Daughter of Winter and Twilight

Queen of Coin and Whispers #2

by Helen Corcoran

’Magic was dormant — never dead’

To some, Emri – the adopted heir and daughter of two queens – is a living reminder that her birth father tried to usurp the Edaran throne. While Emri grapples with a diplomatic visit from her estranged cousin, Melisande, the two girls are attacked by a magical force and spirited away. They must put their differences aside when Emri comes face to face with a goddess she’s always considered a myth: Lady Winter.

Trapped deep within a mountain temple alongside other young royals, they face a race against time to complete Lady Winter’s trials … or die.

Genres: Fantasy, Lesbian, Young Adult, Queer, LGBT, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy

576 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2023

About the author

Helen Corcoran was born and raised in Ireland, but is more likely to go searching for a werewolf than a crock of gold at the end of a rainbow. She worked as a bookseller for twelve years, with a specific interest in fantasy and YA fiction, which she also writes. She currently lives in Dublin, cultivating a budding caffeine addiction while her book collection threatens to take over her house.

Queen of Coin and Whispers is her debut YA novel. The sequel Daughter of Winter and Twilight will be published in 2023.

Reviews

[Helen Corcoran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so excited for you all to read this in 2023!

May 2023: ARCs dropped in April, and my editor and I have since completed another round of edits and DOWAT has gone through copyedits. We’ve done the last checks and she’s going to print on June 1st!

* * *

Set fourteen years after Queen of Coin and Whispers, it focuses on Emri, Lia and Xania’s daughter and heir.

Lady Winter has returned, once believed to be nothing more than myth, and furious that devotion to her has weakened. To protect those she loves, Emri must win the goddess’s terrible challenge.

* * *

Things in this book:

❄️ gods and magic
❄️ Emri and the next gen
❄️ Lia and Xania, as 30-somethings and also [SPOILERS]
❄️ family secrets resurfacing
❄️ other characters from QUEEN
❄️ politics, but more of a quest novel
❄️ predominately queer cast

💔 There’s not much romance: Emri begins the book after breaking up with her girlfriend, and spends the rest trying to take on a goddess and keep others and herself safe. (Lia and Xania went over quota on dramatic romance. Emri already has enough to live up to.)

In terms of rep involving some of the main and secondary characters:

• Emri and Theo are both bi
• Melisande is a lesbian

* * *

Lady Winter is back.

And she was never a kind goddess.

[Samantha Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic standalone sequel – review to come.

Note: I received a free Advance Reading Copy of this book from the publisher.

[Gabbie Pop · Rating 5 out of 5]

DAUGHTER OF WINTER AND TWILIGHT does what every good companion novel should: it expands on the world we've previously glimpsed in QUEEN OF COIN AND WHISPERS in a way that'd make any fan excited, and it stands perfectly on its own two feet (in which case you SHOULD take your enjoyment as a sign that you should go back to the novel before it!).
DAUGHTER OF WINTER AND TWILIGHT is a triumph in its own right.
I loved following Emri as a protagonist in her own right, but also as someone shaped by those who she grew up alongside (i.e.: she is very much someone raised by Lia, Xania and the rest of the familiar faces blown into the Edaran court). I found her to be such an endearing main character - I believed every feeling coming over her, I lived through each struggle with her, I understood each of her reactions and her frustrations to the limits to what she could do in the face of challenges. My heart ached for Emri's desire to live up to the legacy her parents have so carefully built, to work towards the same kind of progress, while also dealing with the more regular difficulties that come with being a teenager. It was also particularly compelling watching her negotiate this legacy as a royal in the wake of her birth father's traitorous hubris, and the shaky position she believes she occupies in her own court.
I also loved the time and care each of Emri's relationships was afforded - from the arguably central one with her parents and the balance between family and duty, to the easygoing friendship with Micah (and I want it on record I am the founder and head of the Micah fan club, thank you very much!!), the messier friendship-turned-romance-gone-south with Rialla, the tension turning into something altogether more different with Melisande, and all the other complex and complicated relationshiops forming with more unexpected figures brought into her life.
I ADORED the development we got to the worldbuilding, both in terms of geographical scale and magic system. Each glimpse we got of one of the other countries felt like a treat, and I think words would fail me if I tried to say how much I LOVED anything mythology and religion related in this story (and I also believe you'd enjoy it best diving straight in yourself without preamble; again, IT IS SUCH A TREAT, SUCH A DELIGHT, SUCH A STUNNING TAPESTRY WOVEN OUT OF MYTH AND FAIRYTALE COME BACK TO LIFE).
Craftwise, this was so much more ambitious than QUEEN (I'll once again say no more so you can enjoy it for yourself), and god was it a joy to see how much Corcoran has grown as a writer.

A stunner and a trumph.

[C.L. Clark]

YES.

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

ohhhhhhh nooooooo but I loved this.

(Not quite as much as I loved the first, but this one had far less sapphic romance, so, fair).

HOWEVER. I loved Emri, the quest was very fun, I LOVED all the cousin feelings between her and Melisande, and all the complex mother/daughter feels with Lia and Xania. It left in such a spot that I HOPE we get a third book, bc things are rlly picking up, but if it’s left at this duology, it was still absolutely lovely and going into some of my fav recent queer YA fantasy pile.

