Queen of Hearts (Heels, Rhymes & Nursery Crimes Vol. 21) By Natalina Reis – Review by Stephanie Chapman

Queen of Hearts by Natalina Reis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mimi Mioyo is the star of this dark fantasy story set in the late Victorian age. As an abused woman, she had sought safety with Seree, the woman who provided shelter for women under the guise of a gentleman’s club. They had dubbed Mimi the Queen of Hearts. She would play a card game, with a night in her bedroom as the prize. She would purposely lose, and when the man arrived in her bedroom, she would offer him some wine laced with poison. Only, she didn’t kill the men. She hit them below the belt, literally, as the poison would render them unable to achieve an erection permanently.

Mimi needed more herbs to make her poison, but becomes alarmed when her normal supplier doesn’t arrive. Jacques “Jac” Tourville tells her he had bad luck and that Jac would be her supplier. Much to her dismay, Jac shows up at the gentleman’s club and plays the card game. He wins and follows her to her room. However, Jac has no intention of drinking anything, nor is he wanting to have sex with her. Instead, he offers her something much more sinister.

This is a short story of revenge on vile men who cheat and abuse women. Mimi was a type of vigilante, but there are always holes in every plan. Jac turns out to be the hole in her plan. I recommend readers who like strong female characters who also are not innocent to read this book.

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