Heart's Gambit Series: Heart’s Gambit #1 Published by St. Martin's Publishing Group on February 3, 2026
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Romance, Young Adult Fiction / People & Places / United States / African American & Black, Young Adult Fiction / Science Fiction / Time Travel
Pages: 336
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Goodreads
Reading Challenges: 52 in 52 challenge, All books"A high-stakes fantasy that’s impossible to put down... the dangerous romance between Emma and Malcolm kept me on the edge of my seat. Don’t miss this beautiful, powerful debut." - Kristen Ciccarelli, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Heartless Hunter
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.
This beautiful edition features:
- Color, designed endpapers
- A stunning foil stampThe 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.
"Heart's Gambit is positively magic. Readers will fall in love across time and place as they follow Emma and Malcolm through the terror, danger, and redemption of the family curse keeping them bound. It felt like the perfect mix of Caraval and The Night Circus, stamped with Myall's personal brand of hope and rage." - Nisha J. Tuli, USA Today bestselling author of Trial of the Sun Queen
Review:
Some stories don’t just ask what you’d sacrifice for love — they demand to know what you’d risk to end a legacy of harm. Heart’s Gambit, the debut novel from J.D. Myall, is a richly imagined YA fantasy that blends magic, time travel, and forbidden romance with themes of generational trauma and resilience.
At the heart of the story are two rival Black families, the Baldwins and the Davenports, bound by a centuries-old magical curse. Every generation, one member from each family is chosen to compete in the Tethered Gambit, a deadly duel that ends with one survivor and one sacrifice. This time, the chosen are Emma Baldwin and Malcolm Davenport — and instead of becoming enemies, they fall in love.
What Worked
The premise alone is striking. A curse rooted in history and sustained by ritual gives Heart’s Gambit a sense of weight that many YA fantasies lack. The magic isn’t just spectacle — it’s symbolic, tied to ancestry, loss, and the inescapable pull of the past. Myall’s worldbuilding feels intentional, grounding the fantasy elements in emotional and cultural resonance.
Emma and Malcolm’s relationship is the emotional core of the novel. Their romance is tender, desperate, and quietly defiant. The stakes aren’t just about survival, but about whether love can truly rewrite something designed to endure forever. Their moments together — letters, stolen conversations, shared grief — are where the book shines brightest. The prose is often lush and atmospheric, especially when the story leans into different time periods. There’s a dreamlike quality to the writing that reinforces the idea that the past is never as distant as we want it to be.
Where It Stumbles
The pacing may test some readers’ patience. The middle portion of the book slows considerably, focusing heavily on internal reflection and romantic longing. While this deepens character development, it can occasionally cost narrative momentum.
Additionally, the magic system and time-travel rules can feel a bit opaque. Readers who prefer clearly defined systems may find themselves wishing for more concrete explanations, especially as the plot approaches its climax.
The romance, while emotionally compelling, may also feel slightly rushed for those who prefer a slower burn. The connection between Emma and Malcolm is heartfelt, but the intensity escalates quickly, given the limited time they have together.
Final Thoughts
Heart’s Gambit is an ambitious and emotionally driven debut that isn’t afraid to sit with discomfort, grief, and hope in equal measure. It’s a story about love as resistance, about refusing to accept cycles of violence simply because they’re tradition.
While its pacing and structure won’t work for everyone, readers who enjoy character-focused fantasy, doomed romance, and stories about breaking generational curses will likely find this one deeply affecting.
If you’re looking for a YA fantasy that blends magic with meaning — and isn’t afraid to let its heart ache — Heart’s Gambit is worth the gamble.
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