[Aoife · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from O'Brien Press in exchange for an honest review,

Daughter of Winter and Twilight is the spin-off book from Helen Corcoran's debut YA fantasy novel Queen of Coin and Whispers which followed young queen Lia as she had to battle court politics, and a system used to lazy and corrupt sovereigns, while also dealing with growing feelings for her new spymaster Xania. Now almost twenty years later, we follow Emri, Xania and Lia's adopted daughter and heir to the throne of Edar as she struggles with what her future holds, and who will be by her side. But when Emri and her cousin Melisande are kidnapped by the winter goddess Lady Winter, they realise that magic is real and they need to depend on each other to survive.

I loved this so much. I loved Queen of Coin and Whisper for its politics, the elements of spymaster and the romance between Xania and Lia but dare I say I think I enjoyed DOWAT even more. I also don't think you have to read QOCAW before reading this as you can understand what is going on easy enough without knowing the full details of Lia and Xania's story and therefore Emri's. It definitely helps but is not a neccessity.

I love how magic was introduced in this book, especially as it is something like many fantasy books that was just talked about in stories and legends originally. So I loved that Helen Corcoran decided to make it real again, and in the most terrifying way. Lady Winter is not really a goddess you want to be enemies with but also she's not who you want on your side either as she's cruel and ruthless to all. She was honestly terrifying and I loved the thrill of being scared by her.

I enjoyed the bonds being forged in this book from those between Emri and Melisande (that had orignally being broken in childhood due to shared trauma), and then also those between Emri, Gabrielle and Theo. There are hints of romance in this book, mostly Emri still feeling heartbroken by her first love but I loved the gentle beginnings of something between her and Theo - and Theo was the cutest boy/future consort in the world. Someone who will hold your bag on the red carpet while the paps take their pics (in a world of Kens, he's an Alan).

Loved the adventure (as well as the real side of quests such as hygiene, body hair and periods) and the diverseness in this book as well (characters appear to range from bi/pan, ace, sapphic as well as mentions of non-binary rulers. They are also a range of skin types and backgrounds - not everyone is blonde, blue-eyed). There were so many fantastic threads started in this story for something truly epic to happen in the future and I can't wait to see what comes next.

[Rachael Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

{AD|GIFTED} Despite being a sequel of sorts to Queen of Coin and Whispers, DOWAT can be read without having read the first one as it's set years later and only features certain characters from the first book in a peripheral way. The story is focused on 18-year-old Emri, daughter of Lia and Xania from the QOCAW. As the adopted heir to the Edaran throne and daughter of a traitor, Emri has grown up trying to be the best she can be at everything so that others cannot question her capability and suitability for the role. She is shadowed by the events of her early childhood before being adopted and these heavily influence her character throughout the book.

The story really picked up when the trials began as everything seemed to fit together better from this point. The dynamic between Emri, her cousin Melisande (heir to another throne), Princess Gabriela (heir to yet another throne), and potential-consort Theo, was one of my favourite elements and it would be such a shame if they can't find ways to continue their friendship in the future. I'm hoping another book is in the works as the events of this one have expanded the world-building immensely and Emri's story felt unresolved. Plus, I want her and Theo's courtship! Overall, this was a solid fantasy with plenty of banter, queer rep, and a fast-paced plot.

[inky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliantly written novel that had me frankly in awe and wondering if our dear author has secretly known intimately the life of a princess, because the language and experiences and descriptions were so damn specific I can't imagine how such a thing is possible without personal experience.

Jokes aside, it was genuinely a brilliant novel. Smart, clever, and queer—a combination I happen to be a big fan of. (Genuinely, I love how being queer was far more common here than being straight—we love to see it.)

The beginning 50 percent or slow was rather slow and left me uncertain what my overall thoughts would end up being—it was so smart, and so hyperaware of social conventions, the teeter-totter of court politics even when the broader politics weren't being engaged in. It did a wonderful job of familiarizing us with the various characters, helping us know them, care for them, learn their intricacies. It also just felt slow to me because of this, a bit of a drag, feeling very physically static.

And then there was a turning point around the 50 percent mark, and the whole narrative truly picked up steam for me, turning a book that to me, was brilliantly written, but perhaps not for me into a book that was far more engaging.

There were moments where I still had mild qualms—e.g., how we define humiliation, and specific causes an effects that occurred in the latter half—but ultimately, the story still felt wonderful and heartfelt. It's worth noting I did not read the first book in this duology, and this worked entirely as a standalone as well.

Amazing work, and thank you to Netgalley for a copy of the audiobook (and also, that narrator was asTOUNDING).

[Laura King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I somehow loved this even more than Queen of Coin and Whispers, and that's saying something! I was completely gripped, and while I was left wanting more, the ending was so, completely satisfying.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emri is the adopted daughter of the rulers of Edar; she is also the biological daughter of Rassa, the prince who tried to usurp her mothers throne.

