Lord of Winter

Blood of Kings: Legends #2

by Andrew Swearingen, Jill Williamson

After years of darkness, Eric Livna, newly appointed lord of Tsaftown, returns from the battlefield ready to properly assume his title and become a true husband and father to his family. His marriage to Lady Viola, though arranged and built on mutual duty, has lacked the warmth of true affection, but Eric is hoping to bridge the emotional distance between them.

For too long Lady Viola Livna has silently endured the injustices woven into Tsaftown’s laws—laws she believes will threaten their daughter’s future. Determined to forge a better path for their family, she quietly works on a plan to change things…even if it means keeping secrets from her husband.

When Eric’s cousin, the ambitions Sir Fenris Yarden, stirs up division in Tsaftown and wreaks havoc on the Livnas’ marriage, Eric and Viola must decide whether to let betrayal tear them apart or to unite against the forces trying to destroy them.

Together, they will need to fight not only for their city, but also for the fragile trust they’ve begun to rebuild—before everything they hold dear is lost forever.

Blood of Legends
Book 1: Squire of Truth
Book 2: Lord of Winter
Book 3: Lady of Shadows
Book 4: Heir of Light

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fantasy, Audiobook

322 pages, Paperback

Published March 31, 2025

Reviews

[Jill Williamson]

Finished final edits on this one! Can’t wait for you all to read it!

[Jo|Ruth Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story totally surprised me in the end! It’s a slow burn, really taking its time to build up the characters, their world, and the challenges they’re facing. But once everything is set up, the story picks up and becomes totally gripping! By the halfway point, I was fully hooked and eager to see what would happen next. The romance was a highlight for me, especially how cautious both Viola and Eric were about their marriage and their fears of becoming vulnerable with each other. I also really enjoyed the wars and the blood voicing, it added such a unique twist to the storyline.

In the story, after years of fighting, Eric Livna returns to Tsaftown to step into his role as lord and be a better husband and father. His marriage to Lady Viola is distant since it was arranged, but Eric wants to change that. Viola has been quietly dealing with the unfair laws that threaten their daughter’s future and is secretly working to change them. When Eric’s cousin, Sir Fenris Yarden, causes trouble in the town and in their marriage, Eric and Viola have to decide whether to let betrayal tear them apart or fight to protect everything they care about.

This was such a fantastic second book in the Blood of Kings: Legends series, and now I’m really excited to see where book 3 will take us! I received a complimentary copy, and this review reflects my honest opinion.

[Lovely Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

I’m quite enjoying this series!

Eric Livna, Lord of Tsaftown, and Lady Viola have been in an arranged marriage for years.
When Eric returns from a long battle, he desires to make life better for his wife and daughter and the people but is met with secrets, betrayals, and a wayward cousin who is back to make life miserable for everyone.

[Kelly Bridgewater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord of Winter by Jill Williamson and Andrew Swearington was a satisfying fantasy story that will take readers away. First, I have to gush about the cover of the story. The cover invites readers into the story before they even open the front cover. I love the main hero at the top, and then a little more detail of a lady in a town square. It makes me wonder what is going on. Second, the plot has been done before. Some member of the family want to claim the throne from the current ruling person, so they cause havoc, but Williamson and Swearington throw in the ultimate question. What would you do to save the ones that you love? Readers will love the transformation of the hero as he starts to realize what is really important in his life and comes to terms with what he would do to keep them. An overarching idea in the story is the quest from forced marriage to a lasting love. The hero and heroine learn how to rely on each other and allow their feelings to bloom naturally. Being a fantasy story, of course, readers will notice the setting. It feels like a cold mountain top town from anywhere, but Williamson and Swearington do a wonderful job at inviting readers into the homes, town, and the forest as the story progresses. The setting becomes as much part of the story as the characters do. Overall, Lord of Winter by Jill Williamson and Andrew Swearington crafted an amusing story with heart and discovered the true meaning of loyalty and love.

I received a complimentary copy of Lord of Winter by Jill Williamson and Andrew Swearington through Sunrise Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

[Deena Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jill Williamson is the queen of high fantasy and long may she reign! Lord of Winter is picture perfect from the cover and design to the story within the pages.
Lady Viola and Lord Eric didn’t marry for love, but they went into the arrangement eyes wide open.

