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The Four Winds #2
The West Wind
The Four Winds series continues in this darkly reimagined tale of forbidden love with influences from the Scottish ballad Tam Lin and the Greek myth of Hero and Leander. Brielle of Thornbrook has dedicated her life to the abbey. She spends her days forging iron and studying the Text, all in preparation of becoming an acolyte—a shepherd of the Father. Twenty-one years on this earth and she has never touched a man. And she never will. Yet dark things uncoil beyond Thornbrook's high stone walls. A chance encounter with an alluring stranger leads Brielle to Under, where the air breathes rot and the roots grow black. Zephyrus, Bringer of Spring, with eyes of green. In Under, those Brielle can trust are few, least of all Zephyrus. But never has a man so thoroughly ensnared her. When faith and heart collide, Brielle learns how quickly threads unravel, even her most sacred thou shalt not forsake the Father. For He is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory. Forever and ever. Amen. The West Wind is a standalone fantasy romance sprinkled with Greek lore, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Scarlett St. Clair and Raven Kennedy.
461 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2023
655 people are currently reading
20285 people want to read
About the author
Alexandria Warwick
13 books866 followersAlexandria Warwick is the author of the Four Winds series and the North series. A classically trained violinist, she spends much of her time performing in orchestras. She lives in Florida.
To find out more, visit alexandriawarwick.com or follow @alexandriawarwick on Instagram.
To find out more, visit alexandriawarwick.com or follow @alexandriawarwick on Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 793 reviews
July 16, 2023
well. this could have been more enjoyable if it wasnt so long and/or had a better payoff in the end.
while the concept is a good one, especially for a fantasy romance, the pacing is just too slow. and while a good slow burn needs that time to let things simmer, this book doesnt take advantage of that. so the reader is left with a story that could have been edited down significantly because there is nothing the long length accomplishes.
that being said, there was never really a time i had to force myself to push through as the plot itself is interesting enough. i just wish the romance had been better executed.
↠ 2.5 stars
while the concept is a good one, especially for a fantasy romance, the pacing is just too slow. and while a good slow burn needs that time to let things simmer, this book doesnt take advantage of that. so the reader is left with a story that could have been edited down significantly because there is nothing the long length accomplishes.
that being said, there was never really a time i had to force myself to push through as the plot itself is interesting enough. i just wish the romance had been better executed.
↠ 2.5 stars
May 26, 2023
A frustrating read with a premise that was attractive enough (it has elements of Tam Lin that will be obvious to those that know the Scottish ballad), but the writing was difficult to get into and the pace exasperatingly slow. The characters are very dull most of the time, especially Brielle, the blandest heroine I've read in a while. And the romance, that is meant to be slow-burn, turns out to be cringey by the end, with a sex scene that would make Anakin recoil for all that rough sand that gets everywhere but that somehow doesn't bother the characters.
I don't think I'll be giving this author more opportunities after two books in a row that I've found rather disappointing.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don't think I'll be giving this author more opportunities after two books in a row that I've found rather disappointing.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2023
3.5 Blade Stars ⭐
Spicy Level: 🌶️/5
This is very much the definition of it's not you, it's me.
And as much as that sounds cliché, there isn't another way to frame how I feel about this without saying that I'm the problem. It's not the book, it's me. Suppose I have to separate the writing, worldbuilding, characters, and plot and look at it objectively without my personal preference. In that case, it is an incredibly well-written book with a superb redemption arc and complex character growth. I really did love the writing. It is clean and descriptive while still giving a balance of character and plot.
However, there is a large religious aspect in this book. A religion which wasn't necessarily Christian but pulls on a lot of the Christian faith, practices and beliefs. It just felt a bit much. I didn't particularly like reading a book about a woman who questions her faith and goes on a journey to finding herself through romance. Which I know I am hypocritical since The Sound of Music is one of my all-time favourite movies, but something about this just didn't vibe with me.
This book follows Brielle, who in my mind is quite boring as a character at the start. She doesn't really have much of a personality and her personality flip flops a little bit in that one moment she stands up for herself and then she doesn't. We meet her when she is overly obedient, weak and avoids conflict. She is bullied and verbally abused by the others at the Abbey and just lets this happen to her with no fight.
One day she meets a mysterious man who has been beaten and is left for dead, and she breaks one of the rules by bringing a man into the Abbey to heal him. After a while, he gets better and to repay her he offers to take her into Under (the Fae Realm) to have questions answered. Given she wants nothing more than to become an Acolyte and cannot understand why she has yet been chosen to ascend, she follows him.
This really does have a decent character development arc, which is why I say that if I separate my own dislike of religion in stories, this is really good. You have a woman who questions her place in the world, questions her beliefs, her understandings, what she's been told, and taught and above all questions what's been indoctrinated into her. She acknowledges that she is naive and she hasn't experienced the world for what it is. So when she is given the opportunity to do so, she discovers who she really is meant to be.
Some aspects of her growth did feel a little fast, especially when it came to her relationship with Zepherus, I think she flips the switch to loving him too quickly... I think this is due to the fact that I didn't really feel the spark was fully there. The hypocrisy of her actions between breaking her vows to still believing in her vows and the constant switch back and forth made me feel something was missing.
In the end, the romance was sweet and I appreciated the redemption arc that Zeph went through. I mean, he was very much the villain in Book One. So it was great to see how he got his own story and hear the explanations for all the multifaceted layers of what actually drives the motivations of his actions.
I do have to give credit to Alexandria Warwick for how amazing the worldbuilding was because I believed it. I believed the religion. I believed there is this world where this faith exists. A world with a Christian-like religion within an abbey, close to a fae realm and I believed these worlds are all connected. I also appreciated that this was its own unique story with its own unique dynamics. It wasn't the North Wind Book 2 - this was The West Wind, a book that can very easily be read as a standalone.
Ultimately, if religion in books doesn't bother you, you might really like this book. It feels like Chick lit set in a fantasy world, as the romance isn't as forward facing. This felt more like a coming-of-age story for our girl Brielle. The romance was added in as extra motivation and an explanation of why Brielle grew and how she grew and I am curious to see where the wind blows and the next story goes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alexandria Warwick for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
All thoughts and feelings are my own
Spicy Level: 🌶️/5
This is very much the definition of it's not you, it's me.
And as much as that sounds cliché, there isn't another way to frame how I feel about this without saying that I'm the problem. It's not the book, it's me. Suppose I have to separate the writing, worldbuilding, characters, and plot and look at it objectively without my personal preference. In that case, it is an incredibly well-written book with a superb redemption arc and complex character growth. I really did love the writing. It is clean and descriptive while still giving a balance of character and plot.
However, there is a large religious aspect in this book. A religion which wasn't necessarily Christian but pulls on a lot of the Christian faith, practices and beliefs. It just felt a bit much. I didn't particularly like reading a book about a woman who questions her faith and goes on a journey to finding herself through romance. Which I know I am hypocritical since The Sound of Music is one of my all-time favourite movies, but something about this just didn't vibe with me.
This book follows Brielle, who in my mind is quite boring as a character at the start. She doesn't really have much of a personality and her personality flip flops a little bit in that one moment she stands up for herself and then she doesn't. We meet her when she is overly obedient, weak and avoids conflict. She is bullied and verbally abused by the others at the Abbey and just lets this happen to her with no fight.