So coming into her inheritance at eighteen provokes complicated feelings - more so when her Farezi cousin Melisande, newly arrived at court, lets slip a dark secret from the past with difficult implications for the future. 

Not the best time, then, for the cousins to be kidnapped by legendary beings, gods long relegated to the shadows of myth. Lady Winter, Twilight and Night, celebrated at the Midwinter Ball in Edar as pageantry, turn out to very real deities - and they are angry at being ignored for so long.

Emri must find a way out for herself, Melisande & two other young royals from neighbouring realms, or face becoming a puppet-ruler, controlled by the gods. But if she succeeds, she may unleash magic upon an unready world...

This is a brilliant adventure quest, with witty, crackling dialogue, complex protagonists, horrifyingly real godmonsters, and a real moral dilemma at its heart.

The writing in this book is so assured, the action feels so effortless, that I galloped through these pages and couldn't wait to pick it up again when I was forced to put it down. 

The sequel to Queen of Coin and Whispers, DOWAT can be read as a stand alone; the main characters of the first book are in the background of this one, and the action takes place fourteen years later.

Due out September 23 - preorder it!

[Timea · Rating 4 out of 5]

After I liked the first book of the author, I was eager to read more. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the sequel in advance!

Daughter of Winter and Twilight is about Emri, adopted daughter of Queen Aurelia and Xania from the first book. Because Emri’s birth father was a traitor, she faces a lot of scrutiny at court and struggles to find her footing. Even more, she is still suffering from the effects of her abusive childhood before she was adopted and, on top of that, a recent heartbreak. If that wasn’t enough, rumors appear about the resurrection of the gods. However, Emri’s nation has long since abandoned worship of the gods and their patron goddess, Lady Winter, is not known for her mercy.

Even though it has been a few months since I read what happened in the first book, it was easy to find my way into the story. I can see how it is meant to stand alone, which certainly helped. The beginning focuses a lot on Emri’s life in the palace and I appreciate these insights a lot. She is a sympathetic character and made me curious about unveiling her past and the way her character is going to develop.

Unfortunately, the book takes its time with that. It’s not until the second third that the promised magic starts to be relevant. As much as I liked the beginning, it felt like it took forever to get anywhere. Both plot threads - Emri’s introduction to court and the challenge of her god - feel disjointed. Reason for that is that it includes a very sudden switch in setting and all the previous characters are replaced (with one exception) with new ones. There isn't much to connect those two parts of the book.

In addition to that, I felt like the overall goal of the plot wasn’t very clear. It makes sense in hindsight and ties in to the themes, but it still felt like there was only little initial motivation for the characters (including the gods). Emri and her companions react more than they act, which does fit very well into the overarching questions of the book - how independent are your choices when you are being manipulated by gods? Still, it takes a while to figure out those motives which doesn't make the pacing feel any faster.

Aside from those negative aspects, I still liked the book a lot! Emri’s personal growth and her relationships to the other characters feel authentic. The way she adapts to the new environment and how she is forced to face her fears kept pulling me in. I loved seeing their little group grow together and was sorry to say goodbye to them at the end of the book.

Compared to the first book, this one leans more into the worldbuilding. The other nations become relevant, not only in their politics but also in their myths an stance on religion. I liked those glimpes in their cultures, mostly because they influences the main plot as well. The focus is less on one country and its queen, but rather a group of heirs from different countries and how they each deal with the differing expectations that rest upon them.

In the end, I recommend this sequel for anyone who liked the first book or who wants to dip their toes into this world but is too intimidated by the politics of the first one! Pacing problems aside, I was able to enjoy Daughter of Winter and Twilight a lot.

[Gvngaama · Rating 4 out of 5]

It felt more like a standalone book than part of a duology. It was nice to see characters from the first book and to see how they grew up into adults, navigating through their adult lives and responsibilities. FR: I still love the relationship dynamic between Lia and Xania. But the plot of the second book was way different and unexpected.

[Allie Gerard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose this title because I love fantasy books (despite its use of the Noun of Noun and Noun title formula). However, I chose without knowing that it was a sequel, of sorts, and was admittedly confused for a minute by the preface/prologue, which discussed certain people (who turned out to be the main character's parents and relatives), and the beginning of the actual story, which was about different people.

I think my biggest issue was that I found Emri pretty devoid of personality. The first chunk of the book is just her and her two royal moms politicking, and a fair bit of setup to show that it can get lonely at the top, which was a slog to get past. I also found the world itself to be a bit bland and colorless-- we didn't really learn anything about the different countries or the magic system past the surface level, so the setup felt less real. Things not feeling real in this book was another big gripe; the whole thing just felt like an unused coloring book. The bones were there, but the flesh was questionable at best.

The plot did pick up about a third of the way in, but by then I think I just wasn't predisposed to care about what happened. I liked Melisande more than Emri, but she still felt a bit flat. The quest arc seemed to belong to a separate book than the one I had been reading at first, so maybe I was jarred long enough to have trouble getting into it? And as much as the premise was "complete the trials or die," I didn't feel much sense of tension or suspense.

