creadsfantasy's review against another edition
4.0
This was slow going for my taste, but adding a star for the creatures…especially Adventure.
alyxbeau's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
This is the second time I've read this, and I'm just as disappointed this time as I am the last time. I listened to an audiobook this time around to refresh my memory for the 5th book. This is a series I ADORE. THis book though, I do not enjoy.
I find the new main character incredibly awful. She is not interesting or likeable, and is clearly suffering from a disorder of some sort which makes her incapable of pretty much any true remorse. She's whip smart, so she knows exactly what she is doing, and she knows she SHOULD feel bad, but I dont get the impression that it really does.
She's a victim of her circumstance, absolutely what her mother made her.
I appreciate the work the author did here, and how realistic of a character she is, but that didn't mean I enjoyed the book itself as far as the mind of Lovisa being our narrator.
I found the culture of the new setting interesting, apart from that the book really felt like a whole lot of nothing. A prequel to the next book where the author was able to introduce the setting and mindset of a group of people who wronged the cast of characters we love from the first set of books.
I find the new main character incredibly awful. She is not interesting or likeable, and is clearly suffering from a disorder of some sort which makes her incapable of pretty much any true remorse. She's whip smart, so she knows exactly what she is doing, and she knows she SHOULD feel bad, but I dont get the impression that it really does.
She's a victim of her circumstance, absolutely what her mother made her.
I appreciate the work the author did here, and how realistic of a character she is, but that didn't mean I enjoyed the book itself as far as the mind of Lovisa being our narrator.
I found the culture of the new setting interesting, apart from that the book really felt like a whole lot of nothing. A prequel to the next book where the author was able to introduce the setting and mindset of a group of people who wronged the cast of characters we love from the first set of books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
sparrowhearted's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
averydappercat's review against another edition
5.0
I hadn't read any of the Graceling novels in years and much of the characters, story, and world details were lost to me when I decided to pick up this book. But none of that really mattered in the face of an amazing, tightly plotted, self-contained story. I highly recommend Winterkeep to anyone, even those who have never read a Graceling novel before it. I can't say I remember the quality of the first three books and I know I enjoyed them, but to me it seemed that Winterkeep was on another level than the first three. I was especially pleased with the ending. YA books tend to leave unsatisfied in the end mainly due to many authors thinking happy endings are cliche and/or cheesy. But Winterkeep left me feeling giddy and happy and wanting to imagine what these characters' lives will be like after the book's end.
bookishkandice's review against another edition
5.0
*** Partial Review *** I will update the review once I have finished the book in its entirety.
I received a partial eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Have I been waiting YEARS for another book in the Graceling Realm??? YES!!!! Did I still squeal with excitement when I saw this??? YES!!!!
The little that I was able to read via this partial eARC was just enough of a tease. It was like taking one square of a Hershey bar and having the rest of the bar stolen from you!! I cannot wait to read the rest of this book. Being back in this world is amazing and this story is going to be one full of adventure and new dangers! I cannot wait!!!
I received a partial eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Have I been waiting YEARS for another book in the Graceling Realm??? YES!!!! Did I still squeal with excitement when I saw this??? YES!!!!
The little that I was able to read via this partial eARC was just enough of a tease. It was like taking one square of a Hershey bar and having the rest of the bar stolen from you!! I cannot wait to read the rest of this book. Being back in this world is amazing and this story is going to be one full of adventure and new dangers! I cannot wait!!!
laurynfcknreads's review against another edition
4.0
Compared to the other novels in this series, Winterkeep was much harder for me to indulge in. I wasn't a huge fan of the main character, Lovisa. However, I did love the continuance of Bitterblue's story and even more so the development of the Graceling realm world. The foxes were literally the cutest thing in this entire series and I seriously hope we hear more of them.
chirson's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know what it is, but Cashore just strikes right in the heart. I adored Lovisa so much, this brave, bitter, struggling teen that deserved so much better and at the same time saw so much and refused to see equally much, because there are limits to how much pain one can take. And the way this novel exceeded the previous volumes in terms of scope, taking on ecocritical themes. I choked up on one of Ad's POV scenes - the fox in particular touched my heart. I am so glad to see there's another one already.
wordsandcoffeemugs's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
h_a_g_e_r's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The book has a few diffrent POV:s witch didnt make it boring when there wasent so much happening - though I thought there still was a lot of things happening. The book is kinda based on mysteries and problems that you get to know more about the more you read.
I put in emtional as one of the options of what kinda mood the book gives you beacuse aside from all the hard things its a lot of feelings and realizations in the diffrent perspektivs. I myself liked thar but I get if someone else thinks it can be to muck thinking in the book.
Im not totally settled on my rating so dont think about it too much.
The things the book is about is all from family mysteries to problems in politics - specially about this mineral. There is some love and grief in it to, well not just some, pretty much acually.
Its good and definitely wort reading but not one of my favorites.
I put in emtional as one of the options of what kinda mood the book gives you beacuse aside from all the hard things its a lot of feelings and realizations in the diffrent perspektivs. I myself liked thar but I get if someone else thinks it can be to muck thinking in the book.
Im not totally settled on my rating so dont think about it too much.
The things the book is about is all from family mysteries to problems in politics - specially about this mineral. There is some love and grief in it to, well not just some, pretty much acually.
Its good and definitely wort reading but not one of my favorites.
laceydbell's review against another edition
4.0
I loved learning about this new world in the Graceling realm. The new character of Lovisa was so interesting and multi-faceted. I’m still unsure if I like her or not, but I definitely appreciate her journey. Love the romance in this book. And I ABSOLUTELY LOVED the sea creatures and blue foxes. That’s something I’d love to learn more about in future books.