wardenred's review
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“You don’t believe unchecked magic is dangerous?”
“I believe it’s the most beautiful thing in all the world.”
The first book in this series was enjoyable. The second left me feeling kinda lukewarm. But this third one? Wow! It hit me right in the feels.
Unlike the previous installment in this series, Winter’s Dawn took full advantage of the magic that makes this setting so special. I loved the distinction between the two approaches to the magical arts, and how they worked together, and I just wish I could stay longer with Thomas and Winter and see what happens next. I guess it’s going to involve Winter doing a lot of bad things for good reasons, and Thomas being all fascinated and documenting every move.
Speaking of the main characters—they were both so compelling! Despite the fact that most of the story takes place in a single prison cell (okay, two prison cells, with a tunnel connecting them), there’s just so much packed here. I could talk about Thomas’s arc for a long time, but I think that would spoil a huge part of the story, so I’ll just say that it was wonderfully done, especially the part where he was realizing what exactly he had created before the story even begun. As for Winter, unfortunately, we never get a direct glimpse into their head. But that didn’t stop me from feeling like I got them pretty well by the time the book ended, and they’re the kind of well-intentioned extremist that I can’t help but love.
Speaking of the main characters—they were both so compelling! Despite the fact that most of the story takes place in a single prison cell (okay, two prison cells, with a tunnel connecting them), there’s just so much packed here. I could talk about Thomas’s arc for a long time, but I think that would spoil a huge part of the story, so I’ll just say that it was wonderfully done, especially the part where he was realizing what exactly he had created before the story even begun. As for Winter, unfortunately, we never get a direct glimpse into their head. But that didn’t stop me from feeling like I got them pretty well by the time the book ended, and they’re the kind of well-intentioned extremist that I can’t help but love.
Also: can I have more M/NB romance in my life, please? I hadn’t realized how much I needed it until I read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Animal death
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