Daughter of Winter

Fairy Queens #5

by Amber Argyle

Bargains.
Only the desperate need them.
Only the desperate make them.
And always, the desperate pay.

As the daughter of the Winter Queen, the silence and never-ending dark of winter are all Elice has ever known. So when a whaling ship crashes just offshore, she doesn't hesitate to rescue the lone survivor, Adar. But the closer Elice and Adar become, the more desperate she is to keep him hidden from her mother at all costs.

For if the Winter Queen discovers Adar trespassing, she'll kill him.

When her mother reveals just how dark her soul has become, Elice realizes she is as much a prisoner as Adar. Worse, she begins to see hints of something more nefarious.

Unbeknownst to Elice, a bargain was made long ago. A bargain she was born to fulfill.

Fans of Sarah Maas and Leigh Bardugo will love the dark magic, forbidden romance, and daring adventure in Amber Argyle's Fairy Queens Saga. Read your copy now!

Two immortal queens. A dying magic. A world to save . . .
The FAIRY QUEENS SAGA is far more than a simple fairytale retelling. It's a deep dive into the Norse mythology surrounding Hans Christian Andersen's THE SNOW QUEEN. An origin story, the Fairy Queens Saga tells the stories of the Winter Queen (Ilyenna), her rival (Nelay), and Ilyenna's daughter (Elice).

Reading order:

1. Of Ice and Snow (Ilyenna's parents)
2. Winter Queen (Ilyenna's story)
3. Of Fire and Ash (prequel novella for Nelay's story)
4. Summer Queen (Nelay's story)
5. Of Sand and Storm (spin off novel)
6. Daughter of Winter (Elice and Adar, star-crossed lovers desperate to escape the Winter Queen)
7. Winter's Heir (Ilyenna, Nelay, Elice, and Adar all come together for the final showdown. Will they destroy each other or find a way to work together to save their dying world?)

OTHER TITLES BY AMBER ARGYLE

Forbidden Forest Series
Lady of Shadows
Stolen Enchantress
Piper Prince
Wraith King
Curse Queen

Witch Song Series
Witch Song
Witch Born
Witch Rising
Witch Fall

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fae, Fiction, Romance, Paranormal, Science Fiction Fantasy

212 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 2016

About the author

Amber Argyle is the bestselling fantasy & romance author of the Forbidden Forest, Fairy Queens, Witch Song, & Wild Heart Ranch Romance series. Her award-winning books have been translated into several languages and praised by such authors as NYT bestsellers David Farland and Jennifer A. Nielsen.

Amber grew up on a cattle ranch and spent her formative years in the rodeo circuit and on the basketball court. She graduated cum laude from Utah State University. She’s delightfully sarcastic, loves all things outdoors, and believes spiders should be relegated to horror novels where they belong.

She has completed three series and is working on a fourth.

To receive her starter library of four free books, simply tell her where to send it: http://amberargyle.com/freebooks/

Reviews

[Kirsty (Amethyst Bookwyrm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Amber Argyle for giving this book to review.

All Elice has ever known is the never-ending isolation of the Winter Queendom. She has no company apart from her immediate family, including her mother, the Winter Queen, and the animals that she heals, but all that changes when a ship crashes and she rescues the lone survivor, Adar. Elice wants the freedom to see the rest of the world but when she discovers that the world is in more turmoil than she ever knew, will she be able to escape her mother?

Daughter of Winter is the brilliant and magnificent third book of the Fairy Queens series. It is very addictive and it pulled me into the story. Also, it has some action and a hinted at romance. Unlike the other books in this series the POV is from both Elice and Adar rather than just the heroine. One tiny problem with this book is that I was confused about the timeline and how people are the ages they were.

Elice is resilient, creative and innocent because she has been sheltered all of her life. She also reminded me a bit of Senna from Amber’s Witch Song series. Adar is cocky, talkative and easy-going but also protective and a bit mysterious. I was sad to see how different Ilyenna is and how cold and distant she has become.

I love this series and I am really looking forward to reading the fourth and final book in the series Winter’s Heir. I would recommend Daughter of Winter to fans those who have read the Fairy Queens series and to those who are fans of YA fantasy books.

This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Daughter of Winter, Elice, daughter of the Winter Queen, saves the life of a shipwrecked man named Adar and hides him from her mother. He encourages her to flee with him out of the winter realm to start a new life together, free from the overprotective Winter Queen who has kept Elice locked in the winter realm for her entire life. But bargains have been made that can ruin her chance at true freedom, and even Adar may not be who he seems.

