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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m not sure how to rate this as I loved the first half and the whole premise but it lost me towards the end. It went down hill around the time of the party for me and then felt rushed and random. I didn’t fully understand the world of why characters were acting in certain ways towards the end either. Also not keen on some of the ‘not like other girls’ vibes in places.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Shocked by how much I enjoyed this book! I loved the underworld vibes of this, it was such an interesting spin on an idea you’ve heard a time or two. It was real and tackled alcoholism but was also so whimsical. I loved how strong the FMC was. Already have the next ones on hold!
adventurous
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think one of the biggest points to commend about this book is the thoughtful plot and characterisation. I feel like it's rare to find a Romantasy book like this that puts the time into world building.
-.5 ⭐ because I felt like thewar chapter was unnecessary.
-.5 ⭐ because I felt like the
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love when a romantasy book delivers on both the fantasy and the romance—and The North Winddefinitely does both. It gave me serious Beauty and the Beast meets Hades and Persephone vibes in the best way. It’s got an icy immortal, a resilient mortal girl, a crumbling magical world, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers tension that had me leaning all the way in.
Wren was such a gritty heroine. She’s tough and pragmatic, but still feels deeply—especially when it comes to protecting her sister. She has that quiet strength I love, and while she makes plenty of stubborn choices, you understand every single one of them. She’s not trying to be a savior, she’s just trying to survive—and I respected the heck out of that.
Then there’s Boreas. The immortal North Wind himself. Cold, cruel, and emotionally constipated at first, but you know there’s warmth under the frost—and watching it slowly emerge? Chef’s kiss. Their relationship has tension, teeth, and tenderness, and it burns so slowly it’s practically glacial—but once the thaw starts? Feral. Me. Screaming.
The worldbuilding was vivid and harsh, with this ever-present feeling of dread that matched the icy terrain perfectly. I loved the Greek myth inspiration and thought the magic system, while subtle, worked really well for the story. Also: consent was handled beautifully. The romance is more emotional than spicy (think yearning, with one or two well-earned scenes), but I didn’t mind that because the build-up? Worth it.
All in all, this was a frosty little fairytale with high stakes, high tension, and just enough warmth to melt the ice. Definitely diving into the next in the series.
—
Start Date: 6/23/2025
End Date: 6/24/2025
Star Rating: 3.5⭐️
Format: Kindle
Spice Rating: 3🌶️
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Setting: Fantasy Realm
Publication Date: 5/9/2024
Publishing House: Simon & Schuster UK
Est Page Count: 448 pages
Audio Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Audio Pub Date: 5/21/2024
Audio Length: 16 hrs 41 mins
Audio Speed: n/a
Narrator: Charlotte Brentan, Travis Tonn
Narrator Rating: n/a
POV: First Person
Content Triggers: Death of parents, captivity, violence, implied past sexual coercion, trauma, starvation/survival themes, body horror
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
We all know how this book is going to start and end, but it’s the sandwich filling that keeps this version interesting and well worth the read. Yes, it’s another beauty and the beast/ hades and Persephone story, but this slow burn was so much more satisfying than other iterations.
Unlike ACOTAR, the banter is actually good and witty, and the internal dialogue is concise and engaging.
The interactions between the main characters feel real and transition beautifully over time.
The side characters can be pretty one-dimensional, but the world has a strong sense of place and realness, and the stakes are genuinely high.
It was a little slow to get into at the start, but the conclusion was it’s own reward. Give this one a shot!
Unlike ACOTAR, the banter is actually good and witty, and the internal dialogue is concise and engaging.
The interactions between the main characters feel real and transition beautifully over time.
The side characters can be pretty one-dimensional, but the world has a strong sense of place and realness, and the stakes are genuinely high.
It was a little slow to get into at the start, but the conclusion was it’s own reward. Give this one a shot!