joanav's review against another edition
2.0
Opinião completa em: http://pepitamagica.blogspot.pt/2015/10/livro-winter-queen-amber-argyle.html
Esta é daquelas histórias que temos um verdadeiro vilão que odiamos do início ao fim: este homem é asqueroso, violento, bruto, cruel, tudo de mau que possam imaginar. E é este monstro, que não tem outro nome que, depois de um ataque à cidade da nossa protagonista, a leva para a sua casa por ela não puder pagar um resgate, onde ela descobre mais homens e mulheres do clã vizinho ao seu. Ah, o monstro chama-se Darrien.
Ilyenna, a nossa heróina, foi salva da morte pelas fadas do inverno durante esse mesmo ataque. Fez um acordo com as fadas para que estas a ajudassem, ao verem que esta jovem rapariga poderia ser a sua próxima “Rainha do Inverno”. A antiga rainha tinha sido morta/desaparecido/destruída ao não cumprir o acordo feito com a Rainha do Verão, por nunca se querer retirar quando era a sua altura. Ilyenna compromete-se a ser rainha e a cumprir o acordo se, como tinha dito, as fadas ajudarem, e é neste ponto que a Rainha do Verão também a vai ajudar – e salvar.
(...)
Como disse acima, não gostei do fim…e não achei o livro nada de mais. Tal como o nome indica, Ilyenna tornar-se-á a Rainha do Inverno com todas as suas fadinhas, e segue o conselho que a Rainha do Verão lhe dá para não continuar sozinha – porque ao aceitar ser rainha das fadas (e ao tornar-se uma), perde-se a humanidade – o que não quer dizer que não se possa ter um companheiro algo tanto ou quanto humano.
É com tristeza que dou um rating baixinho, porque acho que esta história tinha bastante potencial e foi mal desenvolvida, com uma escrita que precisava talvez de mais vocabulário descrito, que precisava de desenvolver mais as suas personagens…porque se for bem a ver, sei muito pouco sobre elas.
Esta é daquelas histórias que temos um verdadeiro vilão que odiamos do início ao fim: este homem é asqueroso, violento, bruto, cruel, tudo de mau que possam imaginar. E é este monstro, que não tem outro nome que, depois de um ataque à cidade da nossa protagonista, a leva para a sua casa por ela não puder pagar um resgate, onde ela descobre mais homens e mulheres do clã vizinho ao seu. Ah, o monstro chama-se Darrien.
Ilyenna, a nossa heróina, foi salva da morte pelas fadas do inverno durante esse mesmo ataque. Fez um acordo com as fadas para que estas a ajudassem, ao verem que esta jovem rapariga poderia ser a sua próxima “Rainha do Inverno”. A antiga rainha tinha sido morta/desaparecido/destruída ao não cumprir o acordo feito com a Rainha do Verão, por nunca se querer retirar quando era a sua altura. Ilyenna compromete-se a ser rainha e a cumprir o acordo se, como tinha dito, as fadas ajudarem, e é neste ponto que a Rainha do Verão também a vai ajudar – e salvar.
(...)
Como disse acima, não gostei do fim…e não achei o livro nada de mais. Tal como o nome indica, Ilyenna tornar-se-á a Rainha do Inverno com todas as suas fadinhas, e segue o conselho que a Rainha do Verão lhe dá para não continuar sozinha – porque ao aceitar ser rainha das fadas (e ao tornar-se uma), perde-se a humanidade – o que não quer dizer que não se possa ter um companheiro algo tanto ou quanto humano.
É com tristeza que dou um rating baixinho, porque acho que esta história tinha bastante potencial e foi mal desenvolvida, com uma escrita que precisava talvez de mais vocabulário descrito, que precisava de desenvolver mais as suas personagens…porque se for bem a ver, sei muito pouco sobre elas.
squishies's review
3.0
The romance is at least convincing, but was not emotionally attached or invested at all to anyone.
I'm not sure where the title comes into play, though. Guess it's something further in the series?