One day she meets a mysterious man who has been beaten and is left for dead, and she breaks one of the rules by bringing a man into the Abbey to heal him. After a while, he gets better and to repay her he offers to take her into Under (the Fae Realm) to have questions answered. Given she wants nothing more than to become an Acolyte and cannot understand why she has yet been chosen to ascend, she follows him.
This really does have a decent character development arc, which is why I say that if I separate my own dislike of religion in stories, this is really good. You have a woman who questions her place in the world, questions her beliefs, her understandings, what she's been told, and taught and above all questions what's been indoctrinated into her. She acknowledges that she is naive and she hasn't experienced the world for what it is. So when she is given the opportunity to do so, she discovers who she really is meant to be.
Some aspects of her growth did feel a little fast, especially when it came to her relationship with Zepherus, I think she flips the switch to loving him too quickly... I think this is due to the fact that I didn't really feel the spark was fully there. The hypocrisy of her actions between breaking her vows to still believing in her vows and the constant switch back and forth made me feel something was missing.
In the end, the romance was sweet and I appreciated the redemption arc that Zeph went through. I mean, he was very much the villain in Book One. So it was great to see how he got his own story and hear the explanations for all the multifaceted layers of what actually drives the motivations of his actions.
I do have to give credit to Alexandria Warwick for how amazing the worldbuilding was because I believed it. I believed the religion. I believed there is this world where this faith exists. A world with a Christian-like religion within an abbey, close to a fae realm and I believed these worlds are all connected. I also appreciated that this was its own unique story with its own unique dynamics. It wasn't the North Wind Book 2 - this was The West Wind, a book that can very easily be read as a standalone.
Ultimately, if religion in books doesn't bother you, you might really like this book. It feels like Chick lit set in a fantasy world, as the romance isn't as forward facing. This felt more like a coming-of-age story for our girl Brielle. The romance was added in as extra motivation and an explanation of why Brielle grew and how she grew and I am curious to see where the wind blows and the next story goes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alexandria Warwick for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
All thoughts and feelings are my own
February 28, 2025
This story seems to be separate from book 1. It was okay. There were actions and adventures but most of the adventure was the journey to find the weapon. The journey was mostly unpleasant because Harper was so annoying and well Zepharus was okay.. I loved book 1 but this one, not so much. The narrator did well with the audiobook.
This story followed Brielle. She has been at the abbey for 10 years learning to serve God. She wanted a promotion but got bypassed. While outside, she came upon an injured stranger. She saved him and hid him in her room. She could get into a lot of trouble if discovered. Harper, a classmate of Brielle and someone who liked to make trouble for her almost discovered the man in there but upon confrontation, the man disappeared. Later, the man came back and wanted to repay Brielle the debt for saving his life. He took her to the underworld so she could ask a question she desired. Going got her in trouble. She was whipped. Later, through good behavior, her superior sent her on a quest along with her nemesis Harper to fetch this weapon. Whoever able to fetch it will win the promotion.
The underworld has monsters.. the superior in an abbey acted like a monster with her whips and refusal to let her seek medical attention. A lot of religious beliefs and rules in this story. Blind faith.
Thank you Sagapress and SimonAudio for the opportunity to read, listen, and review.
This story followed Brielle. She has been at the abbey for 10 years learning to serve God. She wanted a promotion but got bypassed. While outside, she came upon an injured stranger. She saved him and hid him in her room. She could get into a lot of trouble if discovered. Harper, a classmate of Brielle and someone who liked to make trouble for her almost discovered the man in there but upon confrontation, the man disappeared. Later, the man came back and wanted to repay Brielle the debt for saving his life. He took her to the underworld so she could ask a question she desired. Going got her in trouble. She was whipped. Later, through good behavior, her superior sent her on a quest along with her nemesis Harper to fetch this weapon. Whoever able to fetch it will win the promotion.
The underworld has monsters.. the superior in an abbey acted like a monster with her whips and refusal to let her seek medical attention. A lot of religious beliefs and rules in this story. Blind faith.
Thank you Sagapress and SimonAudio for the opportunity to read, listen, and review.
August 15, 2025
Wem die Protagonistin Wren aus "The North Wind" zu aggressiv und zu derb war, der sollte der Reihe eventuell trotzdem noch einmal eine Chance geben, denn Brielle ist ganz anders. Angehende Akolythin, keusch, unsicher, ängstlich, bescheiden, mit einem Herzen das so groß wie ihr Körperumfang kräftig ist und die weiß mit Waffen umzugehen.
Generell hat der zweite Teil eine ganz andere Charakteristik und Komplexität als der erste Teil. Auch In Punkto Schreibstil hat sich die Autorin ebenfalls nochmal gesteigert und deshalb fiel es mir sehr leicht, in der von Mythen und Legenden inspirierten Welt von Zephyr, Brielle, Untererden und dem Feenvolk abzutauchen, die stellenweise sehr grausam und blutig ist.
Ja, das Buch ist eher ruhig und hat seine Längen, aber diese Längen brauchen die Protagonisten mMn auch um ihre Entwicklung begreifbarer und glaubhafter zu machen.
Für mich war dieser zweite Teil etwas ganz besonderes. Eine wunderschöne, märchenhafte Geschichte über Akzeptanz, Heilung, Vergebung, Vertrauen und Liebe. Solche Titel gibt es auf dem Markt leider viel zu selten und viele Rezensionen zeigen mitunter leider auch wieso.
Generell hat der zweite Teil eine ganz andere Charakteristik und Komplexität als der erste Teil. Auch In Punkto Schreibstil hat sich die Autorin ebenfalls nochmal gesteigert und deshalb fiel es mir sehr leicht, in der von Mythen und Legenden inspirierten Welt von Zephyr, Brielle, Untererden und dem Feenvolk abzutauchen, die stellenweise sehr grausam und blutig ist.
Ja, das Buch ist eher ruhig und hat seine Längen, aber diese Längen brauchen die Protagonisten mMn auch um ihre Entwicklung begreifbarer und glaubhafter zu machen.
Für mich war dieser zweite Teil etwas ganz besonderes. Eine wunderschöne, märchenhafte Geschichte über Akzeptanz, Heilung, Vergebung, Vertrauen und Liebe. Solche Titel gibt es auf dem Markt leider viel zu selten und viele Rezensionen zeigen mitunter leider auch wieso.
October 28, 2024
DNF after 41%
Many thanks to the Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I feel terribly sorry for DNFing this but this is just not working out for me. I really enjoyed The North Wind, so I was happy when I received the ARC for the follow up book, also because I enjoyed Zephyrus in book one. Unfortunately, I found this sequel very difficult to get into and it felt very different from the first book. I found my mind kept wandering so after around 40% I decided it was time for me to put this aside. I will note that this is not necessarily a poorly written book, merely that it did not work for me.
I think one thing that largely made the tone feel different was that this was quite heavily steeped in religion. I don't mind religion in and of itself, in fact, I often enjoy stories about deities. But there was something very rigid and perhaps a bit too much of it - while I enjoy a bit of fantasy religious elements, I'm not a big fan of overly restrictive ones, especially when the characters are so deeply imbedded to it and their whole world seems to revolve around said religion.
As such, I also didn't enjoy the MC Brielle as narrator very much. She was just a wee bit too deep into all her religious endeavours and her narrative felt weirdly choppy. I also felt that her body wasn't written in a well thought out way - she is a big girl and I get that people may comment negatively on that but the way some of the other characters treated her based on her weight and the words they threw at her felt uncomfortable. As I haven't read the whole book, I don't know how this plays out and my guess would be is that she gets accepted and appreciated for her values, and yet this early treatment just left a sour taste.
