Winterhued

by E.H. Alger

In a land on the edge of all that is known dwells Princess Winterhued,

erudite, beautiful, broken-hearted. The heir to her father's kingdom and raised to be queen, she is troubled by terrifying dreams and now finds the half-demented king turning against her. Slimy sycophants whisper in his ear, persuading him that a 'mere woman' is incapable of ruling, and now he ogles the princess's ladies-in-waiting and boasts of begetting a male heir.

But Winterhued's fears become as naught when a vast and ancient being comes flying on dread wings to lay siege to Castle Lawhill. Trailing fear and slaughter, it traps Winterhued and her people within the broken walls. The princess strives to save her subjects, but it seems the only one courageous enough to help her is the lowliest servant-boy in the castle.

Yet from the east, riding across wraith-haunted Iron Crag, comes a nameless knight, exiled and condemned... and a horned creature follows him, silent as moonlight.

 

Genres: Fantasy

458 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2019

Reviews

[Caroline Noe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bereft of her one true love, Princess Winterhued struggles to mitigate the harsh and prejudiced laws of her father in the ancient land of Manydown. But waiting in the shadows is the saving grace of a magical being and the savage terror of a dying dragon.
Winterhued has the feeling of a book written in centuries past, but imbued with modern sensibility. Slow moving, drenched in literary language and layer upon layer of character, I found it difficult to get into, at first. By half way, immersion in the narrative had caught hold and made me care deeply for the fate of this world.
Beautifully written and wonderfully conceived as a fairytale of old, Winterhued is a rare novel indeed.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exquisitely beautiful fairytale of old.

Elegant prose, intricate and layered, impressive worldbuilding and superb writing as a whole. As well as the perfect tale to match. One as old as time and yet, somehow, just as fresh and original as the newer modern tales.
A princess, erudite, beautiful, broken-hearted, troubled by terrifying dreams and with a half-demented king turning against her, struggles to save her subjects, but it seems the only one courageous enough to help her is the lowliest servant-boy in the castle.

Yet from the east, riding across wraith-haunted Iron Crag, comes a nameless knight, exiled and condemned... and a horned creature follows him, silent as moonlight.

Honest to goodness, Winterhued is one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read!
It does take a bit to get used to the rhythm and flow but once that settles into place, you're bound to root for characters as well as care about what happens to the world.

If you love historical romance with a strong female lead and great diplomatic intrigue, complete with a brave knight and magical creatures, you have got to read Winterhued.

It is slower paced and doesn't have quite that much action, but the intrigue, humor and characters themselves more than make up for it.

Superb worldbuilding, a fabulous medieval setting so vividly described that it practically leaps from the pages, wonderfully fleshed out characters and a downright magical story.
You'll find all this within Winterhued's pages. All this and much more!

It is practically a work of art, unique, magical and enthralling.

[Julia Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

To merely say I liked this book would be doing it a great disservice and words are inadequate to describe just how ridiculously happy this book made me. Set in a mythical medieval world, it tells the story of the Princess Winterhued. Heir to her father's throne, her wisdom and kindness is immediately evident as she attempts to soften the blows of his boorish, selfish and ineffective reign, whilst all the time her own heart is softly breaking over the decade long separation from her one true love.

I did struggle for a few pages with the language of the book, but then it clicked into place and I was off on a wonderful quest where knights are bold and courageous - well, some of them are; the peasants are stupid and uneducated - well, some of them are; and the damsels are in constant need of rescuing - well, some of them do.

I loved this book so much as I saw the page count dwindling at the bottom of the screen I tried to slow myself down, to savour it, and not consume it too quickly. But, it was no use, I had to gallop through the pages like the hapless squire Nal, groaning when it came to a close with an ending that enchanted and satisfied.

This novel reminded me of so many other books I have loved over the years. In my mind, the author had drawn heavily on the Arthurian legends as told in Tennyson's Mort D'Arthur, yet I also tasted an essence of the masterpiece Gormenghast within its pages, and even a seasoning of The Princess Bride.

The writing is superb, and there is a marvellous sense of fun about the whole piece, in that you really feel the author loved the tale she was telling and the characters she had created. Generous with their personalities, even the minor characters had quirks and foibles, strengths and weaknesses and the strength of the cast as a whole added to the richness of the tapestry until it created a shimmering picture of a world and a castle and a beautiful princess and a courageous knight.

