The Winter King audiobook

Okay! First things first! do NOT let this COVER mislead you! it's better than that, dammit This is an actual world BUILDING, character DEVELOPING, son oF a BITCH NOVEL THAT I FUCKING LOVE Meet KhamShe went through so much shit but still so headstrong and fierce. And who doesn’t love a lili bloodthirsty heroine? “She was a daughter of the Sun, capable of warmth, but just as capable of fire and lethal volatility.” As a summer baby, I love this description so much Imma embroider it on a pillowKham was such a baddie. Abused by her father, she would literally rather die in the fucking mountains then give in to that whimp. She was a survivor thrown into a whole new society she knew nothing about, and was natural enemies with And the plot? There is all kinds of back stabbing, evil cunning plots, beasts trying to kill peeps, near death experiences, a quest to get the magial sword, defeat everyone, and sexy times and just awesomeness!Now our love interest Wynter!! King of Wintercraig. Like jesus christ guy it combines my two favorite things WINTER & WOLVES bitches! The king is already a legend among his people but all magic has a costWynter is not even close to perfect. He got an alpha temper to rival the best of assholes. I mean he jut comes across as harsh while trying to protect everyone. But goddamn he got the fucking hot barbarian thing going for him and it WORKS “Her eyes narrowed, beginning to swirl with silver. “You. Wouldn’t. Dare.”“Oh, min ros, I would.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Wrestling a beautiful, naked woman out of her furs and into her bath? What Winterman worth his stones would pass up a chance like that?” I would kill for this man. I would straight up murder any hoes that got near him, any dicks that dared threaten him, boil i will fuck you up if you even look at him funny “ She could sense its presence now, as if some part of the sun had broken off and fallen into the well.... Now, she just had to retrieve it.” The world-building so fucking good. New creatures, freaking weather patterns, local customs, everything just so freaking amaze. I loved walking around the villages, sneaking in the castles, and discovering new places with Kham “A giant ice wolf, they called it,” Kham muttered as she scrambled up the tree. “Ice wolf, my ass. Show me one wolf—just one!—that can climb a tree!” Now the romance... “Do that again,” she mumbled. “Feels nice.” She was rewarded by more cooling kisses against her closed eyelids and hot brow. “I’ll be fine in a few minutes. I’m stronger than I look.”“I know, min ros. I know.” Wynter’s husky voice whispered in her ear. “Tomorrow, you’ll be ready to fight Frost Giants barehanded, but for now, just rest.” oh. my FUCKING GOD ITWAS ADORABLEI just love the balance in their relationship, Wynter knows she powerful AS FUCK and thinks its freaking awesome but also cares for her and helps her when she uses up all her power. She isn’t some dainty flower and he just loves every part of her and WHERE THE HELL IS MY WYNTER? “Something missing. Something important. Not her. Wasn’t her.Where was she”“Was this one her?The scent of lemon verbena filled his nostrils. Fear and fury swept through him in equal measure.Not her! Where was she?What had they done to her?He roared” Even fucking half DEAD and barely conscious this dude is like where the fuck is my lady imma kill you all if you hurt her....and if that isn’t the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard then just unfriend me right now bitches just do itI loved his alpha protective nature but he still understands she was a reckless force of nature and loved her for it. Their relationship. I could literally feel the goddamn chemistry. Wynter and Kham are drawn to each other but goddamn do they fight it. It was delicious torture, i loved from start to finish I’m not crying YOURE CRYING “She was his wife, his queen, his mate. His heart.And he loved her.He loved every exasperating, fiery, rebellious, beautiful, challenging, volatile inch of her.” Fuck it, im cryingI loved ALL these characters— main and secondary just so well developed. I instantly loved Kham and Wynter, their strengths and weakness and oh god the sass “I’ve no idea why Freika ever bothered creating men. She should have recognized perfection when she created woman and stopped while she was ahead.” I mean.... where’s the lie though hahahaOverall. Read the book. Just. Read. The. Goddamn. Book.

