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A review by aforestofbooks
Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
My special skill is evading spoilers for books on my tbr and pleasantly surprising myself every single time. I had zero idea what Winterkeep was about, until I finally glimpsed at the synopsis on the back before I started reading.
Winterkeep was a very refreshing setting from what we've seen in the last three books. In many ways, I was reminded of Ketterdam, especially with the technology and science that plays such a huge role in the Keepish way of life. And while Bitterblue is still an important character in this book, and we get POVs from some other characters, my absolute favourite POVs were probably Giddon and Lovisa.
And yes, you heard that right. I have been converted.
I ended off my last review saying "I really hope Giddon and Bitterblue don't end up together" ... Well, I was wrong. This book changed everything when it came to Giddon's character. While we see a lot of character development in Bitterblue, Winterkeep shows us a whole other side of Giddon. Mainly his emotional (for good reason), soft-hearted, cat-loving side. And I'm sorry to say, but anyone who loves cats, and is okay with a cat falling asleep on his foot, is a keeper. And pun 100% intended. I loved how similar Bitterblue and Giddon's POVs were. Especially watching them talk to each other as they are separated and slowly coming to realize that they have feelings for each other. It was nice to see glimpses of how their relationship has developed and how close they are to each other without realizing how much they need each other. It was cute. It was soft. I almost cried when they were reunited because I was not expecting it to happen like that. And Giddon fainting after seeing Bitterblue is still alive was absolutely adorable and I really hope Katsa, Po, and Raffin make fun of him for the rest of his life.
Besides Giddon's POV, I also liked seeing his interactions with Hava. They have such a lovely relationship, full of banter, and affectionate name-calling. They work really well together, especially Hava's more direct, sometimes rude way of getting answers, compared to Giddon's more subdued methods. Also Giddon calling Hava "brat" all the time was 💯
Now, for my favourite POV. Lovisa.
I was not expecting this book to talk so much about emotional and physical abuse. Especially when it is done by a parent. It was difficult to read. Watching Lovisa struggle between wanting to go home to see her brothers and making sure that they're okay, but also wanting to protect herself. Seeing her brothers punished because of her actions. And during all of this, her dad sits back and is seen as the "good parent" since he's never directly abusing them, just letting it happen. It was difficult to read. And I could understand Lovisa's motivations and actions so well. Especially the anger that she builds up inside and that comes out in mean comments. Her need for distraction, in the form of sex, to keep the thoughts away. And the darkness that comes out from everything she has seen and experienced. This book does an incredible job of capturing what it is like to grow up in an abusive environment. And it really gets into the minds of people like Ferla and Benni, and how they justify their choices. It's creepy. Almost as creepy as Leck, but without the "magical aspect" of having a Grace. And I think this book does an excellent job of showing that you don't necessarily need a Grace to do evil.
One of my favourite moments was at the end of the book, when Katu almost tries to excuse his sister's behaviour for how she was raised/treated by their father. And Lovisa replies by saying:
<blockquote>If I have children some day, I won't expect them to blame my parents for the wrongs I do to them. They get to blame me.</blockquote>
LIKE THIS^^
I absolutely hate when people try to explain off abuse as "well they went through some rough stuff as a kid, so that's why they're this way." Yes, maybe it explains some of it, but it doesn't ever excuse a parent from harming their child. Seeing how Ferla's brain worked when it came to how to punish her children, including that awful scene where she makes one of Lovisa's brothers ask what "slut" means, was horrifying to watch. And then seeing her dad telling Lovisa that her mother will punish her brothers if she doesn't return the key to the attic... It was messed up and awful.
I think the ending was perfect in every way. Sometimes the villains deserve a nasty, painful end. But what was really hard was watching Lovisa realize who her father really is, and hearing him guilt trip and threaten her when he realizes he can't manipulate her anymore.
Honestly, I keep forgetting how dark Kristin Cashore's books can be.
Another thing I liked about Lovisa was her using sex to get what she wants. I think it's something we don't see a lot of in books, but I am 100% for using guys who are womanizers and bullies and probably have a huge list of sexual assault/abuse charges. I do think the similarity between Lovisa and her mother using sex as a distraction was very interesting. The one thing I was not really a fan of was the "friends with benefits" situation between Lovisa and Mari. I wanted them to stay as friends, without the sex part. I really enjoyed the scenes we did get of Mari trying to distract/comfort Lovisa. And how he knew the most about what she went through at home and was kind of a home away from home for her where she could feel safe. I feel like the sex ruined that a little. Lovisa and Mari truly felt like siblings to me, and I think Lovisa even admits it at once point. I am glad that her feelings for him don't develop into anything more, but at the same time, Lovisa hints that Mari may have developed feelings, which makes me feel meh. I'm just not a fan of childhood friends to lovers.
Overall, the plot for this book was faster-paced than Bitterblue, and really kept me on the edge of my seat. It was also horrifying seeing what Bitterblue (and later, Katu) went through as everyone is running around trying to connect the puzzle pieces. I really enjoyed the political aspects as well. And the commentary we get about political parties being purely self-motivated was A+
Also, the FOXES. Ad was great. Such a good boy honestly. And I love love love his story arc so much and his relationship with Bitterblue. Poor guy went through so much, but he has such a good heart and did what was right in the end. I'm still 🥺
Quona Varana does creep me out a little, with her army of foxes and cats. I mean, I'm all for living on a cliff in a mansion full of cats (and foxes), but the spying and stealing and her taking Nev's fox away was kind of sad.
Speaking of Nev. I love her and want to see more of her so badly.
Overall, 4.5/5 stars. I feel like I'm forgetting to mention somethings, but this book was just as good as the first three and I can't wait to read Seasparrow now!
Winterkeep was a very refreshing setting from what we've seen in the last three books. In many ways, I was reminded of Ketterdam, especially with the technology and science that plays such a huge role in the Keepish way of life. And while Bitterblue is still an important character in this book, and we get POVs from some other characters, my absolute favourite POVs were probably Giddon and Lovisa.
And yes, you heard that right. I have been converted.
I ended off my last review saying "I really hope Giddon and Bitterblue don't end up together" ... Well, I was wrong. This book changed everything when it came to Giddon's character. While we see a lot of character development in Bitterblue, Winterkeep shows us a whole other side of Giddon. Mainly his emotional (for good reason), soft-hearted, cat-loving side. And I'm sorry to say, but anyone who loves cats, and is okay with a cat falling asleep on his foot, is a keeper. And pun 100% intended. I loved how similar Bitterblue and Giddon's POVs were. Especially watching them talk to each other as they are separated and slowly coming to realize that they have feelings for each other. It was nice to see glimpses of how their relationship has developed and how close they are to each other without realizing how much they need each other. It was cute. It was soft. I almost cried when they were reunited because I was not expecting it to happen like that. And Giddon fainting after seeing Bitterblue is still alive was absolutely adorable and I really hope Katsa, Po, and Raffin make fun of him for the rest of his life.
Besides Giddon's POV, I also liked seeing his interactions with Hava. They have such a lovely relationship, full of banter, and affectionate name-calling. They work really well together, especially Hava's more direct, sometimes rude way of getting answers, compared to Giddon's more subdued methods. Also Giddon calling Hava "brat" all the time was 💯
Now, for my favourite POV. Lovisa.
I was not expecting this book to talk so much about emotional and physical abuse. Especially when it is done by a parent. It was difficult to read. Watching Lovisa struggle between wanting to go home to see her brothers and making sure that they're okay, but also wanting to protect herself. Seeing her brothers punished because of her actions. And during all of this, her dad sits back and is seen as the "good parent" since he's never directly abusing them, just letting it happen. It was difficult to read. And I could understand Lovisa's motivations and actions so well. Especially the anger that she builds up inside and that comes out in mean comments. Her need for distraction, in the form of sex, to keep the thoughts away. And the darkness that comes out from everything she has seen and experienced. This book does an incredible job of capturing what it is like to grow up in an abusive environment. And it really gets into the minds of people like Ferla and Benni, and how they justify their choices. It's creepy. Almost as creepy as Leck, but without the "magical aspect" of having a Grace. And I think this book does an excellent job of showing that you don't necessarily need a Grace to do evil.
One of my favourite moments was at the end of the book, when Katu almost tries to excuse his sister's behaviour for how she was raised/treated by their father. And Lovisa replies by saying:
<blockquote>If I have children some day, I won't expect them to blame my parents for the wrongs I do to them. They get to blame me.</blockquote>
LIKE THIS^^
I absolutely hate when people try to explain off abuse as "well they went through some rough stuff as a kid, so that's why they're this way." Yes, maybe it explains some of it, but it doesn't ever excuse a parent from harming their child. Seeing how Ferla's brain worked when it came to how to punish her children, including that awful scene where she makes one of Lovisa's brothers ask what "slut" means, was horrifying to watch. And then seeing her dad telling Lovisa that her mother will punish her brothers if she doesn't return the key to the attic... It was messed up and awful.
I think the ending was perfect in every way. Sometimes the villains deserve a nasty, painful end. But what was really hard was watching Lovisa realize who her father really is, and hearing him guilt trip and threaten her when he realizes he can't manipulate her anymore.
Honestly, I keep forgetting how dark Kristin Cashore's books can be.
Another thing I liked about Lovisa was her using sex to get what she wants. I think it's something we don't see a lot of in books, but I am 100% for using guys who are womanizers and bullies and probably have a huge list of sexual assault/abuse charges. I do think the similarity between Lovisa and her mother using sex as a distraction was very interesting. The one thing I was not really a fan of was the "friends with benefits" situation between Lovisa and Mari. I wanted them to stay as friends, without the sex part. I really enjoyed the scenes we did get of Mari trying to distract/comfort Lovisa. And how he knew the most about what she went through at home and was kind of a home away from home for her where she could feel safe. I feel like the sex ruined that a little. Lovisa and Mari truly felt like siblings to me, and I think Lovisa even admits it at once point. I am glad that her feelings for him don't develop into anything more, but at the same time, Lovisa hints that Mari may have developed feelings, which makes me feel meh. I'm just not a fan of childhood friends to lovers.
Overall, the plot for this book was faster-paced than Bitterblue, and really kept me on the edge of my seat. It was also horrifying seeing what Bitterblue (and later, Katu) went through as everyone is running around trying to connect the puzzle pieces. I really enjoyed the political aspects as well. And the commentary we get about political parties being purely self-motivated was A+
Also, the FOXES. Ad was great. Such a good boy honestly. And I love love love his story arc so much and his relationship with Bitterblue. Poor guy went through so much, but he has such a good heart and did what was right in the end. I'm still 🥺
Quona Varana does creep me out a little, with her army of foxes and cats. I mean, I'm all for living on a cliff in a mansion full of cats (and foxes), but the spying and stealing and her taking Nev's fox away was kind of sad.
Speaking of Nev. I love her and want to see more of her so badly.
Overall, 4.5/5 stars. I feel like I'm forgetting to mention somethings, but this book was just as good as the first three and I can't wait to read Seasparrow now!