Speaking of other characters' treatments of her... This is a fantasy setting but at times I felt like I am reading a variant of Mean Girls. For all that this is about piety and how to be good in life, these other girls felt like they came right out of a high school romcom - Harper is the ringer leader and she really just comes across as the mean girl who is stirring up trouble and bullies others, Brielle in particular. Given the direction the plot was taking, my guess would be that they are going to end up being friends but it doesn't change that she has quite the insufferable start and her behaviour feels like it's in the wrong setting.
The pacing was pretty off and it felt extremely slow. I was also confused about the world building, at least when taking the first book into consideration. There are now fair folk and it just feels like an entirely different setting beyond the odd mention or two of the North Wind and his realm. I also felt rather indifferent to the West Wind as a character despite previously liking him, but I think that's mainly down to just not connecting with the plot. I like a good slow burn and I think it's safe to say that this is one as fairly little happens this half of the book.
I appreciate the chance to read this ARC and feel sorry for not completing it. Given that The North Wind can also be read as a standalone and I enjoyed that one, I am likely still to give future instalments in this series a try and that this particular sequel was just a miss for me.
February 8, 2025
3.5 ⭐️’s the ending bumped it from a solid 3 to 3.5!
There will be many a rambling, so sorry for that in advance. I haven’t written a review in ages.
I kept flip flopping on my thoughts and what I would rate this book. I think there are definitely bits that could’ve just been scrapped to make it less long and tedious, however I really really enjoyed Brielle’s self discovery and how much she grew throughout it. I absolutely adored her as a character and I am so glad she got her happy ending, even if it was not at all what she thought she wanted at the beginning of the book. As you read this, her POV really blossomed. Her world got brighter and she wasn’t so robotic as she was in the beginning. It was incredible honestly. She was such a well done, flawed and forgiving character!
The writing was reminiscent of The Priory of The Orange Tree in some ways!
There was a lot of secrecy about what exactly happens at the tithe, and the result was pretty lack lustre. I really expected it be a lot darker than the girls just giving away one drop of blood? I spent the whole first third of the book wondering why NO ONE was saying what happens, all for that. I was disappointed because after the tithe they get mind wiped so they “don’t have to remember the horrors of Under”. That had me scratching my head and being like.. Oh, okay. Moving on, I guess?
Now.. about this green eyes Bringer of Spring.
Zephyrus was a hot mess of a man. Actually quite pathetic. We meet him in the forest, beaten up and unconscious and Brielle comes back the next day and literally carries this man up a hill and up three flights of stairs. Incredible.
And I didn’t know when I bought this book that it was the second in the series, so I may have missed lots of context on his character at the start of this book. I hated him, for those of yall that saw my updates you already know that LOL.
HOWEVER… he did grow on me. Kind of like a fungus. He was infuriatingly careless with Brielle and her innocence and inner turmoil at the beginning, which had me going crazy.
As it goes on with him joining her and Harper’s quest for a mythical sword so one of them will become an acolyte, he slowly becomes more tolerable. Very. Slowly. I honestly didn’t know what Brielle saw in him but my girl was so forgiving and he grew alongside her. It was honestly written very well. He was just a man, after all.
I enjoyed Brielle and Harper becoming almost friends. The respect they came to feel for each other was so nice to read! Harper had her own fair share of demons and trauma and it made me so happy that those two came to respect each other. Brielle didn’t give up on her or write her off and literally saved her life out of spite. Which was iconic. She really did say she wasn’t letting her die so she could hold it over Harper’s head that Brielle was the one to save her. 😭
By the ending, I did come to like Zephyrus. If only because he did go through hell with Brielle, and ultimately FOR her. He fully redeemed himself with what he did for her at the end and honestly, I really liked seeing him grow and become a person who was worthy of a woman like Brielle. Like, that man was a complete wreck when they met and by the end I think he was really healing from his past and became a better person.
And also I’m just glad it finally ended because it felt unnecessarily long? Like, it could’ve been 100 pages less at least. I stayed for Brielle because she was such a great and captivating character.
There will be many a rambling, so sorry for that in advance. I haven’t written a review in ages.
I kept flip flopping on my thoughts and what I would rate this book. I think there are definitely bits that could’ve just been scrapped to make it less long and tedious, however I really really enjoyed Brielle’s self discovery and how much she grew throughout it. I absolutely adored her as a character and I am so glad she got her happy ending, even if it was not at all what she thought she wanted at the beginning of the book. As you read this, her POV really blossomed. Her world got brighter and she wasn’t so robotic as she was in the beginning. It was incredible honestly. She was such a well done, flawed and forgiving character!
The writing was reminiscent of The Priory of The Orange Tree in some ways!
There was a lot of secrecy about what exactly happens at the tithe, and the result was pretty lack lustre. I really expected it be a lot darker than the girls just giving away one drop of blood? I spent the whole first third of the book wondering why NO ONE was saying what happens, all for that. I was disappointed because after the tithe they get mind wiped so they “don’t have to remember the horrors of Under”. That had me scratching my head and being like.. Oh, okay. Moving on, I guess?
Now.. about this green eyes Bringer of Spring.
Zephyrus was a hot mess of a man. Actually quite pathetic. We meet him in the forest, beaten up and unconscious and Brielle comes back the next day and literally carries this man up a hill and up three flights of stairs. Incredible.
And I didn’t know when I bought this book that it was the second in the series, so I may have missed lots of context on his character at the start of this book. I hated him, for those of yall that saw my updates you already know that LOL.
HOWEVER… he did grow on me. Kind of like a fungus. He was infuriatingly careless with Brielle and her innocence and inner turmoil at the beginning, which had me going crazy.
As it goes on with him joining her and Harper’s quest for a mythical sword so one of them will become an acolyte, he slowly becomes more tolerable. Very. Slowly. I honestly didn’t know what Brielle saw in him but my girl was so forgiving and he grew alongside her. It was honestly written very well. He was just a man, after all.
I enjoyed Brielle and Harper becoming almost friends. The respect they came to feel for each other was so nice to read! Harper had her own fair share of demons and trauma and it made me so happy that those two came to respect each other. Brielle didn’t give up on her or write her off and literally saved her life out of spite. Which was iconic. She really did say she wasn’t letting her die so she could hold it over Harper’s head that Brielle was the one to save her. 😭
By the ending, I did come to like Zephyrus. If only because he did go through hell with Brielle, and ultimately FOR her. He fully redeemed himself with what he did for her at the end and honestly, I really liked seeing him grow and become a person who was worthy of a woman like Brielle. Like, that man was a complete wreck when they met and by the end I think he was really healing from his past and became a better person.
And also I’m just glad it finally ended because it felt unnecessarily long? Like, it could’ve been 100 pages less at least. I stayed for Brielle because she was such a great and captivating character.
May 8, 2023
This. Book. Was. EXCEPTIONAL.
It's been so long since I found a book I love this much, and I am so grateful I was given the opportunity to read this book before the release. I went into this unknowing that it was a sequel, but fortunately, they are standalones. I can be quite weary of Greek mythology retellings, but this one had me hooked from the very beginning. This book had me researching the lore, eager to learn everything I could about the characters original stories.
Not to mention, the FMC was INCREDIBLY relatable. She faces so many heart-wrenching struggles that I find comfort in reading, knowing someone understands them. It was so beautifully written, I literally could not put it down. I can't recommend this book enough! I WILL be buying a physical copy when it's released!
