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The Winter Dark #2
When the Light Returns
Not yet published
Expected 12 May 26A deposed king and the powerful captive of a corrupt queen join forces in a sweeping fantasy of romance, magic, and redemption in this sequel to While the Dark Remains.
The long winter dark has been banished for good, and the mountain palace of the late king should be a sanctuary for Ballast Vallin, who has just assumed the throne. Instead, it’s a torment. Held to account for the sins of his father, Ballast must relinquish his crown and all claim to Daeros, the kingdom for which he risked so much. Worse, Brynja—his father’s former captive, the woman he loves—is the one who forces his hand.
Disgraced, Brynja is sent to Iljaria, a kingdom imbued with ancient magic. There she finds herself at the mercy of Queen Valrún, and is forced to aid in the queen’s quest to claim all the magic long thought irrevocably bound to the gods.
But then a shocking revelation about Ballast’s past brings him to Iljaria—and to Brynja. Together, amid secrets, magic, and betrayal, they must challenge the power-hungry queen to a battle that could ruin the world or remake it. For Brynja and Ballast, their most invaluable weapon is hope.
The long winter dark has been banished for good, and the mountain palace of the late king should be a sanctuary for Ballast Vallin, who has just assumed the throne. Instead, it’s a torment. Held to account for the sins of his father, Ballast must relinquish his crown and all claim to Daeros, the kingdom for which he risked so much. Worse, Brynja—his father’s former captive, the woman he loves—is the one who forces his hand.
Disgraced, Brynja is sent to Iljaria, a kingdom imbued with ancient magic. There she finds herself at the mercy of Queen Valrún, and is forced to aid in the queen’s quest to claim all the magic long thought irrevocably bound to the gods.
But then a shocking revelation about Ballast’s past brings him to Iljaria—and to Brynja. Together, amid secrets, magic, and betrayal, they must challenge the power-hungry queen to a battle that could ruin the world or remake it. For Brynja and Ballast, their most invaluable weapon is hope.
- GenresFantasy
463 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 12, 2026
4 people are currently reading
645 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Ruth Meyer
8 books917 followersJoanna Ruth Meyer is the author of five YA fantasies, including the critically acclaimed ECHO NORTH. She lives in Mesa, AZ, with her husband, son, two orange cats, and a giant grand piano named Prince Imrahil. She loves forests and rainstorms and stories that make her feel things, and in all likelihood, she’s drinking tea right now.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 14, 2026
“I was born, I think, to try and heal the deeper hurt.”
*Sigh* this duology has become a new favorite of mine. I mean, are we even surprised at this point? Joanna’s books are the best.
I love these characters, and I especially love how the romance is perfectly subplot to an even greater plot driving the story.
Thank you, Joanna, for not once making me fret over Bal & Bryn’s love for one another. My heart was at ease while everything else was in turmoil, which I appreciated.
Speaking of the plot. WOW! There were at least two twists I didn’t seem coming, and their unveiling was the perfect surprise.
The worldbuilding and magic system in this duology is Sanderson-level, and the end battle was chef’s kiss.
All in all, this is a series you don’t want to miss! I know I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.
Thank you to Joanna & the publisher for an ARC of the book. I’m so grateful I got to read it early. All opinions expressed are my own.
A note on content:
- a married couple has intimacy a few times, but it’s nondescript and fade to black (you’re never privy to anything, aside from a “shedding of clothes”)
- a few minor swears scattered throughout
- the magic/religious system revolves around gods and goddesses
*Sigh* this duology has become a new favorite of mine. I mean, are we even surprised at this point? Joanna’s books are the best.
I love these characters, and I especially love how the romance is perfectly subplot to an even greater plot driving the story.
Thank you, Joanna, for not once making me fret over Bal & Bryn’s love for one another. My heart was at ease while everything else was in turmoil, which I appreciated.
Speaking of the plot. WOW! There were at least two twists I didn’t seem coming, and their unveiling was the perfect surprise.
The worldbuilding and magic system in this duology is Sanderson-level, and the end battle was chef’s kiss.
All in all, this is a series you don’t want to miss! I know I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.
