Book Review: Winter Queen by Amber Argyle

Title: Winter Queen
Series: Fairy Queens #1
Author: Amber Argyle
Publisher: Starling Publishing
Format Read: Ebook Novel
Source: Author
Genre: Fantasy

Becoming a winter queen will make Ilyenna as cold and cruel and deadly as winter itself, but it might be the only way to save her people from a war they have no hope of winning.

Mortally wounded during a raid, seventeen-year-old Ilyenna is healed by winter fairies who present her with a seductive offer: become one of them and share their power over winter. But that power comes with a price. If she accepts, she will become a force of nature, lose her humanity, and abandon her family.

Unwilling to pay such a high price, Ilyenna is enslaved by one of the invaders, Darrien. While in captivity, she learns the attack wasn’t just a simple raid but part of a larger plot to overthrow her entire nation.

With the enemy stealing over the mountains and Darrien coming to take her to his bed, Ilyenna must decide whether to resurrect the power the fairies left behind. Doing so will allow her to defeat Darrien and the other invaders, but if she embraces winter, she will lose herself to that destroying power—forever. 

Teasers: “The ranker the smell, the better the cure,” she’d always said whenever Ilyenna and Bratton complained about the stench. – 6%

Her life was slipping away as softly as a twirling snowflake. – 16%

Shyle are stronger than stone, more supple than a sapling. – 31%

It made her hurt deep inside her soul—so deep only he had ever touched her there. – 60%

When Rone had that stubborn look about him, she’d be better off to threaten the grasshoppers not to eat her garden. – 74% 

Review: Ilyenna must embrace winter’s chill to not only save the people she loves but herself in Amber Argyle’s Winter Queen.

Argyle has mad skills when it comes to worldbuilding. From the clothing to the healing practices to the politics, every aspect adds to this vast and complex world the story takes place in. Then, Argyle takes it a step further with adding a vibrant fairy world. I also loved the idea of Balance within this world and how important a concept it is. To accompany this worldbuilding, Argyle has crafted these heart-achingly beautiful descriptions. Her prose is a pleasure to read and leaves the reader breathless and craving more.

Then, we have a heartbreaking and emotionally charged plot and characters in this wonderful fantasy novel. The complexities of the world create this plot filled with politcal intrigue as clan goes against clan. Ilyenna embodies the Shyle’s saying of “stronger than stone and more supple than a sapling.” Her choices are each soul shattering, and my heart ached for her and her peoples. Rone is headstrong and fierce to protect the people he loves. He’s a perfect complement to Ilyenna. Darrien, as the very cruel villain, craves power and the one woman who doesn’t want him. As a reader, I was terrified for Ilyenna and couldn’t stop thinking about whether or not Darrien would win. I particularly loved the clanswomen. They had such strength against the odds. In fact, each character was three-dimensional and realistic, even down to the fairies and the Summer Queen within the story.

If you’re looking for a complex fantasy novel filled with political intrigue, soul-touching characters, and a heartbreaking plot, then look no further than Winter Queen by Amber Argyle.

 

Five Bookworms = I loved it!

W is for Witch Song series by Amber Argyle

 

For 2013's A to Z Challenge, I am talking about book series, particularly some favorite series as well as series I've been waiting to read for a LONG time. 

W is for ... Witch Song series by Amber Argyle

Amber Argyle is one of my favorite new fantasy authors. She has a beautiful style and creates such magical worlds. I enjoyed Witch Song, but Witch Born was really awesome. I can’t wait to read anything else she has for us. Plus, she has some of the most beautiful covers too.

The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons-but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fade, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.

Click here to read my review of Witch Song.

Brusenna thought it was finished. She defeated the Dark Witch, saving the Haven Witches from imprisonment and death. She found love and a place to belong. She was wrong. Haven is not the sanctuary it appears to be. Even love is in danger of slipping away like water through cupped hands. Some things can't be saved. A new threat merges with the old as the Witches' dark history begins to catch up with them. Only Brusenna knows the extent of the danger and how to stop it, though doing so might cost her everything. Including her life. Will Brusenna be required to make the ultimate sacrifice?

Click here to read my review of Witch Born. 

Teaser Tuesdays: WITCH BORN by Amber Argyle

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 

 

Witch Born by Amber Argyle

 6% of eARC

"So we run again? Is that your answer for everything?"