Here's my tiktok review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRKJtnR3/
It's been so long since I found a book I love this much, and I am so grateful I was given the opportunity to read this book before the release. I went into this unknowing that it was a sequel, but fortunately, they are standalones. I can be quite weary of Greek mythology retellings, but this one had me hooked from the very beginning. This book had me researching the lore, eager to learn everything I could about the characters original stories.
Not to mention, the FMC was INCREDIBLY relatable. She faces so many heart-wrenching struggles that I find comfort in reading, knowing someone understands them. It was so beautifully written, I literally could not put it down. I can't recommend this book enough! I WILL be buying a physical copy when it's released!
Here's my tiktok review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRKJtnR3/
January 29, 2025
3.5 stars
If your brain lights up when the word forbidden gets mentioned, The West Wind needs to be your next read!
>Forbidden love
>Slow burn
>Electric chemistry
>Magical world building
>Loneliness & abandonment
>Body positivity
The West Wind is a dark and enchanting retelling of forbidden love, drawing inspiration from both Greek mythology and Scottish folklore.. Brielle’s (FMC) journey from devoted acolyte to a woman questioning her faith and desires is beautifully compelling, I couldn't put this book down!. Her resilience, bravery, and ability to forgive make her a character worth rooting for. I also loved how the Author focused on body positivity and the important journey of self worth.
Zephyrus, once a villain, emerges as a deeply layered character whose redemption is both hard-earned and oh so satisfying. The main plot involves a quest with unexpected twists but still manages to include intimate character building which explores faith, love, loneliness & abandonment. The West wind is an interconnected standalone but I would highly recommend reading The North Wind first!
Thank you to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster Australia for providing a digital & physical copy to review. I also purchase the audio book using one of my Audible credits.
If your brain lights up when the word forbidden gets mentioned, The West Wind needs to be your next read!
>Forbidden love
>Slow burn
>Electric chemistry
>Magical world building
>Loneliness & abandonment
>Body positivity
The West Wind is a dark and enchanting retelling of forbidden love, drawing inspiration from both Greek mythology and Scottish folklore.. Brielle’s (FMC) journey from devoted acolyte to a woman questioning her faith and desires is beautifully compelling, I couldn't put this book down!. Her resilience, bravery, and ability to forgive make her a character worth rooting for. I also loved how the Author focused on body positivity and the important journey of self worth.
Zephyrus, once a villain, emerges as a deeply layered character whose redemption is both hard-earned and oh so satisfying. The main plot involves a quest with unexpected twists but still manages to include intimate character building which explores faith, love, loneliness & abandonment. The West wind is an interconnected standalone but I would highly recommend reading The North Wind first!
Thank you to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster Australia for providing a digital & physical copy to review. I also purchase the audio book using one of my Audible credits.
April 17, 2025
Warning! Minor spoilers coming!! This was a good book. I enjoyed it a lot, but it was such a slow start. The first installation grabbed me by the heart so quickly that I expected this one to do the same. I liked Brielle, but I’m not super into reading about religion. There was a ton of religious talk in this book. I mean, yes because Brielle is a part of an abbey, but still. Little spoiler, Brielle’s like the most religious person I have ever read about.
So the romance took forever to catch hold and even when it did, it was so few and far between. I also kind of hated the West Wind for the longest time. So while I really did like this, there was a lot of pushing against her religion and it took forever for Brielle to find out who she really is inside. And it’s a long book….
I do recommend this, but warning, if you don’t like reading about religion and if you don’t like the enemies to lovers trope, then this is not for you.
So the romance took forever to catch hold and even when it did, it was so few and far between. I also kind of hated the West Wind for the longest time. So while I really did like this, there was a lot of pushing against her religion and it took forever for Brielle to find out who she really is inside. And it’s a long book….
I do recommend this, but warning, if you don’t like reading about religion and if you don’t like the enemies to lovers trope, then this is not for you.
March 5, 2025
I have been anticipating this book for over a year because I read The North Wind before it was picked up by traditional publishing. I knew Zephyrus was going to be a tough character to redeem, which was why I was so looking forward to this.
What I liked:
- The quest: I didn't realize how much I was missing a quest based story until I read this one. More fantasy books with a quest!!
- Brielle's character development: I love a story about someone who is challenging their faith because I did the same thing. It's also relatable to think you want something for your whole life and then when you're about to get it, you question why is it is you've wanted it and whether or not you still do.
- The storytelling: Warwick just has the perfect storytelling voice where nothing feels to extra or underdeveloped and the story feels smooth.
- The worldbuilding: I feel like the pace really helps with this, but even as complex as it was, she never info dumps and I LOVE that
The romance was just okay for me. I think it's just a really slow burn, but I wasn't feeling the tension between the characters enough to really care about the slow burn? I just started feeling like it was too drawn out to the point where once it was happening it felt a little anti-climactic.
What I liked:
- The quest: I didn't realize how much I was missing a quest based story until I read this one. More fantasy books with a quest!!
- Brielle's character development: I love a story about someone who is challenging their faith because I did the same thing. It's also relatable to think you want something for your whole life and then when you're about to get it, you question why is it is you've wanted it and whether or not you still do.
- The storytelling: Warwick just has the perfect storytelling voice where nothing feels to extra or underdeveloped and the story feels smooth.
- The worldbuilding: I feel like the pace really helps with this, but even as complex as it was, she never info dumps and I LOVE that
The romance was just okay for me. I think it's just a really slow burn, but I wasn't feeling the tension between the characters enough to really care about the slow burn? I just started feeling like it was too drawn out to the point where once it was happening it felt a little anti-climactic.
March 18, 2024
This was a book I received in a romance fantasy book box. It was a pleasant surprise. I did not know what book I would get when I ordered it. It’s a standalone so it’s quite thick and a little too long in my opinion. I did not read the first book which was centered on another couples related to this one in this book. It was not necessary, I still understood this story. There were a few easter eggs I missed but I plan to read the first one soon as it comes. The FMC was a pleasure to read about. She really grew into a very strong and likable character. She did annoy me at little with her narrow minded approach about faith. I don’t typically read books that have religion in its main plot. But I thought this book did it well without sounded too preachy. I really loved the MMC. He was very flawed and didn’t change his behavior as soon as he met the FMC. He grew into the man she knew he could be. I really enjoyed how their relationship progressed. It was extremely slow burn. But I thought it was paced well considering she was breaking her beliefs to be intimate with him. I think it took the subject seriously and didn’t rush the inner debate she had about her morals. The spice was well timed and fit in the story very well. I also loved how it explored the legends about Fae. Fae were hideous creatures that were brutal and behaved completely different than the previous fae books I’ve read. I love my sexy fae protective characters that have become popular nowadays. But I thought this was something different to read about when it comes to fae. The love interest was a god so he wasn’t even fae. The FMC also became somewhat of friends with some fae. It was a very different perspective and I thought the author did it well. The side characters were also intriguing and I found myself rooting for them also. It helped when I reached certain pages I got to open gifts that came with my book box. Definitely recommend giving this a try if you’re looking for a different perspective on fae.
January 30, 2025
Apparently we just don’t edit books anymore.
July 12, 2025
5 ⭐️: Mein Herz ist voll, wenn ich an dieses Buch denke. An die Reise, die man gemeinsam mit Brielle und Zephyr bestreitet.