I enjoyed Daughter of Winter very much. This book takes place mostly in the winter realm, with lots of ice and snow, polar bears, dogsleds, and open ocean. There was danger, both from the other people and powers in the story and from the forces of nature, as the characters waded through secrets, bargains, and trust issues to complete their goals and strengthen their relationships. The nonhuman fairies and the mythology revealed were fascinating to read about and provided more danger for the characters to face and conquer. The foretellings of doom—the Sundering—was an interesting addition to the story. The fight between the Queens had reached such a level as to create danger for the entire world. Isn’t that what bitterness amounts to? A destruction of the people you love which ultimately destroys you also?

Daughter of Winter was a fascinating, if short, read that is continued in Winter’s Heir. It was immensely enjoyable, and I recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

I have really enjoyed the first two books in this series, so I was excited to read this one, as it centers around Ilyenna's daughter, Elice. This book really hurt my heart because of some of the things that take place, especially since I loved Ilyenna in Winter Queen. I obviously don't want to spoil anything, but Ilyenna has changed quite a bit since we last saw her. She has really transformed into the queen of winter not just literally, but figuratively as well. She is harsh and unfeeling with her daughter and has almost completely lost what humanity she had left.

Elice is such a sweet girl. She is a caretaker and a healer like her mother once was and her compassion really endeared her to me. She leads a lonely life and I wanted nothing more than for her to find a companion to keep her company. I really enjoyed Adar, even though I didn't feel I really got to know him as a character. He is hiding something huge from Elice and while I can guess what it might be, I think that prevents us from getting too close because he himself holds himself at a bit of a distance.

I did think this one developed a bit slower than some of the other books. There wasn't as much action in this one, but it was more of a build up of what's to come in the next books. I am looking forward to seeing where Argyle takes this series and how things will develop with Elice, Adar, the Summer realm, and her destiny to become more than she ever dreamed she would be.

*Received a copy of this book via the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.*

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insight into the family life of the Winter Queen, and a new heroine who might just save everyone!

Finally, we get to learn about Ilyenna's family and how they live in her Winter Realm! I was so curious about her daughter Elice and if she could interact with winter too. I really like Elice! She's similar to her mother when she was mortal: compassionate, determined, loyal, a healer by nature. I just hope she gets an ending she deserves, unlike her mother's story in Winter Queen.

I find myself comparing Elice to Rapunzel from Tangled. A sheltered girl raised in a unique environment with special abilities that could put her in danger if anyone knew. An overprotective and powerful mother who tries to keep her daughter locked away from the world, telling her it's dangerous and evil and she can't trust people. The girl finally meets someone from outside and gets brave enough to leave on her own, makes some friends, and is ecstatic to see the world she's always read and dreamed about. A roguish hero who takes her away, driving her crazy and flirting at the same time, who quickly falls for her innocence and compassion, but he has an ulterior motive that disrupts their budding trust and romance. (There is definitely more going on that Adar hasn't explained...) Totally the same storyline here, but add magic and nasty fairies and put it in an arctic setting!

I know the other books and novellas so far haven't always continued with the same characters in the next books following them. (By the way, was this a book or novella? It felt too short to be a full novel, but too long to be a novella...) But I'm pretty sure the last book has to continue with Elice and Adar's story and how they tie in to everyone else's stories up till now. Elice is obviously going to be the solution to the problems in the world due to the war between Summer and Winter. We've already learned as much from Chriel, who told us there will be a Sundering, when all of nature and magic start to fall apart, then a chosen person will stop the destruction, reform the magic, and a new age will begin. That explains all the chaos and natural disasters going on, along with the destruction and death on both sides from the war between the Fairy Queens. So we know the Sundering is going to happen, just not what happens to our characters before then and how it will end after! Can't wait to see how everything changes after this!

We're definitely in for more adventure, intrigue, danger, betrayal, sacrifice, love, and hopefully, at last a satisfying ending to this dark epic Fairy Queens series!

[Selaya Morton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favourite book in this series. Too many of the setups were repetitive and quite frankly, boring. We are treated to Elice, on the one hand, being terrified of her mother while the other side of the coin shows her as an individual prepared to stand up to the same authority. There are vague references to Adar's "mission" and although it is never fully explained, it's obvious that it involves kidnapping or worse aimed at the princess. A bargaining chip perhaps? I will not be surprised if I learn at a later date that he himself is somehow related to the Summer Queen. I guess we'll see. The one saving grace I did take away from all this was Elice's empathy towards other people & creatures. The world - any world - needs healers.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daughter of Winter, book six in the Fairy Queens series follows the characters of Elice, the daughter of the Winter Queen and Adar, the mysterious stranger she rescues from drowning by the fairies. As Elice works to both hide, and help heal Adar, the pair find themselves spending more and more time together so when Adar asks Elice to leave the Winter Queendom to follow him, she goes along, but the catch is that she only has three days to make it from the realm. Will Elice and Adar get their happily ever after, or will the Queen's trickery tear them apart before they cross the boundaries?

