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Windsong
Life doesn’t wait for tears to finish.
Eighteen-year-old Roxana Welhaven has lived her life by this motto. When her mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Roxana swallows her tears and vows to do whatever is necessary to save her.
Even if it means making a deal with a talking polar bear.
The bear offers to cure her mother, but only if Roxana lives with him for one year. When she agrees, the bear whisks Roxana through a portal to another world and gives her lavish accommodations in an enchanted castle. Although she’s determined to serve her year and return home, the impatient and high-strung Roxana finds her heart drawn to the bear’s tranquil nature. He’s compassionate, clumsy and utterly adorable.
He's also a cursed man, trapped inside a bear’s body.
True love won’t be enough to break his enchantment. To save him, Roxana must embark on a treacherous quest to find his captor, a journey that will lead her east of the sun and west of the moon.
A retelling of the Norwegian fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon.
Eighteen-year-old Roxana Welhaven has lived her life by this motto. When her mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Roxana swallows her tears and vows to do whatever is necessary to save her.
Even if it means making a deal with a talking polar bear.
The bear offers to cure her mother, but only if Roxana lives with him for one year. When she agrees, the bear whisks Roxana through a portal to another world and gives her lavish accommodations in an enchanted castle. Although she’s determined to serve her year and return home, the impatient and high-strung Roxana finds her heart drawn to the bear’s tranquil nature. He’s compassionate, clumsy and utterly adorable.
He's also a cursed man, trapped inside a bear’s body.
True love won’t be enough to break his enchantment. To save him, Roxana must embark on a treacherous quest to find his captor, a journey that will lead her east of the sun and west of the moon.
A retelling of the Norwegian fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon.
ebook
Published June 29, 2022
37 people are currently reading
911 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie E. Donohue
6 books47 followersAdequate author. Amateur graphic designer. Awesome cat mom.
Stephanie enjoys writing stories that take readers on gritty, exciting and dangerous adventures (with some swoon-worthy romance, of course!)
When she’s not writing, she can usually be found cuddling with her two cats, obsessively re-watching The Office, or rocking out to a Pound Fitness class.
Stephanie enjoys writing stories that take readers on gritty, exciting and dangerous adventures (with some swoon-worthy romance, of course!)
When she’s not writing, she can usually be found cuddling with her two cats, obsessively re-watching The Office, or rocking out to a Pound Fitness class.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
July 26, 2022
Life doesn't wait for tears to finish. I had a job to do now. A mission. I would cry when it was over.
4.25 stars
I was in a slump when I picked this book, days before it was scheduled on my TBR. And I am very happy that I did. Not only did this book end my slump, I also loved it so much that I went from not being able to read to not being able to put it down. It was that good.
Summary
Roxana's life has always been on the decline, and it came to a halt when she learned that her mother has lung cancer. Leaving everything behind, she returns home to take care of her mother and that is where she meets a talking polar bear, who promises to cure her mother in exchange for living with him for a year. Not being able to believe her eyes and ears, she does what she always does, taking decisions impulsively and without thinking it through. She agrees to the deal.
A retelling of the Norwegian fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon. We see Roxana in the magical world and her quests and battles to save the bear from his curse.
Writing, plot and pacing
The writing is so beautiful and easy to get into that it sets the whole pace for the book as not too fast but not slow either. This book's first half resembles Beauty and the Beast, my favorite fairy-tale, but it gets darker and darker till the end. I adored the storyline as well as the magic and fantasy setting.
Characters
Roxana is loyal and fierce. She learned to fight so that she could save her friend from getting bullied. She got into trouble in school and got expelled for saving her friend. She took the impossible deal to save her mother from dying. She would do anything for the people she loves, even if she sabotages herself and her future in the process. By giving us glimpses into Roxana's former life and then bringing those traits into the present, the author convincingly established Roxana's character.
At the same time, The Bear is the most gentle, caring, and patient being. And when I got to know his story, the first question that came to my mind, and to Roxana's as well, was how can he be so caring and kind after all he has been through? And that's the beauty of this book. It has established various characters throughout the book, and all are so lovable and admirable that I could not help but root for them.
I recommend it to anyone and everyone who is into fairytales, but please check the trigger warnings first.
Thank you Stephanie E. Donohue for the free e-book, in return of my honest review.
4.25 stars
I was in a slump when I picked this book, days before it was scheduled on my TBR. And I am very happy that I did. Not only did this book end my slump, I also loved it so much that I went from not being able to read to not being able to put it down. It was that good.
Summary
Roxana's life has always been on the decline, and it came to a halt when she learned that her mother has lung cancer. Leaving everything behind, she returns home to take care of her mother and that is where she meets a talking polar bear, who promises to cure her mother in exchange for living with him for a year. Not being able to believe her eyes and ears, she does what she always does, taking decisions impulsively and without thinking it through. She agrees to the deal.
A retelling of the Norwegian fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon. We see Roxana in the magical world and her quests and battles to save the bear from his curse.
Writing, plot and pacing
The writing is so beautiful and easy to get into that it sets the whole pace for the book as not too fast but not slow either. This book's first half resembles Beauty and the Beast, my favorite fairy-tale, but it gets darker and darker till the end. I adored the storyline as well as the magic and fantasy setting.
Characters
Roxana is loyal and fierce. She learned to fight so that she could save her friend from getting bullied. She got into trouble in school and got expelled for saving her friend. She took the impossible deal to save her mother from dying. She would do anything for the people she loves, even if she sabotages herself and her future in the process. By giving us glimpses into Roxana's former life and then bringing those traits into the present, the author convincingly established Roxana's character.
At the same time, The Bear is the most gentle, caring, and patient being. And when I got to know his story, the first question that came to my mind, and to Roxana's as well, was how can he be so caring and kind after all he has been through? And that's the beauty of this book. It has established various characters throughout the book, and all are so lovable and admirable that I could not help but root for them.
I recommend it to anyone and everyone who is into fairytales, but please check the trigger warnings first.
Thank you Stephanie E. Donohue for the free e-book, in return of my honest review.
July 29, 2022
First of all thank you Katieandbreyapa and Stephanie E. Donohue for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved this book. The characters and the story were incredible. The book had a great plot and twist I did no see coming.
Ok, so the books follows Roxana. An 18 year old that just graduated high-school. There she was prompt to get into fights to protect her best friend from bullies. Now, she is all alone when she and her sisters find out that her mother has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But something magical happens, a polar bear appears and offered her a deal. A year of her live living with him in a magical land and he will cure her mother. She doesn’t think it twice, and once in a castle cursed by winter she will have to face numerous situation on her search for answers and understanding whats going on.
The main character is incredible. It’s really easy to relate to her reactions and way of thinking. She gives a lot of pop-culture references and makes the story interesting and funny. The bear is also nice, he’s secrets are the main part of the story. He faces a lot of inner struggles when it comes to relate with Roxana and the world around them.
