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*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

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

Don't forget to leave a review after you've read the book! Even a one liner helps authors immensely.


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Of Ice and Snow (Fairy Queens #0.5) by Amber Argyle - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Of Ice and Snow (Fairy Queens #0.5)
Author: Amber Argyle
Publication Date: August 18, 2015

My Reviews: Winter Queen (#1) | Of Fire and Ash (#1.5) | Summer Queen (#2)

Synopsis: Otec thought destiny forgot him…

The middle child of the clanchief, Otec is the overlooked son in an overflowing house. He dreams of escape and adventure, so when a mysterious stranger offers both, he doesn’t need persuading. But when his faraway village comes under attack, Otec will do anything to save the people he loves. Cut off from his nation, he must trust a foreign woman with a dubious past as they race to save his clan. But nothing is what it seems, and Otec may have to trust his enemy if he is to become the leader he was never meant to be.

Destiny is not always kind.

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Review: I'm a huge fan of Amber's Fairy Queen series - it's dark and gritty, but also full of beautiful world-building, memorable (and sometimes terrifying) characters, and even a few glimpses of hope and light through the horrors of war. I also really love novellas that reveal the background of more minor characters, so I knew I had to read this story as soon as I heard the Amber was writing it. 

In this novella, we're given a little bit more insight into Ilyenna's parents before the start of Winter Queen. We get to see how they meet, and how they deal with all kinds of awful circumstances that are out of their control. Otec is a middle child - he's not old enough to go with his brothers and father to meet the coming army, and he definitely will never be clanchief. Except destiny has a different plan for him, and his entire world is flipped upside down when the Shyle is attacked. But even in the midst of trying to save his family and his people, Otec manages to find love.

The romance is definitely a big part of the story, but Amber still somehow manages to weave an exciting story that has so many different facets that the romance doesn't overwhelm the rest of the plot. Matka is dangerous and cunning all on her own, and guards her heart just as much, if not more, as Otec guards his. I loved watching their friendship develop and transform into something more, through perceived betrayals, interfering fairies, and the loss of loved ones. 

If you haven't read the rest of the Fairy Queen series, this story will still stand on its own. You don't need to know much else before diving right into this book, and it might be a good place to start. If you have read the Fairy Queen books though, you definitely want to read this novella! There are so many references and connections to things in both Winter Queen and Summer Queen, and it was a lot of fun to be able to recognize those. It makes the entire series stronger and gives the world and the characters so much more depth. If you love fantasy, especially books like the Graceling series, you definitely want to read these books! 5/5.


--Ashley

BLOG TOUR: Summer Queen (Fairy Queens #2) by Amber Argyle - Ashley's Review + Excerpt

Hello! Today, we're super excited to be a part of the blog tour for Amber Argyle's newest book, Summer Queen! In celebration of the release of Summer Queen, the first book in the series, Winter Queen, is on sale for $0.99!

Ashley loved Winter Queen and has been waiting for this sequel ever since she finished reading Winter Queen, and we've got her review for you, as well as an excerpt (to make you want to read this series ASAP). But first, how about some information about the book and Amber?

About the Book

Title: Summer Queen (Fairy Queen #2)

Author: Amber Argyle

Publication Date: April 2, 2015

Synopsis: Nelay never wanted to be queen.

Poised to become the most powerful priestess in Idara, Nelay doesn’t have time to become a pretty bauble for the king. She’s too busy saving her people from the invading army sweeping across her kingdom.

But in defeat after defeat, Nelay begins to realize a bigger power is at play than that wielded by mere mortals. Only she can stand between the cinders of her once-great nation and the vengeance of a goddess.

Purchase Links: Amazon

About the Author

Amber Argyle is the number-one bestselling author of the Witch Song Series and the Fairy Queen Series. Her books have been nominated for and won awards in addition to being translated into French and Indonesian.

Amber graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in English and physical education, a husband, and a two-year old. Since then, she and her husband have added two more children, which they are actively trying to transform from crazy small people into less crazy larger people.

To learn more about Amber, visit her blog at http://amberargyle.blogspot.com

Author Links: Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Amazon | Mail Chimp | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | Argylers 

Read an Excerpt!

Nelay slipped down alleys, went through a bar and out the back entrance, and twisted down two more blocks to make sure she hadn’t been followed. She climbed up a wall, using a windowsill and beams as steppingstones, before hopping onto a roof.

She crouched, staring at a man of the desert tribes. Though she’d contracted with him to smuggle her out of the city, she’d never met him. They had communicated only through her spies, so now she scrutinized the man who held her life in his hands. He wore the robes and headscarf similar to that of an Idaran, but in muted colors that blended in with the deserts. With his veil tied up, only a thin slit of his eyes showed.