Second re-read: 20.02.2020 I'm ashamed to admit that I skimmed quite a bit this time around. I've been truly struggling lately to focus so I made the mistake of starting this detailed book whilst I knew I was having problems with reading. So because of this, I won't lower the rating or anything, even though I didn't find the book as enjoyable as the previous times. If I were to rate it now, it'll be at 2.5 stars and that's unacceptable. I'll overlook this read, to be honest. I refuse to believe I don't still love it so I'll re-read it again in the future and that will be the final thoughts. Other Characters:The list is long so I've put it in a spoilers tag.(view spoiler)[→ Falcon Coruscate (23), the handsome Prince of Summerlea and Kham's brother. He could literally charm the birds from the trees with his name-gift—controlling any feathered creature on a whim—and the weathergift inherent in his royal Summerlander blood was stronger than it had been in any crown prince in generations.→ Tildavera ‘Tildy’ Greenleaf, Kham's nursemaid.→ Autumn (the youngest of the three), Spring (the eldest), and Summer (the middle daughter), the three princesses known as the Seasons, Kham's older sisters.→ King Verdan IV of Summerlea, Kham's father. His wife, Queen Rosalind, who died when Kham was three years old.→ Garrick, Wyn's younger brother, who Wyn had raised since their parents’ death ten years ago. Falcon killed him when Garrick chased Falcon after Falcon stole (a book) from the Wintercraig court and ran away with Wyn's bethroved three years before the book starts.→ Elka Villani, was Wyn's bethroved who ran away with Falcon. → Valik, Wyn’s lifelong friend and second-in-command, Wyn's Steward of Troops.→ Hodri, Wyn's horse.→ Galacia ‘Laci’ Frey, the imposing and statuesque High Priestess of Wyrn, goddess of Winter. Laci is the guardian of Thorgyll’s Spears.→ Maude Newt, Mistress of Servants of Summerlea.→ Belladonna Rosh, Kham's maid. (view spoiler)[She had put herbs Kham's tea every morning to stop her from having a child without Kham's knowledge. It resulted in Kham having a miscarriage . (hide spoiler)] → Roland Soldeus, the Triumphant, a heroic king who sacrificed himself to save his kingdom - the Hero of Summerlea, the brave king who had defeated an overwhelming invasion force with his wit, his weathergifts, and a legendary sword reputed to be a gift from the Sun God himself. The sword called Blazing, that had disappeared shortly after the king’s death. Book of Riddles has clues as to where the sword is.→ Barsul Firkin, Lord Chancellor of Wintercraig, who served as White Sword during Wyn's father’s reign. His wife, Lady Melle.→ Lord Deervyn Fjall, Steward of the Keep of Wintercraig. He oversees everything that pertains to the provisioning, protection, and operations of the castle.→ Reika Villani, Valik’s cousin by marriage, the daughter of his uncle’s second wife. Reika was also the sister of Wynter’s former betrothed. (view spoiler)[Traitor, killed by Kham. (hide spoiler)]→ Vinca, Gildenheim (the jewel of Wintercraig)’s Mistress of Servants.→ Bron, the stable master of Wintercraig.→ Krysti (10), a orphan boy. After he's caught stealing, Kham takes on his compensation and claim a year of Krysti's service in payment as her page.→ Dilys Merimydion, Prince of Calberna, Sealord. (hide spoiler)]The Ice Heart:Text is long so I've put it in a spoilers tag.(view spoiler)[The Ice Heart is a dreadful power, Wintercraig's most deadly magic. Those who embrace it freeze from the inside out. Once in its grip, compassion and honor are mere things of memory, easily forgotten, just as easily foresworn. Wynter’s heart—his humanity—is freezing. He’s dying. It's surprising Wyn has lasted as long as he has. A weaker man would have succumbed long ago. Valik is one of the reasons Wyn hasn't succumbed to the power: loves him like a brother. Wyn is losing the capacity to love—to feel anything. And when all warm emotion is gone, the man we know as Wynter will cease to be. A monster of unimaginable power will inhabit his body—a dark god who was once a man, Rorjak, the Ice King. Wyrn, the goddess of Winter’s husband, the one Thorgyll slew with his spears. Love is the only thing