[Frida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daughter of Winter is the third book in the Fairy Queens series and also the second to last. I love this series immensely and I’ve been anticipating Daughter of Winter ever since I finished Summer Queen. It’s both exciting and scary when a series you love is close to its final ending. I love the world Argyle has created and even though I’ll always be able to return to it by rereading the books, it breaks my heart a bit that I won’t be able to return to it in new stories. There’s also all these expectations when it comes to a finale, especially when all the other novels and novellas in the series have been amazing. You want the series to have a worthy ending – an ending that will blow you away by its awesomeness. Luckily Argyle seems to be heading that way, since Daughter of Winter is a great build up to the finale. I fell completely in love with it and I am dying to read the last book. Sure, I’m still a bit scared but I know Argyle will give the series the epic closure it deserves.

Something I really like with the series is that with every new novel there’s a new perspective. It gives a lot of depth to both the overall story and the world. You get to see the ongoing conflict from different point of views and it is all greyscales, never plain black or white. And how I love that. In Daughter of Winter we get to follow Elice, the daughter of Ilyenna, the main character in Winter Queen. Elice has been living in the winter queendom all her life and she is starting to feel trapped. She wants to see the rest of the world, meet other people than her closest family and discover who she really is. Elice is an adorable character and I fell for her from the start. She reminds me so much of the Ilyenna we got see in Winter Queen. The innocence and the kindness, the courage and the strength, and of course the willingness to sacrifice everything for the ones you care about. It’s impossible not to like her.

I loved to see Ilyenna again, but it hurts so much to see how far away she’s gone from who she used to be. To see how the darkness has taken over and how little of her humanity she has left. It hurts even more with Elice as a constant reminder of what an amazing person she used to be. And still is, somewhere buried deep behind all that darkness, anger and vengefulness.

Set in the quite isolated winter queendom, the novel doesn’t offer that many new characters, besides Elice, but the ones we get to know shine all the more. The boy Elice saves from the ship-wreck being one of them. Adar might be a bit full of himself and quite a bit annoying from time to time, but he grows on me throughout the book. While most of the story is quite dark, Adar brings just the right amount of humour and lightness to the story to keep the reader from totally drowning in heartbreak and sorrow. There’s also the fact that he and Elice make quite an adorable couple. They complement each other very well.

As this is the third book in the series I know Argyle is quite a queen when it comes to world building and making sure that everything is described in a way that will make you feel like you’re truly part of the world. With that being said, she still manages to amaze me with her descriptions of the world, which is quite an accomplishment considering I already thought she did amazingly with the other two books. The way the winter queendom is described totally blew me away. It’s so stunning and so beautiful and while reading, I feel more than ever that I’m truly there. Walking around in Elice’s garden of mesmerizing ice sculptures, discovering the secrets in the many rooms of the ice palace and watching the striking aurora from one of its towers. As I dive into the story I let myself forget about the real world and for a moment the winter queendom feels just as real as my own.

Daughter of Winter is not as action packed as its predecessors, but I must say I like that. Action is great but sometimes it’s nice when the story moves along a bit slower, focusing on the characters and their relationship. Daughter of Winter still has a lot of action, especially towards the end – the second part is a thrilling, emotional roller coaster ride – but that only makes it even more logical to have a bit of a slower beginning, so that you, as a reader, really can get a feel of the new turn the story is about to take. And to clarify, by slow, I do not mean nothing happens. There’s a lot going on, it just takes another form than typical action. I think it works wonders and fits this part of the story very well.

With its breathtaking setting, captivating story and multi-layered characters Daughter of Winter blew me away and I can’t recommend it enough. It will take you on a sparkling, thrilling and emotional adventure that you will not forget in a hurry. If you’ve read the previous books in the series, you could dive right into this one and I’m positive you’ll enjoy it just as much as the others. If you haven’t read the other books though, I’d recommend you to check out Winter Queen and Summer Queen (and don’t forget the novellas!) first, since Daughter of Winter merges those two storylines together and you might feel a little bit lost without all the background story. And also, you do not want to miss out on those two gems! They are just as amazing, I promise.

