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The Four Winds #4
The East Wind
Not yet published
Expected 13 Jan 26From the bestselling author of The North Wind comes the final instalment in the Four Winds series - a sweltering standalone romance inspired by the fairytale Rapunzel and the Greek myth of Psyche and Eros. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Scarlett St. Clair and Raven Kennedy.
Min of Marles is a bane weaver, assisting the town's apothecary in brewing potions, tonics, and the deadly poisons for which she is known. High in the estate tower where she works, a powerful immortal is kept chained, tortured daily for information. His screams haunt her waking and dreaming hours. A god, she learns. The East Wind, Eurus, who commands the sea-born storms.
A poor attempt to free him leads to Min's imminent capture and being subsequently forced to work in his employment. But the East Wind has greater plans for her. In the City of Gods, a tournament is held every thousand years, in which the winner may ask a favour from the esteemed Council of Gods. If Eurus wins, he will ask the council to reverse his banishment, the sentence that exiled him and his brothers to the mortal realms. And he requires a deadly poison to ensure that, once the favour is granted, the council will succumb to sleep and never again wake.
In order to earn her freedom, Min must agree to Eurus' bargain. But as they work together to defeat the deadly trials, she realizes the depth of her feelings toward the East Wind deepens. And if she ever wishes to return home, she must betray the god she loves.
Min of Marles is a bane weaver, assisting the town's apothecary in brewing potions, tonics, and the deadly poisons for which she is known. High in the estate tower where she works, a powerful immortal is kept chained, tortured daily for information. His screams haunt her waking and dreaming hours. A god, she learns. The East Wind, Eurus, who commands the sea-born storms.
A poor attempt to free him leads to Min's imminent capture and being subsequently forced to work in his employment. But the East Wind has greater plans for her. In the City of Gods, a tournament is held every thousand years, in which the winner may ask a favour from the esteemed Council of Gods. If Eurus wins, he will ask the council to reverse his banishment, the sentence that exiled him and his brothers to the mortal realms. And he requires a deadly poison to ensure that, once the favour is granted, the council will succumb to sleep and never again wake.
In order to earn her freedom, Min must agree to Eurus' bargain. But as they work together to defeat the deadly trials, she realizes the depth of her feelings toward the East Wind deepens. And if she ever wishes to return home, she must betray the god she loves.
432 pages, Paperback
Expected publication January 13, 2026
15 people are currently reading
3240 people want to read
About the author
Alexandria Warwick
17 books880 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 63 reviews
September 14, 2025
I kinda trudged through this, the writing was great, the story and plot gripped my attention but the fmc just wasn’t my favorite. I know she had a lot of trauma and mistreatment and that was the cause of her lack of self confidence and really rough internal monologue. But I don’t feel like she had any character development at all and it starred to feel like the only thing drawing mmc to her was pity. Honestly this is prob more a me problem and I’m sure many others will love this as it is the final installment. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the early copy
Want to read
August 11, 202511/08/2025: Just got approved for this one today; turns out I'll be reading it in the reverse order, but oh well! It seems like something right up my alley. Thank you to NetGalley, Alexandria Warwick and Simon & Schuster UK for this eARC!
dnf
November 13, 2025i was really excited to receive a copy of this book because i did enjoy the others in the series, and was excited to see what direction this one would go in because i thought it had the most interesting premise and plot direction of all the books in the series, but i just couldn't bring myself to finish it because of one thing.
I decided to stop reading this one at about 28% because i just couldn't get over the stuttering that the FMC was doing on the page. i know that this was meant to convey that she is meek, vulnerable and shy, but it just got unbearable and actually made reading what she was saying super hard. i found that there were some dialogue scenes i had to re-read 3 or more times because it just wasn't going in my head properly.
i was really hoping that this written stuttering was something that would slowly be phased out after a couple chapters (for readabilities sake) as the audience would have gotten the message about how meek, vulnerable and shy she was, but no, if anything it actually got worse when she properly encountered 'The East Wind' and was kidnapped by him.
Not only was this way of conveying and writing super hard for me to follow at times, but when the FMC was thinking to herself or having a little inner monologue, there was no stuttering at all, and that just drove me INSANE.
i know that its likely that towards the end of the book the stuttering is something that disappears or she gets over for some reason or another, and it's likely a big part of her character development and growth, but i just couldn't get over it.
I decided to stop reading this one at about 28% because i just couldn't get over the stuttering that the FMC was doing on the page. i know that this was meant to convey that she is meek, vulnerable and shy, but it just got unbearable and actually made reading what she was saying super hard. i found that there were some dialogue scenes i had to re-read 3 or more times because it just wasn't going in my head properly.
i was really hoping that this written stuttering was something that would slowly be phased out after a couple chapters (for readabilities sake) as the audience would have gotten the message about how meek, vulnerable and shy she was, but no, if anything it actually got worse when she properly encountered 'The East Wind' and was kidnapped by him.
Not only was this way of conveying and writing super hard for me to follow at times, but when the FMC was thinking to herself or having a little inner monologue, there was no stuttering at all, and that just drove me INSANE.
i know that its likely that towards the end of the book the stuttering is something that disappears or she gets over for some reason or another, and it's likely a big part of her character development and growth, but i just couldn't get over it.
November 15, 2025
3.5✨ spice 🌶️🌶️
I liked this book didn’t love it, the romance was lacking the Fmc and Mmc had no really chemistry it felt forced most of the time. The plot was ok I did enjoy the little plot twist on finding out about Madme Clarissa though. The trail games were a bit boring and just came out of nowhere, overall it was an ok book not my favourite in the series.
Min is almost mouse like quite, scared and always makes herself small as possible, working and living with a women who has raised her and also abuses her, it’s no wonder she’s has shrunk herself. Min is very good as making poisons it’s why Madame Clarissa keeper her around she’s uses and abuses her to get what’s she’s wants.
The East Wind (Eurus) is captured and tortured by Madame Clarissa ti gain his whereabouts of his ax. Min sets him free by accident and now she’s been help capture by this god that never shows his face and is cruel. Eurus enters into a trial games and takes his human Min assistance with him, Eurus shows a sort of human side to him he’s not all cold and dark he feels just as deeply as everyone else. He’s very driven by revenge of the council and wants to kill them all and with the help of Min he will do just that.
Thank you NetGalley & Publisher for the arc 🥰
I liked this book didn’t love it, the romance was lacking the Fmc and Mmc had no really chemistry it felt forced most of the time. The plot was ok I did enjoy the little plot twist on finding out about Madme Clarissa though. The trail games were a bit boring and just came out of nowhere, overall it was an ok book not my favourite in the series.
Min is almost mouse like quite, scared and always makes herself small as possible, working and living with a women who has raised her and also abuses her, it’s no wonder she’s has shrunk herself. Min is very good as making poisons it’s why Madame Clarissa keeper her around she’s uses and abuses her to get what’s she’s wants.
The East Wind (Eurus) is captured and tortured by Madame Clarissa ti gain his whereabouts of his ax. Min sets him free by accident and now she’s been help capture by this god that never shows his face and is cruel. Eurus enters into a trial games and takes his human Min assistance with him, Eurus shows a sort of human side to him he’s not all cold and dark he feels just as deeply as everyone else. He’s very driven by revenge of the council and wants to kill them all and with the help of Min he will do just that.
Thank you NetGalley & Publisher for the arc 🥰
September 21, 2025
Min has been employed by Madame Carissa for ten years, learning the art of becoming a banewitch. But the madame is cruel and not only abuses Mon, but also captures various creatures that she dissects for her potions. On a rare occurrence of defiance, Min sets one of these creatures free, but that creature is an immortal god, who decides to take Min with him on his escape. Eurus and Min enter a bargain, she’ll make a poison to kill the council of gods and Eurus will let her go back to her old life. But the reason they have access to the gods (because Ereus and his brothers were banished from the city of gods) is a tournament to the death.
This was for sure one of the better winds books. I did appreciate the character development in this more than some of the others. Wild there is still a bit of quick realization of things, the distrust between both main characters was believable. I also enjoyed how we, in this final book, got a glimpse at what all the other brothers were up to.
This was for sure one of the better winds books. I did appreciate the character development in this more than some of the others. Wild there is still a bit of quick realization of things, the distrust between both main characters was believable. I also enjoyed how we, in this final book, got a glimpse at what all the other brothers were up to.
December 2, 2025
ARC Review: The East Wind
Having never read any of the other books in this series, I was pleasantly surprised by how seamless and enjoyable this standalone felt. The author gives you just enough threads from the wider world that you feel rooted in the series—without ever feeling lost or overwhelmed.
This is a Rapunzel retelling, but it’s also so much more. You get the classic grumpy god, the impossible trials, and that slow, inevitable falling in love that makes you turn pages faster than you mean to. The mythology is rich, the emotional beats land, and the chemistry? SO GOOD.
It’s an easy book to love—comforting, magical, and full of heart. I’m already planning to go back and read the other books because if they’re anything like this one, I’m hooked.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy!
Having never read any of the other books in this series, I was pleasantly surprised by how seamless and enjoyable this standalone felt. The author gives you just enough threads from the wider world that you feel rooted in the series—without ever feeling lost or overwhelmed.
This is a Rapunzel retelling, but it’s also so much more. You get the classic grumpy god, the impossible trials, and that slow, inevitable falling in love that makes you turn pages faster than you mean to. The mythology is rich, the emotional beats land, and the chemistry? SO GOOD.
It’s an easy book to love—comforting, magical, and full of heart. I’m already planning to go back and read the other books because if they’re anything like this one, I’m hooked.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy!
December 9, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finishing The East Wind was such a bittersweet feeling. I loved this book and the others in the series but I’m so sad it’s over! I really enjoy Alexandria’s writing and storytelling. She gets you hooked from the start!