Thank you to Joanna & the publisher for an ARC of the book. I’m so grateful I got to read it early. All opinions expressed are my own.
A note on content:
- a married couple has intimacy a few times, but it’s nondescript and fade to black (you’re never privy to anything, aside from a “shedding of clothes”)
- a few minor swears scattered throughout
- the magic/religious system revolves around gods and goddesses
February 7, 2026
When the Light Returns is an absolute powerhouse of a novel and an epic sequel to While the Dark Remains, filled with strong themes of sacrifice, loyalty, faith & magic. It’s a story about the corrupting temptation of power and the greater strength of selflessness. About the ways we can be shaped for the better by our broken pasts and the most painful parts of our stories. A story about the lengths we are willing to go and the things we are willing to give up for the ones we love.
In this sequel we enter the nation of Iljaria and receive a greater look into the magic system, which went hand in hand with the story's religious system. Meyer fleshed it out remarkably well: considering it’s a religion with twelve gods/goddesses and twelve corresponding branches of magic, things could quickly get muddled and messy. But the vision was clear, and the product was strong. She gave enough so that you could grasp the concepts without getting lost in the minutiae.
Another thing I greatly appreciated was the change in POVs in this book. Don’t get me wrong: it worked really well to have the first book entirely in Brynja’s voice. But what I loved about the mixture of POVs in this book is how it gave a greater insight into character motivations. It helped me truly believe in (and celebrate) Saga’s personal growth, to witness the core of Valrun’s deeply rooted insecurities, and sigh over Vil’s misguided chase after power. And it also fostered an excellent atmosphere of suspense.
This novel, like the first, does not shy away from the dark and ugly: it exposes them for what they are. But it also portrays the complexities of character motivations well and avoids dichotomous thinking. While there were wonderful moments of justice and redemption, it also left room for open-ended resolutions and imperfect conclusions that felt real, and honest.
It's a rare occasion (and one of my favorite things) when an initial critique of a book morphs into an appreciation. In When the Light Returns, this revolved around my struggle to understand why the villain Valrun was obeyed by so many that were more powerful than her (I mean... much more powerful). I could see that she used intimidation and threats, and also made many empty promises, but I had a hard time believing them. Maybe I needed more history there? A greater insight into how she came to be queen? I just wasn’t 100% sold. But the more I considered, I realized: this is a reflection of our world's reality. History is riddled with weak, evil people coming to power. And not just that, but many normal (and even ‘good’) people getting caught up in the tide of evil. We should never forget that humans have a great capacity to convince themselves of anything (and therefore commit great atrocities) if they tell lies to themselves long enough.
A final note: I noticed an increase in adult themes/language in this novel. I don’t recall there being obscenities in the last book, but there were many usages of the word d*** in this one. There were also more references to intimacy, sheer clothing, nudity, etc. While all of this is likely very mild compared to many books out there, there was generally a more adult feel and an attempt to be a bit 'sexier.' It didn’t ultimately detract from the novel, but readers might want to be aware it’s there.
Many, many thanks to Netgalley, 47North & Joanna Ruth Meyer for this wonderful ARC.
In this sequel we enter the nation of Iljaria and receive a greater look into the magic system, which went hand in hand with the story's religious system. Meyer fleshed it out remarkably well: considering it’s a religion with twelve gods/goddesses and twelve corresponding branches of magic, things could quickly get muddled and messy. But the vision was clear, and the product was strong. She gave enough so that you could grasp the concepts without getting lost in the minutiae.
Another thing I greatly appreciated was the change in POVs in this book. Don’t get me wrong: it worked really well to have the first book entirely in Brynja’s voice. But what I loved about the mixture of POVs in this book is how it gave a greater insight into character motivations. It helped me truly believe in (and celebrate) Saga’s personal growth, to witness the core of Valrun’s deeply rooted insecurities, and sigh over Vil’s misguided chase after power. And it also fostered an excellent atmosphere of suspense.
This novel, like the first, does not shy away from the dark and ugly: it exposes them for what they are. But it also portrays the complexities of character motivations well and avoids dichotomous thinking. While there were wonderful moments of justice and redemption, it also left room for open-ended resolutions and imperfect conclusions that felt real, and honest.
