The Winter Kissed Kings

The Winter Queen Duet #2

by Ivy Fox

From the USA Today Bestselling Author Ivy Fox comes the last installment in The Winter Queen Duet, where every secret and lie will be forced into the light to either save or destroy the Kingdom of Aikyam.

The plan was simple.
Subdue my would-be usurpers with a marriage proposal and guarantee my sovereignty.
Little did I know that my reign should have been the least of my worries.
Levi won my heart and carved his name inside it for all to see.
Teodoro conquered my body, bending it to his will and calling it his own.
But Atlas… Atlas wants my soul—to conquer and destroy.
He wants to ruin me.
And what’s worse… I have half a mind to let him.

*The Frost Touched Queen is a #whychoose, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, medieval royal romance.
*This is the last book in The Winter Queen duet.
*Recommended 18+ due to mature language and situations.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Why Choose, Enemies To Lovers, Second Chance, Dark, Forced Proximity

447 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 29, 2023

About the author

Ivy Fox is a USA Today bestselling author of angst-filled, contemporary romances, some of them with an unconventional #whychoose twist.

So don’t be surprised if you pick up a book of hers and find out that her heroine ends up with more than one guy.

Wink wink.

Just like her, Ivy lives a pretty chill life, surrounded by her two most important men—her husband and son. The only thing that keeps her up at night are the fictional characters in her head that can't seem to shut up until she writes their story.

But she's gotten used to them running the show and is all too happy to oblige.

Books and romance are her passion.

A strong believer in happy endings and that love will always prevail in the end, both in life and in fiction.

For more news on current and upcoming projects, get the inside scoop and sneak peeks by stalking Ivy on Social media!

Website: https://www.ivyfoxauthor.com/

FB Author page: https://www.facebook.com/IvyFoxAuthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivyfoxauthor/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ivyfoxauthor

But for all the brave and sassy come join her FB reader's group - Ivy Sassy Foxes

Reviews

[Jessica ❥Chatterbooks Book Blog❥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Somehow, I didn't realize this was going to be a duet, or I probably wouldn't have picked it up. Reading duets rarely turns out well for me. I tend to enjoy the first book only for the second to fail to live up to my expectations. RH duets are even more unlikely to leave me satisfied, because the author has to build and develop relationships between the heroine and several heroes instead of just one, which is a lot to cram into only two books. Thankfully, that was not the case here at all.

The Winter Kissed Kings captivated me just as much as its predecessor. I never felt like Katrina's relationship with Levi, Teo, or Atlas was underdeveloped or rushed. All four of them, having grown up together along with the author giving us flashbacks into their past, helped provide a solid foundation for each of their relationships to build on, which made their love all the more believable and intense.

Not only did I feel satisfied with the romantic relationships in this story, but the friendships were incredibly well done, too. The one between the kings themselves is as beautiful and emotional as their romance with Kat. It warmed my heart to see them all finally together as one, brothers in all the ways that count.

I could never mention friendship in this review without talking about the one between Kat, Inessa, and Anya. They are true ride or dies, and the best friends anyone could ever ask for. I loved witnessing their friendship over both books, and I thought it was extra fucking cool that Anya and Inessa got love interests and happy endings of their own. In order to avoid spoilers, I won't mention their boos by name, but I adore them all as well as the friendships they have with other characters.

As much as I love everything I've mentioned thus far, Katrina coming into her own as queen was the highlight of the story for me. When she started her journey across Aikyam, Kat was a sheltered newbie monarch just trying to hold on to her reign, but over the course of this duet, she became a confident, badass queen more than worthy of her title and the four kingdoms under her rule.

It's so hard for me not to spoil right now by talking about my favorite part of TWKK, so I'm going to wrap this up. Just know, Kat is THAT BITCH! Ivy Fox, bravo on this finale! I enjoyed every second of it.

Fantasy RH fans, this one's for you!

[Vee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book blew my mind. This book only cause a small explosion, but an explosion nonetheless.

There was no content warning again, but this book is not as triggering as the previous. SA isn't mentioned or featured, but there is mention of S3x trafficking of minors and women. This is only briefly though (Yeah this still isn’t a fluffy read). The biggest triggers would be in reference to violence/gore, so if you’re not sensitive to this it's fine.