The writing was fine; nothing sparkling or revolutionary, but serviceable enough to tell the story. The lack of a strong romance plotline was also fine (I can usually give or take them, as they're so often poorly done) and does set this book apart from a lot of fantasy YA.

Finally (and I'll probably get flak for this)... I fall under the queer umbrella, and I love that representation in books is so much more common now, but this... trend of making it the headline for a book drives me nuts. I feel the correct order of operations is "the book is amazing, with a creative story and quality writing, and also there's great representation" as opposed to leading with representation as the driving force to convince me to buy the book. It's great when it's there, but without the book itself being strong to support that rep, it doesn't matter. Case in point, I didn't even know The Traitor Baru Cormorant had a lesbian protagonist until I got into it-- the marketing focused on why the book was an amazing read, and that convinced me. At times, I just felt like the author didn't really pay any mind to why the queer rep was *meaningful* to the story or the world, and sprinkled it in just to claim it was there. I will step off of my soapbox now, sorry.

Even though I seem to have complained a lot above, Daughter of Winter and Twilight was not a bad book by any means, but it didn't intrigue me enough to want to go backward or forward in the series. I do think that there was a lot of potential in the "Lady Winter's trials" plotline, and would have probably enjoyed that more as its own book. However, reading this was not the worst way to spend a few weekday evenings, and I think somewhat younger readers will probably be more forgiving to its flaws.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing a free copy in exchange for this review.

[Amber The Ninth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and O'Brien Press for providing the ARC.

Taking place many years after the first book, and it did not disappoint! This story follows our previous MC's daughter, Emri. I loved Queen of Coin and Whispers and that we still got glimpses of Lia and Xania. But Emri is not their mothers' daughter, and in more ways than one.

The world-building is expanded as we learn more about the forgotten Gods and follow Emri and a few key royals on an epic adventure.

4.5!

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daughters of Winter and Twilight was an incredibly slow start for me. I really had a hard time sticking with the book. The first 25% of the book is just introducing the characters Emri and Melisande and establishing Emri’s history and position. Overall, most of the events that occurred in this first part could have been condensed because a lot of what happened is inner musings or scenes that aren’t particularly relevant once you finally move into the main plot.

It’s hard to pull off a story that relies heavily on flashbacks and memories of the past and for the most part it worked for this story. The stories of the past God trials was fascinating. However, the shifting back and forth from present and past tense didn’t flow well and stuttered for me mentally. I had to re-play sections more than once. It also feels bogged down a bit and is overly wordy in places where less can be more in way of less flashbacks and explanations (It’s possible that as a second book and having not read the first one it was intentional and just didn’t work for me personally).

As I have said this is a longer novel (setting aside my personal preferences) and it is compelling. The book has moments of well developed high fantasy, magic and lore of a land ruled by gods, royalty, and power. The magic system was well done and I enjoyed that aspect as it came into play.

There’s a lot to unpack with this one so if you love high fantasy, unique characters and a slow build in the plot then you will love this book. If you like fast moving plots, action, and adventure you may have a hard time getting into the story at first. If you can hang in there I believe it’s worth it. I do feel ambivalence about this book because there is so much I loved and so much that didn’t work for me. Overall if you like this author give it a try I think you will enjoy it.

[Manon the Malicious · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't know much about this book before starting it and I just feel like you shouldn't either so no summary!!

I absolutely loved it this one. Not that it was surprising considering how much I loved Helen Corcoran's debut, Queen of Coin and Whispers.
In Daughter of Winter and Twilight, Corcoran comes back to that world and brings us Emri's story, the daughter of the main characters of QoCaW.
So we get to follow up with our beloved characters while getting to know their daughter and getting deeper into the world we already knew.
I really just enjoyed this story so much. I cried, I laughed and didn't see a lot of the twists coming. I was truly enthralled by Emri's character. She was everything and I loved getting to know her and her flaws and her strengths. I also loved the growth of the side characters, from the mothers to the cousin to the friends. I just had the most wonderful time and I will without a doubt read this again.
I cannot wait for more from Helen Corcoran!!

[Jemmakate__ · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at around 25%

I wanted to love this book as the idea of the royal court intrigue really interested me and I’m sure some people will love this book but unfortunately is just wasn’t for me.

I read the first book and wanted to give this one a chance too and while there were some improvements (only one POV), it was still plagued with some of the things I really didn’t enjoy about the first book.

Sometimes I felt like the book tried to hard to describe things, but somehow I felt more confused by what was happening and who was who, despite usually being a reader of high fantasy.

A lot of the internal monologue I found my eyes glazed over and I just couldn’t connect with the story of characters.

[Pengwingy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really closer to a 2.5.

The first third of this book is about Emri, adopted daughter of the lead pair from the first book in this series. As much as I tried to be sympathetic, Emri suffers from being a super wet noodle compared to her unbelievably (and unconvincingly) hypercompetent parents at the same age. I guess that is the point - the soft, sheltered, kinda whiny, somewhat spoiled princess learning how self centred and insufficient she is without a hero's journey - but it doesn't make it anymore pleasant to read.

