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HighTower Fairytales
Winter Falls
After all that had happened, I could bear it so long as I got to watch Winter fall.
Katie knows better than to believe in happy endings. She learned there was no such thing after her true love, Shay, disappears without a trace.
Devastated, Katie jumps off a bridge in winter, expecting to meet death in the frozen water below. Instead, her fall transports her to a snowy netherworld, where trapped souls take on the form of animals and the only thing that matters is survival.
Then Katie discovers that Shay has been kidnapped by a deadly sorceress called the Winter Queen. She goes on a journey to find him, traveling through the realms of storybook fairies, princesses, thieves, and monsters to bring him home. But the path is harsh and dangerous. Will Shay and Katie be reunited? Or be forever trapped within an eternal winter?
If you like inspirational heroines, unique love stories, and epic quests this fairytale romance is for you! One-click now to start the magic, romance, and heart-pounding adventure!
WINTER FALLS is a retelling of the Snow Queen set in the industrial revolution and a magical fairy world like no other. Teen fans of C.S. Lewis, Shannon Hale, and other classic fantasy will love this inspirational novel that examines the trials of depression and mental illness.
This is a full-length standalone novel with a happily ever after ending.
What are HighTower Fairytales?
HighTower Fairytales lean more toward the original sources (NOT Disney) with rich semi-historical settings. They have magic. They have scary monsters. And, most importantly, they have unique and complex characters who are trying hard to improve themselves.
They also include plenty of humor and all the heroes marry their prince/princess charming and live ever happily after at the end!
Basically, these stories meant to inspire, but have a very difficult and occasionally dark tower to climb. They are conservatively marked at 14+ and are appropriate for teens and young adults.
Currently these stories include:
Winter Falls: A Tale of the Snow Queen (2017)
Cry Wolf: A Tale of Beauty and the Beast (2020)
Depths: A Tale of the Little Mermaid (2020)
Robin's Hood: A Tale of Sherwood Forest (2021)
And more on the way!!!
Katie knows better than to believe in happy endings. She learned there was no such thing after her true love, Shay, disappears without a trace.
Devastated, Katie jumps off a bridge in winter, expecting to meet death in the frozen water below. Instead, her fall transports her to a snowy netherworld, where trapped souls take on the form of animals and the only thing that matters is survival.
Then Katie discovers that Shay has been kidnapped by a deadly sorceress called the Winter Queen. She goes on a journey to find him, traveling through the realms of storybook fairies, princesses, thieves, and monsters to bring him home. But the path is harsh and dangerous. Will Shay and Katie be reunited? Or be forever trapped within an eternal winter?
If you like inspirational heroines, unique love stories, and epic quests this fairytale romance is for you! One-click now to start the magic, romance, and heart-pounding adventure!
WINTER FALLS is a retelling of the Snow Queen set in the industrial revolution and a magical fairy world like no other. Teen fans of C.S. Lewis, Shannon Hale, and other classic fantasy will love this inspirational novel that examines the trials of depression and mental illness.
This is a full-length standalone novel with a happily ever after ending.
What are HighTower Fairytales?
HighTower Fairytales lean more toward the original sources (NOT Disney) with rich semi-historical settings. They have magic. They have scary monsters. And, most importantly, they have unique and complex characters who are trying hard to improve themselves.
They also include plenty of humor and all the heroes marry their prince/princess charming and live ever happily after at the end!
Basically, these stories meant to inspire, but have a very difficult and occasionally dark tower to climb. They are conservatively marked at 14+ and are appropriate for teens and young adults.
Currently these stories include:
Winter Falls: A Tale of the Snow Queen (2017)
Cry Wolf: A Tale of Beauty and the Beast (2020)
Depths: A Tale of the Little Mermaid (2020)
Robin's Hood: A Tale of Sherwood Forest (2021)
And more on the way!!!
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 23, 2017
8 people are currently reading
599 people want to read
About the author
Jacque Stevens
40 books224 followersJacque Stevens wrote her first novel as a stress relief activity during nursing school. Now, as a USA-Today Bestselling Author, she has taken a step back from nursing so she can spend all her time writing stories filled with elves, fairies, and all things awesome. She also is a freelance editor.
Jacque lives in Arizona. New friends, enemies, and wandering visitors from cyberspace can contact Jacque here: sjacquebooks.com or sjacquebooks(at)gmail.com.
Sign up for the newsletter to get a free short story and other extras.
Jacque lives in Arizona. New friends, enemies, and wandering visitors from cyberspace can contact Jacque here: sjacquebooks.com or sjacquebooks(at)gmail.com.
Sign up for the newsletter to get a free short story and other extras.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
April 5, 2017
Title: Winter Falls: A Tale of the Snow Queen
Author: Jacque Stevens
Publisher: sjacquebooks, 2017 (January 23)
Genre: YA Fantasy, YA Retellings
**I received a copy of this book free from Ebooksforreview and the author in exchange for an honest review**
This review can be found on my Blog, TeacherofYA’s Tumblr, or my Goodreads page
My Review:
Ok, you all know I’m drawn to pretty covers, right? Like, if you’ve followed my blog for at least a couple weeks, you know this by now. This cover didn’t do it for me…but I took the plunge based on the blurb.
This book….let’s just say that Stealing Snow should have been replaced by this book! I could imagine that cover on this book. And then this book being picked up by the big pubs. Like, seriously, I’m finding all these jewels lately that are better than the big bestsellers…so what’s up with that??
Anyway. Let me tell you about this fabulous book I read (that you better not judge cover-wise, even though I’m a hypocrite):
The book is set somewhere around the early 1900s from what I could gather…it never specifies but there are references. And it makes sense since the original Hans Christian Andersen story is from the 19th century. But I digress. As usual.
In the beginning, Katie falls through the ice. She was going to jump, but she slipped anyway. And when she wakes up, she is not dead, but in another world. We get backstory in between segments of the narrative, and we slowly find out what led Katie to jump…and what she is doing in this world to which she somehow traveled.
Katie works at her father’s hotel since it’s only the two of them. Katie’s mother, her father tells her, is off fighting pirates and freeing people from criminals. But when Katie finds out from gossip at the hotel that her mother is actually dead, her belief in all things good shatters. She begins to build a wall and she stops believing in anything resembling magic, especially her pet crow Avery who used to talk to her.
But crows don’t talk. Mothers don’t fight pirates. And fathers remarry and have new families.
Told in a present to past perspective (via dreams, storytelling), we learn that Katie takes on more and more responsibility at the hotel, shutting herself off from her family. Shay, a young neighborhood boy, seems to be interested in her, but she keeps him at arms length as well, responding to the taunts of “Ms. Katherine, the spinster, the Ice Princess.” A self-fulfilling prophecy, Katie eventually pushes everyone away.
But in this other world, she finds out that four fairies rule the seasons, but Winter has become the most powerful. And Katie learns the Winter Queen has Shay. But why does she have him? And why does Katie even care?
As she makes it her personal quest to save Shay, Katie discovers that even walls we build inside ourselves must crumble…if we are ever to find out the truth behind them.
Is it Classroom-Appropriate?
Yes. This story is very clean, it intermixes all sorts of lessons and other fairy tales, and it connects students to classic literature. The Snow Queen is a story we are mostly familiar with, and we have been searching for an adequate retelling for years. Some authors have done it and others have not (cough cough Stealing Snow cough cough). This could be used in a lesson plan as a contemporary retelling and be compared to the original. It could be used to showcase the coming-of-age theme, as well as highlight the escapism that Katie shares with the creatures from the other world. I think it would be better as a MG classroom piece, but I could see it effectively used if time allowed for a folk/fairy tale unit.
So I actually give Winter Falls ★★★★ for classroom use!
Can definitely be used with some creativity!
Age Range
Of course indie books aren’t ever on Lexile, so I won’t even try to look it up. I would say 13 and up, as the Goodreads blurb warns of “alcohol abuse, suicide, and other serious topics.” The site referenced, MyBookRatings, is not a site I’m familiar with, but they suggest 14 and up. I honestly think that’s overcautious. It is a clean romance and there are many other books dealing with far more serious issues in MG books. So I think 13 is a good age, and I would even give it to my 12 year old niece (if she liked retellings, but alas, she’s not like her cool aunt).
End Result
I found another favorite that gave me a major book hangover! This book is fresh and keeps you on your toes, as you are eager to learn what brought Katie to this world. The four fairies are so different but each are sympathetic characters, as is our Ice Princess, Katie. She is not a Mary Sue by any means, she is not a “chosen one” but a jaded girl who has felt alone all her life. Stevens writes with no errors and I honestly think if you slapped a pretty cover on this and put it out, people would love it. I haven’t felt as passionate since Heir of Illaria. And at least that had a pretty cover.