This Rapunzel inspired story has the slowest of slow burns but it pays off. Min and Eurus have been through so much trauma. Their scars are deep and some are physically visible. It takes time for them to trust each other after all they’ve been through. I was so happy when they hit the moment. They deserved their HEA.
Besides the slow burn romance, the main focus is the 3 trials Eurus is competing in to reverse his banishment from the City of Gods. Ultimately, he is using Min for her expertise in making poisons for his ultimate revenge against the Council of the Gods. These aspects make this a fast paced and fun read. I devoured this in less than a day. Plus, as a fun bonus, Alexandria creates a reunion of the brothers. Be sure the read the epilogue!
Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC!
Finishing The East Wind was such a bittersweet feeling. I loved this book and the others in the series but I’m so sad it’s over! I really enjoy Alexandria’s writing and storytelling. She gets you hooked from the start!
This Rapunzel inspired story has the slowest of slow burns but it pays off. Min and Eurus have been through so much trauma. Their scars are deep and some are physically visible. It takes time for them to trust each other after all they’ve been through. I was so happy when they hit the moment. They deserved their HEA.
Besides the slow burn romance, the main focus is the 3 trials Eurus is competing in to reverse his banishment from the City of Gods. Ultimately, he is using Min for her expertise in making poisons for his ultimate revenge against the Council of the Gods. These aspects make this a fast paced and fun read. I devoured this in less than a day. Plus, as a fun bonus, Alexandria creates a reunion of the brothers. Be sure the read the epilogue!
Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC!
August 25, 2025
I have really enjoyed this series, so I was so excited to get the ARC for the fourth and final installment in the series.
Unfortunately, this might just be my least favorite in the series. But the epilogue was super cute.
I found the FMC to be kind of annoying, she was self-deprecating in a way that really grated on me. Yeah, we can all have confidence issues at times, but this was a whole new level of that. I did think that her being a herbologist was quite cool and unique, I thought that added a unique sort of storyline/addition to the story.
I did think that Eurus (The East Wind) had some really great character development throughout this book and I really love some good character development. I'm glad this was a slow-burn, I think that really helped and added to his character development, it gave it a purpose and a course.
Unfortunately, there is quite a bit of miscommunication, which I don't love. But it was done better than most do it, so I didn't mind it nearly as much as I could've. (I think because it was always cleared up faster than that kind of thing usually is.)
I just wanted a little bit more from this book, especially since it's the final book in the series. I wanted more actual story and I wanted a more likable FMC. She didn't really go through much character development, she was still quite annoying throughout the whole book. Not everything said to you needs to responded to with you questioning yourself, it just makes people not want to be around you (yeah, I get she had a rough past, but so do a lot of less annoying people). I don't know. I just really didn't like her. Sorry. I'm sure plenty of people will like her, but I also think there will be people that agree with me about her.
Overall, I highly recommend this series. It is entertaining and whimsical and that's all I really ask for.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Unfortunately, this might just be my least favorite in the series. But the epilogue was super cute.
I found the FMC to be kind of annoying, she was self-deprecating in a way that really grated on me. Yeah, we can all have confidence issues at times, but this was a whole new level of that. I did think that her being a herbologist was quite cool and unique, I thought that added a unique sort of storyline/addition to the story.
I did think that Eurus (The East Wind) had some really great character development throughout this book and I really love some good character development. I'm glad this was a slow-burn, I think that really helped and added to his character development, it gave it a purpose and a course.
Unfortunately, there is quite a bit of miscommunication, which I don't love. But it was done better than most do it, so I didn't mind it nearly as much as I could've. (I think because it was always cleared up faster than that kind of thing usually is.)
I just wanted a little bit more from this book, especially since it's the final book in the series. I wanted more actual story and I wanted a more likable FMC. She didn't really go through much character development, she was still quite annoying throughout the whole book. Not everything said to you needs to responded to with you questioning yourself, it just makes people not want to be around you (yeah, I get she had a rough past, but so do a lot of less annoying people). I don't know. I just really didn't like her. Sorry. I'm sure plenty of people will like her, but I also think there will be people that agree with me about her.
Overall, I highly recommend this series. It is entertaining and whimsical and that's all I really ask for.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
November 10, 2025
Although not my favorite from the series I enjoyed The East Wind for how emotional this was. I really enjoy how each fmc and mmc is so different book to book but I will say I struggled a bit with Min. She was naive, timid, and in my opinion never really had a great character development. She started to become more confident but I feel like there could have been more. That being said I loved the slow burn romance between Min and Eurus. It made so much sense in this story with it being a captor/captive romance. I enjoyed parts of the plot and liked the uniqueness of Eurus. Now in my opinion he had a great character development and may be one of my favorites from the whole series.
Overall I enjoyed this and thought it was a satisfying ending to a series I started when it was an Indie read. I definitely recommend this series if you like fairy tale and Greek myth retellings!
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for an advanced copy!
Overall I enjoyed this and thought it was a satisfying ending to a series I started when it was an Indie read. I definitely recommend this series if you like fairy tale and Greek myth retellings!
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for an advanced copy!
September 4, 2025
Thank you Saga Press + NetGalley for this ARC!
This was... tough to get through. The main reason for this was our FMC, Min (who I just picture as🧍♀️personified); she's INSANELY naive, has no backbone, constantly monologues(???) in a very cringey/unnatural way, and is just generally ✨annoying✨. A true dingo that I tried to sympathize with & I simply could not do it. I could not, for the LIFE of me, figure out why Eurus would like her. Eurus himself is comparatively 300x better but still pretty meh.
There's a bit of a "bomb" dropped towards the end of the book that just felt so eyeroll-y to me.
I think I enjoyed 2 scenes from the entire book, but the epilogue (which is admittedly pretty cute). I did enjoy The South Wind's book (though it also struggled from 'Annoying FMC Syndrome'), so not really enjoying this one was a bummer.
This was... tough to get through. The main reason for this was our FMC, Min (who I just picture as🧍♀️personified); she's INSANELY naive, has no backbone, constantly monologues(???) in a very cringey/unnatural way, and is just generally ✨annoying✨. A true dingo that I tried to sympathize with & I simply could not do it. I could not, for the LIFE of me, figure out why Eurus would like her. Eurus himself is comparatively 300x better but still pretty meh.
There's a bit of a "bomb" dropped towards the end of the book that just felt so eyeroll-y to me.
I think I enjoyed 2 scenes from the entire book, but the epilogue (which is admittedly pretty cute). I did enjoy The South Wind's book (though it also struggled from 'Annoying FMC Syndrome'), so not really enjoying this one was a bummer.
November 5, 2025
✨ Rapunzel Retelling
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Slow Burn
✨Grumpy x Sunshine
I received an advanced review copy through NetGalley. The series has been on my TBR for quite a while, but receiving a copy pushed it to the top of the list. I of course began reading the North Wind believing this was the second book of the series (I grew up with it being NESW and for some reason I thought this book followed that pattern😛). Although it is a stand alone, I always like to read the books in order (for the most part). I enjoyed the story immensely and I think there are people who read this can resonate with the characters. I was emotionally invested in the growth and the healing of Eurus and Min. Both have suffered physically and emotionally at the hands of one of their parents. This shapes who they become. Eurus isolates himself, trusts no one, and is hellbent on revenge. Min is quiet and allows her employer to treat her as if she is nothing. This is a beautiful story of two individuals coming together, healing each other, and falling in love.
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Slow Burn
✨Grumpy x Sunshine
I received an advanced review copy through NetGalley. The series has been on my TBR for quite a while, but receiving a copy pushed it to the top of the list. I of course began reading the North Wind believing this was the second book of the series (I grew up with it being NESW and for some reason I thought this book followed that pattern😛). Although it is a stand alone, I always like to read the books in order (for the most part). I enjoyed the story immensely and I think there are people who read this can resonate with the characters. I was emotionally invested in the growth and the healing of Eurus and Min. Both have suffered physically and emotionally at the hands of one of their parents. This shapes who they become. Eurus isolates himself, trusts no one, and is hellbent on revenge. Min is quiet and allows her employer to treat her as if she is nothing. This is a beautiful story of two individuals coming together, healing each other, and falling in love.
September 29, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
First of all: I loveeeeeed this book. I kinda guessed I would from part of the editor's note at the front, tbh. ("Neither [protagonist] has known real love and both are convinced they aren't worthy of it." Me, rubbing my greedy palms together: yesssss this was written For Me) I also, based on book 3, figured this was the book of the most fucked up brother--and y'all by now probably know by now how much i LOVE to watch the most messed up characters finding and receiving love!!!
While the FMC's stutter and early and cowardliness normally would have annoyed me in other books, it just...worked for me. Similar to book 2's characters' personalities, tbh. I think it has to do with Warwick's writing style--she just writes characters in a way that makes them likeable and understood, even/despite their weaknesses.
The MMC was a big messed up grouch and I just loved his transformation, his slow reception then craving of touch. (Especially after being
Normally reveals bother me, but it again worked fine for me here, and was resolved in a way that also worked for me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The end--with --was just a perfect encapsulation of this series and Eurus' story specifically. The epilogue with was just so sweet and wonderful! (I also loved the hint that )
My one complaint of the book, though it didn't detract from my love of it--I continue to think a (2nd?) epilogue with Eurus and Min's growing family would have been appropriate. Early on in the book, Eurus has a line about how bad the gods are at parenting (which is further emphasized by how his father's abuse is visible on his body)--I think good closure/refutation of that idea would have been Eurus as a father, unsure but still Trying and doing better for his kid(s) than his father ever did for him. I guess there's fanfiction (that I may have to write), but I was missing that scene!!
Anyway, loved this book and series, will be rec'ing to all my friends and audience! Another for the faves shelf, lads.