It's a rare occasion (and one of my favorite things) when an initial critique of a book morphs into an appreciation. In When the Light Returns, this revolved around my struggle to understand why the villain Valrun was obeyed by so many that were more powerful than her (I mean... much more powerful). I could see that she used intimidation and threats, and also made many empty promises, but I had a hard time believing them. Maybe I needed more history there? A greater insight into how she came to be queen? I just wasn’t 100% sold. But the more I considered, I realized: this is a reflection of our world's reality. History is riddled with weak, evil people coming to power. And not just that, but many normal (and even ‘good’) people getting caught up in the tide of evil. We should never forget that humans have a great capacity to convince themselves of anything (and therefore commit great atrocities) if they tell lies to themselves long enough.
A final note: I noticed an increase in adult themes/language in this novel. I don’t recall there being obscenities in the last book, but there were many usages of the word d*** in this one. There were also more references to intimacy, sheer clothing, nudity, etc. While all of this is likely very mild compared to many books out there, there was generally a more adult feel and an attempt to be a bit 'sexier.' It didn’t ultimately detract from the novel, but readers might want to be aware it’s there.
Many, many thanks to Netgalley, 47North & Joanna Ruth Meyer for this wonderful ARC.
February 10, 2026
I received a copy through NetGalley for review.
I was very excited to see the sequel to While the Dark Remains. This is gooood fantasy.
And it's frankly nice to read fantasy where the romance is a subplot. Don't get me wrong I love the romantasy as a genre, but they get formulaic sometimes and I miss a good solid fantasy.
Poor Ballast and Brynja and been through decades at the hand of Ballast's father King Kallias and he's finally dead. Brynja has lived as a spy voluntarily for 11 years, stripped of her Iljarian magics by her father the former Prism Magic Master to the Queen of Iljaria before sending her into the lions den to take down the King and his court from the inside as a child. The Yellow Lord has been bound back into the sun once, Kallias reign of terror and weapons he wanted to use to rule over the rest of the world, foiled. Their tenuous relationship as teens, blossomed into solid love, despite all the trials, abuse and trauma they have lived through.
But Brynja cannot stay in Tenebris for much longer, she must return with her bronze magic to her home country and inform the queen of her success. and Ballast must prove himself as King and show he is not his father.
But there are a lot of enemies with their own agenda's lurking close by. The Aeronan Empire wants Daeros, The Queen of Iljaria wants to become Queen Eternal and will do anything to achieve her goals at the expense of her own people and retainers. Saga must return to Skaanda after being captive in Kallias collection- only to find herself alone with great responsibilities , her brother Vil with his own agenda, Brynja's twin brother Brandr who killed their father scheming for himself- his ambition dangerous even to his own family. Everyone is out to claim power for themselves.
So many reveals, struggles, betrayals, and despite all that, love, and hope for a better future for everyone. Our characters still have so much to go through before they get to live in peace.
I'm happy for Brynja and Ballast despite all the horrors and struggles they continue to go through.
Thank you for the opportunity to get to glimpse this one ahead of time. Joanna Ruth Meyer really did it with this one.
I was very excited to see the sequel to While the Dark Remains. This is gooood fantasy.
And it's frankly nice to read fantasy where the romance is a subplot. Don't get me wrong I love the romantasy as a genre, but they get formulaic sometimes and I miss a good solid fantasy.
Poor Ballast and Brynja and been through decades at the hand of Ballast's father King Kallias and he's finally dead. Brynja has lived as a spy voluntarily for 11 years, stripped of her Iljarian magics by her father the former Prism Magic Master to the Queen of Iljaria before sending her into the lions den to take down the King and his court from the inside as a child. The Yellow Lord has been bound back into the sun once, Kallias reign of terror and weapons he wanted to use to rule over the rest of the world, foiled. Their tenuous relationship as teens, blossomed into solid love, despite all the trials, abuse and trauma they have lived through.
But Brynja cannot stay in Tenebris for much longer, she must return with her bronze magic to her home country and inform the queen of her success. and Ballast must prove himself as King and show he is not his father.