I got book 9 in a fairy themed ebook bundle and it didn't feel right to knowingly read it without reading the prior books. So here I am wondering if book 9 is worth slogging through 7 more books. Hmm
I'm not sure where the title comes into play, though. Guess it's something further in the series?
I got book 9 in a fairy themed ebook bundle and it didn't feel right to knowingly read it without reading the prior books. So here I am wondering if book 9 is worth slogging through 7 more books. Hmm
p0laris's review against another edition
3.0
I've been having trouble finding things to read lately, but I opened this book last night, and got sucked in. I was hooked by the sense of urgency and danger the clans and their way of life creates. I was totally invested in the characters, and especially wanted to know what would happen to Ilyenna and Rone--and, of course, their clans.
Though, for the most part, I think the book is made up of two different stories that fight for attention; there's the story of Ilyenna and the clans, and then there's the story of Ilyenna and the fairies. Neither seemed to have much of an effect on the other (unless you count the changing of the seasons), and there just wasn't much interaction between the two worlds, unless it was with Ilyenna herself. The people didn't mention the fairies, and the fairies were only worried about the changing of the seasons.
Though I liked both aspects, I actually think I would have liked the overall story a lot better if the fairies weren't involved. The way of life for the clans is interesting enough on its own, that their story could have gone on for a lot longer without complaint from me. I was sad when the entire tone of the story changed towards the end (even though it's clear that the change is coming). From that point on, some problems are solved so easily, while others are either forgotten, or made invalid by Ilyenna herself. Questions are also brought up by this change that aren't answered. Hopefully that makes sense; I'm trying not to spoil anything.
In all: This is definitely one to try. The warring and scheming between the clans makes for an interesting read, despite the other parts. 4.5 stars for the clans...2 stars for the fairy storyline.
Though, for the most part, I think the book is made up of two different stories that fight for attention; there's the story of Ilyenna and the clans, and then there's the story of Ilyenna and the fairies. Neither seemed to have much of an effect on the other (unless you count the changing of the seasons), and there just wasn't much interaction between the two worlds, unless it was with Ilyenna herself. The people didn't mention the fairies, and the fairies were only worried about the changing of the seasons.
Though I liked both aspects, I actually think I would have liked the overall story a lot better if the fairies weren't involved. The way of life for the clans is interesting enough on its own, that their story could have gone on for a lot longer without complaint from me. I was sad when the entire tone of the story changed towards the end (even though it's clear that the change is coming). From that point on, some problems are solved so easily, while others are either forgotten, or made invalid by Ilyenna herself. Questions are also brought up by this change that aren't answered. Hopefully that makes sense; I'm trying not to spoil anything.
In all: This is definitely one to try. The warring and scheming between the clans makes for an interesting read, despite the other parts. 4.5 stars for the clans...2 stars for the fairy storyline.
gio_shelves's review against another edition
3.0
3+
Dovrei creare uno scaffale chiamato "recensiti in modo indecente" qui su goodreads. Ecco questo libro finirebbe in quello scaffale, perché nonostante io l'abbia finito ieri sera non so ancora cosa scrivere.
La prima parte del libro mi è piaciuta parecchio, la protagonista non è affatto male (anche se avrei preferito una maggiore caratterizzazione del suo personaggio) e l'idea di base mi è piaciuta da subito. Quello che manca a questo libro è uno stile più rifinito, una revisione nello sviluppo della trama. La prima metà mi è sembrata sviluppata bene, senza fretta, perché l'autrice si è data il tempo di introdurre particolari sul passato di Ilyenna, sul suo clan e sui rapporti tra gli altri clan. La parte finale invece è troppo sintetica, secca, quando sarebbero bastate venti o trenta pagine in più per innalzare di parecchio il livello del libro.
Detto questo, Winter queen, è un libro molto carino, una lettura scorrevole che ha anche il pregio di essere autoconclusiva dato che i prossimi libri saranno dei companion. Una lettura ideale se si è in cerca di qualcosa di leggero ma originale.