It may sound like a cliche, this tale of knights and dragons, headstrong princesses and petulant and spoilt kings, but the author has given this tale as old as time a makeover, bringing a freshness and originality to what is fundamentally a retelling of all those fairy tales I loved as a child.

There are touches of humour throughout which put a spring in its step and lighten even the darkest moments, and there are plenty of those, yet always the reader retains their hope and belief that it will all work out in the end and there will be a happy ever after.

Truly astonishing, I urge you to read this book and be absorbed into the beautiful and engrossing world the author has created. I am unsure if the author has written any other books. I hope so and would love to read more of this unique and talented writer.

I wish I could give more than five stars, but as I can't I will just add that books like this don't come along very often so I highly recommend you give this one a chance.

[C D-T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. E H Alger has a gift for creating a rich and evocative fantasy world that enchants the reader. Her style is lyrical and gives a sense of authenticity. She clearly knows a lot about medieval times, and this shows in her work. This gentle, magical story about a spirited princess is sprinkled with adventure, humour, and of course romance. Captivating!

[ThatReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book that left you thinking the author must surely have had you in mind when they penned it down? That is how I felt throughout reading Winterhued. Of cours E.H.Alger did not have me in mind, my person exactly, but I am sure she had a reader like me in her heart when she wrote this novel. For what can I say about this that does not sound trite? It is a wonder of a book, in every sense. From start to finish, this book is a marvel, a pleasure, an overload of aesthetic bounty, be it in the gorgeous illustrations or the weaving of the words. It is a book made to cherish, not only for the story alone. As for that, I was almost in tears at the refreshing sense it afforded me, so different from the books written nowadays, forcing me into a pace unlike what this fast-food, fast-read, fast-living society has forced us into. This book was like a lost part of the Mabinogion found its way into my hands, and there I was, inside the kind of world that has populated most of my imagination from a young age, lost amidst tales of princesses - oh so contrary to those of the old tales! - noble knights - and very noble indeed he was! - terrifying dragons and awe-inspiring unicorns. And I was happy there.
The story it tells is not new, but neither is it familiar and clichéed, it is not what we've been accustomed to find in works of this kind. For amidst the language used in the narrative (rich, intense, grandiose, that will force you to be in the moment as you read and savour it) that made me feel as if I was back in university studying some long-forgotten medieval tome, the issues discussed within its prose were those of modern day worries and battles. From women's rights to ambiental strife, from chauvinistic, violent prone views to petty envy, from racism to castes, we can find it all. And it will make you ponder and think, and you won't even notice. You'll detest certain characters and perhaps not quite know why, and you will root for others though they may seem undeserving. You will be taken on a journey that is quite magical, and you'll come out a better, richer person for it. At least I did. This is a book for you to slow down and enjoy at leisure, not something to consume hurriedly. This is a book that will stay with me and has instantly climbed to the top five of my favourite reads this year.

[Shelley Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully written and fanciful read that carried me away with every page. Written in an almost leisurely pace, it weaves a vivid tapestry of a castle beset by a dragon and the survivors huddled within. This was the story of Princess Winterhued, a beautiful and kind princess who not only has to deal with a dragon but is also troubled by the addled machinations of her father and the courtiers who follow his lead. But the princess was not the only character to stand out. There were a whole cast of secondary characters who played their part in the quest to rid Castle Lawhill of the dragon that plagued it.
While I did like Winterhued, it was the story of Ancaios that I enjoyed the most. Despised by almost everyone, he remained true to himself and found the bravery to do what the courtiers and knights had found impossible, face the dragon. As his bravery is revealed, he becomes one of the most important characters in the story, even though he does not realise how momentous his actions will come to be. I also enjoyed the sections with the knight as he traversed the land, greeting everyone with courtesy and good cheer, behaviour that is sorely lacking in most of those he meets of noble birth.
It was wonderful to read about such courtly and decent characters, to watch as they dealt with those who look down on them because of their supposedly inferior lineage. There were characters that were designed to be disliked and I cringed at some of their scenes and waited for them to receive their comeuppance. In all, I felt this was a story of hope, of doing the right thing and remaining true to oneself. Set in a medieval world, it is written in an old world style that enhances the fairy tale feel and left me with a smile on my face as I turned the last page. I must admit, I was not ready to leave this world behind and wouldn’t mind reading more about the characters I had come to like so much.