[Sheila G · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It's hard to care about people when you're always afraid you might lose them. But I think not caring is worse."

I wasn't as impressed with this installment of the Fairy Queens series. It was more of a filler/bridge story used to set the scene for the final book.

It follows the story of Elice, the daughter of Ilyeana and Roan. She happens across a shipwrecked (by her mother) sailor while swimming. She saves his life and nurses him back to health. Adar, after finding out that she is the daughter of the Winter Queen, and has never been outside the winter realm, encourages her to leave with him.

Her mother becomes jealous, and nearly kills her daughter and her newly acquired friends while she attempts to flee the realm. Chucked full with action and constant suspense, Elice is faced with not only the challenge of escaping the realm of Winter, but also the dominion of her pitiable mother.

I was sad to see Ilyeana's character turn from the fearless heroine, to a heartless being. Granted, she is Winter embodied. She gave up her morality to become the fairy queen. But she seemed to be able to hold onto some of that morality with the aid of her family close-by. However, that capability dwindled after her husband, Rone was killed. She truly is the Winter Queen because this book was cold in scenery, character, and tone.

I was relived to find a lack of drinking, drug use, sexual abuse and trafficking, etc., following Summer Queen. As stated before, the action and severity of the prior books in this series doesn't dwindle in Daughter of Winter.

3 stars.

This review can also be viewed at my blog: She's Going Book Crazy

[T.K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still love this series, but this was a looooooong journey and it's so hard to see the Ilyenna I love in this Winter Queen. Nevertheless, already reading #4. :)

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the way this series pulls together. Amber Argyle is such a creative writer, I envy her imagination
and will be sorry when this series is over.

[Torri Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fairy Queens series has been one of my favorites! With this one, as with the previous 5 in the series, I couldn't WAIT to read the next one!

[Karen Bendzus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of adventure

Full of adventure, but hated how soulless and vengeful Iliena has become. Really felt for Elice and adar . fast moving

[Schumachergaacar · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is awesome

[Teresa Ericson- Mature · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short story and series!

[Ashley Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

This review and more can be found at The A P Book Club!

I adore Amber Argyle's books. I've never read one that I didn't love, and Daughter of Winter was no exception! Amber has this incredible way with words that makes the story, the world, and the characters all come to life and jump off the page. As soon as I started reading, I felt like I was really in the Winter Queendom and (even though it's basically never-ending winter), I didn't want to leave it!

This book focuses on Elise, the daughter of the Winter Queen (who we met in the first Fairy Queens book). Elise also has power over winter, although she's nowhere near as strong as her mother. Unlike her fairy mother, however, Elise is warmhearted and caring, and she wants to help as many creatures survive the harsh environment as she can. Although I didn't connect with Elise at first, I eventually grew to love her just as much as the other characters in this series. She's been sheltered her whole life and has a lot of growing and learning to do, but she adapts quickly and begins become the woman she was meant to be. I can't wait to find out what's in store for her next!

Although Ilyenna is not the main focus of this book, I still really enjoyed seeing her again. She's much colder (no pun intended!) then she was in the first book, but she's been through so much and I can't really blame her for retreating into winter. She still does love her daughter in her own way, but it's hard for her to show it. I actually kind of wish we had seen more of Ilyenna, because I think she's still my favorite character in the series. She's just so different from most other fantasy protagonists, and I just can't get enough of her story.

As usual, the plot and the world building are spot on. The book starts out a little slow as it establishes Elise and the Winter Queendom, but then things pick up pretty soon after we met Adar. And then, about halfway through, things take off at breakneck speed. I could hardly keep up, but I loved every second of it! I was glued to the edge of my seat and couldn't wait to see how Elice and Adar would find a way out of one dangerous situation after another. I really felt like I was in danger with them, and that I could feel the cold settling around me as I was reading.

Overall, Amber Argyle delivers with this latest installment in the Fairy Queens series. If you've read the other books in this series, you definitely want to get your hands on Daughter of Winter ASAP! If you haven't, what are you waiting for?! All three books (and both novellas) are incredible, and if you love fantasy, you are missing out on probably one of the best fantasy series out there! I cannot wait to read the final book, Winter's Heir! 4.5/5 for Daughter of Winter!