that can melt the Ice Heart.The Ice Heart is Wintercraig’s most carefully hidden and lethally defended treasure. It is the essence of the god-king Rorjak, the mortal-born man whom Wyrn loved so much, she gave him immortality. He traded her love for power, using the gifts she’d bestowed upon him to father the Frost Giants and become the first Ice King. Because of Wyrn's gift, even though his body could be destroyed, his godly essence never could. It was to slay her husband that Wyrn had fashioned the ice spears and given them to her brother Thorgyll. So after slaying him with Wyrn’s spears, Thorgyll gathered that essence and hid it away in a place he thought would be safe. And for thousands of years, it has been. Many have tried to embrace the Ice Heart, but except for a rare few, they died before ever reaching the place of its confinement. Wynter is one of the few. The garm were deadly, giant wolflike monsters from the ice fields of the Craig, pets and servants of the Frost Giants, Rorjak’s deadly minions. (hide spoiler)] ⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Great Fantasy Book*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱ Re-read: 21.01.2018 For those of you that haven't read this great fantasy book, definitely should do it. It's a great story of love, honor, friendship, legends and war. About finding a place you belong, your home and becoming who you are meant to be. I seriously recommend this book. The Winter King centers around King of Wintercraig, Wynter ‘Wyn’ Crystalin Boreal Atrialan (how old? Late twenties? Early thirties?) and Princess of Summerlea and summoner of Storms, Angelica Mariposa Rosalind Khamsin ‘Kham’ ‘Storm’ Gianna Coruscate (20). “Your father thought he scored a victory over me when he tricked me into marrying you instead of one of your sisters, but he unwittingly gave me the one daughter I wanted most.” Both characters are amazing. Khamsin shows great development from the beginning to the end. Wynter is just fabulous throughout the book. Love him. The only thing that bothered me this time around that didn't bother me the first time was the constant mentioning of Roland Soldeus. I got quickly tired of hearing about him. Overall, this story is great and should be read. I'll probably re-read it again sometime later. The length doesn't even bother me. I could've read even more. “Well, princess,” Wynter murmured, “let’s see what you’re made of.” Quick basic facts:Genre: - (Adult) Fantasy Romance.Series: - Series (Standalone), Book One.Love triangle? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)]Cheating? - (view spoiler)[No. (hide spoiler)]HEA? - (view spoiler)[Yes. (hide spoiler)]Favorite character? - Wynter ‘Wyn’ Crystalin Boreal Atrialan.Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Yes.Would I recommend this book/series? - Yes.Will I read this again in the future? - Yes..Rating - 4 stars.First read review:(Just picture them a few years younger ;)) “Well, princess,” Wynter murmured, “let’s see what you’re made of.” OMG!! I cannot believe that I waited so freaking long to read this book! I seriously loved it! It was long, yes, and hard to read with all the information, but damn, it was worth it!! The whole story was well written and the characters was perfect! C.L. Wilson is pretty brilliant to come up with this world of fantasy, I must say... Roland's sword, The Ice Heart, Storm.. It was all an amazing journey and it left me wanting more!! “I love you more than the sunrise. More than laughter. More than song...” To be frankly honest, I had trouble putting the book down and get some sleep.. I really wanted to finish the book in one day, the book was that exciting but I couldn't sit up all night, so I literally had to force myself to put the book down and go to bed -.-' But the first thing I thought about when I woke up was "I need to know what will happen to my Wynter!!" Hehe I mean, come on, I had to stop where it had started to get interesting.. “There’s no guarantee the goddess will find you worthy,” she warned. “Many men have tried and died.”