The 2nd half of this book then pivots into a 4 royal young adults survive-triala-and-bonding story line, like breakfast club meets stranded on a deserted island but it's a magical mountain with traps and meandering pathways by some petty gods. This part is slightly more interesting, but the trials seem to be there as excuses to share character pasts and show character development rather than something a god would actually put them through for any good reason. The horrific trial of one character, as an example? They see him and his friends and family talk about his arranged marriage to someone else... OH MY GOLLY THE WORST, SO EXCRUCIATING, THE PAIN THE TORMENT!! Yes, if you're a juvenile teen? But I'm also supposed to believe these same people are educated trained future rulers and skilled diplomats... And this trial mixed in with - actual threats to life like near drowning, having to go hungry, be poisoned, being frozen. The tone is all over the place.

Finally one thing this author tends to do is write in a way that lacks detail or flow - hints at some hidden thing, or leaves something to be inferred - and I somehow frequently fail to understand what the author intends, or I expect a conversation or a thought to go one way and it ends up another. This could be I'm too dumb a reader to understand subtext - very possible - and just need more explanation ... and yet other parts of the story are repeated and mentioned over and over, beyond their point of uselessness. There's constant reference to some dark hidden past between two lead characters that you infer is BAD because CHILD ABUSE and EMOTIONAL ABUSE but it's so low on detail in the beginning that it's hard to relate or understand why it's a big deal; and then later the whole past is revealed like some giant mystery. Lead character formative moments being treated like some mystery and giant reveal! Aha ha plot twist! is extremely frustrating to sit through, particularly when the characters themselves have been sketched too thinly (or unconvincingly) to start.

Finally, for a story that I feel like was billed as a story with Sapphic or bi elements, it's just so damn ...unsexy. constant talk of an arranged marriage and how little they know of each other and how unconfident they are and how maybe they'll be a good pair, in between the freezing and near starvation, unbelievably the heteronormativity of the inevitable pairing of two canon bisexual characters makes their pairing a chore to sit through.

I did really want to enjoy this book in spite of the flaws of the first, but they continue to the 2nd without the sapphic book of the first to keep me going. There's a lot of thought put into the world building and relationships between kingdoms, and the world has a lot to love about it.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a librarian on the island of Ireland, I’m always proud to champion The O’Brien Press, our leading publisher of books for young people. Fantastic, then, that Helen Corcoran, a Dublin writer at the spearpoint of standardising marginalised sexualities in Irish YA Fantasy, returns to the indomitable O’Brien Press to publish her second novel, which is also the second in the Queen of Coin and Whispers series.

It was such a pleasure to return to Helen Corcoran’s world, which has the same exquisite flavour as Jim Henson’s ‘Labyrinth’. Lia and Xania return, and I relished seeing their relationship matured, as well as the different ways in which they each inhabit motherhood. But Emri steals the show: Corcoran takes her time at the beginning of the novel in setting up Emri’s circumstances and the intimacies of her personal relationships. But this pays off once Emri and her clan set off to contest Lady Winter’s trials. Emri’s voice emerges as a strong independent narrator. And Katy Sobey performs Emri perfectly for the audiobook release – just as I would have heard her in my head. Helen Corcoran creates such a confident protagonist that Emri is easy to relate to, empathise with, believe, fear for. And one of the principal strengths of ‘Daughter of Winter and Twilight’ is that, through Emri, Corcoran gives ‘different’ voices the loudspeaker; sexuality isn’t ever discussed or addressed, each character’s nature just is in this world.

Similarly, the deities’ personas are unique, believable, compelling; each voiced with nuance and delicacy by Sobey. What both Queen of Coin and Whispers novels boast is a fine-balanced dialogue between the mythic and the modern; Corcoran attunes the drama to accommodate both haughty immortals and irreverent teenagers.

The characters in ‘Daughter of Winter and Twilight’ are put through the fire as they forge a way through the trials set them by Lady Winter, and I grew only fonder and fonder of each: Emri, Melisande, Gabriela, and Theo (and, to a lesser extent, Lia and Xania’s characters are also changed by Emri coming to understand more of their history and their motivations). So conversant is Helen Corcoran with their vulnerabilities, that her characters are disarmingly realistic and sympathetic. They surface with a kind of prepossessing humanity that I defy any reader to remain unmoved by the novel’s final episodes. This sequel really soars, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a third instalment, now that we know the world, its topography, the court, the religion, and the characters, so much better (and on a side note, the acknowledgements offer a delightful glimpse into the author’s process and emotions).

Finally, I could write paragraphs upon paragraphs on how I am filled with joy by the manner in which Corcoran endorses and contributes to the kind of homonormativity and queer-centredness that is coming to epitomise YA Fantasy in the American and British publishing industry, and I fervently hope that the same is prospering and will thrive in Ireland too. Instead, I'll submit my five-star review.