Dovrei creare uno scaffale chiamato "recensiti in modo indecente" qui su goodreads. Ecco questo libro finirebbe in quello scaffale, perché nonostante io l'abbia finito ieri sera non so ancora cosa scrivere.
La prima parte del libro mi è piaciuta parecchio, la protagonista non è affatto male (anche se avrei preferito una maggiore caratterizzazione del suo personaggio) e l'idea di base mi è piaciuta da subito. Quello che manca a questo libro è uno stile più rifinito, una revisione nello sviluppo della trama. La prima metà mi è sembrata sviluppata bene, senza fretta, perché l'autrice si è data il tempo di introdurre particolari sul passato di Ilyenna, sul suo clan e sui rapporti tra gli altri clan. La parte finale invece è troppo sintetica, secca, quando sarebbero bastate venti o trenta pagine in più per innalzare di parecchio il livello del libro.
Detto questo, Winter queen, è un libro molto carino, una lettura scorrevole che ha anche il pregio di essere autoconclusiva dato che i prossimi libri saranno dei companion. Una lettura ideale se si è in cerca di qualcosa di leggero ma originale.
shadyglade's review against another edition
It's been awhile since I've been pulled along by a book this much. I just had to keep reading to find out what happened. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel when I can.
Content warning for anyone interested: There is lots of battle style violence described as well as beatings and a couple attempted rape scenes (none of which are successful). It was handled tastefully enough that it didn't bother me in this instance, but wanted to bring it up in case it might bother someone else.
Content warning for anyone interested: There is lots of battle style violence described as well as beatings and a couple attempted rape scenes (none of which are successful). It was handled tastefully enough that it didn't bother me in this instance, but wanted to bring it up in case it might bother someone else.
shanella's review
4.0
Winter Queen is the first book in Amber Argyle’s new series and I think it’s pretty great!
It’s a high fantasy novel, set in a land that’s divided into clans. Each clan produces unique products that they trade with each other. They are a relatively peaceful bunch and their main threat are the raiders. When Ilyenna (the Shyle clan mistress), her father and brother were out riding they find a wounded man from the neighbouring Argon clan lying half dead in the snow. The Argon clan was attacked by the Tyron clan and this sparked a war between the Shyle and Tyron clans during which Ilyenna is mortally wounded.
Hidden in the forest, Ilyenna is visited by the winter fairies who heal her wounds for the price of becoming their queen. Ilyenna, not wanting to abandon her clan, chooses to stay with her people, going into slavery to save them, where she’s taken to the Tyron clan and where she meets the Argon slaves (or tiams) and Rone, the Argon clan master, her brother’s best friend and her love interest.
Unlike her first two books, Winter Queens has a lot of physical violence and while it’s not extremely graphic, it’s graphic enough to cause me to cringe. Ilyenna is mistreated in the Tyron camp, she’s beaten and almost raped. Darrien (the Tyron clan master’s son) brutally beats one of his housemaids - who is pregnant. Personally I thought there was way too much violence for me, however, I appreciated the way that Amber handled the story, it wasn’t as gory as it could have potentially been.
I liked Ilyenna well enough, she was a strong and sensible protagonist, even though her reactions to Rone were sometimes groan-worthy; but I’ll forgive her, we often do silly things for love. I liked that the politics in the story wasn’t complex, but it wasn’t simplistic either. The only part that was a bit confusing was the fantasy aspect of the story. The focus was mainly on the human world and when the fairies did come into play it sometimes seemed disjointed. I would have liked to see more of their world and understand more of the Winter vs Summer aspects, but I’m assuming we’ll see more of that in the next installment.
- See more at: http://shanellareads.tumblr.com/tagged/review#sthash.Mgb8eIFM.dpuf
It’s a high fantasy novel, set in a land that’s divided into clans. Each clan produces unique products that they trade with each other. They are a relatively peaceful bunch and their main threat are the raiders. When Ilyenna (the Shyle clan mistress), her father and brother were out riding they find a wounded man from the neighbouring Argon clan lying half dead in the snow. The Argon clan was attacked by the Tyron clan and this sparked a war between the Shyle and Tyron clans during which Ilyenna is mortally wounded.
