Scan barcode
A review by hjswinford
Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore
4.0
My Overall Thoughts - 3.8/5
I was a bit disappointed with Winterkeep, perhaps because I LOVED the first three books of Cashore’s Graceling Realm series. This one felt more juvenile while also *trying* to be more grown up. I liked several of the characters and the events were interesting, but I didn’t love it as I hoped to love it.
Character Development - 3.5/5
Lovisa was complicated and believable, if a little irritating. But she was irritating in the right sort of way that a poor child in her circumstances might be. Despite her reaction to her trauma, I wanted her to succeed and find happiness. I liked her arc and her ending. With Giddon and Bitterblue, I liked them but they did not grow and especial amount in this novel. I enjoyed seeing Bitterblue as a queen because I loved her in previous books, but her arc alone was not worth writing home about. Lovisa’s father might have been the most interesting minor character, but he did not get a lot of page time.
Story Structure - 4/5
Most linear and multi-POV. Easy to follow in terms of narrator and sequence of events. There’s an element of mystery that isn’t incredibly surprising, but it drives the characters forward in a believable way.
Tone/Style - 2.5/5
As in my overall comments, my biggest complaint was the juvenile tone and the more “new adult” subject matter. The frequency of sex felt a bit odd and forced, when it did not feel that way in other books in this world. Lovisa did not read as a college student to me and even knowing that she was in college, I pictured her more as a early teenager as I read. Not sure why this was, but I can only assume it was in the tone of her narration. The story of this book could have easily been written at double the length if it had been written in a more mature style, so in terms of pacing, everything felt very rushed. This is all part of the juvenile feeling of the book, I belive.
World Building - 4.5/5
I love the world of the Graceling Realm. It’s interesting and fun. There was not a ton of time spent on worldbuilding in Winterkeep, so most of my ideas I think come from previous novels.
Representation/Diversity - 4.5/5
Quite a bit. Multiple characters are LGBTQ (mostly bi-sexual, including Lovisa). Skin tones are mentioned, often as a matter of course, and there are a variety. The cultures of the characters vary as they are from different continents, though they differences are very fantasy-oriented.
Content
No language, multiple sex scenes
My Final Thoughts
If you enjoyed Cashore’s other books, then this builds on them and you will likely enjoy it as well. I do hope that she continues to write, as I like this world and I will still read a fifth book if it is published. I still recommend this series wholeheartedly to anyone who likes YA fantasy.
I was a bit disappointed with Winterkeep, perhaps because I LOVED the first three books of Cashore’s Graceling Realm series. This one felt more juvenile while also *trying* to be more grown up. I liked several of the characters and the events were interesting, but I didn’t love it as I hoped to love it.
Character Development - 3.5/5
Lovisa was complicated and believable, if a little irritating. But she was irritating in the right sort of way that a poor child in her circumstances might be. Despite her reaction to her trauma, I wanted her to succeed and find happiness. I liked her arc and her ending. With Giddon and Bitterblue, I liked them but they did not grow and especial amount in this novel. I enjoyed seeing Bitterblue as a queen because I loved her in previous books, but her arc alone was not worth writing home about. Lovisa’s father might have been the most interesting minor character, but he did not get a lot of page time.
Story Structure - 4/5
Most linear and multi-POV. Easy to follow in terms of narrator and sequence of events. There’s an element of mystery that isn’t incredibly surprising, but it drives the characters forward in a believable way.
Tone/Style - 2.5/5
As in my overall comments, my biggest complaint was the juvenile tone and the more “new adult” subject matter. The frequency of sex felt a bit odd and forced, when it did not feel that way in other books in this world. Lovisa did not read as a college student to me and even knowing that she was in college, I pictured her more as a early teenager as I read. Not sure why this was, but I can only assume it was in the tone of her narration. The story of this book could have easily been written at double the length if it had been written in a more mature style, so in terms of pacing, everything felt very rushed. This is all part of the juvenile feeling of the book, I belive.
World Building - 4.5/5
I love the world of the Graceling Realm. It’s interesting and fun. There was not a ton of time spent on worldbuilding in Winterkeep, so most of my ideas I think come from previous novels.
Representation/Diversity - 4.5/5
Quite a bit. Multiple characters are LGBTQ (mostly bi-sexual, including Lovisa). Skin tones are mentioned, often as a matter of course, and there are a variety. The cultures of the characters vary as they are from different continents, though they differences are very fantasy-oriented.
Content
No language, multiple sex scenes
My Final Thoughts
If you enjoyed Cashore’s other books, then this builds on them and you will likely enjoy it as well. I do hope that she continues to write, as I like this world and I will still read a fifth book if it is published. I still recommend this series wholeheartedly to anyone who likes YA fantasy.