But there are a lot of enemies with their own agenda's lurking close by. The Aeronan Empire wants Daeros, The Queen of Iljaria wants to become Queen Eternal and will do anything to achieve her goals at the expense of her own people and retainers. Saga must return to Skaanda after being captive in Kallias collection- only to find herself alone with great responsibilities , her brother Vil with his own agenda, Brynja's twin brother Brandr who killed their father scheming for himself- his ambition dangerous even to his own family. Everyone is out to claim power for themselves.
So many reveals, struggles, betrayals, and despite all that, love, and hope for a better future for everyone. Our characters still have so much to go through before they get to live in peace.
I'm happy for Brynja and Ballast despite all the horrors and struggles they continue to go through.
Thank you for the opportunity to get to glimpse this one ahead of time. Joanna Ruth Meyer really did it with this one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"When the Light Returns" is the 7th of Joanna Ruth Meyer's published books, all of which I have read and thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, I have listed them as being among my favorite books in general. “When the Light Returns” was beautifully written. The characters were full, and I really appreciated the character growth, especially from Ballast.
However, while Meyer is a brilliant author, sometimes the narrative could get lost beneath the heavy poetic nature of her writing. There were times when the plot and characters themselves did not feel full fleshed out due to heavy description and an almost overwhelming emphasis on the emotions of whatever characters were in the scene. That said, this is only my opinion, and I am sure that there are many people who would appreciate this style of writing.
I have fallen in love with all of Meyer's characters over the years and I was equally attached to those in "When the Light Returns." I loved the romantic and platonic dynamics, the weaving of timelines and POVS, and the darkness of the villain. I also loved the romance! It was sweet and intimate without being spicy (which I really appreciated). I especially loved the romantic relationship between Ballast and Brynja and all of its. . . developments. IYKYK.
Overall, I loved “When the Light Returns,” and the ending left me satisfied and content. I am so excited to see what other novels Joanna Ruth Meyer gives us and where her writing takes her. She deserves so much praise!
Thanks to 47North and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my full and honest review.
However, while Meyer is a brilliant author, sometimes the narrative could get lost beneath the heavy poetic nature of her writing. There were times when the plot and characters themselves did not feel full fleshed out due to heavy description and an almost overwhelming emphasis on the emotions of whatever characters were in the scene. That said, this is only my opinion, and I am sure that there are many people who would appreciate this style of writing.
I have fallen in love with all of Meyer's characters over the years and I was equally attached to those in "When the Light Returns." I loved the romantic and platonic dynamics, the weaving of timelines and POVS, and the darkness of the villain. I also loved the romance! It was sweet and intimate without being spicy (which I really appreciated). I especially loved the romantic relationship between Ballast and Brynja and all of its. . . developments. IYKYK.
Overall, I loved “When the Light Returns,” and the ending left me satisfied and content. I am so excited to see what other novels Joanna Ruth Meyer gives us and where her writing takes her. She deserves so much praise!
Thanks to 47North and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my full and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was fortunate to read the ARC of While the Dark Remains, and I feel equally grateful to have received the ARC of When the Light Returns.
In a genre where fantasy series can sometimes lose focus by stretching a story across too many books, this duology felt just right in terms of scope. The overarching conflict and its resolution were well-suited to a two-book structure, and I found the conclusion of the second book especially satisfying.
In When the Light Returns, I felt that Meyer noticeably strengthened in how she shaped the relationships between the characters. The deeper development in their connections made me even more invested in them and genuinely rooting for their growth. Without spoilers, the ending provided each character with the resolution and personal growth they deserved, which felt both earned and emotionally fulfilling.
That said, the pacing was the one area where the book fell a bit flat for me. Certain sections lingered longer than necessary, while others felt rushed. For instance, Brynja’s search for the gods for Valrun moved so quickly that it strained believability and left me wanting more depth in that part of the story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed both books in this series. It’s a duology I would happily recommend to my book groups and could easily see myself revisiting in the future. Thank you again to NetGalley and 47North for providing these ARCs!
