A hauntingly beautiful fairy tale about love and loss, this Echo North companion novel is perfect for fans of the Winternight Trilogy.
In the dark, cold reaches of the north lives a storyteller and his daughter. He told his daughter, Satu, many stories--romances like the girl who loved a star and changed herself into a nightingale so she could always see him shining--but the most important story he told her was his own. This storyteller was once the formidable North Wind, but he lost his power by trading it away in exchange for mortality--he loved her mother too much to live without her. The loss of his magic impacted more than just their family, however, and now the world is unraveling in the wake of this imbalance.
To save the North, Satu embarks on a perilous journey to reclaim her father's magic, but she isn't the only one searching for it. In the snow-laden mountains, she finds herself in a deadly race with the Winter Lord who wants the North Wind's destructive powers for himself.
Satu has the chance to be the heroine of her own fairy tale, only this one has an ending she never could have imagined.
Joanna Ruth Meyer is the author of five YA fantasies, including the critically acclaimed ECHO NORTH. She lives in Mesa, AZ, with her husband, son, two orange cats, and a giant grand piano named Prince Imrahil. She loves forests and rainstorms and stories that make her feel things, and in all likelihood, she’s drinking tea right now.
this is a nice companion novel. it does exactly what its supposed to do - expand the world set up in the first book, briefly revisit some old characters, and further build upon that foundation while introducing a new plot and story.
the thing that threw me off what how middle grade the entire story and characters feel. its very juvenile and the MC never seems older than a young kid. which wasnt what i was expecting. ‘echo north’ is dark and eerie and very much the opposite of this installment. so some personal disappointment there that this didnt have the same tone and maturity.
but overall, this was fine. i think if you are a hardcore winter fairytale fan, then this book will be one you wont want to miss out on.
I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
- a companion novel to MY LOVE Echo North <333 - Satu, the daughter of the former North Wind - a deadly race with the Winter Lord
*also I'm purely speculating here, but there's no mention of a love interest in this announcement like hers normally do ... so WHAT IF it's enemies-to-lovers with the Winter Lord? How EPIC would that be!?!?!? ;)
It's better than Echo North, but curiously too juvenile in tone. It's a single POV narration in present tense, which I don't like, and starts with Satu as a child and ends up with her assuming the mantle of the North Wind, but it reads as if she never grew up because her voice is childish all the way through to the very end. Which is very weird, she ages, but her mind stays frozen in childhood.
The story of her parents was more adventurous, but not so much Satu's. Her relationship with the Winter Lord is so episodic, so hide and seek, but then not long before the ending, there's suddenly love. So second hit against the book, insta-love, happens and any possibility of enjoying this became more difficult. In the end, I recognise it's an improvement on the first book, but the characters weren't appealing, nor was the romance or the writing style here.
This book was amazing. Just like Echo North, it left me in awe with a mixture of joy, longing, grief, and closure. A very bittersweet book in the best of ways, my favorite kinds honestly.
I loved Satu. It was so great getting to see her story unfold, traveling with her to stop the Unraveling of the world. What a sweet and overly-empathetic soul, and as someone who struggles with being overly-empathetic myself, I felt like I could relate a lot with her. It was a comfort to be seen 💛
And the love interest was great, too! (I won’t say his name because of secrets 👀) I wasn’t sure what was going on at first, but in the end all was made clear. And I was SO happy I got the ending I was hoping for!
I was also thrilled to see Hal and Echo again! I love them so much.
Truly, Joanna is a master story weaver with deep themes and beautiful imagery. I loved the bees, too 🥹
Content: A couple of mild swears: (h*ll and d*mn) Wholesome romance Super intricate storyline that is easy to follow! Good overcoming evil
Thanks to NetGalley & Page Street YA for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
4.5 stars
I didn't think it would be possible, but Wind Daughter is even better than Echo North. The connection I was missing to Echo and Hal was incredibly present with Satu. Even when I was screaming at her not to trust the wrong people, to see what was right in front of her, I was right there with her, full engrossed in every step of the adventure. Satu's anxiety, fear of loss, and extreme isolation were so realistic and relatable. When you add in the magic tying all of this together, I could not have asked for more.
"I sew and I sew and I sew, weaving myself into the tapestry of the universe, lending pieces of my heart, my soul, my self. I am a river and a song. I am a tender spring leaf and a story spun out on a winter's night; I am the first blush of autumn, the last summer flower."