The plot begins Interesting and only intensifies. The story moves in a fast space and has an incredible narration. A book I would gladly read again.
I really loved this book. The characters and the story were incredible. The book had a great plot and twist I did no see coming.
Ok, so the books follows Roxana. An 18 year old that just graduated high-school. There she was prompt to get into fights to protect her best friend from bullies. Now, she is all alone when she and her sisters find out that her mother has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But something magical happens, a polar bear appears and offered her a deal. A year of her live living with him in a magical land and he will cure her mother. She doesn’t think it twice, and once in a castle cursed by winter she will have to face numerous situation on her search for answers and understanding whats going on.
The main character is incredible. It’s really easy to relate to her reactions and way of thinking. She gives a lot of pop-culture references and makes the story interesting and funny. The bear is also nice, he’s secrets are the main part of the story. He faces a lot of inner struggles when it comes to relate with Roxana and the world around them.
The plot begins Interesting and only intensifies. The story moves in a fast space and has an incredible narration. A book I would gladly read again.
June 2, 2022
4⭐ - I liked it a lot!
Received an ARC for honest review.
I was not familiar with the Norwegian tale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon", which this book was inspired from, but I did my research, to learn a bit more.
The story is very similar to Beauty and the beast, at least the first 1/3, then it takes the story to a very different direction, more loyal to the East of the sun story.
(If my sources are right, Beauty and the Beast story came out first)
I LOVE Beauty and the beast retellings, so that made me love this from the start too.
The writing was good and easy, characters interesting and the world new.
I'm not sure if this is suppose to be a YA or an Adult book, but it defenitely read like YA.
The pacing took a bit of a hit in the middle, the story dragged a bit and I found it boring, but it got interesting again quite a soon.
The ending was a bit too anticlimatic, but still nicely done.
Overall a very good story, a new type of a fairy tale I'm sure not that many are familiar with.
Defenitely would recommend to people who like fairy tale retellings 😊💕
Received an ARC for honest review.
I was not familiar with the Norwegian tale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon", which this book was inspired from, but I did my research, to learn a bit more.
The story is very similar to Beauty and the beast, at least the first 1/3, then it takes the story to a very different direction, more loyal to the East of the sun story.
(If my sources are right, Beauty and the Beast story came out first)
I LOVE Beauty and the beast retellings, so that made me love this from the start too.
The writing was good and easy, characters interesting and the world new.
I'm not sure if this is suppose to be a YA or an Adult book, but it defenitely read like YA.
The pacing took a bit of a hit in the middle, the story dragged a bit and I found it boring, but it got interesting again quite a soon.
The ending was a bit too anticlimatic, but still nicely done.
Overall a very good story, a new type of a fairy tale I'm sure not that many are familiar with.
Defenitely would recommend to people who like fairy tale retellings 😊💕
November 17, 2022
⭐️ 3 stars
I read this book in nearly one sitting and came to a conclusion very quickly: this could have been a much better book with a hefty dose of editing.
The bones of a great story are there, but they're buried underneath amateur writing and execution.
This is honestly the East of the Sun and West of the Moon retelling I've always wanted, complete with a feisty heroine and such an imaginative world. It's action-packed but has some lovely emotional moments. I would argue that the romance is not at the forefront of the plot, but it's enjoyable nonetheless.
I just wish someone had helped Donohue fully whittle this story into the masterpiece it could be. I think with a little more experience and a better editor, this author could do great things – and I hope to see that happen.
I read this book in nearly one sitting and came to a conclusion very quickly: this could have been a much better book with a hefty dose of editing.
The bones of a great story are there, but they're buried underneath amateur writing and execution.
This is honestly the East of the Sun and West of the Moon retelling I've always wanted, complete with a feisty heroine and such an imaginative world. It's action-packed but has some lovely emotional moments. I would argue that the romance is not at the forefront of the plot, but it's enjoyable nonetheless.
I just wish someone had helped Donohue fully whittle this story into the masterpiece it could be. I think with a little more experience and a better editor, this author could do great things – and I hope to see that happen.
May 17, 2022
ARC Review
Highlights:
🌟East of the Sun, West of the Moon is one of my favorite fairy tale retellings, but I personally haven’t seen a lot of adult retellings of this particular fairytale, so I was excited to find WindSong! I really enjoyed that this kept the fairytale feel while also covering some more intense topics/content.
🌟I also enjoy seeing this tale done as a portal fantasy.
🌟One of the things I enjoyed about this was that it had a lot of twists on the original while staying true to the story; definitely one thing I look for in a retelling.
🌟This was definitely very action-packed, which gave the story a nice pacing.
🌟The romance between Eirick and Roxana was enjoyable. They were total opposites but they worked together.
🌟Roxana goes through a lot of growth in the story, while still staying true to herself.
If your looking for an action packed, romantic, and unique retelling of this particular fairytale (that includes a super lovable hero), I definitely recommend this!
CW: Violence/Gore
Highlights:
🌟East of the Sun, West of the Moon is one of my favorite fairy tale retellings, but I personally haven’t seen a lot of adult retellings of this particular fairytale, so I was excited to find WindSong! I really enjoyed that this kept the fairytale feel while also covering some more intense topics/content.
🌟I also enjoy seeing this tale done as a portal fantasy.
🌟One of the things I enjoyed about this was that it had a lot of twists on the original while staying true to the story; definitely one thing I look for in a retelling.
🌟This was definitely very action-packed, which gave the story a nice pacing.
🌟The romance between Eirick and Roxana was enjoyable. They were total opposites but they worked together.
🌟Roxana goes through a lot of growth in the story, while still staying true to herself.
If your looking for an action packed, romantic, and unique retelling of this particular fairytale (that includes a super lovable hero), I definitely recommend this!
CW: Violence/Gore
July 1, 2022
I could not put this book down! I finished it in less than 24 hours. The FMC is honestly hilarious and reminds me so much of my younger self. It also reminded me a little of Beauty and the Beast which could be why I liked it so much.
This is a story of curses, lost love, emotional growth and found love. This will be a new go-to comfort read for me. It's fast-paced and makes me feel all cozy inside even though there are plenty of parts to this story that are not cozy. I highly recommend!
This is a story of curses, lost love, emotional growth and found love. This will be a new go-to comfort read for me. It's fast-paced and makes me feel all cozy inside even though there are plenty of parts to this story that are not cozy. I highly recommend!
July 14, 2022
What a debut! Windsong is a wonderfully told folk tale. I loved the contemporary spin Donohue added to this retelling. It really brings the reader into the story. Everything was done right. From characters to world-building and adventure to angst. I really felt for Roxana so deeply. This is one of the best stories I've read in a long time.
March 30, 2024
First: the cover is misleading, making you think the heroine is some kid of Victorian woman. She’s not. Second: I could never related to disrespectful piece of white trash. How is she a hero? She lies half the time she opens her mouth. She’s insulting the other half of the time. Is her stubbornness supposed to be her best quality? I don’t see it. And she left Vidar to die alone. The story is disjointed and unsatisfying.