So I give Winter Falls: A Tale of the Snow Queen ★★★★★.
Yup, it’s a new fave of mine!
So…will you be picking this on up?
Author: Jacque Stevens
Publisher: sjacquebooks, 2017 (January 23)
Genre: YA Fantasy, YA Retellings
**I received a copy of this book free from Ebooksforreview and the author in exchange for an honest review**
This review can be found on my Blog, TeacherofYA’s Tumblr, or my Goodreads page
My Review:
Ok, you all know I’m drawn to pretty covers, right? Like, if you’ve followed my blog for at least a couple weeks, you know this by now. This cover didn’t do it for me…but I took the plunge based on the blurb.
This book….let’s just say that Stealing Snow should have been replaced by this book! I could imagine that cover on this book. And then this book being picked up by the big pubs. Like, seriously, I’m finding all these jewels lately that are better than the big bestsellers…so what’s up with that??
Anyway. Let me tell you about this fabulous book I read (that you better not judge cover-wise, even though I’m a hypocrite):
The book is set somewhere around the early 1900s from what I could gather…it never specifies but there are references. And it makes sense since the original Hans Christian Andersen story is from the 19th century. But I digress. As usual.
In the beginning, Katie falls through the ice. She was going to jump, but she slipped anyway. And when she wakes up, she is not dead, but in another world. We get backstory in between segments of the narrative, and we slowly find out what led Katie to jump…and what she is doing in this world to which she somehow traveled.
Katie works at her father’s hotel since it’s only the two of them. Katie’s mother, her father tells her, is off fighting pirates and freeing people from criminals. But when Katie finds out from gossip at the hotel that her mother is actually dead, her belief in all things good shatters. She begins to build a wall and she stops believing in anything resembling magic, especially her pet crow Avery who used to talk to her.
But crows don’t talk. Mothers don’t fight pirates. And fathers remarry and have new families.
Told in a present to past perspective (via dreams, storytelling), we learn that Katie takes on more and more responsibility at the hotel, shutting herself off from her family. Shay, a young neighborhood boy, seems to be interested in her, but she keeps him at arms length as well, responding to the taunts of “Ms. Katherine, the spinster, the Ice Princess.” A self-fulfilling prophecy, Katie eventually pushes everyone away.
But in this other world, she finds out that four fairies rule the seasons, but Winter has become the most powerful. And Katie learns the Winter Queen has Shay. But why does she have him? And why does Katie even care?
As she makes it her personal quest to save Shay, Katie discovers that even walls we build inside ourselves must crumble…if we are ever to find out the truth behind them.
Is it Classroom-Appropriate?
Yes. This story is very clean, it intermixes all sorts of lessons and other fairy tales, and it connects students to classic literature. The Snow Queen is a story we are mostly familiar with, and we have been searching for an adequate retelling for years. Some authors have done it and others have not (cough cough Stealing Snow cough cough). This could be used in a lesson plan as a contemporary retelling and be compared to the original. It could be used to showcase the coming-of-age theme, as well as highlight the escapism that Katie shares with the creatures from the other world. I think it would be better as a MG classroom piece, but I could see it effectively used if time allowed for a folk/fairy tale unit.
So I actually give Winter Falls ★★★★ for classroom use!
Can definitely be used with some creativity!
Age Range
Of course indie books aren’t ever on Lexile, so I won’t even try to look it up. I would say 13 and up, as the Goodreads blurb warns of “alcohol abuse, suicide, and other serious topics.” The site referenced, MyBookRatings, is not a site I’m familiar with, but they suggest 14 and up. I honestly think that’s overcautious. It is a clean romance and there are many other books dealing with far more serious issues in MG books. So I think 13 is a good age, and I would even give it to my 12 year old niece (if she liked retellings, but alas, she’s not like her cool aunt).
End Result
I found another favorite that gave me a major book hangover! This book is fresh and keeps you on your toes, as you are eager to learn what brought Katie to this world. The four fairies are so different but each are sympathetic characters, as is our Ice Princess, Katie. She is not a Mary Sue by any means, she is not a “chosen one” but a jaded girl who has felt alone all her life. Stevens writes with no errors and I honestly think if you slapped a pretty cover on this and put it out, people would love it. I haven’t felt as passionate since Heir of Illaria. And at least that had a pretty cover.
So I give Winter Falls: A Tale of the Snow Queen ★★★★★.
Yup, it’s a new fave of mine!
So…will you be picking this on up?
March 28, 2017
I enjoyed this retelling of the Snow Queen. I have to admit that I am not as familiar with this tale as others, although I have been fascinated by it.
Katie is a young woman who experiences many changes and heart ache in her life. Her mother jumped from a bridge when she was small, she lives with her father in an inn that is struggling to make ends meet, and then her father remarries. It is a lot for a young woman to deal with. She also has a challenge of not being very social and not fitting in with her peers. There is one boy who seems to stick around, Shay, his attention is confusing.
Katie enters another realm after the Snow Queen comes and takes Shay with her. She meets the fairy of the four seasons and goes on a quest to remove him from Winter's hold. Through visions, she knows that she must get to him soon or face loosing him forever.
This tale is well told. I enjoyed the action, adventure, romance, and the creatures that inhabit the other realm. They are part human and part animal. They are very interesting and the way the interact and live is creative. Jacque Stevens has taken an old tell and breathed a different life into it. If you enjoy retellings, you may like this one. It is clean with a little bit of violence, an attempted suicide, and kissing.
Source: I received an electronic copy of the book for review purposes.
Katie is a young woman who experiences many changes and heart ache in her life. Her mother jumped from a bridge when she was small, she lives with her father in an inn that is struggling to make ends meet, and then her father remarries. It is a lot for a young woman to deal with. She also has a challenge of not being very social and not fitting in with her peers. There is one boy who seems to stick around, Shay, his attention is confusing.
Katie enters another realm after the Snow Queen comes and takes Shay with her. She meets the fairy of the four seasons and goes on a quest to remove him from Winter's hold. Through visions, she knows that she must get to him soon or face loosing him forever.
This tale is well told. I enjoyed the action, adventure, romance, and the creatures that inhabit the other realm. They are part human and part animal. They are very interesting and the way the interact and live is creative. Jacque Stevens has taken an old tell and breathed a different life into it. If you enjoy retellings, you may like this one. It is clean with a little bit of violence, an attempted suicide, and kissing.
Source: I received an electronic copy of the book for review purposes.
April 7, 2017
This is my second book by Jacque Stevens. The first one was also a fantasy story but totally different from this one. The Winter Falls is a retelling of the story of the Snow Queen.
The story of the Snow Queen that I am familiar with is the one on the Chronicles of Narnia and Frozen. *Cue in background music for the "Let it go!" the sound track* I have also watched the movie where Emily Blunt played the role as Snow Queen opposite Charlize Theron as the Evil Queen. The difference between this story and other versions of the Snow Queens that were done is that on this version the Snow Queen is part of the four princesses that are responsible for the four seasons. This also included an alternate-universe-kind aspect--the real world and the fairy tale world co-existing in the same time and the portal to cross between these two worlds was through a broken glass shard.
What struck me most about this is the author's note. The author described how this story came about. This was written when she was going through hard times as cold and desolate as winter time. Then this book got published in summer which spelled a lifting of the coldness and the coming of warmth and good things in her life. What I love most about everything she said was that, like everything else, winter ends also. No matter how cold, bitter and desolate it could get, spring comes and melts all the terrible experiences and lingering feelings winter has brought. This is a story of hope.
In a lot of ways, I can closely relate to what the author is talking about. Winter--the all encompassing metaphor for the hardships, loneliness, separation and emptiness we experience trying to get through life. And like the seasons, life moves on and with it the changes that come forth. Some of these changes we should be willing to initiate to finally find comfort and warmth. Others we need to accept as challenges thrown our way. We may not like them but they bring some sort of blessing or force us to find strength from all the strangest places. Just like what happened in this story.
I enjoyed this! The part where the main character, Katie, ended up in another world was so exhilarating. In that alternate universe, she was able to confront her weaknesses and find her strength. I think a lot of people can relate to Katie. We all have our own fears and frustrations. Most of us have built walls to not be hurt again. To protect us from getting our broken hearts from further crumbling to dust. We have fashioned full-body armors out of desperation and depravity as defense from all the foes whether human or otherwise. We walk around carrying these cumbersome armors in the hope of resisting pain and discouragement, all the while adding to our burdens.
I give this book 5/5 mirrors. Knowing where this story came from has affected me most. It made Katie's character so relatable and got me so involved in her experiences. I guess, understanding what the author went through and having been through the same contributed to the depth and sorrow expressed in the story. Yes, reading this felt like winter--freezing, isolating, desperate and tormenting but also filled with hope, just like all other fairy tale stories. It's always darkest before the dawn but through it all, the morning sun rises with all its glory and melts all the darkness to oblivion. This also pointed out a lot of parallelism to real life. If you haven't known, fairy tales are taken from real stories. They just use a lot of symbolism.