“You think that frightens me? If I die, I will be with my brother. If I survive, I will have the power to avenge him.” Now, I don't really want to tell you all what happens in the book, other than that Wynter need to warm his Ice Heart, (which is taking over his body,) and he think that to warm his heart he needs love. Since he's lost his family, (the reason he's taken the power of the Ice Heart is because his brother was killed by Prince Falcon of the Summerlea->He also stole his betrothed,) Wynter need a new family, an heir/a child and to do that, he's decided he needs a wife. He has decided that the Summerlea are to replace the losses. To give him a wife, an heir and a treasure. Wynter's tricked, and is given Khamsin. “Well," she said again, turning to him and tipping back her head to meet his gaze. "As the begetting of an heir holds such dire import, I suggest we get to it.” The thing is, since the first the Wynter saw Khamsin he hasn't been able to stop thinking about her, so in a way, it was a good thing that she was to be his wife. They are so meant to be. I love them together. Their connection are so powerful and I love their bricking. They are constantly challenge each other.. It's rather cute. “I hadn't thought you such a faithless coward. You are a princess of the Summer Throne, wedded Queen of the Craig, and my wife. You swore an oath, before a priest and your father's court, to accept my counsel and my care. You swore to offer me all the fruits of your life. And now, you would deny me that which you swore to offer? Do you have so little honor?"The accusation stole the silver from her eyes, leaving them pure, plain gray filled with shock and dismay. "I...No! Of course not! I'm no oathbreaker.""Then come to your bath. Accept my care, as you swore you would. Offer me the fruits of your life, that I may dine once more on peace instead of war.” Now, let's talk about the characters... Damn, I LOVE Wynter!!!!!!!! He was just so damn sexy! A complete warrior, with hot, cold powerful power. Ruthless, yet kind to his people. A good kind but a great man. And a FANTASTIC lover.. An wild animal and passionate male in bed... *clears throat, takes a deep breath* Runs with wolfs and never gives up.. and I can go on and on and on about how much I love my man Wynter.. But, ehh, I think I need to stop.. “If you didn’t need food more than I need a good fucking, I’d flip you over right now and fill you ’til you scream and beg for mercy.” Khamsin was awesome! She really develop from the beginning to the end. She really grew on me. She was like a child and became a woman. I liked her and now I LOVE her. She stood up for her man when it counted and that was all that mattered. She didn't let Wynter order her around, and she didn't back down when she was afraid and scared, she held her head up high and made me proud! :) “Wyrn curse it,” Kham swore. If Wynter’s life was truly in danger, and she did nothing to warn him, she’d never forgive herself. “I just know I’m going to regret this,” she muttered. Jesus, I talk a lot of shit.. Anyways, you get my point. I like this book a lot, might even love it. Scratch that, I do love this book, it's just that it was so freaking long that it was so freaking hard to read sometimes. I wish this book was made into two books instead of one.. I hope we get more of my beloved man Wynter!!!!!!["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>

The past few weeks have been really tough for me because my mental health has been playing up again. I haven't been able to enjoy reading the way I used to and that honestly just breaks my heart. I still try to read because I don't want my issues to stop me from doing something I love so much. It's also why I like to come on goodreads because the environment here makes me feel better. And even though I find it difficult to read myself, I like knowing that other people are reading and enjoying books. I decided to go with this book because I didn't want to read something that would require too much thinking or would be too emotionally draining. And woohooo because I was thoroughly entertained by this book! It took me a lot to start it but I really did enjoy myself! And THAT is why I love reading! :) I'm still struggling and probably will for a long time, but I'm also starting to learn how to deal with things. So yay me!