Hidden in the forest, Ilyenna is visited by the winter fairies who heal her wounds for the price of becoming their queen. Ilyenna, not wanting to abandon her clan, chooses to stay with her people, going into slavery to save them, where she’s taken to the Tyron clan and where she meets the Argon slaves (or tiams) and Rone, the Argon clan master, her brother’s best friend and her love interest.
Unlike her first two books, Winter Queens has a lot of physical violence and while it’s not extremely graphic, it’s graphic enough to cause me to cringe. Ilyenna is mistreated in the Tyron camp, she’s beaten and almost raped. Darrien (the Tyron clan master’s son) brutally beats one of his housemaids - who is pregnant. Personally I thought there was way too much violence for me, however, I appreciated the way that Amber handled the story, it wasn’t as gory as it could have potentially been.
I liked Ilyenna well enough, she was a strong and sensible protagonist, even though her reactions to Rone were sometimes groan-worthy; but I’ll forgive her, we often do silly things for love. I liked that the politics in the story wasn’t complex, but it wasn’t simplistic either. The only part that was a bit confusing was the fantasy aspect of the story. The focus was mainly on the human world and when the fairies did come into play it sometimes seemed disjointed. I would have liked to see more of their world and understand more of the Winter vs Summer aspects, but I’m assuming we’ll see more of that in the next installment.
- See more at: http://shanellareads.tumblr.com/tagged/review#sthash.Mgb8eIFM.dpuf
cindyc's review
4.0
I loved Amber’s previous two books ‘Witch Song’ and ‘Witch Born’, so I was fairly sure I’d love ‘Winter Queen’ as well. I was right. ‘Winter Queen’ is a well-balanced, action packed, fluently written Young-Adult fantasy novel that will please readers of all ages.
I was a bit scared I wouldn’t like the fairy aspect of the story, because my previous encounters with fairy books weren’t always good ones. It seems to me, getting it just right where fairies are involved is a tough one, but Amber nailed it. The fairies were an important part of the story, but didn’t take center stage the whole time.
Why did I like ‘Winter Queen’ that much, you ask? I loved it for lots of reasons. One of them being that I really like a world based on clans and the feeling that comes with that. I love how protective clan people are of each other, how everything is back to basic and there is some sort of coherence between the people of a certain clan. Of every Fantasy book I’ve read so far, those with that clan feeling in it (Seven Realms!) always end up as one of my favorites.
Another reason: the main character. Ilyenna is so easy to love, her storyline so easy to read. I was never once annoyed by anything she did or the choices she made. Everything felt just right with Ilyenna. She’s a person people love to read about, a character people will care about. And that’s the most important thing about a main character in my opinion, good or bad, if you can’t help but to care, the author has succeeded.
One thing I also loved about ‘Witch Song’ and ‘Witch Born’ is that the author isn’t afraid of letting her characters suffer. Ilyenna went through so much during this book, my heart ached for her. This is a huge contribution to the story, it feels so much more realistic this way then when the character always escapes harm (or gets a minor cut or whatever). Ilyenna’s story is that of a girl with an iron will who will go through hell to protect the people she loves.
On to reason number 4: Amber’s writing style. All of her books read so fluently. It’s so easy to emerge yourself in the story and read the whole book in one sitting. I can’t pinpoint what it is that makes this such a joy to read, but believe me, the writing is good!
Reason number 5! The romance. So. Good. It felt so real and genuine, so sweet and with the heart wrenching mistakes we all make when in love. Sigh. It was just perfect.
I can’t understand why books like Julie Kagawa’s (no offence) get such a fan base and have created such a hype and Amber’s books are more in the shadows. I couldn’t even finish the second ‘Blood of Eden’ book, because I just wasn’t interested in the proceedings of the story. I could never say the same about this book.
I guess it’s all about taste and yet again this is proof that there are a lot of different people who like different things on this planet.