Ich bin skeptisch an "The West Wind" herangegangen. Das lag zum einen daran, dass man Zephyr bereits in Band 1 kennenlernt und er dort wirklich weit weg von sympathisch gewesen ist. Zum anderen lag es aber an den Reviews. Und die kann ich im Nachhinein überhaupt nicht verstehen. Leute sagen immer, sie stehen auf Slowburn. Aber wenn sie dann ein Buch vor sich haben, wie zB "The West Wind", das das tatsächlich auch bedient und wo nicht bei 40 Prozent der Handlung in die Kiste gesprungen wird, dann ist es zäh und träge.
Ja, das Buch nimmt sich Zeit. Aber erst dadurch wirkt es so authentisch und ich fand es genau richtig und habe mich keine Sekunde gelangweilt. Die Reise lohnt sich und wenn man sich darauf einlassen kann, kann sie einem ganz viel geben.
Wir begleiten in der Geschichte die Protagonistin Brielle, die in einem Kloster lebt und an dieser Stelle muss ich einfach erwähnen, wie toll ich sie finde. Sie ist so eine reine und liebenswürdige Seele, die auf jeder Seite mehr und mehr zu sich findet. Es war geradezu heilsam, ihre Entwicklung mitzuverfolgen.
Auf der anderen Seite haben wir Zephyr und ich bin so froh, dass er mich überzeugen konnte. Er hat ein paar wirklich verwerfliche Dinge getan, aber die Art und Weise, wie er, auch durch Brielle, aus seinen Fehler lernt, konnte mich unheimlich berühren. Allgemein das ganze Zusammenspiel zwischen ihm und Brielle war unfassbar gut gemacht. Genau die richtige Mischung aus Tension und Ernsthaftigkeit, aus Verlangen und Romantik. Und nochmal Probs für den Konflikt, der etwa Mitte des Buches entsteht. SO muss so etwas geschrieben werden. Kein nerviger 3rd Breakup, der halt passiert, weil das die Vorlage besagt. Der Streit war nachvollziehbar und hat deshalb umso mehr wehgetan.
Auch die Handlung an sich war unfassbar gut. Es baut sich alles langsam auf, wir entdecken gemeinsam mit Brielle die Feenwelt, die teilweise echt brutal und düster ist. Die Stimmung kam unglaublich gut rüber und hat mich total verzaubert.
Das Buch wurde zu einem unerwarteten Highlight. Eine Geschichte über Liebe, Vergebung, Akzeptanz und der Reise zu sich selbst. 🫶
Ich bin skeptisch an "The West Wind" herangegangen. Das lag zum einen daran, dass man Zephyr bereits in Band 1 kennenlernt und er dort wirklich weit weg von sympathisch gewesen ist. Zum anderen lag es aber an den Reviews. Und die kann ich im Nachhinein überhaupt nicht verstehen. Leute sagen immer, sie stehen auf Slowburn. Aber wenn sie dann ein Buch vor sich haben, wie zB "The West Wind", das das tatsächlich auch bedient und wo nicht bei 40 Prozent der Handlung in die Kiste gesprungen wird, dann ist es zäh und träge.
Ja, das Buch nimmt sich Zeit. Aber erst dadurch wirkt es so authentisch und ich fand es genau richtig und habe mich keine Sekunde gelangweilt. Die Reise lohnt sich und wenn man sich darauf einlassen kann, kann sie einem ganz viel geben.
Wir begleiten in der Geschichte die Protagonistin Brielle, die in einem Kloster lebt und an dieser Stelle muss ich einfach erwähnen, wie toll ich sie finde. Sie ist so eine reine und liebenswürdige Seele, die auf jeder Seite mehr und mehr zu sich findet. Es war geradezu heilsam, ihre Entwicklung mitzuverfolgen.
Auf der anderen Seite haben wir Zephyr und ich bin so froh, dass er mich überzeugen konnte. Er hat ein paar wirklich verwerfliche Dinge getan, aber die Art und Weise, wie er, auch durch Brielle, aus seinen Fehler lernt, konnte mich unheimlich berühren. Allgemein das ganze Zusammenspiel zwischen ihm und Brielle war unfassbar gut gemacht. Genau die richtige Mischung aus Tension und Ernsthaftigkeit, aus Verlangen und Romantik. Und nochmal Probs für den Konflikt, der etwa Mitte des Buches entsteht. SO muss so etwas geschrieben werden. Kein nerviger 3rd Breakup, der halt passiert, weil das die Vorlage besagt. Der Streit war nachvollziehbar und hat deshalb umso mehr wehgetan.
Auch die Handlung an sich war unfassbar gut. Es baut sich alles langsam auf, wir entdecken gemeinsam mit Brielle die Feenwelt, die teilweise echt brutal und düster ist. Die Stimmung kam unglaublich gut rüber und hat mich total verzaubert.
Das Buch wurde zu einem unerwarteten Highlight. Eine Geschichte über Liebe, Vergebung, Akzeptanz und der Reise zu sich selbst. 🫶
September 27, 2025
Fantasy romance inspired by the Greek myth of Hero and Leander, as well as the Scottish ballad Tam Lin.
October 4, 2024
I really didn't like this book, and it put me in a reading slump. I had to give myself little rewards just to get through a chapter. I had the first book in the series on my to be read list, but I took it off after finishing this one.
The beginning started off okay, with some funny lines that seemed promising. But by the time I was a quarter through, there were a lot of gaps in the story and things that didn't quite make sense. I hoped things would get better and that the characters would really grow and change by the end, but by half the way through, I had lost that hope.
The storyline felt aimless and repetitive, and it never really led anywhere satisfying. There were many inconsistencies and unanswered questions by the end.
The main character had confusing beliefs and actions that she never really addressed. The male lead was pretty forgettable. He was supposed to go through some character growth, but I didn't see any real change from the beginning to the end of the book.
The book had a strong Catholic influence, even if it didn't directly say so. Themes like guilt, purity culture, and religious trauma were everywhere. Although the main character tried to challenge these ideas, she didn’t really deal with her issues. As someone who has faced similar challenges, I was let down by how Brielle handled her struggles.
While I appreciated the representation of a more accepting world regarding queer identities, it made the romance feel off. It seemed like both characters were actually better suited for relationships with the same sex or different characters altogether. The romantic connection felt forced and lacking in chemistry. The sex scene was confusing; it wasn’t terrible, but it felt wrong, especially for a character who was raised in a strict purity culture. The MMC was self serving.
I'll give the book two stars (though it's really more like 1.5) just for the representation of plus-size characters, skilled labor, the descriptions of the setting, and somewhat decent queer representation.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster via NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy and the opportunity to provide an honest and authentic review
The beginning started off okay, with some funny lines that seemed promising. But by the time I was a quarter through, there were a lot of gaps in the story and things that didn't quite make sense. I hoped things would get better and that the characters would really grow and change by the end, but by half the way through, I had lost that hope.
The storyline felt aimless and repetitive, and it never really led anywhere satisfying. There were many inconsistencies and unanswered questions by the end.
The main character had confusing beliefs and actions that she never really addressed. The male lead was pretty forgettable. He was supposed to go through some character growth, but I didn't see any real change from the beginning to the end of the book.
The book had a strong Catholic influence, even if it didn't directly say so. Themes like guilt, purity culture, and religious trauma were everywhere. Although the main character tried to challenge these ideas, she didn’t really deal with her issues. As someone who has faced similar challenges, I was let down by how Brielle handled her struggles.