With Eric trying to establish his leadership and Viola trying to protect their daughter’s future it appears they’re at odds on the surface.

When a common enemy appears, will they be able to unite? And is the enemy from without—or within? Thus begins an epic medieval novel that perfectly captures the world created by Jill Williamson many years ago.

Andrew Swearingen adds a very swashbucklish vibe to the telling of the tale and I look forward to reading more of his work. I fell in love with his characters and I’m pretty sure you will too.

I received an advance copy from the publisher. I’m under no obligation and my review has not been solicited.

[Ellen Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord of Winter is a captivating adventure story set in the chilly north. A romantic fantasy about a married couple falling in love is a unique departure from most romance but this is a sweet and completely satisfying read. Christian fiction readers will enjoy this clean, thrilling story. I give this book 5 stars. I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great addition to the series!

This Medieval Christian fantasy with strong faith theme boasts a great plot, lovable characters, a very engaging style, and a great world-building.
Faith and goodness triumph in the battles as well as the hearts of the heroes. They learn to compromise, to sacrifice, to trust, to delight in each other, and reject things that will jeopardize the goodness. It is Eric and Viola’s growth in love, in letting go of their fear that’s very beautiful here. Pretty much what a good marriage should look like.

This book ends with a happy ending for the main characters but still leaves some things unanswered. I wish there was more clarity for the characters from the first book, though you get snippets as the story unfolds. But i guess I’ll just need to keep reading.

Possible triggers: miscarriage (mentioned with gentleness), feeling of abandonment.

I had a privilege to read an advanced copy but all opinions expressed are my own.

[Rebekah Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enemies, Distant Love, Protectors, and Trust…the reader will find each of these in “Lord of Winter,” by Jill Williamson and Andrew Swearingen.

Join these two authors on an incredible and faith-filled journey.

Readers will have to battle on whose side they are on for these amazing characters.

Williamson and Swearingen bring a great story for those who love adventure and maybe hints of history. But more importantly, they show the importance of having faith in God and trust in relationships.

[Lisa Philipp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eric has recently taken over as Lord of Tsaftown after his father's death. He struggles, when he comes home from war, to relate to his wife and daughter. Throughout the book Eric's and Lady Viola's relationship grows and changes. It's a great story as they fight through adversity together.

[Sharon Hughson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Married romance novels are few and far between, and I was eager to read this one. Five stars say I was not disappointed.

I loved this return visit to Er'rets. It's been long enough since I read the Blood of Kings trilogy that this place felt new. But the author did a great job describing everything so I could fully immerse myself in Taftstown.

However, I recently finished the Kinsman trilogy, so the reference to ancient King Trevyn made me smile.

These characters stole my heart. Eric, ever the dutiful, wants to have a real family. War taught him to appreciate home and hold tightly to those who mean the most. Viola was taught to distrust emotion by her Jaelportian mother, but who can resist a man who plays pretend with his daughter?

Eric has been gone long enough that a rival has set his sights on being Lord of Winter. The plot moved along perfectly and kept me turning pages. I loved that this couple worked together to solve the problems, even though some tried to cause rifts between them.

I'm definitely primed for the next book in the series. Wholesome fantasy with a dash of romance? Yes, please.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord of the Winter is the first book I have read written by Andrew Swearingen and I look forward to reading some more. This year I have gotten to enter back into the world of fantasy, and I have enjoyed it so far. This is the second book in the series, but could be read as a stand-alone, or as a build on to the other series written by Jill Williamson.

The character development is good. I loved pulling back the layers to Lord Eric and Lady Viola.

I really enjoyed the setting and storyline. It took me a moment to adjust my fantasy thinking hat, but once I got it on, it was a fun story to dive into. Back from war, Lord Eric comes head-to-head with his cousin and must overcome political unrest while also reconnecting with his wife. The medieval-like setting was a fun place to explore in the story.

The romance aspect is closed door and low spice. The riddled with passion between the married couple. This book was not to over the top for my liking.

