It's no secret that I am a heavy fan of Luna van Roosen and found her books, when she debuted, to be head and shoulders above other stories. My enthusiasm was particularly high; I was truly amazed by her talent.
But she's got company at the top! Emmelie Arents' debut, The Heart of the Eagle, although a completely different story, has exactly the same effect on me. Because what a story! It really has everything I look for in a good fantasy. Compelling, beautiful symbolism, a fantastic main character, magic, a good storyline, suspense and elements that make the hearts of fantasy lovers beat faster.
Once I started, I was sucked into the world she created, per se, only to come out again when I turned the last page. Because to put it away? That's impossible. Even my much-loved coffee had gone cold; I had forgotten about it radiantly.
About the story itself: Joana is accused of casting a heart spell on her fiancé. This form of magic is strictly forbidden by the king. The story therefore opens immediately with a bang: Joana in her cell, listening to her fiancé being tortured. This immediately creates curiosity, for what happened prior to this incarceration and eventual execution?
The king, however, has other plans than putting Joana's head on the chopping block. A faction, the Eagles, is rebelling against his regime and in doing so they shun nothing. Among them are several conjurers so the king is assembling his own army of conjurers. Joana is trained to stop the Eagles, but as a result, her own feelings and motivation are compromised. Because of events in the past, her allegiance is more likely to go to the rebels. It is therefore a constant battle within her to whom she should be loyal without losing herself.
Emmelie's strength is her enormous enthusiasm and ability to put together thoughtful stories. The passion for fantasy and, of course, this story splashes off the pages. Not for a moment does it feel unrealistic. It is clear that the author has thought about all facets and has the gift of storytelling. The build-up is dosed and the tension builds ever so slightly. Certain events you definitely see coming, with others she first puts you on the wrong foot.
What does stand out is that this story could easily have consisted of several parts. Still, it's a good thing she didn't. Because despite occasional big jumps in time, the whole thing is very well fleshed out, the characters are unparalleled in depth, and it by no means moves too quickly or is rambling. On the contrary. Because of these jumps, the pace is high and it's nice that after reading the plot you don't have to fret about how this will ever end. But that the author has what it takes to write multiple parts of a story is definitely one thing that is certain.
All in all, The Heart of the Eagle is a debut that may go straight to the top as far as I am concerned. If this is just the beginning, it is clear to me that if Emmelie continues to grow as an author, she should never stop writing. Her narrative style clearly shows that she was born for this. And that she has something to say is one thing for sure! Her writing style carries you along and reads so pleasantly that the world around you fades away. I wouldn't call it cinematic, although that's closest. In fact, it is much more than that. Her words are almost magical in themselves and they are enchantingly intertwined into this wonderful debut and adventure. Highly recommended!

The Heart of the Eagle is a young adult this audience fits Emmelie Arents' writing style perfectly. I must say that this debut author managed to surprise me quite a bit. It is one of the finest Young Adults I have read so far this year. It is smoothly written, has great characters, is not too predictable and just reads wonderfully. I think Emmelie Arents is an author we are going to hear a lot more from. Because if you manage to put down such a strong book as a debutante, it must be your calling.

