Heart Change

Content warning: Animals in peril, and one of the main characters has suicidal thoughts at the beginning of the book.

Signet D'Marigold believes she is doomed to be alone. Her parents died during her Third Passage, and none of her friends have ever stayed by her side or kept in touch for long. No one has ever been able to figure out what her Flair is, so she feels useless and lonely until the young prophet, Vinni T'Vine, tells her he's had a vision that her Flair can help his young brain-damaged HeartMate, Avellana Hazel, survive her First Passage.

Signet isn't the only person enlisted to help Avellana. Cratag Maytree, a personal guard for the T'Hawthorn Family, is hired to be Avellana's bodyguard. Cratag is secretly hurt to be hired out show more like this - he thought T'Hawthorn valued him more, and he'd prefer to be there for Laev Hawthorn's upcoming Passage. Still, he'll do as he's told, and he's certainly looking forward to spending time around Signet. He'd met her several times before and been attracted to her, but he's sure a beautiful and well-bred lady like her couldn't possibly feel the same about a man like him, a scarred outsider with little Flair.

The last time I read anything in this series was back in 2016: Heart Quest, which didn't hold up as well as I'd hoped but which is still one of my top favorites in the series, and Heart Dance, which I loathed. Rereading my review of Heart Dance reminded me of a lot of the things about Celtan society I've come to dislike, and I was glad that HeartGifts were barely mentioned in Heart Change.

I'd most recommend this book to people who are already fans of this series. Readers finally get a bit more progression in the Vinni and Avellana storyline. I admit, I both enjoy this aspect of the series and am put off by it. In this book, Vinni is 13 and Avellana is 7. They're friends, but everyone knows they're also HeartMates - it makes me a bit uncomfortable that their lives are mapped out so early. Also, yes, this series does eventually work up to a book where Vinni and Avellana are both adults and stars of their own romance. Heart Change is as far as I've gotten, and I'm not entirely sure I want to work my way up to a romance novel starring characters I know best as children.

Anyway, in this book readers finally got to see Avellana make it past her first Passage and learn what her Flair is. However, there was of course a primary romance story, and that involved Signet and Cratag. I liked the basic setup: Signet, the lonely heroine who wanted someone in her life who wouldn't abandon her and who wasn't quite the ethereal and untouchable princess that Cratag imagined her to be, and Cratag, the rough fighter who secretly yearned for a place where he could belong and be needed. Cratag had previously been attracted to her from afar but hadn't thought those feeling would ever be mutual.

I figured he and Signet would spend some time awkwardly circling each other before flirting a bit and then eventually ending up in bed. Instead, they were kissing within a day or two of living in the same house together, and the only thing that kept them from falling into bed right away was Avellana. Luckily for them, Avellana liked schedules and could mostly be convinced to stay away long enough for a sex scene to happen.

I really wish the romance had been paced more slowly. As it was, it felt like they were all over each other way too soon considering they both had abandonment issues, and the story began to drag. Cratag's sudden withdrawal near the end didn't make much sense, and then the resolution happened way too quickly and easily.

The storyline with Laev wasn't much better. The way Laev's supposed HeartMate and her family acted should have been a giant red flag, but the whole HeartMate thing seems to destroy some characters' brains. I see that Laev is the hero of Book 10, Heart Search, and the thought of reading his story is only slightly less unpleasant to me than the thought of reading Tinne Holly's (the guy whose HeartMate was married to a much older and abusive man when she was a child).

I don't know that this is a series I'm ever going to finish. I think I can make it through the one other book I own that I haven't yet read, but I doubt I'll ever make it to Vinni and Avellana's book. The aspects of this series that used to work for me are starting to get overshadowed by the stuff that doesn't - the slight cheesiness (the Marigold family tap dances in order to enter their HouseHeart) and the way the world is set up (certain characters use HeartGifts in ways that qualify as sexual assault, divorce is difficult to obtain even though it's apparently easy for unethical people to trap people into horrible marriages). Even the cats are hit or miss, although I do still love the Residences (sentient homes run by AI). Heart Change's cats were among the good ones - Beadle was a clumsy sweetie, and Du wasn't quite as haughty as most of the series' other Fams and had a backstory that made me want to give him a hug.