And now for my fave quotes from the book (covered bc spoilers):
First of all: I loveeeeeed this book. I kinda guessed I would from part of the editor's note at the front, tbh. ("Neither [protagonist] has known real love and both are convinced they aren't worthy of it." Me, rubbing my greedy palms together: yesssss this was written For Me) I also, based on book 3, figured this was the book of the most fucked up brother--and y'all by now probably know by now how much i LOVE to watch the most messed up characters finding and receiving love!!!
While the FMC's stutter and early and cowardliness normally would have annoyed me in other books, it just...worked for me. Similar to book 2's characters' personalities, tbh. I think it has to do with Warwick's writing style--she just writes characters in a way that makes them likeable and understood, even/despite their weaknesses.
The MMC was a big messed up grouch and I just loved his transformation, his slow reception then craving of touch. (Especially after being
Normally reveals bother me, but it again worked fine for me here, and was resolved in a way that also worked for me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The end--with --was just a perfect encapsulation of this series and Eurus' story specifically. The epilogue with was just so sweet and wonderful! (I also loved the hint that )
My one complaint of the book, though it didn't detract from my love of it--I continue to think a (2nd?) epilogue with Eurus and Min's growing family would have been appropriate. Early on in the book, Eurus has a line about how bad the gods are at parenting (which is further emphasized by how his father's abuse is visible on his body)--I think good closure/refutation of that idea would have been Eurus as a father, unsure but still Trying and doing better for his kid(s) than his father ever did for him. I guess there's fanfiction (that I may have to write), but I was missing that scene!!
Anyway, loved this book and series, will be rec'ing to all my friends and audience! Another for the faves shelf, lads.
And now for my fave quotes from the book (covered bc spoilers):
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Alexandria Warwick's The East Wind arrives as the climactic finale to the Four Winds series, and it carries the weight of four books' worth of mythology, romance, and hard-won wisdom about what it means to heal. This is not simply a retelling of Rapunzel meets Psyche and Cupid—it's a profound exploration of trauma, self-worth, and the terrifying vulnerability required to trust another person after a lifetime of abuse.
A Tower Made of More Than Stone
Min of Marles exists in a cage that wears no visible bars. As an apothecary assistant to Lady Clarisse, she spends her days brewing potions from ingredients harvested from imprisoned immortal beings, including Eurus, the East Wind himself. Her world is measured in stuttered words, flinching movements, and the perpetual fear of doing something wrong. When Min impulsively frees Eurus from his cell, she expects gratitude. Instead, she's stolen away to his remote island manor and forced into a new kind of captivity—one that will require her to confront not just Eurus's demons, but her own.
Warwick crafts Min's character with extraordinary care, never allowing her weakness to define her, yet never pretending that years of abuse can be shed like an old coat. Min's stutter isn't merely a character quirk; it's a physical manifestation of trauma, appearing and disappearing based on her emotional state. This attention to the bodily experience of abuse elevates the narrative beyond typical fantasy romance into something that feels viscerally real. We watch Min's journey not as passive observers but as witnesses to genuine transformation—the kind that happens in inches, not miles.
The God Who Learned to Be Human
Eurus presents one of fantasy romance's most compelling examinations of masculine trauma. He is not the wounded hero who simply needs love to fix him, nor is he the tortured villain who performs cruelty with secret tenderness. Instead, Warwick gives us a god so consumed by his quest for revenge that he has forgotten what it means to simply exist without rage as armor. His childhood torture at his father's hands has left him believing that isolation equals safety, that vulnerability equals weakness, and that the only path forward is through vengeance.
The chemistry between Min and Eurus builds with agonizing slowness, and that patience serves the story beautifully. Their relationship begins in a power imbalance so stark it's uncomfortable—he is her captor, she his unwilling prisoner. Yet Warwick refuses to romanticize this dynamic. Instead, she forces both characters to reckon with what they're doing to each other, to acknowledge the harm, and to actively choose something different. The evolution from captor and captive to equals who choose each other freely becomes the emotional spine of the entire narrative.
A Tournament of Trials, A Testament to Survival
The tournament arc in the City of Gods serves multiple functions within the narrative architecture. On its surface, it's a series of brutal challenges designed to test competitors' worthiness. Beneath that lies a deeper examination of what strength actually means. Min accompanies Eurus through trials that demand not just physical prowess but emotional resilience, strategic thinking, and the willingness to depend on another person. The third trial—a harrowing descent down rain-slicked cliffs while arrows rain down and Min confronts her fear of water—stands as one of the book's most visceral sequences.
What makes these trials remarkable isn't the spectacle (though Warwick delivers that in abundance) but how they mirror the internal work both characters must do. Each physical challenge reflects an emotional hurdle: trust, vulnerability, letting go of control, facing mortality. When Min pulls an arrow from Eurus's shoulder and recognizes the poison coating its tip, her knowledge becomes power. When Eurus shields Min's body with his own, his strength becomes protection rather than domination.
The Mother Wound That Bleeds Through Generations
The revelation that Lady Clarisse is Min's biological mother arrives with devastating impact, recontextualizing everything we've witnessed about their relationship. This isn't abuse perpetrated by a cruel employer but by the woman who gave Min life—and then spent that life trying to extinguish Min's spirit. Warwick handles this complex dynamic with nuance, never excusing Lady Clarisse's cruelty but allowing us to see the grief and trauma that warped her into something monstrous.
The confrontation between Min and Lady Clarisse on the storm-battered cliffs provides the book's most emotionally charged moments. Here, Min must literally and figuratively let go of the woman who birthed her but never mothered her. It's a scene that refuses easy catharsis, acknowledging both the relief of freedom and the grief for what could never be.
Where the Four Winds Converge
Readers of the previous books—The North Wind, The West Wind, and The South Wind—will find deep satisfaction in seeing the Anemoi brothers reunited. Warwick has spent three books establishing each brother's distinct personality and showing how immortality and trauma have shaped them differently. The family reunion sequence in the epilogue, with Boreas, Zephyrus, Notus, and their respective partners gathered at Min and Eurus's estate, feels earned rather than tacked on.
Each previous heroine—Wren, Brielle, and Sarai—carried her own wounds into her story, and Min's journey completes a quartet of women who refuse to let their pain define them. Where Wren struggled with alcoholism and self-worth, Brielle questioned her faith, and Sarai grappled with grief and abandonment, Min's arc centers on reclaiming agency after years of having none. Together, these four women represent different facets of trauma recovery, each valid, each hard-won.
The Poison That Becomes Medicine
Min's expertise as a bane weaver—someone who creates both poisons and remedies—operates as the book's central metaphor. She begins by brewing Eastern Blood, a poison with no antidote that guarantees death. She ends by reopening her grandmother's apothecary, now renamed Nana's Tinctures & Teas, focusing exclusively on healing. This shift from poison to remedy mirrors her internal transformation from someone who believed she was worthless to someone who knows her inherent value.
Warwick's prose shines brightest in these quiet moments of Min working with her herbs and tinctures. The sensory details—the smell of chervil, the burn of larkshin poison, the careful measurement of nightshade—ground the fantasy elements in physical reality. When Min identifies a poison coating an arrow during the tournament, her knowledge saves Eurus's life. Her expertise, so long dismissed by Lady Clarisse, becomes the thing that makes her irreplaceable.
Critiques Worth Noting
While The East Wind delivers emotional resonance in abundance, it's not without structural challenges. The pacing in the middle section occasionally drags, particularly during extended sequences of Min brewing potions while waiting for tournament trials. Some readers may find the power imbalance in the early relationship dynamic too uncomfortable to overcome, even as the narrative explicitly acknowledges and works to correct it.
The villain, Prince Balior, feels somewhat underdeveloped compared to the rich characterization given to Min, Eurus, and Lady Clarisse. His motivations remain murky, and his ultimate defeat happens largely off-page through the intervention of Eurus's brothers rather than through the protagonists' direct action. Additionally, certain plot threads—particularly around the Council of Gods and Eurus's original revenge plan—resolve with less complexity than their buildup might suggest.
The ARC of this book arrived in my hands courtesy of Simon & Schuster, and I approached it with both anticipation and trepidation. The publisher's faith in Warwick's vision to close out this series has been vindicated by what she delivers: a romance that understands that love alone cannot heal trauma, but that choosing to heal alongside someone you trust can make the unbearable bearable.
The Inheritance We Choose
The East Wind ultimately asks what we owe to those who hurt us, and what we owe to ourselves. Min's answer—that she owes Lady Clarisse nothing, but owes herself everything—rings with hard-won truth. Her decision to take over her grandmother's estate and transform it into a space of healing rather than harm represents more than real estate; it's about reclaiming history and rewriting its meaning.
The epilogue, set months after the main conflict resolves, gives us Min and Eurus hosting a family dinner. It's domestic, warm, slightly chaotic with children and conversation. Eurus, who once couldn't tolerate even his brothers' presence, has learned to welcome family into his life. Min, who stuttered through every interaction, speaks clearly and confidently. They've built not just a home but a life together—one where peace isn't the absence of conflict but the presence of safety, trust, and mutual respect.
A Tower Made of More Than Stone
Min of Marles exists in a cage that wears no visible bars. As an apothecary assistant to Lady Clarisse, she spends her days brewing potions from ingredients harvested from imprisoned immortal beings, including Eurus, the East Wind himself. Her world is measured in stuttered words, flinching movements, and the perpetual fear of doing something wrong. When Min impulsively frees Eurus from his cell, she expects gratitude. Instead, she's stolen away to his remote island manor and forced into a new kind of captivity—one that will require her to confront not just Eurus's demons, but her own.
Warwick crafts Min's character with extraordinary care, never allowing her weakness to define her, yet never pretending that years of abuse can be shed like an old coat. Min's stutter isn't merely a character quirk; it's a physical manifestation of trauma, appearing and disappearing based on her emotional state. This attention to the bodily experience of abuse elevates the narrative beyond typical fantasy romance into something that feels viscerally real. We watch Min's journey not as passive observers but as witnesses to genuine transformation—the kind that happens in inches, not miles.