July 22, 2022
"But… life doesn’t wait for tears to finish."
"Once you lost your heart to someone, there was no getting it back. And there was no way to keep it from getting pulverized."
Roxana Welhaven is a strong willed 18 year old who always tries to be tough and defend everyone she loves with an undying devotion. So when her mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she's given an unbelievable deal from an unbelievable source. A talking polar bear tells her he will cure her mother if she comes and lives with him for 1 year. She can't refuse, so the polar bear takes her to a magical portal to another world, his world, and his enchanted castle. Though she is eager to get this over with, she is drawn to the kindness and compassion of the bear, and forms a friendship with him beyond words. She soon discovers the bear is a cursed man, trapped for centuries in a bears body, and it isn't true love that will break this curse. Roxana must embark on a treacherous and heartbreaking journey with strange help along the way, to save her bear and learn more of herself then she ever knew before.
You guys!! This book! I loved it so much! The storyline, the characters and their development, and the plots and their twists! Instantly i thought ok cool another beauty and the beast type retelling! I always love those! But it continued to twist and turn in ways I didn't see coming! Aside from the main characters constant use of "ain't" (yes i know they use that lingo in Kansas, where she's from, it just really distracted me!) I absolutely adored her and she was an amazing female lead!
Thank you so much for letting me be apart of this team!
I give Windsong by Stephanie E. Donohue ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Once you lost your heart to someone, there was no getting it back. And there was no way to keep it from getting pulverized."
Roxana Welhaven is a strong willed 18 year old who always tries to be tough and defend everyone she loves with an undying devotion. So when her mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she's given an unbelievable deal from an unbelievable source. A talking polar bear tells her he will cure her mother if she comes and lives with him for 1 year. She can't refuse, so the polar bear takes her to a magical portal to another world, his world, and his enchanted castle. Though she is eager to get this over with, she is drawn to the kindness and compassion of the bear, and forms a friendship with him beyond words. She soon discovers the bear is a cursed man, trapped for centuries in a bears body, and it isn't true love that will break this curse. Roxana must embark on a treacherous and heartbreaking journey with strange help along the way, to save her bear and learn more of herself then she ever knew before.
You guys!! This book! I loved it so much! The storyline, the characters and their development, and the plots and their twists! Instantly i thought ok cool another beauty and the beast type retelling! I always love those! But it continued to twist and turn in ways I didn't see coming! Aside from the main characters constant use of "ain't" (yes i know they use that lingo in Kansas, where she's from, it just really distracted me!) I absolutely adored her and she was an amazing female lead!
Thank you so much for letting me be apart of this team!
I give Windsong by Stephanie E. Donohue ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 25, 2022
I really enjoyed Windsong, I loved the dynamics between the two main characters Roxana and The Bear as well as the other characters throughout book. I love how this author told this story, you could never be sure if things were what you thought because as quickly as you think you have it all figured out... BAM, reality is you really had no idea!!!
Roxana doesn't believe in magic, she lives in the real world where she is considered trailer trash because she's always been poor and lived in a single wide trailer with her mom and six sisters. Roxana's life spirals out of control when her mom finds out she's dying, with only weeks to live. Suddenly, this polar bear shows up asking Roxana to trust him enough to walk away from everything and everyone she knows to go with the bear and he will save her mom and make her siblings lives better than before. But will she walk away from her mom when her mom was only given a few weeks to live??
This book took me by surprise, I wasn't sure I would really like it but I actually enjoyed it a lot. I swept up in the castle, the magic and how it was almost like a fairy tale and of course every fairy tale has to have a villain. The Villian in this book does NOT disappoint... this author will have you biting your nails, terrified and yet you can't stop reading!!
July 12, 2022
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!
I feel as though words aren’t enough to express my love for this story!
Roxana…oh how I loved this kick-ass, but emotionally stunted woman! I loved her loyalty and how she would give her life to protect those she cared about. I loved her relationship with her mother. I loved how she came to love “the bear” even before he became a man. She is definitely a favorite mc of mine!
This is a retelling of a story I’ve never heard of, East of The Sun and West of The Moon. It reminded me of that movie, The Ice Queen, it’s not completely the same, but that’s what I thought of.
This is Donohue’s debut novel, I think, and I’m super impressed with her writing! The world of Jedria, the amazing characters, the flow of the plot…everything was so well done! I would LOVE to see this on the big screen. Although they’d HAVE to stay true to the book. But I feel like I was there, in that world, with those characters, and it was AMAZING! This is definitely a reread book, whenever I need a pick-me-up. If you love Fantasy, Retellings, Magic, curses, lots of action and adventure, with some pretty cool creatures, then you will love Windsong!!
I feel as though words aren’t enough to express my love for this story!
Roxana…oh how I loved this kick-ass, but emotionally stunted woman! I loved her loyalty and how she would give her life to protect those she cared about. I loved her relationship with her mother. I loved how she came to love “the bear” even before he became a man. She is definitely a favorite mc of mine!
This is a retelling of a story I’ve never heard of, East of The Sun and West of The Moon. It reminded me of that movie, The Ice Queen, it’s not completely the same, but that’s what I thought of.
This is Donohue’s debut novel, I think, and I’m super impressed with her writing! The world of Jedria, the amazing characters, the flow of the plot…everything was so well done! I would LOVE to see this on the big screen. Although they’d HAVE to stay true to the book. But I feel like I was there, in that world, with those characters, and it was AMAZING! This is definitely a reread book, whenever I need a pick-me-up. If you love Fantasy, Retellings, Magic, curses, lots of action and adventure, with some pretty cool creatures, then you will love Windsong!!
July 26, 2023
This was so magical and I loved it! I had never heard of the myth this retelling is based on but it was like Beauty & The Beast with a bit of The Chronicles of Narnia/Return to Oz mixed in! It was such a fun adventure! I like Eirik (who I lovingly named Mr. Polar Bear) and Roxana as characters - she was a tough spitfire! I loved the blend of Roxana’s life in the present with the fantastical world she is brought into. I thought the writing was so fun, I laughed a lot since this is in Roxana’s pov and she is trying to understand the new world around her, and by doing so she makes references to things in our world that we realistically would, haha! My main issue was her language - too much taking the Lord’s name in vain, but that’s just me haha. This book also had not just elements of fantasy, but horror as well, which took me by surprise! It had it’s creepy moments but I enjoyed it all!! Overall, this is a 4.5 star read for me. I thought it was a wonderful journey and an amazing debut!! 🐻❄️🏰❄️💚
July 17, 2022
Windsong is a retelling of beauty of the beast but also is based off a Norwegian tale " "East of the Sun and West of the Moon". The story is good with lots of twists, enjoyable romance, and lots of action. It’s not your normal fairytale has a more gothic style. If you love a strong main character you will find that in this book. It was a great read that I couldn’t put down. Would recommend this to anyone who likes retellings and who enjoys dark twists added.
