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Princess Annika has lived a life of comfort, but her future isn’t her own to control. Her once loving father is forcing Annika into a loveless marriage for political gain. It’s a fate Annika would give any amount of luxury to avoid.
Meanwhile, miles away, Lennox has devoted his life to the Dahrainian army, hoping to one day help them reclaim the throne that was long ago stolen from them. Nothing will stand in the way of Lennox fighting for his people. Or so he always imagined.Â
When Lennox takes Annika captive, fate finally seems to be turning in his favor. At the same time, he finds himself irrevocably drawn to his enemy’s princess. She is a dangerous distraction, dredging up emotions and memories Lennox would rather leave buried. They’re sworn enemies fighting a relentless war. But while the tides of war seem determined to tear them apart, love refuses to acknowledge enemy lies.Â
I really enjoyed The Selection series, so the idea of a Kiera Cass romance meets heroic fantasy attracted my attention. A Thousand Heartbeats reads like a fairy tale, complete with a fluffy princess in a dreamy castle and a gruff warrior who lives in  gloomy ruins. Aside from a cringy case of insta-love, flat world-building, and an (at times) needlessly slow pace, this is a fun story. Perhaps it takes itself too seriously at times, offering a story full of fantasy brutality and tragic backstories that feels overly romanticized, but at its heart it’s a clean romance readers will likely enjoy for its fairy tale elements.
Rated: Mild. There is one use of mild language. Violence includes injuries, blood, death (including two separate stories of a man and woman who are beheaded), and the death of a pet. Characters kiss.
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