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robinbridgefour 's review for:
Red Winter: The Complete Trilogy
by Annette Marie
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
The entire Red Winter trilogy all in one great audiobook. This trilogy is steeped in Japanese culture and lore. It follows a young girl, Emi who has always known she would be a vessel for a goddess Amaterasu on earth one day and the sneaky fox she saved who has tricks up his sleeve and secrets in his body and soul. This is a solid Romantasy with a mystery to be unraveled and a forbidden love that just cannot be.
For those of us who are not very familiar with Japanese mythology and lore, this is a great introduction for readers to learn about various types of characters in the mythos and their roles in the supernatural world. From Kami and Yoki to the gods that inhabit vessels on the mortal plain. But most of all the Kitsune, who found a little Miko in the forest and protected her, kicking off the wildest of adventures and eventual love stories.
Emi, only has until the solstice before one of the gods ascends and takes her body. She has been sheltered her entire life living with monks and others who keep her safe until that ascension. Meeting Shiro was unexpected and when she asks him for a boon it kicks off an adventure Emi will never be the same after. As they travel to help Emi discover what becomes of her after the ascension of Amaterasu, they pick up probably the crankiest crow Tengu, Lord of Crow and Prince of Shadows to assist with the journey. Shiro has a mystery of his own to solve. Bound by some kind of magic, he has no memories of his previously life. Each layer that Emi is able to remove reveals his past and the creature he was before the curse.
Emi will transform throughout this story from the sheltered girl who is just a vessel for someone else, into a strong fighter and protector tasked with finding and saving the Earthly Gods that have all disappeared. She will need so many new friends from the supernatural world to help in this endeavor and Shiro might play the biggest role or be the key to being able to free them. Both will transform as we learn all the secrets of the kitsune, clever and patient that may just steal Emi's heart and a god's vessel along the way.
There are incredible fights and action. Betrayals and twists. And so many other things that happen throughout this story. Sacrifices and transformations will be made and a woman will lead an army to stop a deity from breaking the world.
This story is for anyone who loves a good longing romance and a great epic journey to save the world. It is a really soft and thorough introduction to Japanese lore for those of us that are newer to the mythos. I was able to understand the fantasy world created and all the players in it. I would say that anyone who is interested into expanding their knowledge base of this culture and the lore of it would find a good read in this story.
Emily Woo Zeller is a narrator I have listened to numerous times. She brings a great performance to every narration I have listened to and you can tell she is seasoned in the art of narration. All the voices are clear, I appreciated her diction on words that are not common in the English language and I think it made the story overall easier for me to understand. Especially when Emi cast spells in Japanese. Really a great choice to help carry the story. I was able to listen to this at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
The entire Red Winter trilogy all in one great audiobook. This trilogy is steeped in Japanese culture and lore. It follows a young girl, Emi who has always known she would be a vessel for a goddess Amaterasu on earth one day and the sneaky fox she saved who has tricks up his sleeve and secrets in his body and soul. This is a solid Romantasy with a mystery to be unraveled and a forbidden love that just cannot be.
For those of us who are not very familiar with Japanese mythology and lore, this is a great introduction for readers to learn about various types of characters in the mythos and their roles in the supernatural world. From Kami and Yoki to the gods that inhabit vessels on the mortal plain. But most of all the Kitsune, who found a little Miko in the forest and protected her, kicking off the wildest of adventures and eventual love stories.
“Actions change our course, influence our futures, but intentions define us, empower us. Without intent, we are nothing.”
Emi, only has until the solstice before one of the gods ascends and takes her body. She has been sheltered her entire life living with monks and others who keep her safe until that ascension. Meeting Shiro was unexpected and when she asks him for a boon it kicks off an adventure Emi will never be the same after. As they travel to help Emi discover what becomes of her after the ascension of Amaterasu, they pick up probably the crankiest crow Tengu, Lord of Crow and Prince of Shadows to assist with the journey. Shiro has a mystery of his own to solve. Bound by some kind of magic, he has no memories of his previously life. Each layer that Emi is able to remove reveals his past and the creature he was before the curse.
Emi will transform throughout this story from the sheltered girl who is just a vessel for someone else, into a strong fighter and protector tasked with finding and saving the Earthly Gods that have all disappeared. She will need so many new friends from the supernatural world to help in this endeavor and Shiro might play the biggest role or be the key to being able to free them. Both will transform as we learn all the secrets of the kitsune, clever and patient that may just steal Emi's heart and a god's vessel along the way.
There are incredible fights and action. Betrayals and twists. And so many other things that happen throughout this story. Sacrifices and transformations will be made and a woman will lead an army to stop a deity from breaking the world.
This story is for anyone who loves a good longing romance and a great epic journey to save the world. It is a really soft and thorough introduction to Japanese lore for those of us that are newer to the mythos. I was able to understand the fantasy world created and all the players in it. I would say that anyone who is interested into expanding their knowledge base of this culture and the lore of it would find a good read in this story.
“I would have kept you forever, little miko." His words were soft, almost soundless. "I would have taken you with me wherever the tides of time carried us, and I would have loved you until the very end.”
Narration:
Emily Woo Zeller is a narrator I have listened to numerous times. She brings a great performance to every narration I have listened to and you can tell she is seasoned in the art of narration. All the voices are clear, I appreciated her diction on words that are not common in the English language and I think it made the story overall easier for me to understand. Especially when Emi cast spells in Japanese. Really a great choice to help carry the story. I was able to listen to this at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE