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Wintercraft #3
Winterveil
The dramatic conclusion to Jenna Burtenshaw's YA dark fantasy trilogy and the sequel to Shadowcry and Blackwatch . This stunningly original series will be loved by fans of Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series and Leigh Bardugo's Grisha trilogy. Teen Kate Winters and her powers are unique. She is descended from an ancient and powerful bloodline. She alone can understand Wintercraft , a book of ancient secrets. She alone can stand between the living and the dead as the veil between them crumbles. Kate is being led to the very edge of life and death so that she can call down all the spirits that haunt the graveyard city of Fume. No one can resist the pull of the crumbling veil, and soon the dead will overrun the living. Unless Silas and Edgar can stop her. Edgar is Kate's best friend and her one anchor to the living. But Silas is enigmatic, merciless, and often cruel. Will this villain we love to hate act honorably? Or not? Jenna Burtenshaw has created not just a magnificent city full of intrigue and darkness, but also a hero and an antihero who will keep you guessing until the end. Who can you trust when good and evil are bound together?
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 2012
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1247 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
January 15, 2016
I was just not feeling this book at all. Maybe this trilogy as a whole was disappointing. Even for a fantasy, the resolutions felt very unrealistic and frankly, half-assed attempts at wrapping up the story. Now I don’t think it’s a horrid waste of time. I’m sure younger audiences will find this captivating for a short period of time, which is why it receives a 2/5.
December 18, 2017
3.5
I'm rounding up on this one, and it's sort of for the whole trilogy, because while the writing still has some issues like clunky dialogue and exposition and not always being able to figure out how we get from point A to point C while seeming to bypass point B - overall I still just like the story and the world and characters.
I mean, it has magic, mystery and mayhem, deals with the veil between the worlds, has intrigue, betrayal, redemption, suspense... in some ways there's not much not to like. I especially liked how we got a bit more of Edgar's backstory in this one, and see him sort of step up a bit.
My biggest issue - aside from the aforementioned writing issues (and, in fairness, it has gotten much better from book one to book three) - is that the ending left a few too many threads dangling.
I mean, all of the main points of the story are tied up, but I'd like to know more about what becomes of the characters down the line. How do the events of this story affect them going forward?
I guess, in a way, it's a mark of a good story to want more, and to care about the characters enough to be concerned for their futures. There is that old piece of advice about leaving them wanting more... but I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, at the end, because there just seems like there's just a little bit more of the story that needs telling.
Overall, though, as I said, I like the story and I can definitely see myself doing a reread at some point in the future. (Not onerous, in the least, since I think I got through all three in about a week, all things considered.)
I'm rounding up on this one, and it's sort of for the whole trilogy, because while the writing still has some issues like clunky dialogue and exposition and not always being able to figure out how we get from point A to point C while seeming to bypass point B - overall I still just like the story and the world and characters.
I mean, it has magic, mystery and mayhem, deals with the veil between the worlds, has intrigue, betrayal, redemption, suspense... in some ways there's not much not to like. I especially liked how we got a bit more of Edgar's backstory in this one, and see him sort of step up a bit.
My biggest issue - aside from the aforementioned writing issues (and, in fairness, it has gotten much better from book one to book three) - is that the ending left a few too many threads dangling.
I mean, all of the main points of the story are tied up, but I'd like to know more about what becomes of the characters down the line. How do the events of this story affect them going forward?
I guess, in a way, it's a mark of a good story to want more, and to care about the characters enough to be concerned for their futures. There is that old piece of advice about leaving them wanting more... but I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, at the end, because there just seems like there's just a little bit more of the story that needs telling.
Overall, though, as I said, I like the story and I can definitely see myself doing a reread at some point in the future. (Not onerous, in the least, since I think I got through all three in about a week, all things considered.)
December 19, 2021
More like a 4.5, it was a good book, but some parts in there were kind of confusing, and/or really depressing, but overall really good
January 10, 2014
I was dying to read the conclusion of the Wintercraft series, sadly, my local library took forever to bring the book. If you recall, the ending of Blackwatch was quite dire and all seemed hopeless (like the drama?). I should have trusted Burtenshaw to be able to get Kate, Silas and Edgar out of that bind.
The story of Wintercraft is so unique. The idea of a city where the dead was buried and was tended by a specially trained group of people and then abandoned it’s hard to imagine. Even harder is that the dead couldn’t find peace when they built the new capital city on top of it. The world building is impeccable, as it’s strange.
The story is told in the third person, which is very appropriate for this complicated story as it allowed the reader to be everywhere and know everything that was going one. Even then, the plot is unexpected, complex and full of surprises. The writing is straightforward and easy to read and understand and that is always a bonus when reading fantasy.
What to say about Kate? She is somewhat different in Winterveil. She’s more powerful, braver, more mature, and accepting. It must be incredible scary and empowering at the same time to have a deeper understanding of things that most of the people cannot see. To see and hear ghosts and a different world that is beyond most people’s comprehension.
Silas – would you get offended if I were to say that I fell in love with you as a character - *I’m sure he’s probably just shuddered*. Silas is so, so, so …(hold on, I’m thinking of the right words) exceptionally difficult and loyal. He has suffered so much, and keeps enduring everything the world throws at him, just to save Albion, the city he feels honor bound to protect. Silas, I understand your sacrifice and I hope you find peace. The relationship between Silas and Kate is also unique. Even though there is a vast different in their age and experience, I kept hoping that the bond they shared would develop into something deeper. One can only hope, right?
Edgar is sweet, protective, resourceful, but always timid and fearful. In this installment we see the reasons why and I think he developed a bit of a backbone, for which I’m glad. Even then, I just don’t see anything romantic developing between him and Kate. –Just saying.
Dalliah is our evil character here, and evil she is indeed! She has the same problem as Silas, leaving without a soul in a torturous state, and she has been like that for years. She has done so many atrocities to bring down the veil and she sees a golden opportunity in Kate, which is a true Winter and much more powerful than she could ever be.
What a wonderful ending to the series, although it was very open. I still hope for a ‘cure’ for poor Silas and some sort of reconciliation for Kate and the rest of the skilled. I think there is so much more of the story to tell *hint, hint, cough, cough*
About the cover: I always like the covers for these books. This one is mysterious, I imagine it’s Silas running up the castle’s stairs in Albion about to confront the council. I like the contrast of dark and light and the birds in the background.
The story of Wintercraft is so unique. The idea of a city where the dead was buried and was tended by a specially trained group of people and then abandoned it’s hard to imagine. Even harder is that the dead couldn’t find peace when they built the new capital city on top of it. The world building is impeccable, as it’s strange.
The story is told in the third person, which is very appropriate for this complicated story as it allowed the reader to be everywhere and know everything that was going one. Even then, the plot is unexpected, complex and full of surprises. The writing is straightforward and easy to read and understand and that is always a bonus when reading fantasy.
What to say about Kate? She is somewhat different in Winterveil. She’s more powerful, braver, more mature, and accepting. It must be incredible scary and empowering at the same time to have a deeper understanding of things that most of the people cannot see. To see and hear ghosts and a different world that is beyond most people’s comprehension.
Silas – would you get offended if I were to say that I fell in love with you as a character - *I’m sure he’s probably just shuddered*. Silas is so, so, so …(hold on, I’m thinking of the right words) exceptionally difficult and loyal. He has suffered so much, and keeps enduring everything the world throws at him, just to save Albion, the city he feels honor bound to protect. Silas, I understand your sacrifice and I hope you find peace. The relationship between Silas and Kate is also unique. Even though there is a vast different in their age and experience, I kept hoping that the bond they shared would develop into something deeper. One can only hope, right?
Edgar is sweet, protective, resourceful, but always timid and fearful. In this installment we see the reasons why and I think he developed a bit of a backbone, for which I’m glad. Even then, I just don’t see anything romantic developing between him and Kate. –Just saying.
Dalliah is our evil character here, and evil she is indeed! She has the same problem as Silas, leaving without a soul in a torturous state, and she has been like that for years. She has done so many atrocities to bring down the veil and she sees a golden opportunity in Kate, which is a true Winter and much more powerful than she could ever be.
What a wonderful ending to the series, although it was very open. I still hope for a ‘cure’ for poor Silas and some sort of reconciliation for Kate and the rest of the skilled. I think there is so much more of the story to tell *hint, hint, cough, cough*
About the cover: I always like the covers for these books. This one is mysterious, I imagine it’s Silas running up the castle’s stairs in Albion about to confront the council. I like the contrast of dark and light and the birds in the background.
May 12, 2012
Wow what can I say, Wintercraft: Legacy is the best of the three book in the series and it was definitely worth the wait.
Jenna ended Blackwatch with a massive cliffhanger. I couldn't wait to get a copy and was lucky enough to get it a few days before the release date because I pre-ordered it so I didn't have to wait for months like I did last time.
When I got my copy I had some questions I was hoping were going to get answered: What will happen to Kate now Dalliah Grey has her? What does she want with her? and What happens to Silas and Edgar? and In Legacy I got the answers to my questions.
We find out just what Dalliah has install for Kate and the city of Albion and it is not good news. Dalliah wants to bring down the veil that is keeping the spirits of the ancestors of the people of Albion from being seen by the living.
Dalliah needs Kate to release the spirits from three stone wheels to bring the veil down, in the process Silas is trying to stop them. Every time Kate releases a spirit from one of the wheels the spirits in Albion become more visible.
Dalliah also wants the Continental army (Blackwatch) to take over Albion but Silas helps the city to build an army to fight against them, he convinces the wardens - who not long ago want to kill Silas for being a traitor - to do as he says and not the High Council.
While the wardens prepare for the battle Silas discovers a traitor amongst the High Council and has him taken away. Silas and Edgar go into Feldeep Prison and get the prison wardens to go and help in the battle as well as releasing the prisoners so that they can go to the City Below to gather more troops, while they wait for the Night Train to return with backup.
I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone so I am not going to say any more about the book other than the ending surprised me I was expecting someone to die just not the person who did and even though I was desperate to know what happened to Kate, Edgar and Silas I refrained from taking a peek at the last few pages.
Jenna ended Legacy on a high and I am really happy with the ending even though I would have like to know what happened to everyone at the end in more detail maybe even a little chapter about what they were up to five or ten years after the events that unfolded :D
Jenna ended Blackwatch with a massive cliffhanger. I couldn't wait to get a copy and was lucky enough to get it a few days before the release date because I pre-ordered it so I didn't have to wait for months like I did last time.
When I got my copy I had some questions I was hoping were going to get answered: What will happen to Kate now Dalliah Grey has her? What does she want with her? and What happens to Silas and Edgar? and In Legacy I got the answers to my questions.
We find out just what Dalliah has install for Kate and the city of Albion and it is not good news. Dalliah wants to bring down the veil that is keeping the spirits of the ancestors of the people of Albion from being seen by the living.
Dalliah needs Kate to release the spirits from three stone wheels to bring the veil down, in the process Silas is trying to stop them. Every time Kate releases a spirit from one of the wheels the spirits in Albion become more visible.
Dalliah also wants the Continental army (Blackwatch) to take over Albion but Silas helps the city to build an army to fight against them, he convinces the wardens - who not long ago want to kill Silas for being a traitor - to do as he says and not the High Council.
While the wardens prepare for the battle Silas discovers a traitor amongst the High Council and has him taken away. Silas and Edgar go into Feldeep Prison and get the prison wardens to go and help in the battle as well as releasing the prisoners so that they can go to the City Below to gather more troops, while they wait for the Night Train to return with backup.
I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone so I am not going to say any more about the book other than the ending surprised me I was expecting someone to die just not the person who did and even though I was desperate to know what happened to Kate, Edgar and Silas I refrained from taking a peek at the last few pages.
Jenna ended Legacy on a high and I am really happy with the ending even though I would have like to know what happened to everyone at the end in more detail maybe even a little chapter about what they were up to five or ten years after the events that unfolded :D
December 1, 2021
Look, I tried really, really hard to like this series. I did. But the problems were many. First among them was the author's failure to spend any time at the beginning of the first book establishing how this world is *supposed* to work - what does life normally look like? What do the Skilled usually do? Without that background, all of the "disturbances" make no sense. Secondly, and I mentioned this in my review of the first book, the author does so much more telling than showing. Every time someone enters or sees through the Veil we are simply told that they are doing so, with very little, if any, explanation of what that means or feels like for them. Kate reads Wintercraft, we're told, and learns a lot from it that scares her - like what? Finally, of the three main characters, only one (Silas) even comes close to feeling three dimensional, and even then it's inconsistent.
get-from-library
August 29, 2013Gah! This was released in the UK 4 months ago. 4 MONTHS!!! We can't even get a release date here in the US :-/
November 13, 2020
I got mixed feelings about this book but I can admit part of them are bias.
quick edit: There is no romantic subplot. There is no overt romance, only hints at feelings. Because of that, this book can have 3 stars instead of 2.
The Good: great descriptions. The writing really shinned in some places, and was consistently good. My favorite scene was the last train scene, that description was just plain haunting. Some of the themes, particularly about fate, destiny and what we owe to the dead and the past, compared to what we owe to the future, were incredible. Really liked reading those parts.
The Bad: I... why do I want Albion to win against the Continent? Because I'm not sure. The author spends most of the book showing us these horrible power structures, not condemning them by using Silas as a "hard man" who's derisive but accepting of them, and then... like 10 pages from the back cover, suddenly he's giving a liberator's speech? It comes out of nowhere for his character (as written, it could be justified if he'd been written as less... apathetic and cruel), it's jarring, and it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. The dude spends 95% of his time on page killing people, mocking and being disgusted with humanity and not having an ounce of empathy. He is NOT a good choice. I'm still half convinced people are following his words because they're afraid of him, not because they actually want to. And that's not a good tone to end the book on. He needed more than 5% and two paragraphs of being human. And he could have been written better.
The Kinda: Kate the protagonist finally has some agency. But only some. She's forever cursed with been led around by the scruff of her neck and plopped down on important plot points. Not that she doesn't rise up to the occasion. She does and she fights, overtly and in subtle ways, which is important. But most of the times it's revealed it didn't matter until the very end because of... some prophecy? Well, it's a mixed bag.
Generally? A mixed bag. Didn't screw up the pacing of having left off the second book halfway through the second arc completely, so that's a plus.
quick edit: There is no romantic subplot. There is no overt romance, only hints at feelings. Because of that, this book can have 3 stars instead of 2.
The Good: great descriptions. The writing really shinned in some places, and was consistently good. My favorite scene was the last train scene, that description was just plain haunting. Some of the themes, particularly about fate, destiny and what we owe to the dead and the past, compared to what we owe to the future, were incredible. Really liked reading those parts.
The Bad: I... why do I want Albion to win against the Continent? Because I'm not sure. The author spends most of the book showing us these horrible power structures, not condemning them by using Silas as a "hard man" who's derisive but accepting of them, and then... like 10 pages from the back cover, suddenly he's giving a liberator's speech? It comes out of nowhere for his character (as written, it could be justified if he'd been written as less... apathetic and cruel), it's jarring, and it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. The dude spends 95% of his time on page killing people, mocking and being disgusted with humanity and not having an ounce of empathy. He is NOT a good choice. I'm still half convinced people are following his words because they're afraid of him, not because they actually want to. And that's not a good tone to end the book on. He needed more than 5% and two paragraphs of being human. And he could have been written better.
The Kinda: Kate the protagonist finally has some agency. But only some. She's forever cursed with been led around by the scruff of her neck and plopped down on important plot points. Not that she doesn't rise up to the occasion. She does and she fights, overtly and in subtle ways, which is important. But most of the times it's revealed it didn't matter until the very end because of... some prophecy? Well, it's a mixed bag.
Generally? A mixed bag. Didn't screw up the pacing of having left off the second book halfway through the second arc completely, so that's a plus.
August 30, 2020
Woof. Had a lot of trouble finishing this one.
It's the best written out of the trilogy for sure, and you can sense improvement as the series went along. However, it still struggles with problems that bogged the first book down—too much exposition, a lack of proper characterization, and stilted dialogue.
I originally continued reading this series for Silas and Kate and was disappointed that throughout the second and third book they really didn't have much interaction at all. The pull of the first book just wasn't replicated here for me. I found myself skimming a lot of chapters because I wasn't interested in what I was reading. I'd say the best portion was the bit at the end where we finally get some insight into Silas and Kate's soul bond thingy. Beyond that it was a drag to get through.
Overall I'd give this series a disappointed 2.5.
It's the best written out of the trilogy for sure, and you can sense improvement as the series went along. However, it still struggles with problems that bogged the first book down—too much exposition, a lack of proper characterization, and stilted dialogue.
I originally continued reading this series for Silas and Kate and was disappointed that throughout the second and third book they really didn't have much interaction at all. The pull of the first book just wasn't replicated here for me. I found myself skimming a lot of chapters because I wasn't interested in what I was reading. I'd say the best portion was the bit at the end where we finally get some insight into Silas and Kate's soul bond thingy. Beyond that it was a drag to get through.
Overall I'd give this series a disappointed 2.5.
January 6, 2019
This is the third and concluding volume to the series. After the events of the prior book, Kate is in the clutches of Dalliah Grey. Silas rescues Edgar and they work together to come up with a way to fight against her plan to destroy the Veil. Kate has lost her memory, but events begin to trigger her mind, and she starts to fight against Dalliah’s control, knowing that her life and her world are in great peril. Dalliah needs Kate to release the trapped spirits, and as she takes on these tasks, she gains knowledge about the past and her family’s history. She also learns more about Dalliah and her past and what she expects to happen. Kate must make a bold choice and sacrifices are made.
April 25, 2020
So satisfying to have a series go from good to better to great :-)
Love the conclusion, love the characters, love the world. Lots of loose ends tied up, inclusion of horror elements done right, and a fitting end to each characters' arc.
Love the conclusion, love the characters, love the world. Lots of loose ends tied up, inclusion of horror elements done right, and a fitting end to each characters' arc.
December 30, 2018
Finishing the Wintercraft trilogy, worth reading.
August 30, 2021
A good ending to the trilogy. More action on this volume.
August 15, 2017
ORIGINAL POST IN BLOG: http://60secondsormore.wordpress.com/
I received this First Reads Goodreads Giveaway book for an honest review.
There is only one word to describe this book in its trilogy: EPIC. Yes, that's right, I believe this is the best out of the three books in the Wintercraft trilogy. Burtenshaw had introduced her characters in SHADOWCRY (or WINTERCRAFT outside of the US). She then introduced the main villain and most of the corruption in the second book, BLACKWATCH. However, it is WINTERVEIL that ties the three together and makes the story truly epic.
The book starts off days after BLACKWATCH where Kate has forgotten her past and Silas and Edgar are pushed to try and save her. However, it is not just Kate they have to protect, it is also the future of Albion.
It took me a while to actually read this book, but it had nothing to do with the lack of action or speed. I was busy writing in NaNoWriMo. Anyways, the book is a one or two days tops kind of book. There are twists, motivational speeches, and a strong female lead who doesn't truly become strong until the last part of the book.
Burtenshaw had hinted at Kate's strength in the first book, but it wasn't until the third book that she truly makes it. What I love about Kate is that in the first book she was trying to bring together her family, in the second she was trying to understand what her place in life was, in the third she finally gets the answers about the Skilled, the Walkers, and the true history of Albion. On top of that, she realizes that she is not a pawn, but that she could do something.
The three books as a whole show a coming of age story with a political intrigue and fantasy twist. You can't fully appreciate Burtenshaw's work until you've read all three books. The first two had greatness in themselves, but it is the trilogy itself that made the world believable. Burtenshaw left enough information out in each book that you literally had to tie all three books together to see the true picture.
This series was deep, but not in a LOTR or GoT kind of way. It was deep in a more spiritual sense. Very good for a three day weekend. It was definitely worth the long wait to get it from the giveaway.
I received this First Reads Goodreads Giveaway book for an honest review.
There is only one word to describe this book in its trilogy: EPIC. Yes, that's right, I believe this is the best out of the three books in the Wintercraft trilogy. Burtenshaw had introduced her characters in SHADOWCRY (or WINTERCRAFT outside of the US). She then introduced the main villain and most of the corruption in the second book, BLACKWATCH. However, it is WINTERVEIL that ties the three together and makes the story truly epic.
The book starts off days after BLACKWATCH where Kate has forgotten her past and Silas and Edgar are pushed to try and save her. However, it is not just Kate they have to protect, it is also the future of Albion.
It took me a while to actually read this book, but it had nothing to do with the lack of action or speed. I was busy writing in NaNoWriMo. Anyways, the book is a one or two days tops kind of book. There are twists, motivational speeches, and a strong female lead who doesn't truly become strong until the last part of the book.
Burtenshaw had hinted at Kate's strength in the first book, but it wasn't until the third book that she truly makes it. What I love about Kate is that in the first book she was trying to bring together her family, in the second she was trying to understand what her place in life was, in the third she finally gets the answers about the Skilled, the Walkers, and the true history of Albion. On top of that, she realizes that she is not a pawn, but that she could do something.
The three books as a whole show a coming of age story with a political intrigue and fantasy twist. You can't fully appreciate Burtenshaw's work until you've read all three books. The first two had greatness in themselves, but it is the trilogy itself that made the world believable. Burtenshaw left enough information out in each book that you literally had to tie all three books together to see the true picture.