While I appreciated the representation of a more accepting world regarding queer identities, it made the romance feel off. It seemed like both characters were actually better suited for relationships with the same sex or different characters altogether. The romantic connection felt forced and lacking in chemistry. The sex scene was confusing; it wasn’t terrible, but it felt wrong, especially for a character who was raised in a strict purity culture. The MMC was self serving.
I'll give the book two stars (though it's really more like 1.5) just for the representation of plus-size characters, skilled labor, the descriptions of the setting, and somewhat decent queer representation.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster via NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy and the opportunity to provide an honest and authentic review
January 10, 2025
Lost a star due to the horrible cock blocking storyline in the first half. The second half? *giggles and kicks my feet* 🥰
November 24, 2024
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
The West Wind by Alexandria Warwick is a standalone in The Four Winds series and it did not disappoint, I absolutely loved it.
There’s forbidden love, spice, greek mythology, fantasy, sacrifice, personal growth and adventure. I found myself immersed in the world of Under with the mythical creatures and Gods as the author brings this story to life.
Brielle is an amazing protagonist, she has a kind heart and is strong and capable and her sword wielding skills are pretty formidable for a woman who has dedicated her life to the abbey. I found her strict life in the abbey so fascinating and watching her view of the world and options change was a delight.
Zephyrys is a shady God that leads Brielle to the world of Under. I couldn’t wait to find out more about him! The West Wind is a page turner as I desperately needed to know more about Zephyrus and what his game was!
Loved both the characters of Brielle and Zephyrys and thought this book was even better than the last! Can’t wait for the next!
Publication Date 30 October 2024
Publication Simon & Schuster Australia
A huge thank you to the fabulous team at Simon & Schuster Australia for an ARC of the book 🙏
The West Wind by Alexandria Warwick is a standalone in The Four Winds series and it did not disappoint, I absolutely loved it.
There’s forbidden love, spice, greek mythology, fantasy, sacrifice, personal growth and adventure. I found myself immersed in the world of Under with the mythical creatures and Gods as the author brings this story to life.
Brielle is an amazing protagonist, she has a kind heart and is strong and capable and her sword wielding skills are pretty formidable for a woman who has dedicated her life to the abbey. I found her strict life in the abbey so fascinating and watching her view of the world and options change was a delight.
Zephyrys is a shady God that leads Brielle to the world of Under. I couldn’t wait to find out more about him! The West Wind is a page turner as I desperately needed to know more about Zephyrus and what his game was!
Loved both the characters of Brielle and Zephyrys and thought this book was even better than the last! Can’t wait for the next!
Publication Date 30 October 2024
Publication Simon & Schuster Australia
A huge thank you to the fabulous team at Simon & Schuster Australia for an ARC of the book 🙏
January 6, 2025
I absolutely adore this series!! Alexandria writes the best slow burns 🔥 Like, *actual* slow burns - 80%+ before you get spice. This was super different from the first book (not in a bad way), but don’t go into it thinking you’re getting the same plot with different characters.
“𝙏𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚, 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙡𝙮. “𝙃𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚?”
I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about Zephyrus considering his actions in The North Wind - iykyk. But I love himmm idc.
"𝙏𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨," 𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙨, 𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙖𝙧. "𝙏𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜."
Brielle had way more of a backbone than I thought she would! The way she stood her ground with Zephy and sent him packing 😮💨😂 (I’m an idiot and would’ve let him stay lmao) and stood up to her bully. I enjoyed seeing her question her beliefs and ultimately break free from her oppressing (imo) religion.
“𝙄 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙕𝙚𝙥𝙝𝙮𝙧𝙪𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙚𝙨𝙩. 𝙄 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙮.”
The epilogue was so sweet and added the perfect finishing touch to their story!
Looking forward to reading about the other 2 brothers.
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲:
💨 Greek Mythology Retelling
✨ Slow Burn
💨 Forbidden Love
✨ Plus-Size FMC
💨 Morally Ambiguous Hero
Thank you to NetGalley and #SagaPress for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
“𝙏𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚, 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚,” 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙡𝙮. “𝙃𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚?”
I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about Zephyrus considering his actions in The North Wind - iykyk. But I love himmm idc.
"𝙏𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨," 𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙨, 𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙖𝙧. "𝙏𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜."
Brielle had way more of a backbone than I thought she would! The way she stood her ground with Zephy and sent him packing 😮💨😂 (I’m an idiot and would’ve let him stay lmao) and stood up to her bully. I enjoyed seeing her question her beliefs and ultimately break free from her oppressing (imo) religion.
“𝙄 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙕𝙚𝙥𝙝𝙮𝙧𝙪𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙚𝙨𝙩. 𝙄 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙮.”
The epilogue was so sweet and added the perfect finishing touch to their story!
Looking forward to reading about the other 2 brothers.
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲:
💨 Greek Mythology Retelling
✨ Slow Burn
💨 Forbidden Love
✨ Plus-Size FMC
💨 Morally Ambiguous Hero
Thank you to NetGalley and #SagaPress for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!
April 22, 2023
Thank you Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for this arc.
4.5 ⭐️
I’m an emotional wreck.
I've consumed this beast of a book in the span of a day, by the end of it I was sleep depraved but it was worth it.
We join Brielle on her journey of becoming the person she's always been destined to be. And what a glorious journey in it was! She goes on exploring under and seeing things she's not used to, to confronting her bully, to taking the extra mile for her dream position, and eventually to knowing and accepting what she truly wants. Her faith fueled her and her nature of being a hopeful and brave person. and you grow to admire her, her heart, and her ability to forgive and move on as you read and see her story unfold.
Zephyrus was a hated villain in the first installment, in this sequel he proved to be such a complexed and well layered character. His conflicts were not excuses to what he has done, but in a way it made us understand the how and the why he turned out the way he did. His redemption was earned. Brielle's relentless faith and hope is what ultimately saved him.
The plot was sublime, however, I see this as a thorough character study to both of them. Plus, the world building was magnificent. I'm looking forward to next installment.
4.5 ⭐️
I’m an emotional wreck.
I've consumed this beast of a book in the span of a day, by the end of it I was sleep depraved but it was worth it.
We join Brielle on her journey of becoming the person she's always been destined to be. And what a glorious journey in it was! She goes on exploring under and seeing things she's not used to, to confronting her bully, to taking the extra mile for her dream position, and eventually to knowing and accepting what she truly wants. Her faith fueled her and her nature of being a hopeful and brave person. and you grow to admire her, her heart, and her ability to forgive and move on as you read and see her story unfold.
Zephyrus was a hated villain in the first installment, in this sequel he proved to be such a complexed and well layered character. His conflicts were not excuses to what he has done, but in a way it made us understand the how and the why he turned out the way he did. His redemption was earned. Brielle's relentless faith and hope is what ultimately saved him.
The plot was sublime, however, I see this as a thorough character study to both of them. Plus, the world building was magnificent. I'm looking forward to next installment.
August 23, 2023
Dnf half way through, flat and uniteresting characters and soooo slow....
I gave this one a shot after not really loving the 1st book but I guess I was wrong.
Too bad, the premise of stories of the 4 winds held a certain appeal but the actual stories and execution were not what I imagined.
I gave this one a shot after not really loving the 1st book but I guess I was wrong.
Too bad, the premise of stories of the 4 winds held a certain appeal but the actual stories and execution were not what I imagined.