Whatever I had lost, had been missing for years and was certain to be gone for good.
- Jacques Stevens, Winter Falls -
Thank you again, Kathy of ebooksforreview.com for the copy. Sorry for the delayed post.
Also by Jacque Stevens:
The Stone Bearers
The story of the Snow Queen that I am familiar with is the one on the Chronicles of Narnia and Frozen. *Cue in background music for the "Let it go!" the sound track* I have also watched the movie where Emily Blunt played the role as Snow Queen opposite Charlize Theron as the Evil Queen. The difference between this story and other versions of the Snow Queens that were done is that on this version the Snow Queen is part of the four princesses that are responsible for the four seasons. This also included an alternate-universe-kind aspect--the real world and the fairy tale world co-existing in the same time and the portal to cross between these two worlds was through a broken glass shard.
What struck me most about this is the author's note. The author described how this story came about. This was written when she was going through hard times as cold and desolate as winter time. Then this book got published in summer which spelled a lifting of the coldness and the coming of warmth and good things in her life. What I love most about everything she said was that, like everything else, winter ends also. No matter how cold, bitter and desolate it could get, spring comes and melts all the terrible experiences and lingering feelings winter has brought. This is a story of hope.
In a lot of ways, I can closely relate to what the author is talking about. Winter--the all encompassing metaphor for the hardships, loneliness, separation and emptiness we experience trying to get through life. And like the seasons, life moves on and with it the changes that come forth. Some of these changes we should be willing to initiate to finally find comfort and warmth. Others we need to accept as challenges thrown our way. We may not like them but they bring some sort of blessing or force us to find strength from all the strangest places. Just like what happened in this story.
I enjoyed this! The part where the main character, Katie, ended up in another world was so exhilarating. In that alternate universe, she was able to confront her weaknesses and find her strength. I think a lot of people can relate to Katie. We all have our own fears and frustrations. Most of us have built walls to not be hurt again. To protect us from getting our broken hearts from further crumbling to dust. We have fashioned full-body armors out of desperation and depravity as defense from all the foes whether human or otherwise. We walk around carrying these cumbersome armors in the hope of resisting pain and discouragement, all the while adding to our burdens.
I give this book 5/5 mirrors. Knowing where this story came from has affected me most. It made Katie's character so relatable and got me so involved in her experiences. I guess, understanding what the author went through and having been through the same contributed to the depth and sorrow expressed in the story. Yes, reading this felt like winter--freezing, isolating, desperate and tormenting but also filled with hope, just like all other fairy tale stories. It's always darkest before the dawn but through it all, the morning sun rises with all its glory and melts all the darkness to oblivion. This also pointed out a lot of parallelism to real life. If you haven't known, fairy tales are taken from real stories. They just use a lot of symbolism.
Whatever I had lost, had been missing for years and was certain to be gone for good.
- Jacques Stevens, Winter Falls -
Thank you again, Kathy of ebooksforreview.com for the copy. Sorry for the delayed post.
Also by Jacque Stevens:
The Stone Bearers
January 24, 2017
What a great retelling and imaginative retelling of the Snow Queen.
Told in 1st person and through flashbacks, after Katie jumps off of the same bridge that her mother, Winter Falls explores depression, suicide and how it affects the people left behind. The way the author wrote about it and the sensitivity that she showed about such sensitive subjects was amazing. I also like that she didn’t glamorize suicide, as I have seen in some books. Beth’s reasons for committing suicide were awful and I cried when the reason was revealed.
I liked how Katie’s character wasn’t perfect by any means. She is a snob, keeps herself away from her family and openly mocks her stepmother as she tells fairy tales to Katie’s younger brother and sisters. You are hard-pressed to like her in her flashbacks because of how she is.
But, everything does change when she enters the land of fairy and starts on her quest to get Spring, Summer and Autumn’s tokens of powers. You could just see her come into her own and you could see her processing how closed off she was, how rude and how snobby she was as she is retelling her life story and how she fell in love with Shay.
Shay’s character was as flawed but he was aware of it and he did try to better himself. I felt awful when he was talking to Katie about how bad his home life was after his mother died and when Katie’s stepmother basically told his father to get lost.
Katie’s quest was different and full of surprises. The people/animals that she met and helped/were helped by stood out to me. Each season was basically her finding herself and her understanding that she didn’t need to live her life the way she was and that only she could change her life.
The climax of the story was great and I was put on edge. I did get slightly emotional during a certain scene with Shay and Katie.
All of the storylines were resolved by the end of the book. I really liked how they were resolved in realistic ways. Not every storyline was a HEA and it was refreshing to read that.
The end of the book was great. It was pretty standard but the changes in Katie and Shay was there for everyone to see.
Told in 1st person and through flashbacks, after Katie jumps off of the same bridge that her mother, Winter Falls explores depression, suicide and how it affects the people left behind. The way the author wrote about it and the sensitivity that she showed about such sensitive subjects was amazing. I also like that she didn’t glamorize suicide, as I have seen in some books. Beth’s reasons for committing suicide were awful and I cried when the reason was revealed.
I liked how Katie’s character wasn’t perfect by any means. She is a snob, keeps herself away from her family and openly mocks her stepmother as she tells fairy tales to Katie’s younger brother and sisters. You are hard-pressed to like her in her flashbacks because of how she is.
But, everything does change when she enters the land of fairy and starts on her quest to get Spring, Summer and Autumn’s tokens of powers. You could just see her come into her own and you could see her processing how closed off she was, how rude and how snobby she was as she is retelling her life story and how she fell in love with Shay.
Shay’s character was as flawed but he was aware of it and he did try to better himself. I felt awful when he was talking to Katie about how bad his home life was after his mother died and when Katie’s stepmother basically told his father to get lost.
Katie’s quest was different and full of surprises. The people/animals that she met and helped/were helped by stood out to me. Each season was basically her finding herself and her understanding that she didn’t need to live her life the way she was and that only she could change her life.
The climax of the story was great and I was put on edge. I did get slightly emotional during a certain scene with Shay and Katie.
All of the storylines were resolved by the end of the book. I really liked how they were resolved in realistic ways. Not every storyline was a HEA and it was refreshing to read that.
The end of the book was great. It was pretty standard but the changes in Katie and Shay was there for everyone to see.
April 9, 2017
I received a free ebook review copy of this book but was under no obligation to post a positive review
Well, I don't really know how to start this review. I guess i'll go straight to the point- Winter Falls: A Tale of the Snow Queen is a wonderful book and i really hope it gets as much exposure as possible.
When I picked up this book I didn't remember much about the synipsis and why it caught my attention in the first place. I only knew it was a retelling of the snow queen and that I liked the cover. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised from the first moment.
The book starts when we meet Katie Graham and she is getting ready to jump off a bridge. It's safe to say that it was a very interesting start for the story and as a person who finds depression and suicide very appealing topics in literature, I knew I chose right.
When the moment comes for Katie to jump something happens and she falls towards the frozen lake below. The next thing we know katie wakes up in a world that is made up of fariy tales and is ruled by the winter fairy- Flurry. From this point on the story is told in present time and in flashbacks that reveal bit by bit what led Katie to decide on killing herself.
The flashbacks
We start to get to know Katie since she was a little girl who learns that her mom wasn't traveling the world like she was led to belive by her dad- she commited suicide a few years before. From this point on Katie's trust in the world and the people closest to her shatters. She starts building walls and barriers to protect herself from ever getting hurt by another human beign again. In the process she stops believing in magic, fairy tales and anything in between. As a result she also stops understanding her friend Avrey, a crow she befriended as a kid who could talk.
After a time jump we get to know Katie as a teen who stopped dreaming about a future and believes she is destined to become an old spinster, even when there is a boy who is more than partial towards her- Shay. Shay moves into the Graham's hotel and becoms a favorite amongst her family, especially her siblings.
We get to know everyone a little bit better and when events unfold and some truths come to light, a confliclt between Shay and Katie leads her to believe that she isn't wanted or needed by anyone and that everyone is leaving her-including Shay.
Fairy land
When Katie wakes up after falling she finds herself in a magical reality filled with talking animals, creatures who are both animal and animal and more. This world is actually filled with lost souls from the mortal world who would rather escape and forget their past lives. There Katie isn't sure if she is dead or not but she does realize that maybe Shay didn't leave but was taken by the Winter fairy. After receiving guideness from telephatic roses she embarks on a quest of self discovry and adventures to save Shay.
