Heart’s Gambit (Heart's Gambit, #1)

HEART's GAMBIT is an overall engaging fantasy read about love, time, and prejudice. The prologue begins with two Black teenaged slaves who have fallen in love and are trying to escape. They are stopped by the woman of the house who causes a horrible betrayal with both a blessing and a curse, as these are in balance. Their families can travel through time with magic, but they are always at odds and trying to kill one another.

The story follows their descendants who are trying to survive throughout time and use the gifts they have been given, facing the tethered gambit, where one from the two families must be the sacrifice while the other survives. Emma Baldwin wants to be so much more than the rote performer her family is asking her to be. She wants to use her magic for something grander. Malcolm Davenport is working to save as many people as he can throughout time. When they meet in the gambit and love blooms, they will have to face the curse to have any chance at a future.

What I loved: This was an interesting and intense look through time at crucial moments. Through the two, the time periods shown really come to life and become something more lush than they would otherwise seem on paper. The world-building was strong with themes of humanity, morality, and prejudice woven throughout.

Emma and Malcolm were compelling teens, coming into their own amidst an impossible and challenging situation. Their relationship was heartfelt and deep, and with their passion/energy, it was easy to understand how they were brought together and fell in love. The curse and time travel add unique elements to the story and really let their connection shine with a star-crossed lovers feel.

What left me wanting more: The story felt a bit slow in places, and it could be easy to put down at times. That being said, the premise and the question of what would happen kept the book moving along pretty well.

Final verdict: HEART'S GAMBIT is an intriguing and unique fantasy romance with elements of star-crossed lovers and time travel that will keep readers engaged.

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.