Though not blatantly Christian, it does have the allegory feel to it. To really give it justice I need to read the rest of the series, which I plan on doing and coming back to review it from a fuller viewpoint.

I do look forward to reading the next book in the series as well as the previous series to get the full picture of this kingdom.


*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an honor and a joy to read this! Fantasy is not my usual fare, so the beginning meant that lots of names and terms were puzzle pieces I struggled to put together (I also have not read a single page of the rest of this series 😅). BUT, by the end, it was like the characters were my friends--well, the ones I liked, anyway.
I loved this book! The last few chapters especially were great and gave me the unique opportunity to yell at an author that I actually DO know 😄
A full-on delight. I can't wait for more!

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this clean slow burn romance. Lady Viola and Lord Eric are in an arranged marriage. When Lord Eric comes home from war they must unite against an old enemy. I didn’t read the first book but I feel this one was fine as a stand alone novel. I loved this book and can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

[Jessica Dowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love stories set in Winter, and I really enjoyed this one. Eric and Viola were both great characters in their own rights. They both took their duties and responsibilities seriously. I felt for Eric as he stumbled through taking on the responsibility of his title. I thought the tension between performing his duty for the sake of duty and performing his duty well from a place of genuine care was very well written. Viola was a fantastic heroine. I loved how she worked hard for her family and knew how to navigate the political landscape of the city and the council. Eric and Viola as a couple were fantastic and I loved their dynamic when they worked together and the way they made each other better and built each other up.
My ONE quarrel is that I wish we had more of an understanding of what their relationship was like BEFORE the beginning of the book so that we could fully appreciate how it was deepening. This would have been helpful for Viola's story arc as well. We are told that she's felt like an outsider, but we don't really see why she feels that way. There are allusions made to her mother and some problematic relationship there, but we're not really told why it was problematic....unless it's referring to something in the original trilogy which I didn't catch. Overall, more background would have been appreciated in order to understand the character arcs more.
The writing was very good and I could easily see each scene playing out in my head like a movie, which I always appreciate. I hope we get to see more from these characters!

[Marylin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, Fun!
Reading this next book in the Blood of Kings series, I was captured from the get-go in this story.
I enjoyed learning about Eric and Viola’s adventures. They seemed to have a lot, and the authors really put them through a lot of things, yet there was also some sweet romance.
I also loved how the authors incorporated some of the previous characters from Book One. That helped to tie these books together and keep the reader wanting more from the whole story world.
This is an enchanting story about love, honor, friendship, loyalty, and justice. It's also a story about revealing the truth of the past and overcoming evil.
I truly enjoyed this book! It was the kind of book that held me and wouldn’t let me go. As I read, I found myself wanting to read more and more. From the cover to the last page, the book is packed with colorful images and engaging dialogue. I danced, I cried, I laughed, and I felt pain for Viola and Eric as they struggled to understand the deep feelings they had for each other.
An author who can create a wonderful world that captures your mind and takes you on a journey into the unknown is an author I will read more from. These two authors are of that kind.
This book features drama, suspense, action, medieval elegance, fantasy, overwhelming hardship, the conquering of evil, and sweet romance that will knock your socks off.
I highly recommend picking up this book!
It really will keep you captivated!

[Michaela | Reading in the Heartland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Christian romantic fantasy features a married couple that has been separated during war times. As Eric returns home, triumphant, Viola strives to ease his way into the politics of things. They have a sweet 3 year old daughter that is adorable. With political intrigue, skirmishes, and more, this book has action and romance. Reconciliation and the finding of love within a marriage of convenience. This book did not have as much of the Christian or fantasy aspects as the books before it.

This story fits in the Blood of Kings world, but doesn’t have much to do with the previous book. There are basically no ties to it at all beyond a reference or two to a couple characters. Our last book in this series ended on a bit of a romance cliffhanger with no HEA for the couple. I was startled to find that they aren’t in this book and we switched over to a different couple. It was a bit frustrating, to be honest. The story by itself is probably a 4.5, but with it residing within a series that comes with expectations and parameters and the lack of the stronger Christian and fantasy themes plus the previous book leaving us on a cliffhanger led to my rating.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Rachel Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A satisfying, heartfelt read!