Just before all the corona madness erupted, I was presented on my timeline with a wonderful hardcover design of a new fantasy book coming out from Hamley Books. One of those you instantly fall in love with and with a blurb that knows how to hit all fantasy fans where it belongs. The book came from the hand of Emmelie Arents and was named "The Heart of the Eagle." What followed was a long period of longing and also some hyping of this title, which made the expectations in my head reach almost unreal proportions.
To get right to the point: I was not disappointed at all. The end result of Arents' writing prowess is a well-structured and well-thought-out story in a high-fantasy setting, where the tension curve is raised at a nice pace. After reading it, I can only conclude that the author has put heart and soul into this publication and the editors have done a sterling job. The storyline does not contain a letter too many or too few, and the narrative speeds up and slows down at times when you, the reader, feel it is necessary.
The book is divided into two parts and a total of 45 relatively short chapters, giving your reading extra wings. The font is as it should be and the page layout likewise promotes your progress through the book. An ornate header is provided at the top of each chapter, indicating the character who may take the lead role in the corresponding chapter.
Should you have told me before reading that this is one of the early releases of Leigh Bardugo's writing, I would never have questioned your assertion. The whole thing feels like you will get lost in the Grisha universe at any moment, even the writing style is somewhat reminiscent of that fantasy great. Three cheers, then!
The characters are put down on paper with varying and otherwise apt depth according to their roles in the story. Also, the evolution their character goes through throughout makes this more than a straightforward story. And it is just those details that turn a nice book into a more than above average story.
As you can hear, there is little or nothing to criticize about this issue. However, to top it all off and achieve a perfect score, I would have expected a bit more depth, and perhaps a few more minor side plots. This does not disturb the reading experience at any point, but could have lifted them just that last step higher.
That being said, I would like to point out that The Heart of the Eagle is Emmelie Arents' debut and for a debut, this book is of exceptional quality. Even a lot of experienced fantasy writers could take a punt on this achievement. A big feather in the cap of Dutchman Leigh Bardugo.

Emmelie Arents debuts with the standalone The Heart of the Eagle in August 2020 from Hamley Books Publishers. This fantasy YA book describes the turbulent life of Joana Sky who is a "Processor" sentenced to death. With the noose already around her neck, she is narrowly spared by King Damon, but must in return destroy the rebel army the Eagles. That, however, goes against her principles. Joana receives training, learns whom she can and cannot trust, and in the end she will have to make an important choice. What will she succeed in doing?
Arents create a world of their own by calling Collaborators to life. They gain certain magical powers with the help of special "wishing stones. This concept is well-developed and regularly provides surprising twists and turns. The questions that arise in the reader's mind are answered and sometimes the reader is caught off guard. The book regularly contains exciting moments and the political scheming is easy to follow.
The book is about 350 pages thick, but you hardly notice that. Because Arents writes frequently in thoughts and dialogues, the reader flies through the book. Unfortunately, this sometimes makes the narrative pace a little too fast with the result that the reader has a less clear picture of the created world. The author could sometimes dwell a little longer on a description of the environment, such as a visit to the village of Astrad or the location of the rebel army, where in my opinion a little more evocative language could have been used. That way, the cool world that Arents creates would be even more visible.
The author makes clever use of flashbacks that provide depth to the characters. The character Joana is the one the reader gets to know best. She struggles with her magical powers, her training and feelings. Joana has had a rough childhood, but is nevertheless quite determined and positive in life. The side characters are also relevant, different and well developed. Also, this story contains current and important themes such as inequality, grief, loyalty, friendship and family. These issues emerge without being too overpowering or too sweet. The ending is a bit predictable, but also definitely contains surprising parts and feels fairytale-like.
In summary, a good debut with a special world, good characters, plenty of suspense and magic. If the author uses a little more visual language in her next book(s), the story will come alive even more. The heart of the eagle is a debut that I enjoyed and speed read, I look forward to Arents' next story.
Thank you Hamley Books for this review copy. My review can also be read on my own website: https://lisalovestoreadcom.wordpress.com/