I found Wind Daughter to be so wonderfully weird and magical, with the right amount of darkness and intensity to keep you hooked and invested. Satu has an insane task ahead of her, but she has no choice but to try; the world is literally falling to pieces. This is an epic adventure with an ultimate goal that often feels impossible to achieve without significant loss. I love that the characters from Echo North play an important role but don't take over - this is Satu's story, and the balance here is perfection.
"'Take it away,' I gasp. 'Take it all away. Please. I know you can.' 'Take what away, daughter?' I bunch infinite fabric in trembling hands and prick myself with the needle. A spot of blood stains the threads; they shiver over my knees. 'All of my feelings,' I choke out. 'They are too many. I cannot hold them all. They're destroying me.' 'Are they?' says the Weaver. 'Who would you be, Satu North, without your great heart?' And I bow my head because I do not know, do not know."
I started this series because I received this eARC, but now I wish there was more coming. I'm not really sure what Meyer would write about next, but I'm definitely on board for a companion novel to this companion novel.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
The Good: It's rare that I read a book written by someone other than myself that makes me feel seen. Satu...is literally me. (Aside that the North Wind isn't my dad lol). Her struggles are mine too, and I found myself tearing up (and then crying at the end) many times at the kind words people give her. If you're a sensitive soul/empath who's easily overwhelmed, this book is for us. Our sensitivity is a gift.
As for the actual story...I think this is the fastest I've read a Joanna Ruth Meyer book. Literally. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. It was so good!! I loved Satu's journey, loved getting to see more of the Echo North story, and loved the bittersweet ending. (Which is...I think, Meyer's trademark, and I love it as much as I hate it because of the way it makes me feel lol). This book is also very, very sad, but I loved the message of hope still woven throughout.
The Bad: I literally can't say much because spoilers...but... T_T
The plot did feel rather similar to a lot of Meyer's other books, and definitely carries a strong mythological tone, but I still enjoyed it. My mind exploded a bit just trying to understand the concept of Time, but as confusing and NOT MAKING SENSE as it is, it also made sense. Which makes no sense when I try to explain it. You just have to read it, and then you'll know what I mean.
What the Reader Thought: Well, if my gushing above wasn't enough...this book has my heart. While Beneath the Haunting Sea remains my favorite still, this book definitely comes close in second place. The story was so good, so heart-felt, and definitely one I want to read and reread and also ANNOTATE because there are so many good quotes that I want to remember. Also, the cover is flipping gorgeous, and if you have the hardcover, the white with gold spine is *chef's kiss*. I...love this book and will be thinking about it for a long time.
Thank you, Meyer, for this lovely tale. And thank you for writing about sensitive souls and making us feel seen, and above all...loved.
- Fairytale vibes! - Highly Sensitive Protagonist whose capacity for feeling is her strength! - Villain romance! - Timey wimey stuff that makes sense of everything, actually! - Little tiny HEARTLESS WOOD reference!
I've enjoyed all the Joanna Ruth Meyer books I've read but in my opinion they keep getting steadily better. This was darling and I look forward to seeing what Joanna writes next!
Thank you Netgalley and Page Street YA for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Joanna Ruth Meyer is a master. The way she weaves her stories is unlike anything else I've ever read. She sets everything up so perfectly, and her writing style is BEAUTIFUL. I will say I liked Echo North more than this one, I think Satu's set up portion of the story was not as unique as I was hoping. Meyer writes her books in three parts, the background, the setup, and then the otherworldly magic finale. This set up works, but I found myself impatient through the first two parts of the book just waiting to get the third part. I was frustrated with Satu through a good part of the book, but the fact that I felt so strongly, even a negative emotion, is a point in the author's favor. Once I got to the third part, I could not put this book down. It was everything I was waiting for an more! The writing, the storytelling is flawlessly beautiful. A masterpiece above all. Absolutely incredible.
I lost so much sleep to finish Wind Daughter and my migraine from it is 100% worth it. Zero regrets!
"We're all stories. Every one of us. That doesn't mean we're not real."
One of the best feelings in the world is falling in love with a book just in time for the sequel to be announced. That was my experience with Echo North earlier this year, and instantly Wind Daughter was one of my most highly anticipated reads. It did not disappoint. It's no secret that I'm obsessed with Frozen 2, and this gave me all the good Elsa vibes that I love.
Woven like a beautiful tapestry, a tale of wind, snow, time, and magic, Satu's story swept me away from the beginning. It truly does read like a fairytale, with lyrical prose and magic that isn't quite explained. Mysteries, friendship, family, romance, and a heroine that you can't help but root for. It's not going to be for everyone but oh, it was magical for me. (I cried a lot at the end and honestly, not ashamed of it.)