The God Who Learned to Be Human
Eurus presents one of fantasy romance's most compelling examinations of masculine trauma. He is not the wounded hero who simply needs love to fix him, nor is he the tortured villain who performs cruelty with secret tenderness. Instead, Warwick gives us a god so consumed by his quest for revenge that he has forgotten what it means to simply exist without rage as armor. His childhood torture at his father's hands has left him believing that isolation equals safety, that vulnerability equals weakness, and that the only path forward is through vengeance.
The chemistry between Min and Eurus builds with agonizing slowness, and that patience serves the story beautifully. Their relationship begins in a power imbalance so stark it's uncomfortable—he is her captor, she his unwilling prisoner. Yet Warwick refuses to romanticize this dynamic. Instead, she forces both characters to reckon with what they're doing to each other, to acknowledge the harm, and to actively choose something different. The evolution from captor and captive to equals who choose each other freely becomes the emotional spine of the entire narrative.
A Tournament of Trials, A Testament to Survival
The tournament arc in the City of Gods serves multiple functions within the narrative architecture. On its surface, it's a series of brutal challenges designed to test competitors' worthiness. Beneath that lies a deeper examination of what strength actually means. Min accompanies Eurus through trials that demand not just physical prowess but emotional resilience, strategic thinking, and the willingness to depend on another person. The third trial—a harrowing descent down rain-slicked cliffs while arrows rain down and Min confronts her fear of water—stands as one of the book's most visceral sequences.
What makes these trials remarkable isn't the spectacle (though Warwick delivers that in abundance) but how they mirror the internal work both characters must do. Each physical challenge reflects an emotional hurdle: trust, vulnerability, letting go of control, facing mortality. When Min pulls an arrow from Eurus's shoulder and recognizes the poison coating its tip, her knowledge becomes power. When Eurus shields Min's body with his own, his strength becomes protection rather than domination.
The Mother Wound That Bleeds Through Generations
The revelation that Lady Clarisse is Min's biological mother arrives with devastating impact, recontextualizing everything we've witnessed about their relationship. This isn't abuse perpetrated by a cruel employer but by the woman who gave Min life—and then spent that life trying to extinguish Min's spirit. Warwick handles this complex dynamic with nuance, never excusing Lady Clarisse's cruelty but allowing us to see the grief and trauma that warped her into something monstrous.
The confrontation between Min and Lady Clarisse on the storm-battered cliffs provides the book's most emotionally charged moments. Here, Min must literally and figuratively let go of the woman who birthed her but never mothered her. It's a scene that refuses easy catharsis, acknowledging both the relief of freedom and the grief for what could never be.
Where the Four Winds Converge
Readers of the previous books—The North Wind, The West Wind, and The South Wind—will find deep satisfaction in seeing the Anemoi brothers reunited. Warwick has spent three books establishing each brother's distinct personality and showing how immortality and trauma have shaped them differently. The family reunion sequence in the epilogue, with Boreas, Zephyrus, Notus, and their respective partners gathered at Min and Eurus's estate, feels earned rather than tacked on.
Each previous heroine—Wren, Brielle, and Sarai—carried her own wounds into her story, and Min's journey completes a quartet of women who refuse to let their pain define them. Where Wren struggled with alcoholism and self-worth, Brielle questioned her faith, and Sarai grappled with grief and abandonment, Min's arc centers on reclaiming agency after years of having none. Together, these four women represent different facets of trauma recovery, each valid, each hard-won.
The Poison That Becomes Medicine
Min's expertise as a bane weaver—someone who creates both poisons and remedies—operates as the book's central metaphor. She begins by brewing Eastern Blood, a poison with no antidote that guarantees death. She ends by reopening her grandmother's apothecary, now renamed Nana's Tinctures & Teas, focusing exclusively on healing. This shift from poison to remedy mirrors her internal transformation from someone who believed she was worthless to someone who knows her inherent value.
Warwick's prose shines brightest in these quiet moments of Min working with her herbs and tinctures. The sensory details—the smell of chervil, the burn of larkshin poison, the careful measurement of nightshade—ground the fantasy elements in physical reality. When Min identifies a poison coating an arrow during the tournament, her knowledge saves Eurus's life. Her expertise, so long dismissed by Lady Clarisse, becomes the thing that makes her irreplaceable.
Critiques Worth Noting
While The East Wind delivers emotional resonance in abundance, it's not without structural challenges. The pacing in the middle section occasionally drags, particularly during extended sequences of Min brewing potions while waiting for tournament trials. Some readers may find the power imbalance in the early relationship dynamic too uncomfortable to overcome, even as the narrative explicitly acknowledges and works to correct it.
The villain, Prince Balior, feels somewhat underdeveloped compared to the rich characterization given to Min, Eurus, and Lady Clarisse. His motivations remain murky, and his ultimate defeat happens largely off-page through the intervention of Eurus's brothers rather than through the protagonists' direct action. Additionally, certain plot threads—particularly around the Council of Gods and Eurus's original revenge plan—resolve with less complexity than their buildup might suggest.
The ARC of this book arrived in my hands courtesy of Simon & Schuster, and I approached it with both anticipation and trepidation. The publisher's faith in Warwick's vision to close out this series has been vindicated by what she delivers: a romance that understands that love alone cannot heal trauma, but that choosing to heal alongside someone you trust can make the unbearable bearable.
The Inheritance We Choose
The East Wind ultimately asks what we owe to those who hurt us, and what we owe to ourselves. Min's answer—that she owes Lady Clarisse nothing, but owes herself everything—rings with hard-won truth. Her decision to take over her grandmother's estate and transform it into a space of healing rather than harm represents more than real estate; it's about reclaiming history and rewriting its meaning.
The epilogue, set months after the main conflict resolves, gives us Min and Eurus hosting a family dinner. It's domestic, warm, slightly chaotic with children and conversation. Eurus, who once couldn't tolerate even his brothers' presence, has learned to welcome family into his life. Min, who stuttered through every interaction, speaks clearly and confidently. They've built not just a home but a life together—one where peace isn't the absence of conflict but the presence of safety, trust, and mutual respect.
December 2, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Series: Four Winds #4
ARC: Thanks to NetGalley. All opinions my own.
After five years following the Four Winds series, The East Wind delivers a deeply emotional and satisfying final chapter. I loved The North Wind back in 2022, adored The West Wind in 2023 (still my favourite — Zephyrus absolutely wins for personality, and comic relief), and enjoyed The South Wind earlier this year. This fourth instalment brings everything together with heart, pain, healing, and a romance that feels genuinely earned.
🌬️
The Story
This time we follow Eurus — the last remaining god among the four brothers. His upbringing was brutal; his father’s experiments have left him traumatised, touch-averse, and understandably wary of everyone. When he’s captured by the ruthless Lady Clarisse, who wants to extract the secret of immortality, Eurus is already at breaking point.
Min, an apothecary trained by her beloved and departed Nan, works under Lady Clarisse’s thumb and suffers her own abuse. She’s desperate to prove her worth, even believing that discovering immortality might earn her a safe place to stay at her treasured manor. When the chance arises to help Eurus escape, she is reluctant — but their shared pain, caution, and slow understanding create something fragile and hopeful between them.
💔
Trauma, Vulnerability & the Slow Unravelling
This book’s emotional core sits squarely in Eurus and Min’s parallel journeys. Both have been shaped by cruelty; both must relearn trust. Their romance is tender, cautious, and beautifully vulnerable. When they finally give in to the physical side of their connection, it lands with real emotional weight — intimate, not just spicy for the sake of it.
The themes of reclaiming self-worth, confronting the shadows of abuse, and choosing gentleness over vengeance give the story a satisfying depth.
❤️🔥
Characters & Chemistry
Min’s kindness and quiet resilience complement Eurus’s protective intensity perfectly. I really enjoyed how their bond grows — tentative at first, then slowly warming as they mirror each other’s fears and hopes. The spice is well-written, and the character work feels thoughtful and grounded.
👑
A Strong Finish to the Series
The reunion of the four brothers at the end was especially poignant — a lovely hallmarky bow on the entire series. And yes, The West Wind remains my favourite, and Zephyrus still steals every scene he appears in.
🌟
Final Thoughts
A moving, action-packed finale to a series I’ve consistently enjoyed. It’s dark in places, tender in others, and ultimately hopeful. I’m glad to see this instalment out in the world, and I can’t wait to see what Alexandria Warwick does next.
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Series: Four Winds #4
ARC: Thanks to NetGalley. All opinions my own.
After five years following the Four Winds series, The East Wind delivers a deeply emotional and satisfying final chapter. I loved The North Wind back in 2022, adored The West Wind in 2023 (still my favourite — Zephyrus absolutely wins for personality, and comic relief), and enjoyed The South Wind earlier this year. This fourth instalment brings everything together with heart, pain, healing, and a romance that feels genuinely earned.
🌬️
The Story
This time we follow Eurus — the last remaining god among the four brothers. His upbringing was brutal; his father’s experiments have left him traumatised, touch-averse, and understandably wary of everyone. When he’s captured by the ruthless Lady Clarisse, who wants to extract the secret of immortality, Eurus is already at breaking point.
Min, an apothecary trained by her beloved and departed Nan, works under Lady Clarisse’s thumb and suffers her own abuse. She’s desperate to prove her worth, even believing that discovering immortality might earn her a safe place to stay at her treasured manor. When the chance arises to help Eurus escape, she is reluctant — but their shared pain, caution, and slow understanding create something fragile and hopeful between them.
💔
Trauma, Vulnerability & the Slow Unravelling
This book’s emotional core sits squarely in Eurus and Min’s parallel journeys. Both have been shaped by cruelty; both must relearn trust. Their romance is tender, cautious, and beautifully vulnerable. When they finally give in to the physical side of their connection, it lands with real emotional weight — intimate, not just spicy for the sake of it.