I’ve tried to leave out any spoilers.

So the book..

This is very much Atlas and Katrina’s book, as the 2 other two guys were mainly featured in the first. I'm not complaining about this, I actually like that each guy had a dedicated section.

Atlas is a straight up psycho ! He projects a ‘touch her and die’ vibe constantly, so of course he is my favourite. He makes some utterly horrendous decisions in this book and the miscommunication plot is at the forefront again. You need to wait for the retribution storyline, it's worth it. Would it be easier to just talk everything out when she first arrives.… yes. Do they do that... No.

The flashback scenes were frequent enough to give context to the current plot, but didn’t overpower the book. A lot of them were very sweet and the teenage love was cute.

This one was a bit harder to rationalise, as the things he was accusing her of were just ridiculous. They grew up with this girl, so surely they would know that she couldn’t do the things they are accusing her of.

Although… they could have been blinded by so much hate that they couldn’t see straight, so I may take this point back.

The other 2 guys re-enter the plot for the second half of the book. I liked the last 50% the least. I think a lot of the time the plot was abandoned a bit for the smut and it got a tad repetitive. The action scenes at the end were some of my favourites, especially the ♥️ scene. It was gross, yet very empowering for the FMC. I would have probably been happy to end the book here.

I don’t know if I necessary needed the epilogue or the epilogue that followed the epilogue. As long as you can see the fmc is happy, I don’t know if you need multiple time jumps to see how they progressed.

Solid 3⭐️’s

[T.P.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second part of the duet was all about Atlas. Initially, I thought that he is going to be a gem, but sadly that was not the case. For some reason the story lost its magic for me here though I am not sure I could actually pinpoint what did not sit right with me. The FMC was so accepting of everything- the torture, misguided vengeance on his behalf and of course, then all of a sudden he wants her and she gives in.
I really liked the first book, so when the climax approached as the Winter Queen reached her home and sought after the cruel masterminds behind all the evil deeds, everything was over rather quickly.
Good story, but this second part sadly did not engage me as much as the first instalment.

[⊹ Gabriela | Asternyx ⊹ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I waited so long for this book! I devoured it in one day and I'm absolutely content with the ending.

These characters deserved their happily-ever-after, but they had a long way to go to get there.
I was delighted to accompany them on this journey ❤️

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was honored to be able to read an advanced copy of Ivy Fox’s The Winter Kissed Kings. The final installment in The Winter Queen duet picks up where the first left off. Plunging back into the kingdom of Aikyam the reader is drawn back into the life of the Queen of the North working to save her kingdom.

This is an epic tale of why choose royal romance that will leave you breathless and hooked. The tragic backstories of the kings and queen will capture your heart while their present day situation works to heal it while leaving you in suspense of the outcome.

Ivy Fox has a way of capturing the reader’s attention and keeping it until the final words of any of her books. This left me wanting more of their stories and more of their romance.

🏷️ #indieauthors #supportindieauthors #ilovebooks #promoteindieauthors
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[Mandyloves2read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book in one sitting it was so good! After that ending of the first book I couldn’t wait for this one and Ivy didn’t disappoint this was a emotional whirlwind of a ride the steam was deliciously hot and this story was everything I anticipated it would be and more! Bravo Ivy Fox ! Bravo!

[Nat]

dnf @ 65%

[Natalie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

----------- ❄️❄️ Audio review ❄️❄️----------


I loved the way this duet was finished. This book was action packed and we finally got all the answers that had been building up from book one.

The narrators were amazing.

[Kendra Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Nicoleta · Rating 1 out of 5]

no puedo creer que le den 5 estrellas, esta gente tiene la vara bajísima

[Anto~mcbr · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐

The fact that both books in this duet, The Frost Touched Queen and The Winter Kissed Kings , passed through the hands—and eyes—of not only an editor but also a proofreader and still got published with so many mistakes is wild to me. Errors like "what a life summons up to" or "a foreboding feeling of helplessness begins to take route in my heart" are, frankly, inexcusable. Both books had a shocking amount of grammar and punctuation mistakes, as well as, malapropisms and continuity errors (like the guys using the wrong pet name, or Cleo calling Atlas, Teo) that negatively affected my reading experience.

