Reviews

A Betrayal in Winter by Daniel Abraham

demosthenes34nz's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

adamborst's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I enjoyed this very much. Political intrigue written very well, or at least well enough to keep my interest. Plot constantly moving forward via the multiple POVs.

Can't wait for book 3!

nicovreeland's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Way better than book 1… and everybody says book 3 is the best one….

mary_soon_lee's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Summer-reading book review #25: "A Betrayal in Winter," by Daniel Abraham. This is the second book in Abraham's "Long Price Quartet" and, as with the first book, it is very well-written and atmospheric, with an unusual and compelling fantasy concept in the andat. The arc of the plot was somewhat predictable, but nonetheless both compelling and satisfying. I very much like the character of Otah, who was also in the first book of the quartet, and am hoping he returns in book three. This is a book that lifted me into its world, and I loved that.

sonice's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

4.5 stars. I'm not sure what to say other than to repeat some beats from my review for A Shadow in Summer; excellent plot (mostly; one major occurrence rang just a little too convenient to me, hence the docked half star), expert writing, awesome character work, cool and unique magic system. Again, Abraham has managed to write a book with nearly no action that, despite this, is so bloody engrossing. If plotting, scheming and politicking in fantasy is up your alley and you haven't yet read this series I would highly advise you check it out.

wzwy's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

brianthehuman's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

js_2301's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

scottsofbohemia's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Great second act, thickens the world and questions some of its deeper tenements while telling a compelling tale with complex emotions and relations.

truthlessofcanada's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Somehow both these first 2 books have had a love triangle thing center stage and yet it hasn't been annoying at all. That's a neat trick.

Betrayal in Winter is a novel full of political scheming, and heart. It is one of the novels that manages to have deeply honourable characters who still are complex, conflicted and human, showing that you don't have to write bastards to write characters who feel human. 

It also shows that you can write bastards who seem human, as it also has a fantastic antagonist point of view who a lot of people seem to actually like (?), like as a person? huh, but who I consider a fantastically written antagonist whose motives come from an extremely understandable place, but it is destroyed by ambition, ruthlessness, and frankly a lack of self-awareness, and unwilligness to consider their own responsibility in the outcome of events. They managed to be a somewhat tragic antagonist who I felt for as the reader, while also not liking them....like really at all. 

In general, compared to Shadow in Summer the events of this book felt more important as I was reading them, and to me the characters stood out more. I thought while reading book 1 and continue to think that Abraham is extremely efficient at characterization, but book 1 for me didn't have stand out moments where while reading it I was blown away by the characters I was reading, and Betrayal In Winter did.

Also, the Andat, and how they interact with their poet is such a good idea. 

8.8