Do you have a teaser? Feel free to leave one or a link to one in the comments.

Book Review: WITCH BORN by Amber Argyle

Title: Witch Born

Series: Witch Song #2

Author: Amber Argyle

Publisher: Starling Publishing (September 5, 2012)

Format: eARC

Source: Author

Genre: YA Fantasy

Goodreads 

Brusenna thought it was finished.

She defeated the Dark Witch, saving the Haven Witches from imprisonment and death. She found love and a place to belong.

She was wrong.

Haven is not the sanctuary it appears to be. Even love is in danger of slipping away like water through cupped hands.

Some things can't be saved.

A new threat merges with the old as the Witches’ dark history begins to catch up with them. Only Brusenna knows the extent of the danger and how to stop it, though doing so might cost her everything.

Including her life.

Will Brusenna be required to make the ultimate sacrifice?

Review: Amber Argyle’s Witch Born brightens the fantasy scene with fresh characters in a rich world.

Brusenna is changing since she defeated the Dark Witch and became Creator-touched. The witches either fear her or don’t understand her. Her Guardian and love will do anything to protect her, even go against her wishes. She needs Haven to be her safety, but it is anything but. Then, Brusenna learns there are more witches out there, and she’s the only one who can stop them from destroying everything she’s trying to save.

Witch Born hooked me within ten percent of the novel and hasn’t really let me go since I finished reading it. Argyle took her world from Witch Song and expanded upon it tenfold. The details and writing are lush and beautiful. The plot is fast-paced, and the characters are well-developed. Brusenna, the main character, comes to life with her choices. This novel excels at being realistic in emotions and actions amongst a fantasy landscape with magic. I believed every word.

I didn’t want to leave the world from Witch Born by Amber Argyle. If I still role-played, I’d be all over creating one from Witch Born or writing fan fiction based in Argyle’s world.

Five Bookworms = I loved it!

Other Books in the Series:

Click here to read my review.

Waiting on Wednesday: WITCH BORN by Amber Argyle

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Witch Born
Witch Song #2 Series
By Amber Argyle
Publication Date: September 5, 2012

From Goodreads:

Brusenna thought it was finished.

She defeated the Dark Witch, saving the Haven Witches from imprisonment and death. She found love and a place to belong.

She was wrong.

Haven is not the sanctuary it appears to be. Even love is in danger of slipping away like water through cupped hands.

Some things can't be saved.

A new threat merges with the old as the Witches’ dark history begins to catch up with them. Only Brusenna knows the extent of the danger and how to stop it, though doing so might cost her everything.

Including her life.

Will Brusenna be required to make the ultimate sacrifice?

First, I love the cover. Love, love, love it! It's probably the best cover ever. And I really enjoyed Amber Argyle's Witch Song, so this one definitely is on my to-read and "waiting on" list.

What's your "waiting on" pick? 

WITCH SONG by Amber Argyle

Title: Witch Song

Author: Amber Argyle

Publisher: Rhemalda Publishing

Format: eARC

Source: Publisher

To Purchase: Amazon 

Description: The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons-but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fades, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.

Review: Amber Argyle's Witch Song sings a beautiful coming-of-age tale.

Alone, except with dog and her mother's journal, fifteen-year-old Brusenna escapes from a Witch Hunter and flees toward Haven for protection. With her mother and fellow Keepers captured by the Dark Witch, she is their last hope. Reluctantly accepting help, Brusenna travels to battle the Dark Witch. If she doesn't succeed, no one will.

Witch Song held me captive under its carefully sung spell. Argyle's prose is beautiful and vivid, creating stunning scenes and heart-wrenching emotions on the page. The type of magic in this novel will appeal to those familiar with L.E. Modesitt Jr.'s Spellsong Cycle. Witch Song's world is epic, and Argyle yanks the reader along for the journey. The complexity in the characters populates her world. Brusenna's strength and character to carry on and do what is right instead of what is easy is powerful. Like the seeds she sings to life, Brusenna blooms throughout the novel. At times, Witch Song reminded also me of what I loved about Rowling's Harry Potter series.  I didn't want to stop reading it!

Adventure, romance, and magic intertwine in this young adult fantasy novel. I have a feeling that Amber Argyle's Witch Song will become much loved and remembered.