Sometimes, I consider highlighting all the mistakes I find as I read along on my Kindle and then making them public here so, if the author wants to, they can go back and implement the corrections. But then I realize that'd be free labor and, as much as SPaG errors annoy me, it shouldn't fall on readers to do the work people—who I presume to be professionals—were hired to tackle. And perhaps the manuscript was a disaster, both the editor and proofreader worked their butts off and caught innumerable goofs, and the published product was leaps and bounds better than the original work they received. But it still wasn't good enough.

The inappropriate vernacular considering the medieval setting also continued to make an appearance. For example, with characters using the pet name babe. But it was, overall, admittedly better than in the last book.

Also, it warrants being said that all the angst I missed during The Frost Touched Queen showed up with a vengeance this time around. The confrontations between Levi and Kat during the first book were nothing but child's play considering how her reunion with Atlas went. Hell hath no fury like a sweet, broken-hearted boy turned vicious, ruthless King.

Those first chapters where the sovereign of the west had nothing but contempt and loathing for the Winter Queen were my favorite of the duet as a whole. The "enemies" part of enemies-to-lovers is my happy place, what can I say? And a lot of time was dedicated to Atlas hating Kat and yet being grudgingly emotionally attached to her still, which, again, what's not to like about that? Inner turmoil fueled by involuntary attraction and denied sexual tension will never not bring me joy.

The resolution of the betrayal plot which had seen some very light setting up previously, but got fully put together in this book, was rather quick and straightforward. Which was ok, since the was always meant to be a Why Choose romance and not a royal thriller.

All in all, it was a fairly predictable plot that we ended up getting, but still sufficiently entertaining. I remain firm in my belief that while the spice was ok, it was still super weird how Kat went from naive virgin to full polyamory with intense masochist vibes in a few short weeks. And that this duet desperately needs another good round of proofing.

[bookaddict2021 · Rating 4 out of 5]

And what truth is that?” ... “That love isn’t enough to save a tortured soul. And eventually, all it will do is condemn your own.”

Winter Kissed Kings is a historical reverse harem romance in which we get
to meet Katrina of Bratsk’s third love interest King Atlas of Narbeth from the South. As the above quote suggests there is more of a darker element to the second and final book so prepare yourself for the darkness.

Kat is already extremely conflicted about her feelings for both Teodoro and Levi, she doesn’t want to hurt anyone but every day her well-thought out plan to get these kings back in line is crumbling. Her character growth between the ice-cold queen relying somewhat on her advisors to the strong independent, compassionate women that she becomes. However, she displays a lot of naivete in the beginning after what she knows about her father now, his unforgivably dark actions towards the East and South she stubbornly misses the warning signs that the West have also suffered.

Atlas of Narbeth is no longer the weak, sick, vulnerable boy of her childhood but a strong, powerful, ruthless King who only has revenge on the brain and is determined to avenge his Kingdom for what the North has done. But he is also conflicted, here is the girl he’s loved his whole life, his best friend, the other half of his soul, he knows her so well and yet the deception he suffered changed his opinion so quickly of her. His hatred of her is like a forest fire, out of control and completely uncontrollable until he caves to feelings and the hared s instantly turned into guilt.

The switching from the present to the past to give us more context was probably one of my favourite things about this author's writing style and the story. Witty, humorous side characters were also another favourite especially Cleo and King Cristobal. Full of emotional scenes, none more so than Kat finding out how truly awful and evil her father’s cruelty was. However, Grief played a huge part in his actions but I do have to wonder how much of a certain person’s whisperings might have also been the cause.

But there is still a few questions, that still requires answers.
Who will she choose as her king?
Can she can have all three kings?
And will there be much left of the North to save?

[Leslie || original book nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Winter Kissed Kings - The Winter Queen Duet #2 - Review
 
Couple: Queen Katrina with King Levi, King Teodoro & King Atlas
 
Author: Ivy Fox
 
Tropes: RH, royal romance, second chance, shared past, frenemy to lovers, dark romance, fantasy-like with no magic, multi-POV
 
Review: Ivy creates a thrilling and mystical feeling finale to the Winter Queen Duet! In this conclusion all secrets are bared and the truth is revealed once and for all. Ivy left no stone unturned or feeling unanswered in this multi-POV romance and Atlas delivers it ten-fold!
 