One final comment: I don't know who the person on the cover is supposed to be, but he isn't Cratag. It's mentioned several times that Cratag's hair is shaved close to his skull, and I don't think that tattoo is accurate either. Also, I doubt Cratag would be stupid enough to hold weapons like that, even if he was repeatedly dumb enough to leave Avellana alone despite having been hired to be her bodyguard.

Extras:

A character list, which was helpful, and a map, which I never even glanced at.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.) show less

Lovely, like all of Owens' books. A neat weaving together of old threads - it's been a long time since I read any Celta books, and my memories are fuzzy, but there were a lot of familiar characters and referenced events. I think Cratag was mentioned before but I don't remember details. I did recognize Vinni, the Ashes, D'Holly, Avellana's fall, a vague memory of the Black Magic Cult and their trial - lots of references that braided very nicely into this story. As far as the romance goes - the usual overwhelming attraction (though they were unusually sensible about it - considered and decided rather than being swept away) plus I-am-not-worthy. In an unusually stupid variety, too, though T'Hawthorn came up with a good excuse. Signet's show more Flair is weird and wonderful. I kept expecting Cratag to teleport at need eventually, but his Flair hasn't yet increased to that point. And I bet the poet shows up in the next book - or a later one. And Laev, as well - poor (stupid) guy. Great story, as usual - and now I want to reread all the earlier ones... show less

Another especially strong entry in the Celta series, best to read in order due to the backstory from previous books.

Two stories, intertwined, the mature later-in-life love between Signet and Cratag Maytree and the tender love of Vinni, the seer of Celta, towards his HeartMate, Avellana are the focus of this book. Vinni is doing all he can to ensure that Avellana grows up healthy and he's seen a future for her, but only is Signet is involved in her life. This turns Signet's lonely well-ordered life upside down.

The mysterious Flair of Signet, some kind of catalysis ability, is explored. More details of the politics of the Great Houses are revealed. And yet another HeartMate couple finds true love.

These Celta books are simply terrific, show more relaxing and soothing, with a touch of mystery. Each book shows a little more of life on Celta. show less

Signet is the last of her house, with an unidentified Flair, and a very lonely existence. Cratag has very minor flair, and works as a guard for a GrandLord family. The young prophet Vinni T’Vine, sees that his Heatmate, Avellina will need Signet’s help to survive her passage and Cratag is asked to act as a guard for them.

This series has had some hits and some misses for me. The more recent ones have fallen a little more on the miss side, but I was always intrigued by the glimpses of Vinni T’Vine when he made appearances in the other stories. I mainly picked this book up because I was interested in what would happen to Vinni and his Heartmate Avellina. Along the way I really ended up enjoying Cratag and Signet. The book splits show more fairly equally between Vinni and Avellina and Signet and Cratag, so their story is less fleshed out than some of the other books. There is nothing particularly memorable about their romance but the overall setting is usually what makes these books enjoyable for me. There is the humor from the Fams, and glimpses of previous characters, and the setup for future characters. Overall, a nice visit to Celta. show less

Fun! I really do enjoy this series. The basic plot is essentially the same each time (it is romance, after all) but the details are excellent. I think I may a bit tired of the pets; they're getting overused a little in the stories, even if they do provide a bit of comic relief.

GrandLady Signet D’Marigold’s lonely life changes when she’s asked to help young Avellana Hazel through her First Passage. Concerned for the highborn child, Signet accepts, fully aware of the danger involved. Cratag Maytree is assigned as their guardsman, but can she guard her heart against this rugged warrior? He’s attracted to her, and yet their social stations set them apart. Will they unite in time to identify the killer whose target is the child under their protection?

This one was okay. Kind of convoluted. Too many cats. I know the cat thing is just me. I do love this series and intend to keep reading as long as Ms. Owens keeps writting them.