Heart’s Gambit

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Synopsis

A thrilling and romantic debut fantasy where competitors from two prominent, time-traveling Black families must fight in a deadly magical duel – and find themselves falling in love.

The Baldwins and the Davenports have been sworn enemies for centuries. Ever since Venus Davenport and Titus Baldwin, two enslaved kids, fell in love, tried to run away, and got caught by their mistress, Sabine, a powerful witch. Desperate for freedom, they struck a bargain, and she gifted their families the ability to exist outside of time, along with magic to survive and thrive.

Those gifts came at a price.

Once a generation, their families must put forth a competitor for a magical duel to the death to feed Sabine’s immortality. This time, Emma Baldwin – a wish spinner – and Malcolm Davenport – a maker of illusions – are chosen.

But when they meet to check out the competition, sparks fly. Soon, the two are exchanging letters, having secret meetings, and fighting off their cursed urges to hurt one another, all while trying not to fall in love. And if they are ever going to have a chance to be together, they only have one choice: to put an end to Sabine’s curse, once and for all.

J.D. Myall’s Heart’s Gambit is an irresistible journey of dazzling magic, unforgettable first love, and daring to dream of something more.

Synopsis source: The StoryGraph

Review

Genre(s): YA Fantasy Romance
HB&W Rating: 3 stars | 1 flame
View on StoryGraph, Goodreads
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Heart’s Gambit feels like a YA blend of The Night Circus and Kindred, an intriguing premise that immediately caught my attention. A magical circus, time travel, a deadly Gambit, and a curse-driven fate? It’s the kind of setup that promises tension, strategy, and emotional depth.

The strongest element of the novel is undeniably its world-building. The magical circus is vividly imagined, and the mechanics of the Tether, the time travel, and the Gambit itself are described with care and, at times, genuinely beautiful prose. The atmosphere is immersive, rich, and layered.

Unfortunately, that same depth doesn’t extend to the characters.

While the world feels expansive, the characters themselves feel underdeveloped. Their dialogue and inner monologues lack the nuance and emotional complexity needed to make them compelling. As a result, I struggled to connect with or care deeply about their journeys.

The romance, in particular, felt contrived. The insta-attraction and near-instant love weren’t believable, and I never fully bought into their connection. The magically delivered letters between them were a fun touch. I had hoped they would serve as a vehicle for deeper emotional development, but they didn’t. Instead of gradual vulnerability, shared strategy, and mutual growth, the feelings seemed to appear fully formed.

For a story centered on training for battle and a literal fight to the death, I also expected more emphasis on magical training and strategy. I wanted to see magic truly weaponized—more tactical preparation, more fight montages, more clever uses of power. The stakes are theoretically high, but the lack of detailed training and on-page strategic development made the conflict feel less intense than it could have been.

I also found the imbalance between the protagonists frustrating. Emma often felt naïve and emotionally reactive, frequently needing to be rescued rather than driving the action herself. Malcom, conversely, seemed more measured and analytical, which only highlighted the disparity. I wanted Emma to grow into her power—emotionally and magically—but that arc never quite landed for me.

I considered DNFing this several times but pushed through because I genuinely wanted to see how everything resolved. In the end, the resolution felt more like luck than earned triumph, making the conclusion somewhat anticlimactic. Although the book ends on a cliffhanger clearly meant to propel the series forward, I don’t feel particularly compelled to continue.

Ultimately, Heart’s Gambit delivers an imaginative and beautifully rendered magical framework, but the flat character work, unconvincing romance, and minimal on-page strategy kept it from reaching its full potential for me. With a premise built around a deadly magical competition, I wanted sharper tactics, more deliberate choices, and victories that felt earned rather than incidental. Without that strategic depth, the stakes never fully landed. It’s this combination that left me feeling mid-range on this one.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

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