In a genre where fantasy series can sometimes lose focus by stretching a story across too many books, this duology felt just right in terms of scope. The overarching conflict and its resolution were well-suited to a two-book structure, and I found the conclusion of the second book especially satisfying.
In When the Light Returns, I felt that Meyer noticeably strengthened in how she shaped the relationships between the characters. The deeper development in their connections made me even more invested in them and genuinely rooting for their growth. Without spoilers, the ending provided each character with the resolution and personal growth they deserved, which felt both earned and emotionally fulfilling.
That said, the pacing was the one area where the book fell a bit flat for me. Certain sections lingered longer than necessary, while others felt rushed. For instance, Brynja’s search for the gods for Valrun moved so quickly that it strained believability and left me wanting more depth in that part of the story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed both books in this series. It’s a duology I would happily recommend to my book groups and could easily see myself revisiting in the future. Thank you again to NetGalley and 47North for providing these ARCs!
February 19, 2026
Book 2 in the Winter Dark Series
4.75 Stars
The world building was one of the highlights of the first book in this series, so I'm glad that we got to explore more of this world. Book 2 is set in Illarjia, the home of magic on the peninsula. Magic plays a large part in the culture of the Illarjia. It's capital city is split into twelve different sectors where the people who practice each type of magic live. The queen has 12 skapari, which is her personal group of magic users, with one practicing each type of magic. We get to see how Illarjia are trained to use their magic as well. Within this society, I found it interesting that the queen was not especially powerful with magic, but she still is able to wield so much political power.
The characters were the other highlight of book 1 and in book 2 we get multiple POVs, so we get to learn more about the characters. I definitely think that book 1 worked best with only Brynja's POV, but When the Light Returns has a bit of a wider scope, so many crucial plot points come from other characters. There are multiple POVs and there is a lot of back and forth with when each chapter takes place as well. It's not as straightforward as book 1, so it might be easy to get confused about the POVs and timelines. When the Light Returns begins 6 months after the events of While the Dark Remains, but through the different timelines, the events of those 6 months slowly unravel.
4.75 Stars
The world building was one of the highlights of the first book in this series, so I'm glad that we got to explore more of this world. Book 2 is set in Illarjia, the home of magic on the peninsula. Magic plays a large part in the culture of the Illarjia. It's capital city is split into twelve different sectors where the people who practice each type of magic live. The queen has 12 skapari, which is her personal group of magic users, with one practicing each type of magic. We get to see how Illarjia are trained to use their magic as well. Within this society, I found it interesting that the queen was not especially powerful with magic, but she still is able to wield so much political power.
The characters were the other highlight of book 1 and in book 2 we get multiple POVs, so we get to learn more about the characters. I definitely think that book 1 worked best with only Brynja's POV, but When the Light Returns has a bit of a wider scope, so many crucial plot points come from other characters. There are multiple POVs and there is a lot of back and forth with when each chapter takes place as well. It's not as straightforward as book 1, so it might be easy to get confused about the POVs and timelines. When the Light Returns begins 6 months after the events of While the Dark Remains, but through the different timelines, the events of those 6 months slowly unravel.
December 28, 2025
Rating: 3.5 stars ⭐️
When the Light Returns is Joanna Ruth Meyer’s follow up to While the Dark Remains. The story moves from the single point-of-view of the first book into a multi-point of view novel, changing perspectives and timelines throughout the story. Our main character, Brynja, is joined by friend and foe alike as threat of invasion hangs over all of our kingdoms.
This story was a marked improvement over the first book, with the pacing greatly improved by the multiple perspectives. The story flowed better, and overall was more engaging. The theology is expanded a little more as our characters move through the world, but I would have liked a little more depth to the magic system.
Our main character is somewhat more active in this story than the first, though there is still a significant problem with our main character passively accepting the control of others. Other characters refer to Brynja as a schemer, or five steps ahead, and that hasn’t ever felt true to her characterization. In the first book, she seemed to barely survive but for the manipulations of others, so others’ trust in her ability to plan felt disingenuous.