The themes of reclaiming self-worth, confronting the shadows of abuse, and choosing gentleness over vengeance give the story a satisfying depth.
❤️🔥
Characters & Chemistry
Min’s kindness and quiet resilience complement Eurus’s protective intensity perfectly. I really enjoyed how their bond grows — tentative at first, then slowly warming as they mirror each other’s fears and hopes. The spice is well-written, and the character work feels thoughtful and grounded.
👑
A Strong Finish to the Series
The reunion of the four brothers at the end was especially poignant — a lovely hallmarky bow on the entire series. And yes, The West Wind remains my favourite, and Zephyrus still steals every scene he appears in.
🌟
Final Thoughts
A moving, action-packed finale to a series I’ve consistently enjoyed. It’s dark in places, tender in others, and ultimately hopeful. I’m glad to see this instalment out in the world, and I can’t wait to see what Alexandria Warwick does next.
October 12, 2025
Trigger warnings: child abuse
She lives in a house where a woman tortures creatures, deities, and people on the daily; so much so that they occasionally die, but thinks being kept someplace warm and with food is mistreatment. She’s not in a cell, she’s in a house; she’s not freezing, she has clothing; she’s not being beaten, she’s allowed to speak her mind, but she can’t take a walk through town so it’s mistreatment. (Yes, yes, being kidnapped is wrong, being held against your will is still horrible and all, but this is a romantasy, so this isn’t mistreatment, it’s courting.)
The main character has a spine so weak that even wet pasta would look at her askance. She’s so full of self pity, so empty of self confidence, and so down on herself that I’m surprised she managed to do anything without some mood altering medication. At one point, Min is told that she defends Eurus as fiercely as though she and he were lovers … but looking back through that chapter, I have no idea what she said that was deemed either fierce or fond or protective.
Eventually Min is dragged through the ubiquitous trials that shove her and Eurus into the forced proximity trope, and Min talks about poisons again. Oh yes, she makes poisons. It shows up often in the book, and … there’s imagination there in what each poison does, but it often feels more like an excuse for the author to show off than for Min to have anything to say on her on. So often the book drags Min along in a way that has her feeling less like a character and more like a toy,
But.
As the book goes on the relationship between Min and Eurus begins to actually be interesting. Eurus has had a horrible childhood, as has Min; both want approval from a parent who will never give it, both are leery of trusting someone, both want so badly to be told they’re worth something, worthy of someone, and the slow building relationship between them is the best part of this book.
The world building is non existent. It’s just fantasy powers with modern clothes and magic. The writing is solid, the pace lags somewhat in places but — overall — it’s an easy read. Personally, I didn’t mind this book … but I don’t love it. I found it predictable, repetitive, and somewhat generic. But if you’re looking for a romantasy with a solid relationship and a love interest who isn’t a giant walking red flag but is instead someone with their own character arc that learns to be a better person and a better partner, then consider giving this book a try.
November 9, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, S&S/Saga Press, and Alexandria Warwick for allowing me to read this ARC of The East Wind.
*Have not read the other books in the series, but I’ve been hassling my local library to get the books that are available*.
Eurus has been captured by the Bane Weaver, Madame Clarisse, who is a malevolent apothecarist and owner of the property named St Laurent, where she “trains and houses” an apprentice named Min. Min is a young woman, who toils everyday to appease MC for fear of being abused if she doesn’t complete her daily chores and follow MC’s recipes for torture on her “guests” in the basement and North Tower of St Laurent. Min has been told to not go into the North Tower, but her curiosity wins over her fear, and she discovers MC has captured a God and is planning to steal his power and immortality. Feeling guilt about her or MC’s plan and/or possibly still exploring this mysterious God’ in his cell, she accidentally releases him and is taken as a captive herself. Now she must serve as a bane weaver to the God in order to help him seek revenge on an old wound via a series of challenges in a “game” within the City of Gods.
Both Min and Eurus begin to discover they both lived similar traumas and each struggle through their trauma in different ways. Learning how to trust people is difficult for Eurus and Min’s depths of self loathing is entrenched deep within her.
Personally, let me say, this was the most frustrated I’ve felt about a character in a book in a long time. The amount of times I had to stop and tell my husband what was going on and then continue was probably irritating to him. Granted, I understood why each character struggled. Trauma works it way through each person differently.
It took a minute to get into the book, although once it picked up from the escape of St Laurent, I was in. The ending of the book was so raw and painful, there were multiple moments where I felt like my heart had been ripped out and stomped on. And I was for sure there was no way I’d forgive the character, short of extreme actions. And then I was gripping the edge of reader for dear life. Thank you Alexandria for making me this passionate about a story, one I haven’t felt in a while.
I’d rate this book a 4.75 and would recommend to anyone that likes the Crowns of Nyaxia series or maybe ACOTAR; especially this one because of the games. I do wish there had been more about the Gods in the book. A couple of missed opportunities to expand, but I get the choice made
*Have not read the other books in the series, but I’ve been hassling my local library to get the books that are available*.
Eurus has been captured by the Bane Weaver, Madame Clarisse, who is a malevolent apothecarist and owner of the property named St Laurent, where she “trains and houses” an apprentice named Min. Min is a young woman, who toils everyday to appease MC for fear of being abused if she doesn’t complete her daily chores and follow MC’s recipes for torture on her “guests” in the basement and North Tower of St Laurent. Min has been told to not go into the North Tower, but her curiosity wins over her fear, and she discovers MC has captured a God and is planning to steal his power and immortality. Feeling guilt about her or MC’s plan and/or possibly still exploring this mysterious God’ in his cell, she accidentally releases him and is taken as a captive herself. Now she must serve as a bane weaver to the God in order to help him seek revenge on an old wound via a series of challenges in a “game” within the City of Gods.
Both Min and Eurus begin to discover they both lived similar traumas and each struggle through their trauma in different ways. Learning how to trust people is difficult for Eurus and Min’s depths of self loathing is entrenched deep within her.
Personally, let me say, this was the most frustrated I’ve felt about a character in a book in a long time. The amount of times I had to stop and tell my husband what was going on and then continue was probably irritating to him. Granted, I understood why each character struggled. Trauma works it way through each person differently.
It took a minute to get into the book, although once it picked up from the escape of St Laurent, I was in. The ending of the book was so raw and painful, there were multiple moments where I felt like my heart had been ripped out and stomped on. And I was for sure there was no way I’d forgive the character, short of extreme actions. And then I was gripping the edge of reader for dear life. Thank you Alexandria for making me this passionate about a story, one I haven’t felt in a while.
I’d rate this book a 4.75 and would recommend to anyone that likes the Crowns of Nyaxia series or maybe ACOTAR; especially this one because of the games. I do wish there had been more about the Gods in the book. A couple of missed opportunities to expand, but I get the choice made
November 26, 2025
This is an ARC review. I received an early edition of this book through NetGalley, all thoughts and opinions are true and my own.
-
Honestly this series started off so well for me, I LOVED The North Wind and The West Wind. The godly vibes and character development were really good and the character interactions were interesting. I personally saw a drop in The South Wind that I really hoped wouldn't continue into The East Wind... But it did.
The glimpse of Eurus in The South Wind made him so powerful and intriguing and a genuine god. However after the first few chapters of this book he is really just a man. He's not overly intimidating and half the time I feel like the conversations could take place in a modern contemporary romance book.
Min wasn't an overly likeable main character to be honest, she had her moments but half the time I wanted to shake her shoulders and tell her to get a grip.
- SPOILERS PAST HERE -
So the plot point from The South Wind about the prince and the bull didn't really go anywhere? They were kind of in there but it was so rushed and added very little. Just seems like that part of the story wasn't thought out and could have been removed from both books without it really changing anything.
The City of Gods apart from it apparently being fancy looking could have literally just been anywhere. Nothing screams God to me.
I feel like the two main characters are mostly just bonding over a shared trauma, once again like in The South Wind I was being told they were in love but I didn't see it anywhere? The sex scene was awkward and could have been left out too.
The twist of Madame being her mother wasn't all that powerful, it changed nothing.
The final "battle" where all the brothers joined forces would have been more interesting if they weren't mainly powerless mortals by then? 3 of the 4 couldn't really do anything? It was lovely to see their little interactions though, especially with the fondness I have for the first two brothers.
I would have liked to have seen a different ending compared to the other books, I think. Having every single one just end with them giving up their powers just became predictable and boring.
The writing style overall is still wonderful to me though, and you can tell the premise was incredible and could have been done really well - this just missed the mark.
I look forward to seeing what this author does next without it having to be set in this same universe.
-
Honestly this series started off so well for me, I LOVED The North Wind and The West Wind. The godly vibes and character development were really good and the character interactions were interesting. I personally saw a drop in The South Wind that I really hoped wouldn't continue into The East Wind... But it did.
The glimpse of Eurus in The South Wind made him so powerful and intriguing and a genuine god. However after the first few chapters of this book he is really just a man. He's not overly intimidating and half the time I feel like the conversations could take place in a modern contemporary romance book.
Min wasn't an overly likeable main character to be honest, she had her moments but half the time I wanted to shake her shoulders and tell her to get a grip.
- SPOILERS PAST HERE -
So the plot point from The South Wind about the prince and the bull didn't really go anywhere? They were kind of in there but it was so rushed and added very little. Just seems like that part of the story wasn't thought out and could have been removed from both books without it really changing anything.
The City of Gods apart from it apparently being fancy looking could have literally just been anywhere. Nothing screams God to me.
I feel like the two main characters are mostly just bonding over a shared trauma, once again like in The South Wind I was being told they were in love but I didn't see it anywhere? The sex scene was awkward and could have been left out too.
The twist of Madame being her mother wasn't all that powerful, it changed nothing.
The final "battle" where all the brothers joined forces would have been more interesting if they weren't mainly powerless mortals by then? 3 of the 4 couldn't really do anything? It was lovely to see their little interactions though, especially with the fondness I have for the first two brothers.