July 25, 2022
Who knew I needed a polar bear boyfriend 🤷♀️
This story was a little slow initially (due to world building and creating the foundation) but it was still well-paced. Once part 2 started though, that’s where the adventure and action was! And how cute is it that a big “scary” polar bear loves romance novels??? 🥰
This is a retelling of the Norwegian fairytale East of the Sun and West of the Moon with a dark twist.
*I received an ARC for an honest review*
This story was a little slow initially (due to world building and creating the foundation) but it was still well-paced. Once part 2 started though, that’s where the adventure and action was! And how cute is it that a big “scary” polar bear loves romance novels??? 🥰
This is a retelling of the Norwegian fairytale East of the Sun and West of the Moon with a dark twist.
*I received an ARC for an honest review*
June 7, 2023
A welcome surprise
I read a lot of these independent author fairy tale retellings. A lot. This one isn’t the best one, but it’s the best one for what I expected going in. The fairy tale chosen is one of the more uncommon ones and is very well done. Our heroine is fun, with a bit of a mouth - but it’s clever rather than dirty like most modern heroines. Our hero is a little too perfect but we will give it a pass. Great fantasy world too.
I read a lot of these independent author fairy tale retellings. A lot. This one isn’t the best one, but it’s the best one for what I expected going in. The fairy tale chosen is one of the more uncommon ones and is very well done. Our heroine is fun, with a bit of a mouth - but it’s clever rather than dirty like most modern heroines. Our hero is a little too perfect but we will give it a pass. Great fantasy world too.
January 27, 2025
Unfortunately this one didn’t take off for me.
Such a beautiful cover! Sadly, it is completely deceiving. The silhouette within the bear depicts an elegant, well-mannered and feminine woman. Definitely not our FMC. Why didn’t the cover artist design a sassy Kansas girl wearing the clothes she actually wore in the book? It was a cool idea—love the silhouette—but it didn’t match the character and that really bugged me.
I found myself annoyed with Roxana the entire time. Her personality, the way that she spoke, and pretty much all of her decisions did not make sense to me. Much of the book is full of garbage language that made me cringe. It wasn’t funny for me, it was cheap and distracting, and left little for me to admire or appreciate about her.
There is an unexpected amount of gore and violence in this book that didn’t really integrate well with the story… I feel like the book took a very dramatic shift at Part 2 that just went completely downhill for me. Carnivorous horse? Gross. When we get to gory details about eating raw meat and battling zombies I just sorta…didn’t want to finish it.
Also I feel like part 2 was so unnecessarily long and drawn out and borrrrring. I pretty much skipped right through.
I’m not against some gore and language when it is well-written and intentionally done with the right timing. It just was not well executed and I think the editor missed a lot on this one.
Also wtf happened to poor Robbie?? Like her bff has a VERY small part. Did Donahue forget about him? Also a lot of loose ends with the bully Chris. Surely there should have been more there to tie the beginning to the end. Couldn’t we get a glimpse into the consequence of other choices people made?
I wanted soooo much more of Rox & Eirick. It was like eating a brownie that you thought had sugar in it but it just…didn’t. We had just a tiny bit of sweetness and then a cliched ending. Their relationship never really took off. It was just flat and blaaaaah to me. No real fire or excitement there
SPOILER AHEAD:
How did he not protect her from the little demons that were getting her in her sleep? Like he was right next to her….why didn’t he do more to comfort her? Or use his powerful polar bear magic ✨
I know that our girl Roxanna is a strong protagonist who don’t need no man but MAN that got old. What happened to letting a man protect you every once in a while. He was just kind of a cowardly pushover.
Okay so the curse’s rule said she couldn’t see his face at night but I don’t remember it saying she couldn’t hear his voice? Did I miss that? Maybe I missed that. 🤔
So disappointing that he never gets his memory back!? Like isn’t he supposed to be a powerful wizard king that can do pretty much anything? IMO It would have been such an incredible scene for him to suddenly remember everything at a pivotal moment and realize why he had fallen in love with her in the first place.
I feel pretty let down by this one :( but I hope our girl keeps writing because there is potential here!!!!
Such a beautiful cover! Sadly, it is completely deceiving. The silhouette within the bear depicts an elegant, well-mannered and feminine woman. Definitely not our FMC. Why didn’t the cover artist design a sassy Kansas girl wearing the clothes she actually wore in the book? It was a cool idea—love the silhouette—but it didn’t match the character and that really bugged me.
I found myself annoyed with Roxana the entire time. Her personality, the way that she spoke, and pretty much all of her decisions did not make sense to me. Much of the book is full of garbage language that made me cringe. It wasn’t funny for me, it was cheap and distracting, and left little for me to admire or appreciate about her.
There is an unexpected amount of gore and violence in this book that didn’t really integrate well with the story… I feel like the book took a very dramatic shift at Part 2 that just went completely downhill for me. Carnivorous horse? Gross. When we get to gory details about eating raw meat and battling zombies I just sorta…didn’t want to finish it.
Also I feel like part 2 was so unnecessarily long and drawn out and borrrrring. I pretty much skipped right through.
I’m not against some gore and language when it is well-written and intentionally done with the right timing. It just was not well executed and I think the editor missed a lot on this one.
Also wtf happened to poor Robbie?? Like her bff has a VERY small part. Did Donahue forget about him? Also a lot of loose ends with the bully Chris. Surely there should have been more there to tie the beginning to the end. Couldn’t we get a glimpse into the consequence of other choices people made?
I wanted soooo much more of Rox & Eirick. It was like eating a brownie that you thought had sugar in it but it just…didn’t. We had just a tiny bit of sweetness and then a cliched ending. Their relationship never really took off. It was just flat and blaaaaah to me. No real fire or excitement there
SPOILER AHEAD:
How did he not protect her from the little demons that were getting her in her sleep? Like he was right next to her….why didn’t he do more to comfort her? Or use his powerful polar bear magic ✨
I know that our girl Roxanna is a strong protagonist who don’t need no man but MAN that got old. What happened to letting a man protect you every once in a while. He was just kind of a cowardly pushover.
Okay so the curse’s rule said she couldn’t see his face at night but I don’t remember it saying she couldn’t hear his voice? Did I miss that? Maybe I missed that. 🤔
So disappointing that he never gets his memory back!? Like isn’t he supposed to be a powerful wizard king that can do pretty much anything? IMO It would have been such an incredible scene for him to suddenly remember everything at a pivotal moment and realize why he had fallen in love with her in the first place.
I feel pretty let down by this one :( but I hope our girl keeps writing because there is potential here!!!!
July 9, 2022
My very first ARC and I must say Ms Stephanie, I am not disappointed in the slightest.
This is a modern retelling of a Norwegian folklore that features a cursed Prince of a magical land far, far away, who needs the help of a young lady to break the curse and free him and his people from a sinister force.