The format
There was so much thought that was put in the construction of the story. The world building was just phenomenal- I was transported immediatly into a world filled with wonder, magic and fairy tales. Even though the story is set in an intricate world I was never lost or confused. One of my favorite things to discover was the time fluidity of the magical realm- when Katie met Jaden was one of my favorite moments solely due to the amusing nature of the scene.
The writing style was amazing. It has been a while since I read a novel that was written so fluidly- once I started reading it was painful when I had to stop. Jacque Stevens is a truely gifted story teller in ways that I have always wanted to be myself.
My final thoughts
I cannot recommend this novel more. The Charachter growth and representation of depression is spot on and executed beautifully. It is a wonderful and magical fantasy that spans different worlds and times. This was one of the best stories I have read in a while.
Well, I don't really know how to start this review. I guess i'll go straight to the point- Winter Falls: A Tale of the Snow Queen is a wonderful book and i really hope it gets as much exposure as possible.
When I picked up this book I didn't remember much about the synipsis and why it caught my attention in the first place. I only knew it was a retelling of the snow queen and that I liked the cover. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised from the first moment.
The book starts when we meet Katie Graham and she is getting ready to jump off a bridge. It's safe to say that it was a very interesting start for the story and as a person who finds depression and suicide very appealing topics in literature, I knew I chose right.
When the moment comes for Katie to jump something happens and she falls towards the frozen lake below. The next thing we know katie wakes up in a world that is made up of fariy tales and is ruled by the winter fairy- Flurry. From this point on the story is told in present time and in flashbacks that reveal bit by bit what led Katie to decide on killing herself.
The flashbacks
We start to get to know Katie since she was a little girl who learns that her mom wasn't traveling the world like she was led to belive by her dad- she commited suicide a few years before. From this point on Katie's trust in the world and the people closest to her shatters. She starts building walls and barriers to protect herself from ever getting hurt by another human beign again. In the process she stops believing in magic, fairy tales and anything in between. As a result she also stops understanding her friend Avrey, a crow she befriended as a kid who could talk.
After a time jump we get to know Katie as a teen who stopped dreaming about a future and believes she is destined to become an old spinster, even when there is a boy who is more than partial towards her- Shay. Shay moves into the Graham's hotel and becoms a favorite amongst her family, especially her siblings.
We get to know everyone a little bit better and when events unfold and some truths come to light, a confliclt between Shay and Katie leads her to believe that she isn't wanted or needed by anyone and that everyone is leaving her-including Shay.
Fairy land
When Katie wakes up after falling she finds herself in a magical reality filled with talking animals, creatures who are both animal and animal and more. This world is actually filled with lost souls from the mortal world who would rather escape and forget their past lives. There Katie isn't sure if she is dead or not but she does realize that maybe Shay didn't leave but was taken by the Winter fairy. After receiving guideness from telephatic roses she embarks on a quest of self discovry and adventures to save Shay.
The format
There was so much thought that was put in the construction of the story. The world building was just phenomenal- I was transported immediatly into a world filled with wonder, magic and fairy tales. Even though the story is set in an intricate world I was never lost or confused. One of my favorite things to discover was the time fluidity of the magical realm- when Katie met Jaden was one of my favorite moments solely due to the amusing nature of the scene.
The writing style was amazing. It has been a while since I read a novel that was written so fluidly- once I started reading it was painful when I had to stop. Jacque Stevens is a truely gifted story teller in ways that I have always wanted to be myself.
My final thoughts
I cannot recommend this novel more. The Charachter growth and representation of depression is spot on and executed beautifully. It is a wonderful and magical fantasy that spans different worlds and times. This was one of the best stories I have read in a while.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2023
ENG/ PT-BR
This book was... different. It wasn't perfect, but it wasn't horrible either. I can say that Stevens got better at writing, since I DNF her other book.
First, I liked that she talked about depression and suicide from the main character's perspective, because the readers will understand a little bit more people who have this. It is serious, and Katie really needed help --but no one noticed. It says a lot about society today (even if the book talked about decades ago), and it really makes us think if we know people around us well enough.
Second, the setting was nice too. It took place in another universe, a magical one with lots of dangers itself. If you think earth is difficult, think twice. In there, people become the animals they are inside --which is a complete mess. Stevens didn't explore much this world and why, for example, could Katie choose if she wanted to eat or not, but she made up to us by telling us a lot of stories inside this story, showing that magic is not always good and that if you don't believe in yourself, do not expect others to do it for you.
Well, there are also some stuff that got me mad too.
For example, Katie made me SO FRUSTRATED! She always comes with the same excuse to not do something: my mom killed herself, Pa' is going to close the hotel, nobody really likes me... I mean, it is okay to be sad in your situation, but GIRL! I was in a similar situation once. Years ago, I felt pretty much the same as Katie. But even then, I wouldn't want to worry my parents and always put a smile on my face. It was awful, it hurt, but as years passed, I started believing in the smile I once forced. My fake happiness finally stoped being fake, and I got better. It took time, but it can happen. But if you act like her and stop being human, you will NEVER get better. And that was what angered me the most.
Also, Shay was weird. I didn't actually like him, it was only because Katie did that I payed attention to him. Avery really would be my option of romance if I was the writer of this book. He was always there for her and transformed from a selfish crow to a brave human, only because of Katie. And in the Fairy world, they should have spent more quality time together. In the human world, he lived by her side for like, 10 years or something (I don't know for certain), and then she treated him like a normal friend after they saw each other again. If I was her, I'd value him a little more. And if I was the author, I'd make them fall in love. Wouldn't that be epic? Certainly it would be nicer than the meh wedding at the end. Whatev's.
And finally, I would say that this book had a lot of potential, which wasn't fully explored. But it was a improvement since the Stone Bearers, so I can say that I would read another book of this author if she will keep getting better at writing.
Thanks to Free Books for Review for sending me a copy of this book
-
Portuguese
Este livro foi ... diferente. Não foi perfeito, mas também não foi horrível. Eu posso dizer que Stevens ficou melhor escrevendo, desde que eu li o outro livro dela.
Primeiro, gostei que ela falou sobre depressão e suicídio da perspectiva da personagem principal, porque os leitores entenderão um pouco mais de pessoas que têm isso. É sério, e Katie realmente precisava de ajuda - mas ninguém notou. Diz muito sobre a sociedade hoje (mesmo que o livro tenha se passado há décadas atrás) e realmente nos faz pensar se conhecemos as pessoas ao nosso redor o suficiente.
Segundo, o cenário também era agradável. Ocorreu em outro universo, um mágico com muitos perigos por si próprio. Se você acha que a Terra é difícil, pense duas vezes. Lá, as pessoas se tornam os animais que são por dentro - o que é uma bagunça completa. Stevens não explorou muito esse mundo e por que, por exemplo, Katie poderia escolher se queria comer ou não, mas compensou-nos contando muitos contos nessa história, mostrando que a mágica nem sempre é boa e que se você não acredita em si mesmo, não espere que outros o façam por você.
Bem, também há algumas coisas que me enlouqueceram.
Por exemplo, Katie me deixou tão frustrada! Ela sempre vem com a mesma desculpa para não fazer algo: minha mãe se matou, o meu pai vai fechar o hotel, ninguém gosta muito de mim... Quero dizer, está tudo bem ficar triste na sua situação, mas menina! Eu estava em uma situação semelhante uma vez. Anos atrás, eu me senti praticamente o mesmo que Katie. Mas mesmo assim, eu não gostaria de preocupar meus pais e sempre colocava um sorriso no meu rosto. Foi horrível, doeu, mas com o passar dos anos, comecei a acreditar no sorriso que uma vez forcei. Minha falsa felicidade finalmente parou de ser falsa, e eu melhorei. Levou tempo, mas pode acontecer. Mas se você agir como ela e parar de ser humano, NUNCA ficará melhor. E foi isso que me irritou mais.
Além disso, Shay era estranho. Na verdade, eu não gosto dele, foi só porque Katie gostava que eu prestei atenção nele. Avery seria realmente minha opção de romance se eu fosse a autora deste livro. Ele estava sempre lá por ela e transformou-se de um corvo egoísta em um humano corajoso, apenas por causa de Katie. E no mundo das fadas, eles deveriam ter passado mais tempo juntos. No mundo humano, ele viveu ao seu lado por uns dez anos ou mais (não sei ao certo), e então ela o tratou como um amigo normal depois que eles se viram novamente. Se eu fosse ela, eu o valorizaria um pouco mais. E se eu fosse a autora, eu os faria se apaixonar. Isso não seria épico? Certamente seria melhor do que o casamento no final. Whatever.
E, finalmente, eu diria que este livro tem muito potencial, que não foi totalmente explorado. Mas foi uma melhoria desde The Stone Bearers, então posso dizer que leria outro livro dessa autora se ela continuar melhorando na escrita.
Obrigado ao Free Books for Review por me enviar uma cópia deste livro.
Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4K7...
“Minuet nodded. 'Yes. That is exactly right. So now I have a fairy tale for you. There once was a cat. He had two bowls. One was full of fish and the other was empty. He could not understand why the first bowl should be empty. He spent all his time worrying about it until he starved, not having touched the other bowl that was filled. Now, what does this tell you?'
Rosco chimed in, refusing to be ignored. 'That one is too easy. Cats are stupid.'
This book was... different. It wasn't perfect, but it wasn't horrible either. I can say that Stevens got better at writing, since I DNF her other book.
First, I liked that she talked about depression and suicide from the main character's perspective, because the readers will understand a little bit more people who have this. It is serious, and Katie really needed help --but no one noticed. It says a lot about society today (even if the book talked about decades ago), and it really makes us think if we know people around us well enough.
Second, the setting was nice too. It took place in another universe, a magical one with lots of dangers itself. If you think earth is difficult, think twice. In there, people become the animals they are inside --which is a complete mess. Stevens didn't explore much this world and why, for example, could Katie choose if she wanted to eat or not, but she made up to us by telling us a lot of stories inside this story, showing that magic is not always good and that if you don't believe in yourself, do not expect others to do it for you.
Well, there are also some stuff that got me mad too.
For example, Katie made me SO FRUSTRATED! She always comes with the same excuse to not do something: my mom killed herself, Pa' is going to close the hotel, nobody really likes me... I mean, it is okay to be sad in your situation, but GIRL! I was in a similar situation once. Years ago, I felt pretty much the same as Katie. But even then, I wouldn't want to worry my parents and always put a smile on my face. It was awful, it hurt, but as years passed, I started believing in the smile I once forced. My fake happiness finally stoped being fake, and I got better. It took time, but it can happen. But if you act like her and stop being human, you will NEVER get better. And that was what angered me the most.
Also, Shay was weird. I didn't actually like him, it was only because Katie did that I payed attention to him. Avery really would be my option of romance if I was the writer of this book. He was always there for her and transformed from a selfish crow to a brave human, only because of Katie. And in the Fairy world, they should have spent more quality time together. In the human world, he lived by her side for like, 10 years or something (I don't know for certain), and then she treated him like a normal friend after they saw each other again. If I was her, I'd value him a little more. And if I was the author, I'd make them fall in love. Wouldn't that be epic? Certainly it would be nicer than the meh wedding at the end. Whatev's.
And finally, I would say that this book had a lot of potential, which wasn't fully explored. But it was a improvement since the Stone Bearers, so I can say that I would read another book of this author if she will keep getting better at writing.
Thanks to Free Books for Review for sending me a copy of this book
-
Portuguese
“Minuet assentiu. 'Sim. Isso está correto. Então, agora eu tenho um conto de fadas para você. Era uma vez, um gato. Ele tinha duas tigelas. Um estava cheia de peixe e a outra estava vazia. Ele não conseguia entender por que a segunda tigela estava vazia. Ele passou o tempo todo se preocupando com isso até morrer de fome, sem ter tocado a tigela que estava cheia. Agora, o que isso lhe diz?
Rosco entrou na conversa, recusando-se a ser ignorado. 'Essa é fácil demais. Gatos são estúpidos.'
Este livro foi ... diferente. Não foi perfeito, mas também não foi horrível. Eu posso dizer que Stevens ficou melhor escrevendo, desde que eu li o outro livro dela.
Primeiro, gostei que ela falou sobre depressão e suicídio da perspectiva da personagem principal, porque os leitores entenderão um pouco mais de pessoas que têm isso. É sério, e Katie realmente precisava de ajuda - mas ninguém notou. Diz muito sobre a sociedade hoje (mesmo que o livro tenha se passado há décadas atrás) e realmente nos faz pensar se conhecemos as pessoas ao nosso redor o suficiente.
Segundo, o cenário também era agradável. Ocorreu em outro universo, um mágico com muitos perigos por si próprio. Se você acha que a Terra é difícil, pense duas vezes. Lá, as pessoas se tornam os animais que são por dentro - o que é uma bagunça completa. Stevens não explorou muito esse mundo e por que, por exemplo, Katie poderia escolher se queria comer ou não, mas compensou-nos contando muitos contos nessa história, mostrando que a mágica nem sempre é boa e que se você não acredita em si mesmo, não espere que outros o façam por você.
Bem, também há algumas coisas que me enlouqueceram.
Por exemplo, Katie me deixou tão frustrada! Ela sempre vem com a mesma desculpa para não fazer algo: minha mãe se matou, o meu pai vai fechar o hotel, ninguém gosta muito de mim... Quero dizer, está tudo bem ficar triste na sua situação, mas menina! Eu estava em uma situação semelhante uma vez. Anos atrás, eu me senti praticamente o mesmo que Katie. Mas mesmo assim, eu não gostaria de preocupar meus pais e sempre colocava um sorriso no meu rosto. Foi horrível, doeu, mas com o passar dos anos, comecei a acreditar no sorriso que uma vez forcei. Minha falsa felicidade finalmente parou de ser falsa, e eu melhorei. Levou tempo, mas pode acontecer. Mas se você agir como ela e parar de ser humano, NUNCA ficará melhor. E foi isso que me irritou mais.
Além disso, Shay era estranho. Na verdade, eu não gosto dele, foi só porque Katie gostava que eu prestei atenção nele. Avery seria realmente minha opção de romance se eu fosse a autora deste livro. Ele estava sempre lá por ela e transformou-se de um corvo egoísta em um humano corajoso, apenas por causa de Katie. E no mundo das fadas, eles deveriam ter passado mais tempo juntos. No mundo humano, ele viveu ao seu lado por uns dez anos ou mais (não sei ao certo), e então ela o tratou como um amigo normal depois que eles se viram novamente. Se eu fosse ela, eu o valorizaria um pouco mais. E se eu fosse a autora, eu os faria se apaixonar. Isso não seria épico? Certamente seria melhor do que o casamento no final. Whatever.
E, finalmente, eu diria que este livro tem muito potencial, que não foi totalmente explorado. Mas foi uma melhoria desde The Stone Bearers, então posso dizer que leria outro livro dessa autora se ela continuar melhorando na escrita.
Obrigado ao Free Books for Review por me enviar uma cópia deste livro.
Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4K7...
April 2, 2017
So… This is probably going to be a bit messy and incoherent, but here goes.
First, this is one of my favorite genres ever, fairytale retellings. This one is based on the Snow Queen, and if you know the story, you know that the snow queen kidnaps a boy and the girl who loves him has to take on a journey to rescue him. Except this book here is a little more than that. Our heroine, Katie, has to rescue herself before she can even come close to rescuing her heart’s dearest. It is as much a journey toward self-healing as it is toward saving a loved one, maybe even more. There are several themes here too, like innocence and reflections and delusions and fairytale versus reality and such. Actually, there’s a lot of duality, now I think of it. And mixed in with all the fairy tale is a bit of religion too. And, of course, we do have to talk about Katie, if only for a moment. She’s depressed. And angry. And there’s suicide so be warned. She’s frustrating and stubborn and delusional in her own right—I’m heartless, I know, seeing only what she wanted to see, making her own situation more terrible than it needed to be. Or it could be that I just don’t get it. To be sure, she has reasons for the way she was, and at least she’s sympathetic and constant in her behavior (unlike some other characters I know.) And when her story was told, consistent with everything else, there was no fairytale happily ever after. You get the sense that she would still experience moments of darkness, but she’d still pull through in the end. Hopefully ever after? I think so.
Oh, and before I forget. Here’s a heavy, heavy book that also deals with depression and horrors of the kind one only dreams of. And it’s also a fairytale retelling. Deerskin.
First, this is one of my favorite genres ever, fairytale retellings. This one is based on the Snow Queen, and if you know the story, you know that the snow queen kidnaps a boy and the girl who loves him has to take on a journey to rescue him. Except this book here is a little more than that. Our heroine, Katie, has to rescue herself before she can even come close to rescuing her heart’s dearest. It is as much a journey toward self-healing as it is toward saving a loved one, maybe even more. There are several themes here too, like innocence and reflections and delusions and fairytale versus reality and such. Actually, there’s a lot of duality, now I think of it. And mixed in with all the fairy tale is a bit of religion too. And, of course, we do have to talk about Katie, if only for a moment. She’s depressed. And angry. And there’s suicide so be warned. She’s frustrating and stubborn and delusional in her own right—I’m heartless, I know, seeing only what she wanted to see, making her own situation more terrible than it needed to be. Or it could be that I just don’t get it. To be sure, she has reasons for the way she was, and at least she’s sympathetic and constant in her behavior (unlike some other characters I know.) And when her story was told, consistent with everything else, there was no fairytale happily ever after. You get the sense that she would still experience moments of darkness, but she’d still pull through in the end. Hopefully ever after? I think so.