Romantasy!!! It is my favorite genre loved my reread with my friends at Buddies Books and Baubles Original Review Aug 2014Finally!!! A great Adult High Fantasy with both a wonderful romance and fantastic plot/world this is two of my favorite genre’s combined. The Story - Wynter the king of Wintercraig was betrayed by his fiancé and the Falcon the Prince of Summerlea. Wynter in his sadness took in a powerful magic that could destroy him and plunged both countries into war. Now three years later he has won the war but may have lost his heart and soul to the ancient power he used to do it. He has one chance, the birth of a child might save his ever colder growing heart. Time is running short and if he loses himself to the Ice Heart within an ancient power will rise and it could destroy everyone in the lands. Wynter takes a Princess of Summerlea as his prize of war to be his wife, now he just needs to get her pregnant but that is easier said than done and time is running short.The Romance - As heroes go Wynter is right on the border for me. By his deeds he was kind to his new wife even if his words weren’t always warm and tender. He is forever fighting with the power within him and it leaves him slightly cold to Khamsin at times.The reasons I love the romantic couple are that they are both so broken and alone, but for completely different reasons. Khamsin never accepted by her family wants to desperately to find some kind of comfort and companionship but is so headstrong that she sometimes shots herself in the foot. Wynter has lost his entire family and greatly wants one of his own but finds it so hard to trust anyone. But there is an undeniable physical attraction between the two of them and eventually that tries to grow into something more. Both are very insecure in their own ways but somehow being together makes them stronger people.Things I loved - I adored Khamsin from the beginning. She was easy to like as she was headstrong and fierce, plus she never whines. After living with the hatred of her father for so long and never fitting in I really wanted her to find that happily ever after.I liked that there wasn’t an instant love. There was attraction and lust but the actual friendship and feelings between the pair took time. They are alike in many ways and share a deep loneliness and longing for family. Wynter could be a harsh ass at times but there were also moments when he was extremely tender with Khamsin and those of coarse are the moment I liked the most. “Then come to your bath. Accept my care, as you swore you would. Offer me the fruits of your life, that I may dine once more on peace instead of war.” Wynter is not perfect, far from. He is quick to temper and often comes across harshly as he is trying to protect himself from ever being hurt again. But I like that he isn’t perfect and I respected that everyone in the land knew how cruel he was capable of being. He did start a war to avenge his family so I thought it would be out of character if he were perfect. He can be ruthless and will be to protect those in his charge.“Do you honestly think something as flimsy as a signed piece of paper and a marriage ceremony would have stayed his hand had he not wanted you for his bride? Wynter would have parted your head from your shoulders, taken all three of your sisters as concubines, slaughtered everyone else involved in the deception, and frozen the whole of Vera Sola on the spot. After ripping your father’s entrails from his still-living body and calling the snow wolves to feast upon them, of course.” But he is still extremely likeable and easy to root for.The setting and magic of the weathermages was also a draw for me. Wintercraig seemed to be a winter wonderland of sorts and I loved how Khamsin and Wynters magic worked together to feed into and calm one another’s magic. The threat of Rojak returning was the main big bad and that is the story line I enjoyed the most. His army of frozen acolytes seemed a lot like white walkers from Game of Thrones with an added huge abominable snow beasts and I’m sold.Lastly I liked the introduction of Dily. Even though we didn’t see him until about 93% of the way in, I liked getting a glimpse of the future hero in the next boo set in this world and want to know so much more about the Sea PeopleThe Sealord smiled. “This offer is most generous, myerina, to be sure, but why would I or my men sacrifice the certainty of a liana now for the possibility of a liana later?” “Trust me, none of you would want an unwilling Summerlea or Wintercraig wife.” “Ah, but any liana of a Calbernan would not be unwilling for long.” The way he said it sent an unmistakably erotic shiver up Khamsin’s body. If she weren’t irrevocably in love with her own Winterman, she might actually have considered throwing down her sword and taking Merimydion up on his offer. The Problems - Too many bad guys and obstacles. At some point in this book I thought ‘seriously, again’. It just seemed our couple could not catch a break for anything. While I did enjoy the drama I was of the opinion that maybe some of them could have been cut and possibly streamlined. I think there were three or four different ‘bad guys’ in this and then the big threat as well. It just seemed a little much at times.Overall - This was such a fun story full of the girlie romantic stuff I like and the High Fantasy world, magic, culture and intrigue that I adore. It was really a win-win for me.