I loved the depictions and the narrative of the author, who is truly gifted in describing every scene and emotion so vividly that you can feel the chill of the winter land of Jedria. Roxana Wellhaven and The Bear each holds personalities and characteristics that are very individualistic yet complementing to each other. I do believe, as I did, that you will form your own opinion of them as you read this book. But you will see how their dynamics work.
My full review is on my blog https://wintersbookreviews.wordpress....
This is a modern retelling of a Norwegian folklore that features a cursed Prince of a magical land far, far away, who needs the help of a young lady to break the curse and free him and his people from a sinister force.
I loved the depictions and the narrative of the author, who is truly gifted in describing every scene and emotion so vividly that you can feel the chill of the winter land of Jedria. Roxana Wellhaven and The Bear each holds personalities and characteristics that are very individualistic yet complementing to each other. I do believe, as I did, that you will form your own opinion of them as you read this book. But you will see how their dynamics work.
My full review is on my blog https://wintersbookreviews.wordpress....
March 4, 2023
I was really under the impression that this would be a Young adult fantasy, and I was expecting a lot more from the book. And I still enjoyed it, but there were some things that faltered. There were a few cliches or so in the book, and it seemed a bit off putting. Especially in the end. I could have sworn there is. And what made me cringe was when Roxana literally told her mother about her the bear and Jedria. Like... I didn't think her mother would buy into it. I just think it's unrealistic. To me, that is. And I didn't understand why Roxana had to go out of her way to run away from home and work at a tavern, where she felt miserable. And for what? She wasn't able to tell her mother what was going on so she wouldn't get hurt?
And I also don't get why her best friend left and didn't say a word to her? I would like to know why he avoided her. Or maybe it was self explanatory? It would be nice if they featured him again, and he could explain things. It would be nice, but that's just my opinion.
Oh, and I feel like I was reading more of NA or Adult fantasy book, but the main character is a bit more angst. Oh, and not to mention there was some horror stuff in the book which I did not expect. At least the writer did a good job describing the scenes too well.
So I have to give it 2.5 stars because of all those reasons. I mean, I did like some moments here and there, I just wished it could've been better. But if you love books that I have some cliches and horror in them, feel free to check it out. I'm not trying to be harsh, and I don't like to give a bad review, but these are my thoughts upon the book. But I hope you guys enjoy it better than I did.
And I also don't get why her best friend left and didn't say a word to her? I would like to know why he avoided her. Or maybe it was self explanatory? It would be nice if they featured him again, and he could explain things. It would be nice, but that's just my opinion.
Oh, and I feel like I was reading more of NA or Adult fantasy book, but the main character is a bit more angst. Oh, and not to mention there was some horror stuff in the book which I did not expect. At least the writer did a good job describing the scenes too well.
So I have to give it 2.5 stars because of all those reasons. I mean, I did like some moments here and there, I just wished it could've been better. But if you love books that I have some cliches and horror in them, feel free to check it out. I'm not trying to be harsh, and I don't like to give a bad review, but these are my thoughts upon the book. But I hope you guys enjoy it better than I did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2022
Oh my GAWD. Where to start. SO this book was an emotional rollercoaster. This is an adult retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon, and I wasn't familiar with that fairytale before reading this book, which meant the entire thing was a surprise to me. It was darker than I expected, which was oddly refreshing, as I tend to read a lot of floofy books.
I was instantly connected—and I mean within the first few lines—to the MC, Roxana. She's tough and hardened, and she was crafted with a super voice-y narrative, which I love in my books. It's the kind of book where you feel like you're sitting on the narrator's shoulder through the entire thing, and she's got little thoughts scattered throughout the book to solidify her character. She's a firecracker, and there were many times I found myself chuckling over the things she said.
"Tell me, child, do you have secret powers lurking within you?"
"Does sarcasm count?"
The book is broken into four parts, and I'm going to try to write this review without completely spoiling them. I ADORED the first part. Because I wasn't familiar with the story this is based off, I got almost Beauty and the Beast vibes, which I loved, and who knew I could become emotionally attached to a polar bear?! But ugh, what a sweetheart!!!! This is a bit of a grumpy x sunshine romance, but with so, so much more to it. That first part had me confused in the best way and just dying to know what was going on as it got increasingly darker. The gore was very well done and had purpose, and the atmosphere was so effective that I felt like I was physically experiencing the cold and emptiness lit by a small flame that was the bear and Roxana in the middle of this big, lonely world.
Part two was so exhausting. Not in a bad way. Not like it was hard or tiresome to read, but in that I felt every ounce of Roxana's struggle. Everything she went through on her journey. Her pain and hardship, both physically and mentally. There were so many times I flipped back to see how many chapters were in this book because I feared for her!! I was gripping my Kindle, just trying to funnel power into her to keep her going.
Part three was super intense and fast-paced, and not how I expected it to go AT ALL. And this is where the whole emotional rollercoaster thing really began to amp up because I was so, so worried that things were not going to turn out how I wanted them to, and it was more than once. It was like watching an intense movie and covering your eyes and bracing yourself for what you think is going to happen. And the imagery in the aftermath of it all was super impactful—the outcome of all Roxana had been through over this long journey. It's so symbolic—the way this all started out as a small bubble of warmth in the middle of a big, lonely world and ended with a small fractured heart alone in the middle of a warm, beautiful place.
And then part four. Thank freaking GAWD for part four. That's all I'm going to say about that.
This was an INTENSE book. This was an INTRIGUING book. This was an EMOTIONAL book. Yes, for an MC so averse to emotional vulnerability, I felt so much emotion woven through the pages. There is magic and romance, and I enjoyed learning about the history of Jedria, but it was so much more than that. Roxana's connection to her family. The way a heart remembers when the mind cannot. The reason Eirik chose her in the first place. So many layers here to be uncovered.
I will never look at polar bears the same way again.
I was instantly connected—and I mean within the first few lines—to the MC, Roxana. She's tough and hardened, and she was crafted with a super voice-y narrative, which I love in my books. It's the kind of book where you feel like you're sitting on the narrator's shoulder through the entire thing, and she's got little thoughts scattered throughout the book to solidify her character. She's a firecracker, and there were many times I found myself chuckling over the things she said.
"Tell me, child, do you have secret powers lurking within you?"
"Does sarcasm count?"
The book is broken into four parts, and I'm going to try to write this review without completely spoiling them. I ADORED the first part. Because I wasn't familiar with the story this is based off, I got almost Beauty and the Beast vibes, which I loved, and who knew I could become emotionally attached to a polar bear?! But ugh, what a sweetheart!!!! This is a bit of a grumpy x sunshine romance, but with so, so much more to it. That first part had me confused in the best way and just dying to know what was going on as it got increasingly darker. The gore was very well done and had purpose, and the atmosphere was so effective that I felt like I was physically experiencing the cold and emptiness lit by a small flame that was the bear and Roxana in the middle of this big, lonely world.