'The heart of the eagle' is the debut novel by Emmelie Arents. It was published as a hardcover and beautifully designed. 'Every wish has its price' is the subtitle; the dream, the wish Emmelie had, was to see this book come true. As far as I'm concerned, she can be rewarded for that immediately with a prize because it is a very successful debut!
Joana works as a healer in a small village in the country of Tuvalon. No one is allowed to know that she is also a Processor, endowed with magic. In Tuvalon, this is a mortal sin. Processors are hunted like game and then killed. The same thing happened to Joana's parents. There are three types of Processors: Heart Processors (associated stone rose quartz), Thought Processors (associated stone onyx) and Body Processors (associated stone amethyst). Joana is a Bodyworker. Not surprisingly, she works as a healer without using the magic of the wishing stone (in this case, amethyst). One evil day, she is forced to use the wishing stone anyway; she pays a high price. She is captured, falsely accused of Heartworking and will be executed. On the day of the execution, she is rescued by a stranger who claims to have bought her. Bought as a slave for King Damon. She exchanges one prison for another which, by the way, is quite a bit more luxurious. The stranger turns out to be a son of King Damon, Evan. Evan is the half-brother of Marcus, the crown prince of Tuvalon. Joana will be trained by Soren, an experienced Processor who will train her to assist King Damon in destroying the Eagles. The Eagles form a rebel movement that wants to depose King Damon and reopen Tuvalon to the magic of the Processors. Moreover, they also want to end slavery bv in the mines where the wishing stones are mined. Joana faces a dilemma, she is Damon's property, so must do what he tells her, destroy the Eagles, but deep in her heart she would like to be an Eagle herself.
An exciting story develops with Joana in the lead role. Most of the story is told from her perspective. Only in the final chapters do we see the story from other perspectives as well. There is a reason for this.
Joana is not a model-heroine, she is an insecure young woman who lost her parents early. She has nothing or no one left in the world and has to fend for herself. She is headstrong, sees no danger. In doing so, she not only puts herself in harm's way. King Damon soon shows her that he is not to be trifled with and that in order to affect Joana, he has other people around her killed. King Damon's two sons, Marcus and Evan, are both charmed by Joana and want to help her. But whom can she trust? And how can she help the Eagles when that means there will be a lot of innocent victims?
The author works the plot well. She manages to maintain the tension well and has some nice plot changes in store for the reader. Her writing style is smooth and enjoyable. The book reads wonderfully, the pace of the adventures is fast and partly because of this the book is hard to put down. There are some loose ends in the story but that is not distracting. The design of the book is beautiful. Publisher Hamley Books is also known for its books being beautifully designed. In this case, that definitely enhances the pleasure of reading. I enjoyed a fine debut, four stars in other words. Will we hear more about Joana's adventures in the future?

The heart of the eagle - Emmelie Arents
Joana Sky has special powers that she anxiously tries to keep hidden. After all, her magic is forbidden by their king. She is a bodyworker, meaning she can heal people but just as easily kill them. However, she is wrongly convicted of casting a Heart Edit. The death penalty seems to be her fate. King Damon, however, sees the opportunity to use her magic for his own purpose: to exterminate the rebels, the Eagles. Joana is bought as a slave and must use her magic against the Eagles, a group she would so love to join. Fortunately, in the castle, she soon finds friendship with the king's bastard son, Evan. From the first moment, he is there for her. He seems in every way the opposite of his half-brother, the heir to the throne, Marcus. Joana gets a hard time. How can she survive without losing herself? And who can she really trust?
Emmelie Arents is a 26-year-old homegrown writer and this is her promising debut.
What a story. What a writing style. What a fan I am.
From the very first chapter you are in the story. It starts off very intense right away and you immediately empathize with your main character. Emmelie has created an engaging fantasy world that remains recognizable enough.
Her writing style is so good. So beautiful, smooth and strong. The book reads very easily and is full of beautiful quotes.
" Marcus studied my reaction quietly, as if he wanted to read me. But I was not an open book. I was a girl with a broken heart longing to be free again."
Other than that, the story has so many good aspects. Good characters, an engaging bad guy, a love to swoon away at, great tension building and a couple of rock-solid plottwists.
I am also going to honestly confess that my attention was drawn to this book by the cover. Hamley Books has again shown that design is one of their strengths. Another of Hamley Books' talents is talent discovery, because for a debut, this can really count. I will be reading anything with Emmelie Arents' name on it from now on.
The heart of the eagle / Emmelie Arents / Publisher: Hamley Books/ ISBN: 9789463967242 / Suggested retail price: €18.99

Blessed book to read, you fly through it!
The writing style is very smooth and enjoyable, and the magic is delightful!
This is a very strong story, especially considering it is Emmelie Arents' first book! This is what I call talent!

