Scan barcode
bronsonmh's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for an e-ARC of the novel for an honest review.
I thought this was an interesting book. I never really read a Viking's novel and thought it was very decent. I like how we have a strong main female character Ladda. After her village was destroyed by invaders she takes a few survivors to her Uncle's land to start over again. Then she starts a friendship with King Ragnar and they join forces to protect her village and to kill the men who invaded.
I thought this was an interesting book. I never really read a Viking's novel and thought it was very decent. I like how we have a strong main female character Ladda. After her village was destroyed by invaders she takes a few survivors to her Uncle's land to start over again. Then she starts a friendship with King Ragnar and they join forces to protect her village and to kill the men who invaded.
theuntrainedlibrarian's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
sassyowlreads's review
4.0
3.5 Stars
Winter by Winter was definitely reminiscent of Sky in the Deep, which is a huge compliment in my book, and could have been a 4-4.5 star read had it been twice as long. But for only being 120 pages, Jordan Stratford does a decent job of getting the reader invested in Ladda. I would definitely read a sequel or companion book and this made for an enjoyable one sitting read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Winter by Winter was definitely reminiscent of Sky in the Deep, which is a huge compliment in my book, and could have been a 4-4.5 star read had it been twice as long. But for only being 120 pages, Jordan Stratford does a decent job of getting the reader invested in Ladda. I would definitely read a sequel or companion book and this made for an enjoyable one sitting read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
spiringempress's review
3.0
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Initially, I won't lie but the cover drew my attention because it is absolutely gorgeous. So much so, that I spent some time on Amazon debating whether I should buy the book and eventually, found it through NetGalley instead. However, this book has me torn because it's not bad, but it is incredibly short and does not do justice to the characters.
The story opens with a raid. Hladgertha, or Ladda, rises to the occasion and defends her people with her tongue and finally with combat. This attracts the attention of Ragnar, who comes to avenge his father, Siward, and advises Ladda to move her people away from the coast. Ladda acting on his advice and her iron will leads her people to a nearby valley know as Gaular, where they set up a new village.
However, Ragnar is not done with Ladda. He makes a trade with her to secure the future of her village and in return, she travels with him to seek out his enemies. As the battles unfold, Ladda proves to have a battle prowess and wins victory for Ragnar on several occasions, but this, of course, brings along politics that Ladda must outmaneuver to keep her village safe.
This book is written in a style that is reminiscent of Norse myths and tales. It is, therefore, short, choppy, and slightly mystical, which means that it can come off incoherent or vague. Similar to the criticism for [b:The Boneless Mercies|36949995|The Boneless Mercies|April Genevieve Tucholke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1512763112l/36949995._SY75_.jpg|52238045], I think it is intentional and meant to evoke a sense of Viking/ancient culture. My biggest gripe is that the story is too short. I absolutely adore Ladda, who is feisty, determined, and generally, a force to be reckoned with, but this book could have unfolded in several novellas and really developed some of the relationships, which ended up being quite brief.
Initially, I won't lie but the cover drew my attention because it is absolutely gorgeous. So much so, that I spent some time on Amazon debating whether I should buy the book and eventually, found it through NetGalley instead. However, this book has me torn because it's not bad, but it is incredibly short and does not do justice to the characters.
The story opens with a raid. Hladgertha, or Ladda, rises to the occasion and defends her people with her tongue and finally with combat. This attracts the attention of Ragnar, who comes to avenge his father, Siward, and advises Ladda to move her people away from the coast. Ladda acting on his advice and her iron will leads her people to a nearby valley know as Gaular, where they set up a new village.
However, Ragnar is not done with Ladda. He makes a trade with her to secure the future of her village and in return, she travels with him to seek out his enemies. As the battles unfold, Ladda proves to have a battle prowess and wins victory for Ragnar on several occasions, but this, of course, brings along politics that Ladda must outmaneuver to keep her village safe.
This book is written in a style that is reminiscent of Norse myths and tales. It is, therefore, short, choppy, and slightly mystical, which means that it can come off incoherent or vague. Similar to the criticism for [b:The Boneless Mercies|36949995|The Boneless Mercies|April Genevieve Tucholke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1512763112l/36949995._SY75_.jpg|52238045], I think it is intentional and meant to evoke a sense of Viking/ancient culture. My biggest gripe is that the story is too short. I absolutely adore Ladda, who is feisty, determined, and generally, a force to be reckoned with, but this book could have unfolded in several novellas and really developed some of the relationships, which ended up being quite brief.
katk's review
2.0
The premise of this book is great but I was so bored by the first 60 pages, I had no interest in reading the rest of it. Another one of those that I really wanted to love but just couldn't get through..
chaptersofmads's review
slow-paced
2.0
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Well, this was... something.
I'll start by saying that it's very obvious the author cares about Norse mythology, and did his best to do it justice. I know very little about viking culture so I won't comment on that aspect, but from what I could tell, it was well done.
As for, literally everything else, I'm not quite sure what to say or how to put my feelings into words. The book was too short, and yet it was the longest 120 pages I've ever read. There was action on nearly every page, and yet I had to fight to stay engaged. The writing style was so extremely odd that it gave the story itself a very disjointed feeling.
Ladda was an extremely passionate, fierce protagonist that should have inspired me to care about the story as well. And yet, I could never find myself sharing her passions because she moved on so quickly. Her affairs are meant to be all-consuming, yet they are forgotten nearly two paragraphs later. How is anyone supposed to believe you truly loved someone if the second something changes, you're in the arms of another man? I believe this was an attempt to make Ladda a strong, independent woman, but to me it just made her appear callous and flippant.
I'll also add that this would have worked better as an adult book. Especially with the marriages and affairs and even just the discussions of politics. Maybe my opinion would have been different had the story been given more time, more space to breathe. Perhaps I would have understood why Ladda moved on so quickly if her relationships with others and the world around her hadn't been rushed quite so much.
As it stands, the whole book reads like a dream sequence from a movie, with fragments of a life lived and only hints at information and emotions that should be important to the viewer/reader.
Well, this was... something.
I'll start by saying that it's very obvious the author cares about Norse mythology, and did his best to do it justice. I know very little about viking culture so I won't comment on that aspect, but from what I could tell, it was well done.
As for, literally everything else, I'm not quite sure what to say or how to put my feelings into words. The book was too short, and yet it was the longest 120 pages I've ever read. There was action on nearly every page, and yet I had to fight to stay engaged. The writing style was so extremely odd that it gave the story itself a very disjointed feeling.
Ladda was an extremely passionate, fierce protagonist that should have inspired me to care about the story as well. And yet, I could never find myself sharing her passions because she moved on so quickly. Her affairs are meant to be all-consuming, yet they are forgotten nearly two paragraphs later. How is anyone supposed to believe you truly loved someone if the second something changes, you're in the arms of another man? I believe this was an attempt to make Ladda a strong, independent woman, but to me it just made her appear callous and flippant.
I'll also add that this would have worked better as an adult book. Especially with the marriages and affairs and even just the discussions of politics. Maybe my opinion would have been different had the story been given more time, more space to breathe. Perhaps I would have understood why Ladda moved on so quickly if her relationships with others and the world around her hadn't been rushed quite so much.
As it stands, the whole book reads like a dream sequence from a movie, with fragments of a life lived and only hints at information and emotions that should be important to the viewer/reader.
More...