This book is centered around the cataclysmic meeting between Katrina and Atlas when an age-old grudge is met face to face. I went through so many emotions while reading this book and the history and feelings between the two are a LOT darker tan Theo and Levi. I loved getting to read the animosity that turned to forgiveness and more, especially when Atlas begins to realize how much Kat’s court is deceiving her. While Atlas’ treatment of Kat was horrible at first, this book uncovers just how close these two were as kids and we FINALLY learn what event occurred that fractured their trust and love in one another as children.
 
Atlas is dark and broody. He fits the trio perfectly since Theo is a ray of sunshine and Levi is stoic and silent. I thought Ivy created the dynamic between all of them really well and really enjoyed how Atlas was the one that brought them al together for her at the end. The range of emotions Ivy creates for Atlas’ character is astounding and she really outdid herself in this book! I loved how he overcame the illness he had as a kid and it was not lot on me how Kat almost dies from a similar disease in his dungeons. What really made me like his character though was his devotion to her once he is able to move away from his past and unite his kingdom for her fight.
 
This book is super spicy and we finally get to read about how each male is affected by Kat and the others in the group. I loved how Theo was more reflective in this book and I felt like his development really added a lot to the story since we see his Kingly side. Levi was also a pleasant surprise. I appreciated how Ivy created his moral conflict and jealousy instead of brushing over it. However, the best was the scenes with all four of them together. The ease and familiarity they all have is the best written part of the book and I hope we get more bonus content about them in the future!
 
Rating: No scale….too good to rate and table to put down!

[Ana Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, finally I got my hands on this book, and dayum, I couldn't start it fast enough.
Ivy Fox is amazing and her books show us just how much. She had the ability to hook me up with just one book, and since then, I'm always eager for more.
Her writing is raw, wild, intense and so much more.
Have you had the chance to read her books? Just do it and you'll see why I'm always happy to read more.
She's a very versatile author because she can dive into the mafia dark world, and then change to this RH world that will melt your panties...just saying.
The Winter Kissed Kings is her latest release and it's the second book from The Winter Queen Duet.
But I need to tell you something, this book is not a standalone, therefore you need to read The Frost Touched Queen first, and only then, this one.
This book keeps telling us Katrina, Levi, Teo, and Atlas stories.
These four have a unique relationship. What started as a means to an end, soon evolved into something more and...
How can I say more without spoiling? Honestly, I don't think I can so I'm not going to say too much.
What I can say is that this book was amazing, super intense, and hot as freaking hell...Jesus.
Loved the fact that this book started right where the first book ended.
It was amazing because I had so many questions that left me thinking about this new book.
The unknown, the danger, and the uncertainty were present in every chapter, and that made reading so much more appealing.
Love the chemistry all the main characters share as well as the true friendship.
Not everything needs to be black and white. sometimes we need a bit of grey to highlight our lives.
Guys, once I started to read this book, I realized that would be impossible to stop so I read it all in one sitting.
I was so into the story that I saw myself growling every time I got interrupted... scary right?? lol
Overall, it was one hell of a duet and my favorite for this genre.
Ivy, oh sweet Ivy...you nailed it once again. Loved it so freaking much and I want more, so much more.
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book.  

[Emilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮."

First of all: I'm so grateful that I've got the chance to read "The Winter Kissed Kings" as an ARC. Thank you so, so much Ivy Fox and Wordsmith Publicity !!!
Even though I got a free copy, this review states my honest opinion.

Getting into the story again after reading the prequel months ago turned out to be very easy. In fact, I needed only ten hours (with everyday life interruptions, of course) to finish the whole book. Oops. In my defense, "The Winter Kissed Kings" delivered all I wanted: heavy plot, oh so spicy scenes and many emotions!
Let's start with the MCs: Kat, Theo, Levi and Atlas. One thing I loved most are the snippets about their childhoods. Absolute Atlas-cuteness alarm! But the present is equally good too with enemies-to-lovers having the HURT/COMFORT trope! (Swoon.)
But the MCs don't keep the spotlight all to themselves, no, the different side characters have a chance for their HEA as well.
All things need to end and that includes this lovely reverse harem series as well. The book builds very realistic redemption arcs and some character developments in the last chapters. You think you know how the story will turn out and then comes the big event that threw my theories in the wind and totally shocked me.
Again, a great book written by Ivy Fox. And it won't be my last!