Re-read 28/12/20155 starsDo not let the 80s, slightly Fabionesque, cover of this book fool you! We tend to categorise now based on the cover, if it's urban fantasy it's usually a badass woman with some sort of weapon, if it's shifters you have an animal mixed in with the people and so on.For me this is the kind of book you can't class based on cover. You think you're getting a historical romance with a shot of magic featuring a silly heroine and a wishy-washy knight in shiny armor. Well, you don't. This book is pure delightful fantasy, steeped in magic and I think no one could do a cover that would give it justice. This is my lesson (again) not to judge a book by it's cover. Khamsin Coruscate is a Princess of Summerlea and summoner of Storms, she wields great magic but can't control it. She grew up an outcast, unloved and unwanted by her father. Unacknowledged and shunned, raised by her maid Tildy, she begins the book as an idealistic, petulant child but soon forced to grow up fast and realise that war leaves behind ruin and peace always comes with a price.I loved Kham. All the hardships she went through growing up, the vileness thrust on her by her own father, forged her character. She was no silly, whimpering pampered palace princess. Naive and innocent but far from silly. She is a fighter, a survivor, a clever woman struggling against all odds desperate to be loved and wanted. "What was wrong with her that no one wanted her?" No matter what happened between now and the end of her year as Wintercraig’s queen, she was going to find a way to survive and to thrive. Wynter Atrialan, King of Wintercraig wants revenge and to get it he takes the Ice Heart a dreadful power that can consume him. He struggles against it and at the same time wages war against Summerlea. Running out of time he decides to top of his revenge by marrying one of the princesses, he doesn't care which one and get's conned into marrying Khamsin, still a princess but not one cherished by the King. Even though he was conned he was still outraged on Khams behalf and is thoughtful and gentle with her but distant. There's a bit of an insta-lust situation but to be honest I loved it! It was so well written, the passion and chemistry between them so hot I didn't care if it was instant! He was smiling. The fresh air, white snow, blue sky, and bright golden sun made her feel happy and light-hearted. It was a perfect, beautiful day. The kind of day he’d sculpted in the Atrium. The kind of day he’d known so many of as a child. And then she realized what he was doing. He was giving her a memory of her own to cherish. As always there were plenty of plots afoot and weathering through them changes them both. I did suspect and guess some of the plots but didn't really mind. I loved the effortless world building created by C.L.Wilson and I honestly submerged myself in it with no effort at all. This book is beautiful, enchanting, mesmerizing and I definitely got caught in it's spell. C.L.Wilson also introduced the main characters for the next book in this series and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

*** 4 ***A buddy read with my friends at BB&B! Because we love Fairy tales!!! This is exactly what it looks like - a fairy tale for adults, which we also call Romantasy! In short - a fantastic tale of the battle between good and evil set on the background of romance, promising Happily Ever After and on the way getting steamy with the main characters getting busy... "...“What had come over her? He'd touched her, and it was like electric flame -- like the lightning she could summon -- shooting sparks through her veins. She'd all but melted, boneless, at his feet. He was the Winter King, her enemy, a man feared for his killing coldness, yet when he'd touched her, she had not frozen. She'd burned.”..." Wynter is the king of Wintercraig, who was betrayed by his fiancé and the Prince of Summerlea Falcon , who happens to also be the brother of our heroine, Khamsin aka Storm. In a fit of anger and betrayal Winter incorporated the powerful magic of a dormant Winter King into himself, making him capable of destroying anything with a freezing glance, but also threatening to overtake his humanity and personality... He retaliated with war and in three years subjugated the embattled Summerlea. As he emerges as the victor, the frozen heart of the Winter King threatens to take over his body and his life. Only love could keep that from happening and plunging everything in the world into a perpetual freeze. Winter is running out of time and as far as he and his priestess counselor can tell, the birth of a child could possibly melt his doomed heart. Luckily for him , the King of Summerlea has 4 beautiful and gifted with weather magic power daughters and any one of them could do for a wife. After all, she needs only give him a child... "...“Well," she said again, turning to him and tipping back her head to meet his gaze. "As the begetting of an heir holds such dire import, I suggest we get to it.” ..." Yep, at least he gets the one who really gets him hot and bothered, so the hard work of making a child is not as unpleasant as it could have been... Now, I am missing a lot of small magical detail in my introduction, but this is why, if you feel this is something you might enjoy, you should go and read it for yourself. It does have some beautiful world-building and although it is somewhat linear and simple in nature, it is engaging and the sexy times are neither ridiculous nor overly done. The chemistry between the two lovebirds works, despite its start being forced on them and the female having no choices, as it usually goes in those kind of stories. As always, the thing that bugs me the most, and it is something that appears in most every Fantasy or Fairytale, is that no one gives even a thought to the possibility that a man could actually be in love with a woman. No, it is always the woman who has cast a spell or enchanted, or ensorcereled , or somehow poisoned the man with evil magic or herbs, that the man is so under this vile spell, that he can't stop wanting to be with or please his lady. In the last 10 books I read, 8 of them eluded to such an unfortunate fate befalling the male lead. Poor men, they just can't help themselves when it comes to those evil women's wiles... Pu-leeeeeeeessssseeeee!!!!! What a great excuse not to be nice to us, in case someone thinks they are under our spell! We are such awful witches!!! "...“Speaking of his little Summerwitch . . . he had not laid eyes on her nor had one whispered update about her activities since leaving her bed this morning. That did not bode well. If he’d learned one thing about his wife, he’d learned that Absence of Khamsin held a far greater potential for disaster than Khamsin Constantly Underfoot.” ..." Apart from that, which is in no way singular complaint for this book, I enjoyed it well enough as a perfect easy reading in the holiday season. Perfect for the fans of HR and PNR!I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find what you need in the pages of a good Book!!!