Part two was so exhausting. Not in a bad way. Not like it was hard or tiresome to read, but in that I felt every ounce of Roxana's struggle. Everything she went through on her journey. Her pain and hardship, both physically and mentally. There were so many times I flipped back to see how many chapters were in this book because I feared for her!! I was gripping my Kindle, just trying to funnel power into her to keep her going.
Part three was super intense and fast-paced, and not how I expected it to go AT ALL. And this is where the whole emotional rollercoaster thing really began to amp up because I was so, so worried that things were not going to turn out how I wanted them to, and it was more than once. It was like watching an intense movie and covering your eyes and bracing yourself for what you think is going to happen. And the imagery in the aftermath of it all was super impactful—the outcome of all Roxana had been through over this long journey. It's so symbolic—the way this all started out as a small bubble of warmth in the middle of a big, lonely world and ended with a small fractured heart alone in the middle of a warm, beautiful place.
And then part four. Thank freaking GAWD for part four. That's all I'm going to say about that.
This was an INTENSE book. This was an INTRIGUING book. This was an EMOTIONAL book. Yes, for an MC so averse to emotional vulnerability, I felt so much emotion woven through the pages. There is magic and romance, and I enjoyed learning about the history of Jedria, but it was so much more than that. Roxana's connection to her family. The way a heart remembers when the mind cannot. The reason Eirik chose her in the first place. So many layers here to be uncovered.
I will never look at polar bears the same way again.
June 14, 2022
First I want to warn you all, this book made me cry multiple times, and I'm not much of a crier. I almost feel like you can't fail when you have fairy tale retellings, and this one feels like it has so many aspects of stories we already know. Like beauty and the beast, and of course the Norwegian Fairytale, East of the Sun, West of the Moon. Roxana is a tough young lady, which if you know me you know I already like her. She's put in a difficult situation and makes difficult choices for the betterment of her family. Along the way she slowly opens her heart to the bear and his meat eating horse friend, Vidar.
The book is broken up into four parts, which help with the organization of the story. My neurodiverse brain loves organization, ya'll. Part one was Roxana and the bear getting to know each other, and this bear...you guys. He is an absolute clumsy, adorable sweetheart. The book starts to take a darker turn, but you really aren't told why. Part two the darkness really creeps in, and Roxana is given an out, but she refuses to take it. Part three is where the difficulty really reigns in and Vidar and Roxanna become inseparable on their journey. How am I supposed to adore a frightening meat eating horse...but I do. Every girl needs a scary horse. Part four ties the story up, but I won't tell you more than that.
I found it easy to get pulled into this book. Stephanie Donahue is brilliant at playing with reader's emotions and making us feel deep connections with her characters. Get ready to fall in love with all the characters, and maybe even feel a little bad for the villain in the story too. This is a book that I will likely reread when I need to get away from life, and my re-read list is very very small.
The book is broken up into four parts, which help with the organization of the story. My neurodiverse brain loves organization, ya'll. Part one was Roxana and the bear getting to know each other, and this bear...you guys. He is an absolute clumsy, adorable sweetheart. The book starts to take a darker turn, but you really aren't told why. Part two the darkness really creeps in, and Roxana is given an out, but she refuses to take it. Part three is where the difficulty really reigns in and Vidar and Roxanna become inseparable on their journey. How am I supposed to adore a frightening meat eating horse...but I do. Every girl needs a scary horse. Part four ties the story up, but I won't tell you more than that.
I found it easy to get pulled into this book. Stephanie Donahue is brilliant at playing with reader's emotions and making us feel deep connections with her characters. Get ready to fall in love with all the characters, and maybe even feel a little bad for the villain in the story too. This is a book that I will likely reread when I need to get away from life, and my re-read list is very very small.
June 6, 2022
Actual rating: 🌟4.7/5
Disclaimer: I willingly volunteered to receive this ARC and in exchange I am to give my 100% honest review on it. I am not paid at all nor in any way to write this.
~
So first off, this book had me bawling. I never would have thought that I'd cry so much while reading this book. It was just an emotional roller coaster.
I am unfamiliar with the story 'East of the Sun and West of the Moon' but most people would say that it's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I could agree with that but it was not only that for me. It's more of a retelling of the Greek story of Psyche and Eros in my opinion.
We have Roxana who makes a deal with a polar bear to live with him for the next year. However, something happens and the girl has to go thru a journey to rescue the bear, where she experiences loss, pain, self-discovery and growth.
The bear is the sweetest guy ever. He's so sweet up to the point that he's just wholesome. He's also a bit of a klutz and his personality is the total opposite of Roxana's. So he's the softie, and she's the hard headed one.
I think that the most important message in this book is that sometimes, it's okay to cry and release all your emotions instead of keeping them to yourself and letting it fester.
One thing I didnt like however was the last chapter, more specifically the epilogue. I'm sorry to say this but it was very underwhelming because it just when all in straight to the point instead of showing, not telling. If the book ended at the last chapter (chapter 39), it would have been so much better.
Disclaimer: I willingly volunteered to receive this ARC and in exchange I am to give my 100% honest review on it. I am not paid at all nor in any way to write this.
~
So first off, this book had me bawling. I never would have thought that I'd cry so much while reading this book. It was just an emotional roller coaster.
I am unfamiliar with the story 'East of the Sun and West of the Moon' but most people would say that it's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I could agree with that but it was not only that for me. It's more of a retelling of the Greek story of Psyche and Eros in my opinion.
We have Roxana who makes a deal with a polar bear to live with him for the next year. However, something happens and the girl has to go thru a journey to rescue the bear, where she experiences loss, pain, self-discovery and growth.
The bear is the sweetest guy ever. He's so sweet up to the point that he's just wholesome. He's also a bit of a klutz and his personality is the total opposite of Roxana's. So he's the softie, and she's the hard headed one.
I think that the most important message in this book is that sometimes, it's okay to cry and release all your emotions instead of keeping them to yourself and letting it fester.
One thing I didnt like however was the last chapter, more specifically the epilogue. I'm sorry to say this but it was very underwhelming because it just when all in straight to the point instead of showing, not telling. If the book ended at the last chapter (chapter 39), it would have been so much better.
May 28, 2022
In this re-imagining of the Norwegian fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon, Roxana agrees to a polar bear's deal; cure her sick mother and help her poor family in exchange for a year of her life. When she agrees, Rox is brought to a new world of magic. Living with the bear is easy; their friendship comes naturally and his empathic abilities see through Rox's tough exterior. But Rox is not thrilled about the *thing* that creeps into her room every night. It keeps her awake and even the bear can see she is suffering. He keeps many secrets, and as Rox's sanity declines, she faces the biggest decision yet...return home to safety, or stay with the bear. His biggest secret is waiting on the horizon, and the reveal will bring Rox's world to its knees.