[M R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daughter of Winter is the third book in the Faerie Queen series. While they can be read as standalones, I recommend reading them in order. This book continues the story of the war between Illyena the Winter Queen and Nelay the Summer Queen. I really loved how we get to the cost of their war, not just in their realms, but the world. We also learn more about the Balance that has more serious consequences than either side thought. I was completely drawn into this complex world from book one and can’t wait to see how everything comes together in the final book.
As usual, the setting descriptions are stunning in their simplicity. Argyle manages to weave together beautiful details that bring even a world of ice and snow alive with life and wonder. Her characters are complex and you truly care about them. Elice is the daughter of Illyena and Rone. I’ll admit I’ve been exited for her story every since Winter Queen. Despite growing up among the cunning and coldness of the fairies, Elice bursts with innocent wonder, but also has a great deal of moral strength and courage. She finds beauty in all around her and uses her powers over winter to create stunning works of art. But trapped all her life in the realm of winter, she longs to know of the world of color and warmth beyond the frozen tundra of her home.
When she rescues a young man from her mother’s wrath, hiding him as he heals, she begins to dream of a life she never thought possible. Adar teaches her what it means to have a friend and the dangers that threaten them all if the Balance isn’t righted soon. I really liked that we got Adar’s perspective as well as Elice’s. He brings a humor and lightness that’s foreign to the cold court Elice grew up in. However, his ready smile seems to hide a secret agenda that makes me wonder who he really is and why he wants Elice so much. Despite his hidden motives, he and Elice must work together if they are to escape the clutches of her mother and her fairies. I won’t say more about that in fear of revealing too much, but know their race to freedom kept my heart racing and the pages turning with one danger after another.
I had a couple things that bothered me. 1) Where was the kissing?! There were a couple moments when I held my breath waiting for it to happen, but didn’t. While I was a bit disappointed, I actually liked their relationship and can’t wait to find out what happens next. 2) I had a really hard time with Illyena’s coldness and heartlessness. I really liked her character and was sad to see her loss and heartache continued. Also, reading her journey and knowing why she became the Winter Queen made me not like Elice’s attitude toward her mom. I thought her own daughter wanting her dead was a bit rough. Other than those two things, I loved the book!

I’d recommend this book for teens 14-18.

*Received an ebook from the author in exchange for my honest review*

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in her Fairy Queens series, Daughter of Winter is a vivid, sweeping novel and, as happened with Winter Queen, I was once again I was transported, this time to a frigid, beautiful land of ice, snow, and despondency, as opposed to the lush greens and yellows of Winter Queen (I know, it sounds contradictory—yellow and green in a book called Winter Queen?—but if you've read it, you will understand.).

This story focuses on Elice, the daughter of Illyena, the Winter Queen. I fell in love with Illyena's feisty spirit in her namesake book and my heart broke a bit at the end, when she was faced with the harsh choice that made her the queen of my least favorite season. In Daughter of Winter, Illyena has become hardened and hardly a trace remains of the warm, caring healer she was in the first novel. Instead, her daughter Elice has inherited these qualities. Elice is artistic, reverent, empathetic, and intelligent. She is also a healer, as her mother was. The parallels between mother and daughter are haunting. When Illyena's fairies attack a whaling ship, Elice attempts to rescue those on board and manages to save Adar, an incorrigible, handsome man who has secrets of his own.

I hate winter. I hate the cold, I hate the feel of ice, I hate snow. But Ms. Argyle creates a world of such beauty in this story that I couldn't help but be entranced (and a little cold). The writing is just . . . amazing. I'm sorry that I can't think of a better word to more perfectly capture that talent with which she writes, so amazing will have to do. I tend to get bored in books that have a ton of description, but I don't think I skipped one sentence in this story, of description, action, or otherwise. And speaking of action, the pace of the book was non-stop. Wars are raging, oceans are churning, the queen is hunting her own daughter, and the earth is being brutalized by the imbalance of magic. It truly was one event after another.


And the characters! The characters are heartbreakingly real. They are sympathetic, evil, conflicted, and determined. Otec, Elice's grandfather, is one of my favorites and I was happy to see him again in Daughter of Winter. Adar is a worthy hero, though I am scared of what he will reveal in Winter's Heir, the next novel in the Fairy Queens series. Elice is a perfect heroine, one for whom you can cheer and to whom you can relate because, even though your mother might not be a magical, evil queen, you've probably felt stifled or rebuffed by your parents here and there throughout your life. She is so strong and good at her core. She is constantly faced with difficult choices and always makes the right decisions.

I could ramble on and on about this book but in the end, the only thing you need to know is that you have to read this book! If you haven't read its predecessors, start with those, and then devour this. Okay? Okay, good.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daughter of Winter continues the saga started in the Winter Queen, but the focus has shifted from Ilyenna to her daughter Elice. One of my favorite things about this series is that we get more than one point of view and we get to see how the war waged between Summer and Winter affect all sides involved.