This series was deep, but not in a LOTR or GoT kind of way. It was deep in a more spiritual sense. Very good for a three day weekend. It was definitely worth the long wait to get it from the giveaway.
December 31, 2023
Loved this series kinda sad that it ended but it did leave an opening for a fourth book so we'll have to wait and see.
February 9, 2017
This is a hard one.... I'm struggling between 3 stars and four. It was a good book overall, just a bit clunky and slow at some parts, but still pretty interesting and action-packed.
WARNING. THERE are A FEW SPOILERS.
Highlight: SILAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That dude made the books SO much better. He was actually the least shallow of the characters, and was just plain awesome. Liked his back story, glad we got into it. I like how he and Kate were friends. It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. No joke.
Mehs: Kate. I liked Kate, but she wasn't my favorite. Didn't love her or anything, which was a shame, because I really liked her in Shadowcry. Didn't really have much depth, but not that big of a deal. Any pages I skimmed because while Jenna didn't overdo the descriptions in Book 1, she kinda did it in Winterveil. No biggie though. The ending. ME WANT MORE DETAIL! I DON'T WANT ONE OF THOSE THEN THEY DID THIS AND THEY DID THAT!
UGH.FAILS:First thing. Edgar.I WAS CONFUSED!One moment I thought he like liked Kate, and then the next moment they were just friends. Didn't know if Burtenshaw would have a romance in this novel. But i'm glad there wasn't, because I would have died if Kate and Edgar fell in love. *Shudder*. If there was a romance I wish it would have been between Silas and Kate. Which is highly improbable, and I do admit, would be seriously weird and creepy, but hey, that guy is awesome (maybe when Kate grows up? Nah, would still be weird.) . Another thing; The Continent war was REALLY vague. It seemed weird that they were in a war with Albion for 400 years or something and they hadn't attacked Fume before. The plot was really loose. There are some other thing I could talk about, but I don't want to keep typing.
Some good things: SILAS SILAS SILAS. He had the most depth. He was awesome. Actually had some feelings hidden in there. Loved how he sacrificed his soul, although it was sad. Silas, you have done well.
Yeah, so, this is only some of what I felt, but it was still a good book.
Au revoir!
WARNING. THERE are A FEW SPOILERS.
Highlight: SILAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That dude made the books SO much better. He was actually the least shallow of the characters, and was just plain awesome. Liked his back story, glad we got into it. I like how he and Kate were friends. It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. No joke.
Mehs: Kate. I liked Kate, but she wasn't my favorite. Didn't love her or anything, which was a shame, because I really liked her in Shadowcry. Didn't really have much depth, but not that big of a deal. Any pages I skimmed because while Jenna didn't overdo the descriptions in Book 1, she kinda did it in Winterveil. No biggie though. The ending. ME WANT MORE DETAIL! I DON'T WANT ONE OF THOSE THEN THEY DID THIS AND THEY DID THAT!
UGH.FAILS:First thing. Edgar.I WAS CONFUSED!One moment I thought he like liked Kate, and then the next moment they were just friends. Didn't know if Burtenshaw would have a romance in this novel. But i'm glad there wasn't, because I would have died if Kate and Edgar fell in love. *Shudder*. If there was a romance I wish it would have been between Silas and Kate. Which is highly improbable, and I do admit, would be seriously weird and creepy, but hey, that guy is awesome (maybe when Kate grows up? Nah, would still be weird.) . Another thing; The Continent war was REALLY vague. It seemed weird that they were in a war with Albion for 400 years or something and they hadn't attacked Fume before. The plot was really loose. There are some other thing I could talk about, but I don't want to keep typing.
Some good things: SILAS SILAS SILAS. He had the most depth. He was awesome. Actually had some feelings hidden in there. Loved how he sacrificed his soul, although it was sad. Silas, you have done well.
Yeah, so, this is only some of what I felt, but it was still a good book.
Au revoir!
Read
December 30, 2020Cross-posted from my blog where there's more information on where I got my copy and a whole bunch of links and everything.
Again, this one was just kind of fine. It opens with a random new POV who immediately dies. And I'm really not a fan of that. It feels like it's just a way to brag about how awesome your characters are. Otherwise, there's not much new from the first two books. It wraps up the series well, but it doesn't do too much forme. I don't even really have that much to say. It kinda feels like I'm just finished and I want to move on now and I hate saying something like that, but it's unfortunately true.
Really, I just... don't have anything else to say about this book.
Series wrap-up: Wintercraft is a decent middle grade fantasy series. I enjoyed it, and I'm glad I finished the series. However, it feels fairly standard for the genre, and because the genre is not my favourite to start with, I don't think I would reread it. While enjoyable, it doesn't stand out as particularly special or really very memorable. I think others could definitely enjoy it more, so I think I'll pass this one along. I have too many books, like way too many, and I don't need to keep books I don't love or want to reread, so I'm probably going to pass these along to someone else.
Other notes:
- I saw someone ask recently if adult POV could work in modern middle grade and YA books. I said I thought it could, but only in MG and not YA. The Wintercraft series is probably at least 40% or more adult POV and it works fine. However, there is some headhopping that does not work.
- If you ever see characters named Laina in books, they might actually be named after me. I certainly volunteer my name enough! There's one in the second and third books and I'm not actually sure if it is or not? Probably not, but there are a few out there that are!
Again, this one was just kind of fine. It opens with a random new POV who immediately dies. And I'm really not a fan of that. It feels like it's just a way to brag about how awesome your characters are. Otherwise, there's not much new from the first two books. It wraps up the series well, but it doesn't do too much forme. I don't even really have that much to say. It kinda feels like I'm just finished and I want to move on now and I hate saying something like that, but it's unfortunately true.