I would have liked to have seen a different ending compared to the other books, I think. Having every single one just end with them giving up their powers just became predictable and boring.
The writing style overall is still wonderful to me though, and you can tell the premise was incredible and could have been done really well - this just missed the mark.
I look forward to seeing what this author does next without it having to be set in this same universe.
December 6, 2025
This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, and somehow The East Wind managed to exceed every expectation. I could not believe my luck when I was approved for an early copy, and now I’m both deeply satisfied and completely heartbroken that the Four Winds series has come to an end.
I have adored the stories of the North, West, and South Winds, but this final instalment is hands down my favourite of the series and the most perfect conclusion Alexandria could have given us.
At its heart, this is a story of bravery, survival, and healing. Of two broken, tortured souls finding one another and slowly learning to trust ... not just each other, but themselves. Min of Marles begins as a quiet, timid pawn, crushed under the control of a cruel mistress, and watching her transformation into a powerful, self-assured heroine was one of my favourite character arcs I’ve read in a long time. Eurus is trauma, vengeance, and wingspan; equally scarred by abuse and betrayal, aching, dangerous, and devastating in the best way.
Their relationship is forged through necessity, sharpened by distrust, and softened by shared pain. Both characters have endured unimaginable cruelty, and seeing them learn that they are worthy of love, and capable of giving it.... was incredibly moving.
Alexandria’s writing is everything I’ve come to love: descriptive without being heavy, immersive without slowing the pace. She pulls you straight into her world of immortals, gods, and deadly trials, and does not let go. I genuinely binged this book in a single day because I could not tear myself away.
Rapunzel meets the myth of Psyche and Cupid in a tale that grows into something deeper, darker, and entirely its own. Layered with mythology, political intrigue, revenge, and emotional depth. And yes, the spice? Easily my favourite of the entire series. (Gods help me, the nickname “Bird” absolutely ruined me.) Plus a creatively deployed jar of honey that I will never forget.
The reunion of the four brothers was one of the most touching moments of the book and served as a deeply satisfying conclusion to the series.
I am devastated to say goodbye to this world, but incredibly grateful to have experienced such a powerful ending. The East Wind is a stunning finale and one of my top reads of 2025 — exactly what I hoped for, and more.
Thank you to the author, Simon & Schuster Australia and Netgalley for an eARC. All opinions are my own.
I have adored the stories of the North, West, and South Winds, but this final instalment is hands down my favourite of the series and the most perfect conclusion Alexandria could have given us.
At its heart, this is a story of bravery, survival, and healing. Of two broken, tortured souls finding one another and slowly learning to trust ... not just each other, but themselves. Min of Marles begins as a quiet, timid pawn, crushed under the control of a cruel mistress, and watching her transformation into a powerful, self-assured heroine was one of my favourite character arcs I’ve read in a long time. Eurus is trauma, vengeance, and wingspan; equally scarred by abuse and betrayal, aching, dangerous, and devastating in the best way.
Their relationship is forged through necessity, sharpened by distrust, and softened by shared pain. Both characters have endured unimaginable cruelty, and seeing them learn that they are worthy of love, and capable of giving it.... was incredibly moving.
Alexandria’s writing is everything I’ve come to love: descriptive without being heavy, immersive without slowing the pace. She pulls you straight into her world of immortals, gods, and deadly trials, and does not let go. I genuinely binged this book in a single day because I could not tear myself away.
Rapunzel meets the myth of Psyche and Cupid in a tale that grows into something deeper, darker, and entirely its own. Layered with mythology, political intrigue, revenge, and emotional depth. And yes, the spice? Easily my favourite of the entire series. (Gods help me, the nickname “Bird” absolutely ruined me.) Plus a creatively deployed jar of honey that I will never forget.
The reunion of the four brothers was one of the most touching moments of the book and served as a deeply satisfying conclusion to the series.
I am devastated to say goodbye to this world, but incredibly grateful to have experienced such a powerful ending. The East Wind is a stunning finale and one of my top reads of 2025 — exactly what I hoped for, and more.
Thank you to the author, Simon & Schuster Australia and Netgalley for an eARC. All opinions are my own.
August 24, 2025
I continue to be very elated when I get approved for an ARC in this series. This one I got an email for, which was very exciting. I was actually checking NetGalley the day before to see if the book was on there!
This is the final book in one of my most beloved series. I found The North Wind quite randomly way back when it was an indie release. I’ve loved every moment of these books. And all through I guess technically you could read these independently of one another I would highly suggest reading them in order. Especially for this book as fairly early on in the book you get a reference to all three of the previous books and even several characters from previous books.
The East Wind follows Min of Marles. She is an apprentice bane weaver, a herbologist that can make all manner of potions and tinctures. She lives at her late grandmother’s estate being mistreated by Madame Clarisse who owns the property now. The madame keeps all manner of immortals for ingredients in her quite twisted brews. But it’s the god in the north tower who intrigues Min the most…
Min is a very frail and timid character. She has a stutter which is definitely brought on by the abuse she has endured. She’s a bit naive but I really enjoyed her characterization. All the previous FMCs are fairly confident in themselves. She’s perhaps most similar to Brielle from The West Wind.
The East Wind, or Eurus, is on the surface an unforgiving, quite brutish character. He does not like change and does not like to be defied. His character growth is one of my favorite parts.
The romance as always is a slow burn, which I love. This slow burn is maybe the slowest as Min and Eurus start the story as abductor and abducted. Lots of character growth from both parties is needed.
There is unfortunately one of my least favorite tropes as I’m sure others agree: miscommunication. It’s more of one character hears another character say something and it’s misconstrued but I think it still falls under the trope. Admittedly, I was very irked by this. But it resolves pretty quickly so I can’t be too mad.
As always, the epilogue was amazing and heart warming. I love seeing a brief glimpse into The Four Winds minds via epilogue. It was a bitter sweet ending but a good ending all the same.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
This is the final book in one of my most beloved series. I found The North Wind quite randomly way back when it was an indie release. I’ve loved every moment of these books. And all through I guess technically you could read these independently of one another I would highly suggest reading them in order. Especially for this book as fairly early on in the book you get a reference to all three of the previous books and even several characters from previous books.
The East Wind follows Min of Marles. She is an apprentice bane weaver, a herbologist that can make all manner of potions and tinctures. She lives at her late grandmother’s estate being mistreated by Madame Clarisse who owns the property now. The madame keeps all manner of immortals for ingredients in her quite twisted brews. But it’s the god in the north tower who intrigues Min the most…
Min is a very frail and timid character. She has a stutter which is definitely brought on by the abuse she has endured. She’s a bit naive but I really enjoyed her characterization. All the previous FMCs are fairly confident in themselves. She’s perhaps most similar to Brielle from The West Wind.
The East Wind, or Eurus, is on the surface an unforgiving, quite brutish character. He does not like change and does not like to be defied. His character growth is one of my favorite parts.
The romance as always is a slow burn, which I love. This slow burn is maybe the slowest as Min and Eurus start the story as abductor and abducted. Lots of character growth from both parties is needed.
There is unfortunately one of my least favorite tropes as I’m sure others agree: miscommunication. It’s more of one character hears another character say something and it’s misconstrued but I think it still falls under the trope. Admittedly, I was very irked by this. But it resolves pretty quickly so I can’t be too mad.
As always, the epilogue was amazing and heart warming. I love seeing a brief glimpse into The Four Winds minds via epilogue. It was a bitter sweet ending but a good ending all the same.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
September 13, 2025
And so concludes The Four Winds series!
All in all I throughly enjoyed this series. Retelling a of Fairytales and Greek Mythology?? The perfect fusion for me!
The final installment is a retelling of Rapunzel and Cupid & Psyche's stories. It follows The East Wind, Eurus, who commands storms and Min an apprentice bane weaver/herbalist.
Min is very timid, and naive to a fault. Each of the FMC's in this series are different, and I did like her character quite a bit. However her naivety and her draw to go back to her estate just grated on me after a bit. I adored her character development and how she became confident with herself and her abilities.
Eurus is slightly different from his brothers...he has wings! Like Boreas (The North Wind) he is broody and mistrustful in the beginning. His character development is one of my favorites from any of the novels. I initially didn't think I'd like Eurus to be honest, but he grew on me an dis transformation was so satisfying.
The slow burn romance really worked for this book, especially since there was the whole captor/captive trope going on. First time I've read that type of trope and I thought it worked pretty well with this!
I was a bit let down with the beast's demise, he was in the third installment The South Wind. His downfall left me wanting more. I just felt like it was building to be this epic thing in the third book and then it kind of fizzled in this book. I did really enjoy the last few chapters (holy cow they were tense!!) and the ending, that is what added a star to my overall rating.
Definitely recommend this whimsical, slow burn, adventurous series!! Thank you NetGalley & SagaPress for this electronic copy in exchange for an honest review
All in all I throughly enjoyed this series. Retelling a of Fairytales and Greek Mythology?? The perfect fusion for me!
The final installment is a retelling of Rapunzel and Cupid & Psyche's stories. It follows The East Wind, Eurus, who commands storms and Min an apprentice bane weaver/herbalist.
Min is very timid, and naive to a fault. Each of the FMC's in this series are different, and I did like her character quite a bit. However her naivety and her draw to go back to her estate just grated on me after a bit. I adored her character development and how she became confident with herself and her abilities.
Eurus is slightly different from his brothers...he has wings! Like Boreas (The North Wind) he is broody and mistrustful in the beginning. His character development is one of my favorites from any of the novels. I initially didn't think I'd like Eurus to be honest, but he grew on me an dis transformation was so satisfying.
The slow burn romance really worked for this book, especially since there was the whole captor/captive trope going on. First time I've read that type of trope and I thought it worked pretty well with this!