[Ellen Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

E.H. Alger writes a tale of old, with a strong and beautiful princess, raised to be queen and heir to her father’s throne. Yet she is troubled by dark dreams. Then she finds that her father is turning against her. Her heart is also aching for her true love. All of that makes for a wonderful story.

Set in a fantasy medieval world, the language of the book sets the tone. I love beautiful prose, and this is exquisitely evocative, however I struggled in the beginning until I eased into it. It was well-worth the effort.

If you like Arthurian legends with a beautiful princess, knights and dragons, you’ll love this book.

The cover is gorgeous too.

[Vicki Antipodean Bookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Winterhued is the true power behind the throne of the Kingdom of Manydown ; balancing ledgers, handling disputes and diplomatic relations in spite of her liability of a father and his sycophantic courtiers. With a courtly romance and a knight errant at the heart of this tale, one of its true joys for me was not only the brave and compassionate Princess, but also Winterhued’s animal characters who are beautifully written. The language reflects the medieval setting of the story that combines elements of historical fiction and fantasy.

[Grimmsnaught · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winterhued⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2 (A Fairytale You Don’t Want to Miss!)
Read full review at: https://grimmsnaughtblog.home.blog/

Story:
We begin in one of Princess Winterhued’s nightmare of cold, bones and grief. And then she wakes up one morning that’s like many others in Castle Lawhill. We don’t get thrown into the plot from the first page, we are slowly introduced to it by meeting and thus knowing different people through their conversations and feelings. From The Princess and The King down to the lowliest servant. And during this first part there is a sent of doom hanging in the air. And when the night comes their world changes.

Everything that takes place in the story after will happen in a very short amount of time, just around half a week. Which means the book is quite slow in tempo, but surprisingly eventful. Not in the *cough* dumb way an action movie is eventful with explosions and mindless violence. But by being packed to the limit with intrigue, tension and thousands of small actions that can make or break a kingdom. The butterfly effect has come to mind a lot while I was reading this book. Every cough or dropped shoe can be important and have huge affects over time.

Writing:
The third person narration and archaic linguistic the characters speak in added an old fairytale feel to the story. And the way it flowed from character to character was i bit different than the format we are most used to. Instead of focusing on one character for a chapter or changing location when another thread/person was to be explored, it could just flow in a different direction like a gust wind. Example; You’re following a person with a group of friends, and when they split up you just follow someone else to see what they are up to instead of the one you’ve been focusing on.
It also has a touch of horror in it. Slowly paced, creeping dread, dark places and an abundance of fear. But the tension is always lessened with excellent banter and subtle humour which turns the feel of the book to a happier note.

Characters:
The characters are what you would find in many fairytales. A bitter lady in waiting, greedy and proud lords, brave and true servants, pure maidens etc. They may be a bit stereotypical, but unlike classical fairytales we get more monologue and thoughts from them to add more depth to the story. And they are really entertaining. There’s so much banter, misguided actions and useless conflict because someones pride was hurt. Imagine this, in a room of 4 we can usually find 1 humble smart person, 1 silent observer and 2 loudmouth idiots.


Conclusion:
I loved it! Even with all the terror and unfairness in the characters treatment of each other, it is a fun and happy book. This is not an easy read you can rush trough but have to pay attention at every turn to see how artfully everything knits together at the end. It takes a while to get into this unique style of writing. But fear not, you do get into it and the experience is worth every moment.
4,5 stars! This is a wonderful fairytale with both old and new elements woven together beautifully.

[Old Bodger · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife read this book and loved it, so I decided I'd give it a go...and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it too. The first thing I liked was the solidity of the world that the author has created. It is superbly crafted, and everything in it makes sense. I also liked the down to earth characters and the way they were developed. The storyline was easy to follow and kept me wanting more. I notice that some readers have found the old fashioned speech a little strange or even difficult but anyone who's read any history or even the King James Bible (not that I have lol) should be able to pick it up really easily. I felt it just fitted in perfectly with the whole story and environment. I found it must easier to digest than some supposedly medieval fantasy novels where words like "okay" and "yeah" are standard! Everything about this book is engaging; all of the separate storylines that merge at the end, the descriptions of the different ways in which they lived, the real "humanness" of the characters... it's just great and I can't recommend it highly enough!