Really, I just... don't have anything else to say about this book.
Series wrap-up: Wintercraft is a decent middle grade fantasy series. I enjoyed it, and I'm glad I finished the series. However, it feels fairly standard for the genre, and because the genre is not my favourite to start with, I don't think I would reread it. While enjoyable, it doesn't stand out as particularly special or really very memorable. I think others could definitely enjoy it more, so I think I'll pass this one along. I have too many books, like way too many, and I don't need to keep books I don't love or want to reread, so I'm probably going to pass these along to someone else.
Other notes:
- I saw someone ask recently if adult POV could work in modern middle grade and YA books. I said I thought it could, but only in MG and not YA. The Wintercraft series is probably at least 40% or more adult POV and it works fine. However, there is some headhopping that does not work.
- If you ever see characters named Laina in books, they might actually be named after me. I certainly volunteer my name enough! There's one in the second and third books and I'm not actually sure if it is or not? Probably not, but there are a few out there that are!
September 13, 2013
3.5 stars
When I received this book in the mail, my first thought was, "Oh no! It's Fantasy." I'm not a really a huge fan of Fantasy books because I usually get lost in the details. The devil was not in the details in this story and that ended up being a really wonderful thing because my second hang up for reading this story was that it is the third in a trilogy that I have not read. It's hard as a reviewer to take on this task but I will say that my interest is piqued. I will definitely have to go back and pick up Shadowcry and Blackwatch to see how the story unfolded from the beginning.
Jenna Burtenshaw is a wonderful story teller. She has a fresh voice, like I've said before, when the devil is in the details and I feel like I need to keep a pad of paper handy to keep track of characters, terms, worlds, etc ... I lose focus of what is going on in the story and I give up on fantasy stories pretty quickly. This story was refreshing and I believe it would have been even easier to follow had I had any background on the characters and what had lead them to this point in their journey.
The characters are believable in their decision making and actions. I think my favorite character is Silas. I had a hard time following that he is actually dead but after sifting through reviews for Shadowcry and Blackwatch I was able to clarify that aspect of the story. Some characters are actually dead in this story but roam around with the living. Sounds crazy right? Well it's not and Jenna Burtenshaw executes her story well and I look forward to catching up on the previous books and hope to even update this review when I'm caught up. My hat is off to Burtenshaw for opening my eyes to Fantasy and I will definitely try to give it a go for other authors from now on.
When I received this book in the mail, my first thought was, "Oh no! It's Fantasy." I'm not a really a huge fan of Fantasy books because I usually get lost in the details. The devil was not in the details in this story and that ended up being a really wonderful thing because my second hang up for reading this story was that it is the third in a trilogy that I have not read. It's hard as a reviewer to take on this task but I will say that my interest is piqued. I will definitely have to go back and pick up Shadowcry and Blackwatch to see how the story unfolded from the beginning.
Jenna Burtenshaw is a wonderful story teller. She has a fresh voice, like I've said before, when the devil is in the details and I feel like I need to keep a pad of paper handy to keep track of characters, terms, worlds, etc ... I lose focus of what is going on in the story and I give up on fantasy stories pretty quickly. This story was refreshing and I believe it would have been even easier to follow had I had any background on the characters and what had lead them to this point in their journey.
The characters are believable in their decision making and actions. I think my favorite character is Silas. I had a hard time following that he is actually dead but after sifting through reviews for Shadowcry and Blackwatch I was able to clarify that aspect of the story. Some characters are actually dead in this story but roam around with the living. Sounds crazy right? Well it's not and Jenna Burtenshaw executes her story well and I look forward to catching up on the previous books and hope to even update this review when I'm caught up. My hat is off to Burtenshaw for opening my eyes to Fantasy and I will definitely try to give it a go for other authors from now on.
October 14, 2012
Assim que vi a capa do primeiro livro e respectivo título fiquei interessada, quando li a sinopse, muito curiosa fiquei, e assim que li os três livros desta fantástica trilogia, fiquei fã!
O final do segundo livro foi deixado em aberto, fazendo-me reter a respiração até ao término d'O Legado!
Já não lia uma série juvenil tão original há bastante tempo.
Kate, a nossa heroína encontra-se sob a influência da malvada Dalilah, mas, aos poucos, a sua memória começa a voltar.
Entretanto, o nosso herói Edgar e o bad boy com bom coração Silas, continuam a tentar encontrar e salvar Kate, assim como impedir a Dalilah de levar o plano de libertar os espíritos de Albion... A salvação do mundo está nas mãos dos três jovens.
Kate é uma personagem forte e bem estruturada, e bem real, pois demonstra as inseguranças da idade, embora com uma grande responsabilidade em cima dos ombros.
Dalilah é a vilã, mas não pude deixar de nutrir alguma pena dela, embora os seus planos fossem maquiavélicos e egoístas.
Edgar é encantador e corajoso, uma peça relevante na acção.
Mas, a personagem que mais me cativou foi Silas. Misterioso quanto aos seus verdadeiros intentos e motivações, convivendo com uma discussão interior entre o seu dever com Albion e a sua lealdade para com Kate.
Quatro personagens invulgares que destacam uma saga de elite!
Com uma escrita visual e pormenorizada, dotada de um vocabulário acessível à sua faixa etária, "O Livros dos Dons - O Legado" é um regozijo para o jovem leitor de fantasia.
http://leituranaoocupaespaco.blogspot...
