black-market dealings were a cover for a plan so evil, they cannot even wrap their minds around it! The sinister plan contains twisted replications of positive Heartsmith qualities suitable for nefarious deeds. Halting this plan will prove to be a complex and dangerous mission for the teens.  

Cotta’s use of scene imagery and character descriptions highlight her artistry in the suspense category. Readers will feel like they are inside perilous scenes in the story. In one part, our sleuths find themselves ensnared in a burning building. Cotta writes,

The fire continued spreading through the room, spanning from wall to wall, and spilling into adjoining areas in the foundry. Flames shot from the support beams holding the rafters suspended above them. The fire, fueled by the accelerant, devoured every inch, and the beams snapped and popped as if in horrendous pain. Smoke whirled around the ceiling, billowing like a formless creature; the two glass skylights giving it a pair of moonlit eyes. Burning cinders rained down like torched paper.” (p. 116) …. The beams supporting the rafters buckled. In a cacophonous, molten jumble, they crashed, spraying sparks and debris in a violent burst. (p. 117). 

The burning flames and sense of peril were almost real and made me want to escape the building too! 

Her description of the crime boss in Chapter 13 contains creepy vibes. [The crime boss’ visage contained], cold amber eyes, which lacked all luster of life…  [His long fingers jabbed]  five fast needle-like pinpricks[which] pierced [Aaren’s] skull. His eyes clamped shut in nail-grating discomfort as every hair on his body stood on end… the scrape of his footsteps a disturbing echo that grated every nerve in Aaren’s body. [the crime boss] released Aaren with a gruff shove and circled Sasha, like a wolf circling its prey” (pp. 108-109 and 112.).

This crime boss means business and is ready to go in for the kill when Aaren and Sasha invade his domain.  An exhaustive list of all foreboding scenes and creepy characters that Cotta sketches in her tale would spoil the story but many a shiver or thrill will go down spines as readers get delightfully lost in the twists and turns of Heartsmith. Do not read this book before bed!

One word of caution: Heartsmith contains some mature content in both the magic and mystery framework. The audience for this book should contain older teens who are able to exercise discernment. I work in a Christian library and our patron base contains many conservative homeschool families who might not receive this book well. Even though I would not choose this selection for my workplace, it is suspense worthy of consideration and enjoyment.

Beware that this book ends on a nail-biting cliff hanger! Cotta is working on the sequel, Heartwrecked (working title) which she hopes will be available in 2026. 

For more information about Stephanie’s other books, please visit her website.

Giveaway

Stephanie is giving away a signed copy of Heartsmith and swag to one fortunate blog reader. To enter, leave a comment by January 8. U.S. addresses only.

Guest Blogger, Kate Lundeen

The Lord’s hand of watchful care and protection blessed my life from my start as a tiny premature infant. Doctors diagnosed me with cerebral palsy from birth complications which mainly affected my legs and motor skills.  I also have a learning disability that does not allow me to write down or process thoughts as fast as other people.  I am a former homeschooler and obtained an Associate in Arts degree from a North Carolina community college after five years of hard work! I discovered and developed a love for writing in college. Now I pen articles for my local church newsletter and write book reviews. I enjoy my current job as a part-time library assistant in a Christian library in Matthews, NC. I have a servant’s heart and a willing attitude to grow in old skills and develop new ones along whatever path the Lord chooses to take me.