The story still fell into many of the common tropes of the genre, which made it feel somewhat predictable. The ending of the story felt like it lacked substance, especially considering the losses of the previous book. The final solutions felt tidy, and felt out of our main characters’ control. I did enjoy the epilogue, which had some nice details about the long term fates of our characters.
Overall, this book was an improvement over the first. If you were really enamored by the first book, you’ll probably enjoy it. However, if you haven’t read the first book, this wasn’t solid enough to justify continuing on.
This book was provided to me on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When the Light Returns is Joanna Ruth Meyer’s follow up to While the Dark Remains. The story moves from the single point-of-view of the first book into a multi-point of view novel, changing perspectives and timelines throughout the story. Our main character, Brynja, is joined by friend and foe alike as threat of invasion hangs over all of our kingdoms.
This story was a marked improvement over the first book, with the pacing greatly improved by the multiple perspectives. The story flowed better, and overall was more engaging. The theology is expanded a little more as our characters move through the world, but I would have liked a little more depth to the magic system.
Our main character is somewhat more active in this story than the first, though there is still a significant problem with our main character passively accepting the control of others. Other characters refer to Brynja as a schemer, or five steps ahead, and that hasn’t ever felt true to her characterization. In the first book, she seemed to barely survive but for the manipulations of others, so others’ trust in her ability to plan felt disingenuous.
The story still fell into many of the common tropes of the genre, which made it feel somewhat predictable. The ending of the story felt like it lacked substance, especially considering the losses of the previous book. The final solutions felt tidy, and felt out of our main characters’ control. I did enjoy the epilogue, which had some nice details about the long term fates of our characters.
Overall, this book was an improvement over the first. If you were really enamored by the first book, you’ll probably enjoy it. However, if you haven’t read the first book, this wasn’t solid enough to justify continuing on.
This book was provided to me on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to Joanna for providing an ARC!
When the Light Returns is beautifully written. The descriptions are poignant and the first person POVs of each character invites us into their thoughts and hearts so snugly. An example early on is when Ballast takes a moment to imagine mice sitting on the throne in storage as little mice kings. You feel like you really get to understand and be in a space with the characters, who welcome the reader in with vulnerability and sincerity. And yet, these characters have no end of surprises in store. Meyer's command of pacing and the steady trickle of information leads to marvelous revelations that turn everything as we know it on its head.
I also just want to take a moment to praise the themes of power and love. One of my favorite things about Meyer's work is her ability to weave stories that are at their very heart, fairy tales that encourage us to believe that love, sacrifice, and forgiveness will lead us to a brighter day.
When the Light Returns is an epic sequel to While the Dark Remains. This duology contains lush worldbuilding, captivating magic, thoughtfully crafted characters, and so much light.
When the Light Returns is beautifully written. The descriptions are poignant and the first person POVs of each character invites us into their thoughts and hearts so snugly. An example early on is when Ballast takes a moment to imagine mice sitting on the throne in storage as little mice kings. You feel like you really get to understand and be in a space with the characters, who welcome the reader in with vulnerability and sincerity. And yet, these characters have no end of surprises in store. Meyer's command of pacing and the steady trickle of information leads to marvelous revelations that turn everything as we know it on its head.
I also just want to take a moment to praise the themes of power and love. One of my favorite things about Meyer's work is her ability to weave stories that are at their very heart, fairy tales that encourage us to believe that love, sacrifice, and forgiveness will lead us to a brighter day.
When the Light Returns is an epic sequel to While the Dark Remains. This duology contains lush worldbuilding, captivating magic, thoughtfully crafted characters, and so much light.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When the Light Returns is the final book in The Winter Dark duology. The story begins a few months where the previous one ended, The world has changed a little; there is a new king and new challenges, as well as the new king wants to understand the villain and how they got to where they were
Love how the authors weaving an interesting magic system based on gods, fantasy political intrigue, a new king’s reign, and a bit of romance. Like the previous book, we have different timelines, but this time we have a new POV. It's immersive, the magic system is wonderful, here we continue to explore more of the world building and we still have some twists and turns. There is also more character development, especially the relationships between them and a little more romance, without becoming romantasy. The romance is sweet and the personal growth is wonderful. All of the characters are likable and brave, with a strong sense of justice, seeking to improve the world and ease injustices. There are a few battles between good and evil, magic and justice.
Overall, is a great duology, fast paced, easy to follow, it hooks easily and has a twist that is very engaging.
Love how the authors weaving an interesting magic system based on gods, fantasy political intrigue, a new king’s reign, and a bit of romance. Like the previous book, we have different timelines, but this time we have a new POV. It's immersive, the magic system is wonderful, here we continue to explore more of the world building and we still have some twists and turns. There is also more character development, especially the relationships between them and a little more romance, without becoming romantasy. The romance is sweet and the personal growth is wonderful. All of the characters are likable and brave, with a strong sense of justice, seeking to improve the world and ease injustices. There are a few battles between good and evil, magic and justice.
Overall, is a great duology, fast paced, easy to follow, it hooks easily and has a twist that is very engaging.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a fantastic continuation of the story begun in "While the Dark Remains". It's dark and complicated but still manages to stay ultimately hopeful. I thought that Saga's arc was especially gratifying- she didn't end up in a very good place after the first book, so her growth in this book was needed. There were a couple places where I felt like the mechanics of the story didn't quite make sense (especially with the time magic that's not explained super well), but overall the story is easy to follow and flows very well. The villains felt appropriately menacing but not flat; the underlying message made for some beautiful moments near the end. A great close to the duology.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and 47North for this ARC!
I was so happy to be back in this world, and this really felt like a satisfying ending to the duology. The way this book expanded the storytelling added a wonderful layer to everything I loved about the first one. At times the pacing felt a little off, but it didn’t detract from the story, and using time as a storytelling mechanic gave the experience a feel that matched the magic in a really interesting way. I loved the twists just as much as in the first book, and the characters had so much heart; I can already tell this is a duology I’ll want to re-read someday!
I was so happy to be back in this world, and this really felt like a satisfying ending to the duology. The way this book expanded the storytelling added a wonderful layer to everything I loved about the first one. At times the pacing felt a little off, but it didn’t detract from the story, and using time as a storytelling mechanic gave the experience a feel that matched the magic in a really interesting way. I loved the twists just as much as in the first book, and the characters had so much heart; I can already tell this is a duology I’ll want to re-read someday!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I read book one as a part of an Amazon First reads choice and was graciously allowed to read the ARC of book 2!
I rated book 1, 5 stars.. while I did find it had slow pacing I enjoyed the eventual outcome and the drastic twist the ending took and enjoyed my time with it.
Books 2 also had odd pacing but again, I enjoyed my time reading it, learning more about the characters and world they exsist in, and the plotting with the multiple pov. I feel like I cannot say more without revealing spoilers but if you enjoyed book 1 like I did, I can certainly say you will enjoy book 2!
I rated book 1, 5 stars.. while I did find it had slow pacing I enjoyed the eventual outcome and the drastic twist the ending took and enjoyed my time with it.
Books 2 also had odd pacing but again, I enjoyed my time reading it, learning more about the characters and world they exsist in, and the plotting with the multiple pov. I feel like I cannot say more without revealing spoilers but if you enjoyed book 1 like I did, I can certainly say you will enjoy book 2!
February 2, 2026
While I did not find book 2 in this duology as gripping and unpredictable as book 1, it was still enjoyable. Time travel in books is always an iffy and confusing topic for me so the story lost me in those parts and the ending seemed a little too nicely wrapped up. However, I was intrigued with the character development and growth so that had me wanting to know what happens next. This duology will definitely be something I re-read again in the future!
Big thank you to NetGalley and Joanna Ruth Meyer for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Big thank you to NetGalley and Joanna Ruth Meyer for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
It was my honor to receive an ARC from the author. This epic conclusion to the The Winter Dark duology shines bright in a world full of darkness. Strong LOTR vibes crossed with sacrifices that reminded me of childhood series favorite The Chronicles of Prydain. As with the last book, there are a lot of delicious twists and turns to discover. Recommended for anyone who understands the timely and timeless message of the power of stories where light prevails over darkness.
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