My thanks to Bolinda Audio, for the opportunity to review the audiobook prior to release, through NetGalley.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helen Corcoran's Queen of Coin and Whispers was one of my favourite books of 2020 so when I was approved for an advance copy of the sequel I literally clapped my hands in glee.
Daughter of Winter and Twilight picks up several years after the end of Queen of Coin and Whispers, and tells the story of Emri the adopted daughter of Queens Xania and Aurelia, who were the point of view characters in that earlier book. While I obviously recommend reading that book, it is not essential to have read it to enjoy this one, which could be read as a stand alone. However I think that going into this book with a knowledge of the characters and their history did enhance my enjoyment of this book.
Emri is coming of age and now must face up to the realities of life as heir to the Eadaran throne, including arranged courtships and potential marriage as well as a visit from her estranged cousin Melisande whom she has long resented. Tensions are running high but when Emri and Melisande are swept away by a mysterious magical force to an almost ruined temple , Emri comes face to face with a Goddess she long considered a myth, the Lady Winter. The only way she can survive and help not just Melisande but the two other royal heirs who have been captured is by encouraging them to work together despite their differences and rivalries. If they do not survive the trials they have been set, the futures of all their kingdoms hang in the balance. If they succeed and free the magic that has lain dormant for centuries, their futures are unknown.
This book is not one that I would recommend to readers who need to be gripped from the beginning, or those who like fast paced action as the first 200 or so pages are definitely a bit of slow burn, something I was not expecting given how quickly I was drawn in by the previous book. Once the set up of the characters and their political roles and relationships had been established, and the trials were under way the pace really did pick up and I was much more engaged by the story. I liked the characters, particularly Emri and I would love to know more about Gabriela , she was not the most fleshed out of the characters but I enjoyed her personality and found her intriguing. Some of the strongest and most fascinating characters in the book were the Gods and Goddesses, most notably Lady Winter and Twilight, who were powerful and often cruel and added a lot of menace to the story.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[Cora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daughter of Winter and Twilight is a beautifully-crafted atmospheric YA fantasy. It picks up a little while after Queen of Coin and Whispers ended and features Lia and Xania’s adoptive daughter. While reading the first book can provide a little bit more understanding of these characters and this world, it isn’t necessary. Daughter of Winter and Twilight stands up just fine on its own, and recaps enough of the first book’s events that if you forgot everything (like me), it’s easy to catch up.

In this book, Emri is grappling with the intricacies of foreign politics as her cousin, Melisande, visits court. Those problems are quickly replaced by much bigger ones, though, when both heirs are ripped from the castle and thrust into a magical adventure assembled by ancient gods.

One of the reasons I think I enjoyed this book more than the first is that Helen Corcoran has clearly grown as a writer. Her voice is more clear, her characters more unique, and the story more interesting. I don’t remember how much Queen of Coin and Whispers described the setting, but Daughter of Winter and Twilight goes a bit deeper into the world building. I understood the world better and found it easier to follow the story in this book.

That being said, the plot did have its ups and downs. It would have almost been better as a standalone, without the connection to Queen, because this series didn’t really need magic. The politics in the first book were interesting enough on their own, and the new addition of magic and gods to this world felt a tiny bit forced. I did love the whole facing-their-past theme of the book, though, and the way the characters slowly unraveled the tensions between them and confronted the traumas and mistakes of their pasts was very fascinating. And I did enjoy the gods. I thought the concepts behind them were interesting, and I liked the distinctive personalities tied to their domains.

Speaking of characters, that is another one of Corcoran’s strengths. I loved glimpsing Lia and Xania’s life as a happy ruling couple, the awkwardness between Emri and Theo, and the tension between her and Melisande. Every character was unique, with stories and personalities that all tied together as they struggled through their little mountain quest. (I also adored Gabi, as grumpy as she was.)

To conclude; this book was very good. The casual queer representation (even without a major romance storyline!) was lovely to see, and the story and world were both very unique. If you enjoy politics, mythology, and icy worlds (like The Winter Duke), you’ll enjoy this one.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daughter of Winter and Twilight is a story about healing from your past traumas, breaking the cycle, and learning to let other people in. In that regard, it’s a beautiful and powerful story and I definitely cried while reading it.

That said, I have mixed feelings about Daughter of Winter and Twilight, which is disappointing because I absolutely loved Queen of Coin and Whispers. And some of this is a me thing, and some of it is a book thing (well, they’re all me things but the book things are more about the book than my reaction to it). And despite these mixed feelings, I did really enjoy it and would consider it a high 3 stars (rounded up to 4).

What drew me in to QoCaW was the political intrigue. The spymaster and the queen falling in love. And while it was wonderful to see Xania and Lia happily together, DoWaT didn’t hold the same instant intrigue. So that’s the me thing. I was holding it to a pedestal I wasn’t promised.

It was an incredibly slow start for me. The first 25% of the book was just introducing us to Emri and Melisande and establishing Emri’s history and position. Overall, a lot of the events that occurred in this first part felt like they could have been condensed because a lot of the scenes weren’t particularly relevant once we got into the main plot.

It’s hard to pull off a story that relies heavily on flashbacks and memories of the past. And I think for the most part, they worked for this story. The narrative framing of couching the past in the gods’ trials was fascinating, but I felt like the change in tenses was a bit clunky at times and othered the text. (It’s possible that was intentional and just didn’t super work for me).