This was a unique take on the fairy tale that I loved reading when I was younger. Rox is sarcastic, mouthy, and uses the word "ain't" like it's going out of style, but I was rooting for her from page one. Eirik was an enjoyable character as well. Despite the weight of his curse and his kingdom, he still saw to Rox's needs first and kept her as safe as possible. I tore through the story at lightning speed! The side characters were unique and added to the story. Even though I'm terrified of horses, and a carnivorous horse sounds like straight-up nightmare material, Vidar was the exception.
I received an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
This was a unique take on the fairy tale that I loved reading when I was younger. Rox is sarcastic, mouthy, and uses the word "ain't" like it's going out of style, but I was rooting for her from page one. Eirik was an enjoyable character as well. Despite the weight of his curse and his kingdom, he still saw to Rox's needs first and kept her as safe as possible. I tore through the story at lightning speed! The side characters were unique and added to the story. Even though I'm terrified of horses, and a carnivorous horse sounds like straight-up nightmare material, Vidar was the exception.
I received an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
July 16, 2022
📖 𝕖𝔸ℝℂ ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 📖
· · • • • ✤ • • • · ·
𝙏𝙞𝙩𝙡𝙚: 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨
𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧: 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦 𝘌. 𝘋𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘩𝘶𝘦
𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚: 𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘺 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺
𝙋𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨: 380
𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5
𝙎𝙤𝙣𝙜: 𝘌𝘭𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯 - 𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘯 𝘎𝘰 𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘦
· · • • • ✤ • • • · ·
*** Thank you to the author @stephelizabethwrites and @katieandbreypa for giving me a change to read this book.**
___________💭𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜💭_____________
"𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝."
Windsong by Stephanie E. Donohue is a retelling of East of the Sun and West of the Moon. This book took me by surprise I have to admit. I wasn't sure if I would really like it but I actually enjoyed it a lot. I loved Windsong!
Roxanna is a fierce main character who had to learn to let her feelings be felt. When she meets a magical and mysterious polar bear, The Bear, her life changes, and the lives of her suffering family members change for the better as well.
To keep her family safe, Roxanna makes a deal with a polar bear that takes her to a magical winter wonderland full of unique creatures and curses.
This book has all the classic fairy tale elements, but with a horror-type spin on it that I really enjoyed. It gave me, kind of, Beauty and the Best vibes but dark twists inside and I LOVE that. The story itself is full of twists and turns, action, suspense, dark things, but also love and romance.
This book was so good I could NOT put it down until I got to the last page. Highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reteling stories with a dark twists added in.
· · • • • ✤ • • • · ·
𝙏𝙞𝙩𝙡𝙚: 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨
𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧: 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦 𝘌. 𝘋𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘩𝘶𝘦
𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚: 𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘺 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺
𝙋𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨: 380
𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5
𝙎𝙤𝙣𝙜: 𝘌𝘭𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯 - 𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘯 𝘎𝘰 𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘦
· · • • • ✤ • • • · ·
*** Thank you to the author @stephelizabethwrites and @katieandbreypa for giving me a change to read this book.**
___________💭𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜💭_____________
"𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝."
Windsong by Stephanie E. Donohue is a retelling of East of the Sun and West of the Moon. This book took me by surprise I have to admit. I wasn't sure if I would really like it but I actually enjoyed it a lot. I loved Windsong!
Roxanna is a fierce main character who had to learn to let her feelings be felt. When she meets a magical and mysterious polar bear, The Bear, her life changes, and the lives of her suffering family members change for the better as well.
To keep her family safe, Roxanna makes a deal with a polar bear that takes her to a magical winter wonderland full of unique creatures and curses.
This book has all the classic fairy tale elements, but with a horror-type spin on it that I really enjoyed. It gave me, kind of, Beauty and the Best vibes but dark twists inside and I LOVE that. The story itself is full of twists and turns, action, suspense, dark things, but also love and romance.
This book was so good I could NOT put it down until I got to the last page. Highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reteling stories with a dark twists added in.
May 29, 2022
YA fantasy books are not usually a genre I read a lot but I do love a fairytale retelling.. The fairytale elements of this novel are balanced by a very real protagonist. Roxana is a feisty, rough-as-guts character with a heart the size of Kansas. You can’t help liking Roxana, even if her life is a mess and she constantly pushes away those she loves.
This book is a reimagining of the a Norwegian fairytale East of the Sun and West of the moon with a very modern twist. While I am not overly familiar with the original story, the story reminded me of a cross between Beauty and the Beast and The Snow Queen with some strong Chronicles of Narnia vibes.
The story started a little slowly but somewhat necessarily as the information in Part 1 is vital to the story. Once we hit Part 2, the story picks up pace and keeps going right to the end. I would have liked to get to know Eirik’s character more and really would have like to see some more intimate scenes between the two early in their relationship.
Overall, this is a charming story with real characters and a quick, enjoyable read.
Thanks to the author for an advance copy of the book in return for my unbiased review. This review is my own opinion.
This book is a reimagining of the a Norwegian fairytale East of the Sun and West of the moon with a very modern twist. While I am not overly familiar with the original story, the story reminded me of a cross between Beauty and the Beast and The Snow Queen with some strong Chronicles of Narnia vibes.
The story started a little slowly but somewhat necessarily as the information in Part 1 is vital to the story. Once we hit Part 2, the story picks up pace and keeps going right to the end. I would have liked to get to know Eirik’s character more and really would have like to see some more intimate scenes between the two early in their relationship.
Overall, this is a charming story with real characters and a quick, enjoyable read.
Thanks to the author for an advance copy of the book in return for my unbiased review. This review is my own opinion.
October 31, 2024
Oh the emotions I have felt on this journey! This was so beautifully written! The character development was amazing!
I was right there, vividly seeing (and feeling) everything as Rox trekked the frozen land of Jerida.
Jerida, the FMC is feisty and a bit rough around the edges. You will love her while at time also want to knock her upside her head. Haha! She’s fierce and brave. Loyal to a fault for the few she allows close to her heart!
Eirik, the MMC is adorably clumsy and caring- and a bit of a sappy romantic. You’ll fall in love with him from the very beginning.
So you follow Rox as she makes a deal to save her mother and finds herself taken through a magical portal to a land unlike her own. A cursed land. Even though she may not know it yet- they’re hoping she may be their salvation.
I loved this story. I loved this world. And I LOVED the characters. This story was equal parts funny, heart warming and heart breaking. My only complaint is that it ended. I could have followed them on their journey forever. ❤️
I was right there, vividly seeing (and feeling) everything as Rox trekked the frozen land of Jerida.
Jerida, the FMC is feisty and a bit rough around the edges. You will love her while at time also want to knock her upside her head. Haha! She’s fierce and brave. Loyal to a fault for the few she allows close to her heart!
Eirik, the MMC is adorably clumsy and caring- and a bit of a sappy romantic. You’ll fall in love with him from the very beginning.
So you follow Rox as she makes a deal to save her mother and finds herself taken through a magical portal to a land unlike her own. A cursed land. Even though she may not know it yet- they’re hoping she may be their salvation.
