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A review by theladyofink
A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos
5.0
So I'm going to preface this review by saying that I would give this book 4.5 stars, but I rounded it up to 5.
I really liked this book; I finished it yesterday and I've already lent it out to a friend because I really want to discuss it with her. It's completely unique and I've never read anything like it. The writing is so intricate and complex it blurs the genre line separating YA & adult fantasy (the content is appropriate for YA, it's just the writing is so intricate it felt more like an adult fantasy novel). This book somehow manages to be both whimsical and serious at the same time.
The plot was WILD! I'd get so distracted by the character development and plot happening right in front of my face and I wouldn't notice the ticking of the plot & intrigues being set up around me until they EXPLODED in my FACE. On that note though, the plotting was just so CLEVER! You know how plot devices at the end of the novel need to be introduced earlier in the novel to be effective? Well, the plot twists were set up earlier in the novel and everything clicked into place at the end for me! It was crazy! The book ends in a really good place; the next book will obviously pick up right where it leaves off.
There was the slightest tease of romance and I'm really looking forward to seeing it develop in the next couple of books. I've ordered the next book and I can't wait to get my hands on it!
My absolute favorite thing about this book was Ophelia and her character development. She is such an interesting main character! She is clever, resourceful, and her characterization is so interesting (she has glasses that change their tint based on her moods, she's super clumsy because she once got stuck traveling between two mirrors, and she has a scarf that has emotions?). My favorite thing about her is her strong sense of self; she truly accepts herself for who she is. You can see this in the way she interacts with other people, the way she defines herself honestly, and reflected in her ability to travel between mirrors (see what I did there). Her desire to remain true to herself provides a very stark contrast to the world she lives in and it comes together well in this novel.
By far my favorite quote from this book is, "As long as Ophelia had scruples, as long as she acted according to her conscience, as long as she could face up to her reflection every morning, she would belong to no one else but herself."
Read this book if you want to see CRAZY cool worldbuilding, character development, and court intrigue. This book may center around an arranged marriage, but it is not a romance, it's more about Ophelia's journey navigating court intrigues in a foreign place (so it's more about the things that happen because of the arranged marriage than the arranged marriage itself).
I really liked this book; I finished it yesterday and I've already lent it out to a friend because I really want to discuss it with her. It's completely unique and I've never read anything like it. The writing is so intricate and complex it blurs the genre line separating YA & adult fantasy (the content is appropriate for YA, it's just the writing is so intricate it felt more like an adult fantasy novel). This book somehow manages to be both whimsical and serious at the same time.
The plot was WILD! I'd get so distracted by the character development and plot happening right in front of my face and I wouldn't notice the ticking of the plot & intrigues being set up around me until they EXPLODED in my FACE. On that note though, the plotting was just so CLEVER! You know how plot devices at the end of the novel need to be introduced earlier in the novel to be effective? Well, the plot twists were set up earlier in the novel and everything clicked into place at the end for me! It was crazy! The book ends in a really good place; the next book will obviously pick up right where it leaves off.
There was the slightest tease of romance and I'm really looking forward to seeing it develop in the next couple of books. I've ordered the next book and I can't wait to get my hands on it!
My absolute favorite thing about this book was Ophelia and her character development. She is such an interesting main character! She is clever, resourceful, and her characterization is so interesting (she has glasses that change their tint based on her moods, she's super clumsy because she once got stuck traveling between two mirrors, and she has a scarf that has emotions?). My favorite thing about her is her strong sense of self; she truly accepts herself for who she is. You can see this in the way she interacts with other people, the way she defines herself honestly, and reflected in her ability to travel between mirrors (see what I did there). Her desire to remain true to herself provides a very stark contrast to the world she lives in and it comes together well in this novel.
By far my favorite quote from this book is, "As long as Ophelia had scruples, as long as she acted according to her conscience, as long as she could face up to her reflection every morning, she would belong to no one else but herself."
Read this book if you want to see CRAZY cool worldbuilding, character development, and court intrigue. This book may center around an arranged marriage, but it is not a romance, it's more about Ophelia's journey navigating court intrigues in a foreign place (so it's more about the things that happen because of the arranged marriage than the arranged marriage itself).