Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - The North Wind

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The North Wind by Alexandria Warwick

19 reviews

rowanhill's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Features:

Explores themes of addiction, sacrifice, and trauma informed relationship building
Slow burn, enemies-to-lovers (captor/captured) romance
Blended retelling of Beauty and the Beast and Hades and Pespehone with other influences mixed in

A tale as old as time but with some interesting new twists! This book is a blended retelling of both Beauty and the Beast and the myth of Hades and Persephone. The mix of these stories works really well and there are definitely influences from other fantasy stories as well. However, everything fits together very cohesively in this slow burn romance. The romance between main character Wren and Boreas (The North Wind) is definitely the focus of this story and it takes time for things to start to thaw between them. There was enough going on with the plot that I was able to stay interested even when their relationship seemed at a standstill and ultimately, the whole evolution of these characters was worth sticking around for. There are occasionally some inconsistencies in the story and world building that can be a little confusing, but it still manages to have a strong identity overall. This is definitely one romantasy lovers will enjoy as long as you don’t mind waiting for things to heat up.

Pro: Slow but satisfying

Every few decades, the immortal known as The North Wind descends upon Wren’s village and selects a young woman as a ‘sacrifice’. Nobody knows what happens to the women who are selected, only that they are never seen again. Convinced that nothing but the purest of evil awaits those chosen by the being responsible for the cold, Wren is thrown into a state of panic when her twin sister, Elora, is chosen. In a last bid to protect Elora, Wren tricks The North Wind into taking her instead. Given these circumstances, it is little wonder that things are off to a rocky start.

Wren spends the better part of the book plotting The North Wind’s (Boreas’s) demise, even as they start to warm up to each other a little more. Both characters are selfish and hard headed in their own ways, but there are also reasons behind their behavior that make it understandable even if it can get a little annoying. A lot of their journey as a couple is just as much about growing past their trauma-informed behaviors as it is about connecting with each other and I found the way they do so very enjoyable. We don’t get a lot of Elora after the beginning of the story, but the way she is woven into the later parts of the story is very well done and supports the growth of the other characters in a meaningful way. It takes a little longer than I would like to start seeing these shifts, but it is worth the wait!

The Breakdown: What story are we in now?

From the first few moments of this story, I was drawn into this world of ice and the characters trying to survive within it. However, if you look closer, you start to see all of the little cracks under the surface. To me, it feels like Warwick has a clear idea of what the world and characters look like as well as how they want to represent the key elements they are drawing from the source material. However, they don’t always know how to connect these ideas or what things should be at a more micro level and it leads to small inconsistencies throughout. A very good example of this is early in the book when Wren makes an off comment about a three headed dog guarding the river/entrance to the Deadlands (Underworld). Where the parallels to Greek myth are clear at this point, this comment felt out of touch with the world being established. Nothing else from Greek myth has been so directly mentioned to this point and the concept of a traditional Cerberus in a wintery world plagued by Deadwalkers feels almost comically out of place. Even if the intent was to reveal Wren’s lack of knowledge, there were a lot of other options that would feel more cohesive.

This moment and others are quite small, but world building is all in the details. Though I appreciate the story took its time, there are definitely moments where things stalled and became repetitive in a ‘loading screen’ like fashion while we transitioned into the next big ‘scene’. Most of the inconsistencies happen in these off moments. Perhaps what I am missing most is a clear cultural touchstone in this world. There is definitely a history and lore guiding the events unfolding, but we never get a real sense of how this history has seeped into culture in consistent and meaningful ways. This might have helped make the broader plot clearer and more compelling while also giving Wren more clear and powerful motives. Overall, I was very immersed in this world but found myself a little lost in the woods at times.

Special thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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saliwali's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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cozyduck's review

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adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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paperdreams's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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lauralouise93's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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natticalore's review

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dark emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Alexandria, I must congratulate you, because you are the only author I've read who made a spicy fantasy romantic novel with an actual healthy relationship.

Wren is a mood. She is probably me in a YA book. I mean, sarcastic, reads smut, always messing with Boreas... If she didn't have to be constantly surviving, she would be me.

Now, Boreas development was the greatest I've ever seen. Firstly he is cold and doesn't know how to express himself, but because he had closed himself up for centuries, so it is understandable that he doesn't know how to treat with people. And after he realises he can trust Wren, he always tries to comfort her when needed, he tries to understand her, he makes her under what she is feeling. And not only that, but also spends quality time with her. THAT, my folks, is how a relationship must be.

Then, the plot reminds me a lot to ACOTAR, so it is not that innovative and that. But these guys makes it kind of special.

Merry Christmas y'all

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