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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
Winterblaze is the third installment in Kristen Callihan’s Darkest London series. This one focuses on Poppy, the eldest of the trio of sisters that the series revolves around so far. At the end of Moonglow Poppy’s secrets, including her power and her involvement with a secret organization, come to light, following an attack on her husband, Winston. Winterblaze opens three months after the attack with Poppy tracking down her husband because an old enemy has threatened her and those she cares about. Poppy and Winston have to deal with the secrets that they have been keeping from one another and determine whether their marriage is worth saving, all while tracking down the true motivation of the terrifying demon that threatens them.
I have read the previous books in Callihan’s series and this one follows suit from the previous books. As an aside, I would recommend reading the books in order because each book really builds from the previous one, especially considering that readers get teasers of the two main characters that will be featured in the fourth book in the series. Anyways, what I liked in Winterblaze was that readers learn more about the mysterious SOS organization and I can really see how the series can develop from there considering that the three sister’s stories have been exhausted (to a degree). The SOS organization reminded me of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series from Philippa Ballantine and Tee Morris. While the Ministry series has a different tone and a lot less emphasis on romance and mythical creatures like werewolves and shifters, Callihan’s series has also created a great alternative London. I can see fans of the Ministry series liking Callihan's series because of the mystery element that seems to get progressively stronger with each book.
While I did enjoy reading Winterblaze I found it to be different from the other books in the series, I think because Poppy and Winston were already married. It was a different reading experience for me reading about a married couple in the romance genre. It was interesting, but different. There was a lot of anger between Poppy and Winston, which is different from the general romance novels where characters simply come together. In Winterblaze, the characters have already had their romantic beginning; this is what's happened after that. It was an interesting look at the happily ever after. Both Poppy and Winston were strong characters; however, at times they were very frustrating because of their animosity towards one another. I think that author did a fantastic job of allowing these characters to grow and learn from the mistakes that they had made with one another. It was an interest take on the romance genre for me.
My favourite parts throughout the book were the chapters from Mary Chase’s and Jack Talent’s point of view. I loved the bickering relationship that both of them have with one another and I was continually wanting to get back to chapters where these two characters interacted with one another. By the end of the book I was very much hoping that the author would be writing another book in the series with these two as the main characters. Thankfully (or un-thankfully, considering the wait) readers are given a teaser for the next book in the series, Shadowdance, and it appears to feature Mary and Jack as the main characters. Suffice to say, I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in the series, I only wish I didn’t have to wait so long.
The Darkest London is fast becoming my favourite gaslight series along with Cindy Spencer Pape’s Gaslight Chronicles and Bec McMaster’s London Steampunk series.
*review copy courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley.
I have read the previous books in Callihan’s series and this one follows suit from the previous books. As an aside, I would recommend reading the books in order because each book really builds from the previous one, especially considering that readers get teasers of the two main characters that will be featured in the fourth book in the series. Anyways, what I liked in Winterblaze was that readers learn more about the mysterious SOS organization and I can really see how the series can develop from there considering that the three sister’s stories have been exhausted (to a degree). The SOS organization reminded me of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series from Philippa Ballantine and Tee Morris. While the Ministry series has a different tone and a lot less emphasis on romance and mythical creatures like werewolves and shifters, Callihan’s series has also created a great alternative London. I can see fans of the Ministry series liking Callihan's series because of the mystery element that seems to get progressively stronger with each book.
While I did enjoy reading Winterblaze I found it to be different from the other books in the series, I think because Poppy and Winston were already married. It was a different reading experience for me reading about a married couple in the romance genre. It was interesting, but different. There was a lot of anger between Poppy and Winston, which is different from the general romance novels where characters simply come together. In Winterblaze, the characters have already had their romantic beginning; this is what's happened after that. It was an interesting look at the happily ever after. Both Poppy and Winston were strong characters; however, at times they were very frustrating because of their animosity towards one another. I think that author did a fantastic job of allowing these characters to grow and learn from the mistakes that they had made with one another. It was an interest take on the romance genre for me.