5+/5⭐️

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.

This is the conclusion to The Winter Queen Duet. You will need to read The Frost Touched Queen first or you will be lost. I loved this world that Ivy Fox has created. You have three kings and one Queen. King Levi, King Atlas and King Teodoro. The kingdom of Aikyam is about to go through it and when all is said and done and the secrets and lies have been exposed will the Kingdom survive or be destroyed. She needs to guarantee her sovereignty. The way she decides to do that is a marriage proposal. She worries about it and needs this to happen. But that's not what she needs to be worried about at all. The men that rule too are to be worried about. One wants her heart, one her soul and the other her body. The problem is she feels something different for all three of them. Having one of them is next to impossible. But are they willing to share? Well you have to read to find out. I loved reading this book and about the world that is created between the cover of this book. I loved seeing things change and grow between these childhood friends. There is more to this book than just the love story too. It is one that will have you hooked. If you like a fantasy world and why choose romance then you will love this book.

[Ryla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy Fox once again out does herself! Through everything she has faced while writing this book, it turned out as a pure masterpiece!

At the end of book one, we were still missing one angry King. One who truly had a reason to hate everything about the Queen of the North. Herself included. Atlas' heart and soul only yearned for one thing in the beginning, revenge. Making the North suffer the way him and the people of the West had suffered. We see Atlas’ anger but we also see his sadness eating at him through some of the moments with Kat. As the book goes on, the realization hits Atlas, like Kat, some of the things he remembered were not as they truly were. Lies. Lies fill this book, from Kat’s memory to Atlas’ even to the moments with Levi and Teo. The ending truly was deserved for all of these characters, except Salome, Elijah and half of Tarnow 😭😭😭😭 those poor souls.

I am not sure what exactly Ivy Fox puts in her books but honestly I'm addicted. Every time Ivy starts to announce a new book or a series (regardless of if it's written with anyone), I. Eat. It. Up! I cannot get enough of her writing, the way her characters develop, and the trials leading up to the end that they face.

Pure magic! I loved Teo in the first book, but if I had to choose one; Atlas has my heart. Luckily this book is WHY CHOOSE though 😉

[Laurenloveslit81 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy Fox really knows how to rip my heart to pieces (but she’s really good at putting it back together again)! I was absolutely enamored with this world in book 1 and that feeling continues with book 2. This type of book isn’t even usually my style but I am absolutely obsessed with this duet.

We start of book 3 with the reunion of Kat and Atlas and it is an emotional roller coaster from start to finish. Just as with the first 2 kings, Atlas is hot, hot, hot (even though you want to throttle him for a bit). Also, like with Teo and Levi, Atlas and Kat’s story is full of sadness and miscommunication and it’s a wonder that all of them have survived what they have been through.

Of course, this has all been leading up to an explosive showdown to reclaim Kat’s kingdom and it doesn’t disappoint. We also get a lot of exciting and emotional moments with the side characters of the story and I would love to see Ivy give us more of them in the future.

This duet was such an adventure. It was filled with love, loss, an epic battle, and tons of spice. The relationships between these characters are so sweet, even when they’re being put through the wringer, and I love the chemistry among all of them. Even if stories of royalty are not something you typically enjoy, you’re going to love this one.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, the queen of angst herself has written a deliciously sinful (in the best way 😉), addicting novel that you can’t put down!

I was so excited to dive back into the Winter Queen Duet! Buckle up before reading, because this 2nd installment takes you on a wild, spice & revenge filled ride. It is a true enemies to lovers, with kidnapping and hot, smutty scenes 🥵!

I cried happy tears, devastated tears…so many tears!!! 😭
I would say this falls near the cusp of dark romance, but is NOT considered dark romance. (Check TW ⚠️ though)

Ivy does a phenomenal job with character development & redemption. You go from hating to loving characters which is no easy feat! There is angst & heavy-but-engaging plot that all wraps up like a pretty bow by the end 🎀!