Elice is like her mother was in so many ways, and it was fantastic seeing that her caring nature had passed down to her daughter...especially now that we have seen what has become of Ilyenna under the influence of the Winter. She has become hard and unyielding, and her humanity is in a constant struggle to maintain itself. But Elice has that same fire and love for life that her mother did, and while there is a certain amount of nativity in Elice there is also a tremendous amount of strength. Amber's main characters always have an inner strength and a will to do what needs to be done, and that is one of the biggest draws for me when it comes to her writing. I need characters that can rescue themselves but also know when to ask for help. I loved the friendship she cultivates with Adar, and how easy he is to talk to and the respect they both have for each other even though they are from vastly different lives
The other major pull for me is her world building. She has a unique way of describing things just so. She doesn't need a long paragraph to tell you how the lights hit ice, instead she can give you two and you'll be able to see it casting light on your own walls. In Daughter of Winter we get to see a new area farther north, where the winter is constant and unforgiving, and where the Winter fairies have complete and total reign over everything. In this closer view we see how Winter is crumbling slowly in the way the world around the fairies begins to falter, and it begins to give away to a much larger problem that has been growing under the veil of constant war.

This is the second to last novel and the series and I'm really sad to see it coming closer to a close. It's been a real treat to delve into a fantasy series were good and evil, don't exist in such black and white terms. There is a ton of build up in tensions as the fairy queen's war begins to tear apart the world they are fighting so hard to control. I desperately want to see how Elice fairs in the warmer lands, and if she comes into contact with Nelay at all...and speaking of Nelay I can't wait to see how the change has settled with her now that it has been a few years.
I really can't recommend this series enough! It's perfect for those who like their fantasy on the lighter side with a character focus, but don't necessarily want to give up all world building.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The "daughter of winter," Elice, is a captivating young lady who has a tender heart and a deep desire for love and appreciation from the few people she has contact with in a cold and desolate land. She creates amazing and beautiful masterpieces of ice and snow and receives little credit or appreciation for her efforts. In this way, her feelings and insecurities mirror those of any reader, making her easy to relate to and aiding in compassion for the life she leads.

Elice wants to be loved and accepted by her mother, but is lost in the dark for many months at a time and lives in a land of ice and snow where others rarely venture. She hunts for her own food for their limited diet of raw meat and blood. As she does so, she feels a desire to help creatures in need and uses the knowledge of healing she learned from her mother to cure those animals when she is able. She believes it is of great importance to create a balance between what she can do to heal and save the creatures in the winter realm and needing to hunt to survive.

That balance becomes a trial for her as she saves a man from a drowning ship. Her mother had ordered the ship to be destroyed and Elice feels that her mother's actions are calloused and unfair. As she attempts to balance the cruel act of her mother she finds herself questioning many things she's been taught and wanting to learn more and gain understanding.

Elice's journey was enjoyable and this book could be read as a stand-alone novel, but I would recommend reading the first books in the series. Having read the previous books, I felt a greater understanding of the world Elice lives in and the magical elements found therein as well as an understanding of the Winter Queen and how she came to be queen in the realm of snow and ice.

I enjoyed the subtle interactions between the characters and look forward to the next installment to better understand some elements that are not fully explained and questions that remain unanswered within this book.

I received a free Advanced Review Copy of this book for review.

[Deborah Andreasen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elice lives under the protection of her mother, the Winter Queen. But the long months trapped in the darkness while her mother is away battling the Summer Queen have taken their toll. Elice is tired and she's lonely. When a ship finds it's way to the Winter Queendom, Elice manages to hide the lone survivor, Adar.

When Ilyeanna proves the last few scraps of her humanity are gone, Elice is heartbroken and determined to be free.

I loved this installment. I think it's one of my favorites, just because of the imagery. It's amazing how creative the author is with what someone with winter powers can do. I love the ice forest. Elice is smart and loving. She's tough, but doesn't know how tough she is.

Adar is a flirt and I loved it. And thank you Amber for not making him drop-dead dreamy gorgeous. I love a good hero who catches my attention because of who he is, not what he looks like. Adar and Elice have a great relationship. Their easiness and banter feel natural.

This is not a love story. In fact, it's a little heartbreaking, as Ilyeanna was one of my favorite characters. I can't wait to read the next installment in the series. I have so many questions and I'm biting my nails to see what happens...and to see if my theories are right.

