Winter's Heir (Fairy Queens #7) by Amber Argyle - Ashley's Review

*I received an advanced copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Winter's Heir (Fairy Queens #7)

Author: Amber Argyle

Publication Date: July 20th, 2016

Synopsis: A price must be paid.

 

Elice has left behind the ice and isolation of winter. Before her is the warmth and wonder of summer with all its color and life. Adar, the young man she saved from the sea, is by her side, and his touch sends tendrils of heat where before there was only cold.

 

But all is not as it seems. There are secrets hidden in the heart of summer. Secrets that could burn Elice to the ground and take the whole world with her. The decades-long war between the fairies of winter and summer has thrown off the balance of nature, leaving the world in its death throes.

 

Adar believes Elice can stop the destruction—if only she will listen to him. But like the fairies’ bargains, that trust comes with a cost. And the price Elice will pay will tear asunder the boundaries between dreams and family, loyalty and betrayal.

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Review: Amber Argyle's Fairy Queens series is one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. I've loved getting to know Elice, Adar, Ilyenna, and Nelay and their incredible world. Winter's Heir picks up pretty soon after Daughter of Winter ends, and ties up all of the loose ends left over from the other books in the series. We still see things from Adar and Elice, and I actually enjoyed putting together all of the pieces to the puzzle as they did. I'm just so sad that this series is over now! 

I was definitely suspicious of Adar's intentions in Daughter of Winter, and it turns out he was a little bit sketchy. But for all of the right reasons, I think, so I ended up really loving him by the end. Maybe as much as I loved Rycus (who also shows up!). He might actually be my favorite character in this book, even if his means to an end aren't always things I agree with. He really does care for Elice and just wants what is best for their world. Elice, on the other hand, might be my least favorite of the fairy Queens. She still starts out this book kind of whiny, and refuses to listen to Adar for most of it. Don't get me wrong - she matures and grows into an incredible woman who no doubt rules her kingdom fairly and kindly, and she's quick-witted and intelligent and manages to find a solution to the problems the kingdoms are facing. I just didn't connect with her the way I did with Ilyenna in Winter Queen and Nelay in Summer Queen.

Like always, even the supporting characters are incredibly complex and important. Nelay, Rycus, Ilyenna, Otec, and all of their friends make appearances again (which was a great way to tie all of the books together!), and we even get to meet some new characters. I loved Adar's sister and Cinder, and I am so glad that Amber has more planned for Cinder! I hope that comes to fruition, because I'd love to learn more about her. 

After 7 books, you'd think that the world would be pretty fleshed out, but Amber keeps throwing more surprises in that help the world continually expand. I thought I knew everything I needed to know about the Summer and Winter kingdoms, but I was obviously wrong! After this book, I feel like there's still so much more that I could learn, even though it seems like I've been there myself. There's so much history that I'd love to learn about that I don't think I would ever get enough. 

While I'm still so sad this series is over, I will definitely be revisiting this world often! If you're a fan of fantasy books, you'll definitely want to read the Fairy Queens series. All of the books are filled with magic, romance, adventure, fantastic world-building, and a plot that will grip you tight from the very beginning. Winter's Heir in particular is an epic conclusion that will wrap everything up nicely, connect all of the books in a way I didn't think was possible, and leave you completely satisfied with how things turn out. That's not to say I won't always want more, but I am definitely content with how this series ended! Definitely a 5/5 and a series you don't want to miss! 

--Ashley

Daughter of Winter (Fairy Queens #3) by Amber Argyle - Ashley's Review

*I received an advanced copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Daughter of Winter (Fairy Queens #3)
Author: Amber Argyle
Publication Date: April 22, 2016

My Of Ice and Snow (#0.5) Review
My Winter Queen (#1) Review
My Of Fire & Ash (#1.5) Review
My Summer Queen (#2) Review

Synopsis: Bargains. Only the truly desperate make them. Only the truly desperate need them. And always, the desperate pay.

The silence and never-ending dark of winter are all Elice has ever known, for she is the daughter of the Winter Queen. Isolated in a northern queendom with only the seals for company, she dreams of color and music and life. So when a whaling ship crashes just offshore, she doesn't hesitate to rescue the lone survivor, Adar, who quickly becomes her friend. She must keep him hidden from her mother at all costs, for if the Winter Queen discovers him trespassing, she'll kill him.

When her mother reveals just how dark her soul has become, Elice realizes she is as much a prisoner as Adar. To ever know true freedom—to ever become the woman she was meant to be—she must flee with him. But in their flight, she begins to see hints of something more nefarious. The darkness that has taken hold of her mother is spreading, staining the world with its influence.

Unbeknownst to Elice, a bargain was made long ago. A bargain she was born to fulfill.

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Review: I adore Amber Argyle's books. I've never read one that I didn't love, and Daughter of Winter was no exception! Amber has this incredible way with words that makes the story, the world, and the characters all come to life and jump off the page. As soon as I started reading, I felt like I was really in the Winter Queendom and (even though it's basically never-ending winter), I didn't want to leave it! 

This book focuses on Elise, the daughter of the Winter Queen (who we met in the first Fairy Queens book). Elise also has power over winter, although she's nowhere near as strong as her mother. Unlike her fairy mother, however, Elise is warmhearted and caring, and she wants to help as many creatures survive the harsh environment as she can. Although I didn't connect with Elise at first, I eventually grew to love her just as much as the other characters in this series. She's been sheltered her whole life and has a lot of growing and learning to do, but she adapts quickly and begins become the woman she was meant to be. I can't wait to find out what's in store for her next! 

Although Ilyenna is not the main focus of this book, I still really enjoyed seeing her again. She's much colder (no pun intended!) then she was in the first book, but she's been through so much and I can't really blame her for retreating into winter. She still does love her daughter in her own way, but it's hard for her to show it. I actually kind of wish we had seen more of Ilyenna, because I think she's still my favorite character in the series. She's just so different from most other fantasy protagonists, and I just can't get enough of her story.

As usual, the plot and the world building are spot on. The book starts out a little slow as it establishes Elise and the Winter Queendom, but then things pick up pretty soon after we met Adar. And then, about halfway through, things take off at breakneck speed. I could hardly keep up, but I loved every second of it! I was glued to the edge of my seat and couldn't wait to see how Elice and Adar would find a way out of one dangerous situation after another. I really felt like I was in danger with them, and that I could feel the cold settling around me as I was reading. 

Overall, Amber Argyle delivers with this latest installment in the Fairy Queens series. If you've read the other books in this series, you definitely want to get your hands on Daughter of Winter ASAP! If you haven't, what are you waiting for?! All three books (and both novellas) are incredible, and if you love fantasy, you are missing out on probably one of the best fantasy series out there! I cannot wait to read the final book, Winter's Heir! 4.5/5 for Daughter of Winter!

--Ashley

RELEASE BLITZ: Daughter of Winter (Fairy Queens #3) by Amber Argyle

Good morning! Amber Argyle's newest book in her Fairy Queens series is finally here! You can get Daughter of Winter at all of your favorite online retailers! If you're not familiar with the book, here's a little more information!

Bargains. Only the truly desperate make them. Only the truly desperate need them. And always, the desperate pay. 

The silence and never-ending dark of winter are all Elice has ever known, for she is the daughter of the Winter Queen. Isolated in a northern queendom with only the seals for company, she dreams of color and music and life. So when a whaling ship crashes just offshore, she doesn't hesitate to rescue the lone survivor, Adar, who quickly becomes her friend. She must keep him hidden from her mother at all costs, for if the Winter Queen discovers him trespassing, she'll kill him.

When her mother reveals just how dark her soul has become, Elice realizes she is as much a prisoner as Adar. To ever know true freedom—to ever become the woman she was meant to be—she must flee with him. But in their flight, she begins to see hints of something more nefarious. The darkness that has taken hold of her mother is spreading, staining the world with its influence.

Unbeknownst to Elice, a bargain was made long ago. A bargain she was born to fulfill.

Purchase links:  Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N | Goodreads

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