Reviews

Winter by Audrey Grey

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cnewby927's review

4.0

4.5 stars
A little slow to start but I'm thrilled with how it turned out! I love the characters and the interesting world they live in. I cant wait to get my hands on the next book!

ryann2011's review against another edition

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4.0

Solid start to what will, I’m sure, be a really entertaining series.

This book was kind of a slow starter for me. I didn’t really get invested until about the half way mark. I struggled with Summer because she kept making stupid choices and I just wanted to shake her

helenamt's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious 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

4.25

neasmusings's review

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funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

tinktayl's review against another edition

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slow-paced

2.0

ahyggelibrary's review

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5.0

Somehow I read this in a day. If you love Elise Kova or Crave by Tracy Wolff, you'll probably love this, too.

nunziwaa's review

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3.0

Enemies to lovers in a fae academy

readingwithgee_'s review

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5.0

Oddly enough, I stumbled on this book whilst scrolling through some of the "recommend for you" on kindle unlimited and just scrolled straight past because let's be honest, I very rarely enjoy fantasy. But something made me scroll back and decide to at least read the synopsis. Once I read it I knew I had to at least give it a chance.

I'm so glad I did because HOLY FAE I LOVED THIS BOOK! I got serious ACOTAR/ vampire academy vibes whilst reading this (both of which I loved) and after starting off with pretty low hopes, I'm pleased to say I was proven wrong.

I want to go to evermore academy SO BAD! I am so envious of Summer, who is an absolute bad ass btw. Then there's the winter prince, uhm hello

naiapard's review against another edition

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4.0

“Surprisingly, the inside of the main building isn’t as dark and dreary as I was expecting. A strangely comforting mixture of pine cleaner and sage permeate the air. Pendulum lights filled with magical orbs hang from the mahogany ceiling beams, and flickering sconces line the stone walls.”

The book is about a girl that has to forgo her family and cross on the other side, to the Fae to study at their academy. This is a mishmash of all the hipped YA tropes: a bad boy, academy life, being in a clique, commuting in a dystopian world while there are fae all around.
It is really a book that enraptures you. It is easy to follow and it does not take things out of proportions (too often/too much). The inner dialogue is that of a “opinionated” heroine that does what she pleases when she please. There is this induced sense of security and self-awareness that comes out of a mind that offers ironic comments from time to time. Like in [b:Halfway to the Grave|1421990|Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, #1)|Jeaniene Frost|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1373855613l/1421990._SY75_.jpg|1412415], [b:First Grave on the Right|8788554|First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson, #1)|Darynda Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1442963675l/8788554._SY75_.jpg|13662358].

“I take a few more tentative steps, scouring the room for my sprite guide, whom I’ve already developed a love/hate relationship with.
Where are you, tiny person?
Instead I find massive chandeliers in the shape of vines hanging from high, arched ceilings. Magical orbs drip from their golden branches, each orb of light a little sun that illuminates the room. A layer of shimmery frost covers the entire thing.”

But this was not perfection. Be careful with those high hopes here. You read such a book after you are accustomed with this particular genre. You must expect some kind of cringey relationship with the love interest that can take a hell of a turn:

“A Fae girl breaks off from the crowd on Winter’s side, her clear ice heels clacking loudly as she marches toward me, two other girls in tow. Everyone she passes cowers a little.
Great. Resident mean girl incoming.”

(the girl that will be her enemy and also her soon to be boyfriend ex-girlfriend, reminded me of [b:Firebolt|33379357|Firebolt (The Dragonian, #1)|Adrienne Woods|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1481663075l/33379357._SY75_.jpg|25798185] and [b:Fallen Crest High|16134551|Fallen Crest High (Fallen Crest High, #1)|Tijan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1355101275l/16134551._SY75_.jpg|21961950]) Or this jarring passage when the love interest offers himself to buy the dress for the prom (uff):

My throat clenches. “I’ll find a way to pay you back.”
“Seeing you in a dress will be payment enough.”

For sure you would say something like that when money are nothing to you (putting aside even the sexist part of it all).
As a conclusion, I will not drag this review further more. It was good. Try it, if you seem to be into it.

nemerith's review

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4.0

When I started the sample I was thinking to myself: "Good God, not another academy story" and I must admit, I nearly didn't read past the first page.
But I did! Aaaaaaaaaand I kinda immediately bought the book after I finished said sample and just continued reading... right till the end.
I need the second book... asap!

Worldbuilding was very good. The author really described the world after the Lightmare very well. We know what happened with the world, how life is in the Tainted Zone and outside it. We know how people feel about it and what the current political (human/fae) situation is.
When we step through the Shimmer into Everwilde, you just fall in love with the very deadly place.

Character development was very good. Summer gets carried off to serve at the Evermore Academy, a punishment given to her by a winter fae who caught her cheating. She goes through a lot and she learns a lot, not just about herself and her place in the world, but also how some of her views... are incorrect (at least pertaining some of the Fae).
Our beloved Winter Prince is a downright coldblooded bastard, or is he? ;-)
The friends surrounding Summer are funny, feel real and it was very enjoyable to read their interaction.

Pacing and flow were very good. As I've already said, I read the book in one go, it got its hooks in me and didn't let go :-) It had a great balance between conversation and action, right from the start.

The book itself was well written with no (noticeable) errors. There is a certain level of steaminess, but no actual sex described in this instalment (if that is important to you).

All in all, I want book 2 NOW!! :D :D
Knowing what we found out, I wonder how everyone will move on, and what nefarious plan they will come across this time.
A great mix of an ACOTAR in an Academy setting, recommended to everyone who enjoyed those :)

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