The skin around those eyes crinkled in amusement when he saw Nelay. “So, this is the woman willing to pay a king’s ransom to slip behind enemy lines.”

“I don’t owe you an explanation, Rycus.” She didn’t want him to say anything that would give away her identity to any listening fairies.

He tugged his veil down under his chin, revealing a surprisingly young face, only a couple years older than her. His nose was a little on the big side, and his forehead reminded her of a shovel. But he had liquid eyes the color of sand at midnight and a nice smile, with brilliant white teeth against his dusky skin. This was the most renowned smuggler in two kingdoms?

“No,” he replied, “but we’ll be sharing close quarters for two months, so we might as well be friends.”

Nelay had enough experience with criminals to know they had their uses, but they were also incredibly unpredictable, and therefore dangerous. “I don’t need friends,” she said.

“Everyone needs friends.”

“If I’d known you were going to be this talkative, I would have picked someone else.”

Rycus grunted. “No you wouldn’t have. You wouldn’t have settled for less than the best.”

Nelay tossed him the bag of coins she’d received in exchange for two of her ceremonial rings. When the high priestess found out, she’d be furious, but Nelay would deal with that later. “We must hurry—the Immortals are nothing to be trifled with.”

Rycus pushed the bag into the folds of his robes without counting the money. He would receive the other half when he returned her and her family safely to Thanjavar. “You don’t have to come with us, you know,” he said.

Nelay snorted. He might have a reputation as a fair man, but it didn’t mean he wouldn’t cross her—say, if the king offered more money. “I already told you. It’s not a place marked on a map.”

“I could figure it out,” Rycus replied.

“No offense, but I don’t trust you.”

He shrugged. “And afterward, you’re sure you wish to return? Whatever has you running away will still be here then.”

“That is not your problem.” She might be Suka’s favorite, but even the high priestess couldn’t overlook what she’d done. Nelay’s only hope was to stand in the public bethel and announce herself the next high priestess. Then she had to beat Suka in the game of fire, the winner of which would become the next high priestess. King Zatal wouldn’t dare touch Nelay then.

And if she failed . . . she shuddered. She’d have the wrath of a king and a high priestess to face.

“What are you running from?” Rycus questioned.

Ashley's Review

I absolutely loved Winter Queen when I first read it, and it's still one of my favorite fantasy books ever. Amber knows how to craft an incredible world with wonderful characters who continue to live on well past the ending of the books. So when I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Summer Queen, I immediately jumped on the chance! I couldn't wait to get back into this world and meet characters on the opposite side of the spectrum from those featured in Winter Queen. And I was not disappointed! 

Nelay is not like any other priestess I've encountered in any of the books I've read. She's strong and independent and can hold her own in a fight, but she's also loving and willing to do anything to protect the people she cares about. She's also got a mischievous side to her, which I thought makes her hilarious.  Nelay is also incredibly cunning, and she's always trying to figure out how to play things to her advantage. She's not afraid to back down from a fight she knows she cannot win, which I felt made her a dangerous enemy to have. I loved Illyenna in Winter Queen, but I honestly think that I love Nelay even more! 

And then there's Rycus. Oh, Rycus. He's kind of off-putting at first, but then the more time we spend with him, the more I fell in love with him. He's absolutely fantastic for Nelay, and I think one of my favorite things in this book was watching their relationship develop. Except for those times when Amber does this thing where she gives me a mini heart attack and separates them and makes it seem like they're not meant to be together. I was so back and forth and I just could never figure out what surprises were in store! 

Like all of Amber's other books, Summer Queen has gorgeous world-building. In Winter Queen, we learn about the lands of the Clansmen. In Summer Queen, the world is expanded and we learn more about the cities and the people who live in them, as well as the Tribesmen who live in the deserts. I can't wait to learn even more about this world and its people in the next book! The plot also moves along smoothly and quickly, and I never felt like anything was dragging along (even though this book is fairly long).

I would 100% recommend Summer Queen to anyone who has read Winter Queen, and the whole Fairy Queens series to fans of YA Fantasy. Especially if you enjoyed Rae Carson's Girl of Fire and Thorns series, and other books like it. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment (waiting is so hard!)! 5/5!!!

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget that Winter Queen is on sale for $0.99 until April 17th, and Amber's book Witch Song is free across all platforms! 