I was a bit let down with the beast's demise, he was in the third installment The South Wind. His downfall left me wanting more. I just felt like it was building to be this epic thing in the third book and then it kind of fizzled in this book. I did really enjoy the last few chapters (holy cow they were tense!!) and the ending, that is what added a star to my overall rating.
Definitely recommend this whimsical, slow burn, adventurous series!! Thank you NetGalley & SagaPress for this electronic copy in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and S&S/Saga Press for the eARC of this book. These are my honest opinions.
The East Wind is a perfect conclusion to the Four Winds series. These interconnected stand-alones all follow a predictable sequence of events where a grumpy god mets his match in a human, falls in love, and becomes a mortal, but the each proved to be entertaining and had its own unique story to tell. While they can be read in any order or solo, reading them in order does prove beneficial for the full experience.
Eurus and Min's worlds collide when The East wind is captured and held prisoner by the Madame Min serves. Min accidentally frees him and finds herself his prisoner as Eurus competes in deadly trials to win a favor from the gods. Her background in potion creating makes her very useful to Eurus as he seeks his revenge on the gods that banished him from his home. They both experienced horrible childhoods that left them with serious emotional baggage to work through. The HEA is well deserved and overall, I enjoyed this book.
I did find it to be predictable, but the deadly trials were very interesting and I found myself sucked into the world Alexandria Warwick created. This book will be joining the other three on my shelf once it is published. I very much enjoyed seeing the parallels between Eurus and Min's childhood experiences. It was the perfect ending to the four wind series as all four of the winds made their appearance in the end. The pacing was well done and the characters developed throughout the story. The chateau was my favorite part of this book. I loved the sass from the home and how it grew to care for Min.
Tropes:
Deadly Trials
god x mortal
Healing from the past
Force Proximity
Potion making
The East Wind is a perfect conclusion to the Four Winds series. These interconnected stand-alones all follow a predictable sequence of events where a grumpy god mets his match in a human, falls in love, and becomes a mortal, but the each proved to be entertaining and had its own unique story to tell. While they can be read in any order or solo, reading them in order does prove beneficial for the full experience.
Eurus and Min's worlds collide when The East wind is captured and held prisoner by the Madame Min serves. Min accidentally frees him and finds herself his prisoner as Eurus competes in deadly trials to win a favor from the gods. Her background in potion creating makes her very useful to Eurus as he seeks his revenge on the gods that banished him from his home. They both experienced horrible childhoods that left them with serious emotional baggage to work through. The HEA is well deserved and overall, I enjoyed this book.
I did find it to be predictable, but the deadly trials were very interesting and I found myself sucked into the world Alexandria Warwick created. This book will be joining the other three on my shelf once it is published. I very much enjoyed seeing the parallels between Eurus and Min's childhood experiences. It was the perfect ending to the four wind series as all four of the winds made their appearance in the end. The pacing was well done and the characters developed throughout the story. The chateau was my favorite part of this book. I loved the sass from the home and how it grew to care for Min.
Tropes:
Deadly Trials
god x mortal
Healing from the past
Force Proximity
Potion making
September 6, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, SAGA Press Books, and Alexandria Warwick for this amazing ARC of the last book in one of my fav book series❤️❤️❤️ SPOILERS!!!!!! This book snatched my breath like a winter squall—beautiful, impactful, and gloriously tragic. Warwick always makes healing feel like hard mode, but this installment levels up: it’s the first time I saw my own fears and fault lines laid flat on the page. Ouch, and thank you.
Warwick is to dark, Grimm-tinged romance what Stephanie Garber is to lighter, sparkly fairytale love.
Why the series works (and why this one hit hardest)
Across the Anemoi books, Warwick maps a syllabus on becoming:
Book 1: family & belonging
Book 2: right/wrong, tolerance & acceptance
Book 3: lost love, second chances, and the price of trade-offs
Book 4 (this one): the self—fear, surrender, and letting go
Each heroine leaves her comfort zone, tends the inner child, and learns that love is a mirror and a forge. Meanwhile, the Anemoi themselves discover that immortality is a consolation prize; meaning comes from naming what you need, voicing it, and trusting a mortal to hold it.
Our storm-crossed pair: Min & Eurus❤️
I fell for this story in chapter one and never recovered. Min confronts terrors that feel visceral and lived-in; her journey is the most relatable of the quartet. Eurus must stop hiding—stop cloaking body and heart—and refuse to become the man he despises (hi, father-wound). Their arc is less “enemies to lovers” and more “armor to skin,” a slow unmasking where vulnerability is the real trial.
Warwick is to dark, Grimm-tinged romance what Stephanie Garber is to lighter, sparkly fairytale love.
Why the series works (and why this one hit hardest)
Across the Anemoi books, Warwick maps a syllabus on becoming:
Book 1: family & belonging
Book 2: right/wrong, tolerance & acceptance
Book 3: lost love, second chances, and the price of trade-offs
Book 4 (this one): the self—fear, surrender, and letting go
Each heroine leaves her comfort zone, tends the inner child, and learns that love is a mirror and a forge. Meanwhile, the Anemoi themselves discover that immortality is a consolation prize; meaning comes from naming what you need, voicing it, and trusting a mortal to hold it.
Our storm-crossed pair: Min & Eurus❤️
I fell for this story in chapter one and never recovered. Min confronts terrors that feel visceral and lived-in; her journey is the most relatable of the quartet. Eurus must stop hiding—stop cloaking body and heart—and refuse to become the man he despises (hi, father-wound). Their arc is less “enemies to lovers” and more “armor to skin,” a slow unmasking where vulnerability is the real trial.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2025
Rating: 3.25⭐️/5⭐️
The East Wind is a beautifully written, atmospheric fantasy that immerses you in a world that feels like a living fairytale. Warwick's prose is lyrical and vivid, capturing a realm that is both enchanting and unforgiving. The mythical elements are captivating, and the writing is undeniably striking.
While I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the previous books in this series, The East Wind may be my least favorite installment. This isn’t because it lacks skill or artistry, but because I found myself somewhat disconnected from the story. At times, the pacing felt sluggish, and emotionally, the narrative didn’t resonate with me as much as I had hoped.
The heroine, in particular, was a challenge for me. I understand that she’s dealing with significant trauma and fear, and the book does a commendable job of exploring her pain. Still, I found her character a bit frustrating—her timidity sometimes overshadowed her potential, and I struggled to fully invest in her journey.
By the end, I could appreciate The East Wind for its beauty and ambition, but I didn’t feel as deeply moved by it as I have with other books in the series. It’s a hauntingly well-crafted tale that will likely resonate with readers who enjoy slow, introspective fantasy, but for me, the exquisite writing couldn’t quite compensate for an occasionally distant and exasperating protagonist.
That said, I did love the epilogue—it provided a satisfying conclusion. I still wholeheartedly recommend reading this series, as the earlier books were truly fantastic.
Thank you to Saga Press, Alexandria Warwick, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The East Wind is a beautifully written, atmospheric fantasy that immerses you in a world that feels like a living fairytale. Warwick's prose is lyrical and vivid, capturing a realm that is both enchanting and unforgiving. The mythical elements are captivating, and the writing is undeniably striking.
While I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the previous books in this series, The East Wind may be my least favorite installment. This isn’t because it lacks skill or artistry, but because I found myself somewhat disconnected from the story. At times, the pacing felt sluggish, and emotionally, the narrative didn’t resonate with me as much as I had hoped.
The heroine, in particular, was a challenge for me. I understand that she’s dealing with significant trauma and fear, and the book does a commendable job of exploring her pain. Still, I found her character a bit frustrating—her timidity sometimes overshadowed her potential, and I struggled to fully invest in her journey.
By the end, I could appreciate The East Wind for its beauty and ambition, but I didn’t feel as deeply moved by it as I have with other books in the series. It’s a hauntingly well-crafted tale that will likely resonate with readers who enjoy slow, introspective fantasy, but for me, the exquisite writing couldn’t quite compensate for an occasionally distant and exasperating protagonist.
That said, I did love the epilogue—it provided a satisfying conclusion. I still wholeheartedly recommend reading this series, as the earlier books were truly fantastic.
Thank you to Saga Press, Alexandria Warwick, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2025
Even when a series notes that the books can be read independently, I usually like to read the series in order but I decided to test the claim on this book and I'm convinced that I would have enjoyed it more if I didn't. There are cameos by the other Winds and some details that seemed to allude to prior stories that would likely make a connection reading things in order, so I do not recommend starting the series with this book. The story itself is told from the perspective of Min, an herbalist apprentice who is clearly abused by her boss/mistress/parent-figure. Her mistress is, beyond a doubt, evil, but Min can't really see things clearly and defers to her authority. Eventually, Min comes in contact with one of her Mistress' prisoners, The East Wind, Eurus and in a turn of events Min is taken by him to his home and forced into helping him. The romance develops slowly and those looking for spicy content may be reading a while to get there. There is enough plot to enjoy along the way and become interested in the characters. The writing style flows and keeps the pages turning so I got through the book quite quickly and it was entertaining enough to convince me to go back and read the rest of the series. Anyone who likes their romantasy with a bit of build-up and some adventure should consider this series, but I'd probably start in the beginning. (3.5/5)
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Saga Press) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Saga Press) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
September 14, 2025
The East Wind is the final book in a series of inter-connected standalones that each focus on one of four brothers, each one of the Four Winds. You don't have to read other books in the series (I've only read the West Wind), but it is fun to see past characters come back. I love a good cliffhanger ending, but it is also really nice to read a book where you know the resolution is coming by the end.
Both of the MCs in this book are fully flawed characters. There are no heroes or overly perfect characters, and I really like that. Both Min (FMC) and Eurus (MMC aka the East Wind) have deep past traumas that are holding them back, and they both make major missteps in the book and must growth through them.