My favourite parts throughout the book were the chapters from Mary Chase’s and Jack Talent’s point of view. I loved the bickering relationship that both of them have with one another and I was continually wanting to get back to chapters where these two characters interacted with one another. By the end of the book I was very much hoping that the author would be writing another book in the series with these two as the main characters. Thankfully (or un-thankfully, considering the wait) readers are given a teaser for the next book in the series, Shadowdance, and it appears to feature Mary and Jack as the main characters. Suffice to say, I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in the series, I only wish I didn’t have to wait so long.
The Darkest London is fast becoming my favourite gaslight series along with Cindy Spencer Pape’s Gaslight Chronicles and Bec McMaster’s London Steampunk series.
*review copy courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley.
Another delightful edition to the Darkest London Series...
I liked this so much more on Audio…with it, the slow sections are so much easier to get through. I've previously read this series in eBook format, and I've struggled through the first two books. But now that I've found the audio version on Scribd...this has become a much more enjoyable read/listen. Once you get to the meat of the story, it really is quite awesome…even for paranormal (just to clarify, I haven't been feeling the paranormal stories lately). The dark, historic London paired with Kristen Callihan's superb writing makes the paranormal aspects, and let's not forget the sizzling sex scenes either, come to life.
๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏
~~~~~MY RATING~~~~~
☆4☆STARS - GRADE=B
๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏
๏๏๏~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~๏๏๏
Plot~ 4/5
Main Characters~ 4.3/5
Secondary Characters~ 4.3/5
The Feels~ 4/5
Pacing~ 3.7/5
Addictiveness~ 3.5/5
Theme or Tone~ 3.8/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 3.8/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 4/5
Originality~ 4/5
Ending~ 4/5 Cliffhanger~ to be continued...
๏๏๏
Book Cover~ I like the newer one better…
Narration~ ☆4☆ for Moira Quirk, she was excellent, but this could have been top-notch with the addition of a male narrator.
Series~ Darkest London
Setting~ London
Source~ Audiobook (Scribd)
๏๏๏
I liked this so much more on Audio…with it, the slow sections are so much easier to get through. I've previously read this series in eBook format, and I've struggled through the first two books. But now that I've found the audio version on Scribd...this has become a much more enjoyable read/listen. Once you get to the meat of the story, it really is quite awesome…even for paranormal (just to clarify, I haven't been feeling the paranormal stories lately). The dark, historic London paired with Kristen Callihan's superb writing makes the paranormal aspects, and let's not forget the sizzling sex scenes either, come to life.
๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏
~~~~~MY RATING~~~~~
☆4☆STARS - GRADE=B
๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏๏
๏๏๏~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~๏๏๏
Plot~ 4/5
Main Characters~ 4.3/5
Secondary Characters~ 4.3/5
The Feels~ 4/5
Pacing~ 3.7/5
Addictiveness~ 3.5/5
Theme or Tone~ 3.8/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 3.8/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 4/5
Originality~ 4/5
Ending~ 4/5 Cliffhanger~ to be continued...
๏๏๏
Book Cover~ I like the newer one better…
Narration~ ☆4☆ for Moira Quirk, she was excellent, but this could have been top-notch with the addition of a male narrator.
Series~ Darkest London
Setting~ London
Source~ Audiobook (Scribd)
๏๏๏
Well, first I have to admit that I remember less from the previous books that I thought. I constantly mismatch this series with London Steampunk by Bec McMaster, I’m not really sure what events happened in which book. It didn’t help. But I still enjoyed this story.
There are no that many second chance paranormal romances out there and I really like this trope. And let me say that Poppy and Winston make an interesting couple. They are both very well-developed characters with complicated personalities and pleasant deepness. The reason for their separation though based in the emotions of the moment is pretty convincing. And the feelings between them obvious.
It’s a great pleasure to watch them work in unison on the magical case while also attempting to figure out their complicated relationship. They make a good match for each other. And I like that they trust each other in dangerous situations despite some disagreements in other parts of their lives.
The action / mystery part of this book is not as developed or as fascinating as watching Poppy and Winston, in my opinion. Fortunately, they make such a great couple, it didn’t bother me at all.
Pretty nice addition to the series.
There are no that many second chance paranormal romances out there and I really like this trope. And let me say that Poppy and Winston make an interesting couple. They are both very well-developed characters with complicated personalities and pleasant deepness. The reason for their separation though based in the emotions of the moment is pretty convincing. And the feelings between them obvious.
It’s a great pleasure to watch them work in unison on the magical case while also attempting to figure out their complicated relationship. They make a good match for each other. And I like that they trust each other in dangerous situations despite some disagreements in other parts of their lives.
The action / mystery part of this book is not as developed or as fascinating as watching Poppy and Winston, in my opinion. Fortunately, they make such a great couple, it didn’t bother me at all.
Pretty nice addition to the series.
How I love this series. Though I can't say that book 3 is my favorite, I adored Winston and Poppy. Through Firelight and Moonglow, we've only had the privilege of seeing this couple from the perspective of others.
And such a distorted perspective it is.
Both Winston and Poppy carry their own secrets. Moonglow left Winston nearly dead and his marriage to Poppy shattered. It was the kind of ending that had me dying to pick up Winterblaze as soon as possible.
DYING. (Figuratively, not literally. In case you were worried.)
So when the boyfriend's mom asked me if I wanted to borrow her library copy while she had it, I said, "YES!" (I also said thank you. I'm polite like that.)
The Darkest London series has a way of cutting through any type of reading "slump" I seem to have. This series just has that quality that pulls me in and doesn't let go. The world we were exposed to in Firelight has grown and expanded and gotten smaller at the same time. Winterblaze builds on what Moonglow opened up and I am excited and anxious to get my hands on Shadowdance.
Though I loved Winston and Poppy as characters, their romance wasn't my favorite. They loved each other--clearly. They made mistakes--obviously. But what kept them apart was their stubborn pride and it made me want to sit them down and tell them, "Listen. Let it go. Move on. You two are meant to be together. Also? A little more sexin' and a lot less wantin' would be nice. Y'all are hurting me a little too here."
I sincerely hope that the Darkest London series does not end with Shadowdance. This world that Kristen Callihan has created--and the love stories within it--has made this series one of my favorites. Winterblaze has only strengthened that.
And such a distorted perspective it is.
Both Winston and Poppy carry their own secrets. Moonglow left Winston nearly dead and his marriage to Poppy shattered. It was the kind of ending that had me dying to pick up Winterblaze as soon as possible.
DYING. (Figuratively, not literally. In case you were worried.)
So when the boyfriend's mom asked me if I wanted to borrow her library copy while she had it, I said, "YES!" (I also said thank you. I'm polite like that.)
The Darkest London series has a way of cutting through any type of reading "slump" I seem to have. This series just has that quality that pulls me in and doesn't let go. The world we were exposed to in Firelight has grown and expanded and gotten smaller at the same time. Winterblaze builds on what Moonglow opened up and I am excited and anxious to get my hands on Shadowdance.
Though I loved Winston and Poppy as characters, their romance wasn't my favorite. They loved each other--clearly. They made mistakes--obviously. But what kept them apart was their stubborn pride and it made me want to sit them down and tell them, "Listen. Let it go. Move on. You two are meant to be together. Also? A little more sexin' and a lot less wantin' would be nice. Y'all are hurting me a little too here."
I sincerely hope that the Darkest London series does not end with Shadowdance. This world that Kristen Callihan has created--and the love stories within it--has made this series one of my favorites. Winterblaze has only strengthened that.
God, I love this series. I really loved Win and Poppy. Their growth is brilliant. And the setup for the Jack and Mary's book was great.
This is my favourite book in the series so far. I've been wanting to read about Poppy since book one. She is a complex character with lots of different facets.I like second chance romances aswell and this one did not disappoint. The chemistry between Poppy and Winston is wonderful and I really enjoyed watching Win learn to navigate through this new world.
But what I really love about this series is the world building. Its so intriguing and I like how the author puts her own spin on supernatural creatures and the plot twists she weaves in are hugely enjoyable and open up this world even more.
I'm moving onto the next book today. I can't wait to see what new twists and creatures the author builds in her wonderfully dark and gothic version of Victorian London.
But what I really love about this series is the world building. Its so intriguing and I like how the author puts her own spin on supernatural creatures and the plot twists she weaves in are hugely enjoyable and open up this world even more.
I'm moving onto the next book today. I can't wait to see what new twists and creatures the author builds in her wonderfully dark and gothic version of Victorian London.
Oh man this series has hooked me and I’m along for the ride and it’s fuuuuun
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Minor: Torture
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced