Winter

by Stella Whitcomb Lane

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 16, 2026

About the author

Stella Whitcomb Lane writes witty, suspenseful romance with a modern fantasy twist. Set in a contemporary magical world, her characters find their hidden strength and discover that love can sneak up on you when you least expect it. She loves books with a hard won HEA and an epic grovel.

Stella grew up in the great state of Vermont and lives in Rhode Island with her family and their Bernese Mountain Dog.

Reviews

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter by Stella Whitcomb Lane is a fun and engaging contemporary fantasy romance that mixes secret agents, magic, and emotional drama in a way that keeps the story moving. Winter really shines in its strong, character-driven worldbuilding, which unfolds naturally through the characters and their experiences, making the setting feel immersive without ever feeling too heavy. Willa is a great main character because she is both relatable and complex, and honestly, who can resist a good librarian character? The story reveals its secrets at just the right pace, keeping the reader curious and eager to see what happens next. Overall, Winter is a compelling and enjoyable start to a new series, especially for readers who like romance, fantasy, and a little mystery. I’m definitely excited to see where the series goes next.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s light enough to feel fun, but the characters have real depth and complexity, they feel real in the way they react to the world around them. Plus real emotional weight to some serious family drama and pain.

Plus the main characters have a wonderful, smouldering chemistry (as well as spice!).

But I’m a sucker for world building and this is just fab. So much urban fantasy feels like magic or fae shoehorned into the real world, this isn’t like that. It’s a proper, well thought out world that works.

Honestly, I cannot wait for the next book!

[Kendra Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me in a chokehold. From Willa getting through life working as a librarian to her life being turned upside down in a night of magic and secrets. This story is dual POV and has lore, spice, and magic (the perfect ingredients for a good read). At one point I was ready to fight the MMC, but then I folded like a lawn chair. #TeamStellan Winter is book one in The Storm King’s Daughters series and I can’t wait for book two.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read! A good level of spice and an intriguing world.