This book is my favorite kind of enemies-to-lovers, where the MCs are *actually* enemies, and it's not just a superficial hatred of the other character due to personality differences. It also has one of my absolute favorite microtropes--the enchanted house! I seriously need to live in Eurus's chateau. There are also a set of deadly trials that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and since Min is a potion-maker, there are a bunch of unique and interesting magical potions.
I will say that some of the conflicts the come between Eurus and Min start to feel a bit repetitive, but for me, the character growth and romantic tension made up for it. The epilogue was also so cute and fun!
Thanks to the publish and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Both of the MCs in this book are fully flawed characters. There are no heroes or overly perfect characters, and I really like that. Both Min (FMC) and Eurus (MMC aka the East Wind) have deep past traumas that are holding them back, and they both make major missteps in the book and must growth through them.
This book is my favorite kind of enemies-to-lovers, where the MCs are *actually* enemies, and it's not just a superficial hatred of the other character due to personality differences. It also has one of my absolute favorite microtropes--the enchanted house! I seriously need to live in Eurus's chateau. There are also a set of deadly trials that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and since Min is a potion-maker, there are a bunch of unique and interesting magical potions.
I will say that some of the conflicts the come between Eurus and Min start to feel a bit repetitive, but for me, the character growth and romantic tension made up for it. The epilogue was also so cute and fun!
Thanks to the publish and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
November 3, 2025
First, a big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Alexandra Warwick’s novel “The East Wind" – “From the bestselling author of The North Wind comes the final instalment in the Four Winds series - a sweltering standalone romance inspired by the fairytale Rapunzel and the Greek myth of Psyche and Eros.”
This is the final book in the Four Winds series. I found The North Wind quite randomly way back, I’ve loved every moment of these books. What I do like is that you can read the Four Winds independently, but characters from other books do make appearances in one way or another.
The East Wind follows Min of Marles. She is an apprentice bane weaver, a herbologist that can make all manner of potions and tinctures. She lives at her late grandmother’s estate being mistreated by Madame Clarisse who owns the property now. Total Miss Honey vibes. The East Wind, or Eurus, is on the surface an unforgiving, quite brutish character. He does not like change and does not like to be defied.
The romance is a slow burn, definitely the slowest in the entire series as Min and Eurus start the story as abductor and abducted. But this gives both room to grow through the story. The East Wind wraps up Alexandria Warwick’s Four Winds series in the most gorgeously dark, myth-soaked way.
If you love myth inspired romantasy with gods, curses, and slow burn intensity, this is such a satisfying conclusion.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the final book in the Four Winds series. I found The North Wind quite randomly way back, I’ve loved every moment of these books. What I do like is that you can read the Four Winds independently, but characters from other books do make appearances in one way or another.
The East Wind follows Min of Marles. She is an apprentice bane weaver, a herbologist that can make all manner of potions and tinctures. She lives at her late grandmother’s estate being mistreated by Madame Clarisse who owns the property now. Total Miss Honey vibes. The East Wind, or Eurus, is on the surface an unforgiving, quite brutish character. He does not like change and does not like to be defied.
The romance is a slow burn, definitely the slowest in the entire series as Min and Eurus start the story as abductor and abducted. But this gives both room to grow through the story. The East Wind wraps up Alexandria Warwick’s Four Winds series in the most gorgeously dark, myth-soaked way.
If you love myth inspired romantasy with gods, curses, and slow burn intensity, this is such a satisfying conclusion.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2025
This was an arc I was really excited to receive! The premise sounded super interesting and I felt that it held up well to my expectations of the story. I did like the growth of the main character, Min, although she clearly had a lot of internal struggles. (I think she could’ve used a bit more growth but that’s okay.)
I did struggle with the stutter that persists throughout the story and I’m not sure if it just read awkwardly to me although I think it added to her character. She was at times self-deprecating in a way that was a bit excessive.
Madame Clarissa is clearly a terrible person and we’re under no false impressions of that. I did think it was fascinating that she captures mystical beings and uses them for her potions — it was definitely something new I hadn’t read before and I liked that aspect (the imagery was grim but I like a good visual!)
I had not realized it was a series at the time of the request and thought it was the first in in the books. It was easy enough to follow along with though and I liked the characters overall (though Eurus was by far my favorite of the two MCs).
I did like that his and her backgrounds were similar in the sense that he could relate to her. He starts off (for many obvious reasons) distrusting her but as they go along together and opens up proves to be good for her. I like when a MMC can show comfort and compassion!
The epilogue was adorable and I did think it was super cute to add!
I did struggle with the stutter that persists throughout the story and I’m not sure if it just read awkwardly to me although I think it added to her character. She was at times self-deprecating in a way that was a bit excessive.
Madame Clarissa is clearly a terrible person and we’re under no false impressions of that. I did think it was fascinating that she captures mystical beings and uses them for her potions — it was definitely something new I hadn’t read before and I liked that aspect (the imagery was grim but I like a good visual!)
I had not realized it was a series at the time of the request and thought it was the first in in the books. It was easy enough to follow along with though and I liked the characters overall (though Eurus was by far my favorite of the two MCs).
I did like that his and her backgrounds were similar in the sense that he could relate to her. He starts off (for many obvious reasons) distrusting her but as they go along together and opens up proves to be good for her. I like when a MMC can show comfort and compassion!
The epilogue was adorable and I did think it was super cute to add!
October 1, 2025
This is the final book in the series and is a retelling of Rapunzel mixed with Cupid & Psyche. We follow Eurus, the East Wind, and Min, an apprentice bane weaver and herbalist.
The writing was strong and the plot definitely kept me turning pages, but I just couldn’t connect with the FMC. I understood her lack of confidence and heavy inner dialogue given her past trauma, but she never seemed to grow from it. I was hoping for a little extra…more story, more development, and a more engaging heroine. She continued to be frustratingly static and that made her hard to like (for me).
On the flip side, the epilogue was perfect. I adored seeing all the brothers together with their spouses, and the subtle hint about Brielle possibly being pregnant was such a sweet touch (plus Eurus’s panicked reaction to becoming an uncle made me smile).
Overall, while this wasn’t my favorite of the series, there was still enough plot and momentum to keep me interested. The pacing is quick, the writing flows well, and even though I had mixed feelings about the FMC, the book was entertaining enough that I’d go back and read the earlier installments if I had not already read them. If you enjoy romantasy with a slow build and some adventure sprinkled in, this series is worth checking out—just be sure to start on the first book.
The writing was strong and the plot definitely kept me turning pages, but I just couldn’t connect with the FMC. I understood her lack of confidence and heavy inner dialogue given her past trauma, but she never seemed to grow from it. I was hoping for a little extra…more story, more development, and a more engaging heroine. She continued to be frustratingly static and that made her hard to like (for me).
On the flip side, the epilogue was perfect. I adored seeing all the brothers together with their spouses, and the subtle hint about Brielle possibly being pregnant was such a sweet touch (plus Eurus’s panicked reaction to becoming an uncle made me smile).
Overall, while this wasn’t my favorite of the series, there was still enough plot and momentum to keep me interested. The pacing is quick, the writing flows well, and even though I had mixed feelings about the FMC, the book was entertaining enough that I’d go back and read the earlier installments if I had not already read them. If you enjoy romantasy with a slow build and some adventure sprinkled in, this series is worth checking out—just be sure to start on the first book.
November 7, 2025
Very bittersweet to end this series, I still remember when I read the north wind and it was an indie published book. The East Wind was definitely different than the others, granted each book had its unique tells for sure. But this one centered more on the very hurt characters. Meeting Eurus and Min at the beginning of this book was tense. Mostly because Min is being abused, and had her own personal problems. While Eurus is a prisoner, and later we learn that he has his own demons himself. It was a very emotional book in my opinion, but it carried important character development for both main characters. I enjoyed seeing Min going to the city of gods and meeting Demi, it kinda helped getting her real self out when she felt safe. And Eurus, I liked seeing him in the city of gods, the place where supposedly everything started, but he is there to fight his demons. The relationship between Eurus and Min is very troubled and complicated because they often fight each other, but they also bring their hurts out making each of them vulnerable in front of the other. It isn’t until later when they see they are the same that they finally accept they have feeling for the other. It is not your typical romantic story for sure. But at least the happy ending is there. Love the epilogue, what a way to bring everyone together, it was wholesome.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2025
I'm sad this series is over. I'm a little surprised at the order of the series since we are ending on the meekest FMC, but it still had a satisfying ending. Min is an herbalist/poison maker who is abused by her employer. After accidentally setting Eurus free, he takes her captive to act as his assistant in a tournament in the City of Gods, where he can put her talents to use.
There are few things I hate more than a miscommunication trope, and this book made me want to throw my e-reader. Both MCs deliberately withhold important information from each other, which causes the third act conflict. I get that both were abused and shy away from confrontation, but yeesh was this intentional. Reading Min's internal debate about telling Eurus the truth was infuriating because she still chose the easy route despite her personal growth. She regressed several times in the book and I was disappointed each time.
I liked getting the reunion at the end with all four brothers, although it was a bit anticlimactic. The HEA wrapped in a bow was a little too neat for me since this was supposed to be a bit darker, but I can understand that any other ending would be less satisfying.
Thank you to NetGalley, Saga Press. and Alexandria Warwick for the free eARC.
There are few things I hate more than a miscommunication trope, and this book made me want to throw my e-reader. Both MCs deliberately withhold important information from each other, which causes the third act conflict. I get that both were abused and shy away from confrontation, but yeesh was this intentional. Reading Min's internal debate about telling Eurus the truth was infuriating because she still chose the easy route despite her personal growth. She regressed several times in the book and I was disappointed each time.
I liked getting the reunion at the end with all four brothers, although it was a bit anticlimactic. The HEA wrapped in a bow was a little too neat for me since this was supposed to be a bit darker, but I can understand that any other ending would be less satisfying.
Thank you to NetGalley, Saga Press. and Alexandria Warwick for the free eARC.
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