O final do segundo livro foi deixado em aberto, fazendo-me reter a respiração até ao término d'O Legado!
Já não lia uma série juvenil tão original há bastante tempo.
Kate, a nossa heroína encontra-se sob a influência da malvada Dalilah, mas, aos poucos, a sua memória começa a voltar.
Entretanto, o nosso herói Edgar e o bad boy com bom coração Silas, continuam a tentar encontrar e salvar Kate, assim como impedir a Dalilah de levar o plano de libertar os espíritos de Albion... A salvação do mundo está nas mãos dos três jovens.
Kate é uma personagem forte e bem estruturada, e bem real, pois demonstra as inseguranças da idade, embora com uma grande responsabilidade em cima dos ombros.
Dalilah é a vilã, mas não pude deixar de nutrir alguma pena dela, embora os seus planos fossem maquiavélicos e egoístas.
Edgar é encantador e corajoso, uma peça relevante na acção.
Mas, a personagem que mais me cativou foi Silas. Misterioso quanto aos seus verdadeiros intentos e motivações, convivendo com uma discussão interior entre o seu dever com Albion e a sua lealdade para com Kate.
Quatro personagens invulgares que destacam uma saga de elite!
Com uma escrita visual e pormenorizada, dotada de um vocabulário acessível à sua faixa etária, "O Livros dos Dons - O Legado" é um regozijo para o jovem leitor de fantasia.
http://leituranaoocupaespaco.blogspot...
May 6, 2018
Much Better Than the 2nd One
WINTERVEIL rarely had a slow moment, unlike BlACKWATCH which had me skimming at times. It was fast-paced and captivating. But it still isn't worthy of 5 stars, mainly of the constantly changing POV and sometimes poor sentence structure. Also, I felt like the veil wasn't explained enough. Maybe it's just me, but I was confused on some aspects of it.
I feel like there isn't much I can say without spoiling anything. Kate seemed to have more a personality in this one, which I think built up the climax more. I was disappointed by the series as a whole by the lack of surprises and near gasp moments. The whole series was really just a plain story with some cool characters and an interesting plot. There were no hidden secrets (other than that thing with Edger at the end of BLACKWATCH, which was never explained) to be discovered or revealed in the slightest. None of the books wowed me, but they were still an enjoyable read, and I will probably reread the series in the distant future.
WINTERVEIL rarely had a slow moment, unlike BlACKWATCH which had me skimming at times. It was fast-paced and captivating. But it still isn't worthy of 5 stars, mainly of the constantly changing POV and sometimes poor sentence structure. Also, I felt like the veil wasn't explained enough. Maybe it's just me, but I was confused on some aspects of it.
I feel like there isn't much I can say without spoiling anything. Kate seemed to have more a personality in this one, which I think built up the climax more. I was disappointed by the series as a whole by the lack of surprises and near gasp moments. The whole series was really just a plain story with some cool characters and an interesting plot. There were no hidden secrets (other than that thing with Edger at the end of BLACKWATCH, which was never explained) to be discovered or revealed in the slightest. None of the books wowed me, but they were still an enjoyable read, and I will probably reread the series in the distant future.
July 2, 2016
O volume anterior acabou com Kate a ser subjugada por alguém mais forte do que ela (pelo menos aparentemente tem mais truques na manga), e completamente amnésica volta para Albion para destruir o Véu, unindo assim os mortos aos vivos e acabando de vez com a Vida como a conhecemos.
Mas existem mais personagens que fomos conhecendo nos outros 2 livros que têm os seus planos pessoais e vão tentar alterar o destino que Dalliah pretende.
Este livro quase que merecia as 5 estrelas, pois a originalidade desta trilogia foi refrescante e algo que eu já não via há muito. Além disso o fato de todas as personagens e todas as tribos do mundo superior e do inferior agora unirem-se para defenderem Albion de tantas ameaças, só me fez gostar ainda mais desta obra.
Enquanto escrevo isto ainda estou em conflito comigo mesma se lhe dou o 4 ou o 5.
De uma coisa tenho a certeza - a trilogia está FABULOSA e merece as 5 estrelinhas sem sombra de dúvida!
maybe-finish-later
November 12, 2013First impression: Another strong female protagonist who has discovered she has superpowers, has accepted herself despite the mistakes she made, and must make a crucial decision to save someone/thing that will most likely destroy a city and lead to the death of some people. Oh yea, and there is a cool guy following her, with his own problems, but he'll support her no matter what, even if they fight a lot, and they'll love each other forever.
Second impression: The strong female protagonist is a powerful figure in a well-established fantasy world, and her boy is a strong character in his own right.
This is a great finale to an epic fantasy series for teens. It is very well-written, the characters are strong and stand on their own, the magic and lore of the world is fascinating. I would highly recommend it to fantasy fans. However, the Wintercraft series is not for the casual reader. It can be a bit dry, with lengthy descriptions and long musings into politics and history.
Second impression: The strong female protagonist is a powerful figure in a well-established fantasy world, and her boy is a strong character in his own right.
This is a great finale to an epic fantasy series for teens. It is very well-written, the characters are strong and stand on their own, the magic and lore of the world is fascinating. I would highly recommend it to fantasy fans. However, the Wintercraft series is not for the casual reader. It can be a bit dry, with lengthy descriptions and long musings into politics and history.