--Ashley & Paul

Of Fire and Ash (Fairy Queens #1.5) by Amber Argyle - Ashley's Review

*I received a copy of this story from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Goodreads

Title: Of Fire and Ash (Fairy Queens #1.5)
Author: Amber Argyle
Publication Date: January 8th, 2015

My Winter Queen (Fairy Queens #1) Review

Synopsis: One promise can change everything.

The fairies must never know of Nelay’s sight, for the attention of such dark and terrible creatures brings more things dark and terrible.

But when Nelay's father is near death, the fairies are the only ones who can save him. All they require is a simple promise that she'll return the favor one day.

Sometimes promises are deadly.

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Review: I first stumbled across Amber Argyle a few years ago, when her book Witch Song was free on Amazon. I have eagerly devoured every single thing she has written that I could get my hands on since, and I'm always left wanting more! So you can imagine my excitement when I found out Amber was writing a short prequel novelette for the upcoming second book in her Fairy Queens series, Summer Queen. 

Of Fire and Ash was pretty short - around 68 pages - but it was still jam-packed with all of the things that I love about Amber's books. There's a significant amount of world building without shoving it down your throat and there's q huge amount of background on Nelay, the main character in Summer Queen. I'm really glad that I got to learn more about how Nelay's journey toward becoming the powerful priestess that she is in Summer Queen began. I loved getting to know Nelay as a child, because I think that will help me (and other readers) understand her as the woman she becomes. 

This novelette also sheds quite a bit of light on the fairies and what happens when they learn you can see them. Or what happens when you ask for their help. Everything comes at a price, and sometimes the price might be too steep... although it might be too late. After reading Winter Queen, I had so many questions about the fairies, and Of Fire and Ash definitely answered a couple of the more minor ones.

What Amber does best though, is give just enough of a story that I'm left wanting the next installment ASAP! I have to know what happens to Nelay next, and what will happen when the fairies call in their favor for saving her father. I want to know what she's like after she grows up, and I want to know if she's able to save her people. Of Fire and Ash was enough to get me back into this incredible world, and I cannot wait to read Summer Queen! A 5/5 for sure!


--Ashley

COVER REVEAL - Summer Queen (Fairy Queens #2) by Amber Argyle

Hello! Today, we have the cover of Summer Queen, the next book in Amber Argyle's Fairy Queens series. Ashley loved Winter Queen, and has been looking forward to Summer Queen since she finished it.

The cover for Winter Queen was absolutely gorgeous, but we think this one might be even better! What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

About the Book

Title: Summer Queen (Fairy Queens #2)
Author: Amber Argyle


Synopsis: Nelay never wanted to be queen.

Poised to become the most powerful priestess in Idara, Nelay doesn’t have time to become a pretty bauble for the king. She’s too busy saving her people from the invading army sweeping across her kingdom.

But in defeat after defeat, Nelay begins to realize a bigger power is at play than that wielded by mere mortals. Only she can stand between the cinders of her once-great nation and the vengeance of a goddess.

A Note From the Author

I wrote this book during perhaps one of the hardest times of my life. My son was in and out of hospitals with a noncancerous bone tumor. He had two surgeries and was in a wheelchair and not allowed any type of physical activity for months.

We also moved to another state, I broke my leg, had surgery, and played single mom while my husband was away. Insurance was, and still is, a nightmare (I'm looking at you, Humana).

This book is perhaps the strongest straight-up fantasy novel I've written. One of the themes I explore is leadership. To quote from the book: “To be a true leader, one must not simply be strong. One must also be selfless.”

And I can't mention one of my books without talking about the main characters. Nelay doesn't start off as this weak, timid little thing being oppressed. She's poised to become the most powerful woman in her kingdom. But as with most of those in power, she lacks empathy.

Rycus knows who he is and what he wants, but unlike Nelay, he is also willing to sacrifice for those he loves. And Rycus loves Nelay "as the sun loves the sky."

I also want to announce that I've written a prequel for Summer Queen, entitled, Of Fire and Ash. It's with my editors now and will be published as soon as it's finished. You can find both on Goodreads here and here. I hope you're as excited for the next installment in the Fairy Queen Series as I am.

About the Author

Super short: Amber Argyle is the #1 bestselling and award winning author of the Witch Song and Fairy Queens series. In her novels, good always triumphs over evil. Though sometimes just barely.

Slightly longer: Amber Argyle is the #1 bestselling author of Witch Song and Fairy Queen series. Her books have been nominated for and won awards in addition to being translated into French and Indonesian.

She graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in English and physical education, a husband, and a two-year old. Since then, she and her husband have added two more children, which they are actively trying to transform from crazy small people into less crazy larger people. 

To find out more about Amber Argyle, you can visit her blog at amberargyle.blogspot.com

 You can find Amber on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest.