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rainestorm_days 's review for:
Winterkeep
by Kristin Cashore
Firstly, why 4 stars?
Well, the lgbtq+ rep seemed put in just because, in the sense it was very sudden, only little moments leading to it. For example, Saf and Skye was predictable, but only in there to have a mlm relationship. And Nev + Lovisa, Lovisa had pondered about girls it seemed, but it wasn’t really clear until the very end.
Now for the if it was 5 stars and why!
Adventure and Ferla’s relationship (or any relationship Ad had) was a good example of something. I don’t have the words to explain it, but Ad not bonding to Blue even given the chance, I feel like it would show you can be free but still have something. Very hard to explain at night!
I love how Lovisa developed throughout the book, at first all she was is a rich girl, only annoyed with her mothers fox, and slightly suspicious of everything. But she’s very smart. And her distrust comes in handy a lot, especially when rescuing Blue. She also has an identity by the end of the book. She’ll always have her parent’s reputation, but she can make it into an example for others and create a new party with real, good ideals.
Edit: I forgot (somehow) to touch on the abuse that was shown in this book. Nev talking to Lovisa at the end characterizing so much abuse that comms my happens. Lovisa hadn’t realized how her father hurt her too, she hadn’t really thought of her parents doing such harsh things as bad, just “normal” and thought her father was the good one, while he even stood idly by while her mother did things to her and her brothers. It was interesting to see everything from Ads view as well, since he was connected to Ferla when she did anything. He saw first hand how things happened, and wanted to step in or change it but couldn’t without revealing his secrets. If Ad had never told Ferla of the guards at the beginning, how would the story have differed?
The keeper/creature is me. I’d rather stay hidden with all my treasures (aka, books) and be antisocial for the rest of my life, but I always have a sense of justice that pulls me from my hiding. The Silbercows seem to be almost like the creatures conscience, and a safety net for life. They save humans from drowning, but also keep the creature updated, trying to get her to help. I like how she herself thinks of the Keeper like Lovisa does, a bully. If the creature is anything like the Keeper, I hope it’s actually to save things, not wipe everything off the face of the earth.
The politics of this book was very interesting! In the kingdoms we never see opposing views in power, but in Torla, views are respected and given a seat. You see how a society could be voting on things in such times. In the series we hear of all their kingdoms changing to a democratic type government, but this is the first we see of it in action, and one that has been developed for years. It was refreshing to see something other than kings and queens.
I always have a favorite character while reading, so this is just an extra detail to wrap up thoughts. I still love Blue, next to Fire, those two share the number one spot. I think Ad would come second. There’s just something about him I love. Third doesn’t have a spot yet filled. I liked Lovisa but she’s so vastly different from me it’s hard to connect to her, and Hava is Hava, I like her more than Lovisa but hard to connect as well. Perhaps Giddon takes third place, he’s terribly sweet to Blue, a calming presence for most.
Well, the lgbtq+ rep seemed put in just because, in the sense it was very sudden, only little moments leading to it. For example, Saf and Skye was predictable, but only in there to have a mlm relationship. And Nev + Lovisa, Lovisa had pondered about girls it seemed, but it wasn’t really clear until the very end.
Now for the if it was 5 stars and why!
Adventure and Ferla’s relationship (or any relationship Ad had) was a good example of something. I don’t have the words to explain it, but Ad not bonding to Blue even given the chance, I feel like it would show you can be free but still have something. Very hard to explain at night!
I love how Lovisa developed throughout the book, at first all she was is a rich girl, only annoyed with her mothers fox, and slightly suspicious of everything. But she’s very smart. And her distrust comes in handy a lot, especially when rescuing Blue. She also has an identity by the end of the book. She’ll always have her parent’s reputation, but she can make it into an example for others and create a new party with real, good ideals.
Edit: I forgot (somehow) to touch on the abuse that was shown in this book. Nev talking to Lovisa at the end characterizing so much abuse that comms my happens. Lovisa hadn’t realized how her father hurt her too, she hadn’t really thought of her parents doing such harsh things as bad, just “normal” and thought her father was the good one, while he even stood idly by while her mother did things to her and her brothers. It was interesting to see everything from Ads view as well, since he was connected to Ferla when she did anything. He saw first hand how things happened, and wanted to step in or change it but couldn’t without revealing his secrets. If Ad had never told Ferla of the guards at the beginning, how would the story have differed?
The keeper/creature is me. I’d rather stay hidden with all my treasures (aka, books) and be antisocial for the rest of my life, but I always have a sense of justice that pulls me from my hiding. The Silbercows seem to be almost like the creatures conscience, and a safety net for life. They save humans from drowning, but also keep the creature updated, trying to get her to help. I like how she herself thinks of the Keeper like Lovisa does, a bully. If the creature is anything like the Keeper, I hope it’s actually to save things, not wipe everything off the face of the earth.
The politics of this book was very interesting! In the kingdoms we never see opposing views in power, but in Torla, views are respected and given a seat. You see how a society could be voting on things in such times. In the series we hear of all their kingdoms changing to a democratic type government, but this is the first we see of it in action, and one that has been developed for years. It was refreshing to see something other than kings and queens.
I always have a favorite character while reading, so this is just an extra detail to wrap up thoughts. I still love Blue, next to Fire, those two share the number one spot. I think Ad would come second. There’s just something about him I love. Third doesn’t have a spot yet filled. I liked Lovisa but she’s so vastly different from me it’s hard to connect to her, and Hava is Hava, I like her more than Lovisa but hard to connect as well. Perhaps Giddon takes third place, he’s terribly sweet to Blue, a calming presence for most.