May 3, 2014
I enjoyed this book because it was the ending to a trilogy I enjoyed, more than I enjoyed it as a book for its own sake. A lot of the action was narrated to the reader in a bundle as a fait accompli, and a couple times I hate to say it but the dreaded info dump reared it's ugly head. There was a lot of text for what amounted to very little taking place in some parts, and in other parts a lot happened but I'm still not exactly sure what. Can someone clarify for me exactly what ended up happening to Silas? The ending was a bit abrupt considering the story arc, too. So why a 3.5 star book? I enjoyed the ambiguously good/evil nature of the various protagonists, and the way the book portrayed human nature. The concept was good, even if the plot was not executed as I would have liked all the time. And lastly, I appreciated a female main character who was both strong and vulnerable. I would try more from this author.
May 25, 2014
Despite the excellent writing this is definitely an underrated series in the sense it does not get the publicity that other less well written series receive. If you like fantasy and strong female characters this is definitely an excellent edition to a well constructed YA series!
Jenna Burtenshaw is a wonderful story teller. She has a fresh voice, this story was refreshing.
The characters are believable in their decision making and actions. I think my favorite character is Silas. I had a hard time following that he is actually dead Some characters are actually dead in this story but roam around with the living. Sounds crazy right? Well it's not and Jenna Burtenshaw executes her story well and I look forward to catching up on the previous books and hope to even update this review when I'm caught up. My hat is off to Burtenshaw for opening my eyes to Fantasy and I will definitely try to give it a go for other authors from now on.
Jenna Burtenshaw is a wonderful story teller. She has a fresh voice, this story was refreshing.
The characters are believable in their decision making and actions. I think my favorite character is Silas. I had a hard time following that he is actually dead Some characters are actually dead in this story but roam around with the living. Sounds crazy right? Well it's not and Jenna Burtenshaw executes her story well and I look forward to catching up on the previous books and hope to even update this review when I'm caught up. My hat is off to Burtenshaw for opening my eyes to Fantasy and I will definitely try to give it a go for other authors from now on.
February 20, 2015
This was a fantastic ending for the trilogy. I can honestly say that I wasn't sure what to expect from the end of this book. I was terrified that one of the main three were going to die. Especially after what happened to Dalliah , I thought that Silas was going to die. I know it would have been a relief for him, but I would have been sad, he was by far my favorite character ever since he was introduced in Shadowcry. Of course, I loved Edgar and Kate as well, both fantastic characters. The whole world of the book was so beautifully written to me, now I just wish there were more of them for me to read. Kate might be done with us, but I was not ready for her story to end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2014
I couldn't focus on it half the time. It definitely is not one of my favorites. It almost has a plot like Percy Jackson with killing enemies and wars against enemies. I would suggest starting from book one because I started with this one and it started to talk about things that probably happened in the other books so it can get confusing, but after a chapter or two you do get used to the plot. It doesn't really have that much figurative language if you prefer books with that.It has an interesting ending.I would recommend this to people who like action, possibly adventure, and friendship/enemy stories.
January 14, 2023
.More reviews like this one on my blog Snapdragon Alcove
Everything in the end comes crashing down. Dalliah remains the bad guy all the way to the end but, questionable. Was it right, what she did? To cause destruction and harm to everyone so she can reach her goal in finding peace in death. Should Kate prevent the fail of the veil or not.
Everything leading up to the end is play out nicely. Kate ends up making the veil fall, going against what goal was to began with. As Kate find more about the veil and Dalliah's goal, the more things become grey.
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Total: 15/20 = 5 *stars*
Everything in the end comes crashing down. Dalliah remains the bad guy all the way to the end but, questionable. Was it right, what she did? To cause destruction and harm to everyone so she can reach her goal in finding peace in death. Should Kate prevent the fail of the veil or not.
Everything leading up to the end is play out nicely. Kate ends up making the veil fall, going against what goal was to began with. As Kate find more about the veil and Dalliah's goal, the more things become grey.
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Total: 15/20 = 5 *stars*
September 6, 2014
I'm usually not a huge fan of fantasy (most of them never clicked with me), but after I received this book and tried it, I am definitely willing to continue on.
A story about the Skilled and Walkers or people who have an ability to communicate in a way with the dead and the other side aka veil, a city where the dead lives, and the world of this book in general, really, intrigued me.
I didn't fully understood what happened in the earlier books so that's why I left it at 4stars, but after catching up on the first two, probably going to up the stars.
A story about the Skilled and Walkers or people who have an ability to communicate in a way with the dead and the other side aka veil, a city where the dead lives, and the world of this book in general, really, intrigued me.
I didn't fully understood what happened in the earlier books so that's why I left it at 4stars, but after catching up on the first two, probably going to up the stars.
September 20, 2013
I really liked this series because of the way the main characters have this bond with one another. There's a feeling of almost lovers or sibling love between Silas,Kate and Edgar. Part of me wants romance but I am quite happy this book had none at all. I feel a bit bittersweet about what happens because I wanted a certain someone to find peace at the end. The danger is over but I suppose the open ending gives me hope that things will be ok. I know this is the last book but part of me wants a book 4.
October 17, 2013
This is the third book in The Secrets of Wintercraft series. I haven’t read either of the prior books, but this book stood alone just fine; however, as with most series, you get a deeper story of the characters and their world, it’s always best to start at the beginning. This was definitely a well written book and Kate Winters definitely is a powerfully written character that most readers will be able to relate to, outside the special powers stuff of course.
Read entire read on my website at http://www.musingwithcrayolakym.com/3...
Read entire read on my website at http://www.musingwithcrayolakym.com/3...
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