October 11, 2024
"The West Wind" by Alexandria Warwick is a dark and enchanting tale that transports readers to the richly imagined world of the Under and the life of Brielle of Thornbrook - who risks everything to save a god - Zephyrus, the West Wind, Bringer of Spring.
After reading "The North Wind," I was eager to get my hands on this book and learn more about Zephyrus' story and if there was any hope for his redemption. "The West Wind" did not disappoint! I had several jaw-dropping moments and enjoyed the twists and turns to keep the plot moving. I felt the author did a fantastic job of weaving together elements of fantasy, adventure, and several moments of super spicy romance. Warwick's lyrical prose and vivid descriptions of the Under bring the setting to life, making it easy to get lost in the story and within this creative and dangerous world she's created. I truly loved all the magical elements within her world-building.
The characters are well-developed, each with their unique voice and motivations. The descriptions of the creatures living in the Under were fantastic! However, I found myself struggling with Brielle's character a bit at times. She has dedicated her life to the abbey and her faith, yet her heart is being pulled towards Zephyrus, leading her to question all she's known. So many times throughout the story, Brielle reminded me of the type of friend who keeps returning to the guy who can't be trusted. She continues to risk everything for him and do everything for him, knowing his past and present proves he's wrong for her. That doesn't usually work out well for women in the real world. But that is who Brielle is for everyone at the abbey as well. She gives and gives. And yet they have also mistreated her over the years.
With that being said, the protagonist's journey in "The West Wind" is thrilling, emotionally resonant, and transformative, keeping me engaged from start to finish with only very few moments where it feels a little slow. What I absolutely LOVED about Brielle is her strength, determination, and the deep fight within her. Warwick keeps Brielle's heart kind while transforming her into a formidable woman, a heroine capable of standing independently and making her way. She even becomes bold enough to question Mother Mabel at the abbey by asking, "Is it my protections you care for or control?" She also realizes that Mother Mabel's interest in keeping Brielle "safe" is in keeping her small - and in Brielle's eyes, there is no longer any difference. She has grown too much. It was a unique read to weave her strict religious values with that of a god, who was also her love interest.
No worries if you still need to read book one, "The North Wind.” This book has several references to it, but it can be read as a stand-alone, although there are some “The North Wind” spoilers included - so something to keep in mind if you have not read book one. Warwick also introduces the third brother, Notus, the South Wind, in this second book which maybe gives us a peek into book three?? I don’t know but Notus is an interesting character with many open wounds exposed and explained.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's about growth, sacrifice for others, having faith in something greater than yourself while not losing yourself, and understanding that you are not the sum of your past.
Thank you, #NetGalley, #AlexandriaWarwick, and #SagaPress, for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #TheWestWind
After reading "The North Wind," I was eager to get my hands on this book and learn more about Zephyrus' story and if there was any hope for his redemption. "The West Wind" did not disappoint! I had several jaw-dropping moments and enjoyed the twists and turns to keep the plot moving. I felt the author did a fantastic job of weaving together elements of fantasy, adventure, and several moments of super spicy romance. Warwick's lyrical prose and vivid descriptions of the Under bring the setting to life, making it easy to get lost in the story and within this creative and dangerous world she's created. I truly loved all the magical elements within her world-building.
The characters are well-developed, each with their unique voice and motivations. The descriptions of the creatures living in the Under were fantastic! However, I found myself struggling with Brielle's character a bit at times. She has dedicated her life to the abbey and her faith, yet her heart is being pulled towards Zephyrus, leading her to question all she's known. So many times throughout the story, Brielle reminded me of the type of friend who keeps returning to the guy who can't be trusted. She continues to risk everything for him and do everything for him, knowing his past and present proves he's wrong for her. That doesn't usually work out well for women in the real world. But that is who Brielle is for everyone at the abbey as well. She gives and gives. And yet they have also mistreated her over the years.
With that being said, the protagonist's journey in "The West Wind" is thrilling, emotionally resonant, and transformative, keeping me engaged from start to finish with only very few moments where it feels a little slow. What I absolutely LOVED about Brielle is her strength, determination, and the deep fight within her. Warwick keeps Brielle's heart kind while transforming her into a formidable woman, a heroine capable of standing independently and making her way. She even becomes bold enough to question Mother Mabel at the abbey by asking, "Is it my protections you care for or control?" She also realizes that Mother Mabel's interest in keeping Brielle "safe" is in keeping her small - and in Brielle's eyes, there is no longer any difference. She has grown too much. It was a unique read to weave her strict religious values with that of a god, who was also her love interest.
No worries if you still need to read book one, "The North Wind.” This book has several references to it, but it can be read as a stand-alone, although there are some “The North Wind” spoilers included - so something to keep in mind if you have not read book one. Warwick also introduces the third brother, Notus, the South Wind, in this second book which maybe gives us a peek into book three?? I don’t know but Notus is an interesting character with many open wounds exposed and explained.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's about growth, sacrifice for others, having faith in something greater than yourself while not losing yourself, and understanding that you are not the sum of your past.
Thank you, #NetGalley, #AlexandriaWarwick, and #SagaPress, for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #TheWestWind
September 6, 2025
Reseña completa: https://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/20...
Brielle ha dedicado su vida a la abadía de Thornbrook, y pasa los días forjando hierro y estudiando el Texto, preparándose para convertirse en acólita. Jamás ha tocado a un hombre y jamás lo hará. Sin embargo, la oscuridad acecha fuera los muros de Thornbrook, y lo que comenzó como un acto de caridad hacia un desconocido, llevará a Brielle al reino de Infra, un mundo mágico y peligroso, donde Céfiro, Aquel que trae la primavera, la guiará. Sabe que no puede confiar en él, pero nadie la ha cautivado tanto, y cuando la fe y el corazón choquen, Brielle descubrirá lo rápido que todo se precipita, y deberá tomar la decisión de darle la espalda al Padre, o hacer lo que le dicta su corazón.
Suena genial, ¿verdad? Me daba muchísima curiosidad la forma en la que estaba entrelazada la religión, la vida en el convento y las creencias de Brielle, con este mundo mágico, de peligro, mentiras y traiciones, pero a medida que iba avanzando sentía como que le daba demasiadas vueltas sin llegar a profundizar.
Brielle ha dedicado su vida a la abadía de Thornbrook, y pasa los días forjando hierro y estudiando el Texto, preparándose para convertirse en acólita. Jamás ha tocado a un hombre y jamás lo hará. Sin embargo, la oscuridad acecha fuera los muros de Thornbrook, y lo que comenzó como un acto de caridad hacia un desconocido, llevará a Brielle al reino de Infra, un mundo mágico y peligroso, donde Céfiro, Aquel que trae la primavera, la guiará. Sabe que no puede confiar en él, pero nadie la ha cautivado tanto, y cuando la fe y el corazón choquen, Brielle descubrirá lo rápido que todo se precipita, y deberá tomar la decisión de darle la espalda al Padre, o hacer lo que le dicta su corazón.
Suena genial, ¿verdad? Me daba muchísima curiosidad la forma en la que estaba entrelazada la religión, la vida en el convento y las creencias de Brielle, con este mundo mágico, de peligro, mentiras y traiciones, pero a medida que iba avanzando sentía como que le daba demasiadas vueltas sin llegar a profundizar.
August 10, 2025
Ha estado bien… pero esperaba mucho más.
Con lo muchísimo que me gustó el primero, este tenía x1000 de potencial pero se ha quedado algo flojis, me ha resultado repetitivo y el desenlace ha resultado demasiado breve.