[Sherry Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

E. H. Alger’s writing is beautiful. It is lush, rich, entrancing. It’s so beautiful that I think it almost doesn’t matter what she’s saying. Well that’s absurd! But whatever she is saying, describing, observing; it’s like a magic potion that I want to drink. It is addictive to me. I fell in love with her words, a unique voice which she perfectly matched to this medieval tale. Of course it matters what she writes; and there is so much to what she says. But I just needed to somehow get across how much I enjoyed and luxuriated in her writing. Alger has a gift and she has also mastered the craft of writing. Since she has both; she is a master writer. I admire her greatly.
The story takes place in medieval times, but it is told with the insights of a modern sensibility. Her writing style deliberately compliments the medieval era, adding to the mood of antiquity, but the insights are universal and relevant. The tale, as expected, is filled with royalty, ladies-in-waiting and knights, but it is also one filled with sorrows, social injustices, and moments of true horror, political subversions, loss, racial prejudices and female subjugation. It is a story set clearly against any kind of subjugation, towards men, women or race. There is even a clear theme on the horror of cruelty to animals. It portrays the sleazy machinations of sycophants and “politicians” jousting for power. There is evil to be confronted, a horrifying dragon and a princess who is beset upon by a male world who wants to prevent her ascendancy to the throne, including her own father, the king. There is of course love.
Princess Winterhued is a fine protagonist; strong, intelligent, a bit of a temper, but compassionate, kindly and sensitive to those whose lives are burdened by poverty and prejudice. But I felt a great affection for many lesser characters such as Ulidia, her aging senior lady-in-waiting, the young scullery maid Eudora and Winterhued’s young cousin Brenn. And I had a fondness for Thistle the cat and of course the magnificent unicorn. I will also add that this story has plenty of humor and wit to keep it balanced and grounded. It was a delight for me to read.

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review and other bookish content can be found on my website www.readingsumpton.com
3.5 stars

Unicrons, dragons, a beautiful Princess and a brave Knight! This truly was a fairytale. 

Wow, ok! So this is not the kind of book I would normally pick up! I am really grateful that I get to do what I do, because I get to be introduced to some really wonderful new books! Winterhued is no exception, I really did grow to enjoy this book.

Winterhued is a tale filled with incredible and allusive mythical creatures, a daring, exiled knight and the beautiful, headstrong, raven haired Princess with whom his heart belongs. Within the Kingdom of Manydown, Princess Winterhued fights to protect her people as a terrible ancient being lays siege to Castle Lawhill.

This book took me a while to get into, which I believe is mostly to do with the way it's written! The author is very clearly an incredible writer who has an extensive knowledge of medieval practices and language! At first, the language seemed to create these strange "road blocks" in my mind and I found myself reading very slowly to try and understand what was happening. However, as I made my way through the book, my brain started to learn how to understand the language and I actually grew to appreciate the lyrical and authentic writing style.

In terms of the plot and pacing, this was the definition of "slow burn" and highly character focused. This happens to be something I really like reading, so it was enjoyable for me. I did find there were times I struggled to get through some of the more heavily descriptive content, but I believe it all served a purpose and was a great way to immerse the reader within the Kingdom of Manydown. 

The story and characters are what gripped me most. E.H Alger has a brilliant knack for giving each of her characters their very own voice. It was fantastic! Their individual personalities felt so real that often times, it felt as though I was watching these characters interact in a film rather than reading it. There were several times throughout reading that I found myself laughing out loud at the witty banter! I am also a total sucker for a bit of romance, so this beautiful, slow burn, love-of-the-ages type story was right up my alley.

Overall I grew to really enjoy Winterhued. I did struggle occasionally to get through the almost leisurely pace of the story and I understand that this read may not be for everyone. But for me, the strong female characters, the creative and fun character interactions and the vivid storytelling the author produced completely outweighed this. Because of this, I am giving Winterhued 3.5 stars!

I would also like to thank the author for sending me a copy of Winterhued in exchanged for an honest review.

[Pegboard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winterhued enters a world of kings, princesses, knights, and dragons. E.H. Alger writes about proud Castle Lawhill built on the edge of a lake which seems ideal until it cuts the residents off from the world by a dragon. King Ger and his daughter Princess Winterhued endured the initial attack but their kingdom direly needs help. There is a word of a brave knight who can defeat this mystical creature, but his whereabouts is one problem, getting off the man-made island to find him is the other problem. During the darkest of trials, the brave are revealed, and it forges true friendships. The princess has been true to her only love but despairs when her father promises her hand to the man who kills the beast that has hindered his frolicking lifestyle.
 