Joana is accused of performing heart surgery, but she is innocent. Just before carrying out the sentence, she is rescued, but what if her rescue is even more dangerous than imagined?
What an incredibly beautiful and strong debut this is by Emmelie. Her writing style is so evocative and so exciting that I devoured the book in a few hours.
Tears burned in my eyes at some points because the connection you get with the characters feels so real
It's that I know this is a debut from her, but with this writing style you would say she has been writing books for years. I can't wait to read more from this budding writer, but that she may join my list of favorite writers is one thing for sure

Characters:
Very strong characters, when you look at the main character, Joana you notice that her emotions are put down so well that you start to sympathize with her. She has a strong character and you notice that in her rebellion at times. What you especially notice is that Joana goes through a beautiful development, she opens up to other people, enters into new relationships and discovers what she does and does not want. She is very strongly portrayed and really a very good main character. The other characters are also well developed. Take the 2 princes, they are very different but each in their own way well portrayed and you really get to know them. They are portrayed so well that you don't even see the plottwist coming. That's what makes them strong characters. Attention has definitely been paid to both the main character and the side characters and you notice that, they are strongly portrayed and you notice that real thought has gone into who would play which role. Lovely to read that so much time and thought went into it.
So many people around me, yet I was alone.
The story:
Really very big compliments may go to that. Where the characters are good, the story is even better. The world portrayed is so well thought out and is so well developed. The bravest choice made, though, is the beginning of the book. To start with a scene like that takes guts, and I love it, you dive right into the story without too much fuss. You fly into the story and it doesn't let you go. The introduction is well done and you get to know the characters right at the beginning. The core is very good, you empathize with Joana and the princes in their adventures and their adventures, and these are so well put together and play into each other so nicely that you don't really have a moment that it gets boring, something always happens. The ending felt a little too rushed at times but it certainly wasn't bad. It closed well and you don't feel like there are loose ends. The story really has closure.
Tears in your eyes and a smile on your face. I don't know if you are happy or broken, he said. Both
The writing style:
The writing is very good. It feels like Emmelie has written many more books, even though this is only her debut. The clever use of flashbacks makes the story come alive. The way this is described is also very good. It is a very evocative style and reads very easily.
What I'm really going to give my compliments on is the last piece of writing. When we start experiencing the story from different characters. I normally don't like this because it gets so cluttered. I can give my compliments because these parts were well put together, it flowed nicely into each other and was about the same time piece so you don't feel like you are missing anything. Each section was equally exciting and made you want to keep reading.
Loneliness was not determined by the number of people who surrounded you, but by the number of people who loved you.
Rating:
Great writing, beautiful world and very good characters this can't help but be *5 out of 5* stars. And I can shout really loud, I can't wait to read Emmelie's next book. I will add one more thing, and that is that it was so nice to read a good stand alone for once in the fantasy genre because I don't come across that often.

The Heart of the Eagle is the debut novel by Emmelie Arents. One of my favorite genres is fantasy, provided it is well portrayed. I am also a big fan of ya books. The Heart of the Eagle is a combination of both.
First, I think the worldbuilding is incredibly coolly done. I really had an image of it. I also think the characters are so nicely developed! This makes it so easy to empathize with Joana Sky, among others. And then that name...how cool is that! I really love it when main characters have unique names. A big compliment to Emmelie for that.
I also think the idea with the different stones is so cool, you don't read this very often!
Then we also have the plot and wow what a great one it was, the further you get into the story the more you get an idea of which way things are going, Emmelie however provided plot twist that I could never have guessed.
I can't believe this is Emmelie's debut ... This could be or become a bestseller! And then not only in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Also, I would find it incredibly cool if this story was filmed, I would order tickets immediately.
What an incredibly good debut by Emmelie Arents! Real compliments to Emmelie!