Con lo muchísimo que me gustó el primero, este tenía x1000 de potencial pero se ha quedado algo flojis, me ha resultado repetitivo y el desenlace ha resultado demasiado breve.
April 15, 2023
Major points for a book that doesn’t suffer from the Curse of the Second Book in a series! I think The West Wind is readable as a standalone also since I truly remembered absolutely nothing from the first book and was absolutely fine.
So, pros and cons…
Pros:
1) Warwick tells a good story. This is a complex quest tale that builds through multiple high tension points and keeps you reading.
2) I appreciated that Brielle was written as compassionate, feminine and a brave, talented fighter.
3) The characters all grow and mature throughout the story.
4) The mix of a fae world and mythology is so interesting and vivid. I think this aspect is the biggest draw for me.
Cons:
1) SUCH purple prose! There is just so much overwritten description of both the setting and the characters’ angst.
2) Did we need this much commentary on Brielle’s size? I thought there were entirely too many comments on how much bigger, how much curvier, how much heavier, how much softer, etc Brielle was. A lot of this came from her so I can understand her feeling self conscious and very aware after having been taunted and bullied for so long but it was a little over the top. We get it. She’s not a willowly size 2 heroine. Move on.
3) The plot needs to be tightened up. The book is too long and could have been pulled together sooner and more cohesively.
4) The religious aspect kind of weirded me out. I don’t know that I can explain it, honestly. I think maybe it was a little much to combine folklore, mythology and a form of Christianity-like religion.
All in all, I did enjoy this and would recommend, especially if you are a fan of both mythology and folklore.
So, pros and cons…
Pros:
1) Warwick tells a good story. This is a complex quest tale that builds through multiple high tension points and keeps you reading.
2) I appreciated that Brielle was written as compassionate, feminine and a brave, talented fighter.
3) The characters all grow and mature throughout the story.
4) The mix of a fae world and mythology is so interesting and vivid. I think this aspect is the biggest draw for me.
Cons:
1) SUCH purple prose! There is just so much overwritten description of both the setting and the characters’ angst.
2) Did we need this much commentary on Brielle’s size? I thought there were entirely too many comments on how much bigger, how much curvier, how much heavier, how much softer, etc Brielle was. A lot of this came from her so I can understand her feeling self conscious and very aware after having been taunted and bullied for so long but it was a little over the top. We get it. She’s not a willowly size 2 heroine. Move on.
3) The plot needs to be tightened up. The book is too long and could have been pulled together sooner and more cohesively.
4) The religious aspect kind of weirded me out. I don’t know that I can explain it, honestly. I think maybe it was a little much to combine folklore, mythology and a form of Christianity-like religion.
All in all, I did enjoy this and would recommend, especially if you are a fan of both mythology and folklore.
April 25, 2023
A beautiful journey of self discovery. The book starts very quietly, not slowly, but softly. Broken into 3 parts, you realize that's on purpose. As our heroine grows, so does her view of the world and her opinion of herself. This book ripped me apart and put me beautifully back together again. I loved every word.
Netgalley ARC provided and read in exchange for an honest review.
Netgalley ARC provided and read in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2023
23/05/2023
2023 reads book 43
“There is no such thing as goodness of heart. There’s always a catch.”
This was very different from the first book, but in a great way! I will admit that it took me a while to feel the growing love between these two characters, but when it finally happened I loved it!
The growth this character goes through is great. In the beginning she is sure of what she wants in her life, being happy with being told what to do and letting people walk over her because that was expected of her. Throughout the story, she starts to think more for herself and thinking if this life is actually what she wants. I expected the ending, however this time I actually think it was very fitting for their story!
Now the terrible wait for the next book begins
2023 reads book 43
“There is no such thing as goodness of heart. There’s always a catch.”
This was very different from the first book, but in a great way! I will admit that it took me a while to feel the growing love between these two characters, but when it finally happened I loved it!
The growth this character goes through is great. In the beginning she is sure of what she wants in her life, being happy with being told what to do and letting people walk over her because that was expected of her. Throughout the story, she starts to think more for herself and thinking if this life is actually what she wants. I expected the ending, however this time I actually think it was very fitting for their story!
Now the terrible wait for the next book begins
September 20, 2024
This was an okay romantasy and i liked it but it was very slow for a good amount of the book. This book is a retelling of Tam Lin and the fmc is dedicated to the abbey and life of faith towards becoming an acolyte. After hiding a man in the abbey which is against the rules she is drawn to outside the abbey with the mmc Zephyrus who is also known as Bringer of Spring. This is a very slow slow burn but there was tension between the main characters. When they finally got together it was nice but boy did we have to wait. I loved the part about powers and how the gods and the abbey played together. Overall this was okay and if you like slow burn retellings you should read this.
April 16, 2025
Zephyrus turned out to be quite a shady character in the first book (The North Wind) thankfully he very much redeemed himself in this book, he very much deserved to capture Brielle's heart. The story is well written with engaging characters who are fallible, well rounded and show good growth during the book. The story gave me so many feels and very easily held my attention, the writing is of a very good standard and the author's voice flows smoothly.
April 9, 2025
3.75 ✨
The West Wind follows our FMC Brielle, she has dedicated her life to her Father, and is determined to ascend to the position of Acolyte. One day, she stumbles upon a man, nearly dead in the woods. She decides to help him, little does she know, she just saved a God. The West Wind. Zephryus. Cunning, charming, and manipulative, will Brielle fall for an ancient Gods tricks, or will she bring him to his knees?
I wanted to love this one as much as The North Wind, but I just didn’t 🥹
I fucking LOVED the fact we had a curvy FMC, we love the representation.
I felt like the story moved extremely slow, up until the last 100 or so pages. The ending is what bumped the rating from a 3 to a 3.75. I just wanted more “umph” throughout the book, I think I really had to force myself to get through it. I felt at times Brielle lacked depth, but I’m also aware that it could be due to her being raised within the faith that she was.
However, when I got to the last 100 pages, I was hooked. We see so much growth with both of the MC’s. Brielle finally discovers what she really wants, and she isn’t afraid of it anymore, and you really see that change in her.
With Zephyrs, you see character growth in him throughout the book, but it hits heavy at the end.
The epilogues of these books though, so cute 🥹😭
The West Wind follows our FMC Brielle, she has dedicated her life to her Father, and is determined to ascend to the position of Acolyte. One day, she stumbles upon a man, nearly dead in the woods. She decides to help him, little does she know, she just saved a God. The West Wind. Zephryus. Cunning, charming, and manipulative, will Brielle fall for an ancient Gods tricks, or will she bring him to his knees?
I wanted to love this one as much as The North Wind, but I just didn’t 🥹
I fucking LOVED the fact we had a curvy FMC, we love the representation.
I felt like the story moved extremely slow, up until the last 100 or so pages. The ending is what bumped the rating from a 3 to a 3.75. I just wanted more “umph” throughout the book, I think I really had to force myself to get through it. I felt at times Brielle lacked depth, but I’m also aware that it could be due to her being raised within the faith that she was.
However, when I got to the last 100 pages, I was hooked. We see so much growth with both of the MC’s. Brielle finally discovers what she really wants, and she isn’t afraid of it anymore, and you really see that change in her.
With Zephyrs, you see character growth in him throughout the book, but it hits heavy at the end.
The epilogues of these books though, so cute 🥹😭
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