Add to your TBR if you like:
-Enemies to Lovers
-MFM (with 3 males) Why Choose
-Medieval Setting
-Some Gruesome Scenes
-Timeline Flashbacks
-LGBTQ Character Representation
-Royal Romance

𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟓.𝟓/𝟔 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
(I rate on amount & explicitness/ 6 being kinky AF)
This book had some 🔥🔥🔥 scenes!! They don’t call it why choose for nothin’ 🥵!!!
👀 Chapter 40 🗡️ 🅸🆈🅺🆈🅺 😜🤭

𝑀𝓎 𝑀𝒾𝓈𝑒𝓇𝓎. 𝑀𝓎 𝒮𝓊𝒻𝒻𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔. 𝑀𝓎 𝐵𝓁𝑜𝑜𝒹.

I received an ARC and my review and opinions are my own.

[Heather Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a hot and spicy way to end a duet. Oh, how I would love to be a part of this King's sandwich.

This epic angsty love & war tale comes to a conclusion in The Winter Kissed Kings. Katrina has already visited the Kings in the West (Levi) and the South (Teo) and now must embark on her journey East to King Atlas. He hates her the most and she knows she won't win his love back like the others. He wants his revenge and won't stop till he gets justice for his people and especially his mother. But the reason for all his hate is just gut-wrenching, heartbreaking sad. It takes a near death experience TWICE for something to turn in the right direction and when they do. HOLY SMOKES! Atlas is little Atty no more. He came to play with the big boys, and he delivers.

If you thought book 1 blew your mind, then you are in for a wild ride with this one. I was constantly on the edge waiting to see what was going to happen next and if Kat was going to be okay. Atlas doesn't back down and that's what makes him slightly better. His dominance and presence are what helps build that trust back up and form some unlikely bonds. These men really do embody all of Kat's heart, body and soul. Each man fills a void in her and without them all she won't be complete. And the spice/ RH scenes were on point. Especially the greenhouse and boat scene!!

Please check trigger warnings before reading. This duet deals with some heavy topics that may not be suitable for everyone. Thank you, Ivy, for this fantastic duet. It's sad to see this character's story come to an end. But a beautiful ending it was.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in The Winter Queen Duet, and it is not a standalone. I will caution those with triggers to proceed with care. It picks up where the first book left off and brings Katrina to the west where she has her time with Atlas. It does not go as expected and Kat truly learns what she is made of and how far the citizens of the west, along with their king, were pushed for them to behave the way they do. When the other two kings, Levi and Teo, finally arrive on the scene, so much has changed and Katrina finally realizes that the enemy they are seeking may be closer than originally thought. The bond between the four childhood friends seems to be reestablishing itself but is everyone willing to play ball? To say that I love this book and Katrina of Bratsk would be an understatement. She is the epitome of a leader who knows how to do what must be done while never letting anyone walk over her. It reminds one of the Dirty Dancing scene and the classic line, “nobody puts Baby in the corner.” Fueled with fire and passion, this is one duet that is not to be missed! I highly recommend this book.

[Jens_Book_Cubby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Winter Kissed Kings is the second half of The Winter Queen Duet. It is a why choose, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, medieval royal romance with action, intrigue, steam, a king out for revenge, an abundance of character growth and development, and a well deserved happily ever after.

This second book starts with Kat traveling to the West to see Atlas, the last of the Kings, and let’s just say she doesn’t get the welcome from her childhood friend that she thought she would. Kat learns about the atrocities that have been committed against the West, and that she is being held responsible for. She needs to find a way to stop the wrongdoings and make things right, she needs to be the Queen her people need and deserve.

I loved the characters and seeing their growth throughout this story. I also loved how Kat and her Kings’ relationships evolve. The writing, flow, storytelling, storyline, character development, and world building are also all fantastic.

This is a fabulous conclusion to this duet. I loved the story and would absolutely recommend it.

[Richelle Zirkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

We finally have Atlas and Kat reunited, and it’s not exactly peaceful. Atlas is not the boy of her childhood anymore. We learn what his people have had to endure, and it is ugly. He’s had to embody the strength necessary to lead an army, and he’s finally ready to get his revenge. As for Kat, all of the kings have shared with her, and she finally has the full picture, realizing that the enemy of her kingdom lies closer to home. You know what they say about the enemy of your enemy…But will Teodoro and Levi understand? Her heart belongs to each of them and with her people. I love how savvy Kat proves to be and that she never takes a backseat in claiming the kingdom or doing what must be done. This duet is not to be missed. It has so much heart and is filled with secondary characters that steal the show!

