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stay_truetoyourshelf's review
4.0
I love a good retelling and this one was really great! The ending really tugged on my heartstrings!
McCombs has proved herself good at writing flawed characters, and the character of Rowan is her most believable yet. She is so sure of herself and her plans, and that makes her reckless and haughty. I loved watching her grow and improve throughout the story, and the culmination of her newfound selflessness at the end of the story nearly brought me to tears. The first part of her arc captured here really shows her personality and growth, and this was probably my favorite book of the series. I would also recommend this one to fans of retellings.
McCombs has proved herself good at writing flawed characters, and the character of Rowan is her most believable yet. She is so sure of herself and her plans, and that makes her reckless and haughty. I loved watching her grow and improve throughout the story, and the culmination of her newfound selflessness at the end of the story nearly brought me to tears. The first part of her arc captured here really shows her personality and growth, and this was probably my favorite book of the series. I would also recommend this one to fans of retellings.
josiahdegraaf's review
4.0
This story surprised me on multiple turns with the plot twists and unpredictable characters. The ending was pretty bittersweet (almost too much so for me personally), but this was an enjoyable narrative from start to finish.
Rating: 3.5-4 Stars (Good).
Rating: 3.5-4 Stars (Good).
beccainabook's review
3.0
I’m so grateful for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
So this book has such an interesting concept and I was very intrigued to see where the author would take it. I really thought the magical system, magical creatures, and the setting was so cool... like Frozen and Sleeping Beauty had a baby.
But, I just couldn’t really bond with any of the characters until like half-way into the book.
I mean... the main character really grew on me, but did everyone have to be so mean to her..... She already has a difficult situation with being cursed and everything.... LEAVE BRITTANY ALONE.
The ending of the book was kind of sudden so I’m curious to see what happens next to Rowan and her story... I just want her to get that HEA so bad!!
So this book has such an interesting concept and I was very intrigued to see where the author would take it. I really thought the magical system, magical creatures, and the setting was so cool... like Frozen and Sleeping Beauty had a baby.
But, I just couldn’t really bond with any of the characters until like half-way into the book.
I mean... the main character really grew on me, but did everyone have to be so mean to her..... She already has a difficult situation with being cursed and everything.... LEAVE BRITTANY ALONE.
The ending of the book was kind of sudden so I’m curious to see what happens next to Rowan and her story... I just want her to get that HEA so bad!!
library_of_velaris's review
5.0
I was so happy to receive a copy of this book. Sleeping Beauty isn’t a fairytale that I feel gets much spotlight in the retelling world, so I was excited to see what McCombs had to bring to the table.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. I loves the idea that the princess knows about her curse and fights to find a way to stop it. I don’t like to talk too much about plot because I always want to avoid spoilers but I thought the twist was pretty good.
The workd building was great, imagining Elenvèrs was so cool, a literal ice palace is just so fairytale. I loved the magic elements in the story also. I felt that the world was solid.
I always enjoy reading reviews where the reviewer gives comparable works. I feel like The Cruel Prince is a good comparison in the sense of the main character being so strategic and cunning, and I was also reminded of East by Ellen Pattou, with the pure magic and straightforward storytelling that captivates you.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. I loves the idea that the princess knows about her curse and fights to find a way to stop it. I don’t like to talk too much about plot because I always want to avoid spoilers but I thought the twist was pretty good.
The workd building was great, imagining Elenvèrs was so cool, a literal ice palace is just so fairytale. I loved the magic elements in the story also. I felt that the world was solid.
I always enjoy reading reviews where the reviewer gives comparable works. I feel like The Cruel Prince is a good comparison in the sense of the main character being so strategic and cunning, and I was also reminded of East by Ellen Pattou, with the pure magic and straightforward storytelling that captivates you.
erinphillipsauthor's review
4.0
A very unique twist on the familiar tale of Sleeping Beauty, where the original curse is passed down to the daughter of each queen. Rowan, granddaughter of the first cursed princess, seeks to remove the curse and get her real life back. For sure was traded away as a child by a father and mother who feared the curse, and the instability it would bring the kingdom. So if Rowan can change her date, maybe she can have her family back as well.
I love how Rowan feels so authentic, in her strengths and in her flaws. A character who struggles with jealousy and discontentment is especially compelling, and convicting. I also love the journey her character takes, with all of it's ups and downs, twists and turns, and where it finally ends up is really beautiful and inspiring.
I was most sad about the twists for certain characters, as I was hopeful to see restoration and for a bit more happiness in the ending, but glad to see other characters turn out to be perhaps different than we first imagined. Lindy and Lance were also great minor characters with a lot of heart and personality!
There was a lot of action in this story, which was very fun, and I loved the White Bear! Every time he showed up, something important was about to happen, which was always very exciting.
The ending was definitely bittersweet, but I think it was very appropriate and poignant. Plus I love bittersweet endings so I didn’t mind
I love how Rowan feels so authentic, in her strengths and in her flaws. A character who struggles with jealousy and discontentment is especially compelling, and convicting. I also love the journey her character takes, with all of it's ups and downs, twists and turns, and where it finally ends up is really beautiful and inspiring.
I was most sad about the twists for certain characters, as I was hopeful to see restoration and for a bit more happiness in the ending, but glad to see other characters turn out to be perhaps different than we first imagined. Lindy and Lance were also great minor characters with a lot of heart and personality!
There was a lot of action in this story, which was very fun, and I loved the White Bear! Every time he showed up, something important was about to happen, which was always very exciting.
The ending was definitely bittersweet, but I think it was very appropriate and poignant. Plus I love bittersweet endings so I didn’t mind
juliejanisbooks's review
3.0
This story wasn't bad. It had a good plot line and I didn't mind the characters. But I didn't find myself as invested in it as I did the other two books. About half way through I lost interest in what was going on and ended up skimming the rest of it. This book largely covered the main character wanting to regain her title and take care of her kingdom but there's a lot of negotiating with the enemy kingdom, gaining information, and so forth that bored me a bit. Again, not a bad story and think many will like this kind of book. It just wasn't what I expected and wasn't for me.
seherina's review
lighthearted
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
3.75
“It was easy to blame the curse for my flaws. Easy to say that I was bitter because I’d been dealt a poor hand, jealous that others had a life I never could, and self-absorbed because of my determination to break this blasted curse.”
The winter charlatan book was great, and I was super invested at a point and terrified that there would be a cliffhanger and I would need to wait for the next book. It was also well edited, which is something I like to point out because so many authors seem to have forgotten that editing is important.
I liked Rowan. Like genuinely liked this character who was trying to make her heart pure, and also reclaim her throne somehow. I liked that she was genuinely angry at her family for not trying to sort things out. I found it so interesting what happened between her and Elis, although I really do feel like her and Cassian have a weirdly rushed relationship. And the twist with Tarion, absolutely loved that!
Full review here:
https://the-girl-who-reads.com/book-review-the-winter-charlatan-by-victoria-mccombs/
The winter charlatan book was great, and I was super invested at a point and terrified that there would be a cliffhanger and I would need to wait for the next book. It was also well edited, which is something I like to point out because so many authors seem to have forgotten that editing is important.
I liked Rowan. Like genuinely liked this character who was trying to make her heart pure, and also reclaim her throne somehow. I liked that she was genuinely angry at her family for not trying to sort things out. I found it so interesting what happened between her and Elis, although I really do feel like her and Cassian have a weirdly rushed relationship. And the twist with Tarion, absolutely loved that!
Full review here:
https://the-girl-who-reads.com/book-review-the-winter-charlatan-by-victoria-mccombs/
wanderingandwondering's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
*review coming soon*
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