A Winter's Promise

This reads just like a studio Ghibli movie - dark yet whimsical with charming yet somewhat caricaturish characters. I really enjoyed it! I can't wait to read the next ones and find out more about Farouque's book and why it's so important to him. Also if Ophelia ever warms up to Thorn and forgives his misdeeds. Although, not gonna lie, I might drop the entire series if it becomes a love triangle story with Archibald 🙃

The world is fantastically atmospheric, the characters all strongly realised, but this whole book felt like the introduction to a story, not a story contained within itself, which i find disappointing.

4 stars for the unique setting.
Audio: 5/5
Plot: 4/5 (slow beginning)
Characters: 3/5 (I need more Ophelia / Thorn interactions)

This was really, really good! I loved how the fantasy was so different from stuff I've read till now. The setting and the powers were all new and unique.

I liked the characters (weird as the majority were). Ophelia was nice and not very talkative initially to the point that she didn't even voice her dislikes. But then changed when she got so fed up with everyone that decided to give an earful to Thorn and his aunt near the end was very well written.

Her interactions with Thorn in the latter half were also good. I like how she noticed all the small details.

Her powers were so unique. I liked both of them. The mirror visiting/walking part was my favourite. The dragon clans powers were more violent and the reveals were mind blowing.

I still don't understand how the family spirit part works. But enjoyed this book a lot. It was damn slow in the beginning but gets really interesting when they arrive on Claire de Lune.