What saved this book for me was the introduction of Gabi and Theo. The four young royals having to work together and find camaraderie despite their differences and training was so good. Them learning to trust and rely on each other? Amazing.

I would love to see Emri’s story continue in a world filled with *spoiler spoiler spoiler* and cackle as Melisande teases Emri for all eternity.

Thank you to NetGalley and O’Brien Press for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.

3.5 stars

It's always disappointing when one of your most anticipated books of the years turns out to not live up to those expectations at all. I struggled at times to read this - I even considered a DNF at one point. It was so stark because I read it just after QUEEN OF COIN AND WHISPERS, which is tightly plotted, tense mystery that keeps up the pacing throughout.

DAUGHTER OF WINTER AND TWILIGHT does not do this.

This book has a very slow start. It's a 565 page book, and the first two hundred are all general relationship troubles of various sorts, rather than the plot the blurb implies. There are only really two key events that happen in all that time, and it did rather feel like two hundred pages of nothing that could have been cut back to just show those two events.

The book, however, does pick up a lot at the 200 page mark once Lady Winter (finally) arrives onto the scene. It becomes a very dangerous adventure to escape a magical mountain despite the fact they cannot trust one another.

The mountain itself is very threatening, with doors holding secrets and challenges like poison and shadow wolves chasing them. And, of course, there are the gods too. They are very unsettling and hard to predict, very much feeling like immortals beyond mortal comprehension.

I loved the dynamics between the four royals trapped under the mountain. They have all been raised to be wary of anyone else ever knowing them, so it can't be used against them. They've also been raised to wear masks "appropriate" to their culture's idea of a monarch. But the mountain forces them into close proximity and physical and mental exhaustion, breaking those barriers down. It was so rewarding to see them bond slowly across the book.

[Beth Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Queen of Coin and Whispers was one of my standout books of 2020, so when Helen announced Daughter of Winter and Twilight and that it would be focusing on the daughter of Lia and Xania I was understandably very excited.

I jumped into the story knowing exactly that much about what to expect and maybe it having some link to the midwinter festivities from the first book. I was immediately transported, Emri is as angry and brittle as her parents were at her age as she struggles with her feelings, her heart, her friends and expectations. The story really takes off however when her cousin arrives.

Dragging up trauma from her childhood as she has to navigate the visit of a foreign heir on top of everything else before she is unwilling dragged off on a quest by gods long thought dead with her potential fiancé, her cousin, and the heir to neighbouring Eshvon.

Their band of unwilling allies makes for gripping reading as they are slowly forced to confront the very worst of themselves. I love the gentle, and tentative way the four bond with each other as they bond through their past and current traumas.

I was also delighted to see how Lia and Xania have grown and evolved since the end of Coin and Whispers, they are 20 years older and have grown and Corcoran brilliantly and realistically crafts how they deal with their own past even as this new event ruptures their lives. She beautifully blends traditional quest fantasy with political fantasy in a touching and personal story that I found myself dreaming about - especially the “map”- my brain got stuck on that one one night.

I would love to see more stories in this world and I’m so excited for my copy of this to arrive!

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daughter of Winter and Twilight is the sequel to Queen of Coin and Whispers, though it can be read as a stand-alone. Emri is the adopted daughter and heir of two queens and is on the verge of coming of age. Emri has feelings for her best friend and one of her ladies, who knows a match is improbable given that for most of Emri's life, it's been assumed that she'll have arranged marriage with the prince of another realm, Prince Theo.

When Emri's estranged cousin, Melisande, comes to visit, a magical force kidnaps them. The two come face-to-face with a goddess Lady Winter, who Emri believed was a myth. The two must overcome their differences as they join two other young royals, Gabi and Theo, as they're forced on Lady Winter's quest. Time is running out, and if they can't complete Lady Winter's task, they'll die.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that the narrator, Katy Sobey did a great job. I didn't read the first book in the series, but the author recapped it well enough that I never felt lost. The beginning was a bit slow, but once Emri and Melisande were taken, the plot picked up. I really loved the characters, especially the dynamic between Emri, Melisande, Gabi, and Theo and the way they all had to learn to rely on each other. I also loved how an adopted girl is the heir to the throne and how many queer characters there are in this story! I would definitely read more books in this series.

If you're looking for a new adult fantasy with a lot of gay characters, definitely pick this one up!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an early copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Roan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this that much unfortunately, and found Queen of Coin and Whispers better. I did like that this book expanded on the worldbuilding and lore but I found the writing way too dense and excessive. I got pretty sick of the repetitive descriptions and phrases and it made reading this quite a drag. Maybe I'm just not into this author's style haha. The first 100 pages felt unnecessary, the middle was kind of boring, but the last third was pretty good and I really liked it. The worldbuilding was pretty nice but I wasn't expecting a complete reality defying adventure, especially from the setup at the start and as a followup to the first book. It was cool though. The character development was enjoyable and by the end I grew to like the cast a lot. The familial bonds were super well written and I really enjoyed Lia and Xania's parental love. Theo was wonderful and I also loved Melisande. I'm not sure if I would recommend this book but it was cute.