If you're looking for a light, fluffy read that you can pick up and put down as you please, this is not it. This is an integral piece of a very complex puzzle. You will never look at fairies - or animals - the same after reading the Fairy Queens series.

Thank you to the author for allowing me to read Daughter of Winter in exchange for a review.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book swept me away to a far off place of ice and cold where light and warmth rarely come. Poor Elice knows nothing other than the cold world her mother, the Winter Queen has created. Elice has such a soft and gentle heart that longs and dreams for more than the harsh world she lives in every day. The only source of love and gentleness for Elice comes from her grandfather and one of the fairies.

I love how Elice saves animals and reads books. She loves to dream and create things. These things make her instantly likable and easy to connect with. Even her mother's cruelty cannot suffocate the goodness in Elice.

This book was so vivid in nature. I could easily picture the ice world and it's cold inhabitants. A sense of foreboding is always there- throughout the whole book. Dangerous things are alluded to, but never come to complete fruition in this book. This book feels like the set up for the big bang that is still to come. It kind of leaves you hanging at the end. Well, not kind of. It does.

The pacing is good although not quite as fast as the previous books. I felt like the intensity and violence, although still there, were taken down a notch compared to the previous books in this series. That isn't a bad thing, just something I noticed. I enjoyed this book and I'll be looking for the next book. I can only imagine the awful things coming for Elice.

This series always has the prettiest covers. I love this one. It perfectly represents what is contained inside.

Content: Some violence but otherwise clean

My thanks to the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Ashley Desmarair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book picks up where Book 2 Summer Queen left off. Nelay and Ilyenna, Summer and Winter going at it. But in this book, we see the effects that this war has had on the people that the Queen's love the most, but even more so on the people closely related to the Winter Queen. Ilyenna's cold and hard demeanor was chiseled due to Rone helping her maintain her humanity and we find out what happens to him as a result. Ellice's (Elly) character development is one of the best thing that happens in the book. She is a girl who craves her mother’s warm embrace but as the Queen of Winter, is incapable to do so. And I loved how Ilyenna’s past was brought up when Elly learns about it and realizes that her mother’s past life, in a way made it possible for her to become the Winter Queen. (I'm ranting about it because Book 2 left me wanting soooo much more about the past)

Moving on to Elly and Ardar, I must say I loved how the dynamic of the two is developed over the time they spend together. And its really a story about a lonely young girl in search of her own life experiences. She was tired of a sheltered life and Ardar in a way pushes Elly to find her independence and go in search of what she wanted her whole life. It was an enjoyable and interesting read. The only thing I wish for was to know the bargain that was made long ago. The book hinted at it with Elly's desire of leaving Winter's Domain but I'm not entirely sure what the purpose of that was. I can't wait for the next book.

I also want to take Amber Argyle for emailing me a copy before the release. I was hooked from Book 1 and can't wait to see where the Battle of Winter and Summer takes us next.

THANK-YOU!!!!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author, Amber Argyle, for providing me with an electronic copy of Daughter of Winter, in exchange for an honest review.

Elice has the magic of winter in her hands, as she has the ability to turn water into ice and snow. Raised isolated with only her family around her, this daughter of Ilyenna, the Winter Queen, is stunned when a ship crashes onto their shores. She rescues the sole survivor, a young man named Adar, but must keep him hidden from her vengeful mother. As the darkness threatens to overtake the Winter Queen completely, Elice learns that the balance between light and dark is more precarious than anyone realizes. Will Elice be willing to pay the price for freedom from the darkness and harshness of winter?

Having read all of the books that have come before, I strongly recommend reading the series in order. Each book builds upon the previous one, especially when it comes to the backstory of, in this case, the Winter Queen. Well paced with a strong female main character, Daughter of Winter fits in well with the Fairy Queen series. Elice is a capable young woman, raised to be strong by her Queen mother and intelligent by her grandfather. Her convictions ultimately get her into trouble, but Elice has a strong moral compass that she cannot ignore. I am not a fan of the cliffhanger ending, nor the foreshadowing the eludes to Adar's intentions being not so genuine. Overall, Daughter of Winter was a great addition to the series and I look forward to reading the next installment of the Fairy Queens series.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed this series for a while now and I love every cover that has come out. This one is no exception. I did have a bit of book amnesia from the previous books, but most of it came back as familiar names were read. This is the book of the Winter Queen's daughter and Ilyeanna has become the cruel queen predicted. Elice, the daughter, still has her humanity in tact but also control over winter. This is her journey into something perhaps powerful or will it lead to enslavement? Either is a possibility and both are hinted at throughout her journey.