I loved ‘Winter Queen’ and if you like a really good YA book, filled with action and all kinds of different emotioins, you should give this book a try. You won’t be disappointed.
I was a bit scared I wouldn’t like the fairy aspect of the story, because my previous encounters with fairy books weren’t always good ones. It seems to me, getting it just right where fairies are involved is a tough one, but Amber nailed it. The fairies were an important part of the story, but didn’t take center stage the whole time.
Why did I like ‘Winter Queen’ that much, you ask? I loved it for lots of reasons. One of them being that I really like a world based on clans and the feeling that comes with that. I love how protective clan people are of each other, how everything is back to basic and there is some sort of coherence between the people of a certain clan. Of every Fantasy book I’ve read so far, those with that clan feeling in it (Seven Realms!) always end up as one of my favorites.
Another reason: the main character. Ilyenna is so easy to love, her storyline so easy to read. I was never once annoyed by anything she did or the choices she made. Everything felt just right with Ilyenna. She’s a person people love to read about, a character people will care about. And that’s the most important thing about a main character in my opinion, good or bad, if you can’t help but to care, the author has succeeded.
One thing I also loved about ‘Witch Song’ and ‘Witch Born’ is that the author isn’t afraid of letting her characters suffer. Ilyenna went through so much during this book, my heart ached for her. This is a huge contribution to the story, it feels so much more realistic this way then when the character always escapes harm (or gets a minor cut or whatever). Ilyenna’s story is that of a girl with an iron will who will go through hell to protect the people she loves.
On to reason number 4: Amber’s writing style. All of her books read so fluently. It’s so easy to emerge yourself in the story and read the whole book in one sitting. I can’t pinpoint what it is that makes this such a joy to read, but believe me, the writing is good!
Reason number 5! The romance. So. Good. It felt so real and genuine, so sweet and with the heart wrenching mistakes we all make when in love. Sigh. It was just perfect.
I can’t understand why books like Julie Kagawa’s (no offence) get such a fan base and have created such a hype and Amber’s books are more in the shadows. I couldn’t even finish the second ‘Blood of Eden’ book, because I just wasn’t interested in the proceedings of the story. I could never say the same about this book.
I guess it’s all about taste and yet again this is proof that there are a lot of different people who like different things on this planet.
I loved ‘Winter Queen’ and if you like a really good YA book, filled with action and all kinds of different emotioins, you should give this book a try. You won’t be disappointed.
writerreads46's review
4.0
I read this book because it was recommended by a sci-fi and fantasy group on Facebook. I expected self-published quality. Except for a few spelling errors (Tryans mentioned once instead of Tyrans. Also check instead of cheek appeared.) it was well-written adventure and quick read because you want to know what happens to Ilyenna and Rone.
I liked the feminist themes throughout the book without weakening the male characters. A strong woman among strong men needs to show up in literature more often. (steps off soapbox)
My only issue is the end seemed rushed.
****spoiler alert****
I think a better "agony of choice" should have been whether to become Winter Queen or try to fix things as a human. I think making the break with humanity: her family, possibly the baby inside her, and Rone harder would have held truer to the character than whether she'd kill Darrien or not. He killed her friend, her, beat her clanswomen and the Argon women, tried to kill the man she loved...the list goes on. Ilyenna killed his brother with less forethought and he hadn't done anything to her or the clan personally, yet.
I still suggest it.
I liked the feminist themes throughout the book without weakening the male characters. A strong woman among strong men needs to show up in literature more often. (steps off soapbox)
My only issue is the end seemed rushed.
****spoiler alert****
I think a better "agony of choice" should have been whether to become Winter Queen or try to fix things as a human. I think making the break with humanity: her family, possibly the baby inside her, and Rone harder would have held truer to the character than whether she'd kill Darrien or not. He killed her friend, her, beat her clanswomen and the Argon women, tried to kill the man she loved...the list goes on. Ilyenna killed his brother with less forethought and he hadn't done anything to her or the clan personally, yet.
I still suggest it.