I loved the interaction between the characters written by E.H. Alger. Winterhued is magical as unicorns and dragons appear in a world that has all but forgotten these creatures unless telling tales to their children. Heroes, forbidden love, and the right to rule a kingdom creates a fairy tale of hope. Different characters relate the events as they expound on their experiences with the dragon. The author writes with a poetic beauty and draws the read to the climax of the ending. There is enough mystery with the plot to keep the reader surprised at its twists. Well written, this fiction is fascinating and woven with trust, despair, hope, spite, anger, and hope. E.H. Alger has found her niche and does the medieval genre credit. I would willingly read any work from this author, knowing I would enjoy it.

Written by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite.

[Erin With the Classics · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. What a lovely fairy tale this was! And it is indeed a fairy tale, featuring princesses who are beautiful and good, knights who are brave and kind and loyal, fierce dragons, wicked (almost) stepmothers. I loved the author's choice to use a more archaic style in writing this. It's a daring choice, because badly done its just awful; fortunately, this was excellent and lent to the fairy-tale tone of the story.
I did feel like the story lagged a little in the early middle, after the problem of the dragon appears, but that's only because I couldn't yet see how it all fit together, and it did fit together in the end. This is the kind of story best read casually during long the winter nights, savoring, not gulping.
And did I mention there's a unicorn?
If you are looking for a fantasy story that's full of loveliness and moonlight, this is the book for you.

[Elise McCune · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winterhued by E H Alger is a tale in an epic tradition stretching back in the midst of time. Written in beautiful lyrical prose E H Alger has succeeded in creating a world of rare beauty. Princess Winterhued, daughter of King Gers of Castle Lewhill, first and foremost, is a strong woman but she is also kind and it is against a background of dark dreams that her story is told. The storyline is one that will hold a reader’s attention until the very end. No book I have read recently has given me greater joy than Winterhued.

[Carolyn Handley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to read this book pre-publication, and I absolutely love it. To me, it has all the elements that are needed to make it a rich and rewarding experience. I particularly love the character development. The players are all so relatable. They feel so real, you feel as if you're watching a movie. The author is extremely adept, in the way she uses the language, in drawing you in to these characters' lives. The intricate sections of the story, which at first seem unrelated, start to develop and as you slowly realise that all the paths are going to converge at the conclusion, the tension and excitement builds continuously and you are gasping for more. Reading this was an amazingly satisfying experience. The author has the gift of making Manydown and its inhabitants feel so amazingly REAL. Alger is a fantastic storyteller, weaving just enough magic through the tale to totally enchant the reader. I particularly love the beautiful artwork in the chapter headings and the map, and the gorgeous cover art. I cannot recommend this deep, wonderful, satisfying book highly enough!

[Sydney Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a classic story of old, as if written in a time when there was none of today’s distractions. It is lavish and detailed, intended to immerse the reader, unrushed, through a tale that is familiar but cherished for its enduring themes. In that way, it is very unlike most books written today where action and dialogue take place at lightning speed, or the writer tries to introduce something that’s never been done before. As for the story itself, while it is distinctly its own, I was at times reminded of The Princess Bride, LOTR, and a number of other timeless favorites. Like a few other readers, I will admit to having trouble at first with the writing style, but once I acclimated to it, I soon found my stride. As for the pace, I will confess I found some parts a bit too detailed—not that it was overly flowery, but in the amount of attention paid to minor characters—which slowed down my reading some. As a whole, though, I found the story beautiful in a way that would move the soul of any romantic idealist.

If you enjoy tales of knights and princesses, dragons and unicorns, this story is one you’ll enjoy and is safe for all ages.

[Judy Worrall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the Medieval Kingdom of Manydown this is a wonderful fairy-tale of the sad, but beautiful Princess Winterhued concerned for her subjects’ safety when the castle and surrounding town is besieged by a fire-breathing dragon. The inhabitants of the castle deal with the disaster in their own ways but only one – a lowly servant – has the courage to help the Princess defeat the dragon. Elsewhere in Manydown is a lonely, exiled knight followed by a horned creature. A host of other characters fill the pages – some good, some not – it was a delight to smile at good deeds and rejoice when the villains met their comeuppance.

[Nataša Xerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a treasure this book was to read. I love this style of writing and Alger does it so exquisitely! It does take some getting used to but before long, you'll find yourself immersed in a word of dragons and knights, princesses and unicorns with vivid descriptions that leave you utterly breathless and blown away.
A beautiful book and one I know I'll re-read again and again.