The author states that her editors encouraged her to split the book into two. While I understand it, I also think that this would have been better as one journey. The ending leaves one big question behind and it was a threatening twist to the story. One I think the next book will open with and that anticipation will be over. However, we are left with that anticipation so be warned. Despite that aspect of the ending it did not feel like a cliffie and the main adventure Elice took on was completed.

I give this book 3 1/2 stars. While I would have liked a longer story, I do understand why it was split into 2 books. This is a good addition to the series and one that should not be missed. I recommend the book to those that enjoy YA fantasy with a lot of faeries who are more bite than sparkle.

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an another enticing addition to the Fairy Queen tales. The characters felt real. Elice inherited the sweet nature of her mother. She was naive but still always willing to help those she cares about nd always wanted to alleviate suffering which made the interactions between her and mother seem slightly tragic. Ilyenna in this book is at best a disciplined pragmatist who does not mince words and at worst kills those who say she is hurting the world.
It was sad to read how little of Ilyenna's original self-remained. Rone really was her anchor and with his death so did the drive to fight back the winters destructive temptations weaken. Adar was a little annoying with his bravado but he was still endearing. It was obvious he was hiding something big that I can only guess. The descriptions were so great that I just wanted to see all of Elice's ice sculptures. The book is enjoyable if read alone but the best experience is to read all the others published before this one as one can pick up all the references and foreshadowing. The bargain that Elice is meant to fulfill is alluded to in "Of Ice and Snow". All in all a great first half of the finale to this superlatively written series.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC ebook in kindle format free of charge in exchange for agreeing to post my honest review of it online. I have not read any other books in the Fairy Queens series, did not even know these existed until I was about 45% through the book. Still, I was excited by the concept and eager to start reading.
At first, I felt like the world building was forced, which may or may not have to do with this being the middle of a series rather than a stand-alone novel, and I worried what I had gotten myself in to. That said, after a few pages I had no trouble following the tails of Elice, the lonely daughter of the Queen of Winter, who has the power to control the snow and ice of winter.
I've already recommended this book to my sister. And while I may not go back and read the first few in the series, I am looking forward to the next one and finding out the end of the story.

This was supposed to be one large novel and instead was broken in to two books. According to the press, the editors felt that there were two separate story arcs being addressed. Having read several heavy tomes in the fantasy/sci-fi genre I, at this point, disagree with the decision. We'll see when the next book releases if I'm on the editors side.

[Carlynne Toomey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daughter of Winter is part of the Faery Queen series, however, it is the first of the series that I have read. Having said that, it is my opinion that this book can stand alone and be read without the need for reading other books in the series first. However, I was startled to read the different take on "faery" than is usual. I have read the Witch Song series, so was very excited to start a new series by Ms. Argyle. I was NOT disappointed. Despite the different form of the faery in this series, it does mesh with many other accounts of the fae as wild and vicious.

In this book, Elice is the daughter of the Winter Queen, a faery that has lost whatever humanity she may once have had. Elice has been isolated and kept very innocent. She roams the wild lands that she creates from ice and helps the innocent animals in exchange for having to kill some of them for food. She watches a ship that her mother's faeries have caused to sink and rescues one of the seamen on board. Thus begins her adventure and exposure to the world, which she learns is very different from what she has been told.

I would highly recommend this book and the series as a whole and can't wait to pick up my next book in the Faery Queen series!

[Jan farnworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really think this book is my favorite in the series, i think it cause i connected so well with the previous books but this time we are focusing on the mother daughter relationship and how Elice is feeling as a puppet of her mother. I liked how we got to watch this personal relationship between Adar and Elice developed and how she makes the choice to try and escape the winter kingdom. We get to see all the dynamics of just how cruel the winter queen can be and Elice gets to show off her power in front of a human it was a very well crafted story.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Daughter of Winter" is a very captivating book! I appreciate that there is a map provided in the beginning, which makes visualizing the setting easier. The imagery is this book is amazing. The vivid metaphors and figurative language used by the author instantly painted pictures in my mind. The plot was really easy for me to follow and I was fascinated to find out what would happen next while reading the book. I would definitely recommend this book! I can't wait to read the next book.

I received a free Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Alanya Lynda]

I am loving this series and this instalment lifts the story to new levels. I do not write synopsis of the books I review as I personally do not like them but I will say the imagery that it evokes is amazing. The characters are interesting and intriguing with secrets to be discovered. I personally thought the hints that Adar is more than he seems unnecessary and a bit too obvious as a lead into the next book but that not withstanding a good read. I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.