Black Heart by Holly Black

Title: Black Heart
Author: Holly Black
Type: Young Adult Novel
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Yes, Book three Curse Workers
Pages: 296
Copyright: 2012
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Book
Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary: from Goodreads. 
In a world where Magic is illegal.Cassel Sharpe has the most deadly ability of all. With one touch, he can transform any object - including a person - into something else entirely. And that makes him a wanted man. The Feds are willing to forgive all his past crimes if he'll only leave his con artist family behind and go straight. But why does going straight feel so crooked?

For one thing, it means being on the opposite side of the law from Lila, the girl he loves. She's the daughter of a mob boss and getting ready to join the family business herself. Though Cassel is pretty sure she can never love him back, he can't stop obsessing over her. Which would be bad enough, even if her father wasn't keeping Cassel's mother prisoner in a posh apartment and threatening not to let her leave until she returns the priceless diamond she scammed off him years ago. Too bad she can't remember where she put it.

The Feds say they need Cassel to get rid of a powerful man who is spinning dangerously out of control. But if they want Cassel to use his unique talent to hurt people, what separates the good guys from the bad ones? Or is everyone just out to con him?

Time is running out, and all Cassel's magic and cleverness might not be enough to save him. With no easy answers and no one he can trust, love might be the most dangerous gamble of all.

Feelings: 
I enjoyed this book. The ending may have been a little too neat for me but I have to admit it wasn't exactly what I was expecting from the book and that is a good thing. I like not being able to predict everything that is going to happen in a story. There were many things in the story that were not surprising. Cassel learns something about humans in general in this story that I don't think we really saw in the other books.

Cassel once people know he is a transformation worker is in demand from all sides, government, rival mobs and even his family. Choosing one side is hard for Cassel. Who can he trust? His family that are con artists? The mob that will use him to kill people? The government that will also likely use him? Trust is a hard thing to come but and Cassel must use his ever instinct to over come but he will need some help.

The family relationship with Cassel his mother and brother is still strained but it seems like things will go back to normal, or at least normal for them. Cassel deceased father is introduced in this book, and I don't remember a single mention of him in the other books, besides maybe in passing. He is an interesting addition and adds a layer to the story that I don't think was there before.

This was a good ending for the series. It up loose ends from the other two books and didn't leave the reader with too many questions. Most books do leave the reader with a few questions about the future and this book did the same thing but I was satisfied that it was the conclusion.

I would recommend this to those that have read and enjoyed the other books in the series.