I loved this story. I loved this world. And I LOVED the characters. This story was equal parts funny, heart warming and heart breaking. My only complaint is that it ended. I could have followed them on their journey forever. ❤️
July 11, 2022
When Roxana Welhaven’s mother diagnosed with cancer she swears to do whatever she can to save her mother’s life. Even if it means making a deal with a talking polar bear who will cure Roxana’s mother if she lives with the polar bear for a year.
This book is a retelling of the Norwegian fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon which I have never heard of before. Based on this book I would say it is like Beauty and the Beast. I love retellings, especially ones that are about little-known fairytales. Part one was slow which is mostly because it was there to give information. The rest of the book was perfectly paced. I loved the way Roxana talked because she felt realistic with how she cussed and how she seemed sarcastic at times. This had me in tears at times because you can’t help but feel for these characters. This is a must for fantasy lovers who want a new unique fairytale retelling.
This book is a retelling of the Norwegian fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon which I have never heard of before. Based on this book I would say it is like Beauty and the Beast. I love retellings, especially ones that are about little-known fairytales. Part one was slow which is mostly because it was there to give information. The rest of the book was perfectly paced. I loved the way Roxana talked because she felt realistic with how she cussed and how she seemed sarcastic at times. This had me in tears at times because you can’t help but feel for these characters. This is a must for fantasy lovers who want a new unique fairytale retelling.
July 12, 2022
This was a beautiful book! I loved every part of it.
Our MC, Roxana, finds out that her mother has been diagnosed with lung cancer and has only weeks to live. She returns home to visit with her mom, but is met with an unexpected (and unbelievable) surprise. A talking polar bear has appeared and seemingly frozen time - he has a proposition for Roxana: spend a year with him at his home, and he will cure her mother of cancer. She agrees. The story follows the two - Roxana and The Bear - to a different world, where there is much more to the story than it first seems.
I loved the characters in this story. The Bear, Roxana, Valdir, etc. were all so well developed and lovable. There were twists and turns, romance, action, and suspense. It was an incredible journey that I enjoyed every minute of, topped off by a beautiful ending. Highly recommend!
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.
Our MC, Roxana, finds out that her mother has been diagnosed with lung cancer and has only weeks to live. She returns home to visit with her mom, but is met with an unexpected (and unbelievable) surprise. A talking polar bear has appeared and seemingly frozen time - he has a proposition for Roxana: spend a year with him at his home, and he will cure her mother of cancer. She agrees. The story follows the two - Roxana and The Bear - to a different world, where there is much more to the story than it first seems.
I loved the characters in this story. The Bear, Roxana, Valdir, etc. were all so well developed and lovable. There were twists and turns, romance, action, and suspense. It was an incredible journey that I enjoyed every minute of, topped off by a beautiful ending. Highly recommend!
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.
didn-t-finish
February 26, 2024Eighteen-year-old Roxana Welhaven has lived her life by this motto. When her mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Roxana swallows her tears and vows to do whatever is necessary to save her.
Even if it means making a deal with a talking polar bear.The bear offers to cure her mother, but only if Roxana lives with him for one year. When she agrees, the bear whisks Roxana through a portal to another world and gives her lavish accommodations in an enchanted castle. Although she���s determined to serve her year and return home, the impatient and high-strung Roxana finds her heart drawn to the bear’s tranquil nature. He’s compassionate, clumsy and utterly adorable.
He's also a cursed man, trapped inside a bear’s body.True love won’t be enough to break his enchantment. To save him, Roxana must embark on a treacherous quest to find his captor, a journey that will lead her east of the sun and west of the moon.
Even if it means making a deal with a talking polar bear.The bear offers to cure her mother, but only if Roxana lives with him for one year. When she agrees, the bear whisks Roxana through a portal to another world and gives her lavish accommodations in an enchanted castle. Although she���s determined to serve her year and return home, the impatient and high-strung Roxana finds her heart drawn to the bear’s tranquil nature. He’s compassionate, clumsy and utterly adorable.
He's also a cursed man, trapped inside a bear’s body.True love won’t be enough to break his enchantment. To save him, Roxana must embark on a treacherous quest to find his captor, a journey that will lead her east of the sun and west of the moon.
June 7, 2025
I really enjoyed this story. It's a retelling of a Norwegian fairy tale, East of the Sun and West of the Moon (for my fellow Greek Mythology nerds, you may be more familiar with the story of Psyche & Cupid)
When I first started reading, I didn't register which story it was, and originally thought it was a Beauty & the Beast retelling, until I got further into the book.
This book wasn't at all what I expected going into the book - in a good way!
It was nice to have something that wasn't just a happy go lucky fairytale with maybe a couple of scary/sad bits - it was a gritty story and really showed the pain and suffering of the characters. This book had me crying at several points, and it's been a while since I read such an emotive book that wasn't a standard romance!
However, there are various references to HP throughout the book (via the main character, Roxana), which gave me the ick as we've known JKR's true colours for a while & we don't need to give her any more recognition 🤢
When I first started reading, I didn't register which story it was, and originally thought it was a Beauty & the Beast retelling, until I got further into the book.
This book wasn't at all what I expected going into the book - in a good way!
It was nice to have something that wasn't just a happy go lucky fairytale with maybe a couple of scary/sad bits - it was a gritty story and really showed the pain and suffering of the characters. This book had me crying at several points, and it's been a while since I read such an emotive book that wasn't a standard romance!
However, there are various references to HP throughout the book (via the main character, Roxana), which gave me the ick as we've known JKR's true colours for a while & we don't need to give her any more recognition 🤢
July 15, 2022
❤️❤️ REVIEW 💜💜
🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶
This exceptionally written novel by @stephelizabethwrites
is now one of my favorite books.
The book itself has a quirky, whimsical, artistic personality. Each character is developed completely so you feel connected and invested in every relationship.
If you love Beauty and the Beast, you will adore this. If you love fantasy and magic, you won't be able to put this book down.
My eyes bulged out of my head more times that I can count (don't worry, I'm fine) and I held my breath longer than I knew possible. The action scenes were descriptive, impactful and heart clenching.
I was talking to myself as I rooted for our heroes and gasping when plans went sideways.
This could easily be a movie. I will never look at polar bears the same way, and I will forever love them.
If you couldn't tell this is a READ ASAP.
🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶
This exceptionally written novel by @stephelizabethwrites
is now one of my favorite books.
The book itself has a quirky, whimsical, artistic personality. Each character is developed completely so you feel connected and invested in every relationship.
If you love Beauty and the Beast, you will adore this. If you love fantasy and magic, you won't be able to put this book down.
My eyes bulged out of my head more times that I can count (don't worry, I'm fine) and I held my breath longer than I knew possible. The action scenes were descriptive, impactful and heart clenching.
I was talking to myself as I rooted for our heroes and gasping when plans went sideways.
This could easily be a movie. I will never look at polar bears the same way, and I will forever love them.
If you couldn't tell this is a READ ASAP.
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