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A review by theespressoedition
Wind Daughter by Joanna Ruth Meyer
adventurous
emotional
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
A massive thank-you to Page Street YA and the author for sending me an advanced copy of Wind Daughter!
This has been my most-anticipated release of 2022 - and it did not disappoint! In fact, while I may be writing this review in February, I can guarantee that it will make on my list of favorites for the entire year. Talk about an absolutely spectacular sequel to Echo North. It's actually rare for me to be so pleased with a sequel, because they regularly don't live up to how much I loved the first book. However, Wind Daughter certainly left me in awe.
I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that it didn't try to be the first book. There was a lot about it that was very different. This particular book felt much more character-oriented to me, while Echo North was really focused on the plot and the magic - and really just the overall vibes. Wind Daughter started out with a much slower pace, allowing you to really grow attached to the characters and understand them in a much deeper way. By the halfway point, I truly felt as though Satu had become a close friend of mine and I was able to connect to her emotions even more.
And we really must touch on Satu's emotions, of which there were plenty. This beautiful character is practically made of feelings and I loved her for it. She grows up thinking there is something wrong with her, and the entire time, I wanted to just yell at her that she was even more precious because of her empathy! While the plot is full of fantasy, Satu's personal story is really a coming-of-age, and it was wonderfully done.
Since I had just done a reread of Echo North, it was especially fun to be reintroduced to beloved characters from the first book. I won't go too in-depth about who we run into, so as not to spoil anything, but let's just say that there are some familiar faces that will brighten your day (and you may learn even more about them, which makes the plot thicken phenomenally). OH! And there's a fun little Easter egg for anyone who has read Into the Heartless Wood as well. This part literally made me screech aloud and was followed by me taking a photo of the page and texting it to the author to confirm that it really was what I thought it was!
The second half of the book will blow.your.mind! Originally, I planned to read the book in three sittings. Instead, I read it in two - with the second sitting being the last two-thirds of the book - because I literally couldn't put it down. I actually tried. It was before bed and I set down the book and turned off the light... only to undo those moves because I absolutely had to know what happened next. It's been a very, very long time since I read past my bedtime, but this story had me coming back for more. It was riveting!
Read this book if you enjoy the idea of:
- bee magic (I'm terrified of bees and this book made me love them... from a distance... but still love them nonetheless)
- a girl with "too many" feelings
- winter demons
- stories that feel both ancient and new
- time-bending and elemental magic
- love that defies all odds
This has been my most-anticipated release of 2022 - and it did not disappoint! In fact, while I may be writing this review in February, I can guarantee that it will make on my list of favorites for the entire year. Talk about an absolutely spectacular sequel to Echo North. It's actually rare for me to be so pleased with a sequel, because they regularly don't live up to how much I loved the first book. However, Wind Daughter certainly left me in awe.
I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that it didn't try to be the first book. There was a lot about it that was very different. This particular book felt much more character-oriented to me, while Echo North was really focused on the plot and the magic - and really just the overall vibes. Wind Daughter started out with a much slower pace, allowing you to really grow attached to the characters and understand them in a much deeper way. By the halfway point, I truly felt as though Satu had become a close friend of mine and I was able to connect to her emotions even more.
And we really must touch on Satu's emotions, of which there were plenty. This beautiful character is practically made of feelings and I loved her for it. She grows up thinking there is something wrong with her, and the entire time, I wanted to just yell at her that she was even more precious because of her empathy! While the plot is full of fantasy, Satu's personal story is really a coming-of-age, and it was wonderfully done.
Since I had just done a reread of Echo North, it was especially fun to be reintroduced to beloved characters from the first book. I won't go too in-depth about who we run into, so as not to spoil anything, but let's just say that there are some familiar faces that will brighten your day (and you may learn even more about them, which makes the plot thicken phenomenally). OH! And there's a fun little Easter egg for anyone who has read Into the Heartless Wood as well. This part literally made me screech aloud and was followed by me taking a photo of the page and texting it to the author to confirm that it really was what I thought it was!
The second half of the book will blow.your.mind! Originally, I planned to read the book in three sittings. Instead, I read it in two - with the second sitting being the last two-thirds of the book - because I literally couldn't put it down. I actually tried. It was before bed and I set down the book and turned off the light... only to undo those moves because I absolutely had to know what happened next. It's been a very, very long time since I read past my bedtime, but this story had me coming back for more. It was riveting!
Read this book if you enjoy the idea of:
- bee magic (I'm terrified of bees and this book made me love them... from a distance... but still love them nonetheless)
- a girl with "too many" feelings
- winter demons
- stories that feel both ancient and new
- time-bending and elemental magic
- love that defies all odds
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
If you have any sort of opposition to bees, be aware that there are lots of them in this book. They aren't wicked little stingers though - they're beloved and kind and make delicious honey. I'm terrified of them, but this book never once had me cringing in fear.