Lord of Winter is a tale set in an icy land just freed from the clutches of darkness. Yet, its ruler's conspiring cousin proves that the danger is not yet over.

I did not read the original series this book is connected to, but had no trouble understanding any of the action!

I loved how the connection between the fierce lord Eric and his calculating lady Viola grew over the course of the story. There were wonderful messages about prioritizing family, breaking free from old patterns, and keeping the faith. 

Favorite quote: I have always found that there are often possibilities beyond what we can see in front of ourselves...Though you face dark times, you must not despair of hope.

[Kaetrianne Ramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord of Winter added so much depth to the world of Er’rets and it was such an interesting story. I thought the dynamic of the protagonist already being married was very interesting, especially when you take the mediaeval setting into consideration. Eric was an interesting character, and his arc was very well thought out, and Viola was fascinating and her secrets had me guessing throughout the story! The vivid setting was amazing in this book, as it really built out some of the world for me! I loved that Tsaftown was a northern village; it was reminiscent of Laketown in The Hobbit, which I thought was super neat!

Overall, five stars! Highly, highly recommend this book!

[Jenelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book that kept me up past my bedtime this year. Though I’ve never read any of Jill Williamson’s other books (an oversight on my part, I know), I dove into this one and fell in love with it. A wintry, Viking-esque world with a lord returning from the wars and having to learn how to live at peace again? Bring it on! Eric Livna stole my heart with his gruff exterior and heart of gold.

The story itself wends along a bit on the slow side, but I enjoy a story that invites me in and lets me explore the world and the characters a bit before we dive into the action. And though the action takes a bit to get there, nothing about the beginning is boring!

[Naomi Shores · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great Medieval adventure. The characters are wonderful and is their character development. The themes of faith, loyalty, and love are prevalent throughout. I really like Lady Viola's character in how she shows Eric in a loving way how to make peace with the members of the community. She also is working behind the scenes to deal with unfair laws and get them changed. She is a woman to be reckoned with. They learn to fight together to protect everything that they care about. I have not read the first book in this series.

[Caryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Williams has crafted an exquisite masterpiece. I was immediately drawn into the drama. Twists and turns kept me turning the pages. I devoured this novel in one sitting. These characters will linger long after turning the final page. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.

Recommend to readers who enjoy Christian fantasy.

I borrowed a copy from KU. I have expressed my honest view.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Lord of Winter! The story of Eric and Viola is followed in a way that leaves so much room for the characters to grow. There's still all the epic treachery and action of other Blood of Kings books. I found the focus on what it means to choose one another and love them well, to be a refreshing focus. Enjoyed!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soooooooo much better on the ending for this one! It has restored some of my faith in this series!

I really enjoyed seeing Viola and Eric come back to each other and truly fall in love. I also loved the loyalty between Eric and his men. And they came out on top, as good always should.

[Stephen Levesque · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally enjoyed it! This is a well written and has well developed characters. The story is catching and with the strong characters makes for a very enjoyable read. Great Reading Everyone!

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow….I really enjoyed this book!! Great setting, characters, writing!!looking forward to the next installment.

I also was able to read the bonus epilogue…I love epilogues!!!

[Lizzy Hite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic! Kept me invested the whole way through, and I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure!

[Aleena Grosjean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Eric and Viola! It's not an easy love story, but it shows how being real and honest, with God's help, can change everything. Loving this series.

[Allyson Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great second installment in the Blood of Kings: Legends series involving a forced marriage that gradually turns into lasting love. After years of fighting, Eric returns to Tsaftown to establish his leadership as the new city lord. I enjoyed Eric and Viola's story as they face tension, family dynamics, and threats regarding Tasaftoen's leadership. Eric's and Viola's character arcs grew and shaped throughout Lord of Winter as a couple and individuals. Wonderful story about sacrifice, courage, and true love.

[Jennie Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book in this series! Intrigue, deception, kidnapping... There's so much going on in this story! I like Lady Viola, and Eric too!! And I despise the villain!