Oh, and before I forget. Here’s a heavy, heavy book that also deals with depression and horrors of the kind one only dreams of. And it’s also a fairytale retelling. Deerskin.
June 26, 2019
I absolutely loved this book. Much more than I thought I was going to like this book. Kate was one of the most relatable characters I have read in a while and many of the inner problems that she had are things that I have and do struggle with. She had to grow up too fast and her love of fairy tales left her broken again and again, leading her to having to build walls around herself to protect from being completely broken. In doing so, she closes off anyone who could help her feel whole again. Watching her journey, watching her learn she needs to change and struggling to do so, was very moving and brought me to tears more than once. I also loved that the change was believable. In the end, she still struggled with her mind jumping to the worst case scenario. But she didn't let the worst case scenario consume her and start to shut her off again. If I had any complaint, it was that some of the conflicts in the fairy tale world were overcome a little too easily, but the plot was more a vessel for the character development and message rather than the other way around, so I can overlook that to still absolutely love this book.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 2, 2017
This book was provided for an honest review. Let me start out by saying I enjoyed this book. If you read the author's note at the beginning, you can really tell that the author was going through something when she wrote this and it comes through in Katie's story. The message of the story that whatever struggles you are going through end and that you can over come them is a great one and I really appreciated the message and the way that the main character never gave up, though you thought she might a couple of times. My only real issue is Katie's self loathing attitude, I have a hard time connecting with characters like Katie. She refused to admit her feelings for other people, refused to be cared about by those around her, and never knew her own worth, and for me that gets old after a while. I needed her to snap out of it sooner than she did. I don't think it is an issue with the writing or the character development, I think after having read a few characters like Katie, I just don't connect well with them.
On to the actual story...Katie Graham lives in a hotel with her father. The book starts with Katie finding Avery, a talking crow from a place called the Four Kingdoms. Where Avery is from there are all manner of talking animal and fairy tale creatures, specifically the Fairy Princesses of the four seasons who take turns ruling. Avery has a broken wing and Katie vows to nurse him back to health and find his way home, in the meantime the two become inseparable companions. In the meantime, at the age of 7 Katie must take over the hotel while her father mourns the loss of her mother. Katie wants to keep the hotel in business and she has to grow up way to fast. The story follows her from the age of 7 to 17 while she runs the hotel, her father gets remarried and has more children, and Katie never feels like she is part of the family, she always feels left out even when she's included. Part of her issue is because she closes herself off to everyone and is cold so she doesn't get hurt. Even to Shay the boy who has liked her since they were 7. Much of the book follows Katie through her life at the hotel and her interactions with her family and the townspeople. After a while the story begins to alternate between Katie's adventures in the Four Kingdoms.
One of the guests at the hotel turns out to be the Snow Queen, Flurry. Flurry takes Shay to the Four Kingdoms, and Katie isn't very happy about it. She can't decide if they are just friends or something more, but she knows she has to go after him, so she goes to the Four Kingdoms herself and meets each of the princesses, who help her along the journey in some way. Katie's perseverance to save Shay and restore the Four Kingdoms and reunite the fairy sisters was really enjoyable. Overall a great retelling of the Snow Queen tale.
On to the actual story...Katie Graham lives in a hotel with her father. The book starts with Katie finding Avery, a talking crow from a place called the Four Kingdoms. Where Avery is from there are all manner of talking animal and fairy tale creatures, specifically the Fairy Princesses of the four seasons who take turns ruling. Avery has a broken wing and Katie vows to nurse him back to health and find his way home, in the meantime the two become inseparable companions. In the meantime, at the age of 7 Katie must take over the hotel while her father mourns the loss of her mother. Katie wants to keep the hotel in business and she has to grow up way to fast. The story follows her from the age of 7 to 17 while she runs the hotel, her father gets remarried and has more children, and Katie never feels like she is part of the family, she always feels left out even when she's included. Part of her issue is because she closes herself off to everyone and is cold so she doesn't get hurt. Even to Shay the boy who has liked her since they were 7. Much of the book follows Katie through her life at the hotel and her interactions with her family and the townspeople. After a while the story begins to alternate between Katie's adventures in the Four Kingdoms.
One of the guests at the hotel turns out to be the Snow Queen, Flurry. Flurry takes Shay to the Four Kingdoms, and Katie isn't very happy about it. She can't decide if they are just friends or something more, but she knows she has to go after him, so she goes to the Four Kingdoms herself and meets each of the princesses, who help her along the journey in some way. Katie's perseverance to save Shay and restore the Four Kingdoms and reunite the fairy sisters was really enjoyable. Overall a great retelling of the Snow Queen tale.
July 23, 2021
Here are the facts. Katie's mother is dead. Her father lied and told her that her mother was off saving the world so Katie could have a hero, but that's just not true. Then her father remarries and Katie gets a stepmother. Several more children are born to the family and her father's new family takes all the attention Katie used to get. The boy Katie likes doesn't follow through on his promises. And Katie, a teenager, practically runs the inn on her own. But what if Katie is only seeing the world through a jaded perspective and her perception isn't true? What then?
Jacque Stevens does an incredible job writing from the perspective of an unreliable narrator. We can see how Katie's life has been hard but there's also a sense of a different story happening that is constantly inviting and compelling Katie to be a part of it. And so, she gets swept up into another world, where fairies are good and evil, where animals talk, where someone (or someones?) she loves must be rescued, where she learns to see the world differently. It's a beautiful, fantastic, wonderful tale. There are moments that seem to have come straight out of Wonderland, and Katie herself noted that she expected to see a rabbit with a pocket watch running late. Other times feel more like Oz, and it's unclear whether the fairies are the good or bad witches, although instead of compass points, they represent seasons. But regardless, it's easy to get lost in the worlds that Katie visits and wish we could visit them too. And maybe some of Katie's lessons and growth can be ours as we adventure with her. At least, that's how it felt to me.
I received a copy of the audiobook from the author and have reviewed it willingly because it was wonderful and needed more wonderful words said about it.
Jacque Stevens does an incredible job writing from the perspective of an unreliable narrator. We can see how Katie's life has been hard but there's also a sense of a different story happening that is constantly inviting and compelling Katie to be a part of it. And so, she gets swept up into another world, where fairies are good and evil, where animals talk, where someone (or someones?) she loves must be rescued, where she learns to see the world differently. It's a beautiful, fantastic, wonderful tale. There are moments that seem to have come straight out of Wonderland, and Katie herself noted that she expected to see a rabbit with a pocket watch running late. Other times feel more like Oz, and it's unclear whether the fairies are the good or bad witches, although instead of compass points, they represent seasons. But regardless, it's easy to get lost in the worlds that Katie visits and wish we could visit them too. And maybe some of Katie's lessons and growth can be ours as we adventure with her. At least, that's how it felt to me.
I received a copy of the audiobook from the author and have reviewed it willingly because it was wonderful and needed more wonderful words said about it.
Read
April 4, 2017have received this ebook in exchange of the honest review.The book is retelling of the well know story of the Snow queen. To be honest I have never read the original story so I did know what to expect but if the original book is as good as this one I need to read it soon. I really enjoy Winter Falls, I think it`s a great story and even better for young people who struggle with something in their lives.
Kate is a young girl who lost her mother when she was a little. She lives and run the hotel with her father who after sometime marries another woman. She is not being very social and not fitting in with her peers. There is one boy who seems to stick around, Shay, his attention is so confusing to her.We follow Katie as she struggle with her life. I felt connected with Katie, most of the time unfortunately I felt sorry for her. In each chapter Kate learns about her own emotions as well as we.
The story is full of unexpected events. It`s entertaining and full of wisdom messages to never give up and to fight for your own happiness.
I reccomend this book to everyone.
Kate is a young girl who lost her mother when she was a little. She lives and run the hotel with her father who after sometime marries another woman. She is not being very social and not fitting in with her peers. There is one boy who seems to stick around, Shay, his attention is so confusing to her.We follow Katie as she struggle with her life. I felt connected with Katie, most of the time unfortunately I felt sorry for her. In each chapter Kate learns about her own emotions as well as we.
The story is full of unexpected events. It`s entertaining and full of wisdom messages to never give up and to fight for your own happiness.
I reccomend this book to everyone.
April 4, 2017
Winter Falls, by Jacque Stevens, is a contemporary retelling of The Snow Queen that will appeal to young adult readers. Its protagonist, Katie, is a young woman who has experienced the loss of her mother. She lives with her father in a hotel, and the hotel holds secrets that lead Katie on a fairytale adventure.Similar to The Snow Queen, a boy (Katie's lifelong friend Shay) is taken to the fairytale world - here called the Four Kingdoms, and Katie must enter the Kingdoms in order to bring him home. A story with both adventure and heart, it is an enjoyable retelling that has a message of perseverance at its core. Katie is a young woman that bravely faces life's battles, is inquisitive, adventurous and caring. Young adult readers will no doubt find some of themselves in her, and be entertained by the fairytale elements in the story.