I loved this part on page 494; 'But she was not raised to be a queen and she didn't want to be one. And neither of us is to blame. Well, I'm a bit to blame, because I ignored everyone when they tried to warn me, I even ignored Rialla's heavy hints every time I waxed lyrical about our future. So, really there's no one to blame but myself.' 'You were in love' Theobilt said softly 'You can't blame yourself for that.' 'I can blame myself for being stupid.'

Loved the moment when Selene kissed Emri :)

And on page 527, 'You'd have made a good spy.' 'Too much stress. I just know horses.' Theobilt is so cute haha

[Bee Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in this series, Queen of Coin and Whispers, came out just about four years ago. Four years is a long time in books, but I still remember reading it, piecing together the pieces of the political puzzle and following along on the various more or less desperate missions. This new sequel is set almost twenty years later, and like the first, it is densely political and complex.

Your first spoiler is that the kidnapping mentioned in the blurb above doesn't happen until almost halfway through the book; before that it's all political maneuvering of one kind or another, and references to the twenty years we've missed that are very carefully not quite complete enough for us to know what happened, although we can make inferences and guesses. As with Queen, Helen is not talking down to her audiences, and like that book, you don't half read this with one eye on the TV and Twitter open on your phone. This is a book you pay attention to, and possibly take notes on.

I think you probably could follow this without having read Queen (why would you want to, though? Read Queen!) as we are given the information we need, but you'd be starting blind and things wouldn't make sense for some time. If you do decide to read this one solo, don't give up on it. Push through, and...spoilers... you'll meet wonderful characters (who hate you) and go on a magical (miserable) quest and even meet (completely terrifying and Uncanny Valleyish) gods!

I can't wait to start selling this...apart from anything else, they're going to look so good beside each other on the shelf!

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to O'Brien Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for a review!

I had read the first book, but it has been some time by now. My memory was fuzzy, but I don't think this hurt my enjoyment at all. I enjoyed Daughter of Winter and Twilight far more than I had the previous book. Emri, though a princess who is aware and accepting of her responsibilities, is hurting under the mantle that is relatable to so many children today: we will never be able to achieve what our parents did.

In our case, it might be stability in jobs or an adult life. In Emri's case, it's a grand love story that's the stuff of legends. The story of her mothers' love for each other is near-myth-- and Emri is only a girl compared to that; and close kin to one mother's usurping, traitorous cousin at that. Emri's accepted she's not the myth material her mothers are, and she accepts her arranged marriage, and tries to make nice with her cousin-heir from her abusive childhood before her mothers.

There's only one problem with that: the gods exist, and they want belief back. Emri must work together with her cousin she cannot trust, her betrothed she knows little about, and his ferociously protective younger cousin who trusts Emri and her cousin not at all. If they cannot escape together, Emri's heart and will are forfeit and her cousin (heir both to her own kingdom and Emri's), her betrothed, and his cousin (heir to another kingdom) die.

This is not a romance, but it is a growing of relationships. And I truly enjoyed it.

[tinynightingales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emri is the adoptive daughter of the ruling queens. As next in line for the throne and now approaching her majority, she is endlessly caught up in feelings of inadequacy and lack of belonging even in her own home, surrounded by her loved ones. When her estranged yet perfect cousin comes to visit, Emri is reminded of her dark past pre-adoption and wonders if she will ever grow into the type of queen her people deserve.

This book includes;
- LGBT romances
- sapphic love and longing
- political intrigue
- trials for survival

"Daughter of Winter and Twilight" has a lot of great elements. I love the concept of a coming-of-age story that centers an adopted child with a difficult past, especially since it's not a character arc that is commonly explored in fantasy. I also loved that it is sort of a standalone book, despite being the second in a series. That said, I was not able to connect deeply with Emri or her motivations. I'm not sure if it was the pacing or the narration, but I wasn't able to really immerse myself into the storyline the way I like to. The storyline is certainly unique and I know that this book will have many fans, especially in queer teen fantasy lovers.

I would recommend this book to fans of "The Phoenix King" and similar fantasy novels that have a strong historical fiction atmosphere with elements of fantasy.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Helen Corcoran, and Bolinda Audio for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

[melis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me just preface this by saying that I absolutely love Queen of Coin and Whispers, so naturally, Daughter of Winter and Twilight was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023, and it did not disappoint. I was hooked from the first page, I thoroughly enjoyed returning to this intricately built world, seeing the familiar places in a different light and discovering so many new details about the world.
Helen Corcoran created wonderfully layered characters—the main cast stole my heart and I loved seeing them develop throughout the course of the book. I cannot talk about the characters without mentioning Lia and Xania, who were one of the many highlights of the book for me. Seeing them again fourteen years after the events of Queen of Coin and Whispers, watching them navigate queenship, motherhood and their relationship was delightful. This brings me to another highlight: the relationships between the characters. This book explored many relationships—between mothers and their daughters, estranged cousins or among a group of young royals, and each one was touching and beautifully written.
With intricate worldbuilding, layered characters and a gripping plot, Daughter of Winter and Twilight is a very enjoyable and moving read that I would recommend to all YA Fantasy readers.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and The O'Brien Press for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review