"Heartless," a novel by Marissa Meyer, serves as a prequel to the classic tale of Alice in Wonderland. It tells the story of Catherine Pinkerton, a young woman with dreams of becoming the baker for the King's court, yet she faces constant pressure from her parents to marry the royal figure, the King of Hearts. Catherine is intelligent and ambitious, but her aspirations clash with societal expectations. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters the enigmatic Joker, which sparks a forbidden romance and leads her to question her future.