*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2019
This book is like an onion... no, it doesn't stink, it has lots of layers!
There is so much more to this story and characters as a simple retelling of the Snow Queen fairytale. It starts fairly dark and gloomy, and *trigger warning* with suicidal events.
I loved young Katie, she was so full of life but events in her life changed her and so she becomes a rather unpleasant character. When she ends up in the world of the four kingdoms, a fairy land where every tale seems to be at home, she has to strip away her layers and realize what made her what she is and what she needs to change. And the most important message: never give up! Even when you get set back there is another step to take, another sunrise, another spring coming. But you'll have to fight so it's not going to be eternal winter.
Oh, and like an onion, this story makes you cry!
P.S.: I would have love to see Avery go into the light!
There is so much more to this story and characters as a simple retelling of the Snow Queen fairytale. It starts fairly dark and gloomy, and *trigger warning* with suicidal events.
I loved young Katie, she was so full of life but events in her life changed her and so she becomes a rather unpleasant character. When she ends up in the world of the four kingdoms, a fairy land where every tale seems to be at home, she has to strip away her layers and realize what made her what she is and what she needs to change. And the most important message: never give up! Even when you get set back there is another step to take, another sunrise, another spring coming. But you'll have to fight so it's not going to be eternal winter.
Oh, and like an onion, this story makes you cry!
P.S.: I would have love to see Avery go into the light!
March 24, 2017
What a refreshing and amazing take on the Snow Queen fairy tale. Since she was 7, Katie didn't have time for fairy tales, frivolity, or boys. She had become cynical and bitter, and charged herself with taking care of the family Inn because no one else would. Just as she realizes the boy that loves her is gone and her life had been a lie, she decides she has nothing left to live for, and jumps off the town bridge into freezing waters. Except she passes- into the fairy kingdom of her childhood. Her mission is to restore order, and rescue her love from the Queen of Winter, but along the way she finds things out about herself and humanity. Beautifully written, with amazing insight into the mind of someone dealing with depression, it shows the reader that not all fairy tales have happily ever afters- but some do live as happily as they can.
June 26, 2019
There are two things I love, one is a good love story and the other is a kick-ass heroin saving the day. Kate wasn’t exactly a bad ass but she definitely persevered and learned some “heartwarming” life lessons on her journey. All the characters had a Disney sort of quality to them as well as some real world problems that made them relatable. The story itself it’s very thought out and written impeccably. I appreciated the resolution and the ending was not rushed and forced into a neat bow that didn’t really make much sense. I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
April 6, 2017
This is a retelling of "The Snow Queen." It is a tale of a young girl and her trials and struggles as she grows, matures and finds true love and meaning in a life filled with heartache, loneliness, uncertainty and trials. She learns about true love as she tries to rescue the one person she has always loved but never quiet figured out the depths of that love.
June 6, 2017
This book was a great source of deep thinking and self reflection for me. I related to the characters more than I thought I would. Sometimes we have to experience darkness to acknowledge and enjoy the light.
November 23, 2017
A lovely and sad story that didn't let me go until I finished it. Superb author that has me looking for more books. Received a free copy, but there's no way I wouldn't leave a review. Too beautiful not too.
December 10, 2017
While it was a little slow getting into it, I quite enjoyed this book. I loved the wide range of characters involved. This was the first book by Jacque Stevens that I had read, and I'll definitely be on the look out for more.
November 13, 2017
If you are in the mood for fairies and talking crows
I was in the mood for a fairy tale and this one did rather well. Very cute storyline. I just wanted to hear more about what happened to the fairy land in the end.
I was in the mood for a fairy tale and this one did rather well. Very cute storyline. I just wanted to hear more about what happened to the fairy land in the end.
November 19, 2020
This story took a couple of chapters to rope me in, but once it did it made me think and reflect in a way I wasn’t expecting. I was cheering for characters and even teared up listening to this in my car, happy tears! I recommend this one!
not-for-me
June 1, 2017I've attempted to read this three times and just cannot get into it. I think I was expecting the MC to be older or the story to feel more YA/Adult and it's not coming across that way. Just not for me at this time. DNF.
February 8, 2020
Where real-life meets in a fairy-tale. Jacque Stevens has captured the essence of fairy-tale magic and woven real-life into it. What a magical tale of our need to have light in our lives.
April 3, 2017
I received a free ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
When I first started this book I was bored, I'm gonna be honest it took me about 4 or 5 chapters to really get into this book. But once I did I really enjoyed it and I couldn't put it down. I loved Katie as a character. I loved the world of the fairies and the whole story line with the Ice Queen.
When I first started this book I was bored, I'm gonna be honest it took me about 4 or 5 chapters to really get into this book. But once I did I really enjoyed it and I couldn't put it down. I loved Katie as a character. I loved the world of the fairies and the whole story line with the Ice Queen.
Read
April 3, 2017I have always loved the tale of the snow queen. Ms. Stevens created a wonderful fantasy world using the snow queen tale. Stevens's tale had well-developed main character, but I think that there was a potential for the author to develop her characters of the father and step mother. I have read another story from this author and it was great plot.
December 9, 2020
Wound up really enjoying this one! More than a little influenced by the 2003 Hallmark TV movie, but also has plenty of invention (or cribs from sources I don't know). Well told.
February 18, 2017
Winter Falls is a fairytale retelling of The Snow Queen. Katie, one of the main characters, struggles to care for a father who distances himself from her and his failing hotel. When one day her one true love Shay goes missing, Katie decides to jump off a bridge into a frozen river. What meets her at the end of her fall is not ice but a winter wonderland in which fantastical beings are real and the very Snow Queen has kidnapped Shay.
I love fairytale retellings. The Snow Queen is probably one of the stories I read the least retellings of, so I was looking forward to this book a lot. Add to that a cover to die for and I was already lost before the story even started.
Beneath the surface of a modern fairytale retelling, multiple dark themes are hidden. This story makes subjects like suicide, death, depression, mental illness and other psychological questions approachable. It is clear that the author wrote this to make us understand that there is always light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how dark it may seem. It's one of many reasons why I love this book.
After a full-in-the-action start, things slowed down quite a bit. The reader gets a chance to discover Katie's past through flash-backs. Although they were a bit slow-paced, they were very interesting and I loved to see how Katie became the way she is. Sometimes the storyline confused me. It wasn't always clear what was the past and what was the present and it seemed that both were flowing into each other without a proper break or indication.
And the ending? Despite being cliché, I loved it more than anything. For me, it was a perfect wrap-up for the story.
The general characterisation was ok. Although I feel like only the two or three characters that were featured the most actually benefited from a decent in-depth characterisation. The other people were just cast aside without much explanation.
Katie undergoes a true change on her quest. She starts out by being a know-it-all who distances herself from the rest of the world and evolves into a human being that actually cares about someone else. She realises how selfish she's been in the past and that the world doesn't care a 100% about her. Even though her reasons for commiting suicide were dark, she does come out of it as a better, stronger person.
I love how the author of this book dared to be different. There should be more stories like these out there. The world is not all rainbows and sunshine and that was perfectly captured.
I love fairytale retellings. The Snow Queen is probably one of the stories I read the least retellings of, so I was looking forward to this book a lot. Add to that a cover to die for and I was already lost before the story even started.
Beneath the surface of a modern fairytale retelling, multiple dark themes are hidden. This story makes subjects like suicide, death, depression, mental illness and other psychological questions approachable. It is clear that the author wrote this to make us understand that there is always light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how dark it may seem. It's one of many reasons why I love this book.
After a full-in-the-action start, things slowed down quite a bit. The reader gets a chance to discover Katie's past through flash-backs. Although they were a bit slow-paced, they were very interesting and I loved to see how Katie became the way she is. Sometimes the storyline confused me. It wasn't always clear what was the past and what was the present and it seemed that both were flowing into each other without a proper break or indication.
And the ending? Despite being cliché, I loved it more than anything. For me, it was a perfect wrap-up for the story.
The general characterisation was ok. Although I feel like only the two or three characters that were featured the most actually benefited from a decent in-depth characterisation. The other people were just cast aside without much explanation.
Katie undergoes a true change on her quest. She starts out by being a know-it-all who distances herself from the rest of the world and evolves into a human being that actually cares about someone else. She realises how selfish she's been in the past and that the world doesn't care a 100% about her. Even though her reasons for commiting suicide were dark, she does come out of it as a better, stronger person.
I love how the author of this book dared to be different. There should be more stories like these out there. The world is not all rainbows and sunshine and that was perfectly captured.