I still think I prefer the first book, but I can't wait to read them both again in the winter season, when I can fully pretend there's snow outside, haha! Meyer stands a great chance of becoming one of my favorite authors. Five stars for sure.
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
Such lovely prose! I could reach Meyer's work purely for its beautiful language, but I also love how she does retellings. They seem new and fresh while also archaic and rich at the same time.
Minor spoilers from the first book. It is preferable to read the first book
I enjoyed very much Echo North the first book of this series, inspired by "East of the Sun and West of the Moon". A part of that story was the appearance of the North wind who had helped Echo in her quest.
This companion novel follows Satu the daughter of the North wind, and her adventures after the events of the first book. Shy by nature she enjoys her life with her parents, filled with their stories of how her father who used to be immortal fell in love with her mother and the price. But when feral magic begins destroying the very fabric of the universe, Satu will come to the sudden realization that she will need far more than courage to save not only her family but the universe itself.
Armed with her parents' stories and followed by the Winter Lord, a past ally of the Wolf Queen, she will soon discover that magic comes at a grave price.
There are no words to describe the beauty of this book. Joanna Ruth did it again weaving a magical story filled with emotion, self discovery, and true love. I cried by the end of the book when I realized what had truly happened and what Satu had to go through. This book was one of these reads that even after putting down it stays with you and it was worth every tear I shed.
Joanna Ruth Meyer's writing is so dreamy and definitely fitting of a fairytale. I enjoyed being back in the same world as Echo North, and Wind Daughter felt very much like a sequel rather than a companion novel. We get to see the main characters from Echo North and see Satu finish what they started. I would definitely recommend reading Echo North first.
I will say that I appreciated seeing a sensitive character rep in Satu, but it made her voice feel extremely young. I felt like I was reading a middle grade fantasy rather than YA (Satu seemed much younger than seventeen). And I thought this book was extremely predictable. The romance was also underdeveloped with the main characters being enemies most of the book and insta-love towards the end. It just didn't work for me.
Overall, I liked it because it continued on the magic and lore of Echo North and we got to see Echo and Hal living their lives after. I liked the pacing of the book and the magic. But a lot of things fell short for me with the characters and romance. I think this might be my last Joanna Ruth Meyer book. While I like her writing style, her recent books haven't lived up to my expectations.
Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4 Plot/Movement: 3 Character Development: 3 Overall: 3
As a fan of Echo North and a fan of Joanna Ruth Meyer's writing style in that novel. I had anticipated liking this book just as much, but that was not the case.
Part One starts off great. The character development of Satu and her story had me interested and wanting more, but partway through Part Two the story started to fall apart for me. Without giving any spoilers, all I can say is it was repetitive and drawn out. Like, I get it, it's cold and it's snowing and Satu doesn't want to cry, but the tears come anyways, mostly frozen tears... Did I mention that it was cold and snowing? ... There was also one character who I felt no emotional attachment to, but they were very important to Satu, so shouldn't I have also felt attached? ... Anyways, Part Three picked up the pace a bit and I found myself interested again for a brief moment before the whole book ended. All in all this book fell short and wasn't meant for me, but don't take my word for it, give it a read yourself! Don't forget to read Echo North first though, that book is great!
Read all in one evening at my grandparents’ house, stealthily attempting to hide the fact that I was crying. By the time I was finished, I wanted to pick it up and read it again. I actually DID flip back and reread my favorite parts (and I started crying again lol). Fannaris and Satu were both so sweet! ❤️ but the book was way too short, I needed to see more of them. Now I need another. PLEASE?? PLEEEEAAAAAAASE?? 🥺
I’ve seen a lot of reviews saying this book is too juvenile. Someone please explain what they’re talking about, because I have no idea.
I received an advance ebook copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for review.
Wind Daughter by Joanna Ruth Meyer is a companion novel to Echo North. It is the story of Satu, daughter of the North Wind. Her father gave up his powers and immortality because of love. This love resulted in Satu. But the trade-off of his magic impacts so much more than expected. The world is imbalanced and unraveling. Only Satu can save everyone from the same fate. She must reclaim her father’s magic, but she’s not the only one looking for it. The Winter Lord wants the North Wind’s powers for himself.
This novel is just as engrossing and beautiful as Echo North. Joanna Ruth Meyer writes with so much heart and beauty. I hope we get more from this world. I will definitely be reading the rest of this author’s books!
