Reviews

Winterroos by Jennifer Donnelly

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harriet64's review against another edition

4.0

Hmm maybe I’m being kinder because I’ve forgotten what I thought... many very predictable moments, other moments were incredibly unbelievable. However none of that meant that I stopped reading.

kimberly_b's review against another edition

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5.0

I was riveted from the very beginning of The Winter Rose and I couldn't put it down. Donnelly's writing seemed slightly more refined in TWR and the plot flowed smoother for me. Wow, did I hate Freddie! Donnelly was masterful in making you hate him while also making you glued to the passages of his POV. He reminded me so much of Guy Pearce as Fernand in The Count of Monte Cristo--the sneers, the detachment, the ruthlessness. As much as I hated Freddie, I loved Sid. I thought there was a nice balance between focusing in Fiona/Joe and India/Sid. Fantastic read! I can't restrain myself from reading The Wild Rose next :-) 5 stars.

jely1's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.75

readingtheend's review against another edition

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1.0

This book is too dumb to walk and chew gum at the same time. I did not enjoy it.

hiltzmoore's review against another edition

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4.0

While this series of books definitely has some issues with my "willing suspension of disbelief" meter, I really like how the author creates bold, strong women while still being an interesting historical fiction novel. The women in these books are very opinionated and business-savvy (probably more so than would be realistic in that time period), and that helps me to enjoy them more, even if it is not so realistic. I really dislike the "damsel in distress" trope, so I'm okay with the less than accurate portrayal of women during this time frame. I did start to get a little annoyed, however, that in the entire world that these novels take place in, all these characters keep bumping into each other. That bugged me. All in all, an enjoyable book as a part of an enjoyable series. I'm looking forward to the third.