10.03.2022: time to reread one of my favorite books ever_______________________astonishing. beautiful. romantic. i am breathless.

5 absolute brilliant starsAn AMAZING historical, paranormal romance with SO MUCH action, drama and feels. This book was just what i needed to get out of my book slump. It made my gut twist, it made me smile and most of all, it made me FEEL! The chemistry between the main characters was just out of this world and i especially loved how they eventually start trusting each other despite being enemies and having lingering doubts. The heroine had balls of steel and an unmatched wit, my favourite kind. She challenged every order and every word. The hero; a sweet softy despite his manly aloofness. THEY MADE THE PERFECT MATCH! *heart melts*At 597 pages long and with many, many words i had to look up the dictionary, this book was so well written and the plot gave me a 'Game of Thrones' sort of vibe. Also reminded me a teeny bit of the Golden Dynasty by Kirsten Ashley. Overall, it shoots into my absolute favourite shelf and i am looking forward to many re-reads in the future. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Holy shit. Quite possibly the best book I've ever read.To be honest, I probably never would have chosen this book had I stumbled upon it on my own. The cover just doesn't look or feel like the kind of book I'd enjoy. (It looks like some sort of cheesy, soap opera historical romance?) But I decided to pick it up because someone recommended this book to fans of A Promise of Fire and I ADORED that book so I bought this one without question.I think I loved this even more.The Winter King was everything I wanted. It was a fantastic fantasy with an intense, all-consuming, earth-shattering romance. The romance had me reading the last half of the book with tears in my eyes (constantly alternating between happy and sad tears).But what I loved even more was the length. At over 600 pages, I felt like I was reading an entire series in one sitting, but without the horrific cliffhangers and long waits. The epicness just kept coming and coming and I never wanted it to end. But the book felt so incredibly epic (and in no way too long). There was an incredible, detailed world; interesting history; a heart-throbbing romance; and so much more. There was a purpose to the length. I got sucked into this amazing universe, adventure, war, and romance.On top of it all, every single character was perfect.Perfect.Perfect.Perfect.I seriously don't even have the words to convey how much I adored this book.- It kept me up at night.- It had me reading first thing in the morning.- I had my book propped up while I ate so I could read during meals.- It sent me twirling around my apartment in excitement (there was legit twirling and frolicking, I swear).I so much wanted the universe to be real. I wanted to slip into it and live there myself (which is an odd thing given all the battles and devastation in the story).I'm going to pounce on The Sea King as soon as that glorious book becomes available. ♥My only criticism is that the book alternated points of view—which was totally fine (loved it), but the Kindle edition didn't really separate the POV switch very well. There were no chapter headings or clear dividers. Just a new paragraph with slightly more space between it. Sometimes I didn't fully realize the POV had switched and it jarred me. I'm not sure if this is also the case in the print edition.

5 FANTASTIC FAIRYTALE STARS!!! By far one of the best books I've ever read!!! It had everything!!! EVERYTHING!!! This book would be a phenomena of epic proportions if it weren't for the cheesy cover. I'm sure of it!!! Dare I say this book is better than Game of Thrones??! C.L. Wilson is genius!!!! I want the TV series, the movie, play, something. Lol. I can't wait for the next book in this series.