April 9, 2017
Winter falls è un retelling de "La regina della neve" di Hans Christian Andersen.
Il tempo in cui è ambientata la storia non è ben specificato (nella trama si legge "in the postindustrial town"), anche se mi ha fatto pensare ai primi del '900, e qualche volta al vecchio West.
Protagonista è Katie, una ragazzina non ben integrata tra i suoi coetanei, che cade in una vera e propria depressione quando scopre che la madre non sta vivendo magnifiche avventure in giro per il mondo, ma si è suicidata anni prima lasciandola orfana. Le cose peggiorano quando l'adorato padre decide di sposarsi. Arrivano poi dei vivaci fratellini; il suo amico Shay le invia messaggi contrastanti riguardo al loro rapporto per poi sparire nel nulla; l'albergo di famiglia in cui ha speso tutta la sua infanzia e adolescenza pare sull'orlo della bancarotta, e la famiglia decisa a cominciare altrove una nuova vita.
L'unica soluzione a cui riesce a pensare Katie è la stessa a cui approdò sua madre anni prima: suicidarsi buttandosi nel lago.
Ma ciò che la ragazza ritrova dall'altra parte non è il paradiso né il nulla assoluto, bensì un mondo parallelo in cui, scoprirà alla fine, potrà scegliere se restare, come tanti altri che hanno perso la loro strada, tornare indietro alla vita o proseguire il cammino verso la morte.
E' proprio in questo mondo che l'autrice riprende la storia originale, in modo anche più armonico, oserei dire.
Nel corso della lettura apprendiamo che quell'universo parallelo era un tempo governato da quattro fate sorelle, ognuna rappresentante una stagione, ma che l'armonia si spezzò quando una di esse, Winter, ovvero la Regina della neve, causò la rottura di uno specchio magico che avrebbero dovuto condividere.
Da allora le quattro sorelle vivono, infelici, in angoli diversi del mondo, alla testa di Quattro infelici Regni, mentre Winter cerca in tutti i modi di riparare lo specchio, a scapito della vita di quei ragazzi dimenticati di cui nessuno si prende cura. Essi, come se fosse un puzzle mortale, tentano di rimettere insieme le schegge che, come nella storia originale, hanno preso possesso anche dei loro cuori e dei loro sentimenti.
Ultima preda della Regina della neve è proprio Shay, che Katie decide di andare a cercare, rinunciando alla tentazione di arrendersi e prendendo finalmente in mano la propria vita.
La ragazza attraversa così i Quattro Regni, incontra le fate e tanti altri personaggi, e durante il viaggio si rende conto di quanto sia importante la sua umanità e la sua individualità, fa chiarezza nei propri sentimenti nei confronti dell'amico e ritrova finalmente un posto in seno alla sua famiglia.
La storia è ben scritta, con una gradevole alternanza tra presente e passato; mi sono piaciuti molto i Quattro Regni, ognuno con le proprie peculiarità e i propri colori, così come le fate, diverse l'una dall'altra e ben caratterizzate.
Ho apprezzato anche i personaggi secondari, soprattutto i ragazzi-corvi.
Così come la fiaba originale, Winter falls è un racconto di crescita, ma anche di più: è un viaggio dentro se stessi alla scoperta della luce che tutti noi possediamo, ma è anche un tortuoso percorso dalle tenebre della depressione al fulgore della vita.
La scelta di parlare della depressione avrebbe potuto essere pericolosa o quantomeno difficile, ma è stata ben gestita, anche se verso la fine Katie appare troppo vittimista (è tutta sua l'idea che il padre non la porterà con sé una volta ceduto l'albergo) e la storia ne esce appesantita. Stesso risultato a cui si giunge per l'eccessiva lunghezza del romanzo, che forse sarebbe risultato più coinvolgente e avvincente se fosse stato più breve.
http://iltesorodicarta.blogspot.it/20...
Il tempo in cui è ambientata la storia non è ben specificato (nella trama si legge "in the postindustrial town"), anche se mi ha fatto pensare ai primi del '900, e qualche volta al vecchio West.
Protagonista è Katie, una ragazzina non ben integrata tra i suoi coetanei, che cade in una vera e propria depressione quando scopre che la madre non sta vivendo magnifiche avventure in giro per il mondo, ma si è suicidata anni prima lasciandola orfana. Le cose peggiorano quando l'adorato padre decide di sposarsi. Arrivano poi dei vivaci fratellini; il suo amico Shay le invia messaggi contrastanti riguardo al loro rapporto per poi sparire nel nulla; l'albergo di famiglia in cui ha speso tutta la sua infanzia e adolescenza pare sull'orlo della bancarotta, e la famiglia decisa a cominciare altrove una nuova vita.
L'unica soluzione a cui riesce a pensare Katie è la stessa a cui approdò sua madre anni prima: suicidarsi buttandosi nel lago.
Ma ciò che la ragazza ritrova dall'altra parte non è il paradiso né il nulla assoluto, bensì un mondo parallelo in cui, scoprirà alla fine, potrà scegliere se restare, come tanti altri che hanno perso la loro strada, tornare indietro alla vita o proseguire il cammino verso la morte.
E' proprio in questo mondo che l'autrice riprende la storia originale, in modo anche più armonico, oserei dire.
Nel corso della lettura apprendiamo che quell'universo parallelo era un tempo governato da quattro fate sorelle, ognuna rappresentante una stagione, ma che l'armonia si spezzò quando una di esse, Winter, ovvero la Regina della neve, causò la rottura di uno specchio magico che avrebbero dovuto condividere.
Da allora le quattro sorelle vivono, infelici, in angoli diversi del mondo, alla testa di Quattro infelici Regni, mentre Winter cerca in tutti i modi di riparare lo specchio, a scapito della vita di quei ragazzi dimenticati di cui nessuno si prende cura. Essi, come se fosse un puzzle mortale, tentano di rimettere insieme le schegge che, come nella storia originale, hanno preso possesso anche dei loro cuori e dei loro sentimenti.
Ultima preda della Regina della neve è proprio Shay, che Katie decide di andare a cercare, rinunciando alla tentazione di arrendersi e prendendo finalmente in mano la propria vita.
La ragazza attraversa così i Quattro Regni, incontra le fate e tanti altri personaggi, e durante il viaggio si rende conto di quanto sia importante la sua umanità e la sua individualità, fa chiarezza nei propri sentimenti nei confronti dell'amico e ritrova finalmente un posto in seno alla sua famiglia.
La storia è ben scritta, con una gradevole alternanza tra presente e passato; mi sono piaciuti molto i Quattro Regni, ognuno con le proprie peculiarità e i propri colori, così come le fate, diverse l'una dall'altra e ben caratterizzate.
Ho apprezzato anche i personaggi secondari, soprattutto i ragazzi-corvi.
Così come la fiaba originale, Winter falls è un racconto di crescita, ma anche di più: è un viaggio dentro se stessi alla scoperta della luce che tutti noi possediamo, ma è anche un tortuoso percorso dalle tenebre della depressione al fulgore della vita.
La scelta di parlare della depressione avrebbe potuto essere pericolosa o quantomeno difficile, ma è stata ben gestita, anche se verso la fine Katie appare troppo vittimista (è tutta sua l'idea che il padre non la porterà con sé una volta ceduto l'albergo) e la storia ne esce appesantita. Stesso risultato a cui si giunge per l'eccessiva lunghezza del romanzo, che forse sarebbe risultato più coinvolgente e avvincente se fosse stato più breve.
http://iltesorodicarta.blogspot.it/20...
March 1, 2017
This was a pretty good book. I can see where the author was coming from. I think we all deal with some sort of depression or funk that is hard to get out of. We self-doubt all the time – that is human nature. But if we don’t push all of that aside, we are missing out on all the love we should be feeling and all the joy and happiness we could be having. Winter is tuff to get through, but when you have someone that can help you see the light, it is much easier. This is the first book I’ve read from the author and I really enjoyed it.
March 2, 2017
Jacque Stevens is a truly amazing author. I have read one of her other novels as well. I absolutely loved both.
This is full of sadness and heartache and adventure and triumph along with the some love and friendship.It takes you to another land where each season is a specific fairy that has very specific powers that Katie has to go talk to and find things from to save her love Shay.
It is a great adventure story. You never know if it is a fairy tale or just her imagination taking over. Quite a twist of ideas and excentricities. I love it.
5 stars
This is full of sadness and heartache and adventure and triumph along with the some love and friendship.It takes you to another land where each season is a specific fairy that has very specific powers that Katie has to go talk to and find things from to save her love Shay.
It is a great adventure story. You never know if it is a fairy tale or just her imagination taking over. Quite a twist of ideas and excentricities. I love it.
5 stars
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