Ok, I loved this. I knew the promo materials call it a complicated romance, and compare it to Kylo/Rey or the Darkling/Alina, but wow. This was so much more complicated than I expected, and I loved it for that.
And because I just finished this, and am still reeling, we've gotta discuss that ending. Oh my god. Very rarely does a book have me visibly reacting, but this one did. Hands over my mouth, gasping, flinching back from the book - all of it happened. This ending had me scared. I was so worried this was gonna go the way of its comparisons, and I wasn't going to be able to recover if it did.
As for the plot, I'll admit, it was a little iffy. Honestly, this was pretty plotless (in terms of valid subplots). Despite that, I never had the urge to put this down. The side characters, the romance, and Satu herself had me hooked. The barrenness of the plot allowed the characters themselves to shine, so it's lacks ended up being something I appreciated.
And finally, I really love the author for the decisions she made. She has no qualms about killing anyone off. She went for it. I'd be sitting here in disbelief as yet another beloved character was murdered. Not something I particularly enjoyed reading, but it really drove the emotional aspects home.
I had no idea that Echo North was getting a companion, and im not even sure if it needed one. But here I am, begging for a companion for this one too. I'm not ready to leave this world or the characters, so I hope we return to it yet again.
Thanks to Turn the Page Tours for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
I could not put this book down. Consumed this in 24hrs and then bought Echo North and read that just as quickly.
This is a magical tale of a young girl discovering her strength while also trying to save the life she knows as it unravels around her. She is desperate and sad but also resilient in her journey. She meets new friends and familiar faces along the way but not all have her best interest in mind. Will she be able to fix the unraveling or will the betrayal be too much?
Read if you like
YA Magic Strong FMC Ghostly friends An evil wolf queen Going to the ends of the earth to save your winter love Family love Bees
Seriously, I really did love this so much. There was a point towards the end that I was worried that this wouldn’t have an HEA but rest assured, it does.
Well that one made me cry. It was beautiful and heart-wrenching. Just as magical as Echo North, but different - Wind Daughter is very much her own story. Trying not to give spoilers - I loved how certain characters’ lives were linked in such beautiful, poetic ways and how time flowed differently for them to experience their lives with each other. I could say more about this, but will refrain to keep from spoiling anything for anyone who hasn’t read this masterpiece yet. Whoever hasn’t read Echo North and Wind Daughter, you really should.
I was first introduced to this series from this book. As such, I can't comment on how well it does or doesn't related to the first book. I can however comment of the beauty of Meyer's writing and the captivating characters she built in this book. I loved every page.
Wind Daughter is the most beautifully written book. I found myself lost in the words multiple times and in tears other times. I truly appreciate the author’s style of writing. I wish I could go back and reread it for the first time.
Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary arc to review!
I’m always here for a new book by this author! Ever since reading one of her books I immediately need to read the latest, especially after reading every book she has already written lol. Her latest is a companion novel to Echo North and even though it wrapped up well enough on its own, I am happy to see their daughter get her own adventure and after reading this book, she is definitely a character I could relate to 100%.
Satu is a girl who has grown up on stories told by her parents as well as having a very soft heart. She is full of emotions and sometimes they can lead to poor consequences because as with most people, we want to see the best in everyone. I liked seeing her wanting to prove the winter lord wrong and show others that she is strong and capable. Satu doesn’t always believe in herself but that is what makes her realistic. She goes through the feelings that many deal with but also have a hard time talking through. It felt good to see a character struggle and everything not be so easy for them.
There are other characters that impact the plot in a lot of ways. I wasn’t too sure about a couple of the characters at first. They were both opposites from one another and especially Satu. It was interesting to see how both of their plot lines would end and the plot twists that involved them were pretty intense!
Those who enjoy a bit of romance in their fantasy won’t be disappointed as there is a bit between Satu and another character. I really liked their interactions since they don’t always get along. I was happy to see that their story ended on a high note. They deserved it!
The writing feels like an older folktale and it was very pleasant to read. Meyer has a way with words and it always shines throughout.
Overall, it was another great book by this author. Hopefully there will be more books by her in the future because I will be waiting impatiently!
Meyer somehow weaves the beauty of wildflowers and honey bees into a gorgeous story full of heart and friendship and love. It’s just as lovely a tale as Echo North, and it was such a delight to see friendship blossom between Echo and Satu, and it felt like Echo and Satu’s stories came full circle in this book, and written in just the perfect way. In a world as real and beautiful as our own, Meyer will sweep you away with one breath from the Wind Daughter.