[Linda Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winterhued is not a fairytale; it is a legend. A beautiful epic legend with passionate prose and courageous characters that will most certainly withstand the test of time. Alger brings to life an intriguing cast of characters and picturesque medieval life blended with enough magic and romance to leave a touch of wistfulness. Although Winterhued is set in a medieval time, it touches upon thoughts of a more modern era which does feel a bit out of place; but then, Winterhued is not your typical princess. The story opens with foreboding hints of things amidst and what’s to come for those within the walls of Castle Lawhill. The prologue sucked me in. I knew this would not be a fast read so I settled in and began my journey into Manydown and the world inside the Castle.

A strong, wise, kind and beautiful princess. A humble and brave knight whose armor does not shine. A boy who would be a squire. A mystical unicorn with a mission. A love story or two. An evil king. A fearsome dragon filled with fire and a hunger for destruction of all in its path. What else could I possibly want?

The archaic prose is so melodic that I could hear it. Perhaps, that’s because I found myself reading aloud for a few pages til my brain could process the old English. The language captured the sound, rhythm and cadence of the story, “the first light of dawn came creeping into the sky, dimming the moon and slowly snuffing out the stars.” My heart melted as I read.

Winterhued is not a fast read not only because of the prose; but because there are several story lines that are intertwining. Every court is filled with back room drama, maneuvering and intrigue. The Court of Castle Lawhill is no different as it became evident that young Winterhued had also mastered these skills.

I needed to read when I had at least an hour to give because the story is so layered and rich. The characters are many, those I loved and those I didn’t; but all of them stood out in some way. Lady Ulidia is wise and gruff, Eudora is beginning to realize what is important, Ancaios is the lowest of the low; but knows so much, Lady Benicia only wants true love and her younger sister, Lady Manicia is ambitious and conniving. The story flow runs the full gambit as well. The dragon scenes had me gripping the book and biting my lip at the same time. There was a sense of horror and eeriness that sent a shiver right through me. I could smell the smoke and feel the terror. I felt the urgency and loneliness of the Knight on the road making his way back home to fulfill a destiny.

For me, Winterhued is up there with JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. A slow build, lots of characters and prose that just lends itself to a tale of epic proportions…drawing you into the castle, running through the corridors, secret tunnels and following the nameless Unicorn Knight into the burning country side in search of a dragon…

[Elexis Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivid description
4.5 out of 5 stars (It won't let me do the half star so I rounded up.)

Love royal romance? Love historical romance? Crave interpersonal drama?
This book is for you.

Winterhued is a fantastic story about star-crossed lovers reuniting after a long absence. It's also a rather unique take on a common trope.
It shows a great deal of the inner workings of a castle...that just so happens to also be under attack by a mythical beast.

The roles of the characters are clear, and the main characters' personalities are well defined.
The amount of research that must have gone into this story is mind boggling. It's PACKED with description and staggering historical accuracy, despite taking place in a fictional world.

This book BEGS to be read in an old English accent. The voice and style of the book was amazingly consistent, and the editing/proofreading was phenomenal. I normally pick up on inconsistencies and grammar/spelling fumbles pretty easily while reading, and I didn't notice one until about 400 pages in.

Now, there are two things that I didn't like about the book.

First, I found myself craving more action. A few of the scenes, had they been written from a different perspective, would have been more fast-paced, and I found myself longing for it. But not everyone craves action scenes in their books as much as I do, so that's purely personal preference.

Second, the cast was enormous, and occasionally hard to keep track of. So many perspectives were shown (which ties back into the first thing, so it might just be one thing I disliked) that it distracted a bit from the main story at times.

Now, to be fair, it was all tied together rather nicely at the end, despite the large cast.There were just a couple characters who, I felt, could have been left on the sidelines without hurting the book.

All in all, I would recommend this book to fans of historical romance and royal drama/romance.

[Emily Portman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Winterhued is a very unique book with language/tone of voice to match. For people who are interested in this era, I think this book will really blow them away. I appreciate the story behind the words and I really liked Princess Winterhued's character.
I’ll be honest, I found this book pretty difficult to get in to, but I strongly believe it’s because of the language used. I genuinely think it’s a clever way of writing and I think E. H. Alger has done a really impressive job!
I wrote a more in-depth review over on my blog: https://aquintillionwords.com/2019/04...

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I so wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't. It was a sweet little story, but it was far too long with not enough tension or forward momentum. Way too long.