[Annie (_anniereadsbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

i cannot say enough good things about this duet. it totally captured all of my attention to the point i couldn’t sleep (and sometimes work) because all i could do was read it.

book 2 follows Katrina on her trip to see the last remaining king, and the most loathsome of them all, Atlas. the atrocities that he endured under the rule of the northern King were awful, and made his hatred for Kat that much stronger. the tension between these two was so strong but it made their story and their relationship that much better.

when Queen Katrina uncovers who her true enemy is, there is more at stake than just her kingdom. the Queen is strongest with her three kings by her side, and they all need each other when the kingdom goes to war.

I loved this book! Ivy created such a world here and I truly enjoyed everything about it. the side characters were also amazing! i highly recommend.

[TheSugaredBookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Hail the Winter Queen!

Wow!!! This book was nonstop action!! I didn't know how Ivy Fox was going to wrap up this amazing story but she did it so beautifully!! Kat was such a great character! She's graceful, elegant, just and loyal to her people. She really is the perfect queen. We met Levi and Teo in book 1 and I couldn't choose between them. I didn't think the choice could get any harder, and then Atlas made his entrance. And he was nothing like Kat remembered him. All grown up and ruthless. Together, they are a force unlike any their world has ever seen. The character development was beautiful! I loved everything and couldn't put it down!! There are so many twists and all our questions are answered! And there's a beautiful ending that I teared up with! Definitely a story that will become a favorite!!

[Lindsey Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can always count on Ivy to give you the best reading experience and this book was no different. After the Cliffhanger in book one I was dying to find out what was going to happen in this book and I was not disappointed at all. The emotions that you feel throughout this book are all over the place, the hot steamy scenes well let's just say you may need a fan for those. Then you have the storyline and Ivy could not have done a better job it honestly had me reading front to back in one sitting I could not put it down. Watching these characters grow into a relationship was awesome and its definitely something you will want to experience. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next I just know I will be grabbing it for sure.

[Claudia Coenen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book

O my lawd, this book broke me, it made me cry, poor Kat, but also poor Atlas how much pain you must feel to go through that all and all the evidence points you in the direction of the one you love the most and now your brother as well?!

That should mean revenge right? Well read the books, get your heart broken, mended, broken again, set on fire, and smile at the end.

This duet is a masterpiece and I'm so happy this came on my path! It's a must read for all RH readers and lovers, for the readers who love a whole lot of plot with their smut and getting all the feels!

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Winter Kissed Kings is the 2nd and last book in The Winter Queen Duet. Be prepared, a hell of lot happens in it (way too many spoilers to put it in this review!!). It picks up right where book 1 ended with Kat on her way too Atlas and its not exactly a warm welcome that she gets when she arrives. More truths are uncovered and things get pretty dark for Kat. With some genuinely sad moments too for her. Things come to a head for her, Atlas, Levi and Teo where they have to confront all that has happened to each of them. All the secrets, lies and revenge. Al of the loose ends were tied up brilliantly. It was a killer read. Loved It.

[FS Meurinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I immersed myself in a captivating world of royal intrigue, love, and power struggles in the Kingdom of Aikyam. This book introduces darker elements, revealing hidden truths and challenging Katrina's loyalties. The story skillfully weaves past and present, providing context and depth. The emotional scenes, especially the revelations about Katrina's father, contribute to the story's complexity. Yet, lingering questions remain about Katrina's choice of king and the fate of the North. Overall, it is a captivating conclusion to a fantasy reverse harem romance, exploring themes of love, power, and redemption in the Kingdom of Aikyam.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This conclusion.. man did it put me through the ringer. From book one we saw the queen with two kings, now there is one more. Who will she choose? Ugh after reading this book, I was put in a book slump. I’ve been obsessed with this world and will definitely be a re-read duet. Ivy has really outdone herself with this duet.

Dark Fantasy, secrets, lies, heartbreak, all of it. Be prepared to finish in one sitting. Ivy will keep your nose stuck to the screen (or book 🤣)

Highly recommend this duet. You won’t be disappointed.